Greetings everyone!
Apologies for the delay, though I know this is, unfortunately, becoming a familiar tune at this point. I've just been having a lot of very promising developments happening in regards to my professional life which have monopolized a lot of my time and headspace.
I won't bore you with any more excused, just know that I'm still here and will do my best to deliver chapter 37 reasonably soon.
Now, let's answer some reviews:
-TheEmeraldMage: Thanks a lot! Really glad to hear that Thrawn comes across as a three-dimensional and believable character. I hope this chapter is able to keep this momentum going forward as the stakes get higher and higher.
-Padme Levesque: Very happy to know that all the characters are coming across well to you. The short answer would be, yes I am planning to write about Return of the Jedi, while still adapting in this alternate version of the cannon. I'll do my best to get the next chapter out quicker than this one :) May the Force be with you!
-RKF22: Thanks so much! I had fun writing it, and it's been a while since we had a good space battle. Hope you like where the rest of this arc goes. May the Force be with you!
- Guest: I can see what you mean, but it's sad to think that the Clone's we're used as the tools of the Sith in such a way. I hope to address this as best I can in future story arcs since there is really room for a lot of interesting storylines.
- Jeda31: So glad you're liking how the story is progressing. I really hope to give Mara and Luke time to shine and develop in this arc. I'm still working on the specifics but I'm hoping that the next one or two chapters will delve even deeper into exploring all the relationships and dynamics between characters. Fingers crossed it all works out ;)
- MrToasterMan: Good… good… I can feel your rage! Let loose your feelings for this new chapter and reveal your true power!
- Stevonnie-U: Ain't that the truth :)
- Pally The Second: Thank you, Pally! Welcome aboard to the adventure, and I hope you enjoy the ride. Though it'll be a couple more chapters before you see this message ;)
AND VOILA!
Without further ado, I leave you with chapter 36. Hope you enjoy it!
Please favorite, follow, and leave a review to let me know what you thought!
"Reinforcements! Reinforcements have arrived!"
Cody heaved a heavy sigh of relief when he heard one of his commandos call that out. He looked back towards Jabba's palace to see general Madine approaching with his troops. The sniper fire that had claimed the lives of so many soldiers had stopped, and Cody was glad to see the distant glow of a blue lightsaber up on the ramparts.
He kneeled down next to Rex, still unconscious, though his vital signs were encouraging, and whispered in his ear:
"We survived it, Rex. Just hold on a bit longer and we'll finish this."
"All troops!" Ezra called out hoarsely to the remaining platoon under his command. "Rally around me, and let's finish them off!"
Everyone gave a loud battle cry and followed Ezra as he vaulted over the dune to engage the remaining Imperial troops. Both sides threw thermal detonators creating a mad confusion of explosions. As Cody was about to descend upon the Imperial troop, he saw an explosive charge headed right for him. With lightning-fast reflexes, he punched the thermal detonator back towards the Sand Trooper who had thrown it. It detonated at his feet, killing him instantly.
Cody stayed mobile as he fired off precise shots at the enemy. His aging body protested but he pushed on regardless, forever bound by his life purpose of combat.
The Sand Troopers were tough; the battle was hard and bloody. Many close-quarter firefights devolved into scrappy hand to hand duels. However, the Rebel troops outnumbered the Imperials, and after several agonizingly long minutes, the few surviving Sand Troopers finally threw down their weapons and surrendered.
Silence returned to the battlefield. As Cody removed his helmet and contemplated the carnage he stood in, he recalled all the times he had seen this same sort of picture. Bodies were strewn everywhere, unable to put one foot in front of the other without standing on a corpse; the viscous blood that coated the battlefield impregnated the ground with its carnage. The distant wails of pain and suffering groans that upset the tomb-like silence; so many times had Cody seen this picture, and every time, his soul came out a bit more damaged.
He looked over to Ezra and was saddened by what he saw. The young Jedi had still not extinguished his lightsaber; he was stuck in place, staring at his bloody hands, transfixed by the harrowing sight before him.
Cody gave the young man a reassuring pat on both shoulders, which forced Ezra to quickly dissipate his trauma and sheathe his lightsaber. Cody handed him a canteen of water. Ezra scrubbed the blood off his hands as best he could.
"Thanks," the boy said weakly.
"Don't mention it," Cody replied solemnly. "This is a disaster, but without you, it would have been a massacre. Remember that."
Ezra nodded glumly, mulling over his words while Cody climbed back over the dune to sit at Rex's side. Eventually, General Madine approached him, silently and respectfully kneeling beside the injured Clone. He let a few seconds of silence pass before speaking:
"Mara Jade is inside Jabba's palace, looking for Han Solo and Princess Leia. If she's successful, she'll broadcast her position to us and we'll launch an immediate assault on the interior of the palace. We need to rally our remaining troops and be ready to move out as soon as possible."
Cody did not answer immediately. For the first time, his military programming on how to respond to a senior officer did not kick in. He just let the sounds of the battlefield take over for a few seconds, carefully planning his reply. When he spoke, his voice was slow and deliberate:
"Sir, two of our platoons have been wiped out, and what remains of the third is in no condition to mount another assault. We need reinforcements."
"Commander Cody, there are no reinforcements," Madine revealed painfully. He empathized with the Clone's frustrations but could not allow them to dictate his actions. "The current space battle makes it impossible to send down any more troops at this time. Any more delays and we risk being trapped here, at the mercy of Jabba and the Empire."
Cody, again, was silent. During the Clone Wars, it would have been inconceivable for him to even dare question orders from a superior officer. Even if he and his men were exhausted, wounded, or dying, if general Kenobi told him they needed to push forward, he would rally his troops and do exactly that.
What happened since then?
"I understand, sir," Cody finally replied, trying to muster up his fighting spirit. "But may I advise that we set up a medical post to treat those with severe injuries? Only the most able-bodied and able-minded soldiers should attack the palace. The others would just slow us down."
"I agree. I'll handle organizing the infirmary and triage. Stay with your friend and rest."
"There'll be time for that when we're dead, sir."
Crix Madine left to speak with his officers, just as Ezra came over, still looking haggard and shell-shocked. The young Jedi laid down in the sand next to Rex and Cody as the latter checked his comrades vital and changed his bandage.
"How's he doing?"
"There's no more bleeding. As far as I can tell it only skimmed the top of his brain. He'll need reconstructive surgery."
They were both quiet for a few seconds; it seemed nobody was in much of a talking mood. Ezra just gazed up at the bright blue sky, enjoying the shade that the dune offered from the heat of the Twin Suns. When he held up his hands, despite them not being covered in blood, they still felt tainted.
"Do you think we'll win?"
"The war?"
"Yeah."
"General Kenobi told me around the end of the Clone Wars that perhaps no one ever truly wins a war… and in hindsight, wasn't he right? The Republic versus the Separatist, neither side won."
"That's because Sidious engineered it all from the beginning."
"Yes, but even if that hadn't happened, even if after all those years of conflict one side had been victorious over the other, would it have really been a victory? Millions of lives lost, cultures and civilizations nearly wiped out, corruption, war-profiteering… I wouldn't have been able to take a victory lap if we HAD won the Clone Wars…"
"So what's left then…" Ezra asked sadly, rolling his lightsaber around in his hands.
"Hope…" Cody finally replied. "Hope that after the storm, the calm returns. The great galactic pendulum. We sometimes stay stuck for a long time on one end, but it's inevitable for it to swing back in the other direction."
Ezra reflected on Cody's words, impressed by the Clone's eloquence and perceptiveness. He could say his words did much to reassure him, however, for even if the pendulum eventually swung towards the light, it would only be a matter of time before it returned into darkness. Ezra knew this was something he should meditate on, but right now did not feel appropriate for that; nor did it feel right to just let all of his feelings and frustrations dissolve into the Force. He would do all that when the mission was over; either way, it ended he would be freed from these questions, but right now, out of recognition for those who had died today, he refused to let things go. He would carry those questions, fears, and uncertainties forward, and only reflect on them when he could see clearly.
When Ezra reopened his eyes, he was surprised to see a shooting star streaking across the sky. No. Not a star…
"Incoming ship!"
Ezra and Cody jumped to their feet. The shooting star was a burning X-Wing, falling out of the sky. Right before the ship collided with the ground, a tiny human form burst out of the cockpit and landed into the sand behind a faraway dune.
"Looks like we're getting some reinforcements after all," Cody spoke humorously.
Master Yoda kept his mind solely focused on the Force; all the commotion taking place around him on the bridge was not his concern. He had to remain vigilant not to reveal his presence to Vader or Sidious. At the same time, he was attempting to somehow contact Obi-Wan through the Force, which proved equally difficult. He could faintly sense Obi-Wan's presence, but it next to impossible to communicate with him. Something was hindering their connection, and Yoda could not draw too much on the Force or risk revealing his presence.
Yoda's meditation was violently interrupted by a sudden jostling of the ship which knocked several crewmembers off their feet. As he reopened his eyes, he saw a fleet of TIE Fighters descend upon the capital ship, riddling its hull with lasers. Yoda let out a low grumble as he got to his feet and moved towards the center of the bridge.
"Damage report," Admiral Ackbar called out to one of his officers.
"Nothing critical, sir, but our shields took quite a beating. The TIE Fighters have broken through and are targeting our frigates."
"We must repel them immediately," Ackbar said decisively, slamming his fist on the arm of his chair. "Launch all remaining fighters and tell our pilots to protect the frigates."
"Yes, sir!"
As Ackbar conferred with Mon Mothma and Jan Dodonna, Yoda wordlessly approached the large glass window which allowed him to see the entire space battle as well as the giant sand planet below. He sensed something ominous was unfolding on Tatooine, but when he tried to feel what it could be, the Force became muddled and confused.
Ahsoka approached Master Yoda, concern showing in her eyes:
"Master, Luke's X-Wing has crash-landed on Tatooine. The space battle is hopeless and our troops on the ground have been severely impaired. The High Command sent me to ask for your advice."
Before Yoda could reply a giant explosion rocked the capital ship. One of the Alliance's support frigates had just been destroyed, it's burning wreckage now slowly accelerating into Tatooine's upper atmosphere.
From the center of the bridge they could hear Dodonna's desperate plea:
"We need to get out of here now! Any longer and we'll be annihilated!"
"We still have troops on the ground!" Ackbar yelled back. "We'd be abandoning them without an evac. We never leave soldiers behind—"
"Retreat immediately you must."
Jan Dodonna, Mon Mothma, and Admiral Ackbar all stared at Yoda in shock as he approached, his gaze unwaveringly serious. Ahsoka was sad that it had come to this, but she could sense that there was no way this space battle would turn out in their favor.
"If we stay here any longer, annihilation we will face. All is not lost for those on the surface. But our fate, much more certain it is, if we choose to stay here."
The three leaders of the Rebellion exchanged concerned and frustrated looks, but they could all recognize the foolishness of ignoring the advice of the wisest being in the galaxy.
Jan Dodonna took the initiative:
"Order all our ships to scatter and jump to lightspeed immediately! We will regroup at our rendezvous point."
As the capital ship began to slowly shift away from Tatooine in order to jump into hyperspace, Yoda returned to the viewing window to observe the sandy planet for a few more seconds before it disappeared from view.
The ship shook and rumbled dangerously for an agonizingly long amount of time before finally entering hyperspace, upon which everything became eerily calm and silent.
All the crewmembers heaved sighs of relief, even Ahsoka allowed herself to relax, but all the while knowing that they had just abandoned their own troops. It would not be long before the Empire unleashed the remainder of its Forces upon Tatooine and decimated the Rebel troops that remained.
Mon Mothma, Jan Dodonna, Admiral Ackbar, and Ahsoka all gathered around Yoda, while he looked on pensively at the endless patterns of the hyperspace tunnel.
Mon Mothma spoke up first:
"Can you sense anything about those still on Tattooine, master Yoda? It will take us time before we can reorganize our forces to mount a counterattack."
"Hmmm… much darkness there is on that planet, but in the past, hope was born from it. If we trust in the Force, hope it may yet give us."
"For their sakes, master Yoda, I hope you're right," Admiral Ackbar spoke somberly.
The High Council members all broke away in separate directions, each one needing a moment to collect themselves. Ahsoka stayed by Yoda's side, also gazing at the hyperspace tunnel.
"I'm going to go and help them, master… It's too soon for Luke to face Anakin again. I— I have to see my master one last time."
"Hmmm, understand you I do," Yoda spoke softly. "Our help those on Tatooine need, and fear Sidious' gaze I do not. Reveal myself to him I must, and in time, face him I will."
Mara kept pushing through the fortress, sticking to the shadows and moving without a sound. Her journey so far had been a maddening labyrinth of corridors and dead ends, but Han and Leia's Force presence kept her on the right track, like a compass.
Occasionally, Mara came across small groups of guards or bounty hunters, which she made quick work of. She would leap out of the darkness and quickly take them out, often not even using her lightsaber in order to not drawn too much attention. She utilized mind tricks and Force chokes to pacify anyone in her way, making sure to always hide their unconscious bodies as best she could. It was time-consuming but better than just charging in and cutting down anything that moved.
As Han and Leia's Force presences got stronger, she could begin to hear the distant sounds of a party: glasses clinking, female voices cooing, and loud, boisterous laughter. Mara was tempted to charge in with her lightsaber drawn, but her new training was quick to remind her that violence was not always the easiest way to getting what you wanted.
After clearing her mind of any distractions, she walked into the massive banquet hall which was packed with dozens of partygoers, all splayed out on sofas, engaging in gambling and debauchery. She could already spy a couple bounty hunters in the crowd, but the only person she really cared about was the gargantuan slug sitting at the center of the room: Jabba, the most powerful crime lord in the Outer Rim.
His large, froggy eyes followed her lasciviously as he chomped on a flailing larva, its juices dribbling down his belly. A poor Twi'lek woman dressed in revealing rags was forced to lie against him, a chain keeping her from moving; the resignation and despair in her eyes made Mara's blood boil, but she kept her cool. As she got closer, the overwhelming stench that emanated from him made her stop a few meters away from Jabba. Mara could sense the presence of a massive beast just below the room she was standing in, and a quick look at the floor in front of her told her that getting too close to Jabba was inadvisable, not just because of his stench.
The Hutt's voice came as a low echo from his cavernous mouth:
"You did well making it all the way here. It appears I'll have to revisit my security measures from now on."
"That's the least of your worries, Jabba," Mara replied coolly, darting her eyes around the room to try to find Han and Leia. "You'll be lucky if you live to see tomorrow."
A loud chuckle emanated from the Hutt's bowels, echoing across the dark and cramped banquet hall. Many of Jabba's guests chimed in with their own laughter, as though they were all in on the joke.
"Were you perhaps looking for them?" Jabba asked maliciously.
He pressed a button on a control panel next to his arm, revealing a hidden wall behind which hung the frozen silhouettes of Han and Leia. They were still wrapped in each other's arms, their loving smiles frozen in carbonite.
Before Mara could react, all the doors to the banquet hall were sealed shut. As Jabba's guests quivered and curled up in drug-fueled paranoia, bounty hunters emerged from the crowd and aimed their weapons squarely at Mara. They were quickly followed by Imperial soldiers, dressed entirely in black armor and wielding electrostaffs: Purge Troopers. Mara had never seen them personally; she'd only heard rumors about the Emperor's latest Jedi killing troops.
At a glance, the odds were decidedly not in her favor. Four Purge Troopers surrounded her, backed up by eight bounty hunters with high-impact blaster rifles. But no matter the odds, Mara could not allow herself to give up; she was no longer held back by her fears. She had accepted the possibility of defeat and death, now if she only trusted in the Force, and in her friends, things would work out in the end.
Mara slowly reached for her lightsaber and let it twirl nonchalantly in her hand, not yet igniting it. The tension in the room was building; the Bounty Hunters and Purge Troopers adjusted their footing and lowered their centers of gravity, expecting an attack, while Mara just kept her eyes closed, her mind clear and her weapon ready. Even Jabba was starting to feel nervous, anxiously gripping the metal leash to which his Twi'lek slave was attached.
"Alright, that's enough! Everybody ease up, and lower your weapons."
All eyes turned towards the mysterious voice. Next to Han and Leia's carbonite slab stood Boba Fett, casually leaning against the wall, his features hidden beneath his infamous helmet. Even Mara recognized him on sight; understandable since even the Empire referred to Boba as one of the deadliest bounty hunters in the galaxy.
"I assume you're friends with the other Jedi," Boba spoke casually to Mara, who's focus did not waver. "I met him on Cloud City, he was also trying to rescue these two. What was his name… Skywalker! That's it, Luke Skywalker! I was certain HE would be the one to come rescue them. Why are you here?"
Mara tried to ignore his nonchalant and borderline childish tone since the enemies around her had not eased off their weapons.
"It won't be long before he gets here. I promised I'd leave him a piece of the action, after all," Mara replied confidently. "Our forces must be nearly done dealing with the last of your defenses. They'll be here any minute. It's over."
"You really have no idea do you?" Boba spoke sardonically, shaking his head in disbelief. "You still haven't realized that you've fallen right into the Empire's trap?"
Mara did not reply. She held the bounty hunter's gaze, determined to call his bluff. Boba's only response was a cynical chuckle, which eased the nervousness of everyone in the room, except Mara.
"Then let me educate you, kid," Boba raised a finger above one of the buttons on his forearm guard, and spoke his next words without a hint of humor. "Throw down your weapons or I'll supercharge that carbonite slab and kill them both on the spot."
Don't be stupid, kid. He's not bluffing.
The sudden female voice that spoke in Mara's mind shocked her. Another Force user had made contact with her, but as she scanned the room, she could not sense where the speaker was. Her voice had appeared in Mara's mind, then immediately disappeared…
Mara brushed off her confusion and focused back on the task at hand: getting herself out of this mess.
The banquet hall was silent. Mara could hear the blood beating in her eardrums as she tried to find a way to get an upper hand on the situation. She considered calling his bluff, but the risk was too high; it made sense that a bounty hunter as efficient as Boba would have multiple fail-safes to insure his bounty did not escape him.
Mara only had one option: stall for time.
"Fine, I understand," she said cautiously, turning to face Boba. "Let us negotiate a compromise—"
"—Did you not hear me, Jedi?" Boba asked with calculated ferocity. "Throw down your weapon now, or the lovely couple gets liquified all over the floor."
Don't do it!
And just like that, Mara's options had run out. She was backed against a wall. The only thing she could do was…
"I surrender."
Mara threw her lightsaber at Boba's feet and put her hands above her head. That was all she could do to keep Han and Leia safe.
"Not so tough now are you Jedi?" Jabba gurgled proudly, his beady eyes roaming over Mara's body. "I know exactly what to do with you…"
Thankfully, Luke had managed to avoid any serious injuries during his less than stellar landing. He was still a bit dazed, likely due to a small concussion, and his left wrist felt sprained, but neither required any immediate treatment. Thanks to the Force, he was able to wash away the pain like it were nothing.
It was also lucky that Luke had crash-landed not far from the rest of the Rebel Alliance's troops. He could sense Ezra's presence, as well as Cody's, but Luke was concerned when he could not sense Rex. He ran as fast as he could through the heavy sand and the beating sun, and within ten minutes he reached the makeshift camp.
It was a depressing sight. Bodies littered the ground, and the sand was unable to soak up all the blood; it was now just stained crimson. A few men were digging graves for their comrades, but at this rate, it would take them days to properly honor all those who were slain. The Imperial soldiers were just left out in the open sun; right now the priority had to be the Rebel Alliance's troops.
The few men he crossed paths with recognized him and tried to look hopeful, but Luke could tell it was forced. The more soldiers he encountered, the more their hope weighed on Luke's conscience. He could see that they were expecting him to pull off a miracle and turn this situation around for them, and Luke prayed he could make that happen. For now, he just smiled reassuringly and bowed respectfully, honoring their sacrifice and reassuring them that everything would be alright.
Luke made his way towards a temporary field hospital from which emanated the harrowing and tortured moans of butchered soldiers. Luke did his best to stay stoic when he saw the state of the men. There were at least two-dozen injured, about half of them in critical conditions. Many had had their limbs blown or shot off, and were begging for pain relief as the overworked medics did their best to take care of everyone.
That was where Luke saw Ezra. The young man was kneeling next to two commandos. One had his eyes bandaged with a dressing that was already being tarnished by two swelling circles of blood. The other's eyes were undamaged, but they stared unblinkingly into space, his right hand pattering on his knee, bellow which, both of his legs were gone. Ezra was whispering into their ears, using the Force to take their minds away from the pain and the trauma and the loss.
Luke was about to walk over to offer his help but stopped when he crossed Ezra's gaze. The young man's face was pale, his lips bright blue as he stared at Luke without blinking, not even recognizing him. The torment and turmoil within Ezra were painfully obvious, Luke could sense it easily; he wasn't even trying to disguise it. And Luke would be lying if he did not feel a similar dread and pain in his own heart.
The entire operation had gone to hell. He didn't even want to contemplate what state the fleet was in if there was even anything left of it. Had Rogue Squadron managed to escape safely? What about Ashoka, Yoda, Mon Mothma? All unanswered questions which Luke did not dwell on, knowing full well where those thoughts would lead him.
Ezra had turned away from him and was back to whispering to the wounded men. At least his words seemed to be having an effect: the blind soldier managed to summon a weak smile and the crippled soldier stopped tapping his knee.
"He hasn't talked to anyone else," Luke heaved a silent sigh of relief when he heard Cody's voice. "Ezra's only been speaking with them since we set up the medical tent."
Luke turned to the Clone who managed to give him a reassuring smile, but Luke could tell it was forced. He doubted anyone could remain hopeful and collected in a situation like this. Even Luke felt like he had to grip his mind with both hands to keep it from straying towards darkness.
"What's the situation, Cody?"
"Not good. Damn terrible would be a better term…" Cody replied somberly as he made his way through the medical tent with Luke close behind. "Two of our platoons were completely wiped out, we've barely got half a platoon's worth of able-bodied soldiers. If we add what's left of general Madine's troops, that leaves us with less than a platoon of commandos who can still fight. The rest…"
Cody stopped beside a wounded soldier. Luke was horrified to see it was Rex, with a giant bandage covering the top of his head. Cody meticulously changed his friend's dressing, applying fresh bacta, and making sure Rex was not in pain.
When he was finished, Cody turned back to face Luke.
"You should speak with general Madine. He's planning an assault on the palace with what troops we have left. I'm sure he'll want to know you're here."
"I'll go see him. Thanks, Cody."
Luke headed towards the command tent, trying to keep his mind focused when Cody's voice stopped him in his tracks.
"Luke!"
The young man turned around and saw a rugged smile grace the old Clone's lips.
"General Kenobi would be proud. I think you've become exactly the Jedi he saw in you."
Luke was touched deeply by Cody's words. He had always felt apprehension about what Obi-Wan would think of his choice to walk the path between dark and light, but the more he had meditated on it, the more Luke had come to believe that Obi-Wan would respect and understand his choice.
He waved to Cody appreciatively before making his way over to Crix Madine's command post. The general was looking down at a holomap, both hands resting against his forehead, lost in thought. Madine's entire body was slouched, which was extremely unusual for someone with his military background.
Luke had to clear his throat in order to get his attention. Madine turned around suddenly and smiled slightly upon recognizing Luke's face. He gestured for the young man to join him.
"I'm glad you're here, general Skywalker," his tone was obviously far from glad, more like tired. "Though I'm afraid I have only more bad news to share… the fleet has been forced to retreat."
Luke's fear had just become a reality. The outcome of the space battle had lingered at the back of his mind ever since Vader blew him out of the sky, and he had been dreading the answer all this time.
"So no reinforcements," Luke said slowly, methodically processing the situation, trying to find a solution. "And barely one platoon with enough energy left to fight."
"Mara Jade is infiltrating Jabba's palace. We're waiting for her locator signal to activate to launch our attack. At this point, speed and efficiency are our only options. Any minute we waste is time for the Empire's net to close around us."
Luke did not like the idea of Mara being alone inside Jabba's fortress. He could not sense that she was in any danger, but that did ease his anxiety. Luke could still feel a slight tingle on his lips from when they shared that passionate kiss right before the assault on Tatooine. Luke remembered that feeling, he focused on that moment when they were in each other's arms and the entire galaxy seemed to fizzle out into nothingness. He used that memory to ignite the fire of hope inside his heart, swearing to himself that he would find a way to achieve victory today.
"Without any possibility of evacuation, this mission will be tough…" Luke spoke as he tried to think of an idea to turn the situation in their favor. "Perhaps if we take Jabba hostage, we can use him as leverage against the Empire or his bounty hunters to obtain a transport off Tatooine?"
"Setting aside the difficulty of taking a 2,900-pound slug hostage, even though the Empire has likely struck a deal with Jabba, I doubt his life is of much concern to them in this situation."
As Luke racked his brain to come up with another idea, his communicator suddenly started beeping, indicating an incoming transmission. He answered it without even thinking twice about who was on the other end, and swiftly regretted it when he saw Boba Fett's hologram appear in his palm.
"Hey, kid. It's been a while."
Luke set the holoprojector down on the table. Madine was quick to pick up what was happening and made sure to stay out of view of Boba's hologram, while still remaining within earshot.
"Boba Fett. We meet again," Luke said calmly as his mind raced to try to figure out how and why he had contacted him. "I'm guessing Jabba asked you to stick around after you delivered his bounty to him?"
"Well, the big slug pays well and he enjoys my company," Boba replied nonchalantly. "Though I can't say he feels the same way about you Rebels. He's up in such a frenzy when he realized how many of his men you tore through. It's not pretty to see."
"Sorry to hear that. If Jabba lets me meet him face to face I'd be happy to apologize."
Luke decided to take a page out of Han and Lando's book: talk, talk, and talk some more. He needed to keep his wits about him and extract as much information out of Boba as possible.
"Unfortunately, that ship has sailed. And considering we hold all the cards…"
Boba turned the holoprojector away from him, to reveal something that nearly engulfed Luke in all-consuming rage. He saw Mara with a chain around her neck, dressed in a revealing and degrading outfit, stuck against Jabba's filthy body as he ogled her with repulsive lust. As soon as Mara saw Luke's hologram, her features hardened, communicating through her gaze that her pride would never be broken.
"Don't worry about me, Luke! You have to—"
Mara could not continue as Jabba yanked on her collar. Boba turned the holoprojector back on himself, well aware of Luke's mounting anger.
"You dare…" Luke's voice was a whispered snarl; his self-control hung by a thread. He felt a familiar tenseness in his gut, followed by a deep pulsation throughout his body. "You dare do this to her… You've just sealed your fate. I will make everyone inside that castle pay with their lives!"
Crix Madine could tell that something was changing inside of Luke, as did Boba. The bounty hunter disguised his nervous shift as a casual gesture, briefly wondering if he had chosen the correct approach to deal with this Jedi. But he could not go back now, he had to see his plan through to the end.
"She hasn't been harmed, and she'll stay that way if you do as we say. You have my word on that. And I always keep my word. No harm will come to any of you until we've delivered you to the Empire."
"And when the Emperor gets his hands on her, will she not be harmed then?!" Luke shouted, letting his anger flare. As his fist clenched, the sand around his feet began to rise off the ground. "There's no more negotiating. I'm coming for you with everything I have. You should run while you still can, bounty hunter."
"Don't force my hand, kid," Boba's tone sounded almost pleading. "Just surrender peacefully. I don't want this getting any uglier than it needs to—"
"—You've made it ugly!" Luke unleashed his fury. The ground at his feet began to tremble, and across Tatooine the wild animals began to howl, sensing his bloodlust. "And now this will only end when one of us is dead and buried!"
Boba let out a regretful sigh. For a moment, he almost felt remorse for what he was about to do. But that feeling quickly disappeared, and he revealed his ace in the hole. Two people were dragged into view of the holoprojector, their hands bound, their faces terrified.
Luke did not recognize them immediately. But as soon as they gazed up at his hologram, Luke immediately knew who they were. A tear streamed down his cheek as he looked at his aunt Beru and his uncle Owen.
Luke fell to his knees. His belligerence and thirst for revenge were replaced by despair, fear, and hopelessness; but his heart still seethed.
His voice was barely audible:
"I surrender. Just... don't hurt them."
Boba nodded slowly, removing Beru and Owen from the holoprojection.
"Come to the main entrance of the palace with your remaining troops. Once you've surrendered to us, we'll send out medics to help with the wounded."
Luke nodded glumly, Boba's hologram disappeared and silence returned to Luke's thoughts. He felt like he was on the edge of a precipice, with his very soul and purpose teetering on the edge of oblivion.
FINITO!
Things are heating up, that's for sure. I'm trying to add more grey areas and nuances to some of the characters. Wonder if it's working? Do you like where this arc is headed? Yes? No? Please leave a review to let me know your thoughts, I read them all.
I'll make the next one faster… I promise…
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(why are you scoffing?)