Chapter Three

Vader immediately saw his son. "Luke! It would appear I need your assistance."

Flustered, the young man shouted back, "I don't have any weapons... I dropped my lightsaber when I blacked out!"

The Sith spared a second to glance down and saw the silver tube on the floor, near the Princess. Using the Force, he raised the saber up, tossing it over the snakes and into his son's waiting hand. He could sense surprise radiating from Luke, but the young man instantly switched on the blue blade, slashing at the snakes.

Vader watched with pride as his son drew power from the Force, allowing it to guide him as they cut the snakes in two. Still the snakes lunged forward, their mouths open wide enough to envelop the Wookiee. That would certainly explain why there were no bodies or blood if the scientists and Jedi had been swallowed whole. Then blaster fire rang from down the hallway as Solo appeared, also wearing an airmask, while firing a small blaster at the snakes with both hands since the binders were still around his wrists. The blaster bolts had the same impact as the lightsabers, making the snakes disappear, at least temporarily, into a puff of red smoke. Vader was thankful for the extra help, since it was apparent that the smuggler was a much better marksman than most beings, even with the handicap of binders. Unfortunately, for every snake they 'killed' more appeared to take their place. They needed to leave, and fast, or they would soon be overwhelmed by sheer numbers.

"Perhaps you should try to revive the Princess and Wookiee," Vader suggested to Luke over his shoulder. "We need to leave - quickly."

The Dark Lord watched as Luke hurriedly put the extra oxygen masks over the faces of his friends. The fresh air worked - Leia gave a groan while Chewie started to move, weakly raising his arm to above his face.

"You saved me and Han," Luke said, gasping for his breath as he stood up. "And you came back to get Leia and Chewie."

"Yes, I did," Vader replied, not taking his eyes off the snakes as they continued pouring down the hall.

"Why?" Luke asked, fighting back to back with Vader.

"I need for you to trust me, my son. I no longer wish to serve Palpatine, and I want to train you in the ways of the Force. And...and I want to find your mother."

Mother? Before Luke could formulate a response, Leia snatched up her blaster, aiming it at the Sith.

"Leia... no!" Luke shouted. Without thinking, he intercepted her shot with his blade, protecting Vader's vulnerable back, then reached down and grabbed the blaster from her hand before she could object.

"Luke! Why did you do that?" Leia protested in outrage, shocked at Luke's actions. "Have you lost your mind?"

"I... I couldn't let you kill him..."

Leia pushed up, while Chewie retrieved his bowcaster, directing his fire at the snakes as well. "Don't tell me you believe him, Luke! He's manipulating your mind!"

*I hate snakes!* Chewie roared unhappily, ignoring Luke and Leia's argument. *Why did it have to be snakes?*

"He saved us, Leia," Luke pointed out, trying to plead his case, while maintaining his concentration through the Force. "He didn't have to come back after you and Chewie, but he did."

"Of course he did!" Leia shot back. "He just wants us as his prisoners. He wants us alive, so he can torture us!"

Han and Chewie had cleared a temporary path through the snakes, and by this time the group had moved close enough that Han could hear the discussion over the blaster fire. "I don't think that's the case, Your Worship," Han yelled over at Leia. "He hasn't tortured me, and he sure had plenty of chances."

"If he rescued us, then he has an ulterior motive, nerf-brain!" Leia shouted back. "He's using us... he will torture us, and kill us, sooner or later."

"I have no intentions of harming any of you," Vader told them. "I only wanted a chance to speak to my son. That is the truth."

"Can we continue this discussion later?" Han snapped out, as he pointed down the hallway. "I see a hell of a lot more of these creatures comin' at us... and I really think we should make ourselves scarce, or it ain't gonna matter much."

"I would have to agree with the Corellian, except for his persistent use of the word 'ain't'," Vader hissed out at Leia.

Luke stuck Leia's blaster into his waistband, not trusting her enough to hand it back. Then he grabbed her wrist, pulling her toward the hanger. "Come on! We need to hurry!"

Han started to go after them, then gave a frustrated hiss as he looked down at the annoying binders. "Can you use your lightsaber and cut off these kriffin' things - " The binders fell to the ground as Vader gave a slight movement of his wrist. Without another word, the Corellian ran after the Princess and Luke.

The unlikely group rushed toward their ships, only to find that snakes had now circled around both the Falcon and Vader's ship. Vader spared a glance back from where they had just come, and he didn't like what he saw. Hundreds of snakes were heading in their direction. "We will have to fight our way through to Solo's ship," the Sith ordered. "The freighter is blocking the exit for my ship, so I doubt we have time to clear a path to both ships."

"Do you honestly think we're going to take you onboard our ship?" Leia snapped incredulously.

"It's my ship, Sweetheart," Han put in quickly. "And I ain't... I mean, I'm not leaving him behind to fight these things alone."

The look Leia shot Solo would have withered a less self-assured man on the spot. "Then our deaths will be on your head, Captain Solo," she returned, her voice icy.

The group fought back the serpents surrounding the Falcon, then Han punched in the code to open the ramp. With the ramp only halfway down, he could already hear Threepio wailing inside the ship. "They're not going to make it, Artoo! We will be trapped here... forever!"

Han and Chewie rushed for the cockpit, with Vader and Luke on their heels. No one noticed that Leia headed the opposite direction, her desire to get as far away from the Sith Lord as possible.

"Captain Solo! Chewbacca!" Threepio cried out in joy as Han rushed past the droid. "I'm so very pleased you're - " Then Luke came around the bend, followed by Darth Vader. "Master Luke! Look behind you! It's... it's a SITH!"

"Shut up, Threepio," Luke yelled, pushing the droid aside. "We're busy here."

Vader stopped for a second, staring in silence at the golden droid before shaking his head and following Luke.

"But..." the protocol droid started to say as everyone left him alone. He looked down at Artoo. "For the life of my circuits, I will never understand humans."

The Millennium Falcon turned and headed for the door while Solo held his breath waiting to see if the exit would open. It didn't. Chewie gave a howl, pulling back on the lever, slowing the freighter's forward progress. "It's not opening," Han muttered under his breath. "Hang on... I'm gonna blast the door apart to get us out of here."

Aiming the ship's lasers forward, and making certain the ship was shielded, Han let a volley of fire power loose on the door. When the smoke cleared, the door was damaged but still shut. "Damn it..."

"This research facility was built to withstand attacks, Solo," Vader informed the pilot. "Use your concussion missiles."

"That'll tear apart the whole dome. And probably take out the entire hanger, including your ship," Han pointed out.

"I do not relish losing the Amidala, but I would rather live to fly another ship."

"Hang on to your afterburners," Han instructed, firing the missiles. The door to the hanger blew into pieces, and a second later the Falcon shot clear of the crumbling dome.

Leia paced inside the small cabin, frustrated and furious at both Luke and Han. How could they protect Vader? I don't even know them anymore, she thought. Did Luke suddenly believe Vader was his father? Why? Why would he do that? And Han, what was wrong with that man? Vader had ambushed him, shot both him and Chewie! Why did Han all of a sudden feel sorry for the Sith?

She felt the ship give a slight shudder as it made the jump into hyperspace, and a few minutes later heard muffled talking coming from the hold. Even through the door she thought she heard Solo laugh as her fury notched up. This wasn't funny. Nothing about this situation was funny, and she decided it was past time to tell everyone exactly what she thought about them.

Standing in the hold of the Falcon, Vader questioned his son. "Are you frightened of me, Luke?"

"I'm not frightened of you," Luke answered truthfully. "I want to hear what you have to say, especially about my mother."

It was at that moment Leia stormed into the hold, giving a harsh laugh. "He's only taunting you with some hope of finding your mother. Luke, be reasonable. This is all nothing but lies."

"I think I am being reasonable," Luke replied slowly. "I think what he's saying is the truth... he's changed, Leia"

"Thank you, Luke. I believe I have changed," Vader agreed.

"I don't think you've changed! I don't believe a word you say, Vader," Leia spluttered at the Sith. "I hate you! I hate everything you stand for... you tortured me! You ordered my entire planet destroyed... you haven't changed!"

"No, I did not destroy Alderaan. That was a direct order from Palpatine." He hesitated, then added, "I regret causing you harm, Princess Leia." It was the truth. Ever since he had tortured the young Princess, Vader had been having haunting, terrifying dreams. In these dreams, he was standing over the Princess as she screamed in pain, asking her over and over the location of the Rebel Base. Then the young Rebel would fall to the ground, dead. Vader would reach down and turn her over. The face and the lifeless eyes staring back at him were Padme's, not the Princess. It was a horrifying nightmare, and no matter how much the Sith tried to push it out of his mind the image haunted him.

Stunned disbelief registered on the Princess's face. Then she flung herself at the Sith, not caring about his lightsaber, the Force, or anything other than taking out her rage at the monster that stood by, uncaring, while billions of people died.

The Sith easily pushed her back with the Force, and she stumbled, almost falling. Han, who had just entered the hold, caught her arm. "Sweetheart," he muttered under his breath. "Attacking a Sith is a real stupid idea."

"Don't touch me," she yelled at the Corellian, pulling away from his touch. "You're just as much space-vapor as Luke!" She turned her attention back to Luke. "He's lying, Luke! He's not your father... there is no mystery mother!"

Reaching into a small section of his belt, Vader withdrew a silver disk, then pressed a button located on the underside of the disk. A small holograph appeared, showing a beautiful, dark-haired woman. "This is your mother, Luke... the former Queen of Naboo, Padmé Amidala. I know she is still alive."

Solo snapped his fingers together. "Amidala. So that's why you named your ship the Amidala."

The Princess stared at the holo, her face growing still and pale. "That can't be your mother..."

"Why?" Luke questioned, stepping next to the stunned Princess.

"Because... that's... that's a holo of my mother!"

Suddenly, the dream made sense. "Twins," Vader whispered, feeling shell-shocked himself. "Padmé had twins."

"NO!" Leia gasped in rage, shock, horror... a million emotions, none of them good. Then she turned and ran back into Han's cabin, away from the evidence that was staring her in the face.

"Princess?" Han called through his cabin's door. "Open the door."

"Go away," came the choked response. "I can't face anyone, so I'm never coming out again."

"Nah. You can't do that. This is my ship, and my cabin. If you stay in there too long, you'll start stinkin' the place up." When she didn't respond, he tried again. "I know the control codes to come inside anyway, ya know."

The door slid open, revealing a pale looking Princess trying to keep the tears from flowing. "He's not my father."

"It doesn't matter to me if he is."

Frustrated, Leia slammed her fist into Han's chest. "It matters to me!"

"Ow... you know, you do have a temper like he does..."

"Shut up! Just... SHUT UP!" she yelled at the smuggler, barely able to resist the urge to slap his face. "I'm not in the mood for your stupid comments."

Han had to bite his tongue to keep from telling the Princess that Vader had already said almost that exact same thing to him already once today. "Your mother is beautiful," he said instead. "She looks a lot like you."

The Princess gave a cut-off sob, and Han stepped forward, taking her in his arms. "Maybe you're right... maybe he's lying, sweetheart. But even if it is true, that doesn't mean you're anything like him."

"You just said - "

"I was joking," Han interrupted. "A bad joke, too. Next time I say something stupid like that, just slug me."

"I already did," she mumbled into his gray prisoner suit, clinging to Solo as her world once again crumbled around her.

"Harder next time."

"If I hit you every time you say something dumb, you'll be covered in bruises."

Han gave a deep chuckle. "Then you can kiss those bruises and make them feel all better."

She pulled back, looking up at his amused expression, truly amazed how he could annoy her and make her feel better all at the same time. "Nerf herder."

Luke glanced down the hallway, toward the cabin. "Leia's really upset." The young man could feel the wave of emotions radiating from Leia. If she could barely accept that Vader had fathered Luke, how was this revelation going to affect her?

"So are you," Vader returned. "You had romantic feelings for the Princess."

The young Jedi felt his face flush with embarrassment. His sister. Had Obi-Wan known Leia was his sister? If he'd known, and allowed him to fawn over the Princess like that... "She never felt like that toward me, though. Maybe she has a better connection to the Force than I have. Besides, I think she likes Han, anyway."

"She does not have a stronger Force-connection than you," Vader replied, trying to ignore the comment about Solo. His and Padmé's daughter... in love with a Corellian spice-smuggler? What would his wife think about that? "Her connection is strong, but different." He shook his head, wondering what his wife would say about the fact he had tortured his own daughter. How could he have not seen on the Death Star that the Princess was Padmé's child? The similarities between them were unmistakable, and not just in physical appearance. Would Padmé be able to forgive him? It wasn't likely, if Leia refused him forgiveness. "I should have known, back on the Death Star... I should have known then," Vader said, almost to himself. "The dark side was blinding me."

"But it's not blinding you now?"

"The pull is still strong, but I am fighting it, my son. Unless I reject the dark side, I can never be with Padmé again." Vader stopped and gave a deep sigh. "I want my family back, and Palpatine knows this."

"The Emperor knows about me?" Luke asked nervously.

"He knows about you, but not Leia. Leia is the unknown factor in all of this, Luke." Vader waved his hand toward the exit of the hold. "We need to talk in private. Let's go back to the cockpit." The Sith was pleased that Luke followed him without arguing, and the Wookiee had not intervened.

"How do you know our mother is still alive?" Luke questioned, aware that he had somehow accepted the fact that Vader, or Anakin Skywalker, was his father. It was still difficult to imagine Leia as his sister, but the more he considered it, the more it felt right. The Force was telling him this was all true; still he had so many unanswered questions.

In the cockpit, Vader sat in Chewie's chair while Luke flung himself down in the pilot's seat. "In the past few years, she has sent me messages through a vast network of droid couriers. I could only track the messages back one droid, or sometimes two droids, before the trail either vanished, or the next droid had a full memory wipe. It has been very frustrating. For a long time I refused to believe the messages were from her, but now I am no longer so sure." After a pause, he added, "It has been eight months since her last message, and I am becoming concerned that something is wrong, or that she has finally given up on me."

"What has she told you?"

"She tells me that she loves me, and she is waiting. Waiting for me to realize what I've done, and make things right." Vader stared at his son, memorizing the young man's features, trying to see any resemblance between what he had been and the younger Skywalker. "When she sees my children - our children - have forgiven me, and that together we've disposed of Palpatine, then she will come back to me - to us. We can be a family, Luke. The family we should have always been, but Palpatine and Obi-Wan denied us." Vader gave the small disk to Luke, watching as his son turned it on, staring at the holo-portrait.

"I can hardly believe my mother was a real Queen," Luke whispered in awe as he looked at the regal woman.

"Padmé was, and still should be, a true leader. She should have been the leader of the galaxy," Vader said softly. "Both Obi-Wan and Palpatine denied her... everything. Her husband, her children, her place in history."

The thought of finding his real mother after so many years of wondering left Luke breathless with excitement. "I'll help you find her," Luke stated firmly as he handed the disk back to Vader.

"Did they have to bring Threepio?" Han muttered, rubbing his tired eyes as he walked into the hold. He had stayed with the Princess for hours, just holding her and trying to comfort her. Finally she had fallen asleep, then Han covered her with a blanket and quietly left the room with a change of clothes. He knew he'd feel better himself once he was wearing his regular clothing.

*No disaster is complete without his running commentary,* Chewie woofed in amusement.

"Why, thank you Chewbacca," Threepio responded sincerely. "I do try to put forward my own unique perspective on situations." Threepio looked down at Artoo. "Why do you suppose Darth Vader stared at me like that? It was most disconcerting."

"Threepio, why don't you go turn yourself off for a while?" Han suggested sourly. It had been a long day, and he didn't feel like listening to the droid's endless comments and complaints. The Corellian looked over at Chewie. "Where did Vader and Luke go?"

*Back to the cockpit. They needed to talk in private.*

"Oh," Han said, looking toward the front of the ship. "Maybe I should ask his Sithiness where he wants to go, since I just laid in a course for Tatooine before we made the jump to hyperspace."

*Tatooine? Why would you pick there?*

Han shrugged. "I only had a few seconds to decide. Besides, we've already had so much fun I didn't want it to end."

Staring out at the blur of stars, Luke found himself thinking back to the day's events. "Why couldn't I sense those snake-things through the Force?"

"I don't know," Vader admitted. "I could not sense them, either."

"Were they even real, or just in our minds?"

The Sith considered, then answered, "They were real, but like nothing else in this galaxy. It was almost like they were some type of weapon, moving in one accord to destroy us."

"A weapon?"

"That outpost was there for a reason," Vader surmised. "It has been rumored for years there is something beyond our galaxy's borders, something we cannot understand. Those Republic scientists were trying to understand, but it appears perhaps whatever is out there does not want us looking their direction."

Luke felt a chill run down his spine, and for a brief moment he could almost see a terrible, deadly war in his mind, set far in the future. Then the vision was gone, as swiftly as it had come. Deciding to shift topics, Luke asked, "Did Ben know about Leia?"

"He was responsible for helping Padmé hide from me, so I don't understand how he could not have known."

"He should have told me she was my sister," Luke muttered glumly. "I feel like such a fool."

"Do not blame yourself. It is Kenobi's fault, not yours," Vader said, feeling a fresh wave of disgust at his former Master.

"Thank you for not harming Han," Luke told Vader, trying to ignore the fact that Han and Chewie had both been shot during the capture. "And not leaving him behind to die in the outpost."

"The Corellian is useful. He will continue to be useful in convincing your sister to understand her place in our family."

The comment worried Luke. "Useful? Like how?"

"Love is a powerful motivator, son. It can even be more powerful than hate, under the right circumstances."

The remark didn't ease Luke's concern about Vader's plans for Han. "You think Han loves Leia?"

"They love each other, although they are reluctant to admit it. But the emotion is still there," Vader replied. The Sith turned his head slightly. "Solo is coming, so we should not continue to discuss this."

A few seconds later, Han lightly knocked on the shut cockpit door, so Vader pressed the 'open' button. "Um... I need to ask you where you want to go, your Lordshipness. I'm just guessin' that Tatooine ai- err, isn't your first choice."

"Tatooine will be fine," Vader answered shortly.

Han's eyes widened in surprise. "Are you kiddin' me?"

"I do not 'kid', Solo. We will first go to Tatooine, and when we have finished there I will tell you our next destination." Inside his mask, Vader smiled at Solo's incredulous expression. "Don't you want to visit your old friend, Jabba the Hutt? He might be missing you by now."

"Uh... I'd rather not visit Jabba," Han stuttered out. "We're not exactly on good terms at the moment."

Vader stood up, putting his hand on Solo's shoulder. "There is nothing more I'd like to do than visit Jabba's palace with you. You would like to please me... isn't that correct, Captain Solo?"

Han swallowed hard, glancing at the gloved hand on his shoulder then over at Luke, who looked puzzled and worried. "I...I .."

"Of course you do," Vader said evenly. Then he dropped his hand and moved past Solo as he headed out of the cockpit.

Han waited a few seconds, then whispered worriedly to Luke, "Is he planning on turning me over to Jabba?"

"No." Luke shook his head, still confused. "Whatever he's planning, it doesn't involve turning you over to Jabba. Just don't ask me what he's thinking, because I sure don't know."

Luke could tell Han wasn't exactly comforted by that declaration.

Vader was highly amused at Solo's concern over 'visiting' Jabba, but the Sith had an ulterior motive. Freeing Solo from his debt to the Hutt would be one more small step toward convincing his daughter that he intended to bring his family together. So she loved a smuggler... wasn't Anakin Skywalker once a slave? Vader could easily imagine worse choices for Leia. Some Imperial toady, loyal to Palpatine; or a mama's boy prince, interested only in her title. Solo was truly in love with Leia, even if both were still fighting the fact. Yes, Vader could think of worse men. He could see the Corellian had a grudging respect for him, he understood debts and loyalty, was unquestionably brave, even if he was reluctant to face Jabba. Vader knew he could teach Solo to be a worthy son-in-law. What was it the smuggler had said? Once his training sank in, it was permanently embedded? He could see that was true, and he knew Padmé would be able to see beneath the rough exterior. And coming from a background of hardship would only serve to make him appreciate what he had, once he felt he was part of the Royal Family of Skywalkers.

The Sith's musings were interrupted as he entered the hold, where the Wookiee was playing some ancient holo-board game and giving a loud series of barks at the droid. He listened as Threepio defended his move, arguing back at the huge being. Why had Obi-Wan and Bail Organa given his daughter C-3PO? It was just as strange as allowing Luke to keep the name Skywalker as far as Vader was concerned.

"Threepio," Vader started out hesitantly, watching as the droid turned his glowing eyes toward the Sith. "Do you remember your creator?"

The protocol droid's voice took on a wistful tone. "Yes, I do. A brilliant young human boy, who went on to become a great Jedi. His name was Anakin Skywalker." Artoo trilled in agreement with his partner, remembering the nice young boy, too.

Chewie let out a startled roar, and a second later Luke and Han came charging into the hold. "What's goin' on, Chewie?" Han asked in concern.

*Darth Vader built Threepio when he was a young boy!*

"Darth Vader is Anakin Skywalker?" Threepio cried out in shock, while Artoo spun around in a circle, beeping loudly. "How dreadful for me!"

Han looked askance at the Sith. "Damn, Vader, you really started torturing people early, didn't you?"

The next four days went by rather slowly, even with Vader giving lessons to Luke in the ways of the Force. Never once did the Sith suggest that Luke draw his power from the dark side, and the lessons were reminiscent of Obi-Wan's instructions during the trip to Alderaan.

The Sith asked if Solo had vitamins onboard the Falcon, and he only consumed the dissolved tablets in water. It wasn't ideal, but Vader knew he could survive quite a while without his nutrient drink.

Leia refused to come out of Han's cabin except to use the refresher, no matter how much Han and Luke pleaded. She wouldn't even come into the main hold to eat, which forced Han to take her meals, most of which were left untouched.

Although Luke was upset by Leia's refusal to have anything to do with their father, Vader understood. "It will take her a long time to forgive me," he told his son. "It is something I have to earn." He looked over at Solo. "Like respect."

The Corellian was checking the readings on the control board. "We'll be coming out of hyperspace in about an hour." Solo sighed. "Then what, Vader?"

"I no longer wish to be called Darth Vader," the Sith suddenly declared, surprising everyone. "Luke may call me Father, and I hope that some day Leia will choose to call me that, as well."

"What am I supposed to call you?" Han asked.

"For the time being, Anakin, or if you prefer, Lord Skywalker."

Han grinned at the Sith. "I think I prefer 'Anakin' to Lord Skywalker. Too tempting to make nicknames outta Lord Skywalker."

"What would you like me to call you?" Threepio piped up. "Lord Skywalker?"

"Master Skywalker, to you, Threepio," Vader replied with a deep chuckle. "After all, I did build you."

"Unless I receive a memory wipe, it isn't likely I will forget," Threepio said sadly.

"You didn't answer my question," Han put in. "What happens after we land on Tatooine?"

"I thought I was clear, Captain. We visit your former employer."

"But I don't have the credits to pay what I owe him," Han objected. "He'll kill me...after he tortures me for a few months or so."

Vader took his lightsaber off his belt, turning the silver handle in his hand thoughtfully, feeling a certain thrill at the upcoming confrontation. "I've always been rather proud of my ability to negotiate with beings, even those as stubborn as a Hutt." Addressing Luke, he said, "Too bad your sister isn't willing to come along on this little adventure. It should prove interesting."

"I'm not staying behind while you put Luke and Han in danger," Leia said from the doorway. She wasn't smiling, and her eyes looked hard and very determined.

"Does this mean I'm forgiven for inviting Dar... Anakin onboard the Falcon?" Han asked with a wide grin.

"Not a chance, flyboy. I expect a lot more than just a few crummy meals brought to that moldy old berth."

"Moldy? My cabin ain't moldy!"

"Isn't, Solo," Leia shot back. "The word is... isn't!"

Behind the mask, Vader struggled to stifle his laughter.

They took two land speeders to the Hutt's palace - Han, Leia and Chewie traveled in one, and Luke and Vader flew further behind, in a second speeder. Han had his spare blaster and gun belt strapped to his leg, although he missed his original set more than he cared to admit. "I wish you would've stayed behind, Your Holiness," Han told her. "Jabba has a real taste for pretty females, an' you're not gonna like the way he leers at you."

"So you and this Hutt have a lot in common?" Leia asked innocently.

Chewie gave a hoot of laughter, while Han just glared at his partner. "I'm not joking, Your Worship. This is gonna get mighty dangerous. I really don't know what Vader is thinking, coming here with only a few credits to offer Jabba."

"If we all end up dead, I'd like to point out now that I warned you this would happen, Laserbrains."

"I swore I'd never come back here, and half a year later, here I am... back on this pit," Luke muttered, looking around at the sand and rocks.

"I feel the same way. Every time I come to Tatooine, I swear never to return," Vader agreed.

"Are you going to tell me your plan now?" Luke asked.

"What makes you think I have a plan?"

Luke's eyes grew wide at that comment. "No plan? But, but..."

"But, what?"

"I thought I was the only one that did things without a plan," Luke said, dumbfounded.

"No, son, you come by it naturally."

Parking in the shade of the round palace, Han helped Leia climb out of the speeder. Then he took a deep breath, and knocked firmly on the rusty door. He had an Imperial voucher in his pocket worth ten thousand credits - only a small portion what he'd been paid for rescuing the Princess, and less than half what he owed the Hutt. He and Chewie had slowly whittled away at the reward that Luke had promised would be 'more money than he could imagine'. Most of the time, Han ended up not only flying supply runs for the Rebels for little or nothing, but many times the Rebels were in such desperate need of financing for arms or medical supplies that Chewie bought the supplies himself - out of the reward money that was supposed to go to pay off Jabba. The Wookiee had always promised Han the Rebels were good for it... they would eventually be reimbursed. The longer they kept company with Darth Vader, the less likely that reimbursement was looking.

"Doesn't look like your friend is home," Leia informed Han after a few minutes of waiting.

"He's home," Han muttered. "He just likes to make his company sweat - in more ways than one."

A droid 'eyeball' shot out of a hole in the door, then quickly retracted after Han identified himself. The heavy door slowly rose, allowing the three to enter the dim interior of the palace. With Leia walking between them, they cautiously wound their way through the maze of corridors until they entered the Throne Room.

Leia tried not to stare, but the effort was difficult. The Hutt was disgusting, with green drool oozing out of his huge mouth, and a very pretty, very unhappy Twi'lek girl chained to his slimy belly. Seeing Han and Chewie, the Hutt let out a loud gurgle that Leia could only assume was his version of laughter.

*I see you have finally come to pay off your debt to me Solo.* He eyed the Princess. *Is this female yours... or are you offering me her in payment?*

As a rusty and battered old protocol droid interpreted Jabba's words, the Princess felt a rush of indignation sweep through her, and opened her mouth to speak, but Han was faster.

"Uh... she's a friend," Han replied, growing more worried by the second. What had Vader been thinking? There was no way Jabba was going to allow him to live after he gave him the credit voucher. Was that the plan all along? Tricking Han into walking to his own death, and taking Chewie and Leia with him? Nervously, the Corellian stepped forward, handing the credit voucher to the Hutt. "This is all I have right now... but I'll work off the rest. You know I'm good for it."

Leia added her input to the negotiations. "Han has been helping the Rebellion, or he would have had enough saved by now to pay you back. You certainly have to agree that the Rebellion needs the money more than you."

Han gave a low groan at Leia's attempt to convince the Hutt, which only caused Jabba to laugh loudly. *So now you've become altruistic, my boy? Or is this pretty female causing you to think with the wrong part of your anatomy?*

"How dare - " the Princess tried again, only to find Solo's hand across her mouth, stifling her comment of outrage.

"I'll put up the Falcon as collateral," Han choked out, wondering if those words would be enough to kill him on the spot. He glanced at Leia, who was glaring lasers at him, and he quickly took his hand from her face.

The Hutt looked at the amount on the voucher, shook his jowls in amusement. *This and your broken down old freighter? It's still not enough, Solo... not nearly enough.* He grinned widely. *But I will take the female as partial payment, and sell the Wookiee to the Imperials as slave labor. That will be a good start.*

"That's not gonna happen, Jabba," Han said in a low voice, putting his hand over the blaster handle.

*I think it will,* the Hutt replied, nodding as Boba Fett and ten other heavily armed ruffians stepped out of the shadows, aiming their weapons directly at the smugglers and Princess. *Put down your weapon, or I will order them to fire.*

The Princess and Solo exchanged worried looks as Chewie roared in anger. Carefully, Han slid his blaster out of the holster, tossing it on the ground.

"Step back away from the Wookiee and the girl, Solo. You don't want them to die, do you?" Fett ordered through his filtered mask.

Slowly, Han backed up, his eyes locked on Leia's. He only briefly saw the startled look on her face as the floor gave way beneath his feet, sending him careening into the pit below.