Star Wars_ Death Star - Michael Reaves [48]
“I will wait for a time before I examine the remaining prisoners,” Vader continued. “Give them a chance to learn of this man’s fate. See that they hear of it ‘accidentally.’ ”
Tarkin nodded. It was ruthless, but certainly he could see the value of it. After all, was not this battle station the grandest example of the doctrine that fear itself was the most potent of weapons?
“I will return to my ship now,” Vader informed him.
“We have quarters for you here, Lord Vader—”
“I prefer my own.” With a swirl of his cape, Vader turned and departed.
Tarkin quelled the annoyance he felt at Vader’s dismissive attitude; he’d expected no less. He glanced at the dead man, and then looked at the coterie of guards and officers crowded into the small chamber, several of whom were obviously still stunned by what they had seen. “Take the body to the recycler level and dispose of it. And see to it that the guards allow the prisoners to overhear conversations about what happened here—in florid detail.”
For a moment, no one moved. Tarkin looked about the room. “Am I talking simply to hear my own voice?”
That got results. Quickly, a pair of guards bent to gather up the corpse.
Tarkin left the brig, striding down the narrow corridor, flanked by his adjutants. Vader was about as controllable as a rogue reek, but he did get results. Tarkin would be surprised if the other personnel being held in connection with the sabotage were not quick to give up what they knew after hearing of this.
If they knew anything at all …
Still, if it cost a handful of prisoners to help keep this from happening again, that was a small price to pay. There were plenty of others to replace them.
TERMINUS FOURTEEN ACCESS CORRIDOR, DEATH STAR
Master Chief Petty Officer Tenn Graneet was in the corridor leading away from the shuttle that had brought him to the battle station when he saw a lone figure striding toward him, all in black, with a cape rippling behind. He recognized the man immediately, from innumerable news holos he’d seen.
It was Darth Vader, the Emperor’s enforcer.
Son of a bantha, Tenn thought. He’d known the man was here on an inspection tour, but he certainly didn’t expect to encounter him walking down a corridor all by himself, with no protective entourage. Although, given everything he’d heard about Vader’s highly touted skill with that Jedi akk-sticker hooked to his belt, why shouldn’t he be?
Tenn kept walking. So did Vader. The corridor, one of the peripheral passageways that led from the shuttle terminus, wasn’t exactly narrow, but it wasn’t terribly wide, either. Tenn realized that Vader’s course was such that the mysterious cloaked figure would run smack into him unless one of them shifted to the side.
For a moment, Tenn considered holding to his path, just to see what Vader would do. It was a common game among navy personnel, a test of will and dominance, to see who would veer away first, and CPO Tenn Graneet seldom had to give space to anybody—save, of course, superior officers. Vader, however, wasn’t in the navy, so technically he didn’t outrank Tenn.
It was tempting, but only momentarily. Vader’s pace was fast, and Tenn didn’t think the man in black had any intention of altering his course even a hair. Tenn Graneet thought himself as tough as a vacuum seal, but he wasn’t stupid or suicidal. He allowed himself to drift to the right, just enough so that when they passed, their shoulders were within a hand span—actually, Vader’s shoulder passed within a hand span of the top of Tenn’s head. Close enough so that the edge of the flowing black cape slid over Tenn’s arm and threatened to catch, for just an instant, on the chief’s chrono. The material had a smooth, silky texture, and was cooler than he would have thought.
In fact, the very air seemed cold in the wake of Vader’s passage.
Tenn slowed his pace slightly, feeling as if he had just brushed up against a primal force of nature; the edge of a hurricane, perhaps, or an icy comet that simply could not be stopped. Had he challenged Vader by staying in his path, he had no doubt that