Chapter Eleven
Luke walked up to Commander Thanas's office, with Artoo on a hover sled. Commander Thanas, stood up as he acknowledged Luke's presence. "Commander Skywalker, Thank you for coming. Please have a seat." He motioned to a chair in front of his desk.
After Luke sat down, Thanas asked, "Would you like something to drink? The local liquor is really good."
Luke shook his head, "Thanks but no." He wanted to stay alert. Luke nodded over to where Artoo who was deactivated, "May I?"
Thanas nodded, "By all means." Luke switched on the owner as he reactivated Artoo. Artoo's lights blinked on, his dome rotated once, the blue eye receptor rested on the hologram that was on Thanas's desk.
Luke watched the hologram of the battle his group interrupted. Just as he thought earlier, the invasion army was making one final push against the planet.
Luke asked, "may I see that again?" Thanas played back the last part, Luke watched as the ships moved for a counter attack. "Is that a standard procedure?"
Thanas replied, " I am not at liberty to tell you. Is my scanners incorrect or is that an irregular freighter?" Luke smiled, what Thanas did not know about the falcon, Luke wasn't telling.
Luke nodded, "You must remember that most of the help the Alliance got, came from just on the borders of legality."
Thanas answered, "Smugglers?"
Luke shrugged, "Most likely the ship is modified beyond legal standards. On accounts we have two cruisers, seven mid-size gun ships and forty-one single man snub fighters. Two thirds currently deployed in the defensive web, and one third down for repairs. Do your figures add up?"
Thanas had a smile curled on his lips, "You also have one irregular freighter."
Luke suddenly asked, 'Why did the emperor contact them?"
Thanas scratched his neck as he answered. "Don't know, but if I did, then I would not be able to tell you."
Luke returned the smile, this would be a touchy truce if it held. "Enough of that for now, have you got any account on what the ssi ruuk have?"
Thanas nodded, "Yes, in system, three cruisers, two midsize ships near the back of planet four, most likely planetary assault ships, fifteen large fighters, and no one knows how many snub fighters they have."
Luke nodded in understanding, to simply put it, the situation looked bad.
Luke asked in a curious voice, "Where do you get your information?"
Thanas shook his head, "Standard resources. Where do you get yours?"
Luke replied, "Open eyes."
After another half an hour of discussing on how to proceed, Luke was about to stand up and leave when Thanas posed a question he did not expect to hear.
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Thanas asked, "Commander Skywalker, would you demonstrate deflecting blaster bolts with your lightsaber? I have heard so much about them, but I have never seen one in action."
Luke was taken a back, "I do not want to startle your guards."
Thanas pressed a button, "Oh, they wouldn't be startled." Two guards walked in. "I would like to keep your astromech droid here with me. You two take custody."
Luke activated and swept up into a ready position all in one motion. He realized that he forgot to give his father's lightsaber back to him, he looked at the red blade astonished, how he had gotten the two lightsabers mixed up back at the apartment, he did not know. Two late as the guards began to fire milliseconds apart. Luke leaned in as he deflected the bolts in quick succession.
Thanas waved his hand at the two guards, "You're dismissed." The guards walked out.
Luke looked over with his father's lightsaber still activated. "I don't understand, you could've lost two of your men."
Thanas grinned, "If you did that then I would've put you under arrest. Besides I didn't think you would've killed them. I was wondering, would you try and fight your way out of the whole garrison?"
Luke returned the grin, Thanas thought more like an imperial out of habit. "If I had too, I would."
Thanas smiled as he stood up and offered his hand," Until next time Commander Skywalker"
Luke shook his hand, and then he walked out the door with Artoo in his wake. As soon as he got back, he would have to hand his father back his lightsaber, and make sure he had his. He was surprised that his father did not say anything. Then it hit him, his father had his, it was the only thing that makes sense. He was not about to let on either. Luke shook his head to the thought. This was a lesson that he would most likely not forget.
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Thanas sat back down, now he knows why the boy was worth so much. He was tempted to turn him in for the bounty on his head. It was enough to let him retire for the rest of his life. He heard that Lord Vader was on the planet, the part that puzzled him the most is he has been staying with the rebels. He did not know why, but he had a feeling that Lord Vader defected for some reason. Governor Nereus had the most interesting conversation with the sith lord, apparently Padme Naberri, one of the Imperial Senators was Vader's wife. He knew that Nereus has been trying to date her and become a couple, and she was out right refusing him. It was pretty obvious, but somehow Lord Vader found out and now Nereus has backed off completely.
About the part that Vader defected, confused him a great deal. Why? He did not know.
There must be a good reason. If he suddenly decided that he wanted to join the Alliance for some reason. Someone or something changed his mind. It made Thanas think a little. If Lord Vader realized what he was doing was wrong, then it made Thanas think about joining the Alliance himself.
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Gaeriel was asleep on her bed. She was having a dream.
Commander Skywalker reached out for her, she was about to fall to the ground. He took a step back and he turned into Dev Sibwarra; he reached out to her, as he stuck tubes into her throat, she tried to scream, but somehow he was blocking her voice from yelling out. Lord Vader was off to the side saying something to Luke, but she could not hear what was being said. She watched as Luke and Vader switch lightsabers and began to fight back to back, Luke had a red blade and Vader had a green blade. This confused her a great deal. She reached for the switch to start up the radio system her Uncle had put in for her, after graduation at the Imperial Academy. The Imperial orchestra started to play. She woke up with a start and sat up in bed.
Gaeriel's Aunt came in and sat on the bed beside her. "Are you feeling any better Gaeriel? Is your headache all gone?"
For once Gaeriel felt compelled to tell the truth. "Yes."
Aunt Tiree spoke, "Good, I have invited Princess Leia and her company over for dinner, this would be a good place to try and work out negotiations. I want you to get ready. Is there anyone else you would like to invite?"
Gaeriel winced, "Yes, Beldon. To Add one more friendly face to the table." She wished she were five years younger so she could beg it off. But she knew that she couldn't. She would end up talking to Commander Skywalker eventually, but she would rather try and avoid him.
Aunt Tiree patted her knee as she stood up. "Good idea dear, I will see if he is free."
Gaeriel watched her Aunt leave her room. She was not looking forward to the dinner at all tonight.
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Luke walked up to Commander Thanas's office, with Artoo on a hover sled. Commander Thanas, stood up as he acknowledged Luke's presence. "Commander Skywalker, Thank you for coming. Please have a seat." He motioned to a chair in front of his desk.
After Luke sat down, Thanas asked, "Would you like something to drink? The local liquor is really good."
Luke shook his head, "Thanks but no." He wanted to stay alert. Luke nodded over to where Artoo who was deactivated, "May I?"
Thanas nodded, "By all means." Luke switched on the owner as he reactivated Artoo. Artoo's lights blinked on, his dome rotated once, the blue eye receptor rested on the hologram that was on Thanas's desk.
Luke watched the hologram of the battle his group interrupted. Just as he thought earlier, the invasion army was making one final push against the planet.
Luke asked, "may I see that again?" Thanas played back the last part, Luke watched as the ships moved for a counter attack. "Is that a standard procedure?"
Thanas replied, " I am not at liberty to tell you. Is my scanners incorrect or is that an irregular freighter?" Luke smiled, what Thanas did not know about the falcon, Luke wasn't telling.
Luke nodded, "You must remember that most of the help the Alliance got, came from just on the borders of legality."
Thanas answered, "Smugglers?"
Luke shrugged, "Most likely the ship is modified beyond legal standards. On accounts we have two cruisers, seven mid-size gun ships and forty-one single man snub fighters. Two thirds currently deployed in the defensive web, and one third down for repairs. Do your figures add up?"
Thanas had a smile curled on his lips, "You also have one irregular freighter."
Luke suddenly asked, 'Why did the emperor contact them?"
Thanas scratched his neck as he answered. "Don't know, but if I did, then I would not be able to tell you."
Luke returned the smile, this would be a touchy truce if it held. "Enough of that for now, have you got any account on what the ssi ruuk have?"
Thanas nodded, "Yes, in system, three cruisers, two midsize ships near the back of planet four, most likely planetary assault ships, fifteen large fighters, and no one knows how many snub fighters they have."
Luke nodded in understanding, to simply put it, the situation looked bad.
Luke asked in a curious voice, "Where do you get your information?"
Thanas shook his head, "Standard resources. Where do you get yours?"
Luke replied, "Open eyes."
After another half an hour of discussing on how to proceed, Luke was about to stand up and leave when Thanas posed a question he did not expect to hear.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------
Thanas asked, "Commander Skywalker, would you demonstrate deflecting blaster bolts with your lightsaber? I have heard so much about them, but I have never seen one in action."
Luke was taken a back, "I do not want to startle your guards."
Thanas pressed a button, "Oh, they wouldn't be startled." Two guards walked in. "I would like to keep your astromech droid here with me. You two take custody."
Luke activated and swept up into a ready position all in one motion. He realized that he forgot to give his father's lightsaber back to him, he looked at the red blade astonished, how he had gotten the two lightsabers mixed up back at the apartment, he did not know. Two late as the guards began to fire milliseconds apart. Luke leaned in as he deflected the bolts in quick succession.
Thanas waved his hand at the two guards, "You're dismissed." The guards walked out.
Luke looked over with his father's lightsaber still activated. "I don't understand, you could've lost two of your men."
Thanas grinned, "If you did that then I would've put you under arrest. Besides I didn't think you would've killed them. I was wondering, would you try and fight your way out of the whole garrison?"
Luke returned the grin, Thanas thought more like an imperial out of habit. "If I had too, I would."
Thanas smiled as he stood up and offered his hand," Until next time Commander Skywalker"
Luke shook his hand, and then he walked out the door with Artoo in his wake. As soon as he got back, he would have to hand his father back his lightsaber, and make sure he had his. He was surprised that his father did not say anything. Then it hit him, his father had his, it was the only thing that makes sense. He was not about to let on either. Luke shook his head to the thought. This was a lesson that he would most likely not forget.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------
Thanas sat back down, now he knows why the boy was worth so much. He was tempted to turn him in for the bounty on his head. It was enough to let him retire for the rest of his life. He heard that Lord Vader was on the planet, the part that puzzled him the most is he has been staying with the rebels. He did not know why, but he had a feeling that Lord Vader defected for some reason. Governor Nereus had the most interesting conversation with the sith lord, apparently Padme Naberri, one of the Imperial Senators was Vader's wife. He knew that Nereus has been trying to date her and become a couple, and she was out right refusing him. It was pretty obvious, but somehow Lord Vader found out and now Nereus has backed off completely.
About the part that Vader defected, confused him a great deal. Why? He did not know.
There must be a good reason. If he suddenly decided that he wanted to join the Alliance for some reason. Someone or something changed his mind. It made Thanas think a little. If Lord Vader realized what he was doing was wrong, then it made Thanas think about joining the Alliance himself.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------
Gaeriel was asleep on her bed. She was having a dream.
Commander Skywalker reached out for her, she was about to fall to the ground. He took a step back and he turned into Dev Sibwarra; he reached out to her, as he stuck tubes into her throat, she tried to scream, but somehow he was blocking her voice from yelling out. Lord Vader was off to the side saying something to Luke, but she could not hear what was being said. She watched as Luke and Vader switch lightsabers and began to fight back to back, Luke had a red blade and Vader had a green blade. This confused her a great deal. She reached for the switch to start up the radio system her Uncle had put in for her, after graduation at the Imperial Academy. The Imperial orchestra started to play. She woke up with a start and sat up in bed.
Gaeriel's Aunt came in and sat on the bed beside her. "Are you feeling any better Gaeriel? Is your headache all gone?"
For once Gaeriel felt compelled to tell the truth. "Yes."
Aunt Tiree spoke, "Good, I have invited Princess Leia and her company over for dinner, this would be a good place to try and work out negotiations. I want you to get ready. Is there anyone else you would like to invite?"
Gaeriel winced, "Yes, Beldon. To Add one more friendly face to the table." She wished she were five years younger so she could beg it off. But she knew that she couldn't. She would end up talking to Commander Skywalker eventually, but she would rather try and avoid him.
Aunt Tiree patted her knee as she stood up. "Good idea dear, I will see if he is free."
Gaeriel watched her Aunt leave her room. She was not looking forward to the dinner at all tonight.
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