The New Jedi Knights: Fate of the Force
Chapter 12: The Battle of the Titan
By MagicMansion
Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars, Han Solo, or Luke Skywalker. My characters are Jarrod, Josh, Kyle, Victor, Shawn, Mary, Abby, Rebecca, and General Titanus.
"AAAHHH!"
Everyone cringed in the dining area as they heard Victor scream. Luke was putting "extra strength rubbing alcohol" (as the group liked to call it) on his injuries.
"Shawn, you didn't say it hurt this much," Victor yelled from his room before screaming again.
"He never asked me," Shawn said. "Besides, I think he deserves that for making fun of me."
"OOOOWWW!"
They heard Luke walking down the hall, as he came in and sat down. "Well, he's going to be ok. Luckily this guy didn't hit him too deeply. So, you guys say he's gone?"
"Yeah. Mary and I helped throw him down a really deep hole," Kyle said.
"And did you hear him hit anything?"
Kyle and Mary looked at each other. "Well," Kyle said. "No. Why?"
Luke sighed. "He's not gone then. He'll still be alive. You can't just push him over the edge of something. As long as his body is intact, he'll have the will to live on. Besides, a hole under an underground building? It can't go that far down."
"Well, at least we showed him our skills," Kyle said.
"Yes. And that is a bad thing. That is precisely why you need to do everything you can to defeat a Sith the first time, because he watches you, learns your moves during a duel, and is ready with a counterstrike the next duel."
"Then there's a simple solution," Jarrod said.
Everyone looked at him.
"Let him duel the only two people he hasn't; Shawn and Rebecca."
The couple looked at each other. "Whoa, I don't think we're ready for that," Shawn said.
"Sure you are," Luke said. "I heard you talking to Master Yoda the day you took your trials Shawn. Remember what he said about your bond?"
Shawn thought for a moment. "Oh, about our bond being strong?"
Luke nodded. "Your bond was strong when you found each other, but the Force has made it stronger, and it's not unlikely you'll be able to sense each other's movements before they happen, or before the Sith can either."
"So, if Josh and Mary dueled him…"
"No. He knows their techniques already Shawn. You two are the only Jedi he has not yet fought. You two must be the two to duel him. If you fail, he will know everyone's techniques. If you succeed, we will be rid of one Sith, and it's highly unlikely you'll fail with your bond."
The couple looked at each other again.
"Well, I suppose if we are the only two who can pull this off," Shawn said.
"We may as well do it," Rebecca finished.
"Good," Luke said.
"Well Luke," Han said, getting up carefully this time. "I think I aught to be going. Been a pleasure seeing you again."
"You too Han."
The two shook hands, and Han left them. Everyone heard an "Ow" from Han down the hall. He came back in with the small flying droid that reported to Luke.
"I think this is for you Luke," he said, handing it to Luke. Han left.
The droid's top opened, and his informant's image appeared.
"Master Skywalker, we have a situation."
"Again?"
"Yes sir. Apparently a Star Destroyer is on its way here to Coruscant, and Imperial one. The captain says they have something you'd like to see. He won't say what, but he says you will like it."
Luke raised an eyebrow. "What does he expect us to do, visit the ship?"
"Quite sir. But he says you must come alone. If you don't, he says you'll regret it."
Luke nodded, and looked at Jarrod and Josh. They both smiled.
"Tell the captain I'll be there."
"Yes sir."
The droid flew out, and Han came back in.
"I thought you left," Luke asked him.
"Yeah, but I overheard your conversation. You wouldn't be thinking of pulling off a trap, would ya?"
Luke smiled. "You pirates, always in on things before they happen."
The next day, the Millennium Falcon flew off from Coruscant. The Imperial Star Destroyer was orbiting Coruscant's moon. The Falcon flew up to the docking bay, and a tractor beam pulled it in.
"Pilot, state your name and purpose," a storm trooper said.
"Uh, Han Solo, and I'm here to deliver a Jedi by the name of Luke Skywalker."
"Hold on please."
Han laid back and rolled his eyes. They always had to check things even though it was in their programming.
"Ok. Master Skywalker may exit the ship. You will leave immediately afterwards."
"But I need to take him back to Coruscant after this meeting is over."
A silence and then, "Master Skywalker will not need you to take him back."
Han smiled as he acted his part. "What do you mean he won't need a ride back? You guys planning on doing something to him?"
"Tell Master Skywalker to exit the ship, and then you may leave," the storm trooper said impatiently.
"Oh, I don't think so buddy." He pulled up the laser joystick, and aimed at the room that housed the storm trooper he was speaking with. He fired at them, and the room exploded. "Okay everyone, plan is in motion," Han said to the Jedi in his ship.
Luke nodded to Josh and Jarrod. "Here's your action boys. Ready?"
"I've been waiting for this," Josh said.
"I've never been more ready," Jarrod said.
The walkway off the ship lowered, the three Jedi put their cloaks on.
They walked off the ship, and walked towards a squadron of storm troopers.
"Which one of you is Luke Skywalker," one of the storm troopers asked.
"Who wants to know," Josh said.
"Answer the question," the storm trooper said.
The three Jedi threw off their robes and ignited their lightsabers. The storm troopers pulled their weapons up, and began firing. The three Jedi began deflecting shots back at their shooters, and backed up so they formed a small triangle.
"Ready guys," Luke asked.
"Yeah," they said.
"One, two…"
The three Jedi put their lightsabers down after deflecting one last shot, and did back flips in opposite directions. The storm troopers became confused on their targets, and some actually shot each other. Others didn't know who they were after, and a couple actually picked out a target, but had their shot deflected back at them. In all the confusion, the three Jedi defeated the entire group of storm troopers in the hangar.
"Nicely done guys. Han, everything's clear," Luke said.
Han came out with his blaster, and followed the Jedi out of the hangar.
They proceeded down a hall, and turned a corner. Luke quickly pushed everyone back. The group heard footsteps, and a single storm trooper came around the corner. Han shot him in the leg, and Josh knocked him out by elbowing his head.
The group proceeded on, and came in contact with a group of four storm troopers. Each was taken down quickly; three by a lightsaber, the other by Han's blaster. As the group continued, they came to an elevator. They called it, and got in. They went up a few dozen floors, and got out on the top floor. They walked out, and saw a problem.
A group of about 30 storm troopers stood in two large rooms, one at each end of the hall the Jedi and Han had just walked into.
"Hey you," one storm trooper yelled. The rest all turned to look at them.
The Jedi ignited their lightsabers, and began blocking shots while Han shot the storm troopers down. However, Luke soon spotted another problem.
"Guys, we aren't getting anywhere. I think they're sending reinforcements in."
"Really," Han said. "Well, you have a plan?"
"As a matter of fact, if someone could open the door we're standing around."
Everyone but Luke looked back quickly, and saw a door right across from the elevator. Josh and Luke continued blocking shots, while Jarrod cut around the doorframe. He kicked the door in, and found an empty room.
"Okay guys. The room is clear."
"Yeah," Josh said. "Great going there Jarrod. What do we do when we get in the room? You cut the door out."
"Oh. Hang on." Jarrod went in and looked around. He found an air duct in the ceiling, and cut it out. He jumped up, and found it was a large air duct they could walk through.
"Guys, this air duct in here is large enough to walk through."
"Okay, we're coming."
Han had to climb up first while Luke and Josh deflected the shots the storm troopers were firing. Josh jumped up next, and then Luke. A few laser shots came up the air duct, but stopped quickly.
"Let's keep moving everyone," Luke said.
The group continued along the air duct, and dropped down into a room that was empty. They left the room, and saw an elevator at the end of the hall.
"That's the one we want," Han said.
A group of storm troopers turned the corner, and the first two kneeled down. The front four began firing at them.
The three Jedi ignited their lightsabers and began deflecting shots back at the storm troopers, but the line kept coming in, replacing the fallen troops.
"Ok, we need a new plan to get to that elevator."
"What if we just charge through them?"
"Sounds good to me," Jarrod said to his cousin.
The two turned and ran towards the storm troopers, who became confused and stopped shooting. Jarrod and Josh slashed and stabbed the storm troopers, and called for the elevator. Luke and Han came down the hall and the two deflected shots and fired at more storm troopers coming down the hall. The elevator opened, and the four got in.
"So, where does this elevator lead Han," Josh asked.
"To the control room. Chances are, if the captain has something for Luke to see, it'll be in there."
The elevator stopped, and the doors opened. A group of storm troopers awaited them. They pointed their guns straight at the group, who put their hands up.
"Well, there weren't supposed to be guards right here," Han said.
"Ah, Master Skywalker," a man said as he walked up to them. "What a pleasure to meet you. I'm General Titanus, the one who sent you the Star Destroyer as a present."
"I remember," Luke said. He was wondering who this guy was, because he had a mask covering his face, and his thick clothing made it difficult to see any physical features.
"So, I see you brought two of your Padawans with," Titanus said as he sat down at the captain's seat.
"They are Jedi Knights now General and they are not to be underestimated, and neither am I."
"I understand Master Skywalker, er, that is your title now that Master Yoda has passed on?"
"Yes, it is," Luke told him.
"So, would you like to come to a treaty agreement so as to stop all of this fighting, or would you rather just die here, and let the rest of your Padawans take care of your job?"
"They are very capable of fighting on their own," Luke said. "But they won't need to worry about that after we defeat you."
"Please, Master Skywalker, I understand you are a Jedi Master, but you have more guns on you than you can see, and, you just so happen to be," the general said snapping his fingers.
A storm trooper walked up and took their lightsabers and blaster.
"Disarmed," the general finished. "Now please don't tell me you have a plan, because I'd like to see you try it first."
Luke looked at Jarrod, Josh, and Han. He was afraid he had no plan now, with their weapons gone and more than a few dozen weapons on them. So, Luke did the only thing he thought he could at the moment; he sat down and meditated.
The general laughed. "You can't seriously think your Jedi meditation will help you out of this situation, do you?"
Jarrod, Josh, and Han watched Luke hopefully. Luke stayed perfectly still for a few minutes, then his eyes opened. He still did not move, and stared at the general.
"Well now Master Skywalker, do you have a plan?"
Luke smiled as he got up. "As a matter of fact, I do." Luke threw his grappling line onto a sprinkler, and it wrapped around.
"Please, Master Skywalker, before you do this foolish act, where are you going to possibly swing to save yourself."
"Oh," Luke said smiling. "I never considered swinging."
Luke yanked on his grappling line, and the three Jedi summoned their lightsabers and Han's blaster. The storm troopers and General Titanus looked up, and water poured from the sprinkler. The troops looked back to the Jedi, and fired at them.
The troops were confused, however, when their blasters did not work, due to the water from the sprinklers.
"Sorry Titanus, but you aren't getting us today," Luke said, and he nodded to Han.
Han fired his working blaster at the control panel, which sparked and lit up in flames. The four got into the elevator, and took it down to another floor. When they got to the bottom, they kept the doors closed, and Jarrod cut a hole in the floor of the elevator. A long elevator shaft was below them. It was no doubt the elevator they had used to get from the hangar.
Luke jumped down, and cut a hole in the top of the elevator. He killed the two storm troopers inside, and then brought the elevator up all the way. Everyone jumped in, and Luke sent it down to the hangar. He cut a hole in it halfway down, and jumped through. He landed on the bottom, and cut the doors out. He went through and, as he had expected, a few squadrons of storm troopers were waiting for him.
He deflected their shots back at them, and Jarrod and Josh joined him. Han got out as soon as the elevator stopped on the hangar floor. He blasted a few of the storm troopers, and finally got to the Millennium Falcon, with the Jedi blocking laser fire for him.
Everyone felt the ship begin to tip, as it was pulled in by Coruscant's moon. The three Jedi jumped onto the Millennium Falcon as it lifted up, and then it dropped like a rock through the doors that were the floor. Han piloted the ship away from the falling Star Destroyer, and everyone saw an escape pod fly out.
"It seems we'll have to deal with General Titanus in the future," Luke said. He looked at the falling Star Destroyer and smiled. "But we won't have to deal with the Empire's flagship."
On the side of the Star Destroyer was its name: The Titan.
Well, that's the end of that chapter. Please review if you read this.