Chapter 21- Battle Preparations and One's Path
Vader stood next to Tarkin as the Death Star came into view of the fourth moon of Yavin. This is where the ship that his daughter was on had stopped. This had to be where the rebel base was located. "Orbiting the planet at maximum velocity. The moon with the rebel base will be in range in 30 minutes," a voice over the intercom said.
"This will be a day long remembered. It has seen the end of Kenobi and will soon see the end of the rebellion," Vader said. Vader wondered if he should try to get to the surface and get his daughter off the moon. If he didn't she would die. It was worth thinking about. Vader still had the hypospray he had prepared for Lena, but he had a sensation in the Force telling him to wait.
Lena and Luke came out of the pilot dressing rooms, suited up in the gaudy orange flightsuits that all X-wing pilots wore, Threepio behind them. "All flight crews man your stations," a voice over the intercom said. Luke and Lena paused as they saw Han and Chewbacca with cases in front of them and they were loading them on a cart.
"So... you just got your reward from Lena's father and you're just leaving then?" Luke asked, his voice slightly miffed. Han looked up at them.
"That's right. Yeah. I got some old debts I got to pay off with this stuff. And even if I didn't, you and your sister don't think I'd be fool enough to stick around here, do ya? Why don't the two of you come with us? You're both pretty good in a fight. We could use ya," Han said, his voice changing from defiant to asking kindly.
"Solo, come on. Why don't you take a look around? You know what's about to happen, what we're up against. My father and Dodonna could use a good pilot like you. You're turning your back on them. And I have always done my duty. You know I can't leave as my father has told me that to be a Jedi I have to be selfless," Lena said, an unJedi-like feeling of impatience at the smuggler entering her voice.
"What good's a reward if you ain't around to use it, Princess? Besides, attacking that battle station ain't my idea of courage. It's more like...suicide," Han said as he went back to the containers. Luke sighed and nodded.
"All right. Take care of yourself, Han. I guess that's what you're best at, isn't it?" Luke asked stiffly as he and Lena turned and started to walk away.
"Hey, Luke, Your Highness," Han called. Luke and Lena turned to look at him. "May the Force be with you," Han said with a brief smile.
Lena and Luke walked to their ships as Lena and Talon came over to them and gave them both hugs. "What wrong?" Leia asked, looking at first Luke and then Leia.
"Oh, it's Han. I don't know. I really thought he'd change his mind," Luke said dejectedly.
Leia shook her head. "You know, Luke, Lena, he's got to follow his own path. No one can choose it for him," Talon said, hugging Lena tightly into his side.
"I know, Papa. I only wish Obi-Wan were here," Lena said in a small voice. Talon kissed Lena's cheek and Leia kissed Luke's and they walked away.
"Open main launch tubes," the intercom blared.
"Main launch tubes opening, Sir," another voice said over the intercom.
"Hey, Luke!" A voice shouted happily. Biggs, Luke's friend from Tatooine came running up to them, the happiness in his voice evident on his face.
"Biggs!" Luke shouted happily back.
"I don't believe it! How are you?" Biggs laughed as they clapped each other on the shoulders.
"Great!" Luke said.
"Hey, you and the princess coming up?" Biggs asked.
"We'll be right up there with you and have I got stories to tell you," Luke said.
"Are you sure you can handle this ship?" Blue Leader asked, coming up to them and indicating one of the X-wings.
"Sir, I may be a Jedi who can use a lightsaber, but I think I can handle an X-wing," Lena said calmly.
"And, Sir, Luke is the best bush pilot in the outer-rim territories," Biggs bragged proudly.
"If you're anything like Anakin Skywalker, your father, you'll do all right. I met him once during the Clone Wars when I was a boy," Blue Leader said with a smile as he walked away.
"Thank you, Sir. Me and Lena'll try," Luke said.
"I gotta get aboard. We'll hear all your stories when we get back, all right?" Biggs asked, ducking under the wings of Luke's ship.
"All right. Hey, Biggs. I told you I'd make it someday," Luke said.
"It'll be like old times, Luke. They'll never stop us," Biggs said as he and Lena put on their helmets.
Lena climbed up the ladder of the ship next to her brother's, close enough to hear whoever talked to Luke. "Hey, this Artoo unit of yours seems a bit beat up. You want a new one?" A tech asked Luke as they were putting Artoo in the socket behind Luke.
"Not on your life. That little droid and I have been through a lot together. You O.K., Artoo?" Luke asked. Artoo beeped. "Good," Luke said as he and Lena got into their cockpits.
"Gold Squadron, begin takeoff procedure," the voice on the intercom said.
"Hang on tight, Artoo. You've got to come back. You wouldn't want my life to get boring, would you?" Lena heard Threepio ask out of sight. the cockpit canopies came down.
"May the Force be with us," Lena muttered under her breath as she started her X-wing and all the ships left the hangar and the moon's atmosphere. Lena drew on the Force. It was going to be a bloody battle and she was going to need it.