Chapter Four
As the Millennium Puzzle landed, and the passengers exited the space craft, the Princess was met with cheers and sighs of relief.
"Get this D2 Unit to a computer quick," Princess Kagome said. "He has all the schematics from he Death Sphere in his system, and the Professor can interpret them." And Rebel Techs came and led both Moku-D2 and Professor Hawkins to their central computer station. Later, everyone was brought in for a briefing in the main hangar.
"As you ca see," Professor Hawkins said, "The Death Sphere has a tight defense against large destroyers. But they never consider small one man fighters as much of a threat."
"So that's what we're gonna use," Kagome added.
"Each of you, equipped with your own small droids, will fly between the trenches on the Death Sphere, and aim for to destroy the main reactor by firing two torpedoes down this small exhaust shaft, located along it's access. Use careful, however, for this shaft is only two meters wide."
"Two meters?" Joey asked. "How are we supposed to hit that thing?"
"It's not that much different from when we used to bull's eye rats in our speeders back home, Joey." Yugi said. "I'm sure you and I could take it out."
"In any case, Each squad will have it's own attack run while the rest cover them. Now, everyone I wish you luck, and may the Force be with you," said the Prof. as he ended the briefing.
The Hanger was filled with commotion as pilots and D2 units piled into their fighters. The only ones who seemed even a little were Inu-yasha and Shippo as they loaded the Millennium Puzzle with their reward.
"Five hundred thousand yen in gold!" Shippo exclaimed. "Now we have enough to pay off Jaken the Hut and retire! If we play our cards right, we'll never have to smuggle anything again, unless you spend it all on Ramen like last time."
"This from the rat who used 2K to buy candy," Inu-yasha pointed out.
"That was an impulse purchase," Shippo said defensively. "I'm just a kid!"
"And I like Ramen," Inu-yasha said back. "Drop it."
"So you're just gonna take your money and run?" Yugi asked as he leaned against the ship. "Why don't you stay? The Rebellion needs you."
"Listen, I wish you all the best of luck," Inu-yasha said. "But what good is a reward if you're not around to use it? This isn't like your gaming or Force-hooey. I have bills to pay, or a certain ine armed bounty hunter's gonna have my neck."
"It's no use reasoning with him," Kagome said as she walked up. "He's half Inu. All they care about is where their next meal is. And all he cares about is money. So if that's what's most important, then good riddance. We don't need a greedy mangy dog on our side."
"You know princess, you're kinda cute when you're angry," Inu-yasha pointed out with a grin.
"I knew you'd be sad to see me go," Inu-yasha said, "After all we've been through, I figured you would."
"Huh?" Kagome said, blushing. "Now wait a sec, I never,"
Suddenly, Inu-yasha leaned in really close and said, "How about a kiss for the road?"
"Whoa! Just sit, boy," she said. Suddenly the necklace around his neck began to glow, and WHAM! He was three feet into the floor.
"Whoa, what happened?" Yugi asked.
"That's a reaction from the Slaver's Beads around his neck. All it takes is one word." Kagome answered.
"How did you get a Slaver Beads on you?" Yugi asked Inu-yasha as he dug himself out of the floor.
"None of your business, and how did you know what these were?" Inu-yasha asked Kagome.
"Duh, I'm royalty you idiot," she said. "My father used to own slaves until he died, and I freed them."
"Better hurry Inu-yasha, or she'll say the word again," Shippo said.
"You freed slaves?" Yugi asked Kagome.
"Yeah. I fight for the rights of all people, not just those with birth rights." Kagome said, the two walking away form the dog and the fox.
"Inu-yasha," Shippo said again, tugging his sleeve "Do you want to go or not?"
"Yeah," he said, watching Yugi and Kagome, "Let's get out of here." 'The rights of all…' he thought.
Transition
The planet Lemon appeared on the screen, and Darth Kaiba grinned with sadistic glee.
"That's an odd name for a planet," a storm trooper said.
"Lemon traders first colonized it," Kaiba explained, "But after tapped the planet of it's one useful resource, they left it to rot. And now the majority of the pathetic Rebel Resistance is there, waiting for us to crush them," he said. "Prepare to orbit the planet at maximum velocity! As soon as we're over the Rebel Base, we fire!" and he went into a fit maniacal laughter, before he started coughing and hacking phlegm. A trooper hurried and gave him his inhaler.
Transition
The fighters took off one at a time, and soon they were space bound, high above Lemon, and heading toward the Death Sphere.
"Remember, pilots," said the flight leader, "You don't fire unless you are guaranteed a direct hit. Now dive!" he ordered.
Laser fire strafed he sides of the Death Sphere as the fighters plunged across it's access, and began their first attack run on the exhaust port.
Transition
Darth Kaiba was walking down the ramp to his fighter when he was joined by two more pilots.
"Several fighters have broken off from the main fleet and are attacking the exhaust. Cover me," he said as he climbed into the cockpit. The Imperial fighters took off out of the hanger and went straight into combat, shooting down rebel fighters left and right. Meanwhile Yugi and Joey, and Bakura were flying down the axis of the death sphere towards the exhaust port.
"Yugi, I've got enemy fighters coming on an intercept course. They're right on our tails."
"Right, I see them." Yugi said as he switched on his targeting computer. "Just keep them off of me for a few more minutes." Just then though Yugi heard a voice in his mind telling to him to switch off his targeting computer.
"Use the force Yugi." The voice said.
"Uh, Joey, did you say something?"
"Who, me? Nah, why?" Joey asked.
"Nothing. No reason." Yugi said, then he heard it again.
"Use the force Yugi." Now he was sure of who it was. It was Master Higurashi. But how could that be? He wondered. "Dag blast it all boy are you listening to me, I said use the force." Yugi jumped in his seat and then with a smile on his face he turned off his targeting computer and prepared to make the shot.
"Yugi, you alright?" His friends asked when they noticed what he was about to do.
"I'm fine guys, trust me." He said just then though Joey's fighter took a direct hit to it's port side engines.
"Blast it Yugi, we're going to have to bail out of here." Joey said pulling up on his controls.
"Get going then, you and Bakura can't do anymore good back there with those fighters on your tails." Yugi said. "I'll be fine."
Transition
"The force is strong with this one." Darth Kaiba observed as he targeted Yugi's ship and prepared to fire. Just then though the fight aft of Darth Kaiba's was struck and destroyed sending the other fighter spinning out of control and smashing right into Darth Kaiba's sending him hurtling through space like a rock. Over the radio he heard two voices.
"You're all clear there Yugi, so lets blow this thing and go home." It was Inu-yasha and Shippo. They had come back.
"Sure thing pal" Yugi replied then fired his torpedoes into the exhaust port. They both went straight in and followed the shaft into the main reactor where they impacted and caused a chain reaction which destroyed the Death Sphere and everyone aboard. As for Yugi and his friends, they all safely returned to the planet Lemon where they received a hero's welcome. Inu-yasha especially was given a warm reception by Princes Kagome who so proud of him for coming back that she actually gave him a small peck on the cheek.
As Yugi and Moku-D2 climbed down from their fighter they were surprised to see an image of Master Hiurashi standing in the corner with a message for Yugi.
"Nice work lad, but your mission isn't over yet." The old man's spirit said. "Now you must travel to the Fuji system where you will complete your training with Yami the great Jedi gamer who taught me.
"You mean that I have to go right now?" Yugi asked.
"No, not right now, but soon. Once the Emperor learns what has befallen his Death Sphere, he will surely send the rest of his fleet here to destroy the rebellion. You must escape and live to fight another day and there will be many long days of fighting ahead my boy. Now go and may the Force be with you always." Then he disappeared into nothingness while Yugi's friends leaped and jumped for joy at their victory.
Transition
Commander Tristan's star ship came out of ludicrous speed near the planet Lemon and began picking up the tail of the Millennium Puzzle again. Just then though he got an urgent communication from a stranded fighter. It was Darth Kaiba, he'd survived and now he was really pissed off at the rebels.
"Gather the fleet." He ordered as he came aboard and took command of the star ship from Commander Tristan. "Now that I know where the rebel base is, I want to level it."
"Yes Lord Kaiba." Commander Tristan replied. "Man, what a slave driver, we do him the favor of picking him up out of deep space and he just comes aboard barking orders like we're in some sort of dictatorship."
"This is a dictator ship you fool. I speak for the Emperor and he runs the galaxy." Darth Kaiba stated. "Now get me that fleet I ordered and make it a halfway decent fleet of ships. Lots of destroyers and battle ships and everything."
"Yes Lord Kaiba." Commander Tristan replied as their ship soared casually through space.
