Just so we're clear, I wanted to say that I'm definitely taking liberties with what the inside of Jabba's Palace looks like. I've drawn a lot from the Wookieepedia page, schematics/diagrams, and common sense. I couldn't find any evidence of the palace having individual rooms for his employees or valued guests, but it certainly makes sense to have shit like that, right? For people he especially covets?
Gracie Miserables - So glad you liked it! I had the hardest time writing their reunion, so I'm super happy that people like how it turned out.
Zikashigaku - I was tempted to make it a bigger deal, but I just couldn't think of a way to do so without it being unrealistic because, as you mentioned, they just aren't those type of people at this point in their lives. While they aren't old, they're just old enough to be tired of any theatrics especially when their whole lives are practically chaos.
Kaia - If you think he's irritated yet proud of that, I can't wait to know your thoughts on Boba in this chapter and the next one.
Thanks for reviewing!
4 ABY
Boots trudged through the warm sand as the twin suns started their descent in the sky above. The sand sunk beneath Kal's feet as she walked to her old home, having parked her speeder in a small cave a short distance away. She couldn't park it too close for fear that it would be seen and tracked. She had to stay hidden and be quick; otherwise, their whole plan could be shot to hell.
Two months had passed since she was able to get Lando into the palace as a guard. Soon, the next phase would go into effect. Kal just had to be sure of one more thing. The Force was drawing her back home.
No bounty hunters would be around this time to interrupt her looking it over. Her old home was empty when she entered, but it wasn't how she had last seen it. Furniture had been put back in their original spots. The hole in the wall from Kal forcing Boba through it had been patched up, albeit crudely. It looked mildly lived in. Had someone claimed the abandoned hut as their own? Upon quieting her mind, she realized what the Force was calling her to. She could feel Luke's signature in the cellar below.
The hatch had been forgone completely, so Kal dropped into the cellar, using the Force to cushion her landing. Luke was pulled from his meditation in the center of the room and looked up at her.
"You used to hate doing that," Kal pointed out as Luke stood up. She remembered it like it was yesterday. Trying to get him to sit and meditate was a nightmare.
"How'd you know I was here?" he asked, brushing off his pants to sweep away any sand.
"I didn't." Kal rushed forward and into his arms and he held her close, setting his head on top of hers. "It's only been two weeks, but I still hated it." They tried to meet up as often as they could without being suspicious. Whether it was at a cantina, Luke showing her where he used to race his friends, or Kal showing him where her father had trained her, they knew things were about to become hectic with the ensuing rescue and return to the rebellion. She wondered what Wedge, Hobbie, and Sabine had been up to in the past six months.
After placing a kiss on top of her head, Luke pulled back with a small smile, sliding his hands down her arms to hold her hands tightly in his. "I think Leia and Chewie are about ready. I just need to record the message for Jabba and send in Artoo and Threepio. Then Leia and Chewie will go in."
"Good because I want my droid back. . . And my friends, I guess." She playfully smiled at him and the two laughed together.
"You know, Kal, I was thinking," Luke started slowly, looking down at his boots.
"That sounds dangerous." Kal pulled one of her hands from his grasp and brought it to his chin, making him look at her. "What's wrong?"
He shook his head. "Nothing, nothing, it's just. . . well, after the rebellion, once we defeat the Empire, I want to try and rebuild the Jedi Order. And I want you with me."
Kal's eyes widened and she backed away from him, taking her hands from his and wrapping her arms around her stomach. "Me? Why would you want me?"
"While I've been trained by Ben and Yoda, I've learned the most about being a Jedi from someone who claims they aren't one. I can't think of a better person to make a new Order with. We can make it better than it was, what it was meant to be. You are a Jedi Master whether you were given the title or not."
She truly never thought she'd hear those words. She had long given up the notion of her being a Jedi Knight or Jedi Master. They were the dreams of her childhood, not her adulthood. At age twenty-five, her heart ached. "I don't think I'm ready to be called a Master."
Luke could feel the conflicting emotions in her. "You've earned it. You might not think it, but you have. Anyone with eyes can see that." He held out his hand to her. "Please."
Kal realized almost too late that he was asking for more than just her help but her heart as well. That he would have forever and always. She placed her hand in his and felt her heart lift and soar. An invisible weight had been released. "As long as you'll have me."
The moons were at their peak when Kal found herself meditating alone on the ridge overlooking the canyon closest to her old hut. The stars sparkled above, and the moons were at various phases, providing sufficient light for the young woman for when she decided to return to the hut. She knew Boba was probably worried about her lack of presence at Jabba's Palace, but she wanted a night to herself before the inevitable chaos ensued.
She allowed the tension to be released from her limbs as she breathed slowly in and out. She had one goal on that ridge: to commune with her father. It had been too long since she last heard his voice. And after feeling such peace after she took Luke's hand, Kal realized why she couldn't talk to him. She had blocked herself from being able to do so. She wasn't letting herself move on. She had only ever forcibly pushed things aside or behind her. She avoided certain topics. She was impulsive and brash. She had to let it go.
Reaching out with the Force, Kal made sure none of her walls were up, that she was completely calm and open and ready. Her breathing steady and eyes closed, she had to face her father in a different way than Luke had to face his.
"You jumped off the cliff the first time I brought you here."
Slowly opening her eyes, she turned her head to see her father's Force ghost standing next to her, staring out across the canyon. The wind of the desert didn't affect him. He looked exactly how she remembered him: stoic and serene.
"I wanted to be like you," she replied, picking herself up off the ground and dusting herself off. She folded her hands behind her back. "You had told me plenty of stories of Jedi using the Force to cushion their falls and them literally jumping into the fray. I wanted to do it, too."
He hummed and rubbed his chin. "You always had a knack for pushing the limits." Obi-Wan turned to his daughter with a sad smile. "You had such life growing up. I see it's returned."
"I didn't call you here to reminisce."
"I know. You had closed yourself off to me for years, but that doesn't mean I haven't watched over you. You are becoming who you were meant to be."
"What, a woman with existential problems?" she asked cheekily, tilting her head towards him.
Shaking his head slowly, Obi-Wan straightened his back and picked up his chin. "No, a leader. You have an uncanny ability to get people to follow you simply by caring for them and believing in them. I wasn't a good teacher for you, and I'm sorry for that. But you have far surpassed my expectations." He ducked his head down for a moment as he sighed then met her eyes again. "Even the greatest of Jedi aren't cut out to be fathers. Your mother thought I'd be good at it but training a child and being a parent are two separate things. I never knew what you needed. I was too focused on training you to be a Jedi. I failed you in that."
"I was a child!" Kal snapped. She took in a deep breath to calm herself, her jaw clenching and unclenching. She couldn't lose control. She had to stay calm. "Children aren't incredibly difficult to understand. I just wanted to be accepted and loved. That was all I ever truly wanted. That's why I left home. That's why I didn't stay with Ahsoka or Kanan. That's why I struggled with Boba. . . Luke's the only one who hasn't had expectations of who I'm supposed to be. And I fell in love with him in the process."
"I'm proud of you."
"I know. I just wish I hadn't had to do it all without you."
"Experience has made you wise beyond your years. I wish I hadn't failed you and your mother, but I would've held you back had you stayed with me on Tatooine. You will be a great Jedi Master, Kaleena."
Kal found herself lounging with Boba in Jabba's Palace before noon the next day. She could practically feel his wary gaze eying her beneath his helmet, but she ignored it. He knew she had been acting differently during the past few months no matter how much she tried to act normal. She had stopped watching Han's frozen form at all times. She had stopped picking fights with Dengar. She had calmed down more. Boba knew something was wrong. But what he thought was wrong was incredibly different than what she was secretly up to.
She avoided eating certain things she used to love. He had seen her throw up that morning after returning to the palace. But she had stopped drinking almost two months prior. As she kicked her feet up onto the table in front of them, Boba doubted she even knew. He had been around long enough and around enough pregnant women to know the signs. Kal was young and had grown up without a mother. She wouldn't know.
He wondered who the hell the father was.
Both bounty hunters made note of Bib Fortuna leaving the throne room and returning a few minutes later with two droids. Boba recognized the astromech and protocol droid from Bespin months before and Kal had to stop herself from showing any emotion, positive or negative. Bib walked over to Jabba's throne and whispered something in his ear. Jabba laughed in response which Kal did not take to be a good sign.
"Good morning," Threepio greeted politely with a bow.
"Bo shuda!" Jabba replied harshly.
While just a Huttese greeting, Threepio still jumped a little at the crime lord's tone. "The message, Artoo, the message." He wanted to get out of the disgusting palace as soon as possible.
Artoo whistled and projected the holographic recording of Luke onto the floor. At the sight of the person in the hologram, Boba turned to Kal, both peeved and strangely proud. That must've been where she kept running off to. And considering how often he had seen her with the young rebel, Boba wouldn't be surprised if he turned out to be the one who had gotten Kal pregnant.
The recording of Luke towered over the patrons in the throne room. "Greetings, Exalted One. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight and friend to Captain Solo." Jabba looked extremely interested in Luke's words after the introduction. "I know that you are powerful, mighty Jabba, and that your anger with Solo must be equally powerful. I seek an audience with Your Greatness to bargain for Solo's life." Jabba and the crowd laughed at the recording. There would be no bargain, Kal and Boba knew. Luke had also known, but a show of diplomacy was always better than immediately hatching a devious plan. "With your wisdom, I'm sure that we can work out an arrangement which will be mutually beneficial and enable us to avoid any unpleasant confrontation. As a token of my goodwill, I present to you a gift: these two droids." Luke swept his hand out, gesturing towards Threepio and Artoo.
"What did he say?" Kal heard Threepio ask Artoo, startled by the announcement.
"Both are hardworking and will serve you well," Luke finished and Artoo switched off the recording.
"This can't be! Artoo, you're playing the wrong message." No, Threepio, the astromech played the correct message.
Jabba continued laughing and, in Huttese, said, "There will be no bargain. I will not give up my favorite decoration. I like Captain Solo where he is." The droids were marched out of the throne room to be assimilated into the other droid staff.
Phase 2 was complete. They now had four on the inside. Kal couldn't help but let a smirk grace her expression as she stood to go to her assigned quarters, Boba following close behind. He wrapped his armored grip around her upper arm as they neared her room and pulled her inside. The door slid to a close behind them and Kal wrenched her arm from his grasp. "What the hell, Boba?" she asked.
He folded his arms over his chest. "Not going to do something rash in Jabba's Palace, huh? What happened to that?" he countered.
Grinning slyly, she replied, "I told you I wasn't going to set him free. Didn't say I wasn't going to help others do it."
"I should turn you into Jabba right now." She could hear the exasperation and desperation in his voice.
"But you're not going to."
"Of course, I'm not going to." Boba waved his hands around, trying to grasp his bearings and figure out what else he was going to say to her. "You know I can't. But seriously, Kal. Defying Jabba shouldn't be at the top of your to-do list or anywhere near it at all. You know what happens when people cross him."
"And I can't let Han stay in carbonite forever!" Huffing, Kal lowered her voice just in case. "We've been through too much for me to just let that happen. I'm not sorry, Boba. We're getting Han out of here one way or another. You've already seen what I was willing to do to protect Luke. I'll do it again if you interfere."
"I've never understood your attachment to Solo."
"And I've never understood your hatred towards him. He's a good man whether you like it or not."
"Just. . . " Boba sighed, reaching up and peeling his helmet off so she could see the sincerity in his eyes. "Please be careful."
She reached out gently, taking his hand in hers. "You should join us. I don't think we'll make it out of this without killing Jabba. After that, you'll have no Hutt to serve. I know faithlessly serving the rebellion isn't your thing, but who knows? They might actually have jobs that only a hunter could do. And it's better than serving the Empire." She watched as he glanced downward, took in a deep breath, and looked back up at her. "Please, Boba."
He slowly nodded. "Alright. On your signal." Boba lifted his arm, holding out his arm. They clasped their forearms together in a tight grip, ready to face the underground gangster together.
That late afternoon, the real party started. Jabba's slave girl and a female dancer named Yarna danced in front of the throne as the Max Reebo Band played their music. Kal and Boba leaned against one of the walls to the side of Jabba's throne, disgusted at the Hutt's leering but not visibly reacting. They were used to it, they just didn't like it. Until his slave girl, a green Twi'lek named Oola, finally had enough of Jabba's lecherous staring and demanding nature.
Oola pulled against her chain, shaking her head and arguing in Huttese with the powerful Hutt. Boba and Kal glanced at each other, knowing it wouldn't end well. They had seen a few slaves rebel against Jabba and they all ended up the same: eaten by the rancor. Jabba slammed his fist down on the button next to him and the trap door beneath Oola's feet sprang open. She slid down the shaft to the chamber below while screaming. Neither Boba nor Kal dared go closer. They didn't need to see Pateesa eat the poor woman.
After the cheers from the patrons for Oola's death, a blaster shot is heard from the main hall. Kal and Boba ready their blasters, as was expected of them, but Kal could feel the presence of Leia and Chewie before they even entered the throne room.
Leia had chosen to impersonate Boushh. Was Leia out of her mind? Kal closed her eyes for a brief moment before opening them again, already not hopeful about the situation. Boba had literally told Jabba a few days prior that Boushh had been killed by the Black Sun months prior. Sure, his death wasn't widely known, most people present in the throne room would have no idea, but anyone with any legitimate connections, like the infamous Boba Fett, would know. It didn't help that Boushh and Leia were tiny compared to Chewie and Chewie was incredibly poorly restrained. Jabba was going to play along to catch the fake Boushh, Kal knew, and she couldn't do anything to help just yet. And there was no way she could be seen talking to Leia/Boushh lest be potentially considered part of the plan.
Leia spoke in Boushh's native Ubese once in front of Jabba, hand gripping the chain around Chewie's neck. "At last we have the mighty Chewbacca," Jabba announced in Huttese. He then called out for his new interpreter.
Threepio shuffled forward. "Oh, uh, yes, uh, I am here, Your Worshipfulness. Uh, yes?" the droid stuttered out while joining Jabba's side. Jabba continued speaking and Threepio translated. "The illustrious Jabba bids you welcome and will gladly pay you the reward of twenty-five thousand." Leia replied in Ubese which Threepio translated to Jabba, "Fifty-thousand. No less."
Jabba flew into a bit of rage, cursing in Huttese and hitting the protocol droid who fell off the throne. Kal chuckled to herself which Boba noticed. Kal shrugged and said quietly, "I've always wanted to hit that droid."
"Behave," Boba ordered, then turned back to the conversation.
Threepio got to his feet and stood in front of the throne, disheveled with green slime on him. "Oh, what did I say?" he asked mostly to himself. Jabba said something angrily and Threepio turned around to face Boushh. "Uh, the mighty Jabba asks why he must pay fifty thousand." Leia answered and held up a small silver ball, clicking it on. "Because he's holding a thermal detonator!"
Boba and Kal point their blasters at the bounty hunter, but Kal had no actual intention to shoot. Boba mildly did, mostly because he had to. While the patrons backed away and the guards readied their weapons, Jabba simply laughed. "This bounty hunter is my kind of scum, fearless and inventive." Boba slowly lowered his blaster at Jabba's words, knowing there would be no kill order if that was Jabba's reaction, and Kal followed his lead.
Threepio translated the second part of Jabba's words. "Jabba offers the sum of thirty-five. And I do suggest you take it." Leia as Boushh turned off the detonator and replied. "He agrees!" Threepio announced gleefully.
Chewie was then hauled away by Gamorrean guards to the dungeon, howling as he went. The band began playing music again, livening up the room once more.
Phase 3: complete.
Boba leaned down to speak to call in a low voice. "You know who's under the mask, don't you?" he asked.
Kal nodded slowly. "Try to avoid shooting her. We have contingencies, but I'd prefer if this part went according to plan."
"But you know it won't. You know what Jabba knows."
"That means I'm going to keep her safe as best I can until the contingencies are in place. You said you're with me, Boba. You may have to prove it soon."
Night didn't come fast enough. While most of the regular patrons were asleep, or rather fake asleep, Jabba's trusted guards and advisors, namely Boba and Kal, were wide awake behind the curtain on the far side of the room. Jabba suspected that whoever was impersonating Boushh would wait until nightfall when most of his guests were asleep or gone before attempting to free Han Solo from the carbonite. Jabba was on the opposite side of the throne room behind his own curtain with Bib, Threepio, and a select few others, like the beloved dancer Yarna and the musician Jess, who seemed to have her eye constantly set on Bib.
Kal had to hand it to the crime lord. He was smart. She would have to be careful when choosing when she would intervene.
Kal and Boba could see the ongoings of the other side of the curtain. Leia, while trying to be quiet, didn't actually succeed all too well, particularly when lowering the carbonite slab and unfreezing Han. Leia would've been an awful spy. Kal then watched as her friend took off her helmet and kissed Han.
While it was happy to see, the kiss was ill-timed. Jabba cackled from his throne as Leia helped the sick Han off the floor. "What's that?" Han asked Leia. But then he recognized it. "I know that laugh." The curtain concealing the disgusting Hutt slid open. Leia helped Han turn around to face him, the curtain concealing Kal, Boba, and the other guards and hunters opening as well. They were stationed right behind the rebel princess and the smuggler. "Hey, Jabba. Look, Jabba, I was just on my way to pay you back, but I got a little sidetracked. It's not my fault."
"It's too late for that, Solo," Jabba told him. "You may have been a good smuggler, but now you're Bantha fodder." Salacious Crumb maniacally laughed from his spot on Jabba's throne, other aliens joining in. Han tried to say more, but Jabba ordered Han to be taken away.
A Gamorrean guard and a human skiff guard took Han by the arms. "Jabba, I'll pay you triple! You're throwing away a fortune here. Don't be a fool!" The disguised Lando sidled up behind Leia while the other guards took Han away.
"Bring her to me," Jabba ordered.
One of the pigs brought her forward, forcing her closer to the crime lord as she struggled. "We have powerful friends," Leia threatened. "You're going to regret this."
"I'm sure." Jabba's tongue slithered out of his mouth, wetting his lips. Leia turned away, absolutely disgusted and trying not to throw up. No one should have to endure close proximity to the Hutt, but Kal and Lando had to wait for Luke before acting. Two lightsabers were better than one. Although, she could sense the Force from the kyber crystal in Luke's lightsaber emanating from inside Artoo, so if she really wanted to, she could snatch it and dual wield which wasn't her specialty. If only they had Ahsoka.
Instead, Kal had to watch as Leia was dragged out barely an hour later dressed in skimpy slave attire. Kal grimaced at the sight of the metal brassiere and skirt, if it could even be considered a skirt, and could feel Leia's displeasure across the throne room. As much as she wanted the pleasure of killing the overgrown slug, Kal knew Leia deserved it more after the humiliating spectacle Jabba was trying to make the former princess into.
Leia met Kal's gaze from where she sat on Jabba's throne. Kal nodded in the slightest bit as a silent 'hang in there.' Hopefully, Luke would get there early the following day so they could get Han and Chewie out of the cells and Leia into some different clothes. Even poor Oola had had slightly better clothing coverage.
Kal would've liked to say she had a fantastic night's sleep, but she'd be lying. All night, until the dawn of Tatooine's twin suns, she tossed and turned, worrying about the morning. She doubted any of the others had gotten much rest either. After dressing and securing her lightsaber under her long overcoat, Kal left the room and met up with Boba in his quarters. They enjoyed, or rather stomached through, their breakfast, both dreading the day to come.
It wouldn't be the first time Boba had betrayed his employer, but something about turning on Jabba made his skin itch. Maybe because it was in favor of a man he didn't get along with. As Boba looked over the female companion sitting next to him, he couldn't imagine doing anything else. She had grown on him since they had met on Coruscant all those years ago, like a daughter he never had. His heart had broken when he had turned her away on Alsakan. Boba wanted to threaten Dengar every time he made a snide comment about her. He wanted to protect her with every bounty she took on. He didn't want her or her unborn child anywhere near Jabba the Hutt.
Boba tensed at Kal sitting up quickly and looking towards the door. He hadn't heard anything from outside it, but he had learned to trust her senses. "What is it?" Boba asked quietly, hand resting on his blaster.
"Luke's here. I can feel his presence," she told him, standing from her seat. Boba put on his helmet and followed Kal out of the room and down the hall to Jabba's throne room, passing near Threepio as they came up behind the rotisserie cooker behind Jabba's throne. Most of the inhabitants of the room were still asleep as well. Showtime.
Not even a few seconds later, Bib Fortuna entered the throne room with a hooded figure still conversing quietly. Gamorrean guards woke from their slumber as did a few of the patrons while Bib made his way to his master.
Luke walked to the center of the room, standing under the skylight. "At last!" Threepio exclaimed to himself, recognizing his owner even under the hooded black cloak. "Master Luke's come to rescue me." Boba eyed Kal beneath his helmet at the sheer lack of subtlety the golden droid possessed. Kal simply shrugged, knowing what he was thinking.
"Master," Bib said, bent towards his master and rousing the Hutt. Jabba woke with a start and Bib continued in Huttese. "This is Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight."
"I told you not to admit him," Jabba replied angrily.
"I must be allowed to speak," Luke said which Bib reiterated to Jabba. Kal then knew he was using the Force. Luke spotted the smirk pulling at her lips from her place beside Boba.
Jabba realized it, too. Grabbing Bib, the Hutt pulled his majordomo closer. "You weak-minded fool! He's using an old Jedi mind trick." He shoved the Twi'lek away and Bib fell off the throne.
Luke stepped forward, pulling down his hood. "You will bring Captain Solo and the Wookiee to me," he ordered, attempting the trick on the Hutt.
Jabba began to laugh, and the guards drew closer to Luke. Kal placed her hand over her coat, feeling the lightsaber hiding beneath it. "Your mind powers will not work on me, boy."
Folding his hands calmly in front of him, Luke slowly took a few steps forward. "Nevertheless, I'm taking Captain Solo and his friends. You can either profit by this or be destroyed. It's your choice, but I warn you not to underestimate my power."
"Master Luke, you're standing on-" Threepio got cut off by the Hutt. Kal moved to see what the droid was trying to point out, only to see Luke standing on the secret hatch that led straight down to the rancor pit.
"There will be no bargain, young Jedi. I shall enjoy watching you die."
Luke called a blaster from a nearby smuggler to his hand and attempted to shoot Jabba, only for a Gamorrean to stop it. Jabba hit the button for the hatch, sending Luke and the pig down to Pateesa, Kal watching in horror.
Boba grabbed her, wrapping his arms around her before she could rush forward half-cocked with no plan and an ignited lightsaber. "No, don't," Boba said quietly, pulling her back into the hall behind them. Everyone in the throne room may have been occupied watching in anticipation for two more rancor deaths, but if one of them simply looked up and saw Kal wanting to rush to the aid of the young Jedi, she would be put in binders and thrown in the cells. "You need to stay calm."
"Let me go, Boba," Kal hissed, struggling to get out of his grip, legs kicking and body wiggling. Her raw strength against Boba's was nothing. She could never beat him in a strength contest. "I need to help him. He doesn't have his lightsaber."
"You need to let it play out. If he really is the Jedi he claims to be, he'll live. He'll live. Calm yourself and you'll know I'm right, Kal. I know, if you really wanted, you could use the Force on me and go help him, but I'm telling you, you need to wait until he makes it out of there on his own. You know how Jabba will react after that."
Kal slowly stopped struggling as she realized what Boba was trying to tell her. "The Sarlacc Pit. He'll bring out Han and Chewie for the execution."
"And you won't have to fight a path all the way down to the cells." With Kal calm and collected once again, Boba unwound his arms, letting her go. "Now, let's go see how your lover boy's doing against the beast."
She reared her head back, looking at Boba strangely as he walked past her, but she decided not to reply, following him back to their places behind Jabba. Kal and Boba watched through the grated floor as the rancor began closing in on Luke. Luke grabbed a large bone behind him and Pateesa picked him up. Luke stuck the bone into Pateesa's mouth, and the rancor dropped him and roared, giving time for Luke to hide. The bone snapped in the rancor's mouth and he started forward again, reaching under to where Luke had hidden. Luke grabbed a large rock and slammed it into the rancor's hand, angering it again.
Luke crawled out of his spot and ran to the other side of the pit, to the utility door he had spotted. Pressing the button, the door slid open but on the other side was a heavy barred gate. Two guards looked up at him. After trying to manually unhinge the door by pulling on it, Luke turned around and saw the rancor heading towards him.
Pulling away from the door, Luke leaned in an alcove nearby. Pateesa roared and Luke noticed the main door control panel a short distance away. The rancor ducked down to move under the overhead door as Luke picked up a skull from the cave floor and threw it at the panel. The giant overhead door came crashing down onto Pateesa's head, slamming him down to the ground.
The viewers above gasped in horror while Lando, Leia, and Kal were relieved. The rancor had been killed and Luke was still alive.
"Bring me Solo and the Wookiee. They will all suffer for this outrage."
Guards dragged Han, Chewie, and Luke up to the throne room. Kal itched to unsheathe her lightsaber once she saw Luke being led up the stairs. "Han!" Luke yelled, getting his friend's attention.
"Luke!" Han replied, recognizing the voice and happy to hear someone familiar while still blind from hibernation sickness.
"Are you alright?" Luke asked as they were brought to the center of the room.
Han struggled to walk correctly without his eyesight while shivering from the sickness. "Fine. Together again, huh?"
"Wouldn't miss it."
"How we doing?"
"Same as always," Luke confessed, but he didn't seem too particularly put out. Kal silently agreed, nodding her head to herself.
"That bad, huh? Where's Leia?"
"I'm here," Leia chimed in from her spot on Jabba's throne.
Jabba spoke in Huttese and Threepio translated. "Oh, dear. His High Exaltedness, the great Jabba the Hutt, has decreed that you are to be terminated immediately."
"Good, I hate long waits," Han interrupted. Kal and Boba rolled their eyes. Only Han Solo would make light of the situation at hand.
The protocol droid continued. "You will, therefore, be taken to the Dune Sea and cast in the Pit of Carkoon, the nesting place of the all-powerful Sarlacc."
"Doesn't sound so bad," Han said optimistically.
Threepio wasn't quite done. "In his belly, you will find a new definition of pain and suffering as you are slowly digested over a thousand years." Chewie howled in protest.
The severity of the moment finally weighed on Han. "On second thought, let's pass on that."
"You should have bargained, Jabba," Luke threatened, looking to Kal standing behind the Hutt. "This is the last mistake you'll ever make." He nodded curtly at Kal as the guards started to take them away.
From her place behind Jabba, Kal slipped her hand under her coat, unclipped her lightsaber, and ignited it. The crisp sound of the blade forming drew the attention of the crowd. Kal sliced through Bib and Force pushed the closest guards across the room.
Jabba, outraged, began spouting orders in Huttese and the room delved into chaos. Kal jumped over Jabba and landed in front of Luke and Han, stabbing the guard between them and slicing through the binders to free the three. Artoo, off in the corner, shot Luke's lightsaber into the air, and Boba began picking off guards with his blaster.
Kal dodged instinctively, the Force warning her of Salacious Crumb jumping at her. She sliced him in half as he landed on the floor and plucked her blaster from her belt and tossed it to Lando who could aim better than he could swim a vibro-axe. Leia ducked behind the throne with her chain in her hands and began strangling Jabba amidst the chaos of blaster fire and swinging lightsabers. One by one, guards and patrons fell as they were sliced or shot down. The super unlucky ones had their arms ripped out of their sockets by Chewie because they were dumb enough to try and kill Han.
Kal took pleasure in sliding the tip of her blade through Dengar's stomach. Bossk simply stayed sitting in his chair, choosing to take a sip of his drink instead and not feeling the need to be in front of her lightsaber, although the sight of it did surprise him. The krayt dragon pearl made more sense all of a sudden.
The Force warned her to turn around, so she did, only to see two angry smugglers rushing towards her. She stopped them in place with a simple raise of her hand as Dengar hit the ground next to her. She lifted them off the floor and threw them off to the side. They hit the wall and became unconscious.
Looking around the throne room, everyone of importance was dead. Stragglers ran to the doors, delving deeper into the palace or leaving it completely. Musicians, dancers, and servers were hiding in alcoves and behind tables. Leia was slumped over on the throne, breathless from the struggle of strangling the crime lord, and Han sat next to her, still blind and shivering but safe. The droids stood next to them. Chewie slapped Lando on the back harshly but in good nature. Boba and Luke eyed each other warily, but the lightsaber was off and the blaster pointed downwards.
Kal turned off her own saber and joined her friends. Stripping off her coat, she handed it to Leia. "Thanks," Leia said as she pulled it on.
"Not a problem," Kal replied. "If the overgrown slug made me where that, I'd want to strangle him, too." She looked pointedly at the metal bikini then turned to the whole group. "We should get going. The throne room's not the only room with people loyal to Jabba."
"What about. . . " Lando trailed off, nodding his head towards the people hiding and Bossk just not caring.
Luke hooked his lightsaber onto his belt. "Our quarrel was with Jabba and anyone who tried to defend him. We're done here."