THE FORCE WITHIN
© September 2017 Written by David Wicker
Please do not reprint without permission
CHAPTER 19 - "CONNECTIONS"
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This entry is Rated: EVERYONE
Leia back at Rebel Base had reached Han Solo, and he was on his way back to examine the magnetic signals that could only be reached by Taun-Taun.
Now she just had to reach Luke. In a way she didn't want to as there were mysterious circumstances in his leaving suddenly. He might be doing something terribly important and could not be bothered.
But with the weight on the possibility of the Empire finding their new vulnerable home on Hoth, she had to risk it.
Checking to see which X-wing fighter ships remained and the only one that was missing must be the one that Luke took.
She looked up the call-sign. "Brigadier" was the name given to that particular ship. She quickly hailed it with an urgent request for response.
But he didn't answer. She felt fairly certain he wouldn't just ignore it as she sent an advanced code to show that the person calling him was unlisted. She tried 3 times to raise him, and he didn't answer either time.
Now she was worried. It could be good. He could just be lounging about in a bar somewhere without a care in the world - or it could be bad. He could be languishing in a terrible prison somewhere for doing something even more heinous than stealing an X-Wing fighter. She didn't know which.
. . .
The fact of the matter was, it was morning back where Luke was and while Rebecca certainly had a good time that evening, he couldn't recall any of it being bone tired from yesterday.
But now Rebecca had to have him, as an evening pet you might say. A one night's stay was not enough for her. She was still a young teenager, hot-blooded, as they say, full of hormones. And Luke was the best thing to come along in her life in a very long time.
The good news of this all is the creepy evil voice had left Luke. It only had power over him when Luke was confused or angry, none of which seemed to be the case now.
Rebecca in high spirits made a sumptuous breakfast for all three of them including her brother, Darren.
While Darren had initially tried to break up Luke from Rebecca, he knew it would do no good. This was not the first time his over-eager sister had tried to make moves on someone, and usually from a different race. And the more innocent they were to the ways of the world, the more exciting it was to her.
He also knew that everything would be "wonderful" while Luke was here. Rebecca would be doing all the chores, preparing all the meals, and essentially doing all the work.
Darren bit into his stew. It was excellent, and there really was a difference between it then when she was bitter over a lost love. That was not the case here. As he tore into his meal he looked at Luke.
"A week." he told himself silently, leveling his eyes on him. Surely no more than a week before she gets tired of him and things would return to normal, and he would have to share the brunt of the work.
. . .
Darth Vader and Smite had returned back to the Mos Eisley Cantina. It was nighttime now on Tattooine, but you certainly tell just by looking at the patrons or the number of - or even how loud it was.
The atmosphere in the club was timeless. There was never a time they slowed down nor took a quiet respite. The place truly was open 24-hours a day and a shift of bartenders and workers and fresh liquor filtered in constantly to keep the establishment open indefinitely with no closing hours.
It was truly the most popular bar on Tattooine, the one to gain the most profit from it's thirsty customers, but also one of the most dangerous as Luke and Obi-Wan had discovered earlier.
Yet Vader held a presence. A force not to be reckoned with or confronted. As he stepped in the poorly lit bar, the music took a slightly quieter edge and patrons in his path quickly found their seats - out of his way.
Vader approached the bartender. There was clear fear in the barkeep's eyes but he stood his ground.
"Vader." the bartender said carefully, trying not to appear presumptuous in any way.
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"Lord Vader, if you will." Vader insisted.
The barkeep laughed to break the tension. "Hah ! Err ... of course. Lord Vader. What can I get you ? More Angloria ? On the house, of course !"
Vader held up a steely black glove and waved it aside. "No. I need - information."
The barkeep knew better than to dismiss the dark Sith. Were this anyone else, he would've punched them in the face for such audacity. But not Vader. No. He had to tread very carefully around him.
The 'keep nodded respectfully. "Of course, Lord Vader. What would you like to know ?"
Vader looked around for a moment and sniffed the air. There was the unmistakable and invisible scent of Midochlorians. It took years for them to dissipate from an area.
"Two Jedi entered here earlier." Vader said confidently. "Do you know where they went ?"
The barkeep grabbed a glass from under the counter and started rubbing it clean vigorously, nodding his head up and down to show he was indeed thinking about it.
Finally he shook his head. "I'm sorry, milord. We have never had two Jedi step in here before."
Vader was losing patience. "Perhaps just one then ?"
The barkeep recalled the recent event when one of his more arrogant customers was beating up on a boy, barely a teen, clearly a harmless evaporation farmer, likely an apprentice.
And was cut down a minute later by a light saber from an old man with a beard that came in with the boy. That had to be it. A Jedi !
He nodded. "There was one. He had a light saber and cut down one of my rowdy customers. He was with a fair-haired yet frail looking boy." He racked his brain trying to think. He certainly did not want to die today and not at the hands of this dark lord of the Sith. "Let me think ... they were hitching a ride with Han. You know Solo ?"
Vader nodded. "I am familiar with the space pirate. How long ago did this happen ?"
"It's been more than a week now." The barkeep had recording devices at every table. Sometimes information paid well. In this case, it just might save his skin.
Without mentioning how he knew, he just blurted it out, "I heard they were going to Dantooine."
"Dantooine ?" Vader thought. For that was the very planet that Leia told him the rebel base was on that very week ago. And now it was destroyed. Could it be ... ? The end of the trail ?
The barkeep grew quiet. He really didn't know anything more.
Vader grew quiet too, but for a different reason. He reached out his hand and plucked at the bartender's memory. The barkeep's body stiffened up, raised a few inches in the air, and he stopped breathing.
But Vader didn't hold him for very long, grateful for the information he did receive, and released him causing him to collapse to the floor where he fought for breath.
Vader was disappointed though. "That's all that can be found here ..." Yet in the back of his brain he knew he had enough pieces of the puzzle that he should be able to figure the rest out.
Smite interjected. "Just to recall, Vader. The rebels are no longer on Yavin's moon, nor Yavin. We don't know where the rebels went when they entered hyperspace."
Smite stroked his chin thoughtfully, "Perhaps the very boy you seek, as you say, your son, went with them ?"
Vader was quiet to listen so Smite continued, "It's an opportunity I say. We would kill two birds with one stone to find the new location of the rebel base. I'm certain the boy you want is among them. Salvage him, and while they are still vulnerable from early planetfall, and destroy their new base once and for all !"
Vader nodded. That was some good reasoning. Without another word, he headed out of the cantina, his long cloak billowing behind him, and with Smite close beside.
(to be continued)
END OF CHAPTER 19
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