Strange Encounters BY Jacki a.k.a. Atrus The Millium Falcon flew on in hyperspace. On board was our heroes; Luke Skywalker, Mara Jade Skywalker, Han Solo, Leia Organa Solo, C3PO, R2D2, and Chewbacca the Wookiee. Just as they were reaching their destination a sound is emitted and they are pulled out of hyperspace. Luke asked Han who was down in the Hyperspace core. "I don't know, but something pulled us out of hyperspace." Han replied. Leia came in, "Han there's something on the screens and the scanners can't identify it." Han got out of the hyperdrive core and told Luke, "See what you can do, Kid." In the cotpit, Mara and Chewie were trying to maneuver out and away from the alien ship's tractor beam hold. "Han, hurry up and get in here! We're being pulled in by a tractor beam." Mara shouted. Han ran in and looked over the damage, Luke called over the comm link, "Han, the hyperdrive is shot. I am coming up." Just then a laser blast hits the ship and shakes the ship violently, everybody was knocked to the right side of the ship.       Mara worried for her husband, calls him by comm link, “Luke, are you alright?"       "Yeah," Luke answered, "I just got a little beaten up. What happened?" "We were hit by a blast from the alien ship. The blast damaged our weapons and maneuvering jets." "I'll be up there as fast as I can." Moments later Luke stepped in and found that damage was more serious than he thought. "Luke, can you try and sense who is on that ship?" Leia asked. "I am trying but I am being blocked," replied Luke. "Well, hang on everybody, I guess we are going to have to find another way out, of this because we are about to dock." Han said. The Falcon was pulled into the huge ships docking bay. "Search the whole ship," ordered Captain Etail, who was second in command of the ship, "and bring the prisoners to me." The other officers scrambled aboard the Falcon. These creatures were called the elmites, were eight feet tall, three feet wide, and looked like small dragons. The elmites searched the Falcon and since not finding anyone, they began scanning the ship. Our heros have been hiding in the smuggling departments and decided to fight than surrender. But before they could, the ship is flooded with stun rays, which made them unconscious. A while later, they were found and taken to Captain Etail who ordered that they be taken to their cells. *********************************** Diego, Bernardo, and Tornardo had been training in the back of the rancho when the mysterious ship had appeared. It had taken them aboard after it had stunned them. Diego woke up and looked around. On his right side stood his horse Tornado and on his left was his friend and manservant, Bernardo.  Diego got up, brushed himself off, then helped his silent friend up. "Are you Ok?" Diego asked Bernardo. Bernardo nodded. "Where are we?" Diego asked as he studied their situation. He was little scared and angry but kept his cool. He was still in his Zorro clothes with his sword hung on his belt. Bernardo on the other hand was scared out of his wits. Tornado was still saddled; his dagger and whip were hanging from it. But his gun was missing, so they probable did not know the dangers of a sword, whip, or dagger, but knew the dangers of a gun or the first weapons could not hurt them and the gun could. Diego then went to study the lock.  What he found was that the lock could be open if he could break it. He went to get his dagger and started to work on the lock. About half an hour later, the door slide silently open. Diego and his friends snuck quietly out of the cell. Half way down the hallway they heard shouting and threats being made accompanied by the sound of a whip lashing and a strange buzzing sound. They crept to the door where the sounds were being made. Diego peeked through the small window in the door. What he saw troubled him. Inside the room a young man had been hung by the wrist to the ceiling, the creatures were lashing him with a strange looking light whip and cutting him with small laser daggers. They were asking him questions. "Where is the hidden planet of the Jedi?" hissed one of the creatures. "I know why you want to know and I won't tell you." the man said. "We grow tired of this game, Jedi, tell us, or die." "I rather face death then be the one to sentence others to death." "Maybe we should bring in your family and kill them slowly before your eyes." "I know my family would rather die than be the cause to others deaths." "Fine, bring in the girl." One of the guards left and soon returned with a young teenage female. “Atrus!, what are you doing here?" "I got caught by these scum while in human form. That's why I am here. Don't tell them anything, Luke. These monsters are to stupid to hurt me, especially if they don't want to die by a blackcats warrior's hands." the girl growled. "Enough! Whip her!" ordered the head creature. Diego admired the young man, who was willing to sacrifice himself and his family to protect others. But he was also shocked. His friend Atrus was here? The mysterious young woman that he had met in Spain was here?  Well, she was a blackcat, so he could understand how she might know this young man. One of the creatures raised his whip to lash Atrus. Diego could not stand to see his young friend be hurt nor could he stand how the creatures had treated the young man. "Stay here." he told Bernardo, then opened the door and stepped in. The creatures saw him immediately. The one who was about to whip Atrus lowered his arm. Then they all attacked Diego at once. He drew his sword quickly and fought. He smashed his fist in to the gut of one of the being. Then he spun around and delivered a kick to the face of another. He slashed his sword at another of the beings on his right and caught the creature in the arm. The creature screamed in rage and pain, then attacked more fiercely. Atrus tripped one of them and hit another with her chained hands. Diego then ducked under the swing of the elector whip that the leader was using and cut it from his hand. The leader seeing that most of his men were down, attacked with all he had. Diego easily defeated him by smashing the leader in the face with his fist and then delivering a hard kick to the gut. The leader collapsed to the floor. When Diego saw that all the creatures were down, he called Bernado in with Tornado. "Diego, what are you doing here?" Atrus asked a little surprised. "Let’s just say that we were all captured by the same creatures. Now let’s attend to your friend. By the way, where are we?" "We are on a aliens' ship being kept as prisoners. That's all I know." she said grimly. They walked over to where Luke was hanging. "Thank you, sir, for coming to the rescue of my sister and I." "Sister?" Diego asked Atrus. "Long story, I'll tell you some other time." "If you don't mind me asking, senor, but who are you and what did they want from you?" "My name is Luke Skywalker. They wanted the location of where I have my academy." "I heard, Senor Skywalker." "Please, call me Luke." "Alright, Luke, please excuse me, my name is Diego De La Vega. But you can call me Diego. This is my friend Benardo and my horse Tornado." "Beautiful creature, but what is a horse?" "An animal from my planet, they are very intelligent and very loyal." "I can see that.” Diego examined the cuffs that held Luke. They were welded shut. "My lightsaber is over there." Luke said sensing what Diego saw. Diego and Bernardo went to the table and looked, while Atrus talked to her brother quietly. The only thing on the table that looked like a saber was a strange, foot long, metal thing that looked like a saber handle. "Is this it?" Diego asked. "Yes, just hold it out, push the button, and just use it like a regular sword." Diego did as Luke said and out of the handle came a meter long green white blade. Diego jumped a little, surprised by the strange weapon. He motioned for Bernardo to get underneath Luke and Atrus joined to help him, then cut the cuffs off without touching Luke's skin. Luke fell and slammed into Bernardo and Atrus who almost fell but managed to keep their balance. They slowly set Luke on the floor and began to check his injures. Bernardo pointed out to Atrus that one of Luke's legs was broken. They also found that the slashes on Luke’s back were already being to heal. "Impressive," Luke commented to Diego as they checked his injures, "Where did you learn that?" "From my teachers in Spain. Nice sword you have here." "It’s a lightsaber, a Jedi's weapon." "What is Jedi?" "They are guardians who use the Force." "What's the Force?” "Well, its takes a long time to explain but the Force is an energy field that is created by all things. It penetrates us and binds us together. It is also what the Jedi use to defended and also lets it guided them." "I understand, but why would these creatures wish to destroy the Jedi?" "Because they want to destroy everyone who opposes them and take over the universe." "Umm, excuse me for interrupting the lecture but, Diego, will you get this stupid Jedi-proof cuffs off me." Atrus said. "All right, sorry." Diego said. Atrus held out her arms and Diego cut the cuffs off. "Thanks," she said. "You’re welcome." Diego said. Diego and Bernardo quickly got Luke up and supported him on their shoulders. Atrus went back into the other room and retrieved her lightsaber. They quickly made their way into the hall and went down it with caution. They heard the enemies coming down the hall. They opened one of the doors and snuck in and closed it behind them. They heard the heavy trump as the creatures past the door. They snuck back out when the elites were gone. "We have to get the others out." Luke whispered as they continued to make their way down the hall. "Who's here?" Atrus asked. "Mara, Leia, Han, the droids, and Chewie." Luke said softly. "Great," she said sarcastically. They continued down the hall until they heard a loud bang and a curse. "There goes Han," said Atrus as she rolled her eyes. Another bang and curse filled the air again. "and there went Mara." she finished. Diego looked questioningly at Luke. "My wife and brother-in-law. Both are very hot tempered and hate to be lock up." Luke explained. A very loud bang filled the air and a loud growl was heard. "We can't forget about Chewie." Atrus said. "Who's Chewie?" Diego asked. "He's a friend of ours. He's just like Han and Mara except he is a wookiee." Luke said. “A wookiee?” Diego asked. “You’ll see,” said the Jedi. They reached the place where they heard the bangs. There was a huge dent in one of the cell door while the other six were fine. Just then a small guard force came around the corner and upon seeing the small band, and started firing at them with the stun bolts. Diego helped Luke with the help of Bernardo and Tornado followed them into cover while Atrus drew out her lightsaber and started deflecting them with her double blade weapon. "I knew she was a good fighter but I didn't know she could do that." Diego commented with a low whistle. "I know what you mean. It still amazes me that she can handle that thing." Luke agreed. The guards took cover behind the doors and continued shooting. Atrus pulled the blasters out of their hands with the force and tossed them down the corridor behind her. The guards, seeing that they didn't have a chance, ran back up the corridor. Diego and Bernardo with Luke came out of cover followed by the black stallion. "Nice work, sis." Luke commented. "Luke, is that you?" a female voice came from one of the cells. "Mara! We'll get you out soon, Love." said Luke as he limped to one of the cells. Diego and the others followed him. Inside was a strongly built red haired, green eyed, young lady that looked way beyond mad at this point. "What did they do to you?" she asked Luke. "Just the regular, Mara." Luke said. "Well, you better hurry and get me out of here, farm boy. I want to teach them a lesson for what they did to you." she said angrily. "Watch your temper, Mara, we don't want to go through his training again." Said Atrus teasingly from beside Luke. "Atrus? What are you doing here?" Mara asked. "Takes too long to explain. We need to get out of here. Now!" Atrus said. "You better stand back, Mara." Luke said as he drew out his lightsaber and slammed it into the lock. The door opened quietly and Mara gracefully stepped out. "Luke, you better introduce me to your friends." she said warily. "Later. Right now, we need to get the others out." he said. They went to work on the doors. Atrus and Luke blasted the doors lock off with their lightsabers while Mara picked the locks with her vibro blade. Soon everyone was free. "Kid, its good to see you’re still alive." Han said gratefully. "Well, I wouldn't be if it wasn't for my friends here." Luke gestured to Diego and his friends. "Who are they, Luke?" Leia said. Diego stepped forward. "Diego De La Vega at your service, milady, and this is my friend Bernardo and my horse Tornado." Diego said as he bowed and kissed her and Mara’s hands. Leia and Mara slightly blushed. Atrus retrieved the blasters that she had taken from the guards and gave them to the others including Diego and Bernardo. "Do you know how to shot one of those?" Han asked Diego and Bernardo. "Not really, senor, would you please show me." Diego said. "Please, call me Han, all you got to do is aim at your target and pull the trigger." "Oh, just like a regular gun." "I don't know what a gun is but if that’s what it seems like, then I guess that's what you use it like." Han said. By this time Luke had been healed of his broken leg and Diego was surprised by this but didn’t question about it. They continued down the hall and came to a large area. All of a sudden they were surrounded by a large number of guards. "What the…!!!" Han cursed as he turned around. Out of the group of guards in front of them came Captain Etail behind a larger etile. "Hello, humans and creature." snarled the larger etile as he looked at them, "I am Baron Cornalous. I am here to delieve you in exchange for the galaxy. Tis it is a pity that we have to hand you over; you would have made such good warriors. Oh well." "Who wants us?" Mara said coolly. "You surprise me, Emperor’s Hand, that you don't know who want’s you. Well, I guess you can't say much about a supposedly dead man." the creature laughed. "No, not Papaltine." Mara gasped as her eyes went wide with horror. "Yes, my dear, Hand, it is I." hissed Papaltine as he came out of the shadows. "Ah and young Skywalker, I have great plans for you two, yes, very big plans." Papaltine cackled. "We won't join you, Papaltine,” snarled Luke as he wrapped his arms around Mara's waist and held her close. "Oh, by the way, Solo and Organa, you are probable wondering who won the bet for you two,” the Baron said. Boba Fett walked out of the crowds and stepped over to Han and Leia. "I told you, Solo, that I would get you, your wife, and your wookie someday." Fett said. "Over my dead body, Fett." Han sneered. Chewie growled in agreement. “That could be arrange, Solo.” Fett said. Atrus could feel who had come for her. "Force! Come out now, I know you are here." she shouted. "Never could I hide myself from you. But now I don't have to." hissed the Force as he slunk out of the shadows in his dragon form. "Oh and of course who else would want the great Zorro and his friends, but.." the Baron said as another figure walked out of the shadows. "Me," Monistaro said as he grinned at Diego, "I knew it was you all along, Diego De La Vega, and now I will have my revenge." "I am not going without a fight, Monistaro." Diego said as he pulled his sword out of it’s sheath. Bernardo nodded and Tornado tensed as if he too agreed. "Nor will any of us. You'll have to take us dead or not at all." Luke said as he and Mara brought out their lightsabers. Atrus brought hers out as well. Han brought out his blaster and Leia pulled out her lightsaber. "So be it,” snarled the Baron as they attacked. Diego brought up his sword and met Monastario's saber and pushed him back. Monistario ran back and tried to deliver a kick to Diego legs. Diego blocked it and punched Monistario in the face. Bernardo had grabbed the whip from Tornardo's saddle and whipped it at the creatures. The whip stung them and brought a few of them down. Tornardo was guarding his friend by kicking the creatures that got to close. The enemies went flying. Luke slashed at the creatures while avoiding Papaltine's lighting. Mara was kicking and guarding her husband's back with her lightsaber blazing. Han blasted at the creatures and Fett while covering his wife. Leia was slashing and driving her lightsaber at the creatures. Chewie brought out his bowcaster and shot at the creatures and tried to get at Fett. Atrus and the Force circled each other. The Force blasted out a fire ball at Atrus in which she ducked and blasted one of her own. He avoided hers as the battle went on. Diego and Monistario glared at each other as they fenced. Monistario slashed for Diego's mid section but Diego blocked it with ease. Monistario growled and fenced harder, pushing Diego further back into the crowd. Bernardo and Tornado were keeping up their own battle but tried to keep the creatures from getting too close to Diego. Mara and Luke were losing more and more ground. Luke with his half healed leg were slowing him down and it was getting harder to avoid both the creatures and Papaltine. Chewie had been hit by a stray blaster bolt but it was just a burn. He was almost to Fett and the bounty hunter was getting worried. The bounty hunter shot at him but the wookiee ducked under the blasts and got closer. Han and Leia were quickly getting closer to Fett from behind him. Leia cut at another creature and brought it down. Han was blasting any other creatures that got close. Atrus had taken a hit to her side but she ignored the wound and was driving her double blade lightsaber at the dragon. The Force was trying to avoid the blades and shoot at the same time. Diego finally beat Monistario back and tripped him. He held his blade at Monistario's throat. "Call them off." Diego said angrily. "I can't." Monistario snarled. Bernardo and Tornado continued to fight even though the manservant was tiring. Papaltine shot a full barge of lightening at Mara. Luke seeing that his love was in danger, limped over to her as fast as he could and pushed her away just as the lightening hit above where she was. Luke could not get away fast enough and caught the whole blast in the chest. He went down to his knees. "Luke!" Mara yelled as she ran to her husband. "I am all right." Luke said weakly as she helped him up. Chewie and Fett were now at each other’s throat and Chewie was winning when all of a sudden Fett shot a tranquilizer at Chewie. Chewie went down. Han, when he finished off the creature he was fighting, saw that his friend was in trouble blasted at Fett with everything he had. Fett shot one of his cables and it wrapped around Leia's leg tripping her. Fett started to drag her toward him when she sliced the rope. Han and Leia then rushed him. Fett shot Han in the leg but Leia blocked the one amid at her. Han went down and she helped him up and they continued to go after the bounty hunter. Atrus flipped over the Force and drove her lightsaber into him. The blade went through his skin and into his clavicle. He roared in pain and rage and turned around. Then he brought out the weapon. The dagger gleamed black and blue in the dim light. Atrus backed away as the Force stalked toward her. The dagger he was holding was one of the only things that could kill her and always shut off her power except her ability to transform. The Force threw it and it caught her right above the heart. She screamed and went to her knees. The Force dragged her back up and put a second dagger to her throat. She remained still. "Everyone, stop fighting or I will kill her." roared the Force. The fighting stopped, things looked bad for the good guys. "Even you, Zorro, release him." ordered the Force. Diego pulled his blade away from Monistario's throat and the Capitan stood up. "We win." he sneered at Diego. "Drop your weapons." ordered the Force. Just then, he yelled in pain as Atrus changed back into blackcat form and drove her catlike nails into him. He released her and growled. "I never give up easily, Force, and you know that,” she said as she changed back into her human form. The fighting began again. Diego brought again, his weapon to Monistario's throat. Then Bernardo and Tornado brought down a lot of the guards. Luke and Mara finally combined their powers and locked Papatine in his own dark power and attacked him. He blasted at them but Mara finally threw her lightsaber at him and it slashed right through him. The sith lord went up in a huge explosion, killing almost all the guards in that area. Han and Leia brought down Fett by the ex-smuggler blasting him in the leg and the princess keeping him down by putting her lightsaber tip to his throat. Atrus blasted a full barge of fire at the Force, then followed it with a kick to his legs. He went down and he stayed down. There were very few guards left and the Baron had disappeared with Captain Etail during the fighting. The remaining guards ran out of the room. "Give up." Atrus snarled down at the Force. "Yes, for now. You win this battle, Blackcat, but I will win the war." the Force hissed and disappeared. Han tied Fett up with his own cord and limped with Leia's help to where Chewie lay. Chewie woke up and got up. Mara helped Luke to where Diego was and the others soon followed. "Now, how do we get home?" Han asked. The room suddenly started to fill with gas. "I think the obvious question right now is how do we get out of here?" Atrus stated. Diego lifted his blade from Monistario's throat and helped him up. Chewie picked up Fett and they rushed to the doors. They were locked. "We have to burn through the doors," Luke said. He brought his lightsaber up and pushed it through the door. Leia, Mara, and Atrus did the same and soon the door had a hole in it that everyone could get out. Bernardo, leading Tornado went first, followed by Luke and Mara, Han and Leia, Chewie carrying Fett, Diego with his saber to Monistario's back and then Atrus. They found themselves in a corridor with a door at the end. Atrus leaned against the wall, weakened from the dagger protruding out of her chest. “Could someone pull this thing out of me?” Atrus asked. Bernardo looked at Diego who nodded for him to go ahead and help her. The manservant walked forward, dropping the reins. “Just pull it out, I won’t bleed since I am a blackcat.” Atrus explained. Bernardo smiled and slowly pulled it out of her. She smiled back at him and said, "Thank you, Bernardo." They went down the hall and stopped at the door. It was locked as well. Han blasted the controls and the door came open. The Baron stood looking terrified on the bridge. "Don't kill me or the rest of my officers, please." the Baron said as he quivered. "Take us home then." Han said. "Fine. Just leave us be." the Baron said. They stopped at earth in Diego's time. Goodbye, my friends." Diego said as they stepped on the transporter to transport him, Bernardo, Tornado, and Monistario (who was tied up) home. "I'll see you some time." Atrus said. "I'll look forward to it." Diego smiled then leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek and the three men and the black stallion disappeared. When they got home, Diego sent Monistario to jail for abduction but never told anyone but his father what had really happened. Monstario told anyone who would listen what had happened but everyone thought that he had lost whatever sanity he had left. Next they blasted to Luke and the others’ galaxy. They got on their ship. But before they did, they said goodbye to Atrus. "I will see you guys later," she said. "We hope so. Be careful." Luke said. "I will. Go and get yourselves healed up." she said. They soon left. Atrus made sure that the creatures went home then transported herself back to her time on earth. The creatures never returned to abduct anyone again. The End