Star Wars - 210 - Jedi Prince 01 - The Glove of Darth Vader (7 page)

Trioculus reached the escape sub with only two minutes remaining until the self-destruct system would blast the Whaladon-hunting submarine apart. Emdee and Grand Moff Hissa were waiting for him. Captain Dunwell arrived breathless seconds later.

"Let me get aboard first so I can warm up the ion thrusters," said the captain as Trioculus inserted the key card into the lock of the escape sub’s door.

"Just a moment," replied Grand Moff Hissa, standing in his way. "No one enters the escape sub before the Supreme Ruler of the Empire, the True Master of the Dark Side." Captain Dunwell turned to face Trioculus. "And are you the True Master of the Dark Side?" said Captain Dunwell without thinking. "I thought a Master of the Dark Side didn’t need to rely on mechanical devices to give him lightning power or to make the glove of Darth-" He stopped in mid-sentence, his face turning pale as he realized he had said too much about things he wasn’t supposed to know.

"Out of my way," snapped Trioculus, glaring at the captain. As Trioculus began to climb into the escape sub, he felt a stabbing pain in his eyes. For a second everything went black, but then he pressed his forehead, blinked a few times, and the momentary loss of vision went away. He could see again, and he hastily strapped himself into a seat.

Grand Moff Hissa climbed in, too, followed by Emdee.

But when Captain Dunwell tried to join them, the Imperial ruler stared at him with a piercing hypnotic glare and said calmly, "You know the procedure, Captain. In the Empire the captain always goes down with his ship."

"Lord Trioculus, I led you to the glove of Darth Vader!" said Captain Dunwell, nervously tweaking his beard. "I thought you would show some appreciation. Is death to be my reward?"

"I don’t reward men who spy on me, Captain."

"Lord Trioculus, please have mercy, let me aboard-" As Trioculus pointed the glove of Darth Vader at him, Captain Dunwell tried to shut out the piercing sound that suddenly assaulted his eardrums. The captain’s eyes then twirled upward as he let out a hoarse gasp, fell to his knees, and then dropped to the floor. Hissa kicked the door shut and locked it. Leaving Captain Dunwell behind to die with his crew, the escape sub pushed away from the Whaladon-hunting submarine, making its way higher in the ocean as it sailed toward the dim outline of the undersea mountain range. Moments later the escape sub shook violently as a tremendous explosion tore apart the Whaladon-hunting submarine, sending scraps of scorched metal spinning through the sea in all directions.

An evil smile spread across Trioculus’s face as he clenched his gloved right hand into a fist. That hand no longer twitched. It now felt strong, invincible-and ready to rule the galaxy!

Luke’s adventure had led him back to the place where it all began-on Yavin Four, where Luke and his droids were now gathered in the Alliance Senate. They had just finished delivering a complete report to SPIN on all that they had accomplished on their mission. Luke, Threepio, and Artoo were congratulated by SPIN, not just for their espionage on Kessel but for their help in saving the Whaladons.

When the meeting had adjourned and most of the SPIN members departed, Admiral Ackbar turned to Luke, Threepio, Artoo, and Princess Leia and said, "On behalf of the planet Calamari, as a special thanks, I’d like to invite you all to be our guests of honor at a special concert of Whaladon songs at our Domed City of Aquarius."

"Fzzzzoooop bedoooooop!" squeaked Artoo in a scolding tone.

"I’m very sorry to report," Threepio said in a disappointed voice, "that Artoo absolutely refuses ever to return to Calamari with me again-that is, until I get a license to steer a Calamarian minisub!"

Luke laughed, remembering that Threepio’s brief moments of piloting the minisub had almost been the death of them. However, with a little coaxing from Luke, Artoo was persuaded to change his mind.

Sure enough, when the day of the Whaladon concert arrived, Luke and his friends were once again on Calamari, seated in the aquatheater in the Domed City of Aquarius. The program of Whaladon songs was spectacular. It included a water ballet, Whaladon folk melodies, classical Whaladon songs, and an opera Leviathor had composed that told the legendary story of how he had become the Whaladon leader many years ago by helping the Whaladons survive an undersea volcanic eruption.

As much as Luke enjoyed the concert, being back on Calamari made him think about those final fateful moments before the Whaladon-hunting submarine had exploded, when he had glanced back and noticed the Imperial escape sub departing.

Had that escape sub been destroyed by the hurtling debris? Or had Trioculus survived, making it back to the planet’s watery surface so that he could live to fight another day? Try as he might to forget the Imperial leader’s dire threat, Luke was unable to banish from his mind Trioculus’s parting words: "I shall destroy you, Skywalker! You have my promise!"

Glossary

Admiral Ackbar

Rebel military leader, he is a fishman from the planet Calamari. Aqualish aliens

Walrus-faced, with smooth skin and large eyes, Aqualish aliens have nasty dispositions. They live on watery planets, and turn their natural aggressions toward all aliens other than their own kind.

Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2)

A barrel-shaped utility droid belonging to Luke Skywalker. Artoo cannot speak in words, but communicates in beeps, buzzes, and whistles that are translated by his companion, See-Threepio (C-3P0). An effective copilot and troubleshooter, Artoo can rapidly penetrate the data system of almost any computer in the galaxy.

Calamarian minisub

A small submarine that Luke, Admiral Ackbar, Threepio, and Artoo use to follow and spy on the huge Whaladon-hunting submarine.

Captain Dunwell

The crazed human captain of the Whaladon-hunting submarine. He wears a blue uniform with medals and has a neatly trimmed white beard that he likes to tweak. His great goal is to capture Leviathor, leader of the Whaladons. He has tried to trap Leviathor for many years, throughout the Great War, but every time Leviathor has avoided capture.

Chewbacca

A hairy, eight-foot-tall, 205-year-old Wookiee who serves as copilot aboard the Millennium Falcon. Chewbacca (also known as Chewie) uses his strength to assist the Rebel Alliance, usually serving alongside his buddy Han Solo.

Darth Vader

Now deceased, Darth Vader was the second-in-command of the Galactic Empire, serving under the evil Emperor Palpatine. He was born as Anakin Skywalker and was Luke and Leia’s father, but he turned to the Dark Side of the Force and tried unsuccessfully to convince Luke to join the Empire. More machine than man, Darth Vader was kept alive by cybernetic devices-and a breathing apparatus built into his black helmet. Doonium

A heavy metal used by the Empire in most of its war machines. Domed City of Aquarius

This domed city is located inside a giant bubble under the ocean on the planet Calamari. It was designed for both creatures with lungs and creatures with gills. It has watery canals with underwater dwellings, and above the canals are markets and homes for air-breathers.

Emdee-Five (MD-5)

An evil Imperial droid with a wide variety of skills, including medical knowledge. MD-5 (called Emdee) is usually at Trioculus’s side and always does Trioculus’s bidding, no matter what the request. Trioculus has a close relationship with Emdee, much like Luke’s relationship with his droids.

Emperor Palpatine

Now deceased, Emperor Palpatine was once a senator in the Old Republic, but he destroyed the old democratic order and established the ruthless Galactic Empire in its place. He ruled the galaxy with military might and tyranny, forcing human and alien citizens of every planet to live in fear. He was assisted by Darth Vader, who eventually turned against him, hurling the Emperor to his death in the power core of the Death Star. Glove of Darth Vader

The glove of Darth Vader’s right hand that was cut off by Luke Skywalker in their final battle.

Grand Moff Dunhausen

A grand moff (high-ranking Imperial governor) who wears earrings shaped like laser pistols, he is lean and very crafty.

Grand Moff Hissa

The grand moff whom Trioculus trusts the most. He has spear-pointed teeth. Grand Moff Muzzer

A grand moff who is plump and round-faced, he is brash and excitable. Grand Moff Thistleborn

A grand moff with bushy eyebrows, he is authoritative and very loyal to the Central Committee of Grand Moffs.

Han Solo

A Corellian cargo pilot whose spaceship, the Millennium Falcon, served the Rebel Alliance in the fight against the Imperial Death Star. Han is a freewheeling, independent-minded bachelor who usually travels with his Wookiee companion, Chewbacca-but he does have a soft spot for Princess Leia.

Imperial minisub

Attached to the Whaladon-hunting submarine, this is a small probe sub that can seat four or five people. It also serves as an escape sub in the event of an emergency. Leviathor

The leader of the Whaladons, he is the ancient one who knows the entire history of his species. He is a wise and great ruler, and his leadership has helped many Whaladons to remain free by outsmarting the Whaladon hunters.

Leviathor is a white Whaladon-the only great white still alive. Luke Skywalker

A Jedi Knight from Tatooine, now a Commander in the Rebel Alliance. Luke was trained in the secret knowledge of the Force by Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda. Princess Leia is his twin sister.

Mon Mothma

A distinguished-looking leader, she has long been in charge of the Rebel Alliance. Obi-Wan Kenobi

Obi-Wan Kenobi was a Jedi Master who taught Luke Skywalker to use the Force. Obi-Wan passed away when he was defeated by Darth Vader in a lightsaber duel, but he is still sometimes seen by Luke in dreams and visions.

Phobium

A metal that Emperor Palpatine used to coat the power core of the Death Star. Princess Leia Organa

Raised by a senator of the Old Republic on Alderaan, a planet that was destroyed by the Empire, Princess Leia is Luke Skywalker’s twin sister. Courageous and outspoken, she is a valuable member of the Rebel Alliance in its fight against Imperial forces. See-Threepio (C-3P0)

A golden, human-shaped protocol droid belonging to Luke Skywalker, See-Threepio can translate six million galactic languages and is an expert at droid-human relations. He is seldom seen without his sidekick, Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2).

Trioculus (pronounced Try-ock-you-luss)

Supreme Slavelord of the spice mines of the planet Kessel. After the death of Emperor Palpatine, he comes forward announcing that he is the Emperor’s banished son. He is a handsome but evil mutant with three eyes, including an evil eye on his forehead that has hypnotic powers.

Valley of the Giant Oysters

An undersea valley on the planet Calamari that has been the home of the giant oysters for millions of years.

Whaladons

Whale-like mammals that live underwater on Calamari, the water world that is the home of the respected Rebel, Admiral Ackbar, a fishman. Led by the white Whaladon Leviathor, Whaladons resemble humpback whales but have a few variations. Whaladon hunters

Walrus-faced Aqualish aliens who serve under Captain Dunwell on the Whaladon-hunting submarine.

Whaladon-hunting submarine

This terrifying vessel is as big as an Imperial space battle cruiser or a small city. Its job is to stun Whaladons and then suck them into the many on-board storage chambers. This submarine can store more than a dozen Whaladons at one time. Whaladon Processing Center

This is a bleak Imperial installation inside an undersea crater. Here the bodies of Whaladons are stripped of their meat and blubber, then loaded into Imperial cargo spaceships to be shipped to places where it is needed.

Yoda

The Jedi Master Yoda was a small creature who lived on the bog planet Dagobah. For eight hundred years before passing away he taught Jedi Knights, including Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker.

Table of Contents

Book 1

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4 Endangered Whaladons

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7