Disclaimer: I do not own anything to do with Star Wars, other than Aurora. It all belongs to the bearded genius in flannel. As this is based on the book, some of the dialogue is taken verbatim from Shadows of the Empire. That belongs to Steve Perry and George Lucas. I do not intend any copyright violation and am not making any profit from this.
"There seems to be a slight problem, my prince." The commander said.
Xizor, who had been watching the distant flashes of weapons and explosions, frowned. "So I noticed. Why are your ships blowing up, Commander?"
"A squadron of X-wing fighters has joined the fray. No more than a dozen of them. It will merely…delay the inevitable."
"Are you certain, Commander?"
"We still outnumber them twenty to one, Highness. And our frigates are standing by in case they get past the corvettes and fighters. They cannot escape."
"Hope that you are right, Commander."
Page Break
The Falcon went into a stomach-tightening dive at almost a ninety-degree angle to their previous path, causing Leia to clutch at her seat involuntarily. Three fighters stayed with them, firing continuously
Rogue Squadron was helping out tremendously, but they were still losing the fight. The space around them was simply too crowded.
The comm. was nearly overwhelmed with voices.
"I got 'em, Luke." Wedge called.
"No, let me." Dash replied.
To their port side, another fighter blew up.
"That one was mine." Aurora's voice came through calmly. "You figured out who these guys are?"
"Not yet." Luke replied.
"Bet you a credit they're Xizor's."
Leia sucked in a breath while Luke and Lando exchanged glances. That certainly made sense.
"Man, this guy really doesn't like to lose." Lando commented. "What did you two ladies do to him?"
"Leia turned him down." Aurora said.
"And then you dropped a thermal detonator down his garbage chute." Leia added dryly.
"Oh, yeah." Lando smirked, returning his gaze to the scopes. "Two coming in at one-fifty!"
Luke hit the thrusters and the Falcon rocketed away in a steep turn.
"What are you doing up there?" Aurora yelled.
"Giving you the perfect setup shot!" Luke yelled back.
Page Break
Vader paced the bridge of the Executor, hands clasped behind his cloaked back.
"How long before we can get around the planet?"
"A few minutes, my lord." His commander replied nervously.
"As soon as we come within range, establish communications with the skyhook Falleen's Fist. I will speak with Prince Xizor." He would follow the Emperor's orders faultlessly, so that there would be no room for complaint.
"Of course, my lord."
Page Break
"I think we got problems, buddy." Dash's voice came through the comlink calmly, but resigned.
Luke nodded. "Wedge?"
"I'm afraid he's right, Luke. These guys are only so-so pilots, but there are a lot of 'em. I figure we're still outnumbered fifteen to one and there are a couple of frigates who are just sitting there, waiting. We don't have room to run, don't have room to maneuver. They're closing us in and they don't care if they kill civilian ships, either."
Luke sighed and ran one hand through his hair. "Yeah." He took a deep breath. "Well, I guess all we can do is take as many of them with us as we can. Unless anybody wants to surrender?"
Derisive laughs came over the comlink.
"That's what I thought. May the Force be with you."
Luke flew as he had never flown before, not even on the Death Star. He rolled, weaved, stalled, twisted, dove, and threw power turns that came close to blacking them all out. It was superb flying and he had the Force to help him. He was instinctively flying so as to give Aurora, in the dorsal turret, the best shots, and she wasn't disappointing him, but they were still losing.
It was only a matter of time.
Page Break
"Prince Xizor, we are staring to pick them off. Three of the X-wings have been destroyed or disabled. Our net is closing in. It will be only a matter of time."
Xizor nodded. Finally.
Page Break
"Coming within range, Lord Vader."
"Good. Deploy your fighters."
Page Break
Aurora tracked the incoming fighter, leading it, fired and missed as it swooped sideways and then shot past.
However, there were more behind it, and she kept her finger on the trigger, raking the second fighter with lances of energy. She saw them penetrate the wing of the fighter, which promptly blew apart, sending the fighter into a spiraling, out of control dive.
But there were more behind that one, and they were down to nine or ten X-wings, plus themselves and the Outrider.
She didn't even have time to mourn her friends. She was too busy shooting.
Luke was flying amazingly, but there were simply too many enemy ships.
It looked like Xizor was going to win after all.
She gritted her teeth and fired again as another fighter shot past. The pilot tried to twist, but Aurora had anticipated the move, and kept up her blast, shredding the rear of the ship. Smoking violently, it arced downwards out of sight.
Just then, something strange caught her attention, and she peered out of the viewport, staring at something in the distance.
Oh, shavit!
Page Break
When he saw the TIE fighters screaming towards them, Luke wasn't even surprised. It had only been a question of when, not if, the Empire responded to the violent battle going on in their space. There were a dozen fighters, at least.
"Uh oh." Lando said.
"Yeah. I wondered what was keeping them." Luke replied grimly. "I guess the universe decided we needed extra help getting killed."
He kept his gaze on space, desperately searching for a way out of the box they were in. But there was no where to go. There were simply too many ships packed in around them.
He took a deep breath –
Saw the TIEs streak towards them. Watched them fire –
On the unmarked attackers?
"Huh?" Lando said dumbly.
"Luke," Aurora's voice sounded stunned. "I just saw –"
"I know, I know. What the hell is going on?"
Page Break
Xizor could clearly hear the panic in his commander's voice as he called through the comm. "Highness, we're being attacked by the Imperial Navy!"
A communication tech began waving frantically, trying to get the Falleen's attention.
Xizor glared at him. "This had better be good. Your life hangs in the balance."
"It – It's Lord Vader. He wants to speak to you."
"Put him on." Xizor said grimly.
Vader's image swirled into place on the holoproj.
Xizor went on the attack immediately, not bothering to maintain his usual polite façade.
"Lord Vader! Why is the Navy attacking my ships?"
Vader paused before replying. "Because the ships, under your orders, are engaging in criminal activity."
"Nonsense! My ships are trying to stop a Rebel traitor who destroyed my castle!"
Vader paused again. "You have two standard minutes to recall your vessels and to offer yourself into my custody."
Heated rage exploded throughout Xizor. "I will not! I will take this up with the Emperor."
"The Emperor is not here. I speak for the Empire, Xizor."
"Prince Xizor." The Falleen hissed.
"You may keep the title – for another two minutes."
Xizor forced a confident smile onto his face. "What are you going to do, Vader? Destroy my skyhook? You wouldn't dare. The Emperor –"
Vader cut him off abruptly. "I warned you to stay away from Skywalker. Recall your ships and surrender into my custody or pay the consequences. I will risk the Emperor's displeasure." There was another pause and it was clear that Vader was enjoying the moment. "However, you will not be there to see it, this time."
For the first time in a long time, Xizor felt fear. He stared at the space where Vader's image had just winked out. Would he do it? Would even Vader risk disobeying the Emperor in order to get revenge on a rival?
He had less than two minutes before he found out.
What should he do?