The continuing story...
Previous disclaimer applies: Not mine...
Luke was bringing supplies to his shuttle with the help of Threepio.
Han observed the young boy from a distance.
"Don't worry, Threepio. We are going to get R2 back. I had to send it to Obi-Wan and I hope he can retrieve the message.
"I am so used with that droid, master," Threepio's voice sounded sad.
"He will be all right, now could you bring me the toolbox?"
"Yes, master Luke."
Threepio walked towards the other side of the shuttle to retrieve the box of tools when suddenly startled by an imperial Captain.
"Hello goldenrod," Han said before sending blaster bolts towards Threepio's chest.
Obi-Wan was meditating. He was shaking from his non-alcoholic state but the cravings were torturing him but he used the Force to remain truthful to his vow: To be alcohol free…
"You haven't said anything in the last meetings, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon specter said.
"What is there to say? That I am a failure? I already know that."
"No, Obi-Wan. You are not a failure."
"Look at Anakin. I left him to die, burning and he became what he became…because of me."
"Anakin has chosen his own path, Obi-Wan. The choice was given to him since childhood. Even his own mother told him that. He and only himself could make a choice of what path to follow. He chose to become a Sith Lord."
"But master, if he is the Chosen One how can he bring balance to the Force and destroy the Sith if he is a Sith?"
"The ways of the Force are nor easily interpreted, my old padawan…I sense that Anakin will still find his way,"
"I don't know master, I hope you are right," Obi-Wan closed his eyes and returned to his meditation.
"Threepio! Threepio! Where are you?" Luke walked around the ship to look for the protocol droid. He saw Threepio's right arm on the ground and picked up. "Oh, no…I have a bad feeling about this," he said to himself. He took his blaster when he saw Threepio in pieces on the ground.
"Blast it!" Luke shouted as he slowly leaned to the ground and started picking up Threepio's pieces.
"Hello, kid!" Han said before stunning the startled youth.
Biggs Darklighter piloted his ship with two passengers. One was a merchant from Coruscant and another was a tourist from Alderaan. He took the passengers to their destination and set the course to Naboo. He remembered that old hermit was to an important meeting, but he couldn't quite remember exactly the location of the meeting.
"Where was it?" he was saying to himself.
"Lake something…oh, I will find out."
Han placed Luke into cuffs. He couldn't fail Lord Vader. He knew that there would be no second chance if he had. He also placed the pieces of the protocol droid by Luke's side and set the course to the Star Destroyer.
The Imperial captain left both unconscious captives on the back of the ship and he set the course to the Star Destroyer.
He punched the control to go into hyperspace but it failed.
He opened the communications. "This is Captain Solo, do you copy?"
"Lieutenant Corbin, Devastator."
"I need to talk to Captain Piett," Solo replied.
"Just a moment, Captain."
After a few seconds Piett replied. "This is Captain Piett, what is it, Captain Solo?"
"I am requesting assistance for maintenance. My hyperspace drive is malfunctioning."
"Send us your coordinates, Solo."
Han sent the coordinates.
"I will relay your message to Lord Vader and inform you, Piett out."
Stanley was hungry. It had been two days since Luke told him to leave the Star Destroyer and he run out of credits. He walked through streets of Coruscant when he was spotted by one of the stormtroppers off-duty.
"Isn't that the mechanic that is missing?"
"Yeah, let's check him out."
The two stormtroopers approached Stanley and since they were out of their suit, Stanley didn't realize what was about to happen before it was too late.
"Boy, we need to see your identification."
Stanley startled. "Identification? Why?"
"Don't you have one?"
"Who are you?"
One of the off-duty stormtroppers showed his Identification :
TK 153 – Imperial Star Destroyer Devastator
Stanley blanched.
"I…I forgot at …"
"You have to come with us."
Han was piloting towards the Star Destroyer but nervous that he hadn't heard from Piett on the status of help he requested.
Leia woke up.
"Don't you ever…" she started to say something then she looked at the unconscious boy with handcuffs.
"Skylwalker…right?" she asked.
"Yeah, the kid is Skylwalker."
"Why are you doing this? He is only a kid! You are going to take this boy to that monster!"
"Calm down, your worship!"
Leia tried to get closer to Luke but she was not able due to being handcuffed to the post.
She looked at him. "I don't know, but somehow he seems familiar," she thought.
"Are you hungry, Princess?"
"No and I would appreciate if you don't talk to me!"
"Sure your highnesses. I just want to thank you for the extra food you are giving me, I am gonna need because we are stuck here for a while."
"What do you mean, stuck?"
"The hyper drive is malfunctioning and we can't reach hyperspace."
"Just wonderful," she sighed.
"Are you sure you don't want to eat?"
"I am only thirsty."
Han took the bottle of water and gave to Leia.
"I am sorry for stunning you, I just want to make sure you were not going to escape. I didn't mean to hurt you…I hope you understand that I am only doing my duty," Han sounded apologetic and Leia only nodded.
Luke started to wake up.
"Wow…you?"
"Hi kid, its me again."
"Hello Skylwalker," Leia replied.
Luke stood up abruptly and the cuffs pushed him back.
"It is you! It is you!" Luke started shouting.
"I am sorry, but I don't know you," Leia said without conviction. She had a weird feeling that the boy was familiar to her.
"You are the girl I saw in the R2 unit."
"Artoo! You have my Artoo unit?"
"Not anymore."
"Hey, hey, what are you guys talking about."
Leia formed a "no" on her mouth.
"Nothing."
"Come on, kid. I ain't stupid…you are saying about seeing her, how could…" Han train of thought stopped when he realized that he was onto something big.
"Wow! The Death Star plans! I got it, you are the one hiding the plans and it got to be on that unit, right?"
Leia turned her face away and saw the box with the parts.
"Threepio?"
Stanley was shaking and praying to all gods of the galaxy. He was being charged with desertion and that carried a Death Sentence.
"You are entitled to one phone call."
"I wish to speak to Lord Vader."
"What?"
"Yes. I am going to die anyways. I just want to do something right."
"Very well."
Vader was meditating. Captain Piett approached the chambers.
"What is it?"
"Milord…"
Vader's comlink interrupted Piett.
"Yes, commander?"
"Sir. This is the Detention Center. Forgive me sir, but that is a young mechanic here saying he wants to talk to you."
"A mechanic?" Vader frowned. Piett waited standing and listening to the comlink conversation.
"Yes, milord."
"Put him through."
The holo-image of the handcuffed young mechanic appeared, Stanley placed himself on his knees.
"Milord, I know I may die for my crime, but I want to let you know that Skylwalker is innocent. The test was not his, sir. It was mine."
Vader's anger was building up. Piett stiffened as even without being a Force-sensitive he could feel the room getting cold.
Stanley lowered his head, expecting his swift execution.
"Commander, bring him to me."
"Yes milord."
Vader looked at Piett.
"What is it?
"Milord, Captain Solo made contact. His shuttle couldn't reach hyperspace, it malfunctioned, sir."
"Malfunctioning? Interesting. I shall deal with it myself."
"Yes milord."
"The droids are yours!" Luke said surprised. "What a coincidence!"
Han continued piloting and pretended to ignore the young captives.
He believed that if he were able to get the Death Star plans to Lord Vader he would escape death from his actual failure. His ship was not functioning and he failed to inspect it before leaving in an important mission. This was indeed a failure and Han knew he wound have to answer for this mistake, perhaps with his own life. But he had a little hope.
"What if I find the droid with the plans and deliver it to the Dark Lord? Perhaps he won't kill me…or perhaps he will do it painless."
Vader could feed on the young mechanic's fear. It was very intense.
Stanley was handcuffed as a criminal of the Empire and was placed on his knees before Lord Vader.
"Leave us," Vader ordered the storm troopers.
Stanley tried to remain still, it was very difficult. Every part of his body was shaking.
"You dared to deceive me."
Stanley tried to speak, but his voice failed to come out.
"Why did you do it? You claimed that the test was yours. Explain."
"Mi-milord, he…he asked me…to go t-to the Med Center for him…he was working on a ship and he d-didn't want to stop…he asked me to take the test for him…"
Vader didn't believe the excuse. He believed that Luke was intoxicated and wanted to disguise his results. But that was not what concerned him.
"You haven't answered my question, young one. Why did you do it?"
"B-because he is your son…milord. I would never contest your son's orders."
The young mechanic's answer pleased Vader. The boy was loyal to Luke because of him.
"Would you ever contest my orders?"
The young mechanic shook his head frantically and answered hastily.
"No, milord…never."
"Rise and come," Vader ordered.
Stanley got back on his feet. Vader waved his hands and the cuffs felt on the ground.
"Is Luke your friend?"
"Yes, milord. We are very close."
"Excellent. I have a mission for you."
Stanley's heart was beating faster with some relief.
"He is not killing me!"
Vader and Stanley walked towards the command center. The crew stood in reverence to the Dark Lord.
"Milord," Piett said with surprise.
"Take a ship to assist Captain Solo and take this mechanic with you. Make sure that his charge of desertion is expunged from the system."
Vader walked with Stanley to the adjacent room.
"You will stay with my son and report to me all his movements, it is that clear?"
"Yes, Lord Vader," Stanley's voice was filled with relief and emotion.
"I am going to live…o gods!" Stanley thought as he was left to his mission.
Vader ignored the mental shouts of relief from the young mechanic. He was sure that young Stanley would make a perfect spy. In probing Stanley's mind he was certain about the boy's loyalty.
Vader started to head towards his chamber when Captain Piett approached.
"Milord, Grand Moff Tarkin requested to speak with you."
Vader stepped into the communications room.
"Lord Vader, where is the Princess? Where are the plans?"
"The Princess will be arriving soon."
"Arriving? I though you had her,"
"I had some matters of great importance that prevented me from bringing her sooner."
"Matters of importance? What could be more important than the Death Star plans?"
"I shall not discuss private matters with you, Tarkin."
Tarkin was surprised. "Very well, I will be waiting."
The holo-imaged disappeared. Vader turned around and headed to his chambers for a deep meditation with the Force.
"What can I do to make my son to stop drinking?"
