Part VII -- Different Paths
True to her word, Rachel abruptly fell asleep partway into "Attack of the Clones," just before the duel between Obi-wan Kenobi and Jango Fett. By then, though, Vader had long forgotten entirely about the girl, even though she had rambled nonstop throughout the entire first movie. From the moment that first starship had crossed the screen, the motion pictures had totally commanded his attention.
They knew... By the Force, they knew...
His life... his boyhood... the lurid details of his romance with Padme Amidala, his slaughter of the Sandpeople, his strict and oftimes cruel dealings within the Empire... all were captured with hideously eerie accuracy within these films. They knew so much about him, perhaps more than he knew himself. They knew Luke was his son, something he had thought no living being except he, Luke, and the Emperor were aware of. They knew of the Empire's atrocities and devious ways. They knew about his fall to the dark side, though the details of that were mercifully absent. They knew so much... and worse, were so casual about that knowledge!
The films had gone into the player one right after another, with only a brief pause between "Attack of the Clones" and "A New Hope." Here Austin had explained that Episode III was still in the works and no one knew much about it, save that in that movie the Empire was supposed to completely supplant the Republic and Anakin would complete his journey to the ways of the Sith. Then he had popped the next movie into the vidscreen.
Vader felt a rush of relief when "The Empire Strikes Back" ended. That film had touched on events that were far too recent for comfort. Emotions whirled within him like a sandstorm, barely restrained by a barrier of shock. He realized he had both fists clenched and forced them open, the knuckles in his natural left hand cracking audibly.
When he glanced over at Luke, he saw the boy was obviously just as shocked as he, if not more. His mouth hung open, his face was nearly as white as his "borrowed" armor, and tears had marked glistening paths down his cheeks. Fett sat placidly on his chair, looking for all the world like an armored statue. He had betrayed no emotion during the viewing other than a slight but visible cringe when his father had died onscreen. Artoo had been quite vocal throughout the ordeal and appeared delighted at his role as the comical hero, though no one could understand his exclamations.
Vader felt something slip across his face, and for once he was glad for the all-encompassing helmet to shield his expression. He attempted to quench his wild emotions, but they would not be stilled. He had spent decades trying to forget the man he had once been, and this experience threatened to undo all that work through reminding him of Anakin Skywalker.
"Next!" declared Zack, holding up the last cassette.
/Sweet stars, no/ thought Vader with something resembling panic.
"Zack!" barked Brigham in protest, and he nearly tackled his friend in his haste to keep him from starting the tape.
"Oh, come on!" Zack whined. "They gotta see the whole thing!"
"Um, Zacky," Darcy explained, lowering her voice to a "secretive" whisper that everyone in the room could hear, "it would seem that certain events, like, haven't occurred yet, if you know what I mean." She nodded at Vader as if to indicate something. "And, like, having them watch 'Return of the Jedi' might screw up what's supposed to happen, if you know what I mean."
"No, I don't know what you mean," Zack replied.
"If they know what's gonna happen, it'll screw up fate," Amethyst clarified.
"Fate schmate," Jason grumped. "I don't believe in it."
"Haven't you seen 'Back to the Future?'" demanded Brigham. "Knowing the future can backfire."
"Actually, in that movie, knowing the future turned out to be a good thing," Emily pointed out.
"Good grief, whose side are you on?" said Amethyst.
"Actually, I'm on the not-watching-'Jedi' side," she replied. She turned to explain to their guests. "There are things that happen in 'Jedi' that apparently haven't happened yet in your galaxy. We're afraid that having you watch them can mess up future events."
"An understandable fear," Vader replied, relieved that the majority of the Elite seemed to be against viewing the last film.
"Excuse me, but who says it's gonna happen like that?" Cody retorted. "I mean, NOWHERE in Episode VI does it show any hint that the characters visit our rock. There's one difference. The rest can turn out differently too."
"Why take chances, uber-geek?" countered Amethyst.
"'Cause it's Star Wars, Mary Poppins."
"Don't call me that!"
Cody grinned broadly as he began to sing. "Oh, a spoon-ful of sugar helps the medicine go down, the medicine go do-own, medicine go down..."
"Shut up, you little sack of bantha poodoo!"
"Has anyone thought to ask these guys' opinions?" Austin suggested calmly.
Zack and Cody blushed while Jason folded his arms, muttering.
"Your call," said Conrad, taking the cassette from Zack and holding it up. "Episode VI -- watch or not?"
Vader managed to force his emotions back, sealing them off as he had done so many times before. It was more difficult to do so now -- another incentive to leave this planet before something else reminded him of his former life. "I think," he said slowly, "that we have suffered enough shock tonight."
Conrad's expression softened as he realized Vader's implication. "We're so sorry," he apologized. "We didn't realize how personal some of this material was to you."
Austin nodded in sympathy. "We've just thought of them as just movies for so long, it's hard to snap out of that mind frame. Realizing the stories you've grown up with aren't just stories but fact is difficult to digest."
"You didn't know," Luke replied.
No one spoke for a moment. The fans exchanged guilty looks, somewhat ashamed to have brought up painful memories for their guests. From a corner of the room, Mike snored loudly. Rachel still lay across Vader's thighs, and the cybernetic components in his legs were sending signals into his nerves that were the electronic
equivalent of cramps. Diana murmured an apology as she bent to collect her daughter.
"How'd you guys get here, anyway?" Liberty asked finally.
"By starship, of course!" Trapper replied.
"We were attempting to capture the Rebel -- Luke, you call him -- when we became stranded here," Fett answered.
"They ambushed our convoy and disabled my X-wing..." Luke put in.
"Then your fragging droid blew the Slave's computers and stranded us here," Fett added.
"Well, if you hadn't sabotaged my starfighter..."
"It was by Vader's order..."
"Well, what Artoo did was not by my order, so don't blame me..."
"Can't you control your own blasted..."
"Hey, do we need to separate you two?" demanded Steve.
"Stranded, huh?" Austin considered that. "Any chance your Imperial friends are due for a visit?"
"The Stardestroyer Executor is still in your star system," Vader replied, "though it is cloaked and therefore invisible to your instruments. As our communications units are unable to reach the ship, it will take a few days before anyone realizes we're shipwrecked. They will probably send search parties within the week, however."
"Uh-oh!" yelped Zack. "We're being invaded!"
"I doubt the people of Earth will encounter them," Vader assured him. "They will most likely trace my last transmission to pinpoint the location of our ships, then search from there. If they do meet your fellow citizens, they will most likely be within this town."
"And since all the Star Wars fanatics in the American Northwest and then some are here, they should blend right in," Conrad observed.
"What about Rebs?" asked Jason. "Will they come lookin' for Luke?"
"I don't know," Luke confessed. "They're... kind of busy at the moment."
"They're gonna attack the second Death Star -- " gushed Trapper before Cody could clap a hand over the boy's mouth.
"Mini-V, you just gave away part of the last movie!" Liz griped.
"So?"
"Anyone who's been paying attention to the Holonet knows the Rebels have been gathering near Sullust for weeks," Fett replied. "They're planning an all-out strike on something, and the Death Star is as good a target as any."
"Ha!" Trapper crowed.
"Bite me," replied Liz.
"Gladly," Trapper offered, baring his teeth.
"Get away from me, brat!" shrieked Liz.
"Who made these movies?" asked Luke with a perplexed frown.
"George Lucas," replied Liberty. "Also affectionately known as the Big GL, Uncle George, Master Jedi Lucas, or the Almightly Flanneled One."
"And how does he know so much about our society?" Vader asked.
"Haven't a clue," she replied. "Any other questions? I can't promise we can provide answers..."
"How far away is this Lucas fellow?" Vader requested.
Patrick was standing by a shelf brimming with old-style paper books, and he reached for a peculiar-looking object sitting on the top shelf. Upon further inspection it turned out to be a spherical map of Earth on a base that allowed it to rotate, with different countries or kingdoms defined by contrasting colors. He handed the globe to Jason, who located a large country in the northern hemisphere and pointed to a spot in the country's western half, deep within a mountain range.
"Star City is here -- that's us," he explained. "Uncle George works on Skywalker Ranch, which I think is right... about... here." He pointed to the country's southwestern corner, near the coast. "About seven hundred miles." When his last sentence got him three blank stares he turned to the others. "Hey, how do you convert miles to kilometers again?"
"Forget it," Amethyst told him with a dismissive gesture. "Let's just say its a day or two if you drive, couple hours if you fly."
"You have skycars?" asked Luke, intrigued.
"Nah, airplanes," Cody replied. "But since 9-11 -- we'll explain that later -- airport security's tighter than Grand Moff Tarkin's grip. I don't think there's much chance a cyborg and a walking armory can get onto a plane."
"And even if you got there, I don't think they'd let you see him," Darcy added. "He's, like, up to his neck in work getting Episode III made, and they're super-secretive about that movie. And if you did get an audience with him, I don't think he'd believe you anyway."
/Sithspawn/ thought Vader. He wanted to know who was supplying Mr. Lucas with inside information. The leak had to be stopped at all costs.
"Actually, I think tracking down Lucas would be a good idea," Emily said. "He should know about this. And he may know how to get them back home."
"That IS the reason you want to contact the Almighty Flanneled One, isn't it?" asked Sparky, arching an eyebrow. "You're not out to cut his throat to keep him from making the last movie and spilling the rest of your past, are you?"
"Sparks, don't give him ideas!" Zack snapped. "Episode II was a cliffhanger, remember?"
"On the contrary," Vader replied, coming up with a convenient lie. "I believe Lucas shows incredible talent. His films provide wonderful insight on the galaxy's dealings and offer a fresh angle to view our universe from. I only wish to meet this mastermind in person."
"You and the rest of us," Austin said.
"I'd like to punch him in the nose for making up -- um -- choosing to depict Jar Jar Binks, though," Brigham snorted.
"Hey, dude, Jar Jar rules!" Cody cried.
"Was he really that annoying?" asked Darcy.
"I'm afraid so," Vader replied.
"Why do you dress like us?" growled Fett.
"Because Star Wars is much more than a collection of movies," Austin explained. "It's become a cultural phenomenon. Millions of people watch the films and eagerly await new installments. Star Wars has become a mainstay of our society."
"And Star Wars freaks from all over the world are gonna be here for one massive party day after tomorrow!" exclaimed Trapper.
"Actually, it's called a convention," corrected Austin. "We call it Stellar-Con."
Vader recalled the sign at the town's edge, the one that had mentioned Stellar-Con and Nova-Con. So that was what it had been referring to.
"Conventions are a way for fans of science fiction and fantasy to celebrate and connect," Austin went on. "Many, like Dragon*Con, are open to a wide range of fandoms, but others, like the Indianapolis Celebration, are strictly Star Wars. Every summer Star City hosts two Star Wars conventions. Stellar-Con is small for a convention. It attracts about 5,000 people on an average year."
"That's still equal to Star City's normal population," Sparky pointed out.
"Yes, but Nova-Con's much bigger," Austin replied. "It takes place about a month and a half after Stellar-Con. A lot of fans come for Stellar-Con and stay in town until Nova-Con's over, so the population explodes during that time between cons -- what we call the Eye of the Storm." He chuckled. "Nova-Con attracted over 20,000 guests last year."
"For a small city, isn't that hard?" asked Luke.
"Nah, it's good for local economy," Jason replied. "Sure, during the Eye of the Storm crime shoots through the roof and traffic's a mess, but it's a good opportunity for businesses to make an extra buck. All three theaters in this town continuously screen the movies, stores sell everything from T-shirts to fake lightsabers to raffle tickets for more valuable items, restaurants have Star Wars-themed specials, lots of businesses offer discounts for people in costume..."
"And the hotels get booked solid," lamented Liz.
"So the fans who weren't quick enough to make reservations camp out in the park," Emily added. "So if anyone saw you in the forest, they probably just assumed you were geeks looking for a campsite."
"I see," Vader noted. "Star City profits enormously from Lucas'... adaptations."
"And the residents have a good time," grinned Steve.
"For the most part," added Brigham. "The mayor's threatened to discontinue the cons, but I think he'd be lynched and dragged through the streets if he actually did it."
Fett shook his head as if trying to shake all this information into its proper places in his head. "I can't believe we have such a cult following on such an obscure world."
"You mean you ran into the Sons of the Sith?" Cody gaped.
"Excuse me?"
"He means 'cult' as in 'fanatical interest,' not 'cult' as in 'crazy warped religion,'" Liberty corrected. "Brig's faith not included."
"Thanks, Libby," Brigham said. "Sons of the Sith are a LOT more obsessed than we are. So much more that they actually worship the dark side of the Force. Most of them are on drugs 75 percent of the time," he noted with a smirk. "They believe in this weird Second Coming where the Empire will supposedly convert Earth to the New Order and those who were true to the dark side will be rewarded by being made Sith Apprentices."
"Apparently they forgot the 'always two' rule," said Amethyst.
"Oooh, they're gonna have a heyday if they ever find out..." Diana began.
"They won't," Vader replied sternly. "We won't allow ourselves to be discovered. And with circumstances the way they are, we should easily blend in."
"Uh, you guys are... lacking in Earth Education," Emily pointed out. "You might need a little help so people don't raise eyebrows at Stellar-Con."
"I'm not attending any convention!" Fett snarled. "I don't want to mingle with crazed fanatics! I just want the stang off this cursed planet!"
"Oh, c'mon!" begged Jason. "There're cute girls in tight costumes who just LOVE to flirt with bounty hunters! And at Nova-Con all the celebrities come -- Tem Morrison, Dave Prowse, Mark Hamill, Warwick Davis, George Lucas..."
That caught Vader's attention. "Lucas will be there?"
"That's tentative," Diana replied. "If work on Episode III is on schedule, he and a handful of the cast may put in an appearance at Nova-Con to sign autographs."
/Most excellent/ Vader thought.
"Then it is decided," he announced. "You teach us of your culture, and we remain here until Nova-Con, at which point we will question Lucas and see if he is able to aid us." Fett started to protest, but Vader eyed him coolly, and the hunter subsided.
Mike's snoring brought the discussions to a halt.
"We'll talk more in the morning," Austin offered. "Meeting adjourned."
"Pat, Jason, can I spend the night?" yawned Brigham. "I'm too pooped to drive."
"It's three in the friggin' morning," mumbled Liz. "We're all too tired to drive."
Jason turned to his brother. "Pat, impromptu slumber party?"
Patrick nodded.
"Y'all can crash wherever floats your boat," he announced. "Our place is open tonight. Just don't trash anything."
Vader couldn't suppress a triumphant chuckle as Jason pulled out an inflatable sleeping pad for him to sleep on. All was proceeding smoothly. He didn't doubt that Lucas would know how to send them back to Imperial space. Now all he had to do was lay low until Nova-Con. Then, once he could meet the man face to face, he would
question him about a way of leaving the planet and the source of his information. Then, as Sparky had unwittingly pointed out, it would be necessary to... silence him. Further details of his past could not escape.
Lucas had to die.
***
Luke shifted to get comfortable on the kitchen floor and stared at the ceiling, lost in thought. On the counter island, Cody lay on his back and snored with great gusto. But it wasn't the Earth man's nocturnal noises that were keeping the young Jedi awake.
Now, more than ever, he wanted to bring his father out of hiding. He had seen the good man concealed behind Vader's mask. He had gotten a tantalizing glimpse of both parents in Episode II, and Vader was his only means of obtaining more information about them.
And he loved him. Inexplicably, he loved Anakin Skywalker, despite his flaws. Or perhaps because of them, for Luke had suffered from some of the same shortcomings in his lifetime. He couldn't hold his father responsible for his dark actions, for they were not his own. They were Vader's. As Ben had said, he had to destroy Vader. But despite Ben's implication that he must die, Luke planned on destroying Vader but leaving Anakin intact. However to do it, though...
Could that final, unplayed movie be the key? "Return of the Jedi," they called it. It contained tantalizing secrets for him. He wondered what mysteries lay within the plastic case. Would he end up redeeming his father, smashing the vessel of Vader that Anakin might emerge from hiding? Would Luke join the dark side, becoming everything he loathed? Would Leia ever learn the truth of her parentage? Would she and Han ever finally commit themselves to each other? Would the Rebellion succeed in destroying the Death Star?
He considered sneaking into the living room, inserting the tape into the vidscreen, and finding answers to his questions then and there. But, he realized, there were people sleeping in there, Vader included. He had felt the panic rising from the Dark Lord when the fans had mentioned watching the final film (odd, Luke had never thought anything could make Vader panic), so he knew he would not be amused if he woke to find Luke playing the movie. Perhaps if he kept the volume down... He rose and picked his way over prone bodies.
As he passed the shelf crammed with books, he paused to examine the tomes. Old Basic was sparingly used outside this system, but it was still common enough in some venues that many learned it in conjunction with Aurebesh. And books -- real, paper-paged, ink-printed bound volumes -- were a very rare commodity thanks to datapads and electronic documents. He'd never seen more than half a dozen real books in one place until now. Here there had to be dozens. He smiled. If Han were here, he'd be talking about how much these books would bring on the collector's market.
As he ran his hand across the book spines, his fingers came into contact with an interesting title:
"Return of the Jedi -- the Novelization -- by James Kahn."
Hmmm.
He discreetly pulled the book off the shelf, then returned to his patch of linoleum to read.
***
/I can't believe this is happening to me./
Fett disliked comfort -- it led to carelessness, which in turn led to error. A bounty hunter could not afford error. Therefore a comfortable bed for the night was out of the question. So though Jason had offered to give up his sleeping quarters for him, he had declined. Instead he asked Patrick to show him to an area where he would be just uncomfortable enough to remain on guard. After offering Fett a puzzled look, he'd suggested the hunter sleep in the bathtub.
As he moved his legs into a more suitable position, the clang and scrape of armor on porcelain echoed through the refresher. What a bizarre twist of fate. One day he was the galaxy's most legendary bounty hunter, feared by all; the next he was sarlaac chow; and the day after that he was a pop celebrity on some wretched world, sleeping in a fanatic's bathroom. And worse, he was dependent on these people until they could find a way to flee the planet!
Well then, he'd play along. He'd play their game, learn their ways, become one of them for a month and a half. A hunter often had to adapt to his surroundings to survive, and he was the master hunter. Therefore, he would alter himself just enough to blend with this planet's inhabitants. He'd become an Earth being until they met this mysterious Lucas and could get back to civilized space.
He wrapped a hand around his blaster, a precaution if he was ambushed in his sleep, and dozed off.
True to her word, Rachel abruptly fell asleep partway into "Attack of the Clones," just before the duel between Obi-wan Kenobi and Jango Fett. By then, though, Vader had long forgotten entirely about the girl, even though she had rambled nonstop throughout the entire first movie. From the moment that first starship had crossed the screen, the motion pictures had totally commanded his attention.
They knew... By the Force, they knew...
His life... his boyhood... the lurid details of his romance with Padme Amidala, his slaughter of the Sandpeople, his strict and oftimes cruel dealings within the Empire... all were captured with hideously eerie accuracy within these films. They knew so much about him, perhaps more than he knew himself. They knew Luke was his son, something he had thought no living being except he, Luke, and the Emperor were aware of. They knew of the Empire's atrocities and devious ways. They knew about his fall to the dark side, though the details of that were mercifully absent. They knew so much... and worse, were so casual about that knowledge!
The films had gone into the player one right after another, with only a brief pause between "Attack of the Clones" and "A New Hope." Here Austin had explained that Episode III was still in the works and no one knew much about it, save that in that movie the Empire was supposed to completely supplant the Republic and Anakin would complete his journey to the ways of the Sith. Then he had popped the next movie into the vidscreen.
Vader felt a rush of relief when "The Empire Strikes Back" ended. That film had touched on events that were far too recent for comfort. Emotions whirled within him like a sandstorm, barely restrained by a barrier of shock. He realized he had both fists clenched and forced them open, the knuckles in his natural left hand cracking audibly.
When he glanced over at Luke, he saw the boy was obviously just as shocked as he, if not more. His mouth hung open, his face was nearly as white as his "borrowed" armor, and tears had marked glistening paths down his cheeks. Fett sat placidly on his chair, looking for all the world like an armored statue. He had betrayed no emotion during the viewing other than a slight but visible cringe when his father had died onscreen. Artoo had been quite vocal throughout the ordeal and appeared delighted at his role as the comical hero, though no one could understand his exclamations.
Vader felt something slip across his face, and for once he was glad for the all-encompassing helmet to shield his expression. He attempted to quench his wild emotions, but they would not be stilled. He had spent decades trying to forget the man he had once been, and this experience threatened to undo all that work through reminding him of Anakin Skywalker.
"Next!" declared Zack, holding up the last cassette.
/Sweet stars, no/ thought Vader with something resembling panic.
"Zack!" barked Brigham in protest, and he nearly tackled his friend in his haste to keep him from starting the tape.
"Oh, come on!" Zack whined. "They gotta see the whole thing!"
"Um, Zacky," Darcy explained, lowering her voice to a "secretive" whisper that everyone in the room could hear, "it would seem that certain events, like, haven't occurred yet, if you know what I mean." She nodded at Vader as if to indicate something. "And, like, having them watch 'Return of the Jedi' might screw up what's supposed to happen, if you know what I mean."
"No, I don't know what you mean," Zack replied.
"If they know what's gonna happen, it'll screw up fate," Amethyst clarified.
"Fate schmate," Jason grumped. "I don't believe in it."
"Haven't you seen 'Back to the Future?'" demanded Brigham. "Knowing the future can backfire."
"Actually, in that movie, knowing the future turned out to be a good thing," Emily pointed out.
"Good grief, whose side are you on?" said Amethyst.
"Actually, I'm on the not-watching-'Jedi' side," she replied. She turned to explain to their guests. "There are things that happen in 'Jedi' that apparently haven't happened yet in your galaxy. We're afraid that having you watch them can mess up future events."
"An understandable fear," Vader replied, relieved that the majority of the Elite seemed to be against viewing the last film.
"Excuse me, but who says it's gonna happen like that?" Cody retorted. "I mean, NOWHERE in Episode VI does it show any hint that the characters visit our rock. There's one difference. The rest can turn out differently too."
"Why take chances, uber-geek?" countered Amethyst.
"'Cause it's Star Wars, Mary Poppins."
"Don't call me that!"
Cody grinned broadly as he began to sing. "Oh, a spoon-ful of sugar helps the medicine go down, the medicine go do-own, medicine go down..."
"Shut up, you little sack of bantha poodoo!"
"Has anyone thought to ask these guys' opinions?" Austin suggested calmly.
Zack and Cody blushed while Jason folded his arms, muttering.
"Your call," said Conrad, taking the cassette from Zack and holding it up. "Episode VI -- watch or not?"
Vader managed to force his emotions back, sealing them off as he had done so many times before. It was more difficult to do so now -- another incentive to leave this planet before something else reminded him of his former life. "I think," he said slowly, "that we have suffered enough shock tonight."
Conrad's expression softened as he realized Vader's implication. "We're so sorry," he apologized. "We didn't realize how personal some of this material was to you."
Austin nodded in sympathy. "We've just thought of them as just movies for so long, it's hard to snap out of that mind frame. Realizing the stories you've grown up with aren't just stories but fact is difficult to digest."
"You didn't know," Luke replied.
No one spoke for a moment. The fans exchanged guilty looks, somewhat ashamed to have brought up painful memories for their guests. From a corner of the room, Mike snored loudly. Rachel still lay across Vader's thighs, and the cybernetic components in his legs were sending signals into his nerves that were the electronic
equivalent of cramps. Diana murmured an apology as she bent to collect her daughter.
"How'd you guys get here, anyway?" Liberty asked finally.
"By starship, of course!" Trapper replied.
"We were attempting to capture the Rebel -- Luke, you call him -- when we became stranded here," Fett answered.
"They ambushed our convoy and disabled my X-wing..." Luke put in.
"Then your fragging droid blew the Slave's computers and stranded us here," Fett added.
"Well, if you hadn't sabotaged my starfighter..."
"It was by Vader's order..."
"Well, what Artoo did was not by my order, so don't blame me..."
"Can't you control your own blasted..."
"Hey, do we need to separate you two?" demanded Steve.
"Stranded, huh?" Austin considered that. "Any chance your Imperial friends are due for a visit?"
"The Stardestroyer Executor is still in your star system," Vader replied, "though it is cloaked and therefore invisible to your instruments. As our communications units are unable to reach the ship, it will take a few days before anyone realizes we're shipwrecked. They will probably send search parties within the week, however."
"Uh-oh!" yelped Zack. "We're being invaded!"
"I doubt the people of Earth will encounter them," Vader assured him. "They will most likely trace my last transmission to pinpoint the location of our ships, then search from there. If they do meet your fellow citizens, they will most likely be within this town."
"And since all the Star Wars fanatics in the American Northwest and then some are here, they should blend right in," Conrad observed.
"What about Rebs?" asked Jason. "Will they come lookin' for Luke?"
"I don't know," Luke confessed. "They're... kind of busy at the moment."
"They're gonna attack the second Death Star -- " gushed Trapper before Cody could clap a hand over the boy's mouth.
"Mini-V, you just gave away part of the last movie!" Liz griped.
"So?"
"Anyone who's been paying attention to the Holonet knows the Rebels have been gathering near Sullust for weeks," Fett replied. "They're planning an all-out strike on something, and the Death Star is as good a target as any."
"Ha!" Trapper crowed.
"Bite me," replied Liz.
"Gladly," Trapper offered, baring his teeth.
"Get away from me, brat!" shrieked Liz.
"Who made these movies?" asked Luke with a perplexed frown.
"George Lucas," replied Liberty. "Also affectionately known as the Big GL, Uncle George, Master Jedi Lucas, or the Almightly Flanneled One."
"And how does he know so much about our society?" Vader asked.
"Haven't a clue," she replied. "Any other questions? I can't promise we can provide answers..."
"How far away is this Lucas fellow?" Vader requested.
Patrick was standing by a shelf brimming with old-style paper books, and he reached for a peculiar-looking object sitting on the top shelf. Upon further inspection it turned out to be a spherical map of Earth on a base that allowed it to rotate, with different countries or kingdoms defined by contrasting colors. He handed the globe to Jason, who located a large country in the northern hemisphere and pointed to a spot in the country's western half, deep within a mountain range.
"Star City is here -- that's us," he explained. "Uncle George works on Skywalker Ranch, which I think is right... about... here." He pointed to the country's southwestern corner, near the coast. "About seven hundred miles." When his last sentence got him three blank stares he turned to the others. "Hey, how do you convert miles to kilometers again?"
"Forget it," Amethyst told him with a dismissive gesture. "Let's just say its a day or two if you drive, couple hours if you fly."
"You have skycars?" asked Luke, intrigued.
"Nah, airplanes," Cody replied. "But since 9-11 -- we'll explain that later -- airport security's tighter than Grand Moff Tarkin's grip. I don't think there's much chance a cyborg and a walking armory can get onto a plane."
"And even if you got there, I don't think they'd let you see him," Darcy added. "He's, like, up to his neck in work getting Episode III made, and they're super-secretive about that movie. And if you did get an audience with him, I don't think he'd believe you anyway."
/Sithspawn/ thought Vader. He wanted to know who was supplying Mr. Lucas with inside information. The leak had to be stopped at all costs.
"Actually, I think tracking down Lucas would be a good idea," Emily said. "He should know about this. And he may know how to get them back home."
"That IS the reason you want to contact the Almighty Flanneled One, isn't it?" asked Sparky, arching an eyebrow. "You're not out to cut his throat to keep him from making the last movie and spilling the rest of your past, are you?"
"Sparks, don't give him ideas!" Zack snapped. "Episode II was a cliffhanger, remember?"
"On the contrary," Vader replied, coming up with a convenient lie. "I believe Lucas shows incredible talent. His films provide wonderful insight on the galaxy's dealings and offer a fresh angle to view our universe from. I only wish to meet this mastermind in person."
"You and the rest of us," Austin said.
"I'd like to punch him in the nose for making up -- um -- choosing to depict Jar Jar Binks, though," Brigham snorted.
"Hey, dude, Jar Jar rules!" Cody cried.
"Was he really that annoying?" asked Darcy.
"I'm afraid so," Vader replied.
"Why do you dress like us?" growled Fett.
"Because Star Wars is much more than a collection of movies," Austin explained. "It's become a cultural phenomenon. Millions of people watch the films and eagerly await new installments. Star Wars has become a mainstay of our society."
"And Star Wars freaks from all over the world are gonna be here for one massive party day after tomorrow!" exclaimed Trapper.
"Actually, it's called a convention," corrected Austin. "We call it Stellar-Con."
Vader recalled the sign at the town's edge, the one that had mentioned Stellar-Con and Nova-Con. So that was what it had been referring to.
"Conventions are a way for fans of science fiction and fantasy to celebrate and connect," Austin went on. "Many, like Dragon*Con, are open to a wide range of fandoms, but others, like the Indianapolis Celebration, are strictly Star Wars. Every summer Star City hosts two Star Wars conventions. Stellar-Con is small for a convention. It attracts about 5,000 people on an average year."
"That's still equal to Star City's normal population," Sparky pointed out.
"Yes, but Nova-Con's much bigger," Austin replied. "It takes place about a month and a half after Stellar-Con. A lot of fans come for Stellar-Con and stay in town until Nova-Con's over, so the population explodes during that time between cons -- what we call the Eye of the Storm." He chuckled. "Nova-Con attracted over 20,000 guests last year."
"For a small city, isn't that hard?" asked Luke.
"Nah, it's good for local economy," Jason replied. "Sure, during the Eye of the Storm crime shoots through the roof and traffic's a mess, but it's a good opportunity for businesses to make an extra buck. All three theaters in this town continuously screen the movies, stores sell everything from T-shirts to fake lightsabers to raffle tickets for more valuable items, restaurants have Star Wars-themed specials, lots of businesses offer discounts for people in costume..."
"And the hotels get booked solid," lamented Liz.
"So the fans who weren't quick enough to make reservations camp out in the park," Emily added. "So if anyone saw you in the forest, they probably just assumed you were geeks looking for a campsite."
"I see," Vader noted. "Star City profits enormously from Lucas'... adaptations."
"And the residents have a good time," grinned Steve.
"For the most part," added Brigham. "The mayor's threatened to discontinue the cons, but I think he'd be lynched and dragged through the streets if he actually did it."
Fett shook his head as if trying to shake all this information into its proper places in his head. "I can't believe we have such a cult following on such an obscure world."
"You mean you ran into the Sons of the Sith?" Cody gaped.
"Excuse me?"
"He means 'cult' as in 'fanatical interest,' not 'cult' as in 'crazy warped religion,'" Liberty corrected. "Brig's faith not included."
"Thanks, Libby," Brigham said. "Sons of the Sith are a LOT more obsessed than we are. So much more that they actually worship the dark side of the Force. Most of them are on drugs 75 percent of the time," he noted with a smirk. "They believe in this weird Second Coming where the Empire will supposedly convert Earth to the New Order and those who were true to the dark side will be rewarded by being made Sith Apprentices."
"Apparently they forgot the 'always two' rule," said Amethyst.
"Oooh, they're gonna have a heyday if they ever find out..." Diana began.
"They won't," Vader replied sternly. "We won't allow ourselves to be discovered. And with circumstances the way they are, we should easily blend in."
"Uh, you guys are... lacking in Earth Education," Emily pointed out. "You might need a little help so people don't raise eyebrows at Stellar-Con."
"I'm not attending any convention!" Fett snarled. "I don't want to mingle with crazed fanatics! I just want the stang off this cursed planet!"
"Oh, c'mon!" begged Jason. "There're cute girls in tight costumes who just LOVE to flirt with bounty hunters! And at Nova-Con all the celebrities come -- Tem Morrison, Dave Prowse, Mark Hamill, Warwick Davis, George Lucas..."
That caught Vader's attention. "Lucas will be there?"
"That's tentative," Diana replied. "If work on Episode III is on schedule, he and a handful of the cast may put in an appearance at Nova-Con to sign autographs."
/Most excellent/ Vader thought.
"Then it is decided," he announced. "You teach us of your culture, and we remain here until Nova-Con, at which point we will question Lucas and see if he is able to aid us." Fett started to protest, but Vader eyed him coolly, and the hunter subsided.
Mike's snoring brought the discussions to a halt.
"We'll talk more in the morning," Austin offered. "Meeting adjourned."
"Pat, Jason, can I spend the night?" yawned Brigham. "I'm too pooped to drive."
"It's three in the friggin' morning," mumbled Liz. "We're all too tired to drive."
Jason turned to his brother. "Pat, impromptu slumber party?"
Patrick nodded.
"Y'all can crash wherever floats your boat," he announced. "Our place is open tonight. Just don't trash anything."
Vader couldn't suppress a triumphant chuckle as Jason pulled out an inflatable sleeping pad for him to sleep on. All was proceeding smoothly. He didn't doubt that Lucas would know how to send them back to Imperial space. Now all he had to do was lay low until Nova-Con. Then, once he could meet the man face to face, he would
question him about a way of leaving the planet and the source of his information. Then, as Sparky had unwittingly pointed out, it would be necessary to... silence him. Further details of his past could not escape.
Lucas had to die.
***
Luke shifted to get comfortable on the kitchen floor and stared at the ceiling, lost in thought. On the counter island, Cody lay on his back and snored with great gusto. But it wasn't the Earth man's nocturnal noises that were keeping the young Jedi awake.
Now, more than ever, he wanted to bring his father out of hiding. He had seen the good man concealed behind Vader's mask. He had gotten a tantalizing glimpse of both parents in Episode II, and Vader was his only means of obtaining more information about them.
And he loved him. Inexplicably, he loved Anakin Skywalker, despite his flaws. Or perhaps because of them, for Luke had suffered from some of the same shortcomings in his lifetime. He couldn't hold his father responsible for his dark actions, for they were not his own. They were Vader's. As Ben had said, he had to destroy Vader. But despite Ben's implication that he must die, Luke planned on destroying Vader but leaving Anakin intact. However to do it, though...
Could that final, unplayed movie be the key? "Return of the Jedi," they called it. It contained tantalizing secrets for him. He wondered what mysteries lay within the plastic case. Would he end up redeeming his father, smashing the vessel of Vader that Anakin might emerge from hiding? Would Luke join the dark side, becoming everything he loathed? Would Leia ever learn the truth of her parentage? Would she and Han ever finally commit themselves to each other? Would the Rebellion succeed in destroying the Death Star?
He considered sneaking into the living room, inserting the tape into the vidscreen, and finding answers to his questions then and there. But, he realized, there were people sleeping in there, Vader included. He had felt the panic rising from the Dark Lord when the fans had mentioned watching the final film (odd, Luke had never thought anything could make Vader panic), so he knew he would not be amused if he woke to find Luke playing the movie. Perhaps if he kept the volume down... He rose and picked his way over prone bodies.
As he passed the shelf crammed with books, he paused to examine the tomes. Old Basic was sparingly used outside this system, but it was still common enough in some venues that many learned it in conjunction with Aurebesh. And books -- real, paper-paged, ink-printed bound volumes -- were a very rare commodity thanks to datapads and electronic documents. He'd never seen more than half a dozen real books in one place until now. Here there had to be dozens. He smiled. If Han were here, he'd be talking about how much these books would bring on the collector's market.
As he ran his hand across the book spines, his fingers came into contact with an interesting title:
"Return of the Jedi -- the Novelization -- by James Kahn."
Hmmm.
He discreetly pulled the book off the shelf, then returned to his patch of linoleum to read.
***
/I can't believe this is happening to me./
Fett disliked comfort -- it led to carelessness, which in turn led to error. A bounty hunter could not afford error. Therefore a comfortable bed for the night was out of the question. So though Jason had offered to give up his sleeping quarters for him, he had declined. Instead he asked Patrick to show him to an area where he would be just uncomfortable enough to remain on guard. After offering Fett a puzzled look, he'd suggested the hunter sleep in the bathtub.
As he moved his legs into a more suitable position, the clang and scrape of armor on porcelain echoed through the refresher. What a bizarre twist of fate. One day he was the galaxy's most legendary bounty hunter, feared by all; the next he was sarlaac chow; and the day after that he was a pop celebrity on some wretched world, sleeping in a fanatic's bathroom. And worse, he was dependent on these people until they could find a way to flee the planet!
Well then, he'd play along. He'd play their game, learn their ways, become one of them for a month and a half. A hunter often had to adapt to his surroundings to survive, and he was the master hunter. Therefore, he would alter himself just enough to blend with this planet's inhabitants. He'd become an Earth being until they met this mysterious Lucas and could get back to civilized space.
He wrapped a hand around his blaster, a precaution if he was ambushed in his sleep, and dozed off.