The Empire's Fall (Pt.3)

Chapter Two: The Sarlacc

Jabba's Sail Barge moves above the desert sands, along with two small skiffs. One of which Luke, Han, Chewie, and I are all on. Lando is also on the skiff with us. This works quite well for the plan.

"I think my eyes are getting better," Han says, "Instead of a big dark blur, I see a big light blur."

"There's nothing to see."

"Luke and I used to live here, you know. This is the same Sarlacc pit that was in the story Biggs told a few years ago."

"You're gonna die here, you know. Convenient."

"Just stick close to Chewie and Lando. Leeda and I have taken care of everything."

"Oh... great. Wait a minute, Leeda and you?"

"Okay, Leeda came up with the plan."

"That makes me feel a bit better."

"Thank you, Han."

"You're welcome, kid."

A little while later, the convoy moves up over a huge sand pit. The Sail Barge and the escort skiff stop over to one side of the pit. Whereas our skiff, the prisoner skiff, moves out directly over the center and then hovers. At the bottom of the hole is a hole, surrounded by thousands of needle-sharp teeth. Not to mention the tentacles that lurk just beneath the sand. Two planks are extended from the edge of our skiff. Guards release Luke's bonds first, and then mine, we are then shoved out onto the plank, directly above the Sarlacc's mouth.

Threepio's voice fills the air, "Victims of the almighty Sarlacc: His Excellency hopes that you will die honorable. But should any of you wish to beg for mercy, the great Jabba the Hutt will now listen to your pleas."

Han steps forward and begins to speak, a note of arrogance in his voice, "Threepio, you tell that slimy piece of... worm-ridden filth he'll get no such pleasure form us. Right?"

Chewie growls his agreement.

"Jabba! This is your last chance." I yell out.

"Free us our die."

Lando moves slowly along the skiff as I shoot a quick conspiratorial look at him. A guard prods me to the edge of the plank over the gaping Sarlacc, the same is done to Luke on the plank beside mine. Together, we look up at Artoo who has appeared by the rail facing us, in tandem we give Artoo jaunty salutes: the signal the little astromech has been waiting for.

After I am prodded in the back, I jump off the plank with my brother to the cheers of the bloodthirsty spectators. But before anyone can react, we spin around and grab the ends of our planks. Due to our weight, the planks bend downward then catapult us skyward. In midair I do a complete flip and land on the end of the plank in the same spot I jumped from, except this time, I am facing the skiff. I extend my hand, palm up, and my lightsaber, which Artoo sent arcing toward me, drops into my hand.

Before anyone can react, again, Luke and I ignite our lightsabers and attack the guards who prodded us off of our planks, sending them both overboard while screaming. We clamber onto the skiff and once we're onboard the other guards swarm toward us. Luke and I nod to each other, and purple and green flash simultaneously as we make our way through the guards. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Lando struggling with another guard at the back of the skiff.

Luke and I knock the last two guards off of the skiff and then start to untie both Han and Chewie's bonds. Luke take Han and I take Chewie since he likes me better more than he likes Luke.