THE FORCE WITHIN
© September 2017 Written by David Wicker
Please do not reprint without permission
CHAPTER 20 - "A BREACH OF CONTRAST"
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This entry is Rated: EVERYONE
With the combination of drugs Rebecca had put in Luke's food, he was stony to say the least. That is he did not speak, walked where directed and did what he was told.
But now he was not happy and that evil voice within him spoke again. This time not so friendly.
"What are you friend, a puppet to entertain this woman !? Leave ! You and I have much to discuss for the future ! Your future as an acolyte of the Sith ! We could rule the galaxy together !"
Despite these troubling memories, Luke gave no visible indication to show the distress. But as hours passed into days, the Force within Luke was building up a resistance to her drugs, and quite suddenly one night, he took off in the newly repaired X-Wing fighter she kept at her docking bay.
Headed back to Yavin's Moon, to possibly stand trial for riding off in the night in a stolen X-Wing fighter craft.
. . .
Han Solo and Chewbacca were just landing with the directions Leia had given him earlier. In seconds his ship was covered and coated with a heavy blanket of snow. A small underground passageway revealed itself and the pair entered to be blasted by hot air, necessary so the path to the passage would not freeze over.
Despite this Han was shaking with cold. He quickly arrived at the base of operations to see Leia again. And did she somehow look a little older ? Not like that small and frightened girl he rescued only just a few days ago from the Death Sta ?
She ran to greet him. "Han, it's good to see you !"
Han nodded roguishly, "What is ready ?"
Leia went back to all-business mode. "We have put together some furs and have rounded up two healthy Taun-Tauns from nearby outside. The magnetic signal is not only getting bigger but stronger. Our scientists say if this is not addressed before tomorrow, the signal may be strong enough to attract attention of other passing ships."
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She paused for breath momentarily, "Empire ships ! We have to find what this signal is, is it friendly, hostile ? And can it be squelched."
She first led Han to where he could change and put on thermal- well, just about everything as the temperature outside was bitterly cold. Once properly outfitted, she led him to the large metal gate built that directly led outside to the below zero blizzard.
Han noticed two Taun-Tauns. Leia noticed and answered Han's question before he could ask it.
"The other is for Luke." she said simply.
Han nodded. "Yeah, these things are tricky to ride. Luke was the only other candidate ?"
"From the whole city, he was the only choice." she assured him.
Han looked around, "Where is that flyboy anyways ?"
Leia didn't want to tell him that Luke 'stole' an X-Wing fighter. Han could see from the expression on her face though that she was definitely trying to hide something. She tried to hold back but couldn't, finally turning her face away so a few tears of despair might fall.
Han leapt off the Taun-Taun to her side, "Hey, princess, are you okay ?"
"I'm worried about Luke." she said, allowing for a moment to let Han hold her in his arms.
Han, the old space pirate smoothed back some of her hair and placed one rugged finger under her delicate chin to raise it. "If I know him," he began, "he's probably off somewhere enjoying his victory - and just wanted to party alone."
Leia nodded. Not so much accepting what he said, but wanting to believe it, "Yes. That must be it."
A strange warble sounded. That was an indicator that their 3rd level sensors had picked up the magnetic signal. For a moment the signal played over the speakers. It was more like a ragged heartbeat than actual communication - in any alien language. It played for a few seconds, then was silent so it could be used for normal transmission of messages between stations.
Han took that to be his queue to take off. He left Leia and remounted the fitted Taun-Taun. The large metal doors pulled back and a blast of super cold and frigid air and snow whirled around both of them.
"Good luck." she said, loud enough to be heard, but she had to shout it. Han heard her though and beamed his most disarming smile at her. Then he tucked cloth around all but his eyes and nose and the Taun Taun was off straight towards the signal !
. . .
Vader and Smite had taken off in their Imperial Tie-Fighters and were just now entering space. Once there, Vader took off back towards his known Star Destroyer. Home.
Smite was quiet but once he saw the apparent mission was over, he did open communication with Vader.
"Are we done for now, milord ?"
Vader replied, "Yes. For now. I have some new information to go on. But I want to feed it into the main computer - to triangulate where the Rebels could have gone."
Smite clicked off his communication station and rode in on Vader's wake.
In minutes they were docked. Vader was standing directly in the path of Smite's exit ladder.
"Yes ?" he asked.
Vader hesitated for a moment before finally placing a thick gloved hand on Smite's back. "You handled yourself very well out there, Smite. Very well indeed. I wonder if I could trouble you to accept a promotion and be my right-hand wing-man, to defend my flanks for future flights ?"
Smite smiled slightly, stroked his beard a bit and said, "Yessir. And thank you sir !"
"Thank you." Vader added, ending the conversation.
Smite headed off in the opposite direction to the local bar of the Star Destroyer he was on when he was suddenly grabbed from behind by two men ! Smite's own metallic staff clattered uselessly to the ground leaving him defenseless !
(to be continued)
END OF CHAPTER 20
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