Star Wars_ Death Star - Michael Reaves [140]
“Certainly, sir. Even you could do that.”
Atour gave him a look. “So if the door crew sends a signal to the Flight Control crew and instead of getting to them it goes somewhere else, then whoever gets that call could verify the orders?”
“In theory,” the droid said.
“Well, then that problem is solved. You’ll just have it set up so that that call comes here.”
The droid turned to regard him.
“Oh, don’t look at me like that—I won’t be here. You will take the call and verify it.”
“That would be illegal, sir. I cannot knowingly violate Imperial law.”
“But if I am on that shuttle and you don’t confirm the order, then I’ll be arrested, and possibly even executed.”
“In that case, my primary programming, which is to protect you from harm, would allow such illegal activity.”
Atour slapped P-RC3 on the back. “Good man. I knew I could count on you.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Set it up, Persee. I have a feeling we won’t have a lot of time. Once this station comes out of hyperspace, things will get very active around here.”
“Right away, sir.”
“I’m going to pay a visit to the local cantina now. Let me know when you get everything done.”
CONFERENCE ROOM, COMMAND CENTER, DEATH STAR
Vader was still attempting to come to terms with the disappearance of Obi-Wan. His moment of triumph as he’d cut the old man down had been short-lived. How ironic that he’d been constantly telling nonbelievers like Tarkin not to underestimate the power of the Force, and now he’d witnessed an event that made him realize he was guilty of just such heresy himself.
His Master had never spoken of Jedi just vanishing into nothingness. This bespoke a power that Vader had not yet seen, even in the dark side. But surely it must exist there. Perhaps it had something to do with the darksome hints that his Master had dropped, from time to time, about Darth Plagueis, the Sith Lord who had been Darth Sidious’s Master. Plagueis had been, according to the Emperor, obsessed with the preservation of the immaterial ego after the physical death of the body. Vader determined to ask his Master about it as soon as this distracting foolishness with the Rebels was—
The intercom beeped. Tarkin answered it. “Yes?”
“We are approaching the planet Yavin,” a tech said.
“The Rebel base is on a moon on the far side. We are preparing to orbit the planet.”
Tarkin smiled as he disconnected and looked at Vader. “Well, Lord Vader, it seems you were correct. We are almost in position to break the back of the Alliance. I am sure the Emperor will be pleased.”
“If the station performs as it is supposed to,” Vader said. He believed that it would, but Tarkin seemed a bit too smug and sure of himself. It served him to keep the man slightly on the defensive.
“Oh, it will,” Tarkin said. “I guarantee it will.”
66
THE HARD HEART CANTINA, DEATH STAR
Memah had closed the cantina again, this time ostensibly to repair a malfunctioning cooler unit.
Ratua came back to the bar, waving a small electronic device. “Sniffer says we’re still clean. No listening devices have been brought in since we got here.”
“That’s good,” Rodo said, “because if we weren’t involved in a conspiracy that would get us all shot before, we sure are now.”
Memah looked around at the others: Riten, the instigator; Dance, the TIE pilot; Kaarz, the architect; Stihl, the guard; Divini, the doctor; Rodo, Ratua, and herself. Eight of them, against the might of the Empire. Not very good odds, Memah thought. One misstep and they were all dead.
“Any questions?” Riten asked.
“It seems too easy,” Rodo said.
“Not really,” Nova said. “The station is designed to withstand massive attack from without, but nobody worries too much about security within. The place is full of stormtroopers, guards, army and navy personnel, even a few bounty hunters thrown in. Plus, the only ways in or out are well protected. And if you do manage to get out, there are enough guns to turn you into subatomic particles, and twenty-four tractor beam batteries to hold you still while they do it.”
There was a small jolt. Everyone reacted uneasily. “What now?