The Nightmare Machine Read online

  Star Wars – Galaxy Of Fear - 4 – The Nightmare Machine

  By John Whitman

  PROLOGUE

  The scientist stormed into his laboratory, overturning tables and smashing vials of smoking liquid to the floor as he passed. His servants both droids and living creatures scattered to avoid his anger. The scientist reached the center of his giant fortress and sat down before five computer screens. "Give me a progress report on Project Starscream," the scientist commanded. One by one, the five screens came to life. Three of them showed nothing but static. Project Starscream was a top-secret program that the scientist had developed for the Emperor. There were six steps. Three of them had already taken place. The fourth and fifth were ready to go. The sixth and final stage was set to take place in the scientist's citadel itself. The scientist had worked hard to keep his plans se- cret. Only a few people in the entire galaxy had known of Project Starscream's existence. No one suspected that the scientist was hatching a plot to bring the entire universe to its knees. Until now. Of the five experiments, three had already been ruined. The scientist glared at the blank screens.

  D'vouran, the living planet. The zombies of Necropolis. And just a few days before, the plague virus on Gobindi. One by one, three of his experiments had been destroyed. Not by Rebel commandos, but by the most unlikely of enemies: two kids and a droid, led by a meddling anthropologist. The scientist whispered his enemy's name like a curse. "Hoole." Somehow Hoole and the brats he watched over had learned of Project Starscream. Although they didn't know everything yet, they knew enough to be danger- ous. But they would not live long enough to learn the final secret. The scientist planned to make them pay for interfering with his experiments. He looked up at the fourth view screen and smiled. Stage Four was ready for testing. And he knew just who to test it on....

  "Don't make any sudden moves!" Zak hissed. Beside him, his sister, Tash, obeyed, and the two Arrandas froze. Before them, a remote sentry droid hovered. It didn't look dangerous it was only a tiny metal ball covered with small silver studs. But Zak, who tried to keep up with the latest technology, knew that it was a Balmorran HK-130 sentry droid. Each of those little silver studs could fire a stun beam strong enough to put a bantha to sleep. It was early morning, and Zak and Tash were inside the headquarters of the Galactic Research Academy on the planet Koaan. Their uncle, Hoole, an anthropologist, kept an office at the Academy, although he rarely visited there. He spent most of his time traveling across the galaxy, studying alien cultures as part of his research. Zak and Tash had gone with him on several of these field trips. Lately, however, those trips had turned deadly. After their last adventure on the planet Gobindi where Tash had nearly been killed by a deadly virus Hoole had taken them directly to the Galactic Research Academy. "I've got a bad feeling about this," Tash whispered as the sentry droid continued to study them. "Relax," Zak whispered. "How can I relax with that thing scanning me?" his sister grumbled. "What if it fires at us?" Zak held back a sigh of irritation. For someone who read all day, Tash didn't know much about technology. "This is a trouble-seeker droid," he explained, trying to stay as calm as possible. "The Academy custodians probably let them loose overnight to watch for maintenance trouble or vandals. This one's just trying to decide if we're a threat or not. Once it makes up its mind, it will let us go." "Or shoot us," Tash whispered. "Who's to say it's not going to " Before she could finish her sentence, the hovering ball of firepower turned and zipped away. Zak grinned. "See, technology can be your friend if you let it." "Let's just get on with this," Tash replied. Soon after they had arrived at the Research Academy, Uncle Hoole had vanished without a word, leaving Zak and Tash with a thousand unanswered questions. They had decided to find the answers on their own. They had located one of the Research Academy's core computer libraries. These weren't exactly maxi- mum security zones, but Zak and Tash knew they weren't supposed to be there without supervision. They were going to sneak a look at Uncle Hoole's computer files. The two Arranda children had been adopted by Hoole seven months ago when their parents and every- one they knew had been killed during the destruction of the planet Alderaan. But in all those months, Hoole had told them almost nothing about himself not even his first name. During the last few weeks, Hoole had become even more mysterious than usual. He had taken them on several unexplained adventures, often disappearing on long errands without ever telling them where he was going, and leaving them in the hands of their caretaker, the droid DV-9. At first Zak and Tash hadn't thought much about this. After all, Hoole was an anthropologist. It was his job to travel to distant planets and study the species that lived there. However, Hoole's recent "studies" had taken them to some strange and very dangerous places. Tash and Zak soon learned that they had stumbled onto a scheme called Project Starscream, run by someone powerful in the Empire. But had Uncle Hoole, a simple anthropologist, gotten himself involved in a galaxywide Imperial plot? That's what Zak and Tash wanted to find out. They entered the core computer' library. It was a large room, lined with video screens and shelves of datadisks. Because it was so early, they had the room to themselves, and Zak quickly dropped into a seat in front of a computer terminal. "It's easy to access the main computer files," Tash noted. "But the Academy personnel files are under tight security. How do you plan on getting in?" "With this," Zak said confidently. He held up a small datadisk. "This is a decoder. Deevee had a fancier name for it " "A cypher," Tash finished. "Right, hyperbrain," her brother agreed with a smirk. "Deevee designed it while trying to break down the computer files we found onboard the Shroud." Tash nodded. On one of their recent journeys, they had acquired a starship called the Shroud and discovered that its computers contained coded information about the mysterious Project Starscream. Zak continued. "This cypher will break through the code and let us look at Uncle Hoole's personnel files. Then we can figure out if he's involved in this Imperial plot." Punching in a command on the control panel, Zak called up the personnel records. A second later the computer screen flashed the message ACCESS DENIED. SECURITY CLEARANCE REQUIRED.

  The two Arrandas turned to face their uncle. Zak looked up into Hoole's dark eyes and his long, grim face. Hoole looked human only a telltale shade of gray in his skin and his extra-long, delicate hands reminded Zak that his uncle was a member of the Shi'ido species. Of course, Hoole could look like anyone or anything he pleased. Zak had seen his uncle transform into creatures as large as a Wookiee and as small as a white rock mouse. Like all members of the Shi'ido species, Hoole was a shape-shifter. And like other Shi'ido, Hoole usually looked either serious or seriously irritated. Now Zak expected that irritation to explode into anger.

  To his surprise, Hoole merely removed the datadisk from the computer and said, "I guessed that your curiosity would lead you to the computer files as soon as I had given you some free time. And I have learned over the past month how resourceful you two can be." Zak thought he spotted the hint of a twinkle in Hoole's stern eye. "But my personnel history is not your affair. And I believe that the less you know about recent events, the better off you are." "But " Zak began to protest. "Please do not argue," the Shi'ido stated in a voice that allowed no debate. "There is no time. We will be leaving shortly." With a swirl of his dark blue robe, Hoole turned and strode from the computer library, with Zak and Tash following. "But we just got here," Zak said. "Where are you taking us now?" "On vacation," their uncle responded. "Deevee will go with you. I have business where you cannot follow." Zak and Tash could hardly believe their ears. "A vacation!" Zak exclaimed. "How can we think about relaxing now? We don't even know what Project Star- scream is all about " "Zak. Tash." Hoole stopped. His Shi'ido features suddenly softened with concern. He looked back and forth between his niece and nephew.

  "You both must
understand that this is not a game. I made a grave mistake when this all began. I should have removed you to safety the moment events turned threatening. My inexperience as a guardian has ex- posed you to terrible danger, danger that even I do not yet fully understand. The being who created Project Starscream is evil and unpredictable. And I am sure that he and I will meet again." Tash and Zak looked at one another. On their last adventure, they had come face-to-face with the scientist behind Project Starscream. He was a Shi'ido, just like Hoole. "Uncle Hoole," Tash asked, "who was that scientist?" Hoole frowned. "His name," the Shi'ido said, "is Borborygmus Gog. He is extremely powerful and ex- tremeIy dangerous. Now let's get going." "But how do you know him?” Zak asked. "What are you going to do?" Hoole's face was as still as a durasteel mask. "There are serious questions to be answered. I must continue my research. Now we must hurry." He started down the hall again as he continued to speak. "I am going to bring you somewhere safe, where you will blend in with a crowd of humans and other species your own age. I do not want you to tell anyone where you are going,

  and once you are there, I do not want-you to tell anyone your business." "Where are we going?" Zak asked as he hurried after his uncle. Hoole did not bother to turn as he replied, "To Hologram Fun World."

  Hours later, on board their ship, the Shroud, Zak and the droid DV-9 stood at one of the ship's viewports and watched the transparent dome of Hologram Fun World grow larger as they approached. Fun World was not located on a planet it had been built inside a transparent dome, suspended in the vacuum of space. Zak estimated that Fun World was about forty kilometers long, the size of a small city. As the Shroud drew closer, he made out buildings, mountains even what looked like an ocean! "Have you been here before, Deevee?" Zak asked. Making use of all his humanlike qualities, the silver droid managed to look depressed. "Certainly not," he droned. "As you are well aware, I was a high-level research droid before Master Hoole adopted you and Tash. Visiting an amusement park was not part of my programming." The droid aimed his photoreceptors at the approaching space dome. "Still, Hologram Fun World is a technological wonder. They say the holographic images look, sound, feel, and even smell like the real objects they imitate." "Prime," Zak said. "I'll get Tash." Zak knew just where to find his sister. She could generally be found in her room, reading datastories about the now-extinct Jedi Knights. She believed in the Force and in the powers the Jedi Knights were said to have; she even dreamed of becoming a Jedi herself someday. Until recently Zak had teased Tash about her dream, but during their travels with Hoole, Tash had gotten some strange, unexplainable feelings of dread. She seemed to sense when danger was near, just like (Zak had to admit) the legendary Jedi Knights supposedly could. But when he reached Tash's cabin, she wasn't reading. She was sitting at her computer terminal. "We're about to land," Zak said, hopping down on her bed. The minute he saw the computer screen, Zak knew what Tash had been up to. She had been on the HoloNet, the galaxywide computer network. It was here that Tash had first learned about the Jedi Knights from a mysterious contact, code-named Forceflow. Tash suspected that Forceflow worked for the Rebels, who fought against the Empire. Forceflow had warned

  her about their last trip, to the planet Gobindi. They should have paid more attention. "I finally got through to Forceflow," Tash said. "I asked him about Project Starscream and about Hoole." "Did he know anything?" Zak asked. Tash pointed to the screen. "Not much. He says that Project Starscream is a top-secret operation run by someone in the Empire. But he says it's not just military. It's scientific." "We already knew that," Zak replied. "What about Uncle Hoole?" "ForceAow sent me this." Tash touched a button on her computer and the information on the screen changed. Zak was looking at Hoole's personnel file the same file they had tried to break into at the Re- search Academy. Zak scanned the readout eagerly, but the gleam in his eye faded quickly. According to the files, Hoole had been born on Sh'shuun, the homeworld of the Shi'ido species. He had been an excellent student on Sh'shuun, and eventually he had left his homeworld to study at the Galactic Research Academy, where he became a professor of anthropology. He had dedicated himself to recording the cultural habits of species across the galaxy.

  "There's nothing here," he scoffed. "At least nothing we couldn't figure out on our own." "Look closer," Tash prodded. Zak scanned the file again and shrugged. He had read everything that appeared on the screen. Then he stopped. He hadn't read what wasn't on the screen. Four years of Hoole's life were missing. Hoole had left his homeworld. Four years later, he enrolled at the Academy. "What happened in between?" Zak asked. Tash shook her head. "Even Forceflow doesn't know. But I'll bet that's why Hoole is so mysterious now." Zak studied the screen again. "By the way, who is this Forceflow?" he wondered out loud. "How does he get so much information?" "I don't know," his sister replied. "But I'm going to meet him someday. I told Forceflow we were going to Hologram Fun World and that I'd contact him again later." Zak paused. "Didn't Uncle Hoole warn us not to tell anyone where we were going?" Tash shrugged. "But this is Forceflow. He's on our side."

  Tash and Zak reached the cockpit of the Shroud just as the ship arrived at Hologram Fun World's docking station. They watched as Hoole guided the ship toward one of the docking latches. There, the Shroud would firmly connect to the transparent dome and its airlock, which would allow travelers to enter Fun World without being exposed to the cold, airless void of space. Hoole deftly touched a thruster control. The Shroud nudged forward a few meters and came to rest squarely next to one of the entrance bays. As soon as the ship came to a stop, Hoole turned to his niece and nephew. "This is where we separate. Hologram Fun World is an exciting place and I know you will be safe here." "Where are you going?" Zak asked. "When will you be back?" Hoole paused. "I should be back in a few days. As for where I am going, it is better that you do not know." The Shi'ido escorted Zak and Tash to the hatchway of the Shroud, where Deevee waited, holding two travel cases in his mechanical hands. Hoole opened the hatchway, which led to a sterile, durasteel airlock. Zak and Tash stepped into the lock and turned to look at their uncle. The stern Shi'ido's face had suddenly softened. He looked almost sad. He raised one hand in a brief goodbye. The outer airlock door closed, and a moment later Zak felt the floor beneath his foot tremble as the Shroud launched itself away. "I hope he knows what he's doing," Zak muttered. "I think he does," Tash said. "Master Hoole is quite capable of taking care of himself," Deevee replied. "Now, come. You have an entire holographic world to explore." Zak, Tash, and Deevee opened the inner door to the transparent space dome and entered Hologram Fun World. It was like stepping into a dream. Before them, a pathway paved with green gemstones led through a gate shaped like an ancient castle. Beyond the gate, Tash and Zak could see the tops of dozens of buildings gleaming with the polish of modern technology. No two buildings were alike, and thanks to Deevee's many lessons in interplanetary cultures, Zak recognized the architectural styles of at least a hundred different species. Forest-covered mountains rose up to the very top of the dome, which glimmered fifty kilometers above their heads. Air shuttles full of visitors zoomed this way and that, dodging herds of winged lizards and flocks of blue-winged gibbit birds. Music drifted

  toward them from different locations within Fun World. Zak heard laughter and shouts of excitement and surprise from the crowds of tourists. He felt as if the entire galaxy had been stuffed inside the transparent walls of the dome. "Prime," he whispered under his breath. "No kidding," Tash agreed. "I suppose," Deevee said, "if one likes this sort of thing." As they walked toward the old-fashioned stone gate, two young humans on mini-skyhoppers whizzed by overhead. One of them turned a loop in midair, waved at Zak and Tash, then flew away with a laugh. Maybe this place will be fun after all, Zak thought as he stepped through the gate. His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden angry roar that shook the entire dome from top to bottom. A blast of stinking breath washed up against Zak like a hot wind. He looked up... and up... and up. Into the drooling, fanged mouth of a very hungry rancor. Standing on its hin
d legs, the rancor was ten meters tall. It snorted and its nostrils flared as it let out another blast of fetid breath. The rancor roared, re- vealing double rows of jagged teeth. Its clawed hands raked the air, and the ground shook as the massive reptilian monster took a single step forward. Its tiny black eyes focused on Zak. "Get back to the gate!" Tash yelled. Zak and Tash turned and ran. The rancor charged after them, its footsteps thundering down the path. With each step, the giant predator cut the distance to his fieeing prey in half. Zak looked over his shoulder and noticed that

  - Deevee had not moved. He stood directly in the rancor's path, totally motionless. Tash and Zak stopped in midstride. "Deevee!" Tash yelled. "He may have short-circuited," Zak guessed. "We've got to go back and get him." "It's too late!" Tash was right. The rancor reached the droid, reared back its head, and lunged. Deevee did not even flinch as two thousand kilograms of flesh-eating monster fell on him. And passed right through him. Zak and Tash gasped in surprise. The rancor swept right through Deevee as though it were made of smoke. It stopped a few steps beyond the droid, then, with an ear-shattering roar, the rancor vanished like an illusion or..." "A hologram!" Zak guessed. "That rancor wasn't real at all." "Correct," said Deevee, coming back down the path for his two charges. "It was real enough to fool me," Tash said with a nervous laugh. "I thought that thing was going to crush you, Deevee." The droid simulated a bored sigh. "That's because you lack my delicate instrumentation. I knew instantly that the rancor was not real because it did not register on my sensors. There were no life-readings emanating from the hologram, so my program ignored it. It wasn't real." The droid waved one mechanical hand across the scene before them. "Hologram Fun World might be exciting for humans and other species that rely on their biological senses, but for a droid, well, it's rather boring." "Boring!" Zak exclaimed. He watched a Star Dragon pass overhead, curling its way gently through the air. "This place is anything but boring. Let's check out some of the rides." "Not yet," Deevee insisted. "We should find lodging first and then " But Zak had already started toward the nearest attraction. He hurried up the steps to a building that resembled a small temple, with white columns around the outside. An electronic sign at the top of the steps announced the attraction in a dozen of the galaxy's most common languages. "Hall of Reflection," Zak read. Hall of Reflection? Zak wondered. Is this some sort of meditation chamber? He peeked inside, but the entranceway was dark. Using his hands, Zak felt his way down a narrow hall that opened up into empty space. Zak took a few more steps before he heard a click as automatic glow rods activated, flooding the room with light. He was surrounded by a dozen gruesome trolls with hunched backs, hair that seemed to explode out of their heads in spikes, and twisted faces. "Agh!" he shouted in surprise. "Agh!" a dozen hunchbacks shouted at the same time. Zak turned to run, and the hunchbacks turned with him. As he lunged back into the safety of the hallway, the hunchbacks vanished without a sound. Zak stopped running. This place was becoming stranger by the minute. Curious, he turned and stuck his head back into the lighted room. A dozen gruesome trolls also poked their heads out through a dozen doors. When Zak raised an eyebrow, so did they. When he scratched his head in confusion, they did, too. "Hall of Reflection," he said. "I get it." Zak stepped boldly into the room and stared at the trolls which were actually twelve images of him. He .was surrounded by twelve mirrors that took his reflection and warped it into something almost unrecognizable. He laughed out loud, and his reflected image suddenly became even more ridiculous. One of its eyes bulged as large as a port hole, while the other shrank to a tiny, wrinkled pit in his face. "It's an improvement," Tash said wryly. She and Deevee had followed him into the Hall of Reflection and were standing at the edge of the hallway. "I especially like your hair." "Very funny," Zak replied. "Let's see what it does to you." Tash stepped into the room, and the gruesome trolls were instantly joined by twelve gnarled crones. Tash's long, braided blond hair looked like a tentacle writhing out of the back of her head, and her eyes shrank back into her brow as her chin swelled up and out. "This is the most amazing funhouse mirror I've ever seen," she said. When she spoke, her reflections' enormous jaws flapped wildly. "I'm programmed to imitate human functions, but I'm not sure I comprehend this sort of humor," Deevee confessed. "These trick mirrors intentionally distort one's image. And that is funny?" Zak rolled his eyes. "Let's see if there's more." They searched the mirrored room until they found a door hidden behind one of the twelve reflections. Stepping through it, Tash and Zak entered a mirror maze. Pieces of their reflections were everywhere sometimes only their feet were visible, and sometimes only their heads. Sometimes the reflections were true, and sometimes the Fun World mirrors twisted their jmages into shapes that were stretched, squeezed, crushed, or swollen to galactic proportions. Zak even found a set of mirrors that transformed him into an alien. In one mirror, his face stretched out into a snout and his ears drooped down. Even his skin changed color, until he looked like a pudgy Ortolan. "This is excellent!" he called out to Tash, who was walking in the other direction. In the next mirror, his entire face folded in on itself and his skin swelled into the tough, leathery hide of a somewhat Zaklike Kitonak. Zak stepped up to the next mirror in the hallway. This image was human and very handsome but taller than he was, with smooth dark skin, a carefully trimmed mustache, and a dashing smile. Wow this is more like it, Zak thought. He struck a swashbuckler's pose. But instead of imitating the pose, the reflection reached out and grabbed him by the shoulder.