Title: Revenge of the Jedi, Chapter Two
Author: Jonathan Evans
Author email: noggins@ic24.net
Summary: Continued from Chapter One. Han, Leia, Chewie and Boba Fett are about to escape Jabba's Palace when they encounter someone that may put an end to their plans...
Special Thanks: to everyone who's commented on all of my fan fiction so far. It's great to know I've got an audience! Special thanks to those who commented on the original story to which this is a sequel including Candie K and Kittenmommy who proposed the question as to who Vader was - something which will be explained by the end of the story...
Plus, thanks to Bill Hays who's 1980 article for Fantastic Films, "Speculation Concerning The Future History of the Continuing Star Wars Saga" played an important part in the writing of this story.
Disclaimer: George Lucas owns everything and I'm not making anymoney off of thi nor do I intend to (I'd like to but that's not the point). You can distribute this freely provided that it's complete with this disclaimer.
REVENGE OF THE JEDI
CHAPTER TWO
By Jonathan Evans
"I have a bad feeling about this," Han frowned as he turned to face
their captor. He went to grab his blaster pistol but found it was
missing. His memory was still slowly coming back but he vaguely
remembered it being conviscated by Darth Vader back on Bespin when
that scum Calrissian betrayed them. He cringed at the thought.
Leia looked down at Threepio's body, damaged beyond repair from
the blast he received from Artoo Detoo's new arsenal. She slowly
turned around to see who was behind them, her hand ready, willing and
able to draw the weapon at her side. Before she could Fett aimed
his rifle at their captor's head.
"You didn't see us."
"Y'see, I was kinda hoping I did," was the reply as the visor of the
helmet was pulled up to reveal the face of Lando Calrissian. "I was
beginnin' to worry that you were gonna leave without me."
"Lando!" Leia exclaimed and ran to hug their friend who had spent
the last month in the Palace trying to earn the respect of Jabba
and his minion's under the guise of a newly recruited guard.
Before the princess could grab hold of him a blast came out. She
jumped away in shock only to notice it hit Artoo through his
chrome top rendering him as lifeless as his counterpart. Chewie
growled at Lando.
"He was about to fire on Leia..." Lando informed them. "It was the
only thing I could do."
They all turned to each other and nodded in agreement. So much had
happened since Cloud City. They had all changed, affected by the
loss of loved ones, some without any hope of bringing back. Drastic
times called for drastic measures no matter how traumatic they were.
Before anyone could say anything, an alarm called out. Many of the
drunken aliens stirred, while Jabba opened his eyes instantly. He
noticed the small group located near the entrance.
"Guards! Guards!" he called out in Huttese. Before anyone could
respond to his pleas, Boba Fett fired his rifle at a large outcropping
of rock located above Jabba. At first nothing seemed to happen. The
old Hutt saw who had taken the shot and called out to him.
"Fett! You betray me!"
"I don't betray, Jabba," he smirked. "I respond to my treatment. That's
for not paying me..."
Just as Jabba was about to reply, a massive rock cracked and fell from
the wall, plummeting the short distance before crushing the crime
lord under its weight, sending his slimy brown and green innards in
all directions. There was silence. Lando turned to Leia.
"I think its time we made an exit..."
* * * * * * * * *
A ferocious sandstorm blocked their view as they made their way
to the docking area on the edge of the Dune Sea. Leia, Fett, Han,
Lando and Chewie emerged slowly from the veil of sand, pressing on
against the wind.
"I don't know," frowned Han. "All I can see is a lot of blowing sand!"
"That's all any of us can see," Leia replied.
"Then I guess I'm getting better."
As soon as the group huddled under the bulk of the Falcon, the wind
died down to something more describable as a severe weather condition.
Chewbacca hit a switch, and the gang-plank lowered with a hum. Before
they entered Han turned to Leia.
"I can't believe what happened to Luke. I'm out of it for a while
and everything seems to go wrong."
"I'm sure he's in a better place... No. I know he is. Anywhere can
be better than this."
"I'm inclined to believe you," Han responded.
Han turned to Fett and Lando, looking at them somewhat dubiously,
obviously remembering his friend's betrayal and his enemies rivalry
but also their subsequent aide.
"Guess I owe you some thanks, too, Lando," he said with a slight smile.
After a pause. "You too, I guess, Fett. But that don't mean I trust
you"
"I don't intend you to."
Lando grimaced as he noticed another serious storm heading towards
them. "Come on, let's get off this miserable dust ball."
* * * * * * * * *
Many parsecs away a Super Star Destroyer and several ships of the
Imperial Fleet rested in space above the half-completed Death Star
and its green neighbor, Endor. Four squads of TIE fighters escorted
an Imperial shuttle toward the Death Star.
Inside the massive structure, thousands of Imperial troops in tight
formation filled the mammoth docking bay. Darth Vader and an officer
walked to the landing platform, where the shuttle came to rest. The
shuttle's ramp lowered and the Emperor's Royal Guards come out and
create a lethal perimeter. The assembled troops moved to rigid
attention with a momentous snap.
Emperor Palpatine, a rather small, shriveled old man emerged from the
shuttle. His bent frame slowly made its way down the ramp with the
aid of a gnarled cane. His face was shrouded and difficult to see,
except for his piercing yellow eyes. Commander Jerjerrod and Darth
Vader kneeled before him, the Supreme Ruler of the galaxy.
"I am disappointed in you, my apprentice," he spoke through a
cracked voice. "Skywalker would have been of much use to us yet
you defied my orders and destroyed him."
"I am sorry, my master," the Sith Lord pleaded. "You could not
be turned. He was..."
"He was weak! He had not been trained. You cut him down knowing
he could not fight back." Palpatine signalled for Vader to stand and
he obeyed. The old man continued. "Again you let your past haunt
you. Anakin Skywalker is dead. You saw to that. Surely it would
have been the greatest victory of all to corrupt his only son
to the ways of the Dark Side."
They began towards the metal doors and out of the docking bay.
"I am sorry, my master."
"Anakin was a threat to us but his son was not."
"There is one more hope," Vader interrupted as politely as he
could. He knew the emperor was more powerful than him and did
not want to incur his wrath. Palpatine turned with a smile on his
face.
"And what is that, my apprentice?"
"The sister. She still does not have the knowledge of her true
inhetitence."
"Yes, yes. You spoke of her many years ago but I thought it
irrelevant since she did not have the power," the elder dark lord
grinned. "But now we have a use for her. Your knowledge of the ways
of the Jedi has helped you."
"I thought I knew all I could but Kenobi made me understand so
much more. If only he know that his knowledge would result in
so much turmoil..."
"Yes..." Palpatine hissed. "How little he knew..."
* * * * * * * * *
The vast Rebel Fleet stretched as far as the eye could see.
Overhead a dozen small Corellian battleships flew in formation
while fighters and battlecruisers surrounded the largest of the
Rebel Star Cruisers, the Headquarters Frigate where the future of
the galaxy was being discussed.
Hundreds of Rebel commanders of all races and forms were assembled
in the war room. In the center of the room was a holographic model
depicting the half-completed Imperial Death Star, the nearby Moon of
Endor, and the protecting deflector shield. The projector flickered
a few times as it increased in size so all could see it clearly.
Mon Mothma, the leader of the Alliance, entered the room followed
by the human General Madine and Mon Calamari Admiral Ackbar. Lando
moves through the crowd until he finds Han and Chewie, standing next
to Leia and Boba Fett. Han looked at the insignia on Lando's chest
and smirked.
"Well, look at you, a general, huh?"
"Someone must have told them about my maneaveour at the Battle of
Tanaab," he replied. "And from the way things look we're going to
need as many leaders as possible..."
"...To make up for the loss of one..." Leia finished his sentence.
"Yeah," Lando frowned. "That's the reason exactly."
Mothma coughed and hush filled the room. "The Emperor has made a
critical error and the time for our attack has come," she said in
a stern voice. Many of the ihabitants talked among themselves, some
refusing to believe what had been said. Ignoring them, the woman
turned to the image of the Death Star in the centre of the room.
"The data brought to us by the Bothan spies pinpoints the exact
location of the Emperor's new battle station," she began. "We also
know that the weapon systems of this Death Star are not yet
operational. With the Imperial Fleet spread throughout the galaxy in
a vain effort to engage us, it is relatively unprotected. But most
important of all, we've learned that the Emperor himself is personally
overseeing the final stages of the construction of this Death Star."
"It doesn't seem like you've considered the most important thing
of all," Boba Fett interrupted. This caused a stir in the room as
everyone turned their attention to this bounty hunter interloper,
some eager to hear what he had to say, others distrustful of his
words. He turned to Mothma for approval to continue. She nodded.
"Both the Emperor and Vader are powerful users of the Dark Side.
Whatever technology you have, they no match compared to such
evil powers."
Several Sullustans near the front began to shout out at him. He
was unsure what they were saying but it was obvious from the
expressions on their faces it wasn't in agreement with him. He
should have guessed that no one would have any time for what he
had to say.
"What do bounty hunters know of the Force?" asked a voice near
the front of the room. Fett turned to see a pilot looking at
him with a complete lack of trust. He seemed one of those hotshots
who think that everything is in black and white - good and evil,
as if there was no mid-point. Fett turned to him with a voice
full of calm.
"I know what I have experienced. I have faced both the light and
the dark. I have faced Vader and barely survived the experience.
Believe me, I know of the Force and all of its facets. Something
you will never do..."
The pilot seemed to be squirming in his seat. Fett smiled under
his mask, something he hadn't done in a long time. He turned
back to the commanders of the operation. "Continue... if you
will."
Admiral Ackbar stood forward holding a stick to point at the
hologram. "You can see here the Death Star orbiting the forest
Moon of Endor. Although the weapon systems on this Death Star are
not yet operational, the Death Star does have a strong defense
mechanism. It is protected by an energy shield, which is generated
from the nearby forest Moon of Endor. The shield must be deactivated
if any attack is to be attempted. Once the shield is down, our
cruisers will create a perimeter, while the fighters fly into the
superstructure and attempt to knock out the main reactor."
A concerned murmur began around the room. Leia gave Fett an
intruiged glance. She was slowly beginning warm towards him even
after years of being enemies. There was something new about him
that had been lying dormant for as long as she'd known, perhaps
as long as she'd been around. When she turned her attention back
to the Mon Calamari admiral she realised that he had sent Lando
on the suicide run against the Death Star.
General Madine took Ackbar's place by the projector. "We only have
one chance to take it down. We have a stolen Imperial Shuttle
however our spies were killed before we could get access to any
security codes so I guess it may all be a matter of luck."
An enraged shouting began. Han quickly calmed them down.
"Hey! Hey!" he called out. "It's not like you have to go on this.
Personally I haven't got anything against a last-ditch attempt
at bringing the Empire down, even if it means I die in the
process. The Maker only knows that we're losing this war and
maybe if there's a New Republic we won't have any Jedi to protect
it but right now I don't care about that. Wwe've lost too much to
give up without a fight.All I care about is freedom from this
oppression, freedom from the Emperor and most of all freedom from
that nerf herding son of a Deveronian Vader!"
The room erupted in shouts once again but this time all that
could be heard was, "Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!" echoing out
into the darkness of space in the hopes that somewhere the evil
would hear and quake with fear.
* * * * * * * * *
The Millennium Falcon rested beyond the stolen Imperial Shuttle,
which looked anomalous among all the Rebel ships in the vast docking
bay. Chewie barked a final farewell to Lando and lead Boba Fett and
Leia to the shuttle, crowded now with the Rebel strike team loading
weapons and supplies. Lando turned to face Han.
"Well, I guess this is it, huh?" he said.
"I guess so," Han replied, knowing there was very little else to say.
He had a feeling he would never see his friend again after such a
short space of time together again after all these years. He glanced
over to the Falcon.
"I'll take good care of her you know," Lando reassured him.
"You better or I'll be back with a vengeance," Han responded trying
to make a joke where he knew there couldn't be one.
"I'll see you around, you old pirate."
"You bet you will."
The two shared salutes and Han entered the Shuttle. The door closed
behind him. Once he got to the cockpit he noticed Chewie was growling
uncomfortably.
"No. I don't think they had Wookies in mind when they build her."
He looked out to see Lando preparing to enter the Falcon. "I've got
a funny feeling I'll never see him again."
Leia smiled sadly, noticing how all that had happened had changed
Han's priorities so much.
The stolen Imperial shuttle left the main docking bay of the
Headquarters Frigate, lowered its wings into flight position,
and zoomed off into space.
* * * * * * * * *
Far away in another part of the galaxy, Vader entered the Emperor's
throneroom. He bowed before his master with humility, knowing full
well his place in the grand scheme of things but accepting it
completely.
"What is thy bidding, my master?"
Palpatine looked up from his silent meditation. "Send the fleet to
the far side of Endor. There it will stay until called for."
Vader seemed unsure with this. "What of the reports of the Rebel
fleet massing near Sullust?" he asked carefully.
"It is of no concern," his master hissed. "Soon the Rebellion will be
crushed and the daughter of Skywalker will be one of us! Your work here
is finished, my friend. Go"
The Dark Lord of the Sith, seemingly all powerful, bowed once again
before the frail old man and turned away. His fear was clear. Even
his robotic hands shook irrationally.
* * * * * * * * *
The stolen shuttle emerged from hyperspace near the Imperial fleet.
Inside, Han and Leia looked at each other carefully as they entered
sensor range.
"We'll never get passed," the smuggler muttered. "They're far too
security conscious after Luke finished off their last 'indestructable'
war machine."
"Luke would want us to do this for him," Leia said. "We WILL do this."
Suddenly the communications panel shone with hundreds of colours and
the voice of an Imperial lieutenant was heard. "We have you on our screen
now. Please identify."
Han gulped. "Shuttle Tydirium requesting deactivation of the deflector
shield."
"Shuttle Tydirium, transmit the clearance code for shield passage."
"I knew it!" Han growled. "We're dead."
"Just try something random," Fett offered. "Blind luck may help."
"I don't believe in luck, Fett," Han retorted. "There's nothing you
can say that'll make me change that."
"It's better than nothing," Leia offered.
"No way. We're making a run for it. Chewie, lock on front deflectors
and charge up the engines."
Chewie snarled aggressivly at the Super Star Destroyer in front of
them as he did as Han ordered.
The Imperial Leiutenant's voice was heard again. "Repeat, transmit
the clearance code for shield passage. Do you copy Shuttle Tydirium?"
"Yeah, we copy," Han shouted. "Do it!"
Chewie pressed some keys at the front of the shuttle and it burst
forward towards the forest moon of Endor.
Inside the Star Destroyer the lieutenant noticed Vader watching him
intently. "Lord Vader, the shuttle is trying to break through the
deflector shield..."
"Drop it," The Sith ordered.
"But..."
"Drop it," he repeated. "But don't make it seem too easy. Fire a
few shots. Ensure they miss."
"Yuh - yes sir!"
Three shots blasted out of the Super Star Destroyer which the shuttle
easily avoided. Suddenly without any warning, the others followed the
lead of the command ship without receiving any orders. The engine of
the shuttle burst into flames and one of the air locks opened, sucking
some of the commando team out into the suffocating region of space.
In the cockpit the crew was desperately trying to maintain control.
"Active force fields at the back!" Leia called. "They're dying in there!"
"I'm trying!" Han shouted back. "Chewie, can you get us to the moon?"
Chewie growled a negative response. "Well try!" Han hissed.
The old Wookie messed with the controls as much as he could. He spoke
to his companion in his own gutteral language. Han repeated it to
Leia and Fett who didn't understand. "He's got us on auto-pilot.
Expect a bumpy landing but as long as we're not hit again we're home
free."
Just as he spoke his last word an explosion exngulfed the control
panel in front of Chewiw. After several seconds which seemed to happen
in slow motion, the Wookie's head fell limp onto the computer. Han
quickly checked his pulse. He hit the arm of his seat in anger. He was
too late. As he looked up again he saw they were on a collision course
for a massive forest with trees big enough to pierce the window in front
of them. He covered his face but it seemed too late once more.
"Get down!!!!!" He shouted out before everything blacked out.
TO BE CONTINUED.....
Author: Jonathan Evans
Author email: noggins@ic24.net
Summary: Continued from Chapter One. Han, Leia, Chewie and Boba Fett are about to escape Jabba's Palace when they encounter someone that may put an end to their plans...
Special Thanks: to everyone who's commented on all of my fan fiction so far. It's great to know I've got an audience! Special thanks to those who commented on the original story to which this is a sequel including Candie K and Kittenmommy who proposed the question as to who Vader was - something which will be explained by the end of the story...
Plus, thanks to Bill Hays who's 1980 article for Fantastic Films, "Speculation Concerning The Future History of the Continuing Star Wars Saga" played an important part in the writing of this story.
Disclaimer: George Lucas owns everything and I'm not making anymoney off of thi nor do I intend to (I'd like to but that's not the point). You can distribute this freely provided that it's complete with this disclaimer.
REVENGE OF THE JEDI
CHAPTER TWO
By Jonathan Evans
"I have a bad feeling about this," Han frowned as he turned to face
their captor. He went to grab his blaster pistol but found it was
missing. His memory was still slowly coming back but he vaguely
remembered it being conviscated by Darth Vader back on Bespin when
that scum Calrissian betrayed them. He cringed at the thought.
Leia looked down at Threepio's body, damaged beyond repair from
the blast he received from Artoo Detoo's new arsenal. She slowly
turned around to see who was behind them, her hand ready, willing and
able to draw the weapon at her side. Before she could Fett aimed
his rifle at their captor's head.
"You didn't see us."
"Y'see, I was kinda hoping I did," was the reply as the visor of the
helmet was pulled up to reveal the face of Lando Calrissian. "I was
beginnin' to worry that you were gonna leave without me."
"Lando!" Leia exclaimed and ran to hug their friend who had spent
the last month in the Palace trying to earn the respect of Jabba
and his minion's under the guise of a newly recruited guard.
Before the princess could grab hold of him a blast came out. She
jumped away in shock only to notice it hit Artoo through his
chrome top rendering him as lifeless as his counterpart. Chewie
growled at Lando.
"He was about to fire on Leia..." Lando informed them. "It was the
only thing I could do."
They all turned to each other and nodded in agreement. So much had
happened since Cloud City. They had all changed, affected by the
loss of loved ones, some without any hope of bringing back. Drastic
times called for drastic measures no matter how traumatic they were.
Before anyone could say anything, an alarm called out. Many of the
drunken aliens stirred, while Jabba opened his eyes instantly. He
noticed the small group located near the entrance.
"Guards! Guards!" he called out in Huttese. Before anyone could
respond to his pleas, Boba Fett fired his rifle at a large outcropping
of rock located above Jabba. At first nothing seemed to happen. The
old Hutt saw who had taken the shot and called out to him.
"Fett! You betray me!"
"I don't betray, Jabba," he smirked. "I respond to my treatment. That's
for not paying me..."
Just as Jabba was about to reply, a massive rock cracked and fell from
the wall, plummeting the short distance before crushing the crime
lord under its weight, sending his slimy brown and green innards in
all directions. There was silence. Lando turned to Leia.
"I think its time we made an exit..."
* * * * * * * * *
A ferocious sandstorm blocked their view as they made their way
to the docking area on the edge of the Dune Sea. Leia, Fett, Han,
Lando and Chewie emerged slowly from the veil of sand, pressing on
against the wind.
"I don't know," frowned Han. "All I can see is a lot of blowing sand!"
"That's all any of us can see," Leia replied.
"Then I guess I'm getting better."
As soon as the group huddled under the bulk of the Falcon, the wind
died down to something more describable as a severe weather condition.
Chewbacca hit a switch, and the gang-plank lowered with a hum. Before
they entered Han turned to Leia.
"I can't believe what happened to Luke. I'm out of it for a while
and everything seems to go wrong."
"I'm sure he's in a better place... No. I know he is. Anywhere can
be better than this."
"I'm inclined to believe you," Han responded.
Han turned to Fett and Lando, looking at them somewhat dubiously,
obviously remembering his friend's betrayal and his enemies rivalry
but also their subsequent aide.
"Guess I owe you some thanks, too, Lando," he said with a slight smile.
After a pause. "You too, I guess, Fett. But that don't mean I trust
you"
"I don't intend you to."
Lando grimaced as he noticed another serious storm heading towards
them. "Come on, let's get off this miserable dust ball."
* * * * * * * * *
Many parsecs away a Super Star Destroyer and several ships of the
Imperial Fleet rested in space above the half-completed Death Star
and its green neighbor, Endor. Four squads of TIE fighters escorted
an Imperial shuttle toward the Death Star.
Inside the massive structure, thousands of Imperial troops in tight
formation filled the mammoth docking bay. Darth Vader and an officer
walked to the landing platform, where the shuttle came to rest. The
shuttle's ramp lowered and the Emperor's Royal Guards come out and
create a lethal perimeter. The assembled troops moved to rigid
attention with a momentous snap.
Emperor Palpatine, a rather small, shriveled old man emerged from the
shuttle. His bent frame slowly made its way down the ramp with the
aid of a gnarled cane. His face was shrouded and difficult to see,
except for his piercing yellow eyes. Commander Jerjerrod and Darth
Vader kneeled before him, the Supreme Ruler of the galaxy.
"I am disappointed in you, my apprentice," he spoke through a
cracked voice. "Skywalker would have been of much use to us yet
you defied my orders and destroyed him."
"I am sorry, my master," the Sith Lord pleaded. "You could not
be turned. He was..."
"He was weak! He had not been trained. You cut him down knowing
he could not fight back." Palpatine signalled for Vader to stand and
he obeyed. The old man continued. "Again you let your past haunt
you. Anakin Skywalker is dead. You saw to that. Surely it would
have been the greatest victory of all to corrupt his only son
to the ways of the Dark Side."
They began towards the metal doors and out of the docking bay.
"I am sorry, my master."
"Anakin was a threat to us but his son was not."
"There is one more hope," Vader interrupted as politely as he
could. He knew the emperor was more powerful than him and did
not want to incur his wrath. Palpatine turned with a smile on his
face.
"And what is that, my apprentice?"
"The sister. She still does not have the knowledge of her true
inhetitence."
"Yes, yes. You spoke of her many years ago but I thought it
irrelevant since she did not have the power," the elder dark lord
grinned. "But now we have a use for her. Your knowledge of the ways
of the Jedi has helped you."
"I thought I knew all I could but Kenobi made me understand so
much more. If only he know that his knowledge would result in
so much turmoil..."
"Yes..." Palpatine hissed. "How little he knew..."
* * * * * * * * *
The vast Rebel Fleet stretched as far as the eye could see.
Overhead a dozen small Corellian battleships flew in formation
while fighters and battlecruisers surrounded the largest of the
Rebel Star Cruisers, the Headquarters Frigate where the future of
the galaxy was being discussed.
Hundreds of Rebel commanders of all races and forms were assembled
in the war room. In the center of the room was a holographic model
depicting the half-completed Imperial Death Star, the nearby Moon of
Endor, and the protecting deflector shield. The projector flickered
a few times as it increased in size so all could see it clearly.
Mon Mothma, the leader of the Alliance, entered the room followed
by the human General Madine and Mon Calamari Admiral Ackbar. Lando
moves through the crowd until he finds Han and Chewie, standing next
to Leia and Boba Fett. Han looked at the insignia on Lando's chest
and smirked.
"Well, look at you, a general, huh?"
"Someone must have told them about my maneaveour at the Battle of
Tanaab," he replied. "And from the way things look we're going to
need as many leaders as possible..."
"...To make up for the loss of one..." Leia finished his sentence.
"Yeah," Lando frowned. "That's the reason exactly."
Mothma coughed and hush filled the room. "The Emperor has made a
critical error and the time for our attack has come," she said in
a stern voice. Many of the ihabitants talked among themselves, some
refusing to believe what had been said. Ignoring them, the woman
turned to the image of the Death Star in the centre of the room.
"The data brought to us by the Bothan spies pinpoints the exact
location of the Emperor's new battle station," she began. "We also
know that the weapon systems of this Death Star are not yet
operational. With the Imperial Fleet spread throughout the galaxy in
a vain effort to engage us, it is relatively unprotected. But most
important of all, we've learned that the Emperor himself is personally
overseeing the final stages of the construction of this Death Star."
"It doesn't seem like you've considered the most important thing
of all," Boba Fett interrupted. This caused a stir in the room as
everyone turned their attention to this bounty hunter interloper,
some eager to hear what he had to say, others distrustful of his
words. He turned to Mothma for approval to continue. She nodded.
"Both the Emperor and Vader are powerful users of the Dark Side.
Whatever technology you have, they no match compared to such
evil powers."
Several Sullustans near the front began to shout out at him. He
was unsure what they were saying but it was obvious from the
expressions on their faces it wasn't in agreement with him. He
should have guessed that no one would have any time for what he
had to say.
"What do bounty hunters know of the Force?" asked a voice near
the front of the room. Fett turned to see a pilot looking at
him with a complete lack of trust. He seemed one of those hotshots
who think that everything is in black and white - good and evil,
as if there was no mid-point. Fett turned to him with a voice
full of calm.
"I know what I have experienced. I have faced both the light and
the dark. I have faced Vader and barely survived the experience.
Believe me, I know of the Force and all of its facets. Something
you will never do..."
The pilot seemed to be squirming in his seat. Fett smiled under
his mask, something he hadn't done in a long time. He turned
back to the commanders of the operation. "Continue... if you
will."
Admiral Ackbar stood forward holding a stick to point at the
hologram. "You can see here the Death Star orbiting the forest
Moon of Endor. Although the weapon systems on this Death Star are
not yet operational, the Death Star does have a strong defense
mechanism. It is protected by an energy shield, which is generated
from the nearby forest Moon of Endor. The shield must be deactivated
if any attack is to be attempted. Once the shield is down, our
cruisers will create a perimeter, while the fighters fly into the
superstructure and attempt to knock out the main reactor."
A concerned murmur began around the room. Leia gave Fett an
intruiged glance. She was slowly beginning warm towards him even
after years of being enemies. There was something new about him
that had been lying dormant for as long as she'd known, perhaps
as long as she'd been around. When she turned her attention back
to the Mon Calamari admiral she realised that he had sent Lando
on the suicide run against the Death Star.
General Madine took Ackbar's place by the projector. "We only have
one chance to take it down. We have a stolen Imperial Shuttle
however our spies were killed before we could get access to any
security codes so I guess it may all be a matter of luck."
An enraged shouting began. Han quickly calmed them down.
"Hey! Hey!" he called out. "It's not like you have to go on this.
Personally I haven't got anything against a last-ditch attempt
at bringing the Empire down, even if it means I die in the
process. The Maker only knows that we're losing this war and
maybe if there's a New Republic we won't have any Jedi to protect
it but right now I don't care about that. Wwe've lost too much to
give up without a fight.All I care about is freedom from this
oppression, freedom from the Emperor and most of all freedom from
that nerf herding son of a Deveronian Vader!"
The room erupted in shouts once again but this time all that
could be heard was, "Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!" echoing out
into the darkness of space in the hopes that somewhere the evil
would hear and quake with fear.
* * * * * * * * *
The Millennium Falcon rested beyond the stolen Imperial Shuttle,
which looked anomalous among all the Rebel ships in the vast docking
bay. Chewie barked a final farewell to Lando and lead Boba Fett and
Leia to the shuttle, crowded now with the Rebel strike team loading
weapons and supplies. Lando turned to face Han.
"Well, I guess this is it, huh?" he said.
"I guess so," Han replied, knowing there was very little else to say.
He had a feeling he would never see his friend again after such a
short space of time together again after all these years. He glanced
over to the Falcon.
"I'll take good care of her you know," Lando reassured him.
"You better or I'll be back with a vengeance," Han responded trying
to make a joke where he knew there couldn't be one.
"I'll see you around, you old pirate."
"You bet you will."
The two shared salutes and Han entered the Shuttle. The door closed
behind him. Once he got to the cockpit he noticed Chewie was growling
uncomfortably.
"No. I don't think they had Wookies in mind when they build her."
He looked out to see Lando preparing to enter the Falcon. "I've got
a funny feeling I'll never see him again."
Leia smiled sadly, noticing how all that had happened had changed
Han's priorities so much.
The stolen Imperial shuttle left the main docking bay of the
Headquarters Frigate, lowered its wings into flight position,
and zoomed off into space.
* * * * * * * * *
Far away in another part of the galaxy, Vader entered the Emperor's
throneroom. He bowed before his master with humility, knowing full
well his place in the grand scheme of things but accepting it
completely.
"What is thy bidding, my master?"
Palpatine looked up from his silent meditation. "Send the fleet to
the far side of Endor. There it will stay until called for."
Vader seemed unsure with this. "What of the reports of the Rebel
fleet massing near Sullust?" he asked carefully.
"It is of no concern," his master hissed. "Soon the Rebellion will be
crushed and the daughter of Skywalker will be one of us! Your work here
is finished, my friend. Go"
The Dark Lord of the Sith, seemingly all powerful, bowed once again
before the frail old man and turned away. His fear was clear. Even
his robotic hands shook irrationally.
* * * * * * * * *
The stolen shuttle emerged from hyperspace near the Imperial fleet.
Inside, Han and Leia looked at each other carefully as they entered
sensor range.
"We'll never get passed," the smuggler muttered. "They're far too
security conscious after Luke finished off their last 'indestructable'
war machine."
"Luke would want us to do this for him," Leia said. "We WILL do this."
Suddenly the communications panel shone with hundreds of colours and
the voice of an Imperial lieutenant was heard. "We have you on our screen
now. Please identify."
Han gulped. "Shuttle Tydirium requesting deactivation of the deflector
shield."
"Shuttle Tydirium, transmit the clearance code for shield passage."
"I knew it!" Han growled. "We're dead."
"Just try something random," Fett offered. "Blind luck may help."
"I don't believe in luck, Fett," Han retorted. "There's nothing you
can say that'll make me change that."
"It's better than nothing," Leia offered.
"No way. We're making a run for it. Chewie, lock on front deflectors
and charge up the engines."
Chewie snarled aggressivly at the Super Star Destroyer in front of
them as he did as Han ordered.
The Imperial Leiutenant's voice was heard again. "Repeat, transmit
the clearance code for shield passage. Do you copy Shuttle Tydirium?"
"Yeah, we copy," Han shouted. "Do it!"
Chewie pressed some keys at the front of the shuttle and it burst
forward towards the forest moon of Endor.
Inside the Star Destroyer the lieutenant noticed Vader watching him
intently. "Lord Vader, the shuttle is trying to break through the
deflector shield..."
"Drop it," The Sith ordered.
"But..."
"Drop it," he repeated. "But don't make it seem too easy. Fire a
few shots. Ensure they miss."
"Yuh - yes sir!"
Three shots blasted out of the Super Star Destroyer which the shuttle
easily avoided. Suddenly without any warning, the others followed the
lead of the command ship without receiving any orders. The engine of
the shuttle burst into flames and one of the air locks opened, sucking
some of the commando team out into the suffocating region of space.
In the cockpit the crew was desperately trying to maintain control.
"Active force fields at the back!" Leia called. "They're dying in there!"
"I'm trying!" Han shouted back. "Chewie, can you get us to the moon?"
Chewie growled a negative response. "Well try!" Han hissed.
The old Wookie messed with the controls as much as he could. He spoke
to his companion in his own gutteral language. Han repeated it to
Leia and Fett who didn't understand. "He's got us on auto-pilot.
Expect a bumpy landing but as long as we're not hit again we're home
free."
Just as he spoke his last word an explosion exngulfed the control
panel in front of Chewiw. After several seconds which seemed to happen
in slow motion, the Wookie's head fell limp onto the computer. Han
quickly checked his pulse. He hit the arm of his seat in anger. He was
too late. As he looked up again he saw they were on a collision course
for a massive forest with trees big enough to pierce the window in front
of them. He covered his face but it seemed too late once more.
"Get down!!!!!" He shouted out before everything blacked out.
TO BE CONTINUED.....