Part 8 (2/2)
CHAPTER 15.
An orb that was 160 kilometers in diameter, the Death Star was the size of a Cla.s.s IV moon and was the largest stars.h.i.+p ever built. Its quadanium steel outer hull had two prominent features: a concave superlaser focus lens set into the upper hemisphere, and an equatorial trench that contained ion engines, hyperdrives, and hangar bays. Besides its superlaser, which was not yet fully operational, the Death Star's weaponry included more than 10,000 turbolaser batteries, 2,500 laser cannons, and 2,500 ion cannons. Its hangars contained 7,000 Twin Ion Engine starfighters and more than 20,000 military and transport vessels. The battle station's crew, troops, and pilots numbered over one million.
The Death Star did not in any way impress Darth Vader.
After returning from the Tatooine system with Princess Leia as his prisoner, Vader and the hollow-cheeked Grand Moff Tarkin entered a Death Star conference room where a meeting was already in progress. Admiral Motti, the senior Imperial commander in charge of operations on the Death Star, General Tagge of the Imperial Army, and five other high-ranking Imperial officials sat around a table and listened as Tarkin announced that the Emperor had dissolved the Imperial Senate, and a.s.sured them that fear of the Death Star would keep the local star systems in line.
While General Tagge maintained concern that the Rebel Alliance might use the stolen Death Star plans to their advantage, Admiral Motti snidely a.s.serted that any attack against the Death Star would be a useless gesture. ”This station is now the ultimate power in the universe,” Motti said. ”I suggest we use it.”
”Don't be too proud of this technological terror you' ve constructed,” Vader cautioned. ”The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the Force.”
Sneering at the Sith Lord, Motti said, ”Don't try to frighten us with your sorcerer's ways, Lord Vader. Your sad devotion to that ancient religion has not helped you conjure up the stolen data tapes or given you clairvoyance enough to find the Rebels' hidden fort - Motti stopped speaking and reached to his throat as Vader made a pinching movement with his own gloved hand from across the meeting room. ”I find your lack of faith disturbing,” Vader said.
”Enough of this!” Tarkin snapped. ”Vader, release him!”
Although Vader answered only to the Emperor, it was the Emperor's command that he serve Tarkin on the Death Star. ”As you wish,” Vader said as he lowered his hand, releasing his telekinetic grip on Motti's throat.
Gasping for air, Motti slumped forward onto the table. Tarkin said, ”This bickering is pointless. Lord Vader will provide us with the location of the Rebel fortress by the time this station is operational. We will then crush the Rebellion with one swift stroke!”
After the meeting, Vader was informed that he had an incoming message from the Tatooine system. He had already been notified that Commander Praji' s storm-trooper squad had learned that the Tantive IVs missing escape pod had carried two droids to Tatooine's surface, and that the droids had been picked up by a Jawa sandcrawler. Vader walked over to a communications console, where a holoprojector flickered to life and projected an image of two fully armed Imperial sand-troopers standing beside a middle-aged man and woman who wore robes and were kneeling on the ground. Near the four figures, there was a partial view of a structure, which Vader recognized as an entry dome for a desert dwelling.
Addressing the sandtrooper squad leader, Vader said, ”Report via closed circuit.”
'Lord Vader,” said one of the sandtroopers, adjusting a control on his helmet so that only Vader could hear his voice. ”The Jawas sold a protocol droid and an astromech to these moisture farmers, but both droids are gone.”
Moisture farmers? Intrigued, Vader examined the holograms of the kneeling couple and said, ”The farmers' names?”
”Owen and Bern Lars, sir,” the sandtrooper responded. ”They say they don't know where the droids are, but it looks like a landspeeder is missing from their garage.”
Owen and Bern, Vader recalled. The resolution of their holograms was clear enough that he could make out their worn, weathered features. Neither of them appeared to be comfortable having blaster rifles aimed at their backs. Remembering how they'd looked on the day Anakin Skywalker had met them, Vader thought, The years have not been kind. It's time for them to pay for their repeated weaknesses.
”Your orders, sir?” said the sandtrooper.
”Tell Mr. and Mrs. Lars that they seem to have trouble keeping protocol droids on their property.”
Not certain if he had heard correctly, the sandtrooper said, ”Sir?”
”Then you may extend to them every courtesy that you showed the Jawas before you continue your search. Establish checkpoints to detain any droids entering Mos Espa or Mos Eisley s.p.a.ceports. And one more thing.”
”Yes, Sir?”
”Do not stop transmitting until I break the connection.”
”Understood,” said the sandtrooper.
Vader watched the sandtroopers carry out his orders on their helpless victims. He found the sight of rising flames - even holograms of flames burning millions of light years away - to be most satisfying.
When the Lars family homestead had been transformed into an inferno, Vader deactivated the holo-projector. He proceeded to the nearest lift tube, and was quickly transported to sublevel five of detention area AA-23, which was reserved for political prisoners.
Time to talk with the Princess.
The door to detention cell 3187 slid up into the ceiling and Darth Vader ducked through the doorway, followed by two black-uniformed Imperial soldiers. Inside the cell, Princess Leia sat on a bare metal bed that projected from the wall. Looming over the prisoner, Vader said, ”And now, Your Highness, we will discuss the location of your hidden Rebel Base.”
There was an electric hum from behind Vader, then a spherical black interrogator droid hovered slowly into the cell. The droid's midsection was ringed by a repulsorlift system, and its exterior was festooned with devices that included an electroshock a.s.sembly, sonic torture device, chemical syringe, and lie determinator.
Leia's eyes went wide at the sight of the droid, and Vader could practically taste her terror. She said, ”Keep it away from me!”
Vader seized his prisoner, pinning her arms to her sides while the interrogator droid moved in closer There was a brief hiss from the droid's injector arm then Leia cried out and fell backward, slumping against the cell wall with a thud. ”You can't...” she said. ”You c...”
”Your Highness,” Vader said in his most soothing tone. ”Listen to my voice.”
Leia's eyes rolled in their sockets, unable to focus on anything. She stammered, ”V-voice ...”
”That's right. Listen ... I am your friend.”
”Wha... friend?” Leia said, then winced. ”No ...”
”Yes!” Vader insisted, watching her plunge deeper into a hypnotic state. ”You trust me, you can confide inme. All your secrets are safe with me.”
”Mmmm?” Leia licked her lips. ”Safe?”
”That's right, safe. You are safe here. You're among friends. You can trust me. I am a member of the Rebel Alliance, like you.”
A look of relief swept over Leia's face as she muttered, ”Rebel?”
”What did you do with the Death Star plans? Where are they? The Rebels need to know! Help us, Leia!”
”No,” she moaned, closing her eyes. ”Can't!”
”It's your duty,” Vader urged. ”Your duty to our Alliance. Your obligation to Alderaan and to your father. It's your duty to tell us where those tapes are!”
”Father?” Leia said, her eyes still shut.
”Yes,” Vader said. ”Your father commands you to tell us!”
”Father ... wouldn't.”
Growing impatient, Vader used his own psychic powers to make Leia believe she was in excruciating pain, but after several minutes, he ended the interrogation. He sensed that her inborn willpower was not only formidable but must have been augmented with certain physical and mental disciplines. She would not be broken easily.
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