We're Wizards, Not Warriors: What If
Volume 5:
Chapter 5: Failed Destruction
We see a massive rally, a thousand Scouts, TIE Fighters, officers and vehicles all together.
Various structures sit among a mountainous snowy landscape. Addressing them at a podium, flanked by red First Order banners, is Hux.
His voice echoes, "today is the end of the New Republic! The end of a regime that acquiesces to disorder! At this very moment, in a system far from here the New Republic LIES to the GALAXY while secretly supporting the treachery of the loathsome Resistance. This fierce machine which you have built, upon which we stand, will bring an end to the Senate! To their cherished fleet! All remaining systems will bow to the First Order! And will remember this…. As the last day of the New Republic!"
Inside the base we see Engineers perform the final firing protocol.
And Hux turns to give the signal as we see thousands of Scouts turn to face an endless snowy landscape.
Hux yelled, "FIRE!"
For a moment, nothing. Then, eerily silent, an impossible blast of fire light, like an atomic bomb test times five zillion, blasts from miles away into the sky. Seconds later, a terrible explosive roar is heard across the planet!
Everyone is nearly pushed back by the force of it, the magnitude! Many have to cover their eyes! For miles around the firebeam, ice and snow melts instantly! Runoff tunnels flooded with an ocean of fresh water. Airborne creatures by the thousands burst from trees and took flight.
Hux watches, his eyes wild with power and evil.
Kylo Ren is seen watching the Starkiller firing….
….
Back on Takodana….
Finn is about to board the Alien Freighter. The sound from the sky makes him turn back. He sees the path of fury and his blood runs cold, his heart sinks.
….
At a massive distance we see the planet's that make up the New Republic capital system.
But as the beams of Starkiller base headed towards them, blue shields quickly surrounded all of them!
The beams hit the blue shields…. Which were strong enough to protect the planets from the blast!
….
Hux held a shocked and beyond angry look.
The rest of the scouts and First order officers had shocked looks on their faces as well.
….
Back on Takodana….
A crowd of aliens flies out from inside, all eyes on the blue shields seen from there. Dozens of languages exclaiming shock. We find Han, Eda, Breha, King and Chewie moving out, looking up.
Finn runs towards them, "it was the New Republic!"
Breha said, "Finn! You came back!"
Finn said, "the First Order, they just tried to destroy the New Republic!"
Eda said, "did those idiots think they didn't plan for this kind of crap? The first thing Mon Mothma and Sam did after it was established was create those shields!"
"Woah", Finn said.
King said, "yeah, woah."
Finn then said, "wait, where's Rey? And Ani?"
….
In the forest….
Rey is then seen running through the forest.
She finally comes to a stop, overwhelmed and exhausted. At an emotional breaking point, she has no idea what to do.
Then she hears a beep, and turns to see BB-8, Ani and Lola, catching up with her.
Rey asked, "Ani?"
Ani ran forward and hugged Rey!
Rey went wide eyed, but then she slowly returned the hug.
BB-8 and Lola beeped softly.
"I'm so glad I found you, Rey", Ani said.
Rey gave a small smile.
BB-8 rolled over to Rey.
Rey said, "you have to go back."
BB-8 beeps again.
Ani said, "we're not going without you Rey!"
BB-8 and Lola beeped in agreement.
Rey said, "no, you can't…. You have to go back, you're too important. All of you are. They'll help you."
"No Rey…. We need you…. I need you", Ani said.
Rey tried to say, "Ani, I-"
Ani said, "please. Don't shut me out. I know your pain, Rey. You've lost your family. I lost my Uncle. But we have each other now. You and I…. I care about you Rey. I don't want to see you give into this pain."
Rey and Ani both had tears streaming down their faces.
Rey cried, "Ani…. H-How will I know I w-won't lose you, l-like I lost my parents?"
Ani held her as he said, "I promise you, I will never leave you behind."
They looked at one another, right in the eyes.
Ani whispered, "Rey…."
Rey whispered, "Ani…."
They slowly moved in, their lips nearly touching….
But that's when they heard another sound, much louder now.
The two looked up at the sky and saw TIE fighters!
Rey and Ani's hearts sink. Their friends are in danger!
….
Polly leads Eda, Breha, Han, Finn, King and Chewie down the hall, fast.
Eda asked, "where are we going, Polly?"
Polly said, "I have something to show ya. I've had this for ages…."
They enter the treasure room as Polly opens the box and holds out the lightsaber to Finn.
Polly said, "kept it locked away for future use."
Han asked, "where'd you get that?"
Polly said, "I was once on an adventure with my dad's, Aunt Lilith and Uncle Lando. Taking care of any remaining imperial activity on Cloud City. We found this. Revan appeared and told me to hang onto it until someone came for it. To keep it safe. Take it Finn! Find the others!"
Finn grabs it as the room is shaken by an above ground attack.
Polly yelled, "sonuva- They're here!"
….
Back in the forest….
Ani, Rey and the droids race back to the castle.
They soon see the castle being destroyed by First Order ships! Aliens are running, getting obliterated by screaming TIE Fighters! Other TIE Fighters and transporters land as Scouts attack.
Just then, filtered radio calls get their attention. Nearby Scouts have spotted them and fire their blasters!
One says, "FN-417, hold position!"
Ani and Rey ran back into the forest.
They quickly take cover as Rey grabs her blaster…. But it won't fire!
She panics, then realizes, "safety!"
As Rey switches off the safety, she and Ani both blast a trooper each.
"BB-8 stay close to us", Rey shouted.
"You too Lola", Ani shouted.
The group began to run through the forest again.
….
We then see Kylo Ren walking through the debris and a scout approaches him.
They say, "sir, the droid was spotted heading west, with a girl, and Anakin J Skywalker."
Kylo Ren looks sharply in the direction of where Rey and Ani went.
….
In the forest….
"Ani, you have to get BB-8 to safety…. I'm gonna fight off the scouts", Rey said.
Ani yelled, "what?! No! No way! We're not leaving you behind!"
Rey said, "if the First Order gets their hands on all of us, we're doomed!"
Ani knows she's right, but he doesn't like it.
He puts on a brave face as he says, "Rey, if we don't see each other again, there's one thing I gotta do."
Rey said, "this isn-"
But Ani cut her off by kissing her on the lips!
Rey went wide-eyed at the kiss.
The kiss quickly ended as Ani said, "I will see you again. I promise."
Rey nods with a blush.
Ani and the droids then ran off in one direction.
Rey gently touched her lips.
She slowly smiled.
….
Eda, Han, King, Chewie, Breha, Finn and Polly climb up and peek through debris.
Han said, "come on, guys!"
Polly turns to Finn and says, "Ani, Rey, Lola and BB-8, they need you. Now go."
Finn said, "I need a weapon."
Polly grabs his wrist and holds up his hand; the saber.
Polly yelled, "you have one!"
Finn then looks at the lightsaber and then he turns it on…. A vibrant yellow blade emerges from the top!
Han and Chewie ran to take cover as they were shooting at some scouts.
Han asked, "hey, can I try that?"
Han borrows Chewbacca's bowcaster, and shoots some Scouts.
Han said, "I like this thing."
Polly had just pulled out a device and pressed the big red button in the front!
Breha asked, "what's that do?"
Polly said, "you'll see."
Finn surprised a Scout with the lightsaber, striking them down!
"Traitor!"
Finn turns around to see a scout with a mace.
They lunge at Finn, and the two begin a furious battle.
Each strike shakes the ground around them. As Finn faces the Scout, he feels something he hadn't before.
Bravery.
The Scout is more skilled with their weapon, and Finn only holds out for a bit before they knock him down!
The Scout goes over to the downed man and says, "you rebel scum!"
Before they could do anything, Eda fired at them. This sent them flying into a wall with a hole in their chest as she and the others came running over.
"Nice shot Eda", King said.
Eda said, "mama's got the eyes of an owl, baby!"
Then a squad of scouts appear all around them!
Breha muttered, "and clearly not the ears of a gundark…."
Polly's device started beeping as she smirked and said, "here they come…."
Han asked, "who are coming?"
A scout was then shot in the head.
The scouts turned around to see battle droids!
Polly yelled, "boo-yah, baby!"
"I forgot that you can do that Polly", King said.
Polly chuckled as Ani arrived with his droids in tow!
"Guys", Ani shouted.
"Ani! There you are little bro", Polly said.
Polly hugged her brother as Breha asked, "where's Rey?"
"Rey is back in the forest…. She gave me and the droids a chance to escape", Ani said in a worried tone.
Breha said, "I'll go find her. You guys stay here and protect BB-8."
"You stay safe kid", Han said.
"I will dad", Breha said as she hugged her father.
Breha ran off to find Rey.
A scout shouted into their comlink, "we have incoming at two-eight-point- six! Move! Dispatch! Move! Scramble all squads! Repeat, scramble all squads! Anti-air cover en route to our position!"
That's when a noise was heard on the horizon.
"It's the Resistance and the Jedi Order", Han said.
X-Wings and Resistance aircraft appear, and begin firing at the First Order ship!
Eda yelled, "Hell yes!"
One X-Wing in particular, marked in black, swoops down and takes out the parked TIE Fighters and Troopers!
It's Poe Dameron at the stick of his X-wing!
Poe ordered, "go straight ahead and don't let these dogs scare you!"
A pilot named Jess said, "copy that!"
A pilot named Snap yelled, "we're with you, Poe!"
A blue and yellow Starfighter flies in and shoots down two TIE's!
At the helm is a familiar face, now older and with flowing red hair.
It was Padme, Ani's older twin sister.
"Looks like you'll need help with that Poe", Padme said.
Padme's droid, BB-4, beeped in excitement!
Padme then flew her starfighter alongside Poe's X-wing.
The Scouts around Finn, Eda, Ani, King, Polly, Han and Chewie scatter as they are tossed in explosions!
Han takes his blaster and shoots a Scout.
Finn yelled, "woohoo! YEAH! Those are helluva pilot's!"
Ani can sense who they are and says, "you better believe it!"
Poe yells, "WOOHOO!"
Padme laughs in excitement!
….
In the darkened woods, Rey, terrified, keeps her blaster aimed. Her eyes darted around for her pursuer.
That's when she hears the unique rasping noise of Kylo Ren's lightsaber coming to life!
Rey's heart skips a beat: she's even more scared now. Kylo Ren appears from behind a tree.
Rey fires again and again as Kylo Ren moves toward her, using his lightsaber to deflect every single blast! His hand rises, and Rey suddenly stops and gasps, unable to move.
Kylo Ren said, "the girl I've heard so much about…."
He walks around her, slowly.
Kylo Ren said, "the droid…. Ani…."
He comes around to see her face. After a tense second, he whips his saber to her eyes, illuminating her face.
Kylo Ren growled, "where are they?"
Rey was filled with fear as she couldn't do anything.
….
The epic battle between the Resistance and the First Order continues, reflected in the still lake.
We hear a Scout yell, "request air support!"
….
Kylo Ren turns off his saber and reaches up towards Rey's face. She can't move, and strains in agony. After a moment, surprised by what he finds, he removes his hand.
He said, "the map. You've seen it."
Rey is horrified. He touches her face again. The pain is evident as tears stream from her eyes. She stares at him, terrified and straining in agony.
Kylo Ren said, "and dear Ani…. You care about him…."
Rey shakes in fear.
Suddenly, a shot rings out! Kylo Ren throws his other hand into the air, sending a blaster bolt into a tree as she slowly turns to see Breha standing there with her blaster drawn.
"Hello there…. Kylo Ren", Breha growled.
Kylo Ren growled, "Breha…. It's been a long time…."
Breha retorted, "not long enough. Leave Rey alone."
Kylo Ren said, "I think not. She has the information I need."
Breha fired at Kylo Ren again.
He once again stopped the bolt and sent it away.
Before Breha could fire again, Kylo Ren used the force to freeze her in place!
Kylo Ren, mid-interrogation, turns towards the sounds of the explosions. Several Scouts approach through the woods.
A Scout says, "sir, Resistance fighters! We need more troops."
Kylo Ren turns back to Rey, his hand still on her face.
He says, "pull the division out. Forget the droid. We have what we need", a gesture from Kylo Ren and Rey falls unconscious into Ren's arms as he says, "and if we have her, the Jedi will follow."
Breha growls as two Scouts grab her and drag her behind Kylo Ren.
….
Back on the battlefield….
Ani is seen battling scouts.
He cuts one in half with his lightsaber.
Poe's X-Wing swoops down again, firing and exploding another TIE Fighter!
On the ground, a Scout yells, "pull back to the tree line!"
Eda, King, Han and Chewie dodge debris, firing and taking out troopers.
Finn takes out two Scouts with the saber, then, out of breath, turns to see Kylo Ren in the forest, carrying Rey in his arms, and having Breha dragged behind him.
He grows terrified as he turns to Ani, who's just sliced another Scout in half and yells, "Ani!"
Ani turns to Finn, and sees Kylo Ren with Breha and Rey.
Ani's heart stopped at the sight.
Ani shouted as he ran towards the shuttle, "NO! REY!"
Han stops and turns, seeing Kylo Ren entering his shuttle with Breha and Rey!
Han is rocked by the sight.
Finn yelled, "NO! BREHA!"
Heroically, Finn and Ani run towards the shuttle through the carnage around them, but the shuttle takes off.
Finn irrationally chases it, and screams desperately, "no, no, no, no…. BREHA!"
Ani tries using his abilities to jump at the shuttle, but only just misses it, and crashes to the ground, his knees aching as he gets up.
He yelled, "NO! NO! REY!"
Polly ran to her brother.
Tears fell down Ani's face as he kept staring at the shuttle that flew off.
Finn runs to Han and says, "he took them! Did you see that? He took them. They're gone!"
Ani remains silent as the sight sticks in his mind. It plays over and over again.
Han said, "yeah, yeah, I know…"
Polly and King hug Ani as Lola nuzzles his cheek.
Then a transport lands in front of Han and the others.
Han holds a look of dread, while Ani and the others hold ones of anticipation.
Finally, the transport door opens.
And standing there is Leia.
She sees Han and is stunned. A silent beat passed between husband and wife.
In the smoke and embers, no one says a word. Then C3-P0 walks out from the transport, into the field
C3-P0 says, "goodness! Han Solo! It is I, See-Threepio! You probably don't recognize me because of the red arm. Oh, and Master Ani! It is so good to see you and Lola fully functional!"
Lola chuckled as Ani said, "it's good to see you too, Threepio."
"Oh. Excuse me, Prin- uh, General. Sorry. Come along, BB-8. Quickly", C3-P0 said to BB-8.
BB-8 beeps at the other droid.
C3-P0 said, "yes, I must get my proper arm reinstalled."
He hurries off, leaving the group alone.
That's when Ani notices some other's leaving the transport.
"About time you showed up", Polly said as she stood beside her brother.
The first out was an older Collin, wearing yellow and blue Jedi robes to match his moon-shaped birthmark, and a blue cap on his head.
"Nice to see you Polly, Ani", Collin said.
Ani and Polly smiled at their older brother.
Then someone else stepped out of the transport.
They were an older male Twi'lek with snow white skin and deep green eyes, dressed in a light gray shirt and pants and dark gray jacket.
"Papa, what a surprise", Polly said.
The Twi'lek smiled. This was indeed the kids' third dad/Sam and Alastor's husband, Prime.
Lola beeped as she flew over to Prime.
Prime chuckled as he pet the smaller droid.
Just then, a slightly rusted HK-50 jumped out, saying, "excited statement: where are the Scout Meatbags! Eager statement: I would like to shoot every Scout Meatbag in the area!"
"Sorry, but you got here too late…. Almost all the scouts are dead", Ani said.
HK-50 groaned, "irritated statement: son of a Mynock!"
The others let out chuckles.
Ani was then hugged by Prime.
He said, "we were so worried about you!"
"I could imagine", Ani said.
Han turns back to Leia, after they watch the exchange between the others.
Han said, "you changed your hair."
Leia said, "same jacket."
Han corrected, "no, new jacket."
Chewie, glad to see Leia, greets her with a hug. Chewie groans a few words, looks at Han, and then boards the ship.
"I saw him. Leia, I saw our son. He was here", Han said.
Leia gave a light gasp.
Prime and Collin look to the others for confirmation.
Ani said, "it's true…. Ben was here…. And he's taken Breha and a friend of ours…."
….
Later, we see the Falcon and rebel ships roaring towards a planet with green flora and a ring of asteroids.
This is D'qar.
The ships descend among grassy mounds and sunken structures.
Large grass mounds cover hangars, beneath the odd, giant trees. Resistance ground control directs an X-wing to a landing. Another X-wing canopy opens as a pilot climbs out.
The Falcon then lands.
The ramp descends as Finn is the first one out.
Then BB-8 speeds right past them, almost knocking Finn down. Finn watches as BB-8 rolls over to the pilot getting out of the black market X-Wing. The Pilot's helmet comes off.
It is Poe!
Finn can't believe what he's seeing.
Padme walks over to Poe and BB-8.
BB-8 then beeped at the two.
Poe looks up and sees Finn and he can't believe it either! Poe smiles and points at Finn. From a distance, Finn gestures in sheer amazement that Poe is alive.
Finn said in disbelief, "Poe. Poe Dameron."
They move to each other and embrace.
Finn said, "you're alive!"
Poe exclaimed, "so are you!"
Finn asked, "what happened to you?"
"What happened? I got thrown from the crash, woke up at night no you, no ship, nothing…. BB-8 says that you saved him", Poe said.
Finn said, "no, no, no. It wasn't just me."
Poe said, "you helped complete our mission, Finn. That's my jacket?"
Finn said, "oh here."
He tries to take the jacket off, but Poe stops him and says, "no, no, no. Keep it. It suits you. You're a good man, Finn."
"Poe, I need your help", Finn said.
Poe nods as he leads Finn over to where the Resistance Leaders were.
Ani smiled, having seen the whole thing.
When suddenly….
"ANI!"
Ani yelped in shock as he was tackled into a bear hug!
He looked up to see his father's hugging him.
Sam and Alastor now had some gray flecks in their hair.
Sam held Ani's cheeks in his hands as he said, "oh our little boy, we were so worried about you!"
Ani smiled and said, "I'm fine, dad's, really."
Padme walked over and said, "you better be. Terrance was worried sick about ya. All of us were, really."
"I'm sorry…. It's just that a lot has happened", Ani said.
Ani and his dad's got to their feet as the crew of the Falcon came out.
Eda yelled, "wazzup!"
"Eda being her usual self", Sam said with a roll of his eyes.
King jumped into Sam's arms in joy as Padme asked Ani, "so, what's this about Breha and some girl being captured by the First Order?"
….
Ani, Finn, Poe, Padme and the others move fast. Finn takes in this makeshift command center, buried deep among vines and roots.
They arrive in front of Leia and Ani's older brother, Jesse.
He was now much older, had a beard, and wore Rex's old armor, having inherited it from the old clone he considered a second father growing up.
The Generals stand with a group of Resistance Officers, including Admirals Ackbar and Statura.
Poe said, "General Organa. General Tano. Sorry to interrupt, this is Finn, he needs to talk to you."
"And we need to talk to him. That was incredibly brave, what you did. Renouncing the First Order, saving this man's life, as well as the life of my nephew….", Leia said.
Jesse said, "take it from the son of a defector, Finn, you've done a great thing."
Finn is suprised, but continues, "thank you, Sir, Ma'am, but a friend of mine was taken prisoner, along with your daughter-"
Leia said, "Han told us about the girl and Breha. I'm sorry."
Poe jumps in, "Finn's familiar with the weapon that nearly destroyed the Hosnian system. He worked on the base."
Leia said, "we're desperate for anything you can tell us."
Finn said, "that's where Breha and Rey were taken. We've got to get there, fast."
Ani said, "Aunt Leia, please, Rey means a lot to me- Us! Us. As does Breha."
Everyone looked at Ani with raised eyebrows.
Ani's face was red as a tomato for what he said.
Leia diffused the awkwardness and said, "and I will do everything I can to help, but first you must tell us all you know."
Ani and Finn agreed, eager to save their friend.
….
Reviews:
SuperSentai199: thanks. Glad you like their relationship.
….