"Of course I'm worried Artoo, and you should be too. Lando Calrissian and poor Chewbacca never returned from this awful place." The golden protocol droid tutted nervously to his companion, Artoo Detoo.

Artoo whistled timidly in response, rolling along next to his friend as they approached Jabba's palace. But Artoo wasn't really worried, he trusted Master Luke and everything he asked him to do. The only thing the astromech seemed to be peeved about was the gritty, abrasive sand collecting in his servos.

"Don't be so sure. If I told you half the things I've heard about this Jabba the Hutt, you'd probably short-circuit." Threepio said.

When they finally approached the massive gate, second thoughts began to overcome Threepio's mechanical mind. "Artoo, are you sure this is the right place? I better knock, I suppose."

Threepio looked around for some kind of signaling device, then timidly knocked on the iron door. Without even waiting for anyone to answer, the droid gave up. "There doesn't seem to be anyone here. Let's go back and tell Master Luke."

Just as he began to turn away, a small hatch in the middle of the door opened, and a spidery mechanical arm with a large electronic eyeball on the end, popped out and inspected the two droids.

"Tee chuta hhat yudd!" A strange voice snapped.

"Goodness gracious me!" Threepio exclaimed before pointing to Artoo and then to himself. "Artoo Detoowha bo Seethreepiowha ey toota odd mischka Jabba du Hutt."

The eye looked from one robot to the other and a laugh echoed from behind the door right before the eye zipped back inside. The hatch slammed shut and Artoo beeped in concern.

"I don't think they're going to let us in, Artoo. We'd better go."

Artoo beeped reluctantly as Threepio turned to leave. Suddenly, the massive door started to rise with a horrific, metallic screech. The robots turned back and faced an endless black cavity, much like the cave Luke had chosen to stay while he waited for his part of the plan to come in. The droids looked at one another, afraid to enter. Artoo started first, moving bravely forward into the gloom. Threepio quickly rushed after his stubby companion as the door began to lower noisily behind them.

"Artoo, wait. Oh, dear! Artoo, Artoo, I really don't think we should rush into all this."

Despite the protocol droid's efforts, Artoo continued down the corridor, with Threepio following hesitantly.

"Oh, Artoo! Artoo, wait for me!" Threepio cried.

The door slammed shut with a loud crash that echoed throughout the dark passageway. The frightened robots were met by two giant, green Gamorrean guards, who fell into step behind them. Threepio glanced quickly back at the two lumbering brutes, then back to Artoo. One guard grunted an order, making Artoo beep nervously.

"Just you deliver Master Luke's message and get us out of here. Oh my! Oh! Oh, no." Threepio fretted.

Walking toward them out of the darkness came a humanlike alien with long tentacles protruding from his skill. He didn't look very friendly with those fangs of his. "Die Wanna Wanga!" He shouted.

"Oh, my! Die Wanna Wauaga. We--we bring a message to your master, Jabba the Hutt." Threepio said.

Artoo let out a series of quick beeps, reminding Threepio of the rest of their mission.

"...and a gift," the droid paused. "Gift, what gift?" The alien shook his head negatively.

"Nee Jabba no badda. Me chaade su goodie." He held out his hand toward Artoo and the tiny droid backed up a bit, letting out a protesting array of squeaks. Threepio turned to the strange-looking alien.

"He says that our instructions are to give it only to Jabba himself." The alien thought about this for a moment, but was interrupted in thought by the droid. "I'm terribly sorry. I'm afraid he's ever so stubborn about these sort of things."

Annoyed, the alien gestured for the droids to follow. "Nudd Chaa." The droids followed the tall, tentacled alien into the darkness, trailed by the two guards.

"Artoo, I have a bad feeling about this." Threepio said worriedly as they continued towards Jabba's throne room.

***

Luke leaned over the unconscious man, uncertain of what to do. He tapped him lightly with the toe of his boot and sighed when the man, Anakin, did not move.

But he couldn't just leave him there!

He had attacked him, but Luke wasn't one to just leave someone stranded, especially in the middle of the unforgiving desert that was Tatooine with no transportation. And also, if he concluded correctly, the man had a bit of memory loss. He seemed to mention the Old Republic a lot and even seemed like he was still living in the Clone Wars era...but if he was younger than Luke...all that stuff would've happened before he was even born.

Knowing he was going to regret this, Luke leaned down and picked Anakin up under his arms. He groaned, realizing that even though the man was younger, he was definitely much taller and more well-built than Luke's thin, lanky frame.

No way he could drag Anakin all the way to a safe place without any help.

A groan escaped his lips and he wondered how Artoo and Threepio were doing with his gift. Had Jabba received his message yet? Probably not.

"Blast it," Luke swore, pacing and contemplating how he was going to do this. It had definitely changed his plan, but would he let one stranger risk the chance of saving Han? Leia would never forgive him. Force, he'd never forgive himself either.
Then a thought struck him. With a mischievous smile, he called the Force to him and concentrated solely on the man's Force signature.

He wrapped mental arms around the presence and lifted, his focus so hard-pressed that the signature didn't register in his mind as familiar...

Holding tight and feeling perspiration slide down his forehead at the combined heat and effort of his Force usage, Luke began to walk with Anakin floating behind him.

The man's name and tendency to randomly get angry at Luke, worried the Jedi, and he wondered once again if he should really be bringing the man with him.

But the more help, the better. He wasn't leaving Han with the Hutt any longer than he had to be.

It was his fault he was there anyways...

Luke's thoughts trailed off as memories of Bespin struck him hard. He shook it off, putting his focus back on the levitation.

As Jabba's palace came into view, he sighed, hoping Anakin would awaken soon.

'I really hope this works.' Luke thought nervously, gliding Anakin by his side and lowering him by a sand dune. He plopped down next to him and waited for the Force to say it was time for him to move forward with his part of the plan...

***

The captain of the Imperial shuttle sat in the cockpit, in the middle of making contact with the Second Death Star, still currently being built. "Command station, this is ST 321. Code Clearance Blue. We're starting our approach. Deactivate the security shield."

A static-filled voice answered over the comm, responding with a semi-bored tone. "The security deflector shield will be deactivated when we have confirmation of your code transmission. Stand by... You are clear to proceed."

The captain nodded, despite the fact that the man over the comm could not see him. "We're starting our approach."

Hovering over the moon of Endor, the Second Death Star sat ominously, containing Imperial men preparing to lower the shields for the incoming shuttle.

An officer rushed through, moving towards the shield operator. "Inform the commander that Lord Vader's shuttle has arrived."

"Yes, sir." The operator responded with a salute.

The control officer moved quickly to a view port and watched as the Imperial shuttle landed in the massive docking bay. A squad of Imperial stormtroopers moved into formation before the craft.

The Death Star Commander, Moff Jerjerrod, a tall, confident technocrat, strode through the assembled troops to the base of the shuttle ramp. The troops snapped to attention, but if one looked close enough, it was noticeable to see that many were uneasy about the new arrival. But the Death Star commander stood arrogantly tall, as if mocking them.

The exit hatch of the shuttle opened with a whoosh, revealing only darkness. Then, heavy footsteps and mechanical breathing echoed amongst eh docking bay, casting an eerie silence through the troops. From the black void, the menacing form of Darth Vader appeared, every ounce of him radiating pure evil. However...there was a small sliver of light scratching to get out, a sliver which had been punched open by Rebel Commander Luke Skywalker himself. Not many people knew of this sliver...but Vader insisted on shutting that past part of himself out completely, not even registering it to be there. But his Master, Lord Sidious, knew of this sliver all to well. And it infuriated him.

Vader looks over the assemblage as he walks down the ramp. "Lord Vader, this is an unexpected pleasure. We're honored by your presence." A stiff voice came through Vader's audio enhancers and he glared down to see Moff Jarjerrod looking up at him expectantly.

"You may dispense with the pleasantries, Commander. I'm here to put you back on schedule." Vader said sharply.

The commander turned ashen and begun to shake. "I assure you, Lord Vader, my men are working as fast as they can."

"Perhaps I can find new ways to motivate them." Vader threatened.

The commander hesitated. "I tell you, this station will be operational as planned."

"The Emperor does not share your optimistic appraisal of the situation." Vader said.

"But he asks the impossible." He lowered his voice and sounded wary, as if someone was recording him. "I need more men."

No sympathy went out to the commander as Vader glared at him through his red-tinged ocular lenses. "Then perhaps you can tell him when he arrives."

This time, the commander lost all of his color. "The Emperor's coming here?" He asked shakily.

"That is correct, Commander. And he is most displeased with your apparent lack of progress." Vader responded to the man's ever-growing fear.

"We shall double our efforts." Jerjerrod said determinedly.

"I hope so, Commander, for your sake. The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am." Vader said before stomping away from the docking bay. However, as he walked, he paused, feeling a significantly large shift in the Force. Ignoring Moff Jerjerrod's quizzical glance at why he had stopped mid-stride, Vader delved into his own mind, searching for the source of the disturbance. When he came upon it, he almost tumbled backwards.

Then a deafening snarl of anger ripped from his vocoder, and the nearest and unluckiest stormtrooper gasped before his neck snapped and he fell motionless to the floor.

"M-My Lord?" Jerjerrod stuttered.

Vader said nothing as he left the docking bay with severe haste.

The disturbance he had sensed was no other than the man he had thought he had buried years ago...

Anakin Skywalker.

***

A/N

Yay! I finally got back to this!

School has been so difficult and it's only the second week, I don't understand. XD

Anyways, hope you guys enjoy!

May the Force be with You,

- lucky_ducky_123