Author's Note: Sorry for the delay. I was given a copy of "Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy" and I've been happily chopping Stormtroopers in half while doing supercool things with a lightsaber. Yes, I know. I need to get a life. This chapter is a little off. It's one of those "bridge" chapters between major action, but I used this opportunity for Eugene to have some slight angst and a major revelation. I really feel sorry for this guy. Sheesh. I'm starting to feel sorry for my characters in a story that's intended to be humourous. I REALLY need to get a life! :-D
Chapter Twelve: Imperials are Full of Hot Air
Dear Diary,
I think it's the irony of ironies that I got promoted to the personal legion of Vader, the Dark Lord himself, and I'm a Rebel. It also goes to show you how psychotic the Empire is. They find someone who's been proclaimed dead, supposedly the last surviving member of his squadron, and has been held prisoner by the Rebellion for the last three years. Do they send him home to his family, who're going to be overjoyed that their son is alive for some nice R&R? No! They promptly promote him and place him back on active duty in the 501st Stormtrooper Legion, Vader's personal guard. It's almost mind boggling how insane the Empire is.
No sooner had I gotten aboard the Star Destroyer than we went off chasing after the Millenium Falcon. I was silently hoping that they'd get away and they hid out in an asteroid field (the Empire lost a lot of ships going after them...good!). Something scared them off, though, but get this! Instead of fleeing they ATTACKED the Star Destroyer AND they disappeared from scanners! Poor Han. The hyperdrive on the Falcon must be out. They're hiding, but who knows where? Captain Needa lost his life over that one.
Well, now there's a bunch of bounty hunters on board. I'm not entirely sure why, but I'd make a fair guess that they're after Han Solo. I don't know who he's in debt to, but it's got to be someone who is powerful enough to afford these guys. They're some of the best in the galaxy from what I've heard tell.
Those bounty hunters make me think of Evelyn. I hope and pray that she got away all right. She told me that the Empire has a pretty sizeable bounty on her head. I've got a pretty good feeling that she's fine, though. I hope I can get back to her and the Alliance as soon as possible.
In the meantime, I'm off to complain to the Quartermaster about this new uniform I was hastily issued. The outside armor fits ok, but the inner jumpsuit is too short. It's giving me an incredibly uncomfortable wedgie!
Dear Diary,
Wedgie problem corrected. We finally went into hyperspace, to Bespin of all places. Why are we going there? Is Vader interested in opening up his own gas mining facility? Ha...I always knew he was full of hot air. Ok...that was bad. I humbly apologize for the sheer stupidity of that joke. But what do you expect? I'm not exactly in the best of moods right now. Even making bad jokes is a feeble attempt to brighten my spirits. I have no clue how I'm supposed to get back to the Alliance and I'd rather get eaten by a starved rancor than serve the Empire for the rest of my life.
Patience, Eugene. The opportunity will present itself in time. In the mean time I've got to make the best of my present situation. Living on Hoth taught me that. I learned a lot from the Rebellion, mostly just survival both physically and mentally. I also learned the values of trust and friendship. Man, I miss Wedge and Luke. I don't have any siblings and those two are the closest I've ever had to having brothers. Heck, I miss the whole Rogue Squadron. I miss my Tuesday night Sabaac games with Chewie, even though he always won. I even miss the way Han always tried to give me advice on landing Evelyn in the sack (like that would ever happen).
Evelyn. I miss the way she would come into the lab every morning with a cup of hot caf and a sexy smile on her face. I miss the way she'd smile at me right before she was going to deliver one of her famous one-liners or tease me about something from the old days. I miss the way she started to meet me in the hangar after my morning flights with Rogue Squadron. I always looked for her as I entered the hangar and there she'd be, leaning against the wall and staring at a datapad, but she'd look up at the sound of my speeder and smile brightly as I landed. And she'd be there at the bottom of the ladder and start briefing me on our work as I went to the locker room to change. I miss our conversations and the way she's started to casually lay her hand over mine as it rested on the table. And the way she'd gaze intently into my eyes as we talked...
Oh my...I just realized that I am head-over-heels in love with Commander Evelyn Sinclair. Before I just thought she was hot, but now I would do anything to protect her...even sacrifice my own life. I would do anything for her. I can't stand it! What if she doesn't feel the same way?
Well, I suppose I'll never know now that I'm serving the Imperials again.