[Galaxy Of Fear] - 12(5)

CHAPTER 3


“Look out!” Zak shouted, scrambling away from the helmeted figure. He expected to feel another of Boba Fetes stun bolts.

Instead, a mechanical-sounding voice spoke: “There is no need to panic, Zak.”

Zak blinked. The figure standing before him wasn’t Boba Fett. In fact, it wasn’t a living creature at all. It was a droid. “Deevee!” Zak shouted.

The silver droid took another step forward. He was built to look as much like a human as possible, but the movements of his mechanical arms and legs were stiff and jerky.

“Deevee!” Tash shouted after Zak. She threw her arms around the droid.

“It’s good to see you both again,” Deevee said to the two Arrandas; then he turned to their uncle. “And Master Hoole. Welcome back to Koaan.”

Hoole, who rarely smiled, almost grinned to see his old companion. “Thank you, D-V9. I am glad you received my transmission.”

“Indeed,” the droid said. “Although I expected you to arrive by ship, not by lifepod.”

“So did we,” Zak said. “But Boba Fett had other plans.”

“Boba Fett!” squawked the droid. Deevee had been with them on their first encounter with the bounty hunter months earlier. “What does that killer want?”

“Us,” Tash answered. “The Empire has put a price on our heads.”

“Which brings us to our visit,” Hoole added. “Deevee, do you have access to the research center’s unprocessed data files?”

Deevee nodded. “Of course, Master Hoole. I’m now the assistant to the chief anthropologist. I have access to the entire facility.”

“Good,” Hoole said. “Because here is what we need …”

On the way to the research facility, Hoole-interrupted often by Zak and Tash-told Deevee everything that had happened to them over the last few months. After they had helped the Rebel Alliance destroy a terrible scientific experiment created for the Empire, Zak, Tash, and Hoole had searched for a safe place to hide. But trouble and terror seemed drawn to them the way light was drawn down a black hole in space.

“It sounds terrible,” Deevee said as they came near the research center. “Your situation has become worse since we last parted company.”

“That’s why we need a really safe place to hide,” Tash said. “Not just a distant planet. We need a planet no one has ever heard of.”

“I’m sure you’ll find it in the old catalogs,” Deevee said. “That information isn’t classified, so no one will question your presence as long as you are with me. However, Master Hoole, your face is very well known here from your days as an anthropologist. You will surely be recognized.”

“That is not a problem,” the Shi’ido replied. He closed his eyes. His gray skin seemed to wriggle across his bones for a moment-and then Hoole was gone, replaced by a very average-looking human with brown hair and brown eyes.

“Excellent,” Deevee said. “I wouldn’t want anyone to recognize you with all the stormtroopers about.”

“Stormtroopers!” Hoole said through his new shape. “There have never been stormtroopers on Koaan.”

“There are now,” the droid said with a hint of sadness in his mechanical voice. “Ever since the Rebellion, the Empire has sent military forces to control every scientific facility it owns, no matter how small. But they shouldn’t trouble us.”

Deevee was right. The Galactic Research Academy was a place of learning and a storehouse of information gathered by scientists and scholars from across the galaxy. Because it contained no military secrets and stayed out of politics, it wasn’t considered very important by the Empire or the Rebellion. As long as the Academy didn’t break any Imperial rules, it didn’t get much attention. The few Imperials on the planet were there to make sure no one spread any information that would show the Empire in a bad light.

Although Hoole’s familiar face might have caused a stir, the sight of a droid escorting one human adult and two human children made no impression at all.

Deevee led them through a courtyard where a few scholars, mostly human, hurried here and there on Academy business. They then followed Deevee into a large building several stories tall.

“All the floors above us contain the main library,” the droid explained as they reached a bank of turbolifts. “It’s one of the most complete records of galactic knowledge anywhere. But we are going down.”

A turbolift arrived and they entered. The lift descended with a gentle hum. A moment later the door opened and they found themselves facing a sour-looking man in an Imperial uniform. His skin was pale and sickly from sitting in a dingy office belowground every day.