*****
Fortunately, as I came up on the doors I thought were right, I saw a slender beam of light separate them, slowly growing wider. When they finally parted enough for Raden to poke his head through, I noted that his dark hair was sticking to his forehead from exertion and he looked worried. Well, I probably didn't look too different.
His eyes met mine and the relief in them was obvious. He offered me a hand and helped me out. The floor was littered with the parts of five battle-droids, and I said, "You took all these out yourself?"
He looked a little sick, and said, "At least there weren't any droidekas this time."
And then I looked down and saw the scorch-mark on his shoulder.
"You're injured!" I exclaimed.
"It's not bad, really." He managed a half-wince, half-smile at me and I nodded. If he felt he could keep going, then I wouldn't argue.
He covered the hall while I helped the others out.
We rested a moment before we moved forward again. If I thought I was winded after the climb, I underestimated the benefits of the training and maintenance program Saché and I (and Eirtaé, Rabé and Sabé) are on. Del, Lissé, and Chak looked done-in. Not to mention Raden, with a hole in his shoulder.
Raden removed his vest and then folded it and pressed it to the wound with a hiss of pain. I helped him secure it there with a strip he had already torn off.
"We'll have to find you a medpac soon," I commented, and was pleased when he shrugged me off.
"I'll be fine," he insisted, impressing me yet again with his strength.
Once we had all recovered enough to go on, we headed toward the Throne Room again.
We hit three more pockets of droids and droidekas before we finally came up on the long hallway that ends in front of the huge doors leading into it. The thing that really surprised me was how well we all worked together as a team. Especially Saché and I. We got to put a lot of the moves Panaka has been teaching us to good use. And it was *fun*–at least for me. I've always enjoyed battle–with blasters, with vibro-blades, hand-to-hand, you name it–and this time there was the added thrill of knowing that my actions, our actions, could determine the fate of our planet.
I really think it was the best day of my life.
*****
TBC...
Fortunately, as I came up on the doors I thought were right, I saw a slender beam of light separate them, slowly growing wider. When they finally parted enough for Raden to poke his head through, I noted that his dark hair was sticking to his forehead from exertion and he looked worried. Well, I probably didn't look too different.
His eyes met mine and the relief in them was obvious. He offered me a hand and helped me out. The floor was littered with the parts of five battle-droids, and I said, "You took all these out yourself?"
He looked a little sick, and said, "At least there weren't any droidekas this time."
And then I looked down and saw the scorch-mark on his shoulder.
"You're injured!" I exclaimed.
"It's not bad, really." He managed a half-wince, half-smile at me and I nodded. If he felt he could keep going, then I wouldn't argue.
He covered the hall while I helped the others out.
We rested a moment before we moved forward again. If I thought I was winded after the climb, I underestimated the benefits of the training and maintenance program Saché and I (and Eirtaé, Rabé and Sabé) are on. Del, Lissé, and Chak looked done-in. Not to mention Raden, with a hole in his shoulder.
Raden removed his vest and then folded it and pressed it to the wound with a hiss of pain. I helped him secure it there with a strip he had already torn off.
"We'll have to find you a medpac soon," I commented, and was pleased when he shrugged me off.
"I'll be fine," he insisted, impressing me yet again with his strength.
Once we had all recovered enough to go on, we headed toward the Throne Room again.
We hit three more pockets of droids and droidekas before we finally came up on the long hallway that ends in front of the huge doors leading into it. The thing that really surprised me was how well we all worked together as a team. Especially Saché and I. We got to put a lot of the moves Panaka has been teaching us to good use. And it was *fun*–at least for me. I've always enjoyed battle–with blasters, with vibro-blades, hand-to-hand, you name it–and this time there was the added thrill of knowing that my actions, our actions, could determine the fate of our planet.
I really think it was the best day of my life.
*****
TBC...