(Star Wars belongs to its respective owners and does not belong to me, it belongs to Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC and The Walt Disney Company)
This Star Wars comic was published by Marvel Comics in 1977, and I am writing a novelization of it.
The fearsome Death Star no longer exists... And the evil Darth Vader, its sole survivor, was left adrift in the Galaxy, lost from sight.
Location: Outer Rim Territories/Sector: Gordian Reach/Yavin System/Orbiting Planet: Yavin Prime/Satellite: Yavin 4
Yavin 4, despite being remote, played a role in very important events, including the place of refuge for Naga Sadow after his defeat in the Great Hyperspace War, as well as the construction of temples by his Massassi slaves, the fall to the dark side of Jedi Knight Exar Kun, and the destruction of Sith Lord Freedon Nadd during the Great Sith War. the site of the final death of the maddened Jedi Revan, a duel between Anakin and Ventress in the Clone Wars, and most recently serving as the base of the Rebel Alliance during the Battle of Yavin where the Death Star was destroyed.
Yavin 4 was the largest moon orbiting the gas planet Yavin Prime. It had a standard atmosphere and gravity. The satellite's surface had four continents that covered half of the surface, mainly covered by extensive rainforests; there were some mountain ranges with volcanoes. The satellite had six interconnected oceans that covered the remaining 33% of the moon. In addition, there was a large inland sea on the moon. Large rivers flowed strongly from the volcanic heights and then followed a more winding course through the jungles.
The environment of Yavin 4 was teeming with life. Birds glided over the thick jungle canopy, which was inhabited by groups of large, hairy, herbivorous, quadrupedal, robust, artiodactyl-like primates that rummaged through the undergrowth beneath the trees, while reptiles, fish, crustaceans, and ferocious insects also lived there.
On the moon of Yavin, old friends could be seen saying a fond farewell, a farewell that could no longer be postponed.
The smuggler, the Wookiee, the princess, the farmer, and the two droids could be seen in the hangar of the Massassi temple after the destruction of the Death Star. They were close to Solo's ship number one, called the Millennium Falcon.
"Well, goodbye, Luke... You too, princess. I wish you could come with us, kid; you'd be a tremendous star jumper." The smuggler assured him with a smile as he said goodbye to his new acquaintances.
"GRONK!" growled the Wookiee, saying goodbye to his new acquaintances.
"Thanks, Han... And Chewbacca! But you know I have to stay here... At least until we can explore a new world that will become the main rebel base. Skywalker affirmed, ready for the alliance to find a new home.
- Once Darth Vader reestablishes contact with the empire, the Yavin system will no longer be safe for us. Leia argued, knowing of the return of the emperor's number one subordinate.
"The rebellion must continue elsewhere, even without you, Han." Organa reasoned, ready to move forward even without her favorite acquaintance who had saved the day twice by rescuing her and Luke.
The little astromech droid let out a few beeps of regret at the farewell of his friends.
"Stop whining, R2! You'll see Master Solo again." C-3PO complained, seeing the sounds of sadness made by his lifelong companion.
"Of course you will! Whatever you do. Luke, wherever you go, I'll find you all after I've done what I have to do. That's a promise from Han Solo!" The smuggler confirmed, wanting to see his beloved acquaintances again.
Moments later, the Millennium Falcon soared swiftly into the sky, until first the satellite, then Yavin, and then the Burning Sun of the same world were lost from view... Just another flickering point of flame in a vast black ocean.
"Well, Chewie... Let's get going!" said the smuggler, ready to go to his destination to pay his debt.
"Guh-ruk!" said the Wookiee, somewhat dissatisfied, implying that he wanted to stay with the rebels.
- Yes! I know! After all that fighting, I'd give my star spurs to stay there and help Princess Leia regroup the Rebels. But you forget that there's a price on both our heads. Oh, at least there will be, if we don't go back to Tatooine and pay Jabba the Hutt the money we promised him! Razono Solo implying his order of priorities.
"If a smuggling czar (Czar is the definition of a person who has a lot of power in a particular activity) is hot on your heels, buddy, not even a galactic war will save you! As soon as the craters cool down, Jabba will send one of his blaster bongos to kill us both!
— URK! The Wookiee doubts his faithful companion's decision.
"Yes, I thought you'd see it my way," he declares, seeing his friend's different opinion.
"Well, get them ready for Tatooine... next time. Mos Eisley Spaceport. Although we still have a few light years to go before we reach hyperspace! After all, look on the bright side, Chewbacca, old friend. Even after paying Jabba, there's still enough of the treasure the rebels gave us to buy a small planet where we can... Han optimistically explained to his companion, trying to see the positive side of the situation, but suddenly he noticed a triangle-shaped cruiser nearby, which alerted the smuggler and put him on guard.
"Oops! Some kind of cruiser at two o'clock!" the human reported, seeing in more detail that it was large.
"The telescope shows it's adrift... It could just be a scrap heap," Han reasoned, trying to remain calm, seeing that it looked like an Imperial starship.
"At least it's not an Imperial ship, or so I think, so what the hell? How bad could it be?" The Corellian said, being somewhat optimistic.
"HAROOOO," Chewbacca warned, sensing the possible danger they were approaching.
"You know, you're right, buddy... It could well be." Admitted the smuggler, trusting that his friend was possibly right in his fears. He just considered the possibility that they were.
"Space pirates! Fire the gun, Chewie! We're going to get out of here as fast as we can, but the jump will take a few minutes!" Han asked his partner to go and operate the turret of his beloved ship.
Unfortunately, it was too late to resist the various types of fighters that were emerging from the metal belly of the mothership, firing their weapons.
Only the Falcon's deflector shields, specially modified by Solo, protect him as he operates the front laser cannon and remind the cosmic seekers why he has survived so long as a space mercenary, but unfortunately, the fighters were equipped with ion cannons that disabled the ship's thrusters, causing it to lose speed. Taking advantage of this, the cruiser positioned itself above the Falcon, pulling it closer with its tractor beam so that moments later it could dock with it.
"Damn it! They've caught us with tractor beams! They're pulling us in to board us," complained the smuggler, seeing his predicament.
"Hrunk!" The Wookiee growled, seeing the predicament they were now in.
"I don't know how you're as angry as I am, Chewie. I deserve it for thinking about money when I should have been looking through the telescope. Being swallowed by the Death Star was one thing... But space pirates are another thing entirely," Solo reasoned, seeing the gravity of the situation they were in.
- I don't know who our enthusiastic host is, but one thing is certain: he moves like a madman! I complimented the smuggler and was able to look through the cabin window, noticing the strange fighters his captor was using.
- X Wings... TIE fighters... All kinds of small spaceships I've ever seen! And I've traveled from one end of the galaxy to the other! Han was surprised to see his opponent's stellar arsenal.
In a matter of minutes, the Falcon receives its first passengers, albeit unwanted ones, from Luke Skywalker, Ben Kenobi, and company.
The clothing seemed to come from civilized and semi-civilized star systems, shining in the corridors... Blaster pistols gleamed alongside archaic cutlasses. Even the white, stoic armor of a fallen stormtrooper was visible, strangely out of place.
Although they are all more or less human, their planetary origins are as diverse as they are invariably grim, and walking amid the din and clamor... a man with white skin, red hair and beard, dressed in black armor on his torso.
"Gronk!" The Wookiee growled nervously, his crossbow at the ready to try to stop the incursion.
"Yes, it's the moment of truth, okay, furry friend? Defend yourself or...?" He couldn't finish his sentence when he was targeted by a laser revolver wielded by one of the pirate's subordinates, a fair-skinned human with purple hair dressed in an orange blouse, shorts of the same color, and a green beret.
"I'm afraid that decision has already been made... for both of us. Drop your weapons, star jumpers... before I drop you! The subordinate warned, and she watched with satisfaction as the pair of her gang's victims threw their weapons to the ground.
"Better that way! It's all yours, captain. The woman concluded to her boss as he looked at his subordinate with a satisfied smile and then turned to the pair of smugglers.
"Good job, Jolli. I'm glad I didn't have to make you kill him. I'd hate to have to bury the illustrious Han Solo." The leader of the pirate gang that had captured the duo without violence was pleased.
"Well, if it isn't Crimson Jack! Long time no see, but not long enough," complained the captured smuggler to his old acquaintance.
"You're still a joker, as always, aren't you?" Jack said with a slight smile.
"I manage, but when did a second-rate scavenger like you even pick up a discarded cruiser? And one this size? The last I remember, you were still ambushing spice caravans on the outer rim." Solo wondered how his old acquaintance had obtained such a vessel just like that.
"We've wasted enough time, Captain, let me blow a hole in them." Jolli suggested, seeing that Solo wasn't taking her boss seriously, and that annoyed her.
"And I see that your company is as charming as ever. Where did you find Miss Sunshine, Jack?" He teased somewhat sarcastically. They had noticed the woman's somewhat aggressive attitude.
"Stop mocking my boss or I'll finish you off," the female subordinate warned angrily as she switched her blaster from stun to lethal mode while aiming at Han.
We didn't come here for that, Jolli. I'm sure Mr. Solo has a shipment that's much more valuable to us than your wasted life. Well, Han? You have until I count to three. Jack protested to the girl as he put his hand on her shoulder.
You've got all the high numbers, redbeard, okay, Chewie, show her the loot. The smuggler asked his furry friend.
- Hrump! The Wookiee admitted, ready to go for the merchandise that the rebellion had given him as a reward for his work.
- Incredible! Where did a couple of star jumpers get so much treasure? Jolli was surprised to see the large number of boxes that had come out of the smuggling compartment on the floor.
"Let's just say a single lady left it with me, okay? And, I'm sorry to say, there's no more where that came from. I'm sorry," Han said as he took out more boxes than he had given to the princess.
"This will be enough for now," admitted the red-haired pirate.
"That's all, Captain. Can I shoot them now?" asked the purple-haired woman, somewhat impatiently.
"Jolli, Jolli... it's easy to tell you're new to this piracy business. Soon, we could meet Mr. Solo and his furry friend again when they have another interesting shipment. That's hardly likely if we kill them, right? Come on, guys! Jack reasoned, wanting to leave Solo alive so he could find another shipment to plunder.
The cruiser undocked from the smuggler's ship, finally leaving them alone with the cargo inside Jack's ship.
- Well, there you go, Chewbacca. Without that treasure, Jabba will soon put a price on our heads, making us the target of every bounty hunter on this side of Aquilae. We have no choice: we have to lay low for a while, on one of those edge worlds I was talking about. Jabba's reach won't last that long. The smuggler reasoned somewhat regretfully, watching with frustration as the cruiser sailed away with the loot he was supposed to pay the Hutt.
"Hrak, Hrak," the hairy companion says with some optimism, saying that they are still safe and sound for now.
"Yeah, sure. I'm glad we're still alive... I guess," Han says, somewhat calmer after his Wookiee companion's words.
Location: Outer Rim Territories/Bheriz Sector/Aduba System/Planet: Aduba-3
Aduba-3 was a little-known planet, orbited by only one moon. The territory of this world was a vast arid desert, with a few tranquil grassy plains conducive to agriculture. It was largely lawless, and much of its economy revolved around criminal activities, although it also exported a fair amount of food and provided refuge for criminals with nowhere else to go.
Originally established as an agricultural colony, those who made a great effort to clear and control the planet's harsh vegetation and began to grow their own crops by settlers of the Holy Way religion, Aduba-3 became saturated with miners and entrepreneurs, who disappeared almost instantly upon arrival when they learned that the chrome rush was a scam, because it truly lacked valuable resources, which led to the planet's only city, Tun Aduban, becoming a shadow port in the galactic civil war. Tun was the center of society, gaining a reputation as a den of iniquity where one could enjoy vice at a low price. Scattered around it were small agricultural villages, established according to the teachings of the Sacred Path.
"Well, here we are, Chewie. Home, sweet home for a while." Han was relieved as he relaxed a little after landing his freighter on the surface of the aforementioned planet.
After disembarking and going to the nearest town, the pair of fugitives began to walk slowly, trying to forget what they had experienced before.
"I hope the locals have some work for a couple of incognito planet hoppers." The smuggler hoped to find some means of livelihood.
"Guh-Runk!" wondered the Wookiee, seeing how deserted and empty the streets were as they walked through the town.
"Yes, I know! Usually, there are more people in a city with a spaceport like this. I doubt Solo about the lack of people in the neighborhoods of this settlement.
Both were intrigued to see that near where they were, there were many people gathered around a cart being pulled by a bantha.
"And that seems to be the reason we didn't see anyone before, because of some commotion near the cantina! Apparently, the people down there are upset with that insect boy on the bantha for some reason. Hey! Isn't the insect dressed as a priest? I can't identify the exact religion; I guess I shouldn't have missed so much Sunday school as a child." Solo concluded, somewhat puzzled by the sight of the cart being dragged by the beast.
"How about we get a little closer?" the human suggested to his comrade so they could go find out what was happening.
"With or without cloth, get that cart down from there! You're not going to bring borgs into our mound!" claimed a humanoid, indignant at the occasion.
"Yes! If you like borgs so much, drag the corpse back where it came from!" protested another green humanoid.
As Solo and Chewbacca approached, they could see that the insect-like alien was a verpine (verpines were slender, bipedal insectoids, with an average height of 1.9 meters, and only four limbs (two arms and two legs). Their heads were dominated by large compound eyes. They also had two antennae, one located behind each eye) descending from the broad, hairy back of the bantha.
But before he could speak, one of the members of the angry crowd tried to grab him. That seems to have been a mistake in judgment, as the insectoid strikes one of the attackers with a double dagger with a long central handle, which hits him on the non-bladed side. Unfortunately, before he can remount his enormous beast of burden, a blue ogre-like humanoid strangles him by grabbing him with his arm.
"Beat him up!" insisted one of the purple humanoids.
"I've got him, guys!" said the blue ogre as he held the insectoid firmly.
"Show him we mean business," said another blue humanoid, just as furious.
"I still don't know what's going on, Chewbacca, but if you come with me..." suggested the smuggler, thinking that the situation was unfair to the attacked insectoid.
- Gronk. The furry friend growled, ready to defend the defenseless.
- Yes, I was thinking the same thing! Han admitted, ready to intervene in defense of the victim.
The pair of smugglers struck as they began to attack the aggressors.
And Han Solo turned to the shocked insectoid in front of him.
"Are you okay, Pera?" the smuggler asked the priest, wanting to know his condition.
"Yes, my Fi!" the insect confirmed to his defender.
"They didn't mean to hurt me, really. Please don't hurt them!" The insectoid pleaded with his human ally, avoiding further conflict.
"I don't hold a grudge against them, Pera," Han assured him as he looked at the crowd.
(Star Wars dictionary of words: Pera means high galactic male parent. Fi means male child.)
"But you'd better stay away from my friend Chewbacca for a while! If there's a human-looking alien in the galaxy capable of taking on an angry Wookiee and living to tell the tale, I've never seen him!" Solo warned, seeing how angry his furry friend was, to make them desist from their aggression.
"And, obviously, I'm not going to do that!" Now, Pera, what's the argument about? And who's the guy on the crossbar? Solo asked, wanting to know more about the situation.
- He's a Borg who died last night. I'm sure you know the term, which means half human... half mechanical droid. However, half of him had a soul... or so I believe. The priest explained the term to the smuggler.
"Space people, as you know, have an ancestral prejudice against any kind of robot and refuse to bury him in space, as is his right as a former pilot," explained the insectoid, arguing why they were attacking him.
"Will you bury him there, outside the city?" Pera asked Han, wanting to know if he could do him the favor.
"Listen, Pera, we've already done enough for one. I decline," Han said, implying that he had already done enough.
"He was carrying a small bag of coins when he died, the dignified tradition that belongs to whoever buries him," Pera said as he handed the bag of coins to the smuggler.
"Borg. My friend! You've just earned yourself a place of eternal rest," said the human cheerfully as he took the bag of coins and climbed onto the pack animal.
"You know, Chewbacca? Spacers are weird. Half of them have nothing in common other than the same number of eyes... Maybe not even that. But if you show them a guy who's as mechanical as the ships they fly, suddenly they're one big happy, intolerant family. Anyway, better for us? Han said to himself quietly as he prepared to ride off with the deceased.
At least we'll have enough money to survive here for a while, if they don't shoot us in the back with a laser beam.
"URNG!" The Wookiee is wary of possible attacks from the locals for doing this task.
"Yeah, I know... but at least they're following us at a distance and not reaching for their blasters," said the smuggler as he continued on his way.
Keep guiding the bantha at a steady, calm pace, and we might get through this without a bang.
Han Solo had high hopes, to tell the truth. None of the spacers would dare to challenge them face to face, or so they believed, but without warning, several stones thrown from within the crowd struck him and stunned him.
"Go back to where you came from, you dirty Borg bootlickers," insulted one of the locals from the settlement.
"GRARG!" growled the hairy companion angrily, ready to use his weapons to defend himself.
"Calm down, Chewie! You'll be as strong as a freighter full of swamp cats. But they still outnumber us ten to one! Just look fierce, keep your weapon down, and maybe they'll let us pass." He tried to calm the Wookiee in his anger.
But unfortunately, the Wookiee's suspicions were confirmed when he saw his companion being thrown from the animal he was riding.
"And then again... Maybe not!" I secure the smuggler on the ground as they try to trample him, but he responds to his attackers.
The insectoid priest who accompanied his partners from afar came to their aid with weapon in hand.
One local after another fell to Chewbacca's hairy fists, but as the Wookiee restrained himself, some were only knocked unconscious; on the other hand, Solo continued to fight.
"So far, so good! They're crazy, but they're not murderers! And as long as they don't try anything lethal, there's still a chance we can..." Han reasons as he continues to fight hand-to-hand with several of his attackers.
Unfortunately for the captain, one of the tentacled aliens wields an axe and Solo is on the ground, leaving him with no choice.
"Oops! Looks like I spoke too soon! There's one in each group! I can't dodge that Sikurrian battle axe! So I have no choice! He concluded without hesitation as he drew his blaster pistol and fired at the alien.
Chewbacca, however, is not as squeamish as his Corellian captain, and as soon as he sees the first blood, his Wookie nature manifests itself in the usual way.
"Well, Chewbacca, these space clowns started this little fight. Let's finish them off quickly so we can get back to work, huh?" Han assures him, ready to continue the fight as he fires at the blaster-wielding attackers.
"Grurg!" the hairy guy warns his partner as he looks around, implying that there is someone behind him.
"Behind me? Where?" he asked, somewhat anxious and concerned about the possible threat.
Wookie swung his weapon at the attacker who had his gun pointed at Han.
"Ah, I see him! Thanks, Chewbacca. I owe you one," Solo said with a smile, grateful for his partner's support.
A Corellian mercenary who has been everything from a smuggler to practically a space pirate.
A six-foot-six anthropoid from a world where violence is so commonplace that there are fifteen different words for it in the Wookiee vocabulary, and a warm-hearted priest of a species that doesn't even have a heart, as humans understand the term.
Together they stand, side by side and then back to back in turn.
Their weapons leave a bitter trail in the mass of multicolored and varied shapes of their fallen enemies' bodies, which swirl and ebb around them.
Until the crowd of space creatures turns around and flees in terror, quickly joined by others of their kind.
"Not yet, Chewie. Don't let your guard down! They could still try to take us out from the shadows, although I don't think that's what they have in mind."
HROOG! I reassure the Wookiee, saying that his attackers have retreated.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. They can't take it anymore. Now where's Pera? I ask, puzzled by the priest's absence.
"Begone, desecrators of the sacred path!" I say to the insectoid as he strikes the remaining attackers with his weapon.
"Well, Pera, it looks like we've earned that Borg's right to be buried on the space hill. The only thing is that some of the star jumpers scattered around here will join him tomorrow." Solo said with an ironic tone as he looked at the lifeless bodies on the ground.
"Violence always begets violence, stranger. As my holy book says: for every sin there is an equal and positive retribution." The insectoid reflected, seeing the consequences of his attackers' actions.
"If that's true, Pera, then I know a weirdo in armor named Darth Vader who's going to get a nice reward any day now. Anyway, that little victory should have solved all our problems, right?" Solo said doubtfully, seeing that the commotion had finally ended.
"All but one, my Fi. Luckily, one of the space creatures' laser shots missed its bipedal target. The priest assured him with relief as he looked at the coffin, which was undamaged.
"But instead, it attacked the unfortunate bantha and ended up perishing. And a Borg is much heavier than a human because it's half metal. Now it will be difficult for us to transport it to its burial place. Pera argued, seeing the difficulty he would have in doing his job.
"Maybe it's difficult for you, but not for my partner." Han offered the help of his furry companion.
"That's right, old friend. Don't drop it now! Show some respect." Han kindly demanded of his companion.
"HRUNK!" complained the Wookiee, implying that he was carrying a metal coffin with a heavy metal corpse.
"Yes, I know I'm not the one who has to carry it uphill," admitted the smuggler, seeing that he was doing nothing but walking.
"But someone has to go behind, right?" Solo said, wanting to go behind to cover the rear.
"HRUNK!" he complained, saying that he always does the heavy lifting.
With the insectoid at the head of the group as he took out a hanging incense burner with a chain, the trio slowly advanced around the curve of the burial mound.
Towards a place where the dreams of men and monsters have come to the same sad end, countless light-years away from the worlds they once called home, and if the gods of space are watching the priest's eerie, chirping chant, they show no signs of it. But then again, they never promised they would.
- Ugh! What hard work! I guess you wouldn't know, Pera, but there is a cantina. I ask Solo, wanting to know if he knows of a place to drink.
The third building on the left, after the town circle, my Fi. I suspect you won't have any problems there, since you did everything you did in a fair fight. The space people respect that. He informed the insect as he pointed out where he had to go.
Shortly after, at the spaceport below, the human and the Wookie had a few drinks.
- Chnoop. I declare, somewhat surprised to see beautiful women in the establishment.
"I couldn't agree with you more, my friend... I might like this place too! I'm sure you've seen the female beauties he was able to admire.
"Right now, I think we could still use a little more goodwill from the clientele. Waiter! Another round on the house! My Wookie friend and I are buying! The smuggler proposed so that everyone could benefit from his offer.
One of Solo's grateful customers was a Wroonian woman (Wroonians are very similar to humans, but with blue skin) with purple hair, fine features, ram's horns, and a white sleeveless dress decorated with yellow bubbles.
"And you, miss? What is a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?" Solo asked, puzzled by the presence of someone like her.
"Why don't we take a walk and exchange stories, star jumper? Tell me yours... and I'll tell you mine," the blue-skinned woman suggested to the smuggler.
"Why not? After all, who knows...? Maybe something is even true." Solo assumed, ready to have a chat with his girl.
"Are you okay here, alone, Chewie?" Han asked his partner to see if he was okay.
"Grunk!" The Wookiee grunted happily, having two companions to interact with.
Han smiled at the sight of his happy companion.
"No, where's the blue beauty? Looks like she left," said the smuggler, but as he looked around for her, he came across three black-haired humans in green robes.
"Looks like you three have something to say to me!" Han assumed as he watched them approach him.
"We have a proposal to make to you, honorable stranger. It's a very pleasant proposal, we assure you... Unless, of course, you have an unfortunate aversion to death!" warned the man in the center as he prepared to tell him what he wanted to propose.
"The end."