Rex sat down and watched the holo recording wondering what upset Anakin all of a sudden. He hadn't seen the man this upset since Clovis sexually forced himself onto Padme in front of Anakin. In his opinion, that was not the smartest move in the galaxy to make. He looked at the security holo showing the whole room and noticed Lando was making a bet with someone. He turned his attention to the security holo that focused on Jabba and sucked in a sharp breath.
"That's not good," Rex muttered under his breath. Leia had on leather clothing and Jabba had her tethered to a leash. He glanced at Fress who was keeping watch as Rex nudged her on the shoulder. "Has Anakin seen this? Is this the reason he's so upset?"
"Yes," Fress answered as he heard her release a frustrated sigh. "He watched Jabba kiss her and force her into the clothing. It's a good thing Artoo took the lightsabers ahead of time."
"It won't stop Anakin from Force chocking the Hutt on the spot. I remember a time when Clovis sexually forced himself onto Padme and Anakin walked in. Clovis ended up needing stitches," Rex relayed the story.
"Why am I not surprised?" Fress questioned as she turned her attention to Rex. "Did Clovis start to get suspicious that Anakin and Padme were more than just friends?"
"Clovis did it to prove they were beyond friends and ended up with more than he bargained for," Rex answered as he watched Jabba sleep. "A very jealous and angry husband."
"Lando has gone a head and made a few bets," Fress relayed as Rex shook his head. "I noticed more than a few bets being made. Jabba won't last two minutes as soon as Anakin walks in."
"I say Anakin will wait for the right moment to drop a bomb on the Hutt. Maybe he's learned to be more subtle," Rex paused for a second as Fress fell silent.
"Nope, the day Anakin is subtle is the day Hoth warms over," Fress pointed out with a frown.
"Want to take that bet?" Rex questioned with a grin.
"What's it in for me if I win?" Fress questioned as she rubbed her stomach as Rex grinned.
"I will change diapers for the first week," Rex offered causing Fress to smirk. He knew he had her as she thought about it. "What's in it for me if I win?"
"I'll cook the meals for a week if I lose," Fress said as they shook on it. "Anakin will Force choke the hutt."
"I say Anakin will wait for the right moment and drop a concussion missal on him," Rex said with a small smile. "When Anakin gives the signal, Ahsoka and I will be leaving with the speeders."
Fress nodded as they continued to watch the recording. Anakin and Luke left the dwelling fifteen minutes ago. Anakin had a temper and Jabba was about to learn the hard way. You don't trifle with Anakin Skywalker.
Anakin walked up to Jabba's sled as Luke stepped in beside him. He glanced down noting they were standing on what appeared to be a trap door. If he remembered correctly, this led to the Rancor pit. He looked up at Jabba as the hutt waited. "Mighty Jabba, I have the spice, one million as promised."
"I changed my mind, I want one and a half million if you want Solo and your daughter back," Jabba explained as Anakin tilted his head to the side.
"The deal was one million," Anakin didn't back down as he raised his right hand. "Or we do this the hard way and I take them back by force. The choice is yours, Mighty Jabba, but I warn you not to double cross me."
Jabba chuckled as he hit a button on the side of his chair as Anakin leaped backwards. Luke didn't notice the trap door and slid into the Rancor pit. Anakin walked back to the trap door and knelt down as he watched Luke dodge the beast below.
Everyone gathered around the trap door and cheered the rancor on as he glanced at Leia who looked worried. He watched as Luke's foot stumbled across a scull. Luke picked it up and looked around. He aimed up the sidewall and threw the scull up, he heard a bang as sparks flew and the gate fell without warning slicing through the Rancor's neck. The crowd gasped in shock and silence descended over the room as he heard someone crying. It was most likely the Rancor carer.
Anakin felt relief flood him as the guards rushed in and took a hold of Luke. "Bring me Solo and the Wookiee, they will all suffer for this outrage," Jabba commanded as Anakin stood up to his full height.
"Final warning Jabba, the easy way out is to accept my offer or you will die," Anakin repeated as Jabba kissed Leia causing anger to flare in him as dead silence grew over the room again. The only sound heard was his respirator. "Get your grubby hands off my daughter, Jabba she is not your play thing," he fought to keep his anger under control. He released it into the Force in an attempt to calm himself.
Jabba chuckled as he looked at Leia with lust. "You have good taste in woman, Vader. Your daughter is breath taking and delicious," he spoke giving another deliberate kiss. He was almost positive Jabba was doing this deliberately, the anger he felt earlier returned.
Anakin raised his hand up and started to Force choke Jabba as the hutt started struggling for breath. The guards walked forward and pulled his arms behind his back but he didn't need the hand to continue to strangle the hutt. Jabba was struggling to breathe as he tried grasping at his throat making chocking sounds.
That's until a guard pressed the muzzle of a blaster against Leia's temple causing him to release his hold on Jabba. Jabba gulped in air breathing hard before turning his attention to Anakin and speaking in an angry tone. "I will take great pleasure feeding you to the Sarlac pit."
"Release us now, Jabba," Anakin growled as Han, Luke, and Chewie were pushed in beside him. "Or you will die by my hand."
"You are the ones who will die," Jabba spoke. "Take them away."
Anakin gave a short wave of his hand towards the holo recorder letting Rex know it was time to meet them at the Sarlac pit. He turned his attention to Han who was being prodded forward by a guard with a blaster rifle in his hand. "You think you can keep pace with my daughter, Solo?"
"If I can't keep pace with her on the battle field. I can keep pace with her in the bedroom," Han shot back with a smirk.
"Don't push your luck, Solo or I will feed you to the Sarlac Pit myself," Anakin warned in a serious tone.
"Luke, why is your father upset?" Han questioned Luke tilting his head to the side.
"Leia's three quarters naked and on a leash lying down beside Jabba," Luke explained as Han perked up. "He doesn't like hutts."
"My eyesight can't come back quick enough. I'm missing out on some gorgeous scenery," Han smirked as Anakin looked at Han with disbelief. Han must've sensed the sudden tension. "You have a beautiful daughter," he quickly added.
"Of all the men in the galaxy, she had to chose you," Anakin said causing Han to give a mischief grin. "I go out of my way to pay off your debt with Jabba and you call me a black sheep?"
"You got me into this mess in the first place," Han reminded Anakin with a pained expression. "Jabba plans to feed us to the Sarlac. Who taught you to negotiate? A space slug?" Han questioned as Anakin rolled his eyes.
"The plan was to unfreeze you to feed you to the Sarlac so Leia can move on," Anakin snipped. "You're not the kind of guy a princess should be hanging around."
"This coming from the man whose killed hundreds in cold blood," Han pointed out in a dead tone. "You're no prize winner yourself."
Anakin silently agreed with Han as he felt someone grabbing onto his arm. He looked beside him as Han stumbled over a rock and grabbed the nearest thing to him. He could tell the younger man had froze as he realized whose arm it was. I guess his eye sight hasn't come back yet.
Chewie quickly walked to Han's side and took his arm into his and growled he would lead Han onto the sail barge. Followed by a few grunts telling Han Anakin was far too silent after the no prize remark.
"It's fine, Chewie," Anakin said with a frown. The last thing he wanted to do was scare Han off completely. "Just stick close to Chewie. Han, I can tell you and Leia are soul mates, she looks at you the way her mother used to look at me," he pointed out, as Han looked worried. "Don't break her heart and take care of her. Treat her the way she deserves to be treated."
Han smiled in relief as he did his best to look towards Anakin. "I promise. I will treat her like a queen."
Anakin took a hold of Han's arm again as Chewie released his grip on Han's other arm. "That's all I needed to hear. Do be warned if you do break Leia's heart. I will shove you back into carbonite and drop you off in space somewhere."
"I know what it's like to have your heart broken," Han defended himself. "I've had it broken twice already. Would it help if I told you that I know Leia is the one?"
Anakin gave a small smile. "It might." They walked outside as he noticed they were being herded onto a prisoner sail barge just as predicted. We have Jabba right where we want him. "Watch your step. Lift your foot up an inch."
Han lifted his foot up but stumbled as his other foot caught the edge of the ramp. Anakin steadied him as Han regained his balance. Luke wasn't too far behind them as he noticed his son was keeping his distance. "What do I call you?" Han questioned with a serious expression. "Anakin, Skywalker, Leia's scary father, or Vader?"
"Just call me Anakin," Anakin answered as he felt it was the right name to allow Han to address him. "How do I address you? Han, Solo, or hey you or get your hands off my daughter?"
"Hey you, get your hands off my daughter," Han answered with a teasing grin as Anakin felt excited.
"Really?" Anakin questioned in an excited tone as Han smirked.
"No, Han is fine," Han answered. "I'm sure if you get angry with me, I'll know it."
Anakin grinned as they walked out onto an open platform and waited for the barge to get under way. Hopefully Ahsoka and Rex were on their way there now. "Han, can you forgive me for getting you into this mess?"
"I forgive you, Anakin," Han answered with a reassuring smile. "Your daughter is worth enduring your wrath."
Anakin didn't say another word as the barge started moving forward. Fress was right. He could sense Leia and Han were right for each other through the Force. Han is able to put up with his antics while most guys would've run for the hills.