“Boy am I glad you showed up,” Luke called back, putting as much relief into his voice as the puffy cheeks allowed. “You don’t happen to have some sort of transport handy, do you? I’m about walked off my feet.”
There was just the slightest flicker of hesitation. “Identify yourself,” the scout repeated.
“My name’s Jade,” Luke told him. He gestured at Mara. “Got a gift here for Talon Karrde. I don’t suppose he sent some transport, did he?” —Heir to the Empire
----------------------------------------------------
The brown-and-white-speckled marble of Dromond looked small and distant where it sat centered on the Fireflower’s viewport, less than one-thousandth of a light-year away. From this distance it looked almost innocent and unassuming, even peaceful; nothing like the rumors Han had heard over the years.
Par’tah had Ma'nee take them into a tight orbit around the small planetoid she had identified, swinging them around the far side and finally bringing the ship to a cold stop. How Par’tah had known about this place Han couldn‘t say; but he guessed she’d done a fair bit more business on Dromond than a single delivery six months back. It was a cozy spot for a chat, anyway.
At last Par’tah switched off the ship’s engines and put the systems on standby. [Now,] she said, turning her chair away from the controls, [before we go any further, Iy must know preciysely what iyt iys you iyntend to accompliysh on Dromond.]
Han shared a look with Luke. “Par-tah—”
[You are about to lead my people iynto a very dangerous siytuatiyon, Solo,] she interrupted. [Iy must know why.] One of her headtails flicked closer. [Unless you wiysh for the priyce to be raiysed?]
Han rolled his eyes; but she had them, and he knew it. He let her stew for a couple more seconds anyway, then gave Luke the nod. “All right. Go ahead, kid.”
Luke took a deep breath. “New Republic Intelligence thinks one of its agents is being held in the planet’s detention center,” he explained. “We’re going to break him out.”
[Of course you are,] Par'tah said dryly. [Who iys the agent?]
“His name is Page,” Han said. “You don’t know him, but he knows you; he was with me when we met in Mos Eisley. He’s one of the best.”
Syl'va snorted. [He must not be so good, iyf he has caused hiymself to been captured,] she observed.
Han gave her a look. “Lieutenant Page is part of a select group we’ve been sending undercover into Imperial-held territory for the past few weeks. There’s a theory among the High Command that if we can get a list of all the places Thrawn’s clones have transferred through, we may be able to backtrack his pipeline to its source.”
[And you really thiynk that thiys wiyll work?] Par’tah asked.
Han shrugged. “It’s a theory. We’ll let you know.”
“Like Han said,” Luke continued, “Page and a couple other agents have been spending the past few weeks investigating a handful of sites Intelligence has identified as possible clone transfer points. He was on assignment on Cardooine when he missed his scheduled check-in. Later intercepts of Imperial communications confirm he’d been apprehended and moved to the detention center at Dromond.”
[So you are goiyng to try and break hiym out,] Par’tah finished for him. [Iy see. And how then do you iyntend to do thiys?]
“We’ll have the Fireflower land at the facility pretending to be an independent cargo ship,” Han explained. “You can rig an ID transponder that can fool an Imperial decoder, can’t you?’
[Of course we can,] Syl'va snapped. [We have some of the best encrypts iyn the busiyness.]
[And once we have landed?] Par’tah persisted. [What then? They wiyll not siymply let you waltz iynto the detentiyon blocks.]
“We have a plan,” Luke told her. “When I was stuck on Myrkr a few months ago I was able to deceive an Imperial patrol by pretending to be a bounty hunter named Jade. Han thinks the same gimmick can work here, too.”
“Did the trick on the first Death Star,” Han reminded him. Which wasn’t entirely true, he realized, thinking back to that near-disastrous rescue attempt in the Death Star‘s detention block; but there was no need to tell Par‘tah about all that. “Don’t worry, all you have to do is sit tight until we get back.”
For more than a couple moments Par’tah sat silently, considering. [Iy do not liyke iyt,] she decided. [Iyt iys a dangerous plan, and puts us all at some risk. But Iy wiyll put my faiyth iyn you, Solo,] she added, seeing the protest starting to appear on Han’s face. [And you as well, Jediy Skywalker. Iy hope you wiyll not lead us astray.]
“We won’t,” Luke promised.
Par’tah was silent for another moment. [Good,] she said at last, getting up. [Then let us get to work on your fake transponder. Your liyeutenant awaiyts us.]
* * *
“Acknowledged, Rapier,” the sharp voice of Dromond Flight Control came through the Fireflower’s speakers. “Hold position while we process your identification.”
[Copy, Control,] Syl’va said into the comm as Ma'nee moved the ship into orbit around the planet. Up close, Han decided, it didn’t look nearly as peaceful or as pleasant as it had light-years away. “Now we find out how good your encrypts really are,” he observed.
[Iyt wiyll work,] Syl'va assured him without turning around…and Han was reminded for a second of those few tense moments during their approach to Endor, waiting with held breath while the Imperials reviewed the Tydirium’s outdated clearance code. But this time he needn’t have worried. “Identification confirmed, Rapier,” Flight Control’s voice came back quickly. “You have been cleared for Landing Bay Eight.”
[Landiyng Bay Eiyght,] Syl'va repeated, this time turning around just enough to give Han a smug look. [Copy that, Control. Rapiyer out.]
“We’re in,” Luke said as Ma'nee started to bring them down. “Now what?”
“Now we get you ready for your big performance,” Han told him. “Par’tah, you got anything around here we can use as a disguise, maybe spruce Luke up a little?”
[Perhaps,] Par’tah responded. She looked between them. [Iy stiyll do not think thiys wiyll work. You know the Iymperiyals wiyll not let you enter the base armed, diysguiyse or no. You wiyll be defenseless.]
“Maybe,” Luke said, “or maybe not. They won’t let us enter the base armed with blasters, sure. But when we were on Bimmisaari a couple months ago the Bimms’ weapons detectors couldn’t pick up my lightsaber. The Imperials’ may not, either.”
[That iys an awfully biyg chance to take,] Syl'va noted.
“Maybe,” Luke said again with a shrug. “We’ll have to risk it.”
Meanwhile the Dromond horizon was growing increasingly larger in the Fireflower’s forward viewport. As they got closer Han could see the brown-and-white mass sort itself out into a rocky terrain of mountains and valleys beneath a cloud-scattered sky. Near the top of one mountain, a dark blob on the brown landscape, was the Imperial detention facility. “Here we go,” Han muttered to himself.
Ma'nee steered them towards a small opening on the facility’s far side. Even as they approached Han saw a pair of thick durasteel double-doors open wide to admit them. Like flying into a space slug’s mouth, Han realized. The thought was unsettling, and he pushed it aside.
With skill and ease Ma'nee guided them through the opening and past the doors, bringing the Fireflower down. [Now what?] Syl'va asked as Ma'nee powered the engines off.
“Now we go greet our hosts,” Han told her, studying her closely. He wasn’t great when it came to reading Ho’Din facial expressions; still, he could see the nervousness etched in her face. “Still think you’re up for beating an Imperial encrypt?” he asked her.
A couple of Syl'va’s headtails twitched. [What do you mean?] she asked.
“While we’re gone, why don’t you take a swing and see if you can slice into the facility’s mainframe,” Han suggested. “If you can do some personnel rerouting, we may have an easier time of it on the way out.”
[You are talkiyng of breachiyng one of the Empiyre’s top miyliytary encrypts.]
“Yeah, I know,” Han said. “Are you one of the best in the business, or aren’t you?”
Syl'va stared back. [Iy wiyll see what we can do,] she said, and turning back to her display got to work.
“Great,” Han said, heading for the door. “Then let’s go you prettied up, Luke. We’ve got a show to put on.”
* * *
With the heavy whir of servomotors the Fireflower’s entry ramp lowered to the ground and finally hit the deck with a metallic thunk. Taking a deep breath, trying to fight back the nervous feeling that was building in his throat, Luke started down. Already hurrying across the landing bay towards him was the youthful figure of the deck officer.
It was performance time. “Hey,” Luke called, doing his best to put a swagger in his step and a sneer in his face, “over here.”
The deck officer finished his journey across the landing bay and stopped at the foot of the ramp. “You’re the captain of this ship?” he asked.
“Maybe,” Luke said, turning his sneer into a scowl. “Who are you?”
“I am the deck officer,” the other replied with a scowl of his own, giving Luke a once-over. Luke hoped he was satisfied with what he saw. Par’tah hadn’t had much to work with; but with the benefit of a little hair-dye and a facial scar Luke at least looked the part. “Identify yourself,” the deck officer demanded.
“The name’s Jade,” Luke told him, puffing out his chest just enough. “Bounty hunter by trade. But maybe you already heard of me?” he added.
The deck officer’s scowl grew a little deeper. “I can’t say that I have, Captain Jade,” he said. “And maybe you haven’t heard, but this is an Imperial detention facility, not a cantina on Phorliss. Bounty hunters generally aren’t welcome here.”
“Easy now,” Luke suggested, raising his hands, “no need to be nasty. As it happens, I’ve got a little package here you Imperials might be interested in. Something even for Grand Admiral Thrawn himself.”
That piqued the deck officer’s interest. “For the Grand Admiral?” he repeated.
“That’s right,” Luke confirmed. “So why don’t you just run off and tell your commanding officer that Jade the bounty hunter has got some top-quality merchandise. And is looking to get paid.”
For a moment the deck officer was silent, and judging from his expression and the turmoil of thoughts coming off him Luke was afraid he’d laid the last part on too thick. But at last he said, “All right,” and pulling out his comlink he started moving a little away from Luke, “stay here while I get my commanding officer on the line. And don‘t touch anything.”
It took longer than Luke would have otherwise expected for the base commander to finally make it down to the landing bay. When he finally showed up, he didn’t do so alone: six shiny stormtroopers were in tow behind him. “What’s going on here?” the man demanded of the deck officer before turning to Luke. “Captain Jade, I presume?”
“That’s right,” Luke said. “You the base commander?”
“I am Major Nerid; and yes, I am in charge of this facility.” He glanced again at the deck officer. “I understand you have some ‘top-quality merchandise’ you’re looking to get off your hands.”
“That’s right,” Luke confirmed. “If you’re willing to pay.”
“That will of course depend on who exactly we’re talking about here,” Nerid pointed out.
“Fair enough,” Luke allowed. He waited a beat. “How much is Han Solo worth to you?”
Behind Nerid the deck officer let out a slight gasp. Nerid gave him a look before turning round to Luke again, his expression stony and unreadable. “Han Solo,” he repeated, and it was hard to tell in his voice if he truly didn‘t believe Luke or just didn’t want to. “Really? You can’t be serious.”
Luke looked him dead in the eye. “I don’t joke about business.”
“Prove it.”
Luke shrugged; and with a casual gesture waved up into the Fireflower. There was the loud clank of bootsteps coming down the metal ramp…and then from the shadows Chewbacca emerged, his usual bandolier replaced by a much more ornate-looking baldric. Stumbling in front of him came the shackled figure of Han Solo.
It was Nerid’s turn to gasp. “Well, well,” the major said…but he was smiling broadly, too. “I really don’t believe it. General Solo. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Just Solo,” Han told him with forced bravado. “I resigned my commission months ago.”
“Of course,“ Nerid’s reply came back smugly. “I just hope the Republic is still willing to pay top dollar for your return. How did you find him?” he asked Luke.
“Caught him while he was snooping around Ketaris,” Luke said, improvising.
“Ketaris, is it? And what was he doing there, I wonder? No matter,” he added at Han’s glare, “we’ll get the information out of him soon enough. Commander,” he indicated, and one of the stormtroopers stepped forward. “Take our new guest down to the detention block. Let’s find him someplace cozy to wait while we figure out exactly what it is we’re going to do with him.”
“Yes, sir,” the stormtrooper said, starting forward…but Luke raised a hand. “Just hold on a second,” he interrupted, taking a step between Han and Nerid. “What exactly do you think you’re doing?”
Nerid’s smile disappeared, replaced by a look of anger and impatience. “We’re taking the prisoner into custody,” he said. “Do you have a problem with that, bounty hunter?”
“You bet I do, Major,” Luke snapped back. “You think I’m gonna let you Imperials take my prize and get all the credit? Solo doesn’t go anywhere until I get paid.”
“You will be compensated more than fairly,” Nerid said, studying Luke’s face closely. A little too closely for Luke’s taste. “Fifty-thousand, I believe is the current listed bounty. I trust that is satisfactory?”
“Sure is,” Luke nodded, “just as soon as I get it. Until then, Solo doesn’t leave my sight.”
“I need authorization before I can dispense that kind of money…” Nerid started.
“Then go get it.” And now he rested a hand on the blaster he had tied to his waist. “Until you do, we all stay right here.”
He sensed the sudden tension in the stormtroopers, and certainly saw as they half-raised their blasters in his direction. “I’m not moving an inch till I see every last credit of my fifty-thousand,” Luke added anyway, ignoring them. He paused. “Unless you think the Republic’s willing to pay more?”
Nerid was silent for a moment, considering. But Luke had pushed him just far enough; he could feel the confusion and indecision swirling through the major’s mind. “All right,” Nerid said, and he waved for the stormtroopers to stand down, “all right. A compromise, then. Standard protocol dictates that I take any prisoners into custody immediately. But if you’re really that concerned you can go down with him to the cellblocks, until I receive authorization from my superiors. Is that satisfactory?”
“Yeah, who wouldn’t want to wait in an Imperial cell?” Luke snorted. But he shrugged. “Okay, you’ve got yourself a deal. But no funny business,” he continued, pointing a finger in Nerid’s face. “You try and pull something cute, and my crew here is gonna have something to say about it. You got that?”
“I understand entirely, Captain Jade,” Neri said, glaring at the offending finger. He motioned to the stormtrooper commander again. “Commander, would you please?”
The stormtrooper stepped forward again; but not, this time, toward Han. “What’s going on?” Luke demanded as the stormtrooper came up to him.
“Hand over your blaster, please,” the stormtrooper said in his monotone voice.
Luke scoffed. “You want my what?”
“Your blaster,” Nerid interjected. “Unauthorized personnel aren’t allowed weapons on my base.”
“Look, Nerid—”
“Weapons aren’t allowed, period,” Nerid insisted. “If you don’t like it, you can get back in your ship and take your chances with the Republic. That is, if you think you can make it out of the system before I‘m instructed to take you into custody, too.”
Luke took his best stab at a glare; but with exaggerated reluctance he unfastened his gun belt and placed it in the stormtrooper’s expectant hand. “Anything else?” he asked.
“Commander,” Nerid gestured, and now the stormtrooper stepped up holding a palm-sized device Luke didn’t recognize. Some kind of weapons detector, he realized, though not one of a make he’d seen before. Luke felt a brief moment of panic as the stormtrooper ran it over the length of his body, afraid they’d gambled too far and the lightsaber would be detected. But then came a tiny beep. “He’s clean,” the stormtrooper informed Nerid.
Luke let out a concealed breath of relief. So far, so good. “Good,” Nerid said. If he was disappointed, it didn't sound in his voice. “Now the Wookiee.”
The stormtrooper ran the weapons detector over Chewbacca and received the same tiny beep. “They're both clean, sir,” the stormtrooper confirmed.
“Very good. Now have your squad take Solo and our new guests down for processing. The rest of you, come with me.”
At a gesture from their commander three more stormtroopers moved into position around Han: left, right, and behind. The remaining troopers followed Nerid as the major marched off. “Be quick about that payment, okay, Major?” Luke called after them. “I want my money and I want it soon.”
“This way,” the commander indicated, pointing towards the door.
Together the seven of them headed out the door and down the main corridor: the stormtrooper commander in front, followed by Luke, Chewbacca, and a shackled Han; and the remaining stromtroopers keeping an eye out behind them. For a moment Luke was reminded of a similar scene not too long ago: with Han and Mara, surrounded by a stormtrooper squad in Hyllyard City on Myrkr.
But no, Luke told himself. This time it was different. This time, they had the advantage. And this time, the Force was with him.
At last they came to a lift station at the end of the hall, and the stormtrooper commander keyed for a turbolift car. While they waited Luke whistled impatiently. “Come on,” he grumbled after a couple minutes, “you think you guys could move things any slower around here?” He noticed one of the stormtroopers looking at him. “What’s your deal?”
The stormtrooper stared at him for another moment. “Your face looks familiar,” he said. “Have we met before?”
“I don’t think so,” Luke said, staring back at the other’s emotionless white faceplate. “You ever done any swoop-racing on Caprioril?”
He was saved from further comment by the arrival of the turbolift car. “Let’s go,” the commander waved them in as the door slid open.
They all scurried onto the lift. One of the stormtroopers hit another key; and off they went. “Hey,” Luke asked, poking the commander on the shoulder…and as he did so he reached a covert hand down and switched on the comlink at his belt. “So where are we going, exactly?”
“Detention center,” the commander responded, “Cellblock E, Level Five.”
“Thanks,” Luke said, standing back—and hoping Par’tah and Syl’va and whoever else was listening at the other end had gotten that. They were in it now. There was no going back.
* * *
Five minutes later they arrived at the detention facility proper. It looked exactly as Luke remembered, even all these years later: the small entry area directly off the lift, with the curved consoles and surveillance cameras; the long, hexagonal corridor leading to the cells themselves. In nine years it looked like the Empire hadn’t bothered to switch up its prison design much.
Luke and the others dawdled off the lift, followed by the commander and his stormtroopers. From where he was standing behind one of the consoles a black-clad lieutenant looked up. “What’s going on here?”
“New prisoner for processing,” the commander said, and the stormtroopers pushed Han forward. “Top priority. Major‘s orders.”
“I see,” the guard said, looking Han up and down. “And what about these two?” he asked, gesturing at Luke and Chewbacca.
“We’re the ones that brought him in,” Luke said proudly.
“Major Nerid has ordered that they be allowed to wait with the prisoner,” the commander added.
The lieutenant considered for a moment. “I don’t like it,” he decided, giving Luke a distasteful look. “But if those are the Major's orders…” He pointed at two of his guards. “You two, take the prisoner to Cell 5306,” he said, and the two guards he had pointed at moved away from the wall and started heading towards Han.
Han glanced at Luke, and Luke gave him the fractional nod: it was now or never. So unhooking the trick cuffs shackling his hands and arms, Han suddenly surged forward, taking a swing at the nearest stormtrooper and knocking him to the ground. The other troopers started grabbing Han by the armpits and pulling him off, joined quickly by the two black-clad guards. With a yell Han kicked out his feet, and together the entire group tumbled in a heap to the floor; with a considerably more impressive roar of his own, Chewbacca suddenly stretched out his arms and dove in after them.
The two of them had the element of surprise, sure. But the Imperials had the weapons. And the armor. And the numbers.
The one thing they didn’t have was a Jedi.
Luke reached a hand up into his left sleeve; and out now came his lightsaber. It burst to life with the usual snap-hiss, and the entry area was suddenly lit up with an eerie green-white light. Luke went for the stormtroopers first, cutting down two of them before they even realized what was going on. The third one went down just as easily, turning a little too slowly as he realized the sudden threat behind him. The stormtrooper commander was last, and Luke pulled his lightsaber free of his jumbled remains just as the first blaster shots went off in his direction. But blasters were all but useless against a Jedi with a lightsaber in his hands. Three shots were fired; three blaster bolts were deflected back in the direction of their origin, and three black-clad troopers fell to the deck. A fourth fell from a shot from Luke’s left; Han, finally getting his hands on a blaster.
Just like that, it was all over.
“Took you long enough,” Han grumbled, rubbing his cheek where one of the stormtroopers had managed to land a punch. “Why did I have to play the prisoner, anyway?”
“Chewie did it last time,” Luke reminded him, shutting down his lightsaber and moving around to the control panel. That lieutenant had managed to get the alarm off before they’d had a chance to take him down, and a red light was flashing on the main display.
“No, I did it last time,” Han said. “On Myrkr, remember?” Behind him Chewbacca urfed a comment.
“He’s right,” Luke agreed, ignoring the flashing light and bringing up the prisoner list. Somewhere on here should be Page’s cell… “That’s not fair. Chewie wasn’t on Myrkr.”
“Well, he’s going next time for sure,” Han said, checking the last of the stormtroopers to ensure they were all out before coming up beside Luke. “You find Page’s cell yet?”
“Not yet,” Luke said. “That lieutenant started some kind of lockdown, and the systems seems to be frozen.”
“Here, let me try,” Han said, pushing Luke aside. He tapped a few keys on the display… “There: Cell 5729. Chewie and me’ll go get him. You check in with Par’tah.”
“On it,” Luke said, even as Han and Chewbacca were already scurrying down the single corridor. “Par’tah?” he said into the comlink. “Are you there?”
There was a slight hiss of static, and then, [Iy am here, Jediy Skywalker,] came Par’tah’s response. [We heard a fiyrefiyght before. Are you okay?]
“I’m fine,” Luke assured her. “Is Syl’va with you?”
[Iy am here also, Jediy Skywalker,] Syl’va answered. [How can Iy assiyst you?]
“That’s going to depend. Were you able to slice into the facility mainframe like Han asked?”
There was some more static at the other end. [Iyt was diyffiycult,] Syl’va’s voice broke through at last. [They are usiyng an encrypt Iy have not encountered before. But Iy beliyeve Iy have sliyced iyt, yes.]
“Good,” Luke said. “Then I need you to activate a full lockdown. Not just the detention center; the entire facility. Especially the turbolift cluster near Cellblock E, Level Five.”
[Iy can do that,] Syl’va assured him. [But how wiyll you get back to the shiyp iyf the turbolifts are locked down?]
“Don’t worry about that right now,” Luke told her. “Just get that lockdown going.”
He replaced the comlink at his belt, even as the sound of footsteps came up behind him. Luke turned around to see Han and Chewbacca returning, followed by a medium-height, utterly nondescript-looking man. “I don’t believe it,” Lieutenant Page said. “Luke Skywalker himself. I feel so fortunate.”
“Believe it,” Luke said, sizing the other up. Page looked a little starved and sleep-deprived, but not much worse for wear. “You fit to go?”
“Yes, sir, Commander,” Page assured him, picking up one of the blaster rifles dropped by the stormtroopers. “Frankly, I’m looking forward to giving back to the Empire as good as I got.”
“Don’t get too excited, Page,” Han advised him. “If everything goes to plan, it won’t come to that. Luke?”
“Syl’va is in,” Luke assured him. “She’s locking down the base now. It won’t buy us more than a couple minutes, though.”
“Then let’s get going,” Han suggested.
“Sure thing,” Luke said, stepping up into the hexagonal corridor. “Come on, Page. Back this way.”
He started leading the way back down the corridor, with the others trailing close behind. “With all due respect, Commander,” Page started, “the main entrance is the only way in or out of the detention block. Uh,” he broke off as a new thought suddenly occurred to him, “you’re not taking the garbage chute again, are you?”
“No, Page, we’re not taking the garbage chute,” Luke told him, smiling to himself. Their unorthodox escape from the Death Star detention center was something of a legend among the New Republic military. At the time it had been an act of improvisation, even desperation.
Of course, back then Luke hadn’t been proficient with a lightsaber. “Stand back,” he told the others as they came to the end of the corridor. With another snap-hiss he switched the weapon back on.
“What are you going to do?” Page asked.
Behind them down the corridor came suddenly the echo of distant clanks. “Sounds like the Imperials have finally managed to break into the turbolift shaft,” Han noted. “Come on, kid, we need a hole here.”
“I’m on it,” Luke said, and with the tip of his lightsaber started carving a hole through the wall. It only took him a couple seconds and a few quick cuts to fashion something large enough for even Chewbacca to squeeze in. “Let’s go,” he said, switching the lightsaber down.
One-by-one they passed through. “What now?” Han asked when the three of them were all safely on the other side.
“I’m not sure,” Luke admitted, taking a look around. They appeared to be in some kind of maintenance tunnel, used mostly for droids and service techs. “This way,” Luke decided, pointing toward the right.
Han peered down the dark passageway. “Okay,” he said, starting down the tunnel. “I hope you know what you’re doing, kid.”
“Hey, it’s me,” Luke retorted, flicking on his comlink. “Par’tah, we have Page and we’re on our way. I need the Fireflower prepped and ready to go by the time we get there.”
He got an acknowledgment and the comm went dead. Meanwhile, coming through the thin hole behind them, Luke caught the barely-audible buzz of laser cutters. “They’ve almost breached the lockdown,” he observed, replacing the comlink at his belt.. “Let’s get moving.”
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