Star Wars Missions 001 - Asault on Yavin Four (8 page)

Q-7N’s various pieces were spread across a cold metal worktable in the Rebel base’s repair shop. Artoo examined the broken bits of ancient gears and circuits, then turned to Threepio and let out a series of beeps.

“No, Artoo,” said Threepio. “I haven’t seen such an old droid in my entire life. At least not outside of my studies. Do you really think you can repair the little fellow?”

Artoo responded with a series of whistling beeps, then rotated his domed head to examine an especially damaged piece of Q-7N. One of Artoo’s front panels opened and he extended a maintenance appendage.

“Oh, dear,” said Threepio. “You’re going to use your laser welder? I can’t bear to watch! Excuse me, Artoo, but I think now’s a good time for me to go find Master Luke!” Threepio tottered out of the repair shop.

When Captain Skeezer awoke, he was lying on a metalframed cot in a cold room. The room was a medical unit at the Rebel base on Yavin Four. His wrists and ankles were secured to the cot, and he knew he wasn’t strong enough to escape.

A man dressed as a doctor entered the room. He wore a mask over his mouth and nose. Captain Skeezer looked up. “Are you with the Rebellion?” he asked.

“Yup,” said the man. “But I’m a doctor, so it’s nothing personal. I’ll cure anybody.”

“What’s your name?” sneered Skeezer.

“Solo,” said the masked man. “Doctor Han Solo.”

“I suppose you expect me to talk, Doctor Solo,” said Skeezer.

“Not really,” said Solo. “You are in bad shape, pal. I’m surprised you’re talking at all!”

Skeezer looked concerned. “Bad shape?”

“Yeah, you got pretty busted up out there. You’re just lucky we’ve got a good supply of bacta to take care of you.” Solo pulled a lever, and a large drum of bacta lowered from the ceiling. “You’ll be better in no time, even though you’ll wind up in a prison camp.”

Skeezer took a deep breath. “I don’t
feel
like I’m in bad shape,” he said.

“Believe me,” said Solo, “we really need to get you into this bacta tank. The bacta will heal you just fine. And don’t worry about the bacta. It’s Imperial quality! We got it from the Death Star before we blew it up.”

“You what?!” Skeezer exclaimed.

“Yeah,” said Solo, smiling behind his mask. “Hard to believe, isn’t it? That us Rebels blew up the big, bad Death Star?”

“No!” yelled Skeezer, who was starting to sweat. “I mean… I realized the Death Star had been destroyed, but… you say this bacta came from there?!”

“That’s right!” said Solo. “Good thing we got it, or else you’d never heal from the wounds you’ve suffered!”

“But I feel fine! I don’t need any bacta!” Skeezer’s voice had risen to a scream.

“Hey,” said the masked man as he wagged a finger at the captain. “Last time I looked,
I’m
the doctor around here!”

“No! I beg you!” shrieked Skeezer. “That bacta isn’t any good! It’s contaminated!”

“Contaminated? Really?” The doctor sounded concemed. “Gee, that changes everything. I’ll have to let my assistant operate on you.” The doctor pushed a button and a door slid open.

Captain Skeezer looked up and saw a giant Wookiee in the opened doorway.

“The patient is all yours, Doctor Chewbacca,” said Solo.

Chewbacca growled once. Captain Skeezer fainted.

Han Solo removed the mask from his face, and then left the room with Chewbacca. In the hallway, they met with Luke and Leia, just as See-Threepio came clanking around the corner.

“How’s our Imperial prisoner doing?” Leia asked. “You didn’t scare him to death, did you?”

“No, he’s healthy as a well-fed gundark,” said Han. “But he sure got plenty scared when he thought we were going to use bacta from the Death Star on him.”

“I don’t understand,” said Threepio. “I thought the bacta on the Death Star was destroyed!”

“The bacta
was
destroyed, Threepio,” explained Luke, “but the Imperial captain didn’t know it. Han
tricked
 him so we could learn more about the bacta!”

“You got that right kid,” said Solo. “According to the captain, that bacta was contaminated!”

“Contaminated?!” Luke exclaimed. “First we were wondering why the Death Star was carrying so much bacta, and now… now it turns out the bacta wasn’t even any good?!”

“Well,” Han mused, “whatever the Empire had in mind for that bacta, those plans probably ended when the Death Star exploded. But when the captain wakes up, I’ve got some questions about
his
mission to the Yavin system —”

“Oh, no!” interrupted Leia “I… I could be wrong… but I think I know what the Empire was doing with that bacta!” Leia stepped closer to Luke and Solo and tried to keep the fear out of her voice. “We have to meet with General Dodonna immediately!”

NEXT MISSION: ESCAPE FROM THYFERRA!

11.6.18.15.14.5-1