CHAPTER 19
NOTE- don't cry.
Luke was standing behind Ahsoka as she cut a hole. Obi-Wan and Han were behind him. All of them except Han were anxious as they felt the darkness along with the light beyond the door. Behind the door, Leia was anxious. Behind one door she felt the coldness and behind the other she felt nothing. Behind the other door, Vader stood. He had felt the light from behind it. He used the force to push the part which he cut open. Ahsoka too used the force to push the part of the door which she cut. Leia ignited her blade and stood ready. She didn't know what the force held for her. She only hoped her brother and mentors were safe. She readied herself as she faced the door from which she felt the darkness. Vader pulled the part and readied himself. He felt his daughter ready herself to face him. She didn't need to. Ahsoka felt her heart leap as she pulled the part away. Luke had ignited his blade just like Obi-Wan. Han had readied himself.
The parts were pulled away. Ahsoka reacted first. She used the force and pulled Leia away as Vader attacked her. She then went forward and blocked the attacks. Vader was caught by surprise as Leia was pulled. He lifted his head and saw his sister come forward to block him. He then attacked her. She was not his sister; she was HIS sister. She was the sister of the dead war hero. Now she was an enemy of the empire. Behind her he caught the glimpse of his son, HIS old mentor and another man. Leia was caught by shock as she felt the pull. She closed her eyes as she felt herself hit the ground hard. She opened her eyes and saw Luke bending towards her. She turned and saw Ahsoka fight Vader. Behind Luke were Obi-Wan and Han. She felt slightly dizzy. She let the force in and could see more clearly. From the right side of the duel the door opened; a dozen of stormtroopers had arrived. Ahsoka and Vader had taken the fight to the other corridor leaving the troopers to the rest. Leia was still recovering when the troopers started firing. Luke moved forward and blocked the shots. Han moved behind Obi-Wan and fired live rounds at the troopers. Obi-Wan deflected the shots. Leia then managed to get up and steady herself. It was all in a rush. The door just opened and Vader was ready to strike her down when Ahsoka pulled her back roughly with the force and leapt to fight her old mentor. Luke then moved forward and suddenly a dozen or so troopers were firing at them. Luke along with Obi-Wan was blocking the shots and deflecting them while Han was firing live rounds. Leia still felt dizzy. Her home planet was obliterated a few days ago. Her best friend was raped by the imperials and turned into meat gravy in front of her eyes. They threw her into a cell with a bunch of disgusting lizards that ate her friend another day ago. She managed to escape and now this. Leia shook her head and cleared her mind. She was stable now. She lifted her head and saw more troopers joining the fight. She ignited her lightsaber again and moved forward using the force to push few troopers. As one died another one replaced him. They kept coming on in waves.
Leia turned back and saw an opportunity. If they managed to get into one of the underground transport pipes, they could reach the Falcon. She then called out, "Luke, Obi-Wan and Han retreat."
"What?" her brother asked in disbelief.
Through the underground supply lines. She told to the two Jedi. Han simply followed them. They ran with the troopers in their back. They moved to another corridor and shut the door. Leia then bent on one knee and cut a hole on the floor.
"Are you sure?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Of course." Leia answered casually. Soon she got up and used the force to pull out the part which she had cut. She then jumped inside one pipeline and ran. The rest followed. They lit their path through the lightsabers. Han had shut the way to their path. The troopers had got through the door and were inside the corridor. Han managed to weld the hole. They ran. Leia led the way as she felt Ahsoka's location through their bond. Soon they stopped under another corridor. Luke stepped forward and cut a hole. The part fell to the ground.
"That is a very tiny hole, Luke." Leia commented sarcastically. The hole was large enough to fit in three people.
"Yeah yeah. Now let's get out." He said jumping out the hole.
"Look out." Leia called as she pulled him. Vader had fallen inside through the hole. They had made the hole right besides the duel.
"Go, I shall hold him." Obi-Wan said as he readied himself. Han, Leia and Luke jumped out the hole. Ahsoka ran towards them.
"Are you okay?" she asked the three of them. The three just nodded. Ahsoka hugged them all before pushing them aside and using the force to lift Vader out of the hole.
Vader had just recovered from the fall that Obi-Wan had begun to strike him. Vader blocked him and got up to fight the master of Soresu. They were dueling when Vader felt somebody lift him using the force. What was happening? Vader was caught by surprise when he saw Ahsoka standing in front of his children and another young man. She was using the force to lift him. He was in mid air. He looked at the scene in front of him. Ahsoka had held him mid air and Obi-Wan was coming out of the hole. His children ran towards him and helped him get up. He was still in mid air. He then lifted his hand and used the force to throw a crate on Ahsoka. Leia sensed this and stopped it mid air. Ahsoka turned around in time letting go of him. Vader hit the ground hard. He managed to get up in time to block Ahsoka's strikes. The troopers were here. They got the rest engaged. Ahsoka and Vader dueled. They reached the landing platform of the Falcon. They were in the rover landing doorway and were dueling. The rest were done with the troopers. They were in a saber lock. Ahsoka suddenly called him, "Anakin."
"Who are you calling?" Vader asked.
"The man who was there behind the mask."
"Then why did you attack?"
"You know me Skyguy."
"Anakin Skywalker is dead."
"I know you will say so. But I also know that he breathes behind your entire valor."
"What do you want?"
"My brother."
"He can't come because he is dead."
"Why did he die then?"
"Why not?"
As he said that all the memories which led to his downfall; the death of his father figure, Qui-Gon Jinn. The death of his mother in his arms. The conversations he held with Palpatine. The visions of war and death. The visions of Padme's death. All of this induced the pain which pushed him to the dark side. Ahsoka opened her eyes as she saw this shared vision. She then looked at her old mentor.
"Anakin."
"That name means nothing to me. I shall ask you one time; join me or die." The rest were on the other side. They were waiting for her. Obi-Wan nodded at her bringing his lightsaber close to his body. Ahsoka turned to look at her old friend and nodded. She switched off her lightsabers and placed them in her utility belt. She then turned towards the twins and smiled. She was proud of them. She then turned to Vader. It was time. She had to leave in order to see Leia become the leader she was. She let the memories of her past flood her. The memory of the first time she met Anakin and Obi-Wan. She remembered the statement her former master had made; you're too reckless young one. You would never be Obi-Wan's Padawan but you can be mine. She remembered the memories they made together. She let a tear escape her eye. She lifted her head and turned to see the twins for a last time. The memory of her burying the clones and leaving to see them be born came back. The memory of seeing their mother, a promising senator, lie dead flooded her. The memory of the pain which she felt through the bond between her and her mentor came back. The memories of her trials, of her leaving the order and the troops she fought with came back. She then turned to her master and told fearlessly, "No, I am sorry brother. I can't. I walk my own path remember." She then closed her eyes as Vader brought his saber to her body; it disappeared. The clothes fell on the ground with the lightsabers. Vader was caught by surprise.
The last of Ahsoka that Leia ever saw was before Vader's lightsaber went through it. She saw as the clothes fell on the ground. She screamed in pain. Her mentor was gone. "AHSOKA!" she called out. Luke gasped behind her. She was gone; Ahsoka Tano was gone just like that. Obi-Wan reached his hands out and drew her robes towards him. Leia was in rage. She raised her hand and threw Vader behind. She and Luke would have run to attack him. Han and Chewie managed to drag Leia and Luke to the ship. Obi-Wan gave Ahsoka's lightsabers to Luke and her clothes to Leia. Leia held on to the final memories of her mentor as the Falcon headed to hyperspace. She held the clothes tightly. She let the memories flood her as the streams flew past her eyes. Her home was obliterated, her friend was raped and murdered, now her mentor died in front of her eyes. The convoy which always flew around Ahsoka came and landed on Leia's shoulder. Leia closed her eyes tight and cried. The pain she felt was immense. Her heart cried in pain. She let the words told to her drown. She heard the words of threepio but shut them out. Why did this happen to her? Why did only Leia lose her home? Why the force did choose her to be the child of the chosen one? Why did Ahsoka die? Why not Leia? What did the force hold for her? She lifted her head and saw Luke. He was devasted. He was hit with the sudden death of Ahsoka. Leia moved forward to calm her brother.
"Luke, Luke. Listen to me. It's all right." Luke turned slowly and looked at his sister who was still holding on to the clothes tightly. Her face was wet with tears which never stopped. The Morai was flying around Leia. Luke then bent and dragged Leia for a hug. They both cried on their shoulders.
"Leia, it is all right. I am here." He said as he placed a hand on Leia's head. He felt stupid. Leia lost so many things and yet she managed to gather her strength and try to comfort him. He should have been the first one to comfort her. He let her place her head on his chest and let her cry. She was in a lot of pain. Soon they would reach Yaavin IV. There she could receive a better comforting than him. They both hugged each other tightly.
Leia felt better as she cried on her brother's chest. She felt the warmth radiating from him. She felt the Morai come and land next to her. It placed its head on her laps. It was comforting. She suddenly heard a call, Leia Skywalker. The voice which called her was different. It was endangering and calming at once. She ignored it. It called her again, Leia. This time it was different. She suddenly got up surprising Luke and Obi-Wan. She then walked towards the voice's direction. It called her from a long distance. She felt the calming presence of Ahsoka all of a sudden. What was this?
Soon they reached Yaavin IV. The rebel leaders noted the loss of a rebel General, Captain and an agent who held a great importance. They didn't question sparing the ones who just arrived to calm themselves. Leia went and changed into a rebel fighter uniform as Luke and Han. Soon there was a briefing led by Luke.
"As the data received, we know that the Death Star has a tiny flaw. This flaw has to be exploited for the victory of the rebellion. There lies a tiny vent which leads to the core of the Death Star. It is wide enough to fit in one torpedo. We shall require all of you to go on single piloted fighters and launch a strike team on the Death Star." He finished.
"It is impossible to penetrate the defenses." Wedge piped in.
"The vent is on the surface. If we launch a bunch of three fighter teams where one shall take the shot and the two shall defend the pilot, we can win." Luke added. As he said that Leia received the information that the Death Star had entered the spacefield. "All right boys. We have to move. The Empire is here. We need to fight. There are heroes who have sacrificed their lives to protect us. Let us avenge them. FOR THE REPUBLIC." Leia finished with a strong zest. The men repeated after her, "FOR THE REPUBLIC." The fight had begun.