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.
...
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