Chapter 33- The Battle Ends and Solo's Rescue
Even with lightsaber skills as the only Jedi on the ground, Talon was unable to stop all the bolts with his lightsaber and the Force as there was way too many bolts flying. Talon licked his lips in concentration and stretched out with the Force. "Rogue Two, are you all right?" He heard Luke ask faintly.
"Yeah. I'm with you, Rogue Leader," Rogue Two answered, his voice wire-thin with tension.
"Well, set harpoon. I'll cover for you," Luke ordered.
"Coming around," Rogue Two said stiffly.
"Watch that crossfire, boys," Luke warned.
"Set for position three. Steady," Rogue Two said.
"Stay tight and low. This is it!" Luke said exultantly. A scream filled Talon's arm communicator and he felt the Force shake with sadness as another person became one with it.
"Hobbie! I've been hit!" Luke's voice said in a panic. Talon ran without thought to where Luke and the walkers were. In the three years that he had known the boy, Luke had become like his own son. He was basically a father to all three of Anakin and Padme's children. He had to make sure that his boy was safe.
Talon felt a relief when he saw Luke's fighter. By the Force the boy was still alive. Using the Force, he popped open the canopy. Luke looked at him slightly dazed, a good sign. Talon gripped the boy's arm, pulling him out of the downed fighter. "Wait, Dak!" Luke pulled out of Talon's grip and gripped his gunner by the back of his flightsuit; just as a walker came right towards them. Luke jumped out of the way barely as the walker's huge foot came down on the fighter, crushing it and Dak's remains.
Lena looked up as Han came into the communication center after a blast shook the area and most of the ground staff had run out. "You all right?" Han asked Leia.
Leia looked up at him, annoyance and worry all over her features. "Why are you still here?" Leia snapped, the cover she used for when she was worried.
"Heard the command center had been hit," Han said as Leia and Lena leaned to look over a tech's shoulder at the battle.
"You've got your clearance to leave," Leia said, without looking at him.
"Don't worry. I'll leave. First, I'm gonna get you and your cousin to your ship," Han said, climbing over the wreckage.
"Your Highnesses, we must take this last transport. It's our only hope," Threepio begged.
"Send all troops to Sector 12 to the south slope to protect the fighters," Lena said, going to one of the few techs left.. A loud blast and explosions from the stations filled the air and Threepio screamed.
"Imperial troops have entered the base. Imperial troops have-" a recorded voice said over the intercom and then was cut off. Han came over to Leia and Lena and gripped their arms.
"Come on. That's it," Han said. Leia looked at him for a long minute.
"Give the evacuation code signal. And get to your transports!" Leia said as Han ushered her and Lena out the blast door, Threepio following.
"Oh, wait for me!" Lena heard Threepio's plaintive wail.
Talon helped Luke to his feet as another shield blew. "Begin retreat! Fall back!" Talon heard voices yell and everyone took off running away from the walkers.
"Uncle, I have an idea. We have to take the walkers down, right?" Luke said.
"Right," Talon said.
"Let's use the concussion grenades. You take one and I'll take the others. We can cut the walkers underbelly with our lightsabers," Luke said, running to one speeder and Talon ran to the other.
Using his attach cables, Talon made his way up and cut open the underbelly with his white blade. Using the Force he threw the grenade in the walker and jumped free, mere seconds before the walker exploded. Looking over he saw Luke have the same success.
Talon looked up in shock as the power generators blew. He now hoped that Lena, Cora, and Leia got off safely before Anakin made his way into the base. His daughter and niece's lives would be over if their real father found them before they could escape.
Han, Leia, and Lena ran down the corridor to the transport. Lena felt the coldness that was the dark side. Vader was extremely close to them. Lena pulled out her lightsaber and ignited it. Partly to clear the path of debris and partly in case they ran into Vader.
Leia screamed as a blast knocked some of the ceiling loose. Han pulled her and Lena down, shielding them from the ceiling with his own body. When the dust cleared, Lena, Han, and Leia straightened to see the path to their transport blocked. "Transport, this is Solo. Better take off. I can't get to you. I'll get Princess Leia and Princess Lena out on the Falcon. Come on," Han said, gripping Lena and Leia's arms as he propelled them to his ship and past Threepio.
"B...B...but where are you going? Come back!" Lena heard Threepio say from behind them.
Vader watched with trepidation as the stormtroopers blew the door of the rebel command center. It was really too much to hope that his son and daughter were there. Granted, his daughter had flown an x-wing at the battle of Yavin, but from interrogating rebel prisoners, Lena was more tactical and would plan battles while Luke fought them. Vader felt a sense of relief. Neither child was dying on the floor among all the broken rebel equipment.