Chapter 3 Getting There
Lark looked up as the door swished open, and Vader with several storm troopers entered.
"Come." He said.
They were led to the control room where Governor Tarkin was waiting.
"Governor Tarkin," Leia lifted her chin haughtily. "I should have expected to find you holding Vader's leash. I recognized your foul stench when I was brought on board."
Tarkin chuckled. "Charming to the last. You don't know how hard I found it signing the order to terminate your life!"
"I'm surprised you had the courage to take the responsibility yourself!" Lark muttered.
Tarkin glanced at her, and then turned his attention back to Leia. "Princess Leia, before your execution I would like you to be my guest at a ceremony that will make this battle station operational. No star system will dare oppose the Emperor now."
"The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers." Leia retorted loftily.
"Not after we demonstrate the power of this station. In a way, you have determined the choice of the planet that'll be destroyed first. Since you are reluctant to provide us with the location of the Rebel base, I have chosen to test this station's destructive power on your home planet of Alderaan."
Leia's eyes widened. "No! Alderaan is peaceful. We have no weapons. You can't
possibly..."
"You would prefer another target?" Tarkin asked slyly. "A military target? Then name the system."
Lark held her breath, but Leia was silent.
"I grow tired of asking this." Tarkin said after a pause. "So it'll be the last time. Where
is the Rebel base?"
An intercom voice announced the approach to Alderaan, shattering the tense silence.
"Dantooine." Leia lowered her head. "They're on Dantooine." She whispered.
Tarkin looked triumphantly at Vader. "There. You see Lord Vader; she can be reasonable. Continue with the operation. You may fire when ready."
"What?" Leia and Lark asked at the same time.
"You're far too trusting. Dantooine is too remote to make an effective demonstration. But don't worry. We will deal with your Rebel friends soon enough."
"No!" Leia begged.
A million thoughts went through Lark's head. Her home, her family… Tears welled up in her eyes that she quickly shoved back, along with the emotions. She couldn't weaken now.
"Commence primary ignition." Vader said.
A hooded Imperial soldier reached overhead and pulled a lever. Vader reached for another lever and a bank of lights on a panel and wall lit up. A huge beam of light emanated from within a cone-shaped area and converged into a single laser beam out toward Alderaan. Lark closed her eyes as the small green planet of Alderaan was blown into space dust.
"Take them back." Vader said.
Lark could hardly see to put one foot in front of another through tears that she could not keep back as they were led back to the cell.
> > > >
"Bob." Ben approached him.
Bob looked up. "What's up?"
"I think it's time you knew."
"Knew what?"
"Who you are."
Bob felt a strange feeling in his stomach, as if this was what he'd always wanted to know. "Well?" he asked.
Ben sighed. "It's a long story. How much has Shey told you?"
"About…?"
"About your past."
"That my mother and father are dead, and he took me in."
"So nothing." Ben nodded. "Alright. Bob, you are a Jedi."
"A…" Bob shook his head. "That's impossible."
"Why?"
"Because the Jedi are all destroyed."
"You were rescued from the slaughter and brought to Shey by his brother, Jesse Ryenae. I too am a Jedi."
"I see." But he really didn't.
"Bob, we are on our way to Alderaan to help the rebellion. But I thought it was time you knew your past in case you wanted to help."
Bob nodded, his head spinning. He cleared his throat. "Well, I guess I could try this. See if I'm any good."
Obi-Wan nodded. "I have the supplies to make a lightsaber, and we have a bit of a trip ahead of us."
"A lightsaber?" Yeah, that did go with being a Jedi, didn't it?
"A Jedi's weapon."
Suddenly Bob felt scared. What if he wasn't good enough?
"Only one way to find out." he said.
> > > >
"Leia?" Lark reached for her friend in the darkness. "Are you alright?"
Leia sniffed. "Take a guess."
"Dumb question." Lark muttered. "I guess my sense of humor's gone now." She said dryly.
"I keep thinking about my father… and the plans Lark! What if they'd already gotten there?"
Lark shook her head. "There's enough bad happening without you imagining more."
"It's possible; even likely!"
"I'd say fifty, fifty. Leia, there's nothing you can do, so stop worrying about it."
"If only I could."
Lark felt a drop of water on her hand, and she hugged Leia.
"Everything's failed." She sobbed.
"Not everything." Lark desperately tried to think of something that hadn't. "They didn't find the rebel base." She lowered her voice to the tiniest of whispers.
"How long do you think it will take them…?" Leia didn't finish the question for fear of listening devices.
Lark didn't answer. Her thoughts had turned to home. "You were right." She whispered to her father. "I shouldn't have come. Not alone." She closed her eyes and tried to imagine the parting moments. Her mother had hugged her with a word of caution, and then her father had done the same. But she'd seen more than worry in their eyes; there had been undeniable pride and love. Lark choked back tears.
Leia tightened the embrace. "I'm glad you're here. Imagine if I'd had to face this alone!"
"You'd make it. You're strong. I'm doing no good, and it won't be long before the kill me, maybe even use me to get to you."
"What's the difference between dying here or on Alderaan?" Leia asked.
"The level of pain."
Leia could only agree.
> > > >
After he had assembled the lightsaber, Bob turned it on and held it up. The blue blade flickered brightly.
"Good." Obi-Wan nodded approvingly. "Now lets see how it works. Luke, you too."
Luke stood and ignited his lightsaber with a reverence that made it obvious he was still new at this. Obi-Wan tossed a robot seeker into the air, and Luke and Bob practiced using their lightsabers to deflect small bolts.
It was tricky work. One minute the seeker would be buzzing in the air then it would shoot a quick blast. You had to anticipate when it would happen, but it was virtually impossible. Luke wasn't having any better luck.
Obi-Wan nodded as he watched them, pointing out hints, but suddenly he turned away and sat down, faltering.
Luke immediately deactivated his weapon. "Are you all right? What's wrong?"
"I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened." Obi-Wan said, seeming faint.
"Like what?" Bob asked.
Obi-Wan rubbed his forehead and didn't answer. Then he fixed his gaze on them.
"You'd better get on with your exercises." He said.
Han entered the cabin and watched them for a minute.
"Well, you can forget your troubles with those Imperial slugs." He said when no one noticed him. "I told you I'd outrun 'em."
No answer. Bob heard him, but he didn't want to break his concentration.
"Don't everyone thank me at once." Han muttered. "Anyway, we should be at Alderaan about oh-two-hundred hours." He said in a louder voice.
"Now be careful, Artoo." Threepio said.
Han glanced over to where they were playing a game Artoo immediately reached up and tapped the computer, causing one of the holographic creatures to walk to the new square. A sudden frown crossed Chewbacca's face and he began yelling gibberish at the Astro droid."He made a fair move." Threepio protested. "Screaming about it won't help you."
"Let him have it." Han said, smirking. "It's not wise to upset a Wookiee."
"But sir, nobody worries about upsetting a droid." Threepio said.
"That's 'cause droids don't pull people's arms out of their socket when they lose. Wookiees are known to do that."
Threepio stared at Han for a moment. "I see your point, sir. I suggest a new strategy, Artoo. Let the Wookiee win." Han grinned and turned to watch Luke and Bob with a bit of smugness.
"Remember, a Jedi can feel the Force flowing through him." Obi-Wan said.
"You mean it controls your actions?" Luke asked.
"Partially. But it also obeys your commands."
Bob kept one eye on Obi-Wan and one on the seeker. It was suspended at eye level, about ten feet in front of Luke, hovering slowly in a wide arc. The ball floated to one side of him then the other. Then it went to Bob, and then back to Luke. Suddenly it made a lightning-swift lunge and stopped within a few feet of Luke's face. It slowly moved behind him, then makes another quick lunge, this time emitting a red laser beam as it attacks. The beam hit Luke in the leg causing him to tumble over.
Han let loose with a burst of laughter. "Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid." He said.
"You don't believe in the Force, do you?" Luke asked.
"Kid, I've flown from one side of this galaxy to the other. I've seen a lot of strange stuff, but I've never seen anything to make me believe there's one all-powerful force controlling everything. There's no mystical energy field that controls my destiny."
"Like you know all there is to know." Bob muttered.
"Come on, Bob. I thought Shey raised you better than that."
"Maybe he did, but I'm trying to prove or disprove some things."
Han shrugged. "It's all a lot of simple tricks and nonsense."
"I suggest you try it again, Luke." Obi-Wan said. "You're next Bob." Obi-Wan placed a large helmet on Luke's head that covered his eyes. "This time let go your conscious self and act on instinct."
"With the blast shield down, I can't even see. How am I supposed to fight?" Luke protested.
"Your eyes can deceive you. Don't trust them."
Han skeptically shook his head as Obi-Wan threw the seeker into the air. The ball shot straight up in the air, then dropped like a rock. Luke swung this lightsaber around blindly,
missing the seeker, which fired off a laserbolt that hit Luke square on the seat of the pants. He let out a painful yell and attempted to hit the seeker, swinging violently.
Bob couldn't help but smile; he did look comical, but he knew that he was next.
"Stretch out with your feelings." Obi-Wan coached.
Luke stood in one place, seemingly frozen. The seeker made a dive at Luke and, incredibly, he managed to deflect the bolt. The ball ceased fire and moves back to its original position.
"You see you can do it."
"I call it luck." Han scoffed.
"In my experience, there's no such thing as luck." Obi-Wan said.
"Look, going good against remotes is one thing. Going good against the living? That's something else."
Bob ignored Han and stepped into the center of the cabin as the seeker came back.
"Looks like we're coming up on Alderaan." Han said. "Come on Bob."
Bob reluctantly nodded and deactivated his weapon.
"We'll finish up later." Obi-Wan told him as he followed Han into the cockpit.
Sorry for the delay in updating, my computer was acting funky (isn't that the oldest excuse in the book).