Chapter 8
DISCLAIMER: I refuse.
All of them were tied at their ankles and wrists to long wooden logs and carried towards the Ewok village. Kat was thankful for thick leather gauntlets and big boots at this time; she was dangling there like a ragdoll. Threepio was blessed with having a large wooden throne to carry him.
Strange drums sounded as their procession made its way up the tall towering trees of Endor. Kat felt them stop as they reached the largest hut, surrounded by Ewoks who were intrigued by the strange new creatures being held captive.
Han was then placed over the top of a large set of wood and stones. "I have a really bad feeling about this."
Kat was then placed upright next to Luke and Chewie. "Is this a terrible time to be saying that I'm craving happy patties?"
Chewie growled in concern of his captain.
Suddenly, all the activity stopped around them as an important Ewok came out of his hut and approached Threepio. What appeared to be their Chief, was studying Luke and Kat's lightsabers with curiosity.
Their leader spoke to Threepio as the assemblage before them pointed at the prisoners tied to stakes. Soon enough they began placing firewood underneath Han.
"What did he say?" snapped Han.
"I'm rather embarrassed, General Solo, but it appears you are to be the main course at abanquet in my honor."
Kat snorted.
Han looked more worried as they started singing a tribal ritual as they continued placing firewood underneath a panicked Han.
The drums started beating, and all the furry heads turn to the large hut. Much to the gang's shock, the Princess emerged, wearing an animal-skin dress.
"Leia!" Han was the first to notice.
"Leia!" Luke relaxed a little.
"Righteousfulness?" Kat narrowed her eyes.
As she moved towards them, the Ewoks blocked her way with raised spears. "Oh,"
"Your Royal Highness!" Threepio finally noticed her.
Leia looked at the assembled Ewoks and sighed. "But these are my friends! Threepio, tell them they must be set free."
"Yes!" Kat quickly agreed. "Listen to the pretty woman!"
Threepio talked to the Chief, who just shook his head negatively. The other one gestured toward the prisoners and muttered some orders. The Ewoks just resumed their job.
"Somehow, I got the feeling that didn't help us very much." Han sarcastically spat.
"Threepio," Luke calmly spoke up. "tell them if they don't do as you wish, you'll become angry and use your magic."
Kat grinned, then turned to her own ideas. Closing her eyes, she focused on the Force, almost letting herself… become part of it.
"But Master Luke, what magic? I couldn't possibly-"
"Just tell them."
Threepio spoke to the Ewoks, who became disturbed. Their Leader stepped forward to challenge Threepio. Luke closed his eyes and began to concentrate.
They were about to light the fire underneath Han, but were struggling to keep the flame alight. And it wasn't Han's poor efforts keeping the fire out.
"You see, Master Luke; they didn't believe me. Just…"
Now the throne, with Threepio sitting upon it, rose from the ground. At first Threepio didn't notice and kept talking.
"... as I said they wouldn't. Wha- wha- what's happening! Oh! Oh, dear! Oh!"
The Ewoks fell back in terror from the floating throne, with Threepio calling out in total panic at his situation.
"Put me down! He-e-elp! Master Luke! Madame Katalandte! Artoo! Somebody, somebody, help! Master Luke, Artoo! Artoo, quickly! Do something, somebody! Oh! Ohhh! I need Seefor!"
Luke glanced at Kat who was still in deep concentration. It wasn't her srucnhed up face he was looking at…
… it was her hand.
Under the leather, her left hand had slightly started to… glow. She's up to something again…
"Kat." Luke brought her back to her senses.
"Hm?" the slight glowing of her fingers halted and went back to normal again.
Kat stared at Luke as his eyes pierced hers. Confusion… astonishment… reluctance… slight shame…
He's going to see Vader.
She knew what she'd have to do. She hoped he couldn't sense her own reluctance.
The chief yelled orders to the cowering Ewoks. They rushed up and released the bound prisoners. Luke, Han and enfolded Leia in a group embrace.
"Oh, oh, oh, oh! Thank goodness." Threepio relaxed as his throne was brought back to the safety of the ground. Kat giggled as she strode up to him, with Ewoks clinging to her legs.
"Thanks, Threepio." Luke smiled.
"I ...I never knew I had it in me." Threepio sighed
Kat approached him and grabbed his head, kissing the golden droid on the cheek. "Thanks gold rod."
"Madame Katalandte!" Threepio waved his arms around. "My circuits are over-running! My joints can't function! My, my, I'm blushing!"
Leia sat next to Han, Luke stood by the doorway, listening intently for any familiar words that came across from Threepio's speech, as he mimicked explosions, rocket sounds and Imperial walkers. Along with this came out the familiar names Princess Leia, Artoo, Seefor, Darth Vader, Death Star, Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi, Lieutenant-Commander Kat…
As he spoke of the Death Star, he never failed to leave out Kat's near-death in the X-Wing on Yavin IV. As he made crashing noises, a few Ewoks clung to her arms and sat in her lap, terrified their 'Goddess of Purity' had been through such a thing.
Yes, Artoo. I was just coming to that." Threepio replied to the beeping droid.
Threepio continued with names like the Millennium Falcon, Cloud City, Vader, Han Solo, carbonite, Sarlacc, bringing the history up to the present time.
At the end of it, the Chief and the elders discussed the matters, then nodded in agreement. The Chief stood up and made the final declaration.
"What's going on?" Han leaned to Leia.
"I don't know." His girlfriend shook her head.
Luke was smiling at the scene before him; Han and Leia together and Kat swarmed by loving Ewoks. It was soon replaced with the familiar feeling of the icy breath that was nearby, and his expression went grim.
Kat felt it too. While she was surrounded by adorable teddy-bear like creatures. She felt the presence of that man on this moon.
She too went a bit grim.
Threepio turned towards the humans. "Wonderful! We are now a part of the tribe."
Ewoks started hugging Kat like mad, and so many of them did so that she fell to the floor with an 'oof'.
"It's just what I always wanted." Han smiled at an Ewok that had come up and hugged him.
"All I want are the happy patties!" Kat yelled from underneath a pile of Ewoks.
Han managed to break away from the Ewoks and make his way to Threepio.
"He says the scouts are going to show us the quickest way to the shield generator." He reported to Han, as Kat made her escape from the blanket of Ewoks that had covered her.
Luke had drifted outside into the moonlight. Leia noticed and followed. Kat got the instinct not to follow and stick next to Han.
"Good. How far is it?" Threepio was startled at Han's question. "Ask him!"
As soon as Threepio turned back to the chief, Han pulled him back aside.
"We need some fresh supplies, too."
As soon as Threepio started talking again. He was brought back aside.
"Try and get our weapons back."
And again.
"And hurry up, will ya? I haven't got all day."
"And make sure to ask them about dinner," Kat brought him back aside. "The fabulous god of the Ewoks is starving."
Kat leaned against the trunk of a tree, looking into the forest of Endor in the moonlight. She felt the warming presence of Luke approach from behind, with different intentions than hers.
The scar on the back of her head stung, the implant above her fake eyes itched and the red marks around her neck burned. She felt the anxiety once again rise from the pits of her stomach.
"Why so terrified?"
He could sense her, so up went her mental barricades so he could no longer sense her.
"You're hiding yourself from me. What-"
"Don't come closer." She managed to say. "I know what you're doing. I feel his presence too."
The day a white-haired girl helped a naïve boy to his feet in a Mos Eisley cantina…
"Don't say anything either." Kat kept her head turned away from him.
The days he spent with her in a med-centre…
"You shouldn't be thinking of saying goodbye to me in such a way."
Their first kiss…
"You've wasted your time with me, Luke Skywalker."
The night he first held her close as she cried…
"I'm not who you think I am,"
The day they both panicked as a certain smuggler had caught them in Luke's quarters…
"You shouldn't be trusting me… it's not just you,"
His face as he tried Kat's cooking for the first time…
"There are others around,"
Looking into his sleepy eyes when he woke up next to her…
"Lose your faith in me. I'm just another girl."
The first time they made love…
How in love she was with him.
Luke had done the same as Kat; block off his mind so that she couldn't feel for the emotions lurking in there. He said nothing. Kat couldn't see his face, she hadn't faced him at all. She couldn't bare to see his gorgeous and broken face.
She wanted to say something else. She wanted to turn around, run up to him and kiss him. She wanted to make him promise to return, so they could do what-not next.
"Live a good life, Luke Skywalker." She bit her lip. "Have a great life."
She heard his steps fade away as he walked off to the next phase of his adventures. Kat clenched her hands as she felt numbness sink into her legs and turn to jelly. Her knees gave way as ugly sobs clogged her throat.
Angry with herself, she found herself pulling at her hair and sunk her head to the ground. It was no mistake, but she could feel all her muscles clench and the overwhelming feeling of anger and depression rule her body as she rolled on the ground, biting her tongue and lips to stop herself from screaming.
It felt sempiternal.
Kat had never cried more in her life.
Darth Vader walked down the ramp of the shuttle onto the platform, into an elevator, and appears on a ramp on a lower level. She came again last night… still always at night.
He walked towards another ramp exit and is met by two troopers and a commander with the Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker, in binders. The young Jedi gazed at him with complete calmness.
"You. Took. Her. Away. From. Me!" He remembered her words clear as crystal as he looked down at his son. "Where is Anakin?! Where is he?!"
Luke raised his head, swallowing his fear as he stood before the Dark Lord himself.
"Come to your senses, you idiot!" she had told him the night before.
"This is a Rebel that surrendered to us." The Commander interrupted his thoughts. "Although he denies it, I believe there may be more of them, and I request permission to conduct a further search of the area."
The Commander extended his arm, revealing Luke's lightsaber.
"He was armed only with this."
He looked at Luke, turned away and faced the bold Commander, taking the lightsaber from his hand.
"Good work, Commander. Leave us. Conduct your search and bring his companions to me."
"You idiot!"
"Yes, my Lord."
The officer and troops made their withdrawal. Vader and Luke were left standing alone. The sounds of the forest filtered in upon them.
"Think about what you're doing! This is your son, for the Maker's sake!"
"The Emperor has been expecting you."
"I know, father."
"Anakin! Where are you Anakin?"
"Right here- no you aren't."
"So, you have accepted the truth."
"I've accepted the truth that you were once Anakin Skywalker, my father."
"Yes, yes, yes! Listen to your boy!"
"That name no longer has any meaning for me." He haltered, pointing the lightsaber in Luke's direction.
"It is the name of your true self, you've only forgotten."
"Oh you good boy!"
"I know there is good in you. The Emperor hasn't driven it from you fully."
"Anakin, damn it, listen!"
"That is why you couldn't destroy me." Luke turned and leaned on the railing. "That's why you won't bring me to your Emperor now."
Vader looked down from Luke to the lightsaber in his own black- gloved hands. My son…
"I see you have constructed a new lightsaber." He said as he ignkted the new, brilliant green blade and listened to the beautiful humming.
"Your skills are complete. Indeed, you are powerful, as the Emperor has foreseen."
"No, no, no, you misunderstand-"
He extinguished the lightsaber.
"Come with me." Luke offered.
"Yes! Go with him!'
"Obi-Wan once thought as you do."
Luke stepped closer to his father.
"You don't know the power of the dark side. I must obey my master."
His child shook his head. "I will not turn, and you'll be forced to kill me."
"If that is your destiny."
"You idiot, Anakin!"
"Search your feelings, father. You can't do this. I feel the conflict within you. Let goof your hate!"
"It's not too late!"
"It is too late for me, son…"
"Idiot!"
"The Emperor will show you the true nature of the Force. He isyour master now."
Vader signalled to some distant stormtroopers. He and Luke stood staring at one another for a long moment.
"Then my father is truly dead."
Luke sat in his holding cell, meditating on the future, the Light side…
… Attempting to actually stay on the Light, for one.
"Luke Skywalker."
Luke jumped at the familiar voice. Why does she have to be here? This only brings back memories…
"I'm here to talk about you, not my daughter." Nadae spoke.
Luke looked up at her. She looked different than when he first saw her on Dagobah. She didn't look so weary, her Naboo-styled makeup was on her shimmering dead face and her hoods were up, covering her hair.
"I need to talk about the future. Not what's about to happen… more distant, but it will come."
Her voice was more regal as well, talking like a Queen. She was almost expressionless.
"The Storm will rage. It will soon stop Raining. Watch out for the Storm. They will not be happy."
Almost instantly, Nadae Dravvaadas started walking away, disappearing into thin air.
"Now hold on, wait!" Luke stood up to try stop the old Jedi Master from leaving him alone. "Shivat." He whispered to himself as he sat back down. "I hate it when the dead ones do that."
*laughs like Palpatine*
- yoda-is-cool