A Lily Pond

A tall, slim soldier wearing the sign of an Imperial Commander attracted Vader'sattention as he came up next to him. "Holding her is dangerous," he ventured,likewise looking after her as she was escorted toward the cruiser. "If word of thisdoes get out, there will be much unrest in the Senate. It will generate sympathy forthe rebels." The Commander looked up at the unreadable metal face, then added inan off-handed manner, "She should be destroyed immediately." "No. My first duty is to locate that hidden fortress of theirs," Vader repliedeasily. "All the rebel spies have been eliminated—by our hand or by their own.Therefore she is now my only key to discovering its location. I intend to make fulluse of her. If necessary, I will use her up—but I will learn the location of the rebelbase." The Commander pursed his lips, shook his head slightly, perhaps a bitsympathetically, as he considered the woman. "She'll die before she gives you anyinformation." Vader's reply was chilling in its indifference. "Leave that to me."He considered a moment, then went on. "Send out a wide-band distress signal.Indicate that the Senator's ship encountered an unexpected meteorite cluster it couldnot avoid. Readings indicate that the shift shields were overridden and the ship washulled to the point of vacating ninety-five percent of its atmosphere. Inform herfather and the Senate that all aboard were killed."