Chapter 4: Caught
It took a few minutes for Kela to remember the previous nights events. Her muscles were sore from dealing with the spy, and the bush's pointy leaves hadn't helped much in that matter. Well, at least I'm alive. She climbed a tree to gather breakfast. But why did that guy kill the spy? Is he another spy? She yanked a fruit from the tree. Yes, he must be. He kill the man I was questioning so he wouldn't give out classified information. No wonder. She groped her way back to ground and took a rest on her speeder bike, where she ate. But there's still that Darth Vader character. Why the heck was I being compared to a weirdo like that? I wonder if he's Gothic, with all that black garb.
Before she could think any further, Kela heard the all-too-familiar sound of space craft zipping across the tree-tops. She banged her fist on the off/on controls and flew through the forestry. The others were clearly not experienced with the woods of Nancuun. While Kela expertly maneuvered every obstacle that dared to cross her with awesome speed, the Imperials were slow and hesitant in their moves. A couple of times Kela noticed blaster shots striking the trees to her side. But they weren't burning. Their blasters are set on stun. They don't want me dead. But I can't do this forever. I need to hide. A thought sprung on her. The cave. I must reach the cave.
Watching the pursuit from a distance with the help of the force, Darth Vader glowered with disapproval. His men were doing miserably. He angrily retreated from the window. If he wanted anything done right he'd have to do it himself.
Kela turned towards the right to the denser parts of the forest where the Imperials would have an even harder time to reach her. Rocks and boulders from the mountains nearby began appearing. Soon, Kela reached her desired destination. She got off her speeder bike and dragged it deep in the cave. It was dark and wet, but it wasn't a prison. As she was searching for a place to settle down, a strange noise filled the darkness. It was an eerie, mechanical sound. It was like a gas tank turning off and on. Almost like breathing. All of a sudden, a passionless evil energy washed over her like ice cold water. But it wasn't a force; it was a presence, a horrible, dangerous presence. It was coming from inside the cave.
Kela pushed herself groggily out of the trance enough so that she could strain her eyes against the pitch black. She saw a tall, dark shadowy form take shape. It was coming closer, the breathing louder, the presence more terrifying.
Now, she could see a face, or, something like one. It was a helmet, more likely. Kela couldn't bring herself to run, so she dragged her arm across her hip to reach for her blaster. It flew across the blackness into the gloved hands of the presence. Just like me! She shook her head. Just like what I do! At the bar, I did that! The spy. it hit her. Darth Vader. The thing was Darth Vader.
"Try that again and you will be severely punished."
He walked past her outside the cave.
"You will follow me into my ship."
Kela obeyed, though not without the utmost shock. Most of the bad people she had dealt with had been power hungry, controlling, sex-crazed, uneducated thieves. This Darth Vader character didn't fit the profile whatsoever. Somehow he knew that she wouldn't dare try to escape. His words were intelligent, his every movement through the forestry graceful and done with intent and strength. Sooner than Kela would have liked, they reached the ship Darth Vader had talked about. She followed his sweeping capes into the air craft.
It took a few minutes for Kela to remember the previous nights events. Her muscles were sore from dealing with the spy, and the bush's pointy leaves hadn't helped much in that matter. Well, at least I'm alive. She climbed a tree to gather breakfast. But why did that guy kill the spy? Is he another spy? She yanked a fruit from the tree. Yes, he must be. He kill the man I was questioning so he wouldn't give out classified information. No wonder. She groped her way back to ground and took a rest on her speeder bike, where she ate. But there's still that Darth Vader character. Why the heck was I being compared to a weirdo like that? I wonder if he's Gothic, with all that black garb.
Before she could think any further, Kela heard the all-too-familiar sound of space craft zipping across the tree-tops. She banged her fist on the off/on controls and flew through the forestry. The others were clearly not experienced with the woods of Nancuun. While Kela expertly maneuvered every obstacle that dared to cross her with awesome speed, the Imperials were slow and hesitant in their moves. A couple of times Kela noticed blaster shots striking the trees to her side. But they weren't burning. Their blasters are set on stun. They don't want me dead. But I can't do this forever. I need to hide. A thought sprung on her. The cave. I must reach the cave.
Watching the pursuit from a distance with the help of the force, Darth Vader glowered with disapproval. His men were doing miserably. He angrily retreated from the window. If he wanted anything done right he'd have to do it himself.
Kela turned towards the right to the denser parts of the forest where the Imperials would have an even harder time to reach her. Rocks and boulders from the mountains nearby began appearing. Soon, Kela reached her desired destination. She got off her speeder bike and dragged it deep in the cave. It was dark and wet, but it wasn't a prison. As she was searching for a place to settle down, a strange noise filled the darkness. It was an eerie, mechanical sound. It was like a gas tank turning off and on. Almost like breathing. All of a sudden, a passionless evil energy washed over her like ice cold water. But it wasn't a force; it was a presence, a horrible, dangerous presence. It was coming from inside the cave.
Kela pushed herself groggily out of the trance enough so that she could strain her eyes against the pitch black. She saw a tall, dark shadowy form take shape. It was coming closer, the breathing louder, the presence more terrifying.
Now, she could see a face, or, something like one. It was a helmet, more likely. Kela couldn't bring herself to run, so she dragged her arm across her hip to reach for her blaster. It flew across the blackness into the gloved hands of the presence. Just like me! She shook her head. Just like what I do! At the bar, I did that! The spy. it hit her. Darth Vader. The thing was Darth Vader.
"Try that again and you will be severely punished."
He walked past her outside the cave.
"You will follow me into my ship."
Kela obeyed, though not without the utmost shock. Most of the bad people she had dealt with had been power hungry, controlling, sex-crazed, uneducated thieves. This Darth Vader character didn't fit the profile whatsoever. Somehow he knew that she wouldn't dare try to escape. His words were intelligent, his every movement through the forestry graceful and done with intent and strength. Sooner than Kela would have liked, they reached the ship Darth Vader had talked about. She followed his sweeping capes into the air craft.