A/N: Some almost-action in this chapter, but most of it's in the next one. Sorry! Bear with me - a Vader/Padmé confrontation is approaching soon.
Hopeless4life: Thank you! Cliffhangers, eh? No promises :P
TriGemini: Yep, I find Threepio and Artoo very amusing in the movies. I very much agree - it is definitely good that she's accepted Luke. I couldn't have it any other way :) Thanks for reviewing, as always - I love your reviews.
Stephanie C: Of course she loves Han! Who else could there be :D And to be honest, I used the movie novelisation for Bib's lines - I found it in my library by chance, and found it indispensible for my research for this story!
Emerald Green Queen: I agree - Han is...just...mmmm. lol. And no, there is no Han-flavoured popsicle (I can't believe I just called it a 'popsicle'. That's so American!), a very astute observation. However...he is in a bit of a fix, hehe. Thanks!
pokey: Thanks!
Laura-chan: Haha, I hope it will be! Thanks for reviewing :)
padmenaberrie32: Couldn't agree more with your thoughts regarding Padmé. Obi-Wan's line is from the movie, so that wasn't my idea :) Thank you for your lovely reviews, and here is the next chapter!
Chapter Thirteen
Threepio tried to keep a low profile near the back of the throne as Jabba's court continued their revelry. He had been separated from Artoo, and was now lonely as well as terrified, with nobody to talk to.
Suddenly, a quiet fell over the noisy room. Bib Fortuna made his way through the crowd, accompanied by two Gamorrean guards. Behind them walked a fierce-looking helmeted bounty hunter leading a captured Wookiee on a leash.
"Oh no! Chewbacca!" Threepio gasped.
Fortuna muttered something to Jabba, pointing to the bounty hunter and his captive. The bounty hunter bowed. "I have come for the bounty on this Wookiee," he said in Ubese.
"At last we have the mighty Chewbacca," Jabba boomed in Huttese. He laughed loudly and waved Threepio closer. The droid stepped forward reluctantly and began to translate as Jabba continued speaking.
"The illustrious Jabba bids you welcome and will gladly pay you the reward of twenty-five thousand," Threepio said.
The bounty hunter, Boushh, who had been examining the creatures around the room, replied in Ubese, "I want fifty thousand. No less."
Enraged, Jabba lashed out with his tail, knocking the protocol droid off the raised throne. The Hutt began to rant and rave in Huttese as Threepio struggled back onto the dais and composed himself.
"Uh, the mighty Jabba asks why we must pay fifty thousand," Threepio loosely translated for the hunter.
Boushh lifted his hand, in which was a small silver ball. Threepio looked nervously from the ball to Jabba to the bounty hunter.
"Because he's holding a thermal detonator!" he exclaimed.
Immediately, the guards and the other monsters in the room backed away and a tense hush fell over the room. All eyes were on the bold bounty hunter and the detonator in his hand, which was beginning to glow.
A sly grin crept over Jabba's monstrous face, and he began to laugh loudly. "This bounty hunter is my kind of scum! Fearless and inventive," he boomed in Huttese.
He continued. "Jabba offers the sum of thirty-five," Threepio translated. "And I suggest you take it!" he added hastily, glancing at the Hutt.
The whole room waited for Boushh's reaction. He flicked a switch and the detonator went dead. "Zeebuss," he said.
"He agrees!" Threepio cried, relieved.
The crowd erupted in raucous cheers and applause as the band started up again and dancing girls took the centre of the floor. Chewbacca was led away, growling, by a couple of guards.
Chewbacca was marched down the halls lined with holding cells. A slimy tentacle slithered through the bars of a cell and touched his shoulder, but he gave a ferocious roar and the tentacle snapped back into the cell in fright.
The guards opened a cell door and shoved the Wookiee in roughly. Chewbacca let out a plaintive howl as the door slammed shut.
"Chewie? Chewie!" a familiar voice exclaimed from the darkness.
The Wookiee turned and grabbed Han Solo in a tight hug, barking in joy, lifting him off his feet.
"Good to see you too, pal," Han gasped with a grin as Chewbacca set him back down. "What are you doing here?"
Chewie filled him in on most of the plan.
"Luke? Luke's crazy," Han said, shaking his head. "He can't even take care of himself, much less rescue anybody."
Chewbacca barked a reply.
"A Jedi, huh? I'll believe it when I see it," Han muttered.
He was once again engulfed in a hug by his big furry co-pilot.
"I'm all right, Chewie," he laughed. "I'm all right."
Night had fallen over Tatooine. The throne room was littered with the remains of the day's celebrations. There were blood, wine and saliva stains on the floor and the unconscious bodies of drunken creatures slumped all over the furniture.
The dark figure of Boushh the bounty hunter moved stealthily through the shadows. He slipped through the halls of the holding cells, following the soft growls just barely audible in the quiet.
Boushh reached the cell holding the source of the growls. He lightly tapped on the bars, and there was an answering growl. "I'll get you out of here," he murmured quietly in Basic.
He pulled out a long thin piece of metal and proceeded to jimmy the lock, pausing now and then to listen for any passers-by. After a few tense moments, the lock clicked and the door slid open.
Chewbacca lurched out and grabbed the bounty hunter's arm with a small howl.
"Quiet," Boushh hissed. "We need to find –"
The Wookiee interrupted with a series of urgent, quiet barks and growls, shaking his arm and pointing back into the cell. Suddenly understanding, Boushh slipped inside the cell and knelt beside the sleeping form of Han Solo.
"Wake up," he said, shaking the smuggler's shoulder.
Han awoke with a start. He stared warily at the helmeted figure before him as he slowly sat up.
"Come on, we have to get out of here," Boushh urged.
"I'm not going anywhere," Han said firmly. He peered suspiciously at him. "Who are you, anyway?" he demanded.
In answer, the bounty hunter reached up and pulled off the helmet, revealing Princess Leia's lovely face. A soft smirk curved her lips.
"Leia!" Han seemed to be in shock. "What are you doing here/"
She raised an eyebrow. "What does it look like? I'm getting you out of here."
His lips twisted in a tiny smirk as he got to his feet. "Just couldn't stay away, huh?" he couldn't resist saying as he reached out a hand to help her up, and she held onto it a second longer.
She didn't respond to the comment, but Han saw a tiny smile lift the corners of her lips before she quickly suppressed it and let go of his hand. Chewbacca gave a low, amused growl.
'Come on," she ordered, and the three of them snuck quietly out of the holding area.
They had begun to weave through the throne room when they heard it. An awful, obscene cackle that came from an alcove concealed by a curtain.
"I know that laugh," Han said with dread. Slowly, they turned.
The curtain fell away to reveal Jabba, Bib Fortuna, Boba Fett and several guards, all laughing at the three companions.
"Han, my boy, your taste in companions has improved, even if your luck has not," Jabba purred.
"Listen, Jabba, I was on my way back to pay you when I got a little sidetracked," Han said, trying to smooth-talk his way out of this mess. "Now I know we've had out differences, but I'm sure we can work this out…"
"I've heard all this the day you came here, Solo, and it's too late for that now. You may have been the best smuggler in the business, but now you're Bantha fodder." He turned to the guards. "Take him away – and his Wookiee companion," he ordered. "I will decide how to kill them later."
The guards seized all three and dragged Chewbacca and Han back to the holding cells.
"I'll pay you triple," Han called. "Jabba, you're throwing away a fortune. Don't be a fool!"
The guard holding the struggling princess began to lead her away, but Jabba stopped them. "Wait! Bring her to me."
Leia stood her ground before the slobbering Hutt, her anger building. She fixed the monarch with an icy glare. "We have powerful friends, Jabba. You will soon regret this."
"I'm sure, I'm sure," the gangster said gleefully. "But in the meantime, I will thoroughly enjoy the pleasure of your company." He pulled her towards him.
And behind him, Threepio turned away, unable to watch.