Its about to get real, yall!

Further down, when the fighting starts, the italics are voices over the communicators, plus Obi-wan's voice.

Hope you enjoy this one!

Read and leave a review if you'd like!

Chapter 8- First time Flying?

"Luke wait up!" Aeris called after him. She grimaced a bit as she half jogged half limped over to him. He turned to her and shook his head.

"You don't need to be running on that leg. Go find somewhere to stay safe," he said rather dismissively.

"Hey what's gotten into you, huh?" Aeris said, furrowing her brow. "So what Han's leaving? He has got to pay off those debts. You don't understand…" She shook her head. "The underworld is an unforgiving place, some may even say it's worse than the Empire. Especially the factions run by the Hutts," she shook her head, "but that's not the point. The point is that he's going to do what he wants anyways. He asked me to come but I said no. You know why?" She crossed her arms and raised a brow. Luke seemed to come out of his defensive attitude and shook his head.

"Why?"

"Because I know this is bigger than all of us," Aeris said. "The Rebels need all the help they can get and I want to be there. I want to fight. Not only that but you and I are bound to each other by the Force. I want to see this through with you," she put her hand on his shoulder and looked in his eyes. Luke gave a soft smile and put his hand on her arm.

"You have a good heart, Aeris. I'm glad you're staying…" He faded off a bit and looked down. "I'd have missed you, if you left…" He admitted, looking back at her. They were both a bit shy, both blushing, but both smiling.

"Hey, is everything alright you two?" A soft voice asked from the side. Luke and Aeris looked over to see Princess Leia, and the two of them dropped their hands off of one another.

"It's just…" Luke began, glancing over at Aeris.

"It was Han," she clarified. "He's leaving, even after both of us asked him to stay, but I understand why he's leaving. I can't stop him."

"We just really thought he'd change his mind," Luke added. Leia shook her head.

"He's got to follow his own path. No one can choose it for him," she said wisely. Luke nodded but still seemed a bit upset.

"I only wish… Ben were here…" He faded off, his gaze dropping to the floor. Leia put her hand on his shoulder and leaned forward, kissing Luke on the cheek. Aeris felt a sudden streak of jealousy and anxiety hit her. She glanced away, not even entirely sure why. She didn't want to see? She wanted to give them privacy? If Leia had a thing for Luke and it was returned, she should back out now. What was she against a princess?

"Aeris?" Leia repeated her name. Aeris blinked and swallowed thickly, her cheeks reddening.

"Yes, Leia? I'm sorry… I'm listening."

"I said why didn't Han take you with him? I'm surprised he didn't try to make you go."

Aeris gave a nervous half laugh. "Oh, he asked me to go, but I said no. I want to help you. I want to fight. I'm staying," she said with a soft smile. Leia returned it and put a hand on her shoulder.

"And we are glad to have you," she gave one last nod to the both of them, then walked off. Aeris sighed and ran a hand through the loose part of her hair. Well, that was it.

"I miss Obi-Wan too… Even though I didn't know him long, I could feel how strong he was with the Force. I'm just sorry we didn't get to train more with him," she shook her head, then sighed, not knowing what else to say. "I guess I'll see you out there."

"Yeah- Wait, what?" Luke said in surprise, following after her. "You're not going out there!"

"Says who?" Aeris rose a brow and looked back at him.

"Says me! You need to stay here where it's safe!"

"Psh! Just a second ago you were all for me fighting."

"Yeah and I still am but not up there! Do you even know how to fly an X-Wing, Aeris?"

"How hard can it be?" She smirked and shrugged, then stopped and turned to him, a mischievous light in her eyes. "Why? Worried about me are you?"

"Well after what happened on the Death Star, I know how reckless you can be," Luke countered.

"Sometimes we need reckless. Besides, you need me to have your back up there."

"Not if it's going to get you hurt or killed," Luke said sternly.

"You know, I've gotten along just fine before you and Han came along. I managed to stay alive, even if I didn't know what I was doing."

"But you're not fighting to stay alive any more! You're safe and you're with us, and I'm not going to let anything like that happen to you again. I'm going to protect you."

"Then why won't you let me do the same for you, Luke?" Aeris countered. They stared at each other for a moment, the tension extremely evident. Aeris bit her lip and blushed, looking away first, unable to hold his stare and those beautiful eyes of his. She was surprised, however, when he took her hand. Her fingers closed around his and she looked back up at him.

"I will let you do the same, Aeris," he sighed softly. "You promise to stay by me up there? And not do anything foolish or rush into anything blindly?"

"I promise the first thing, but you know I won't promise the last. I've already told you, isn't that what I do best?" She said with a little smile. Luke chuckled softly. "I tell you what. For every question I ask you out there, you get to ask me a question about my past. Sound good?"

"Deal," Luke said with a laugh. "And don't worry, I'll keep count."

"Hey Luke!" An excited voice yelled out. Luke and Aeris both looked up to see another young man approaching them.

"Biggs?" Luke grinned and headed towards him. "Hey!"

"I don't believe it!" The boys clapped each other on the shoulders. "How did you get here?-" Biggs stopped then, and grinned. "You coming up?"

"I'll be right up there with you and have I got stories to tell you!"

"Yeah? Do they involve her?" Biggs gave a charming grin over at Aeris.

"They do, actually," Aeris said. "They involve me saving him a few times too. I'm Aeris, Aeris Rourke," she held her hand out to him and grinned.

"Beautiful," Biggs winked as he took her hand. "Biggs Darklighter."

"Hey take it easy," Luke said from the side, half teasing but half serious. Biggs held his hands up.

"Far be it from me to steal your girl, Luke. Just say the word," he smirked and looked at her. "Are you coming up too?"

"Yes! I am," Aeris said quickly.

"After a lot of begging and twisting my arm," Luke smirked. Neither of them had really denied the whole 'your girl' thing.

"Skywalker! Rourke!" The commander approached them and he motioned up to the X-Wing. "You sure you can handle this ship?"

"Sir," Biggs cut in, "Luke is the best bush pilot in the Outer-Rim territories," he gushed with a grin. The commander smiled and nodded.

"You'll do alright. What about you Rourke? Ever flown one of these before?"

"Not an X-Wing, but it won't be hard for me to figure out," she said confidently, standing up straight. "I want to fight and lay waste to these Empire scum and you need all the help you can get."

"She's good in a battle, sir," Luke spoke up. "She's saved my hide once or twice," he smiled over at her. The commander seemed satisfied and nodded.

"Suit up then, girl. You're in," he patted her shoulder then walked away. Aeris couldn't hide her excitement as she clapped her hands.

"Yes! Told you," she said to Luke.

"Well look I gotta get aboard but I wanna hear all your stories when we get back!" Biggs told them.

"You probably won't believe some of them," Aeris said as she walked with the boys. "I'm gonna go suit up. I'll see you two out there." She looked at Luke and squeezed his shoulder, then waved to Biggs and walked away. Biggs looked over at Luke and smirked. Luke only shook his head.

"She's not my girl," he finally admitted.

"But something tells me she wants to be," he rose a brow, then went to climb into his X-Wing.

"Hey Biggs," Luke called. Biggs looked down at him. "I told you I'd make it out."

"It'll be just like old times." The boys grinned at each other, then parted ways to board their fighters.

"All wings report in!" The commander ordered. Aeris had a good handle on her X-Wing as she listened to all the men report in. It was then that she realized she was the only woman in the squadron right now. That made her a little more ready to prove herself.

"Red 5 standing by," she heard Luke say.

"Red 8 standing by," Aeris responded, being the last one to check in. She felt her heart race as they came closer and closer to the Death Star. Once she heard the commander order them to take attack position, she set to it immediately. She followed right with the others.

"We're moving into the magnetic field! Hold on!" He said. Aeris felt her X-Wing shake a little but she held it steady. "Deflector shields up!"

"Shit... Deflectors... Deflectors..." Aeris bit her lip, looking around. "Uhhh Luke? Which button is the deflectors?"

"Green, 3rd to your right," Luke said with a smirk. "That's one, Aeris."

"Yep you got me," she shook her head and grinned, pushing the button.

"Move into attack speed! This is it boys," the commander said.

"Glad to be one of the boys, commander," Aeris said with a smirk.

"You got it, Rourke."

"Gold leader standing by!" The other called in. Aeris listened carefully and bit her lip waiting for orders.

"We're in position. I'm gonna cut across the axis and try to draw their fire!" Red leader said. Aeris took a deep breath and followed the formation. It wasn't long until they were taking on heavy fire from the Death Star.

"Whoa, shit!" Aeris said, missing a shot. She growled. "Anybody wanna take out those heavy fire turrets or can I do that?"

"Don't get reckless, Aeris," Luke cautioned.

"Stay with the formation, Rourke," the commander reminded.

"I'm going in!" Luke announced. "Aeris back me up will ya?"

"You got it Skywalker," Aeris grinned. She followed behind him, watched him skim across the surface and fire. He hit something which caused a major explosion. "Luke pull up!" Aeris yelled. She watched him do so and followed after him.

"Luke are you ok?" Biggs' voice came.

"I got a little cooked but I'm alright," he assured.

"Alright I can't sit still. I'm going for it," Aeris said. She flew out a bit but still stayed with the group. Aeris fired on one of the guns and ended up blowing it to bits. They were making surface hits, luckily, but not making enough damage.

"Good shot Aeris! Keep it up," Luke said.

"Thanks but we're gonna need a bigger hit than that," she responded.

"I'm going in. Cover me Porkins!" Biggs said. Aeris wasn't sure what had happened, it seemed to happen so fast. She heard Biggs yell 'pull up!' and then that was it. Porkins was gone. The first casualty… Aeris shook her head and kept focus.

"Trust your feelings, Aeris," a familiar voice echoed in her head.

"Obi-Wan…" She whispered "Master…" Suddenly she did feel something. An almost strong, anxious feeling. It was pulling at her and she realized what it was. "Keep an eye out, boys!" Aeris said.

"For what?" Red Leader answered.

"I think they're about to bring out the TIE!"

"What makes you so sure?" Biggs said.

"Just trust her on this," Luke answered. Sure enough, a few seconds after she'd said so, the Rebel Base came over the comlinks.

"Squad leaders, we've picked up a new group of signals. Enemy fighters coming your way!"

"I told you!" Aeris said quickly.

"Pick up your visuals! Here they come!" Red leader said.

"Watch out!" Aeris yelled. The TIE fighters closed in and within seconds, another of the Red Squadron was shot down. Aeris' heart was racing and her hands were starting to get sweaty, until she realized what was happening next. "Biggs you've got one on you!" She said.

"I can't see it!" Biggs responded. "I can't shake it!"

"I'm coming!" Luke said. He came down and followed after the fighter that was on Biggs' tail. As soon as it was locked in his sights, he fired and shot it down. But just as one problem was done, another appeared.

"More fighters coming in! Watch your back, Luke, watch your back!" One of them said. Aeris' eyes widened.

"I got you!" She sped up a little bit and headed towards the TIE fighter, but saw it start shooting, and one of them landed. "Luke!" Aeris said.

"I'm hit but not bad," he assured. "R2 see what you can do with it! Hang on back there! I can't shake him!"

"I'm on him! I've got your back, Luke!" Aeris said. She glanced at the indicator and watched it for a moment. "Can't you just… Take evasive actions or something? Zig-zag?"

"What do you think I've been doing?" Luke responded. Aeris didn't pay attention to her lock on, she paid attention to her feelings. She gunned her X-Wing and fired when she felt it was right. The hit landed and the TIE fighter exploded.

"Ha! Got you, bastard!" Aeris cheered. "Told you I had your back!"

"I never doubted you!" Luke assured. "Thanks, Aeris. By the way, that was your second question."

"Yeah and that was what, the third or fourth time I've saved your life?" She grinned.

"Third question!" Luke said. Aeris only shook her head and didn't respond. She'd get him back later. Aeris checked over everything to make sure she was alright, and to make sure there were no TIE fighters on her tail. She heard the Gold leader make his announcement that they were going in. She suddenly had another bad feeling hit her, and it didn't take long for it to be right. Soon, all the Y-Wings and the Gold Squadron had been shot down by those three new fighters. They had to regroup. Now, it was up to the Red Squadron. Red Leader led two of his men down into the trench and ordered Luke to stay back with the other two and Aeris.

"They're coming back around!" Aeris said.

"We see them!" The others confirmed. Aeris stayed where she was but she wasn't happy about it. She stayed with Luke and the others like they were ordered to. Unfortunately, those three took out the others as well.

"Ugh!" Aeris growled in frustration. "We need to get behind them! Give 'em a taste of their own medicine!"

"It's away!" Came the sudden yell of the Red Leader. There was a huge explosion off the side of the Death Star.

"Can you confirm a hit?" The base said.

"Negative negative… It didn't go in…" The Red Leader drawled in regret.

"It's on you, Red Leader, he's back!" Aeris said.

"We're coming to cover you!" Luke said.

"Stay where you are!" He ordered urgently. "I've lost my starboard engine. Carry out the attack!" Right as he said those words, the third TIE fighter shot at him. Aeris looked over and saw the Red Leader's X-Wing crash and blow up on the surface of the Death Star.

"Damn it!" Aeris said.

"Alright listen up," Luke began. "We're going in and we're going in full throttle. That should keep those fighters off our backs."

"Luke, at that speed would we be able to pull out in time?" Biggs said.

"It'll be just like Beggar's Canyon back home," Luke assured. Aeris bit her lip but dove with the boys down into the trench.

"We'll cover you, don't worry," Aeris assured.

"I can't see the tower, are you sure the computer can hit it?" Wedge's voice came.

"I wouldn't trust the computer, but I would trust something else," Aeris said, mainly for Luke.

"Watch yourselves. Increase speed full throttle," Luke ordered.

"What about that tower?" Wedge insisted.

"You worry about those fighters, I'll worry about the tower!" Luke said, effectively ending the conversation.

"We've got your back, Luke, do what you gotta do," Aeris assured. They skimmed along the trench for a moment, until that feeling hit Aeris again. "Shit, they're back!" She said.

"Fighters coming in! Point 2!" Wedge confirmed, but it wasn't long until he was shot too. "I'm hit, I can't stay with you!"

"Get clear, Wedge, you can't do any more good back there!" Luke said.

"Sorry!" With that, Wedge pulled up and out, but the three only got closer.

"Hurry Luke, they're coming in much faster this time. We can't hold them," Biggs said. Aeris' eyes widened.

"Oh shit…" She breathed.

"R2 increase the power!" She heard Luke say. She felt the tremor before it even happened.

"They're on us!" She said frantically.

"Quick! Quick!" Biggs yelled, but those were the last words he said. The blast hit him and his X-Wing blew up right beside Aeris'

"No!" She yelled. Her regret quickly turned into stubborn defiance. Luke was upset too but he knew he had a job to do, and he wasn't going to let Biggs and the others die in vain… He wasn't going to let Aeris die, period.

"Aeris! Are you alright back there?"

"I… I don't know! They're behind me but I don't know if they're in range yet!" There was a panicked tone to her voice but she was trying to keep it together.

"Use the Force, Luke!" Aeris heard Obi-Wan's voice again. "Let go!"

"Luke, I know you can do it…" Aeris said. "Don't worry about me right now, do what you have to do."

"Trust me, trust her," came Obi-Wan's voice again.

"Believe in it… Believe in yourself…" Aeris said. Luke heard the both of them and put his computer away.

"Luke, you switched off your targeting computer. What's wrong?" Base said.

"Nothing. I'm alright," he assured.

"Can't trust computers, not like this," Aeris said. "But you can trust us." Suddenly Aeris' X-Wing jerked and she grunted. "Shit I'm hit!" She said, trying to even out her X-Wing.

"Aeris!" Luke had panic in his voice now.

"I'm ok! I-I think it just skimmed me!" She wobbled a bit but she managed to avoid the other blasts… And unfortunately one of the stray ones hit Artoo.

"I've lost Artoo!" Luke said. Aeris' heart was racing, and an even more dreadful feeling was taking over her.

"I'm out of options for evasion!" She said.

"Pull out, Aeris!"

"No! I'm not leaving you!" Aeris yelled back. "Stop worrying about me and focus, Luke Skywalker!" She ordered. They were getting closer and closer, she could feel it. "Come on… Come on," she whispered, but that bad feeling spiked and she braced herself for impact, but it never came. Instead, another set of blasts hit the TIE fighters.

"YAHOO!" Came the battle cry of Han Solo over the comlink.

"Han!" Aeris yelled in joy and relief. "That's it! He got 'em, they're gone!" She cheered.

"That's right! You're all clear kids, now let's blow this thing and go home!" Han shouted. Luke stretched out with the Force and knew exactly when to strike. He took his shot, and the torpedoes landed.

"Shit! Go! Go!" Aeris said as her and Luke yanked up on their X-Wings. Luckily the group of Rebel heroes managed to get out of there, clear and far enough from the Death Star. It was an explosion of epic proportions.

"Great shot, kid! That was one in a million!" Han cheered.

"Yes! Yes! We got the Imperial Scum!" Aeris said, practically throwing a fit in her X-Wing.

"Remember Luke, Aeris," the girl calmed down then, listening to Obi-Wan, "the Force will be with you, always."

She smiled, feeling a sense of peace and relief wash over her.