Padme waited as they expected a transmission from the Falcon. After a few months of searching, they found Han being held in Jabba's Palace on Tatooine. Lando had explained that they wanted to infiltrate and watch while Luke formulated a plan. They would be outgunned and outmatched if they tried to force their way in, especially since the Alliance wouldn't get involved. They were on their own but did have the vocal support of a few leaders. Captain Solo had gotten them out of a few scrapes.
Leia sat next to Padme as she paced around the computer terminal. Luke sat across the room with his legs crossed casually. Soon, the beeping came in and Padme raced to answer it.
"This is the Falcon," Lando came in as Padme sighed.
"We hear you, Falcon. This is Skycrawler. The twins are here, too," Padme answered. She used her codename, created by her son and daughter.
"Good to hear you, Skycrawler. I have managed to get on Jabba's detail and the droids have been accepted. I think it would be a good time to start phase two," Lando explained. Padme glanced up at Leia, who nodded. Phase two would be the deception phase. Chewie was still wanted by the Hutts, which they could use to their advantage. If they could get an audience with Jabba, then they might be able to get Han out.
"We will initiate phase two. May the Force be with you," Padme answered before the transmission ended. Luke stood and walked toward his mother. "Alright, let's get moving."
"Are you sure that it's a good idea for you to come along?" Luke asked as Padme nodded.
"If we want this to work, then we'll need all the help we can get. If I have a mask and voice changer, we will be fine. Besides, it has been years since Jabba has seen me. I doubt that slug remembers," Padme reassured as they walked towards the shuttle.
"Besides, if this doesn't work, then you're out Plan B. Everything will work out," Leia reminded. Luke rolled his eyes.
"It's not that I don't like that we have a Plan B, but I wish you two would treat Plan B as an escape route rather than a safety net," Luke griped.
"So we'll meet you there?" Padme asked.
"Yes, I will meet you there. Hopefully, I don't see either of you until you have Han," Luke warned before he broke off to get to his x wing. Padme exhaled before turning to Leia.
"Ready?" Padme asked as Leia hiked her pack on her back.
"Ready," she answered firmly. Padme nodded as they went to the shuttle.
~~F~~
Vader waited on his ship as they began the landing sequence. The Emperor had sent him as a warning when the work had slowed. They had a timeline, as the Emperor had learned that there might have been spies aboard. Vader reassured that the spies would be dealt with, but it wasn't enough for the leader. Vader had to do an inspection, which he found to be irritating. It had to be done, but he had other things to attend to. The Rebels were growing bold.
The Sith waited at the ramp as it was lowered. As per protocol, the battalion was lined up as a few officers waited for him at the bottom. Vader swallowed a sigh as he walked down the commander stood nervously.
"Lord Vader, this is an unexpected pleasure. We are honored by your presence," Commander Jerjerrod greeted as he walked beside Vader.
"You may dispense with the pleasantries, Commander. I am here to put you back on schedule," Vader informed harshly. He didn't have time for small talk, nor was he in the mood for it. The commander nodded, growing uncomfortable.
"I assure you, Lord Vader, my men are working as fast as they can."
"Perhaps I can find new ways to motivate them," Vader growled. He knew that the commander was only being honest, but his patience was thin.
"This station will be operational as planned."
"The Emperor does not share your optimistic appraisal of the situation." That got the commander to falter.
"But he asks the impossible," Jerjerrod remarked nervously before leaning in. "I need more men."
"Then perhaps you can tell him when he arrives," Vader suggested, turning on the commander. Jerjerrod gaped at the news.
"The Emperor's coming here?"
"That is correct, Commander, and he is most displeased with your apparent lack of progress," Vader informed darkly. The commander straightened and nodded once.
"We shall double our efforts," the commander replied as Vader dipped his head.
"I hope so, Commander, for your sake. The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am," Vader warned before leaving the commander. He continued to control room, hoping that the officers were more compliant than the commander.
~~F~~
Leia met with Chewie around the palace at the ramp of the shuttle. Padme placed a helmet on her head before meeting her daughter as she placed the binders on the Wookie. Both of their ubese was rusty, but they would get far enough with what they knew.
They entered the palace with ease, as the guards were well versed in dealing with bounty hunters collecting their bounty. Chewie roared and pretended to struggle in hopes of making the ruse look real. Padme walked close by while behind her daughter. She was acting as the henchman as Leia would present Chewie to Jabba.
Soon, they were brought in front of the Hutt as Threepio stood next to the gangster. Padme glanced around, taking in their surroundings. She had never stepped foot in here, and she was glad that she hadn't. It was filled with thieves and criminals, and none looked excited to see them.
"Kee atay. Kee atay. Kee ato," Leia informed as Chewie roared at her side.
"Cheesah beecha wonky Chewbacca," Jabba laughed, raising his arms. He at last had the mighty Chewbacca. Jabba turned to the droid to translate.
"The illustrious Jabba bids you welcome and will gladly pay you the reward of twenty five thousand," Threepio explained as Leia shook her head.
"Kee oto. Kee oto," Leia corrected, requesting nothing less than fifty thousand. Jabba shouted in outrage.
"Un keechoo hi?" the slug complained.
"The mighty Jabba asks why he must pay you fifty thousand?" Threepio translated. Leia smirked as she turned to Padme as she produced a bomb.
"Ay yoto," Leia remarked.
"Because he's holding a thermal detonator!" Threepio shouted as the room fell into a panic. Padme and Leia stood still, facing Jabba as the gangster laughed.
"Kasu ya lee coy rah doe kankee kung. Ubahn chone aleepa," Jabba chuckled as he praised the fearlessness and inventive nature of the bounty hunter duo.
"Jabba offers the sum of thirty five, and I do suggest you take it," Threepio pleaded before Padme turned off the detonator. Leia conceded as Threepio cheered. "He agrees!"
"Zeebuss," Leia answered as Padme turned off the detonator. Their plan had gone off without a hitch so far, and Padme grinned. She glanced around as tensions eased. She spotted Boba Fett in the corner, probably enjoying a nice vacation. Lando was by the entrance, which put her at ease, while the guards took Chewie. Padme whished that there was an easier way, but at least they were in the door and under the same roof.
The party continued into the early night with drinking, singing, and gambling. Leia and Padme stuck close together, refusing food and drink. If they had removed their masks, they plan would have been in jeopardy. Soon, the riffraff started to pass out and others left, drawing the party to a close. Leia and Padme quietly walked to the carbonite Han on the far wall. Padme kept a look out as Leia lowered the slab to the ground.
Leia went to the side of the coffin and found the control panel. She had gotten a crash course on how to deactivate the metal before they left, so she knew what to do. The slab glowed around the man as the metal melted away from him. After a few moments, Han slid off the slab and into Leia's arms. She helped him onto the ground as he came to and started to struggle in a panic.
"Just relax for a moment. You're free of the carbonite," Leia informed, her voice garbed and mechanical from the voice. Han blinked, trying to get a handle on the situation. "You have hibernation sickness.
"I can't see," Han informed, his voice lined with concern.
"Your eyesight will return in time."
"Where am I?"
"Jabba's palace."
"Who are you?" Han demanded as he tried to sit up. Leia removed the mask against her better judgement and smiled.
"Someone who loves you," she whispered, her voice even and human again.
"Leia!" Han sighed. Leia cheered inwardly as his voice was relieved and calm.
"We gotta get you out of here," Leia informed as he helped Han to his feet. She turned to the quiet as she noted that her mother wasn't at her post. Panic seeped in both their bones as a deep laughter sounded in the small room.
"I know that laugh," Han huffed as Leia turned them both around. Behind the curtain at the back end of the room sat Jabba and his entourage. Threepio was silenced in the back as one of the guards had Padme. Her mask had been ripped off and the guard held her around the waist with a hand in her now knotted hair. Her teeth were bared as she stared at the couple. Leia glanced at her mother before glaring at Jabba. "Hey, Jabba, look, I was just on my way to pay you back, but I got a little sidetracked. It's not my fault."
"Manchy kabook noonee, Solo. Makingsa lee ka bok bagthra, beeska chata wnow kong bantha poodoo," Jabba laughed as Han went to defend himself. Jabba wanted nothing to do with the smuggler anymore. Now he was nothing more than bantha fodder. "Yassa nee choo."
"Jabba, I'll pay you triple! You're throwing away a fortune here, don't be a fool!" Han shouted as the same people who took away Chewie now took him away. Lando went forward to bring Leia with Han, but Jabba stopped him.
"Lonto, kostlee aht nigh," Jabba instructed as Lando brought Leia to him. Leia struggled before she was pushed directly in front of the gangster.
"We have powerful friends," Leia began as Padme fought against her own captor.
"You're going to regret this," Padme growled before she was wrangled in again. Jabba laughed before he licked Leia's cheek. With another chuckle, Jabba had Leia led away as the guards leered at her. Padme tried to break free again before she was brought up before Jabba and Threepio translated.
"He knows that you are Corde Organa, and that the Empire has a bounty out on your head," Threepio informed. Padme clenched her jaw as her eyes shot daggers at the slug.
"And what are you going to do about that? I doubt even you want to get involved with the Empire," Padme accused as Jabba looked her over before continuing.
"The great Jabba says that your fate is up to you, and something to contemplate while you are here," Threepio answered slowly and softly. Padme struggled again before she was led down the same path as Han was.
"I hope you know what you're doing," Padme growled before she was dragged away.
Padme was thrown in the same cell as Han and Chewie, startling them both. Chewie walked over to her as Han leaned against the wall.
"Who's there? Chewie? Who is it?" Han asked as Padme hit the door once. Their plan had failed spectacularly.
"It's just me, Han," Padme whispered before Han hobbled to her.
"Are you okay?" Han wondered as he grabbed her shoulder. She nodded. "What's going on?"
"Our plan to come get you has failed," Padme sighed. "We tried so hard to get you out of this stink hole, but now we're down here and I don't know where Leia is."
"At least I'm out of the carbonite," Han mentioned halfheartedly before the news about Leia hit him. "What now?"
"We wait for Luke," Padme informed before Chewie barked.
"Luke's crazy, he can't even take care of himself, much less rescue anybody," Han sighed. Padme gave him a look.
"He'll get us out of here," Padme insisted. "He's been training, and he's close to becoming a Jedi Knight."
"A Jedi Knight?" Han chuckled. Padme saw his smile, and it felt different from his arrogant smirks or comforting grins. This smile showed hope. "I'm out of it for a little while and everybody gets delusions of grandeur."
"Yeah, you've been out of it for a while now," Padme teased before Chewie started checking him over. Han tried to push the Wookie off.
"I'm alright, pal, I'm alright," Han insisted as Padme laughed. She sat down on one of the benches as she watched the two friends get reacquainted.