A Promise in Carbonite

So, I accidentally joined a Star Wars Fanfiction Contest. Fanfiction isn’t typically my thing, but…. Star Wars. Plus. Writing Contest. I couldn’t resist. This will be my second ever attempt at writing fanfiction (the first was a continuation of Stargate Universe after it was cancelled *sadface*).

The prompt for this round of the contest was: You are employed on Cloud City when the empire lands and captures Han Solo. Knowing that bad things befall those who get in the way of the galaxy’s super power, what do you do…?

My porcine hands froze over the control console. The dim orange glow of the room reflected off the sweat forming on my palms.

There would be no going back if I did this. But it was too late to change my mind.

After years of indentured servitude in the tibanna gas mines I had worked my way into the upper echelons of Cloud City. I became the first Ugnaught ever to report directly to Lobot and manage facility duties.

But it wasn’t enough.

No one knew how mistreated we were or how many had died in the mines and never been reported. This would change things. Soon Ugnaughts would be respected. We’d be viewed as heroes of the Empire.

Giltuk nudged my arm. “They’re almost ready,” he grumbled under this breath.

I glanced behind me.

The prisoners stood in a huddle, surrounded by stormtroopers. There were two humans and a wookie carrying a droid on its back. Lord Vader stood off to the side with what appeared to be a Mandalorian bounty hunter and some other Imperial officers.

The wookie howled, sending a shiver down my spine as it tried to push stormtroopers out of the way.

“That’s a mistake,” Giltuk murmured.

The male prisoner rushed to the animal and calmed it down. I never understood that species—so reactionary and violent.

I couldn’t hear what was said, but the man and woman kissed before stormtroopers finally pulled the man away. They wrestled him into the center of the chamber.

He stood there, not trying to fight or resist his fate. A fate that I held in my very hands. It was an honorable statement—at least compared to most human scum.

I turned back to the console and powered up the chamber below. Steam hissed as pressure was released. I toggled a few more controls to prime the carbonite.

I coudl hear the impatient tapping of an Imperial officer’s boot nearby and doubled my speed, making preparations and pressing buttons that I knew by heart.

Behind me the elevator platform where themas stood clanged and slowly began to lower into the chamber.

Giltuk snorted in delight, but I was too nervous to reciprocate. I didn’t enjoy this like he did. It was just something that had to be done. For all of us.

I watched the sensors on the console. I tapped my fingers on the side of the console, begging it to go faster, even though it only took a few seconds to equilibrate. Finally, the large, blinking ACTIVATE button beckoned to me. I pressed it.

There was another hiss and more steam blasted out of the chamber. It only took a few seconds to expel the liquid carbonite and then cool it to a solid slab.

The platform rose from the depths of the chamber, revealing the man, now frozen in time. I couldn’t see his face, but I knew the look. A look of horror and despair.

Across the room, the other prisoners howled and cried. I blocked them out. I was used to that by now. They were quickly escorted out of the room.

The bounty hunter walked up to his prize and took it out through a separate exit, likely to his ship to fly off and collect whatever reward he had earned.

After a few minutes, it was only me, Giltuk, and the Imperials remaining in the room. 

It was time for our reward.

Lord Vader nodded at me.

I wave of relief washed over me. I placed a hand on Giltuk’s shoulder and smiled—as much as an Ugnaught can smile. We did it. Things would be different from now on.

Unexpected blaster fire rang out behind me.

I looked down to find a hole in my chest where my heart would be.

Only imperial stormtroopers were so precise.

I fell to me knees as my vision began to fade.

The last thing I saw was Vader’s black cape ruffle as he turned and left the room.

I absolutely love taking well-known things and twisting them on their head, whether it’s by taking a different point of view or tossing something new and unexpected in there. I hope you enjoyed – let me know your thoughts in the comments below!