2,398Spectre: I'll make this little note quick.
I have intentions to resume my work by July. Unfortunately, my father passed away earlier that month, and any incentive of resuming my work were gone by that time. Me and the family are still in the process of grief of the sudden loss, and I still have to deal with my college graduation two weeks after he passed.
Which sucked because I had hoped that my father would finally see the last of his kids complete their education before his passing. And I decided to take a break to both cope and prepare for job hunting. At the same time, I'm trying to get my rythm back by making fics anonymously at Ao3. But I'm not gonna say what are they or what they're about.
Anyways, I appreciate the support you've given me on Demonun's plagiarism at Webnovel. In response, I will also be posting the fic in AO3 some time in September if I got the time.
Chapter 46: Compromised.
Han strained to see her, though he had the eyes of a newborn. "Leia! Where are we?"
"Jabba's palace. I've got to get you out of here quick."
He sat up shakily. "Everything's a blur... I'm not going tobe much help..."
She looked at him a long moment, her blinded love—she'd traveled light-years to find him, risked her life, lost hard-won time needed sorely by the Rebellion, time she couldn't really afford to throw away on personal questsand private desires... but she loved him.
Tears filled her eyes. "We'll make it," she whispered. Impulsively, she embraced him and kissed him again. He, too, was flooded with emotion all at once—back from the dead, the beautiful princess filling his arms, snatching him from the teeth of the void. He felt overwhelmed.
"As touching as this is, they would have to leave immediately before Jabba and his men had the gist of what was going on", Master Mundi pointed out pragmatically.
"Things tend to go out of hand at the heated moments of passion, Master", Obi-Wan further added.
Unable to move, even to speak, he held her tightly, his blind eyes closed fast against all the sordid realities thatwould come rushing in soon enough.
Sooner than that, as it happened. A repulsive squishing sound suddenly became all too obvious behind them. Han opened his eyes, but could still see nothing. Leialooked up to the alcove beyond, and her gaze turned to an expression of horror.
"Oh no...", Caleb groaned in despair.
"We just have to say it sooner...", Rex muttered, realizing the shift in tone.
The rest of the audience shared this feeling, though Anakin and Padme's feeling of both shock and recoil were the most noticeable.
"You're not saying that..."
For the curtain had been drawnaway, and theentirearea, floor to ceiling, was composed of a gallery of the most disgusting miscreants of Jabba'scourt -gawking, salivating, wheezing. Leia's hand shot up to her mouth.
"What is it?" Han pressed her. Something obviously wasterribly wrong. He stared into his own obscene cackle rose from the other side of thealcove. A Huttese cackle.
"I could never get used to that laugh of his..", Ahsoka commented in contempt, just hoping that Rota doesn't end up like this lime in front of this.
Han held his head, closed his eyes again, as if to keep away the inevitable for just one more moment. "I know that laugh."
The curtain on the far side was suddenly drawn open. There sat Jabba, Ishi Tib, Bib, Boba, and several guards. They all laughed, kept laughing, laughed to punish. "My, my, what a touching sight," Jabba purred. "Han, my boy, your taste in companions has improved, even if your luck has not."
"Perhaps he could make out something with Jabba, yes?", Saesee asked, recalling how Han managed to deal with Jabba during the first holotape they viewed.
"I'm afraid it's too late with that, Master Tiin", Kit Fisto bitterly admitted. "Jabba's patience has limits. And Fett bringing Han over to him is likely at its end"
Even blind, Solo could slide into smooth talk easier thana spice-eater. "Listen, Jabba, I was on my way back topay you when I got a little side-tracked. It's not my fault..."
This time Jabba genuinely chuckled. "It's too late for that, Solo. You may have been the best smuggler in the business, but now you're Bantha fodder." He cut short his smile and gestured to his guards.
"Take him away"Guards grabbed Leia and Han. They dragged the Corellian pirate off, while Leia continued struggling whereshe was.
"I will decide how to kill him later,"Jabba muttered.
"I'll pay you triple," Solo called out. "Jabba, you're throwing away a fortune. Don't be a fool."
Then he was gone. From the rank of guards, Lando quickly moved forward, took hold of Leia, and attempted to lead her away.
Jabba stopped them. "Wait! Bring her to me."
Lando and Leia halted in mid-stride.
The Crime Lord's words spurred the fears and curiousity of those watching in the Chamber, with the women grimacing at whatever Jabba had in mind for Leia. Especially to those who were familiar with the Hutt on a personal level. "Now what does he want from her now?", Depa asked, rubbing her temples.
From the sides, the Jedi could feel the blend of fear and anger radiating from Skywalker at hearing whatever sinister plan the Crime Lord had for Leia. Immediately, Obi-Wan, Ahsoka and Padme came close to him, trying to cool down his anger as he glared at the crime lord, muttering. "You better get your hands off of her, Jabba...", he seethed in anger.
The woman only glared at the Crime Lord, who was more than pleased at this reaction. "We have powerful friends. You're gonna regret this..."
Jabba only chuckled in response. "I'm sure...", he moved closer to the woman, his ugly visage nearing her beautiful face, before she turned away in disgust. "but in the meantime, I will thoroughly enjoy the pleasure of your company"
"Calm down, Anakin", Obi-Wan beckoned his apprentice as he watched in muted anger at the screen. "I am sure Luke and the others have a plan for this"
It didn't help the Chosen One one bit in calming his now conflicted mind.
Han was thrown roughly into the dungeon cell; the door crashed shut behind him. He fell to the floor in thedarkness, then picked himself up and satagainst the a few moments of pounding the ground with his fist,he quieted down and tried to organize his thoughts. Thoughts on how he could get out of here and fix the mess that happened because of him. Now that he knew that Jabba had some sick fantasies for Leia, but what could he do?
Then he heard the growl. A low, formidable snarl from out of the dense blackness at the far corner of the cell,the growl of a large and angry beast.
The audience were familiar with the growl, and whatever tension and concern they had for Solo quickly evaporated at what they were hearing.
The hair on Solo's arms stood on end. Quickly he rose,his back to the wall. "Looks like I've got company," he muttered.
The wild creature bellowed out an insane "Groawwwwr!" and raced straight at Solo, grabbing him ferociously around the chest, lifting him several feetinto the air, squeezing off his breathing.
Han was totally motionless for several long seconds—he couldn't believe his ears.
"Chewie, is that you!?", The giant Wookiee barked with joy. For the second time in an hour, Solo was overcome with happiness; but this was an entirely different matter. "All right, allright, wait a second, you're crushing me."
Chewbacca put his friend down. Han reached up and scratched his partner's chest; Chewie cooed like a pup.
"It seems they're back on track", Master Fisto commented optimistically. "He has someone he could make a plan someone being the most loyal friend in thegalaxy"
"But given the circumstances, they would need another party to make it work due to the enhanced security", Shaak Ti added, wondering if this is also part of Luke's plan.
"Okay, what's going on around here, anyway?"
Chewie barked shook his head. "Is Luke crazy? Why'd you listen to him? That kid can't even take care of himself, let alone rescue anyone."
"Lando's plan? What is he doing here?"
Ahsoka understood his tone of disbelief and anger. "I remember, Han thought that Lando had betrayed them to the Empire. But didn't get to know that he did help them in the end", she recalled.
Chewie barked shook his head. "Is Luke crazy? Why'd you listen to him? That kid can't even take care of himself, let alone rescue anyone."
"Have faith, Captain Solo", Yoda said out loud, with clear confidence in his tone. "Know what lies you ahead, you have not yet"
The Grand Master's words manage to help calm Anakin's mind. If there is one thing that is consistent about his son, it was his determination to save his friends. A trait that he had inherited from his father.
"A Jedi Knight? Come on. I'm out of it for a little while and everybody gets delusions."
Chewbacca growled insistently. Han nodded dubiously in the blackness. "I'll believe it when I see it—" he commented, walking stoutly into the wall. "If you'll excuse the expression."
The iron main gate of Jabba's palace scraped open harshly, oiled only with sand and time. A black robed figure stood outside in the dusty gale, staring into the black cavernous entranceway, ready to do what needs to be done.
The audience watched closely at the newcomer, recognizing the aura of experience, wisdom and skill that he hid beneath those black robes of his. And whatever skepticism they initially have were replaced by intrigue.
"Is that who I think it is?", Caleb asked, referring to the shadowy figure.
"I don't have to say who, Caleb", Anakin quickly replied, clearly recognizing the figure before him with outmost confidence and fatherly pride. "He wouldn't have given up so easily when things go south"
No one can dispute the pride and hope that Anakin have for him. If anything, they share the same mindset for the young man fighting the shroud of the Empire.
Yoda and Obi-Wan watched in fascination of the aura that the son of Skywalker had radiated. He was a man now. Wiser, likea man—older more from loss than from years. Loss of illusions,loss of dependency. Loss of friends, to war. Loss ofsleep, to stress. Loss of laughter. Loss of his hand.
But of all his losses, the greatest was that which camefrom knowledge, and from the deep recognition that hecould never unknow what he knew. So many things hewished he'd never learned. He had aged with the weight of this knowledge.
He had significantly grown as a person and man. Perhaps even greater than his father even.
Resolutely, Luke strode into thearching hallway.
Almost immediately two Gamorreans stepped up,blocking his path. One spoke in a voice that did not invitedebate."No chuba!"
Luke raised his hand and pointed at the guards. Beforeeither could draw a weapon, they were both clutchingtheir own throats, choking, gasping.
To say the audience was disturbed is an understatement. A move usually reserved by those who had misused their power, and of those who practice techniques that are deemed unorthodox.
Windu cupped his chin, wondering wether or not Luke had walked the path of his father, but continued to veer onto his own course.
"...Luke?", Padme asked, disturbed at the same move that his father had used. The same move that also gave a stark reminder of the audience when saw his downfall.
"You don't think he...", Master Fisto began, fearing the worst.
"No, Master Fisto", Anakin cut him off, knowing that his son was better than that. "I am certain that my son knows what he's doing"
They fell to lowered his hand and walked on. The guards,suddenly able to breathe again, slumped to the
sanddrifted steps. They didn't follow.
Around the next corner Luke was met by Bib Fortuna. Fortuna began speaking as he approached the young Jedi, but Luke never broke stride, so Bib had to reverse his direction in mid-sentence and hurry along with Skywalker in order to carry on a conversation.
"You must be the one called Skywalker. His Excellency will not see you."
"I will speak to Jabba, now," Luke spoke evenly, never slowing. They passed several more guards at the nextcrossing, who fell in behind them.
"The great Jabba is asleep," Bib explained. "He has instructed me to tell you there will be no bargains—."
Luke stopped suddenly, and stared at Bib. He locked eyes with the major-domo, raised his hand slightly, tooka minutely inward turn. "You will take me to Jabba,now."
Bib paused, tilted his head a fraction. What were his instructions? Oh, yes, now he remembered. "I will take you to Jabba now."
Rex couldn't help but laugh to himself. "Now that kid gets it..."
Yoda smiled at Qui Gon Jinn's apprentice. "Showed him your trick, hmmm? Taught him well, you have, Master Kenobi"
Obi-Wan only scratched the back of his head. "I wouldn't have if you have also been guiding him, Master Yoda"
Luminara and Shaak Ti looked at the boy, impressed on how far he has gone. "Perhaps in the years that will follow, Luke has the potential to represent the very best of the Jedi", the Miriallan professed.
He turned and walked down thetwisting corridor that led to the throne chamber. Luke followed him into the gloom. "You serve your master well," he whispered in Bib's ear.
"I serve my master well," Bib nodded with conviction.
"You are sure to be rewarded," Luke added.
Bib smiled smugly. "I am sure to be rewarded."
As Luke and Bib entered Jabba's court, the level of tumult dropped precipitously as if Luke's presence had acooling effect. Everyone felt the change. The lieutenant and the Jedi Knight approached thethrone.
The next sight caused eveyone inside the Jedi Chamber to almost be sick in utter disgust at what they were looking at. A display of depravity and self-indulgence that they despised the most.
As Anakin and Padme saw the image before their eyes, their faces had been etched with horror and and disbelief.
Luke saw Leia seated there, now, by Jabba's belly. She was chained at the neck and dressed in theskimpy costume of a dancing girl. He could feel her pain immediately, from across the room—but he said nothing,didn't even look at her, shut her anguish completely out of his mind.
"Some people are just incapable of having any sort of matters or courtesy", Depa commented with a frown, her voice clearly indicated she despised on the fate that befell to Leia.
Padme tried her best to calm down, minding her anger as a means not to risk the child inside of her. But even so, she couldn't help it. And she wanted something to be done immediately. "...I really have to get Senator Organa and the rest and see if we could deal with Jabba as soon as the war is over", she uttered in contempt.
As for the rest, Anakin's face of horror shifted into an ugly glare at the Crime Lord's depravity and of his licentiousness of what he had done to Leia. And those attuned to the force could feel the anger within him on the verge of exploding despite his visible attempts to contain it. Unconsciously, his hand began to make a gesture as if it he intended to grab something.
Back at Tatooine, Jabba could feel his throat slowly being crused as Bib tried to assist his master as they are in their day having their vices. Fearful, the Crime Lord ordered anytone to help him, but he couldn't explain or stave away the unexplained phenomenon that befell him.
Immediately, Obi-Wan came to the assistance for his Padawan, trying what he could to calm him down, though he also visibly despised what had happened to her and the Crime Lord who did this to her. "Remember, Anakin. We cannot fulfill anything if we act rashly. We have to see this through without having to get our emotions get the better of us", he instructed his apprentice.
Reluctantly, Anakin allowed his master's words to influence his actions, calming his mind. And at the same time, releasing the Crime Lord from his grip.
Luke knew he needed to focus his attention entirely on Jabba. Leia, for her part, sensed this at once. She closed her mind to Luke, to keep herself fromdistracting him; yet at the same time she kept it open, ready to receive any sliver of information she might need to act.
She felt charged with possibilities.
Best I can do for now to prove that I'm not dead. I'll try and update early in September.