Star Wars - 210 - Jedi Prince 01 - The Glove of Darth Vader Read Online Free PDF Page B

of his eyes at the misty, dark ocean bottom.
    He could make out the outline of a crater. And moments later, inside the crater on the ocean floor, he could see the faint white outline of Captain Dunwell’s Whaladon Processing Center.
    "We’re in contact with Captain Dunwell, sir," said Grand Moff Hissa. "He’s planning to greet you with a thirty laser-cannon salute and a military procession."
    "Absolutely not," said Trioculus in a stern voice. "If I had wanted to be noticed, I would have asked for a parade, not a private meeting."
    "As you wish, my Emperor."
    As the Imperial strike cruiser approached the Whaladon Processing Center, Trioculus could see Captain Dunwell’s new, immense Whaladon-hunting submarine stationed at an open undersea docking bay.
    "It’s equipped with whirlpool generators," explained Grand Moff Hissa, "for sucking the Whaladons right out of the ocean and into big storage chambers. The generators are powered by an antimatter furnace,"
    "Impressive," said Trioculus.
    As the Imperial strike cruiser entered another of the docking bays at the huge underwater facility, Grand Moff Hissa assisted Trioculus’s crew with the docking procedures.
    GRONGGGG!
    A clang sounded as a large metal door closed behind Trioculus’s Imperial strike cruiser. Then seawater was quickly pumped out of the docking bay, making it safe for Trioculus, Grand Moff Hissa, and the droid Emdee to climb out and enter the Whaladon Processing Center.
    There they were met by Captain Dunwell, who knelt on one knee and bowed his head before the Imperial leader. "Lord Trioculus," he said, "a most Imperial welcome to you." Then he glanced up and smiled proudly.
    Trioculus didn’t like the way the captain seemed to be staring at him. It was as though the captain were repulsed by Trioculus’s third eye.
    "I trust you had a safe and comfortable journey," Captain Dunwell offered, nervously tweaking his short white beard.
    "You need not worry about my comfort," replied Trioculus. "I want to know what was so urgent that I had to come all the way to Calamari for you to show it to me."
    "Certainly, your lordship," said the captain, fidgeting with the medals on his bright blue uniform. "Come, we should speak in the privacy of my office." Together they climbed up some stairs, then walked along a metal balcony that overlooked an enormous work area. Down below, dozens of Aqualish were skinning several Whaladons that had been killed, chopping the meat into huge slabs and loading it into carts. The walrus-faced alien race of Aqualish, who had smooth, tough skins and large eyes, was a stubborn and tough fighting breed. They worked as bounty hunters, mercenaries, and as ruthless Whaladon killers.
    The Whaladon meat they were chopping would soon be transported to the Whaladon Meat Quality Control Division.
    Trioculus’s three eyes peered down at the workers as he walked slowly from one end of the balcony to the other. He nodded approvingly, but his mind was on other things. In fact, he was in such an impatient mood that his right hand had begun twitching.
    "I hope you’re finding this instructive," said Captain Dunwell. "My office is just a little farther."
    They continued walking through cold corridors and across wide work platforms until they reached the building’s largest office, which belonged to Captain Dunwell. It had a gigantic window with a wide, sweeping view of the ocean and its enormous seaweed forest containing exotic Calamarian fish of every size, color, and shape imaginable. When the Imperial leader entered the office, followed by Grand Moff Hissa and Emdee, Captain Dunwell locked the door and pointed to a navigation chart.
    "This chart shows the route I took when I made my last journey to the Valley of the Giant Oysters, located on the other side of the Seascape Mountains. And this area here," Captain Dunwell continued, pointing out a small region of the undersea valley, "is where I discovered debris from an explosion."
    The captain showed