We're Wizards, Not Warriors: What If
Volume 4:
Chapter 9: Mos Eisley Reunions
We then see the group on a cliff, looking over a familiar space port.
"Mos Eisley Spaceport. You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious", Obi Wan said.
R2 beeped something.
Polly asked, "what did they say?"
C3-P0 said, "Artoo says, 'I've been to worse….'"
"Well, let's go", Sam said.
….
A few minutes later, we see the landspeeder roll up into town. Thankfully, it was big enough for the large group.
Sam had since dressed into an outfit his mother would wear when going on more dangerous negotiations. A brown shirt and pants with a red vest.
Soon the speeder was stopped by a few scouts.
The scout captain asked, "how long have you had these droids?"
"About three or four seasons", Luke said as he tried to make a good lie to trick the scouts.
Obi Wan said, "they're not for sale, if you want them."
The captain said, "let me see your identification."
"You don't need to see his identification", Obi Wan said with a wave of his hand.
The captain said in a trance-like state, "we don't need to see his identification."
Sam smirked and said, "these aren't the droids you're looking for."
The captain said, "these aren't the droids we're looking for."
Obi Wan said, "he can go about his business."
The captain said, "you can go about your business."
Sam said, "move along."
The captain said, "move along…. Move along…."
The group then passed through and parked the speeder outside a cantina.
Alastor shooed a Jawa away as they all disembarked the vehicle.
"I can't understand how we got by those scouts. I thought we were dead", Luke said, a bit worried.
"The Force can have a strong influence on the weak-minded. You will find it a powerful ally", Obi Wan explained.
Sam said, "I've used the force quite a few times to outsmart scouts."
Alastor said, "to be with someone that smart makes me the happiest Nightbrother in the galaxy."
Sam smiled and blushed as he gave Alastor a kiss on the cheek.
Luke asked, "wait, you two are a couple?"
"Yep, we are a couple", Sam said.
"And one of the cutest couples ever", Polly gushed.
Obi Wan chuckled and said, "come along. Hopefully we'll find a pilot in this cantina."
Sam held Alastor's hand and Polly in his arms as they walked inside the cantina.
Some jizz, (yes, really), music was playing as they saw a bunch of aliens and a few humans drinking and socializing.
"I don't like this place", Polly said.
Alastor held her close as Sam said, "don't worry Polly. We won't be here long."
"Now we need to find the best pilot here", Alastor said.
The bartender then pointed at C3-P0 and R2 and said, "hey, we don't serve their kind here!"
Luke asked, "what?"
The bartender said, "your droids! They'll have to wait outside, we don't want any of them here."
"Why don't you two wait out by the Speeder", Luke said to the two droids.
The two droids then went outside.
Alastor said, "somebody should watch them, make sure no-one tries to steal them."
Luke asked, "okay, who will watch them?"
Sam said, "I can. You guys try to find a pilot."
Alastor then gave Sam a quick kiss.
He whispered, "stay safe out there."
"I will, my love", Sam whispered.
Sam exited the cantina with the droids as Luke, Obi Wan, Polly and Alastor made it to the bar.
"Hopefully they find a good pilot", Sam whispered.
Little did he know the surprise that would await him….
….
Back in the cantina….
Polly was drinking some blue milk as Alastor held her.
Obi Wan was speaking with a familiar looking Wookie as Luke was ordering his own drink.
Polly then let out a loud burp.
She whispered, "excuse me", as Alastor patted her back.
"I hope Obi Wan and Luke are able to convince the pilot to help us", Alastor said.
Polly and Luke nodded in agreement.
That's when an alien named Ponda Baba grabbed Luke and started growling at him.
Luke tried to turn away, but a man with a pig-like nose and scars named Dr. Evezan pulled him and growled, "he doesn't like you."
Luke said, "sorry."
Dr. Evezan growled, "I don't like you either! You best watch yourself! We're wanted men! I have the death sentence on twelve systems!"
Luke said, "I'll be careful."
Dr. Evezan yelled, "you'll be dead!"
Obi Wan then comes to the rescue.
He said, "this little one's not worth the effort. Now let me get you something…."
Dr. Evezan yelled and threw Luke to the ground!
Ponda Baba draws a wicked chrome laser pistol from his belt and levels it at old Ben.
"No Blasters! No Blasters", the bartender panics.
Obi Wan suddenly pulled out his lightsaber and cut Baba's arm off by the elbow!
Baba roared in pain. Dr. Evazan grabbed Baba and dragged him away from the bloody appendage lying on the ground.
The band that had stopped playing began playing music again after a few moments as Obi Wan extinguished his blade and helped Luke up.
Polly asked, "are you okay?"
Luke said, "yeah, I think so."
Alastor said, "good to hear."
Then a Wookie appeared alongside Obi Wan.
"This is Chewbacca. He's first-mate on a ship that might suit our needs", Obi wan said.
Polly looked at Chewbacca and got a sense of deja-vu.
"Follow me", Obi Wan said, as the group followed Obi Wan and Chewbacca.
….
Meanwhile, Sam and the droids were hiding from some scouts as they waited for the others.
"I don't like the look of this", C3-P0 said.
R2 beeped their agreement as Sam said, "we better stay hidden until the others get back…."
….
Inside the Cantina….
The group then sat at a table.
Sitting across from them was an older but no less familiar face who introduced himself as, "Han Solo. Captain of the Millennium Falcon. Chewie here tells me you're looking for passage to the Alderaan system."
"Indeed if it's a fast ship", Obi Wan said.
Han asked, "fast ship? You've never heard of the Millennium Falcon?"
Obi Wan asked, "should we have?"
Han said, "it's the ship that made the kessel run in less than twelve parsecs."
Alastor said, "but isn't a parsec a reading of space? Not time?"
Han said, "that's a common misconception."
Polly seemed to find Han familiar.
She couldn't figure out why yet, but she was sure it'd come to her eventually.
Han asked, "I've outrun Imperial starships, not the local bulk-cruisers, mind you. I'm talking about the big Corellian ships now. She's fast enough for you, old man. What's the cargo?"
Obi Wan said, "only passengers. The two boy's here, myself, another boy, the little one, two droids…. And no questions asked."
Han asked, "what is it? Some kind of local trouble?"
Alastor muttered, "you could say that."
"Well, that's the trick, isn't it? And it's going to cost you something extra. Ten thousand in advance", Han said.
Luke asked incredulously, "ten thousand?!"
Han nods his head.
Polly exclaimed, "how are we going to pay that?!"
Luke said, "we could buy our own ship with that kind of money!"
Han asked, "and who's gonna fly it kid, you?"
"You bet I could", Luke said, "I'm not such a bad pilot myself! Come on Ben, we don't need this-"
Obi Wan held up his hand to calm Luke down.
"We can pay you two thousand now plus fifteen when we reach Alderaan", Obi Wan said.
Han raised an eyebrow and asked, "seventeen?"
Han ponders this for a few moments.
"Okay. You guys got yourself a ship. We'll leave as soon as you're ready. Docking bay Ninety-four", Han said.
Obi Wan nodded.
"Let's go tell the others", Alastor said.
The others nodded as they saw some scouts beginning to arrive and quickly left, leaving Han and Chewie to talk.
"Seventeen thousand! Those guys must really be desperate. This could really save my neck. Get back to the ship and get her ready", Han said.
Chewie nodded as he asked something in grunts.
Han shrugged and said, "I'm sure we'll figure out why that little pink thing was familiar. Now let's get a move on."
Chewie once again nodded and went off to the docking bay….
….
Outside….
Sam then saw the others walk outside.
He asked, "do we have a pilot?"
Alastor said, "indeed we do."
Obi Wan said, "but we'll have to sell Luke's landspeeder to pay for it."
Luke said, "that's alright. I'm never coming back to this place again."
Sam pats Luke's shoulder.
He said, "way to look on the bright side, Luke."
Luke smiled.
"I still have that feeling about those smugglers", Polly whispered.
Alastor said, "I'm sure we'll figure that out soon, Polly…."
….
Meanwhile, back in the Cantina….
As Han is about to leave, Greedo, a Rodian with slimy green skin and a short trunk-nose, pokes a gun in his face.
He growls in his native tongue, "going somewhere Solo?"
Han said, "yes Greedo", Greedo backed Han back into his seat as he sat across from him and Han continued to say, "as a matter of fact, I was just on my way to see your boss. Tell Jabba that I've got his money."
Greedo growled, "it's too late. You should have paid him when you had the chance. Jabba's put a price on your head so large, every bounty hunter in the galaxy will be looking for you…. Hehehe, I'm lucky I found you first."
Han said, "yeah, but this time, I've got the money."
Han slowly began to reach for his blaster under the table as his other hand was held up on the back of the chair.
Greedo said, "if you give it to me, I might forget I found you."
"I don't have it with me…. Tell Jabba-", Han tried to say, but Greedo cut him off.
Greedo growled, "Jabba's through with you. He has no time for smugglers who drop their shipments at the first sign of an Imperial cruiser."
Han growled, "even I get boarded sometimes", Han slowly grabs his blaster and is getting ready to shoot, "you think I had a choice?"
Greedo said, "you can tell that to Jabba. He may only take your ship. And maybe that weird hound you've got."
Han said, "over my dead body…."
"That's the idea. I've been looking forward to killing you for a long time", Greedo said.
"Yes, I'll bet you have", Han said.
Before Greedo could even fire a single shot, Han shot the Rodian right in the chest, making them slump over on the table, looking more akin to a fried frog than a Rodian.
The other patrons looked over for a moment as Han got up and handed the bartender a few credits, saying, "sorry about the mess."
….
Outside….
The group was making their way to the docking bay Han's ship was at, as a hooded figure watched from the shadows.
Sam was at the back of the group.
He was curious as to who the group hired to get them to Alderaan.
He just hoped that the pilot could be trusted.
As they got closer, they saw a group leaving the docking bay.
Sam recognized them as bounty hunters. He cringed when he saw Jabba the Hutt following them.
"Ugh, not him", Sam whispered as he shuddered.
Alastor said, "seeing Jabba doesn't bode well…."
"He's bad news whenever you see him", Polly whispered.
C3-P0 said, "it's a wonder his son turned out to be less violent."
That's when the group arrived at the doors to the docking bay.
"What a piece of junk", Luke said.
Sam went wide-eyed when he saw the ship and whispered, "that ain't no hunk of junk. That's the Millennium Falcon!"
Luke asked, "wait, how do you know the ship's name?"
Sam replied, "because I lived on this ship for several years!"
As if on cue, Sam then saw….
Han and Chewie!
Sam walked forward and said, "well I'll be! Han Solo and Chewbacca, as I live and breathe!"
Han and Chewie were frozen as they saw Sam.
Han smiled and said, "Sam! Is that really you?"
Sam chuckled as Chewie went forward and hugged his old friend while letting out a happy growl!
"Choking! Choking", Sam choked out.
Chewie quickly let go of Sam and gave a light chuckle.
Han said, "it's great to see you again, kid. Had I known this little group was yours, I wouldn't have charged a credit."
Sam let out a chuckle.
Polly said, "so that's why these guys seemed familiar!"
That's when the group heard someone yell from the ship, "Han! Chewie! Eda drank my blue milk!"
"Never mind that, come outside", Han said.
Sam smiled as he saw two familiar people exit the ship.
Eda and King!
King now had a broken horn and Eda now had much longer hair.
Eda and King's eyes went wide when they saw Sam!
Sam smiled as he waved at them and said, "hey Aunt Eda. King."
Eda then ran over to give Sam a hug.
She held him close as King ran over as well!
"We missed you so, so, so much", Eda cried.
Sam said, "I missed you all too. I told you I'd see you all again."
King cried, "Sam!"
Sam hugged King close next.
Sam asked, "where is Mom…. And Hunter?"
Eda said, "oh, they're back with the rebels at their hidden base on Yavin. Man, have those two missed you."
Sam said, "well, hopefully I'll get to see them again after we get to Alderaan."
"Uh, Sam", Luke asked.
"Oops, sorry, let me introduce my adopted family", Sam said, "Eda Clawthorne, King, and you guys have already talked with Han and Chewie."
"Boy, it's great to see you all again", Polly said.
Eda, King, Han and Chewie went wide-eyed as they finally realized that Polly was alive!
Chewie actually fainted when he figured it out!
Sam let out a fit of giggles.
Han and King woke Chewie up as Eda said, "so, Sam, care to introduce us to your friends?"
"Okay", Sam said as he walked over to his friends and began to introduce them, "may I introduce Obi Wan Kenobi, See Threepio, Artoo Deetoo, you all remember Polly, Luke Skywalker", Sam gave a look to his friends when they gave shocked looks that meant, 'ask later', as he said, "and finally, my boyfriend, Alastor Athon."
Sam then held Alastor's hand as he smiled.
Eda asked in shock, "boyfriend?!"
Alastor said, "it's an honor to meet another person from Dathomir. Especially since Sam has talked so highly about all of you."
King asked, "really?"
Alastor nodded.
Eda asked, "you're from Dathomir? But with the way you look…. You're an Abido, right?"
Alastor nodded.
Eda smiled and said, "always wanted to meet one."
Alastor smiled.
Sam smiled at the sight.
Han said, "alright, enough with the mushy stuff. Let's all get aboard for the trip to Alderaan."
"Oh Uncle Han", Sam whispered as he and the others boarded the ship.
Han gave the ship a quick look over outside of it.
"Stop that ship! Blast them!"
Han looked over and saw Scouts firing at the ship.
Han muttered, "son of a Mynock!"
He began blasting at the scouts!
Han then shoots at the ceiling above the scouts, forcing them to duck for cover and Han uses this chance to get inside the Falcon.
Sam yelled, "what the kriff is going on?!"
"It's the scouts! Chewie get us out of here", Han shouted.
Chewie let out a growl as he and Han got into the pilot seats!
"Oh, my. I'd forgotten how much I hate space travel", C3-P0 said.
Eda yelled, "alright, everybody hold onto something!"
Sam and Alastor sat beside Luke and Obi Wan.
R2 had magnetized themselves to the floor as King and Poppy held onto the droid!
The Falcon then lifts off into the sky. The scouts shot at it, but to no avail!
"How I missed this", Sam exclaimed.
Obi Wan and Eda both gave mirthful chuckles.
The Corellian ship zooms from Tatooine into space.
Han and Chewie were vigorously working at the controls.
"It looks like an Imperial cruiser. Our passengers must be hotter than I thought. Try and hold them off. Angle the deflector shield while I make the calculations for the jump to lightspeed", Han said.
Luke muttered, "this guy is nuts!"
Sam said, "that's what I thought when I first met him."
Over the shoulders of Chewbacca and Han, we can see the galaxy spread before them..
"Stay sharp! There are two more coming in, they're going to try to cut us off", Han said.
"Why don't you outrun them? I thought you said this thing was fast", Luke said.
Eda remarked, "it is fast…. Usually."
"And trust my Aunt Eda's word, the Falcon is one of the fastest ships in the galaxy", Sam said.
"Sam is right on that", Polly said.
Luke gave a worried look as he held onto the door frame for dear life.
"Here's where the fun begins", Han said.
Obi Wan smirked as he remembered the last time he heard that line.
Sam grinned as well. Ahsoka said that line a lot.
Obi Wan asked, "how long before you can make the jump to lightspeed?"
Eda, Sam, Polly, King and Chewie all groaned.
"It'll take a few moments to get the coordinates from the navi-computer", Han said.
Sam said, "some things never change."
The ship begins to rock violently as lasers hit it.
Eda groaned, "you're right about that one, Sam!"
"Are you kidding? At the rate they're gaining-", Luke said before Han cut him off.
Han said, "traveling through hyperspace ain't like dusting crops, boy! Without precise calculations, we could fly right through a star or bounce too close to a supernova and that'd end your trip real quick, wouldn't it?"
King pointed out, "he has a point."
Sam said, "Han's been flying ships since he was a teenager, of course he has a point."
Chewie then growled.
"It's time to jump to Lightspeed", Han said.
Everyone crossed their fingers.
The galaxy brightens and they move faster, almost as if crashing a barrier. Stars become streaks as the ship makes the jump to hyperspace!
Luke gave a wide-eyed look as Sam smiled with a feeling of nostalgia.
"I love this part", Polly exclaimed.
King nodded in agreement.
….
Meanwhile….
We then see the Death Star.
Within, we see Grand Moff Tarkin standing by a set of windows overlooking Alderaan.
Vader was there as well.
Princess Leia had just been escorted into the room.
"Governor Tarkin. I recognized your foul stench when I was brought on board", Leia said with a small smirk on her face.
Two scouts glanced at one another for a moment.
The first whispered, "that's the dumbest insult I've ever heard."
The second whispered, "I'm just concerned about how weird she said that."
The first shrugged and said, "oh well. At least she didn't complain about sand…."
Back to Leia and Tarkin….
"Charming to the last. You don't know how hard I found it signing the order to terminate your life", Tarkin said.
Vader growled, "I told you she is not to be killed. I want that order canceled, Tarkin, as soon as possible!"
Tarkin turned to look at the Emperor.
He could tell Vader was glaring under his mask.
Leia gave a smug grin.
Tarkin glared at Leia as he hissed, "very well Lord Vader…. I shall terminate the order."
Leia then saw her home planet Alderaan.
Leia asked, "why are we here?"
Vader wanted to know this as well.
"I thought we would demonstrate the power of the Death star on your home planet", Tarkin said.
Leia said, "no! You can't! Alderaan is peaceful! We have no way to defend ourselves!"
"If you tell me the location of the Rebel base, I will leave your planet alone", Tarkin said.
Leia looked down in fear.
Vader said, "Tarkin, if she tells us, you are not to destroy the planet, agreed?"
Tarkin was confused at Vader's behavior.
Before Tarkin could say anything, Leia said, "I can't…."
Tarkin growled, "I grow tired of this! Name the system!"
Leia looked at her home planet and said shakily, "Dantooine…. They're on Dantooine."
Tarkin smirked and said, "excellent. See how easy that was?"
Leia gave a sigh of relief that her planet was going to be alright.
"You better keep your end of the deal, Tarkin", Vader warned.
Vader turned and made his way out of the room.
Tarkin smiled evilly and said to the scouts, "gentlemen, you may fire when ready."
Leia yelled, "what?!"
"You're far too trusting. Dantooine is too remote to make an effective demonstration. But don't worry. We will deal with your Rebel friends soon enough", Tarkin said.
Leia cried out, "NO!"
….
Down the hall, Vader heard the scream.
He quickly turned tail and ran back to the room, and barged in just as a beam of violent green light hit Alderaan, and in the matter of a few seconds, the planet blew up in a fiery explosion!
Leia had tears streaming down her face!
Vader stormed over to Tarkin and yelled, "what have you done?!"
Tarkin said, "Alderaan has allied itself with the rebels. We couldn't let them live."
Vader clenched his fists in anger.
Vader growled, "if you go over my head one more time, Tarkin, you'll be joining my predecessor in Hell…."
Tarkin tried to keep a stoic face.
But on the inside, he was terrified.
….
Back on the Falcon….
Luke was training with a floating device of some kind.
Suspended at eye level, about ten feet in front of Luke, was the "seeker", a chrome baseball-like robot covered with antennae, hovers slowly in a wide arc. The ball floats to one side of the youth then the other.
Luke was wielding Anakin's lightsaber.
Sam was happy to see his father's old weapon in the hands of his brother.
Luke tried to deflect the blaster shots from the training droid, but he was hit in the back.
As this happened, Obi Wan suddenly grew shaky and sat down with a horrified expression.
Sam was confused, until…. He felt it too.
Alastor asked worriedly, "Sam? What's wrong?"
Luke also asked, "Obi Wan? What's wrong?"
"I felt a great disturbance in the Force…. As if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened", Obi Wan said.
Sam said, "I felt it too. Something terrible has happened…. It felt like…. Thousands of lights, going off in the blink of an eye…."
The others all gave shocked and worried looks at what Sam and Obi Wan described.
Sam rubs his forehead. He had a hunch about what it was, but he couldn't be sure.
"Just keep training, Luke", Obi Wan said.
Luke sighed but nodded.
"Remember, a Jedi can feel the Force flowing through him", Obi Wan said.
Sam nodded at Obi Wan's words as Polly, King and Alastor watched in fascination.
Luke asked, "you mean it controls your actions?"
"Partially. But it also obeys your commands", Obi Wan said.
Suddenly it makes a lightning-swift lunge and stops within a few feet of Luke's face. Luke doesn't move and the ball backs off. It slowly moves behind the boy, then makes another quick lunge, this time emitting a blood red laser beam as it attacks. It hits Luke in the leg causing him to tumble over.
"That happened to me as well when I started training", Sam said as he chuckled.
Luke groaned as Alastor said, "I wish I had a knack for this."
Sam playfully smacked Alastor's arm.
Polly giggled at the two.
As did King.
"I suggest you try again, Luke", Obi Wan said as he handed Luke a helmet.
Luke said, "but with the blast shield down, I can't even see. How am I supposed to fight?"
"Your eyes can deceive you. Don't trust them", Obi Wan said.
Luke sighed and shrugged as he placed the helmet on.
Luke swings the lightsaber around blindly missing the seeker, which fires off a laserbolt which hits Luke square on the seat of the pants. He lets out a painful yell and attempts to hit the seeker.
"Stretch out with your feelings", Obi Wan said.
Luke stands in one place, seemingly frozen. The seeker makes a dive at Luke and, incredibly, he manages to deflect the bolt. The ball ceases fire and moves back to its original position.
Sam smiled with an impressed look. His brother was getting better and better.
"You see, you can do it", Sam said.
Luke let out a breath as he took off the helmet.
"That was some luck", Polly said.
"In my experience, there's no such thing as luck", Obi Wan said.
Han chuckled and said, "well in my experience, luck is everything."
Han notices a small light flashing on the far side of the control panel.
"Looks like we're coming up on Alderaan", Han said.
Sam and Obi Wan glanced at one another. They weren't so sure.
"You know, I did feel something. I could almost see the remote", Luke said.
This made Sam and Obi Wan smile in excitement.
We then see Han and Chewie in the pilot seats.
"Stand by, Chewie, here we go. Cut in the sublight engines", Han said.
Chewie nodded as he did as instructed.
Han pulls back on a control lever. Outside the cockpit window stars begin streaking past, seem to decrease in speed, then stop. Suddenly the starship begins to shudder and violently shake about. Asteroids begin to race toward them, battering the sides of the ship.
"What the…? Aw, we've come out of hyperspace into a meteor shower. Some kind of asteroid collision. It's not on any of the charts", Han said.
The others came scrambling up to the cockpit.
Luke asked, "what's going on?"
"Our position is correct, except…. No, Alderaan", Han said, confused.
Sam asked, "how the Hell can there be no Alderaan?!"
"That's what I'm trying to tell you, Sam. It ain't there. It's been totally blown away", Han said.
Eda yelled, "what?! How?!"
"Destroyed…. By the Empire", Obi Wan said.
King said, "but that's impossible! Planets don't just go around blowing up!"
Sam then had a feeling on what had destroyed Alderaan.
He thought, 'the Death Star.'
"There's another ship coming in", Han said.
It was a TIE Fighter!
Alastor asked, "where did it come from?"
"There has to be a space station around here", Han said.
Eda said, "an Imperial one, most likely."
"It sure is leaving in a big hurry. If they identify us, we're in big trouble", Luke said.
"Not if I can help it. Chewie, jam it's transmissions", Han said.
Chewie nodded and got to work.
The Falcon followed the Tie fighter.
"Look, he's heading for that small moon", Luke said.
But as they got closer, Sam and Obi Wan said in unison, "that's no moon…. That's a space station…."
"It's too big to be a space station", Han said.
"I've got a very bad feeling about this", Luke said.
Alastor said, "you and the rest of the universe."
"Yeah, I think you're right. Full reverse! Chewie, lock in the auxiliary power", Han said.
Chewie growled as he acted as quickly as he could.
Luke asked, "why are we still moving towards it?"
The Falcon crew yelled, "tractor beam!"
"There's gotta be something you can do", Luke said.
Han growled as he tried to think of something!
"There's nothin' I can do about it, kid. I'm in full power. I'm going to have to shut down. But they're not going to get me without a fight", Han said.
Obi Wan said, "you can't win. But there are alternatives to fighting…."
….
The falcon gets closer to the Death Star.
Dozens of scouts surround the Falcon as it is pulled into a hangar.
We then see Tarkin in the meeting room.
He was confused and angry about the appearance of the ship in the hangar.
Tarkin then presses a button and hears a scout over the intercom
"We've captured a freighter entering the remains of the Alderaan system. Its markings match those of a ship that blasted its way out of Mos Eisley."
Tarkin growled as Vader soon entered the room.
"They must be trying to return the stolen plans to the princess", Vader said.
Tarkin rolled his eyes at what Vader said, glad that the Emperor didn't see him do so.
….
Back on the Falcon….
We see the Scouts exit the ship.
They hadn't managed to find a trace of our heroes!
Vader and a commander approach the scouts as an officer and several heavily armed scouts exit the spacecraft.
"There's no one on board, sir. According to the log, the crew abandoned the ship right after takeoff. It must be a decoy, sir. Several of the escape pods have been jettisoned", a scout said.
Vader looked down in thought, feeling a familiar presence in the force.
"I sense something…. A presence I haven't felt since….", Vader said.
Vader stopped talking and began to talk away, ordering some scouts to guard the ship.
….
Inside the Falcon….
Three floor panels pop up.
The group popped their heads out one by one.
"I couldn't breathe down there", Polly whispered.
King flopped next to Polly and nodded.
Alastor then helped Sam up.
Sam said, "thanks sweety."
"No problem, my little imp", Alastor said.
Eda popped up with her hair all over the place.
She growled, "not a word."
Luke asked, "well now what?"
Sam said, "we gotta find a way to get the ship outta here."
"We need to disable the tractor beam", Han said.
Alastor said, "that's easier said than done."
"First we need to take care of the scouts", Eda said.
King asked, "and how are we gonna do that?"
"I have a plan", Han said.
Chewie popped up and growled worriedly.
….
Two crewmen carry a heavy box on board the ship, past the three scouts guarding either side of the ramp.
"The ship's all yours. If the scanners pick up anything, report it immediately. Alright, let's go", a scout said.
The crewmen enter the ship and a loud crashing sound is followed by a voice calling to the guard below.
"Hey down there, could you give us a hand with this?"
The scouts enter the ship and a quick round of gunfire is heard.
After a minute or two, the group slowly makes their way out of the ship, with Luke, Alastor and Han disguised as scouts and Eda and Sam disguised as the crewmen.
….
In a very small command office near the entrance to the ship, an officer looks out his window and notices the guards are missing.
He speaks into the comlink, "TK-421, why aren't you at your post? TK-421, please respond!"
He looks down to see Luke in the scout armor banging against his helmet and shrugging.
"Must be a faulty comlink. I'm going to investigate", the Officer said.
As the officer approaches the door, it slides open revealing the towering Chewbacca. The officer, in a momentary state of shock, stumbles backward. With a bone-chilling howl, the giant Wookiee flattens the officer with one blow. The aide immediately reaches for his pistol, but is blasted by Han, still in his disguise!
The group soon all enter the room as Luke joins them a minute later.
"You know, between his howling and your blasting everything in sight, it's a wonder the whole station doesn't know we're here", Luke said.
Han rolls his eyes as Sam said, "that's Han for ya."
Alastor took off his helmet and said, "I can't breathe in this thing!"
Polly asked, "how do those scouts handle wearing those things?"
Han said, "it's a glitch in the helmet."
Alastor asked, "how do you know that?"
Han replied, "I joined the Empire for a few years in order to become a pilot and then took my first chance out of that life."
"We found the computer outlet, sir", C3-P0 said to Luke.
C3-P0 and R2 look over the control panel. R2 finds something that makes him whistle wildly.
"Plug in. He should be able to interpret the entire Imperial computer network", Obi Wan said.
R2 got to work on doing so as Eda was keeping her eye on the doors.
R2 punches his claw arm into the computer socket and the vast Imperial brain network comes to life, feeding information to the little robot. After a few moments, he beeps something.
Luke asked, "what is it, Artoo?"
"He says he's found the main computer to power the tractor beam that's holding the ship here. He'll try to make the precise location appear on the monitor", C3-P0 said.
The computer monitor flashes readouts.
"The tractor beam is coupled to the main reactor in seven locations. A power loss at one of the terminals will allow the ship to leave", C3-P0 explained.
King said, "well, someone's gonna have to go down there and shut those things down."
"I will do it, but I must do it alone", Obi Wan said.
Sam said, "that doesn't sound like a good idea."
"I want to go with you", Luke said.
"Be patient, Luke. Stay and watch over the droids", Obi Wan said.
"But-", Luke said.
"They must be delivered safely or other star systems will suffer the same fate as Alderaan. Your destiny lies along a different path than mine. The Force will be with you…. Always", Obi Wan said
Obi Wan adjusts the lightsaber on his belt and silently steps out of the command office, then disappears down a long gray hallway.
Sam gave a worried look. He had a bad feeling about what was gonna happen.
Suddenly, R2 begins to whistle and beep a blue streak. Luke goes over to him.
Luke asked, "what is it?"
"I'm afraid I'm not quite sure, sir. He says 'I found her', and keeps repeating, 'she's here'", C3-P0 explained.
Luke asked, "who? Who's here?"
C3-P0 said, "Princess Leia."
Sam and Luke both went wide-eyed!
Luke exclaimed, "the Princess?! She's here!?"
Sam asked, "where?"
"Level five. Detention block A A-twenty-three", C3-P0 said.
"We have to rescue her", Sam said.
Luke nodded in agreement as Polly said excitedly, "I'm gonna meet a princess!"
"If you're going, I'm going as well", King said.
Eda cocked a hip and said, "same goes for me."
"Same for me", Alastor said.
The others looked at Han and Chewie.
Han asked, "what?"
Sam asked, "aren't you gonna help?"
"Now, look, don't get any funny ideas. The old man wants us to wait right here", Han said.
Luke said, "but he didn't know she was here. Look, will you just find a way back into the detention block?"
"I'm not going anywhere", Han said.
Sam then got an idea.
He said, "I've heard that Leia is not only as beautiful as an angel from Iego, but is also as rich as the entire Hutt clan."
Han turned to Sam, and flinched when he saw Sam making puppy dog eyes.
"Oh, he's making the face", King said with a giggle.
Polly asked, "the face?"
Eda said, "the face. He gives this cutesy pleading look that always gets him what he wants."
Alastor asked, "really?"
Eda said, "yep. He's never given you the face?"
Alastor said, "he's never had to persuade me to do anything he wanted."
"Well, no one has been able to resist the face", King said.
Chewie nodded.
Sam said as he continued to make the puppy dog eyes, "please Han?"
Han tried to look away, but caved in and groaned, "fine! We'll save the damned princess!"
Sam then let out a few giggles and said, "works every time."
Han groaned and said, "how are we gonna fool those idiots in the cell block?"
That's when Luke spotted some binders.
"Okay. Now, I'm going to put these on you", Luke said as he walked towards Chewie.
Chewie growled at Luke! He wasn't too eager to be handcuffed.
"Chewie", Sam scolded.
Chewie whimpered.
"Okay. Han, you put these on", Luke said to Han.
Han and Chewie glanced at one another uneasily….
….
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