Chapters (57)
- Cover
- Doctor Aphra
- DRAMATIS PERSONAE
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- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
And then, suddenly…the Imperial blockade was all around us, the massive underside of the cruiser looming over the Ark Angel. I thought we were done.
But just as quickly as they’d shown up…they retreated. Vanished. Like there was some kind of divine intervention.
I’m pretty sure it was more like…Darth-Vader-style intervention.
But whatever, I’d take it.
TRIPLE-ZERO:
They’re leaving.
BEETEE:
BLEEP!
TRIPLE-ZERO:
No, Beetee, I don’t think retreating is the right word.
APHRA (narration):
I slumped back in my seat, the tension I’d been holding in every cell of my body evaporating.
APHRA:
I’m going to live.
TRIPLE-ZERO:
For now, Mistress Aphra.
APHRA:
[with a little less bravado than usual]
Spoilsport. Trip…what happened back there? Did you and Beetee somehow start that firefight?
BEETEE:
BLEEP! BLEEP BLEEP!
TRIPLE-ZERO:
Oh, Beetee is ever so pleased you noticed, Mistress Aphra! Indeed—we started the whole thing!
APHRA:
Okay…how?
TRIPLE-ZERO:
Well, mistress, as I mentioned when you called, I was winning quite handily at holo-chess—
BEETEE:
BLEEEEEEEP!
TRIPLE-ZERO:
Hmph, all right, Beetee, I don’t know why you’re suddenly such a stickler for accuracy! I suppose technically…I lost. Quite badly. But only because the dealer was such an awful cheater!
BEETEE:
BLEEP BLEEP!
TRIPLE-ZERO:
He did call me a sore loser, didn’t he? Hmph. So, like a good sports-droid, I offered to shake his hand—
APHRA:
I can see where this is going.
TRIPLE-ZERO:
And then you called, mistress, and the Imperials showed up, but I was still feeling most distressed over what a terrible cheater that dealer was! So Beetee sent a cannon blast his way and—
APHRA:
And the Imperials thought you were shooting at them, so they opened fire, and the whole thing turned into a gigantic, flaming disaster.
TRIPLE-ZERO:
[deflated]
Well…yes, Mistress Aphra. You do know how to ruin the climax of a dramatic story!
BEETEE:
BLEEP.
TRIPLE-ZERO:
Beetee and I noticed Master Vader and his adjutant conversing with The Ante. And I may have…overheard a bit of your rather scintillating conversation with Master Vader over the comm. Is everything all right between the two of you?
APHRA:
You…overheard our conversation. And you just told me I’m going to live “for now.” So. I think you already know.
TRIPLE-ZERO:
Just trying to be polite, mistress.
APHRA:
[deflating, exhausted]
Yeah. Why don’t you guys go be polite…somewhere else?
TRIPLE-ZERO:
As you wish, mistress. Would a friendly handshake make you feel better?
APHRA:
Triple-Zero, please leave. Now.
APHRA (narration):
As I slumped further into my seat and the Ark Angel hurtled away from the flashing lights of the storm, I tried to ignore the tight knot forming in my chest.
But it just kept getting tighter.