Star Wars_ Rebel Force 03_ Renegade - Alex Wheeler [31]
Not that the Commander believed in applying his own force. He preferred a more elegant style of punishment.
X-f0 7 suppressed a shudder. "Tatooine," he said, with a certainty he didn't feel. Extensive analysis of Luke's computer records had turned up traces of a deleted communication from several weeks before. An invitation to attend a gathering of old friends on his home planet, conveniently set for this week. There was no other evidence that Luke was there—along with no evidence whatsoever that he was anywhere else. It was X-f0 7's best lead, and it would have to do.
"This delay is unacceptable, X-f0 7," the Commander said.
"Yes, Commander," X-f0 7 said obediently.
"You will go there now, and you will kill him."
X-f0 7 nodded. "Am I still to maintain my cover as Tobin Elad?"
"If possible," the Commander said. "But your first priority is Skywalker's death. If you need to reveal yourself to do so—" His face wrinkled in distaste, and X-f0 7 knew exactly what he was thinking. X-f0 7 had been given a mission, and he had proven himself inadequate to the task. The Commander was now easing his standards. If you need to reveal yourself meant If you're so incompetent that you can't do what I wanted you to do. X-f0 7 would pay for that later.
He was paying for it now, with a deep, throbbing pain radiating from his chest and head, so intense it was nearly paralyzing. The Commander had taught him well, and X-f0 7's body remembered as well as his brain. The Commander's displeasure was X-f0 7's agony, whether they were in the same room or halfway across the galaxy from each other.
"It will be done, Commander," X-f0 7 said.
"And then you will report to me," the Commander said.
"That's not necessary—"
"You defy me?" the Commander asked in a level voice, raising his eyebrow.
The ghost of a smile passed across his face.
"Never," X-f0 7 said.
"Then when the job is done, you will report to me," he reported. "For further training. You seem to need a refresher."
Further training meant further pain. Meant further hours in the dark, with the needles and the blades. It also meant returning to the only place he would ever call a home.
"Yes, sir," X-f0 7 said in a thin voice. "I look forward to it."
And deep down, in a dark, hidden corner of his mind, this was true.
The stormtroopers didn't know what hit them. They were expecting to find Han behind the bulkheads—not crashing through the ceiling of the shuttle bay, blaster blazing. He took down the two nearest stormtroopers before they had time to react. Chewbacca, storming in with two of the prisoner Wookiees on his heels, took care of the other six. Laserfire streaked across the shuttle bay, sparking and sizzling against the durasteel of the shuttle bodies. Alarms blared, but—as they'd originally planned before Lore's betrayal—Chewbacca had disabled the poorly protected shield systems that would have prevented an unauthorized departure. All they needed to do was select a shuttle, and they were good to go.
Han picked the ugliest of the ships, a Lambda with scarred wings and a gaping hole in the cargo unit. Something about it reminded him of the Falcon.
And, he rationalized, if it had endured this much damage, it must be able to really fly.
"Whoa there," Han said, as the other two Wookiees tried to pile in after Chewbacca. "Where do you think you're going?"
Chewbacca growled, and gestured for the Wookiees to come inside.
"What do you mean they're coming with us?" Han asked, with a pointed look at the useless cargo hold and the cramped cabin. "Does it look like we have room for strays?"
Chewbacca growled again, pointing out that the Wookiees had helped him escape and now he was returning the favor.
Then he reminded Han that if it wasn't for his help, Han would be stewing in an Imperial interrogation chamber right about now.
Han sighed. He'd always had a soft spot for Wookiees. It couldn't hurt to help a couple of them break free.
Even if it would