The Dark Lord was tough to read—so many long, broody silences! So much staring off into space in that dead-eyed helmet! But I’d crack him eventually. I’d already sensed he had a bit of a…reaction to Geonosis. His broody silences were a bit longer, his staring a bit more intense. I filed those tidbits away for later—I knew they’d come in useful. I just wasn’t sure how yet.

And as soon as we landed and walked out into the dry, barren, boring-as-dust atmosphere, I did my best to give my new boss the benefit of my expertise so he could accomplish…uh, whatever it was he meant to accomplish.

Atmosphere: Dry winds blowing through a desolate, dusty planet. It feels as if we are surrounded by the specter of death.

APHRA:

All right, Lord Vader, here’s the situation, and I promise not to skimp on the details—

DARTH VADER:

You may “skimp” if it saves valuable time, Aphra.

APHRA:

Yeah, a just-the-facts man. I like that. The Droid Gotra heard about a surviving Geonosian queen with a droid factory. They wanted me to liberate it from the evil carbon-based oppression.

TRIPLE-ZERO:

Oh, Mistress Aphra, I didn’t realize we were about to become freedom fighters! I would have dressed up a bit—

APHRA:

You don’t wear clothes—

TRIPLE-ZERO:

You’d be surprised what a simple, spanking-new plating job can do, mistress!

APHRA:

Anywaaaaaay, my plan was more along the lines of: We can steal this droid factory for us, eh?

Vader breathes, contemplating.

APHRA:

It should be quieter ’round these parts since the planet was sterilized.

No queens, no hives…Wonder what weapon they used, would be nice to get ahold of that…Sorry, sorry, I’ll save my fantasizing for later.

Triple-Zero, Beetee: Get going, guys. What we’re after should be down through that big old cave over there—perhaps the only remotely interesting landmark on this entire planet.

TRIPLE-ZERO:

If you think it’s best to send us alone, Mistress Aphra, beneath the surface of a distinctly ominous planet, certainly!

Triple-Zero and Beetee enter the cave that leads underground.

APHRA:

I sense sarcasm. Who knew droids could do sarcasm?

Ever been to Geonosis, Lord Vader?

A long, weighted beat of Vader’s breathing.

DARTH VADER:

Cease your probing.

APHRA:

I’m a rogue archaeologist. You have to expect a little digging.

DARTH VADER:

I expect nothing but compliance. And silence. Let us follow the droids into the cave—are you certain they are capable of mapping the route?

APHRA:

Yeah, it’s a tangle. But they’ll be fine. Don’t worry about Triple-Zero and Beetee.

DARTH VADER:

I’m not concerned about two droids. They’re expendable. I come for an army.

Aphra and Darth Vader follow Triple-Zero and Beetee into the cave.