Somehow, I managed to answer a call from Addison. It probably helped that it was both marked as urgent, and unrelated to her screw up. Specifically, it was about the satellite that blew itself up over Eos. Long story short, the satellite was a ZK resource tracker. Emergency tech, full of overrides to bypass protocol. An understandable resource to have in worst case scenarios, though clearly we don't need those now. Their designer was Dr. Zoe Jean Kennedy. Hence the name, ZK, her first and last initials. She disappeared with the exiles, so it appeared that she had made more to steal resources from our outposts. The amounts of credits Zoe takes isn't exactly much to concern ourselves with, but the implication that someone could hijack one of those satellites to steal more… What's more, is that Addison revealed that she wants to know what happened to her. I may hate Addison, but I don't hate, don't even know, this Zoe woman. I'm willing to help find her. Addison didn't have any leads for us, but we did get some nav data from the Eos one. It's likely there is now a satellite over Voeld that would give us more. And more would likely appear at any outposts I set up.
We arrived at Kadara with an hour still to spare before the party, Reyes would meet me outside a bit after it gets started. Fashionably late, I suppose. Vetra found someone selling popcorn and Graxen, so we were all very pleased to hear we'd be getting plenty more of that. The crew spent some time relaxing in the bar. Or as close to relaxing as we could. Drack and Umi certainly seem to get along, she must find him as a kind of challenge, just trying to find something that isn't regular Ryncol that could stagger even him. This may go without saying, but, she didn't succeed. Jaal was just completely uncomfortable here. He felt on edge. The Milky Way exiles, many were criminals. The Angara here, mostly traitors who've abandoned the Resistance. Peebee was doing what she could to reassure him, but was still on edge herself, some angry looks from some exiles. Eventually, I got a message from Reyes. He was waiting outside the Outcast HQ for me now.
"Try not to piss them off too much," Vetra warned with a chuckle as I stood to leave.
"Ah but they make it so easy," I remarked, leaving Kralla's song. I found Reyes right where he said he'd be, just outside the Outcast HQ.
"Time to introduce you to the Kadara royalty, hm?" Reyes greeted.
"I suppose that's one way to describe it," I shrugged, and he led me outside. An outcast guard stopped us at the door to Sloane's throne room.
"Hold it, this is a private event. You have an invite?" he questioned.
"Reyes Vidal. He's with me," Reyes answered. The guard checked the list.
"Go ahead," he stated, obviously very bored. The door opened, and we entered. Kaetus was leaning back against the wall, sizing up anyone who enters, I suppose. His eyes widened in slight surprise to see me here, but nodded. Still, I have little doubt he'll be keeping a close eye on me. Each table was full, and where there weren't tables, there was likely a group of people talking to one another. Sloane herself, was seated in her throne, making passing comments to a pair of bodyguards at her side. Reyes led me in a beeline towards one particular group. An Angaran woman, a Krogan, and a human talking to one another. The Angaran woman, glanced behind her and saw us, a flash of recognition in her eyes as she saw Reyes. She smiled, and broke off with her group, approaching us.
"Reyes Vidal. I was beginning to think you wouldn't show," she greeted.
"Remember what I said about fashionably late?" Reyes reminded, with a smirk. The woman hushed Reyes.
"Introduce me to your companion," she requested.
"Pathfinder Scott Ryder, Keema Dohgun. Angaran representative to Sloane, and a friend," Reyes introduced.
"A friend huh? Sure you're not also a contact or colleague?" I joked. "Good to meet you, Keema."
"Oh, I'm those as well. Who do you think secured him an invitation to this event?" Keema asked rhetorically. "And pleased to meet you as well, Scott."
"Sorry to cut this short, but I need to take care of something," Reyes butted in. Hm? But we only just got here. He has some kind of plan up his sleeve.
"Just abandoning me to the wild crowds already huh?" I remarked.
"It won't take long," Reyes reassured. "There are important players here tonight. Mingle, make an impression. Like I said in the call."
"Alright, alright, but tell me what it's all about later, will you?" I requested. I got no answer, merely chuckles as Reyes was already heading for the door.
"And there he goes," Keema chuckled, shaking her head.
"You have any ideas what he's doing?" I asked. Keema smirked.
"It's best not to worry about what Reyes does."
"So, how'd you meet him anyway?" I questioned.
"Reyes? The only way anyone meets him. Through business. His skills are quite valuable here," Keema remarked.
"And just how do you represent the Angara to Sloane?"
"In theory, she relies on me to provide an Angaran perspective. I take into account problems more common to Heleus than your people are used to. As well as what the Angara, both here and on Aya, would think of certain moves," Keema explained.
"And in practice?"
"She only listens in extreme circumstances. She makes a show of being pro-Angaran, but the outcasts are her priority. Hardly surprising, however," Keema shrugged.
"You said you explain how the Resistance may react to certain moves. Is that just a guess or…?" I trailed off.
"Evfra and I share information, but I'm not a member of the Resistance. Kadara's problems come first for me," Keema clarified. Hm, I wonder if she is the person the Resistance has on standby to take over… "If war breaks out between the Collective and Outcasts, it will be my people who suffer."
"Shame how common a theme that seems to be in history," I muttered. "I hope these pirates haven't given you a bad view of the rest of us."
"Don't worry, Scott," Keema laughed. "I judge individuals, not groups. You, for example, I like. From what Evfra has told me, and my own observations just now. I'm not sure about who you work for, but most I've heard of them has been rather biased. I've learned to keep my options open."
"You never know who might end up in charge," I remarked. There was a flicker of understanding in Keema's eyes. Obviously, the Initiative wouldn't end up in charge of Kadara, I think Keema knew that. But the Initiative isn't the only faction in play…
"Exactly," Keema nodded. "Now, you may wish to follow up on Reyes suggestion. You won't make an impression talking only to me, after all."
"Sure. Nice talking with you Keema," I ended the conversation.
"Likewise, Scott." I wandered around the room. I helped an indecisive gambler make a choice that won him a game, and even helped this Turian who tried to be a bad boy to an Angaran woman fix his… well… horrendously stupid mistake. Guy tried comparing her with her sister to make her jealous. When I told him to go apologize, she accepted but chastised him for not just saying what he felt. Hm. Advice I need to take myself. I wandered a bit more when Kaetus stopped me, a hand on my shoulder to get my attention, then crossing his arms over his chest when I turned.
"One wrong move, and you're out," he warned.
"Just here to mingle, Kaetus. I don't plan on doing anything loud and obnoxious," I remarked.
"Just keep a low profile. Sloane's already giving me hell," he stated. I glanced over to her. She was keeping her eyes on me. I think I'll go see just what she has to say. I wandered over to her, and she leaned back in her chair, her bodyguards keeping a close eye on my hands.
"I see that Kaetus needs to vet the guest list more thoroughly," she murmured.
"And here I thought I was getting on your good side when I helped with the problem. Relax, your majesty, a friend invited. Here for the drinks, here to mingle," I reassured. Sloane rolled her eyes.
"You can freeload like everyone else, but don't cause trouble," she warned. I held my right hand over my heart, and the other in the air.
"Pathfinder's honor," I grinned.
"Just go," Sloane groaned. Still no sign of Reyes, I sent a message asking where he was, and grabbed a drink from the bar. I nursed the drink, and no reply.
"I believe Mr. Vidal went off to one of the side rooms, Pathfinder," SAM informed on the private channel. Alright, I want to see just what he's up to. I exited the throne room and made my way to a side room pointed out by SAM. Reyes was in there, rummaging through crates.
"Damnit, why can't the serial numbers be in the same spot," he grumbled.
"Really? Taking you this long to find what you're looking for? So much for a relaxing night at a party hm?" I called him out.
"Er, I suppose 'It's not what it looks like,' is going to work?" he asked, a fake half smirk on his face. Huh, he looks embarrassed
"Was I just a distraction here or is being out there going to benefit much?"
"Yes to the latter, and for the former? This is for both our benefits, I promise," he reassured.
"And that is?" I asked. Reyes opened his mouth to speak, but we heard footsteps.
"Shit, someone's coming! We need a distraction, or… something!" he whispered. I have an idea.
"Sorry," I murmured, and I slammed my fist straight into his gut. Reyes back took a ninety-degree angle, his head in my direction, grunting in pain, holding his stomach, the wind knocked out of his lungs. Casually, I stood to his side, patting his back, and he got the idea, adding in some retching to his pain. At least, I think it was acting. An outcast entered, a woman, grabbed a bottle, seeing us and just rolling her eyes, then left. Reyes looked at me with mild annoyance in his eyes. "Hey, it worked."
"Next time, I come up with the plan," he grumbled. He leaped up onto a crate to begin rummaging through the crate above it. "Finally! Here it is." he jumped down, an amber colored bottle in hand. Whiskey written in bold at the front.
"So, just here for Whiskey? We could have gone to the bar, you know," I reminded.
"This is the only bottle of Mount Milgrom in Andromeda. Triple-distilled and six-hundred-forty-five years old. This isn't whiskey, it's treasure," Reyes explained. I read over the label, and shit. He's right.
"You are sharing that, right?" I questioned.
"Even with that punch to the gut?" Reyes chuckled. "Come on, let's get out of here. I have a good spot," Reyes suggested.
We were sitting on top of a roof in the port, backs against the building, legs dangling off the edge. Looking up at the night sky, the way the nearby nebula glowed, and even some scourge in the distance twinkled. And how the black hole's gravity bent the light around it. And of course, we were enjoying the whiskey.
"Beautiful, isn't it? I sometimes forget," Reyes murmured. "Is Andromeda everything you hoped it would be?"
"What I hoped was more or less what the brochures described. What with the golden worlds and everything. But… every day is an adventure. Even my night's off are interesting," I teased. "But I don't regret coming here. Wish my dad was still alive, and that my sister was awake, but it hasn't been a bad time. What about you? Why did you come here?" I pried, handing the bottle back to him. He took a moment to think, took a sip of his bottle.
"To be someone," he answered. An honest answer from this rogue. I could joke about that, but… now isn't the time. I could give him shit later.
"You're a resistance contact, one of the best smugglers on Kadara, and, a good friend of mine. Mission accomplished, I'd say," I patted Reyes on the back. He looked over and smiled.
"To new adventures," he raised the bottle, and took a swig, handing it back to me.
"And new friends," I grinned, raising the bottle again, then taking another swig. We sat there a bit longer, then Reyes let out a sigh.
"It's getting late, and I have some jobs to do tomorrow. I should get going," Reyes stated.
"Sure, see you around. I think my team and I will turn in for the night, see what's going on tomorrow," I replied. Reyes nodded, and took his leave. I typed out a quick message to the crew.
Attention Crew: It appears we have this night to relax and sleep. Why don't we celebrate this, and our new supply of popcorn (and Graxen) with a movie night! Meet me in my quarters in half an hour.
The couch was in place, Vetra had the food and drinks ready, including dextro sodas for Sid, and everyone was seated. Me at the corner with an armrest, Vetra next to me, then Sid, Drack, Jaal, Peebee, Gil, Liam, Lexi, Suvi, Kallo, and Cora. I stood to speak with the others.
"Glad to see you all here, and our special guest, Sid, tonight. So, unless anyone has anything else in mind, tonight we'll be watching Return of the Jedi, the last of the Original Star Wars trilogy," I explained.
"Oh, I haven't watched any of the movies, but I know of a bunch of old jokes that go with it," Sid exclaimed.
"Of course you do," I chuckled.
"So, everyone good with the selection?" I asked one more time. No one spoke.
"Alright, let's get started then," I stated, grabbing a drink and a bag of popcorn as SAM started the movie. Once again, skipping all the previews and all the legal bits, and the intro text slide began.
"Back to Tatooine huh? For a sand ball on the outer rim it sure is a common stop," Vetra remarked.
"A new armored space station? Has the Empire ever looked at the definition of insanity?" Cora questioned. The opening crawl ended, and we were presented with a view of the still under construction second Death Star. "And it's the same damn thing! How is it any different?"
"If I remember right, it wouldn't have had the same fatal flaw as the first. Likely none at all. And I think they'd even be able to use it to single handedly destroy a fleet," I explained. Cora sighed and shrugged, accepting the answer.
"Oh yeah, I remember watching this old, pixel animated video of an engineer explaining how he should be thanked for his work, when the shot that destroyed the first one was impossible, but space wizards," Sid chuckled.
"Yeah, I've seen the same one," I nodded, as a Death star came into view much like the beginning of A New Hope, and an Imperial shuttle was released, with two TIE Fighters protecting it. The shuttle landed, and a retinue of Stormtroopers and officers stood in formation to greet the Dark Lord of the Sith. The glorious imperial march playing menacingly.
"I, am your father," Sid muttered dramatically. The others chuckled lightly.
The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am
"Well, that's not saying much," Peebee remarked.
"Bipedal fat green pigs with horns? The hell?" Cora muttered aloud.
"Gamorrean guards. Yeah, weird, I know," I replied. Soon, Bib Fortuna led R2 and 3P0 to Jabba himself.
"Oh, Goddess that is NOT easy to look at," Peebee groaned aloud. "He looks even uglier than when we saw him in New Hope." The scene continued, R2 playing the message for Jabba from Luke. And he offered the gift of his own droids. A surprise to 3P0, and not one he was pleased with.
"And just what kind of plan does Luke have then, I wonder," Vetra mused. Jabba stated that he wouldn't give up his favorite decoration, and the camera shifted to see Han, still frozen in carbonite in a side room. Then everyone in Jabba's throne room began laughing. Even the monkey dog thing. They took the droids down to what essentially seemed to be a droid torture chamber.
"Why go through the bother? Couldn't they just be re-programmed, or turned off?" Drack questioned.
"Just chalk it up as to Jabba being sadistic," Liam shrugged. As the droids were sent away, a kind of band were putting on a show in Jabba's throne room. Dancing girls, one that looked like she had six tits, and a green Twi'Lek slave girl in the center, the band having that very weird… I have no idea how the fuck to describe the alien with a mosquito mouth, a tiny frog guy, a furry ant guy, and a Rodian woman with hair, somehow.
"What the fuck…" Vetra murmured, as they performed again.
"Why include this?" Lexi questioned.
"I've seen this movie before and still I'm just as confused as you. It's not one of the highlights," I replied. The Twi'Lek dancer began resisting, tugging at the chain around her neck. It occurred to me that when Leia ends up in her place, it will probably be a good idea to find some excuse to get Sid out of the room for a minute. It may bring back some unpleasant memories. Jabba slammed a button on his throne and she fell into a trap door. She was down in a pit, skeletons around her, the others eagerly watching from above. A large metal door began to open, the growling and then roaring quite clear, though it was not yet revealed what beast Jabba was keeping. Though we all knew it just found itself with a meal. Heh, remember to eat your greens.
There was the sound of blaster fire and punching. A small bounty hunter, wearing a mask, dragged in Chewbacca on a chain. Jabba was pleased.
"Alright, that had to be planned. But just what IS the plan," Kallo questioned. The bounty hunter did not seem to believe that the current bounty, 25k credits was sufficient, and demanded the bounty be doubled. Jabba was now less pleased. The bounty hunter pulled a thermal detonator from their belt, and activated it. Most in the crowd began panicking. Jabba laughed, respecting the balls of the bounty hunter. He raised the bounty to 35k, and the bounty hunter accepted. The pigs took Chewie away, the throne room returned to normal, and Boba Fett nodded approvingly. Then we saw one of Jabba's human guards lift his faceplate slightly. Lando.
"Another player back on the board…" Drack muttered.
"Should have known it was her," Peebee remarked, as Leia took off her disguise as the bounty hunter, Han now out of carbonite. Leia and Han kissed, but they were not going to have much of an escape.
"Oh, shit, hey Sid, there's a bottle of Rum in the fridge and cans of Coca-Cola, a soda in the fridge in the mess. Would you go grab a bottle and a can, please? Sorry, forgot to ask before," I requested.
"Sure," she stated cheerfully. As Sid's back was turned to us as she left my quarters, Vetra looked at me questioningly, then Jabba had Leia brought to him, and began licking his lips just in front of him. Vetra didn't need an explanation.
"Thanks," she whispered. Sid returned holding both as Han and Chewie were in a cell. She handed me both and I took a glass, poured both in, and enjoyed the Rum and coke. The scene shifted, Luke entering the palace, then blocked by two Gamorreans. He used a force choke to get both out of his way.
"Uh, isn't that a bad guy move?" Cora questioned. Well, Luke wasn't a paragon of the Jedi, but hardly a Sith. Luke entered Jabba's throne, Leia laying at Jabba's… tail, in her slave garb.
"Ugh," Sid shuddered. At least it didn't appear that the connection went THAT far. Luke stepped closer to the currently concealed trap door.
"I think we're about to see whatever the hell that thing was," Drack murmured. Luke attempted to grab a blaster and shoot Jabba, but as a Gamorrean tried to restrain him, both fell through the trap door. The pig knew the danger and immediately tried to climb out. The large metal door began to open once more. The massive hands of the Rancor appearing, followed by the creature itself.
"Already imagining having that head on my wall," Drack chuckled. The Rancor grabbed the Gamorrean and ate him, then turned its attention to Luke. He was grabbed, but had grabbed a bone, and wedged it between the beast's jaws, hiding under a crevice in the rock. Luke saw his means of escape. He beat the Rancor's claws away with a rock, then ran under its legs and to a small door that was his means of escape. But there was a second security door, the guards on the other side shoved him away. But it was not over. As the Rancor stepped under the large metal door, Luke threw a rock at an emergency button within the cage, and the door slammed shut on the beast, one of the spikes on the door jamming its way through the Rancor's skull. A fat man who appeared to be the beast's handler was rather saddened for the death of the creature.
They had now been taken out to the Sarlacc pit among several skiffs and Jabba's barge. And we got our first look at the Sarlacc itself. A beak poking out of a pit with teeth and tentacles wiggling out.
"Ugh, reminds me of these weird pictures I've seen. Human made, some kind of animated style, from some region on Earth," Sid groaned.
"Yeah, the Japanese are an… odd people. Please, do not remind me of that kind of tentacle crap. It's disgusting," I groaned in turn. I noticed Liam and Gil both had also shuddered at the thought. Cora didn't seem to know what we were talking about.
"What, like Hanar?" Peebee questioned with a smirk.
"STOP!" I exclaimed. My tone held no anger, or anything negative towards Peebee, just disgust at the mere thought. But that seemed to make the connection for all the others and Liam threw a handful of popcorn at Peebee, to which she just laughed.
When Jabba allowed Chewie, Han, and Luke a chance to beg for mercy, they essentially told him to go fuck himself, though in much less colorful language. Luke was moved to the edge of the plank over the pit, R2 waiting at the top of the barge. He nodded to Lando, and looked at R2. He gave a mock salute, jumped, but turned and grabbed the plank. R2 launched a lightsaber high into the air towards the skiff Luke was on, he jumped over the Weequay guard, and grabbed his new lightsaber. A green one, rather than the old blue, and sliced away at the guards, several falling towards the Sarlacc, one with the classic Wilhelm scream. Lando was knocked off while wrestling with another guard, and Boba jetpacked into the fray, though Lando had fortunately grabbed onto a rope. Luke sliced Boba's EE-3 rifle in two, and the Jabba's barge continued blasting, yet missing, at Luke and the others. The other skiff attempted to end their threat, but Luke simply jumped across and fought them off. Boba turned his back to Han and Chewie as they grabbed a pike to try and get Lando out of the Sarlacc's reach. Han, without even knowing, slammed the pike into Boba's jetpack, causing it to malfunction and send him flying into the side of the sail barge, and he tumbled into the Sarlacc's maw. A rather anti-climactic death for an iconic antagonist. Well, at least it appeared to be his demise. Leia took this distraction to shut off the lights of the barge, slamming the chain into the controls, then jumped behind Jabba and choked him to death with the chain.
"You go, girl!" Vetra exclaimed.
Luke was now on the sail barge, and now both Lando and Han were in danger of being another meal for the Sarlacc, which had a tentacle wrapped around Lando's leg. Han shot the tentacle, his sight returning to him, and saved his old friend. Tarzan style, Luke carried Leia away from the barge on a rope, landing on their skiff, the droids partially buried in the sand, and Jabba's barge about to blow.
"Careful girl, don't let them see too much," Peebee chuckled. The droids were recovered, and the protagonists safely sped away, back to their ships. The falcon heading to their fleet, Luke heading to Dagobah.
"Well, that's a helluva lot more than they had to welcome Vader," Cora remarked, seeing a new shuttle, and row after row of trooper and officer in the hangar of the Death Star 2. There's only one wrinkly old evil bastard they'd be there to welcome. The red-cloaked royal guards exited first, Vader waiting for his master at the front of the shuttle, kneeling. Emperor Sheev Palpatine, with his own dark, foreboding soundtrack, exited the shuttle. Vader and his master spoke as they walked through the hangar. As one would expect, Vader wanted to continue the hunt for Luke. The Emperor suggested he wait, that Luke will come to him.
"Of course he would. That is his father after all," Jaal muttered.
"Hold on. I remember in the first one we watched there were mostly humans in both the rebel and Empire. I could believe that it was because of the budget for costume designs, but now? Why so many humans still?" Lexi questioned.
"The Rebels take whoever they can get. You'll see other species with them later. As for the Empire, well, it wouldn't be too accurate to call them fully Xenophobic, as they occasionally have aliens working with them, or even in high, respectable places, like their Grand Admiral Thrawn, but still, they still prefer humans above all else," I explained.
"Wait, I think I know who Thrawn is. Wasn't he basically a human but with blue skin and red eyes?" Gil remarked.
"Yeah, the Chiss are pretty much exactly as you described. Eh, don't really know though. I ain't gonna try and psychoanalyze an evil empire from an old Sci-Fi movie," I shrugged.
When nine-hundred years old you reach, look as good, you will not.
"Hah, when I'm 900, the only difference is that I may have slightly paler skin," Peebee chuckled.
"I'm over a thousand and I think I look as good as I did when I first passed my rite of passage," Drack smirked. Almost everyone laughed at the old man.
"I could believe it," Lexi murmured, then quickly went dead silent.
"At least someone appreciates me," Drack grumbled. Yoda continued speaking with Luke, of his old age, his sickness, as he entered his bed. He confirmed to Luke that Vader was his father, and reminded him that anger, fear, and aggression were paths to the dark side.
"Fear is not inherently evil," Jaal argued. "Dos-ashaan. Good fear, I believe it translates. Fearing things that should be feared keep you alive. It fuels your struggle to survive here. It fuels my people's war against the Kett. And when you embrace Dos-ashaan, when you refuse to let it hold you down, that's courage." Huh, that's a very solid piece of wisdom from the Angara. I need to keep that in mind.
"I like that, Jaal," Vetra murmured.
There… is another… Skywalker… Yoda coughed, and then died, Luke being shocked, and Yoda's body faded, just like Obi-Wan's did.
"Oh, so that's what he meant when he told Obi that they had another hope," Kallo remarked. Speaking of who, Obi-wan appeared to Luke. They spoke, Luke chastising Obi-wan for not telling him that Vader was his father. And that he couldn't kill his own father. Luke asked about the other Yoda mentioned. Obi-wan of course telling him that it was his twin sister. Though the name was not revealed. By Obi-Wan. But Luke quickly figured it out. Leia.
"Wait, didn't Leia kiss Luke in the last one?" Vetra questioned. Sid giggled, I suppose she's familiar with the old jokes of how Leia kissed her twin brother.
"Yyyyyep. She sure did," I chuckled. Vetra was not the only one to make a face. The scene changed once more, back at the Rebel fleet with the others in the meeting room, Admiral Ackbar looking down from above.
"It's a trap," I heard Sid whisper. Damn it girl, just how much do you know? The meeting began, Mon Mothma describing the new data on the Death Star 2 retrieved by the Bothan spies. The ones who die doing everything. Ackbar asked some Bothans to go get him some coffee once. All dead.
"I dunno, this guy looks a bit fishy to me," Liam joked. Cora half groaned, half chuckled. Gil, Suvi, and I, laughed. But with the aliens, it didn't translate. Unfortunately. Han got the command of the ground team for Endor, and Luke arrived just in time to ensure he'd be counted in for the team. Then, in the hangar bay, Han was insisting that Lando take the Falcon for the space battle. So long as it doesn't get even a scratch.
"I'm not sure I'd be able to hand over the Tempest as easily," Kallo remarked.
"I don't expect you'll need to anytime soon. You won't be leading any ground missions," I replied.
"And for that, I am forever grateful," the pilot chuckled, taking a sip of his drink.
"See that guy behind Chewie? Looks a bit old to be on a combat op," Cora remarked.
"Hey, Captain Rex has been through hell and back, he can handle it," I chuckled.
"Who?" Cora questioned.
"A clone trooper and fan favorite from the Clone Wars, a series that was one of the best things to come out of the prequels," I explained.
"Watch those wrist rockets," Sid warned dramatically. I nearly broke out in laughter. That game may have come out in 2005 but it is goddamn legendary. Han offered to go with Chewie and subtly take out the two scout troopers. I don't think any of us expected that to go well, and it was proven when one bitch slapped Han after he stepped on a twig. Luke and Leia both hopped on a speeder bike after a pair of other Scouts were off to alert the Empire, unable to use their now jammed comms.
"I would not want to be in their shoes right now," Vetra muttered. Yeah, speeder bikes in a thick forest? No thanks. Luke kicked a scout of his speeder, hijacking it for himself, and two more scouts appeared behind them. Luke and Leia deciding to divide and conquer. Then, while looking at Leia, one Scout slammed straight into a large tree. "And that's why," Vetra chuckled, Leia now off her bike, relieved to see the scout was dead.
"Ok, I thought furry things were supposed to be adorable. That thing is just creepy," Sid shuddered as the Ewok woke up Leia.
"Not much for teddy bears with murder in their eyes?" Liam chuckled.
"Can't really say that I am," she shrugged in reply.
"They must worship the shiniest of shinies," Sid chuckled. The Ewoks were bowing and humming to C-3P0. They were all brought to the Ewok village, Threepio on a chair, and everyone else tied to a spit to be cooked. Then Leia was brought out of an Ewok hut all prettied up. Hair down, braided, and even in a dress.
"How would they have made that in so little time, and with being so primitive?" Drack questioned. Luke then used the force to lift 3P0 in his chair, scaring all the creepy fur balls.
"FEAR YOUR SHINY GOD!" Sid exclaimed, chuckling.
The force is strong in my family… My father has it, I have it… my sister has it.
"That's right giiiiirl, you kissed your brotherrrrrrrr," Peebee laughed. Luke left, and it was revealed he had turned himself into the Imperials, and was taken straight to Vader, who had just landed on Endor.
It is… too late for me, my son…
"Well, that speaks volumes…" Jaal muttered. Vader stood as the Stormtroopers took Luke, preparing to send him with Vader to the Emperor, and Vader moved to look over into the forest. "As does that…" The rebels learned from the Ewoks of a secret entrance, and the scene changed to the Rebel fleet, preparing for lightspeed. We saw Lando, piloting the Falcon, and his Co-Pilot, Nien Nub, the Sullustan.
"Looks like he has a face under his face," Peebee remarked.
Everything that has transpired has done so to my design. Your friends on the sanctuary moon are walking into a trap, as is your rebel fleet. It was I who allowed the Alliance to know the location of the shield generator it is quite safe from your pitiful little band. An entire legion of my best troops await them. I'm afraid the deflector shield will be quite operational when your friends arrive.
"BAMBOOZLED AGAIN!" Sid exclaimed. God this kid is fantastic. The rebels began laying explosives in the shield generator as it was stormed by… well… stormtroopers. And the Rebel Fleet arrived at Endor. The Rebels figured out, fortunately before any ships rammed into the deflector shield, that…
It's a trap!
Liam, Gil, Suvi, Sid, and I all laughed as we said it in unison with Ackbar. Vetra was chuckling, shaking her head. Peebee and Jaal, while confused, were smirking. I don't think Kallo, Lexi, or Drack know what to make of it. Now the Rebel Fleet had to contend with the Imperial fleet, Palpatine tried once more to turn Luke, and the Rebels were taken outside. And then Stormtroopers were getting jumped by the little fur balls.
"Do not tell me, that an entire legion, handpicked by the Emperor himself, as the best in the empire, are about to be taken out by a bunch of unarmored little shits with spears made of wood and stone, and bows with stone arrowheads," Drack groaned. As the Ewoks continued their ambush.
"But look, they also have gliders," I pointed out as one was shown dropping rocks on the troops. "They also have rope," as a bunch of Ewoks tried to trip an AT-ST. "And don't forget, big ass logs," I chuckled. Drack simply grumbled. Back on the Death Star, Palpatine ordered the Death Star to begin firing, and a single shot destroyed a large cruiser. While back on Endor, R2 was shot while trying to hack open the doors to the shield generator, but the little blue rascal was still alive. And the tide was turning against the Ewoks. They didn't have much to combat the Chicken Walkers. Though, they did have those giant logs I mentioned. And a Wookie using a rope to Tarzan swing onto another, hijacking it.
"Is anyone else scared by the thought of those things controlling that walker?" Sid remarked.
"I think they'd be more likely to hurt themselves than others," I chuckled. Sid nearly interrupted me, laughing, as a Scout trooper was clotheslined off his bike by a rope the Ewoks had set up. Leia was shot in the shoulder, but I don't think anyone was surprised that she was fine. And the scene changed to Vader and Luke engaged in one, final duel. Luke was playing highly defensively. Fortunately, the Rebels had once again infiltrated the shield facility. Meanwhile, Luke's thoughts, sensed by Vader, had revealed his sister. And it was her being under threat that drove Luke to action.
"See? He wants to protect his sister too, Sid," Vetra teased. Sid merely looked at Vetra and playfully stuck out her tongue. Luke pushed Vader back, attack after attack, until he had battered down his defenses, and Vader's arm was once more cut off. Revealing the wires of his cybernetic hand, much like Luke's. Vader was without his lightsaber, his hand raised with his back on the ground. A clear sign of yielding. The Emperor was pleased. Offering Luke Vader's place at his side. Luke deactivated, and threw his saber away. He refused the offer. The Emperor's response may shock you. But it was not shown until after the shield generator was destroyed, and the Rebel Fleet once more engaged the Death star, rather than the Imperial Fleet.
The Emperor lifted his hands towards the young Skywalker, and lightning spewed from his fingertips, knocking Luke to the side, and Vader stood, standing beside his master.
"Come on…. Come on…" Jaal murmured, as Vader kept looking between his Master, and his Son. Luke was in pain, calling for his father to aid him. Twitching, convulsing at the Emperor's torture. It was too much. Anakin grabbed his master, the lightning now directed at him, rather than his son, and he cast the Emperor off the edge, down a seemingly bottomless abyss, to the blue fire of the reactor far, far below. Palpatine screamed, and as the electricity lingered on Anakin, it acted like an X-ray, showing the skeleton, the man, within. Anakin's breathing was now pained, heavy. The breathing apparatus damaged. Jaal nodded approvingly.
"So much for not a scratch," Cora chuckled. A radar or comm disk, not too sure what it was used for, was broken off the Falcon as it flew inside the inner workings of the second death star. Luke carried his father to the hangar bay, the Imperials ignoring them both, and set him at the edge of an Imperial shuttle. And his father requested that his mask be taken off. To look upon his son with his own eyes. Luke complied. The visage of Darth Vader was removed. The Dark Lord of the Sith was dead, and now, for a short while, Anakin Skywalker lived once more. His pale, scarred, burned face revealed to the universe, one last time. I think I saw Jaal wipe a tear from his eye.
"I think he wore that mask for more than just his survival," Peebee murmured. Jaal sighed. Anakin Skywalker died in the arms of his son. Free, and redeemed. The Imperial march, this time played by a string instrument, played slowly, hauntingly, one last time.
The Millennium Falcon had just found itself, and an X-wing who followed them, in the reactor core of the death star. With a few well-placed shots, it was destroyed, and they began speeding for their escape. Luke, having carried Anakin's body onto the shuttle, did the same. And the Falcon, perhaps with a few scorch marks, escaped the battle station. The Rebels both on Endor, and the Fleet, were celebrating. Though Han's celebrating was certainly less about the Empire, and more about how he not only lacked any kind of competition with the Princess, but that she already chose him. Hm, I wonder if that night was when their edge lord of a son was conceived. The scene shifted to a torch, at night, on Endor, being used to light a funeral pyre, the body of Anakin Skywalker placed upon it. Shortly after, the galaxy had decided it was time to celebrate. Rebel fighters speeding across the sky, fireworks, and we got to see how other places in the Galaxy were receiving the news. The Emperor was dead, the time of the Empire was coming to a close. Even though their threat was far from over. I knew many of the places shown would be unfamiliar to the others, as most were places from the prequel trilogy.
"Bespin, in the last episode," I reminded, as the people of Cloud City were shown celebrating. Cheering. "Mos Eisley, back on Tatooine. Theed, capital city of Naboo."
Weesa Free!
"Ignore and forget them. Everyone hates the Gungans," I suggested. Sid giggled, likely having heard no end of hatred towards the abomination who shall not be named. "Coruscant, city planet, capital of the Republic, then Empire." And a stature of the Emperor was torn down. And then, back to Endor. Ewoks and rebels dancing and celebrating. Even using Imperial helmets as drums. The triumphant feeling of the scene felt contagious. And I even hummed along to the music a bit. Luke looked to the side, and he saw two familiar faces as force ghosts smiling. Then joined by one more. His father, before he became Vader.
"Is that…?" Vetra trailed off.
"It is," I confirmed, smiling. The credits rolled.
"When everything settles down, I'm excited to see what other movies your people create," Jaal complimented. "In fact… Gil? Can I speak to you later? I have an idea…"
"Can it wait until tomorrow? I'm kinda tired mate," Gil requested.
"Of course, we won't be able to do anything about it until we return to Aya anyway," Jaal answered.
"Thanks for letting me join for a movie night, Scott," Sid smiled.
"What, you think I'd just have a movie night then not let you join us? What kind of monster do you think I am Sid?" I teased.
"Not one that's as freaky as those furry things," Sid chuckled.
"He'd have to work pretty hard to reach that level," Vetra laughed. The others began to leave, Peebee kissing Jaal on the cheek, asking that he come see her before going to sleep, as Jaal and Vetra helped me clean up, and Sid said goodbye to her hamster, who was still residing in my room for the time being. When done, I wished them all a good night, and that Jaal enjoy himself. Then, I got to bed myself.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey guys! Hope you enjoyed this movie night with our special guest. And, because I'm eager and proud of how it's come out, I'm telling you all, that while the entire of next chapter is not yet complete, the scene? The scene is done. Just did that this afternoon. Can't wait to show you all this Friday!
