Coming Home
So sorry for the long wait, the next on will be up soon.
The stolen Imperial shuttle landed in a clearing of the moon's dark, primeval forest, dwarfed by the ancient towering trees. On an adjacent hill, the Rebel team made their way up a steep trail. During the walks, Cindel used small moments to smell the air, feel the atmosphere of the planet; everything was exactly as she remembered it. Her heart leaped as she thought about seeing her Ewok family again, especially her protector and friend Wicket. Cindel's only warning to the team was not to touch anything that may look like the obvious or harmless and be careful where they place their feet on and above all do not separate unless it was very necessary.
Leia and Han were slightly ahead of Chewie, Cindel, Luke and the strike-team squad along with R2 and 3PO following behind. Up ahead, Han reached a crest in the hill and suddenly he turned and held his hand out as a signal to the team to stop and drop to the ground. 3PO panicked once again and whined as usual to anyone who could hear or cared to listen to him "Oh, I told you it was dangerous here". The team did what they were ordered; Leia, Luke, Chewie and Cindel did the same and lowered themselves to the ground. Han, Leia, Cindel and Luke crawl up to take a better look.
Not far below them, two IMPERIAL SCOUTS are wandering through bushes in the valley below. Their two ROCKET BIKES are parked nearby them, they analyzed the situation cautiously. "Shall we try and go around?" Leia recommended with her eyes still focused on the scouts, Luke shook his head "It will take time" he replied to Leia. Han then realized this was either going to be a quick and easy challenge or a small battle that will alert the Republican base of the rebel teams whereabouts on the Moon. "This whole party will be for nothing if they see us" he said seriously with his eyes still fixated on the scouts. Leia turned and motioned for the squad team to stay put, then she, Han, Cindel, Luke and Chewie started to quietly make their way down to the edge of the clearing not far from the two Imperial scouts.
Han felt his excitement for action aroused once again when he realized there were only two scouts to deal with. He turned to his three friends and spoke with is usual confident voice "Chewie and I will take care of this. You stay here", Luke trusted his friend with his life but he knows his pirate attitude too well. He spoke as a warning instead of an encourager "Quietly, there might be more of them out there" he warned him with doubt in his voice and Han sensed it. The gambling pirate grinned and spoke again with greater confidences "Hey... it's me" he said then crawled away from them. Luke and Leia exchange uncertain smiles with Cindel who only gave an uncertain smirk with her hand waving slightly up then the trio turned and watched in silence.
Han stays hidden behind a tree with his blaster gun in his hand and Chewie hidden behind another tree with his cross bow steady and handy. Chewie gave a low moan to Han then the human nodded his head to his friend to move forward. Han followed behind a scout quietly for only a second before he steps on a twig and the scout whirls around, knocking Han onto the ground. "Go for help! Go!" the scout shouts for his companion which he quickly obeyed with hesitating.
Luke groaned loudly with disappointment "Great. Come on!" he said as he quickly got on his feet, Cindel and Leia followed him as fast as they could. Han didn't want to be defeated just yet, he grabbed a hold of his opponent and yanked him hard till he slammed against the tree behind him like a dummy doll while the second scout jumps on his speeder bike and takes off. Luckily, he couldn't get away sooner or fast enough, Chewie got him with two good blasts from his crossbow laser weapon, causing the scout to crash and burn.
Luke and Leia and Cindel with their laser pistol drawn rushed through the bushes, Leia stopped when she sighted to scouts that were not seen when they got there on two speeder bikes. "Over there! Two more of them!" she said as she pointed them out but they already took off into the woods. Luke spotted them and began rushing to Leia while hollering "I see them. Wait, Leia!" the brave princess already leaped onto a spare speeder and Luke managed to leap onto it with his hands holding her waist. They took off just as Han stood up and called out to them from a distance "Hey wait!" but he knew it was too late for him but not too late to flip over the Scout that was grabbed his shoulder from behind. Cindel stood and looked at Luke and Leia disappearing into the woods and as Han approached her, she exclaimed in a worried tone of voice "We shouldn't separate; it is too dangerous around here". Han spoke in his assuring voice "There isn't much we can do now, kiddo. It is either stop them from alerting our awareness or just surrender to them now" he walked passed her with a pat on her head. Cindel knew he was right, she only hoped that Luke and Leia would find their way back to the team.
Meanwhile the two fleeing Imperial scouts have a good lead as Luke and Leia pursue through the grand land covered with giant trees. Knowing that Cindel advised the whole team not to separate, they had no choice but to stop the scouts from alerting the rebel teams place among the woods. "Quick! Jam their comlink, center switch!" Luke hollered to Leia over her shoulder from behind her, Leia did what Luke instructed and switched on the center switch.
