Chapter 66- Blocked and Anger
On the sanctuary moon, the battle was far from won and the shield generator was closed. Leia and Han were pinned at the door with stormtroopers firing at them. Leia wondered if Luke, Lena, and Uncle Cail were having this much difficulty distracting Vader and Palpatine and she wished for the thousandth time that she had gone with them. Han rose slightly from his spot as Ewoks started to club the stormtroopers.
"We're coming," Threepio said as he and Artoo came over to them through the smoke and blasters.
Threepio screamed as a bolt sizzled past them. "Come on, come on!" Han said as he stepped away from the port that Artoo would use to open the blast door.
"Oh, Artoo, hurry!" Threepio exclaimed. Artoo let out a scream as a blaster bolt knocked him away from the port and he started to short out, electrical bolts going all over his squat metal body. "Oh, my goodness!" Threepio exclaimed as plates came off and his manipulator pieces popped out. "Oh, Artoo, why did you have to be so brave?" Threepio asked in despair.
"Well, I suppose I could hotwire this thing," Han said as he opened the fuse box.
"I'll cover you," Leia said, kneeling in front of him and raising her blaster.
Meanwhile in space the Death Star took out another frigate. Cora closed her eyes as each being's passing was felt through the Force. "Yes, I said closer. Move as close as you can and engage those Stardestroyers at point-blank range!" Lando said, his irritability obvious in his voice.
"At that close range, we won't last long against those Stardestroyers," Ackbar said.
"We'll last longer than we will against that Death Star! And we might just take a few of them with us," Lando said as a blast rocked the Falcon. Cora reached out with the Force, trying to calm her breathing. A few more pilots became one with the Force. Cora put her mind back on the battle as now wasn't the time to grieve.
Luke looked out the viewport, his sister's arm around his shoulders and Talon's hand on his sister's forearm. Talon gave a sharp gasp and Luke and Lena looked at him. "Papa, what is it?" Lena asked in a whisper.
"Cora. I just felt her. She's still alive," Talon said, closing his eyes and stretching out with the Force.
"How about Leia and Han? Can you feel them too, Uncle?" Luke asked anxiously, his concern for his other sister spiking.
"Leia doesn't have as strong of a connection with the Force, but yes. She's all right," Talon said, squeezing Luke's broad shoulder.
"Your fleet is lost and your friends on the Endor moon will not survive. There is no escape, my young apprentices," Palpatine said, his words raking across even Talon's nerves.
"You don't know that, Your Highness. You don't know my daughter, Cora, or my niece, Leia Organa. They won't fail. I have always told any child I raised that the Force is with them always," Talon said.
"You are delusional, Prince Organa. Your Alliance will die as will your friends," Palpatine said, his voice slightly mocking on Talon's royal title.
Luke looked down at his lightsaber, beside Palpatine, his heavy breathing revealing to everyone how close he was to losing his temper. "Luke, calm down. This is what he wants, boy," Talon said, his voice sounding like being in a long tunnel to Luke's hearing.
"Good. I can feel your anger. I am defenseless. You and your sister take your weapons. Strike me down with all of your hatred and your journey towards the dark side will be complete!" Palpatine said, biting each word with a hiss.
Luke gave one last look at his, Lena's and Talon's lightsabers and then back at the emperor and turned back to the viewport. He swiftly turned back and called his lightsaber to him. He swung for the emperor's head, only to be blocked by his father. "Luke!" Talon and Lena called out as Palpatine laughed with glee.