INTRO
Wedge Antilles adjusted the visual scopes on his X-wing. The scanners continued to indicate an incoming ship. Wedge’s face twisted in confusion. The type of ship wasn’t showing up, nor was the name. He had tried communicating with the ship but it wasn’t responding. Finally the visuals showed the full ship. Slave IV.
Fett?
“Slave IV do you copy? This is General Wedge Antilles. For your own good I tell you to leave this sector immediately! Particularly this system. Over!”
No answer.
“Slave IV do you read?”
“Shut up, Wedge. I go where I please.” A voice rasped.
Yes! It is Boba Fett!
“Are you looking for a fight, Fett?”
“I’d love one. However, I’ve no time to toy with you and your puny X-wing, Antilles! I’ve got more important business to take care of!” With that, Slave IV shot into hyperspace.
Cursing, Jinster slammed his hand into the control panel. “Nice language Jin!” Han Solo said sarcastically.
“How can they penetrate the energy shield Han? I just don’t get it!”
“Maybe it’s because you programmed it, Jin.”Another blast hit the battle station.
“We can’t lose this station, Han!”
“Oh yeah? I’ve seen it happen. We’d best get out of here on the Falcon. Let’s get back to Yavin IV, okay?”
Chewbacca, the Wookie growled in agreement. They all boarded the Millenium Falcon and blasted away from the attacking TIE advanced modified fighters and entered hyperspace.
Luke Skywalker sat on top of the Great Temple of Yavin IV, legs crossed and eyes closed, meditating “How long has Uncle Luke been up here?” Jacen Solo asked his twin sister, Jaina.
“For about three hours. He said ‘I feel a disturbance in the Force.’” The twins, and their friends Lowbacca the Wookie and Tenel Ka stood watching the Jedi master for about thirty for minutes, who then, finally, came down.
“What’s goin’ on, Uncle Luke?” Jacen asked.
“Someone’s here,” Luke responded, “Someone who shouldn’t be.” Lowbacca growled a question. The droid, Em-Teedee at his side translated, “Lowbacca wishes to ask, ‘Like whom?’” Luke ignored the question. His eyes were focused on Yavin IV’s skies. The four companions looked up. A ship shot upward, into outer space.
“Uncle Luke, that’s Slave IV!”
“What would Boba Fett be doing here?”
“RRRAAAWWERRR!”
“Lowbacca expresses his surprise, sir!” As the companions jabbered amongst themselves, Luke dashed down to the docking bay.
“Peckhum! Did you pick that up on the scanners?” he asked.
Old Peckhum looked up from his cargo shuttle. “Sure did!” he said, “There’s another ship out there to, coming in to land! It’s X-wing class!”
Wedge!
“He said over the com-link that he’s escorting the ship back.”
“Good,” Luke said. By that time, Lowbacca, Tenel Ka, Jacen and Jaina were all back at the docking bay just in time to see Antilles escorting Slave IV back to the docking bay. Slave IV landed and the ramp lowered. Boba Fett emerged.
“Spill, Fett!” Jacen called.The other Young Jedi Knights, except Tenel Ka of course snickered.“Shh, Jacen!” Luke commanded.
“I will, my young Jedi Knight,” Fett rasped, “I seek one of you, for a price of 50,000 credits.”
“Whoa,” Jaina said.
“Yes, I know it is a lot of money, Solo girl, but I sure could use it.
“I see however that he is not here. You will not have to suffer his consequences.”Fett returned to Slave IV and vanished into the ship.Luke sighed.
“Who do you believe that Boba Fett is talking of, Master Skywalker?” Tenel Ka asked. Luke swore beneath his breath.
“Jinster,” he said, “Jinster Daven.”
“Okay, Chewie, let’s go down to tell Luke what those cruddy TIEs did to the base!” Chewbacca let out a low growl. Jinster went back to get ready to unload. Suddenly, several laser blasts hit the ship. Han’s face twisted in confusion. The ship shook violently.
“Chewie, identify the ship that’s boarding us. Nobody boards the Falcon!”
Chewbacca roared. “Slave IV? Boba Fett? Oh no! Jin see if you can work the turrents!”
No answer.
“Jin?”
Still no answer.
“Hey, c’mon Jin where are you?” Han called running back. The ship shook violently again. Slave IV jumped into hyper-space. Jinster was gone.
"Chewie! Did you get a fix on Fett's last known trajectury?" Han bit his lower lip hoping that Chewie had gotten that bit of information. Instead, Chewie gave a mournful growl. He had not gotten the trajectory readouts of the ship.
"Damn. Not only do we have another Imperial uprising, we have to deal with Boba Fett again." Han sighed. "Chewie, set coordinates for a hyperspace jump to Yavin 4. We've got to tell Leia the bad news."
When the Falcon landed and it's ramp was lowered, Han was greeted by Leia, the kids, and Luke. "Dad, we've got big trouble." Jacen said before anyone could say anything else. "Boba Fett was just here about a day ago and he was looking for Jinster!"
"Yeah," Jaina chimned in. "We tried to send you a transmission but it was blocked somehow. We couldn't get though." Han's look was grim.
"The blockage was probably caused by Fett. He found us, boarded the ship, and grabbed Jinster before we had time to blink. He left before we could get any sort of read out what-so-ever on where he was going."
"This is not good," Leia said. "What I don't understand is why anyone would go after a unimportant mechanic like Jinster. All he was doing was upgrading the Republics planetary defense systems."
"I had a hunch that there was more to this than meets the eye. I have Chewie checking on the latest bounty updates that get scattered around. Maybe we'll get lucky." Just then, Chewie came down the ships ramp and was bustling with news. Han did not look happy. He turned to Leia. "Well, Jinster got someone mad, but the person who placed the bounty is unknown. But he is worth a lot of credits."
"To think, after this mess with Anja Gallandro I though that we may gat a break. Especially from Fett." Jaina replied. " I just hope he makes it out okay."
"I don't understand!" Jinster bellowed. "Why have you taken me! When the Republic finds out, you'll be in big trouble!" Fett turned to face him threw the cell that he had put Jinster. "Believe me or not but your friends from the Republic have no idea what kind of trouble you are into. And believe it or not, I'm the only one who can save you."And with that Fett climbed up the ladder into the ships cock-pit.
"Luke, it's Fett again," came Wedge's voice over the comm, "I told him not to land but he insists! Says that he has some information that he thinks we would find intereting."
Han and Leia looked at Luke and waited for his reply. Luke nodded as if Wedge were standing right in front of him. "Tell him that he may land but stay at your post."
Han grabbed Luke's arm. "What do you think you're doing?"
Luke merely held up his free hand. "Easy Han, I know what I am doing." He turned back to the console. "Wedge, do you copy?" There was no reply right away but Wedge quickly replied. "If you insist. End transmission."
"I don't get it. First Boba Fett captured Jinster and now he's coming back here?" Leia had a confused lok on her face. " Do you think he's bringing him back?"
" I don't know what that crazy barve is doing." Han said not trying to hide the fact that he didn't like what was going on. "Maybe he's trying to sell Jinster back to us for a higher price. Whatever the reason I don't want the kids here."
"Oh come on dad!" Jaina spoke up. "We were out last time Fett was here. Besides, what could he do against a group of Jedi?"
"Plenty." Han answered. " I don't trust him and I definatly don't trust him around my children."
"Han," Leia said reaching for his arm. "I know you have had trouble with him in the past but what harm could he do? Let the children come."
Han grimaced but then finally nodded. " But I'm taking my blaster."
"His ship is landing. We better hurry if we are going to meet him." With that said Luke headed to the landing site with the children in hot persuit.
"I have a bad feeling about this." Han announced as he, Leia and Chewie headed out to meet his old rival.
The ramp of the Slave IV lowered. Luke stood in front of the group while the children stood a foot back watching for the bounty hunter. Leia and Chewbacca stood next to the children while Han stood right behind Luke. Han could here the rythamic thump of boots and the slight clanging of metal armour before the bounty hunter appeared. He still looked the same to Han. Menacing and dangerous. After all these years Han sould still remember running from the bounty hunter only to be caught by him and Vader on Cloud City during the Galactic Civil War. The hate resurfaced again as Han glared at Fett standing before him and Luke. Han noted that the bounty hunter was also glaring at him through the familiar T-shaped visor in his helmet.Boba Fett was also holding his rifle out in front of him but not aiming it at anyone.
"Fett." Han greeted the bounty hunter. Boba Fett nodded.
"Solo." The air was getting tense. Han now wished that he had insisted that the children go back into the temple.Luke, however, didn't even flinch at the presence of the bounty hunter.
"Greetings Boba Fett. Our message told us that you had something to tel us?" Boba Fett turned his gaze to the Jedi and responded to his question.
"I do. I must admit that I am never greeted by such a crowd when all I have is information."
"There was this many people last time you were here." Jaina boldly spoke up. Boba Fett turned his gaze to Jaina. "Was there?"
Han couldn't take it anymore. "Enough of this Fett. We saw you take Jinster from my ship and that you probably have him in your ship as we speak. Now stop this nonsense and tell us why your here."
Boba Fett jerked his gaze back at Han before he could even blink. "What do you mean I kidnapped him from your ship?" Han couldn't believe what he just heard. "This is getting old Fett. If you have something to say then say it. You should be lucky that we havn't contacted the Republic that you kidnapped a-"
"I didn't kidnap Jinster Davis." Han stopped dead in his tracks as Boba Fett continued. "I was no where near you ship and I was certainly no where near this planet until this very moment."
Though Han couldn't find anything to say, his son could. "But you were here. You came here looking for Jinster and then you left!"
"Jacen, be quiet." his sister whispered to him. Luke looked up at Boba Fett. "Well, you have my attention as well as everyone else's. Would you care to explain all this."
Boba Fett returned his gaze to the Jedi that stood before him. "Someone has been masquerading around the galaxy as me. Has been for sometime. He travels in a ship like mine, wears the same armor and even carries the same blaster that I now hold in my hand." He paused for a moment. "He travels across the galaxy pretending to be me. And now he has come to destroy the Republic."
No one said a word. Han couldn't believe what he had just heard. Someone posing as Boba Fett is trying to destroy the Republic? How? More importantly why? Luke's gaze never left the bounty hunter's. "What is the price for this information.?" "No charge," replied the bounty hunter. "That is, if you still want to hear it." Luke nodded. "Yes. Yes I believe we would."
Boba Fett contemplated the Jedi from behind the visor of his helmet. Finally, making a decision, he said, "This imposter is planning to kidnap Leia Organa Solo and sell her to the Hutts, who are still offering some choice bounties on all of you. You're lucky I've had more important things to do."
Han gaped at the bounty hunter. "But why?! Why would he take Leia?"
Boba Fett sneered at Solo. "Not all of the Empire's remenants are fools running around in beat up Star Destroyers. He knows that if he can get rid of her, the Republic will fall apart. Then, if he decides to, he can reveal to the galaxy that he is NOT me, and will therefore be considered the greatest bounty hunter around."
Han and Luke barely heard this last statement.
"Then it's settled!" Han exclaimed. "We have to get to Coruscant and protect Leia!" Jacen and Jaina nodded vigorously.
"Not so fast, Solo," Boba Fett said. "On my way here I picked up a transmission. She disappeared this morning on her way to a conference."
Han's face contorted, and he turned away from the others. Jacen and Jaina looked at each other in horror.
"Wait a minute," Jaina cut in shakily. "What does Jinster Davis have to do with all this?"
"I don't know, young Solo," Fett rasped. "There is an insignificant bounty on Davis, but it's hardly worth an expert bounty hunter's time." Han, calming himself, started toward his ship.
"Where are you going?" Luke called after him.
"To find Leia and that bloodsucking bounty hunter."
"Wait!" Luke and Boba said at the same time.
Han snarled, "Do still have more to say, Fett?"
Was there a slight tone of amusement in Fett's voice? "Yes, Solo, as I matter of fact I do. You'll never succeed in beating this bounty hunter. Even if you find him, and I doubt you will, you'd never manage to get Leia without all of you ending up dead."
"Is there a point to this little speech?" Han tapped his foot impatiently on the ground.
"Yes. I am offering my services to you."
Han and Luke looked at each other, aghast. Weakly, Luke said, "What?"
"The bounty on Organa Solo is 3 million credits. I will help you find her and dispatch this throublesome bounty hunter for 4."
"Four million credits?"
"Unless you think you can find her alone... You know as well as I that the Republic can well afford it. But you cannot afford to lose the cornerstone of your whole government."
Han hung his head, and Jacen and Jaina looked at him, then at Boba Fett in wonder.
"All right," the ex-smuggler said wearily. "You've got yourself a deal."
Leia awoke in a small cage and tried to stretch in the small confindment. Her eyesight adjusted to the darkness and she saw that she was in a small cargo hold on a ship. How had she gotten here. Wasn't she just on her wasy to a conference? It took her a moment before she remembered just what had happened.
"Boba Fett." There was a harsh tone to her voice as she said that name.
"Mrs.Solo? I'm so glad that you are awake!"
"Who is there?"
"It's me! Jinster Daven. Are you all right?"
"Jinster!" Leia was overcome with relief knowing that there was at least one familiar face around here. "Jinster, where are we?"
"Unfortunatley we are still aboard Slave IV."
"Great," she muttered under her breath. First she had to deal with an new Imperial uprising and now a bounty hunter. "Jinster, do you have any idea why we are here? I mean, bounty wise?"
Jinster looked embarrased. "Well, after that little episode with the hutts near the end of the Civil War you angered quite a few Hutts by killing off Jabba. You have a huge amount of money on your head but with your stature no one would even think of claiming the bounty. So it is obvious that you are going to be brought to the Hutts."
"That makes no sense. All of Jabba's relatives have been dead for years now and the Hutts have had no desire to even attempt somethin like this." Leia's mind was realling with ideas. "Boba Fett would be the only bold bounty hunter to attempt such a travisty. But what about you?" she asked Jinster.
"Well, that is what I don't get. You see, when I defected over to the Alliance I... killed one of the superior officers in the Empire. Only a Captain but there were a few people who enacted revenge on me. Only problem is they would never hire a bounty on me. It was very unheard of for the Empire to use bounty hunters. Well, except for Lord Vader."
"So there is no reason for you to even be here?"
"Well, no. Except that Boba Fett had told me that he was the only one who could save me."
"Leia shook her head. "Boba Fett doesn't care about anyone but himself. There must be more to it than that."
"Why don't you ask him yourself."
"What...?"
There was the sound of footsteps and Leia turned to see the outline of Boba Fett. Defiante as ever, Leia grabbed the bars of the cage and gat her face as close as she dared. "Boba Fett. What are you doing? You have no idea how much trouble you will be in when the Republic finds out-"
"By the time the Republic finds out who kidnapped you it will be too late and out of my hands," replied the bounty hunter.
"Well then, at least tell me who is out for my head."
Boba Fett shrugged his shoulders. "Not that it matters but if you must know it is someone from the Empire."
"So your still doing buisness with the Empire. Is that who is after Jinster?" She nodded in Jinster's posostion.
"Now that, my dear Chief of State, is something that I cannot answer."
"But why?"
"Becuase the employer wishes it. Now if you exscuse me, I think we are just about at our destination."
With that said and done Boba Fett turned on his heels and climbed the small ladder that led to the cockpit of his ship. Leia sat there with Jinster giving her a sympathetic look.
"Yeah. The destination of my destruction.
Han made the call to the New Republic about how Leia was kidnapped and about the ransom. Though the Republic hated to do it, they knew theu had no choice but to pay the bounty hunter for his services. After all, Han had been out of the whole illegal buisness world for years and he knew of no contacts that were around. At least, not alive. He still didn't understand why the Hutts would want to come after Leia, especially after all these years. There had to be another reason than this. But what?
Jaina, Jacen, Tenel Ka, Lowie and Zekk sat near the entrance of the temple contemplating the kidnapping of Leia. And now, they had excepted help from their father's worst enemy.
"There is just one thing that I don't get. Why after all of these years would they come after Mom?" asked Jacen. "I mean, don't the Hutts know that the Republic would be after them in a minute."
"Who knows with the Hutts," replied Jaina. Jina looked over at Zekk who, at the moment, was lost in thought. "Zekk, what are you thinking."
"Well," he said after a moment, "all of Jabba's relatives are dead, correct?"
"That's what we thought. Obviously that is not the case."
"But who could be alive? I doubt if anyone of them is hiding out somewhere when they could come out in the open and claim Jabba'a mass fortune."
"That is true. But what if it isn't the Hutts?"
"Jacen, what are you getting at."
Tenel Ka spoke up. "I think I understand. What about the possibility of Fett's info being wrong and someone else has a bounty on Leia."
"Like who?" asked Jaina.
"The Empire."
The five companions looked up to see Boba Fett standing right behind them. "I was just about to go in and tell Solo that it is the Empire after his wife, not the Hutts."
"Rrraoww."
"Oh my this is horrible!" cried Em-Teedee when he heard the news. Who know just what the Empire will do to her!"
"This is bad." Zekk nodded as the five absorbed what they had just learned.
"There is still something that I don't understand. What is Jinster's role in this? And who wants him?"
"Again," interupted Fett, "that would be the Empire. The only thing is that they don't have a bounty on him. The bounty is for both Jinster and your mother. Alive."
"Where did you learn all this?" asked an astonished Jaina.
"I have my sources. But I will guarentee you, the reason they need Jinster will cause great harm to your mother."
"You don't mean that Jinster would hurt her, do you?" Jacen was horrified at the thought.
"Not Jinster. But he is needed. Now all we need is a location."
"That shouldn't be too hard. All we need is to find out where there is a big mass of Imperial ships and find Mom!"
Zekk shook his head. "I doubt if Leia is with the Imperial fleet. The proably have her hiding out somewhere on a planet. Maybe even on a different ship in another part of the galaxy."
"Correct." Boba Fett nodded at Zekk and headed up the steps to tell his news to Han.
Tenel Ka yelled out to the bounty hunter. "Boba Fett!" He turned toward the warrior friend of the Solo's. "I think you might want to tell Master Skywalker about the Empire. Solo is a little... distracted."
Boba Fett seemed to consider this then nodded. "Perhaps you are right. I take it the he is on the top of this building. Again."
The five nodded and Fett proceeded to climb to steps to tell Luke. "I hope we can find Mom before it is too late," Jaina said. No one said anything but they silently agreed with their fellow Jedi.
Boba Fett stood behind Skywalker silently, contemplating the Jedi. A quick smile flirted across his lips. It would be so easy to kill the fool right now, but he doubted if Solo or anyone else would pay him after that. He took a step toward the Jedi.
"Skywalker, it seems I was mistaken. It isn't the Hutts that want Organan Solo. It's the remnants of the Empire."
"I figured as much," was Luke's response. "Tell me something, Fett. Why are you doing this? Why are you helping us?"
"Four million credits, that's why."
To Fett's surprise, Skywalker shook his head. "I don't think so. I think you know it's the right thing to do."
"I worked for the Empire for many years," Fett said. "Why would you think I've changed my ideas now?"
"Because you value order. And these Imperials are threatening the order that the New Republic has worked so hard to establish."
"Perhaps," Fett conceded. "But I have no time to discuss this now. If you wish to rescue your sister, we must leave soon."
Luke was puzzled. "But we don't even know where they're taking her. There are thousands of hidden outposts and bases. And for some reason, I can't get a lock on her mind using the Force."
Fett sneered at the back of Skywalker's head. "Then we'll have to do without your so-called "Force". I believe they may be headed for a secret military base on the small planet of Talay."
Skywalker nodded. "Then let's go."
It took only a few moments for the news to get to Han. In moments he had all the children, Chewbacca, Luke as well as the unbreakable droid duo of See-Threepio and Artoo-Deeto loaded up in the Millennium Falcon. Boba Fett traveled along in his own ship, Slave IV. Both were given coordinates of where they would meet just outside the atmosphere of the planet.
Chewbacca ran the controls at the ship while Han took a break in the travelers area of the ship. Luke was meditating, as usual, in another room of the ships while all of the children were in another part of the ship. All except for Jaina, who Han noticed, sat at a table tinkering with some piece of equipment she had found on the ship.
"Hey, Jaina. Where is your brother?"
"Somewhere with Tenel Ka, Lowie and Zekk," she replied. Han knew that Jaina missed her mother, yet he couldn't find anything to say.
"We'll get her back Jaina. Don't worry."
She didn't say anything for a moment. "Dad," she finally grew up enough courage to ask her father since back at the temple. "What ever happened between you and Boba Fett?" Han leaned back in his chair and thought about the question for a moment.
"Well, back when I was younger, I ran a cargo ship from a planet run by Hutts. While I was there, I discovered that the workers who were there were pilgrims who believed in some sort of god. However, they were being tricked and were used as slaves. I was able to free some slaves and hurt the operation slightly but the Hutts knew about it and they hired a Boba Fett to track me down."
"But he never caught you?"
"Yes he did. But thanks to Lando Calrissian, I got away. In fact, that was when I first met Lando. Eventually, the bounty was dropped but there were many other bouts that I had with Boba Fett after that. We have been enemies ever since." An alarm sounded signaling that they were now entering the Yayla system. Jaina followed her father to the cock-pit.
"Captain Solo, captain Solo! There is something wrong with Artoo!" Han and Jaina heard the frantic cries of the protocol droid C-3PO and saw him walk through the corridor as fast as his legs could carry him.
"Jaina, would you mind having a look at Artoo?" Han asked his daughter. She smiled and followed Threepio tow his droid companion. When Han reached the controls he immediately sat in his chair and brought the ships out of hyperspace. When the streaks subsided they were greeted by a small sized planet and empty space. Han laughed.
"At one time Fett had one of the fasted ships in the galaxy." He looked at Chewbacca. "I guess this means that for once we will be waiting for Boba Fett." Chewie chuffed and the two sat in silence. When about ten standard minutes had gone by Han started to get impatient. "Where is he? I tell 'ya Chewie, never trust a bounty hunter."
"Dad." Han turned to see Jaina enter the cock-pit of the ship. "Look what I found on Artoo. What is it?" She held up a very small black srub of some sort.
Han looked at it for a moment. "Jaina, if I didn't know better I would say that it was a droid restraining bolt." Han was puzzled. "But why would Artoo have one-"
Han was cut off by the ships intercom system. "Captain Solo! Artoo has been talking nonsense since Mistress Jaina fixed him. He keeps telling me that that horrific bounty hunter placed a restraining bolt on him and that he used Artoo to change the coordinates of the meeting!"
"Son of a... I don't believe it!" Anger grew up in Han's eyes. "Chewie, check the controls and get us to teh rights coordinates!" Chewie did exactly what he was told and checked the ships console. Sure enough, the coordinates were switched. The Falcon had been brought to the wrong side of the planet. Han immediately put his hip into full power and raced to the other side of the planet. "When I find that low down, no good-" There was a beeping on the console and Chewie checked the readouts. He was confused and told Han what they said.
"Two ships? Well who's in the other ship?" Chewie answered. "Bossk? I thought he was dead by now?" Then again, Han thought, if Boba Fett wasn't dead then why should Bossk. "Since when would those two get together? Those two have been out for each others throats since the break up of the Bounty Hunters Guild."
Jaina bounced out of her chair and pointed of the window. "Dad! Look! Slave IV is fighting another ship!" Han followed the pointed finger and saw, much to his surprise, Boba Fett's Slave IV and Bossk's Hounds Tooth both firing their weapons at each other.