The ship bounced around the vacuum of space much like a ping-pong ball whirling over a table. Little TIEs swarmed like flies; pestered the larger ship. Then, the laser fire from the Star Destroyer sent the ship spinning.
Han valiantly tried getting numbers from the navi-computer. Teeth grinding, he spat, "Of all the ships—((crash!))—in that hanger bay you managed to get—((Slam!))— the one without gun turrets. (( shudder!)) Without. Guns."
A beam glanced off the ship. Han moaned at the pain in his shoulder and, when he could manage it, stared pointedly at Anakin. The kid was steering the ship for all it was worth. Which was not much.
"We can fight over that later. Just get me those results from the jump, ok?"
Anakin sent the ship into a barrow roll. It couldn't handle the pressure, shuddered violently, and fell out of it. Luckily, little TIEs overshot the ship. A blast from the Destroyer went wide. It fried a TIE, though, and it exploded into brilliant, wretched flames. Anakin turned hard port to avoid the fireball. He slammed into another TIE, and the ship lurched and sputtered and the TIE spun out into oblivion. With every little jolt, Han's shoulder screamed out in acute agony. He'd been in plenty of space skirmishes before; but never in one where he's been so helpless.
"I think I got it…" Han tried to read the monitor despite the flashes of light and motion and screaming pain, "I got it! Punch it, now!"
Anakin reached over to hit the red button marked hyperdrive—
—at the same instant a thick laser bolt hit the ship dead on.
Everything happened at once. The lights blew out, the ship spun out, the gravics failed. Han felt himself thrown from his seat and smashed into the bulwarks. He remained conscious just long enough to vomit in zero gravity.
He came to, slowly and painfully, after but a few long minuets. The blue emergency lights were on. Han, dazed, idly wondered why they used blue, not red, for emergency lights. A crushing headache brought back some more of his sense. Han blinked, breathed, and looked around. He was floating in zero gravity; not far from him Anakin hovered, awake and alert. The kid held a deactivated lightsaber in his hand.
"They've got us in a tractor beam," Anakin said simply.
Oh, yeah. That's why the ship was finally so still.
Han looked out the viewport. The hanger of the Star Destroyer loomed right outside; like the mouth of some carnivorous beast. They were close to it; Han could even see those familiar white storm-troopers assembled in the bay.
He grabbed his floating blaster.
"Lets see…" Han counted, "looks like there's about six hundred of them. So that's three hundred for me and three hundred for you. You up to it?"
Anakin gave him a look, "Yeah, Han. Piece of cake."
Han tried to steady himself by placing his harm against the bulkhead. Ouch. Bad idea. He glared at his shot-up side.
"Either way," he growled, resolved, "they're not getting me without a fight."
The twosome were silent as the ship was sucked into the bay. Gravity came back on upon entering. They fell from the air like dolls suddenly dropped, which may have been funny if it wasn't so dangerous.
They waited, away from the cockpit and by the entrance ramp. Its hatch was forced open from the outside and made a "schluch" sound as the new air rushed in. Anakin and Han pressed themselves against the sides of the portal; lightsaber at the ready, blaster set to KILL. Outside the door lay the huge bay with its shiny metal floors. It was frighteningly quiet.
Anakin and Han waited for a geological age. No trigger-happy trooper came stalking up the ramp. And the ship didn't suddenly explode. Confused, Anakin slowly inched his head closer to the door. He looked out. Paused. Quickly pulled back inside.
"What is it?" Han mouthed.
Anakin shook his head, stumped stupid, "Those white armored soldiers are standing at attention; like they're waiting to greet us or something."
Han's skin prickled. I've got a bad feeling about this…
Anakin let out a low breath and smiled cockily. Then, it one moment, he turned and strode down the ramp and into the view of the Imperials. His lightsaber hung, completely useless, on his belt. Han's stomach turned and he blanched; I know where this is going. Blowing out air like the Jedi had just done, Han marched down the ramp, and opened his mouth to call to Anakin.
"Welcome back, Lord Vader!"
A Moff beat him.
Han froze halfway down the ramp and his heart literally skipped a beat. A characteristically gaunt Moff stood before Anakin and repeated his greeting.
"We've sorely needed you, milord."
Anakin tilted his head, "Wha-? I think you're confusing me with someone else."
The Moff smiled like a father receiving home his prodigal son.
"No," he said warmly, "No, my Lord Vader. Actually, you are confusing yourself with someone else."
No review. No new chapter.