Title: Revenge of the Jedi, Chapter Six
Author: Jonathan Evans
Author email: noggins@ic24.net
Summary: Continued from Chapter Five. The battle begins on all fronts. Meanwhile, Admiral Ackbar learns something distressing about one of his most trusted aides...
Special Thanks: to everyone who's commented on all of my fan fiction so far. It's great to know I've got an audience! Special thanks to those who have commented on the story so far. I've enjoyed seeing the shock and intrigue that my story is causing and I hope your looking forward to even more....
Disclaimer: George Lucas owns everything and I'm not making anymoney off of thi nor do I intend to (I'd like to but that's not the point). You can distribute this freely provided that it's complete with this disclaimer.
REVENGE OF THE JEDI
CHAPTER SIX
By Jonathan Evans
The shuttle docked with the Death Star and the landing ramp
slowly opened. Darth Vader was the first to walk off, followed
by Leia Organa then Boba Fett. Vader stormed straight passed
the troops that had been ordered to stand to attention in
preporation for the Dark Lord's arrival. Using the Force he
opened the door and walked straight out.
Two Stormtroopers mobilised, forcing binders onto the captives.
Fett turned to his daughter. "I'm proud of you Leia. You
showed me that you really can be a Jedi given the training."
"Something it doesn't look like I'm going to get," the young
princess muttered under her breath.
"We can defeat the Emperor. It is the way of the Force," Fett
said, still full of confidence in her ability.
"I hope so... I really do..."
* * * * * * * *
"Prepare for the jump to lightspeed," Ackbar ordered the navigation
officer on the Mon Calamari Star Cruiser and within moments the
co-ordinates were set. Outside in space the entire Rebel fleet
disappeared into the starscape with a flash of light.
Adi Gallia walked onto the bridge along with Evajo Siinit, a
young Jedi knight ready to aid the Republic and now the Rebel
Alliance. Gallia went straight to Ackbar, seated high above
the rest of the crew in his movable war seat. With a press of
a button he moved it down to their level.
"Jedi friends, are you prepared for your mission?"
"Of course," she replied. After a slight pause she got to the
reason she was here. "But I wish to know more about General
Calrissian."
"Oh. He is currently on board the Millennium Falcon but I'd
be only happy to tell you anything I know. From what General
Solo told me he was a gambler and card player like none other
and even once owned the starship he is currently commanding..."
"He's a clone," Gallia interrupted
The words hit Ackbar like a blast to the chest. "What???"
"He was created during the Clone Wars by Palpatine's Empire.
His type were prototypes of what would later become Stormtroopers.
Most were destroyed after the original tests showed they were
unstable mentally and even killed some of their creators. Many
were destroyed and, as far as I know, he's the only one left."
Ackbar began to ponder this carefully. Had he put his trust
in an artificial life form created by the Empire to, in some
cases, eliminate his race? The Mon Calamari admiral pressed
a button on his arm rest and the seat moved up so he could
see everything going on around him. It seemed as if no one
cared about the news they were just given and neither did
he.
"I trust the General. The people who know him trust him. He
will lead us to victory, provided Solo and his team are able
to take down the Death Star's shield generator."
* * * * * * * *
Han looked through the binoculars that Captain Blabe had
handed him. "Four Imperial scouts," Han pondered. "Their
speeder bikes are parked nearby. That could mean trouble
if we don't do this quickly."
"Yes sir."
"We'd have to distract them. If we do that just right we
may be able to get in no trouble."
The Ewok watched eagerly next to them suddenly jumped up and
scampered into the underbrush. Blabe noticed and turned to his
commanding officer "I'm afraid your furry companion has gone
and done something rash, sir," he frowned.
"Oh no..." Han said as his jaw opened.
The Ewok had slipped out of the undergrowth near where the Imperial
scouts were lounging. He silently swang his furry ball of a body
onto one of the scout's speeder bikes and began flipping switches at
random. Suddenly, the bike's engine fired up with a tremendous roar.
The little creature grinned and continued flipping switches. The
scouts leaped up in surprise.
"There goes our surprise attack," Blabe sighed.
"I'm not too sure about that," Han smiled having gained trust in
the little Ewok since he had encountered him. He laughed at
himself. Leia would be proud of his new attitude.
Meanwhile the Imperial scouts raced toward the Ewok just as his
speeder zoomed into motion. He hung on by his paws and shot away
into the forest.
"Look! Over there! Stop him!" one of the troops shouted out loudly.
His three companions jumped on their rocket bikes and sped away in
pursuit. The fourth watched them go from his post at the door.
From the undergrowth Han grinned. "See? Now there's only one left."
"Not bad for a little furball," the Captain replied.
The group ran down to where the Scout trooper was stationed, looking
worried about the fact he'd just lost any back up. Han held his blaster
to the trooper. "Open the door!" He turned to the troops, "take the
Scout Wwalker before they can mobilise it!"
"Yes sir!"
Three commandos ran to the feet of the walker and used rope to
climb to the command module. A pilot lifted the top hatch to look out
at the events taking place but was soon falling to the ground
at a high velocity. Captain Blabe saluted to Solo who just
smiled back.
"This is going well," he muttered. "Too well."
"We haven't got time to worry about that sir" the trooper next
to him replied. "The fleet should be arriving in this system
soon."
"Okay." Han turned to the Stormtrooper. "So, you gonna open
that door before I blow your head off?"
"I - I don't have the codes," he stuttered. "It has to be
authorised from inside..."
Solo pushed the armoured warrior against the communications port
aggressively. "Then you know what to tell the,." he told him,
pushing the blaster into his neck. "Ddon't you?"
"Yuh - yeah..." the Trooper activated the communications channel.
"We have Rebels here sir! Send the troops out!"
Han pulled the trigger and the Stormtrooper fell to the floor,
a hole in his neck smoking slowly. The door slid open and twenty
other Imperial Soliders emerged. Han turned to see three AT-STs
coming up behind him and his small group. He turned to Lieutenant
Hollma, a battle-hardened Rebl solider. "Any ideas?"
"None whatsoever, sir..."
Suddenly a blast came from the captured Scout Walker blowing the
head from one of the enemy ones. It exploded in an array of lights,
sending firey shrapnel in all directions, hitting a Stormtrooper
in the chest. Han looked all around to see the Imperials running
away from the fallout. He shouted to the soldiers under his
command, "Let's go! Get into the trees! It'll be more difficult
for them to get to us there!"
As he ran, Han took out three Stormtroopers with his blaster
pistol. The Rebel AT-ST shot another of its Imperial
counterparts while everyone dived for cover.
"What a rush!" one of the Rebels shouted out.
"You got a thermal detonator?" Han called out.
"Coming right up, general" was the reply.
A silver ball was thrown to the smuggler who activated and threw
it towards the Imperial troops trying to pinpoint the position
of the enemy. It exploded taking five Stormtroopers with it. Solo
looked up to the sky to just see the Death Star through the
many layers of trees.
"We haven't got much time."
* * * * * * * *
The Rebel fleet emerged from hyperspace in a flash. Lando activated
the communcations array on the Millennium Falcon. "All wings report
in," he ordered the fighter squadren leaders.
"Red Leader standing by," Wedge Antilles said.
"Gray Leader standing by."
"Green Leader standing by."
"Lock S-foils in attack positions," Wedge told the pilots of the
X-wings and B-wings.
From the bridge of the Rebel Headquarters Frigate, Admiral Ackbar
watched the fighters massing outside his viewscreen.
"May the Force be with us," he said quietly.
Lando looked worriedly at his alien copilot, Nien Nunb, who pointed
to the control panel and spoke to Lando in his own language.
"We've got to be able to get some kind of a reading on that shield,
up or down," Calrissian pondered. "Well, how could they be jamming us
if they don't know if we're coming."
Lando shot a concerned look out at the approaching Death Star as
the implications of what he's had said sank in. He hit a switch on
his comlink.
"Break off the attack! The shield is still up."
"I get no reading," Wedge replied. "Are you sure?"
"Pull up! All craft pull up!"
The Falcon turned hard to the left. Out the window he could see the
stars and the Death Star move off right as the Falcon and the fighters
of Red Squad veer off desperately to avoid the unseen wall.
On the Rebel Star Cruiser Alarms were screaming and lights flashing
as the huge ship changed course abruptly. Other ships in the fleet
shot by outside as the armada tried to halt its forward momentum.
"Take evasive action! Green Group, stick close to holding sector
MV-7!" Ackbar called out. A Mon Calamari controller turned away from
his screen and called out to Ackbar, quite excited. The Admiral
rushed over to the controller. "Admiral, we have enemy ships in sector
47."
Ackbar moved to the comlink.
"It's a trap!" he creid
"Fighters coming in..." Lando replied, his voice cracking over the
speakers.
The Millennium Falcon and several squads of Rebel fighters headed
into an armada of TIE fighters. The sky exploded as a fierce dogfight
ensued in and around the giant Rebel cruisers.
"There's too many of them!" a pilot exclaimed.
Lando quickly began issuing orders to the group. "Accelerate to
attack speed! Draw their fire away from the cruisers."
"Copy, Gold Leader," Wedge replied.
The battle continued around the giant cruisers. Ackbar looked to
the special ops officer, another Mon Calamari. "I hope the shield
is down soon or the Imps will miss out on the surprise gift we have
for them."
"They'll get it down," the officer said, with his fingers firmly
crossed.
* * * * * * * *
Vader, Leia and Boba Fett entered the Emperor's throneroom.
Palpatine saw them and ordered his Royal Guards to leave him
with them. He looked with disgust at his Sith apprentice.
"Why did you bring... this here?" He motioned to Fett with
his thin, scrawny hand. "I only wanted Skywalker's daughter."
"My Lord," Vader apologised. "He knows who I once was. That
knowledge could be used against us."
"You're an old fool. It is as if you still cling onto the past."
The Emperor turned to the bounty hunter. "How do you know this?
I have eliminated all with the knowledge of who Vader once was."
Boba Fett took off his helmet to reveal the face of Anakin
Skywalker. "Not quite all, 'my Emperor'".
Palpatine looked shocked. This is not what he had expected.
Anakin stood between the two Sith and Leia.
"Skywalker... how did you survive the purge? I ensured that
your pathetic kind were extinct."
"Not quite. That was the problem with trusting 'Boba Fett' to
hunt down some of the Jedi for you. Right now there are a
group with the Rebel Fleet who are about to attack this
worthless space station..."
"It is of no consequence. The Death Star is fully armed and
operational. The Rebellion will be crushed the moment it
comes out of hyperspace."
He motioned with his hand and Anakin flew across the room. The
evil old man got down from his throne and walked up very close to
Leia. The Emperor looked into her eyes and, for the first time,
she could perceive the evil visage within the hood that her
father had warned her about.
"I'm looking forward to completing your training. In time you
will call me Master... and perhaps more..." a smile cracked
across his face as he touched Leia's cheek she pulled away from
him.
"You think I'm going to turn to you when my father is there to
help me through this?"
"You are mistaken. Anakin Skywalker is a weak fool. The years
of hiding his Force abilities has no doubt weakened him. He
will not be able to aid you."
Palpatine opened a compartment on the side of his chair. A
lightsaber emerged. Anakin got up from the floor to recognise
it as his own, given to Luke by Obi-Wan but obviously lost when
he fought Vader.
"A Jedi's weapon. It was once your father's and your brother's,"
the galactic ruler said as he stroked the chrome plating with
his hand. "It could not save either of them from the different
fates they suffered. Perhaps you will change that..."
He threw it to Leia who caught it clumsily. She pressed a button
and the blade extended. She pressed it again and it went back
into the hilt.
Through the round window behind the Emperor's throne could be
seen the distant flashes of the space battle in progress.
"Come, my dear. See for yourself."
The Emperor motioned for Leia to stand beside him at the window.
Vader stood near the throne, watching Anakin carefully who seemed
to be intrigued by the events going on but not doing anything.
Leia moved to look through a small section of the window.
"From here you will witness the final destruction of the Alliance,
and the end of your insignificant Rebellion." Palpatine looked over
to Skywalker. "Your return is insignificant. My plan will go ahead."
Leia was in torment. She glanced at the lightsaber in her hand.
She didn't know how to use it but she wanted to cut the Emperor
to pieces with it. Palaptine watched her and smiled.
"Use the weapon. You need nothing more than pure anger to be able
to. I am unarmed. Strike me down with it. Give in to your anger.
With each passing moment, you make yourself more my servant."
Leia turned the saber on. The blue blade came from it as he hit
down on the old man. Vader moved his own weapon to intercept the
blow and pushed her away. Leia stumbled back and fell down a
set of steps. She landed on his back and watched in horror as
the armour-clad Sith jumped down and help his weapon to her
throat.
"You are nothing princess. I will destroy you now to save you
the embarrasment..."
A metal crate mying nearby flew through the air, hitting Vader in
the back of the head. The lightsaber flew from Leia's hands into
those of Anakin Skywalker. He ignited it and somersaulted over
to Vader where he hit his saber blade creating a series of sparks.
Anakin and Vader engaged in a man-to-man duel of lightsabers even
more vicious then the battle on Aeten II. But the old Jedi had
suddenly grown stronger, and now the advantage shifted to him.
Vader was forced back, losing his balance, and was knocked down
some more stairs. Anakin stood at the top, ready to attack.
The Sith attacked first, forcing Skywalker on the defensive. The
Jedi leaped in an amazing reverse flip up to the safety of the
catwalk overhead. Vader stood below him.
"You have regained your strength Anakin Skywalker," the black
clad Dark Jedi praised him. "You would have made a perfect Dark
Side adept. But you chose the option that rendered you in your
current situation..."
"And what is that, Windu?" Anakin asked.
"Doomed to die while your daughter is trained by my master. Once
you are dead she will not be able to resist her anger. She will
be one of us..."
Vader threw his laser sword and it cut through the supports holding
the catwalk, it then returned to Vader's hand. Anakin tumbled to
the ground in a shower of sparks and rolled out of sight under
the Emperor's platform. Vader moved to find him.
"Now, my old friend, you will die..."
"No!" Leia shouted. She ran at Vader, and held out her hand. Her
father's weapon flew into her hand as he stabbed forward. The blade
went into Vader's back and came out through his chest. He turned
to the princess and pushed her away with the Force before
moving closer towards her.
* * * * * * * *
The Falcon and other Rebel fighters were engaged in a ferocious
combat with Imperial TIE fighters, the battle raging around
the cruisers of the Rebel armada. Lando was in radio communication
with the pilots of the other Rebel squads and he quickly issued
orders to them.
"Watch yourself, Wedge! Three from above!"
"Red Three, Red Two, pull in!"
"Got it!"
"Three of them coming in, twenty degrees!"
"Cut to the left! I'll take the leader! They're heading for
the medical frigate."
Lando steered the Falcon through a complete flip, as his crew
fired at the TIEs from the belly guns. The giant Imperial Star
Destroyer waited silently some distance from the battle. The
Emperor's huge Super Star Destroyer rested in the middle of the
fleet.
The giant laser dish on the completed half of the Death Star
began to glow; Then a powerful beams shot out toward the
aerial battle. An enormous Rebel cruiser was hit by the Death
Star beam and was blown to dust.
The Millennium Falcon was buffeted by the tremendous explosion
of the Rebel cruiser. Lando and his copilot were stunned by the
sight of the Death Star firepower.
"That blast came from the Death Star!" Lando exclaimed. "That
thing's operational!"
The Rebel fleet continued to be picked off, from one side by
the Death Star's deadly beam, from the other by the rampaging
Imperial Star Destroyers. Lando steered the Falcon wildly
through an obstacle course of floating giants.
"Han'd better get that shield down or we're dead!"
* * * * * * * *
Down on Endor, Han noticed the Imperials were still reeling
from the thermal detonator blast. He called to the troops.
"Come on! We're going in!" He pulled out his communicator
and called to Captain Blabe. "I want that bunker door open
and I want it done now!"
"Yes sir!" Blabe replied. Seconds later the AT-ST's guns
turned to the reinforced durasteel door and let rip. The
laser fire blasted through the various layers as if they were
paper.
Han and the four other commandos ran through the mess and debris
shooting down the Stormtroopers as they went. One Rebel got
hit in the back and fell to the floor. Han turned back but the
soldier motioned for him to continue before his head went limp
and all the life drained out of him.
Han ran into the bunker, his blaster ready. An Imperial officer
looked stunned at this forced entry and pulled out his own
weapon. "You cannot win, you Rebel scum."
"I'm not to sure about that," Han smiled as he passed the charges
to his troops. "I want a good clear spread, guys. Then get outta
here!"
The officer smirked. "They won't get far. You cannot escape with
your life. The Death Star is operational and your fleet will
be crushed."
Han grinned as he lifted up his hand with the detonator in it.
"Maybe so, but at least we'll go out with a bang." He pointed
to the door and the Rebel commandos ran. "Move as fast as you
can!" he shouted out. "I'll deal with this."
Seconds later the commandos were out. Han pointed his blaster
at the Imperials in the room. "How fast do you think it'll
take before we can get char-grilled Imp?" he smiled. "Maybe
you wanna test that theory."
He closed his eyes and whispered to himself. "This is for you
Leia. I'll always love you..." He opened them again and smiled.
"Bang..."
TO BE CONTINUED....
Author: Jonathan Evans
Author email: noggins@ic24.net
Summary: Continued from Chapter Five. The battle begins on all fronts. Meanwhile, Admiral Ackbar learns something distressing about one of his most trusted aides...
Special Thanks: to everyone who's commented on all of my fan fiction so far. It's great to know I've got an audience! Special thanks to those who have commented on the story so far. I've enjoyed seeing the shock and intrigue that my story is causing and I hope your looking forward to even more....
Disclaimer: George Lucas owns everything and I'm not making anymoney off of thi nor do I intend to (I'd like to but that's not the point). You can distribute this freely provided that it's complete with this disclaimer.
REVENGE OF THE JEDI
CHAPTER SIX
By Jonathan Evans
The shuttle docked with the Death Star and the landing ramp
slowly opened. Darth Vader was the first to walk off, followed
by Leia Organa then Boba Fett. Vader stormed straight passed
the troops that had been ordered to stand to attention in
preporation for the Dark Lord's arrival. Using the Force he
opened the door and walked straight out.
Two Stormtroopers mobilised, forcing binders onto the captives.
Fett turned to his daughter. "I'm proud of you Leia. You
showed me that you really can be a Jedi given the training."
"Something it doesn't look like I'm going to get," the young
princess muttered under her breath.
"We can defeat the Emperor. It is the way of the Force," Fett
said, still full of confidence in her ability.
"I hope so... I really do..."
* * * * * * * *
"Prepare for the jump to lightspeed," Ackbar ordered the navigation
officer on the Mon Calamari Star Cruiser and within moments the
co-ordinates were set. Outside in space the entire Rebel fleet
disappeared into the starscape with a flash of light.
Adi Gallia walked onto the bridge along with Evajo Siinit, a
young Jedi knight ready to aid the Republic and now the Rebel
Alliance. Gallia went straight to Ackbar, seated high above
the rest of the crew in his movable war seat. With a press of
a button he moved it down to their level.
"Jedi friends, are you prepared for your mission?"
"Of course," she replied. After a slight pause she got to the
reason she was here. "But I wish to know more about General
Calrissian."
"Oh. He is currently on board the Millennium Falcon but I'd
be only happy to tell you anything I know. From what General
Solo told me he was a gambler and card player like none other
and even once owned the starship he is currently commanding..."
"He's a clone," Gallia interrupted
The words hit Ackbar like a blast to the chest. "What???"
"He was created during the Clone Wars by Palpatine's Empire.
His type were prototypes of what would later become Stormtroopers.
Most were destroyed after the original tests showed they were
unstable mentally and even killed some of their creators. Many
were destroyed and, as far as I know, he's the only one left."
Ackbar began to ponder this carefully. Had he put his trust
in an artificial life form created by the Empire to, in some
cases, eliminate his race? The Mon Calamari admiral pressed
a button on his arm rest and the seat moved up so he could
see everything going on around him. It seemed as if no one
cared about the news they were just given and neither did
he.
"I trust the General. The people who know him trust him. He
will lead us to victory, provided Solo and his team are able
to take down the Death Star's shield generator."
* * * * * * * *
Han looked through the binoculars that Captain Blabe had
handed him. "Four Imperial scouts," Han pondered. "Their
speeder bikes are parked nearby. That could mean trouble
if we don't do this quickly."
"Yes sir."
"We'd have to distract them. If we do that just right we
may be able to get in no trouble."
The Ewok watched eagerly next to them suddenly jumped up and
scampered into the underbrush. Blabe noticed and turned to his
commanding officer "I'm afraid your furry companion has gone
and done something rash, sir," he frowned.
"Oh no..." Han said as his jaw opened.
The Ewok had slipped out of the undergrowth near where the Imperial
scouts were lounging. He silently swang his furry ball of a body
onto one of the scout's speeder bikes and began flipping switches at
random. Suddenly, the bike's engine fired up with a tremendous roar.
The little creature grinned and continued flipping switches. The
scouts leaped up in surprise.
"There goes our surprise attack," Blabe sighed.
"I'm not too sure about that," Han smiled having gained trust in
the little Ewok since he had encountered him. He laughed at
himself. Leia would be proud of his new attitude.
Meanwhile the Imperial scouts raced toward the Ewok just as his
speeder zoomed into motion. He hung on by his paws and shot away
into the forest.
"Look! Over there! Stop him!" one of the troops shouted out loudly.
His three companions jumped on their rocket bikes and sped away in
pursuit. The fourth watched them go from his post at the door.
From the undergrowth Han grinned. "See? Now there's only one left."
"Not bad for a little furball," the Captain replied.
The group ran down to where the Scout trooper was stationed, looking
worried about the fact he'd just lost any back up. Han held his blaster
to the trooper. "Open the door!" He turned to the troops, "take the
Scout Wwalker before they can mobilise it!"
"Yes sir!"
Three commandos ran to the feet of the walker and used rope to
climb to the command module. A pilot lifted the top hatch to look out
at the events taking place but was soon falling to the ground
at a high velocity. Captain Blabe saluted to Solo who just
smiled back.
"This is going well," he muttered. "Too well."
"We haven't got time to worry about that sir" the trooper next
to him replied. "The fleet should be arriving in this system
soon."
"Okay." Han turned to the Stormtrooper. "So, you gonna open
that door before I blow your head off?"
"I - I don't have the codes," he stuttered. "It has to be
authorised from inside..."
Solo pushed the armoured warrior against the communications port
aggressively. "Then you know what to tell the,." he told him,
pushing the blaster into his neck. "Ddon't you?"
"Yuh - yeah..." the Trooper activated the communications channel.
"We have Rebels here sir! Send the troops out!"
Han pulled the trigger and the Stormtrooper fell to the floor,
a hole in his neck smoking slowly. The door slid open and twenty
other Imperial Soliders emerged. Han turned to see three AT-STs
coming up behind him and his small group. He turned to Lieutenant
Hollma, a battle-hardened Rebl solider. "Any ideas?"
"None whatsoever, sir..."
Suddenly a blast came from the captured Scout Walker blowing the
head from one of the enemy ones. It exploded in an array of lights,
sending firey shrapnel in all directions, hitting a Stormtrooper
in the chest. Han looked all around to see the Imperials running
away from the fallout. He shouted to the soldiers under his
command, "Let's go! Get into the trees! It'll be more difficult
for them to get to us there!"
As he ran, Han took out three Stormtroopers with his blaster
pistol. The Rebel AT-ST shot another of its Imperial
counterparts while everyone dived for cover.
"What a rush!" one of the Rebels shouted out.
"You got a thermal detonator?" Han called out.
"Coming right up, general" was the reply.
A silver ball was thrown to the smuggler who activated and threw
it towards the Imperial troops trying to pinpoint the position
of the enemy. It exploded taking five Stormtroopers with it. Solo
looked up to the sky to just see the Death Star through the
many layers of trees.
"We haven't got much time."
* * * * * * * *
The Rebel fleet emerged from hyperspace in a flash. Lando activated
the communcations array on the Millennium Falcon. "All wings report
in," he ordered the fighter squadren leaders.
"Red Leader standing by," Wedge Antilles said.
"Gray Leader standing by."
"Green Leader standing by."
"Lock S-foils in attack positions," Wedge told the pilots of the
X-wings and B-wings.
From the bridge of the Rebel Headquarters Frigate, Admiral Ackbar
watched the fighters massing outside his viewscreen.
"May the Force be with us," he said quietly.
Lando looked worriedly at his alien copilot, Nien Nunb, who pointed
to the control panel and spoke to Lando in his own language.
"We've got to be able to get some kind of a reading on that shield,
up or down," Calrissian pondered. "Well, how could they be jamming us
if they don't know if we're coming."
Lando shot a concerned look out at the approaching Death Star as
the implications of what he's had said sank in. He hit a switch on
his comlink.
"Break off the attack! The shield is still up."
"I get no reading," Wedge replied. "Are you sure?"
"Pull up! All craft pull up!"
The Falcon turned hard to the left. Out the window he could see the
stars and the Death Star move off right as the Falcon and the fighters
of Red Squad veer off desperately to avoid the unseen wall.
On the Rebel Star Cruiser Alarms were screaming and lights flashing
as the huge ship changed course abruptly. Other ships in the fleet
shot by outside as the armada tried to halt its forward momentum.
"Take evasive action! Green Group, stick close to holding sector
MV-7!" Ackbar called out. A Mon Calamari controller turned away from
his screen and called out to Ackbar, quite excited. The Admiral
rushed over to the controller. "Admiral, we have enemy ships in sector
47."
Ackbar moved to the comlink.
"It's a trap!" he creid
"Fighters coming in..." Lando replied, his voice cracking over the
speakers.
The Millennium Falcon and several squads of Rebel fighters headed
into an armada of TIE fighters. The sky exploded as a fierce dogfight
ensued in and around the giant Rebel cruisers.
"There's too many of them!" a pilot exclaimed.
Lando quickly began issuing orders to the group. "Accelerate to
attack speed! Draw their fire away from the cruisers."
"Copy, Gold Leader," Wedge replied.
The battle continued around the giant cruisers. Ackbar looked to
the special ops officer, another Mon Calamari. "I hope the shield
is down soon or the Imps will miss out on the surprise gift we have
for them."
"They'll get it down," the officer said, with his fingers firmly
crossed.
* * * * * * * *
Vader, Leia and Boba Fett entered the Emperor's throneroom.
Palpatine saw them and ordered his Royal Guards to leave him
with them. He looked with disgust at his Sith apprentice.
"Why did you bring... this here?" He motioned to Fett with
his thin, scrawny hand. "I only wanted Skywalker's daughter."
"My Lord," Vader apologised. "He knows who I once was. That
knowledge could be used against us."
"You're an old fool. It is as if you still cling onto the past."
The Emperor turned to the bounty hunter. "How do you know this?
I have eliminated all with the knowledge of who Vader once was."
Boba Fett took off his helmet to reveal the face of Anakin
Skywalker. "Not quite all, 'my Emperor'".
Palpatine looked shocked. This is not what he had expected.
Anakin stood between the two Sith and Leia.
"Skywalker... how did you survive the purge? I ensured that
your pathetic kind were extinct."
"Not quite. That was the problem with trusting 'Boba Fett' to
hunt down some of the Jedi for you. Right now there are a
group with the Rebel Fleet who are about to attack this
worthless space station..."
"It is of no consequence. The Death Star is fully armed and
operational. The Rebellion will be crushed the moment it
comes out of hyperspace."
He motioned with his hand and Anakin flew across the room. The
evil old man got down from his throne and walked up very close to
Leia. The Emperor looked into her eyes and, for the first time,
she could perceive the evil visage within the hood that her
father had warned her about.
"I'm looking forward to completing your training. In time you
will call me Master... and perhaps more..." a smile cracked
across his face as he touched Leia's cheek she pulled away from
him.
"You think I'm going to turn to you when my father is there to
help me through this?"
"You are mistaken. Anakin Skywalker is a weak fool. The years
of hiding his Force abilities has no doubt weakened him. He
will not be able to aid you."
Palpatine opened a compartment on the side of his chair. A
lightsaber emerged. Anakin got up from the floor to recognise
it as his own, given to Luke by Obi-Wan but obviously lost when
he fought Vader.
"A Jedi's weapon. It was once your father's and your brother's,"
the galactic ruler said as he stroked the chrome plating with
his hand. "It could not save either of them from the different
fates they suffered. Perhaps you will change that..."
He threw it to Leia who caught it clumsily. She pressed a button
and the blade extended. She pressed it again and it went back
into the hilt.
Through the round window behind the Emperor's throne could be
seen the distant flashes of the space battle in progress.
"Come, my dear. See for yourself."
The Emperor motioned for Leia to stand beside him at the window.
Vader stood near the throne, watching Anakin carefully who seemed
to be intrigued by the events going on but not doing anything.
Leia moved to look through a small section of the window.
"From here you will witness the final destruction of the Alliance,
and the end of your insignificant Rebellion." Palpatine looked over
to Skywalker. "Your return is insignificant. My plan will go ahead."
Leia was in torment. She glanced at the lightsaber in her hand.
She didn't know how to use it but she wanted to cut the Emperor
to pieces with it. Palaptine watched her and smiled.
"Use the weapon. You need nothing more than pure anger to be able
to. I am unarmed. Strike me down with it. Give in to your anger.
With each passing moment, you make yourself more my servant."
Leia turned the saber on. The blue blade came from it as he hit
down on the old man. Vader moved his own weapon to intercept the
blow and pushed her away. Leia stumbled back and fell down a
set of steps. She landed on his back and watched in horror as
the armour-clad Sith jumped down and help his weapon to her
throat.
"You are nothing princess. I will destroy you now to save you
the embarrasment..."
A metal crate mying nearby flew through the air, hitting Vader in
the back of the head. The lightsaber flew from Leia's hands into
those of Anakin Skywalker. He ignited it and somersaulted over
to Vader where he hit his saber blade creating a series of sparks.
Anakin and Vader engaged in a man-to-man duel of lightsabers even
more vicious then the battle on Aeten II. But the old Jedi had
suddenly grown stronger, and now the advantage shifted to him.
Vader was forced back, losing his balance, and was knocked down
some more stairs. Anakin stood at the top, ready to attack.
The Sith attacked first, forcing Skywalker on the defensive. The
Jedi leaped in an amazing reverse flip up to the safety of the
catwalk overhead. Vader stood below him.
"You have regained your strength Anakin Skywalker," the black
clad Dark Jedi praised him. "You would have made a perfect Dark
Side adept. But you chose the option that rendered you in your
current situation..."
"And what is that, Windu?" Anakin asked.
"Doomed to die while your daughter is trained by my master. Once
you are dead she will not be able to resist her anger. She will
be one of us..."
Vader threw his laser sword and it cut through the supports holding
the catwalk, it then returned to Vader's hand. Anakin tumbled to
the ground in a shower of sparks and rolled out of sight under
the Emperor's platform. Vader moved to find him.
"Now, my old friend, you will die..."
"No!" Leia shouted. She ran at Vader, and held out her hand. Her
father's weapon flew into her hand as he stabbed forward. The blade
went into Vader's back and came out through his chest. He turned
to the princess and pushed her away with the Force before
moving closer towards her.
* * * * * * * *
The Falcon and other Rebel fighters were engaged in a ferocious
combat with Imperial TIE fighters, the battle raging around
the cruisers of the Rebel armada. Lando was in radio communication
with the pilots of the other Rebel squads and he quickly issued
orders to them.
"Watch yourself, Wedge! Three from above!"
"Red Three, Red Two, pull in!"
"Got it!"
"Three of them coming in, twenty degrees!"
"Cut to the left! I'll take the leader! They're heading for
the medical frigate."
Lando steered the Falcon through a complete flip, as his crew
fired at the TIEs from the belly guns. The giant Imperial Star
Destroyer waited silently some distance from the battle. The
Emperor's huge Super Star Destroyer rested in the middle of the
fleet.
The giant laser dish on the completed half of the Death Star
began to glow; Then a powerful beams shot out toward the
aerial battle. An enormous Rebel cruiser was hit by the Death
Star beam and was blown to dust.
The Millennium Falcon was buffeted by the tremendous explosion
of the Rebel cruiser. Lando and his copilot were stunned by the
sight of the Death Star firepower.
"That blast came from the Death Star!" Lando exclaimed. "That
thing's operational!"
The Rebel fleet continued to be picked off, from one side by
the Death Star's deadly beam, from the other by the rampaging
Imperial Star Destroyers. Lando steered the Falcon wildly
through an obstacle course of floating giants.
"Han'd better get that shield down or we're dead!"
* * * * * * * *
Down on Endor, Han noticed the Imperials were still reeling
from the thermal detonator blast. He called to the troops.
"Come on! We're going in!" He pulled out his communicator
and called to Captain Blabe. "I want that bunker door open
and I want it done now!"
"Yes sir!" Blabe replied. Seconds later the AT-ST's guns
turned to the reinforced durasteel door and let rip. The
laser fire blasted through the various layers as if they were
paper.
Han and the four other commandos ran through the mess and debris
shooting down the Stormtroopers as they went. One Rebel got
hit in the back and fell to the floor. Han turned back but the
soldier motioned for him to continue before his head went limp
and all the life drained out of him.
Han ran into the bunker, his blaster ready. An Imperial officer
looked stunned at this forced entry and pulled out his own
weapon. "You cannot win, you Rebel scum."
"I'm not to sure about that," Han smiled as he passed the charges
to his troops. "I want a good clear spread, guys. Then get outta
here!"
The officer smirked. "They won't get far. You cannot escape with
your life. The Death Star is operational and your fleet will
be crushed."
Han grinned as he lifted up his hand with the detonator in it.
"Maybe so, but at least we'll go out with a bang." He pointed
to the door and the Rebel commandos ran. "Move as fast as you
can!" he shouted out. "I'll deal with this."
Seconds later the commandos were out. Han pointed his blaster
at the Imperials in the room. "How fast do you think it'll
take before we can get char-grilled Imp?" he smiled. "Maybe
you wanna test that theory."
He closed his eyes and whispered to himself. "This is for you
Leia. I'll always love you..." He opened them again and smiled.
"Bang..."
TO BE CONTINUED....