990: Signal

Fleet Commander Modi walked into the quiet conference room, and the linear lights on the wall reflected lights and shadows on his face. He stared at the place where the Governor of Tartin stood in front of the screen, bent down and bowed slightly. Although an emerald-like planet appeared on the screen, he still solemnly announced: "We have entered the Alderland system and waited for your order."

A signal came from the door. Tartin pretended to be gentle and gestured to the commander-in-chief of the fleet, saying, "Wait for a while, Modi."

The door slid to one side. Lea Organa walked in, and the two armed guards sub-stations were followed by Darth Vader.

"I am-" Talkin said.

"I know who you are," she said contemptuously. "Governor of Tartin. I have long seen that you are the chief culprit of the instigator Vader. As soon as I was taken on this boat, I smelled your unique stench."

"It was still so charming until the last moment," Taltin said, but his expression showed that he was not fascinated by her at all. "You don't know how difficult it is to sign the order that ends your life." He pretended to be regretful. "Of course, if you are willing to cooperate in our investigation, you will not end today. Lord Vader has told me that you resist our traditional way of investigation-"

"You mean torture and torture?" she asked back weakly.

"Let's not argue about Chinese literature." Talgin smiled.

"I am surprised that you have the courage to put the responsibility for issuing such orders on yourself."

Talkin sighed reluctantly. "I am a loyal person, and I have very little fun to kill myself. But one of them is that you hope that you can attend a small ceremony as a guest before the execution. It will prove the operating status of this battle base and usher in a new era of imperial technical hegemony. This base is the last link in the newly forged chain to connect the millions of planets of the galaxy empire once and for all. Your small alliance will no longer be worthy of our worries. After today's demonstration, there will never be any more daring to disobey the will of the Empire, even the Senate."

Organa looked at him with contempt and said, "Violence cannot force the empire together. No violence can hold anything together for a long time. The tighter your hand holds, the more planets will leak out of your fingers. You are a fool, the governor. The fool is often suffocated by his own delusions."

Talkin showed a skeleton-like hideous smile, his face frigid and cold as if he was dead. "Look at what method Lord Vader used to defeat you, it's quite interesting. I'm sure this method is reasonable to you and him.

"But before you die, we must demonstrate the power of this battle base once and for all in the last way. The target we demonstrated this time was in a sense that you decided. Since you are unwilling to tell us the location of the rebellion base, we think that your hometown planet Alderland should be used instead of it as the target of the demonstration."

"No, you can't do this! Alderland is a peaceful planet, not even a standing army. You can't..."

Tartin's eyes flashed, "Would you choose another target, a military target? We agree... to say its name." He shrugged artificially. "I'm tired of this kind of game. This is your last chance, and you have to tell where the general base for the rebellion is!"

A sound came from the concealed speakers, announcing that they had entered the anti-gravity field range of Alderan—a distance of about six planetary diameters. This announcement accomplished something that Vader had failed to accomplish with all kinds of demonic means.

"Dantuin," she said softly, her eyes fixed on the deck, and her tough look disappeared, "They are in Dantuin,"

Tartin whined with satisfaction and turned toward Darth Vader standing nearby: "See, Lord Vader. She is also reasonable. As long as people pay attention to the way they ask questions, they can lure the answers they want." Then he ordered the other officers: "Finish the small experiment here, and then fly to Dantuine immediately. You can start working, gentlemen."

Tartin's words were so careless that after a few seconds, Organa understood their meaning. She finally screamed: "What?!"

"Dantuin," Talkin explained, while studying his fingers, "It's too far from the center of the empire's inhabitants. It doesn't work as a target. In order to spread our power faster throughout the empire, we need a lively planet in the center to target. But you don't have to worry. We will deal with your rebel comrades on Dantuin as quickly as possible."

"But you said..." Organa protested.

"The words that really make sense are the last words," said Taltin sarcastically, "we will destroy Alderland as planned. Then, you will join us in the wonders of destroying the stupid and futile rebellion center Dantuin planet."

He gestured to the soldiers on both sides of her. "Go to the Lord's Observation Stand with her," he smiled, "to make sure she takes a good look without any restraint."

Solo was busy checking the meter readings in the main cabin, moving a small box over various sensors from time to time, studying the results, giggling with joy.

"Don't worry about your Empire friends anymore," he told Luke and Bain, "they can't catch up with us anymore, I said I'll get rid of them."

Corotby would have nodded slightly to answer, but he was busy explaining something to Luke.

"You guys don't thank me quickly," Solo complained a little angrily, "no matter what, the navigation computer calculates that we will enter the Alderland track at 0200. After this small adventure is over, I'm afraid I will have to recreate a fake registration certificate."

He turned around and continued to check the instrument. He passed by a small round table. The tabletop was a chessboard covered with tens of thousands of grids, and the light shone out from below. Computer monitors were installed on both sides of the table, and many small three-dimensional human images were transmitted from the small grid of the tabletop.

Chobaka sat on the side of the table with his waist bent, holding his chin with two big hands, his big eyes glowing brightly, and his whiskers on his face looked completely contented.

Before Adu Dedu stretched out his short, thick hooked hand to press his computer monitor, Chobaka maintained that proud look. With Adu Dedu pressing, a human figure immediately walked to the new chess grid and stopped.

Chobaka studied this new move, his face slowly turned from confusion to anger. He raised his head, his eyes widened, and drove at the honest robot. Adu could only make a beeping sound to answer. Snapier quickly inserted it, quarreling with the big sub-apiens on behalf of his stupid-mouthed companion.

"He has an open and honest move, and it's useless for you to make a big fuss."

Hearing the riot, Solo turned his head and frowned slightly. "Forget it, your friend won anyway, and it would be unwise to argue with an ape,"

"I understand what you mean, sir," Snapier retorted, "but it is a matter of principle. There are always some standards that all sentient beings must follow, and if the principle is traded for a reason, such as being intimidated, then he will give up his right to be called a smart creature."

"After Chobaka twisted your arms and your little friend off," Solo advised, "I hope you can remember these words."

"Also," Snapier continued without fear, "greed becomes a person, and bullying the weak with strength can only show moral depravity."

Unexpectedly, this sentence aroused Adu's dissatisfaction, and the two robots quarreled fiercely in electronic language. Chobaka continued to curse at them in turn, and the transparent human elephant who was waiting patiently on the chessboard waved their hands at them.

Luke didn't pay attention to the quarrel at all. He stood quietly in the center of the main cabin, holding a light-saber high above his head. The ancient weapon made a low buzz. Under the gesture of Corotbie's eyes, Luke sometimes slashed and sometimes dodged. Solo looked at Ke's clumsy movements from time to time, and his thin face showed a look of complacency.

"No, Luke. The assassination must be coherent and not so intermittent," Korubi pointed out gently. "Remember, 'power' is omnipresent. It radiates from your body and wraps you. In fact, a Jedi Knight can actually feel the specific existence of 'power'."

"So, is it an energy field?" Luke asked.

"It is an energy field, not just that," said Corobbi mysteriously. "This is an electric wind that has both dominance and obedience, and it is a vague thing that can create miracles." A contemplative expression appeared on his face.

"No one can really define this kind of 'force', even Jedi scientists cannot. Maybe no one will do this in the future. The explanation of 'force' is often mixed with illusion and science. However, isn't a sorcerer a practical theorist? Come on, let's practice again."

The old man raised a silver-white ball, about the same size as a human fist. There were many thin tentacles on the ball, as slender as the moth's tentacles. He threw the ball gently at Luke, and the ball shook left and right in the air a few meters away from the young man's face, slowly rotating around him. Luke was wary of it, and his body turned with the silver ball, facing it. Suddenly, the ball rushed towards him at a lightning speed and suddenly stopped one meter apart. Luke did not react to this feint, and the ball immediately turned back and retreated.

Luke slowly moved to one side to avoid the sensor on the front of the ball. He flashed the lightsaber behind him so that he could strike at any time. When he did so, the ball flashed behind him, and a tentacle shot a red light as thick as a pencil, hitting Luke's thigh, and before he could turn the sword around, he was knocked down on the deck.

While rubbing the stinging and uncontrollable injured leg, Luke pretended to be unheard of Solo. "The doctrine of the wizard and the weapons bought from the antique dealer cannot replace a good energy gun on his waist." The driver sarcastically said.

"Don't you believe in 'force'?" Luke asked back, struggling to stand up. The numbness caused by the beam on his thigh quickly disappeared.

"I have been everywhere in this galaxy," the driver said, "I have seen many strange things. Since I have seen too many strange things, I will not rule out the possibility of "power" in the world; at the same time, I will not believe that there is something like this in the world that can control people's actions. I decide my own destiny and not be controlled by some semi-mysterious energy place." He pointed to Krobbie and said to Luke: "If I were you, I would never be so blindly obedient to him. He is a smart old man, full of simple tricks and pranks. Maybe he is using you for some benefit!"

Corrobi just smiled kindly and turned to Luke. "I suggest you try again, Luke." He said in a comforting tone. "You must try hard to get your actions out of your conscious control, and do not pay attention to anything specific, whether it is from the outside world or in your own mind. You must let your thoughts float, float... Only then can you apply this 'power'. You must enter this state: act according to your own feelings rather than your previous grace. You must stop thinking, relax... Let yourself float freely, float..."

Speaking of this, the old man's words had become faint and difficult to tell, sounding like a hypnotic buzzing sound. As soon as the words were finished, the silver ball rushed towards Luke. Luke was confused by the hypnotic tone of Corotbie and did not see the silver ball hit. He might not see anything clearly, but when the ball approached, he turned his body at an astonishing speed, and the sword in his hand drew up and out in a strange way, neatly pushing the red beam of the silver ball to the side. The silver ball's buzzing sound stopped, and it fell to the deck silently.

Luke blinked, as if he had woken up from a brief nap, staring at the deflated ball in surprise.

"Look, can you do it?" Krobb said to him, "The teacher can only guide you here. Now you have to learn to call out the 'force' when you need it, and learn to control it yourself."

Corrobie walked aside, took out a helmet hat from the cabinet, then walked towards Luke, and slammed the hat on his head, turning the boy blind.

"I can't see it," Luke muttered. He turned around and forced Corrobi to retreat straight so as not to encounter the trembling dangerous lightsaber. "How can I fight?" Luke asked.

"Fight with 'force'!" Old Bain told him. "You didn't really 'see' it when the silver ball hits your legs, but you dodge its beam. Trying to make that feeling rise in your body again!"

"I can't do it," Luke lamented. "I'll be beaten again."

"If you have confidence, you won't be beaten," Krobb insisted. But that doesn't sound much convincing to Luke. "It's the only way to make you really rely entirely on 'force'."

At this time, Solo turned around and looked at them with a look of suspicion. When Corotby saw him, he hesitated for a moment. Letting this confident driver laugh at every mistake will not be good for Luke's learning. But spoiling is not good for the young man, and time does not allow him to be too spoiled. Do your best! Bain said to himself firmly.

He bent down and touched a switch on the side of the silver ball with his hand, and then threw it vertically. It ran towards Luke along the arc trajectory, and suddenly stopped halfway and fell vertically on the deck like a stone. Luke swung his sword and his posture was not bad, but his speed could not catch up. The antenna shot another beam of light. This time, the crimson light needle stabbed Luke's butt straight. Although it was not actually powerful, Luke felt that this was a paralyzing blow. He screamed in pain, turned around and wanted to fight back against the invisible enemy.

"Relax!" Old Bain reminded him. "Raise all the constraints, you are thinking of using your eyes and ears again. Don't plan, use the rest of your brain."

Suddenly, the young man stopped, hesitating a little. The silver ball was still behind him. It changed direction again, rushed towards him again, and shot out the beam.

At the same moment, the lightsaber turned violently, clumsy and accurately blocking the incoming beam of light to the side. This time, the ball did not land quietly on the deck, and it retreated three meters and swirled there.

Luke could not notice the buzzing sound of the silver ball, carefully uncovered his helmet and looked out. His face was filled with sweat and his expression was exhausted.

"I--?"

"I've said you will succeed," said Corrobi happily. "As soon as you start to trust your inner self, nothing can stop you. I've told you that you are very much like your father."

"I think this time I'm just trying to get lucky." Solo said coldly while checking the instrument reading.

"In my experience, I have never had a thing like luck. Remember, my young friend: only by adjusting all factors most appropriately can the events become beneficial to me."

"Whatever you say," the Collian snorted coldly, "but it's one thing to be able to deal with a mechanical remote control device, and another thing to deal with a living enemy."

While he was speaking, a small signal light at the far end of the main cabin flashed. Chobaka discovered it and called Solo to pay attention.

Solo glanced at the panel and notified his passengers: "It's almost time to reach Alderland. We're going to slow down and return to the speed of light soon. Come on, Qiao Wei." Qiao Wei stood up from the chessboard table and followed Solo to the cockpit. Luke watched them leave. His thoughts were not about the fact that they were about to arrive at Alderland, but something else occupied his mind. The more he thought, the more it seemed that this thing would develop and mature in his mind.

"You know," he whispered, "I did feel something. I could almost 'see' the shape of the remote." He pointed to the silver ball hovering behind him.

Corotbi replied in a solemn tone: "Luke, you have taken the first step towards a larger universe."

The spacecraft cockpit was equipped with dozens of buzzing instruments, making it as noisy as a hive. Solo and Chobaka focused on some of the most critical instruments.

"A survivor, maybe he knows something is wrong." Luke tentatively with hope.

Beth Corotby's next sentence shattered this hope. "It was an Imperial fighter."

Chobaka suddenly roared angrily. A huge flower of destruction bloomed outside the porthole, shaking the spacecraft violently, and a small double-winged sphere flashed past the cockpit porthole.

"It's following us!" Luke shouted.

"From Tatooine? It's impossible!" Solo retorted suspiciously. "There is no way to follow in the hyperspace."

Krobbie checked what was shown on the tracking screen, "Han, you're right, it's a short-range bowtie fighter."

"Where did it come from?" asked the Collian. "There is no imperial base nearby. It cannot be a bowtie fighter."

"You just saw it flying over with your own eyes."

"I know. It looks like a bowtie fighter-but where is the base?"

"I believe that when we get to beta-3, an expert in rescue and disaster control should be welcomed - if we can get there."

"The person who hides the facts is you, the captain. I can see that the thing in front of you shocked you. Therefore, I think our chances of living are not as great as you said. Am I right?"

Trand looked around until he was convinced that there was no one else in the stairwell, and then he whispered: "To be honest, I don't know how much chance of survival is. Fedorov was the same. Before us, no other Barthard spacecraft had experienced a situation like us. There are only two possibilities at present: one, pass through without major damage; two, die all. If the second possibility is realized, I don't think we will die from radiation. If something in material form really penetrates the shielding field and hits us, we should be annihilated immediately and will not suffer any pain. But I don't intend to introduce this possibility to our people in detail and panic them. After all, this may be the last few hours of our lives."

Raymont frowned, "I think there is a third possibility, that is, we can survive, but seriously damaged.

"How is this possible?"

"It's hard to say. Maybe the spacecraft will shake violently, causing death to people. The dead may be the key figures, and we can't bear the consequences of losing him... Fifty people are not too many." Raymont thought. In the low vibration of the energy pulse, the footsteps echoed.
To be continued...