I don't own anything. I know I haven't updated in a while, so I'm posting two chapters instead of one! Yay!
Dack sighed impatiently, and for the hundredth time, peered around the boulder. Still nothing. Oh well, he thought, at least I'm still alive. He leaned back against the boulder to wait.
It had already become apparent to most people – Rebels and Imps alike – that Dack had an uncanny way of staying alive. It wasn't exactly survival instinct, or anything like that; most of the time it was just pure luck. Lately though, it seemed that maybe Dack's time was coming. He didn't get away with as much as he used to – the cheekiness with Vader had lessened noticeably. But the incident of three days before really took the cake.
Dack had triumphantly marched back into the Headquarters on Naboo, having successfully caught the wookie. He was about to make some calls to have a team sent out to get the Millennium Falcon when he got a call. A bad call, from Darth Vader himself…
"Ah, Lord Vader, what a pleasant surprise. I have excellent news-"
"Whatever news you have at the moment is unimportant. You have made a terrible mistake, Ralter."
Dack's insides froze. "But I captured-"
"You let the Millennium Falcon get away."
Dack closed his eyes, silently willing himself to be dead – his punishment would undoubtedly be as bad.
"I thought the wookie came alone."
"You thought wrong. However, your mistake can be rectified."
"How?"
"The only other passenger on board that ship was a droid. A Galactica Protocol Droid, number C-3PO."
"Skywalker's droid?"
"Yes. We have discovered that Skywalker himself will be going to recover the droid."
"But where-"
"The Emperor's…sources have…located the Millenium Falcon. It is traveling to the nearby world of Vandi. There is an abandoned Rebel communications tower there. The droid could be trying to make contact with the Rebellion. No doubt he would mention that some of the Rebel's most wanted are on Naboo."
"Yes, My Lord."
"Droid recovery is not a difficult task, but Skywalker may be around. Do you think you can handle meeting Skywalker again?" Vader's tone was mocking.
"Yes, My Lord."
"The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am, Ralter. Make sure you do not make any…foolish mistakes."
You are being watched Said a voice in his head. As if hearing it, Dack replied,
"I'm being followed, aren't I?"
"You are not the only one the Emperor likes to keep tabs on."
The communication shut off, leaving Dack to ponder his next move.
When he had returned to his ship to gather supplies, he had been surprised to find a parcel from Vader. He had opened it, revealing a long metal cylindrical object. A lightsaber. He was about to activate it when he saw a note lying in the box.
Use it wisely.
He smirked, and then clipped the lightsaber to his belt. Now it lay in his lap. He had been waiting for at least two hours, but so far neither the droid nor Luke had crossed his path. And yet the thought had never crossed his mind that they would never come that way. The voice in his head had assured him that they would.
If droids could cry, C-3PO would have been bawling. Instead he sat down at a table on the Millennium Falcon, shaking his head and repeatedly saying, "Oh my." He was completely lost. After Chewbacca's yell, he had taken off, but not before being seen by the red-haired lady. And now he was flying through space, with not a clue how to control the ship. He'd sent communication after communication to R2, but he didn't get any reply. He had no way to contact the Rebellion, his Master had gone off without a word, had left him, and now there was nothing to do but wait for the ship to run out of fuel, and then sit and…rot in space. Not physically rot, really, but sit there in loneliness until finally his power ran out. Shaking his head, Threepio went up to cockpit, and asked the computer where they were. He searched nearby systems for anything, but there was nowhere a droid could get send a communication. Then he saw it. Barely fifty parsecs away, there was a planet. He checked the map again. Vandi. He scoured his memory. Of course! There was an old Rebel outpost there, a communications tower! Hope at last. Gathering his courage, he spoke boldly to the computer, ordering it to go to Vandi. And it did. Threepio sat down, overwhelmed by finally being in control, having power over another being. He liked it.
Luke landed the x-wing in a forest in the north of Vandi. R2 had gotten some disturbing messages, and they had tracked them back to C-3PO. So Luke had followed the trail, and now he was on Vandi. He could sense Threepio, but also…something dark. Something was definitely wrong here. Luke's hand wandered to his lightsaber, and he was thankful for what training he did have.
When they finally landed, Threepio left the Falcon alone, unarmed.
"I warn you, If I return and you are not here…" he left the threat unfinished. Quite pleased with himself, and quite unafraid, he walked on out, into the forest, making his way to the communications facility.
About an hour later, he stopped. Not that he needed rest, but he should have been at the monitoring station. But all he saw was a couple of large boulders.
"It must be a camouflaged entrance," he said out loud, and walked over to investigate.
Luke leaned against a tree trunk, panting. He had come a long way. Threepio was nearby, he could sense that much. He could see the impressions in the mud where the golden droid had passed. He then heard a radio fizzle. Radio? He looked around, straining his ears for the sound. Fizzle.
Of course! No wonder the Force didn't give me the answer to that one, it's right in my lap. My Alliance radio. I forgot all about it when I was on Dagobah! He listened intently, and heard disturbing news. A new, bigger Death Star. The Emperor himself was going to be on it…they needed people to take "it" down…squadrons were assembling…schematics on the death star and the shield generator on the moon below…timing was critical. And then, he heard words that burned him up inside.
"Stang. Where are all our really good pilots when we need them?" said a voice
"Hey!" came the response…it was Wedge! "We're here. The others are dead."
"Oh yeah? What about the great Luke Skywalker? Huh? He abandoned us."
"He didn't…it must have been something really important for Luke to have left."
"More important than whether we can finally defeat the Empire?"
Silence.
Luke looked down angrily. Here he was, on some outer-rim forest world, tracking down a droid. A droid who only had information regarding his friends. Was saving Han and Leia really worth sacrificing the cause they had fought for?
He abandoned us. "I abandoned them."
Luke. Don't say that.
Who are you?
Someone with advice.
I don't need advice. I need to be in two places at once.
Maybe not. They always say to search deep for the answers.
Yeah, well, searching deep is not going to get me anywhere. Master Yoda was right, I never should have come here.
Huh. Look, about Yoda. He may be wise, but he aint always right.
Luke glared at the tree. Can you get to the point?
Sheesh. You're impatient for a Jedi.
Well, you're annoying for an advice-giver.
Okay. I'll leave. But just remember, the answers may be a little higher up.
Whatever.
A moment of silence followed. Then, on a hunch, he looked up. There were grooves in the tree above him!
"Sithspit!" he climbed rapidly. There was a primitive sentry post up there, but Luke could still feel a human…imprint from long ago. He peered out, and finally saw what he was looking for. In a small clearing, there was a boulder, and in front of it, glinting in the daylight, was Threepio! Luke climbed down, and started walking towards the spot. Then suddenly a vision came to him.
Threepio was walking. Then, suddenly, someone came down from above. A gloved hand, carrying a red lightsaber! He sliced Threepio in half easily. Then, using the Force, lifted the boulder, and crushed what was left of the droid. Finally, he clambered aboard the boulder, and inserted an EMP charge. Then he took off back into the sky. BOOM! And there was a terrible tremor in the Force.
Luke snapped back to reality with a sense of urgency. Then he started running.
Dack tapped his foot impatiently. He had been told to wait for Luke, but that had been over four hours ago. Dack had not moved. His only consolation was that no doubt whoever the Emperor had following him had to wait as well. Then, finally, he heard the droid approaching, and muttering something about camouflage. Dack almost got up, but then remembered that he had to wait for Luke.
You can get rid of the droid now, get that over with. That way Skywalker has no way of getting the information.
Dack looked around for the source of the voice. He had been hearing lots of this recently.
Who are you?
Someone with advice.
Dack shook his head. I hope you're right. Then he flipped on top of the boulder.
Mara Jade caught the movement. "What are you doing Ralter?" she whispered softly. "Disobeying a direct order?" she smiled. "You're going to die quicker than you think."
Dack opened his lightsaber, and jumped down to slice the droid in half. Just at that moment, Luke jumped through, igniting his blade to stop Dack's.
"Aaah!" Dack screamed in anger and frustration, attacking Luke. They dueled desperately. Threepio, meanwhile, after getting over the initial shock of seeing "Master Luke", was digging through Dack's pack. He uncovered the EMP grenades, a droid's worst nightmare. He shuddered, and then backed up.
Dack threw his lightsaber, hoping to take off Luke's head. Luke ducked, but the lightsaber slashed through the tree behind him. The timber collapsed, hitting Luke and trapping him.
You don't know how long I've waited for this moment, Skywalker.
Dack! You have…the Force!
Yes. And now you will finally be gone. He raised his lightsaber to strike Luke down. Luke looked around in desperation. He spotted the grenades. He used the Force to hurl one at Dack's arm, and then formed a shield around himself.
Dack raised his arm, ready to finally ease his mind. He never saw the grenade. It hit him right at the wrist and exploded, along with his arm. The lightsaber dropped, slicing the tree, freeing Luke. Dack stumbled backwards and reached for his blaster. Then, much to Luke's surprise, Threepio flung a grenade at Dack. It exploded near him, momentarily blinding him and sending shrapnel into his face.
"NOOOOO! I'll get you! DIE SKYWALKER! DIE!" Blinking the blood out of his eyes, Dack sagged against the tree.
Luke grabbed Threepio and ran through the forest, snapping the off button as he went.
"R2! Plug into Threepio and get me information now!" R2 whistled an affirmative as Luke plugged the two droids in, then stuffed 3-P0 in the hold. He took off as fast as he could.
Mara Jade growled and turned away, blinking, blinded momentarily by the light. When she looked back, Skywalker was gone. She looked down, wondering if maybe Ralter's remains could be buried. She was surprised to find him alive. Breathing heavily, gasping, bleeding, dying…but still alive.
Well…I think that makes up for the last chapter! What will happen to Dack? Will Luke save Han, Leia and the Rebellion? What will Mara Jade do? Find out on the next episode of…Dack's Revenge! Dum dum dummm…