The Millennium Falcon landed on Dagobah weeks after Leia and Leia had been left there. Han and Chewie walked down the ramp and Princess Leia was waiting for them.
"Did you pay off Jabba? "Princess Leia asked wearing her normal white dress with her hood up.
"Well, the credits I gave him paid for the spice I lost, yet he charged me for killing Greedo in Mos Eisley and taking too long to pay him in the first place. "Han Groaned "Gangsters once they have you forever are you in their grasp. "Yoda said "Now you tell me. "Han replied "The Falcon is acting up. The sublight engines nearly died approaching this plant and the hyperdrive is fluctuating "Han said "We could use your help fixing it? "Han asked Leia "Sure "Leia answered
On the Executor bridge several bounty hunters were waiting for Darth Vader. "Bounty hunters we don't need their scum. "Admiral Piett groaned
"There is a substantial reward for the capture of the Millennium Falcon. You are free to use any methods you want, but I want them alive no disintegrations. "Vader said pointing a finger in front of Boba Fett.
On Dagobah Han, Chewie, and Leia are repairing the Falcon while Luke is still training. Leia finds herself in a familiar bay off the main passenger area. She struggles to get a bar attached to a metal plate to rotate back to where it needs to be. Leia uses the force and rotates it back into place. Han enters the bay. Leia looks at Han. "Hey, your worship I am only trying to help. "Han groans as Leia pushes him back. "Will you please stop calling me that. You make it so difficult sometimes. "Leia said "Is it because I am a scoundrel? "Han asked "You could be a little nicer sometimes when you aren't actin like a scoundrel" Leia said "Scoundrel I like the sound of that. "Han said "Stop my hands are dirty. 'Leia said "My hands are dirty too "Han replied "What are you afraid of? You are trembling maybe because I am a scoundrel. You don't have enough scoundrels in your life' Han said They kiss and then Threepio interrupts them "Sir I have isolated the reversed power flux coupling. "Threepio says. They leave the bay. "Lousy timing as always threepio "Leia thinks to herself.
Leia sits down at the holo table "Did you know this was going to happen Princess?" Han asked "It happened in the old timeline only we were hiding in an asteroid. We had a son in the last timeline who turned to the dark side when Luke tried to kill him because he feared his power. Fear that is it. The jedi must have feared Anakin's power and made him work harder only to cause him to turn. Luke feared Ben and he turned. All the suffering has been caused by people fearing one person and hurting them as a result. "Leia explained "Maybe we won't have a son this time. "Han said "This time I am going to be queen of Alderaan and I don't know how you will deal with that. "Leia explained "Maybe we need to clean up your track record. "Leia continued "Starting with Jabba. "Han added
Luke was training when he saw a vision. Suddenly he stopped while he was upside down and Yoda fell as well. "Control you must learn control "Yoda groaned "Luke what happened? "Princess Leia asked "I saw a vision of You and Han in a city in the clouds in trouble. "Luke explained "That happened before. The place you saw is called Cloud City. We ran into a lot of trouble there. "Princess Leia answered "That is Lando's city. He is an old friend of mine. He has no love for the empire. "Han explained "We got followed by a bounty hunter named Boba Fett who turned us in to the empire last time. "Leia warned "He is always trouble princess. "Han groaned "How much longer does Luke have to train? "Leia asked Yoda "Less than a day no more. "Yoda answered Leia and Han began packing their things on the Falcon. Luke gathered parts to build his own lightsaber and a green kyber crystal. Luke meditated and put the lightsaber together. He tested it and it worked. "No one training do you require. A Jedi Knight you are now. "Yoda said the group boarded the Falcon and left Dagobah.
Leia sat in the upper turret watching space. "Princess, I don't think anyone is out there following us. "Han shouted "I don't want him sneaking up behind us "Leia groaned They were in hyperspace heading for Yavin 4 when the hyperdrive failed and they were in real space. "The hyperdrive quit on us. Great there is a star destroyer ahead. "Groaned Han Leia found herself shooting TIE fighters. Luke climbed into the lower gun turret. Han flew towards the star destroyer's bridge and over it is scaring the officers inside.
Han approached the shaft leading towards the turrets "You can come out now we are attached to the back of that star destroyer. If they follow standard imperial procedure, they will dump their garbage before jumping into hyperspace and then we float away with the garbage. "Han said "That is what you did the last time and Boba Fett followed us. "Leia explained "Then you got put into carbon freeze, Luke lost his hand to Darth Vader, and we had to save you from Jabba's palace. "Leia said "Well no one knows we are here and last time I checked there were no bounty hunters after us. "Han replied
"There is a price on my head, but we nowhere near Darth Vader's command ship. If you must rescue me from Jabba again it won't be problem. "Han said "I have unpleasant memories of Jabba's palace I want to avoid this time. "Leia explained
"Is your sister paranoid? "Han asked Luke "Not that I know of. "Luke answered Han headed back to the cockpit where Chewie was monitoring the star destroyer. He growled at Han "Looks like they are getting ready to leave. Go wait by the clamp release. "Han ordered. Garbage was released from the star destroyer and the falcon was released from the star destroyer and floated away into the garbage. Leia checked her targeting computer. "Too much garbage I can't see a thing. "Leia groaned Leia left the turret and headed into the main passenger area. She didn't see that Boba Fett was following them in Slave One again.
They landed at Cloud City and Lando met them like before. As the group walked in the halls of Cloud City C3P0 wondered off and Princess Leia caught up to him. "This way Threepio. "Princess Leia said "I thought I heard an R2 unit. "Threepio replied Leia realized she might have saved the protocol droid from being blasted by a stormtrooper. They went into a guest room where the group waited for a while. Lando gave Princess Leia a brown outfit with a tan cape. She still wore her lightsaber at her side. Han came in. "The Falcon is almost ready. We will be out of here soon. "Han replied "I don't trust Lando. "Leia said "Neither do I "Han answered her Lando entered the room and looked at Princess Leia. "You are truly beautiful you really belong with us in the clouds. "Lando said "Come with me. "Lando said Luke was wearing his grey Bespin outfit.
They followed Lando down halls and around curved passageways. A door opened and Darth Vader stood up at the end of a table with food on it. Leia and Luke ignited their lightsabers. Han shot at Vader only to have his blaster pulled out of his hand by Vader. Behind them Boba Fett and many stormtroopers appeared. "Put down your weapons. You cannot escape. "Vader ordered the twins. They both turned off their lightsabers and entered the dining room. "I had no choice a bounty hunter and Darth Vader arrived before you did. "Lando groaned
Later Luke, Chewie, and the droids were placed in a cell. Princess Leia was brought before Darth Vader. "How did you know the Death Star was going to destroy Alderaan? "Darth Vader asked "I was there before. Somehow, I traveled back in time from a horrible future to here. "Leia answered "How were you trained in the ways of the force without us knowing about it? "Darth Vader asked "My brother Luke trained me in the previous timeline. "Leia answered "You are the daughter of Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala? "Vader asked "Yes, I am if you are referring to the former senator from Naboo. All I remember of her is that she was very beautiful and very sad. "Leia said "Join me and we can defeat the emperor and end this conflict. "Vader said "That's why you want Luke or me so you can rule the galaxy and Palpatine wants one of us to replace you. Never father. Why did you turn to the dark side and what happened to our mother? "Leia asked "The Jedi mistreated me horribly. They tried to turn everyone in their ranks into poster boy and girl jedi. It failed. I loved your mother dearly and when I found out she was pregnant I had visions of her dying in childbirth. I told Master Yoda I had visions of someone close to me dying and he told me to sever the attachment. When I saw the Jedi Council later that day, they put me on the council but denied me the rank of master. They didn't trust me anymore. I had to spy on then Super Chancellor Palpatine, and I found out he was a sith lord. He said he knew of a way to save your mother and he will teach me if I join him. I told the jedi and Mace Windu along with three another jedi masters tried to arrest him. He killed all but Mace when I returned. I was consumed by fear at that point. I injured Mace Windu causing him to fall out the window. Palpatine whose real name is Darth Sidious anointed me as Darth Vader. He sent me to the jedi temple where I killed younglings to fuel my anger. Then I went to Mustafar and killed the separatist leadership. Padme followed me there and I tried to tell her in to joining me in ruling the galaxy together. She said I was going down a path she couldn't follow. Obi Wan Kenobi stowed away on her ship. When he came down the ramp, I thought he turned her against me, and I force choked her knocking her unconscious. We dueled on Mustafar. Obi Wan took the high ground and when I tried to jump over him, he cut off my legs and my remaining hand. I slid down the bank and ended up next to the lava where I burned, and my lungs were scarred by ash which why I need this respirator to breathe. When Palpatine rebuilt me, he said I killed Padme in my rage. I screamed NOOOOO and broke a lot of equipment in that room. "Vader explained
"Idiot! You should have told the jedi about your marriage instead of running to so sith lord bearing gifts. "Leia growled 'Mother was Palpatine's biggest political opposition. He didn't want to save her wanted to kill her and he tried. "Leia groaned "I know about the assassination attempts on her life I didn't know who ordered them. "Vader explained "He killed two birds with one stone. "Leia groaned "Why was he so interested in you and not any other jedi? "Leia asked "The jedi said I was the chosen one who would bring balance to the force. I was conceived by the force and had no father. Palpatine had been my friend since we first met on Naboo. "Vader said "He had been grooming you to be his slave most of your life and now you have become the thing mother hates and don't care. "Leia growled "The jedi would have expelled me and taken her and you away from me. "Vader said "No they wouldn't take us away. You let yourself become consumed with fear. Fear is the path that leads to the dark side, and you forgot that. "Leia growled "I couldn't think because of that. "Vader growled "Love and Power. You can have one or the other, but you can't have both. You choose power over love. "Leia growled "I was a slave when I was born. The jedi made me a slave. "Vader growled "You are still a slave to Palpatine. You could have freedom if you stayed with mother and raised us. Instead, your lust for power ruined everything. "Leia replied "You need to bring yourself into balance. Follow the force not the dark or light side. "Leia explained Vader lead her down a hall.
Han was strapped to a scan grid like before to be tortured. Leia used force pulled the panel with the electrical equipment apart. The panel fell to the floor. "Not this time father. There is nothing to gain by torturing him. "Leia growled "He is a rebel who hid you while Luke trained. He knows rebel secrets. "Vader Growled "You don't get it. Dictatorships don't work unless the dictator cares about the people. Democracy is the only way. The republic failed because the sith made it fail. Palpatine wants to replace you with Luke or me because you we never what he wanted after that fight on Mustafar. How do I know he won't turn me or Luke into something like you if he succeeds? Palpatine has a sith temple on a planet called Exegol. The resistance was about to destroy it when I traveled back in time. "Leia explained "Exegol can only be reached with a sith way finder. "Vader shouted "You have one, don't you? Where is it? "Leia explained "Where you will never find it. Take them to the cell with the other prisoners. "Vader ordered
Princess Leia and Han were pushed into a cell with Luke, Chewbacca, and the droids. Leia had tears coming down her cheeks. "Leia what is wrong? "Luke asked "Father is a victim and a slave. He was manipulated by Palpatine to turn to the dark side and even turn on his own wife. "Leia explained "There is still good in him I feel it. "Luke replied "So do I "Leia replied "Part of him knows what he is doing is wrong. That part is being held back by the dark side. "Leia said "He killed our mother when he broke her heart. The pain of that lose is the greatest pain he suffers from. The dark part of him feeds off it. Father wants peace inner peace. "Leia said Lando Calrissian arrived in the cell. "They don't want you, Han. They set a trap for someone called Skywalker. "Lando said "That is both of us. Luke and I are twins. "Leia replied "Darth Vader is our father Anakin Skywalker. He wants to use one of us to overthrow Palpatine so he can rule the galaxy. Vader as emperor would be no better than Palpatine. "Leia warned "Han is being put into carbon freeze. "Lando said "Just like before. If I had my lightsaber, I could stop it. Somehow, I traveled back in time to this time. "leia groaned Lando lead them away
The group was brought into a carbon freeze chamber. The floor and stairs glowed orange from lights below. Vader was talking to Boba Fett. "This facility is adequate to freeze Skywalker. We will test it on Solo "Vader explained "He's no good to me dead. "Boba Fett groaned "Then the empire will compensate you 'Vader told Boba Fett Chewie rushed forward and tried to save Han, but he was stopped by stormtroopers. "Chewie calm down. The twins you must take care of the twins until I return. "Han said Han and Leia kissed until Han was dragged away and put on the platform in the center of the freezing chamber. Han was lowered in and frozen. Steam rose from the chamber. The big claws were lowered and pulled a block of carbonite with Han Solo in it out of the chamber. The block fell over and Lando rushed to the side and checked the displays. "He is alive and in prefect hibernation "Lando reported "Good reset the chamber for Skywalker and take Captain Solo to Boba Fett's ship "Vader ordered
An officer was holding Leia and Luke's lightsabers. He brought them to Vader. "What do you want to do with these? "The officer asked Leia and Luke reached out with the force and pulled their lightsabers to them. They ignited their blades and started to attack Vader. Vader ignited his own red lightsaber "Clear the platform. I will deal with them myself. 'Vader ordered his forces The platform was lowered into the freezing chamber leaving it empty. "You cannot win! "Vader shouted as he struck at Luke. Luke blocked the strike. Leia swung her blade at Vader who blocked it and pushed her back. Leia recovered and attacked her father again. Vader went up some stairs and the twins followed. Vader pushed Luke down the stairs as Luke attacked sending him falling into the freezing chamber. Vader threw the switch with the force. "All too easy "Vader said Luke jumped out of the chamber and grabbed a hose above it.
"Impressive. Most impressive "Vader said as he saw Luke hanging from the hose. Vader swung at Luke, and he jumped down. Leia and Luke pushed Vader towards the edge of the platform. Luke kicked Vader off the platform, and he fell to the floor below. The twins deactivated their lightsabers. They jumped down and landed in front of a closed tunnel. The cage like doors open by splitting in the middle with one going up and one going down. They walked down the tunnel and into a control room with a large round window overlooking the main shaft of the city. Darth Vader appeared, and the fight started again. Their sabers clash into saber lock. Then Vader starts pushing things at them with force. Large pieces of machinery fly towards the twins who try to push them back. Suddenly something breaks the window behind them. The twins are sucked out and fall down the shaft. They reached a platform with instruments for measuring gas outfit on it. They pull themselves up and over the railing. The twins head inside a smaller control room. Suddenly Vader appeared and the twins ignited their lightsabers. Vader pushed them on to the bridge leading to the platform. Suddenly Luke gets knocked down and Vader swings at his lightsaber trying to knock it out of his hand. Just as Vader swings to cut Luke's and Leia blocks him. Leia swings again and Vader blocks it. Vader swings and cuts Leia's bare arm. Leia then swings and cuts Vader mechanical hand off disarming him. Leia pushes Vader down. Leia deactivates her lightsaber and puts it away. She uses her right hand to force heal her left arm. The scratch goes away.
"How did you heal yourself Leia? "Darth Vader asks. "With force heal a power a friend in the last timeline taught me. "Leia answered "Teach it to me and I can heal myself. "Vader asks "It is only useable by jedi not by sith. Besides I wouldn't teach it to a sith lord anyway. "Leia replied "I could have used it to save your mother. "Vader cries "We could save our mother with it. I will not use it to heal a sith. Turn back to the light father and I will heal you "Leia explained "Father, you don't realize you are wrong about defeating Sidious. "Leia said "How are we supposed to defeat him? "Vader asked "Love. Love is the key to defeating the sith. It has been the whole time. Why do you think Palpatine wanted to get rid of your mother and our mother? To cut you off from love. "Leia answered "Love is how to defeat sith? Impossible. "Vader answered "Search your feelings father. "Leia said Darth Vader got up using his remaining hand and walked towards the twins. "What do we do now? "Luke asked Leia "JUMP! "Leia shouted Luke and Leia jumped from the platform and fell. They used the force to pull themselves towards a shaft surrounded by red lights. They fell into the shaft. Princess Leia landed upright and, on her feet, while Luke slid towards a hatch leading below Cloud City. Leia grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the open hatch. "Whoa you almost fell out of Cloud City. That is what happened the last time. "Leia said "What do we do now? "Luke asked "We climb up that shaft pass the hatch and get out of here. "Leia explained the twins climbed up and around the hatch. They made their way into another control room and started towards the Falcon.
As Lando, Chewie and the droids were being led towards the waiting imperial shuttle Lando tapped a commlink on his wrist signaling Lobot. Suddenly Bespin guards appeared with blasters pointed at the stormtroopers and officers in the group. Lando started grabbing their blasters from their hands. He spoke to a guard. "Lock them in the prison tower and keep it quiet. "Lando ordered Chewie started chocking Lando. "Hann Hann Trusstt me "Lando groaned "Of course we trust him Chewie "Threepio said "Trust him "Leia said as she and Luke caught up to the others. "Chaance to save Haann easssst plaatttform. "Lando groaned "Come on "Princess Leia said as she led the group towards the east platform. Slave One was taking off when the twins tried to force pull it back. Boba Fett fired the laser cannons and broke the twin's concentration allowing him to fly away. They ran down corridors heading back to the Falcon. Lando ordered the people of Cloud City to leave while Artoo unlocked the door leading to the ship. Finally, Artoo opened the door and the group headed for the ship while the twins deflected blaster shots back at approaching stormtroopers. They boarded the Millennium Falcon and flew away. Princess Leia walked over to the control panel in the main passenger area and reached inside it on the right side. She reenabled the hyperdrive by pulled a lever up. Darth Vader reached a group of stormtroopers and imperial officers. "Alert my star destroyer and bring my shuttle. "Vader ordered "What happened to your hand my lord? "An officer asked "Lost it in a lightsaber battle. I will need it repaired when we return to my ship. "Vader explained As the Falcon was followed by the Executor Lando engaged the hyperdrive and headed for Yavin 4. Vader groaned on the bridge of the Executor and headed to his quarters to replace his mechanical hand.
After the group arrived on Yavin 4 they began discussing how to save Han Solo. Lando brought a costume for Princess Leia "This is the outfit for a bounty hunter named Boushh. Princess you will wear this and take Chewie to collect the bounty on him and then you will free Han at night. "Lando explained "Did Jabba deal with Boushh before you got his costume? "Leia asked "I don't know princess. "Lando answered "I wore that the last time and I didn't make it out. I am trying to avoid some unpleasant memories there. "Leia explained Lando handed her a small metal sphere. "This is a thermal detonator. "Lando explained "I think I can put this to good use. "Leia smiled "I can't take my lightsaber in with me, but I can take this. "Leia said "Where did you put your lightsaber, Leia? "Luke asked "I put it in one of artoo's cranial ports on his head. "Leia explained "Maybe I can avoid those unpleasant memories after all. "Leia smiled
I think we all know what Leia is trying to avoid at Jabba's palace. The question is can she?