Chapter 27
Anakin raced for the hanger twenty minutes later, using the Force to make him run even faster than his already enhanced run.
He Force-jumped from the bottom level to the catwalks forty feet above, continuing until he reached the top, where his X-wing was. With the current crisis, all of the fighters were kept fueled and ready to go, so he hopped into the cockpit and punched the ignition button, catching his astromech off-guard.
What is going on, Captain Solo? flashed up onto the screen.
"I've got a friend to rescue." It took him ten minutes to get out of the biotics facility and above the shield, due mostly to uncooperative traffic controllers. As he tore out of the atmosphere, Tahiri's ship, the Barefoot Crusade, winked out of hyperspace. "Sithspawn!" Anakin set his thrusters to full and began to fly by pure instinct, shredding one TIE that strayed across his path.
A moment after the Crusade entered realspace, the Radiant Light and a squadron and a half of XJ5 X-wings leapt into existence. "This is Radiant Light to Borleias control! Be prepared to accept landing craft! Radiant out."
A heavily armored escort shuttle launched from the hanger bay just as the Radiant received the full brunt of the CSA's firepower, exploding heavy heavy turbolaser blasts. The Jedi ships were soon swarmed with TIEs, but with the Force as their ally, they were untouchable. Then Anakin saw his worst fear come true. A pair of TIE Interceptors latched onto Tahiri's tail and showered the freighter brilliant green laser bolts. "Nooooooo!"
Anakin launched into a fury, ready to unleash the boiling hatred he was feeling towards the CSA ships in an amazing fit of rage. Suddenly, a white light invaded the black that had crowded over his mind, soothing him slightly.
Do'nt worry Anakin! came a shout from Tahiri through the Force. I'm still alive!
Anakin noticed the ejection chair that was going ballistic towards Borleias. "We've got her Anakin," said Corran Horn's calm voice from aboard the escort shuttle.
Anakin jetted all around Tahiri's ejection couch, killing every last TIE that ventured with in range. When Corran picked Tahiri up, all of the Jedi formed up on the shuttle and kept it safe while they headed towards the ground.
Tahiri was safe, at least for now.
***
As soon as his X-wing was locked into place among the grid of durasteel braces, Anakin hopped out onto the nearest catwalk and made a beeline for the escort shuttle. Tahiri was just walking down the ramp when he got to her.
Anakin grabbed her shoulders and shook her a couple of times. "Didn't you get my warning?" he cried, rather angrily.
Tahiri nodded. "I got it. I ignored it. I knew what was happening here. Master Skywalker knew what was going on. We were coming in together, so we could reinforce the Temple's defense."
"I almost lost you," he said softly as he pulled her into an embrace. "I-"
"Anakin," said Luke Skywalker's voice behind them. "Could I speak to you for a moment?"
"Sure." He turned to Tahiri. "I'll only be a minute."
Luke's face had aged a little since he had died, noted Anakin for the first time. Right now, it looked slightly upset.
"What happened out there?" Luke asked, referring to the rage that had controlled Anakin during the short skirmish.
"I lost it."
"What do you mean you lost it? You are one of the most powerful Jedi of this generation. If you go to the dark side..."
Anakin rolled his eyes. "Uncle Luke, I almost lost one of the people I love most. If you lost Mara, don't you think you might get a little angry?"
"I-"
"Let him go, Luke," came the serene voice of Anakin Skywalker. "I know what he's going through. I did the same thing the first time I lost someone very dear to me. But I recovered, at least until worse things started happening. I don't think what happened out there is something that will occur again."
"Yes Father."
Anakin nodded. "Come on. We need to get you, Horn, and Durron briefed on the situation. General Farlander and Jacen are waiting."
***
The overall mood in base's main war room was grim. "We've got bad news," said Corran Horn, when General Farlander asked about reinforcements.
"The CSA has begun a string of hit and fade assaults on border worlds, causing heavy damage and fleeing to hyperspace. The fleet is trying to keep them from slagging any important worlds, like Mon Calamari. Wedge is trying to put together a small fleet to come here, but chances are grim. We've got to hold out until the whole of the Fleet can be mobilized."
Farlander frowned. "I see. They're not getting through the shields unless they come down here and destroy the generators. Colonel Loran, are any of you people good tacticians?"
"I've got a few. Larvaroo's an expert in defending heavily forested areas, which the Complex's surroundings more or less resemble. I can send him out to help your engineers fortify the fringes of the Complex."
"That would be excellent Colonel," said Farlander with a frown. "All that's left to do now is wait."
***
Six hundred kilometers away, CSA transports began to touch down, disgorging Espos and Elite Stormtroopers. The troops fanned out and cleared the surrounding area as night fell.
When the sun rose, a base had been set up and more troops were arriving hourly.
***
Jacen Solo went back to the Temple with his brother. "Anakin," he said quietly while they were on the grav train, "there's something I have to tell you."
"What is it Jace?"
The older man smiled. "I'm getting married."
"What? To who?" asked Anakin, surprise blossoming on his face.
"Danni Quee."
"But what about Tenel Ka?"
"We eventually grew apart after your death. Don't worry. I've-We've got everything planned out. We're going to have the wedding soon, hopefully after we win this battle. I wanted to ask you to be my best man."
Anakin grinned the grin that his father was famous for. "Of course I'll do it. One thing though. Have you told anyone else?"
"Jaina knows. Danni and I told her a while ago, when the Rogues were based here. She'd pretty much figured out that we a bit closer than Master and Apprentice, though, when we told her."
"That sounds like her, alright."
"There's one other thing. If I die in this battle...keep Danni safe."
"Don't talk like that," Anakin said with a frown. "We'll all make it through okay. Things'll turn out right in the end."
"I hope so, Little Brother. I sure hope so."
A/N: Sorry for the delay. School and broken computers are mostly to blame. I'll have the next chapter up soon, hopefully.