Part 32 (1/2)

”Good job,” Luke said. Despite his giving Lando a hard time, he was a good pilot.

”Yeah, but that's the easy part. Now we got to stay with this boomer until we get into atmosphere and he drops his cargo into a spiral-in orbit. I'm shutting down the transponder and nonessential systems. We don't want anybody seeing our lights or picking up active sensors. From here on in, it's seat-of-the-pants.”

”You thought about what we're going to do once we land?”

Lando snorted. ”Let's worry about landing first, how about? I know some people, I have a few contacts. We'll be okay.”

Luke nodded. He hoped Lando was right.

Of course, they might stray off course on the way to the planet and get roasted by a coherent light battery and he wouldn't have to worry about it. Not that that made him feel any better.

He reached out, tried to find Leia, using the Force. Pushed to the limit of his abilities... Nothing. If she was there, he was too far away to touch her. Well. They'd be closer soon. If they survived, he would try again. If they survived.

Sitting naked in his chamber and working on his healing meditation, Darth Vader frowned. There was a disturbance in the Force. He reached for it with the power of the dark side...

He could not connect with it, whatever it was.

Abruptly the sensation of a ripple pa.s.sed.

The dark side still had surprises for him. Like a fire, it could warm or burn, and great care must be taken not to trip and fall into it. He had seen what extensive use had done to the Emperor; it had eaten away at him physically. But that would not happen to Vader, for he intended to master the dark side. He was well on the way. It would be only a matter of how long, of when, not if. And when he finally snared Luke, the process would go faster. Two powerful magnets would attract more of the dark energy than one. Together they would manipulate the Force quicker than either could alone.

So strong, the boy. Who could have known? Luke Skywalker-his son-might well be the most powerful man in the galaxy.

He allowed himself a smile, even though the expression stretched scar tissue and was painful. He could withstand pain.

He was the Dark Lord of the Sith, and he could withstand anything.

30.

”I really don't think this is a good idea, Master Luke. I believe it would be much better if Artoo and I went with you and Master Lando.”

Artoo cheeped his agreement.

”Look, you'll be fine here on the s.h.i.+p,” Luke said. ”We need you here in case we need help. Besides, it'll be a lot more dangerous out there than in here.”

”Ah. Well, in that case, perhaps we should stay here.”

Artoo cheeped.

”No, you heard Master Luke, he needs us on the s.h.i.+p in case anything goes wrong.”

”Wrong, what could possibly go wrong?” Lando said. ”Just because we've got huge rewards posted everywhere in the galaxy for us, dead or alive, and we've plunked ourselves down smack in the black and evil heart of the Empire?”

Luke shook his head. ”Come on. Where would be the last place you'd look for us if you were an Imperial operative or a bounty hunter?”

”Yeah, I guess you're right. They'd figure n.o.body would be that stupid.

Lucky for us they don't know we are that stupid.”

Luke shook his head. All this banter was an attempt to make light of the situation. The truth was, this was dangerous, no two ways about it. To Threepio, he said in a more serious voice, ”Look, I'll be honest. There's a good chance we won't make it back. If that happens, don't call the Alliance for help. There's no point in putting any part of the fleet in jeopardy.”

Threepio said, ”I understand.”

Artoo whistled and cheeped rapidly. The tone was upset.

Luke looked at the little droid. He squatted down and laid one hand on his dome. ”Just stand by the comm, okay? We'll call you if we need you.

If we get in trouble, you can try to come and get us. Threepio has the hands and feet, you have the astronavigational skills. I'm sure the two of you working together can fly the Falcon in an emergency.”

”There's a happy thought,” Lando said. ”Han knew that, it would thaw him out faster than a laser torch.” Lando was still trying to keep things cheery, but Luke imagined the gambler had a cold feeling in the pit of his stomach, too. This was not going to be a piece of cake.

Artoo did not seem to think very much of the idea of flying the Falcon, either.

”Don't be rude,” Threepio said. ”I wasn't always a protocol droid, you know. I've programmed converters, and I once ran a shovel loader for an entire standard month. I've watched Master Han and Master Lando and Chewbacca often enough. I daresay I can pilot this s.h.i.+p better than you can!”

Artoo made more rude noises. ”Oh, really? Well, at least I don't look like an overgrown garbage can!”

”Come on, Luke,” Lando said. ”If we're going to go, we need to get moving. We can get ourselves some disguises, and if we hurry, we can be underground before daylight. These two will argue all night.”

”Okay.” Luke rose from his squat. ”See you in a little while.”

”Do be careful, Master Luke.”

Artoo seconded that.

Luke hoped he didn't look as grave as he felt. ”We will.”

Lando already had his disguise in place. His head was wrapped in a beggar's scarf and cowl, his normal clothes hidden under a ragged robe.

Luke donned similar garb and covered the lower part of his face as well.

Outside the huge building, Luke and Lando worked their way through a relatively spa.r.s.ely populated area. There weren't many spots completely void of occupants, but this area was in the southern hemisphere not far from the pole-and it was cold. There were appar-ently more comfortable places to live and work. Lando had a ”business a.s.sociate” who owed him a favor, and he paid it by allowing them to hide the Millennium Falcon in a warehouse that was half full of what looked like dried plankton and smelled a lot like a Tatooine landfill in the heat of summer.

”Just how many people owe you favors?”

Lando flashed his bright smile. ”A whole lot of them who should never gamble. Lucky for me they do.”

”So now what?”

”We catch a ride into the Southern Underground. Keep that lightsaber out of sight but close to hand - this is not the kind of place you want to take your granny for tea, if you know what I mean.”

”Bad as Mos Eisley?”

”Parts of it are worse.”

”Great. Why are we going to such a delightful part of this chrome-plated planet, anyhow?”