Star Wars: Remix version
Chapter Twenty Four: Only one left!
Grand Moff Tarkin cast a sinister eye at the computer screen.
"Rebel base, one minute and closing" The voice said over the loud speaker.
Padme, Princess Anna, and Leia, with Threepio beside them, listened intently to the talk between the pilots. The room was grim after Red Leader's death. Princess Anna nervously paced the room.
"Biggs, Wedge, let's close it up. We're going in. We're going in full throttle" Luke commanded, taking control of the situation.
"Right with you, boss" Wedge replied.
The two X-wings peeled off against a background of stars and dove toward the Death Star.
"Luke, at that speed will you be able to pull out in time?" Biggs asked, anxiously.
"It'll be just like Beggar's Canyon back home" Luke said, disguising his fear.
The three X-wings moved in, unleashing a barrage of laser fire. Laser bolts were returned from the Death Star. Luke's lifelong friend struggled with his controls.
"We'll stay back far enough to cover you" he said. Flak and laser bolts flashed outside Luke's cockpit window.
"My scope shows the tower, but I can't see the exhaust port! Are you sure the computer can hit it?" Wedge asked.
The Death Star laser cannon slowly rotated as it shot laser bolts.
Luke looked around for the Imperial TIE fighters. He thought for a moment and then moved his targeting device into position. "Watch yourself! Increase speed full throttle!"
Wedge looked excitedly about for any sign of the TIE fighters.
"What about the tower?" He asked.
"You worry about those fighters! I'll worry about the tower!" Luke commanded. Luke's X-wing streaked through the trench, firing lasers. He broke into a nervous sweat as the laser fire was returned, knicking one of his wings close to the engine.
"Artoo...that, that stabilizer's broken loose again! See if you can't lock it down!" Luke shouted to the little droid. Artoo worked to repair the damages. The canyon wall rushed by in the background, making his delicate task seem even more precarious.
Two laser cannons were firing on the Rebel fighters. Wedge looked up and saw the TIE ships. Luke's targeting device marked off the distance to the target.
Sky and his wingmen zoomed closer. Sky adjusted his controls and fired laser bolts at two X-wings flying down the trench. He scored a direct hit on Wedge.
Anna and the others were grouped around the computer board.
"I'm hit! I can't stay with you" Wedge told Luke over the speaker.
"Get clear, Wedge" Luke replied. "You can't do any more good back there!"
"Sorry!" Wedge apologized. He pulled his crippled X-wing back away from the battle.
Sky watched the escape but issued a command to his wingmen. "Let him go! Stay on the leader!"
Luke's X-wing sped down the trench; the three TIE fighters, still in perfect unbroken formation, tailed close behind. Biggs looked around at the TIE fighters, worried.
"Hurry, Luke, they're coming in much faster this time. I can't hold them!" Biggs said.
The three TIE fighters moved ever closer, closing in on Luke and Biggs.
Luke looked back anxiously at little Artoo.
"Artoo, try and increase the power!" He commanded.
Ignoring the bumpy ride, flak, and lasers, a beeping Artoo-Detoo struggled to increase the power, his dome turning from side to side.
Stealthily, the TIE formation crept closer. Sky adjusted his control stick.
Biggs looked around at the TIE fighters.
Luke looked into his targeting device. He moved it away for a moment and pondered its use. He looked back into the computer targeter.
"Hurry up, Luke!" Biggs cried.
Sky and his wingmen raced through the Death Star trench. Biggs moved in to cover for Luke, but Sky gained on him.
Biggs saw the TIE fighter aiming at him.
"Wait!" Biggs cried.
Sky squeezed the fire button on his controls. Biggs' cockpit exploded around him, lighting him in red. His ship burst into a million flaming bits and scattered across the surface.
Luke was stunned by Biggs' death. His eyes were watering, but his anger was also growing.
Grand Moff Tarkin watched the projected target screen with satisfaction.
"Rebel base, thirty seconds and closing" The voice said.
Sky took aim on Luke and talked to the wingmen.
"I'm on the leader" He said.
Luke's ship streaked through the trench of the Death Star.
Princess Anna returned her general's worried and doubtful glances with solid, grim determination. Threepio seemed nervous.
"Hang on, Artoo!" He begged.
Luke concentrated on his targeting device.
Three TIE fighters charged away down the trench toward Luke.
Sky's finger's curled around the control stick.
Luke adjusted the lens of his targeting device. His ship charged down the trench. He lined up the yellow cross-hair lines of the targeting device's screen. He looked into the targeting device, then started at a voice he thought he'd never hear again.
"Use the Force, Luke" It was Ben's Death Star trench zoomed by. Luke looked up, then started to look back into the targeting device. He was having second thoughts.
"Let go, Luke" Ben's voice came again.
A grim determination swept across Luke's face as he closed his eyes and started to mumble Ben's training to himself.
Luke's fighter streaked through the trench.
"The Force is strong with this one!" Sky mumbled, feeling the power of the force. He followed Luke's X-wing down the trench.
Luke looked to the targeting device, then away as he heard Ben's voice again.
"Luke, trust me" Ben said.
Luke's hand reached for the control panel and pressed the button. The targeting device moved away.
"His computer's off. Luke, you switched off your targeting computer. What's wrong?" Padme asked over the intercom.
"Nothing. I'm all right" Luke replied. Luke's ship streaked ever close to the exhaust port. He looked at the Death Star surface streaking by. Artoo-Detoo turned his head from side to side, beeping in anticipation.