Disclaimer: I bribed George Lucas with gummy bears! Star Wars is now mine! BWAHAHAHA!
Darth Vader: Insane child. *Force chokes*
T Alana M: Gak..losing air... *passes out*
Darth Vader: Now, on with my son's story. And don't forget to... *reads cue card* 'leave lots of good reviews.' Can I go now?
Governor Tarkin was a tactical genius. It ran in his family. His father before him had been a general, and so had his grandfather; though both men's accomplishments fell short of his own. He had led battles since before the Clone Wars (in service of Palpatine, though the Empire had not yet been formed then). He had devised plans and commanded entire battalions. He could defeat any foe with quick wit and force.
This enemy, though, was proving to be hard to defeat.
Pfffbbbllltt.
It had a cunning disguise; aiming to look as innocent as possible so as not to get caught. To Tarkin's annoyance, it was working; those around had yet to notice the enemy's deception. (That was probably why they were smothering laughter. They were fools.) He had to intimidate it into slipping up; there was no way it could keep up the facade once it was scared out of its wits.
He locked eyes with the enemy; who stared back unblinkingly.
Pfffbbbllltt.
Its second weapon was its protection. It had an impenetrable fortress of defense, that was also its offensive weapon. Any who attacked it would no doubt be unable to live long. (And that was why none of the assembled men had tried, he was sure. It wasn't possible that no one had acknowledged the enemy as a threat.)
The enemy's eyes bore into him, issuing a silent challenge for him to try and attack. He was not going to take the bait. A good tactician always planned his moves.
Pfffbbbllltt.
Its method of assault was quick and debilitating. Perhaps that was why the others had not commented on it; the attack was too quick, they had no idea they were in the enemy's targeting range until after the damage was done. But every missile launched was a blow to his pride (not to mention his rapidly-dirtied clothing.) He had to counter somehow. There was no way around the enemy's defenses, and it was prudish to resort to its level of frivolity in attacks- -
"What is it, Governor Tarkin?"
Tarkin's head snapped up at the irritable tone. Vader glared at him from where he stood at the head of the round table, hand halfway to the blueprints being displayed at the front of the room.
Curses, the enemy had managed to distract him with its cunning! He had let his guard down to everyone else. His heart thudded against his ribcage. Normally, he would not be frightened of Vader (though others would argue that he certainly had reason to be), but his adversary had frazzled him, and he felt that rare urge to crawl in a hole that everyone else felt whenever Vader glared at them.
"Nothing, milord." he answered politely, whereas he would usually have responded with a biting, vaguely condescending comment.
After one last glare, the Sith turned back to the blueprints, leaving the governor free to engage in his adversary once more. He glared at it. Was it satisfied, now that he had been scolded like a schoolboy? Was it going to gloat?
But all his tactics had so far had failed, so he had to be the bigger man; retreat, while he still had a scrap of his dignity left- -
Pfffbbbllltt.
Oh but that was IT! This humiliation could not go on any longer! He had to attack; to bring down the Enemy in one blow, consequences be damned- -
"Governor Tarkin, surely you aren't.. having a staring contest with my five year old son?" the tone was vaguely disbelieving.
"...Don't be ridiculous, Lord Vader. I am simply admiring the remarkable design of the glass structure behind your boy."
"Governor, that is the window. There is nothing to admire; it would be infinitely more useful if you were to kindly pay attention to the proceedings."
"Of course."
The Sith simply shot him a look that, even through his mask, gave the impression of being highly annoyed by one's idiocy.
As soon as Vader's back was turned, Luke blew another loud raspberry.
Tarkin furiously resumed his staring contest.
If from infancy you treat children like gods, they are liable in adulthood to act like devils.
-PD James
Just a breather before Obi-Wan tries out his new trick.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a comment.
