Disclaimer: It's George's sandbox. I just play here, because it's fun.
AN: Here's chapter 14! Thanks for all the great reviews!
The Awakening
Chapter 37: Imperial Pursuit and The Degobah System
Luke, along with his co-pilot Dac, maneuvered the fighter around the barrage of firepower being thrown at them by the enemy. Luke spiraled around and set his sights on one of the Imperial walkers.
"Dac, ready the harpoons and tow cables! They might be our only chance!" Luke said. Suddenly, a blast hit Dac's part of the ship, killing him.
"Uncle, I've lost my gunner! You're going to have to make the shot!" Luke called. Rex, with Ahsoka as his gunner, did so and wove the cable around the walker's legs as soon as the harpoon was attached. As a result, the walker tripped and fell. A rebel ship flew by and destroyed it with a torpedo blast. Anakin grinned and decided to try what they just had.
"That's looks like fun, Master, let's try that," Anakin grinned.
"Your idea of fun is not the same as mine," Obi-Wan retorted.
"Just keep on those guns, Master, I'll take care of the rest," Anakin said, as his harpoon latched onto another walker. Anakin spiraled and wove around the legs, before releasing the cable and shouting in victory. Obi-Wan's stomach lurch violently again, as he shot a missile and destroyed the now toppled walking weapon. .
"This is no way to treat your old Master, my old padawan," Obi-Wan scolded. Anakin grinned slyly.
"I'm sorry Master, I forgot that you don't like flying," Anakin replied, falling into their familiar banter.
"Flying is fine, but what you do is suicide!" Obi-Wan retorted.
Luke shook his head in amusement, as he watched his father's ship spiral. A huge explosion drew Luke's attention, as he realized that the Imperials had taken out the main generator. The base was beginning to crumble under the heavy fire. A stray blast clipped Luke's ship and he went down. He quickly got out, just before the Imperial walker crushed his ship. Luke took out his extending cable and hooked it onto the side of the walker, before climbing up the side of the walking monstrosity. He placed a thermal detonator on the walker and then used his saber to cut the cable. He fell back into the snow and watched, as the Imperial walker exploded. Anakin grinned, as his son's handiwork.
"That's my son," he told Obi-Wan proudly. Obi-Wan smiled and shook his head. Suddenly, a dark tremor pierced through Anakin and Obi-Wan's senses.
"Vader...he's at the base," Anakin said, as he began undoing his restraints.
"Wait, where are you going?" Obi-Wan asked.
"I'm going back for Padme, Leia, and our babies. The base is lost. You should get Satine and Ani to one of the escape transports. The other rebel leaders are probably on some of the last few. They'll need protection. Rex, you and Ahsoka should get Sola and make sure she gets to the escape transport too," Anakin said into the comm, as he opened the hatch of his ship.
"Anakin wait!" Obi-Wan called, as his former apprentice jumped into the air, floating downward toward the ground. Obi-Wan leaned over the side.
"I hate it when he does that!" Obi-Wan griped, as he took his ship and flew it for the base to retrieve his family, while Rex and Ahsoka followed him.
Luke watched in amazement, as his father jumped from his ship and landed on his feet in the snow.
"Dad, what are you doing?" Luke asked.
"No time Luke, I've got to go back to the base for your mother and siblings. I sense Vader," Anakin replied.
"Wait, I'll come with you!" Luke called.
"No, your X-Wing is waiting and Artoo is already there. Go to the Dagobah system like we discussed. Your trials have begun and your first task is seek Master Yoda," Anakin said, as put a hand on Luke's shoulder. Luke nodded.
"Be careful Dad," Luke called. Anakin smiled and nodded, as he broke into a Force assisted run, heading for the base.
Padme clutched a wimpering Bella to her chest and Leia held Jaden, as Han led them through the crumbling base, trying to get them to one of the transports. But it was no use, as the duraplaster was coming down around their ears. Han spoke into his comlink.
"Take off without us. I'll get them out of here in the Falcon," Han called.
"You'll never make it! Padme, you need to come with me. My ship is close and it can get us all off in time," Rush pleaded, having followed her when chaos hit the base.
"Oh you'd like that wouldn't you? But my Mother isn't going anywhere with you," Leia spat.
"This isn't about me! I'm trying to get us off this damned planet and that includes you and the children," Rush called back.
"Thanks, but no thanks, we'll make it to the Falcon," Han said, as he continued leading them through the corridor. Padme screamed suddenly, as a huge piece of the ceiling broke off and was about to come crashing down on her and Bella. She covered Bella with her body, but the piece of plaster was suddenly suspended in the air and tossed aside. Padme looked up and sighed in relief, seeing her husband there.
"Ani!" Padme exclaimed, as she welcomed his tight embrace. Rush didn't look pleased, though he was glad Padme had not been crushed by the falling dura plaster. She wouldn't have been in that situation if she had just come with him.
"Come on, we need to get to the Falcon. Vader is here," Anakin told them.
"How do you know that?" Rush spat.
"He just knows," Han answered.
"If you want to leave this base alive, Clovis, then shut up and follow us," Anakin snapped at him, as they continued through the crumbling corridor.
Vader's white guards blasted through the fallen plaster, and Vader followed them through the fallen debris. The guards then followed Vader, who was sensing that Skywalker was nearby.
They reached the hanger where the Millennium Falcon sat waiting.
"There they are! Stop them!" Vader shouted fiercely. Anakin whipped around, igniting his light saber and blocking several blaster bolts.
"Get them on the ship!" Anakin called. Han pushed Padme and Leia ahead of him and dragged Threepio up the ramp with him, while Anakin continued to block the blasts. Vader drew his red light saber, as he approached the man that had fathered him. Sapphire and crimson crashed together, as the sabers hissed and crackled, meeting in a deadlock.
"Finally, after three years of searching, I've found you," Vader hissed.
"Sorry, but I can't hang around," Anakin replied, as he kicked Vader in the chest and threw him back with a hard Force push. He scrambled up the ramp and saw Clovis running after him. The last thing Anakin wanted was this sleamo on board the same ship as them.
"Please…I know you don't like me, but if you're really the man Padme says you are, then you won't leave me behind to die," Rush pleaded.
"Sithspit," he swore in his head. He was right. Leaving him behind, no matter how much he disliked him, wouldn't be the right thing to do. Therefore, he grabbed Clovis by his tunic and dragged him up the ramp, just as it closed. Without a word to Clovis, he headed for the cockpit. Together, he and Han blasted out of the Hanger, leaving Hoth.
Luke smiled, as he saw the last transport leave, which carried Obi-Wan, Satine, Ani, his Uncle Rex, Aunt Sola, and Ahsoka. And much to his added relief, he then saw the Falcon leave, carrying his parents and siblings. He quickly made his way to his X-Wing.
"Artoo, get ready for take off," Luke ordered. Luke took off, leaving Hoth behind as well, but set a new course. Artoo blipped at him.
"There's nothing wrong. We're just setting a new course," Luke replied. Artoo beeped and clicked back.
"We're not meeting up with the others just yet. We're going to the Degobah system," Luke replied, as he entered hyperspace, headed for to the planet where his trials would begin.
Meanwhile, the Millennium Falcon was being pursued heavily by three star destroyers and dozens of TIE fighters. The Falcon rocked heavily, as he it was hit yet again with a blast. Anakin and Han both struggled to keep the ship steady.
"Prepare for the jump to hyperspace," Han told Chewie.
"Master Ani, might I..." but Threepio was cut off.
"Not now Threepio," Anakin grimaced, as the ship lurched again, tossing them all around the cockpit. As Han tried to make the jump, a clear malfunction was heard.
"We're in trouble," Han said.
"I tried to tell you sir. The hyper drive motivator has been damaged," Threepio told them.
"That's big trouble, I'll go see what I can do," Anakin said, as he grabbed the tools. While Anakin was digging around the innards of the Falcon, he felt something hit them that wasn't a blast.
"Anakin, get back up here!" he heard Padme call. He pulled himself up and ran back to the cockpit.
"An asteroid field. Can you take us in Solo?" Anakin asked, wondering if he should take over.
"We ain't got much choice," Han replied, as he started in.
"An asteroid field?" Leia began to panic.
"Don't worry sweetheart, we'll be fine. And they'd be crazy to follow us," Anakin replied.
"Master Ani, the odds of us surviving an asteroid field are three thousand seven hundred and twenty to one," Threepio informed them.
"Never tell me the odds," Han grumbled. He flew them toward one of the larger asteroids and into one of the larger craters to hide.
"What are you doing Solo?" Anakin asked.
"I'm hiding us. Got a better idea?" Han asked. Anakin knew that they had to hide, but he was getting a strange feeling from their new hiding place.
"Just keep your eyes open. Something doesn't feel right," Anakin replied.
Luke dropped out of hyperspace, over Dagobah.
"That's it Artoo–Degobah," Luke said.
"I'm picking up no cities or technology. But massive life readings. There's something alive down there," Luke said, as they descended into the atmosphere. They encountered massive fog and lots of turbulence.
"Hang on, I'm starting the landing cycle," Luke said, as he flipped some switches. Unfortunately, Luke landed his X-Wing right in the swamp. He sighed in exasperation and hopped out. Artoo started to lift himself out and the ship started to sink down, causing Artoo to fall into the swamp.
"Artoo!" Luke called, not wanting to lose the little droid that his family was so fond of. He called a couple more times, before he saw Artoo's visor rise out of the water and he rolled his eyes.
"You be more careful," Luke chided. Luke and Artoo carefully waded through the swamp and Luke pulled himself onto the bank. Unfortunately, a swamp monster tried to eat Artoo, pulling him under. Luke called for him, afraid that he would never resurface. But once the monster discovered that Artoo didn't taste very good, he spit the droid out. Artoo's shrill scream filled the air, as he went sailing through the air and onto the bank. Luke helped him sit upright and grimaced, as Artoo was now covered in dirt and grime. He began brushing off some of the grime and Artoo spit out a bunch of grimy water, almost hitting Luke. He gave the little droid a weary look, before looking around.
"Why in the world did Dad and Ben send me here? They had to be mistaken," Luke said. He sighed, as he and Artoo began moving through the mushy swamp.
Darth Vader sat in his chamber, as his helmet was lowered back over his head. Admiral Piett acted as though he was not interested in all at what was happening and tore his eyes away from the sight, as Vader turned to him.
"Yes Admiral?" Vader asked.
"We have traced the Millennium Falcon sir, but they have entered an asteroid field and are unreachable," Piett explained.
"I don't care about asteroids or excuses admiral. I want that ship!" Vader ordered, furious that his father had escaped him yet again.
"Yes my Lord," Piett answered.
"We need to shut everything down if we're going to repair the hyper drive," Anakin said.
"Does that include me sir?" Threepio asked. Anakin smiled and patted Threepio's metal shoulder.
"No Threepio," Anakin replied, as he and Han started shutting panels down. Suddenly, the ship rocked slowly. Padme and Leia exchanged a worried glance.
"I don't believe this asteroid is entirely stable," Threepio informed them.
"Not entirely stable? Thanks, I'm glad you're here to tell us these things. Chewie, take the professor in the back and plug him in," Han said.
"What in the world were you thinking when you built him?" Han asked. Anakin chuckled.
"I was just a little boy, Captain. I originally built him to help my mother around the house," Anakin replied. Han rolled his eyes, as Anakin left to fix a few things on the other side of the ship and Padme followed.
The ship rocked again and Leia fell into Han's arms. He held her, as the ship continued to rock.
"Let go," she protested nervously.
"Calm down," Han replied, with a smirk, as he went about his repairs.
Luke went about moving things from his stranded ship to set up camp for the night. He turned on the power source and plugged Artoo in to charge him, making the droid happy.
"Well, there's not much else we can do tonight. I need to find this Yoda. This sure is a strange place to find a Jedi Master to live. But if this is where dad and Ben said he is, then he must be," Luke replied, as he took a bite of his ration stick. He wrinkled his nose in disgust. After over three years of eating his Mother's wonderful homemade cooking, the rations sticks left much to be desired.
"Still, it feels like..." Luke trailed off, as he heard a strange voice.
"Feels like what?" the voice asked. Luke spun around with his blaster. The little creature covered his head.
"Like we're being watched," Luke replied.
"Put your weapon away. Mean you no harm, I do," the little creature spoke, as he hobbled down.
"Why are you here?" the little creature asked.
"I'm looking for someone," Luke answered.
"Found someone you have, I say," the creature replied.
"No, I'm looking for a great warrior," Luke replied.
"Hmmm...wars not make one great," the little creature answered, as he grabbed Luke's ration stick and began munching on it.
"Hey, that's my dinner!" Luke cried. The creature tossed the stick away in disgust.
"How get so big, when eat food like that?" the creature asked, as he started digging through Luke's things.
"Hey, get out of there!" Luke cried, as the creature started tossing stuff about. Luke groaned.
"Don't do that. You're making a mess," he said in exasperation. The creature found a light source and held onto it tightly. Artoo extended one of his arms and tried to pull the item away from the creature.
"No...mine this is!" the creature yelled, beating Artoo with a stick.
"Artoo, let him have it," Luke replied in exasperation
"Look, I need these things if I'm going to find anything in this mud hole," Luke tried explaining to the strange little creature.
"Mud hole? My home, this is," the little creature sounded offended.
"Could you move along, little fellow. I'm looking for a Jedi Master and I need to get back to work," Luke insisted.
"Jedi Master? Yoda! You seek Yoda!" the little creature ranted.
"You know him?" Luke asked.
"Sure, sure. First eat, we will. Come, come, good food," the little creature hobbled along. Luke sighed, but really had no choice but to follow him.
"Stay here Artoo," Luke ordered, as he started after the little creature.
Padme smiled, as her husband hung upside down, inside one of the Falcon's ceiling hatches. He dug around the wires and was fusing and fixing things here and there. He was using the Force to hold himself like that and had opted to fix this rather precarious section, which she knew Han would have had Chewie do if not for Anakin hadn't offered. Anakin's head popped into view.
"Angel, can you hand me that long, silver tool?" Anakin asked. Padme smiled and handed him the one he asked for. She knew he could easily float the tool up to him with the Force, but he was trying to make her feel useful. She always hated feeling useless in any situation and ones like these, she usually couldn't be of much help, for repairing machinery was not her forte. It was certainly thoughtful of her wonderful husband to try and make her think she was being helpful, she thought. She smiled at that thought, but then her expression turned to worry, as she thought about Luke. She knew that she shouldn't worry. Luke was a Jedi in training after all and he would be with Master Yoda. But she still couldn't help but worry about both her children. Anakin's head popped down again and he immediately noticed her worried countenance.
"Padme, what's wrong?" he asked. She shrugged and smiled softly.
"Nothing Ani, I'm just worried about Luke. And…about how I endangered our little ones by bringing them with us," she replied. Thankfully, both Jaden and Bella were currently napping in Han's quarters. He gazed at her beautiful face fondly and gave her a smile.
"He'll be fine angel. And as for the babies, it was my decision to bring them too. Besides, I feel much more at ease with them close by. Suppose they managed to track us to our new home? They would have found them there with your Mother and that would have been much worse," he assured her, as he reached down with flesh hand and caressed her cheek. She hadn't thought about that and realized that they were all better off with Anakin, no matter where that happened to be or what the circumstances. She leaned closer to him and kissed his lips. Anakin broke the kiss and floated down, turning himself upright, before replacing the ceiling panel.
"Those power couplings should be good now," he said. He wrapped his arms around her tightly, as the ship rocked again. Padme clung to him, as he held onto the wall. Anakin gazed down at her for a long moment, before gently capturing her lips in a long, passionate kiss. A few moments later, their lips parted and they smiled softly at each other.
"Come on, let's go see how Han is doing with the hyper drive. It's probably best if we get off this rock as quickly as possible," Anakin told her. She nodded and they walked toward the cockpit.
Leia turned the knob, which was stuck, as hard as she could.
"Here," Han said, as he tried to help her, but she pulled away. Han grabbed onto her arms to steady her, as they rocked again.
"Calm down, your worship," Han snapped.
"I wish you'd stop calling me that," Leia shot back.
"Okay Leia," he emphasized with a smug smirk.
"You think I'm all right sometimes, admit it," Han replied, as he stepped closer to her, massaging her hands in his own.
"Sometimes, when you're not being a scoundrel," Leia replied.
"You like that I'm a scoundrel. There are no scoundrels in your life," Han stated.
"Stop that," Leia said, trying to pull her hands away.
"You're afraid," Han said.
"Afraid?" she questioned.
"You're trembling," Han replied.
"I'm not trembling. And I don't like scoundrels. I happen to like nice men,"
"I am a nice man," Han replied, as his lips descended upon hers passionately.
"Sir, Master Ani has fixed the power couplings," Threepio began babbling about something else after that, but Han wasn't listening. He looked at the golden droid with annoyance.
"Thanks...thanks very much," Han separated from Leia. Anakin and Padme walked in and immediately Anakin picked up on the tension between his daughter and Han through the Force. He glanced between them and then suspiciously at Han for a few moments. Han quickly busied himself, ignoring Anakin's piercing gaze. Quickly, he went back to work on the hyper drive.
"Lord Vader, we have sustained great damage in the asteroid field. It is likely that they have been destroyed as well," one officer reported.
"No captain, they are still alive. I want that ship!" Vader commanded.
"Yes my Lord," the captain responded. Admiral Piett approached Vader.
"The Emperor commands that you make contact with him, Lord Vader," Piett said.
"Move us away from the asteroid field to ensure a clear transmission," Vader ordered.
"Yes my Lord," Piett said, as Vader retreated into a conference room. A large holo image of the Emperor appeared before him.
"What is thy bidding, my Master?" Vader asked, as he bowed to him.
"I sense a great disturbance in the Force. It seems that Skywalker has gone about training his son in the ways of the Force," Palpatine said.
"Yes, but he is just a boy. Skywalker is the true threat," Vader replied.
"Yes, and aided by his father, the younger Skywalker could be unstoppable. And then there is still Kenobi. They all must be eliminated," Palpatine said.
"It shall be done, my Master," Vader replied, as he turned quickly and left the chambers. He needed a plan to lure and capture them. If he could take out his father first, then Kenobi and his brother would be nothing. He knew that taking them all on at once would not be possible if he were to win. No, he would have to single them out and lucky for him, it seemed they had already gone about separating themselves for him. And then of course, there was Skywalker's woman and the little brats. They would most certainly be useful in bringing about Anakin's demise. Vader smirked under his helmet, as a plan began to formulate in his mind…