*****************************
Chapter Twelve: Destiny Holds Its Breath
*
Leia, Han, Chewie, and Wedge, ran through the corridors of the Imperial Star Destroyer, in a running fight with storm troopers. They were trying to get to the weapons control room and knock it out. Then, the star destroyer would be vulnerable when the rebels arrived to attack it. However, that was easier said than done.
"How long are we going to keep running around in circles?" asked Wedge, as he fired his blaster rifle at a storm trooper.
"A little while longer," said Han, in between firing his blaster. "We have to keep the Imperials guessing as the where we are going. If they figure out we are headed for the weapons control room, then they'll put platoons of storm troopers between us and our goal. Right now, they probably don't know where the hell we are going or what we are trying to do!"
"LOOK OUT!" yelled Leia, as a storm trooper came out of a hatch and fired at Han.
Han jumped out of the way, and Leia blasted the storm trooper with her pistol.
"You alright!" yelled Leia to Han.
"Yeah, fine," said Han. "I thought I was suppose to be watching your back?"
"That's okay," she said. "I like watching your back!"
She winked at him, and he smiled at her.
"God, I love her," thought Han.
**
Obi-Wan and Hister continued their attacks on one another, the sounds of their clashing light sabers echoing off of every crevice of the room. The glow of their sabers filled the gloom of the room in the immediate vicinity, red clashing with green and mixing in an aura of light.
"You are weak, old man!" taunted Hister. "You are no match for me!"
"We shall see," countered Obi-Wan, parrying another strike from Hister's saber.
In the same room, Emperor Palpatine continued his assault on Anakin and Luke, his force lightning being held off by the two Jedis' light sabers. Anakin and Luke stood firm under the assault, hoping to wear the Emperor down. But it seemed Palpatine could tap on unlimited amounts of power, as he poured on the destructive energy tapped directly from the force and channeled by the Emperor's dark skills.
Luke's light saber was the first to begin to waver, as its crystal began to crack under the strain. Within a few moments, the top of Luke's saber exploded, and the sudden on rush of force lightning sent Luke crashing to the deck in a heap. Anakin, however, stepped between his son and the attack. But his light saber was now bearing the full brunt of the assault, and it wouldn't be long before it, too, broke under the strain.
***
"Here!" yelled Wedge. "Here it is!"
Han, Leia, and Chewie, ran to join Wedge at the hatch marked "Weapons Control Center". About thirty storm troopers were charging down the corridor after them. Chewie and Wedge kneeled and began to lay down fire on the Imperial troops, providing cover as Leia and Han entered the control room.
Two Imperial officers rose, startled, from their stations and tried to draw their side arms. But Leia and Han shot them before they could, and silenced another officer who came into the room from another hatch. Leia ran and sealed the other hatch, while Wedge and Chewie entered the first hatch and sealed it.
"There's too many of them," said Wedge. "We couldn't hold them! We'll have to seal this hatch and keep them out!"
"Do it!" yelled Han. "Leia, get over here and help me plant these charges!"
****
Ralla Bibble, sitting behind the controls of the Millennium Falcon, was preparing to bring the ship out of hyperspace. Close behind here were several squadrons of rebel fighters, who would be joining the Falcon on the attack against the Emperor's destroyer.
She had arrived at Hoth and contacted the Rebels using Obi-Wan's security clearance code. When they responded to her call, Ralla explained who she was and informed them that there was an opportunity to destroy the Emperor's flag ship, with the Emperor ON IT! The rebels were skeptical, but Obi-Wan had given Ralla instructions as to what to say to the Rebel leaders to convince them she was telling the truth.
Finally, the Rebels decided that Ralla was the genuine article, and sent every fighter they had to strike at the Emperor himself. His death could mean the end of this war, and the end of the Empire. Such opportunities did not come often, and the Rebel leaders moved to act quickly.
"Ralla Bibble," said the voice of the Rebel commander leading the fighter assault. "Get ready to jump!"
"Right!" said Ralla.
*****
Anakin continued to resist the Emperor's assault, but like his son's light saber, his weapon too began to flicker under the constant barrage of destructive energy. Finally, it too gave out, as Anakin's saber burned out and its top exploded.
The Emperor laughed, and sent waves of force lightning straight at Anakin. He screamed and fell to the deck under the barrage.
"Now, fool Jedi," said the Emperor, "you will die." He sent more waves of destructive energy crashing into Anakin.
Obi-Wan, having heard his former Padawan's yell, was temporarily distracted from his battle with Hister. The Sith he was battling took the opportunity, and sent a flying kick into Obi-Wan's mid section. The Jedi was knocked to the deck, his form sent sprawling back against the wall, and his light saber flung from his hand and crashing on the deck.
Hister twirled his light saber, and closed in for the kill. He charged straight for Obi-Wan, and jumped into the air to bring down his light saber and inflict the death blow. But Obi-Wan, quietly, without making a single move of defense, called for his light saber through the force. As Hister jumped, the light saber flew into the Jedi's hand. Obi-Wan activated it, and held it up, just in time for Hister to come down upon him. The Sith did not react to the new situation fast enough, and he landed right on Obi-Wan's light saber, the green blade impaled through his chest.
Hister screamed in pain, and Obi-Wan spoke to him in a low voice.
"I may be an old man," he said, "but you just fell for the oldest trick in the book. Wisdom is the advantage of age, Darth Hister, and it has destroyed you."
The Sith's body went limp, and Obi-Wan withdrew his light saber from him. Hister's lifeless body collapsed to the deck in a heap.
Palpatine stopped his assault on Anakin, and watched with anger as his apprentice was killed by the aging Jedi. This distraction did not prepare him for an attack that came from behind. Someone jumped on his back, and knocked him to the ground. The Emperor was confused for a moment, because Anakin was still writhing on the deck and young Luke was still knocked senseless. That's when he realized who it was.
Padme Skywalker had mustered all of the strength she could, had slowly risen from the deck, and lunged for the Emperor to protect her husband and son. She was hitting Palpatine's back, and had an arm wrapped around the back of his neck, hoping that she could somehow stop the Sith Lord.
But Palpatine sent a wave of pain into Padme, zapping her strength. Then, he sent a force push at her which sent her flying backwards to land on the deck once more.
Obi-Wan rushed the Emperor with his light saber, but Palpatine called forth his dark force powers once again, and leapt from the deck as Obi-Wan struck at him. The Jedi's light saber missed, and the Emperor landed behind Obi-Wan. Palpatine then sent a strong force push at the surprised Jedi, and sent Obi-Wan flying at high speed into a bulkhead. He crashed into the wall, hit his head, and fell unconscious to the deck.
"Now, I have disposed of these insects," said Palpatine, "its time to finish the REAL threat."
He turned once again on Anakin, who was trying to rise from the ground. But his efforts were thwarted, as Palpatine once again sent force lightening crashing into him.
******
"I've set the last charge!" yelled Han. "Now, let's get the hell out of here before this room blows up!"
"We can't go out this way!" yelled Wedge. "There's a legion of storm troopers on the other side of this hatch!"
"We'll use the other one!" yelled Leia. "Come on!"
She raced out of the second hatch, with Han, Chewie, and Wedge close behind her. They found themselves in a storage room, with another hatch at the other end of it. They continued to run, and got to the other hatch. They opened it, and found themselves in an empty corridor, and just managed to get through the door before the charges blew up the weapons control room.
The four rebels were knocked to the deck by the blast.
*******
The Millennium Falcon and the rebel fighters jumped out of hyperspace, and were soon fired upon by the turbo laser cannons of the Emperor's destroyers and escorts. However, not long after the jump, the guns from the Emperor's destroyer went silent.
"They did it!" yelled Ralla.
"All fighters!" said the Rebel commander. "Attack the flag ship! Close to point blank range so the other destroyers can't target us! They won't risk firing on the Emperor's own ship! Green group, hold off the enemy fighters, while the rest of us head straight for the main control stacks!"
********
Leia, Han, Chewie, and Wedge, picked themselves up off of the deck. They turned and looked at the wreckage left in what was once the weapon's control room, and the adjoining storage room they ran through.
"We did it!" yelled Leia. She turned and flung herself into Han's arms. The two of them began to kiss passionately.
In their jubilation, the Rebels did not notice a squad of storm troopers coming up the corridor at first. And when they did, it was too late to prevent what was about to happen.
One of the storm troopers fired, and the shot landed in Leia's back. She yelped once, then went limp in Han's arms.
"LEIA!" screamed Han, gently lowering her to the deck as Chewie and Wedge laid down fire on the attacking Imperial troops.
"Han..." she whispered. "I love you."
She then slipped into unconsciousness.
"No," whimpered Han. He lowered Leia's unconscious form to the deck, and gently caressed her sweet face. Then, enraged, he picked up her blaster in one hand, and drew his own in the other. He screamed and opened fire on the attacking Imperials with both guns, charging straight at them in righteous fury.
***********************
-Well, are you breathless with anticipation to know what happens next? As always, reviews are welcomed.
Chapter Twelve: Destiny Holds Its Breath
*
Leia, Han, Chewie, and Wedge, ran through the corridors of the Imperial Star Destroyer, in a running fight with storm troopers. They were trying to get to the weapons control room and knock it out. Then, the star destroyer would be vulnerable when the rebels arrived to attack it. However, that was easier said than done.
"How long are we going to keep running around in circles?" asked Wedge, as he fired his blaster rifle at a storm trooper.
"A little while longer," said Han, in between firing his blaster. "We have to keep the Imperials guessing as the where we are going. If they figure out we are headed for the weapons control room, then they'll put platoons of storm troopers between us and our goal. Right now, they probably don't know where the hell we are going or what we are trying to do!"
"LOOK OUT!" yelled Leia, as a storm trooper came out of a hatch and fired at Han.
Han jumped out of the way, and Leia blasted the storm trooper with her pistol.
"You alright!" yelled Leia to Han.
"Yeah, fine," said Han. "I thought I was suppose to be watching your back?"
"That's okay," she said. "I like watching your back!"
She winked at him, and he smiled at her.
"God, I love her," thought Han.
**
Obi-Wan and Hister continued their attacks on one another, the sounds of their clashing light sabers echoing off of every crevice of the room. The glow of their sabers filled the gloom of the room in the immediate vicinity, red clashing with green and mixing in an aura of light.
"You are weak, old man!" taunted Hister. "You are no match for me!"
"We shall see," countered Obi-Wan, parrying another strike from Hister's saber.
In the same room, Emperor Palpatine continued his assault on Anakin and Luke, his force lightning being held off by the two Jedis' light sabers. Anakin and Luke stood firm under the assault, hoping to wear the Emperor down. But it seemed Palpatine could tap on unlimited amounts of power, as he poured on the destructive energy tapped directly from the force and channeled by the Emperor's dark skills.
Luke's light saber was the first to begin to waver, as its crystal began to crack under the strain. Within a few moments, the top of Luke's saber exploded, and the sudden on rush of force lightning sent Luke crashing to the deck in a heap. Anakin, however, stepped between his son and the attack. But his light saber was now bearing the full brunt of the assault, and it wouldn't be long before it, too, broke under the strain.
***
"Here!" yelled Wedge. "Here it is!"
Han, Leia, and Chewie, ran to join Wedge at the hatch marked "Weapons Control Center". About thirty storm troopers were charging down the corridor after them. Chewie and Wedge kneeled and began to lay down fire on the Imperial troops, providing cover as Leia and Han entered the control room.
Two Imperial officers rose, startled, from their stations and tried to draw their side arms. But Leia and Han shot them before they could, and silenced another officer who came into the room from another hatch. Leia ran and sealed the other hatch, while Wedge and Chewie entered the first hatch and sealed it.
"There's too many of them," said Wedge. "We couldn't hold them! We'll have to seal this hatch and keep them out!"
"Do it!" yelled Han. "Leia, get over here and help me plant these charges!"
****
Ralla Bibble, sitting behind the controls of the Millennium Falcon, was preparing to bring the ship out of hyperspace. Close behind here were several squadrons of rebel fighters, who would be joining the Falcon on the attack against the Emperor's destroyer.
She had arrived at Hoth and contacted the Rebels using Obi-Wan's security clearance code. When they responded to her call, Ralla explained who she was and informed them that there was an opportunity to destroy the Emperor's flag ship, with the Emperor ON IT! The rebels were skeptical, but Obi-Wan had given Ralla instructions as to what to say to the Rebel leaders to convince them she was telling the truth.
Finally, the Rebels decided that Ralla was the genuine article, and sent every fighter they had to strike at the Emperor himself. His death could mean the end of this war, and the end of the Empire. Such opportunities did not come often, and the Rebel leaders moved to act quickly.
"Ralla Bibble," said the voice of the Rebel commander leading the fighter assault. "Get ready to jump!"
"Right!" said Ralla.
*****
Anakin continued to resist the Emperor's assault, but like his son's light saber, his weapon too began to flicker under the constant barrage of destructive energy. Finally, it too gave out, as Anakin's saber burned out and its top exploded.
The Emperor laughed, and sent waves of force lightning straight at Anakin. He screamed and fell to the deck under the barrage.
"Now, fool Jedi," said the Emperor, "you will die." He sent more waves of destructive energy crashing into Anakin.
Obi-Wan, having heard his former Padawan's yell, was temporarily distracted from his battle with Hister. The Sith he was battling took the opportunity, and sent a flying kick into Obi-Wan's mid section. The Jedi was knocked to the deck, his form sent sprawling back against the wall, and his light saber flung from his hand and crashing on the deck.
Hister twirled his light saber, and closed in for the kill. He charged straight for Obi-Wan, and jumped into the air to bring down his light saber and inflict the death blow. But Obi-Wan, quietly, without making a single move of defense, called for his light saber through the force. As Hister jumped, the light saber flew into the Jedi's hand. Obi-Wan activated it, and held it up, just in time for Hister to come down upon him. The Sith did not react to the new situation fast enough, and he landed right on Obi-Wan's light saber, the green blade impaled through his chest.
Hister screamed in pain, and Obi-Wan spoke to him in a low voice.
"I may be an old man," he said, "but you just fell for the oldest trick in the book. Wisdom is the advantage of age, Darth Hister, and it has destroyed you."
The Sith's body went limp, and Obi-Wan withdrew his light saber from him. Hister's lifeless body collapsed to the deck in a heap.
Palpatine stopped his assault on Anakin, and watched with anger as his apprentice was killed by the aging Jedi. This distraction did not prepare him for an attack that came from behind. Someone jumped on his back, and knocked him to the ground. The Emperor was confused for a moment, because Anakin was still writhing on the deck and young Luke was still knocked senseless. That's when he realized who it was.
Padme Skywalker had mustered all of the strength she could, had slowly risen from the deck, and lunged for the Emperor to protect her husband and son. She was hitting Palpatine's back, and had an arm wrapped around the back of his neck, hoping that she could somehow stop the Sith Lord.
But Palpatine sent a wave of pain into Padme, zapping her strength. Then, he sent a force push at her which sent her flying backwards to land on the deck once more.
Obi-Wan rushed the Emperor with his light saber, but Palpatine called forth his dark force powers once again, and leapt from the deck as Obi-Wan struck at him. The Jedi's light saber missed, and the Emperor landed behind Obi-Wan. Palpatine then sent a strong force push at the surprised Jedi, and sent Obi-Wan flying at high speed into a bulkhead. He crashed into the wall, hit his head, and fell unconscious to the deck.
"Now, I have disposed of these insects," said Palpatine, "its time to finish the REAL threat."
He turned once again on Anakin, who was trying to rise from the ground. But his efforts were thwarted, as Palpatine once again sent force lightening crashing into him.
******
"I've set the last charge!" yelled Han. "Now, let's get the hell out of here before this room blows up!"
"We can't go out this way!" yelled Wedge. "There's a legion of storm troopers on the other side of this hatch!"
"We'll use the other one!" yelled Leia. "Come on!"
She raced out of the second hatch, with Han, Chewie, and Wedge close behind her. They found themselves in a storage room, with another hatch at the other end of it. They continued to run, and got to the other hatch. They opened it, and found themselves in an empty corridor, and just managed to get through the door before the charges blew up the weapons control room.
The four rebels were knocked to the deck by the blast.
*******
The Millennium Falcon and the rebel fighters jumped out of hyperspace, and were soon fired upon by the turbo laser cannons of the Emperor's destroyers and escorts. However, not long after the jump, the guns from the Emperor's destroyer went silent.
"They did it!" yelled Ralla.
"All fighters!" said the Rebel commander. "Attack the flag ship! Close to point blank range so the other destroyers can't target us! They won't risk firing on the Emperor's own ship! Green group, hold off the enemy fighters, while the rest of us head straight for the main control stacks!"
********
Leia, Han, Chewie, and Wedge, picked themselves up off of the deck. They turned and looked at the wreckage left in what was once the weapon's control room, and the adjoining storage room they ran through.
"We did it!" yelled Leia. She turned and flung herself into Han's arms. The two of them began to kiss passionately.
In their jubilation, the Rebels did not notice a squad of storm troopers coming up the corridor at first. And when they did, it was too late to prevent what was about to happen.
One of the storm troopers fired, and the shot landed in Leia's back. She yelped once, then went limp in Han's arms.
"LEIA!" screamed Han, gently lowering her to the deck as Chewie and Wedge laid down fire on the attacking Imperial troops.
"Han..." she whispered. "I love you."
She then slipped into unconsciousness.
"No," whimpered Han. He lowered Leia's unconscious form to the deck, and gently caressed her sweet face. Then, enraged, he picked up her blaster in one hand, and drew his own in the other. He screamed and opened fire on the attacking Imperials with both guns, charging straight at them in righteous fury.
***********************
-Well, are you breathless with anticipation to know what happens next? As always, reviews are welcomed.