The Empire's Fall (Pt.2)

Chapter Three: Dagobah

I think for a minute, before I make the decision. We're not going to the rendezvous point, at least I'm not. I flip a few switches, then I take my fighter into a steep turn. I look beside me, and there's Luke. Either we made the same decision, or he's just following me. Our X-wings bank sharply and fly in a different direction than the rendezvous point.

The monitor screen on my control panel prints out a question from Artoo.

"There's nothing wrong, Artoo. I'm just setting a new course."

Artoo beeps again.

"We're not going to regroup with the others."

Artoo protests, whistling an unbelieving, "What!"

"We're going to the Dagobah system."

I check my readouts and make a few adjustments. I ride along with the only noise being the slight hum of the instruments, occasionally glancing over at Luke. After a few minutes Artoo beeps again.

"Yes, Artoo?"

He whistles again. I start chuckling a little.

"That's all right. I'd like to keep it on manual control for a while."

Artoo whistles a little, sounding defeated. I smile and then I check in with Luke.

"You going to Dagobah too, Lukie?"

"Yeah. And don't call me that"

I laugh a little at my brother's reply. We both continue on our course, on occasion talking to each other, but mostly riding in silence.

After flying for quite a while, our X-wings finally speed toward the cloud-covered planet of Dagobah. Artoo keeps turning his head back and forth with clear anxiety.

I watch as Artoo's words are translated and typed out onto the screen.

"Yes, that's it. Dagobah."

Artoo beeps again, asking if I'll change my mind.

"No, I'm not going to change my mind about this, and I doubt Luke will either." I get a little nervous when my scanner doesn't pick up any technology on the planet.

"I'm not picking up any cities or technology. Massive life form readings though. There's something alive down there."

"My scanner's picking up the same."

Artoo then beeps a worried question that makes me smile.

"Yes, I'm sure it's perfectly safe for droids."

Our X-wings continue to fly through the twilight above the cloud-covered planet.

I see the clouds race by as Luke and I take our crafts closer to the planet. I have to be careful about how I operate my controls since the clouds have completely blocked my vision. An alarm buzzes and Artoo starts to beep and whistle frantically.

"I know, I know! All the scopes are dead. I can't see a thing! Just hang on, I'm going to start the landing cycle..."

The blast of the retrorockets is so loud that it drowns out Artoo's squeals. Then, there's a cracking sound, and a few seconds later there's a jolt as the ship stops. I look outside and see Luke's ship only a few feet from mine. I pull a switch and my canopy pops open.

Our X-wings are almost invisible in the thick fog. I climb out onto the nose of my fighter at the same time as Luke, and as Artoo pops out of his cubbyhole on the back of mine. R3, Luke's droid, stays in his cubbyhole, he's not nearly as adventurous as Artoo, who then whistles nervously.