Author's Note: To all readers, who are confused with Nadia and Ferus, I advise to start reading the prequel 'Threads of Destiny' before reading this story.
I don't own Star Wars Rebels or its characters
I own only Lisa Skywalker and my other OCs
Enjoy!
Sparks of Rebellion
Chapter 64: The Empire Strikes Back Part 4
Inside the Millennium Falcon…
Nadia and Leia sat in the cockpit together as they waited for Han, Chewbacca and Ferus to finish the repairs.
Leia looked at the black haired woman when she notice a troubling look on her face.
"Are you still upset with Uncle Ferus?"Leia asked gently.
Nadia let out a sigh before responding.
"I still can't believe that he fell with the lies of an imposter and didn't know I was replaced."Nadia commented with a frown. "He supposed to know me more than anyone. I am nothing like my ancestor."
"Your ancestor?"Leia said in confusion.
"I am actually the descendant of a Dark Lord of the Sith known as Darth Nihilus, he was around during the era of strife following the Jedi Civil War."Nadia explained. "Darth Nihilus had the power to consume entire planets and was basically the ethereal embodiment of the Dark Side. During the time that I was still a youngling, most members of the Jedi Council didn't want me to be trained because they would fear that I would become a tyrant like my ancestor since his blood runs through me."
"That's horrible."Leia complemented.
"It was."Nadia said with a nod. "But Master Yoda saw the good in me and I later completed my Jedi training thanks to Obi-Wan."
"Does Zack and Gwen know about this?"Leia questioned.
"They do."Nadia replied. "But I don't want my troubled past and family ties to interfere with their future. It's ashamed that I wasn't really there for them though…"
"Uncle Ferus already said he feels guilty for not realising sooner and he wants to make it up to you."Leia admitted.
"I know he does."Nadia assured with a hint of sarcasm. "It's just my trust on him is a little bit shaken at the moment."
Then a mischievous smile appeared on Nadia's face as she changed the subject.
"So, did you and Han express your feelings?"Nadia asked with a small smirk.
A small blush crept up on Leia's face.
"No."Leia lied shyly. "It wasn't like that. I-"
Suddenly, a winged creature flew into the viewport causing the two women to become startled.
Nadia and Leia then stood up from their seats to leave the cockpit as they heard Threepio say something to Han.
"Sir, if I may venture an opinion..."Threepio started.
"I'm not really interested in your opinion, Threepio."Han interrupted rudely.
Leia ran up to Han as Nadia followed her from behind.
"There's something out there."Leia stated.
"Where?"Han questioned as he removed his goggles.
"Outside in the Cave."Nadia responded. "Through the Force, I sense mindless yet hungry creatures outside the ship."
Suddenly a sharp bang was heard on the hull as Chewbacca let out an anxious bark.
"Yes, Chewbacca."Ferus agreed. "There's something odd about this cave."
"Is that you're ego speaking, old man?"Han joked.
Ferus gives Han a sharp glare as the golden droid began to freak out.
"Mr Ferus is right!"Threepio panicked. "There isn't is! Listen! Listen!"
"I'm going out there."Han declared.
"Are you crazy?"Leia scoffed.
"I just got this bucket back together."Han commented. "I'm not going to let something tear it apart
Han and Chewbacca grabbed their breath masks off a rack to hurry out the ship.
"Then we're going with you."Leia insisted.
Leia, Nadia and Ferus placed on their breathing masks before following Han and Chewbacca outside.
Ferus and Nadia both activated their lightsabers as they felt ground strangely soft and moist.
"This ground sure feels strange."Leia said. "It doesn't feel like rock at all."
Han held his blaster as he studied the ground and the outline of the cave.
"There's an awful lot of moisture in here."Han complemented.
"There's something very hungry here."Nadia muttered with a hint of worry. "But it's more than one."
"A cave is not a living thing, but I feel the same thing."Ferus stated.
"I have a bad feeling about this."Leia stated.
"Yeah."Han agreed and suddenly let out a warning. "Watch out!"
A leathery creature lets out a screech as Han used his blaster, but missed.
Ferus and Nadia quickly used their lightsabers to slash the three creatures and they dropped dead on the ground.
Chewbacca let out a whimper as the smuggler and the two jedi scanned the creatures.
"Yeah, that's what I thought. Mynock."Han said and looked at the wookiee. "Chewie, check the rest of the ship, make sure there aren't any more attached. They're chewing on the power cables."
"Mynocks?"Leia repeated.
Ferus and Nadia glanced at each other as Han looked at Leia.
"Go on inside."Han ordered. "We'll clean them off if there are any more."
A swarm of mynocks swept down out of the sky as Leia let out a scream and headed back inside the Millennium Falcon.
"Han!"Leia called out.
Han, Chewbacca Ferus and Nadia stood together to fight the mynocks.
A blaster shot from Chewbacca made the whole cave shake and roar which scared away the mynocks.
"Did the cave just roar?"Nadia questioned in disbelief.
"Wait a minute."Han said.
Han aimed at the ground and fired causing the cave to shake and roar again.
Han, Chewbacca, Ferus, Nadia and Leia ran back into the ship in silence.
"Let's get out of here!"Han shouted.
"The Empire is still out there! I don't think-"Leia started.
"No time to discuss this in committee!"Han interrupted sharply.
"I am not a committee!"Leia exclaimed with a frown.
"Sit down, sweetheart!"Han ordered. "We're taking off!"
"Look! "Threepio protested. "Look!"
"I see it."Han assured. "I see it."
"We're doomed!"Threepio shouted.
"The cave is collapsing!"Leia said in shock.
"This is no cave, Leia."Ferus stated.
"What?"Leia asked.
"Can't believe we trusted him into finding a cave to hide."Nadia muttered under her breath.
Leia sees that the rocks of the cave entrance were not rocks at all, but giant teeth that were quickly closing around the ship.
The Millennium Falcon zoomed through the monster's mouth, rolls on its side and barely makes it between two of the gigantic white teeth before the huge jaws slamed closed.
The enormous space slug moves its head out of the cave as the Millennium Falcon flew out of its mouth and into an asteroid storm.
Back in Dagobah...
Lisa panted heavily as she and Luke climbed up one of the many thick vines that grow in the swamp.
The former Queen of Naboo wore a sleeveless blue shirt, brown trousers and black boots which made it easy for her to run than wearing her pilot suit.
Yoda was on Luke's back as the Skywalker twins climbed, flipped through the air, jumped over roots and raced in and out of the heavy ground fog.
"Run! Yes! A Jedi's strength flows from the Force."Yoda exclaimed. "But beware of the dark side. Anger. Fear. Aggression. The dark side of the Force are they. Easily they flow, quick to join you in a fight. If once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will, as it did Obi-Wan's apprentice."
Luke and Lisa came to a stop as they looked at Yoda.
"Vader."Luke said. "Is the dark side stronger?"
"No...no...no."Yoda answered. "Quicker, easier, more seductive. Almost consumed Obi-Wan's other apprentice, it did."
"Nadia."Lisa responded. "But she saved herself in the end."
Yoda nodded at Lisa.
"But how am I to know the good side from the bad?"Luke asked.
"You will know. When you are calm, at peace. Passive."Yoda stated. "A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defence, never for attack."
"If you have a calm mind, you're able to see things more clearer."Lisa remarked. "That's what Uncle Ferus taught me."
"But tell me why I can't..."Luke started.
"No, no, there is no why. Nothing more will I teach you today."Yoda interrupted. "Clear your mind of questions. Mmmmmmmm."
Artoo beeped in the distance as Luke lets Yoda down to the ground.
Breathing heavily, Luke takes his shirt from a nearby tree branch and pulls it on.
Luke and Lisa turned to see a huge, dead, black tree, its base surrounded by a few feet of water while the twisted roots formed a dark and sinister looking cave on one side.
"There's something not right here."Luke commented. "I feel cold, death."
Lisa paled. "This place is..."
Yoda sat on a large root as poked his stick into the dirt.
"That place is strong with the dark side of the Force."Yoda declared. "A domain of evil it is. In you must go."
"What's in there?"Luke asked.
"Only what you take with you."Yoda answered. "Your weapons...you will not need them."
The Skywalkers glanced at Yoda and then each other before placing their lightsabers down.
Luke and Lisa moved aside some hanging vines before the two of them entered the tree.
Lisa walked deeper into the cave and realised Luke was no longer with her.
The blonde haired girl suddenly felt a cold presence around her which made her feel uncomfortable as she stared at her surroundings.
It was then that Lisa felt a throbbing sensation in her head and collapsed onto the ground as visions filled her mind.
Lisa saw a young male padawan holding an old woman that had dirty brown hair and was badly wounded, but immediately realised the young padawan was her biological father, Anakin and the woman was Shmi Skywalker, her grandmother.
"A…Ani…?"Shmi asked weakly. "Ani, is it you?"
"I'm here, mum."Anakin assured. "You're safe."
"Ani?"Shmi whimpered, stroking his cheek, "Oh, you look so handsome."
Anakin kissed his mother's hand as Shmi stroked his hair as Lisa watched them in silence.
"My son…"Shmi said, almost in tears. "Oh, my grown-up son. I'm so proud of you, Ani."
"I've missed you."Anakin cried.
"Now I am complete."Shmi declared. "I love y…"
Shmi let out a gasp and died in her son's arms causing Anakin to become despaired.
Tears developed in Lisa's eyes, seeing the grandmother she never knew in her life all the sudden die in her father's arms and wasn't able to be saved.
Suddenly the scenery changed again and Lisa found herself outside a villa in the lake island called Varykino which she and her family used to spend time together during her childhood.
Lisa turned around when she saw Threepio and Artoo watching a young couple getting married.
The couple was Anakin still dressed in his padawan clothing but this time with a mechanical hand and a beautiful woman wearing a lovely wedding gown.
Lisa watched with a sad smile smile her parents kiss and felt great happiness in the scene in front of her.
Suddenly the scene changed once again causing Lisa to feel butterflies in her stomach.
Lisa found herself in a medical room in Polis Massa and found Padme on a birthing table crying.
In front of her was young Ferus staring at her with tears in his eyes.
"Ferus...there's good in him."Padme whispered weakly. "I know...I know there's still..."
Padme then trailed off and closed her eyes forever causing Ferus to cry of his sister's death.
Lisa closed her eyes and began backing away as she felt pain in her heart.
The female jedi became horrified when saw Darth Vader appear from no where and launched his red lightsaber at her.
Lisa quickly dodged from being hit by the blade, but found herself cornered by the Dark Lord.
Darth Vader came forward and Lisa watched him in complete fear.
Suddenly an angry look appeared on Lisa's face before she started running towards Darth Vader, who prepared to kill her.
"I DON'T FEAR YOU!"Lisa screamed.
The blonde haired girl landed hard on the ground and the Sith Lord was gone.
Lisa opened her eyes and saw she saw laying in the entrance of the dark cave causing her to slowly pant in silence relief.
In Darth's Star Destroyer...
Darth Vader stood in the back control area of his ship's bridge with a group of bounty hunters.
Admiral Piett and two controllers stand at the front of the bridge and stared at the group with disgusted looks.
"Bounty hunters."Admiral Piett ordered. "We don't need that scum."
"Yes, sir."the first controller said.
"Those Rebels won't escape us."Admiral Piett stated.
"Sir, we have a priority signal from the Star Destroyer Avenger."the second controller declared.
"Right."Admiral Piett answered.
Darth Vader walked up to Boba Fett and the other bounty hunters he hired to give them their orders.
"There will be a substantial reward for the one who finds the Millennium Falcon."Darth Vader declared. "You are free to use any methods necessary, but I want them alive. No disintegrations."
"As you wish."Boba Fett answered.
At that moment, Admiral Piett rushed up to Darth Vader.
"Lord Vader."Admiral Piett responded. "My lord, we have them."
In Space...
The Millennium Falcon speeds through deep space and was closely followed by a firing Imperial Star Destroyer.
The tiny Falcon banked to avoid the giant asteroid as smaller rocks pelt its surface.
The ship shuddered as flak exploded near the cockpit window.
Ferus checked a tracking scope an the side control panel while Nadia and Leia watched tensely out the window.
"Oh, thank goodness we're coming out of the asteroid field."Threepio remarked.
Chewbacca barked excitedly as the rain of asteroids began to subside.
A bolt from the Star Destroyer sets up a fiery explosion on the back side of the Falcon causing it to lurch to one side.
The Millennium Falcon was then hit hard by another bolt from the Star Destroyer which created a huge explosion near the cockpit of the smaller ship.
Han moves his ship to another angle to avoid another hit.
"Let's get out of here. Ready for light-speed?"Han asked. "One...two...three!"
Han pulled back on the hyperspace throttle and flak bursts continue to rock the ship.
Ferus glanced at the smuggler with an unimpressed expression.
"You were saying?"Ferus questioned.
"It's not fair!"Han argued.
Chewbacca became very angry and starts to growl at his friend and captain.
"The transfer circuits are working."Han commented and pulls back on the throttle. "It's not my fault!"
Chewbacca puts his head in his hands, whining.
"No light-speed?"Leia asked.
"It's not my fault."Han stated.
"That's coming from the guy who brought us inside a slug mouth."Nadia retorted.
"Sir, we just lost the main rear deflector shield."Threepio declared. "One more direct hit on the back quarter and we're done for."
Han paused for a moment, then made a decision, and pulled back on a lever.
"Turn her around."Han ordered as Chewbacca barked in confusion. "I said turn her around! I'm going to put all power in the front shield!"
"What?!"Nadia scowled.
"You're going to attack them?!"Leia questioned.
"Sir, the odds of surviving a direct assault on an Imperial Star Destroyer..."Threepio started.
Ferus placed his hand on Threepio's mouth to silence him, not wanting the golden droid to finish the unnecessary sentence.
"We don't need to hear this now, Threepio."Ferus replied.
The Millennium Falcon makes a steep twisting turn and raced toward the Star Destroyer before disappearing in the last minute.
In Dagobah...
Luke and Lisa continued being trained by Master Yoda.
The Skywalkers twins stood upside down while trying to use the Force to lift up the rocks.
"Use the Force. Yes."Yoda instructed. "Now the stone. Feel it."
Luke stared at the rocks to lift them from the ground and make them float up to rest on the others.
However, as the former farm boy concentrated on trying to lift the top rock, he got distracted by Artoo's frantic beeping which made him collapse on the ground after losing his balance.
Yoda avoided landing face first on the ground as Lisa lowered the rock and went to her brother's side, helping him back on his feet.
Luke and Lisa looked over at Artoo, who was rocking urgently back and forth in front of them.
Artoo waddled closer to Luke and Lisa while scooting over the edge of the swamp.
The Skywalker twins rushed to the water's edge and found their X-Wing fighter sinking with only the tip of its nose shows above the lake's surface.
"Our ship!"Lisa gasped.
"Oh, no!"Luke said. "We'll never get it out now."
"So certain are you."Yoda responded, walking over to the twins. "Always with you it cannot be done. Hear you nothing that I say?"
Luke looked uncertainly out at the ship while Lisa bit her lip softly.
"Master, moving stones around is one thing."Luke commented. "This is totally different."
"Luke is right, Master Yoda."Lisa agreed."Ferus taught how to move objects with the Force, but moving a whole ship is another level."
"No! No different!"Yoda stated. "Only different in your mind. You must unlearn what you have learned."
"Yes, Master."Lisa replied.
"I'll give it a try."Luke suggested.
"No. Try not."Yoda stated calmly. "Do or do not. There is no try."
Luke and Lisa closed their eyes and concentrated on bringing the ship out.
Slowly, the X-wing's nose began to rise above the water as it hovered for a moment and then slid back into the swamp water.
Lisa was doing well with her concentration, but felt her brother's anxiety across their bond which her lose her focus.
"I can't."Luke panted heavily. "It's too big."
"Size matters not. Look at me."Yoda instructed. "Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm?"
Luke shook his head, avoiding eye contact with the old Jedi Master.
"And well you should not. For my ally in the Force. And a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we."Yoda complemented. "Not this crude matter. You must feel the Force around you. Here, between you...me...the tree...the rock...everywhere! Yes, even between this land and that ship!"
"You want the impossible."Luke replied.
"Luke…"Lisa started.
Yoda quietly turned toward the X-wing fighter.
With his eyes closed and his head bowed, the old Jedi Master raised his arm and pointed at the ship.
Soon, the fighter rose above the water and moved forward as Artoo beeped in terror and scoots away.
The entire X-wing moves majestically, surely, toward the shore. Yoda stands on a tree root and guides the fighter carefully down toward the ground.
Luke and Lisa stared in astonishment as the fighter settles down onto the shore.
"I don't believe it."Lisa whispered.
"How is that possible?"Luke asked.
"That is why you fail."Yoda declared.
Luke shook his head in bewilderment as Lisa chuckled awkwardly and rubbed the back of her neck.
In Darth Vader's Star Destroyer…
Darth Vader finished strangling Captain Needa to death after he failed to find the Millennium Falcon that made his hated enemies escape.
"Apology accepted, Captain Needa."Darth Vader declared grimly.
Clutching desperately at his throat, Captain Needa slumped down, then falls over on his back, at the feet of Darth Vader.
Two Imperial Officers picked up the lifeless body and carry it quickly away as Admiral Piett and two of his captains hurry up to the Dark Lord.
"Lord Vader, our ships have completed their scan of the area and found nothing."Admiral Piett declared. "If the Millennium Falcon went into light speed, it'll be on the other side of the galaxy by now."
Alert all commands."Darth Vader ordered. "Calculate every possible destination along their last know trajectory."
"Yes, my lord."Admiral Piett replied. "We'll find them."
"Don't fail me again, Admiral."Darth Vader warned.
Darth Vader left as the Admiral turned to an aide, a little more uneasy than when he arrived.
"Alert all commands."Admiral Piett ordered. "Deploy the fleet."
Inside the Millennium Falcon…
Ferus and Nadia watched the Star Destroyers from the cockpit's viewports.
"For once I am impressed that you're idea worked, Solo."Ferus commented with a hint of amusement.
"Captain Solo, this time you have gone too far."Threepio stated.
Chewbacca let out a growl.
"No, I will not be quiet, Chewbacca."Threepio argued. "Why doesn't anyone listen to me?"
Han looked at Chewbacca.
"The fleet is beginning to break up."Han exclaimed. "Go back and stand by the manual release for the landing claw."
Chewbacca barked as he struggled from his seat and then climbed out of the cabin.
"I really don't see how that is going to help."Threepio Surrender is a perfectly acceptable alternative in extreme circumstances. The Empire may be gracious enough..."
"Threepio, are you listening to yourself?"Nadia scowled with a frown. "If we surrender, the Empire will kill us. Not to mention, Vader will happily enjoy breaking us limb from limb."
"Oh dear."Threepio said nervously. "Then perhaps we should-"
Nadia casually reached over and turned off his power switch at the back of the head causing the golden droid to slump in his protective harness.
"Thank you."Han thanked.
"You're welcome."Nadia responded. "I'm relieved he has an off switch."
"Thanks to an old friend."Ferus thought with a hint of sadness.
Leia looked at Han.
"What did you have in mind for your next move?"Leia asked.
"Well, if they follow standard Imperial procedure, they'll dump their garbage before they go to light-speed, then we just float away."Han clarified.
"With the rest of the garbage."Leia said dryly.
"Then what?"Nadia questioned.
"Then we've got to find a safe port somewhere around here."Han answered. "Got any ideas?"
"Where are we?"Leia asked.
"The Anoat system."Han replied.
"Anoat system."Ferus complemented and checked through the Force. "There's not much there."
"No. Well, wait."Han spoke up. "This is interesting. Lando."
Han pointed to the computer mapscreen on the control panel as Ferus, Leia and Nadia went out of their seats to get a better look of the map.
There were small light points representing several systems flash by on the computer screen.
"Lando system?"Leia questioned.
"Lando's not a system, he's a man."Han explained. "Lando Calrissian. He's a card player, gambler, scoundrel. You'd like him."
Ferus' eyes widen when he immediately remembered the gambler that 'helped' him and the Ghost spectres escape Lothal when Darth Vader and Lady Shade first came to the planet.
"So, we're heading to Bespin?"Nadia assumed.
"It's pretty far, but I think we can make it."Han stated.
"A mining colony?"Leia read, checking the computer.
"Yeah, a Tibanna gas mine."Han replied. "Lando conned somebody out of it. We go back a long way, Lando and me."
"Can you trust him?"Leia asked.
"No."Han answered. "But he has no love for the Empire, I can tell you that."
Chewbacca barked over the intercom.
Han quickly changed his readouts and stretches to look out the cockpit window.
"Here we go, Chewie."Han declared into the intercom. "Stand by. Detach!"
Han leans back in his chair and moved his ship with the garbage.
"You do have your moments."Leia said with a smile. "Not many, but you have them."
Leia kisses Han on the forehead as the two jedi glanced at each other.
Nadia smirked, knowing Leia's feelings about Han had changed while Ferus simply shook his head.
In Dagobah…
In the clearing behind Yoda's house, Luke and Lisa were again were trying to move rocks and toolkits with the Force as the old Jedi Master watched them.
On the other side of the clearing, two equipment cases slowly rose into the air.
Nearby Artoo watched, humming to himself, when suddenly he, too, rises into the air.
His little legs kick desperately and his head turns frantically, looking for help.
"Concentrate...feel the Force flow."Yoda advised, instructing the two siblings. "Yes. Good. Calm, yes. Through the Force, things you will see. Other places. The future... the past. Old friends long gone."
"Han!"Luke shouted. "Leia!"
"Ferus!"Lisa yelled out. "Nadia!"
The two packing boxes and Artoo fall to the ground with a crash as Luke and Lisa went up on their feet.
"Control, control."Yoda instructed while shaking his head. "You must learn control."
"I saw...I saw a city in the clouds."Luke admitted.
"Mmm, friends you have there."Yoda said.
"They were in pain."Lisa added. "All of them were suffering terribly."
"It is the future you two see."Yoda stated.
"Future?"Luke responded. "Will they die?"
Yoda closed his eyes and lowered his head.
"Difficult to see."Yoda exclaimed. "Always in motion is the future."
"We need to go save them."Lisa declared.
"Decide you must how to serve them best."Yoda stated. "If you leave now, help them you could. But you would destroy all for which they have fought and suffered."
Luke and Lisa were stopped cold by Yoda's words, but none of them couldn't ignore what they just saw.
In Space...
The Millennium Falcon came out from hyperspace and headed toward Bespin that had huge billowing clouds form a canyon as the ship banked around them, heading toward the system's Cloud City.
Suddenly, two twin-pod cloud cars appear and move toward the Falcon. The cloud cars draw up alongside the starship.
"No, I don't have a landing permit."Han said, speaking in the transmitter. "I'm trying to reach Lando Calrissian."
Shots bursts outside the cockpit window that rattled the ship's interior.
"Whoa! Wait a minute!"Han protested. "Let me explain!"
"You will not deviate from your present course."the intercom voice stated.
"Rather touchy, aren't they?"Threepio asked.
"I thought you knew this person."Leia reminded.
Chewbacca barked and growled at his boss.
"Well, that was a long time ago."Han commented. "I'm sure he's forgotten about that."
"Forgotten what?"Ferus questioned.
"Nothing."Han lied innocently.
"Permission granted to land on Platform Three-two-seven."the intercom voice declared.
"Thank you."Han replied and placed off the intercom.
Chewbacca looks at Han with a grunt.
The smuggler turned to the worried princess, the two jedi and the golden droid.
"It's strange that they let us land without a permit."Nadia stated suspiciously.
"There's nothing to worry about."Han assured. "We go way back, Lando and me."
Ferus and Nadia glanced each other since they weren't convinced.
"Who's worried?"Leia asked.
The clouds part to reveal a full view of the city as it bobs in and out of the cloud surface.
With the cloud cars still guarding it, the Millennium Falcon landed on one of the Cloud City's platforms.
Han, Chewbacca Leia, Ferus, Nadia and Threepio walked out of the ramp, only to find no one in the platform.
"Oh."Threepio said. "No one to meet us."
"I don't like this."Leia stated.
"Well, what would you like?"Han questioned.
"Well, they did let us land."Threepio agreed.
"I don't like this either, Solo."Ferus admitted with a frown.
"Don't you find it strange that your friend isn't here?"Nadia complemented. "This was a mistake."
"Look, don't worry."Han reminded. "Everything's going to be fine. Trust me."
Suddenly the door opened and the group saw Lando standing in the entrance.
Lando leads a group of aides and some Cloud City guards rapidly toward the landing platform.
Han looked at his companions as Lando moved onto the landing platform.
"See? My friend."Han reminded and looked at Chewbacca. "Keep your eyes open, okay?"
Chewbacca growled as Han walked down the ramp while Lando and his men head across the bridge to meet the space pirate.
"Why, you slimy, double-crossing, no-good swindler."Lando retorted sourly. "You've got a lot of guts coming here, after what you pulled."
Han points to himself innocently, mouthing, "Me?"
Lando moves threateningly toward Han.
Suddenly, Lando throws his arms around his startled, long-lost friend and embraced him.
"How you doing, you old pirate? So good to see you!"Lando remarked. "I never thought I'd catch up with you again. Where you been?"
The two old friends embrace, laughing and chuckling while Nadia, Ferus and Leia.
"Well, he seems very friendly."Threepio said.
"Yes...very friendly."Leia muttered.
Nadia rolled her eyes while Ferus simply touched the bridge between his eyebrows.
"What are you doing here?"Lando asked.
"Ahh... repairs."Han responded, gesturing to the Falcon. "I thought you could help me out."
"What have you done to my ship?"Lando questioned.
"Your ship?"Han repeated. "Hey, remember, you lost her to me fair and square."
Lando notice Chewbacca and Ferus behind the smuggler.
"How are you doing, Chewbacca? Still hanging around this loser?"Lando asked and looked at Ferus. "You seem to be doing well, jedi."
Chewbacca growled a reserved greeting while Ferus gave a simple wave.
Lando suddenly noticed Leia and Nadia which caused him to smile flirtiously.
"Hello. What have we here? Welcome."Lando greeted to the two women. "I'm Lando Calrissian. I'm the administrator of this facility. And who might you two be?"
"Leia."Leia responded.
"And I am Nadia."Nadia answered.
"Welcome, Leia and Nadia."Lando declared.
Lando bows before Leia and kisses her hand before doing the same to Nadia.
"All right, all right, you old smoothie."Han retorted.
"No need to be distracted."Ferus said with a fake smile.
Han takes Leia by the hand and steered her away from Lando while Ferus held Nadia in a protective embrace.
"Hello, sir. I am Threepio, human-cyborg relations"Threepio stated. "My facilities are at your..."
Before Threepio can finish his self-introduction, Lando has turned to follow Han, Leia, Ferus and Nadia who are walking toward the city.
"Well, really!"Threepio complained.
Lando, his aide, Lobot, and Han lead the way across the bridge followed by Threepio, Chewbacca, Leia, Ferus and Nadia.
"What's wrong with the Falcon?"Lando asked.
"Hyperdrive."Han answered.
"I'll get my people to work on it."Lando stated.
"Good."Han said.
Lando turned to Leia and Nadia.
"You know, that ship saved my life quite a few times."Lando admitted. "She's the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy."
The group crossed the narrow bridge and entered the city before walking down the white coloured passageway, rounding several corners and passing many small plazas as they go with Threepio lagging a bit behind.
"How's the gas mine?"Han asked. "Is it paying off for you?"
"Oh, not as well as I'd like. We're a small outpost and not very self-sufficient. And I've had supply problems of every kind. I've had labour difficulties..."Lando started and catches Han grinning at him. "What's so funny?"
"You. Listen to you."Han chuckled. "You sound like a businessman, a responsible leader. Who'd have thought that, huh?"
"You know, seeing you sure brings back a few things."Lando complemented.
"Yeah."Han repeated. "Yeah. I'm responsible these days. It's the price you pay for being successful."
Han and Lando laugh together as the group moves on through the corridor.
Nadia smiled at the peaceful evening view outside.
"It's beautiful here."Nadia commented.
"It is."Ferus agreed, smiling a bit. "Almost like..."
Ferus simply shook his head, not wanting to remember any painful memories.
Lando, Han, Leia, Ferus and Nadia continue down the corridor unaware of Threepio's dreadful accident.
Chewbacca glances around, sniffs the air, but shrugs his shoulders and followed the group.
Back in Dagobah...
Luke and Lisa wore their pilot suits again as they loaded a heavy case into the belly of their X-Wing.
Artoo sat on top of the X-wing, settling down into his cubbyhole.
"Luke! Lisa!"Yoda protested. "You must complete the training."
"We can't keep the vision out of our heads."Luke responded. "They're our friends."
"You two must not go."Yoda commented.
"But Han, Leia, Ferus and Nadia will die if I don't."Lisa reminded.
"Neither of you don't know that."
The force ghost of Obi-Wan appeared near Yoda causing Luke and Lisa to become silently amazed.
"Even Yoda cannot see their fate."Obi-Wan stated.
"But we can help them!"Luke argued. "We feel the Force!"
"But you cannot control it."Obi-Wan admitted. "This is a dangerous time for you, when you will be tempted by the dark side of the Force."
"Yes, yes. To Obi-Wan you listen."Yoda insisted. "The cave. Remember your failures at the cave."
"But we have learned so much since then."Lisa responded. "Master Yoda, we promise to return and finish what we've begun. You have our word."
"It is you two and your abilities the Emperor wants."Obi-Wan reminded. "That is why your friends are made to suffer."
"And that is why we have to go."Luke said.
"Luke, Lisa, I don't want to lose neither of you to the Emperor in the way I lost Vader."Obi-Wan declared.
"You won't."Luke assured.
"We won't give in to the Dark Side."Lisa added.
"Stopped they must be."Yoda exclaimed. "On this all depends. Only a fully trained Jedi Knight with the Force as his ally will conquer Vader and his Emperor. If you end your training now, if you two choose the quick and easy path, as Vader did, you both will become agents of evil."
"Patience."Obi-Wan instructed.
"And sacrifice Han and Leia?"Luke asked.
"What about Ferus and Nadia?"Lisa scowled with a small glare. "I thought they meant something to you."
Obi-Wan looked down at Lisa's words at the mention of his old friends.
"If you honor what they fight for...yes!"Yoda answered.
Luke and Lisa glanced at each other, sharing their troubled expressions.
"If you choose to face Vader, you will do it alone."Obi-Wan admitted. "I cannot interfere."
"Then we'll make sure to stick together."Lisa vowed firmly.
"Artoo, fire up the converters."Luke ordered.
Artoo whistled a happy reply as Luke and Lisa began to go up their fighter.
"Luke, Lisa, don't give in to hate."Obi-Wan warned."That leads to the dark side."
The Skywalker twins nodded and climbed into his ship.
"Strong is Vader."Yoda added. "Mind what you have learned. Save you it can."
"We will."Luke answered. "And we'll return. I promise."
Lisa smiled. "You have our word."
Artoo closed the cockpit as Obi-Wan and Yoda stood watching the X-Wing's engines go on before flying away in the sky.
"Told you, I did. Reckless is he and his sister are."Yoda sighed. "Now matters are worse."
"They were our last hope."Obi-Wan said.
"No."Yoda spoke up, looking up. "There is another."
In Cloud City...
Within the quarters assigned her on Cloud City, Leia paced in agitation while Nadia sat on one of the sofa chairs.
Leia wore a lovely red dress with a stylish white tunic and matching red trousers while her chocolate brown hair was tied back with ribbons.
Nadia wore a bright purple long shirt with purple trousers and brown boots with her lightsabers around her belt. Her long wavy black ponytail had a few strands sticking out or curled including one on the very top while the bangs were straight-cut and choppy with chin-length forelocks.
"Leia walking impatiently isn't going to help."Nadia reminded.
"I can't help it, Nadia."Leia said. "I don't feel right being here."
"Neither do I, sweetie."Nadia assured. "Which is why Ferus chose to go look around."
"Then why hasn't he returned?"Leia asked.
Nadia and Leia turned to see the doorway open and Han entered the room.
The black haired woman stood up from her seat in concern when she notice her husband wasn't with the smuggler.
"The ship is almost finished."Han stated. "Two or Three more things and we're in great shape."
"The sooner the better. Something's wrong here."Leia commented. "No one has seen or knows anything about Threepio. He and Ferus has been gone too long to have gotten lost."
Han takes Leia by the shoulders and gently kisses her forehead.
"Relax."Han assured. "I'll talk to Lando and see what I can find out."
"I don't trust Lando."Leia replied.
"Well, I don't trust him, either. But he is my friend."Han stated. "Besides, we'll soon be gone."
"And then you're as good as gone, aren't you?"Leia scoffed.
"Han wasn't Ferus with you?"Nadia asked.
"He was an hour ago, but he suddenly vanished."Han responded. "No idea where he went."
Then Chewbacca walked in, carrying a packing case of Threepio with his arms and legs hanging over the edge.
"Threepio!"Nadia gasped.
"What happened?"Leia asked.
Chewbacca sets the case on a table, grunting and groaning an explanation.
"Where?"Han asked. "Found him in a junk pile?"
"Oh, what a mess."Leia complemented and looked at hewbacca. "Chewie, do you think you can repair him?"
The giant Wookiee studied the array of robot parts before looking at the princess and shrugged sadly.
"Don't worry, Chewbacca."Nadia assured with a smile. "I'll fix him."
Chewbacca gives Nadia a grateful growl.
"Lando's got people who can do that."Han suggested.
"That won't be necessary."Nadia answered.
There was a sudden buzz and the door slide open, revealing Lando.
"I'm sorry."Lando apologised. "Am I interrupting anything?"
"Not really."Leia replied.
Lando smiled at Leia and Nadia.
"You both look absolutely beautiful."Lando sneered. "You truly belong here with us among the clouds."
"Thank you."Leia answered coolly.
Nadia gives a small nod with a friendly smile on her face.
"Will you join me for a little refreshment?"Lando asked.
Han looks at Lando suspiciously, but Chewbacca barked at the mention of food and licked his lips.
"Everyone's invited, of course."Lando assured.
Leia takes Lando's proffered arm and the rest of the group follow.
Lando spotted Threepio's remains.
"Having trouble with you droid?"Lando asked.
Han, Leia and Nadia exchange a quick glance.
"No. No problem."Han assured. "Why?"
Han, Leia and Nadia move through the door followed by Lando and Chewbacca with the door slid closed behind them.
Nadia and Leia walked between Han and Lando as Chewbacca followed a short distance behind.
"So you see, since we're a small operation, we don't fall into the jurisdiction of the Empire."Lando declared.
"So you're part of the mining guild then?"Nadia questioned.
"No, not actually."Lando replied. "Our operation is small enough not to be noticed which is advantageous for everybody since our customers are anxious to avoid attracting attention to themselves."
The group walked into another corridor and headed for a huge doorway at the far end.
"Aren't you afraid the Empire's going to find out about this little operation and shut you down?"Han asked.
"That's always been a danger looming like a shadow over everything we've built here."Lando declared. "But things have developed that will insure security. I've just made a deal that will keep the Empire out of here forever. "
Nadia suddenly became alarmed when she felt a cold familiar feeling coming from the room in front of them.
Just before she could give a warning, the doors to the dining room slid open and revealed at the far end of a huge banquet table sat Darth Vader causing a horrified look to appear on the older woman's face.
Han quickly draws his blaster out to fire a couple of shots directly at Darth Vader.
However, the Dark Lord stood up from his seat and raised his hand, deflecting the bolts into one of the side walls and the blaster came into his hand.
"We would be honoured if you would join us."Darth Vader declared.
Boba Fett appeared next to Darth Vader with his blaster in hand while a bunch of stormtroopers appeared behind the group.
Nadia activated her two lightsabers as she glared at Darth Vader.
"Lower your weapons, Mrs Aomori."Darth Vader ordered grimly. "Or your partner dies."
Two stormtroopers came from where the bounty hunter appeared, dragging a wounded and handcuffed Ferus with them.
"Uncle Ferus!"Leia shouted in shock.
Chewbacca let out a worried growl, seeing his friend hurt.
"I am fine, Chewie."Ferus chuckled weakly. "A friend just wanted to catch up with me."
Nadia glared at Darth Vader with a hateful look.
"Always one step ahead of us, aren't you?"Nadia muttered.
Nadia gritted her teeth in anger at the Sith Lord but deactivated her lightsabers in defeat before getting handcuffed by a stormtrooper while another took her lightsabers away.
Han glanced and gives Lando a hard glare.
"I had no choice."Lando stated lightly. "They arrived right before you did. I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry, too."Han responded sarcastically.
Next chapter is Luke and Lisa arriving in Cloud City...