Saga Alternate ESB Sequel (AU): Short Novel

In 1981, shortly after the cinematic release of ESB, I wrote a short Star Wars novel. So it is sort of an alternate sequel, and as it was written in 1981, it doesn't follow the storyline of ROTJ which was released in 1983.

Here is the first chapter. ENJOY

And feedback would be greatly appreciated:


Chapter 1

Absently, Leia Organa took a well-gnawed fingernail out of her mouth and traced the outline of a crack in the faded armrest of the pilot's chair. Around her, an incomprehensible array of flashing computer readings accompanied the Millennium Falcon's preparations for emergence from hyperspace. Her position would be close to the pre-arranged rendezvous with the rest of the rebel forces, but not so close as to be unable to skip back to lightspeed at the first hint of anything suspicious.
For the time being, Leia had nothing to do except watch and wait. Beside her, in the co-pilot's seat, the shaggy anthropoid form of Chewbacca the Wookiee bend over fast-changing display panels as he competently prepared to make the jump. The other occupant of the cockpit, a lithe handsome man, danced anxiously back, and forth, peering first over Leia's shoulder, then back to the navigational computer. "Two and a half minutes," Lando Calrissian muttered, glancing reassuringly at Leia.

Grateful for the gesture, she settled back and tried to clear her mind. Odd, she thought, over the last eight hours, she had come to accept Calrissian as an ally. He had not spoken much; she guessed that the fate of the people he had left behind in Cloud City weighed heavily on his mind. How many had heeded his warning and fled before the Imperial forces had stopped them? Those who escaped, like Calrissian, would have had to leave everything behind.

Yes, he's one of us now, she thought bitterly, turning to watch Chewbacca piloting the ship. Even the Wookiee's intense concentration on his work could not hide the pain and loss in his soft brown eyes. She shared his distress at Captain Han Solo's capture--she, who after watching the annihilation of her home planet with its billions of inhabitants had thought that no loss could affect her that way again. She had come to care for the brash young trader more than she'd realized. All through this desperate journey there had been no corner of this ship that hadn't cried out to her of his absence. The feeling had affected everyone, and she had seen none of the friendly rivalry that characterized their earlier voyages.

And Luke--what the blazes was the matter with him? The crew of the Falcon had managed to rescue him from Imperial forces at Cloud City, but since then he had not spoken to them, hiding behind dazed and despairing eyes that told of a pain deeper than the wounds he had received. He was sleeping now, under the surveillance of the robots Artoo Detoo and See-Threepio, but though he should feel no pain, his sleep was rough and fitful, torn by talk of Ben Kenobi and someone called Yoda and--of all things--his father, long dead.

A bark from Chewbacca brought her up with a start as Calrissian stated tersely, "Here we go. Be ready to clear us, Leia." As she watched the front viewport, the streaks of light outside centered themselves into a tight knot of light which contrasted with the total blackness enveloping the Falcon. That glow gradually spread apart, becoming circle of stars that expanded further to become the constellations of the familiar universe. Falcon had left hyperspace.

"They're here, all right," Calrissian reported from his station at the nav'puter. Leia's straining eyes soon spotted the fast-growing speck of light that resolved into the Alliance space station Liberty. It was surrounded by many of the ships and transports she had last seen at the doomed base on Hoth.

The Falcon's radio came alive, just as two tiny specks arced out from the Liberty.

"Welcome, Millenium Falcon, a deceptively easy-going voice drawled. "Got the password and some ID's for me?"

"Jackboots shortcake L-19," Leia replied tersely, eyeing the X-wing fighter "escort" coming to m

 

This looks very promising! The beginning was good so I'm sure the rest will be too. Looking forward to more!

 

Thanks lovelylea. It's good to know that i have at least one reader. Back in 1981, it took me months to figure out a good beginning. I'm glad it's worked out.

Here's the second chapter:
Chapter 2

2.37 parsecs away from the Alliance base, on the marshy, steamy planet of Dagobah, the afternoon rain shower was dripping off gigantic trees. Barely perceptible in the cloying mists, an elfin, gnome-like creature was muttering to himself as he moved a large trunk to the base of a gargantuan, moss-draped tree.
"Heh, in one place too long I've been. Time it is to try something different." As he spoke to himself, the gnarled roots of the tree moved aside to let the trunk glide inside, then moved back without leaving a sign that anything had been disturbed. "Too far from nature we get sometimes. Hamper our awareness of the world, do roofs and walls. Used to spend seasons without seeing the same place twice, I did." He chuckled softly. "Heh, a long time ago that was, to be sure, and younger was I, but..." He shrugged.

The wizened figure raised his head, closed his eyes and took a deep breath as if inhaling the very essence of the place. Then, surveying the bog around him, Yoda picked a direction and set off at an easy pace, occasionally stopping to peer up into the branches or to poke under a log with his stick. He never looked back at the tiny hut on the far side of the pond.



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Almost the antithesis of the planet Dagobah was the dry, dusty world of Tatooine. it is doubtful that any of the natives who eked out a living from its arid soil ever heard of Dagobah, and few would have been interested if they did. Most of the humans were farmers and never looked past the stratosphere from the moment they were born until the day they became one with the dust. Of course, there were always a few hot-blooded youths who yearned for the stars, but of those who left, few ever returned to disturb the stolid routine of hard-won crops and seasons. if the non-human inhabitants, the Jawas and the Sandpeople, ever thought about the stars, no one had ever bothered to ask.

Of course there was a spaceport to facilitate administration and taxation by the Empire and to accommodate the small amount of off- world trade that came by. The town near the port was named Mos Eisely, its eastern half a rowdy sector, characterized by spacers' bars, gambling houses, and even a pleasure palace (such as it was). Of course, no self-respecting farmer ever came close to the area (or at least his wife never found out).

On one typically hot, dusty day, a particularly battered and shoddy-looking spacecraft came into port, passed through the customs check quickly (by some mistake the record of arrival never reached the central port authority), and disgorged a crew of three--two of whom were dressed in mangy black flight coveralls, and one (obviously the leader) who was covered from head to toe with mismatched and dented metal armor. The three passed through the dusty main street and into a little-known alleyway, ducked under a crumbling archway and rapped out a rhythm on a green-painted door. They were let in by a semi- humanoid with an unreadable expression. As they seated themselves around a grimy table, muted sounds of revelry could be heard elsewhere in the building. Each accepted a drink, but they were on business and not pleasure, for there was no small talk between them.

Sometime later, a grossly fat man with a smug, proprietary expression etched on his scarred face eased himself through the doorway and sat opposite the three offworlders. Though he made casual pretense of being alone, it was common knowledge that any number of armed bodyguards lurked in the hallway.

"Well, my good friend Boba Fett," the fat man smirked. "What brings you to the--ah--'armpit of the galaxy', as I believe you once called our little home?"

Smoothly the visitor spoke from under his raised faceplate. "I'm here with a certain commodity you've advertised for. If you're intere

 

Where's more? I thought that this was very good!

 

Very good. I enjoy reading some of the older stories that were written before ROTJ. I also like how you haven't changed anything to fit to what happens later. Looking forward to more.

 

I'm enjoying this very much. I liked that you didn't change anything to keep with the canon ROTJ - gives it a "fresh" AU perspective. Am very much looking forward to more.

 

You've got my attention. I also like that this was written just after ESB and you not only saved it, but are willing to share it. Cool!


J_Girl

 

This looks great! Hoping to read more soon.

 

UP! In hope of more!

 

Aw...this was the first fan fic I ever read, back when it was posted on fanfix.com. I can't remember how long ago that was, but I imagine the prequels probably weren't even in production yet. Ah, memories. I probably wouldn't have been hooked on the fanfic "thing" if this story hadn't measured up...but I loved it then and I love it now. The emotions were what grabbed me--they're very real and very powerful. I'm enjoying re-reading it