XIII
"What in ding blazes?" Halla said, ducking down. A second blast of laser fire melted a small hole in the metal near her. She sought cover around the front corner of the crawler. "Looks like we got company, kids," Halla said.
"Oh!" Threepio yelped, shuffling quickly around the back corner. "Artoo! Hurry! That dreadful Sith Lord has come back to dismantle us." A third blast pelted the crawler's metal skin. Artoo whistled and rolled after the golden 'droid.
Luke and Leia ran around the back. "Vader must've had an escort," Luke said, reaching up into the crawler pod. His hand grasped one of the rifles. He held the weapon at ready trying to get a bead on whoever was firing on them.
"Luke boy, you see anything?" Halla asked, keeping her head low.
"Not yet," Luke replied.
The next shot came from within the temple's entrance. Leia ducked. "I guess we should've known it'd be too easy to slip away," the Princess said.
Luke squeezed a shot off at the shadowed entryway. "I got to thinking about that before; how Vader caught up to us so quick." Enemy fire rang out. Luke aimed for the spot where the blast came from. "He had to use a faster transport. If we can find it…"
"We can get the hell away from here a lot faster," Halla finished for him. "Hey, you 'droids, come with me!" Halla pointed at Threepio and Artoo.
"Halla," Leia called after the old woman as she pulled her hood up. Halla craned her head around. "What do you think you're doing?"
Halla winked and smiled. "I'm gonna go see about getting' us a better ride." She held the Kaiburr Crystal close. Threepio and Artoo were behind her. "Luke boy, lay me down some cover."
"Be careful," he said and started shooting randomly into the darkened archway. Halla bent down and jogged along the side of the temple's exterior wall with the two robots in tow.
"How do I ever get myself into these messes, Artoo?" Threepio asked. The barrel shaped 'droid beeped.
"I ask myself the same thing most times," Halla said.
A few return vollies of laser fire struck the crawler. Luke lay in another quick round of blasts. "Whoever it is didn't see Halla break away. I hope that's a good sign."
"Me, too," Leia said. "I don't want to be around when reinforcements show up."
"Or when Vader crawls out of that hole," Luke said.
Weaving quickly through trees and vegetation, Halla and the 'droids circled to the back of the temple. She spotted the hover skiff parked in a small clearing. "There!" she pointed. "Artoo, you scannin' anything?"
The little 'droid beeped. "Artoo's sensors detect no signs anyone is nearby," Threepio translated.
"Wonderful! 'Bout time things started lookin' our way, don'tcha think?"
"I heartily agree."
She crept toward the skiff and chuckled. "Warms my heart to think o' the face that stuffed shirt Imperial's gonna make when he sees his skiff takin' off without him."
Halla boarded first, holding a finger to her lips while cautioning the 'droids forward up the ramp. She leaned down to check the pilot's compartment. "It's all clear, boys," she said. "Artoo, start us up. We're gettin' out of here."
Chirping, the little Detoo unit followed Halla into the enclosed cockpit and plugged into the skiff's ignition. The craft immediately came to life. Halla swung the massive machine around, plunging into the surrounding jungle mists and cries of Mimban.
Luke leaned flush against the crawler's metal body as a round of laser fire flared wildly near he and Leia. Holding his gun out, Luke paused when a laser canon blasted at the entrance. His eyes darted to the left. He smiled as the hover skiff floated to them. "She did it!"
"C'mon, kids, let's go!" Halla's voice called out.
Luke and Leia ran up the boarding ramp, which retracted in the space of a few seconds. The skiff floated higher in the air and rocketed over the trees, leaving the temple behind.
"Hey!" Puddra yelled, running out into the open, waving his arms. "Hey!" He stood there helplessly, limbs at his sides.
"Gotta say, I'm real impressed with this buggy," Halla grinned. "We can just about get anywhere in less than a day flyin' around 'stead of dodgin' mud holes and wandrella."
"Where are you taking us?" Leia asked.
"I know where there's an unmanned communications relay station. I'm gonna piggy back a message to someone I know with a ship on Circarpous IV."
"Finally," Leia sighed, "we can get off this planet."
"Won't be long now, I promise," Halla said.
"What about the mine?" Luke asked.
"Don't worry, Luke boy. My contact's got some pretty big guns."
How long had it been? Darth Vader didn't know. His sense of time was skewed.
Darkness was all encompassing. Blackness was absolute. The quiet was final. The silence of death.
Here, so far below the surface of Mimban; far from the life-giving sunlight, water, and air; there was nothing. Tens of thousands of years of nothing. Just a shaft built by a race of aliens who were extinct for an eon.
Time pressed on its slow, inevitable forward march with no one anywhere in the universe knowing anything about this shaft.
No one would ever know where to find Darth Vader.
Master… Please…
I am helpless…
I hate being helpless…
Seated behind the wheel of the crawler, Puddra disassembled his gun and removed the power pack. He opened a panel in the control board of the vehicle and slipped the pack into a slot connected to the on-board communicator. He pressed a button. A small screen blinked to life, filled with white static. A slow, modulating hiss came from the speaker.
"Requesting immediate assistance," he said. "This is a request for immediate assistance. Is anyone receiving my signal? This is an urgent request for immediate assistance."
High above Mimban, on the bridge of the massive Super Star Destroyer Executor, Captain Piett stood in the communications pit monitoring all routed traffic within the system.
"Captain, we're picking up a remote signal from Circarpous V," one of the men at a computer station said.
Piett positioned himself behind the young man. "On screen." Static filled the visual link while a garbled voice broke through with fragments of words. "Boost the gain." A set of knobs was turned, clearing the signal to show an Imperial in grey with a helmet.
"- questing immediate assistance."
"This is Captain Piett on board the Command Ship Executor. Please identify yourself."
"-sub officer Puddra. This is an urgent request for immediate assistance."
"What kind of help do you require?"
"Salvage and recovery. I was with Lord Vader. Rebel agents attacked him. Send a recovery team and medical help as quickly as possible to the following coordinates." A series of figures representing longitude and latitude flashed below the video signal.
"A team will be dispatched immediately." Piett turned to a guard stationed along the wall behind him. "Have a shuttle readied at once complete with search and recovery 'droids and a medical pod."
"Yes, Captain." He nodded and marched quickly away.
As it descended to the temple from above the trees, the Imperial shuttle was truly a graceful sight. Gull wings folded up. Landing gear lowered. The craft touched down softly in a small clearing. The boarding ramp opened.
Two black 'droids floated out making loud humming sounds. Flattened cylindrical heads with a red slots and an inverted triangular point made up their makeshift faces. The bodies were organically curved with only a torso and a pair of long arms with thin clamps for dexterity.
Flying into the temple entrance, brilliant white lights were projected along the walls and floors. Inside the main chamber, Puddra pointed to a hole in the floor. "Down there," he instructed.
Descending into the hole, the circle of white was brilliant in contrast to the round black brick wall. The illumination grew smaller and dimmer the deeper the recovery robots went. In a short time, they vanished from sight.
Two Imperial medics and a compliment of four Stormtroopers stopped near Puddra with a floating medical pod of grey metal and black cushioned interior. Lights on various control panels winked in red and white.
Rock crumbled under Vader's fingers. His shoulder burned. Both hips felt as if they were jammed upward, also burning.
Darth Vader felt the humming lightly vibrating through his battered body before he saw the brilliant white lights glaring off the dark walls, dropping down to him.
As the recovery 'droids closed the distance to him, Vader gazed down into the endless black pit. Nothing but darkness. He might have fallen right into the center of the planet before striking bottom.
Tentacle-like appendages wrapped around the Dark Lord's torso and took on the brunt of his weight. At long last, Vader's weary arm and leg were afforded rest. A second later, he was ascending. Back up to where he belonged.
What felt like an eternity later to Puddra might have been only a few minutes. The recovery 'droids returned to the surface.
A slight hissing sound came up out of the shaft. It was faint. Weak.
The black form of the Dark Lord of the Sith, supported by cables wrapped around his upper body extended from the 'droids' long arms, cleared the opening.
The Dark Lord's cape was shredded into short fingers of ripped cloth. Shoulder armor was missing. The leather suit was torn open all along his single remaining arm as well as at the left side of his torso and abdomen. His deactivate lightsaber hung at the right side of what was left of his utility belt. The lower part of the left leg was dented and bent to the side at an unnatural angle.
The control panel at the center of Vader's chest was crushed and partially ripped away. His breathing was a soft wheeze.
Darth Vader's head was tilted slightly forward. His protective helmet was dented and mangled at the left. The right side of his mask was cracked, the eyepiece shattered. An angry yellow eye rimmed with red glared out from under a curled brow.
"Lord Vader, thank the Force!" Puddra said. "I called for help as soon as -"
The sub officer stopped. His voice caught in his throat. Puddra's hands went up to his neck. He gasped, face contorted with pain. Slowly, he dropped to his knees. In seconds, he fell to his side, a lifeless heap on the temple floor.
"You have my undying gratitude, Puddra," Vader said in an almost garbled voice, "for allowing Skywalker and the girl to escape."
The 'droids supporting Vader lay him in the medical pod. A transparent shield sealed the top. The pair of medics activated controls. Oxygenated air was pumped into to pod. Quickly, the small group walked toward the temple's entrance.
Stark grey against the greenery of the trees, the parabolic antenna dish was aimed at the misty skies above. "There it is, kids," Halla said with a grin, leveling the hover skiff off to land.
"Oh, thank the Maker!" Threepio said. "At long last, we'll be able to leave this dreadful place, not that I'm looking forward to space travel." Artoo beeped and chirped.
Luke, Leia, and Halla walked down the landing plank. The old woman led them to a small brown bunker-like building. "You knew about this place and you didn't tell us?" the Princess asked.
"Our agreement was the Kaiburr Crystal first," Halla reminded her. "I told you I wouldn't do you wrong." Halla stopped at the entrance.
"Any chance we'll attract unwanted attention?" Luke asked.
"I should hope not," Halla said, pressing the control pad. "In all the time I've been comin' here, I never ran into anyone." The door slid up. They walked into a room filled with computer equipment and orbital readout graphics. "It's fully automated."
"I'm sure repair crews are sent out to keep everything up and running from time-to-time," Luke said.
"Probably when they notice something's gone down." Halla pointed to the ceiling. "That big gizmo out there pointin' at the sky - it's what would send the signal to shut down the mining colony if any big ships got too close to Mimban."
Leia studied one of the readouts. "Speaking of big ships, there's a Star Destroyer in orbit."
"Never you mind 'bout it, honey."
Artoo and Threepio caught up. Threepio swung his head around. "If only this station had an oil bath."
"Artoo, let's send us a message," Halla said. The little 'droid beeped and rolled over to Halla, plugging himself into a socket. His blue dome turned toward her, the single black eye gazing up as he chirped. "Now, you gotta code it so it don't go through any Imperial channels. Send it to Circarpous IV to Dillinger Du'Tarc." She turned to Luke and Leia. "He's a real big wig over there," Halla said with a grin. Then to Artoo, she said, "Tell him Temple Mama needs a pick up and bring in some heave artillery. And let him know I got these kids in tow."
Beeping, Artoo's arm turned in the computer socket. "Can you trust him?" Leia asked.
"After all we've been through, don't you trust me?" Halla asked. "I trust him with my life, sweetie. He's been my contact ever since I landed on this mud ball of a planet. Dillinger's never let me down."
Pulling from the socket, Artoo beeped. "Well done, Artoo," Threepio said.
Halla smiled at Luke and Leia. "Hope you're all packed, 'cause we'll be outta here real soon."
"Admiral," Captain Piett addressed Ozzel on the port side of the Executor's bridge, "Lord Vader has been brought back aboard."
"Good. We will rejoin the fleet."
"Two ships, a freighter and a Circarpousian fighter, have entered Mimban's atmosphere. The freighter matches the description of the Millennium Falcon."
Admiral Ozzel paused and huffed, "Target them."
"And if they evade?"
"Put a contingent of fighters on standby, ready the tractor beam, and lay in a pursuit course the minute they return from the surface."
"Yes, sir." Piett hurried away to carry out the Admiral's orders.
The holographic image of Prime Minister V'Litizer wavered slightly as he spoke. "- have received word that Senator Organa is no longer in Imperial custody on Circarpous V." Mon Mothma smiled as she briefly glanced at Admiral Ackbar. "Presently, Captain Solo and one of our most trusted operatives are en route to collect the Senator and her escort."
"Thank the Force," Admiral Ackbar said.
"However, a small contingent of Imperial warships has entered the outer part of our system to join the blockade. We're tracking another in hyperspace."
"Have your forces evacuated, Prime Minister?" Mon Mothma asked.
"No. We will defend our system."
"Do you require naval assistance?" Admiral Ackbar asked.
"Not at this time. There is a Clone War era minefield near Circarpous XIV. Our military is making good use of it against the Empire's cruisers."
As the Millennium Falcon flew low across the tops of the trees, Halla frowned. "What in ding blazes? Sure as shootin' that old scrap heap's not the ship I called for," she said.
Luke and the Princess smiled. "No," Leia beamed, "but it's the best looking sight I've seen since we crashed."
Threepio's arms spread wide. "Captain Solo and Chewbacca. Wonderful."
The Falcon lowered, hovering just above the bunker. The entry ramp lowered. Han Solo appeared and waved them up. He took Princess Leia's hand and she embraced him. "I never thought I'd be so glad to see you."
"Hey, your worship. Who knew you could show real appreciation?"
"You're a real charmer, Han. Don't spoil the moment," Leia smirked and patted his shoulder. She marched up into the ship.
Han took Halla's hand next. She held the Kaiburr Crystal close to her hip. "Thank the Force and thank you, young man," she said, steadying herself. "Du'Tarc send you?"
"Han Solo, at your service," he smiled, arms spread.
Halla clicked her lips and snapped her head. "You'd think for someone of his prestige, he could do better in the transportation department."
"Hey," Solo said. Halla glanced back at the smuggler. "You're welcome."
Luke hefted himself aboard. "Good to see you Han," Luke shook his hand.
Han raised his eyebrows and pointed a thumb across his shoulder as the older woman stepped into he cargo area. "You got a thing for fossilized wizards, you know that?"
"Leia and I wouldn't have made it without her," Luke replied.
Artoo-Detoo rolled up the ramp next, beeping as he passed Han. See-Threepio shuffled up behind him. "Artoo and I express our deepest gratitude, Captain Solo. After our harrowing experiences on this planet, I daresay I've actually missed our adventures together."
Han came up the ramp and said, "Wish I could say the same, Goldenrod."
Threepio paused and his head snapped sideways a moment. "Well, really," he replied.
"Okay, Chewie, let's go," Han said when he entered the cockpit. The Wookie growled.
Hovering over the trees near the Falcon was Bexen's asteroid ship. A brilliant orange-red explosion flashed. The loud rattling that followed shook Han's ship.
"Hey, Bexen, you okay?" he called into the communicator.
"- Star Destroyer bombing us from orbit -" her voice broke through static. A second impactor struck her craft solidly, blowing the rocky body apart into large fragments.
"Bexen!" Han yelled. "Full power to the shields and get ready to get us the hell outta here, Chewie," he called as he ran back through the cargo area to the ramp. Luke and Leia quickly followed.
Han jumped off the ramp before it was fully down. "Bexen!" he called. He charged across the roof to a ladder and started down. The smoldering rock fragments had crushed trees and brush near the bunker. "Bexen!" Han leaped off the ladder half way to the ground and rolled, regaining his feet quickly as he scanned the fractured rocks. Luke and Leia started down the ladder.
To the far end, Solo spotted movement and heard a moan. Quickly he leaped into the debris and found the pilot laying face down in the bog. "Bexen! Bexen, sweetheart, are you all right."
"I've had better days," she groaned, rolling over. Han took one hand, Luke the other, and then pulled her up to her feet.
Bexen made an effort to stand straighter. She pulled her helmet off and walked forward. Her eyes grew wide when the landed on Princess Leia. "Senator Organa… I wish we'd been able to meet under better circumstances."
"Don't worry about that now. Let's get you to safety." She took her hand and they jogged back to the bunker.
Four T.I.E. fighters swooped over the tops of the trees. "Damn!" Han swore. Green bursts of laser fire pelted the building, sending up brilliants flare of orange-yellow sparks.
Holding one of the landing ramp's support struts, Han fired his pistol at one of the Imperial ships. "C'mon, c'mon!" he urged as Luke, Leia, and Bexen boarded. "Okay, Chewie, let's go!"
Han raced to the cockpit, throttling the Falcon across the forest canopy. Leia and Bexen took seats behind Han and his Wookie co-pilot. Luke and Halla braced themselves against the entry frame.
"Han, the Empire's excavating dolovite from Mimban," Leia said.
"So I've heard," Han said spinning starboard over port to miss a hail of enemy fire.
"If you take out the main mine, you shut the whole thing down completely," Halla offered. "This old bucket got enough fire power?"
"How about a couple of proton torpedoes?" Han smirked.
"That oughta get their attention," Halla said. "Think you can go any faster?"
"The Falcon's the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy," Han said. Halla rolled her eyes. "How do I find the mine without a map?"
"They got a homing beacon," the old woman said. "Set your communicator to oh-four-six-one."
The beeping filled the cabin. "Lock on, Chewie," Han said. Chewbacca growled.
Dipping through an opening in the trees, Han avoided the pursuing T.I.E. fighters for a few precious seconds before angling around two native ziggurats. One of the Imperial ships clipped a temple spire and spun down into the muddy jungle floor.
The forest ahead cleared, revealing the full mining instillation near the settlement. Huge metal lenses surrounded by blocky fingers of metal were pointed at clefts where the land was strip-mined. "Chewie, target the control center. Then drop the second torpedo into the mine." The Wookie growled several long syllables.
Firing wildly, the T.I.E. fighters crossed behind their prey, coming in low over the complex. The leader was hit by friendly fire from behind. The cockpit swelled in a cloud of red and the ship spun uncontrolled, impacting the mine wall.
With masterful precision, the first torpedo soared away from the banking freighter and exploded against the damaged temple complex, vaporizing stone and causing it to collapse completely, crushing the flanking landing platform and maintenance area under untold tons of smoldering ruin.
The second torpedo found its mark inside a tunnel where transports brought the metallic mineral to the surface from under rocky crevices carved out by the strip-mining. A thick column of blinding light rose up while slabs of layered rock fell inward in an expanding crater of fire and molten material, engulfing the outer rim of the settlement and a few kilometers of nearby trees.
"Nice shooting, buddy," Han grinned at Chewbacca. The Wookie made sounds resembling laughter. "Everybody strap in," Solo said. He thrust the ship forward at full throttle, taking a steep angle up and out of Mimban's atmosphere. "Chewie, keep 'er a good distance from that Command Ship." Chewbacca growled.
The Executor turned, wrenching itself from Mimban's gravitational grip, forward batteries firing wildly at the Corellian cargo vessel. Han spun past one of the two moons, gaining a few precious moments of cover.