Harry Potter and the Dark Lord of the Sith

Chapter 16.

Hermione took stock of how much of their library remained intact. Not much, was the answer. Technical documentation had the priority, of course--so she could spend many hours learning how Corellian transports were put together. But in the closest, most disastrous base evacuation yet, most entertainment and historical datatapes the Rebels accumulated were left behind. Hermione understood, of course, that it would be even worse with printed books--but she missed reading from actual paper just the same. And they were going to remain here for an indefinite period.

They had been sent here almost immediately after they arrived at the fleet rendezvous. Now, they were in orbit around a watery world called Mon Calamari. Two large passenger liners built by the native species of the same name (whom Hermione hasn't yet seen) were being converted into warships. It was vital to the Rebellion that that work be completed, and so Rogue Squadron and the star cruiser Bright Future were assigned to protect the shipyards until more forces could be sent. No one knew how long that would take.

"How are you, Hermione?" a familiar voice said from behind.

"Wedge! Don't sneak up on me like that!"

"You shouldn't call me that." Wedge Antilles looked at her, and she realized he was joking. "I'm your commanding officer now."

"Okay. Don't sneak up on me like that, sir," she said.

"Good. Now that we got that out of the way, what's troubling you?"

"Boredom," she replied truthfully. "And that I have no idea where my friends are."

"Welcome to the club," he told her. "On both counts. You looking for entertainment holos? Don't bother. We had one... Tycho took it with him when we left Echo..."

"And?" Hermione's curiosity was aroused.

"He got into a sabacc game with the officers of the Future," Wedge said. "And lost. They're watching it right now."

"Actually, I was more interested in the history files. Here." She pulled out a datacard out of her pocket. "Since we've arrived here, I've been collecting all the information that I thought might help us get back on this. Take a look," she insisted.

Wedge inserted the card into his datapad and whistled.

"Yeah, I know. Ninety-eight percent of the card is still blank. Not much to show for three years, is it?"

"Why are you telling me this?"

The simple question stumped her. Why indeed? "I never should have tried that stunt..." she muttered.

Wedge didn't understand. "What?"

"Oh... this may take a while. Why don't you sit down?" she invited the pilot.

Wedge got into a chair and looked at her. Hermione paced the room for a few seconds, and said, "You see, Wedge, the fact that we're stuck here is my fault."

"Yours?"

"Yes. Do you know how we got here?"

"No... you never told anyone."

"Well, did Harry ever tell you about Quidditch?"

"Yeah, he did. He even let me try flying on his broomstick once... I prefer an X-wing."

"Well, the reason we're here is that I had the urge to try some flying for myself--at the wrong place, at the wrong time. I fell through the portal between the two worlds, and Harry and Ron followed me. If it wasn't for me..."

"You can't blame yourself for things you can't control."

"What? But that's the point--it was my decision to try it."

"You yourself said that you may have been brought here on purpose--which means that it was beyond your control. Who knows? Maybe the Death Star would still exist without you. Stop pretending that your friends are blaming you behind your back. You disappeared, and they went after you without a second thought. That tells you everything you need to know about them. Stop sulking, Hermione. It won't do anybody any good."

"Wedge..." she stammered. The truth of his words hit her. "Thank you. I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"Nothing. I think it's just stress. I overworked myself."

"Come on. I'd like you to meet someone."

She stopped. "Who?"

"You'll see. And stop looking so gloomy. I can make that an order."

A grin crossed her face at that. "You don't have to," she said.

XXXXXXXX

Two X-wings emerged from hyperspace. Harry activated his communication system.

"Luke, you made it?" he asked.

"I'm fine," the other pilot assured him. "Let's find a place to land."

Dagobah was, except for the polar icecaps, a dark green color. It was covered with a thick blanket of clouds, so only small patches of surface could be seen.

"I don't know, Luke. Are you sure we should go there?"

"Yeah, I'm sure. What's the matter?"

"Nothing," Harry lied. "This place just feels, well, unusual. Not evil, if that's what you mean... just strange."

"Come on, Harry. Artoo I understand... but you?"

"I'm not afraid," Harry defended himself. "Just concerned."

Luke chuckled. "Don't worry. Everything is going to be fine."

"I hope you're right," Harry said apprehensively.

"Hmm..." Luke changed the subject. "I'm not picking up any cities or technology. Massive life-form readings, though. There's something alive down there." With that, he dropped his X-wing into the atmosphere. Harry saw no choice but to follow.

Clouds surrounded them, and Harry quickly lost sight of the other fighter. "Luke!" he called.

"I'm still here," a reply came, heavily punctuated with static. "I'm..." the voice vanished.

"Luke?" Harry shouted. "Luke!"

There was no reply. Then Harry's astromech droid send a series of shrill beeps.

"What!" Harry glanced at his dashboard. The instruments displayed nothing. "How high are we?" More beeps. "You don't know? Great," Harry said. "We can just crash into some cliff that we won't even see." With that, he closed his eyes for a few moments--not that it made much difference--and started flying the craft by instinct. The controls resisted him, so the fighter shook like crazy. CueSeven covered the communication screen with messages. Harry didn't read them.

He was already preparing to land when branches began to be visible through the fog. Harry activated the repulsors and shut off the main engines. He heard a crash, and felt his fighter go into a rapid spin. The droid squeaked. Harry ignored him, desperately trying to regain control. He managed to do so, just before the fighter contacted the ground by smashing its nose into a large rock. Harry was thrown forward, nearly crashing his head into the dashboard. Then all motion stopped.

Harry took a deep breath. "You all right, CueSeven?" he asked.

The droid beeped affirmatively. "Good," Harry said. He opened the cockpit and climbed out. They were on the edge of a dense, dark forest. Harry saw several very thick trees a few feet away. There was mist everywhere.

Fifty feet away, Harry saw a strange, white object that didn't seem to belong here. Then he realized it was a piece of his fighter's wing. He helped his droid get out onto the ground and headed for it. Then he saw that he was standing on the edge of a cliff, with nothing but fog several feet ahead of him.

CueSeven gave a long series of inquisitive whistles. Harry had to look at his display screen to get the message. "Oh. No, I have no idea where the other wing is. Maybe it fell down?"

The droid whistled something. "How deep?" Harry repeated thoughtfully. He spotted a large rock. "Wingardium Leviosa!" he said, lifting it and moving it over the edge of the ravine. "You ready?" he asked the droid.

CueSeven acknowledged. Harry dropped the rock. It fell through the mist and vanished. Harry waited. He managed to count to twenty before the sound of a splash came back. The droid made a beep of surprise. Harry looked and gasped. The display read out: 1708.2 meters. More than a mile, Harry thought. Well, we can forget about looking for the other wing down there. At least for now.

He then looked at the damaged nose of the fighter and was surprised, this time pleasantly. The armor wasn't broken, just bent. He had a feeling spare parts would not exist on this world, and this meant they might not need them to get the ship to fly.

"CueSeven," he said, getting out survival gear, ration packs, and a blaster, "Stay here, and repair what you can. I'll go find Luke and Artoo." The droid beeped a question. "I'll be all right."

CueSeven whistled something that sounded like a good luck wish. "Thanks," Harry said. "You too." He walked between two ancient trees and entered the forest.