Chapter 5

Ben woke up quickly as the alarms went off again. He ran to the cockpit and saw Sol already sitting there. In space in front of them was another Interdictor cruiser surrounded by more Uglies, fifteen in total all blazing guns at them. Ben hurried to the turret as Sol turned the ship to line Ben up with a quick shot. Ben fired destroyed two of the Uglies. Another one he sent spinning off into space. An X-Ugly fired a missile at them and Sol had to weave to avoid it. As before he headed straight for another Ugly, a former Y-wing, and turned right before he hit it, letting the missile destroy it for him. Ben then fired them turret and destroyed the one that had fired the missile.

"Where'd these pirates come from?" Ben asked.

"They must have tracked us somehow," Sol said. "I guess we didn't stop them long enough. Let's make sure we stop them this time."

Ben nodded, though Sol couldn't see it, and fired several more shots at two incoming Uglies, blasting them both. Sol then fired them front gun and blasted three more ships as he turned the Saber to avoid in coming fire. Above them an X-Interceptor came down. Ben fired at it but missed as the Ugly dodged the blast.

"What's happening?" Ben asked as the Saber began to slow down.

"I think he's got us in a tractor beam," Sol said. "These ships must be upgraded a lot."

"They must be trying to capture us," Ben said. "Let's get ready for them."

He got out of the turret and joined Sol in the cockpit as the Ugly docked over them. They heard metal groan as the air latch opened up and a person in a vacsuit came down. His blaster was already out and aimed at Ben and Sol.

"Put your hands up," he commanded. They did. "I'm taking over your ship."

"Look, we really don't want any trouble." Ben said and the man fired at the floor by his feet.

"Shut up." The man said as he got closer.

"You don't want to mess with us," Sol said. "You don't know who we are."
"Talk again and I'll blast you." The pirate said, almost in the cockpit.

"Then I guess I'll have to show you." Sol said as the man, confident he will hit Sol, tried to fire the blaster as Sol ignited his blue lightsaber blade and sliced off the man's hand. The pirate grasped his severed wrist as he writhed in pain. Sol grabbed him and tossed him into the cockpit. "I told you not to mess with us. Ben, finish him."

"What?" Ben asked, surprised. "Sol, he's hurt, he needs help. You shouldn't have cut his hand off in the first place. Why did you?"

"I'm not going to do all the work," Sol said. "Besides, we need to make an example of him, to show the pirates not to bother us again. They were fools to attack us again."

"But, Sol, I don't think-"

"Do as I say!" Sol shouted at him and, against Ben's better judgment, ignited his yellow lightsaber. "This pirate and the rest of his kind are weak; they do not deserve to live."

"Sol, what are you saying?" Ben said. "We're Jedi; we can't just kill because others are weak."

"And why not? Because your dad told us not to?" Sol said. "We are the power in this galaxy, Ben. We are stronger than the others, we can control them. Or are you as weak as they are?"

Ben swallowed. "I'm strong, but this is just wrong."

"You are pathetic," Sol said. "You don't deserve to be a Jedi."

"No, you're wrong, I am a Jedi," Ben said. "But I can't do this."

"Ben, understand what I'm saying," Sol said calmly. "If we do not stop these aggressors now, they might attack us again. We have to stop them here and now, it is what the Jedi would do. Some people do have to die in the name of justice. You know I'm right."

"I suppose so." Ben agreed.

"Then do it." Sol said.

Ben looked down at the man and raised his lightsaber, happy the pirate's face was blocked by the vacsuit.

"Please, no, don't." The pirate pleaded and tried to back away.

"I'm sorry." Ben said and brought his lightsaber down and took the pirates head off.

Ben woke up with a yell. He was covered in sweat. The ship was still in hyperspace.

It was just a dream, He thought. I better go tell Sol.

As he got up he noticed his lightsaber was clipped to a different part of his belt. For some reason he had a feeling of dread. He went into Sol's room.

"Hey, Sol, I-" Ben started and stared wide eyed in shock. Sol was still lying in his bed, or at least most of him anyway. His head was on the floor, eyes wide, mouth open in a silent scream.