The Empire Strikes Back Part 14

'No,' Lando said, glancing at his aide.

'Good,' Vader continued, adding a veiled threat. 'It would be most unfortunate if I had to leave a permanent garrison here.'

Bowing his head reverently, Lando Calrissian waited until Darth Vader had turned and swept into a waiting elevator with the silver-armored bounty hunter. Then, taking his aide with him, the administrator of Cloud City strode swiftly down a white-walled corridor.

'This deal's becoming worse all the time,' Lando complained.

'Maybe you should have tried to negotiate with him,' the aide suggested.

Lando looked at his aide grimly. He was beginning to realize that the deal with Darth Vader was giving nothing to him. And, beyond that, it was bringing harm to people he might have called friends. Finally, he said, low enough not to be heard by any of Vader's spies, 'I've got a bad feeling about this.'

See Threepio was at last beginning to feel something like his old self.

The Wookiee had been busily working on reconnecting the droid's many wires and internal circuits, and just now was beginning to figure out how to attach the limbs. So far he had reattached the head to the torso and had successfully completed connecting an arm. The rest of Threepio's parts still lay on the table with wires and circuits hanging out of the severed joints.

But, though the Wookiee was diligently working to complete his task, the golden droid began to complain vociferously. 'Well, something's not right,' he fussed, 'because now I can't see.'

The patient Wookiee barked, and adjusted a wire in Threepio's neck. At last the robot could see again and he breathed a little mechanical sigh of relief. 'There now, that's better.'

But it wasn't much better. When he cast his newly activated sensor gaze toward where his chest should be he saw - his back! 'Wait-Oh, my. What have you done? I'm backwards!' Threepio sputtered. 'You flea-bitten furball! Only an overgrown mophead like you would be stupid enough to put my head-The Wookiee growled menacingly. He had forgotten what a complainer this droid was. And this cell was too small for him to listen to any more of that! Before Threepio knew what was happening to him, the Wookiee lumbered over and pulled a wire. Instantly the grumbling ceased, and the room became quiet again.

Then there was a familiar scent nearing the cell.

The Wookiee sniffed the air and hurried to the door.

The cell door buzzed open and a ragged, exhausted Han Solo was shoved in by two Imperial stormtroopers. The troopers left and Chewbacca quickly moved to his friend, embracing him with relief. Han's face was pale, with dark circles under his eyes. It seemed that he was on the verge of collapse, and Chewbacca barked his concern to his long-time companion.

'No,' Han said wearily, 'I'm all right. I'm all right.'

The door opened once again, and Princess Leia was thrown into the cell by the stormtroopers. She was still dressed in her elegant cloak but, like Han, she looked tired and disheveled.

When the stormtroopers left and the door slid shut behind them, Chewbacca helped Leia over to Han. The two gazed at one another with great emotion, then reached out and tightly embraced. After a moment they kissed tenderly.

While Han still held her, Leia weakly asked him, 'Why are they doing this? I can't understand what they're up to.'

Han was as puzzled as she. 'They had me howling on the scan grid, but they never asked me any questions.'

Then the door slid open again, admitting Lando and two of his Cloud City guards.

'Get out of here, Lando!' Han snarled. If he had felt stronger, he would have leaped up to attack his traitorous friend.

'Shut up a minute and listen,' Lando snapped. 'I'm doing what I can to make this easier for you.'

'This ought to be good,' Han remarked caustically.

'Vader has agreed to turn Leia and Chewie over to me,' explained Lando. 'They'll have to stay here, but at least they'll be safe.'

Leia gasped. 'What about Han?'

Lando looked solemnly at his friend. 'I didn't know you had a price on your head. Vader has given you to the bounty hunter.'

The princess quickly looked at Han, concern flooding her eyes.

'You don't know much about much,' Han said to Calrissian, 'if you think Vader won't want us dead before all this is over.'

'He doesn't want you at all,' Lando said. 'He's after someone called Sky walker.'

The two prisoners caught their breath at the casual mention of that name.

Han seemed puzzled. 'Luke? I don't get it.'

The princess's mind was racing. All the facts were beginning to fit together into a terrible mosaic. In the past, Vader had wanted Leia because of her political importance in the war between Empire and Rebel Alliance. Now she was almost beneath his notice, useful only for one possible function.

'Lord Vader has set a trap for him,' Lando added, 'and-'

Leia finished his statement. 'We're the bait.'

'All this just to get the kid?' Han asked. 'What's so important about him?'

'Don't ask me, but he's on his way.'

'Luke's coming here?'

Lando Calrissian nodded.

'You fixed us all pretty good,' Han growled, spitting his words at Lando, '- friend!'

As he snarled that last, accusing word, Han Solo's strength returned in a rush. He put all of his might into a punch that sent Lando reeling. Instantly the two former friends were engaged in a furious, close-quarters battle. Lando's two guards moved closer to the two grappling opponents and began striking at Han with the b.u.t.ts of their laser rifles. One powerful blow struck Han on the chin and sent him flying across the room, blood streaming from his jaw.

Chewbacca began to growl savagely and started for the guards. As they raised their laser weapons, Lando shouted, 'Don't shoot!'

Bruised and winded, the administrator turned to Han. 'I've done what I can for you,' he said. 'I'm sorry it's not better, but I've got my own problems.' Then turning to leave the cell, Lando Calrissian added, 'I've already stuck my neck out farther than I should.'

'Yeah,' Han Solo retorted, regaining his composure, 'you're a real hero.'

When Lando had left with his guards, Leia and Chewbacca helped Han back to his feet and led him to one of the bunks. He eased his weary, battered body onto the bunk, and Leia took a piece of her cloak and began gently dabbing at his chin, cleaning off the oozing blood.

As she did so, she started to chuckle softly. 'You certainly have a way with people,' she teased.

Artoo Detoo's head swiveled atop his barrel-like body as his scanners perceived the star-studded void of the Bespin system.

The speeding X-wing had just entered the system, and was swooping through black s.p.a.ce like a great white bird.

The R2 unit had a lot to communicate to his pilot. His electronic thoughts were tumbling out, one on top of the other, and were translated on the c.o.c.kpit scope.

The grim-faced Luke quickly responded to the first of Artoo's urgent questions. 'Yes,' Luke replied. 'I'm sure Threepio is with them.'

The little robot whistled an excited exclamation.

'Just hold on,' Luke said patiently, 'we'll be there soon.'

Artoo's turning head perceived the regal cl.u.s.ters of stars, his innards warm and cheerful, as the X-wing continued like a celestial arrow toward a planet with a city in the clouds.

Lando Calrissian and Darth Vader stood near the hydraulic platform that dominated the huge carbon-freezing chamber. The Dark Lord was quiet while aides hurried to prepare the room.

The hydraulic platform was housed within a deep pit in the center of the chamber and was surrounded by countless steam pipes and enormous chemical tanks of varying shapes.

Standing guard with laser rifles clutched in their hands were four armor-suited Imperial stormtroopers.

Darth Vader turned to Calrissian after appraising the chamber. 'The facility is crude,' he remarked, 'but it should suit our needs.'

One of Vader's officers rushed to the Sith Lord's side. 'Lord Vader,' he reported, 'ship approaching - X-wing cla.s.s.'

'Good,' Vader said coldly. 'Monitor Skywalker's progress and allow him to land. We'll have the chamber ready for him shortly.'

'We only use this facility for carbon-freezing,' the administrator of Cloud City said nervously. 'If you put him in there, it might kill him.'

But Vader had already considered that possibility. He knew a way to find out just how powerful this freezing unit was. 'I don't wish the Emperor's prize to be damaged. We'll test it first.' He caught the attention of one of his stormtroopers. 'Bring in Solo,' the Dark Lord commanded.

Lando quickly glanced at Vader. He hadn't been prepared for the pure evil that was manifested in this terrifying being.

The X-wing speedily made its descent, and began to pierce the dense cloud blanket enveloping the planet.

Luke checked his monitor screens with growing concern. Maybe Artoo had more information than he was getting on his own panel. He tapped out a question to the robot.

'You haven't picked up any patrol ships?'

Artoo Detoo's reply was negative.

And so Luke, thoroughly convinced that his arrival was thus far undetected, pressed his ship onward, toward the city of his troubled vision.

Six of the piglike Ugnaughts frantically prepared the carbon-freezing chamber for use, while Lando Calrissian and Darth Vader - now the true master of Cloud City - observed the hasty activity.

As they scurried about the carbon-freezing platform, the Ugnaughts lowered a network of pipes - resembling some alien giant's circulatory system - into the pit. They raised the carbonite hoses and hammered them into place. Then the six humanoids lifted the heavy coffinlike container and set it securely onto the platform.

Boba Fett rushed in, leading a squad of six Imperial storm-troopers. The troopers shoved and pulled Han, Leia, and the Wookiee in front of them, forcing them to hurry into the chamber. Strapped to the Wookiee's broad back was the partially rea.s.sembled See Threepio, whose unattached arm and legs were roughly bundled against his gilded torso. The droid's head, facing the opposite direction from Chewbacca's, frantically turned around to try to see where they were going and what lay in store for them.

Vader turned to the bounty hunter. 'Put him in the carbon-freezing chamber.'

'What if he doesn't survive?' the calculating Boba Fett asked. 'He is worth a lot to me.'

'The Empire will compensate you for the loss,' Vader said succinctly.

Anguished, Leia protested, 'No!'

Chewbacca threw back his maned head and gave out a bellowing Wookiee howl. Then he charged directly at the line of stormtroopers guarding Han.

Screaming in panic, See Threepio raised his one functioning arm to protect his face.

'Wait!' the robot yelled. 'What are you doing?'

But the Wookiee wrestled and grappled with the troopers, undaunted by their number or by Threepio's frightened shrieks.

'Oh, no ... Don't hit me!' the droid begged, trying to protect his disa.s.sembled parts with his arm. 'No! He doesn't mean it! Calm down, you hairy fool!'

More stormtroopers had come into the room and joined the fight. Some of the troopers began to club the Wookiee with the b.u.t.ts of their rifles, banging against Threepio in the process.

'Ouch!' the droid screamed. 'I didn't do anything!'

The stormtroopers had begun to overpower Chewbacca, and were about to smash him in the face with their weapons when, over the sounds of the fray, Han shouted, 'Chewie, no! Stop it, Chewbacca!'

Only Han Solo could deflect the maddened Wookiee from his battle. Straining against the hold of his guards, Han broke away from them and rushed over to break up the fight.

Vader signaled his guards to let Han go and signaled the battling stormtroopers to stop the fight.

Han gripped the ma.s.sive forearms of his hairy friend to calm him down, then gave him a stern look.

The fl.u.s.tered Threepio was still fussing and fuming. 'Oh, yes ... stop, stop.' Then, with a robotic sigh of relief, he said, 'Thank heavens!'

Han and Chewbacca faced each other, the former looking grimly into his friend's eyes. For a moment they embraced tightly, then Han told the Wookiee, 'Save your strength for another time, pal, when the odds are better.' He mustered a rea.s.suring wink, but the Wookiee was grief-stricken and barked a mournful wail.

'Yeah,' Han said, trying his best to crack a grin, 'I know. I feel the same way. Keep well.' Han Solo turned to one of the guards. 'You'd better chain him until it's over.'

The subdued Chewbacca did not resist as the stormtrooper guards placed restraining bands around his wrists. Han gave his partner a final farewell hug, then turned to Princess Leia. He took her in his arms and they embraced as if they would never let go.

Then Leia pressed her lips to his in a lingering kiss of pa.s.sion. When their kiss ended, tears were in her eyes. 'I love you,' she said softly. 'I couldn't tell you before, but it's true.'

He smiled his familiar c.o.c.ky smile. 'Just remember that, because I'll be back.' Then his face grew tender and he kissed her gently on the forehead.

Tears began to roll down her cheeks as Han turned away from her and walked quietly and fearlessly toward the waiting hydraulic platform.

The Ugnaughts rushed to his side and positioned him on the platform, binding his arms and legs tightly onto the hydraulic deck. He stood alone and helpless, and gazed one last time at his friends.

Chewbacca looked at his friend mournfully, Threepio's head peeking over the Wookiee's shoulder to get one last look at the brave man. The administrator, Calrissian, watched this ordeal, a solemn look of regret etched deeply into his face. And then there was Leia. Her face was contorted with the pain of her grief as she stood regally trying to be strong.

Leia's was the last face Han saw when he felt the hydraulic platform suddenly drop. As it dropped, the Wookiee bellowed a final, baleful farewell.

In that terrible moment, the grieving Leia turned away, and Lando grimaced in sorrow.

Instantly fiery liquid began to pour down into the pit in a great cascading shower of fluid and sparks.

Chewbacca half-turned from the horrifying spectacle, giving Threepio a better view of the process.

'They're encasing him in carbonite,' the droid reported. 'It's high-quality alloy. Much better than my own. He should be quite well protected ... That is, if he survived the freezing process.'

Chewbacca quickly glanced over his shoulder at Threepio, silencing his technical description with an angry bark.

When the liquid finally solidified, huge metal tongs lifted the smoldering figure from the pit. The figure, which was cooling rapidly, had a recognizably human shape, but was featureless and rocky like an unfinished sculpture.