Part Eight
AN: Yes, Chewie's dad's name really is Itchy, can't remember the full name.
The "Fear" chant is actually one of the Tone Poems on the TPM DVD – it's Darth Maul's one.
INT. ALDERAANIAN PALACE – CONFERENCE ROOM
A council is gathered around Bail Organa, who is at the head of the conference table.
BAIL
Strangers from distant planets, fellow citizens of the Alliance. We gather here today to answer the threat of Yavin. This galaxy stands upon the edge of utter destruction from the Empire, which we cannot escape.
We shall unite, or we will fall.
Every species, every planet, is bound to this fate…this ultimate doom, unless we do something to stop this.
Show us the Gem, Luke.
Luke stands and sets the Gem in the middle of the table for everyone to see. Lando's eyes glitter.
LANDO
So it's true, then! This thing does exist.
SOMEONE ELSE
(Mutters)
Duh…
LANDO
(Indignantly)
Oy, shut up, whoever just said that! We could use this thing against them! Pitch rancor against rancor! Did you know that we of the mining and weapons corporations have spent billions of credits, just to save your skins? Your planets are protected by our dough…our booty! Give us their ultimate weapon, and give them a taste of their own medicine!!!
BEN
(Stands)
You can't wield this, Lando Calrissian. Not one of us is able to. This Gem answers only to one Sith, and that Sith is Exar Kun himself. It has no other master.
LANDO
(Sneers)
And what would an old fossil like you know about this?
HAN
(Stands)
He ain't no ordinary fossil, buddy, let me tell you! This old man is Obi-Wan Kenobi, descendent of Ulic Qel-Droma himself. You'd better pay him your respects!
LANDO
(Stammers)
Obi-Wan…Qel-Droma's heir?
HAN
(Lifts an eyebrow)
And heir to the throne of the Colony Worlds, I'll add!
BEN
Sit down, Han.
Lando pauses, before glaring at Ben.
LANDO
The Colony Worlds have no ruler…they don't need one!
YODA
Correct, Master Obi-Wan is. Control it, we cannot. Hm.
BAIL
We have only one choice…the Gem must be destroyed!
Distress radiates through the Force from the Gem. Chewbacca stands up and howls.
CHEWIE
~Come on, what are we waiting for? ~
He picks up his crossbow. In a split second, Han stands up and tries to shove Chewie's arm out of the way.
HAN
No, wait, Chewie, WAIT, NO -
Chewie shoots at the Gem, hitting it dead centre.
Luke sees a flash of red light, and the laser bolt is deflected, and bounces off the magnetically shielded walls of the conference room.
Everyone yelps and throws themselves to the floor as the bolt zips by over their heads. Chewie is flat on his back, wondering what just happened. The bolt suddenly vanishes in midair, and everyone cautiously gets back into their seats.
BAIL
The Gem can't be destroyed, Chewbacca, son of Itchy, by any technology that we have. This Gem was forged in the fires of the gas giant Yavin. Only there can we destroy it. Someone must take it deep into that planet, and throw it back into the fire that made it. And it's not going to be me who does that, I can tell you!
LANDO
But you can't just appear in the Yavin system, straight out of hyperspace! They have trackers everywhere, you know, and those TIE fighter pilots are pretty damn good –
HAN
(Stands up again)
Bantha fodder! Just because you can't shoot doesn't mean we have to take whole legions of troops with us! Didn't you hear what Bail – I mean, His Highness just said? The Gem's gotta be unmade, pal!
CHEWIE
(Growls)
~Oh, and I suppose you're going to do it yourself, Mr. Hot Shot Smuggler? ~
LANDO
Yeah, and what if we don't make it? What's going to happen then, huh? You tell me how you're going to fight your way out of it!
HAN
You know almost as well as I do that there's nothing like a good blaster at your side!
CHEWBACCA
~I'll die before I see a smuggler holding the Gem! ~
Everyone else except Luke jumps up and starts yelling at each other.
CHEWBACCA
~NEVER TRUST A SMUGGLER! SMUGGLERS ARE LIARS, CHEATERS AND SCOUNDRELS! ~
YODA
(Shrilly)
STOP REPEATING YOURSELF, YOU MUST! SAME THING, ALMOST, A LIAR, A CHEATER AND A SCOUNDREL ARE!
A soft chant can be heard from the Gem.
Fear.
Fear attracts the fearful
The strong
The weak
The innocent
The corrupt
Fear
Fear is my ally.
The entire council is reduced to arguing as the Gem grows a dark, smoky aura, living on the distrust and anger surrounding it.
LUKE
Shut up.
No one can hear him.
LUKE
SHUT UP! I'LL TAKE THE BLOODY THING, ALL RIGHT???
Yoda hears it, and the silence settles over the group.
LUKE
I'm going to take the Gem to Yavin…but I don't know how to get there. I don't know any of the hyperspace co-ordinates.
There is a pause.
YODA
Help you in this quest, I will, young Skywalker. Need insanity with you all the time, or perish, you will!
BEN
As will I. You have my lightsabre.
LUKE
(Raises eyebrows)
Really?
Han also steps forward, behind Luke.
HAN
But hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid. Like I said before.
CHEWIE
~And I'll keep this loser in line!~
HAN
Oy, shut up!
CHEWIE
~You shut up!~
HAN
Who are you telling to shut up? I'm not going to shut up!
LUKE
Shut up, both of you! You're both as bad as each other!
LANDO
Listen, kid. Whether we're going to get pulverised or something like that or not during this journey, well, that all rests on you now. If this is surely what the Council wants, then so be it.
The door to the room slides open and Threepio bursts in.
THREEPIO
Master Luke could never survive without his servant at his side!
BAIL
Well, certainly not, even if he was invited to a secret meeting and you were not!
Artoo and Detoo roll into the conference room after Threepio.
ARTOO
*Don't leave us behind! You'll have to deactivate us and, even then, we'll power up ourselves and go anyway! *
DETOO
*Anyway, you need artificial intelligence to sort this sort of stuff out! *
ARTOO
*Well, you're definitely not talking about yourself, then, Detoo. *
BAIL
Nine companions…amen. You shall all be the Fellowship of the Whingers.
THREEPIO
I beg your pardon, sir?
BAIL
You all whine like idiots, you deserve the name! You've earned it!
THREEPIO
Oh!
INT. ALDERAANIAN PALACE – OWEN'S QUARTERS
Owen gives Luke his old lightsabre.
OWEN
That's my old lightsabre…go on, take it! It's not going to bite!
Luke ignites the lightsabre, and a metre-long beam of blue light appears from the handle.
LUKE
Cool!
Owen nods knowingly.
OWEN
Sure is, huh? Made by none other than your very own father…my brother. It self-ignites when Imperials or anyone unfriendly is close. It's times like those when you've got to have your wits about you…but you've got to have your wits about you all the time, especially then.
LUKE
Ah, I can imagine.
OWEN
Here's something else you'd want.
He hands Luke a strong piece of Rebel trooper armour – a chest plate.
OWEN
Super-Tough Plasteel. It's lighter than you'd ever imagine, yet as hard to break as a Star Destroyer's hull. Try it on, why don't you?
Luke begins to take off his farmboy robes, revealing the pouch in which the Gem is, hanging from a chain on Luke's neck. Owen has a strange look on his face.
OWEN
Oh, my old Gem!!! You know, I'd like to touch it again, you know, just to feel it.
Luke steps away, pulling his robes back over the pouch. Owen's eyes suddenly bulge as he lunges at him.
OWEN
AAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He then recovers, looking more tired and older than ever.
OWEN
Kid, I'm really sorry…It's all my fault that all this has happened to you…Sorry about everything…
Luke warily edges closer to his uncle.
INT. ALDERAANIAN PALACE – HANGAR
The Millennium Falcon, the Lady Luck and seven other X-Wings lift off the ground and soar out of the hangar, one by one, into the blue skies of Alderaan.
EXT. SPACE
The nine starships vanish into hyperspace, one by one.
INT. REBEL BASE – DOCKING BAY
The Fellowship has stopped off at a Rebel Base orbiting a planet whose name will remain undisclosed, to refill their supply of rations. Yoda returns with containers full of them, and throws them to the floor, letting a clatter ring throughout the entire hangar.
YODA
Believe, I cannot, that exhausted so quickly, the ration supplies have!
He glares pointedly at Chewie, who shrugs innocently.
CHEWIE
~It's not my fault that rations don't fill you up as well as they should! ~
Artoo and Detoo are sparring with Lando, the movements of their claws as deft as is possible for astromech droids as they wield their lightsabres, which are set to low power.
LANDO
That's great! You nearly got me there, see?
Ben yells as much criticism as he can at the droids.
BEN
Move your feet!
DETOO
*We can't! *
ARTOO
*We have no feet! We only have wheels! *
BEN
Roll your wheels, then!
CHEWIE
(Loudly)
~If anyone wants to know what I think, which isn't so apparent, I say we're taking a detour! Master Yoda, you know the map of the galaxy off by heart. It'd cut our journey by weeks if we go via the Death Star. A lot of people I know work there. ~
Yoda glances wearily at Chewie.
YODA
Hm. Chewbacca, never visit the Death Star again, would I, unless forced to, I was.
Lando accidentally hurts Detoo
DETOO
OW! Hey, you melted a bit of my plating there, you idiot!!!
LANDO
Oh, sorry!
Detoo drops his lightsabre and charges into Lando at full force, sending him reeling. Artoo joins in, and the two of them begin to zap him with tiny electric bolts
LANDO
AHHH! Hey!
Han is, once again, perched on top of the Millennium Falcon, and is staring into the cockpit. He suddenly notices something on his radar screen.
THREEPIO
Whatever must be the matter, Captain Solo?
CHEWIE
~It's probably just a loose bolt or something in that cockpit of his. Don't worry about it. ~
Everyone joins Han on top of the Falcon and stares at the radar screen in the cockpit. They see dozens of tiny red blips headed right at them.
HAN
Oh, shavit!
LANDO
What?
HAN
Imperial probe droids.
LANDO
How do you know-
HAN
HIDE, DAMNIT! EVERYONE INTO THE FALCON!!! I'LL SHOW YOU WHERE TO HIDE!!!
Everyone clambers down the Falcon and runs up the lowered ramp.
INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – HALLWAY
Han stops to give everyone instructions, and everyone nods.
INT. REBEL BASE – HANGAR
Pinpricks appear in space, which gradually become bigger and do turn out to be small, round Imperial Probe droids. All of them land in the hangar, and extend a scanner out of the tops of their heads. The scanner moves around in circles in complete silence for a full minute.
INT. SOMEPLACE DARK INSIDE THE FALCON
Someone can be heard swallowing nervously.
INT. REBEL BASE – HANGAR
One by one, the probe droids blow up, letting off resounding bangs throughout the base.
INT. SOMEPLACE DARK INSIDE THE FALCON
LUKE
Oh, crap…
Han raises a finger to his lips.
INT. REBEL BASE – HANGAR
One remaining probe droid hears Luke and goes aboard the Falcon.
INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – HALLWAY
The probe droid scouts the hallway, looking for any sign of life. He continues on to the rest of the ship.
LATER…
The probe droid goes back down the ramp empty-handed. Suddenly it stops for a moment, before finally blowing up.
INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – HALLWAY
The empty-looking hallway remains for a split second, before the floor panels begin popping up and being pushed aside. Han pushes himself up out of one of the secret compartments and rolls over on the floor. The rest of the Fellowship also begin to clamber out.
HAN
Well, that was close!
YODA
Hmmm…being patrolled, this whole hyperspace route is…Take to the Ice Fields, we must.
The Fellowship climbs into each one of their ships.
EXT. SPACE – ICE FIELDS
Nine ships appear out of hyperspace just before the Ice Fields begin, and continue their way in. Chunks of ice and snow of varying sizes float before them, against a backdrop of space.
INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – COCKPIT
Han grits his teeth as he enters the ice field, bracing himself against the tiny shard of ice and snow that bombard the Falcon.
HAN
Damn, I really have to get myself a co-pilot…
BEN
(Over commlink)
There is no need for any panic. The snow and ice will only do minimal damage to our shields, at this point of the journey.
INT. LUKE'S X-WING – COCKPIT
LUKE
(Sarcastically)
At this point of the journey…now I can relax!
EXT. SPACE – ICE FIELDS
As the ships go deeper into the ice fields, it becomes clear that some members of the Fellowship are not as talented as pilots as you might originally think. The Millennium Falcon skilfully dodges the ice and snow, as the rest of the ships keep crashing into them, no matter how hard they try.
INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – COCKPIT
Han grins smugly as he stares at the viewport. Over the commlink, cries of frustration and anger can be heard.
CHEWIE
(Over commlink)
~Whew, just missed me! ~
BEN
(Over commlink)
GAHHH!!!
LUKE
(Over commlink)
Han, how the hell -?
HAN
(Laughs)
I learn, kid!
LUKE
(Over commlink, shouts)
I'm hit!!!
INT. BEN'S X-WING – COCKPIT
All attention is focused on the X-Wing with the open canopy and the orange-clad pilot floating above it. Ben can just make out a piece of string with something attached to it floating away from Luke and recognises it as Luke's "necklace" – with the Gem inside.
EXT. SPACE – ICE FIELDS
Ben's X-Wing drifts over towards Luke, as does the Lady Luck.
INT. LADY LUCK – COCKPIT
Lando has his eyes strangely fixed on the pouch with the Gem inside.
INT. BEN'S X-WING – COCKPIT
Ben stares suspiciously at the Lady Luck, as Luke uses an oxygen squirter to propel himself back to his undamaged X-Wing, knowing that he'll have to use the spare oxygen supply.
LANDO
(Over commlink)
It's kind of weird that all we're fighting to destroy is this little rock, isn't it?
Ben flips some switches, opening his S-foils to attack position (The X-shape the X-Wings are named for.)
BEN
Let Luke have it.
On his way back to his X-Wing, Luke grabs his pouch and ties the string back around his neck.
INT. LADY LUCK - COCKPIT
LANDO
Whatever. I don't give a damn.
EXT. SPACE – ICE FIELDS
The Lady Luck turns around and zooms off to join the other ships. Ben closes his S-foils as Luke settles himself back into his own X-Wing.