Chapter 8-Working with what you have

Space from a traveler's point of view looks peaceful in the silence when you stare out at it long enough with all the planets that are so small they are nothing, but white spec in the distance. It was most unfortunately for the crew aboard the Millennium Falcon it was currently neither the time nor the place to look at the stars as they tried to avoid a pursing group of Star Destroyers and their TIE fighter shooting at them trying to disable the ship. "Damn Vader and his son for doing this to us. First we lose Luke to his dad, and then we lose Echo Base. To make matters worse at the same time we lose some good friends of ours as they get massacred in that spot that was called a battle on the surface, and now were being chased by two very intimidating Imperial Star Destroyers while being blasted by their fighters. This is just one big FUN time day!" said Han as he and Chewbacca as their deflector shields took another hit.

"Fly into the asteroid field you must. Lose them you will," said Yoda as he was in the seat behind Han.

"Don't tell me how to fly my ship you old dwarf I don't care if you're a Jedi Master or an old man pretending to be one. This is my ship and I'll go where we need to go," said Han who hated backseat flyers.

"In the asteroid field you need to go. To big for the Star Destroyers to pursue it will. TIE fighters will be easier to handle from there it will be," said Yoda making his point made as another attack on the Falcon brought the shields down next to nothing.

"Okay! Okay! We'll go into the asteroid field if just to get you to shut the hell up. Now I think I know why the Emperor hates you so much," said Han as he made his way into the asteroid field.

(Space-Executor)

Darth Vader and Darth Vicious were most displeased as they walked side by side through the Imperial Super Star Destroyer. They had found little information to go on in pursing the Rebel Alliance or where there Rebel fleet that was slowly growing its forces. Those they found slowly dying quickly tried attacking the nearest trooper to them causing the trooper to react and open fire on them as a natural reflex. Now they learned that the two Star Destroyers Iron Fist and Iron Hand could no longer pursue the Millennium Falcon unless they risked being destroyed by the asteroid field itself. It was something that the Emperor would not like that in the least. Vader as well as Vicious knew it would be a waste of resources to make another Star Destroyer or repair the two that got damaged and made it to safety. "It seems you're former friends are more elusive then we gave them credit for my son," said Darth Vader who was with his son Darth Vicious on the bridge looking on at the stars ahead of them.

"Yes father. However, knowing Han he'll go someplace secluded within the Empire while at the same time meet up with someone in the area that has influence. Someone that just so happens to be a friend of Han's from his old smuggling days. We need to do a background check on Han and the ship to see who he may seek out to befriend from his past. Someone I sense who also has a connection to that ship and has a great deal of love for the vessel," said Luke reaching out through the Force to see what he could.

"Why would anyone cherish such a disgusting piece of junkyard trash that smuggler calls a ship?" said Vader in anger though he agreed with his son's assessment.

"To smugglers a ship is all they have and I assume that Han has been a smuggler most of his life and that ship means a great deal to him. He made that clear when I was once on it and he would rag about the Kessel Run he made with it. My instincts are telling me he won that ship from someone and not earned it as all smugglers do when they need to find a ship. When they have something precious to them and they gamble they sometimes bet what they have if they think they have a good Sabacc hand. Chances are Han has quite possibly met someone like himself who was a big gambler and lost the ship to him. Find him and we will find that Han and the others aren't far behind," said Luke smiling as he realized the whole theory of it all was pure genius.

Yoda will sense the trap in the area before they get even close to it my son so we must first eliminate Yoda from the equation," said Vader finding that Yoda was the only problem to the solution.

"I know father, but all the same the solution to the main problem is solid and we just need to separate Yoda from the rest of the group. When they arrive to our designed trap of a planet we must make sure they can't leave the planet under any circumstances. In fact if this were to work we would have to arrive moments before they do undetected and make the plan ready right as they walk in through the door," said Luke as he and Vader now turned to the Bounty Hunters that had been escorted in my the Stormtroopers.

"I will take care of them from here my son. In the mean time you head back to Corusant to see the Emperor and resume your training," said Vader as they walked over to Bounty Hunters who were clearly afraid of the two Sith.

"Yes father," said Darth Vicious as he walked past the Bounty Hunters to the ships TIE fighter hanger was and where his TIE Special Advanced was.

"Now for the rest of you I assume you know why you are here, but I want to set some ground rules with you first when pursing this special batch of Rebel's" said Vader as he made it first priority to give clear instructions to the Bounty Hunters.

(Somewhere in Space-5 days later)

After running through the asteroid field, repairing the ship, and nearly getting eaten by a giant asteroid worm, everyone (including Yoda) decided it was best to take their chances with running into the Imperial Fleet that was looking for them as well as the others that had left Hoth. It wasn't a surprise that no sooner had they had appeared in wide open space that 5 Star Destroyers appeared firing at them with their Turbolaser Gun Batteries. "Hey Yoda what's your big plan now besides meditating back their?" said Han as he tried flying around the Imperial ships as he tried to remotely dodge most of the energy cannons laser fire.

"Planning I am. On your own you are. Cannot expect me to do everything for you," said Yoda trying to foresee what was in the Force only to find it shrouded by the Dark Side like it was right before the Clone Wars.

"Why you little...argh!" said Han giving up from on trying to receive help from the old Jedi Master.

It was then that Yoda had an idea that made even Han surprised by the Jedi Master's tactics. "Fly at the ships bridge you must. Make it look like you are going to crash into the ship it should," said Yoda walking from his seat to the one behind Han.

"WHAT? Are you nuts! Don't answer that because I know you'll say no. Okay after that then what?" said Han who could believe he was following the old dwarfs words.

"Cling to the ship at the last minute you will. Undetected you shall be. Then when the time is right leave we will before they notice us here we should," said Yoda and Han understood.

"Here we go," said Han as he was about to do something he never thought he would do...play crazy crashing mynocks with an Imperial Star Destroyer.

(A/N: In case you're wondering that's my Star War's version for playing chicken.)

(Corusant-Imperial Palace 3 days earlier)

Darth Vicious walked slightly slower then usual as he recalled what his father said about disobeying the Emperor and not coming out unscathed from failure. 'Surely not defeating and killing Yoda will seem like I disobeyed what I promised to do. I think I'm in for a not so nice welcome when I see my master,' thought Vicious to himself though he was sure the Emperor was hearing it despite the mental barriers and shields he put up to prevent that.

As Luke entered the room where the Emperor sat that was the Throne Room he already sensed the room filled with Dark Side energy and the Emperor's anger too. "You failed me my apprentice in your promise to kill Yoda. Even with Lord Vader there you still didn't kill the old Jedi Master of a fool. YOU HAVE SHAMED ME!" said Palpatine finally yelling at the end as the chair rotated around showing that the Emperor was clearly angry as he was powerful.

"Yoda maybe an old Jedi Master of a fool my master, but he is still able to use the Force when he has to. He knocked me away in a sneak attack after I seared off some of his clothing in our duel and then before my father could pursue him he sent an avalanche of ice down in front of him to allow his escape," said Darth Vicious kneeling at the moment who knew there was no room for excuses even if it was the truth.

The Emperor slowly rose like the Devil from his throne in Hell and walked down the steps till he had reached his apprentice who was still kneeling before him as he spoke unusually calm. "You have great skill, power, passion, and pride that all Sith share when it comes to Dark Side of the Force my young apprentice. However, you lack one thing right now that you need to truly be a master of the Dark Side like myself and your father. Do you know what that is?" said the Emperor waiting for his apprentice to answer.

"I do not know my master, but I have I feeling I'm about to find out," said Darth Vicious who felt he was going to receive a painful lesson in the ways of the Dark Side form the Emperor.

The Emperor nodded his head calmly...before attacking his apprentice with wave after wave of Force Lighting before he spoke with anger in his voice. "DICIPLINE! All good Sith Lords both past and present have learned discipline in focusing their anger to a very simple and common purpose that makes them strong. Destroying all of our enemies both Jedi as well as any others who would try to stand against us. Just as we channel the Dark Side of the Force through our body we channel out anger towards something to give us purpose in life," said the Emperor who after a moment stopped his attack on a withering Darth Vicious.

"Tomorrow we will resume your training, but for now go down to the prison center of the Palace and drain the life energy of one of the prisoner to heal your slightly damaged body and then go to the med lab for Bacta treatments for the Force Lighting damage I just gave you," said the Emperor who saw Luke get up slowly and limp out of the room to do what the Emperor said.

(Space-Executor-present time)

"Apology accepted Admiral all is forgiven," said Vader as the now slump body of the Imperial officer that was the Admiral of the Iron Fist was now being dragged away by the legs by two Stormtroopers as Vader went back to looking at the information in front of him involving the Millennium Falcon that Yoda and the others were on.

According to his records he had retrieved of the ship it was a freighter class type that was made sometime after the Old Republic became the Empire. However, it was clearly an outdated model that was constantly being repaired and illegally modified to keep it going. He also noticed that the ship originally belonged to one Governor Lando Calrissian of Cloud City on Bespin. "Hmmmmm. I think its time I paid Mr. Calrissian a visit and see if he won't consider my help in getting his ship back," said Vader as he headed for the ships bridge to inform them on where to go.

(Space-Falcon)

It took some doing, but Han and the others finally found the spot they were looking for when it came to refuge though Yoda was a bit reluctant to go their. "Lando isn't a system you're Highness it's a man. Lando Calrissian is just like me with all the charm Princess you'll love him. Lando is currently the Governor of Cloud City on Bespin and what he says their goes so we should be safe their for a while until we can get our bearings," said Han as he detached from the Star Destroyer and went into hyperspace before the Imperial ship knew they were gone un aware that a certain ship Slave I was pursing them to collect on a certain bounty placed on their heads.

"Bad feeling about this I do. Twice as careful we will have to be. When we arrive at Cloud City cautious must be," said Yoda to Chewbacca who nodded his head knowing from experience that what Yoda said was true.

(Corusant-Imperial Palace)

Darth Vicious was in the Throne Room once more with his master formerly known as Darth Sidious that was now the Emperor of the Empire. The Emperor was sitting in his chair mediating while his apprentice was hovering in the air in a meditative state. The Force was surrounding him with Dark Side energies that blistered off the metal walls of the room with every growing second. It was then that Vicious had a premonition through the Force as he saw images of Vader and Yoda fighting in a cold, dark, and industrious looking room. Red and green Lightsaber's clashing. Words being spoken on a catwalk causing Darth Vader to falter as Yoda took the opportunity to strike slicing Vader's head off as his body fell and his head went into the abyss below. "Yoda? Father? What? NO!" said Vicious loudly in the end sending a shockwave of Dark Side energy everywhere that nearly sent the Emperor back at the young Sith Lord's words.

"Darth Vicious! What did you see?" said Palpatine looking at his apprentice with what could only be described as concern though Darth Vicious wasn't sure if it was real or fake.

"Father...Yoda...fighting each other. Yoda said something to my father during the duel causing him to lose his grip in the battle. Yoda struck and took my father's head off at them moment it happened. I have to do something to prevent his death, "said Luke as he got up from the ground and ran for the door.

"No Darth Vicious! You mustn't Vader's death is the will of the Force and it will be so whether you step in or not," said Palpatine, but it was too late as Dearth Vicious was already gone.

(Cloud City Air Space-Bespin)

Bespin was a planet that was classified as a nearly uninhabitable world when it was first discovered during the days of space exploration for the Old Republic. However, when Cloud City was built things changed and re-classified as a tourist spot for their Cloud Car riding, gambling, and just all out enjoyment. However, at the moment Han Solo was still having troubles getting through the current problem of air traffic controllers as they questioned him repeatedly. "I already told you I know the man who runs this place. His name is Lando Calrissian. No he's not expecting me, but this is an emergency. Just tell him Han Solo of the Millennium Falcon is here to see him to play an old fashion game of Sabacc like old times...," said Han who got as far as he could with speaking before the Cloud City police fired on his ship for a moment over the obviously fact he had said something he shouldn't have.

"Lando's a real charmer," said Leia as she saw the damage readout ignoring Han cursing in a language Leia didn't recognize.

"Just wait till you meet him in person," said Han just as the Cloud City Air Traffic Tower cleared him for landing.

(Moments Later inside Cloud City)

After the surprising hello, hug, humor filled insults that only a gambler and smuggler could laugh about Han and the others were in Cloud City in all its greatness. "When I heard that my old ship was here on being piloted by one Han Solo I was a little skeptical at first...that is till I saw it for my own eyes. You know part of me wants to slug you for cheating in that Sabacc game old buddy," said Lando as they were being escorted by the esteemed Governor of Cloud City.

"Cheated? Hey I may be a smuggler, but when it comes to playing Sabacc I play a game as straight as a Lightsaber," said Han pointing a finger at Lando in protest.

"Oh really? Well my information tells me that there was once a Lightsaber wield by a Jedi turned Sith before and during the Clone Wars that wasn't so straight," said Lando laughing at Han's shocked face.

"Oh yeah? Who told you this information I'd like to meet him?" said Han not realizing nor did anyone else for that matter that master Yoda was no longer with the group, but actually in hiding sensing something was wrong.

'Only three people know about Count Dooku's Lightsaber there are. One of them is me I know. The others are two Sith Lords they are. I sense the one of two that killed him is in this station I sense,' thought Yoda as decided to formulate a plan.

"Come on Lando between you me and these power towers here whose you're source of information on the supposed crooked Lightsaber?" said Han as they made their way to the dining hall with its doors opening up to them.

"Him," said Lando casually pointing to the black figure with a respirator system sitting down at the long end of the table with another man in worn looking battle armor on one of the sides of the table.

"Vader!" said Han who drew his blaster as the Sith Lord rose to his feet in a majestic way that would consider he had done such a thing before.

Han fire several blast at Vader who caught absorbed them all with his right hand through he Force. Then while the smuggler was shocked sent the blaster out of the man's hands into his cybernetic ones. "There is no need for such things here Captain Solo. Please join me for a meal with my associate of a Bounty Hunter here I'm sure you recognize as Boba Fett," said Vader as Stormtroopers surrounded Han and the others from behind while Boba Fett had his rifle drawn at them as well.

"I'm sorry Han they arrived mere moments before you did and told Air Traffic Control who you were in the Falcon. I was caught between a Sith and a hard place," said Lando who hated back stabbing his friends like this as they all reluctantly entered the room with their Stormtrooper escort as the doors shut behind them.

(A/N: How did you like my reference to Count Dooku? Bet you never thought he would be mentioned like that in here or at all for that matter? Anyway I hope you like it. Next Chapter: I can't tell you because it would screw up everything. Sorry! Don't hit me! Seriously keep on reviewing you never know what will happen. Remember the future always in motion it is. LOL!)