#11 - The Pit

The scene that had played out had been a shocking one for Phalla.

The rancor had immediately devoured the Gamorean and had tried to also eat the young man. He fought back and had eventually won by killing the rancor. He had thrown a skull at the gate control panel and it had fallen on the unfortunate beast. The slave woman had been very pleased that the man had survived.

The place went into an uproar and Jabba shouted directions at anyone that could carry them out. It was another standard hour before Fett came to Phalla and took hold of her chain. "Come on, we're going for a little cruse," he said, attaching the chain to his belt.

She tilted her head curiously. "Cruse?" she echoed. "Where're we going?"

She was not surprised when he only answered her by following the crowd heading for the door. She followed him down the halls to the docking bays. She had only been here once before when they had first come here nearly a year ago. Blast, had it really been that long? They all began boarding a large desert sail barge. Everyone seemed excited about something.

Phalla looked to her 'master' curiously. "What's happening?" she asked, hoping for an answer.

And he gave her one. "We're going to the Dune Sea to feed some prisoners to a sarlacc that lives out there." He then turned his visor to her. "I want you to stay away from the windows. Understand?"

She nodded.

Within the hour, they were off. Though Phalla stayed away from the windows, she could still see out of the open ones. There was sand as far as the eye could see. The sky seemed so blue against the earthy tones, especially because it was so dark in the barge.

Fett left her chained to his belt this time. He stood between her and the crowd of beings, cradling his blaster as usual. She stood still as she watched the other people on the barge wander about until she saw the slave woman. She was gazing out a window, a worried and longing look in her eyes. Phalla wanted desperately to speak with her. She glanced back at Fett, wondering if he would care.

Swallowing, Phalla glanced down at the chain to see how far she could go then back at the woman, judging the distance. The woman had some slack chain as well. Maybe she could get her to come closer...

Phalla moved away from Fett and closer to the slave woman. She waited to catch her attention, not knowing that Fett was watching her closely. Soon the woman noticed her and came nearer, though still looked worried. She was taller than Phalla. "What do you want, young one?" she asked softly.

"Who are you?" Phalla asked. "I've been wondering ever since I first saw you. You're too pretty to be a slave." It was true. She did not carry herself like the other slave girls did. She had an air about her that Phalla could not distinguish.

She smiled. "Thank you," she said. "No, I'm not really a slave. I'm princess Leia Organa."

Princess Organa? Phalla knew of her. She knew that she helped the Rebellion and that her home planet had been destroyed. How that had happened, she did not know. What was she doing here and dressed like this? Was she trying to get information by working for Jabba? And if so, why was she telling her?

Leia could see the confusion in the girl's lovely green eyes. "I came to rescue Han Solo. He was frozen in carbonite." She stopped and glanced back out the window. "Then things didn't go so well."

"I'm sorry," Phalla murmured then remembered herself and curtsied. "Your highness."

Leia laughed lightly. "No need for that, young one. What is your name?"

"I'm Dawn," she answered, though she still felt bad about lying about her name. She then felt a tug on her neck and glanced back at Fett. He slightly moved his head, silently ordering her back. Phalla looked back at the princess. "It was nice speaking with you, your highness."

"Likewise, Dawn," Leia said, but touched her shoulder when she turned to go back to Fett. "Dawn, if anything happens, I want you to get out of here. I promise I'll come and get you."

Phalla was not sure what she was talking about, but nodded. "A-alright, thank you." She came back to Fett. She could almost feel his gaze on her even though it appeared that he was not looking at her. She wondered if she was in trouble.

"What did she say?" he asked, but not in an angry tone.

Phalla hesitated. "She told me that if anything happened to get out of here."

He nodded lightly. "Good advice," he commented then looked down at her. "Now stay here."

"Yes sir," she mumbled, staring at her sandaled feet.

Soon enough, they reached the Pit of Carkoon. Phalla watched Fett as he watched out the window. She paid attention to his body language and listened to what was being said around her. The Jedi gave Jabba one last chance to free them before he threatened death. Not but a minute later, the passengers aboard were gasping and talking all at once. Someone screamed. She grew nervous. What was happening?

Suddenly, Fett detached her chain and dropped it. "Remember that advice kid," he growled before cocking his blaster and disappearing into the crowd. Phalla blinked. She dared to look out the window. She watched him jet to the scooner that the prisoners had come loose on. She pressed herself against the wall, away from the crowd, and continued to watch the battle ensuing outside.

Several beings fell into a deep pit in the sand. She could barely hear the squealing of the feasting sarlacc over the panicking people. She never took her eyes off of her 'master'.

Suddenly, the lights went out and everyone began turning on each other. Phalla knew she had to get out now. Gathering up her chain, she began searching for a way out. It did not take her too long to find an emergency exit. She struggled with the door, but got it open. No one took any notice of her.

No one that is, except for a certain lizard monkey.

Crumb climbed up her leg and clung to her back, chattering loudly. "Okay, okay, you can stay," Phalla said and quickly patted his head. "But if I get in trouble, it's you fault." She then clambered down the ladder and dropped onto the sand. She began running to the nearest dune to hide behind it. Crumb made quiet brooding noises as she went. She wondered why he had left Jabba's side. Maybe he sensed the need to escape as well.

Phalla plodded up the dune, but stopped when she reached the top to look back. She wished that she had not. Her breath caught in her throat as she watched Fett go flying out of control. He impacted the side of the barge and tumbled down the sand pit and into the waiting mouth of the sarlacc.

Her heart could have stopped. "Boba! No!" she screamed. Her knees gave out and she fell to the sand. Crumb perched on her shoulder and clung to her head, burying his face in her hair. Tears burned her eyes as she lost interest in what was happening.

Her guardian was gone. There was no one left to save her now. She was alone in the desert, left to roast in the sun and wither away to nothing. Fett would not be coming back this time.

An explosion yanked her from her grieving thoughts. The barge was bursting into flames. Crumb squawked and leaped from her shoulder, sliding down the dune. Phalla still had sense enough to duck as well. She slid down after him then scooped him up, shielding him with herself. Smoldering debris flew overhead and soon the sickening scent of burning flesh and fuel filled the air.

The tears ran down her cheeks as Phalla let go of Crumb and crawled back up the dune to see what had happened. There was nothing left but wreckage and dead bodies, some not even whole. One of the scooners that had been escorting the barge was now half buried in sand on the other side of the pit. As for the sarlacc, it purred happily with a full stomach.

In contrast, Phalla's stomach was soon emptied. After she vomited, she collapsed to the sand and darkness engulfed her.