Chapter 5 – Chasing the Firefly / The Ways of the Force

Verdian piloted the Firefly towards the bridge of the Ferocia II. He rapidly put his hand onto a stick and pushed a button sending proton torpedoes at the bridge. Rkon and his crew were sent flying backwards by the shockwave as the Firefly raced overhead.

"Sir, the rebel flagship is moving to jump to hyperspace," an officer told Rkon as he studied his tracking computer.

"Launch the TIE starfighters immediately officer, I do not want that ship to escape," Rkon replied, "Target both the flagship and the Firefly."

Admiral Kazna sat at the bridge as he commanded, "Punch it officer."

"Sir, enemy fighters!" yelled the officer back as Kazna spun back around on his chair to face the on-coming wave of enemies. He looked in horror at the ship's shields decimating to nothing. He wanted to act, but there was nothing he could do but watch himself die.

Verdian raced around the back of the Ferocia II and towards the Spirit of Home One as he said looking back at Hope, "You said you didn't want to find cover in an asteroid, well here you go."

"I regret it ok?" Hope replied and sighed, Verdian was such an annoyance.

"Ok, ok," Verdian replied, "Calm down your Excellency!"

The Firefly raced alongside the Spirit of Home One shooting down TIE fighters as it jumped away into hyperspace. All the attention turned to the Firefly as it raced away from the fleet as it accelerated after him into the asteroid field.

Several Star Destroyers had been ripped apart by asteroids; their fleet was being destroyed at Foxy's own disposal.

The Firefly sped across the surfaces of asteroids evading the fleet as it fired at them sending particles of asteroid flying everywhere. TIE fighters perused it across the great crater and down cracks in the rock sending less skilled fighter pilots crashing into the walls and floor. Sections of rock smashed into the fighters sending them crashing down.

Uiw screeched in his droid like voice. By human nature Hope jumped back every time a fighter exploded but Verdian piloted the ship with ease.

The fighters were down, no lasers required. The Firefly raced into a cavern to repair.

"Where are we going?" asked Hope.

"To take cover in an asteroid," Verdian replied.

"I hope you know what you are doing," she replied.

"Me too," replied Verdian.

Jarren was starving, it had been days since he had eaten and Nightshadow was making him do training most of the day with little sleep. It was brutal, yes. But it worked. Jarren knew he was becoming stronger with the force and one day could help Nightshadow defeat Foxy, or do it himself.

He was meditating on the river bank; his eyes were closed in deep meditation. He could not clear his mind; he kept seeing visions of his friends. They were in pain, Hope was crying, Uiw was spare parts and Verdian was… dead.

He opened his eyes in shock running to Nightshadow who appeared to be talking to someone, some blue lit person.

"Lady Nightshadow," he said.

"Yes, Jarren," she replied walking over to him, "What is it?"

"I had a vision, of my friends in pain," he replied, "I must go, but my X-wing is still under the water."

"Use the force and you will reach it," she replied putting her hand on Jarren's shoulder.

"But lifting stones and rocks is one thing and I can do it, but lifting a starfighter, that's just next level," Jarren replied, he was never going to make it out of here and save his friends, or himself from starvation.

"No, it is not completely different, imagine that starfighter is a rock, then lift it," she replied, "You must believe."

"Ok, I'll do it," he replied lifting his hand out and closing his eyes as the water around the ship began to bubble furiously. The top of the X-wing emerged from the water. Nightshadow watched in surprise, if this boy could do this without giving up, he was just as powerful as she was.

However, it sank once again; he did not have the courage to carry on.

Jarren walked back over to Nightshadow, "How was I meant to do that, now I'm stuck here forever."

Jarren walked away into the jungle as Nightshadow called him back but he ignored her.

"Just like I was," she said to herself as a voice replied, "Yes, I remember."

The water around the X-wing bubbled furiously as it rapidly emerged from the water and into the air. Jarren looked from behind a tree to see his X-wing floating above the water towards him. He ran over in shock.

Nightshadow turned to him and said whilst still controlling the X-wing, "You will learn, I will teach you."