understandable given the circumstances The droid was still recording when she glanced at a hatch behind behind her then turned back and bent to insert a data card into the slot beneath R2 D2's radar eye The droid stopped recording From nearby C 3PO cried Artoo where are you While Leia crept off to hide against the nearby wall R2 D2 extended his retractable third leg to the floor and moved in the direction of C 3PO's voice At last C 3PO said when he saw R2 D2 Where have you been They're heading in this direction direction What are we going to do We'll be sent to the spice mines of Kessel or smashed into who knows what R2 D2 rolled away from C 3PO heading for the escape pod access tunnel Wait a minute C 3PO said Where are you going Princess Leia peeked out from her hiding place and watched the droids exit She thought Unless that R2 unit delivers my message all will be lost As stormtroopers and captured Rebel troops marched by Darth Vader stood in the consular ship's operations forum and wrapped his blackgloved blackgloved fingers around the neck of the ship's commanding 8
commanding officer Captain Antilles Vader was about to proceed with his interrogation when an Imperial officer rushed up and announced The Death Star plans are not in the main computer Vader turned his visor to gaze at Captain Antilles Where are those transmissions you intercepted the Sith Lord asked as he lifted Antilles off the floor What have you done with those plans Antilles gasped We intercepted no transmissions transmissions Aaah this is a consular ship We're on a diplomatic mission Tightening his grip Vader asked If this is a consular ship where is the ambassador When no answer came from Antilles Vader decided decided the interrogation was over There was a horrid snapping sound from Antilles neck then his body went limp Vader tossed the dead soldier against the wall then turned to a stormtrooper Commander Vader ordered tear this ship apart until you've found those plans and bring me the passengers passengers I want them alive The stormtroopers marched off to search the ship Soon a squad arrived at the adumbral port subhallway subhallway and moved quietly down its length It didn't take long for a stormtrooper to spot Princess Leia's white gown against the dark walled chamber 9
There's one the stormtrooper shouted as he raised his blaster rifle Set for stun Leia stepped out from her hiding place raised her laser pistol and fired at the nearest stormtrooper Her blaster was not set on stun and the fired projectile projectile punched through her target's armor dropping him instantly Leia turned to run but another stormtrooper stormtrooper fired a paralyzing ray at her back The princess was hit and went sprawling to the floor The stormtrooper squad stepped over to inspect Leia's inert body She'll be all right said the squad's leader Inform Lord Vader we have a prisoner The sound of blasterfire from the subhallway reached C 3PO as he followed R2 D2 through the adjoining escape pod access tunnel C 3PO had thought R2 D2 was heading for the next chamber so he was surprised when he saw the astromech stop turn and open the hatch to an escape pod Hey you're not permitted in there C 3POsaid It's restricted You'll be deactivated for sure R2 D2 moved into the pod and beeped back at the golden droid you Don't you call me a mindless philosopher overweight glob of grease C 3PO retorted Now come out before somebody sees you 10
R2 D2 remained in the pod and whistled at C 3PO Secret mission C 3PO asked baffled What plans What are you talking about I'm not getting in there Yet another explosion rocked the ship violently rattling rattling C 3PO's metal joints Without further hesitation the golden droid stumbled through the open hatch and into the pod He said I'm going to regret this The hatch snapped shut behind the droids Then there was a muffled explosion as the pod's latches blew away and the pod ejected from the Tantive IV The pod's rocket engines propelled it out of the Star Destroyer's open hangar and into space The ejected pod did not go unnoticed by the Imperials Imperials On board the Devastator the chief pilot saw the pod's image streak across his main viewscreen The chief pilot said There goes another one But the Devastator's captain had already checked his sensor scopes and ordered Hold your fire There's no life forms It must have short circuited The escape pod continued to plummet away from the Star Destroyer Inside the pod C 3PO peered through the small circular window that was the vessel's single viewport Gazing back at the rapidly rapidly receding view of the Tantive IV within the Star Destroyer's main hangar he commented That's 11
