Chapter 7: A Jedi's Bargain
The task force hovered a few thousand miles above Tatooine upon arrival, taking care to dispatch a number of security probes across the sector to alert them of any approaching First Order vessels. Then Luke instructed the fleet to remain in position and out of sight from ground observers before he went with Leia to find Han and Chewbacca. Then C-3PO and R2-D2 were found at midships and went with the four friends as their individual fields of expertise might prove useful.
"Leia and I will head to Rotta the Hutt's palace and handle the negotiations," Luke explained to Han as they went to the hangar bay. "When we've worked out an agreement, we'll contact you and have our ground forces sent to the surface to handle any First Order agents on the planet. If any of their starships enter the system, mobilize the fleet and hold them at bay. If our fleet is outnumbered, we divide the fleet and direct their strength individually."
"A well-made plan, Luke," Han said with a nod. "I suppose while you and Leia handle any sticky situations down there, Chewie and I should handle keeping the fleet in order."
Luke nodded and said, "Just remember, Han. Tatooine is only the first planet in the Outer Rim we're going to help for now. If this turns into another war, we have to be ready for retaliation against the whole Galactic Republic."
Han said with an air of sarcasm, "Oh, great."
Chewbacca gave a soft roar in response, to which Han said, "Yeah, I know you're itching to get your hands on more troublemakers and make them beg for mercy, Chewie. I know I am too."
The group only realized they were in the hangar of the Legacy when their conversation finished, and then Han led them into the Millennium Falcon. Han activated the navi-computer first and set the Falcon's course to the surface and then set the engines to low power as he activated the repuslor-lifts. R2-D2 gave a series of beeps and whistles as the old freighter exited the safety of the Star Defender's hangar bay. If the astromech droid felt the least bit excited about another opportunity to be useful, it was much different for C-3PO. The golden droid spoke with the air of a prisoner being led to trial before an unfeeling judge. "Why is it that every time peace is able to give us all something to smile about, some danger seeks to take it away?"
Han piloted the Millennium Falcon through the atmosphere, this time directly for Mos Eisley. In just seconds, he found a suitable docking bay and said, "Prepare for landing, Chewie."
Chewbacca gave an agreeable growl and pulled the lever for the repulsorlifts to extend. Then as the ship came to land, Han cut the power and then exited the Falcon with Chewbacca and the droids to speak with the rather gruff dockmaster who had just been inspecting the docking bay after it had been cleaned and serviced. Fortunately, Han had enough credits on him to satisfy the man, who begrudgingly allowed the Falcon to remain at the docking bay no longer than was necessary. While this transaction was occurring, Luke and Leia wrapped themselves in their Jedi cloaks and left the Millennium Falcon themselves to find passage to Rotta the Hutt's palace.
While walking through the streets of Mos Eisley, Luke noted that little had changed, but it was clear that the First Order had done a good deal of causing trouble. The cantina that once stood was blocked off and in ruins, there were more impoverished souls in the streets than had been even when the Empire had paid Tatooine routine visits, and those who weren't dealing directly with the onset of this invasion went about their business with barely a sideways glance at their neighbors. Fortunately, they would not need to walk to meet Rotta the Hutt, for Luke managed to convince a local trader to sell them two eopies, which were the most efficient method of traveling the deserts of Tatooine.
"Rotta's palace is on the north side of the Dune Sea. We'd better hurry if we're going to make it there before dark," said Luke as he and his sister began their ride.
"I only hope we don't run into any First Order agents, whatever they're like," put in Leia.
"If we do, we'll handle them," affirmed Luke. "Remember, Leia. Be mindful of the Force. Don't center on the past or the future at the expense of the matter at hand. Just keep your concentration in the present, and your endeavors will succeed."
"I am trying, Luke," insisted Leia.
Luke smiled at her and replied warmly, "I know you are, Leia, and I'm proud of you. You've come a long way in your training, and it won't be long before you are made an official Jedi of the Order. Now, let's be on our way. This bargain shouldn't take us long if we meet with Rotta soon enough."
It took around an hour for Luke and Leia to reach the Dune Sea, and from there it would be only dusk by the time they reached their destination. They spoke little as they rode along and met few other individuals on the way. Anyone they saw paid them little attention and their cloaks encouraged the inquisitive to let them go about their business. In the descending dusk, Luke and Leia began focusing their minds on the Force to ensure no unfriendly presence would catch them unawares. In one wild moment, Luke was certain to watch the sand for bantha tracks. If there were Tusken Raiders on the move, he and Leia would have to resort to self-defense if reason failed. The problem was that Tusken Raiders were not easily convinced to negotiate with outsiders and neither Luke nor Leia knew even the basics of their language. Despite this, they met no Sand People on the way and soon, they saw the lighted towers of Rotta the Hutt's palace.
Luke and Leia brought their eopies to a halt as the gates of the palace began to rise with the stubbornness of an angry donkey. Four Niktos emerged from the palace entrance with blasters in hand, but they had their weapons at ease for the moment. Luke and Leia dismounted as the Niktos stood aside to let the protocol droid GL-22 approach. Taking control of the situation, Luke said, "We are sent by the New Republic to negotiate with your master, Rotta the Hutt, on a matter which concerns him as it concerns us."
"This way," said GL-22.
Luke and Leia followed their escort into the palace, sparing a glance at the Gamorrean guards. The porcine beings looked as though they wanted to stop the two Jedi, but they were quickly subdued by a glare from the Niktos. Luke sensed Leia's unease at being here; she hadn't forgotten the experience when Jabba the Hutt had kept her as one of his slave dancers, and she was not exactly looking forward to meeting with this Rotta.
"Focus, Leia," Luke said softly to his sister. "Use the Force. I know you're stressed about your first time here, but it doesn't matter. We're here now and we have a mission to complete, and its success involves these negotiations."
Leia nodded and continued to let her mind drift into the Force, letting her mind center on that unseen but very real energy that held wisdom and power greater than she could comprehend. She let it fill her body and mind, putting her at ease, and allowing her to focus on the matter at hand. Then Leia and Luke entered the main chamber and came to stand before Rotta and his entourage.
"Greetings, honorable Rotta," Luke began as he and Leia pulled back their hoods. "I am Luke Skywalker, Grand Master of the Jedi Order and representative of the Second Galactic Republic."
"And I am Leia Organa, Jedi Padawan and former representative of Alderaan," Leia added, following Luke's lead.
Rotta looked down from his dais at the two young humans, and said in Huttese, "Uba doth chobaso wata, Kotka Jeedi. Jee phaba uba gee bauba D'emperiolo jagoi kung coo gee nai kachu mi hee kiuke bonga?"*
"We know what they've done and we are seeking to know why," said Luke. "You have my word, these loyalists of the First Order will not go unpunished for their misdeeds on Tatooine. They will be brought to justice."
Rotta gave the Hutt's form of a smile and said, "Whao uba caiot bargon cay tah D'emperiolo sleemo, jee hatkocanh faee bahonha wa pankhophacay mee Republika."*
The Hutt then said something to GL-22, who then addressed Luke and Leia. "The most gracious Rotta has one small condition. He desires that your Republic bring proof of your success once you have driven the hostiles away from Tatooine."
"And the mighty Rotta shall have it," promised Leia. She was starting to feel some ease toward Rotta, even though she saw plainly that this Hutt was remarkably similar to Jabba in his taste of entertainment and company. However, Leia was able to display the amount of respect needed to show that she was a Jedi with goodwill to offer.
The palace band was instructed to play a bit of music while Rotta continued speaking with Luke and Leia on the agreements of a treaty if the New Republic were to drive the First Order off of Tatooine. However, the same man who had been at the palace when Han and his reconnaissance party had come was watching the Jedi siblings as they conversed with Rotta, and he left the chamber to send a message to Moff Gideon.
…
Moff Gideon was unnerved at the report of his spy. He had known that sooner or later, the Jedi would be seeking to interfere with the First Order's plans for galactic domination, but his worst fear was confirmed when he was told that one of the Jedi who had spoken with Rotta was Luke Skywalker. Among the most devoted followers of Emperor Palpatine, Luke was famous for having defeated both Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader, for they had conveniently forgotten that Luke had freed his father from the dark side, allowing Anakin Skywalker to save his life and put an end to the evil Emperor once and for all. Also, the knowledge of Luke's lineage coupled with the stories told of his increasing Jedi powers made it so even the most hardened officers of the First Order feared him.
Gideon kept his conversation with his agent brief and then immediately sent a message to Supreme Leader Snoke. To his great relief, a hologram image of Snoke soon materialized on the bridge of the Star Destroyer. Moff Gideon had no time to receive questions, and so he said, "My lord Snoke, the Jedi have been brought into the Republic's plot to stop us. Luke Skywalker is on Tatooine. He has begun negotiations between Rotta the Hutt and the New Republic."
Snoke drew in a gasp that seemed more out of distress than anger, for even he knew of Luke's story. He said to Moff Gideon, "Are you sure of this?"
"My best hand-chosen spy has seen him, my lord," answered the warlord.
Supreme Leader Snoke furrowed his misshapen brow and said, "This turn of events may prove fatal to our plans if we do not act swiftly enough. Order your fleet to send more stormtroopers to the planet." He paused and then added with a smirk, "If the New Republic sends soldiers here, we must be prepared to deal with them and these Jedi. I think it is time we put your new Dark Troopers to the test."
Moff Gideon knew better than to question the Supreme Leader of the First Order, for while Snoke was nowhere near as cruel as Emperor Palpatine had been, he had ways of motivating his agents that any decent civilization in the galaxy would consider despicably barbaric. Not knowing whether he should simply nod or salute before he ended the message, Gideon only replied, "Yes, my lord. As you command."
As Snoke's hologram vanished, Gideon approached two men in officer's uniforms to give them the orders from Snoke. The man on the left was Admiral Argus Milestar, a pale, square-jawed man with a cybernetic right eye that fixed on multiple sights in rapid succession as though it could move independent of its owner. The other man was General Osvel Ekron, who had a sturdy build and the expression of a disgruntled hyena. The minute the two men knew Moff Gideon was behind them, they snapped to attention and awaited the orders of their commanding officer.
"His High Excellency the Supreme Leader Snoke has ordered us to solidify the blockade over Tatooine," Gideon said sternly to Admiral Milestar. "From there, we position our Star Destroyers in geosynchronous orbit around the planet."
Admiral Milestar saluted the Moff and sent a message to the Star Destroyers to set their course for Tatooine. Then Gideon said, "General Ekron, have the crews prepare the troops for surface duty. And prepare the Dark Troopers. It is time to see if they are suitable enough to serve the First Order as our elite troops."
General Ekron nodded and left the bridge to rally the First Order's soldiers as the Star Destroyers got underway. Now everything was setting up for the first great conflict since the Galactic Civil War.
- You are welcome here, Master Jedi. I believe you have heard of the Imperial loyalist scum who have caused me so much trouble?
- If you can deal with this Imperial slime, I will gladly arrange a treaty with your Republic.