Secret Weapon by Jude Watson

Author:Jude Watson
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Vader, Magic, Childrens, Action & Adventure, Fantasy, Extraterrestrial Beings, Juvenile Fiction, Star Wars Fiction, General, Science Fiction, Adventure, Life on Other Planets, Darth (Fictitious Character)
ISBN: 9780439681407
Publisher: Scholastic
Published: 2007-04-01T00:00:00+00:00

“I keep it up.”

Ferus turned at the sound of the voice. A man of middle years, with silver hair, looked out the window at the garden; “It was never my job. I was in charge of security. Then I became the caretaker when it closed. But I couldn’t stand to see the weeds choking it. It was always a pretty spot. So I made sure it stayed that way, hoping the factory would reopen soon.”

“It looks like it will,” Ferus said.

“Say, aren’t you supposed to be in that meeting there?”

Ferus realized that the man hadn’t recognized him. Since Ferus wore the clothes of an outlander, the man assumed that he was one of the scientists,

“Yes, but they locked the door,” Ferus said.

The man held up a key card. “I can open it, so you can sneak in the back.”

He winked. “No sense riling up the Empire. Not these days.”

“I appreciate it,” Ferus said. Maybe he could learn something, finally, if he entered before he was supposed to.

He followed the man down the hallway and they stopped in front of the unmarked door. The man swiped his key card and the door slid open noiselessly. Ferus slipped inside. He was behind a group of Imperial security officers, all of them high-ranking. They did not turn. Darth Vader was present, requiring their attention.

The gray-faced Moff Tarkin was speaking.

“… will have the technical resources of the Empire to assist you,” he was saying. “If you need assistants or additional computers or resource materials, you can requisition them. On Bellassa the focus will be on new technologies for power conduits and modular components for artificial atmospheres on an unprecedented scale. You will divide into focus groups and attack problems with new solutions. We expect innovation and we demand results. You have the honor of working on a project that will benefit the security and stability of the entire galaxy.”

One of the scientists spoke up, a serious-looking woman in a dark burgundy tunic. “But what is the project?”

“That is on a need-to-know basis,” Tarkin said. “How can we work on this if we don’t know the big picture?” someone else asked.

Ferus felt the power of Vader’s anger ripple across the room.

“You’ve received your instructions,” Tarkin said. “I hope that all of you are happy with the arrangements the Empire made for your families.”

It was as though all the air had been sucked out of the room. The looks of impatience and condescension on the scientist’s faces changed to fear.

Ferus could smell it.

Page 32

star_wars_the_last_of_the_jedi_07_secret_weapon_by_jude_watson He realized what it meant. The Empire had taken their families. They were holding them hostage to ensure the scientists’ cooperation.

The woman in the burgundy tunic spoke up. Her voice was pitched low and did not tremble. “Will we be allowed to contact them?”

“Visits will be arranged. As long as you are able to focus on your work.

You’ll submit regular reports of your progress to me.”

When no one objected, Tarkin continued. “All of this is being done to facilitate new strides in research and discovery.

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