Chapter 8: Death Star
Nikki and Rogi brought themselves up. If they were going to be prisoners, they might as well be dignified and clean prisoners.
Darth Vader, meanwhile, waited, though not patiently.
"I'll be beginning your training when we arrive at the Death Star station. For now this cell will suffice. If you're hungry," he noticed the suddenly four wide eyes prompting him to continue, "a stormtrooper will serve you your afternoon meals. In your cell."
Vader's last discreet command was immediately obeyed. The door closed behind them, and once again, Rogi and Nikki were alone.
"What do you think they serve?"
"I don't know. Probably nutrition bars or soup, if we're lucky," replied a hungry Nikki. She was lying on the bench with her back on the wall, staring at eternity. Rogi, who was sitting nonchalantly on the floor, feet crossed, looking calm as ever.
"Frankly, I don't care. I was never one for luxury."
Nikki felt surprisingly, well, maybe not relieved, but 'good' to be sharing yet another characteristic with her long lost friend. It kept her mind clear and ready for anything the world dared to shove her way. It was never smart to contemplate deep material in war. Or captivity.
"You're not the only one, Rogi."
"I didn't think so. Most dictators would have at least shoes less than 3 years old."
They both got a laugh out of Nikki's old, mud-caked sneakers just barely holding up. She brought her knees to her chest and rocked, letting each precious second pass with each breath.
"So, what exactly did you do?" she asked.
Rogi thought over that question. Or, at least, he looked like he was thinking. You could never tell with him.
"I have been a freelance smuggler, bartender, mechanic, and have recently a self-appointed engineer."
Nikki sure got a laugh out of that one.
"You, an engineer?"
"Yes, I'm an engineer. Who do you think constructed that gadget over there?" Rogi shot back, mocking offense, indicating the door-opening thingy. Whatever it was called.
Nikki had to admit. The thing didn't appear machine-made.
"Who taught you how to engineer?"
"Me, myself, and I."
"Bantha shit."
"Who taught you how to be a planetary leader?"
Nikki thought this over. She knew what was coming.
"Wouldn't you like to know?"
Rogi wasn't expecting that. Neither was he expecting the commotion outside.
Rogi and Nikki rushed to the door and opened to the force to sense what was going on. They were both equally well skilled in this ability because they had used it so often back in Nancuun.
"We're locking into something," said Nikki, breaking the silence.
"Another ship," continued Rogi, looking straight into her violet eyes. "Darth Vader has just left this shuttle. He's angry."
"That's odd. He's such a good natured old fellow."
Rogi sniggered lightly at her remark. At least she has a sense of humor, he thought. Nikki found Vader easily and tried to see if she could eavesdrop. Steel and concrete shield with electrical shocking blocked her a mile away. That went well, she thought. But there was something else. Another power user, no, no way, but, yes, there was a power user right next to the dark lord!
"Did you sense that?"
"Sense what?" asked Rogi.
"That other one with the magic."
Nikki answered Rogi's puzzlement.
"You know, our special power."
"Oh, that. Yeah, I think so. You're right, he feel it. It's a young woman, very distressed."
Nikki gleamed at this. "Can you hear what they're saying?"
Rogi concentrated. "No."
But Nikki wasn't listening to him. She was listening to someone else.
I don't know what you're talking... You are....traitor... leader... the Alliance... take her away
Nikki suddenly felt cold hands on her shoulders.
"Nikki, what d'ya hear?"
"Oh, oh yeah. Um, I heard Darth Vader talking to that young lady, she's an Alliance leader, a Rebel, and she's being held prisoner. Apparently that was her ship we locked on to."
Rogi took this in.
"That makes sense. Perhaps we can take advantage of this. What do you propose?"
Nikki didn't need to be asked.
"She's highly ranked, so most likely a rescue party will attempt to bring her back to wherever. Or..." Nikki dropped her tongue right then. "Or they'll attack."
"That's not very good, is it?"
"Not particularly."
A spasm of hunger hit Rogi. Damn, when was the last time he'd eaten?
"Where's the food the darth dude promised us?"
Nikki welcomed the change of subject, for she was feeling just the same way.
"Dunno. Wait for a..."
Suddenly they felt the small shuttle entering something. Something very big. Rogi seemed to sense it first, for he looked to Nikki with wary eyes. Not good.
"I think we've just reached the Death Star."
"What ...oh. What the hell is that?" Nikki asked, expertly covering her anxiety.
A wise, almost serene expression cooled Rogi's demeanor.
"A battle station. We're in a battle station the size of a small moon, maybe larger. Hundreds of thousands of people, militants. We have just landed in the hangar..."
A couple of stormtroopers rushed through the now open doors and led each of the kids out by their arms.
"...which means out," Nikki continued.
Underneath the wings of several ships they were led until they reached a blue-light hall.
"Exactly."
As they turned a corner, they found themselves eyes-to-eyes with a young woman dressed in a white gown with braided hair and an expressively determined, intense and beautiful, face. Her head shook back when she saw a couple of young teenagers.
The young lady, Nikki thought. This is the young lady she had sensed! The Rebel leader. Nikki decided to try out her telepathic abilities.
Hey, its me, the girl Nikki sent to the lady.
The young woman received the message. What else could have explained her sudden looking all around and then (almost) gawking at Nikki. Nikki waited for a response. When she only got stares, she continued.
Me and Rogi here are prisoners. Will you be rescued? Nikki demanded, not wasting precious time.
The young woman was opening mouth. Oh, shit, what kind of...
Shut up! You'll get the stormtroopers' attention! Nod if you're going to be rescued.
The young woman looked at the chatting stormtroopers. Then she shrugged.
Does that mean you do not know asked an impatient Nikki.
The lady nodded.
Well, if you are, then you had better include my comrade and I in the rescue. Neither one of use three want Vader to train us and fight your rebellion. We support your cause
Nikki knew zilch about intergalactic politics but if it worked, why not?
The young woman nodded. Then both parties were led down the same hallway. The cell hall.
So, what did she say asked Rogi.
She has no idea if she's going to get rescued. If she is, we're in. She's acquainted with interrogations, hard spots, but, damn, is she one pampered royal! She's probably never been in a cantina in her life!
The lady's cell was conveniently placed right next to that of Rogi and Nikki. All the better. It was a little larger than the one in the shuttle, but no more comfortable. And no food.
"Can we get some good?!?" Rogi on purpose whined childishly.
One of the stormtroopers looked to the other, who nodded, then he threw to wrapped nutrition bars each the size of a hand.
Nikki unwrapped hers and picked at it.
"I've had worse."
Nikki and Rogi brought themselves up. If they were going to be prisoners, they might as well be dignified and clean prisoners.
Darth Vader, meanwhile, waited, though not patiently.
"I'll be beginning your training when we arrive at the Death Star station. For now this cell will suffice. If you're hungry," he noticed the suddenly four wide eyes prompting him to continue, "a stormtrooper will serve you your afternoon meals. In your cell."
Vader's last discreet command was immediately obeyed. The door closed behind them, and once again, Rogi and Nikki were alone.
"What do you think they serve?"
"I don't know. Probably nutrition bars or soup, if we're lucky," replied a hungry Nikki. She was lying on the bench with her back on the wall, staring at eternity. Rogi, who was sitting nonchalantly on the floor, feet crossed, looking calm as ever.
"Frankly, I don't care. I was never one for luxury."
Nikki felt surprisingly, well, maybe not relieved, but 'good' to be sharing yet another characteristic with her long lost friend. It kept her mind clear and ready for anything the world dared to shove her way. It was never smart to contemplate deep material in war. Or captivity.
"You're not the only one, Rogi."
"I didn't think so. Most dictators would have at least shoes less than 3 years old."
They both got a laugh out of Nikki's old, mud-caked sneakers just barely holding up. She brought her knees to her chest and rocked, letting each precious second pass with each breath.
"So, what exactly did you do?" she asked.
Rogi thought over that question. Or, at least, he looked like he was thinking. You could never tell with him.
"I have been a freelance smuggler, bartender, mechanic, and have recently a self-appointed engineer."
Nikki sure got a laugh out of that one.
"You, an engineer?"
"Yes, I'm an engineer. Who do you think constructed that gadget over there?" Rogi shot back, mocking offense, indicating the door-opening thingy. Whatever it was called.
Nikki had to admit. The thing didn't appear machine-made.
"Who taught you how to engineer?"
"Me, myself, and I."
"Bantha shit."
"Who taught you how to be a planetary leader?"
Nikki thought this over. She knew what was coming.
"Wouldn't you like to know?"
Rogi wasn't expecting that. Neither was he expecting the commotion outside.
Rogi and Nikki rushed to the door and opened to the force to sense what was going on. They were both equally well skilled in this ability because they had used it so often back in Nancuun.
"We're locking into something," said Nikki, breaking the silence.
"Another ship," continued Rogi, looking straight into her violet eyes. "Darth Vader has just left this shuttle. He's angry."
"That's odd. He's such a good natured old fellow."
Rogi sniggered lightly at her remark. At least she has a sense of humor, he thought. Nikki found Vader easily and tried to see if she could eavesdrop. Steel and concrete shield with electrical shocking blocked her a mile away. That went well, she thought. But there was something else. Another power user, no, no way, but, yes, there was a power user right next to the dark lord!
"Did you sense that?"
"Sense what?" asked Rogi.
"That other one with the magic."
Nikki answered Rogi's puzzlement.
"You know, our special power."
"Oh, that. Yeah, I think so. You're right, he feel it. It's a young woman, very distressed."
Nikki gleamed at this. "Can you hear what they're saying?"
Rogi concentrated. "No."
But Nikki wasn't listening to him. She was listening to someone else.
I don't know what you're talking... You are....traitor... leader... the Alliance... take her away
Nikki suddenly felt cold hands on her shoulders.
"Nikki, what d'ya hear?"
"Oh, oh yeah. Um, I heard Darth Vader talking to that young lady, she's an Alliance leader, a Rebel, and she's being held prisoner. Apparently that was her ship we locked on to."
Rogi took this in.
"That makes sense. Perhaps we can take advantage of this. What do you propose?"
Nikki didn't need to be asked.
"She's highly ranked, so most likely a rescue party will attempt to bring her back to wherever. Or..." Nikki dropped her tongue right then. "Or they'll attack."
"That's not very good, is it?"
"Not particularly."
A spasm of hunger hit Rogi. Damn, when was the last time he'd eaten?
"Where's the food the darth dude promised us?"
Nikki welcomed the change of subject, for she was feeling just the same way.
"Dunno. Wait for a..."
Suddenly they felt the small shuttle entering something. Something very big. Rogi seemed to sense it first, for he looked to Nikki with wary eyes. Not good.
"I think we've just reached the Death Star."
"What ...oh. What the hell is that?" Nikki asked, expertly covering her anxiety.
A wise, almost serene expression cooled Rogi's demeanor.
"A battle station. We're in a battle station the size of a small moon, maybe larger. Hundreds of thousands of people, militants. We have just landed in the hangar..."
A couple of stormtroopers rushed through the now open doors and led each of the kids out by their arms.
"...which means out," Nikki continued.
Underneath the wings of several ships they were led until they reached a blue-light hall.
"Exactly."
As they turned a corner, they found themselves eyes-to-eyes with a young woman dressed in a white gown with braided hair and an expressively determined, intense and beautiful, face. Her head shook back when she saw a couple of young teenagers.
The young lady, Nikki thought. This is the young lady she had sensed! The Rebel leader. Nikki decided to try out her telepathic abilities.
Hey, its me, the girl Nikki sent to the lady.
The young woman received the message. What else could have explained her sudden looking all around and then (almost) gawking at Nikki. Nikki waited for a response. When she only got stares, she continued.
Me and Rogi here are prisoners. Will you be rescued? Nikki demanded, not wasting precious time.
The young woman was opening mouth. Oh, shit, what kind of...
Shut up! You'll get the stormtroopers' attention! Nod if you're going to be rescued.
The young woman looked at the chatting stormtroopers. Then she shrugged.
Does that mean you do not know asked an impatient Nikki.
The lady nodded.
Well, if you are, then you had better include my comrade and I in the rescue. Neither one of use three want Vader to train us and fight your rebellion. We support your cause
Nikki knew zilch about intergalactic politics but if it worked, why not?
The young woman nodded. Then both parties were led down the same hallway. The cell hall.
So, what did she say asked Rogi.
She has no idea if she's going to get rescued. If she is, we're in. She's acquainted with interrogations, hard spots, but, damn, is she one pampered royal! She's probably never been in a cantina in her life!
The lady's cell was conveniently placed right next to that of Rogi and Nikki. All the better. It was a little larger than the one in the shuttle, but no more comfortable. And no food.
"Can we get some good?!?" Rogi on purpose whined childishly.
One of the stormtroopers looked to the other, who nodded, then he threw to wrapped nutrition bars each the size of a hand.
Nikki unwrapped hers and picked at it.
"I've had worse."