Chapter 66
Han Solo and Chewbacca left Bespin several hours after the Skywalkers. Han was in a foul mood, as Chewbacca soon discovered. Grunting in response to his copilot's questions, he brooded sullenly about the last conversation he'd had with Leia. She'd been cool with him, cooler than she'd ever been. Han had become accustomed to Leia's temper; part of him even enjoyed going head to head with the fiery Princess. But her coldness he could not take. It's that Imperial jackass, Han thought petulantly. He's to blame and I'll bet a thousand credits that her old man set the whole thing up.
Chewbacca announced that he was about to make the jump to hyperspace, to which Han merely grunted in response. But when the hyperdrive engines failed to ignite, Han was forced to respond and respond quickly.
"What the hell is going on?" he demanded, sitting up and looking frantically at his controls. "Lando told me his men would fix this!"
Chewbacca tersely reminded Han of just how trustworthy Lando Calrissian was. Han frowned as he scrambled out of his seat and ran to the back of the ship to fix the recalcitrant hyperdrive. Chewbacca joined him at once, leaving the cockpit unattended as the ship cruised along. Neither of them noticed the ship that had been following them since they left Bespin. Neither of them noticed when it set its weapons on the Falcon. However when the ship drew close enough to place a tractor beam on the small freighter, both of them noticed at once.
"What the hell was that?" Han asked, pulling his head from the access hatch.
Chewbacca lumbered back to the cockpit followed quickly by Han. As soon as they looked at the screen, they knew what had happened.
"Tractor beam!" Han shouted, jumping into the pilot's seat. Frantically he tried to push against the invisible force field, but to no avail. They were trapped.
Han turned to Chewbacca as panic filled him. Chewbacca growled a Wookiee curse.
"Yeah, you and me both pal," Han muttered. "I think we'll find out soon enough who's behind this. In the mean time, let's make ourselves scarce."
Slowly the Falcon was drawn into the hangar bay of a strangely configured larger vessel. Han and Chewbacca, safely stowed in the secret storage compartments, listened with breath held as the ship was boarded and what sounded like two individuals commenced searching for the passengers. Han felt his heart pounding hard as the footfalls drew closer to the walkway where he and Chewbacca were hidden. They stopped, and then the two renegades soon began to hear the sound of an alien tongue. Han frowned, his fear doubling when he recognized it. It was the language of the Trandoshans, a violent, reptilian race who had a reputation for ruthlessness throughout the galaxy.
The footsteps started again, moving off. Han and Chewbacca looked at one another, blasters ready. Silently Han mouthed one, two, three! Chewie pushed open the hold with one mighty shove and the two burst forth ready to blast the intruders.
"Stop right there, Solo," a sinister voice hissed from behind them. Han and Chewbacca slowly turned to see their captor, who stood with weapon trained squarely at them. He spoke briefly into a comlink, and soon his two comrades joined him.
"Always nice to see you, Solo," the alien said as his associates took the weapons from Han and Chewbacca.
"Kiss my ass, Bossk," Han replied tersely.
Bossk only response was a gruesome smile, his mouth open wide to reveal an alarming number of lethal looking teeth. "Take them," he commanded.
Rebel Fleet Rendezvous- Star Destroyer Executor
Obi-Wan Kenobi hated feeling ill, but the past few days of little sleep and stress had taken its toll on the old Jedi. He had dearly wanted to accompany Anakin and his family to the Rebel command ship in order to lend his support to their cause. Granted, Generals Reikan and Dodonna were already well acquainted with Kenobi, and knew how close he was to both Luke and Leia; still, Obi-Wan felt his voice was one that needed to be heard in defense of Anakin Skywalker. Perhaps there is more I can do than merely add my voice to their cause, he thought as he sat in the small sitting room adjoining his quarters. Perhaps there is something more significant I can do.
Obi-Wan stood up and made left his quarters, heading to the suite where he knew Anakin and his family was waiting for the rebel response to their proposal. Several hours had passed since they had returned to the Executor, and it was a tension filled time for all. Arriving at their quarters, Obi-Wan found Anakin alone with his son and Lieutenant Keller. They looked up when he entered the room.
"How are you feeling, Ben?" Luke asked.
"Oh I'm fine," Obi-Wan replied. "A nice sleep and I'm as good as new."
Anakin watched his friend closely, worried about him. "Are you sure about that?" he asked.
"Yes," Obi-Wan replied. "Quite. So tell me how things went on the command ship."
Anakin shrugged. "Hard to say really," he replied.
Obi-Wan nodded. "No doubt it was something of a shock learning that you were once Darth Vader."
"You could say so," Luke replied. "I thought their eyes were going to pop right out of their heads when Dad told them. They were completely blown away."
"I'm sure," Obi-Wan replied. "But the fact that they spoke to you is a good sign. It shows that they realize that you are no longer Darth Vader."
"Possibly," Anakin conceded. "But that may not be enough, Obi-Wan. Just the fact that I was Vader may be enough for them to damn me."
Obi-Wan considered the dilemma for a moment. "I may have a solution that could help us convince them of your trustworthiness," he said.
"What is that?" Luke asked.
"By showing them that you have the support of the Jedi behind you," Obi-Wan replied. "Obviously my influence isn't sufficient," he commented wryly. "But add Yoda's to mine, I believe that would make a difference."
Anakin nodded, beginning to grow hopeful. "Yes," he replied. "That might just be the deciding factor. Surely if they realize that the Jedi believe in me they will see that I am no longer a threat to them."
"My thinking exactly," Obi-Wan said. "Perhaps we could arrange for a shuttle to go to Dagobah. I will go myself to bring Master Yoda here."
"You're not in any shape to be making such a long voyage," Anakin replied.
"I am perfectly fine," Obi-Wan retorted. "Besides, I have no intention of flying the damnable ship. You know how I hate to do that."
Anakin and Luke exchanged a grin. "Yes, I know very well how much you hate to fly," Anakin replied. He looked at Keller. "Can you arrange for a pair of clones to accompany General Kenobi to Dagobah?"
"I'll see to it at once, sir," Keller responded, standing up.
"Thank you, Lieutenant," Obi-Wan said, glad that he would finally be contributing to the cause. "I would appreciate that."
Rebel Command Ship
The rebel leaders had sat in stupefied silence for several minutes after the Skywalkers had left them. To them it was unimaginable that the man that had sat in their midst had been Darth Vader. Each of them was old enough to remember Anakin Skywalker, and the thought that he had become the sinister Vader was both shocking and disillusioning to them. And yet, the more they pondered it, the more it made sense. It explained why Vader had risked so much to help Princess Leia escape, why he had helped the Alliance destroy the Death Star and why he had gone to great lengths to prevent the destruction of Alderaan. Somehow the presence of his children in his life had brought out the humanity in Vader, had brought Anakin Skywalker back from the dead. But could they truly trust him after all that he had done? How could they be certain that he would not slip again into Darkness?
"Well, that certainly was ….surprising," General Reikan said at last.
Admiral Ackbar nodded slowly. "Indeed," he replied. "To think we were sitting here talking to Darth Vader…"
"But he is no longer Darth Vader," Mon Mothma reminded them. "Or else none of us would be alive right now, would we?"
None could admit that the man who had sat in their midst only a short time ago was nothing like the formidable Dark Lord they had all come to loathe and fear. No, he was quite the antithesis of Vader, as though Skywalker and Vader were opposites. Perhaps in a way they were.
"I think the fact that Padmé Amidala supports him says a great deal," Mothma went on to say. "I knew her very well, and I remember what a champion of justice she always was. Why, she was one of the founding members of this Alliance. Surely her judgment should count for something in this, gentlemen."
"Padmé Amidala is the wife of Anakin Skywalker," Dodonna reminded her. "Of course she supports him! I would expect nothing less."
"Amidala is not some weak minded, defenseless female who can be pushed around, General," Mothma retorted. "She has always been a woman of great intelligence and sound judgment. If she were not certain of her husband's redemption, I have no doubt that she'd not be with him right now."
"Or his children either for that matter," Ackbar spoke up. "We all know what a staunch supporter of this Alliance Princess Leia has been. Her opinion is not one that could easily be swayed, no matter that she and Skywalker are kin."
"I agree," Mothma replied. "And let us not forget Obi-Wan Kenobi," she pointed out. "As one of the last Jedi in the galaxy, his opinion should be considered as well. Reikan you told me yourself how involved he has been in Skywalker's redemption, and how he has been active in the training of his children."
General Reikan nodded. "Yes, he has indeed," he said. He sighed, and ran a hand over his grizzled chin. "Clearly we are faced with a decision of monumental import," he said to his comrades. "The fate of the galaxy depends upon it. If Skywalker is being completely honest with us, then we have before us an opportunity to swing the balance of power in our favor. If he is not…"
"Then we are all doomed," Ackbar finished. The four of them sat in silence once again, the decision before them weighing heavily upon them.
"Perhaps we ought to sleep on it," Dodonna suggested. "We have much to consider, and I don't think I need to point out to anyone here that whatever decision we make will affect the course of history."
"You're right there, Jan," Reikan said. "I think a good night's sleep is a fine idea, granted any of us will be able to sleep tonight," he put in with a smile.
"Shall we reconvene at 0800 hours then?" suggested Mon Mothma.
The others agreed, and so they parted company for the night, each preoccupied with the weighty matters at hand, each hoping that they would arrive at the right decision.
Star Destroyer Executor
Leia Skywalker stood in front of the large picture window in the suite she shared with her family gazing out at the massive array of Rebel ships. Unable to sleep, as was often the case with Leia, she stood in her nightgown, her long braids hanging down her back, looking at each of the ships. In her mind she was telling herself that she was just doing what any good leader would do, taking a headcount of who had made it to the rendezvous. It seemed that most of the ships had made it past the Imperial blockade above Hoth; but there was one ship that was conspicuous in its absence: the Millennium Falcon.
Leia knew that particular ship well, and had spent the better part of an hour scanning the assembled ships. She had even surreptitiously done a scan of the ships that were not visible from her vantage point while the rest of her family slept. It was clear that the Falcon was not yet among the fleet.
Leia tried not to let this bother her, tried not to read too much into it. He and Chewie probably just got a late start leaving Bespin, she reasoned. He's probably hung over and forgot where he parked that piece of junk, she mused. But despite her best efforts to convince herself that Han was still on Bespin, the nagging feeling deep within her told her otherwise. Maybe he's just not coming, she reflected, hating herself for the way that particular thought made her feel. Maybe he's finally had it with the Alliance and has gone off to seek his own destiny.
The thought that Han had abandoned the Alliance without so much as a word to anyone angered Leia. But more than that, it hurt her, and it made her regret their last conversation. He was trying to apologize, and what did I do? I pushed him away. Maybe I pushed him too hard this time, she reflected. Maybe I'll never see him again.
"Leia? What are you doing up?"
Leia turned to see her brother standing there, his blond hair tousled from sleep.
"I can't sleep," she told him as Luke came and stood beside her.
"You're thinking about Han," he told her matter-of-factly.
Leia knew it would be foolish to deny it; Luke could read her like a book.
"Yes," she said. "Stupid I know," she hastened to add.
Luke shook his head. "Not stupid at all," he told her. "You love the guy, don't you?"
Leia frowned, wishing she could deny that she did, but knowing she'd only be fooling herself if she did. Luke would know better. "Yeah," she said quietly. "I guess I do."
Luke put his arm around her. "He'll be here," he said, knowing her silent fears. "Han may be a nerf herder, but he's a good hearted one," he told her with a smile.
Leia couldn't help but laugh at his comment. "I suppose so," she said. "I just wish I knew where I stood with him. The last time we talked didn't go so well."
"Han needs a good swift kick in the pants sometimes," Luke reminded her. "You know that. Maybe seeing that you are not so thrilled with him will force him to smarten up."
Leia snorted. "Yeah, sure it will," she said. "Thanks Luke. Thanks for trying to make me feel better. You're my best friend, you know that?"
Luke smiled. "Yeah, I know. And you're mine. Not to mention my favorite sister."
"I'm you're only sister, nerf herder," Leia teased, poking him in the ribs.
Luke laughed. "Yeah, well, that doesn't matter. Come on, we should try to get some sleep. I have a feeling tomorrow will be a long day."