SoftWare: The fun continues!

Cyrin: ...I find it best not to say anything.

SoftWare: Wise choice.
Chapter Seven

Disabling the Tractor Beam

(Millenium Falcon)

Two Imperial troopers inspected the ship, then, determining that nothing was aboard, they left. Shortly afterwards, a

plank in the floor opened up, revealing Han and Gakowa in one, and the others opened, revealing Anakin and Luke in

another, Chewie and Sakowa in a third, and Marina and Lilo in the fourth. Gakowa spoke up. "Boy, it's a good thing you

have these compartments." Han looked at the open entry ramp. "I use them for smuggling. Never thought I'd be

smuggling myself in them." As Anakin got out of his, Han faced him. "This is ridiculous. Even if I could take off, I'd

never make it past the tractor beam." Anakin grinned. "Leave that to me." Han sighed. "Damn fool, I knew you'd say

that." Anakin faced him. "Who's more foolish, the fool or the fool who follows him?" Han made no answer.

(Hangar 138)

Two Imperial officers in gray uniforms pushed a large device with scanners attached. A Stormtrooper approached them.

"The ship's all yours. If the scanners detect anything, report it immediately." Facing his men, he said, "All right, let's

go." A few seconds after the scannnig crew boarded the Falcon, a loud crash was heard. Two stormtroopers were

guarding the ramp. A voice called down to them, "Hey, down there." A stormtrooper looked up. "Can you give us a hand

with this?" The troopers walked up the ramp, straight to Han and Gakowa's waiting blasters.

(Control Booth, Hangar 138)

An officer hit his comm. "TK-428, why aren't you at your post?" Static was heard. "TK-428, do you copy?" Receiving no

answer, the officer went to the window. A Togrutan stormtrooper that held the code TK-428 looked up at him, and

tapped his helmet comm. The officer nodded to him. He faced an aide. "Take over. We've got a bad transmitter. I'll see

what I can do." He opened the door and was knocked aside by Chewie. Han, in stormtrooper gear, shot the aide.

Gakowa ran into the room in his stormtrooper armor. He pulled off his helmet. "You know, between his howling and

your blasting everything in sight, it's a wonder the whole station doesn't know we're here!" Han faced him. "Bring them

on. I prefer a straight fight to all this sneaking around." Marina looked at Anakin. "We've found the outlet." Anakin faced

her. "Plug R7 in. He should be able to interpret the entire Imperial network." R7 wheeled over to the panel, and

activated it, accessing his information. Gakowa had learned to understand R7, so he walked over. R7 tweedled

something. "He said the tractor draws its power from the main reactor. He'll try to make the location appear on the

monitor." The screen showed seven locations. "The nearest one is on Level 6." Anakin faced them. "I don't think any of

you can help me. I must go alone." Han didn't object. Gakowa faced him. "But-" Anakin faced him. "No, Gakowa. R7

and your sister must be delivered safely to the Rebel Alliance or other star systems will suffer the same fate as

Alderaan." Anakin placed his hand on the boy's shoulder. "Your destiny lies along a different path from mine." He

opened the door. "Remember, the Force will be with you, always." With that, Anakin raced off, his weapon in hand.

Gakowa closed the door. Han faced Gakowa. "You all right, kid?" Gakowa nodded. "Yeah." R7 tweedled something.

Gakowa faced him. "Who's here?" Han faced him. "What is that droid talking about?" "That's what I'm trying to find

out." He approached the droid. "Repeat what you said, exactly." The droid repeated itself. "Shaak Ti?" Han faced him.

"Who's that?" Gakowa faced him. "A Jedi Master, one of the leading members of the Jedi Council." That got Han's

attention. "Where is she?" Gakowa faced R7. "Yeah, where?" R7 tweedled a response. "Level 5. Detention Block AA-23."

R7 tweedled something else. "No, not on my watch." Han faced him. "What did he say?" "She's scheduled for

execution." Han faced the droid. "Let me guess, you wanna rescue her?" Gakowa nodded. Han grinned. "I've always

wanted to bust someone out." Gakowa grinned back.

(Terminal 85, Level 6)

Anakin worked the controls of the terminal, disabling the tractor beam. He knew what he would have to do next.

(Death Star control room)

"He is here." Tarkin faced the Sith. "Anakin Skywalker? Are you sure?" Cyrin glared at him under her mask. "A tremor in

the Force. The last time I felt it was in the presence of my former master." Tarkin knew better than to argue with her.

"He must not be allowed to escape." Cyrin rolled her eyes under her mask. Fool. "Escape is not his plan. I must face

him alone."

A/N

SoftWare: DUN, DUN, DUN!

Cyrin: (Picks up a book)

SoftWare: Good choice. It might be a few days.

Cyrin: (Snarles at the author)

Computer: SoftWare, offline.