Part 11 (1/2)
The Dark Lord of the Sith stalked through the bowels of his castle to where his personal shuttle was kept. He could have taken the turbolift to the skyhook; most pa.s.sengers and cargo were moved to the giant orbiting satellites through their tethers to the surface of the Imperial Center; but he had not stayed alive this long by taking foolish chances. Skyhook lifts seldom malfunctioned, but they were vulnerable to attack, from within and without. No, better to be in control of his own armored craft, where the dark side could be unleashed - along with laser cannon-if need be.
As he walked through one of his spare hallways, Va-der considered another problem. For now, the Emperor did not want him to hunt for Luke Skywalker, at least not personally. While the Emperor had not yet spoken of it directly, the construction of the new and more powerful Death Star was behind schedule. Those in charge offered many excuses-material, workers, constantly changing plans-and the Emperor was growing impatient.
Vader was fairly certain that it would be only a matter of time before the Emperor sent him to oversee the lagging project. It was amazing how a general who would drag his feet while out of the Emperor's sight would suddenly learn how to run when paid a visit from one who could call upon the dark side. Those Imperial officers who scoffed at the Force did so out of ignorance.
Those who did not fear the power of Darth Vader were those who had never stood face-to-face with him.
Vader did not agree that the Death Star was the in-vincible and omnipotent weapon its designers had promised the Emperor. He had heard that tale before, and the ill-equipped Rebel forces had shown just how wrong that was with the first Death Star.
No, that was not strictly true. It had been Luke Skywalker who had struck the deadly blow, proving to Vader's satisfaction that the Force was more powerful than the most sophisticated and deadliest technology. But-the Emperor did not agree, and there was nothing to be done about it. Nor was there anything to be done about being made to wait here. What the Emperor willed was so.
Vader reached the shuttle's bay. A guard stood at the door.
”Is my shuttle ready to launch?”
”It is, Lord Vader.”
”Good.” The example he'd made of the technicians in charge the one time it had not been ready when he wished to use it had thus far been sufficient to keep that from happening again.
Vader swept past and marched toward his vessel.
Very well. He could not seek Luke out in person, but he could arrange for others to do so. Those wheels had already been put in motion. A very large reward and the grat.i.tude of Darth Vader had been offered for whoever brought Skywalker to him alive. That would have to do for now.
Why me?” Luke said.
They were next to the Falcon. Support techs from Rogue Squadron moved in and out of the s.h.i.+p, repairing damage done during the failed attempt on Boba Fett's s.h.i.+p. The big makes.h.i.+ft building hadn't gotten any warmer since they'd arrived.
Leia said, ”Because it's your homeworld and you're the most familiar with it. Somebody needs to be there to keep an eye out for Boba Fett. You need to practice your Jedi skills, and you need a quiet place to do it. You're the logical choice.”
Luke shook his head. He didn't like it. And he didn't think Leia was being completely frank with him.
”Can't your Alliance business wait?” he asked.
”No. Take Artoo and go back to Ben's house. Lando and Chewie and Threepio and I will meet you there as soon as I am done.” Luke sighed. She was probably right, but that didn't make it any easier. ”All right. But you be careful.”
After Luke had taken off in his X-wing with Artoo - it was a long trip and they'd packed food and water for him, though he'd be ready for a shower when he got there-Leia spoke to Dash Rendar.
”Are you available for a job?” she asked him. ”Sweetie, I'm always available-if the money is right.”
”I want you to go to Tatooine and keep an eye on Luke.” Dash raised an eyebrow. ”Bodyguard? Sure, I can do that. Kid won't like it if he finds out.”
”So stay out of sight,” Leia said. ”Somebody tried to kill him, and I think they'll try again. How much?”
Dash named a figure.
Lando whistled. ”Man, you are a bandit, aren't you?”
”The best don't come cheap, Lando. In advance, Princess.”
Leia smiled. ”You think so little of me, Dash? Do I look that stupid?
One-third in advance, two-thirds when we arrive-if he's still alive.”
”I can't guarantee that.”
”I thought you were the best.”
Dash grinned. ”I am. Half up front, half when you get there.”
”All right.”
After she'd paid Dash and he was gone, Leia turned to Lando. ”All right. Let me pose a hypothetical question.”
”If you don't mind a hypothetical answer, go ahead.”
”What would be the best way to contact somebody high up in Black Sun?”
Lando stared at her as if she'd just told him she could fly by waving her arms. He shook his head. ”The best way? Don't.”
”Come on, Lando. This is important.”
”Princess, Black Sun is bad news. You don't want to get into bed with them.”
”I'm not planning on getting into bed with them. I just want to rummage through their wardrobe chest.”
”What?”
Leia said, ”Somebody just tried to kill Luke. Maybe it was Vader. Maybe not. Black Sun has a vast spynet of its own, older, maybe even wider than the Alliance's.
They can find out who is responsible.” Chewie half grunted, half moaned something. ”I'm with you, pal,” Lando said. He exchanged glances with Chewie. ”This is a big mistake.” Leia continued. ”But you have the connections and can put me in touch with them, right?”
”It's still a bad idea.”
”Lando...”
”Yeah, yeah. I know a few people.” She smiled. ”Good. Where do we find them?”
11.
The Emperor's skyhook was half again as large as Xizor's and far more opulent. The Dark Prince preferred to keep his best treasures on the ground; he felt they would be safer there. Not that there was any real danger of a skyhook dropping out of the sky-it had happened on Coruscant but once in a hundred years, and that had been a freakish combination of a power failure, a solar storm, and a freighter collision.
Then again, the Emperor had a lot more treasures than anybody else in the galaxy, and the loss even of a city-size skyhook would be but a small pail subtracted from his vast sea.
Xizor stood on a high, wide terrace overlooking the central park of the huge s.p.a.ce habitat. His bodyguards, now at travel strength of an even dozen, formed a semicircle from the balcony's edge with Xizor alone inside it. Here he stared out at full-size evergreen and deciduous trees, some of which topped thirty meters. A section of the park immediately below him was planted and climate-controlled into a fecund jungle, a riot of colorful flowers, electric reds, bright blues, phosph.o.r.escent oranges among the verdant hues, those ranging from the palest of greens to a broad-leafed vine whose waxy leaves were almost black.
Xizor did not care much for botany, but he knew good work when he saw it.