“The door was open, so I made myself at home,” Ferus said, lounging in the chair. “I’m getting bored. I thought I’d pop by and see if you received my orders yet.”
“You are a petulant child,” Vader said.
He stood silently for a moment. Had Vader seen? He didnt think so. Did he suspect something? Definitely.
“But in this case,” Vader finally said, “you will get your wish. The Emperor wishes your presence in the conference room.”
Vader picked up the code cylinder and slipped it into his utility belt. Ferus found he was able to breathe again. He followed Vader back down the hallway to the conference room. The door slid shut behind them and the light turned red, indicating that a secure communication would take place.
The hologram of the Emperor had a purplish cast, the color of a bruise.
“Here are your orders,” the Emperor said. ,”You are to proceed to Bellassa.”
“Bellassa?” Ferus couldn’t stop from blurting out the word. Of all the places in the galaxy, he hadn’t expected to be sent back to his homeworld.
“Lord Vader needs assistance,” the Emperor said. “The Empire finds itself in need of Bellassan expertise. They are to shift their factories from the production of luxury goods to communications and infrastructure technologies. This will be of benefit to them as well. Their economy is stagnating, and we will offer a needed boost. We’re importing scientists as well”
Their economy is in trouble because of your invasion, Ferus thought angrily. This was one of the difficult problems of being a double agent - keeping your facial expressions neutral.
“You will attend various meetings,” the Emperor went on, “covered by the HoloNet and broadcast throughout Bellassa, in which the factory overhaul will be discussed. Naturally, we want to focus on the creation of jobs and new technologies.”
Of course, Ferus thought. Now he understood. He was being sent to his homeworld to sell this project to his fellow Bellassans. His very presence would be used as a club to batter Bellassans into submission. He was the former resistance hero who had thrown his support to the Empire. He would be the poster boy for collaboration and surrender.
It turned his stomach. Everyone would see him. Everyone would despise him. He didn’t know if he had the power to make anyone lose hope, but even the possibility of that sickened him.
But he couldn’t back out. He had to do it. Now more than ever. He didn’t know what Twilight was. But he knew that the Empire was planning to strike against a large, spread-out target … so he had to find out what the target was, and when the attack was planned.
Then he had to return to Rosha and find Trever … which he wouldn’t be able to do if he defied the Emperor now.
Suddenly the comm unit crackled.
“I left orders not to be disturbed!” Darth Vader’s voice was like a laserwhip.
“Lord Vader, we have starfighters on our radar not registered to the Bellassan government,” the captain said. “Possible members of the resistance.”
“I’ll come up to the bridge,” Vader said.
“It appears you are needed,” the Emperor said. “You both have your orders.”
The hologram faded. Obviously the Emperor was not concerned about the ships. He knew Lord Vader could handle it.
Curious, Ferus hurried after Vader.
Vader strode onto the bridge and went to stand behind the captain’s chair.
“They haven’t identified themselves,” the captain reported.
“Are we in Bellassan airspace?”
“Just approaching the inner atmosphere, sir.”
Ferus looked at the radar, and then out the cockpit window for a visual sighting. Suddenly the two tiny points of light moved toward them, and he saw that they were battered V-wing starfighters, left over from the Clone Wars.
“Blast them,” Vader said.
“They haven’t shot at us,” the captain said. “They’re probably just doing surveillance.”
“I gave you an order, Captain,” Vader said.
NO! Ferus wanted to shout. Those starfighters could well be staffed by someone he knew, some member of the Eleven.
Fire from the laser cannons streaked into the atmosphere. The first ship dived and rolled, trying to evade the locked-on firepower.
You can do it, just heel it over to starboard and push those engines … come on, come on …
The ship disappeared. Vapor. The second ship heeled around.
“Look at him squirm!” One of the lesser officers made the comment. Vader looked over, and the officer paled.
The captain dived, the big ship moving easily, almost gracefully.
The second laser cannon sent off an energy bolt. Pull up, pull up! Ferus felt the cry inside him. The second ship was blasted into space dust.