Author's Note: If the Obi-Wan Series is good, I'll make sure to add it in 'Jedi Fallen Order (Book 2)' of my Star Wars stories.
I don't own Star Wars or its characters
I only own Lisa Naberrie Skywalker and my other OCs. Enjoy!
Sparks of Rebellion
Chapter 69: Return of the Jedi Part 3
The trees of Endor stood a thousand feet tall. Their trunks, covered with shaggy, rust bark, rose straight as a pillar, some of them as big around as a house, some thin as a leg. Their foliage was spindly, but lush in colour, scattering the sunlight in delicate blue-green patterns over the forest floor.
Distributed thickly among these ancient giants was the usual array of woodsy flora with pines of several species, various deciduous forms, variously gnarled and leafy.
The ground cover was primarily fern, but so dense in spots as to resemble a gentle green sea that rippled softly in the forest breeze.
This was the entire moon: verdant, primeval and silent.
Light filtered through the sheltering branches like golden ichor, as if the very air were alive.
It was warm and it was cool.
This was Endor.
The stolen Imperial shuttle sat in a clearing many miles from the Imperial landing port, camouflaged with a blanket of dead branches, leaves, and mulch.
In addition, the little ship was thoroughly dwarfed by the towering trees. Its steely hull might have looked incongruous here, had it not been so totally inconspicuous.
On the hill adjacent to the clearing, the Rebel contingent was just beginning to make its way up a steep trail.
Leia, Chewbacca, Han, Nadia, Ferus, Luke, Lisa, Zack and Gwen led the way, followed in single file by the raggedy, helmeted squad of the strike team.
This unit was composed of the elite ground fighters of the Rebel Alliance.
A scruffy bunch in some ways, they'd each been hand-picked for initiative, cunning, and ferocity.
Some were strong Jedi, trained commandos, some paroled criminals—but they all hated the Empire with a passion that exceeded self-preservation.
And they all knew this was the crucial raid.
If they failed to destroy the shield generator here, the Rebellion was doomed.
No second chances.
Consequently, no one had to tell them to be alert as they made their way silently up the forest path. They were, every one, more alert than they had ever been.
Artoo and Threepio brought up the rear of the brigade.
The R2 unit's domed pate swivelled round and round as he went, blinking his sensor lights at the infinitely tall trees which surrounded them.
Lisa smiled as she stared at the huge jungle which reminded her a lot of the rolling grass plains, seas and verdant hills back in Naboo.
But hopefully when the Empire was defeated, she will be able to introduce Luke and Leia to Aunt Sola, Uncle Darred and their cousins; Ryoo and Pooja. Right now, she has to focus on completing their mission.
"It sure is quiet in this forest."Gwen complemented.
Ferus frowned. "Too quiet."
"I told you it was dangerous here."Threepio complained.
The group carefully hid underneath the big pile of bushes as they spotted two scout troopers park their speeder bikes to look around the area.
"Should we try and go around?"Leia asked.
"It'll take time."Luke commented.
"This whole party will be for nothing if they see us."Han stated and Chewbacca let out a growl. "Chewie and I will take care of this. You stay here."
Han got up as Chewbacca followed him.
"Quietly."Lisa reminded in a quiet strict tone. "There might be more of them out there."
"Hey, it's me, blondie."Han stated with a wise grin.
Leia, Luke and Lisa share a look with each other as Zack looked at Nadia.
"I'm surprised he is still in one piece even though being the most wanted smuggler in the galaxy."Zack commented.
"So am I, Zachary."Nadia answered, agreeing with her son.
Before Ferus could say anything, they were distracted by a loud commotion in the glen.
They flattened to the ground and watched.
Han was engaged in a rousing fist fight with one of the scouts, he hadn't looked so happy in days.
"Go call for help!"the first scout trooper ordered. "Go!"
The other scout trooper jumped on his speeder bike to escape.
But by the time he'd ignited the engines, Chewbacca was able to get off a few shots from his crossbow laser.
The ill-fated scout crashed instantly against an enormous tree; a brief, muffled explosion followed.
Leia drew her laser pistol and raced into the battle zone, followed closely by Luke and Lisa.
As soon as they were running clear, though, several large laser blasts went off all around them, tumbling them to the ground causing Leia to lose her gun in the process.
Gwen spotted three more scout troopers make their escape in their speeder bikes.
"Look!"Gwen shouted. "They're getting away!"
"I see them."Luke said. "Stay here."
Leia ran to the remaining rocket speeder, charged it up, and took off in pursuit of the fleeing scouts.
As she tore past Luke, he jumped up behind her on the bike and off they flew.
"Jedi scum!"A scout trooper snarled. "Blast them!"
Ferus, Nadia, Zack and Gwen notice more scout troopers coming their way and immediately activated their lightsabers to attack them.
When Lisa saw a scout trooper being slashed down by Zack, the blonde haired girl took his speeder bike and quickly took off to go after siblings.
"Lisa!"Ferus yelled out.
"Wait!"Han demanded.
The smuggler called out for his companions, but the speeders were already gone.
Lisa drove past a couple of trees and soon caught with Luke and Leia.
"Quick, center switch!"Luke shouted, over the roar of the rocket engines. "Jam their comlinks!"
Luke, Leia and Lisa sped through the dense foliage, a few feet off the ground.
Both Leia and Lisa were on the controls of their speeder bikes while Luke held Leia from.
The three siblings escaping imperial scouts had a good lead, but at two hundred miles per hour, Leia and Lisa were better pilots when came to riding speeder bikes.
Both of them have been raised in politics, but it never harmed the families.
Resisting the Empire never seemed to conflict with story time, or trips together as a family, or wonderful, sunlit afternoons spent riding the thrantas when Alderaan was still alive.
Leia and Lisa used their speeders' laser cannons periodically, but were still too far behind to be very accurate.
The explosions hit away from the moving targets, splintering trees and setting the shrubbery afire as the bikes weaved in and out between massive, imposing branches.
"Move closer!"Luke demanded.
The three scout troopers sensed their pursuer gaining and recklessly veered this way and that, skimming through a narrow opening between two trees.
One of the bikes scraped the bark, tipping the scout almost out of control, slowing him significantly.
"Get alongside!"Luke instructed.
Leia pulled her speeder so close to the scout's, their steering vanes scraped hideously against each other.
Luke suddenly leaped from the back of Leia's bike to the back of the scout's, grabbed the scout trooper around the neck and flipped him off.
The white-armoured trooper smashed into a thick trunk with a bone-shattering crunch, and settled forever into the sea of ferns.
Luke scooted forward to the driver's seat of the speeder bike, played with the controls a few seconds and lurched forward, following Leia and Lisa, who'd pulled ahead.
Lisa activated her yellow lightsaber with her free hand before using the Force to throw it and slash down the second scout trooper before retrieving and deactivating it.
The Skywalker triplets were now going after the remaining scout.
Over hill and under the stone bridge they flew, narrowly avoiding collision, flaming dry vines in their afterburn. The chase swung north and passed a gully where two more Imperial scouts were resting.
A moment later, they swung into pursuit, now hot on Luke, Leia and Lisa's tail, blasting away with laser cannon.
Lisa glanced behind her and saw two more scout troopers coming their way.
"Luke! Leia!"Lisa warned with a glare. "The reinforcements are here!"
"Keep on that one!"Luke instructed, indicating the scout in the lead. "I'll take the two behind us!"
Leia and Lisa drove their speeder bikes ahead as Luke, at the same instant, flared up his retrorockets, slamming the bike into rapid deceleration.
The two scouts on his tail zipped past him in a blur on either side, unable to slow their momentum.
Luke immediately roared into high velocity again, firing with his blasters, suddenly in pursuit of his pursuers.
His third round hit its mark: one of the scouts, blown out of control, went spinning against a boulder in a rumble of flame.
The scout trooper's cohort took a single glance at the flash and put his bike into supercharge mode, speeding even faster.
Luke followed after him.
Far ahead, Leia, Lisa and the first scout continued their own highspeed slalom through the barricades of impassive trunks and low-slung branches.
The two sisters had to break through so many turns and didn't seem unable to draw any closer to their quarry.
Suddenly the two girls shot into the air, at an unbelievably steep incline and quickly vanished from sight.
The scout turned in confusion, uncertain whether to relax or cringe at his pursuers' sudden disappearances.
Out of the tree-tops, Leia and Lisa dove down on him, their cannons blasting from above.
The scout trooper's bike took the shock wave from a near hit.
The girls' speed were even greater than they anticipated, and in a moment they were racing alongside him.
But before either Leia and Lisa knew what was happening, the scout trooper reached down and drew a handgun from his holster and fired which caused the Alderaanian Princess to jump out of her speeder bike before it hit a tree.
"Leia!"Lisa gasped in shock.
Lisa used the Force to make the scout trooper fire his own speeder bike, making it malfunction and go up in flames before hitting a tree in front of him.
Meanwhile…
Luke was closing fast on the last scout trooper.
As they wove from tree to tree, Luke eased up behind and then drew even with the Imperial rider.
The fleeing soldier suddenly swerved, slamming his bike into Luke's and both were now tipped precariously, barely missing a large fallen trunk in their path.
The scout trooper zoomed under it, Luke over it and when he came down on the other side, he crashed directly on top of the scout's vehicle.
Their steering vanes locked!
The bikes were shaped more or less like one-man sleds with long thin rods extending from their snouts and fluttery ailerons for guidance at the tip of the rods. With these vanes locked, the bikes flew as one, though either rider could steer.
The scout trooper banked hard right, to try to smash Luke into an onrushing grove of saplings on the right.
But at the last second, Luke leaned all his weight left, turning the locked speeders actually horizontal, with Luke on top, the scout on the bottom.
The scout trooper suddenly stopped resisting Luke's leftward leaning and threw his own weight in the same direction, resulting in the bikes flipping over three hundred sixty degrees and coming to rest exactly upright once more, but with an enormous tree looming immediately in front of Luke.
Without thinking, he leaped from his bike. A fraction of a second later, the scout trooper veered steeply left, the steering vanes separated and Luke's riderless speeder crashed explosively into the redwood.
Luke rolled, decelerating, up a moss-covered slope. The scout trooper swooped high, circled around, and came looking for him.
Luke stumbled out of the bushes as the speeder was bearing down on him full throttle, laser cannon firing.
The former farm boy ignited his lightsaber and stood his ground. His weapon deflected every bolt the scout trooper fired at him, but the bike kept coming. In a few moments, the two would meet; the bike accelerated even more, intent on bodily slicing the young Jedi in half.
At the last moment, though, Luke stepped aside with perfect timing, like a master matador facing a rocket powered bull and chopped off the bike's steering vanes with a single mighty slash of his lightsaber.
The bike quickly began to shudder; then pitch and roll. In a second, it was out of control entirely, and in another second it was a rumbling billow of fire on the forest floor.
Luke snuffed out his lightsaber and headed back to join the others.
Lisa drove her speeder bike around the big forest of Endor.
The former Queen of Naboo was looking from left to right to search for Leia in the place she fell down on.
"Leia?"Lisa asked, coming off her speeder bike to look for sister. "Leia?"
"Cut it out!"Leia's voice snapped.
Lisa rushed toward where Leia's sudden voice was coming from and found her sister being face to face with an Ewok that held a spear.
"Leia."Lisa said with a relieved smile, going over to her sister. "Are you alright? Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine, Lisa."Leia answered as she sat on the log. "But it looks like we're stuck here. Trouble is, I don't know where here is."
Lisa sat down next to Leia before noticing the Ewok and smiled at him.
"Aw, hello."Lisa greeted and the Ewok growled in respond. "It's okay. We're not going to hurt you."
"Maybe you can help us."Leia suggested.
"Yeah."Lisa agreed. "Come and sit down with us."
The Ewok was still suspicious of the two sisters and continued pointing his spear at them.
"We won't hurt you."Leia reminded and took out a biscuit from her pocket. "Are you hungry? Here."
The Ewok growled again, his spear ready to attack.
"It's a sweet-sand cookie."Lisa assured. "It's delicious. Try it."
The Ewok stared at the cookie in curiosity as he walked toward Leia and Lisa.
Leia took a bite from the cookie and the Ewok grabbed it reluctantly.
"Try this too."Lisa insisted and she went over to her belt.
Lisa brought out a mini blumfruit muffin from the satchel around her waist, splitting it in two and giving one piece to the Ewok to enjoy.
The Ewok spoke happily as he enjoyed the treats that the two sisters have given him.
When the girls tried to take off their hats, the Ewok panicked and got off the fallen log to point his spear at them once more.
"Look. It's a hat."Lisa chuckled. "It's not going to hurt you. Look."
The Ewok walked forward to look at Leia and Lisa's hats.
"You're a jittery little thing, aren't you?"Leia remarked.
The Ewok picked up Leia's hat to look at it.
The smile in Lisa's face suddenly vanished when she suddenly felt a disturbance in the Force as she stood up.
"Leia, I feel a disturbance in the Force."Lisa warned with a small glare.
Lisa frowned. "I don't know."
A blaster shot hit the log causing Leia, Lisa and the Ewok to duck behind it.
Lisa pulled out her blue lightsaber as Leia pulled out her blaster.
A blaster bolt hit the tree behind them and all of them ducked.
The Ewok crawled under a hollow in the ground while Leia and Lisa held their weapons at the ready, even though they couldn't see anyone.
"Freeze!"A scout trooper's voice demanded.
Lisa felt the cold muzzle of a blaster on her head while Leia gasped at the sight.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you."Lisa warned in a soft yet sharp tone.
"Come on, get up!"the scout trooper snapped.
Leia and Lisa glanced at each other as the scout trooper grabbed the blaster and lightsaber.
"Go get your ride."the scout trooper ordered, telling another scout trooper that was coming from the bushes. "We have to take them back to base."
"Yes, sir."the second scout trooper answered with a salute.
Suddenly the Ewok hit the first scout trooper below his feet, distracting him.
"What the-"the scout trooper started.
Seeing the distraction, Leia picked up a branch and clubbed the scout trooper in the head while Lisa picked up Leia's blaster and aimed it at the trooper on the hover bike.
The speeder bike exploded and tossed the trooper forward.
"Too predictable."Lisa retorted as she picked her lightsaber.
The blonde haired girl handed the blaster to her sister and hooked her lightsaber to her belt.
"You didn't miss the target though."Leia complemented.
"Right."Lisa agreed with a nod.
"Come on."Leia insisted. "Let's get out of here."
Leia helped the Ewok off the log and he took the lead.
"Where's he taking us?"Lisa asked.
"Must be his village."Leia assumed.
The Ewok shrieked urgently at the two sisters as he lead them to their unknown destination.
In the Death Star…
Darth Vader stepped out of the elevator and stood at the entrance to the throne room.
The light cables hummed either side of the shaft, casting an eerie glow on the royal guards who waited there.
The Sith Lord marched resolutely down the walkway, up the stairs and paused subserviently behind the throne.
The throne swivelled around and the Emperor faced him.
"I told you to remain on the command ship."Darth Sidious reminded.
"A small Rebel force has penetrated the shield and landed on Endor."Darth Vader reported.
"Yes, I know."Darth Sidious said slightly.
"My son and daughter are with them."Darth Vader stated.
The Emperor's brow furrowed less than a millimetre.
"Are you sure?"Darth Sidious questioned.
"I felt them, my master."Darth Vader stated.
The fallen Jedi knew the Emperor was frightened of the young Skywalkers, afraid of their power.
Only together could Vader and the Emperor hope to pull the Jedi Knights over to the Dark Side.
"Strange that I have not."Darth Sidious murmured, his eyes becoming slits.
They both knew the Force wasn't all-powerful and no one was infallible with its use.
It had everything to do with awareness, with vision.
Certainly, Vader and his children were more closely linked than was the Emperor with the young Skywalkers. But, in addition, the Emperor was now aware of a cross current he hadn't read before, a buckle in the Force he couldn't quite understand.
"But I did feel them."Darth Vader answered.
"I wonder if your feelings on this matter are clear, Lord Vader."Darth Sidious said.
"They are clear, my master."Darth Vader assured.
He knew his son and daughter's presence, it galled him and fueled him and lured him and howled in a voice of its own.
"Then you must go to the Sanctuary Moon and wait for them."Darth Sidious instructed.
"They will come to me?"Darth Vader asked skeptically.
This was not what he was expecting.
He felt drawn.
"I have foreseen it. If they are anything like their mother, their compassion for you will be their undoing."Darth Sidious exclaimed."They will come to you, and you will then bring them before me."
"As you wish."Darth Vader said with a bow.
With casual malice, the Emperor dismissed the Dark Lord.
With grim anticipation, Darth Vader strode out of the throne room, to board the shuttle for Endor.
Back in Endor…
Han and Chewbacca crouched opposite each other in the forest clearing, being quiet, being near.
The Olin family and the rest of the strike squad relaxed spread out around them in groups of twos and threes.
They were all waiting for the Skywalker triplets to come back.
Then Artoo let out a beep, warning everyone's attention.
Luke stepped out of the foliage, into the clearing.
All relaxed, lowered their guns as Han, Ferus, Nadia, Zack and Gwen walked over to the former farm boy.
"Luke!"Han and Gwen said in unison.
Ferus frowned when he notice Leia and Lisa weren't with their brother.
"Where are Leia and Lisa?"Ferus questioned.
Luke became stunned. "They didn't come back?"
"You three were supposed together."Ferus retorted.
"We got separated."Luke admitted.
"They couldn't have gone far."Nadia said, holding Ferus' shoulder.
Han signalled to the Rebel officer, who was second in command of the strike squad.
The officer ran up and saluted.
"Take the squad ahead."Han ordered. "We'll rendezvous at the shield generator at 0-30."
The officer saluted again and immediately organized the troops.
Within a minute, they were filing silently into the forest, greatly relieved to be moving at last.
Luke, Chewbacca, Han, Ferus, Nadia, Zack, Gwen and the two droids faced in the opposite direction.
"Come on, Artoo."Luke instructed. "We'll need your scanner."
Artoo beeped while leading the way, his revolving scanner sensing for all the parameters that described the daughters of Skywalker and the others followed him into the woods.
"All of you be careful."Ferus warned, looking at the group. "This jungle is no playground."
"Don't worry, General Olin!"Threepio assured. "We know what to do!"
The group picked their way methodically through the undergrowth behind Artoo, whose antenna continued to revolve.
It was remarkable the way the little droid was able to blaze a trail over jungle terrain like this, but he did it without fuss, the miniature cutting tools on his walkers and dome slicing neatly through anything too dense to push out of the way.
Artoo suddenly stopped causing some consternation on the part of his followers.
His radar screen spun faster, he clicked and whirred to himself, then darted forward with an excited beep.
"You found something, Artoo?"Gwen suggested.
"Artoo says the rocket bikes are right up-"Threepio started and notice something. "Oh, dear."
Chewbacca growled in respond.
Luke, Chewbacca, Han, Ferus, Nadia, Zack and Gwen broke into the clearing just ahead of the two droids, but all stopped in a clump on entering.
The charred debris of three speeder bikes was strewn around the area. Not to mention the remains of some Imperial scouts.
They spread out to inspect the rubble.
Little of note was evident, except a torn piece of Leia's jacket.
Han held it soberly, thinking as Ferus glanced it as Nadia, Zack and Gwen checked around the area.
"Uncle Ferus, there is a parked speeder and a wrecked one back there."Luke stated.
"Artoo's sensors found no other trace of Princess Leia or Lady Lisa."Threepio exclaimed quietly.
"Where could they be?"Zack asked.
"I hope they're all right."Han said.
"No doubt that they are still in this moon."Zack complemented.
Ferus nodded, agreeing with the smuggler and his son.
Lisa has been trained in the ways of the Force except Leia which causes some worry in his mind.
"I think it's best if we split up and look for them."Nadia suggested.
Chewbacca stood facing the dense foliage beyond, then wrinkled his nose, sniffing.
The Wookiee started running away from his companions.
"What, Chewie?"Han asked.
The others started to follow Chewbacca as he lead to another side of the jungle.
"Did you find something?"Gwen assumed.
Luke, Chewbacca, Han, Ferus, Nadia, Zack, Gwen and the two droids continued following until Chewbacca approached a dead animal hanging in the air from some vines.
"Oh, he found something alright."Zack muttered sarcastically.
"Nah, it's just a dead animal, Chewie."Han retorted.
Chewbacca reached out to grab the dead animal.
"No wait!"Luke protested. "Chewie, don't!"
Too late.
All of them got lifted off their feet into some kind of net.
Luke and Gwen's blushed a bit, seeing their faces so close to each other.
"Nice work! Great, Chewie!"Han scowled. "Great! Always thinking with your stomach!"
"Calm down, Solo."Nadia muttered. "Let's focus on getting out of here first."
"Zack, can you reach to my lightsaber?"Ferus asked.
"Yeah."Zack answered as he brought his right hand forward to get his father's lightsaber. "I think I can."
Artoo beeped impatiently and began sawing through the rope with his cutting tools.
A sound of a whirring motor caught all of their attention.
"Artoo, I'm not sure that's such a good idea!"Threepio protested. "It's a very long drop!"
Threepio yelled as all of them dropped on the ground.
"A little warning would've been nice, Artoo."Nadia retorted, rubbing the back of her neck.
The group all sat up with grunts and groans as Artoo let out a beep.
Suddenly, many Ewoks appear and surrounded the group.
Luke, Chewbacca, Han, Ferus, Nadia, Zack and Gwen looked around in confusion as the little creatures pointed their spears at them.
"They're Ewoks."Nadia stated.
"Ewoks?"Gwen said in confusion.
"They're native to this moon."Nadia replied.
One Ewok pointed a spear in Han's face and he shoved it away.
"Hey."Han said in annoyance. "Point that thing someplace else."
The Ewok jabbed it at the smuggler.
"Hey!"Han snapped while grabbing the spear, but Luke calmed him down.
"Han, don't. It'll be all right."Luke assured and looked at Chewbacca. "Chewie, give them your crossbow."
Luke, Ferus, Nadia, Gwen, Zack and Han gave up their weapons to the Ewoks.
"Oh, my head."Threepio moaned as he sat up from the ground.
Upon seeing Threepio, the Ewoks looked excitedly at him and started chattering loudly.
"Oh, my goodness."Threepio commented.
The Ewoks started prostrating in front of him and he started to have a conversation.
"Do you understand anything they're saying?"Ferus asked.
"Oh yes, Master Ferus."Threepio remarked.
"Remember that I am fluent in over six million forms-"
"What are you telling them?"Han interrupted.
"Hello, I think. I could be mistaken. They're using a very primitive dialect."Threepio said. "But I do believe they think I am some sort of god."
Nadia snorted her laughter and covered her mouth at she what just heard.
She hadn't been this amused since she 'accidentally' placed strong spice in Obi-Wan, Anakin and Ahsoka's soup bowls when she was still living in the Jedi Temple.
Behind the black haired woman, Ferus, Luke and Zack smiled in amusement while Gwen quietly giggled.
Chewbacca and Artoo laughed in their own languages.
"Well, why don't you use your divine influence and get us out of this?"Han asked sarcastically.
"I beg your pardon, General Solo, but that just wouldn't be proper."Threepio declared.
This caused Nadia, Ferus, Luke, Gwen and Zack to all struggle to contain their laughters as Han became more irritated.
"Proper?"Han asked.
"It's against my programming to impersonate a deity."Threepio admitted.
"Why you!"Han growled.
The smuggler prepared to lunge at Threepio, but the Ewoks' spears stopped him.
"My mistake."Han said. "He's an old friend of mine."
The following night, the tribe of Ewoks started heading back to their village with their captors.
On their shoulders they carried their eight prisoners that were tied to long poles, wrapped around and around with vines, immobilizing them as if they were wriggling larvae in coarse, leafy cocoons.
Behind the captives, Threepio, borne on a chair, made of rough-hewn of branches, was carried high upon the shoulders of the lowly Ewoks.
Like a royal potentate, he perused the mighty forest through which they carried him as the magnificent lavender sunset glowing between the vinery.
The exotic flowers starting to close, the ageless trees, the glistening ferns and knew that no one before him had ever appreciated these things in just precisely the manner he was now.
The starry sky seemed very near the treetops to Luke as he and his friends were carried into the Ewok village.
He wasn't even aware it was a village at first. The tiny orange sparks of light in the distance he thought initially to be stars.
This was particularly true when dangling on his back, strapped to the pole as he was,
the fiery bright points flickered directly above him, between the trees.
But then he found himself being hoisted up intricate stairways and hidden ramps around the immense trunks; and gradually, the higher they went, the bigger and cracklier the lights became.
When the group were hundreds of feet up in the trees, Luke finally realized the lights were bonfires among the treetops.
Small campfires burned before many of the huts, the sparks were caught by an elaborate system of hanging vines, which funnelled them to a smothering point. And everywhere, were hundreds of Ewoks.
Cooks, tanners, guards, grandfathers and Mother Ewoks gathered up squealing babies at the sight of the prisoners and scurried into their huts or pointed or murmured.
Dinner smoke filled the air; children played games; minstrels played strange and resonant music on hollow logs, windy reeds.
The entourage of captors and captives stopped before the largest hut.
Luke, Ferus, Nadia, Zack, Gwen Chewbacca, and Artoo were leaned, on their poles against a nearby tree.
Han was tied to a spit and balanced above a pile of kindling that looked suspiciously like a barbecue pit.
Dozens of Ewoks gathered around, chattering curiously in animated squeals.
Ferus struggled to contain his laughter at the state the smuggler was in.
"I have a really bad feeling about this."Han muttered.
Then one of the Ewoks spoke to Threepio while earning a glare from Han.
"What did he say?"Han questioned with an irritated look.
"I'm rather embarrassed."Threepio replied. "It seems that all of you are to be the main course at a banquet in my honour."
The Ewoks started singing and putting logs under them as Nadia spoke to her family.
"You know despite these crazy circumstances, I'm actually glad I'm spending it with all of you."Nadia chuckled.
Ferus sweat dropped. "Your actually serious?"
"Yes."Nadia remarked lightly. "I haven't had this much fun since that avalanche incident in Vandor."
Ferus flinched at the memory while Luke, Zack and Gwen were completely confused
Before another word could be said, log drums began beating in ominous syncopation.
As one, all the furry heads turned toward the mouth of the large hut.
Out of it came Wicket and behind him, Chief Chirpa.
Chirpa was a Ewok with grey fur and on his head he bore a garland woven of leaves, teeth, and the horns of great animals he'd bested in the hunt. In his right hand he carried a staff fashioned from the longbone of a flying reptile, in his left he held an iguana, who was his pet and advisor.
The Chief surveyed the scene in the square at a glance, then turned to wait for the guests, who were only now emerging from the large hut behind him.
The guests revealed to be none other than Leia and Lisa.
Leia wore a brown dress with a white sleeved shirt underneath and her brown hair was styled straight
Lisa wore a grey version of a dress that was similar to her sister's. Her hair was done in a unique style with small buns on each side and a small loop beneath each of them. The rest of her hair was gathered up in a braid with a strip made out of slivery material braided in with it.
"Leia!"Luke and Han said in joy. "Lisa!"
Ferus, Nadia, Zack and Gwen smiled in relief at seeing both Leia and Lisa safe.
"Your Highness and Lady Lisa."Threepio remarked.
Leia and Lisa tried to go up to their companions, but a phalanx of Ewoks blocked their way with spears.
The two girls turned to Chief Chirpa, then to their robot interpreter.
"Threepio, tell them these are our friends."Leia instructed. "They must be set free."
Threepio looked at Chirpa and Logray.
"Eep sqee rheeow."Threepio said with much civility. "Sqeeow roah meep meeb eerah."
Chirpa and Logray shook their heads with a motion that was unequivocably negative.
Logray chattered an order at his helpers, who resumed vigorously piling wood under Han.
Han exchanged helpless looks with Leia and Lisa.
"Somehow I have a feeling that didn't do us much good."Han complemented.
"Luke, what can we do?"Lisa urged with a hint of worry.
The former Queen of Naboo hadn't expected this at all.
She'd expected a guide back to her ship or at least a short supper and lodging for the night. Despite the various languages they were taught, neither her or Leia understood the Ewoks.
Luke, Nadia, Zack and Gwen all glanced at Ferus for an idea.
"Any ideas, Uncle Ferus?"Luke asked.
Ferus thought for a moment before an idea came to his head.
"Threepio, tell them if they don't do as you wish, you'll become angry and use your magic."Ferus instructed.
"But Master Ferus, what magic?"Threepio asked. "I couldn't—"
"Tell them!"Ferus ordered, uncharacteristically raising his voice.
There were times when Threepio could test even the patience of a Jedi.
Threepio turned to the large audience, and spoke with great dignity.
The Ewoks seemed greatly disturbed by this proclamation. They all backed up several steps, except for Logray, who took two steps forward.
He shouted something at Threepio, something that sounded very in the nature of a challenge.
Ferus closed his eyes with absolute concentration. Threepio began rattling on in a terribly unsettled manner, as if he'd been caught falsifying his own program.
"They don't believe me, Master Ferus, just as I told you..."Threepio said.
Ferus wasn't listening to the droid as Threepio's chair slowly began to rise.
Threepio went right on talking as his entire litter steadily elevated off the ground.
"... told you, I told you, I told you they wouldn't."Threepio argued and notice his chair was rising up. "I don't know why you—wha—wait a minute...what's happening here?..."
Threepio and the Ewoks all realized what was happening at just about the same moment.
The Ewoks silently fell back in terror from the floating throne.
Threepio now began to spin, as if he were on a revolving stool. Graceful, majestic spinning.
"Help!"Threepio whispered. "Artoo, help me!"
Chief Chirpa shouted orders to his cowering minions. Quickly they ran forward and released the bound prisoners.
Leia, Lisa, Han, Luke, Ferus, Nadia, Zack and Gwen then enfolded each other in a long, powerful embrace.
It seemed, to all of them, a strange setting in which to gain the first victory of this campaign against the Empire.
Ferus became aware of a plaintive beeping behind him, and turned to see Artoo staring up at a still-spinning Threepio.
He lowered the golden droid slowly to the ground.
"Thanks, Threepio."Ferus joked, patting him gratefully on the shoulder.
Threepio, still a bit shaken, stood with a wobbly, amazed smile.
"Why—why—I didn't know I had it in me."Threepio responded.
The hut of Chief Chirpa was large by Ewok standards though Chewbacca, sitting cross-legged, nearly scraped the ceiling with his head.
The Wookiee hunched along one side of the dwelling with his Rebel comrades while the Chief and ten Elders sat on the other side facing them.
In the center, between the two groups, a small fire warmed the night air, casting ephemeral shadows on the earthen walls.
Outside, the entire village awaited the decisions this council would arrive at. It was a pensive, clear night, charged with high moment.
Though it was quite late, not an Ewok slept.
Inside, Threepio was speaking.
Positive and negative feedback loops had already substantially increased his fluency in this squeaky language; he was now in the midst of an animated history of the Galactic Civil War—replete with pantomime, elocution, explosive sound effects, and editorial commentary. He even mimicked an Imperial Walker at one point.
The Ewok Elders listened carefully, occasionally murmuring comments to each other.
It was a fascinating story and they were thoroughly absorbed at times, but also horrified and outraged.
Logray conferred with Chief Chirpa once or twice, and several times asked Threepio questions, to which the golden droid responded quite movingly.
For once Artoo even whistled, probably for emphasis.
"What's going on?"Han asked.
"I don't know."Leia responded.
Lisa slightly shrugged as she listened to Threepio speak with the Ewoks while she stood between Luke and the Olin family.
In the end, after a rather brief discussion among the Elders, the Chief gave a nod with an expression of complete satisfaction.
Chief Chirpa spoke finally to Threepio and the golden droid interpreted for his friends.
"We are now members of their tribe."Threepio announced.
Before the group could think, the Ewoks swarmed them all, hugging them.
"Just what I've always wanted."Han joked.
Gwen chuckled as she felt a little Ewok touch her brown hair while Zack blushed at the action.
Luke and Lisa drifted to the back of the hut and then slipped outside during the commotion.
Leia followed after her secret siblings causing Nadia to notice before she and Ferus share a glance with each other.
Han stood up and approached Threepio.
"The scouts will show us the quickest way to the shield generator."Threepio said.
"How far is it?"Han asked.
"I don't know."Threepio replied.
"Ask them."Han said.
Threepio turned back, but Han tapped his shoulder.
"Get us some fresh supplies."Han ordered.
Threepio turned back again, but Han stopped him.
"Try to get our weapons back."Han added.
Threepio turned back again and Han stopped him.
"Hurry up."Han demanded. "I ain't got all day."
The sounds of the forest filled the soft night air, here. Crickets, skittering rodents, desolate breezes and hooting owls.
The perfumes were a mixture of night-blooming lilies and pine; the harmonies were strictly ethereal. The sky was crystal black.
Both Luke and Lisa stared at the brightest star in the sky.
It looked to be fired from deep within its core by raging elemental vapors. It was the Death Star.
However, they both felt the presence of Darth Vader very near.
Leia approached Luke and Lisa as they continued staring at the night sky.
"Leia, do you remember your mother?"Luke asked. "Your real mother?"
The question took the Princess of Alderaan totally by surprise. She'd always felt so close to her adopted parents; Bail and Breha Organa. It was as if they were her real parents. She almost never thought of her real mother that was like a dream.
"Just a little bit."Leia answered as she sat down next to Luke and Lisa. "She died when I was very young."
"What do you remember?"Lisa asked.
"Just images really."Leia replied. "Feelings."
"Tell us."Luke insisted.
Leia sighed as she thought about the only memories of the woman, who gave birth to her.
"She was...very beautiful. Kind...but sad."Leia admitted before looking at her siblings. "Why are you both asking me this?"
"We have no memory of our mother."Lisa declared with a hint of sadness. "We never knew her."
Lisa only just heard stories of their late mother by Uncle Ferus and her relatives back in Naboo. But like Leia, she had the same vision memory of her.
"Luke, Lisa, tell me."Leia insisted with concern. "What's troubling you?"
Luke and Lisa stared at Leia in silence.
"Vader is here."Luke admitted. "Now. On this moon."
Leia felt a chill, like a physical sensation, as if her blood had actually congealed.
"How do you know?"Leia asked gently.
"We felt his presence. He's come for us, like he did when we were on Bespin and wanted to capture both me and Luke."Lisa exclaimed. "He can feel when we're near. That's why me and Luke have to go. As long as we stay, we're endangering the group and our mission here. We have to face him."
"Why?"Leia asked in a hushed whisper.
Lisa bit her lip as Luke hesitated slightly before answering.
"He's our father."Luke responded and a sad look crossing his face.
Leia stared at Luke and Lisa in complete disbelief.
"Your father?"Leia whispered in shock.
Lisa held Leia's hands, giving them a gentle squeeze.
"Leia, we found something else out. It's not going to be easy for you to hear it, but you have to."Lisa declared. "You have to know if me and Luke don't make it back, you're the only hope for the Alliance."
Leia couldn't believe what she was hearing.
It was terribly disturbing, what Luke and Lisa were saying, though she couldn't imagine why.
It was nonsense, of course; that was why.
To call her the only hope for the Alliance if they should die—why, it was absurd.
Absurd to think of these close friends of hers dying and to think of her being the only hope.
Both thoughts were out of the question. Flashes of her mother came again, in this breathing space. Parting embraces, flesh torn from flesh...
"Lisa, don't talk that way."Leia responded. "You and Luke have a power I don't understand, and could never have."
"You're wrong, Leia. You have that power too. In time, you'll learn to use it as we have."Luke stated softly. "The Force is strong in our family. Our father has it. Me and Lisa have it. And...our sister has it."
Leia was completely in awe at Luke's declaration as he and Lisa stared at her in the eyes.
"Yes."Lisa remarked with a small smile. "It's you, Leia."
Leia looked down against Luke and Lisa's words, against her tears. To no avail. It all washed over her, now, and through her.
"I know."Leia answered. "Somehow, I've always known."
"Then you know why we have to face him."Luke responded.
"No! Luke, Lisa, run away. Far away."Leia insisted as she stood up. "If he can feel your presence, then leave this place. I wish I could go with you."
Luke and Lisa smiled at Leia.
"No, you don't."Luke stated. "You've always been strong."
"But why the two of you must confront him?"Leia asked with a tearful expression.
"Because our late mother Padme said in the end, there is still in good in him. Me and Luke felt it."Lisa explained. "He won't turn us over to the Emperor. We can save him. We can turn him back to the good side. We have to try."
Luke gives Leia a kiss on the forehead before Lisa gave her a hug before the two of them headed off out of sight.
Luke and Lisa disappeared into the darkness of the tree cave that led out of the village.
Leia watched them go, quietly weeping.
The Princess of Alderaan gave free vent to her feelings, did not try to stop the tears—tried, instead, to feel them, to feel the source they came from, the path they took, the murky corners they cleansed.
Memories poured through her, now, clues, suspicions, half-heard mutterings when they'd thought she was asleep.
Luke and Lisa were her siblings.
And Darth Vader, above all the many men that existed in the galaxy, was her own father.
This was too much to assimilate all at once, it was information overload.
Leia was crying, trembling and whimpering all at once, when suddenly Han stepped up and embraced her from behind.
He'd gone looking for her, and heard her voice, and came around just in time to see Luke and Lisa leave, but only now, when Leia jumped at his touch and he turned her around, did he realize she was sobbing.
The smuggler's quizzical smile turned to concern, tempered by the heart-fear of the would-be lover.
"Hey, what's going on here?"Han asked.
Leia stifled her sobs, wiped her eyes.
"It's nothing, Han."Leia assured. "I just want to be alone for a while."
She was hiding something, that much was plain, and that much was unacceptable.
"It's not nothing!"Han said angrily. "I want to know what's going on. Now you tell me what it is."
"I can't, Han..."Leia responded as her lip began to tremble again.
"You can't! You can't tell me?"Han scowled. "I thought we were closer than that, but I guess I was wrong. Maybe you'd rather tell Luke. Sometimes I—"
"Oh, Han!"Leia cried and burst into tears once more.
She buried herself in his embrace.
His anger turned slowly to confusion and dismay, as he found himself wrapping his arms around her, caressing her shoulders, comforting her.
"I'm sorry."Han whispered into her hair. "I'm sorry."
He didn't understand, didn't understand her or himself. All he knew was that he'd just been furious, and now he was affectionate, protective, tender. Made no sense.
"Please...just hold me."Leia whispered.
She didn't want to talk.
She just wanted to be held.
So the man she loved just held her.
Luke and Lisa were nearly out of the village, only to confront Ferus, who stood near the entrance.
Lisa wore her usual Jedi clothing from before, but kept her hair in the same style that the Ewoks have given her.
"So you two are really going to him."Ferus assumed.
"We have to, Uncle Ferus."Luke responded.
"We're going to finally fulfil our destinies."Lisa said with a smile.
"Darth Sidious will not hesitate to kill you both, if you don't turn to the Dark Side."Ferus warned. "And neither will Vader."
"But our mother still believed there was still good in him."Luke stated. "We can't just give up."
"If mum believed it, then we have to as well."Lisa remarked and then gave Ferus a hug. "Despite all the evil deeds he has done, I still believe Anakin Skywalker is still inside of him."
Ferus suddenly felt tears develop in his eyes and felt a warm comforting feeling as Lisa hugged him back.
Even though Padmé was long gone, he always felt she was still with him through Lisa.
And his late adopted father, Ruwee was right though. Lisa had become a blessing in the Naberrie Household.
"I...I had this feeling from the moment she was born…"Ferus thought emotionally.
The older Jedi Knight then moved out of the way for Luke and Lisa to go to their destination.
"Good luck and may the Force be with both of you."Ferus declared.
Luke smiled. "Thank you."
"We will come back before you realise, Uncle Ferus."Lisa assured kindly.
Luke and Lisa walked out of the village as Ferus quietly looked on.
"Padmé, please protect them."Ferus thought with a worried expression. "They and Leia are your legacy."
In the Imperial Landing Platform…
Stormtroopers walked continuously on the platform and in the area—loading, unloading, surveilling and guarding.
Imperial Walkers were parked off to one side while square, armored, two-legged war machines, big enough for a squad of soldiers to stand inside were in all directions.
An Imperial shuttle took off for the Death Star, with a roar that made the trees cringe.
Another walker emerged from the timber on the far side of the platform, returning from a patrol mission.
Step by lumbering step, it approached the loading dock.
Darth Vader walked down the ramp of the shuttle onto the platform, into an elevator, and appears on a ramp on a lower level.
The Sith Lord walked toward another ramp exit and was met by two troopers and a imperial commander with Luke and Lisa, in binders, at their center.
Luke and Lisa gazed at Vader with complete calm with many layers of vision.
"These are the rebels that surrendered to us."the imperial officer exclaimed. "Although they deny it, I believe there may be more of them, and I request permission to conduct a wider search of the area."
The imperial officer extended his hand to the Dark Lord which held Luke and Lisa's lightsabers.
"They were armed only with these."the imperial officer stated.
Darth Vader looked at the lightsabers for a moment, then slowly took them from the imperial officer's hand.
"Good work, commander."Darth Vader declared. "Leave us. Conduct your search and bring their companions to me."
"Yes, my lord."the imperial officer answered.
The imperial officer and his stormtroopers withdrew back to the walker.
Darth Vader, Luke and Lisa were left standing alone facing each other, in the emerald tranquillity of the ageless forest as they began walking together in the room.
"The Emperor has been expecting you."Darth Vader declared.
"We know, Father."Luke answered.
"So, you have accepted the truth."Darth Vader assumed.
"We've accepted the truth that you were once Anakin Skywalker, our father."Lisa admitted calmly.
Like her brother, the blonde haired girl felt their father's anger rise at the mention of his former identity.
"That name no longer has any meaning for me."Darth Vader replied, pointing Luke's lightsaber at Lisa.
"It is the name of your true self, you've only forgotten."Luke stated. "We know there is good in you. The Emperor hasn't drained it from you fully."
Luke and Lisa turned to the window behind them.
"Our mother still believed that the man she loved still existed."Lisa declared in a firm tone. "So that's why me and Luke don't believe you will turn us over to the Emperor."
Darth Vader's hidden eyes were completely focused on Lisa.
Despite having only her eyes, Lisa had so much of Padmé in her and it wasn't hard to forget she was Queen of Naboo some years ago.
The Sith Lord's attention then went on his children's lightsabers that were held in his grip.
Luke had a new one while Lisa kept the same two from before.
Darth Vader activated Luke's green lightsaber and pointed it behind his children.
Luke and Lisa both visibly flinched as they stood closely together.
However, Lisa was far more calm then Luke.
In her mind, she had the manners of a queen and a queen must always stay calm even at the times she thought she was in danger. That was what Sabé, her mother's former handmaiden and Dalné's mother taught her.
"I see that you constructed a new lightsaber."Darth Vader declared, looking at Luke. "Your skills are complete. Indeed you and your sister are powerful as the Emperor has foreseen."
Darth Vader deactivated the lightsaber as he turned to the other side while he felt Luke and Lisa turned to look at him.
"Come with us."Luke insisted.
The Dark Lord shook his head, recalling the memory of his late wife telling him to run away with him when she went to go see him in Mustafar.
"Padmé once thought as you did."Darth Vader declared and turned to look at his children. "You don't know the power of the dark side. I must obey my master."
"We will not turn and you will be forced to kill us."Luke reminded.
In his mind, Darth Vader scoffed at his son's respond.
He had done worse things.
"If that is your destiny."Darth Vader said.
"Search your feelings, Father. You can't do this."Lisa begged in a soft yet strict tone, bravely taking a few steps forward toward the Sith Lord. "We feel the conflict within you. Let go of your hate."
"At what cause? You're a good person. Don't do this."
Padme's voice echoed after her daughter's, making Darth Vader fell silent for a moment.
"It is too late for me, my daughter."Darth Vader responded softly.
Darth Vader signalled a squad of distant stormtroopers to come forward, much to Luke and Lisa's dismay.
The guards approached as Luke, Lisa and the Dark Lord faced one another for a long, searching moment.
"The Emperor will show you the true nature of the Force."Darth Vader said. "He is your master now."
Luke simply nodded as he and Lisa had similar looks of bitter disappointment.
"Then our father is truly dead."Luke stated.
"Looks like Master Yoda, Obi-Wan and Uncle Ferus were right all along."Lisa commented.
Luke and Lisa started walking towards the elevator as they headed past the Dark Lord while the two stormtroopers followed them from behind.
Darth Vader stared at Luke and Lisa as his daughter gave him a small glare and looked away before the elevator door closed.
When the elevator door shut, the Sith Lord headed towards the window area that his children previously were to look at the dark forest in thought.
Next chapter we will see the Battle of Endor while Luke and Lisa come face to face with Darth Sidious. See you all in the next chapter:)