Where Am I Going To?
Part Three
Chapter One
The great, rusty door slowly drew open, harsh sunlight pouring in and blinding the Gamorrean guards standing by. There was a feeling of slight apprehension, something deeply unsettling about the eerie silence of the palace and the figure in the door. A mere silhouette, the shape was tall, thin, drowning in a dark robe, human in shape. The hood drawn up over the face, the thing strode purposefully in, pausing briefly as the guards advanced, trying to feel brave with spears in hand. A sneer crossed the unseen face, and with a wave of his hand, the Gamorreans dropped their weapons and stepped back.
One did not meddle with Luke Skywalker when he had a purpose in mind.
It would not have been difficult to picture the twenty two year old as the Sith he once was, considering he was dressed from head to toe in black. Maybe he looked like what he would have at that age had he remained a Sith, but he was not at all the way he'd been four years ago. He had been wild, brash, angry, steaming, constantly restless. He was tamed, respectful, peaceful, calmed, smooth, and very much in accordance with how things were. He disliked them, but he accepted them.
He was very much the Jedi he desperately wanted to be.
He had gained his current calm at a terrible price. Four years of life, people he'd loved, and a venerable lifetime of pain. He had a few scars, most of which had faded. He had multiple suicide attempts to his name, billions of murders, and years of self hatred and hatred of others. But it all culminated and subsided, leaving only the cool, calm, patient young man who walked through the gate to Jabba's palace at that moment. He had gone from powerful holy prince to the Empire to something less. And something equally more.
A tall, humanoid alien crawled out of the gloom, his beady eyes watching the Jedi warily. He raised his hand to stop the man's advancement, but Luke brushed right past him, not at all interested in whatever it was Bib Fortuna had to say. Fortuna blinked, spun on his heels, and followed Gamorrean guards falling in behind.
"I must speak to Jabba," Luke said smoothly, looking straight ahead as he walked. Fortuna replied with a stern no in Huttese, shaking his head. Luke stopped, slowly raising his head in the direction of the alien, who cowered slightly. If he had been used to getting his way as Imperial Prince, the feeling had not left him, and this stooge to a piece of gangster scum was not about to stop him.
"You will take me to Jabba now," he growled, raising his hand slightly. There was no room for argument, and Fortuna nodded in assent.
"You serve your master well."
"I serve my master well…."
"And you will be rewarded."
If the hall he'd left behind was dim, it was practically night inside Jabba's disgusting throne room, and Luke had to blink several times to allow his eyes to adjust to the gloom. Fortuna left his side, slinking over to Jabba and whispering, "Master…" waking the great hulk of bulbous fat. The Hutt awoke with a start, blinking bleary yellow eyes that showed no spark of intelligence or anything beyond base and instinctual desires, and Luke felt distinctly revolted by him, wanting very much to draw away. The stench of the place alone was disgusting, and the Force buzzed and hummed and cracked around him, whispering in his ear in its wordless language.
"…Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight."
Luke grinned unconsciously, chest puffing out slightly. Oh, how well that sounded.
" I told you not to admit him "
"I must be allowed to speak."
Jabba's greasy eyes slid down to Skywalker, who stared defiantly and expectantly right back. Jabba was trying to be intimidating, but the only person who really succeeded in that field at the moment was Luke.
" You weak minded fool! "
And what are you, Jabba? We will soon find out….
" He's using an old Jedi mind trick! "
Luke stepped foreword, yanking down his hood to reveal his pale blue eyes, set firm and looking rather menacing.
"You will bring Captain Solo and the Wookie to me." And there was no room for argument. Everyone in the entire room could feel who was really in charge of the situation. But Jabba was not one who gave up lightly.
Luke glanced down to the girl curled reluctantly at the Hutt's feet, and no matter her….less than delicate costuming, Luke could recognize Leia in an instant. A slow grin spread across his face and he raised an eyebrow. Leia both smiled and glared all at once, with an expression that clearly read, "Don't even think about it."
" Your mind tricks will not work on me, boy. "
"Nevertheless, I'm taking Captain Solo and his friends. You can either profit by this…or be destroyed."
Do you know who I really am, Jabba? Do you know I was the Imperial Prince? Do you have any clue who my father is? Don't think for an instant I won't do it.
"The choice is yours, but I warn you not to underestimate my powers."
Jabba roared laughing, yanking on Leia's chain.
Oh, he did not just…
Leia was instantly more afraid for Jabba than anyone else, as Luke had the look in his eyes. The left one twitched spasmodically, and a sneer formed on his face. Bubbling hot rage poured through his veins, though it did nothing to entice him to the Dark Side. That bastard had just hurt his Alderaanian princess. Okay, so she wasn't his, but she was his closest friend, and he would make Jabba regret more than anything in the world that he had ever chosen Leia Organa to be his latest toy.
" There will be no bargain, Jedi. "
That's it. Lard dies.
" I will enjoy watching you die. "
…Wait, what?
Luke immediately stretched out his hand, sending a blaster flying into it. But Jabba was one step ahead, and shouting, "Bascka!" Luke and a guard went tumbling down a hole in the floor. The blaster went off in his hand, firing harmlessly into the roof before it was gone completely, leaving Luke slightly disoriented in the dark of the pit and the Gamorrean squealing like the stuck pig he was. He could hear distant jeers as his head swam, and Leia screaming, "Luke, no!"
He didn't have time to reminisce on the painful times she'd said that, as a massive, drooling Rancor came stomping into the holding cell, and Luke's vision briefly tunneled.
Oh, shit, I'm gonna die.
…
He did not.
Instead, what must have been close to an hour but felt like mere moments later, the Rancor was dead, Luke was dragged out of the pit, sentenced to death by Jabba, and standing next to a blind man and a Wookie on a skiff headed out to the middle of nowhere, extremely uncomfortable as he was, once again, in black clothes on Tatooine.
Well….this wasn't quite the way he'd planned it.
The sun beat mercilessly down, and it took all of the Jedi's strength not to let his thoughts wander to unpleasant topics – like Obi-Wan – but to stay firmly rooted in reworking this. Shouldn't be hard, and he was pretty sure with a certain smoothness and pride that he had it all covered. Yes…Yes that should do it….
I hate Tatooine.
The skiff stopped around a sandy pit, massive teeth and slimy tentacles thrashing about anxiously. Luke peered over before glancing up at the sailing barge where the windows were opened and Jabba and his degenerate court could view the proceedings with perverse pleasure.
"Victims of the almighty Sarlacc," Threepio was translating. "His Excellency hopes that you will die honorable. But should any of you wish to beg for mercy, the great Jabba the Hutt will now listen to your pleas."
Luke's blood boiled again, snarling as he privately recalled that he was once the Imperial Prince, and would never, ever bow down to some over grown sand worm.
You know what, Jabba? You can kiss my a-
"Threepio!" Han cut Luke's thoughts short. "You tell that piece of worm ridden filth he'll get no such pleasure from us."
"Jabba," Luke called, trying to sound reasonable. "This is your last chance. Free us or die."
Jabba boomed some nonsense in Huttese, and Luke's bonds were cut. For a brief second he almost thought Jabba had listened, but no, he was merely moved into position on the plank. Oh well, he was going to enjoy killing that slimy bastard anyway. He glanced up and saw Artoo sitting in ready, and a soft smile crossed Luke's lips. He saluted, jumped, spun and grabbed the plank, catapulting himself back up and onto the skiff, just in time to catch his lightsaber flying through the air.
Here's where the fun begins.
…
Luke had been smiling with slight pain as he released Leia into Han's waiting arms, grimly refusing to just stick with the rest on board the Falcon, favoring his X-Wing.
"I've…got somewhere I have to be."
"Luke, not the Core again!"
"The Core? With that bounty on your head? Skywalker, what were you doing in the Core!"
Han was ignored and Luke instead shook his head. "No, Force, no. It's about as opposite the Core as you get. Don't worry, I'll catch up later."
"Just hurry," Leia said, deciding to chance it and embrace him, and Luke felt a strange combination of pain and pleasure, gulping and very lightly wrapping his arms around her.
I still lose out to Han…
He finally released her, making it plain enough that while her affections were appreciated, they served more to hurt than to heal. "I'll hurry," he promised in a hoarse whisper, giving a last smile and nod to the others before scrambling up his X-Wing and to the waiting R2. He took off as fast as he could, trying to shove away the painful ache in his chest, sucking in a deep breath. Artoo beeped something, momentarily distracting him.
"That's right, Artoo, we're going to the Dagobah system. I have a promise to keep."
And hell if he'd let Yoda push him and smack him around and lord it over him that he'd lost to his father and anything else. He promised merely to stay on the Light Side and return to train. And even if it had taken just about two years to do it, he was going back.
So there.
To Be Continued…
Originally, I was going to say I was sad because I wasn't getting a whole lot of reviews, but they boosted up a bit Still, no reason not to send in some more ;)
Ledagirl321: I hope the little bit I stuck in at the end was satisfactory.
denique: -bows- many thank yous
Spirit White: Oh, wow, thank you very much Always appreciate a new fan.
Stephanie C: I think Mara would share your opinion.
Madame Naberrie: Having addressed most of this in your message, I just want to skim a bit. Wow, you are so, so flattering To answer your question, I'm 16, and I'm hoping that doesn't make you feel even more worthless, because you're really not. Feel free to e-mail or message me or whatever else you like, but I am very, very glad you like the fic
Tap Dancing Widow: Oh, that's really cool! I haven't interviewed anybody famous at all – sigh – I am super glad you like the fic, and hope this update arrives right on time for you! Many thanks!