Those two TIE fighters that seemed lost...
The Traveler had been flying for over eight minutes and was approaching the outer edge of unstable space. If they waited just a little longer, they would be able to enter hyperspace.
But the thing he feared most had happened.
A warship slowly revealed its massive silhouette not far ahead, behind the planet Ohanen near Tatooine.
"A cruiser! What is it doing here?!"
Amir didn't believe it was just passing by. After all, the pursuit had clearly been planned. Those two TIE fighters were like hunters chasing their prey into a net, and the trap had been set all along.
Amir didn't hesitate. He immediately attempted to activate the hyperspace drive.
Once within the cruiser's range, the powerful tractor beams would leave the ship with no escape.
He slowly pushed the control stick all the way up, and the ship began to tremble. Gradually, the sound faded away. What Amir had hoped for did not happen.
The ship failed to enter hyperspace.
The cruiser quickly closed in, its hull growing larger and larger in Amir's field of vision. A swarm of TIE fighters resembling flies launched from the base at the bottom and closed in on Amir.
"Please!" Amir's sense of foreboding grew stronger.
The TIE fighters were about to surround him.
"Please!" After the device restarted, Amir pushed the control stick again.
The spaceship trembled again but still did not enter hyperspace.
At that moment, he saw the tractor beam emitted by the Star Destroyer and the TIE fighters surrounding the ship.
With both hands gripping the control stick tightly and his thumb hovering over the fire button, Amir decided to take a chance.
He didn't notice that he had forgotten to release the hyperspace drive lever.
Suddenly, the ship shook violently. After a brief delay, the Traveler turned into a streak of light and disappeared from the star zone.
Amir looked at the hyperspace in front of him and finally let out a breath.
Then, confusion set in.
Was the Empire here specifically to capture him?
That was impossible. His biggest "crime" was learning the Force from Obi-Wan. To deal with a Jedi, they would, at most, send a few Imperial Inquisitors. At worst, Obi-Wan would reveal his identity, and Darth Vader might show up. It was impossible for a cruiser to be dispatched directly.
Was it just passing by?
This was clearly premeditated. The TIE fighters had been patrolling above Tatooine and immediately pursued the ship upon sight. The cruiser was hidden in a position where it couldn't be seen from the ships taking off from Mos Eisley.
Therefore, the Empire must be pursuing someone or some organization hiding in Mos Eisley.
This person or organization must be important to deploy such a strong force.
Amir was at a loss, so he decided not to think about it anymore. The most important thing now was where the Traveler would take him.
Space instability greatly affected the flight path; even a small deviation could significantly impact a light-year-long journey.
The Traveler gradually calmed down and stopped shaking.
After waiting a short while, Amir felt confident that they had escaped the Empire's pursuit, so he pulled the lever.
The ship emerged from hyperspace, the surrounding streaks of light disappearing and revealing the pitch-black expanse of space.
Amir first activated the holographic map to confirm their location.
There were no major errors—they were now in a star system between Tatooine and their target location.
After making a few adjustments, he reset the route, reactivated hyperspace, and vanished from the starry sky.
After some time, the peaceful star zone was visited again.
A small cruiser emerged from hyperspace and appeared nearby.
"The last signal was transmitted from here, but due to transmission speed issues, there may be a delay of several hours," said an Imperial officer standing nearby.
Standing in the center of the command room, the man nodded silently as he studied the stars before him. Then he said, "Continue monitoring the signal."
With that, he turned and walked toward the interior of the Star Destroyer.
After passing through a complex network of corridors, he arrived at the door of a detention cell. He adjusted his new officer's cap and opened the door.
"Boris Ascot, we've found the person you mentioned," he said.
On the smooth, cold bed in the cell, an old man was curled up. He no longer looked disheveled; his beard had been shaved, and he was wearing a standard uniform.
"I don't care," the old man said. He was the same man Amir had seen on the Imperial prison ship who had sent him to enroll in the Imperial military academy.
"Boris, Boris Ascot, we need your help," the man said. "You know how great this experiment is. If it succeeds, we will have the power to control the entire galaxy."
"And you possess the knowledge and ability. All we need is your cooperation. I guarantee that if you agree to my proposal, all your charges will be dropped. I have the authority to do so, as you know." The man tapped his new military rank.
The old man remained curled up as if he hadn't heard a word.
"John Mori, do you remember him? Your former protégé. He will help us find what I want, though it may take a little longer. We are losing time, but you have much more to lose!"
The old man reacted, slowly lifting his head.
"What? If you change your mind, the position of chief will always be yours!"
"Don't waste your breath, Gideon. Even if you find him, it won't matter. It was just a coincidence."
"I never thought you'd say that," Gideon sneered. "Science turns all coincidences into certainties, doesn't it?"
The old man returned to his previous state, as if he had lost all perception of his surroundings.
Seeing this, Gideon snorted coldly and walked out of the detention room.
"Admiral, we've detected traces of hyperspace in this area. The target appears to be heading toward the Faruk Star Zone."
"Pursue it."
"Sir, but that's not under Imperial jurisdiction yet. Entering recklessly could lead to an attack by local armed forces."
"Hmm," Gideon paused for a moment. "I see. Return to base first."
. . .
After leaving hyperspace, Amir saw a space station floating in the distance.
It had been abandoned for many years, and traces of erosion could be seen on its surface. Despite having no power, the station was still illuminated.
Hak had arranged to meet Amir there.
The Traveler slowly approached and passed through the blue, transparent protective shield.
After confirming that the external air pressure and oxygen levels were normal, Amir opened the hatch and stepped out.
Outside, Hak and Gulina were already waiting. Upon seeing Amir emerge, Gulina hurried over and examined him from head to toe.
"What's wrong? It's only been a few days," Amir said with a smile.
"She's been pacing nervously since we arrived, saying you'd be in danger. I almost believed her. If you had been a few minutes later, we might have flown straight to Tatooine."
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