Invaders of Darkness

Chapter 9 - Endor

Author's Note: Yeah this is similar to what happened in ROTJ, in case that isn't already obvious. Hopefully no one's getting too bored. But anyway, don't worry cuz things are about to start getting interesting again. :D

~ Tirana Sorki

Kanan has a really bad feeling about this as the creatures Threepio informed them are Ewoks carry him, Zeb, Rex, and Chopper into the village. Threepio is being carried on what's probably supposed to be a throne at the front of the group. They don't have time to be dealing with these things right now. They do happen to have a galaxy (and padawan) to save, thanks for asking.

Ewoks are scurrying all over the place inside the village, and one of them who seems to be a leader approaches Threepio and starts talking to it. "What's he saying?" asks Rex.

"I'm rather embarrassed, but it appears you are to be the main course at a banquet in my honor." Okay, this is ridiculous. They're about to be eaten by a bunch of fury little teddy bears, instead of completing the most important mission the Alliance has ever had. No, that is not happening. He needs to find a way out of this and fast.

Kanan glances around, trying to formulate at the least a thread of a plan in his mind. He sees a sudden movement near one of the huts and just then, a certain very familiar Mandalorian walks into view. "Sabine!"

Alarm flashes across her face and she tries to move towards them, only for the Ewoks block her path with spears. "Threepio! You need to tell them to stop!" she demands.

Threepio turns to the Ewoks and begins speaking to them, but they firmly shake their heads. Several of them begin scurrying around, piling the wood under Rex. "Looks like I'm their favorite."

"Karabast!" growls Zeb, as he tries in vain to free himself from the ropes.

"Threepio, tell them that if they don't free us, you'll get upset and use your powers," Kanan orders finally. He can only hope this is going to work.

"But what powers?" protests the droid, "I couldn't possibly –"

"Just do it."

Threepio begins speaking to the Ewoks and judging from their expressions and noises they don't seem very happy. Kanan reaches out with the Force, slowly lifting the droid's 'throne' off the ground.

"You see, Master Kanan?" the protocol droid exclaims, totally oblivious, "They didn't believe me, just as I said they wouldn't. They –" He cuts off, glancing down and if his eyes could actually widen in alarm at the sight of himself off the ground, they definitely would have. "Wh-wh-what's happening?!" the droid shrieks, "Oh, oh dear!" Zeb promptly bursts out laughing. Even Rex and Sabine look amused.

The Ewoks all begin to run away from the throne at the sight, clearly in a panic, and totally oblivious to the fact that their so-called god is actually screaming in an alarm, not uttering curses against them or something. The chief yells orders to the others who run over and start cutting all of them free.

"Oh, oh, thank goodness!" Threepio gasps in relief as Kanan finally sets him back down.

***

After Threepio accidentally convinces the Ewoks to join their fight against the Empire, and they all get adopted in as members of the tribe (just what Kanan always wanted), he slips outside of the main hut into the moonlight outside. In the morning, the Ewoks will show them the quickest route to the shield generator, and that's good enough for him.

With the details of the mission pretty much settled, Kanan lets his mind move back to what he's basically been fixating on. Ezra is still here on the moon. He's certain of it, though he can't sense much right now, at least not without revealing his presence to any other possible Inquisitors.