Part 33 (1/2)
This last was uttered as Luke used the Force to take control of the man's thoughts. You'd think a crack trooper in the service of the Empire would have a stronger mind than this guy did. Then again, if he did, he probably wouldn't be in the Imperial military, he'd be working for the Alliance...
Luke ordered the man to strip, then to have a seat and a nice long nap.
He shucked his own clothes and hurriedly dressed in the borrowed uniform.
He kept the blaster, tucked his lightsaber into his waistband under the jacket, moved into the communal part of the refresher, and examined himself in the mirror. Not bad.
Behind him, Lando emerged from a stall, dressed in a similar uniform.
Lando adjusted the belt with his new sidearm and brushed lint from the right sleeve.
”Women love a man in a uniform,” he said. He lifted his helmet and slipped it on.
”Let's hope they don't see the man behind the armor,” Luke said.
The two of them squared their shoulders, stuck their chests out, and affected an Imperial swagger as they exited the 'fresher.
Vader stood at the ramp leading to the Emperor's personal shuttle, looking down at the shorter man.
”I antic.i.p.ate that I shall return in three weeks,” the Emperor told him.
”I trust you can keep the planet from falling apart while I am gone?”
”Yes, my master.”
”I expect no less. Any news of Skywalker?”
”Not yet. We'll find him.”
”Perhaps sooner than you expect.”
Vader stared at the Emperor, who wore a half smile that revealed his damaged teeth. Had he foreseen something? The Emperor was still more attuned to the dark side than Vader was. Had he gleaned some new information about Luke?
If he had, he was not ready to reveal it, for he turned and allowed himself to be escorted up the ramp by a squad of the Imperial Royal Guard in their ceremonial red robes and matching armor.
The tap of the Emperor's twisted walking stick on the ramp was quite loud in the silence.
Of all the people in the galaxy, the Emperor trusted Darth Vader most; at least that's what Vader liked to believe. And as far as he was able to determine, the length of that trust was no farther than an outstretched arm could reach.
No matter. He was right about one thing: Sooner or later Luke would surface. A light that bright could not be hidden for long. By his nature the boy would have to burn hot enough to be visible to one who had the power and the knowledge of how to look for him. Once a Jedi began to grow in the Force, the process was not easily stopped. In Luke's case, Vader doubted that it could be stopped.
They would meet again. A week, a month, a year-it did not really matter.
It would happen.
Meanwhile, he would keep a sharp eye on the ac-tions of an enemy all too close to home. Even now, Vader's agents sought every sc.r.a.p of information they had not already found on the Underlord of Black Sun.
That, too, would simply be a matter of time. Once you knew the direction, the trip was made easier, and sooner or later, Xizor would make an error.
He would stumble.
When he did, Vader would be waiting to catch him.
31.
”Well,” Luke said, ”this is a better neighborhood than where we were before, but where exactly are we going?”
Lando pointed. ”There.”
”A plant shop?”
”Don't let it fool you. It's run by an old Ho'Din name of Spero. He's got a lot of connections, some Imperial, some Alliance, some criminal.”
”Let me guess: He owes you a favor.”
”Not exactly. But we've done some business in the past and he doesn't mind making a few credits pa.s.sing along information.”
They headed for the shop.
”We're getting a lot of dirty looks,” Luke said.
”It's the uniforms. The Empire doesn't have many friends down here. Most of the locals are probably on the run, one step ahead of being arrested.
They won't bother us as long as we don't stick our noses in the wrong place. Don't want to bring Imperial heat and light into their hideout.”
Inside the shop there was no sign of the Ho'Din owner. Except for Luke and Lando, the place was empty.
”n.o.body home,” Luke said. ”That's odd, isn't it?”
”Yeah, odd. I-”
Somebody said something behind them. Luke didn't understand what it was, but he recognized the language: Wookiee.
”Easy, friend,” Lando said. ”n.o.body is going to make any sudden moves.”
He lifted his hands away from his body, told Luke to do the same.
The Wookiee speaker said something else.
Something about the voice...
”Turn around, nice and slow,” Lando told Luke.
They turned.
Sure enough, there was a Wookiee standing there. One with a bad haircut- ”Chewie!” Lando said.