Ever since the incorporation of Tattoine within the Galactic Empire, there had been considerable reactions by the natives of the new government. To the farmers, it was another excuse for raised taxes. To the crimelord Hutts, it was an opportunity for expanded prestige, power, and most important, profits. To others, it provided an opportunity for trade, possible revenue, and, to the desperate, a great opportunity to leave this forsaken world.
However, all felt a tremendous unease of the Empire. It would promote unity of the systems, yet act as a distant unfeeling entity. Even at the present, despite inquiries from the regional government and other groups, it would fail to account for an the sudden increased troop presence, unexplained surveillance and inquiries, and the unexpected arrival of several star destroyers above the arid world. These and other actions were leading to a burdening pressure on an already taxed populace.
Shortly after they left Anchorhead, the prince and his men stopped their vehicle in the middle of an open plain. Luke was examining a holomap of the region against what he learned from the mechanic. Erin was examining a readout on a monitor.
"Your highness, I have detected no habitations in this region. Are you sure this is the right location?"
"That's what I was told. Maybe if we go a little farther..."
Unbeknownst to the travelers, a large, rag covered being was watching them from a nearby hill. He waved his arm, and other tribe members came to his side. Through hand signals, he signaled to other comrades who were at another hill on the opposite side of the ship.
Soon, they would strike.
LARS FAMILY HOMESTEAD
"Leia, take this droid down to the workshop, and make sure it's fully programmed to work on the collectors."
"Yes Uncle Owen."
Leia started to lead the newly purchased droid, an old R5 unit, to the farm. As she did, Aunt Beru came up.
"Were you able to find one that spoke Bocee?"
"No. Sorry. There wasn't much of a choice. Maybe by the next…"
As she talked, the R5 unit started to smoke. As Leia turned around, the top of the unit caught on fire.
As she extinguished the blaze, Owen ran to her.
"What happened?"
"This R5 unit has a bad motivator!" said Leia, as she examined the cause of the fire.
As he examined the part Leia showed him, he angrily turned toward the desert, where he saw the sandcrawler the thieving Jawas operated, disappear behind the ridge. With a sense of anger and helplessness, he placed his fingers on his temples, and lowered his head.
Leia and Beru looked at him quietly for a few moments. Then Leia broke the silence.
"I can go to Fixer. I'm sure He'll have a replacement..."
Owen raised his head and glared at the girl. After a few tense seconds, his eyes softened, as he calmly realized she was only trying to help. "Fine. Go to Fixer. Get the part." he said softly.
Minutes later, Leia was speeding in her landspeeder towards Anchorhead. As it just so happened, the route she took required her to pass near the Great Pit of Carkoon, home of the dreaded Sarlaak. When she passed, she noticed a large sail barge near the mouth of the creature. With curiosity, she stopped her vehicle behind a large rock, and took out her binoculars to observe the sail barge.
When she adjusted her view, she saw that the barge was hosting some kind of celebration. To her, it seemed unusual that ANYONE would be near the sarlaak at all, let alone for site seeing. There were many times she and her friends drove on their hoppers in this valley. Biggs once told her that one of Fixers friends made a bet that he could jump over the mouth of the thing. He made it, but not before he was nearly captured and drawn in to the sarlaak. As she pondered this, she noticed a couple of skiffs, manned by pig like creatures that were hovering above its mouth. One of them had an individual that was bound, and forced to stand on a teetering plank. At that moment, a booming guttural voice boomed from the ship in an unintelligible language. Seconds later, an electronic voice provided a translation.
"CHENU GOMM! FOR THE ATTEMPTED EMBEZZLEMENT OF HIS TREASURE, HIS MAGNIFICENCE JABBA THE HUTT HAS SENTENCED YOU TO BE DEVOURED BY THE DREADED SARLAAK, WHERE YOU WILL BE DIGESTED FOR THE NEXT THOUSAND YEARS. HOWEVER, EVEN NOW HE MAY BE SWAYED BY ANY PLEAS OF MERCY.
"Merciful Jabba!" said the victim. "Please forgive me!" I had every intention to repay you! I only needed to cover…"
He would never finish.
The plank he was on, immediately collapsed, causing him to fall into the mouth of the vile creature. Immediately a burst of laughter emanated from the barge, nearly drowned out by a strong booming chortle, no doubt from Jabba himself. The valley then echoed with the torturous screams of Chenu Gomm as he was devoured by the sarlaak.
Leia, horrified at what she witnessed, put down her binoculars, and leaped into her speeder, and sped away from the area. All she was concerned about was leaving this area as quickly as she could.
THE JUNDLAND WASTES
The prince and his escorts were determining their course of action, when a barbaric scream emanated nearby. Immediately, a score of rag covered warriors emerged from the high crags, and started firing on the party.
"GET DOWN LUKE" screamed Erin as he brandished a blaster and took cover. Luke immediately complied and brandished his own blaster. Seconds later, the trio returned fire. During the exchange, a stray missile hit Erin in the arm, causing him to collapse in the vehicle. With renewed confidence, the sandpeople started to advance.
Suddenly, a deafaning roar was heard from nearby, beyond the crags. The sandpeople paused with apprehension. A moment later, there was another bellow, louder than before.
Immediately the sandpeople retreated past the rocky crags. A few tense moments later, a hooded figure emerged from behind some large rocks, and approached the skiff.
"Are you all right my friends? You are fortunate that I was in the area. The Jundland wastes must not be treaded lightly." said the stranger.
"Our companion is wounded." said the prince. "We need to find medical assistance."
At Luke's statement, the stranger faced him, then slowly turned back his hood, revealing an elderly compassionate face, that was studying him with interest.
"Luke?" said the stranger.
At the mention of his name without any formal introduction, Luke raised his eyebrows, and nearly said something, but caught himself in time. However, these nonverbal statements seemed to confirm the stranger's suspicions, and he continued.
"It MUST be you!" he said, looked slightly embarrassed, and continued. "Forgive me. You would not remember me, but I was present at your birth, along with your father…"
"Forgive me stranger…" interrupted Trev, "but we haven't caught your name."
"Of course… I was getting to that." He stood up straight, and faced Luke. "I am Obi Wan Kenobi."
"Obi Wan…" said the prince. "Yes! We were searching for you…"
At that moment, in the far distance, the group heard a trumpeting noise, followed by wild screams.
"We must leave here!" said the elder Jedi. "The sandpeople are easily scared, but they will return with greater numbers. My place is not far from here. I can help your friend, and we can talk."
Everyone then entered the skiff, and with the help of Obi Wan, sped off to his home.
MOS EISLEY IMPERIAL BARRACKS
Lord Vader, along with a handful of officers, examined the readout of the probe droid. On a large screen, he identified Prince Lucas's starship.
"That is our target! Commander, assemble the forces! No one must escape!"
