Now begins Return of the Jedi! The final clash approaches!
I don't own Star Wars.
Chapter 43: Jabba's Palace
A shuttle loomed toward the incomplete Death Star. After receiving landing clearance, the shuttle landed inside on the docking bays.
"Lord Vader's shuttle has arrived," one officer reported to his commander. The Imperial crewmen lined up at attention, ready to receive the dark Lord. The ramp lowered, and the intimidating form of Darth Vader stepped down.
"Lord Vader, this is an unexpected surprise. We are honored by your presence," Commander Jerjerrod greeted.
"You may dispense with the pleasantries, commander. I am here to put you back on schedule," Vader said.
"We are working as fast as possible. I assure you that our task will be completed on schedule," Jerjerrod insisted.
"The Emperor does not share your optimistic appraisal of the situation," Vader told him.
"But he asks the impossible. I need more men," Jerjerrod pleaded.
"Then you can tell him that when he arrives," Vader said. Jerjerrod paled considerably.
"The Emperor is coming here?" he asked.
"That is correct, commander. And he is most displeased with your apparent lack of progress," Vader replied.
"We shall double our efforts then," Jerjerrod replied.
"I hope so commander, for your sake. The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am," Vader warned him before he stalked off.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Artoo and Threepio walked toward Jabba's palace, talking about something.
"Don't be so sure. If I told you half the things I've heard about this Jabba the Hutt, you'd probably short-circuit," Threepio said, making Artoo whine with dread.
They stepped up to the large metal door at Jabba's palace and Threepio knocked hastily.
"There doesn't seem to be anyone there," he said as he prepared to leave. Suddenly, a round eye-like probe popped out of an opening in the door. It uttered something in Huttese and took Threepio by surprise.
"Goodness gracious me," he said. It spoke a few other unintelligible words.
"R2-Dee Toa," Threepio introduced Artoo in Huttese. The probe looked at Artoo, then back at Threepio, then sounded like it asked something.
"Oh, C-3POA," Threepio introduced himself. The probe asked another questioned. "Ay tuta miska Jabba du Hutt?"
The probe said something, then laughed before going back in the door.
"I don't think they're going to let us in Artoo," Threepio replied. Suddenly, the large metal door began to rise and Artoo rolled in.
"Artoo, wait!" Threepio called, before he reluctantly followed after him. "Oh dear!"
Artoo kept rolling until he bumped into a Gamorrean guard, who growled at him.
"Oh, this place is dreadful. Let's deliver Master Anakin's message and get out of here," Threepio said.
As the two droids were surrounded by two more guards, an unusually pale colored male Twi'lek approached and spoke in Huttese, demanding to know why there were there. Threepio spoke back to him in Huttese.
"We bring a message to your master, Jabba the Hutt," he said. Artoo beeped. "And a gift. Gift? What gift?"
Bib Fortuna stalked over to Artoo, trying to get the little droid to play the message for him, but Artoo refused.
"I'm terribly sorry, but he has been instructed to only play if for your Master. He is rather stubborn about this sort of thing," Threepio apologized. Bib Fortuna looked upset, but then motioned for them to follow.
They were led before Jabba where Threepio greeted them.
"Good morning," he said. Jabba muttered something and Threepio turned to Artoo. "The message Artoo...the message."
Artoo whirled and an hologram image of Anakin appeared above the little droid.
"Greetings exalted one. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Anakin Skywalker, Jedi Knight and friend to Captain Solo. I know that you are powerful, Jabba, and your anger with Solo must be as equally powerful. I seek an audience with you to bargain for Captain Solo's life. I'm sure we can reach a deal that will be mutually beneficial to us both, without having to resort to any kind of aggressive negotiations. As a token of my good will, I leave a gift for you. These two droids," Anakin's hologram stated.
"What did he say?" Threepio panicked.
"Both are hard working and they will serve you well," Anakin finished.
"This can't be. Artoo, you're playing the wrong message," Threepio fretted.
"He's no Jedi," Bib Fortuna spat. But Jabba remembered Anakin Skywalker from long ago.
Had he been any kind of honorable being, he would have granted Anakin's request, for the Jedi had once saved his son. But a Hutt had no use for things such as honor and he did not like to lose. Letting Solo go would be losing in Jabba's eyes and that was unacceptable.
"There will be no bargain. I will not give up my favorite decoration. I like Captain Solo where he is," Jabba said in Huttese, pointing at the carbonite slab of Han against the wall. Laughter filled Jabba's chamber...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rex shifted uncomfortably in the armor and helmet that he hadn't donned for over twenty years. It was curious that something that had been made specifically to fit him felt so uncomfortable now. Unfortunately, it was the best way to move around the palace without anyone messing with you.
Jabba didn't like the Empire, but he never did anything to displease it. If a Storm Trooper wanted into Jabba's palace, he was allowed, no questions asked. His story was that he was investigating a person of interest in a crime, a mercenary, that likely had taken refuge in Jabba's palace.
One mention of Vader's name and Jabba's people ceased their questioning. That was likely because Vader probably would have opted to wipe the disgusting slug out long ago had it not been for his complete cooperation. Basically, Jabba paid a handsome price to keep the Imperials out of his operations.
"What does it look like in there, Rex?" Anakin called over the comm.
"Dirty, smelly, and disgusting. Padmé's going to hate it," Rex mused.
"I'll relay that to her, but I doubt it will change her mind. Do you have a visual on Han?" Anakin asked.
"Oh yeah, his carbonite slab is hanging in Jabba's Throne Room like a damned trophy. I have Lando in sight as well and he's waiting nearby," Rex replied. "There's a lot of bounty hunters in here though. I think it's a really bad idea letting Padmé and Leia in here."
"I agree, but you know what I'm up against. My wife is so stubborn and our daughter is no better," Anakin replied sourly, making Rex smirked.
"You're so whipped," he joked.
"Shut up," Anakin retorted as they ended the transmission.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Anakin sighed as he set the Millennium Falcon down on the desert floor and walked back into the cabin. He spied his wife and daughter, putting the final touches on their disguises.
"This is a bad idea," he stated firmly.
"We'll be fine," Padmé promised as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him tenderly. "You'll be right behind us if it doesn't go well."
"I wish Ahsoka hadn't gone with Obi-Wan. I'd feel better if she was going in with you," Anakin complained.
"You know Master Yoda wouldn't have insisted on her and Aayla coming too if it wasn't very important," Padmé reasoned. He nodded.
"I still don't think this is a good idea. Let's let Luke go in first and then I'll follow him. We'll get Han and then we can get off this rotten sand ball," Anakin pleaded with her. Padmé smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Ani, if it were you in that palace, nothing would stop me from coming after you. And nothing's going to stop Leia either, so I'm going with her. We'll be fine, because you'll be right behind us. I'm sure we can find a diplomatic solution to this," she teased. He smirked.
"Angel, there are no diplomatic solutions with the Hutts. They're the lowest form of scum in the galaxy," Anakin replied.
"Well, then I guess you'll have to come in and aggressively negotiate the situation, Master Jedi," Padmé purred seductively in his ear.
Anakin shivered. Padmé smirked at him, before kissing him passionately.
"Please be careful," he pleaded. She nodded and smiled.
"We will," she replied, as they shared another kiss. Anakin and Luke watched as they put on their masks to disguise their identities, before they left the ship with Chewie in cuffs.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Two bounty hunters, short and small in stature, brought a shackled and struggling Wookie into Jabba's throne room.
"We are here for the bounty on this Wookie," one spoke in Ubese and a distorted voice and some unknown language.
"At last, we have the mighty Chewbacca," Jabba said, then called for Threepio.
"I am here Your Worship," he said obediently. Jabba gave him instructions in Huttese. "The illustrious Jabba welcomes you and will gladly reward you with twenty-five thousand."
"Fifty thousand, no less," the bounty hunter insisted.
"Fifty thousand, no less," Threepio translated. Jabba growled and smacked the droid angrily, knocking him over.
Boba Fett stroked Rystáll Sant's chin and made his way over to Jabba's side. She watched him with a smile.
Threepio came back, covered in green goo, "What did I say?"
Jabba instructed him angrily.
"Oh my...the mighty Jabba asks why he must pay fifty thousand?" Threepio asked the bounty hunter.
The second bounty hunter said something in Ubese and brought out a thermal detonator.
"Because he's holding a thermal detonator!" Threepio panicked. Boba pointed his rifle at the bounty hunters as everyone else panicked and ducked for cover.
But Jabba only laughed, "This bounty hunter is my kind of scum. Fearless and inventive. Thirty-five."
"Jabba offers a sum of thirty-five and I do suggest you take it," Threepio advised. The bounty hunter switched the detonator off and pocketed it.
"He agrees!" Threepio exclaimed in relief. The guards took Chewie away to a cell and put him in. The music started up again and Lando, disguised as a guard, lurked around the corner.
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"Anakin, this is Rex, do you copy?" he said into his comm.
"What's going on in there, Rex?" Anakin questioned. Rex smirked.
"The slug bought it and your girls are in. Looks like the plan is a go," he replied.
"I still don't like it. Maybe we should just come in there now," Anakin fretted.
"No, you coming and storming in here right now, lightsaber blazing might hurt our chances of getting Han out of here in one piece. It will be much easier to escape if we have Han walking himself out of here, rather than us trying to carry a carbonite slab. Relax, everything is under control," Rex assured him.
"No, I have a bad feeling about this. I'll stick to the plan, but the minute I sense my wife and daughter are in danger, I'll be crashing Jabba's party," Anakin promised. Rex smirked, then spotted a Clone Trooper from the crevice he was hiding in.
"Shit..." he swore as he recognized the insignia on the Clone Commander's chest plate.
"What is it?" Anakin asked.
"Nothing yet, but I gotta go," Rex whispered as he cut the transmission.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Much later that night; Padmé and Leia, still disguised as the bounty hunters, crept into the dark throne room where most slept.
Slowly and carefully, they snuck over to the far wall where Han was mounted. Leia pressed a yellow button and lowered Han's carbonite slab to the floor. Padmé carefully turned the knobs to the side of him and began the thawing process.
The carbonite began to turn red, as it melted around Han. Once it was done thawing, Han fell to the floor. Leia knelt beside him and turned his shaking form over.
"Just relax for a moment. You're free of the carbonite. You're suffering from hibernation sickness," Leia said, still in the distorted voice behind the helmet, while Padmé stood by her.
"I can't see," Han said.
"You're eyesight will return in time," Padmé stated, her voice still disguised as well.
"Where am I?" Han asked.
"Jabba's palace," Leia replied.
"Who are you?" Han asked. Leia removed her helmet.
"Someone who loves you," she said in her real voice.
"Leia!" Han cried as their lips met passionately. Padmé smiled as she too removed her helmet.
"We've got to get out of here," she whispered.
"Padmé, you're here to? How'd you convince your husband to go along with this little plan?" Han joked. Padmé smiled.
"I have my ways, Captain," she replied cryptically.
"I'll bet you do," Han mumbled. Suddenly, they heard an eerie laugh.
"What's that?" Han asked as the laugh continued. "I know that laugh."
The lights went up in the room, revealing that Jabba was awake.
"Hey Jabba, look Jabba, I was just on my way to pay you and I got a little sidetracked. It's not my fault," Han argued.
"It's too late for that, Solo. You may have been a good smuggler, but now you're Bantha fodder. Take him away," Jabba ordered. The guards began to lead him away.
"Jabba, I'll pay you triple! You're throwing away a fortune here! Don't be a fool!" Han yelled.
"Bring them to me," Jabba ordered.
"Not so fast, slug breath," Rex growled as he drew his blaster and threw his helmet off. But another Clone Trooper blocked his way.
"This soldier defected from the Empire, Your Highness. He's a traitor," the Clone spat as he removed his helmet.
"Cody," Rex said.
"Drop the weapon, brother. You're outnumbered," Cody said as Rex noticed the other bounty hunters around him, all drawing their own weapons. Padmé and Leia were shoved up onto Jabba's platform.
"My husband is a powerful Jedi. You'll regret holding us prisoner," Padmé warned him.
"I'm sure," Jabba replied. Padmé and Leia cringed and turned away as Jabba's disgusting tongue came out at them.
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Han was tossed into a cell and blindly felt his way around. Suddenly, he heard a growl.
"Chewie, is that you?" he asked. Chewie rawled happily and hugged him.
"I can't see pal," Han replied. "What's going on?"
Chewie explained the plan to him.
"Anakin's going to rescue us?" Han asked. Chewy rawled. "Well sure I believe you. It's going to be interesting to see how The Hero With No Fear pulls this one off."
Chewie rawled and hugged him.
"I'm all right pal...I'm all right," Han insisted.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The moment Anakin had felt Padmé and Leia's fear, he and Luke had headed for the Hutt's palace. But Anakin was very upset to find out that they were unable to get in, because it was the middle of the night and no one was manning the door.
They could have broken in, but he wasn't willing to risk Padmé or Leia getting hurt by creating mass chaos in the middle of the night. So, they had waited until first light before going to the door and mind tricking the guard into letting them in.
He knew things hadn't gone smoothly the night before and he wasn't surprised. Rex wasn't answering his comm either, which meant he had likely been captured as well. But it didn't matter, for no one tried to take Anakin's family away from him and got away with it. He told Mara to wait at the Falcon for a little surprise he had planned.
The main door to Jabba's palace slowly closed behind two cloaked figures who had just entered. The guards held their weapons up, but with a wave from the taller man's hand, the two guards dropped their weapons. They held their throats and backed away.
The two Jedi continued on to Jabba's throne room where Bib Fortuna met them before they could disturb Jabba's nap. Padmé and Leia sat below him in shackles and dressed in revealing slave outfits. Luke looked at his father as he suddenly felt the temperature drop in the Throne Room.
"We must speak with Jabba," Anakin ordered. The pale Twi'lek male began to argue with him and he waved his hand in front of the Bib's face.
"You will take us to Jabba now," Anakin ordered.
"I will take you to Jabba now," the pale being replied as he led them into Jabba's throne room.
"Oh, Master Anakin has come to rescue us!" Threepio exclaimed in relief as Bib Fortuna approached Jabba to wake him up. The Hutt groaned grumpily as his nap was disturbed and he mumbled an irritated growl at his subordinate, before turning his attention to those who had disturbed his slumber.
"I'm Jedi Knight, Anakin Skywalker. I must be allowed to speak," Anakin said. Bib Fortuna repeated Anakin's words to Jabba and the slug growled.
"You weak minded fool. He's using a Jedi mind trick!" Jabba growled.
"You will bring Captain Solo and the Wookie to me," Anakin ordered as he and Luke dropped their hoods. Jabba laughed.
"Your mind tricks won't work on me, Jedi," he replied.
"Nevertheless, we're leaving here and taking Solo with us, along with my wife and daughter, who you have taken prisoner. You can either profit from this or be destroyed. But I warn you not to underestimate our powers," Anakin told him.
"Master Anakin, your standing on-" Threepio tried to warn him.
"There will be no bargain. I like my new slaves right where they are. But I will enjoy watching the both of you die," Jabba said.
Anakin used the Force to pull a blaster from one of the guards, who had drawn his weapon, but the trap door opened underneath him and Luke. They dropped into the pit and the hatch closed above them. A guard had been unfortunate enough to fall in with them and began to squeal in terror, as the Rancor was released.
Luke stood terrified, as the massive creature roared angrily and saliva dripped from its fangs.
The Gamorrean squealed in terror and tried in vain to climb back up the hatch. The Rancor went for him first and quickly devoured him.
"You can't just feed everyone you don't like to the Rancor, Jabba. It's rude!" Anakin taunted to Jabba as he and Luke ran into the creature's cage as it was distracted by eating the guard.
They opened the door inside the cage to escape, but some bars still blocked their way out. The Rancor turned and spotted it's next prey inside it's cage.
Luke saw he and his father were trapped, "Now what?"
"Just wait..." Anakin whispered as he picked up a rock. Just as the Rancor was about to enter it's cage, Anakin threw the rock at the switch on the by the cage door, making it come down on the creature's head! The door spikes impaled it's brain, killing it.
Jabba's laughter and everyone's cheering turned to wails of displeasure.
Several guards stormed their way into the chamber, surrounding the two Jedi.
"What's the next move?" Luke asked.
"Surrender. We're clearly outnumbered," Anakin replied, with sarcasm.
Luke nodded. Anakin had hidden their lightsabers inside Artoo for exactly this dilemma and they would come into play very soon.
"Bring me Solo and the Wookie!" Jabba ordered to one of his guards, who happened to be the one Lando was disguised as. The guards from below had Luke and Anakin's hands shackled behind them as they brought them up to Jabba's throne.
"Han!" Luke called.
"Luke!" Han called back. "Together again, huh?"
"Wouldn't miss it," Luke joked.
"How're we doin'?" Han asked.
"Same as always," Luke joked again.
"That bad, huh? Where's Leia?" Han asked.
"I'm here," she called. And suddenly Anakin was glad that Han was blind at the moment and couldn't see Leia. Though he wasn't particularly pleased that everyone else could see both his wife and daughter in such a state of dress.
"The great Jabba the Hutt has decreed that you are all to be terminated, immediately," Threepio said.
"Good, I hate long waits," Han joked.
"You will therefore be taken to the Dune Sea and cast into the Pit of Carkoon, the nesting place of the all-powerful Sarlacc," Threepio told them.
"That doesn't sound so bad," Han quipped.
"In his belly, you will learn a new definition of pain and suffering, as you are slowly digested over a thousand years," Threepio continued.
"On second thought, let's pass on that," Han replied.
"Release us Jabba, or you'll regret it," Anakin threatened.
"Take them away," Jabba ordered.
"That's the last mistake you'll ever make!" Luke called.
"Please tell me Daddy has a plan," Leia whispered to her Mother. Padmé smiled.
"Don't worry sweetie. Jabba should be the one worried right now," she replied as Jabba tugged on their neck chains, making them stand before they were led to Jabba's Sail Barge for the trip to the pit of Carkoon, where Jabba would have the execution carried out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jabba's Sail Barge and two transports sped across the desert to the pit of Carkoon. Anakin, Han, Chewie, and Luke were aboard one of the transports. Lando was also there, still in disguise and waiting for Anakin's signal. Mara secretly followed a good distance away on a speeder.
"You know, I think my eyes are getting better. Instead of a big dark blur, I see a big light blur," Han said.
"There's not much to see. Dad and I used to live here you know," Luke replied.
"You're going to die here you know," Han replied.
"We're not the ones that are going to die today, Solo. I've taken care of everything," Anakin told him.
"Great, another crazy, hair-brained Skywalker plan. I wonder how much property damage there will be this time," Han joked.
"Pipe down Solo. I could have left you in the carbonite slab for eternity," Anakin threatened. Luke suppressed a laugh.
His father was a little perturbed right now as Luke had felt the temperature drop at least fifteen degrees in Jabba's throne room when he had seen his mother and sister. Luke actually hoped for Jabba's sake that he was killed by some other means, because it wouldn't be pretty if his father was going to be the one to do it.
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Aboard the Sail Barge, Padmé and Leia watched out the window, looking at their family over on one of the transports. Jabba tugged at their chains, but they resisted. Jabba pulled harder and jerked them toward him.
"Soon, you'll learn to appreciate me," Jabba told them. They glared at the arrogant, disgusting slug as they returned to the window.
Threepio trotted along to carry out an order for Jabba and accidentally ran into something and looked down.
"Artoo, what are you doing here?" Threepio asked. Artoo beeped and whirled.
"I can see you're serving drinks, but this place is dangerous. They're going to execute Masters Anakin and Luke," Threepio said. Artoo whirled confidently, telling him not to worry.
"I wish I had your confidence," Threepio replied.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Outside, the transport moved into position over the pit of Carkoon. Jabba's Sail Barge loomed nearby in perfect view to watch the executions. Anakin finally learned where Rex was as he spotted him on the other transport, being held at blaster point by a Clone Trooper. His eyes narrowed and he recognized the insignia on the chest plate.
"What is one Clone soldier doing here and why does he have Uncle Rex?" Luke asked.
"I recognize that Clone. He's Commander Cody. He and Rex were particularly close friends during the war and he always said that Cody took what he saw as your Uncle's betrayal harder than the other clones. I guess he's still holding a grudge," Anakin said as Threepio's voice was suddenly broadcast over the Sail Barge's comm.
"Victims of the almighty Sarlacc, his Excellency hopes that you will die honorably. But should any of you wish to beg for mercy, the great Jabba the Hutt will now listen to your pleas," Threepio said.
"Threepio, you tell that slimy piece of worm ridden filth that he'll get no such pleasure from us!" Han yelled. "Right?"
"Jabba, this is your last chance. Free us or die," Anakin threatened.
Jabba and his lackeys could only laugh. He ordered that Anakin be moved into position.
Anakin nodded to Lando, before glancing at Padmé and Leia inside Jabba's ship. He then looked up at Artoo and saluted, giving him the signal. Two panels on the droid's head slowly slid open.
The guard pushed Anakin in. He fell and grabbed a hold of the gangplank. Using his momentum and the Force, he flipped up and over onto the barge. Artoo shot out the two lightsabers, then Anakin and Luke called them with the Force, igniting the blades. Padmé and Leia watched on in relief.
Mara flew in on her speeder, performed a spinning flip off it onto the Sail Barge and ignited her purple lightsaber. Lando also sprung into action, holding one of the guards in a struggle.
As Cody attempted to push Rex in as well, wanting him to suffer, Rex elbowed him in the gut, despite his shackled hands. Rex threw his weight into Cody and they went rolling to the floor of the transport. Cody wrapped his hands around Rex's neck and started to squeeze.
"You've become a coward, brother. You would have never fought me with my hands shackled this way before," Rex taunted.
Cody stopped and stood up, allowing Rex to climb to his feet. He raised his blaster and shot the lock on the chains, freeing his hands, before tossing his own blaster away.
"Fine, you want a fight brother, then you're going to get one, because I've been waiting a long time for this," Cody said as they launched at each other.
Luke and Anakin spun their sabers rapidly, cutting through Jabba's guards and lackeys. Boba Fett used his jet pack and landed on the transport. Anakin blocked his blaster bolts with his saber and circled with the bounty hunter.
"The credits that Lord Vader will reward me for your capture will set me for life," Boba said. Anakin cut through the barrel of his blaster.
"Too bad you'll be too dead to collect," he replied.
Boba stepped back and shot his grappling cable at Anakin, wrapping it around him. Anakin struggled to free himself and flipped his saber up to cut through the cable. Luke jumped over to the other transport and began fighting off the oncoming lackeys.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lando, who had been knocked off the transport, hung by a thread over the pit, while Han and Chewie were trying to rescue him. A tentacle belonging to the Sarlacc grabbed Lando's leg and he yelped in terror. Chewie held Han by the legs upside down and the former smuggler aimed a blaster.
"Wait, I thought you were blind!" Lando called.
"Don't worry, I can aim a lot better," Han assured him.
"Higher, just a little higher," Lando instructed. Han shot the creature's tentacle and it pulled back. Chewie and Han pulled Lando back onto the transport.
Meanwhile, Boba aimed his flamethrower at Anakin. Thinking quickly, Anakin sidestepped him and cut the power on his jet pack.
He Force pushed the bounty hunter back and Boba went flailing into the pit only to be swallowed by the Sarlacc. Using the Force, Anakin leapt over to the Sail Barge and climbed up to the deck.
Mara slashed her saber and took care of the man at the guns.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rex and Cody wrestled and exchanged punches and various other hand to hand combat tactics.
"You're a traitor to your brothers!" Cody growled as he landed a punch to Rex's cheek.
"No, I did the right thing by not becoming a mass murderer!" Rex retorted as he kicked Cody in the chest, knocking him on his back. He climbed to his feet as he heaved air into his lungs.
"Those were our orders," Cody replied.
"We're Clones, not droids! We know the difference between right and wrong. You could have made the right decision and chose to fight against an oppressive regime, but instead you serve it!" Rex shouted.
"I was created to serve the Emperor and so were you!" Cody shouted back.
"Maybe that is what I was created for, but I have a mind of my own and I chose a different life and it's a good life," Rex replied as he dodged Cody's fists.
"You're just following a different Master now. Skywalker orders you around and you do as your told. Nothing has changed," Cody taunted as he landed a good blow. Rex shook it off.
"No, Anakin is my brother and I have a family. I know that there is more to life than duty. I know how love changes everything and you don't. I have something to live for, but what do you have? Your duty? Your service to an Empire that sees each and every Clone as nothing but a mindless, expendable soldier! That's what you became; not me," Rex screamed as he punched Cody square in the nose, breaking it.
Cody lay on the ground, bleeding profusely from his nose.
"I wanted you join me, because you were once my brother, as much as Anakin is now. But you're too brainwashed to ever be anything else but Vader's lackey," Rex said, as he turned away. "Goodbye brother."
But Cody wasn't done. He roared angrily as he sprang up and charged. Rex was hoping that he could leave him alive, but Cody was making that decision for him.
He turned and wrestled with him as they collided. Rex lifted him up and threw him over his shoulder, landing him on his back. Cody cried out suddenly as one of the Sarlacc's tentacles grabbed his leg. Rex looked away and continued to walk back toward the transport, as Cody was devoured.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As Padmé watched her husband and son turn things in their favor, she knew it was time to make their own move and she nodded to Artoo.
Suddenly, thanks to the faithful little droid, the lights were cut.
It went dark and Leia wrapped her chain around Jabba's neck. Together, Padmé and Leia pulled, strangling the slimy slug. Jabba struggled and choked, but soon finally ceased movement. His bulging eyes closed and life left him with a final exhale. Artoo zapped through their chains with his plasma ray.
"Come on, we need to get out of here," Padmé said as they headed for the deck. Luke, Anakin and Mara were already up there, eliminating the last of Jabba's henchmen.
"Leia, get the gun! Point it at the deck!" Luke called. Leia did so and aimed it. Artoo kept forcefully bumping Threepio toward the edge.
"Have you gone mad? You're going to push me OFFFF!" he cried as he went tumbling into the sand, followed willingly by Artoo.
Luke grabbed the rope nearby and swung himself and Leia over to one of the transports where Han, Lando, Rex and Chewie were waiting. He tossed the rope back to his father. Anakin grabbed Padmé around the waist and caught the rope, smiling down at her.
"Padmé...that outfit..." Anakin smirked.
"Don't even go there," she warned.
"I was just going to say that you look sexy," he replied. Padmé smirked.
"Well, you can gawk later my love, but right now, I wish you'd get us off this thing," she replied as she kissed his cheek. Anakin kicked the trigger on the gun and held her tightly.
"Anything for you angel," he replied as he swung them over to the transport. Mara Force jumped over, not bothering with the rope.
"Showoff," Luke taunted.
"But you love me anyway," Mara smirked before they kissed.
"Go, and don't forget the droids," Anakin said to Lando.
"We're on our way," he replied. They lifted the droids out of the sand with the magnetic lift and sailed away as the Sail Barge exploded in a brilliant array of fire.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
They made it back to the ships quickly and soon, the Millennium Falcon and Luke's X-Wing left Tatooine, going separate ways.
"We'll meet you back at the fleet," Luke said over his comm.
"Be careful Luke," Padme told him. He smiled.
"We will, mom," he replied.
"Hurry back. The Alliance should be assembled by then," Leia said.
"W will," Mara replied.
"May the Force be with you," Anakin said.
"You too dad," Luke said as he shut the comm off. Artoo whirled.
"That's right Artoo, we're going to the Degobah system. We've got a promise to keep...to an old friend," Luke said as he set the course.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Padmé and Anakin stood by a window on the Falcon, watching the stars streak past them in hyperspace.
Padmé and Leia had changed already and the former was now wearing one of her white battle uniforms that she kept on the Falcon. She leaned into his embrace, as he feathered kisses along her neck.
"You know, about that outfit..." he smirked. She rolled her eyes.
"Oh please, you hated it. You kept shooting death glares to every male in that place," Padmé teased.
"I hated that they were staring at you. I didn't say that I hated the way you looked in it, because I definitely didn't," he teased. She turned in his embrace and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Are you saying that you'd like me to wear it for just you?" she asked. Anakin made a face like he was pondering it for a moment.
"It's tempting...hmm, yes. You can keep it with that sexy little negligee you wore on our honeymoon," he teased as he captured her lips in a passionate kiss.
She giggled, before losing herself in his kiss. Anakin slanted his mouth over hers, kissing her deeply. Padmé eagerly returned his kiss, moving her lips passionately over his.
Their mouths collided in searing, passionate kisses for a few long moments, until an incessant beeping interrupted them. They pulled apart, realizing that it was a signal that they were coming out of hyperspace. They joined hands and made their way back to the cabin to strap in. They had arrived at the Alliance fleet location...
I decided to get the ordeal with Jabba done in one chapter.
Read and review, please!