Balance of the Heart
Chapter 29: A New Hope Part 7-Battle of Yavin
Seira, Luke, Marina, Threepio and little Artoo enter the huge spaceship hangar and hurry along a long line of gleaming spacefighters.
Flight crews rush around loading last-minute armaments and unlocking power couplings.
In an area isolated from this activity, the two cousins find Han and Chewbacca loading small boxes onto an armored speeder.
"All flight trooper, man your stations." the man in the speaker said. "All flight troops, man your stations."
Han was deliberately ignoring the activity of the fighter pilots preparation.
"So you got your reward and you're just leaving then?"Luke asked.
"That's right, yeah!"Han said. "I got some old debts I've got to pay off with this stuff. Even if I didn't, you don't think I'd be fool enough to stick around here, do you? Why don't you come with us? You're pretty good in a fight, I could use you."
"Come on!"Luke said in anger. "Why don't you take a look around? You know what's about to happen, what they're up against, they could use a good pilot like you."
"Luke's right."Marina said folding her arms. "You can't just turn your back on them."
"What good's a reward if you ain't around to use it?"Han said. "Besides, attacking that battle station ain't my idea of courage, it's more like suicide."
Marina rolled her eyes.
"All right."Luke said. "Well, take care of yourself, Han, I guess that's what you're best at, isn't it?"
"Hey, Luke, Marie...may the Force be with you!"Han called out.
Luke lifts his hand in a small wave and then goes off.
Han turned to Chewbacca, who growls at his captain.
"What're you lookin' at?"Han asked. "I know what I'm doing."
The Skywalker family, Leia, Celine and Dodonna meet under a huge space fighter.
Celine notices the sad look on Luke's face.
"What's wrong?"Celine asked.
"Oh, it's Han."Luke said. "I don't know, I really thought he'd change his mind."
"He's got to follow his own path."Celine said. "No one can choose it for him."
"I only wish Ben were here."Luke said sadly.
Celine gives Luke a little kiss on the cheek, then turns and walked off.
Luke watches her go and then heads for his ship, another pilot rushes up to him and grabs his arm.
"Luke! I don't believe it!"Biggs said. "How'd you get here...are you going out with us?"
"Biggs!"Luke said. "Of course, I'll be up there with you! Listen, have I got some stories to tell..."
Red Leader, a rugged handsome man in his forties, comes up behind Luke and Biggs.
"Are you... Luke Skywalker?"Red Leader asked. "Have you been checked out on the Incom T-sixty- five?"
"Sir, Luke is the best bushpilot in the outer rim territories."Biggs said.
Red Leader pats Luke on the back as they stop in front of his fighter.
"I met your father and your aunt once when I was just a boy, they were great pilots."Red Leader said. "You'll do all right, if you've got half of your father's skill, you'll do better than all right."
"Thank you, sir."Luke said. "I'll try."
Red Leader hurries to his own ship.
"I've got to get aboard."Biggs said. "Listen, you'll tell me your stories when we come back, all right?"
"I told you I'd make it someday, Biggs."Luke said.
"You did, all right. It's going to be like old times, Luke."Biggs said. "We're a couple of shooting stars that'll never be stopped!"
Luke laughed and shakes his head in agreement as he heads for his ship.
"You are so much like your father, Luke."Seira said.
"Thanks, Aunt Seirie."Luke said.
Seira gave Luke a hug.
"Be careful out there." Seira said.
Luke nodded. "I promise."
Seira pulled back and Luke could clearly see tears brimming in his aunt's eyes.
She quickly wiped them but she couldn't hide the concerned look on her face.
Marina gives Luke a quick hug.
"Good luck, Luke."Marina said sweetly.
Luke smiled back at her.
As Luke begins to climb up the ladder into his sleek, deadly spaceship, the crew chief, who was working on the craft, points to little Artoo, who is being hoisted into a socket on the back of the fighter.
"This R2 unit of your seems a bit beat up."Chief said. "Do you want a new one?"
"Not on your life!"Luke said. "That little droid and I have been through a lot together, you okay, Artoo?"
The crewmen lower Artoo-Detoo into the craft.
Now a part of the exterior shell of the starship, the little droid beeps that he is fine.
Luke climbed up into the cockpit of his fighter and puts an his helmet.
Threepio looked on from the floor of the massive hangar as the crewmen secure his little electronic partner into Luke's X-wing.
Artoo beeps good-bye.
"Okay, easy she goes!"Chief said.
"Hang on tight,Artoo, you've got to come back."Threepio said.
Artoo beeps in agreement.
"You wouldn't want my life to get boring, would you?"Threepio asked.
Artoo beeped.
All final preparations are made for the approaching battle.
The hangar was buzzing with the last minute activity as the pilots and crewmen alike make their final adjustments.
The hum of activity is occasionally trespassed by the distorted voice of the loudspeaker issuing commands.
Coupling hoses are disconnected from the ships as they are fuelled.
Cockpit shields roll smoothly into place over each pilot.
A signalman holding red guiding lights directed the ships.
Luke traces a smile gracing his lips as he peered about through his goggles.
"Luke, the Force will be with you."a voice said.
Luke was confused at the voice and taps his headphones.
Meanwhile...
Seira looked around the cockpit and saw Marina helping Draven, a female torguta and a red haired boy preparing a few X-wings.
Draven was a boy with black hair and soft blue eyes. He was wearing a orange pilot suit.
The female torguta was a thirteen year old with tangerine skin and pear green eyes. She wore a brown shirt with black trousers and grey boots.
The red haired boy was a fourteen year old with dark brown eyes and fair skin.
The older woman notice how very familiar the female torguta looked.
She looked exactly like...
"Ahsoka?"Seira thought.
"Seira?"
Seira turned around and saw the three figures, she wasn't expecting to see.
"Oh my gosh!"Seira said. "Pax! Ahsoka! Kaya!"
Seira hugged her three young companions that she hasn't seen for a long time.
"Seira, it's really you!"Ahsoka said in relief. "We thought you were dead!"
"You changed a bit, master."Pax said. "But not that much..."
Seira chuckled. "I'm always filled with surprises.
"It's so good to see you again."Kaya said.
"I wish it was more like in peaceful circumstances."Seira said firmly.
"Where's Mason? Is he here too?"Ahsoka asked.
The name of her husband caused Seira's smile to fade.
"Master, are you okay?" Pax asked.
"Mason is gone, he was killed by Vader a year after the jedi purge."Seira said sadly.
Kaya's eyes widen and took a step back as she shook her head for a second.
Her master was dead and she couldn't believe it.
"Do you think Vader knows we're alive?"Kaya asked quietly.
"Most likely."Seira said with a hint of sadness. "He probably used a mind probe on Mason to extract the information and I'm sure he was not too pleased."
This caused Ahsoka to have a sad look on her face, which caused her husband to put a hand on her shoulder.
"Does your daughters also Luke and Leia know about..."Ahsoka said.
Seira shook her head. "No, I haven't told either of them."
Pax nodded at his old master.
Seira turned her attention to the female torguta and red haired boy that was helping Draven and Marina.
"Are they..."
"That girl is our daughter Naomi and the red haired is Kaya's son Zack."Pax said.
"They remind me of the three of you."Seira said with a smirk.
The three adults smiled at her.
In the Jungle...
All that can be seen of the fortress was a lone guard standing on a small pedestal jutting out above the dense jungle.
The muted gruesome crying sounds that naturally permeate this eerie purgatory were overwhelmed by the thundering din of ion rockets as four silver starships catapult from the foliage in a tight formation and disappears into the morning cloud cover.
A while later in the War Room...
Leia and Celine were sitting quietly before the giant display showing the planet Yavin and its four moons.
Seira, Marina and their companions were there as well.
The red dot that represents the Death Star moves ever closer to the system. A series of green dots appear around the fourth moon.
A din of indistinct chatter fills the war room.
"Stand-by alert."the voice in the intercom said. "Death Star approaching, estimated time to firing range, fifteen minutes."
In Space...
The Death Star slowly moved behind the massive yellow surface of Yavin in the foreground, as many X-wing fighters flying in formation zoom toward us and out of the frame.
Light from a distant sun creates an eerie atmospheric glow around a huge planet, Yavin.
Rebel fighters flying in formation settle ominously in the foreground and very slowly pull away.
In the War Room...
Leia, Celine, Seira, Marina, Threepio, Dodonna and the others were listening to the Rebel Fighter's radio transmissions over the war room intercom.
Seira suddenly felt a cold dark feeling that she felt coming from one of the TIE pilots.
But she immediately snapped out of her thoughts and finding it ridiculous to believe Vader was one of the TIEs.
"He wouldn't be stupid enough..."She muttered under her breath.
In Space...
The Death Star laser cannon slowly rotates as it shoots laserbolts.
Luke looks around for the Imperial TIE fighters.
He thinks for a moment and then moves his targeting device into position.
"Watch yourself! Increase speed full throttle!"Luke said.
Wedge looks excitedly about for any sign of the TIE fighters. "What about the tower?"
"You worry about those fighters! I'll worry about the tower!"Luke stated.
Luke's X-wing streaks through the trench, firing lasers.
The laserfire was returned 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 said.
Artoo worked to repair the damages.
The canyon wall rushes by in the background, making his delicate task seem even more precarious.
Two laser cannons were firing on the Rebel fighters.
Wedge looks up and sees the TIE ships.
Luke's targeting device marks off the distance to the target.
Vader and his wingmen zoom closer.
He adjusted his controls and fires laserbolts at two X-wings flying down the trench.
Vader scores a direct hit on Wedge.
In the War Room...
Leia, Celine and the others are grouped around the computer board.
"I'm hit! I can't stay with you."Wedge said.
In Space...
"Get clear, Wedge."Luke said. "You can't do any more good back there!"
Wedge pulls his crippled X-wing back away from the battle.
Vader watches the escape but issues a command to his wingmen.
"Let him go! Stay on the leader!"Vader ordered.
Luke's X-wing speeds down the trench, the three TIE fighters, still in perfect unbroken formation, tail close behind.
Biggs looked around at the TIE fighters.
He was worried.
"Hurry, Luke, they're coming in much faster this time."Biggs said. "I can't hold them!"
The three TIE fighters move ever closer, closing in on Luke and Biggs.
Luke looks back anxiously at little Artoo.
"Artoo, try and increase the power!"Luke said.
Ignoring the bumpy ride, flak, and lasers, Artoo struggles to increase the power, his dome turning from side to side.
Stealthily, the TIE formation crept closer.
Vader adjusted his control stick.
Biggs looked around at the TIE fighters.
Luke looked into his targeting device.
He moves it away for a moment and ponders its use.
"Hurry up, Luke!"Biggs said.
Vader and his wingmen race through the Death Star trench.
Biggs moved in to cover for Luke, but Vader gains on him.
He sees the TIE fighter aiming at him. "Wait!"
Vader squeezes the fire button on his controls.
Biggs' cockpit explodes around him, lighting him in red.
The ship bursts into flaming bits and scatters across the surface.
In the War Room...
Leia, Celine, Seira and the others stare at the computer board quietly.
In Space...
Luke was stunned by Biggs's death.
His eyes are watering, but his anger was also growing.
Vader takes aim on Luke and talks to the wingmen. "I'm on the leader."
Luke's ship streaks through the trench of the Death Star.
He concentrates on his targeting device.
Three TIE fighters charge away down the trench toward Luke.
Vader's finger's curls around the control stick.
Luke adjusts the lens of his targeting device.
His ship charges down the trench.
Luke lines up the yellow cross-hair lines of the targeting device's screen.
He looked into the targeting device, then starts at a voice he hears.
"Use the Force, Luke."Obi-Wan said.
The Death Star trench zooms by.
Luke looked up, then started to look back into the targeting device.
"Let go, Luke."Obi-Wan said.
A grim determination sweeps across Luke's face as he closed his eyes.
Luke's fighter streaks through the trench.
"The Force is strong with this one!"Vader said as he followed Luke's X-wing down the trench.
Luke looked to the targeting device, then away as he hears a familiar voice.
"Luke, trust me."Obi-Wan said.
His hand reaches for the control panel and presses the button.
The targeting device moves away.
In the War Room...
Leia, Celine and the others stand watching the projected screen.
"His computer's off."the base voice said. "Luke, you switched off your targeting computer, what's wrong?"
"Nothing."Luke replied. "I'm all right."
Marina held Seira's hand in worry.
In Space...
Luke's ship streaked ever close to the exhaust port and looked at the Death Star surface streaking by.
Artoo turned his head from side to side, beeping in anticipation.
The three TIE fighters, manned by Vader and his two wingmen follows Luke's X-wing down the trench.
Vader manoeuvred his controls as he looked at his doomed target.
He presses the fire buttons on his control sticks.
Laserfire shoots toward Luke's X-wing fighter.
A large burst of Vader's laserfire engulfs Artoo.
The arms go limp on the smoking little droid as he makes a high-pitched sound.
Luke looked frantically back over his shoulder at Artoo.
Smoke billows out around little Artoo and sparks begin to fly.
"I've lost Artoo!"Luke said.
Artoo's beeping sounds die out.
In the War Room...
Leia, Celine, Seira and the others stare intently at the projected screen.
Lights representing the Death Star and targets glow brightly.
"Please, Qui-Gon not another loss..." Seira thought in worry.
In Space...
The three TIE fighters zoom down the Death Star trench in pursuit of Luke, never breaking formation.
Luke looked anxiously at the exhaust port.
Vader adjusts his control sticks, checking his projected targeting screen.
Luke's ship barrels down the trench.
Vader's targeting computer swings around into position.
He took careful aim on Luke's X-wing fighter.
"I have you now."Vader said.
The three TIE fighters move in on Luke.
As Vader's centre fighter unleashes a volley of laserfire, one of the TIE ships at his side is hit and explodes into flames.
The two remaining ships continue to move in.
Luke looked about, wondering whose laserfire destroyed Vader's wingman.
Vader was taken by surprise, and looks out from his cockpit. "What!"
His wingman searches around him trying to locate the unknown attacker.
"Yahoo!"Han cheered.
Han and Chewbacca grin from ear to ear.
The Millennium Falcon heads right at the two TIE fighters.
In Space...
The wingman panics at the sight of the oncoming pirate starship and veers radically to one side colliding with Vader's TIE fighter in the process.
Vader's wingman crashes into the side wall of the trench and explodes.
His damaged ship spins out of the trench with a damaged wing.
Vader's ship spinned out of control with a bent solar fin, heading for deep space.
He turned round and round in circles as his ship spins into space.
Han's ship moves in toward the Death Star trench.
"You're all clear, kid."Han said.
In the War Room...
Leia, Celine, Seira, Marina and the others listen to Solo's transmission.
In Space...
"Now let's blow this thing and go home!"Han said.
Luke looked up and smiles.
He concentrates on the exhaust port, then fires his laser torpedoes.
Luke's torpedoes shoot toward the port and seems to simply disappear into the surface and not explode.
But the shots do find their mark and have gone into the exhaust port and are heading for the main reactor.
Luke throws his head back in relief.
The Rebel ships race out of sight as the Death Star exploded.
"Great shot, kid."Han said. "That was one in a million."
"Remember, the Force will be with you... always."Obi-Wan said.
Unknown Vader's ship spins off into space.
Back in Yavin...
The Rebel ships race toward the fourth moon of Yavin.
Luke climbed out of his starship fighter and was cheered by a throng of ground crew and pilots.
He climbs down the ladder as they all welcome him with laughter, cheers, and shouting.
Seira proudly hugged her nephew as Marina joined in.
"Oh Luke!"Seira said in happiness.
"Luke that was awsome!"Marina said in joy.
Celine rushes toward him.
"Luke! Luke!"
She throws her arms around Luke and hugs him as they dance around in a circle.
Han runs in toward Luke and they embrace one another, slapping each other on the back.
"I knew you'd come back! I just knew it!"Luke laughed.
"Well, I wasn't gonna let you get all the credit and take all the reward."Han said.
Luke and Han look at one another as Celine playfully shoves at Luke's face as Leia moves in.
"Hey, I knew there was more to you than money."Leia said.
"You really surprised us,Solo."Seira admitted.
Marina looks toward the ship.
"Oh, no!"Marina said in worry.
The fried little Artoo-Detoo was lifted off the back of the fighter and carried off under the worried eyes of Threepio.
"Oh, my! Artoo! Can you hear me? Say something!"Threepio said and looked at Draven. "You can repair him, can't you?"
"We'll get to work on him right away."Draven said.
"You must repair him!"Threepio said. "If any of my circuits or gears will help, I'll gladly donate them."
"Relax,Threepio, we will."Naomi said holding a tool.
"You can count on us."Zack said confidently.
"Don't worry, Threepio."Seira said. "He'll be all right."
Afterwards in the Main Throne Room...
Luke, Han, and Chewbacca enter the huge ruins of the main temple.
Hundreds of troops are lined up in neat rows.
Among the troops were Draven, the three jedi and their kids.
Banners were flying and at the far end stands the beautiful young Senators Leia and Celine.
Luke and the others solemnly march up the long aisle and kneel before the two senators.
From one side of the temple marches a shined-up and fully repaired Artoo.
He waddles up to the group and stands next to an equally pristine Threepio, who was rather awestruck by the whole event.
Chewbacca was confused.
Seira, Marina, Dodonna and several other dignitaries were on the left of the Princess Leia and Senator Celine.
Seira wore a dark silver gown, while Marina wore a lovely pink dress with gold patterns with matching flat shoes.
Leia was dressed in a long white dress and her hair was tied up in a ponytail.
Celine wore a sparkly purple dress, also her hair was loose and curly.
Leia rises and places a gold medallion around Han's neck.
He winked at her.
Celine then gives a medal to Luke, who smiles at her.
Then Han, Luke and Chewbacca turned to face the crowd.
The rebellion let out a cheer and Chewie roared.
Artoo beeps with happiness.
"This might be good after all." Seira thought with a smile.
But she couldn't help wondering how long would it wait to tell Luke and Leia the truth, especially to Celine and Marina.
For know it had to wait...
Actor playing Draven is Ty Simpkins
Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter
Feel free to review what you think so far:)
Next is: The Empire Strikes Back
YAY:)
