Team Chipmunk: The Next Generation

Episode 4: "The Coruscant Trilogy, Part 3: Battle of the Heroes"

Chapter 4

The order from Chancellor Organa came quickly: the Enterprise would escort the Decepticon flagship to a secured landing area, where the Decepticons would be taken into custody.

Celebrations began almost immediately upon the news-with the defeat of the Decepticons, the Clone Wars were now truly over.

As Republic security led Ravage and the remaining Decepticons off to a holding facility, Jon saw Star—her Republic officer's uniform torn and singed in a few places and cuts and bruises all over her body, but otherwise none the worse for wear.

"STAR!!" Jon yelled. The two lovers ran to embrace each other. "I thought you were dead when we saw the Decepticon ship come out of hyperspace. What happened?" Jon said when their reunion kiss broke.

"Well, here's what happened," Star said.

As soon as the Chipmunk Megazord touched down on the lava-strewn surface of Mustafar, two laser bolts struck its legs. Star/RedRacer looked over and saw Galvatron transform back into his humanoid form from his laser cannon form.

"Welcome to your doom, Stargazer," Galvatron said. "Your father and his friends failed to destroy me twenty years ago. So, what makes you feel you can defeat me now?"

"Because, more than they were 20 years ago, we've got the Kingdom Hearts on our side!" Star/RedRacer said.

"Because, not only are you fighting the five of us, but you are also fighting the entire Chipmunk Legacy!" Padmé/HurricaneBlue said.

"Because, while you fight for tyranny and hate, we fight for freedom and love!" Miley/MissAmerica said.

"Because freedom is the right of all sentient beings, no matter their situation!" Eli/X1Mask said.

"And because the power of the Kingdom Hearts is stronger than that of your pathetic life-spark!" Zeo/KamenRiderDecade said.

"You speak mere words," Galvatron said. "But words are the life-spark of ideas," Star/RedRacer said. "And I have an idea...how about we kick your robotic ass?!"

"The next thing I remember, we're lying on the banks of a lava flow, un-morphed and our uniforms torn and singed. I had Zeo go as close as he could to the edge of the lava flow and see if he could find Galvatron."

"The only thing I found was this," Zeo said, holding what appeared to be Galvatron's left optic receptor. "We blasted it off during the battle. The rest of him must have melted in the lava."

"Medics, escort the Admiral and her away team to the Infirmary on the Enterprise for examination," Jon said. "Yes, sir," a clone medic said. The four clone medics led Star, Miley, Eli, Zeo and Padmé away for treatment.

A few hours later, Jon walked into the Infirmary on the Enterprise. "How are they?" Jon asked the ship's 2-1B medical droid. "Admiral Seville and Lieutenants Goof, Pelekai, Stewart and DiNozzo have some minor bruises and first degree burns but are otherwise unharmed," the droid said.

"Can they return to duty?" Jon asked. "I do not see why not," the droid said. "However, I do recommend that they return tomorrow for further examination." "Thank you," Star said. Star, Zeo, Eli, Miley and Padmé followed Jon out of the Infirmary.

"Star, so you finally accepted my proposal?" Jon said. "Yes," Star said. "Star realized that you would believe the Decepticons won the Toriatal as soon as you saw their ship come out of hyperspace, so she had Ravage set the Decepticon ship's running lights to blink out a Morse code message," Eli said.

"And she thought that there was only one message that would convince you that we were on board," Padmé said. "So, she had Ravage spell out 'Jon, Yes, I will marry you,'" Miley said. "Clever, no?" Zeo finished.

"Very much so," Jon said. He then reached into the pocket of his uniform and pulled out a small case. Star recognized it almost immediately. "To make it official..."

Jon fell to one knee, opening the case as he did so. "Stargazer Cerulean Seville, will you marry me?" Jon asked.

"Yes, Jonathan. Yes, I will marry you," Star said, her hand extended. Jon stood up, pulled the ring out of the case, then put the ring on Star's finger. The two lovers kissed to seal their engagement.

As soon as the kiss broke, the comm sounded. "Lieutenant Goof to Admiral Seville," a voice said. "Go ahead, Majel," Star said. "We have been requested to join Chancellor Organa at a special session of the Senate in thirty minutes," Majel said.

"That will give us just enough time to change into our dress uniforms," Zeo said. "We're on our way, Majel," Star said. "Seville, out."

Half an hour later, the senior officers of the Enterprise stood in their dress uniforms as the Senate was called into session.

"We are gathered here today to celebrate the official end of the Clone Wars that have devastated this galaxy for far too long," Bail said. "Will Admiral Stargazer Seville and the senior officers of the Republic Starship Enterprise step forward?"

The observation pod the Enterprise crew stood in detached from the wall of the Senate chamber and floated to rest in front of the Chancellor's podium.

"Gallant crew of the Starship Enterprise, you have sacrificed much in defense of our two galaxies," Bail said. "Henceforth, this glorious day will forever be celebrated as Enterprise Day, the day civilization returned to this Galactic Republic!"

The senators cheered. "Furthermore, Admiral Seville, I hereby nominate you to be my new Vice-Chancellor!" Bail continued. The cheers increased, but Star held up her hands. "Chancellor Organa, this is a tremendous honor, believe me," Star said. "But, we all just want to go home."

"However, I move for a vote to confirm Padmé Amidala of Naboo as the new Vice-Chancellor of the Republic," Star said. "For nearly one-quarter of a century, Padmé Amidala has served this Republic with honor and distinction—first as the Queen of her home planet of Naboo, then as a Senator in this very chamber. I can think of no other being to serve at your side, Chancellor."

"I see your point, Star," Bail said. Senator Orn Free Taa of Ryloth stood up. "I second the motion," he said.

"Very well," Bail said. But, before he could continue the proceedings, a loud scream of pain echoed throughout the Senate chamber. Star closed her eyes and saw in her mind's eye the image of Padmé Amidala, doubled over in pain.

"Padmé's in labor!" Star said after re-opening her eyes. "Seville to Enterprise. Teleport Senator Padmé Amidala directly to the Infirmary! Inform the staff to prepare the Maternity Ward!"

"Yes, ma'am," the clone trooper in charge of the teleporters said. A near-by Senate viewing pod lit up in showers of blue and silver light.

A few hours later, Anakin appeared on the teleporter pad. "Is Padmé all right, Star?" he asked. "To my knowledge," Star said. "The 2-1B won't let anyone but the father in to see Padmé."

Anakin closed his eyes. "Anakin, what's wrong?" Star asked. "I might get thrown out of the Jedi Order," Anakin said.

"Why?" Star asked. Anakin sat down on the steps of the teleporter pad. "Jedi are forbidden to have relationships, such as that which I have with Padmé," Anakin said. "Add to it that if Queen Apailana finds out, Padmé might get recalled to Naboo! Maybe I should have let Sidious take over."

At that, Star cocked back an open palm and slapped Anakin in the face. "Don't say that!" Star said. "Remember what happened that night in the Jedi Temple between us."

Anakin rubbed his cheek where Star's palm made contact. "I'm sorry, Star. I should be mindful of my feelings. Even if I do get thrown out of the Order, and even if Padmé gets recalled to Naboo, I'm about to become a parent. And parents are supposed to set a good example for their children."

"Infirmary to Admiral Seville," a voice said. "Go ahead," Star said. "Would you and the father come to the Infirmary, please? Senator Amidala has given birth."

"This is the father," Anakin said, making sure not to mention his name. "What did the Senator have?" "A boy..." Anakin smiled. "...and a girl," the 2-1B droid said. "TWINS?!?" both Star and Anakin said before they ran out of the teleporter room.

Once inside the Infirmary's Maternity Ward, Anakin started to cry as soon as he saw the twin bundles—one wrapped in blue, the other wrapped in pink—in Padmé's arms. "Hello, Ani," Padmé said in a voice weakened by the stress of childbirth.

"Twins," Anakin said in a whisper. "Twins," Padmé confirmed. "Star, I'd like it if you would choose names for them."

Star nodded, then closed her eyes. A scene from another time-line flashed in Star's minds-eye: Padmé, on an alien operating table and near death, naming the boy and the girl. After returning to the here and now, Star smiled, then touched the boy on the forehead. "How about 'Luke' for the boy..." Star began.

Then, Star touched the girl on the forehead. "...and 'Leia' for the girl?" Star finished. "Not bad, Star," Anakin said.

Then, the comm sounded. "Bridge to Star."

"That's odd," Star thought. "Isn't that person supposed to say, 'Bridge to Admiral Seville?'" Then, suddenly, the Infirmary, Anakin, Padmé, Luke and Leia melted away.

::TBC::