Entry 109
I shut off my comlink and turned to return to my shuttle, but stopped in surprise. About ten meters from my position, I saw Luke's astromech facing in my direction with its small sensor dish extended up from the top of his dome. I scowled at the droid, sure that it was spying on me. I don't believe Luke would have ordered it to snoop, but I know from experience that astromechs are fiercely loyal to their pilots and they also have a mind of their own. Most fighter pilots refuse to do memory wipes on these particular droids because their mechanized brains learn from experience. I have seen astromechs with over a hundred years worth of unwiped memory…and they always creep me out. I'd swear they are almost sentient. I wouldn't be surprise if his astromech decided to keep an eye on me.
"What are you looking at?" I questioned the little droid as I walked past it in the direction of the shuttle.
The droid pivoted and started to follow me while whistling out a string of beeps and whistles. I turned and walked backwards while addressing the droid. "I know enough of your language to get a gist of what you are saying. I'm going to tell Luke about Ben." I stopped and pointed at the droid. "But you better be quiet about my commander's fears. If your master thinks I may be in danger he will refuse to let me go alone and Ben Solo might end up dead."
The little droid let out a mournful tone.
"Just let me handle this." I took out my comlink and called Luke. "Luke, Ben's not here, but he's alive and well. Meet me at the shuttle and I'll tell you more." I keyed off the communicator before I could get a barrage of questions. I gave the droid a stern look. "And you, keep your beeps to yourself."
Entry 110
Luke was ecstatic that his nephew was alive, but he absolutely wanted to accompany me to retrieve him.
"Why can't I go?" He asked adamantly. "The New Republic and the Empire have a treaty."
I blew out a very frustrated breath. "Because these Imperials are not part of my Empire. They are another faction that broke away."
He glowered at me. "Did they take Ben? And why do they want you to come and get him?"
I had stopped my pacing and sat down in one of the shuttle seats in the crew cabin. "From what I was told this Imperial faction discovered the Cult of Vader had Ben. When I came here it was because of holonet chatter concerning the cult. They probably heard the same information and came here to investigate."
"Why?" Luke insisted. "Why would an faction of the Empire come out of hiding to save my nephew? I can understand why your Empire might do so. We have a treaty with each other, but not with this other offshoot. It sounds suspicious. For all we know they are the ones who kidnapped Ben and are putting the blame on the Cult."
I pinched the bridge of my nose exasperated at this line of questioning. "Luke, in a day or two you can ask Ben himself. For all I know this Imperial group just wanted to avoid a break in the treaty. If the Empire and New Republic go to war then they might be pulled into the fighting."
"That still doesn't explain why you have to go?" He gazed at me with undisguised concern. "Why you?"
I fidgeted in my seat. "Remember when I said one of our Intel agents defected?"
Luke nodded. "The agent that warned the Inquisitors that they were being watched."
"Yeah, that one," I said softly while staring at the deck. "It was General Iwanuk…and he asked for me to do the exchange." I gave a weak shrugged. "I guess he trusts me."
Luke let out a sarcastic "Pfffft" before a caustic laugh escaped his lips. "Why would he trust you over anybody else in the Empire? If the galaxy at large doesn't already know we're lovers they at least know we're friends." He shook his head adamantly. "You're not telling me something."
Now I was getting pissed. I stood and shook a finger at the Jedi. "Do you want your nephew back or not?"
He sighed deeply. "Of course I do, Litassa."
"Then let me do my job. I trust the general. We had a good working relationship. When I see him I'll ask him for all the details. Hopefully when I return we will know who took Ben and why."
Luke ran a hand through his hair as he looked away. I could feel his emotions churning through the Force. He turned toward me, his eyes pleading. "Please be careful."
I smiled as I walked forward and pulling him into my embrace. "I'll be careful…I promise."
Entry 111
I dropped Luke off at the spaceport where his X-Wing was located and then quickly departed to the coordinates transmitted to me from Commander Darten. They led me to a location deep within neutral space…one located near the unknown region. I exited hyperspace to find…nothing. No planet, no ship, no space station. I waited for about twenty minutes before I startled by the sight of a jet-black, super star destroyer suddenly appearing on my starboard side.
"Unknown shuttle," a gruff voice came over my radio. "Identify yourself."
I reached forward in the pilot seat and toggled the transceiver microphone. "This is civilian shuttle Star Chaser piloted by Captain Litassa Colay of the Imperial 21st Intelligence Battalion, subordinate to the Empire's 54th Military Intelligence Brigade."
There was a short pause. "You are cleared to land on our middle starboard landing bay. Approach coordinates are being transmitted." There was another pause. "Welcome to the Eclipse, commanded by Grand Admiral Rae Sloane."
I didn't reply. I don't think I was capable of speech at that moment. I thought the Eclipse was destroyed years ago. It was once Palpatine's personal command ship. It was the most heavily armored starship ever built. Why did the Grand Admiral come in an Executor-Class Star Destroyer to personally return Ben Solo? Was Commander Darten correct when he thought I was walking into a trap? Was I about to be drafted into the First Order? I wasn't sure, but I did know there was no turning back at this point. I didn't think I was in danger, but I didn't relish the thought of never seeing my Farmboy again. If I ever get back to Imperial space, I'm going to think long and hard about my future with the Empire.
.
