Chapter Twelve:

Tarkin and Vader watched as the "Falcon" made the jump into hyperspace. The Grand Moff turned to Vader, fuming.

"You let them get away!?" Tarkin growled. "This was our chance of eliminating the Jedi!"

"I've placed a homing beacon on their ship. They will lead us to their Rebel base." Vader replied, sounding bored. Tarkin's anger immediately vanished.

"Oh… Excuse me, Lord Vader. Very well. Set a course for the Yavin system." Tarkin said. The Death Star slowly rotated around and jumped into hyperspace.

-o0o-

The "Millennium Falcon" jumped out of hyperspace, arriving at the red gas giant Yavin. Behind it was the jungle moon of Yavin IV. As they landed, an aging man came to the ramp to greet Princess Leia.

"It's good to see you again Princess. When we heard about Alderaan, we feared for the worst." He said voice full of worry.

"Don't worry. I'm fine and I have the plans in this R2 unit." Leia said, pointing to Artoo.

"Oi! What the hell is this!?" Riekan shouted from the ship. He stomped out, furious and holding a small box in his hands. Leia took the box and opened it. Then she paled.

"General, get all starfighters ready. We've been tracked!" Leia exclaimed. The old man nodded and ran off.

-o0o-

Luke, Riekan, and several other pilots entered the briefing room. There, they sat down on various chairs, waiting for General Cracken to arrive. Once he arrived, he plugged Artoo into a nearby computer and the screen to the right went black and a diagram of the Death Star appeared. While Cracken briefed the pilots, Obi-wan and Siri snuck behind some old crates, out of sight from mechcanics and soldiers.

"Siri… Although the Death Star is coming, I fear for our children. What if Sami or Riekan die in the upcoming battle?" Obi-wan said, deeply distressed.

"Don't worry, my love. The Force is strong in our children. It will lead Luke and our children through and through. The Death Star will be destroyed. I'm sure of it." Siri whispered, placing her hand on Obi-wan's cheek. She leaned closer, gazing deep into Obi-wan's blue-gray eyes. Just like old time's sake, the couple kissed passionately, losing themselves from reality. Siri felt the sweet taste on her lips irresistible, then she went limp, fainting at the kiss's intensity. Finally, but reluctantly, the two Jedi Masters broke away, feeling as if they were years younger. Siri opened her eyes.

"I'm so happy for us and our children." Siri said.

"I know." Obi-wan replied.

"I love you, Obi-wan Kenobi."

"I love you, Siri Tachi Kenobi."

-o0o-

The Jedi Padawans, now in their orange flight suits, met up with each other near Luke's assigned X-wing.

"This should be easy. Their point defense cannons are no problem. There aren't many of them compared to the turbolasers." Riekan said.

"There will be enemy fighters." Sami pointed out.

"The exhaust port may be easy to hit. Cracken said it was about two meters wide, which is how big the womp rats were back home." Luke said.

"Ahh… Those were the good ole days, weren't they?" Riekan laughed.

"Yep. I think I lost count on how many of them I bagged." Luke replied. Just then, the commander of Red Squadron, Garven Dreis, stepped in.

"Hello kids. Are ready yet? It's time for takeoff." He said.

"All right, we'll be right there." Luke said.

"Hey, hey, hey! How are you doing Luke?" A cheerful voice rang out. Luke turned around and saw his second best friend, Biggs Darklighter, came running up to him and his friends.

"Biggs! I thought I'd never see you again!" Luke said. "My training just got interesting."

"So I've heard. Man, we have so much stories between all four of us." Biggs laughed. "I can't wait."

"That can wait after the battle." Riekan said, smiling widely. Biggs nodded and ran off.

"All right, see both of you upon landing." Sami said. She planted a quick kiss on Luke and Riekan and went to her X-wing. Luke went red in embarrassment. Before he started climbing, Ahsoka appeared.

"Luke, good luck up there. And remember to use the Force." She said.

"Yes Master." Luke replied as he entered the cockpit. Han appeared next.

"Luke!" He called.

"Yeah?" Luke asked.

"May the Force be with you." Han said, once again leaving. Luke smiled and closed his canopy. Artoo, snug in the astromech socket, guided Luke as more than 30 X-wings and Y-wings lifted off and blasted into space.

-o0o-

The Death Star jumped out of hyperspace, next to Yavin Prime. But the gas giant covered Yavin IV, forcing the Death Star to start orbiting the planet. Tarkin viewed a map showing the Death Star's superlaser trajectory.

"Death Star approaching Rebel Base in thirty minutes." An automated intercom announced.

"We have seen the end of the Jedi, and we will see the end of the Rebellion." Vader stated, appearing next to the Grand Moff. The Moff smiled as the moon-sized space station approached the jungle moon.

-o0o-

The formation of Rebel starfighters streaked towards the Death Star.

"Look alive, boys. We're passing through the magnetic field." Dreis said. "All wings report in."

"Red Two, standing by." Wedge Antillies said.

"Red Three, standing by." Biggs called.

"Red Four, standing by." Riekan said.

"Red Eight, standing by." Sami announced.

"Red Six, standing by." Jek Porkins said.

"Red Ten, standing by."

"Red Seven, standing by."

"Red Nine, standing by."

"Red Five, standing by." Luke said. After all of the X-wings in Red Squadron reported in, Red Leader had continued.

"Now lock S-foils into attack position." He ordered. The X-wings unfolded their wings into their distinctive "X" shape.

"This is where the fun begins." Sami said, chuckling.

"Look at the size of that thing!" Wedge exclaimed.

"Red Two, Red Eight, cut the chatter. We're passing through their deflector shields. All fighters, set deflector shields, double front." Red Leader said. One of the Y-wing squadrons, Gold Squadron, contacted Red Leader.

"Red Leader, this is Gold Leader. We're starting our attack run." Gold Leader said. He took Gold Five and Ten with him to the trench. Green cannon fire opened up on the Rebels. They easily dodged the flak, but Porkins got unlucky. He was starting a strafing run on the surface.

"Red Six, pull up! Pull up!" Wedge shouted.

"No, no, I'm fine. I ahh—" Porkins cried before his X-wing exploded. The Rebels continued their strafing runs on the Death Star's surface while Gold Leader leads his squadron down the trench.

-o0o-

Darth Vader had gone to the hangar, alarms blaring everywhere. An officer ran up to him, looking a little worried.

"Lord Vader, there are about thirty Rebel fighters attacking us, and they're so small they are evading our defenses." The officer reported.

"Then we will have to destroy them ship to ship. Get the pilots to their fighters." Vader ordered.

"Yes sir." The officer replied and ran off. Vader strode to a nearby hallway and stopped two TIE Fighter pilots.

"Several fighters have broken off from the main group. Follow me." Vader said. The pilots nodded and followed the Sith Lord to their TIEs.

-o0o-

Back on Yavin IV, the Jedi Masters and Rebel leaders watched the battle from the command room. Then, Obi-wan noticed several TIE Fighters were heading to the Rebel fighters.

"Red Leader, Gold Leader, this is Base One. Enemy fighters are coming your way." Obi-wan warned.

"Copy that, Base One." Red Leader replied. Meanwhile, the dogfight over the Death Star continues with the TIEs.

"Help! I can't shake him." Red Seven cried. The TIE on his tail fired on him, causing the X-wing to explode, ending Red Seven's cries. Another TIE latched onto Luke's tail.

"Hey! A little help, please." He said, trying to shake the enemy off his tail. Sami spotted the troublesome TIE and dove on it. She fired her laser cannons and shot down the Imperial.

"Thanks Sami." Luke said, letting out a breath in relief.

"Red Ten, Red Nine, on my tail." Red Leader said.

"Red Leader, this is Gold Five. Lost Tiree, lost Dutch. I'm pulling out." The Y-wing pilot announced.

"Copy that, Gold Leader." Red Leader replied.

"They came from behind—" The new Gold Leader started, but Vader shot him down before he finished.

"Red Nine, Red Ten, we're starting our attack run. On me." Red Leader said. The three X-wings dove for the trench and started speeding towards the exhaust port. Red Leader looked through his targeting computer. The distance gradually shrank as the X-wings approached the port. Red Ten looked behind himself and saw Vader and his wingmen.

"Red Leader, there are three of them on our 6 o'clock." He said worriedly.

"Almost there…" Red Leader murmured. Beside him, Red Nine exploded as Vader fired his lasers on him.

"Hurry!" Red Ten desperately said.

"Almost there…"

"Loosen up—" Red Ten started, but his words were cut short by Vader. Just then, Red Leader's targeting computer beeped and he fired a proton torpedo. He pulled out from the trench, Vader hot on his tail.

"It's away!" Red Leader cried. He looked behind and saw the torpedo hit the surface.

"Did it go in?" Sami asked.

"Negative, negative. It just impacted on the surface." Red Leader said, bitterly disappointed. Then, Vader opened fire. His lasers hit the X-wing's engine.

"Luke, you're in charge. Yahh!" Red Leader shouted as his fighter crashed on the Death Star's surface.

"Riekan, Biggs, follow me into the trench. Sami and Wedge, stay above the trench and blast any Imperial fighters that follow us." Luke ordered. He received a confirmation from the others. He dove for the trench with Riekan and Biggs following him. Luke activated his targeting computer and looked into it. Vader and his wingmen were once again on the X-wings' tails. Biggs looked back and saw them.

"Luke! Luke! Hurry up!" Biggs cried. "Luke!

"C'mon." Luke muttered. He was getting closer.

"Luke! He's gai—" Biggs continued, but Vader had shot him down before he could finish. Luke snapped out of focus.

"Biggs! No!" Luke cried. "Sami, Wedge, get these fighters off us!"

"We're on our way." Sami said, feeling his grief. Before Sami and Wedge made it, Vader fired on Riekan.

"Force! Luke, I've lost my rear deflectors." Riekan said.

"Get out of there! There is nothing more you can do." Luke replied.

"Sorry."

Riekan pulled up from the trench and raced home.

"Let him go. Stay on the leader." Vader ordered as one of his wingmen started to go after Riekan. The TIE pilot obeyed and stayed where he was. Luke concentrated on the target. Then, he heard the voice of an elder man.

'Use the Force, Luke' It said.

'Ben?' Luke thought.

'No, I am Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-wan's Jedi Master. Use the Force.' He said. Luke was apprehensive.

'Trust me, Luke.'

Luke turned off his targeting computer.

"Luke, you've switched your targeting computer off. Anything wrong?" Ahsoka asked.

"I'm fine, Master. Everything is fine." Luke replied. Then, Sami and Wedge dove on Vader and his wingmen, laser cannons blazing. One of the wingmen exploded.

"Yee-ha!" Sami shouted in delight. "Now let's blow this thing and go home!" Wedge laughed. Meanwhile, Vader was surprised.

"What?" He said, sensing Sami and Wedge attacking him.

"Look out!" The other wingman cried. He swerved to the left and collided with Vader, causing his fighter to spin out of control out of the trench. The wingman bounced off Vader's TIE and crashed into the side of the trench. Luke then fired his proton torpedo at the exhaust port. He let out a breath as he pulled up, watching the torpedo enter the port.

"The torpedo's in. Let's get out of here." Luke said.

'Well done, Luke. Well done.' Qui-Gon's voice said. Luke smiled. The four X-wings and a single Y-wing fled the Death Star, their mission completed. Then, in a bright and brilliant explosion, the Death Star, the Empire's most vaunted weapon, was gone. The blast twinkled like the many stars in the galaxy.

"Great shot, Luke! That was one in a million!" Sami shouted in joy. Luke went red in embarrassment.

'This would certainly help my chances.' He thought blissfully.

'What chances?' Sami asked as she heard Luke's thought.

'Oh… You weren't supposed to hear that.' Luke thought.

'Good. Now I can tell what you are thinking.' Sami chuckled evilly.

'Why? Why would you establish a Force-bond with me? Is it so you could torment me?' Luke asked.

'Maybe…' Sami seemed to drawl. Luke remembered to raise his shields.

"Force. Now she will know of my crush on her.' He thought miserably as he landed on the jungle moon, where a gigantic celebration awaits for him.

TBC…