Chapter 3: A Daring Rescue
Who! Thanks a bundle for the positive response! I've always been a bit modest, but this just makes me so happy! Here's another chapter for you wonderful people! And to SamoaPhoenix9, I didn't think you came off strongly about the timeframe. (I'm a huge detail freak myself, and being the second foremost authority on Star Wars in my school, I guess I would kinda know what I'm talking about. ;) )
"The cantina in Mos Eisley was dark and dirty, with possibly a hundred different alien species inside. Possibly just as many outlaws and bounty hunters as well. It was Ben who described it a 'wretched hive of scum and villainy.' It was a correct analogy and Ben was leading Luke right into the thick of it. He now sat across from an eight-foot tall Wookie, when a smug-looking, older pilot sat down. He wore his hair long, but to such a degree that it became bulky. There was a thin scar across his chin, below the thin lips that were locked in a permanent sneer. There was a scoped DL-44 heavy pistol at his hip, a black vest across the tan shirt and blue pilot pants with black boots.
" 'Han Solo.' He introduced himself, taking a seat beside the Wookie. 'I'm captain of the Millennium Falcon. Chewie here tells me you're lookin' for passage to the Alderaan system.'
" 'Yes,' Ben said. 'If it's a fast ship.'
" 'Fast ship?' Solo repeated. His look of offense turned to bragging as he leaned in closer. 'You never heard of the Millennium Falcon?'
"Ben merely blinked. 'Should I have?' He asked innocently.
" 'It's the ship that made the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs.' Solo said, as if it couldn't be more obvious than if he said a Gundark were pulling Luke's ears off. 'I've outrun Imperial starships. Not the local bulk cruisers mind you. I'm talkin' 'bout the bid Corellian ships now. She's fast enough for ya, old man. What's the cargo?'
" 'Only passengers.' Ben said. 'Myself, the boy, two droids, and no questions asked.'
"Solo gave a toothy grin, enjoying the idea. 'What is it, some kinda local trouble?'
" 'Let's just say we'd like to avoid any Imperial entanglements.' Ben said simply.
"Solo leaned back in his seat. 'Yeah, well that's the real trick, isn't it? And it's gonna cost ya somethin' extra. Ten thousand. All in advance.'
"Luke was appalled and he wasn't afraid to show it. 'Ten thousand?' His words attracted a small number of looks from nearby tables. 'We could almost buy our own ship for that!'
" 'But who's gonna fly it, kid?" Solo sneered. 'You?'
" 'You bet I could!' Luke said. 'I'm not such a bad pilot myself. We don't have to stay here and listen…'
"Luke stood to go, but Ben put a reassuring hand on his forearm, seating the young farmboy. 'We can pay you two thousand now,' Ban said. 'Plus fifteen when we reach Alderaan.'
"Solo's attitude did a complete turnaround. 'Seventeen, huh?' At Ben's nod, he gave a lopsided grin. 'OK, you guys got yourselves a ship. We'll leave as soon as you're ready. Docking bay 94.'
"Ben repeated the number and Solo looked over Luke's shoulder. 'Looks like someone's beginning to take an interest in your handiwork, old man.'
"Ben and Luke turned to see three Imperial shock troopers, carrying T-21 heavy rifles. They sat up and left, leaving only Han and Chewbacca.
"One the troopers had moved off, Han slapped the table. 'Seventeen thousand!' He whooped triumphantly. 'Those guys must really be desperate. This could really save my neck. Get back to the ship, get her ready.'
"As both of them went their separate ways, a green-skinned Rodian came out of a seat and leveled a blaster at Han's chest. Going somewhere, Solo? He asked in Huttese.
" 'Yes, Greedo.' Han said, backing into a booth. He propped his left foot up on the table and his left foot began to play with the shipping plaster on the wall behind his head. The Rodian took a seat across from him, blaster leveled. 'As a matter of fact, I was just going to see your boss. Tell Jabba that I've got the money.'
" It's too late for that. Greedo said. You should have paid him when you had the chance. Jabba's put such a price on your head, every bounty hunter in the galaxy will be looking for you. He gave a mirthless laugh. I'm lucky I found you first.
" 'Yeah, but this time, I've got the money.' Han reasoned.
" If you give it to me, I might forget I found you. Greedo offered.
" 'I don't have it with me,' Han said, his right hand slipping down to his blaster. The pin of the holster came off, and Hang ripped the handle. 'Tell Jabba…'
" Jabba's though with you. Greedo snapped. He has no time for smugglers who drop their shipment at the first sign o fan Imperial starship.
" 'Even I get boarded sometimes.' Han said, the DL-44 coming out, concealed under the table. Its white muzzle pointed in an angle at Greedo's chest. 'You think I had a choice?'
"After a pause, Greedo tried again. You can tell that to Jabba. He may only take your ship.
"The hand playing with the plaster dropped. 'Over my dead body,' Han Solo sneered.
" That's the idea. Greedo said. I've been looking forward to this for a long time.
" 'Yeah, I'll bet you have.' Han said, pulling the trigger.
"Greedo's flesh erupted into smoke and a hole was blown clean through his chest. His dead hand spasmed on the blaster, the bolt misfiring and blowing a hole in the ancient plaster, inches from Han's head. Solo stood, holstered the DL-44, and dug out a credit chip. He flipped it at the bartender and quipped 'Sorry 'bout the mess,' before he left.
"He made his way to his ship, to find that his suspicions were correct. The immense, slug-like Jabba the Hutt stood outside his ship, with a few of his bounty hunter staff.
" Solo! He called in his native tongue. Come out of there, Solo! Solo!
" 'Right here, Jabba.' Han said, most of the men turning at breakneck speed. "Bin waitin' for ya.'
" Have you now Jabba said, and let out a chuckle.
" 'You didn't think I was gonna run, did ya?' Han sneered as he walked towards Jabba. Now, another hunter stood beside the Hutt. He wore extremely weathered green Mandalorian armor, and clutched a sawed-off EE-3 blaster carbine. His hand went to the safety lever, as if he were going to pull it off.
" Han, my boy, Jabba said. You disappoint me. Why haven't you paid me, and why did you fry poor Greedo?
" 'Look Jabba,' Han said. 'Next time you wanna come talk to me, come see me yourself. Don't send one of these twerps.' (Boba Fett's hands tightened around his EE-3.)
" Han, Jabba said, starting to walk with the smuggler. Well, Han walked. Jabba moved like the slug-like creature he was. I can't make exceptions. What if everyone who smuggles for me dropped their shipments at the first sign of an Imperial starship? It's not good business.
" 'Look, Jabba.' Han said. 'Even I get boarded sometimes.' He walked around Jabba, purposely stepping on his large tail. Jabba squealed with discomfort. 'You think I had a choice? But I got a nice easy shipment now. I'll pay you back, plus a little extra; I just need a little more time.'
" Han, my boy, Jabba said. You're the best. So, for an extra twenty percent…
" 'Fifteen, Jabba.' Han said. 'Don't push it.'
" OK, Fifteen. Jabba said. But if you fail me again, I'll put a price on your head so big; you won't be able to go near a civilized system.
" 'Jabba,' Han said before he boarded the Falcon. 'You're a wonderful human being.'
"Jabba and his hunters moved off, Boba Fett sulking at the missed opportunity to use his EE-3."
Belle rubbed her eyes and closed the book. She had gotten lost in her little area near a tree, but it was time she got home for midday. Mr. Zachariah had his cookies, and everything was well in the world. She repressed a giggle at Jussen, flexing his biceps for a group of young women. She slunk by him without being noticed, but one person did catch her eye. Ruddy was sitting down under a fairly large tree, picking at the grass. The one thing that struck Belle the most was the scarf he wore. This was extremely odd, for it looked disturbingly familiar…
"Hello, Ruddy." She greeted. "That's a nice scarf, where did you get it?"
"I found it," Ruddy grinned boyish and stupidly. "Somewhere in the woods." He took it off and gave it to Belle.
"I know this scarf!" Belle suddenly exclaimed. "It's my father's! I know, I made it!"
"Oh, well." Ruddy said. "Finders keepers!" He snatched it back and stuck his tongue out, causing Belle to roll her eyes.
"Ruddy, I'm not worried about the scarf itself." Belle said. "But when he's traveling, my father never takes this off! Where in the woods did you find this?"
"On some really old road." Ruddy said. "I don't think it's been used for years. The scarf was near a crashed cart."
"Ruddy, you have to take me there." Belle said, urgently. "My father's in danger if he doesn't have this."
"Awwww…" Ruddy whined. "I hate the woods! It's all dark and spooky and weird and creepy and wet and cold and… You go."
He ran off as fast as his short legs could possibly take his fat little body would take him.
Belle sighed and rushed home. She packed her day bag with a blanket and all the food she could, next to her three books. She boarded her own bora and set off out into the woods at full speed.
It took the better part of what remained of the day to reach the crossroads, where the beaten path gave way to a dark, unkempt and unused path. However, there were wheel marks there that, Belle found upon inspection, were fairly fresh. This had to be the trail Belle sought or her name was Imperial Grand Admiral Motti.
As the sky grew dark, Belle found the remains of a mangled cart. She dismounted her bora and went to inspect.
The call of a distant wild animal spooked the bora, which turned and ran for home. Belle called after it, but to no avail. She drew her traveler's cloak around her and inspected the cart. The cart's wheels had sustained heavy damage, as had her father's machine. The bora pulling the contraption got the worst of it, seeing as all that remained were gory bones and matted fur. But, there was no sign of her father. She searched the woods surrounding, cling his name until the sun had gone down. It was now, just as the sun dipped down beyond the horizon, that she came to a dark iron gate, with a foreboding castle on the other side.
Repressing a chill, Belle pried the piece of wood that served as a lock out and stepped inside the grounds. The iron gate creaked from disuse, and Belle replaced the wood lock, after hearing the distant howl of a korba.
The grounds were choked with vegetation, the hedges unkempt and large. The fountains were clogged with overgrowth and the statues tat surrounded the place seemed to reflect the appalling state of the place, as they were contorted in terror and pain. In the back of her mind, Belle could almost hear Han Solo saying something along the lines of "Charming place…"
As Belle reached the large wooden door, she suddenly felt cold, small, and very scared. But her father was still out here. If he were alive, this was where he'd have to be.
She opened the door, expecting the insides to be cold, dark and drafty…
Only to be impressed with the warmth and excellent housekeeping someone maintained on this place. Evidently someone lived here.
"Father?" Belle called. "Father? Where are you? Are you here?"
It was now in her peripheral vision that she caught sight of a door ajar, almost as if it had been slammed and forgotten about. Any lead was better than nothing, and Belle went to investigate.
The stairway down was dark, and circular. The light projected from the foyer only went so far, and that wasn't much. Belle took a candlestick nearby on a desktop and proceeded into the darkness, voicing her concern to no one in particular.
"I have a bad feeling about this…"
End of Chapter.
Whew! That was a good chapter. I think anyway. Huge segment of A New Hope I know, but it only comes with being both a Harrison Ford look-alike and extreme Han Solo fan. Hope you guys liked it, for it'll be the last for at least a couple of chapters. And just for the record HAN SHOT FIRST! You have proof here! Sorry, it's just been an ongoing debate in several circles. Anyway, hanks for reading and I doth commandeth thee to revieweth! Please-eth?
