Fate of the Jedi - 04 - Backlash by Star Wars

Author:Star Wars
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Science Fiction
ISBN: 9780345509086
Published: 2010-01-26T00:00:00+00:00

ABOARD THE MILLENNIUM FALCON, DATHOMIR SPACEPORT

“We could call the spaceport guards.” Allana kept her voice hopeful. There had to be an answer that would keep Monarg away from her, and she hadn’t exhausted the full range of adults-coming-to-her-rescue options yet.

C-3PO, now in the copilot’s seat, sounded less sure. “Analysis of recent events, local records, and other probabilities suggests that any involvement of local authorities will result in the Millennium Falcon being seized and you being held to compel the surrender of Master Han and Mistress Leia. The likelihood that local authorities know their true identities, and are merely waiting for some authorization or provocation to move, approaches a certainty.”

“Speak Basic, Threepio.”

Something moved into the field of Allana’s vision on the ground before the Falcon’s cockpit. It was Monarg, his expression clearly unhappy even in the limited light being cast through the forward viewports. With him were some broad-shouldered men in festive garments, likely friends of Monarg’s rounded up while dining or drinking in the spaceport’s limited facilities, and a rolling gantry—a mechanism that was half droid, half metal stepladder.

Monarg held up what was in his hand, an industrial-strength cutter-welder. He pointed at it, then pointed at Allana. Finally he walked around to the Falcon’s side, out of Allana’s sight, followed by his companions.

“Not good, not good, not good.” C-3PO sounded distinctly worried. “I calculate that even with the Millennium Falcon’s formidable armor plating, a tool like that, competently utilized, will allow him to cut his way through in a matter of minutes.”

R2-D2 rolled in, back from his errand retrieving Allana’s escape cable and sealing up the topside hatch through which she and Anji had made their exit. He tweetled.

“Artoo mentions that there is an antipersonnel blaster cannon situated very near the loading ramp, which is where that scoundrel is preparing to make his assault on our armor.”

The astromech tweetled again.

“Oh. I was not supposed to convey that information to you. In no way was he recommending that you activate the antipersonnel weapon and annihilate our tormenter.” C-3PO turned toward the astromech. “Of course, we can’t use it, either, so why mention it at all?”

Tweetle.

“No, it’s not a part of my programming that I’ve ever endeavored to overcome.”

Allana looked over the ship’s controls, momentarily overwhelmed by their number and complexity. She looked for something, some button marked REPEL BAD MEN, anything that would get her out of this jam.

There was no such button, and when she looked out the cockpit canopy again, she saw two more figures running toward the Falcon—a tall broad-shouldered man and a female companion—and they were both wearing coats with hoods pulled up to cover their heads. Didn’t bad people always try to hide their faces?

Allana looked back at the control board. No, there was no single button that would help. But there was … all of them.

Allana was a very good student when the subject was interesting, and the Falcon was very interesting.

Tentatively at first, she began flipping switches in the ship’s power start-up procedure.

“Mistress Allana, what exactly are you doing?”

R2-D2 tweetled.

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