“But I’m 300 kilometers from anywhere,” Luke objects, “and I have two prisoners.”
“We have our orders,” the trooper responds.
The Twi’lek disappears into the access hatch and the officer slams the panel shut. The hatch is now indistinguishable from the rest of the fllor. The major straightens up. “Hold, TX-567,” he says. “Approach, Colonel.”
Luke pushes past the stormtroopers, who train their weapons on Sidney and Gideon. “I need your repulsor cart.”
“Where did you capture these prisonders?” the major asks, ignoring Luke’s demand.
“Near the docking bay,” Luke answers.
“Which one?”
Luke pauses. He does not understand docking bay designations. “I’ll make my report directly to Command,” he says.
The major smiles, “That won’t be necessary. We can interrogate your prisoners, Colonel.”
“I think I outrank you,” Luke answers testily.
“The Colonel certainly remembers general order BT346 requiring all personnel to cooperate with the sub-facility task-force?” The major steps toward the prisoners, ignoring Luke. “I will take the escapees, quartermaster,” he insists.
Luke detaches his lightsaber. “No you won’t!” He activates the blade. The officer and stormtroopers all turn to face the source of the throbbing hum.
“What is the meaning -“
Luke charges past the officer and slices the energy blade across both stormtroopers’ torsos. A smoking gash appears in each breastplate. The first trooper flings his rifle away and staggers backward, his agony echoing from the walls. The second trooper simply drops his weapon and doubles over.
The officer reaches for the second trooper’s blaster rifle. Luke twists to his left, drawing the blade across the Imperial’s right side. The man screams in pain, the drops.
Luke snatches a blaster rifle, then opens the access panel in the floor. The Twi’lek is gone. Gideon drags a stormtrooper to the opening and dumps him down. “Might as well give ’em a decent burial,” he says.
Luke nods. “Anything to keep them from being discovered for a few hours.” He wrestles the other stormtrooper’s armor-clad body to the hole and drops him in, and Sidney reluctantly pulls the officer over, too.
As they climb aboard the repulsor scooter, Luke studies the smudges on the floor. Anyone stopping to investigate will immediately realize the substance is blood, but the Rebels do not have the time or equipment to clean up. They must hope whoever passes this way does not bother to look at a dirty floor.
Luke guns the repulosr cart and it accelerates down the corridor. The tiny vehicle handles like a speeder on Tatooine, and Luke allows himself to enjoy the thrill of piloting a small, fast-moving craft.