Tattooine:
After haggling with the cheap alien woman at the Speeder Lot, Luke and Ben had finally reached an agreement with the woman. The two of them then left the lot with R2 and 3PO after selling their Speeder for seventeen hundred credits.
Luke frowned, "Look at this."
"It will be enough we have plenty for the trip, and you still have most of your Mother's money," Obi-Wan replied.
Luke said nothing in response as he followed Ben into the streets with R2 and 3PO following them closely. "If the ship is as fast as he is boasting we ought to do well," stated Obi-Wan. Luke nodded in response.
Neither Luke or Ben noticed a Dark figure that was following them throughout the city as they approached Docking Bay Ninety Four. The Dark figure activated his comlink and contacted a Squad of Imperial troops, and within moments a squad of stormtroopers came into sight.
"Which Way?" the Commander asked.
"That way," stated the alien.
The squad Commander then spoke, "Alright Men load your weapons."
The stormtroopers then started to march towards Docking Bay ninety four in complete single file.
Luke looked at The Millennium Falcon as they entered the docking bay in disgust, "What a piece of junk!" Luke exclaimed.
Han who was finishing some work came into sight and spoke, "Can make point five past lightspeed. She may not look like much but she's got it where it counts kid and I've made a few extra modifications myself. But we are a little rushed so please step onboard."
As Luke walked up the ramp with Ben and the droids 3PO looked at Han and spoke, "Hello Sir."
Han looked at the protocol droid in pure annoyance in response.
As Chewbacca boarded the Falcon, Han heard the sound of a stormtrooper yelling as stormtroopers stormed into the Docking Bay, "Stop that ship! Blast them!" Han swiftly drew his blaster and started firing upon the Stormtroopers as they came into view. He began to fire repeatedly as the Stormtroopers fired upon him.
Stormtroopers started to fall as he fired upon them and killed several including the squad leader. He then turned and ran up the boarding ramp and yelled, "Chewie Get us out of here!"
Within moments the ship lifted off as Obi-Wan and Luke got into their seats and strapped into their crash webbing.
C-3PO then spoke, "Oh my I forgot just how much I hate space travel."
No one paid any attention to the whinny protocol droid as the Falcon lifted off.
The stormtroopers back in Docking Bay Ninety four fired upon the Falcon in vain as it lifted off and flew into the Atmosphere of Tattooine.
Millennium Falcon:
Han looked at Chewie as the Falcon shook from the flight away from Tattooine.
At the same time, their sensors started beeping as Han looked at the computer screen, "Looks like an Imperial cruiser, Looks like our passengers are hotter than I thought try and hold them off angle the deflector shields while I make the calculations for the jump to lightspeed."
Han then sat down and began to maneuver the ship as the Cockpit door opened revealing Luke and Ben.
Han then spoke to Chewie as he ignored the two passengers, "Stay sharp there are two more on our tail. They're gonna try to cut us off."
"Why don't you outrun them? I thought you said that this thing was fast," said Luke.
Han glared at Luke, "Watch your mouth kid or you're gonna find yourself floating back home. We'll be safe enough when we make the jump into Hyperspace, besides I know a few maneuvers we'll lose them."
Han allowed a cocky smile to cross his face as the Star Destroyers started to fire upon him. "This is where the fun begins."
"How long until we make the jump into Hyperspace?" Obi-Wan asked.
"It'll take a few moments to get coordinates from the Navi computer."
"Are you kidding at the rate that they are gaining?" yelled Luke.
Han turned at Luke and glared at him as he spoke,"Traveling through Hyperspace ain't like dustin Crops boy. Without precise calculations we'd fly right through a star or bounce to close to a supernova and that would end your trip real quick wouldn't it?"
Luke did his best to remain silent, as he thought of just what he would have done to Han three years before.
Luke at the same time heard a sound and pointed to the Control panel, "Whats that flashing?"
"We're losing rear deflector shields go strap yourselves in, I'm gonna make the jump into Hyperspace."
Luke and Ben swiftly left the Cockpit to strap in as Han had ordered.
Han then sat back in his seat and pulled his lever back and within moments the stars started to fly by his viewports as the ship entered Hyperspace.
Death Star: In orbit above Alderaan:
Emperor Palpatine stood in silence on the main Command Bridge of the Death Star with a cold smile of anticipation. Soon, the full power of the Death Star would be demonstrated but even better was the fact that the Rebellion would soon be destroyed with one swift stroke by the Death Star.
Once the Rebellion was destroyed, he would have more resources at his disposal to use to search for the elusive Starkiller and the other surviving Jedi that were hiding throughout the Galaxy. Once the last Jedi had been killed, the Galaxy was his.
Palpatine smiled wickedly as he looked towards one of his many puppets, Wilhuff Tarkin whom was standing forty feet away from him.
Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin Looked out the viewport of the Command bridge of the Death Star before looking at one of the nearby Officers with a Nod. At the same time he looked to see Princess Leia being escorted into the room by Darth Vader and and a pair of stormtroopers.
Leia glared at Tarkin before glaring at the Emperor who was walking up to Tarkin's side, "Your Majesty," Leia stated with a mock bow as she turned towards Tarkin, "And Governor Tarkin, I should have expected to find you two holding Vader's leash. I recognized your foul stench when I was brought onboard."
Tarkin smiled, "Charming to the last."
He then cupped Leia's chin and spoke, "You don't know how hard I found it signing the order to terminate your life."
Leia glared at him, "I am surprised that you had the courage to take the responsibility yourself."
She then looked towards Palpatine as she spoke, "I would have expected Tarkin to have you do the deed."
"I didn't have it in me to sign the order Princess. It truly is a shame that your life is going to end so soon. Such a waste of life, you could have been so much more."
"I would rather die a traitor by your hand then live to serve your evil Empire.
Tarkin shook his head as Palpatine started to laugh, "Princess Leia before your execution I would like you to by guest in a ceremony that will make this Battle Station fully operational."
"The more that you tighten your grip Tarkin the more systems that will slip through your fingers," Leia replied.
Tarkin merely smiled in response, "Not after we demonstrate the full power of this station. In a way you have chosen the the system that shall be destroyed first. Since You have been unwilling to provide us with the location of the Rebel base I have decided to demonstrate the complete destructive power on your home planet of Alderaan."
The young nineteen year old gasped in horror, "No, Alderaan is peaceful we have no weapons you can't possibly..."
"If you are talking of another target a Military Target then Name the system."
Tarkin then moved closer to Leia and spoke, "I have grown tired of asking this so I am going to ask you one last time. Where is the Rebel Base?"
"Where is it Princess? I will have Tarkin spare Alderaan if you tell us," Palpatine stated.
Leia looked out of the viewport and towards Alderaan before looking into Palpatine's yellow eyes before looking back at Tarkin, "Dantooine, On Dantooine."
Tarkin nodded as he looked at Vader, "There, you see Lord Vader? She can be reasonable."
Vader sneered, he had sensed deception in Leia although he was impressed with her loyalty to the Rebellion and her defiant stance towards Tarkin and Palpatine.
"Continue with the Operation," stated Tarkin as he looked at Motti.
"What?" asked Leia in horror.
Palpatine smiled darkly at the young Princess, "You are far to trusting, Dantooine is to far out to make an effective Demonstration but don't worry we will deal with your Rebel friends soon enough."
"No," pleaded Leia as she moved towards Tarkin and Palpatine. Vader in response grabbed the young Princess and held her firmly against his chest.
Leia then watched in shock and horror as the superlaser of the Death Star ignited and vaporized Alderaan right before her eyes.
Tarkin then entered the room with a wicked smile, "You may return her to her cell for execution Lord Vader."
Vader nodded as he led Leia towards the Elevator. Vader dismissed the Stormtroopers in anger as he prepared to take Leia back to the Detention Center.
"Idiots," muttered Vader in anger. All that they would do was cause more people to join the Rebellion and he had tried to tell his Master that that would be the case but the Old Man wouldn't listen.
Leia felt tears as she thought of her adoptive Father, Bail Organa who had just died along with Alderaan. Vader quietly looked at the young Princess as she cried. For whatever reason, he was thinking of his final moments with Padme as she cried and begged him to change so long ago on Mustafar. Vader didn't know why but the young Princess was making him think of Padme more and more. Vader shook his head, he would either let the Princess go or allow Tarkin to kill her before he made his move, because he hated the thought of doing the deed.
Millennium Falcon:
Luke smiled as he deflected laser blasts from the laser remote that hovered above him Ben encouraged him to practice frequently and he enjoyed practice. Just as he continued to practice He gasped in shock and horror as he dropped his lightsaber.
He looked over at Ben, "Can you feel it Master?"
"It felt like millions just cried out in terror before being silenced forever. I know Luke I can feel it. Something terrible has happened, but there is nothing that we can do. You'd better get back with your exercises because I believe that there will be a battle soon."
Luke nodded and within moments his Green lightsaber was shinning again as he continued practicing with the remote.
"Master, I think that the Death Star was finally tested."
"Would it be completed by now?" Ben asked uneasily.
Luke in response gave Ben a grim dark look that was as dark as the black tunic and pants that he had changed into shortly after the jump into hyperspace, "It is certainly completed," Luke replied.
Ben shook his head, "There is nothing we can do, just keep on training."
Ben sighed, Luke had told him about the madness that was known as the Death Star, the battle station that contained enough power to destroy an entire planet. Although he found the tale unbelievable, he now realized that Luke was right. The Death Star did exist, there was no doubt in the Jedi Master's mind that it had been used based on the destruction that he had sensed through the Force.
At the same time R2 and 3PO were sitting at the Dejarik table with Chewbacca. Chewbacca and R2 were both playing a game of Dejarik while 3PO observed.
At the same time Han entered the room, "Well you can forget about our trouble with those Imperial slugs. I told you that I would lose them." Han looked around the room noticing that no one was giving him notice.
"Don't everyone thank me at once?," he stated sarcastically.
"Anyway we should be at Alderaan at around 0200 hours."
At that moment R2 made a move in the Dejarik game as 3PO spoke, "Now be careful R2."
At that moment R2 moved his piece and claimed Chewbacca's game piece, ending the game with R2 as the winner. Chewbacca roared in anger as 3PO spoke, "He made a fair move. Screaming about it won't do anything."
Han who was watching the situation immediately interjected, "Let him have it it's not wise to upset a Wookiee."
"But sir, nobody worries about upsetting a droid," 3PO replied.
Han smirked, "That's cause Droids don't pull the arms out of people's sockets when they lose. Wookiee's have been known to do that."
Chewbacca roared in response as he glared at R2.
"I see your point sir," 3PO replied.
3PO then turned to R2, "I suggest a new strategy R2, let the Wookiee win."
Chewbacca roared in response.
Han then turned to see Ben observing Luke's training feeling slightly shocked to see a lightsaber ignited inside of his ship. Obi-Wan spoke, "Remember a Jedi can feel the Force flowing through him."
Luke nodded in silence as Han laughed, "Hokey religions and Ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side kid."
Luke deactivated his lightsaber and looked Han in the eye, "You don't believe in the Force do you?"
"Kid I've flown from one side of this Galaxy to the other. I've seen a lot of strange stuff but nothing to convince me that there is an almighty Force controlling everything. No mystical energy field controls my destiny."
Maybe you should have spent some time with My Father and watched us train, Luke thought with a smirk.
Obi-Wan smiled at Luke as he stood up. Luke smirked knowing that it was time to show Han an example of how real the Force was.
"It's all a lot of simple tricks and nonsense," finished Han.
Luke then took a helmet that contained a blast shield that covered his eyes. In many ways it was similar to the exercises that he had done as a child. The young Jedi smiled as the remote fired several shots that he easily deflected.
"I call it luck," said Han with a cocky smile.
Obi-Wan shook his head, "In my experience there is no such thing as luck."
Han gave Obi-Wan a smirk in response, "Look good against remotes is one thing. Good against the living, That is something else."
"Live life the way I did and you will see the Force," Luke replied.
At that moment there was a beep from the nearby monitor as Han spoke, "Looks like we're coming up on Alderaan."
Obi-Wan nodded and Luke removed his helmet and gave his Master a smile. Together they headed into the cockpit of the Falcon behind Han and Chewbacca.
Han looked at Chewie who was in the copilot's seat.
"Alright Chewie I am going to bring in the sublight engines."
As they came out of Hyperspace there was no planet in sight and only debris and astroids floating around them. Han looked in shock at their surroundings and spoke, "What the..."
Chewbacca then roared, "What is this?"
"Ah, we came out of Hyperspace in the middle of an astroid field some kind of collision or meteor shower."
Han was in shock in all of his life he had never seen anything like this. Was it an error in his navigation system?
Han looked at his computer and spoke, "None of this is not on any of the charts."
At that moment Ben and Luke entered the cockpit as Luke spoke, "What's going on?"
Han glanced at Luke and spoke, "Our position is correct but there is no Alderaan."
Luke frowned, "Where is it?"
"Thats what I am telling you kid it ain't there. Its been completely blown away."
"What how?" asked Luke although he knew the reason. The Death Star, it's destructive Firepower had been tested, on Alderaan. Luke cringed in disgust, so much innocent life gone because of the Sith.
"It was destroyed by the Empire," said Ben in response to Luke's already answered question.
Han skeptically spoke, "The entire Starfleet couldn't destroy the whole planet. It would take a thousand ships and more firepower than..."
Han's words trailed off as he heard a beep and checked his sensors.
"There is another ship coming through."
At that moment a small Tie fighter flew past the Falcon and Han looked at the ship as he heard Ben speak.
"Its an Imperial fighter," stated Ben.
Obi-Wan took a closer look at the fighter as it flew past the Falcon, "It's a short range fighter, a fighter that size couldn't get this far into space on its own."
"If there aren't any bases around here than where did they come from?" asked Han
"He must have gotten lost been part of a convoy or something," stated Luke.
Han smirked, "Well he won't be around to tell anyone about us. Jam his signal Chewie."
"It is just a small fighter it is just best to let him go," stated Ben.
Everyone ignored Ben as they followed the small Tie Fighter.
"Look, he's heading for that small moon," stated Luke as he looked out the viewport at the small sphere that was a small distance away and growing in size.
At the same time, Luke realized that he was staring at the Death Star although he knew that it was better to play ignorant in front of Solo and the Wookiee in order to prevent rousing suspicion
"I Think that I can get him before he gets there he's almost in range," said Han.
Obi-Wan looked at the massive sphere outside of the viewport that was coming into visual range realizing that it was made of durasteel.
"Thats no moon. It's a space station," he stated grimly.
"Its to big to be a space station," countered Han.
Han paused as he looked in shock and horror at what Ben was pointing out realizing that the old Jedi Master was right.
"I have a very bad feeling about this," stated Luke as he felt the presence that he hadn't felt in three years, the dark presence of his Father.
Obi-Wan looked at Han and spoke, "Turn the ship around."
"Yeah, I think you're right. Chewie full reverse!" Han stated
At that moment the Falcon began to shake uncontrollably.
Han looked at the Wookiee and spoke, "Chewie lock in the auxiliary power"
Chewbacca obeyed as Han felt the ship continue to shake as it was pulled towards the massive space station.
"Chewie lock in the auxiliary power," Han yelled in frustration.
"I did," Chewie roared back in response.
Luke in anger spoke, "Why are we still going towards it."
"We're caught in a tractor beam there's nothing I can do," stated Han
"I'm at full power I'm gonna have to shut her down they aren't going to get me without a fight," stated Han angrily
Obi-Wan calmly looked at Han and spoke, "You cannot win but there are alternatives to fighting."
Obi-Wan then looked at Han who spoke, "Follow me, I have a place that we can hide in."
Immediately everyone followed the smuggler out of the small cockpit without questioning while Luke reached for his Travel bag. He reached into the bag and pulled out his already prepared utility belt which contained his two blasters and three thermal detonators along with a good number of toxic darts and two concussion grenades.
He buckled the belt on in the darkness as he reached for several darts in the darkness as he prepared to do something that he had been taught to do since childhood.
Alright that is it for now, thank you for reading and reviewing, Special thanks to KnightOfHolyLight ,DVNIKKI,Jedi Angel 001 Jedi Master Misty Sman-Esay and BeSkydreamer, You guys have been very faithful for the last couple of chapters in terms of reviewing. This Chapter is just for all five of you.
-Fallen Jedi 79