Luke is grim-faced as he pilots his course toward Bespin's shining city. R2 beeps and whistles are transmitted onto the scope.

"No, 3PO`s with them." Luke replies to R2`s question.

R2 whistles another worried inquiry as Luke tried to throw away the images of his friends in pain.

"Just hang on. We're almost there."

Cloud City (Miles and Miles away)

Chewbacca is in a Cloud City prison cell. The stark room is flooded with hot light. To add to Chewie's misery, a high-pitched whistle screeches loudly. Chewie is going mad. He hits the wall with giant fists as he paces back and forth across the cell floor. The upper lights go off abruptly. The prisoner rubs his eyes and moves to a wall, where he listens for a moment. Then, moaning to himself, he moves to a platform where the disassembled pieces of 3PO lie. He picks up the golden droid's head and meditates on it for a moment, barking a few philosophical remarks. Chewie sticks the robot's head on its torso and starts adjusting wires and circuits.

Suddenly, the lights in 3PO`s eyes spark to life as Chewie touches two connectors together. 3PO immediately begins to speak, but his voice is so slow and so low as to be nearly unintelligible.

"Mmmm. Oh, my. Uh, I, uh - Take this off! I, uh, don't mean to intrude here. I, don't, no, no, no... Please don't get up. No!" Chewie looks at 3PO in bewilderment, and then scratches his furry head. He gets an idea and adjusts some connections, whereupon 3PO immediately begins speaking normally.

"Stormtroopers? Here? We're in danger. I must tell the others. Oh, no! I've been shot!"


Darth Vader strides through the room as two Stormtroopers prepare an elaborate torture mechanism. Han is strapped to a rack which tilts forward onto the torture device. Vader activates the mechanism, creating two bursts of sparks, one of which strikes Han's face.

The door opens, and Vader leaves the torture room just as Han screams a sharp, piercing cry of agony. Darth Vader moves to the holding chamber, where Lando and Boba Fett await him.


"Lord Vader." Lando began as he approached Vader. He simply ignores Lando and turns to Boba Fett, the bounty hunter right next to him.

"You may take Captain Solo to Jabba the Hut after I have Skywalker."

Han's screams filter through the torture room door. "He's no good to me dead." Fett muttered after the screams faded.

"He will not be permanently damaged."

Lando marched up to him "Lord Vader, what about the girls and the Wookie?"

"They must never again leave this city."

Lando shook his head "That was never a condition of our agreement, nor was giving Han to this bounty hunter!"

"Perhaps you think you're being treated unfairly."

Lando shook his head again "No."

He nodded "Good. It would be unfortunate if I had to leave a garrison here." Vader turns and sweeps into the elevator with Boba Fett. Lando walks swiftly down another corridor, muttering to himself. "This deal's getting worse all the time."


I avoided his gaze and stared down at the floor intently. There`s no way he`s leaving this room without attempting to get anything out of me.

I`m tired of his intimidation of trying to pry me of information. "I don`t know." My head reached up and glared right into his eyes. He just stared at me for a few moments, then-.

"I see," he moved from the wall and right in front of me, just a few inches away from my entire face. I, out of instinct, stitched my eyes shut and bit my tongue to stop hissing in discomfort.

I heard and felt his hand coming up to my face and lightly hover over it.

"Skywalker it seems you have been quite… fond, of each other."

"Don`t listen, don`t listen, it`s all in your head."

It seems he can read my thoughts too; because I felt some heat in his skin at my objection.

"Tell me, how deeply do you care for his life?" He murmured in my ear.

That. Is. It!

My eyes open and I try my best to pull off the greatest glare I have, and then stare into where I believe his eyes are.

"Who`s Padme?"

"…"

I only remembered her name because of when he must have mistaken me for her years and years ago, why isshe important to him?

"What did you say?" He dropped his hand away from my face and tore his eyes away from my figure.

"Who is Padme?" I might have gotten too cocky at that minute.

He looked down at the ground and, this time, avoided my gaze. I assumed his knuckles were turning white under his gloves from his fists tightening every second.

"What is she to you, and why did you think I was her all those years ago, on the Death Star? Is she your sister? Or a niece, mother-?" My mind traced to all the possibilities of their relationship. Maybe he loved-. No, there`s no way.

"or, did you love-?" In an instant, he brought his hand up and made another fist. My neck tightened and I couldn't receive any air! Not again! Not again!

"Finish, what you are about to say. Go on." He taunted me as I struggled to let out ay words at all.

"What is it? Oh, I apologize." He loosened his hand a bit, but not much.

I let the tears fall over my cheeks "Please," it came out in a whisper. He continued to glare at me.

"I-I`m sorry." I choked out. Why I just begged for forgiveness for something I didn't do, I have no idea.

He continued to frown in my direction, but, threw my head against the top of the metal seat. The strength of the blow must have bruised the back of my head, but I can care less. I try to cough internally, but quite a few sneak out.

"Don`t think I spared you out of pity," I tore my eyes off my legs and into his eyes. "You will become quite… useful, when Skywalker arrives." "Wha-?"

He raises his hand and my vision goes everywhere, than black.


Chewie now has a little more of 3PO back together. One arm is connected, but the legs are yet to be attached. There is one small problem, however. It seems the Wookie has managed to put the droid's head on backwards.

"Oh, yes, that's very good. I like that. Oh! Something's not right because now I can't see. Wait. Wait! Oh, my! What have you done? I'm backwards, you stupid furball. Only an overgrown mophead like you would be stupid enough-!"

He is cut off in mid-sentence as Chewie angrily deactivates a circuit and the droid shuts down. The Wookie smells something and sits up. The door to the chamber slides open and a ragged Han Solo is shoved into the room by two Stormtroopers. Barking his concern, the huge Wookie gives Han a big hug. Han is very pale, with dark circles under his eyes. "I feel terrible."

Chewie helps Han to a platform and then turns as the door slides open revealing Leia. She, too, looks a little worse for wear. The troopers push her into the cell, and the door slides closed. She moves to Han, who is lying on the platform, and kneels next to him, gently stroking his head. "Why are they doing this?"

"They never even asked me any questions." Han coughed.

The cell door slides open. Lando and two of his guards enter. "Lando." Leia hisses,

"Get out of here, Lando!" Han yells to his once friend.

"Shut up and listen! Vader has agreed to turn Leia and Chewie over to me."

"Over to you?" Han scoffs.

"What about Cerise? Where is she?!"Leia questions turn to demanding.

Lando`s face fell for a few moments "I don`t know." He shook his head.

"You don`t know?" Han mocks him.

"I don`t! She went into that room, and I didn't see her come out!"

"If anything happens to that girl, I swear, you won`t have that pretty face of yours anymore."

Lando does his best to ignore Han`s remark "Leia and Chewie`ll have to stay here, but at least they'll be safe."

"What about Han?" Leia cut in.

"Vader's giving him to the bounty hunter."

"Vader wants us all dead." She remarked. "He doesn't want you at all. He's after somebody called Skywalker."

"Luke?" Han cocked an eyebrow.

"Lord Vader has set a trap for him."

Leia's mind is racing. "And we're the bait." She states.

He nods "Well, he's on his way."

Han's rage peaks. "Perfect. You fixed us all pretty good, didn't you? My friend!" He hauls off and punches Lando. The two friends are instantly engaged in a frantic close-quarters fight. The guards hit Han with their rifle butts and he flies across the room. Chewie growls and starts for the guards. They point their laser weapons at the giant Wookie, but Lando stops them.

"Stop! I've done all I can. I'm sorry I couldn't do better, but I have my own problems."

Han looks up to Lando "Yeah, you're a real hero." Lando and the guards leave. Han wipes the blood from his chin as Leia and Chewie help him up.

She shakes her head and dabs at his wound "You certainly have a way with people."


There is a great activity on the carbon-freezing platform. Six Ugnaughts frantically prepare the chamber for use. A special coffinlike container is put in place. With Boba Fett in the lead, a squad of six Stormtroopers brings in Han, Leia and Chewie. Still, only Vader and a handful of Stormtroopers only know where Cerise has vanished to.

Strapped to Chewie's back, with only his head, torso, and one arm assembled, is 3PO. 3PO`s head faces the opposite direction from Chewie's and the droid is constantly twisting around in a vain effort to see what is happening. His one attached arm is animate and expressive, intermittently pointing, gesturing, and covering his eyes. The remaining pieces of his body are randomly bundled to the Wookie's back so that his legs and other arm stick out at odd angles from the pack.

"If only you had attached my legs," 3PO began "I wouldn't be in this ridiculous position. Now, remember, Chewbacca, you have a responsibility to me, so don't do anything foolish."

Han`s eyes straighten at Lando "What's going on... buddy?"

"You're being put into carbon freeze." Boba Fett moves away from the group to Darth Vader. "What if he doesn't survive? He's worth a lot to me." Fett turns to him and asks.

"The Empire will compensate you if he dies. Put him in!" Realizing what is about to happen, Chewie lets out a wild howl and attacks the Stormtroopers surrounding Han. Within seconds, other Imperial reinforcements join the scuffle, clubbing the giant Wookie with their laser weapons. From the instant of Chewie's first move, 3PO begins to scream in panic while he tries to protect himself with his one arm.

"Oh, no! No, no, no! Stop, Chewbacca, stop...!" The Stormtroopers are about to bash Chewie in the face.

"Stop, Chewie, stop! Do you hear me? Stop!" Han yells at Chewie.

"Yes, stop, please! I'm not ready to die." 3PO begs. Han breaks away from his captors. Vader nods to the guards to let him go and the pirate breaks up the fight. "Chewie! Chewie, this won't help me. Hey!"

Han gives the Wookie a stern look. "Save your strength. There'll be another time. The princess, Cerise, - you have to take care of them. You hear me?" Han winks at the Wookie, who wails a doleful farewell.

In a flash the guards have slipped binders on Chewbacca, who is too distraught to protest. Han turns to Princess Leia. They look sorrowfully at one another, then Han moves toward her and gives her a final, passionate kiss.

They`re torn apart and Han is placed on the hydraulic platform. Without another thought, she shouts her feelings "I love you!"

Han only stands there for a few seconds, than replies "I know." Tears roll down Leia's face as she watches the dashing pirate await his demise.

Han looks one final time at his friends - and then, suddenly, the platform drops. Chewie howls. Leia turns away in agony.

Lando winces in sorrow; it makes a life-changing impression on him.

Instantly, fiery liquid begins to pour down in a shower of sparks and fluid as great as any steel furnace. Holding Leia, Chewie half-turns away from the sight, giving 3PO a view of the procedure.

"What... what's going on? Turn round, Chewbacca, I can't see. Oh... they've encased him in carbonite. He should be quite well-protected - if he survives the freezing process, that is."

Chewie is in no mood for technical discussion; he gives the droid an angry glance and bark.

A huge mechanical tong lifts the steaming metal-encased space pirate out of the vat and stands him on the platform. Some Ugnaughts rush over and push the block over onto the platform. They slide the coffinlike structure to the block and lift the metal block, placing it inside. They then attach an electronic box onto the structure and step away. Lando kneels and adjusts some knobs, measuring the heat. He shakes his head in relief.

"Well, Calrissian, did he survive?" Vader`s voice makes Lando nearly jump, but only slightly.

"Yes, he's alive. And in perfect hibernation."

Vader turns to Boba Fett. "He's all yours bounty hunter. Reset the chamber for Skywalker." "Skywalker has just landed, my lord." The officer informs.

"Good. See to it that he finds his way here. Calrissian, take the princess and the Wookie to my ship."

Lando is tempted to give him a cold stare, but refrains "You said they'd be left in the city under my supervision."

"I am altering the deal. Pray I don't alter it any further."

"What about the girl?" Lando asks about Cerise.

"Let her stay where she is, she is a priority to the deal."

Lando's hand instinctively goes to his throat as he turns to Leia, Chewie, and 3PO.


I pushed my eyes open and stared up at a fairly grim ceiling. A small groan escapes my lips as I feet an uncomfortable pain at the back of my head.

I moved my right hand to caress the spot, but hear the clanking of something. I shift my eyes down to my wrist and see a shackle tightened around it! I turn my head to the other wrist, another shackle. Where am I?

I push myself to stand up and pull on the chains that were connected to the shackles; not even the locks loosened. I keep tugging and yanking until my wrists feel raw and must be red. I fall back onto the freezing ground and huff and puff out of exhaustion. I can just feel my eyes nearly flooding with tears. "Get a grip, woman! Unless you don`t have a plan-!" I instantly remember.

"My necklace! If I can just-." I put my hand on my chest, why is it not there?!

Not even in a matter of seconds, I panic and panic. I don`t know if I`ve been this terrified since the dream I had a few days ago. My goodness, is it all that been?

I throw myself against the wall and pound the wall with my fists. That was my only chance.


Hey guys! So, I`m REALLY to get done with either my Star Wars, Force Awakens, or Back to the Future Part II fanfic done so I can start The Hobbit. Yes, I know I could do Titanic, Holes, or To Kill a Mockingbird now, but, I`ve just had my heart set on The Hobbit since I just finished reading it in school.