Title: Revenge of the Jedi, Chapter Three
Author: Jonathan Evans
Author email: noggins@ic24.net
Summary: Continued from Chapter Two. The stolen Imperial shuttle heads at for Endor on a collision course... Will anyone survive? Will Leia finally learn her family secret????
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 THREE
By Jonathan Evans
Darth Vader entered the Emperor's throne room on the Death Star. He
bowed in reverence before waiting for his master to finally speak.
"What have you to say, Lord Vader?"
"A small Rebel force has penetrated the shield and landed on Endor,"
informed the armoured Sith. "Skywalker's daughter is with them."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes my master."
Palpatine grinned evily and rubbed his hands together in delight.
Things were going according to his plan. Soon everything would
be in his control. Suddenly he sensed something in Vader. His smile
became a grimace.
"I sense fear in you."
"There is no fear, my master. Just some grave news," he paused. If
he had been less than the most feared Sith in the galaxy he would
have gulped. "Several Star Destroyers fired upon the stolen Shuttle
as it tried to break through to the moon. I am... unsure if there
are any survivors."
The Emperor nodded silently, contemplating what his apprentice had
jus told him. He looked up with a more neutral expression covering
his features. "The Rebels are more intelligent than many believe.
They survived."
"Yes my lord."
"You may go..."
Vader nodded and turned to leave, the red armoured Royal Guards
moving away as he stormed past them.
* * * * * * * * *
Han groaned quietly as he began to stir. He didn't open his eyes
at first. "Chewie? What the hell is wrong with you? It was a
simple landing." Then it dawned on him. He turned to see the blood
soaked body of Chewbacca next to him. His fur matted with the
viscous fluid that came from the wound caused after death when a
tree smashed through the viewscreen, piercing him. Han shook the
body but it was beyond obvious that it was too late. "Leia!"
He turned around but saw that the back half of the shuttle had
been ripped off, the metal hull, torn to shreds by the descent
through the atmosphere and the collision with the forest. Han
stood up but everything began to shake. He looked down through
the broken floor to see that his section was well and truly lodged
in the trees while down below he could see the aft part of the
shuttle. Pulling a set of macrobinoculars from the compartment at
the front panel he viewed the wreckage more carefully. Some of
the commandos had not survived the fall and laid crushed to death
under the mass of metal.
Solo put the binoculars on his belt and took one last look at his
old friend before making his way down through the braches, quietly
cursing himself for his actions.
At the bottom he noticed that some must have escaped the crash.
Several blasters and explosive charges had been taken. He looked
at the ground and noticed around ten sets of footprints heading
what appeared to be north, but Han knew he was never any good at
directions.
As he reached an opening he heard some voices. Carefully peering
through the bushes he saw something he wished he hadn't. A group
of Imperial Stormtroopers in specialist biking armour were crowded
around the body of what appeared to be a small animal. One of them
prodded it with a stick. Whatever it was, it was well and truly dead.
He pulled out his blaster and let of a shot at one of the trooper,
hitting him in the chest. The other two turned, not sure where it
came from. The first got a blast to the head while the other
got one in the ground. It bent over in agony as Han rushed out with
a large stone. The thud must have echoed for miles around.
"That's for Chewie, you scum!"
Once the trooper fell to the floor, Han looked at the creature. It
wore a leather tunic and at its side lay a primitive looking spear.
It dawned on the smuggler that there were more than just dumb animals
on this moon. These creatures, almost miniture Wookies, were
intelligent even if they were primitive. There was a hope that Leia
and the others may have found a village where they would be safe from
the harsh forest. Who knows what could have been lurking here at night?
Han touched the animal and suddenly the trees around him erupted
in a sea of chattering. Around thirty creatures, similar to the dead
one burst out of the bushes, weapons held high. They pointed them
at Han who looked amazed. Their faces showed anger. They must have
thought Han had been the one who killed they little friend.
"This don't look too good," Han muttered to himself as three of
them dived onto him, knocking him on his back.
* * * * * * * * *
When Han came to he discovered he was upside down, attached to a
massive log which some of the creatures were carrying him on. Others
carried firey torches which he didn't think were for light but
something much more sinister.
The procession moved along a shaky, narrow, wooden walkway, high
in the giant trees. It stopped at the end of the walkway, which dropped
off into nothingness. On the other side of the abyss stood a village
of mud huts and rickety walkways, attached to the giant trees. The lead
Ewok took hold of a long vine and swang across to the village square
while the other Ewoks followed suit.
Suddenly all activity stops as Logray, the tribal Medicine Man, came
out of the big hut. He examined the captive carefully, sniffing him and
prodding him with a staff. A larger, gray-haired Ewok, Chief Chirpa,
joined him in his investigations before the two had a conversation
about what they had caught.
Han was placed on a spit above what looked like a barbecue pit.
The drums started beating, and all the furry heads turned to the
large hut. Leia emerged, wearing an animal-skin dress. Boba Fett
followed with a crown made of leaves. They saw what was happening at
the same moment as Han noticed them.
"Leia!" he called out. "What's going on?"
"It looks like you're about to be cooked," Fett interjected. Leia
shot him an angry glance and he fell silent.
"Let me off this thing, will ya? It's hardly gonna be good for
my reputation if I'm eating by a bunch of... things that
barely come up to my knee!"
"They're called Ewoks," Fett pointed out, almost enjoying what
was happening. Leia realised that despite joining their group for
reasons as yet unknown to her, the bounty hunter still held some
rivalry against Han for their less than enjoyable past.
"I don't give a damn what they're called!" Han called out, getting
angrier as he became more agitated. "Just get me off this thing."
Leia looked the cheif Ewok in the eyes. He seemed to be intriuged
by her reaction to what they were doing. He spoke to Logray in
a sympathetic tone but the medicine man just shook his head and
uttered something incomprehensible. He was inisistent on continuing
the ritual. Leia looked at Han and shrugged.
"I guess they refuse to listen."
"Make them listen! I wish I could get to my blaster... then I'd show
'em."
"They're quite harmless really," Fett informed Solo. "You may have
offended them slightly."
"And since when do you know what they're saying?"
"It's similar to the language of the Uwotti of Werron. I had a job
once capturing a group that had infiltrated an Imperial research
facility. While I did it I learnt the language. It makes it
easier to understand your prey."
"Oh, wonderful. Now how about using that skill of your to get me
off this thing?"
Two of the Ewoks began to light the wooden blocks under Han. He tried
to blow out the torch but to no avail. He looked at Fett who just
stood by watching. Suddenly something changed in the bounty hunter's
attitude and he spoke aloud in the language the Ewoks understood.
After what seemed like an eternity they all nodded and doused the fire
with water, untying the old smuggler upon completing the first task.
Han gave Fett a lopsided smile. "I guess I owe some thanks for your
help even if it took a while arriving. What did ya tell them?"
"Just that you would not make much of a meal, too much gristle,"
Fett replied almost joyously.
"Thanks a lot..." After a slight pause, Han slapped Fett on the back,
the first physical sign that there was a hope that the bounter
hunter could be forgiven even if it would take a long time. As he
did, Han noticed the Wookie scalps hanging from Fett's shoulder.
He pulled away quickly, rubbing his hand on his trousers as if
to clean off dirt. He made his excuses and went into a hut where
the other survivors of the crash were planning the plans for the
following day.
* * * * * * * * *
Night came over the forest and the Ewoks had made their ways to
their huts having finally bonded with the Rebel Forces, if still not
willing to trust them. The walkway was deserted now, the windows of
the little huts glowed and flickered from the fires inside. The sounds
of the forest filled the soft night air. Leia had wandered away from
the Chief's hut and stood staring up at the Death Star.
Boba Fett walked up to her. After several minutes silence, he spoke.
"What's troubling you?"
"For a start I don't know what we'll be facing tomorrow, what the
whole galaxy will be facing for that matter," the princess began.
"We've been fighting this war for so long, we've lost so much,
I don't know if its worth carrying on."
"You're not the only one who has lost a lot your highness."
Leia glanced at her companion momentarily. "What have YOU lost?"
she asked with more anger than she should have. "If anything
you've profited from the it all."
"It may seem like that," he replied. "But that's far from the
truth. I'm no longer the person I once was. I was youthful, I
looked to the future and it seemed so good. That was before the
corruption started. While many people fought back I hardened,
I became more harsh." Fett stopped and sighed. He looked out
over the forest before continuing. "I moved into the shadows
and soon I forgot which side I was on. If, of course, I was
ever really on any side."
"I never thought of it like that. I'm far from the person my
father tried to make me..."
Fett looked at Leia. She believed that if his helmet was not
covering his face there would have been compassion in his eyes,
something she never expected from the ruthless killer Boba Fett
was meant to be.
"That was the second thing, wasn't it?" he said with intuition.
Leia nodded. "Yes. My life has been so confusing. When my mother
died I was brought up by my father, but no matter how much he
cared for me or how much I loved him, something was missing. The
bond a father and daughter should have just wasn't there. I
wanted it to be, I really did, but it just didn't feel right."
She expected the bounty hunter to say something but he didn't.
He knew she had so much more to say, to get out into the open.
She breathed out and a cloud of mist emerged from her mouth.
"Isn't it beautiful here?" he said, moving slightly off the
topic. "I think this is what we should be fighting to preserve
if we only had the chance. Paradise is hard to find but even
harder to hold onto. I realised that when Alderaan was destroyed
and I don't want any other planet to suffer the same fate."
"That's understandable."
"Luke saved us the first time, if only he were here to do it
again."
"You miss him?"
"More than anything. More than I'd ever imagined. He was like
a friend to me... maybe it was the Force... but he seemed
more in tune with me than Han ever was. It was like we had
the bond that I lost when my mother died. Like he was a part
of me..."
"Your mother must have been an amazing person."
"I barely knew her but from what I saw in her before she died
I knew she had once been strong, beautiful, powerful..."
"She was..." Fett said as if in a trance.
Leia turned to him. "What?"
"Leia..."
The princess realised Fett was talking off his helmet. With it
off it was as if a metamorphasis had taken place. He had a kind
face, perhaps aged beyond its years. He smiled lovingly.
"...I am your father..."
TO BE CONTINUED...
Author: Jonathan Evans
Author email: noggins@ic24.net
Summary: Continued from Chapter Two. The stolen Imperial shuttle heads at for Endor on a collision course... Will anyone survive? Will Leia finally learn her family secret????
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 THREE
By Jonathan Evans
Darth Vader entered the Emperor's throne room on the Death Star. He
bowed in reverence before waiting for his master to finally speak.
"What have you to say, Lord Vader?"
"A small Rebel force has penetrated the shield and landed on Endor,"
informed the armoured Sith. "Skywalker's daughter is with them."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes my master."
Palpatine grinned evily and rubbed his hands together in delight.
Things were going according to his plan. Soon everything would
be in his control. Suddenly he sensed something in Vader. His smile
became a grimace.
"I sense fear in you."
"There is no fear, my master. Just some grave news," he paused. If
he had been less than the most feared Sith in the galaxy he would
have gulped. "Several Star Destroyers fired upon the stolen Shuttle
as it tried to break through to the moon. I am... unsure if there
are any survivors."
The Emperor nodded silently, contemplating what his apprentice had
jus told him. He looked up with a more neutral expression covering
his features. "The Rebels are more intelligent than many believe.
They survived."
"Yes my lord."
"You may go..."
Vader nodded and turned to leave, the red armoured Royal Guards
moving away as he stormed past them.
* * * * * * * * *
Han groaned quietly as he began to stir. He didn't open his eyes
at first. "Chewie? What the hell is wrong with you? It was a
simple landing." Then it dawned on him. He turned to see the blood
soaked body of Chewbacca next to him. His fur matted with the
viscous fluid that came from the wound caused after death when a
tree smashed through the viewscreen, piercing him. Han shook the
body but it was beyond obvious that it was too late. "Leia!"
He turned around but saw that the back half of the shuttle had
been ripped off, the metal hull, torn to shreds by the descent
through the atmosphere and the collision with the forest. Han
stood up but everything began to shake. He looked down through
the broken floor to see that his section was well and truly lodged
in the trees while down below he could see the aft part of the
shuttle. Pulling a set of macrobinoculars from the compartment at
the front panel he viewed the wreckage more carefully. Some of
the commandos had not survived the fall and laid crushed to death
under the mass of metal.
Solo put the binoculars on his belt and took one last look at his
old friend before making his way down through the braches, quietly
cursing himself for his actions.
At the bottom he noticed that some must have escaped the crash.
Several blasters and explosive charges had been taken. He looked
at the ground and noticed around ten sets of footprints heading
what appeared to be north, but Han knew he was never any good at
directions.
As he reached an opening he heard some voices. Carefully peering
through the bushes he saw something he wished he hadn't. A group
of Imperial Stormtroopers in specialist biking armour were crowded
around the body of what appeared to be a small animal. One of them
prodded it with a stick. Whatever it was, it was well and truly dead.
He pulled out his blaster and let of a shot at one of the trooper,
hitting him in the chest. The other two turned, not sure where it
came from. The first got a blast to the head while the other
got one in the ground. It bent over in agony as Han rushed out with
a large stone. The thud must have echoed for miles around.
"That's for Chewie, you scum!"
Once the trooper fell to the floor, Han looked at the creature. It
wore a leather tunic and at its side lay a primitive looking spear.
It dawned on the smuggler that there were more than just dumb animals
on this moon. These creatures, almost miniture Wookies, were
intelligent even if they were primitive. There was a hope that Leia
and the others may have found a village where they would be safe from
the harsh forest. Who knows what could have been lurking here at night?
Han touched the animal and suddenly the trees around him erupted
in a sea of chattering. Around thirty creatures, similar to the dead
one burst out of the bushes, weapons held high. They pointed them
at Han who looked amazed. Their faces showed anger. They must have
thought Han had been the one who killed they little friend.
"This don't look too good," Han muttered to himself as three of
them dived onto him, knocking him on his back.
* * * * * * * * *
When Han came to he discovered he was upside down, attached to a
massive log which some of the creatures were carrying him on. Others
carried firey torches which he didn't think were for light but
something much more sinister.
The procession moved along a shaky, narrow, wooden walkway, high
in the giant trees. It stopped at the end of the walkway, which dropped
off into nothingness. On the other side of the abyss stood a village
of mud huts and rickety walkways, attached to the giant trees. The lead
Ewok took hold of a long vine and swang across to the village square
while the other Ewoks followed suit.
Suddenly all activity stops as Logray, the tribal Medicine Man, came
out of the big hut. He examined the captive carefully, sniffing him and
prodding him with a staff. A larger, gray-haired Ewok, Chief Chirpa,
joined him in his investigations before the two had a conversation
about what they had caught.
Han was placed on a spit above what looked like a barbecue pit.
The drums started beating, and all the furry heads turned to the
large hut. Leia emerged, wearing an animal-skin dress. Boba Fett
followed with a crown made of leaves. They saw what was happening at
the same moment as Han noticed them.
"Leia!" he called out. "What's going on?"
"It looks like you're about to be cooked," Fett interjected. Leia
shot him an angry glance and he fell silent.
"Let me off this thing, will ya? It's hardly gonna be good for
my reputation if I'm eating by a bunch of... things that
barely come up to my knee!"
"They're called Ewoks," Fett pointed out, almost enjoying what
was happening. Leia realised that despite joining their group for
reasons as yet unknown to her, the bounty hunter still held some
rivalry against Han for their less than enjoyable past.
"I don't give a damn what they're called!" Han called out, getting
angrier as he became more agitated. "Just get me off this thing."
Leia looked the cheif Ewok in the eyes. He seemed to be intriuged
by her reaction to what they were doing. He spoke to Logray in
a sympathetic tone but the medicine man just shook his head and
uttered something incomprehensible. He was inisistent on continuing
the ritual. Leia looked at Han and shrugged.
"I guess they refuse to listen."
"Make them listen! I wish I could get to my blaster... then I'd show
'em."
"They're quite harmless really," Fett informed Solo. "You may have
offended them slightly."
"And since when do you know what they're saying?"
"It's similar to the language of the Uwotti of Werron. I had a job
once capturing a group that had infiltrated an Imperial research
facility. While I did it I learnt the language. It makes it
easier to understand your prey."
"Oh, wonderful. Now how about using that skill of your to get me
off this thing?"
Two of the Ewoks began to light the wooden blocks under Han. He tried
to blow out the torch but to no avail. He looked at Fett who just
stood by watching. Suddenly something changed in the bounty hunter's
attitude and he spoke aloud in the language the Ewoks understood.
After what seemed like an eternity they all nodded and doused the fire
with water, untying the old smuggler upon completing the first task.
Han gave Fett a lopsided smile. "I guess I owe some thanks for your
help even if it took a while arriving. What did ya tell them?"
"Just that you would not make much of a meal, too much gristle,"
Fett replied almost joyously.
"Thanks a lot..." After a slight pause, Han slapped Fett on the back,
the first physical sign that there was a hope that the bounter
hunter could be forgiven even if it would take a long time. As he
did, Han noticed the Wookie scalps hanging from Fett's shoulder.
He pulled away quickly, rubbing his hand on his trousers as if
to clean off dirt. He made his excuses and went into a hut where
the other survivors of the crash were planning the plans for the
following day.
* * * * * * * * *
Night came over the forest and the Ewoks had made their ways to
their huts having finally bonded with the Rebel Forces, if still not
willing to trust them. The walkway was deserted now, the windows of
the little huts glowed and flickered from the fires inside. The sounds
of the forest filled the soft night air. Leia had wandered away from
the Chief's hut and stood staring up at the Death Star.
Boba Fett walked up to her. After several minutes silence, he spoke.
"What's troubling you?"
"For a start I don't know what we'll be facing tomorrow, what the
whole galaxy will be facing for that matter," the princess began.
"We've been fighting this war for so long, we've lost so much,
I don't know if its worth carrying on."
"You're not the only one who has lost a lot your highness."
Leia glanced at her companion momentarily. "What have YOU lost?"
she asked with more anger than she should have. "If anything
you've profited from the it all."
"It may seem like that," he replied. "But that's far from the
truth. I'm no longer the person I once was. I was youthful, I
looked to the future and it seemed so good. That was before the
corruption started. While many people fought back I hardened,
I became more harsh." Fett stopped and sighed. He looked out
over the forest before continuing. "I moved into the shadows
and soon I forgot which side I was on. If, of course, I was
ever really on any side."
"I never thought of it like that. I'm far from the person my
father tried to make me..."
Fett looked at Leia. She believed that if his helmet was not
covering his face there would have been compassion in his eyes,
something she never expected from the ruthless killer Boba Fett
was meant to be.
"That was the second thing, wasn't it?" he said with intuition.
Leia nodded. "Yes. My life has been so confusing. When my mother
died I was brought up by my father, but no matter how much he
cared for me or how much I loved him, something was missing. The
bond a father and daughter should have just wasn't there. I
wanted it to be, I really did, but it just didn't feel right."
She expected the bounty hunter to say something but he didn't.
He knew she had so much more to say, to get out into the open.
She breathed out and a cloud of mist emerged from her mouth.
"Isn't it beautiful here?" he said, moving slightly off the
topic. "I think this is what we should be fighting to preserve
if we only had the chance. Paradise is hard to find but even
harder to hold onto. I realised that when Alderaan was destroyed
and I don't want any other planet to suffer the same fate."
"That's understandable."
"Luke saved us the first time, if only he were here to do it
again."
"You miss him?"
"More than anything. More than I'd ever imagined. He was like
a friend to me... maybe it was the Force... but he seemed
more in tune with me than Han ever was. It was like we had
the bond that I lost when my mother died. Like he was a part
of me..."
"Your mother must have been an amazing person."
"I barely knew her but from what I saw in her before she died
I knew she had once been strong, beautiful, powerful..."
"She was..." Fett said as if in a trance.
Leia turned to him. "What?"
"Leia..."
The princess realised Fett was talking off his helmet. With it
off it was as if a metamorphasis had taken place. He had a kind
face, perhaps aged beyond its years. He smiled lovingly.
"...I am your father..."
TO BE CONTINUED...