Chapter 67- The Battle Turns and Lightsabers
Chewbacca and the Ewoks waited as the Imperial walkers went through the forest. After a joyful night with his new friends, Chewbacca was glad to have them by his side in the battle. Chewbacca had always been by Han's side since Han had saved his life years ago. But at this battle, Leia was by his friend's side. Chewbacca roared as a walker went past and they all ran towards it. Chewbacca grabbed a vine and swung towards the walker with a Wookie yell.
One of the Ewoks went over the viewport, blocking their vision. When one of the troops opened the top hatch, Chewbacca lifted him out and tossed hum, unceremoniously to the ground. The Ewoks knocked out the other trooper and moved the walker forward, nearly knocking Chewbacca off the top. Chewbacca roared at them to not kill him and he went inside the walker, sitting at the pilot's seat. Chewbacca opened fire on one of the walkers, that was firing at Ewoks on the ground. The Ewok next to him started to laugh and thumped Chewbacca on the shoulder. Chewbacca moved the walker forward, firing at the stormtroopers while the Ewoks killed who they could with slings, bows and arrows, and rocks.
Leia kept guard at Han's back as he tried to hotwire the door open. "I think I got it," Han said. "I got it!" Han shouted as another blast door slid shut over the door.
Leia screamed as a stray bolt hit her in the arm. "Oh, Princess Leia! Are you all right?" Threepio asked anxiously, coming over to her and Han.
"Let's see," Han said, moving the sleeve off her arm.
"It's not bad," Leia said, shaking her head.
"Freeze!" A modulated, mechanical voice said.
"Oh, dear," Threepio fretted as they turned to look at the stormtroopers, pointing blasters at them.
"Don't move!" One of them ordered. Han looked down to see Leia press her blaster to her stomach.
"I love you," Han said.
"I know," Leia said with a smile.
"Hands up!" The stormtrooper barked "Stand up!" the trooper said, before Leia opened fire on the two stormtroopers.
Han smiled and it quickly faded as an Imperial walker stopped in front of them. "Stay back," Han said. A hatch opened and Leia heard a Wookie roar. "Chewie! Get down here! She's wounded! No wait! I got an idea," Han said to Leia.
Lena watched, standing next to Talon, in anguish as Luke and their father fought. Lena could feel through the Force that Luke was using the light side and his anger was waning. Yes, brother. Don't give in to anger, Lena thought at Luke. Luke gave her a brief look and nodded, confirming that he had received her message before knocking Vader down the stairs.
"Good. Use your aggressive feelings, boy. Let the hate flow through you," Palpatine goaded. Luke powered down his lightsaber as Vader got to his feet.
"Obi-Wan has taught you well," Vader said with as much admiration as the vocoder allowed.
"We will not fight you, Father," Luke said, looking over at Lena, who nodded in mute agreement as she came over to her brother's side and gripped his arm. The both of them backed up as Vader came closer.
"You are unwise to lower your defenses," Vader said ominously, swinging his blade at both of them.
"Lena! Luke!" Talon shouted as Luke deflected with his lightsaber.
"Luke, the catwalk!" Lena screamed, ducking to avoid being hit by her father's and brother's lightsabers. Luke grabbed her hand hard and both did a Force-leap to the catwalk behind them.
"Are you all right?" Luke asked as he and Lena breathed hard.
"Yeah. Your thoughts betray you, Father. I feel the good in you, the conflict," Lena said, looking at Talon briefly before looking at Vader.
"There is no conflict," Vader disagreed.
"You couldn't bring yourself to kill us before. And I don't believe you'll destroy us now," Lena said as she and Luke walked the length of the catwalk.
"You underestimate the power of the dark side. If you will not fight, then you will meet your destiny," Vader said as he hurled his lightsaber at them.
"Anakin, no! Luke! Lena!" Talon cried out as the lightsaber severed the catwalk, tossing both her and Luke to the ground. Lena, lay there in a dazed heap, hearing Palpatine laugh.
Cora watched as a tie-fighter exploded into a Stardestroyer. "Watch out! Squad at .06," Lando said sharply as explosions rocked the ship.
"I'm on it, Gold Leader," a man said through the comm. It sounded like Red Two. A laser shot out, incinerating an enemy fighter.
"Good shot, Red Two," Wedge praised.
"We're sure in the middle of it now," Cora said as Lando adjusted their trajectory.
"No kidding, kid. Come on, Han, old buddy, don't let me down," Lando said.
Han stood by one of his men as he made the communication to the soldiers inside the bunker. "It's over. Commander. The rebels have been routed. They're fleeing into the woods," Colm Tauren said in the voice he had perfected since his Imperial Academy days. "We need reinforcements to continue the pursuit."
"Send three squads to help," the leader inside said, loud enough for Han to hear.
A group of men opened the door and ran out. As soon as they saw no one, they turned to see Han and Chewbacca pointing weapons at them and cheering Ewoks on top of the bunker roof. Han shrugged in his smuggler-playing-a-joke manner. They all ran into the bunker and were quick to subdue the guards. "Quick, throw me another charge," Han said to one of his men, who quickly complied. He fastened it to the wall and set the timer.