Author's Note: Thanks to Christina for the idea of Dyson's serial number.

Chapter Eleven: See You Later, Vader

Dear Diary,

Woke up this morning to the base shaking all around me. I also had one hell of a hangover. Never NEVER mix sleeping drugs and alcohol. I should have known better. Despite my pounding head, I knew something wasn't right. I opened my door and peered out into the hall and promptly spied the backsides of two Snow Troopers turning the corner. SNOW TROOPERS?! HERE?! The base must have been invaded while I was out cold. DAMMIT! I shut the door and locked it for good measure. I only hoped that the others had been able to evacuate in time. The base rocked again and I heard the far off distant boom of blasters.

There was no possible way for me to escape. I rummaged through my few belongings and started to pull on my old Storm Trooper outfit, but stopped. No, that wouldn't do me any good here. I quickly dressed in the under tunic of the uniform and piled my armor neatly back into the closet, save for the Imperial binders I still had. I dropped what few personal items I had that could tie me to the Rebellion (except this diary, and even this might be the death of me) into the garbage disposal. Then I slapped the binders onto myself and sat down on my bunk. I knew that eventually they'd start searching the rooms and find me. Echo Base has no prison or brig and that's to my advantage.

I waited around for awhile until finally the door was forced open and two guards entered. I didn't even give them time to react. I said, "Well, it's about time you guys got here!" I prayed that they were going to buy the elaborate story I'd concocted.

"Who are you?" demanded the first Snow Trooper.

"Corporal Eugene Dyson, Gamma Infantry," I stated. "Serial number TK-867-5309."

"Gamma Infantry?" the second one said, disbelief in his voice. "That's impossible. They were all blown to hell aboard the Death Star at Yavin."

"I was captured by the Rebel Scum right before the battle," I said. "They kidnapped me aboard their ship." Okay, so it was a big lie but since everyone who knows the truth is dead, no one could call me on it, right? "I've been kept a prisoner here ever since then."

The first Snow Trooper looked into my closet and spotted my armor. "He's telling the truth." The second trooper helped me to my feet. "You're safe now, corporal. We've just taken over the base and the Rebels are on the run, but we'll catch them."

A sinking feeling hit me right in the middle of my stomach. I felt like throwing up, but not from the hangover. "That's great," I managed to say, silently praying that my friends had escaped.

They unlocked the binders and I grabbed my personal bag and was led out into the open hangar bay. Debris was flung everywhere and the whole place was as silent as a tomb, but it looked as if everyone had gotten away. Lord Vader himself was looking over the place and I was marched up to him. "Lord Vader, sir, we found this man locked up in the North Passage. He is a corporal that was taken a prisoner of the Rebel Alliance nearly three years ago. His rank and serial number check out, sir, as a trooper that killed."

There is nothing scarier than looking right into the mask of the Dark Lord himself and I knew then that I'd definitely misnamed my Tauntaun. No matter how temperamental the smelly beast was, he was never as bad as this guy. "Killed? What is your unit?" Vader asked me.

"Gamma Infantry, Lord Vader," I responded.

"That is not possible, corporal. That entire unit was destroyed with the first Death Star."

I promised myself that I wasn't going to scream. "I regret the death of my comrades," I replied. "I was taken prisoner by the Rebels while they were docked on the Death Star shortly before the Battle of Yavin. They escaped from the Death Star and I've been held prisoner ever since then."

"And the name of that ship?" he probed.

"The Millenium Falcon, sir."

Vader paused. "The Rebellion is weaker than I surmised if they would keep you a prisoner for three years without terminating your life. Corporal...?"

"Dyson, sir," I said.

"Corporal Dyson, you will be rewarded for your service to the Emperor. You will be promoted to the rank of sergeant and assigned to serve with my personal detachment."

WHAT?!?! I cleared my throat. "Thank you, my lord. I am honored."

He gestured dismissively and I was led to a transport that took us up to a waiting Star Destroyer where I was shown quarters and assigned a new uniform. I don't know whether to kill myself right now or laugh out loud. For some reason or another, I have been put back into the hands of the Imperials but that doesn't make me an Imperial. Perhaps I can better serve the Rebellion from my position as one of Vader's guards.

Two things are certain: I'm getting back to the Alliance as soon as I can and, unbelievably, the Storm Troopers have gotten stupider in my absence!