After his release from prison, Zorba Desilijic Tiure traveled to Tatooine where he discovered the death of his son Jabba. After have recovered Jabba's testament in Jabba's Palace, he came to the Cloud City and regained control of the Holiday Towers from Baron Administrator Lando Calrissian. By tricking him at sabacc, he managed to become the new governor of the city.
Soon later Princess Leia Organa was captured in the Imperial over the Rethin Sea and Jedi Prince Ken was arrested by Bespin Wing Guards, now working for Zorba. Zorba the Hutt planned to exchange Ken to Emperor Trioculus for Leia Organa, the murderer of his son. On the other hand, Trioculus intented to make Leia his empress.
Although he was in search for Ken, Trioculus refused to hand over Leia when Zorba made his proposal. In response, he called stormtroopers in to take out Zorba, but the Cloud Police emerge on Zorba's side. All stormtroopers were eliminated and Trioculus was captured while fleeing.
Meanwhile, Ken had escape from holding in the casino with the help of the Force, returning to Han Solo's sky house. On the barge, Luke Skywalker found Leia and the duo were rescued by Han Solo in the Millennium Falcon. They were just living the barge when it was destroyed by a fleet of bounty hunter ships led by the Zorba Express.
As the rebels reunited and left Bespin, Zorba Desilijic Tiure encased the would-be Imperial leader in carbonite, intending on using the captive Imperial's presence as a hostage as a means of protecting Cloud City from Imperial threat. As for Leia Organa, he believed she was killed on the barge and that revenge has been served.