Sith Redemption

Star Wars 6.5

Return of the Jedi

Luke took a seat among Jabba's guests. He took a complimentary drink from Jabba and took a sip as he watched his fellow teammate forced to dance for the Hutt. As Mara continued Luke watched her fascinated. It didn't matter how she danced anymore, Luke was amazed simply at her presence. It had been years since they had worked together.

Luke eventually got back to his senses. "Quite excellent," Luke said standing up. Mara glared at him as she was allowed to sit down next to Jabba.

"Tell you what Jabba, for sixty thousand credits I will take Captain Solo and the dancer," Luke offered.

Jabba considered but he didn't like how the Imperial youth was throwing his money around, made him look cheap in front of his guests, as if he could be bought off. "You have a lot to learn about my world, here those that don't pay their debts are made examples of," Jabba said.

"I assure you Captain Solo will be made an example of in front of the Imperial tribunal," Luke said.

"That's not good enough!" Jabba said annoyed.

"You will give me Captain Solo and the woman to me now," Luke said loosing patience.

Jabba was not fazed by the mind trick. "Master Luke, you're standing right where…" C3PO began. Luke quickly used the Force to take a guards pistol and aimed for Jabba. Jabba pushed the lever sending both the Jedi and the guard into the lower level.

"Silly Jedi," Jabba laughed in English.

Mara pulled on her chain to see what would happen in the lower level. Luke tumbled in the dirt of the lower level; the guard fearfully went for the exit only to find he couldn't get past the bars.

"He's going to regret that," Luke muttered. He didn't have much time to think about it. A Rancor reared its head and stared at his two preys. Luke watched without much concern as the guard was lifted off the ground and eaten whole.

Luke calmly raised his left hand. Force lightning flashed from his finger tips hitting the Rancor. Mara looked away as the flashes of light blinded the upper level. Luke grinned as he ceased the lightning. The Rancor roared and proceeded to attack him. Stunned that the lightning had no effect on the tough skin of the Rancor Luke took a bone to defend himself.

The Rancor grabbed Luke off the ground but before he could put him in his mouth Luke slammed a bone into his jaw. Luke Force pushed the claw off of him making him fall to the ground with a thud.

The Rancor's jaw shattered the bone. Looking down the Rancor reached for Luke who was cowering under a boulder. Before the Rancor could get to him Luke slammed a rock on his finger. The Rancor roared in pain allowing Luke to run for the exit. It was gated. Exhausted Luke couldn't force push the gate open. The Rancor walked toward Luke lowering itself so it could get to him. Luke saw the large door meant to keep the Rancor in its cage. Taking a rock he sent it at the controls, the door came down slicing into the Rancor's neck and back. The Rancor fell to the ground as the door crushed him. It made one last wheezing sound before it died.

Luke sighed in relief as he sensed the monster's life force fade. Luke was grabbed by several of Jabba's guards and taken away to Jabba's inner circle. Luke and Han were placed before Jabba. "Nice seeing you here," Han muttered.

"This is all your fault," Luke accused.

"My fault, who do you think brought me here," Han shot back.

"You are to be sent to the Great Pitt of Carkoon where you will be digested over the thousand years by the Sarlacc," C3PO interpreted for Jabba.

"Doesn't sound too bad," Han said sarcastically.

Luke saw his sister held back by Boba Fett. Luke figured as much, now the problem got more complicated. "What will happen to Leia?" Luke asked. Han was just as curious.

"She will be made to serve me on my sail barge," Jabba said to further humiliate the emperor.

"This will be the last thing you ever do," Luke said as he was pushed along.

Jabba began preparations for the public display of Han and Luke's execution. "I want to be on the sail barge as well," Mara demanded from the Hutt.

The Hutt laughed. "You will stay here," Jabba said. Mara watched with disappointment as Leia was taken away as well. Before she was gone Leia motioned for her to look next to a table. Mara made out a light saber attached to the bottom of the table.

The sail barge lifted off the ground while two smaller transports launched from the palace. Jabba had Leia dressed in a humiliating uniform and had her at his side. It didn't take long for the ships to arrive at Carkoon.

Jabba proceeded to ask them if they wanted mercy through C3PO. "Threepoo, you tell that worm he won't get any pleasure from us," Han said. "Right?" Han asked Luke. Luke shook his head annoyed at his situation.

"Release us or die," Luke told Jabba.

Jabba laughed at the threat. R2D2 moved toward the edge of the sail barge next to a window. "Throw them in," Jabba ordered.

The monster that was Sarlacc came out of the pit sensing a meal. Han and Luke gave a look of disgust. "Whatever differences we had before, we have to work together," Luke told Han.

"Yeah sure Luke, except I can't see," Han said. Luke considered that. He could still have Han killed and still rescue Leia. More importantly he had to get his droids back.

Mara was put in a prison until Jabba returned. Frustrated she attempted to use the Force. Struggling she was able to slightly move the bars on the door. She continued and with great effort made the bars twitch.

A Star Destroyer approached Dagobah. An Imperial shuttle descended into the atmosphere towards the swampy surface. "I want to be alone when I meet him," Anakin said. The shuttle landed easily on the moist land. Anakin stepped out of the ship, now it was so clear.

Mara felt something come to her. She felt the energy of the Force, she was alive again. Excited she Force blasted the door down, the guards got to their feet. She summoned her light saber to her. Igniting her light saber she grinned as she confronted the guards.

"I'll go first," Luke said getting in front of Han. "Be my guest," Han replied. Luke ignored Han and concentrated on the task at hand. A slip and he would be digested for a thousand years Force or no Force. Luke went to the edge of the plank and jumped off. Catching the board with his hands he jumped back onto the plank, R2D2 sent his light saber into the air. Luke grabbed the light saber and ignited it. With his green saber in hand he sliced through the guards knocking them off the platform.

Jabba outraged ordered the second transport ship to fire on the first. Luke blocked the guards' fire with his light saber and sliced or threw off the rest of the crew. "Here is a blaster," Luke said handing Han a weapon.

The second transport blasted Luke off the transport. Luke deactivating his saber tried to climb up. Han was barely holding on, his feet hooked on the transport's railings. Luke realized with horror that one of the tentacles had grabbed onto him.

"Help me or we're both dead," Luke said glaring at Han.

"All right, I think I can see you," Han guessed.

"A little higher," Luke said trying to stay calm.

Han fired slicing the tentacle. Luke found a stray cable from the transport and began to climb up. Luke got to the controls and stabilized the transport. The second transport continued to fire. Luke turned the transport around and rammed the second. Jumping on board he sliced up the crew and threw the remaining off. The Sarlacc scooped up the men up with ease.

"Do not move," Luke ordered Han as he boarded the sail barge. Luke continued to whirl his light saber indiscriminately killing all in his path. In the distraction Leia put her chain around Jabba and began to choke him. One guard managed to blast Luke's hand. He cried out in pain as his synthetic skin melted.

With a vengeance Luke slew the guard who had fired on him and everyone else on the upper level. After strangling Jabba to death Leia went to the top level. R2D2 had handed her a light saber. Using her blue light saber Leia and Luke fought off Jabba's goons.

"They keep coming," Leia said worried.

"Fire at the deck," Luke suggested.

Leia took control of the large cannon on the sail barge and aimed it directly below. The blasts hit the fuel lines of the ship. "Now come with me," Luke said grabbing a cable. Leia stared at Luke and with her light saber sliced off his cable. Luke fell off the ship and into the sand stunned.

Leia took a separate cable and swung to the transport ship. "What about Luke?" Han asked.

"He can manage," Leia said picking up the two droids that had been sent into the sand. The transport picked up speeding away from the sail barge.

Luke got to his feet and watched furious as Han and Leia got away. The ships gun was still firing; the sail barge would explode within moments. Running away as fast as he could in the sand the explosion of the sail barge knocked him to the ground. The ship fell to pieces in a fiery blaze.

Mara sliced through the last guard. Whirling her light saber she wondered how she could get to Luke. Luke was pulled out of the sand by a familiar face. The Mandalorian lifted Luke to his feet.

"Fett?" Luke asked dazed. Boba Fett nodded. "Your father and I go way back, I couldn't let his son die while I was here," Fett explained.

Luke nodded grateful. He took out his communication device. "Luke to shuttle, Luke to shuttle," Luke called.

The Imperial Shuttle lifted off the ground and went into space leaving a dozen storm troopers on the sand.

Luke threw the device away in frustration. "I have a ship, I can give you a ride to the nearest Imperial ship," Fett offered.

"Thank you, I'll be sure to have you compensated," Luke said as the two walked back to the palace.

Fett pressed a button on his belt sending the Slave I to his location. The busted up ship landed next to him sending sand everywhere. "We need to pick up Mara at the palace," Luke added.

"No problem," Fett said.

The Slave I lifted off the ground and headed toward the palace. On arrival Boba Fett and Luke walked out. Mara in a torn up slave's uniform ran to Luke. "You're alive," Mara said giving Luke a hug.

"It will take more than Jabba to kill me," Luke smiled.

"Is that so?" Mara said becoming serious. She proceeded to slap him. Boba Fett smiled on the inside and walked toward his ship. "Did you think you could defeat all those goons all by yourself, and what were you thinking making me dance in front of that slug," Mara said angrily.

"It was funny at the time," Luke said touching his cheek.

Mara shook her head unimpressed. "And let me guess, you lost both Leia and Han," Mara speculated.

"And the droids," Luke admitted.

"You're a mess," Mara observed seeing his sand filled hair and face.

"We have a ship," Luke said. Mara looked at the Slave I unimpressed. "At least no one is alive to talk about how you dance," Luke said as they got on the ship.

The Slave I rose into the air and sped towards the nearest Star Destroyer. After Boba Fett did the necessary code work he was allowed to land on the ship. Mara, Luke, and Fett left the ship. "Get me my card," Luke ordered.

A crew member handed Luke his credit card. Luke gave Fett a generous amount. "Pleasure doing business with the Skywalkers," Fett said.

"How much will it take to track down Han and Leia?" Luke asked.

"Give me the necessary information and I'll do it for free, you can pay me when the job is done," Fett said.

"I will transmit the information from the bridge," Luke said allowing Fett to leave.

"I'm taking command," Luke said to the captain. The captain stared at the sand filled Luke. "What?" Luke demanded as some sand fell off him as he folded his arms.

Author's Note: I know the details are sketchy but you have all seen Return of the Jedi before, so one more chapter remains in the new AU Return of the Jedi. In the original trilogy who do you think really returned? Luke or Anakin?