The TIEs open their formation into a wide diamond and approach slowly. Their firepoints are now bright enough that Luke can easily distinguish them from background stars. The Imperials appear more interested in keeping intruders away from the assault than in attacking a lone X-wing and a prospecting scow. Unfortunately, with the TIEs’ numerical advantage, Luke doubts he can fight his way past them to the shuttle.
“We’d better not tangle with these guys,” Luke says. “We’re not going to help anyone by getting ourselves killed.”
“You’re the man with the starfighter,” Gideon replies. “Whatever you think.”
Luke swings his X-wing around and accelerates away from the assault. Gideon follows, his scow moving surprisingly fast for such a bulky craft. The TIE lightpoints quickly fade to nothingness.
“We’d better ditch that starfighter of yours before we go to the Tol Ado visitor center, son,” Gideon says. “Sidney knows just the place. Follow us.”
A prison planet visitor center sounds suspicious to Luke. “I don’t know about going to that center,” he says. “Why would anyone build a thing like that?”
“Sidney says Parnell think’s his prison is an artwork,” Gideon says. “He just wants to display it. It also reminds folks what’ll happen to ’em if they get out of line. We might as well take advantage of it – can’t think of a better place to make our plans from.”
“Okay,” Luke says.
Gideon leads the way to an asteroid catalogued as 40,005 Milton. At first, the asteroid looks like a dust particle suspended in a dark room. Within a few minutes, however, it more closely resembles a gray sugar-cube floating in a vat of black sludge.
They descend into a small dark crater, no more than 20 meters across. Floodlights on Gideon’s bow illuminate the crater walls to daylight brightness as the ship heads into the maw. The crater is actually a tunnel leading deep into the asteroid. Luke admires Gideon’s skill and confidence as a pilot, for his ship has no more than a meter of clearance on a side.
Finally, after three tense minutes, they reach a wide spot in the tunnel. Gideon turns the scow around and lowers a ramp from the belly airlock. Luke lands the X-wing, buckles up in his vacsuit, then unloads Artoo and helps him up the ramp.
The interior of Gideon’s Rockcan is dark without being gloomy. Like most prospecting junks, Gideon’s ship consists mostly of a battered cargo bay used to carry ore to a refinery. The repulsor engines, slow but powerful, sit directly aft of the cargo bay. The crew quarters, which Gideon maintains immaculately but without extraneous decoration, are organized for both comfort and efficiency.
“Why you bringing that along?” Gideon demands, pointing at Artoo Detoo.
“It’s a long story,” Luke says. “But he might come in handy. I’ve used this little guy in similar situations.”
Gideon grunts, unimpressed. “I don’t much care for Droids, myself.”
Artoo whistles sharply.
“What’d he say?” Gideon demands.
Luke shrugs. “I can’t understand him unless he’s plugged in.” In this case, Luke feels confident it is just as well the Droid cannot be understood.
Gideon raises the airlock ramp, then directs Luke to a seat. A few minutes later, they leave 40,005 Milton and lumber toward the Tol Ado visitor center.
Remember Luke left his starfighter at the asteroid “Milton.” He may need it later.
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