Star Wars: Remix version
Chapter Forty-Eight: Ewoks
The group reached a break in the undergrowth. Chewie walked up to a tall stake planted in the ground. There was a dead animal hanging from it. Han frowned
"Hey, I don't get it" He muttered. "It's just a dead animal, Chewie" Chewie couldn't resist. He reached toward the meat.
"Chewie, wa-wait! Don't!" Anna cried, but it was too late. The Wookiee had already pulled the animal from the stake. SPROOING! The group found itself hanging upside down in an Ewok net, suspended high above the clearing. Artoo let out a wild series of beeps and whistles, and Chewie howled his regret. Their bodies were a jumble in the net. Han removed a Wookiee paw from his mouth.
"Nice work. Great, Chewie! Great! Always thinking with your stomach" Han snapped.
"Will you take it easy? Let's just figure out a way to get out of this thing" Luke said, trying to free an arm. "Oola, can you reach my lightsaber?"
"I think so" Oola said. Artoo was at the bottom most point in the net. He extended his cutting appendage and began slicing at the net. Oola was trying to squeeze an arm past Threepio to get at Luke's lightsaber. The net continued to spin.
"Artoo, I'm not sure that's such a good idea. It's a very long dro-o-op!" The last word was said as the group tumbled out of the net crashing to the ground. As they regained their senses and sat up, they realized they are surrounded by dozens of Ewoks, each brandishing a long spear.
"Wha-? Hey! Point that thing someplace else" Han snapped, pushing the spear wielded by Teebo out of his face and a second Ewok warrior came up to argue with Teebo. The spear returned to Han's face. He grabbed it angrily and started to go for his laser pistol. "Hey!"
"Han, don't" Anna said quietly, touching his arm. "It'll be all right"
The Ewoks swarmed through them and confiscate their weapons. Luke let them take his lightsaber. Chewie growled at the furry critters.
"Chewie, give 'em your crossbow" Luke instructed. Artoo and Threepio were just untangling themselves. Threepio got free of the net and sat up, rattled.
"Oh, my head. Oh, my goodness!" He moaned. When the Ewoks saw Threepio, they let out a gasp and chattered among themselves. Threepio spoke to them in their native tongue. The Ewok nearest him dropped his spear and prostrated himself before the droid. In a moment, all the Ewoks followed suit. Chewie let out a puzzled bark. Han and Luke regard the bowed creatures in wonder. The Ewoks began to chant at Threepio.
"Do you understand anything they're saying?" Luke asked.
"Oh, yes, Master Luke! Remember that I am fluent in over six million forms of communication" Threepio reminded the farm boy. Han rolled his eyes.
"What are you telling them?" He asked.
"Hello, I think... I could be mistaken. They're using a very primitive dialect. But I do believe they think I am some sort of god" Threepio told them. Chewbacca and Artoo think that's very funny. Anna and Oola exhanged grins while Han and Luke exchanged "what next?" looks.
"Well, why don't you use your divine influence and get us out of this?" Han asked impatiently.
"I beg your pardon, General Solo, but that just wouldn't be proper" Threepio said. Han frowned angrily.
"Proper?" He asked sarcastically.
"It's against my programming to impersonate a deity" Threepio replied. Han moved toward Threepio threateningly.
"Why, you..."He began. Several Ewoks' spears were thrust in Han's face at the affront to their god. The Ewoks moved in to protect their god and Han was surrounded by a menacing circle of spears, all aimed at him. He held up his hands placatingly. "My mistake. He's an old friend of mine" This did not seem to go over well with the Ewoks. Everyone except Threepio were tied to stakes and carried back to the Ewok village.
The procession wound its way into the village square. Mother Ewoks gathered their babies up and scurried into their huts at the sight of the newcomers. The group stopped before the largest hut.
Han, Anna, Oola, Luke, Chewie, and Artoo were still bound to their poles. Han was placed on a spit above what looked like a barbecue pit and the others were leaned against a tree nearby. Threepio's litter/throne was gently placed near the pit.
"I have a really bad feeling about this" Oola muttered. Chewie growled his concern. Suddenly all activity stopped as Logray, the tribal Medicine Man, came out of the big hut. He examined the captives carefully, and went to join Threepio, whose throne had been placed on an elevated platform. A larger, gray-haired Ewok, Chief Chirpa, was examining Luke's lightsaber with great curiosity.
Logray spoke to Threepio and the assemblage of fuzzy Ewoks, pointing to the prisoners tied to the stakes. The Ewoks began filling the pit under Han with firewood
"What did he say?" Han asked nervously.
"I'm rather embarrassed, General Solo, but it appears you are to be the main course at a banquet in my honor" Threepio replied. The drums started beating, and all the furry heads turned to the large hut. Leia emerged, wearing an dress made out of vine and leaves. She saw what was happening at the same moment the prisoners see her.
"Leia!" Han and Luke said together.
As she moved toward them, the Ewoks blocked her way with raised spears. Leia looked at the assembled Ewoks and sighed.
"But these are my friends. Threepio, tell them they must be set free" She ordered. Threepio talked to Chirpa and Logray, who listened and shook their heads negatively. The Medicine Man gestured toward the prisoners and barked some orders. Several Ewoks jumped up and piled more wood on the barbecue with vigor. Leia traded frantic looks with Anna and Oola.
"Somehow, I got the feeling that didn't help us very much" Oola muttered.
"Threepio, tell them if they don't do as you wish, you'll become angry and use your magic" Luke commanded.
"But Master Luke, what magic? I couldn't possibly..." Threepio began.
"Just tell them" Luke commanded again.
Threepio spoke to the Ewoks. The Ewoks were disturbed. Logray stepped forward and challenged Threepio. Luke closed his eyes and began to concentrate.
"You see, Master Luke; they didn't believe me. Just..." He started, but then the litter/throne, with Threepio sitting upon it, rose from the ground. At first Threepio didn't notice and kept talking. "... as I said they wouldn't. Wha-wha-what's happening! Oh! Oh, dear!"
The Ewoks fell back in terror from the floating throne. Now Threepio began to spin as though he were on a revolving stool, with Threepio calling out in total panic at his situation.
"Put me down! He-e-elp! Master Luke! Artoo! Somebody, somebody, help! Master Luke, Artoo! Artoo, quickly! Do something, somebody! Oh! Ohhh!" He complained.
Chief Chirpa yelled orders to the cowering Ewoks. They rushed up and released the bound prisoners. Han hugged Leia fiercely. Luke noticed the spinning Threepio, with Artoo beeping up at him, and slowly lowered the golden droid and the throne to the ground. ogray orderedhe little droid cut down. Artoo crashedto the ground. hen the Ewoks set him upright, the little droid is fighting mad. Artoo beeped a blue streak at the nearest Ewok, and began pursuing him, finally getting close enough to zap him with an electric charge. The Ewok jumped two feet in the air and ran away, screaming. A small group of Ewoks surrounded the giant Wookiee, scratching their heads and marveling at his height.
"Oh, oh, oh, oh! Thank goodness" Threepio said, grateful to be on the ground.
"Thanks, Threepio" Luke said.
A glowing fire danced in the center of the spartan, low-ceilinged room, creating a kaleidoscope of shadows on the walls. Along one side, a group of ten Ewok elders flanked Chief Chirpa, who sat on his throne. The Rebels sat along the walls of the hut, with Threepio between the two groups and Wicket and Teebo off to one side.
Threepio was in the midst of a long, animated speech in the Ewok's squeaky native tongue. The Ewoks listened carefully and occasionally murmured comments to each other. Threepio pointed several times at the Rebel group and pantomimed a short history of the Galactic Civil War, mimicking the explosion and rocket sounds, imitating Imperial walkers.
Throughout the long account, certain familiar names were distinguishable in English: Princess Leia, Artoo, Darth Sky, Death Star, Jedi, Obi- Wan Kenobi. Artoo began beeping excitedly at Threepio.
"Yes, Artoo. I was just coming to that" Threepio said. Threepio continued with: Millennium Falcon, Cloud City, Sky, Han Solo, carbonite, Sarlacc, bringing the history up to the present time.
At the end of it, the Chief, Logray, and the elders confered, then nodded in agreement. The Chief stood and made a pronouncement. The drums began to sound, and all the Ewoks stand with a great cheer and screeched.
"What's going on?" Han asked.
"I don't know" Leia whispered back.
Luke had been sharing the joy with smiling visage, but now something passed like a dark cloud through his consciousness. The others did not notice.
"Wonderful! We are now a part of the tribe" Threepio claimed. Several of the little teddy bears ran up and hugged the Rebels.
"Just what I always wanted" Han said sarcastically.
Chewbacca was being enthusiastically embraced by an Ewok, while Wicket clings to Han's leg.
"Well, short help is better than no help at all, Chewie" Han muttered. Leia and Anna laughed, but then Leia noticed her brother slip outside, so she followed him.
"Luke, what's wrong?" She asked, coming up behind him.
"Leia, do you remember what Grandmother told us about father?"
"He was very young when left home to pursue his dreams of becoming a Jedi" Leia said, "but he never got the opportunity. Luke, what's this about?"
Luke didn't answer right away.
"Do you still have the lightsaber Master Obi-Wan gave you?" He asked.
"Yes" Leia said hesitantly. Luke turned to face her. "Luke, tell me. What's troubling you?"
"Sky is here...now, on this moon" Luke told her. Leia was alarmed.
"How do you know?" She asked.
"I felt his presence. He's come for me. He can feel when I'm near. That's why I have to go" He said looking out over the forest. As long as I stay, I'm endangering the group and our mission here. I have to face him" Leia was distraught. She couldn't bear to lose her brother.
"Why?" She asked. Luke moved close and his manner was gentle. And very calm.
"I may be the only one who can bring him back to the light" He said. "He loved our mother. I will use that to my advantage"
"But Luke..." Leia began.
"There's more" He cut her off. "It won't be easy for you to hear it, but you must. If I don't make it back, you're the only hope for the Alliance" He told her.
"Luke, don't talk that way. You have a power I-I don't understand and could never have" She protested.
"You're wrong, Leia. You have that power too. In time you'll learn to use it as I have" He paused. "The Force is strong in our family. Obi-Wan knew this, that's why he gave you a lightsaber. You must learn to use it like I have"
"But how?" Leia asked. "How can I learn if you aren't here to teach me?" Luke sighed.
"Han can teach you" He replied. "Obi-Wan said that Han still has the force and that once a Jedi, always a Jedi. He can help you, if you let him"
"Don't leave me Luke" Leia whispered, tears in her eyes. "If Sky can truly feel your presence, then leave this place" She paused. "Why must you confront him?"
"Because...there is good in him. I've felt it. I can save him. I can turn him back to the good side. I have to try" Luke said. They held each other close. Leia held back her tears as Luke slowly let her go and moved away. He disappeared onto the walkway that lead out of the village. Leia, bathed in moonlight, watched him go as Han comes out of the Chief's hut and came over to her. Leia was crying, her body trembling. He realized only now that she was crying.
"Hey, what's goin' on?" He asked. Leia turned to him.
"He's gone" She whispered. Han was disturbed by this.
"gone where" He asked. More tears slid down her face.
"He's gone to face Sky" Han paled.
"Alone?" He questioned. Leia nodded and Han pulled her into an embrace.
"It will be okay Leia" He whispered. "Luke knows what he is doing" Leia clung to Han, her tears soaking his shirt, not that he minded. He too was worried about Luke, who had become like a younger brother to him.
