SYNOPSIS
On a new, more powerful Death Star, shuttle ST-321 lands, bearing an ominous visitor. Darth Vader steps off to speed up Commander Jerjerrod's construction efforts. Vader explains that the Emperor does not believe that they are working hard enough and is coming to visit. Jerjerrod pledges to double his efforts.

Outside the palace of Jabba the Hutt on Tatooine, Artoo-Detoo and See-Threepio knock on the giant front gate of the obese crimelord. They claim to have a message and a gift for Jabba. Bib Fortuna attempts to take the message himself, but leads them to Jabba, who tells them to play this message. It turns out to be a hologram of Luke Skywalker bargaining with Jabba to release Han Solo. Jabba and his palace denizens laugh at the Jedi Knight's offers, and order the droids pressed into service at the palace and sail barge.

Later as a dancing girl displeases Jabba and is dropped into a pit, a bounty hunter enters with Chewbacca and offers the wookiee in exchange for a price. Jabba haggles over the price and the bounty hunter produces a thermal detonator, threatening to destroy everyone. Jabba chuckles at the inventiveness and agrees to the fee, and has Chewbacca put in a cell. That night the bounty hunter sneaks into the throne room and releases Han from his frozen Carbonite prison. Unable to see, Han wants to know who has freed him. Princess Leia removes her bounty hunter disguise, and tells him they must leave quickly. Suddenly a curtain parts and Jabba surprises the would-be savior. They are quickly taken in custody and Han placed in the cell with Chewbacca who relates to the space pirate what is happening.

Entering alone, Luke makes his way to Jabba's throne room and demands his friends released. Threepio attempts to warn the Jedi of imminent danger, but is quickly silenced by an alien. With a command, Jabba opens a trap door and Luke falls twenty-five feet into a Rancor pit. Grabbed by the giant scaly beast, the young Jedi wedges a large bone into the monsters jaws and attempts to flee, but his way is barred. He manages to kill the monster by dropping a large grate on it's head. Jabba has Luke and his friends brought before him and sentences them to death in the Great Pit of Carkoon, the nesting place of the Sarlacc.

Out in the Dune Sea, a skiff circles the Sarlacc Pit with the doomed heroes. Leia is held prisoner chained to Jabba, and Artoo has been tasked with serving drinks on board the Sail Barge. Luke tells Han and Chewie not to worry that he has a plan. Below them, the gaping maw of the Sarlacc stirs!