The Rose of Anakin by C T (book club reads TXT) 📕

horrified when all six children come running up the shell ship's ramp. One child has a snake in a net on a stick.

“We found it in the garden! Look what we found! We killed it with rocks! We did not get bitten,” the children say.

Georgina does not allow the children to return to the garden or the house or the chapel. She uses binoculars to see her house overrun with vipers.

 

 

HAN IN THE MEDICAL WARD

 

“Imperial vipers?” asks Han in a room in Fedora's medical ward.

“Imperial vipers,” says Luke sitting looking at a data screen. “Each snake has 500 wheels, is pre-programed or remote controlled, has self contained power source, can remain active until destroyed.” Luke continues reading the screen. “Vipers usually carry only one poison. Never used in battle. Not commonly traded by smugglers and pirates. They are in the Alliance Encyclopedia of Imperial Weaponry”

“I thought they were real,” says Han and Chewbaca agrees. Han looks unwell and is hooked to a kidney dialysis machine and other machines.

“Georgina's was able to ID the snake her children found in the garden,” says Luke.

“Were any of them bitten?” asks Leia.

“No,” says Luke. “But the chapel was overrun. They are all with Kasper now on the Kanoa.”

“I thought you said the Emperor was dead,” says Wren.

“We told you that Imperial leadership is missing,” says Leia. “We don't know who is highest in command....We don't know who or what is building or moving the Imperial fleet.”

“It is always a mistake to underestimate the Dark Side,” says Luke.

“I am so sick of all this!” says Wren.

“You are fine, son. It is your father who is sick,” says Leia.

“Because he went out to save some stupid Largos and got bit by a toy snake,” says Wren. “Its all so dumb.”

“Toy?”asks Han. “Luke , who taught this kid that a Tie Fighter is a toy?”

Chewbaca complains and Luke shakes his head.

 

DIRECT COMMUNICATION

 

C3Po then enters the room. “Excuse me,” he says. “But we have received a direct communication.”

“From whom?” asks Leia

“It is an old Imperial Code but R2 was able to read it,” says C3Po. “ He is really a very useful little droid and very loyal.”

“I know R2 is great. 3Po what does the message say?” asks Luke.

“It lists the chemical components of Imperial Viper poison,” says C3pO.

“Our medical droids have that information already,” says Leia.

“Also the message indicates an antidote is available from an Imperial representative...a total cure and restoration to health,” says C3Po.

“They don't have the cure,” says Han.

“Yes they do,” says Wren. “Of course they do. Uncle Luke tell my dad that the Empire has the antidote. They have the snakes and they have the antidote!”

“The Empire has the antidote,” says Luke. “But those who turn to the Dark Side are too selfish to help anyone but themselves.”

“They will use the antidote for evil,” says Leia.

“What evil?” asks Wren.

“The Dark Side is real, Wren,” says Luke. “Anger, fear, and aggression...there is no happiness on the dark side.”

“So my dad is going to die because of all your old stories?” asks Wren.

Chewbaca complains.

“Your dad is not going to die,” says Leia.

“I don't want to believe any of your old stories,” says Wren. And he leaves the medical ward.

“He hates us,” says Leia when Wren is gone.

“No,” says Han. “It is just hard for him to see beyond himself.”

“He must learn,” says Luke.

 

NOT AN EMPTY SHELL

 

The Kanoa spins through space above Amapola. All the children are quiet aboard the shell ship. Kasper has already explained to the children that the shell ship is highly cloakable. The natural elements of its composition and angle of spin will keep it off any scanners for awhile. Kasper and Georgina speak in her language then alone at the ship's controls.

“The Imperial Army has not forgotten us ,” says Kasper.

“But no big cruisers and mighty troopers to destroy us now?” asks Georgina.

“We cannot judge the snakes by their size,” says Kasper.

“The Empire sees us as a small threat compared to the Alliance...so they send a small army which is big enough to destroy everything we have,” says Georgina.

“You have lost a place you worked very hard to build,” says Kasper .

“Yes,” says Georgina and tears escape her one eye.

“You knew it might happen someday. The children will complete their training elsewhere,” says Kasper.

 

WREN GETS BITTEN

 

The door opens to Wren's room on level five of the Fedora. He is glad to be in his own space. The room is without a window on the stars but full of his toys, books, and screens. Among his toys are scale models of both Death Stars and an Imperial Star Destroyer. On his desk is a small hour glass clock with red glowing sand which turns over when empty. He puts his laser gun on his desk and pushes the button which activates the voice of his personal desk top obelisk droid.

“Greetings Master Wren,” says the droid. “May I help you.”

“No,” says Wren.

“You have one new message,” says the obelisk droid which speaks with the face of a furry varmint. The body of the varmint seems to be contained inside the obelisk. “Shall I play it for you?”

“Yes,” says Wren and the message appears on the screen on the wall. It is from one of Georgina's children.

“Hi Wren,” says the boy. “Want to play space jacks? We are on the Kanoa with Jedi Kasper. We can't go home anymore. There are too many snakes. My mom said I could contact you. I don't know what happens next. Do you know what happens next?”

Wren opens an electric drawer and removes a glowing box of space jacks. He hesitates and then replaces the box in the drawer. He turns off the screen and the obelisk droid which is mostly a toy. He sits on his bed in the dark silence as the glowing sand drips through his clock. He shuts his eyes. It is then that he hears something moving in his closet. He gets up and pulls aside a jacket in the closet then pulls back his hand in pain. The double hole viper bite on his hand drips blood. A snake falls out of the closet and moves across the floor. Wren grabs his gun off his desk and shoots the snake. Its pieces scatter against the walls.

 

LUKE AND GASKA

 

Luke looks through the open doorway of the guest room where Titus is staying on the Fedora. The astro hound barks and snarls. The dog has three ears and three eyes and a tail with a split tip. Luke uses the force to calm the dog. The dog opens its third eye, wags its tail, and moves away to sit by the wall. “Titus,” calls Luke walking into the room. He finds Gaska standing by the guest bed. She is wearing a blue, purple, and red long silk dress now.

“The door was open,” says Luke.

“Titus is not here,” says Gaska. “He is working on the Maloo. He said we must leave soon. He has responsibilities.”

“We all have responsibilities,” says Luke.

“I am not happy with Titus,” says Gaska.

“I know,” says Luke. He can see that Gaska is fearful and tied to the

bed with chains on her ankles. “Did he force  you to carve a rose?”

“No,” says Gaska.

“Yes he did,” says Luke turning away.

“Titus may be a Jedi but he hates you and your friends,” says Gaska.

“Then his hatred will soon be his downfall,” says Luke starting to walk to the door.

“Don't go,” says Gaska. “ Please don't go. He forced me to carve a rose but he thinks it is a rose of death. It is not a rose of death. I did not carve a rose of death.”

“What is it? What did you carve?” asks Luke stopping in front of the doorway.

“A Rose of Anakin,” says Gaska. “ I carved a rose of Anakin...a rose of the darkest night before the dawn. You know that to be true or you would not be wearing it.”

Luke is deeply touched by the insight of her gift. He is sure that her chains are inappropriate on an Alliance ship or anywhere. He begins using the doorway key pad to change the lock on the door, close the door, and close the blast door.

“Are you going to destroy me?” asks Gaska. “If you are going to destroy me that is good.”

“Destroy you?” asks Luke turning to look at Gaska. “I changed the lock so Titus will leave you alone.”

“I am a slave of Titus,” says Gaska.

“Not anymore,” says Luke. The astro dog barks. Gaska is suddenly pulled to the floor. She is not chained to the bed at all but to a nasty small incisor droid under the bed that now jumps out with all its teeth bared. The astro dog lunges at the droid giving Luke time to destroy the droid with his light saber. Luke uses the force to release Gaska's ankles from the chains. She does not rise. She has her face toward the floor the, celestial pattern scarred into her scalp showing in the light of his weapon. “You are free now,” he says.

“How can I be free?” asks Gaska, her strawberry golden hair falling around her face to the floor.

“Titus can't keep you in chains,” says Luke lowering his saber light and replacing his weapon to his belt. “Not on this ship. The Fedora is a ship in the Alliance fleet. My sister is a general. The Alliance has no tolerance for slavery. And Titus can't keep you in chains as a Jedi. I will find some way to make him understand that you are free.”

“What do I owe you?” cries Gaska.

“Nothing, You owe me nothing,” says Luke.

“I'm sorry I'm an ugly machine and I can not have children!” says Gaska.

Luke is surprised and touched by Gaska's despair. “I probably can't have children anymore either,” he shares.

“I know,” says Gaska.

“Not because I am a Jedi,” says Luke almost smiling at his chance to share a secret. “Well that too. But there was a horrible ice monster outside a Rebel base on Hoth. It was so cold. I escaped the monster but not all of the damage from frostbite.”

“I am sorry,” says Gaska.

“The doctors did what they could do,” says Luke. “So we are more similar than you are thinking? And I have five mechanical fingers.” Luke looks at his hand. “ My dad had them also. I can feel some things but not much anymore. Maybe someday I will have ten.”

Gaska moves to cover Luke's feet with her heart.

He kneels and explains to her she is not ugly. “You are not ugly,” he says. “ Has anyone ever told you where you come from?" Gaska shakes her head and looks up at Luke. “Your gems are moonstones,” says Luke. “There is a distant planet called Mannix. It has seven moons. You were born there. You are not a clone or an empty machine. The artists of Mannix keep their work a secret. You are a beautiful mystery.” Gaska embraces her liberator and Luke embraces her. He knows that to hurt Gaska or run from her would be a fate for him far worse than death.

 

 

 

 

TITUS DESTROYS THE MEDICAL DROIDS

 

The door opens and Titus, with his big ugly bird feet, walks into the medical ward on level four of the Fedora. The ward is empty of patients save Han who is resting connected to a dialysis machine and other machines in a room with a window on the hallway. A robot nurse hovers near Han.

Han awakes to see Titus pass the window. Han knows that a visit from Titus could not be any good. He reaches for his gun. He then realizes it is gone. “Get me my blaster,” says Han.

“Sorry sir,” says the robot nurse. “Your wife, the princess, has your weapons. I can't give them to you.”

“Okay,”says Han. “Anyone in this ward have a weapon besides Titus? ”

“Sorry sir,” says the robot nurse. “No weapons in medical ward.”

“Then you better duck and cover,” says Han. “Get under that table over there!”

“But sir,” says the