Disclaimer: I don't own anything, I just play here in the galaxy far, far away.
AN: Here's chapter 5! Enjoy and please review!
A Matter of Hope
Chapter 5: The Battle of Yavin
Little Larisa Skywalker whimpered and tossed and turned in her sleep. She was having a nightmare.
It was very dark and they were in a room. The scary lady that had kidnaped them before was there and she was standing next to an even scarier old man with very wrinkly skin. She screamed, as she saw the broken form of her father crumpled on the ground.
"What a pitiful excuse for the chosen one you are Skywalker. Now, you and your family...will die!" the old man said, as he shot blue lightning at her father. His cries of agony echoed all around her...
Anakin and Padme woke up with a start at their daughter's terror-filled scream.
"I'll get her," Anakin said, as he quickly pulled on his sleep pants and padded out of their room. He hurried into his youngest daughter's room and knelt beside her bed.
"Risa, wake up sweetie," Anakin said, as she shook her awake. She woke up with a start and turned her tear stained face to her father.
"You were having a nightmare baby, everything's okay," Anakin soothed her, as he sent her warm waves of love through the Force. He picked her up and she rested her head on his shoulder, as she clung to him.
"I'm scared daddy, I don't want you to go on your mission," Larisa whimpered.
"Is that what your dream was about?" Anakin asked.
"Uh huh, there was that scary lady and a really scary old man. And he was hurting you daddy," Larisa cried.
'The Emperor...she's never seen the Emperor,' Anakin thought to himself.
"Don't worry sweetheart. Dreams can't always be taken at face value. I learned that a long time ago. Master Yoda always says that the future is always in motion and we must remember that dreams or visions won't always come true," Anakin soothed her. She sniffed and nodded.
"Are you and Luke leaving in the morning?" she asked.
"Yes. But you don't have to worry, we'll be fine. And we'll be back here with you, your mom, and your sister in no time," Anakin told her. Larisa nodded and laid her head on his shoulder, as he rocked her back to sleep. Once she was asleep again, he laid her down and tucked her back into her bed. When he arrived back to his bedroom, Padme was sitting up waiting for him.
"Is she okay?" Padme asked, concern rolling off her.
"She'll be fine, she just had a nightmare," Anakin replied.
"Just a nightmare? Skywalkers don't just have nightmares," Padme replied. Anakin smirked slightly.
"It could have been a vision of something to pass in the future. She saw the Emperor in her dream and she's never seen him before. But I will have to face he and Psion someday. Her dream had it turning out...well not in my favor, but that doesn't mean it will happen that way," Anakin replied, as he laid down. Padme laid back down too and cuddled close to his chest.
"I don't want you to face them. Why does it have to be you," Padme whined.
"You know why angel. It's my destiny," Anakin replied, having accepted the fate long ago, regardless of how it was to turn out.
"Well, I don't have to like it," Padme replied.
"I will always come back to you. And if I'm not meant to, then I'll always be with you," Anakin told her.
"I don't want to think about that Ani," she cried, as she snuggled closer.
"Don't cry angel, I'll never leave you. But you must know that if it means saving you and our children, then I will lay down my life," he said.
"I know," she replied, very softly. Anakin wiped away her tears and kissed her forehead.
"We don't have long until we have to get up and I'm not tired anymore," Padme said, gazing deeply into his eyes.
"Me either," he replied, as he rolled her onto her back.
"Make love to me Ani," Padme whispered, as he kissed her lips passionately. Anakin pressed his body tightly to hers and wrapped his arms around her, as their passion consumed them once again...
A few hours later, the rebel fleet was preparing it's ships for the upcoming battle.
"So, you're leaving?" Anakin asked Han.
"Yeah, I got some debts to pay off," Han replied.
"You know what we're up against out there. We could use another good pilot," Anakin said.
"Look, I ain't sticking around. Attacking that battle station isn't my idea of courage. It's more like suicide," Han replied. Anakin nodded.
"Take care of yourself Solo. May the Force be with you," Anakin said, as he smiled and left to check his star fighter. Han paused and watched the man retreat.
"Yeah," Han sighed and continued to load things into the Falcon. Chewy rawled quietly.
"What are you looking at? I know what I'm doing," Han said, as he glanced over at the Skywalker family. Luke and Leia looked back at him. Luke shook his head sadly and Leia glared at him for refusing to help her father in this fight. Han looked away quickly and went back to work. He wasn't going to let a couple of kids get to him.
"How's she looking Artoo?" Anakin asked. Artoo emitted a series of enthusiastic beeps and clicks.
"Good, she'll need to be in tip top shape for this battle. You thought getting on to the Imperial Hand was a challenge. Navigating those trenches is going to be even more of a challenge. But I think we're up for it," Anakin said, as he looked down at Luke. Luke grinned back up at him.
"We're all set dad," Luke said.
"Not quite, I think there are some very special people over there that want to see us off," Anakin said, as he pointed off to the side.
Padme hugged Luke tightly and kissed his cheek. Luke crinkled his nose in protest.
"Mom..." Luke whined.
"Sorry honey. Just promise me you'll be careful and that you'll listen to everything your father tells you," Padme replied.
"I will," Luke promised. Anakin hugged Leia and Larisa tightly and kissed them both on the cheek.
"All right you two, no long faces. If you start crying then your mom will start crying," Anakin said. As he said that, he heard Padme sniff.
"Too late. We'll be fine and we'll be back before you know it. I love you both so much," Anakin said. He stood up, as Luke came over to say goodbye to his sisters and took Padme in his arms.
"Please be careful Ani," she said, tears shining in her eyes.
"We'll be fine, please don't cry angel. I love you," Anakin said, as he stroked her soft cheek. Padme flung her arms around his neck and kissed him desperately. Anakin returned it with as much fervor and passion as could be allowed to muster in this moment. With reluctance, he broke the kiss and left her arms.
"I love you too," she told him, as he retreated to his star fighter.
Obi-Wan patted him on the shoulder, as he and Luke climbed into the cockpit.
"Be careful out there Anakin and come back to us. May the Force be with you," Obi-Wan said.
"May the Force be with you as well master," Anakin replied. He fired up the engines and left the docking bay, with the entire rebel fleet following him. Once in space, he gave the signal and the whole fleet made the jump to hyperspace. They would spend about a day in hyperspace before reaching the Yavin system. Tomorrow would be a very tense and busy day at the rebel base, for the battle would begin then.
That night, Padme tossed and turned. She simply could not sleep. Not when he was not by her side, holding her in his arms. Padme pulled her husband's pillow to her chest and inhaled his scent from it.
She heard soft footsteps in the doorway and sat up, only to see her youngest daughter standing there.
"I can't sleep mommy," Larisa said.
"What's the matter baby?" Padme asked.
"I miss daddy. And Luke too. It feels safe when daddy is here," Larisa replied, with a pout.
"You can't sleep either, can you mommy?" Larisa asked. Padme sighed. Anakin was right. She was very perceptive.
"No honey, I miss daddy and Luke too," she replied.
"Can I sleep with you mommy?" Larisa asked. Padme smiled.
"Come on up sweetie," Padme said, as her daughter climbed up on the bed. She pulled back the covers and the little girl snuggled down next to her mother.
"You can sleep in here too Leia," Padme called out knowingly. Leia rounded the corner with a shy smile and climbed up on the bed as well. Together, they were able to finally fall asleep. For this, Padme was glad, since tomorrow would be a trying day for all...
The rebel fleet exited hyperspace and approached the death star, which was moving within firing range of Yavin 4. This was the planet they had promised to demonstrate its power on, because of Yavin's strong support of the rebellion.
"All squadrons report in," Anakin ordered. With that, a each ship reported in to him.
"Look at the size of that thing!" and "This is crazy!" were things that both Anakin and Luke began to hear. They could feel the fear rolling off their comrades in waves.
"Cut the chatter and prepare to engage. We're passing through the magnetic field," Anakin ordered. The laser began to fire at them from the death star, but Anakin expertly wove around the shots.
"This is it Luke, we're going in," Anakin told him. Luke nodded and steadied the control yoke in his hand. Anakin dove the ship down and into the first stretch of the trench.
"Lady Psion, the rebel ships are so small that their invading our lasers," one officer said.
"We'll have to destroy them ship by ship. Dispatch the TIE fighters!" she ordered, as she continued to make her way to the bridge. Suddenly, she stopped though, as she sensed his presence in the Force.
"Skywalker..." she said. She abandoned her plans to go to the bridge and left for her ship. Tarkin didn't see the threat of minuscule rebel ships, but she knew different. With Skywalker at the helm, their cause was in danger.
Anakin suddenly sensed a spike in the Force.
"Dad!" Luke exclaimed.
"I sense it too Luke," he replied, as he turned the comm on.
"Watch your backs! Enemy fighters approaching!" Anakin warned. Out of nowhere, several TIE fighters flew in, taking out several rebel ships at a time. One began to trailing Anakin and Luke.
"Damn, I can't shake him in this trench. Get ready to pull out Luke, we're going to have to deal with this guy first," Anakin said. But suddenly, the fighter was destroyed and Anakin sighed in relief.
"Thanks Aayla," he said.
"Don't mention it. Just keep going for that reactor. Master Kolar and I will cover you," Aayla replied. Anakin nodded and slammed the throttle down, taking them to speeds that Padme and Obi-Wan would most certainly disapprove of. Anakin and Luke smirked identically, as Artoo whirled in response to the increased speeds. Several other rebel fighters joined them in the trench. Suddenly, several of the fighters were destroyed and Anakin sensed the dark side of the Force like a heady veil.
"Psion..." he growled, as he felt her pick off three more fighters. Those that were not Force sensitive didn't stand much chance of outmaneuvering her.
"Stay on that throttle Anakin, we'll cover you," Aayla said.
"May the Force be with you," Anakin said, as he and Luke continued to navigate the trench.
"Obi-Wan opened his eyes, as he, Sabe, and Padme stood over the table, analyzing the battle that was taking place parsecs away.
"Anakin and Luke are in the trench, but Psion is on their tail," Obi-Wan said. Padme looked up at him, fear in her brown eyes.
"Don't worry Padme, you know that Anakin is an excellent pilot. If anyone can do this, it's him," Obi-Wan assured her. Padme nodded.
"He hasn't turned on his targeting computer," Bail said. Obi-Wan smiled.
"Anakin doesn't need it. The Force is far more accurate than the computer," Obi-Wan replied.
Psion trailed the three Jedi star fighters closely. She targeted Agen Kolar and waited ,as he drifted around her targeting computer. After several minutes, she finally got a lock on him.
"Got you," she said, as she fired, destroying the ship and killing Agen Kolar. Anakin, nor Aayla had time to let the death affect them right now. Anakin reached into the Force and calmed his storming emotions. He focus himself on the fast approaching reactor and prepared to let go, letting the Force bend him to its will.
"Luke, I'm turning the ship over to you. Keep us steady, while I take the canons. We've got one shot at this," Anakin said.
"Got it dad, I won't let you down," Luke said.
"I know you won't," Anakin said, with a small smile. Suddenly, Psion got a good hit on Aayla ship.
"I'm hit!" she cried.
"Pull out Aayla, you won't do us any good if you get yourself killed!" Anakin called. Aayla pulled out and Psion let her go, as she fired at Anakin's ship. The blast hit Artoo and he shrilled.
"She got Artoo!" Luke panicked.
"He'll be okay Luke, you can do this without him son, I know you can. Use the Force to calm yourself and trust in it," Anakin instructed. Luke nodded and did as his father told him. Psion had aimed for Artoo on purpose in hopes of disabling Anakin's ship and capturing it. But it seemed that he had taught his son to pilot well. No matter though, she would still blast his ship and disable it bad enough to capture them both. She locked on to the ship's left wing and prepared to fire. Suddenly, both TIE fighters that were covering her were suddenly destroyed.
"WHAT!" she screamed, as a larger spherical ship came out of nowhere.
"YEEEHOOO!" Han Solo cheered, as he sent Psion into an uncontrollable spiral.
"You're all clear Anakin. Now, let's blow this thing and go home!" Han called. Anakin reached deeply into the Force and fired his torpedoes. With the Force, he guided them into the reactor and breathed a sigh of relief, as they went in. Anakin and Luke pulled back on the throttle hard and pulled out of the trench at breakneck speed.
General Tarkin stood on the bridge, his face motionless, as he contemplated death. He knew he had mere seconds to live and made no attempt to betray any emotion. One could only wonder what was going through his mind...
Anakin and Luke looked back, as the death star exploded in a brilliant array of fire and sparks. Anakin, Aayla, and Han landed briefly on Yavin 4. They got Artoo and abandoned their damaged fighters and boarded the Millennium Falcon. The Falcon would have them back to Hoth in half the time it would have taken them in their star fighters.
"Dad, can you fix Artoo?" Luke asked, as he examined their badly damaged astrodroid. Anakin smirked at his son and ruffled his hair.
"Of course I can. Though, I think I'll have to wait till we're back on Hoth. Right now, I need to contact your mom. She's probably worrying herself to death," Anakin said, as he went up front with Han.
"Thanks for coming back. You saved our skins," Anakin said.
"Yeah, well, I wasn't going to let you get all the credit," Han replied. Anakin held his hand out and Han smiled, as he shook it.
Padme, Obi-Wan, Sabe, Bail, Mace, and Mon Mothma waited for confirmation from the fleet that the death star had indeed been destroyed. A fuzzy transmission broke through to their comm channel.
"This is Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker. The death star has been destroyed...I repeat, the death star has been destroyed!" Anakin said. Cheers of victory erupted throughout the base.
"Ani!" Padme cried. She heard him chuckled.
"Hi angel, you have no idea how good your voice sounds," he replied. Tears shined in her eyes.
"I'm so glad you and Luke are safe," she cried.
"We're fine Padme. We're about to enter hyperspace, so we'll see you soon," Anakin said, as the transmission was cut short. Padme smiled and hugged Obi-Wan, Sabe, and Bail.
About 12 hours later, the Millennium Falcon arrived back at the base on Hoth. Padme and her daughters waited anxiously for the passengers to disembark. Luke bounded out first and ran to hug his mother and sisters.
"Oh, I'm so glad you're okay Luke," Padme said, as she kissed his cheek.
"I missed you mom. Han saved our tails, so you should thank him too!" Luke boasted.
"I'm in debt to you captain Solo. Thank you for coming back and helping my husband and son," Padme said. Han blushed a little.
"It wasn't any big thing," Han shrugged. Padme stopped when she saw her husband waiting for her near the ship, as a very damaged Artoo was taken in to be worked on. He stopped and met her eyes with his own. She bounded for him. He abandoned what he was doing and ran to meet her.
"Oh boy, stand by for embarrassing displays of affection," Luke complained.
"Ugh, can't they go do that somewhere else," Leia complained.
Anakin caught her in his arms and spun her around, as he kissed her lips passionately.
"Oh Anakin, you did it!" she said, as she hugged him tightly.
"We've dealt the Empire a grievous blow. We're going to beat them Padme," Anakin said confidently. She smiled and kissed him again. Obi-Wan cleared his throat as he approached.
"Sorry to interrupt, but the council wishes to have a brief meeting," Obi-Wan said. Anakin rolled his eyes.
"Now?" he griped.
"Sorry Anakin, but master Yoda promised that it would be brief," Obi-Wan replied. Padme kissed him quickly.
"Go, I'll still be here," she teased. He smirked and followed Obi-Wan.
"What did I do wrong this time?" Anakin wondered.
"Now Anakin, you're focusing on the negative. Have you even considered that they may just want to thank you?" Obi-Wan asked. Anakin looked at him like he'd grown bantha ears.
"Would you blame me if I said no?" Anakin replied.
"No, I don't suppose I would," Obi-Wan motioned for Luke to follow them.
Obi-Wan took his seat, while Anakin and Luke stood in the center. Yoda and Master Kuro still attended by hologram. Master Swan, Windu, Kenobi, Fisto and Secura were present in person.
"A grave loss we have suffered today. Master Kolar has become one with the Force. We will honor him with a funeral pyre in two days," Mace announced.
"Yes, saddened by his death we are. But much to celebrate, the rebellion has. Knight and padawan Skywalker, destroyed the death star you have. No small task this was and performed gallantly you did. Owe millions of lives to you, we do," Yoda congratulated them. Luke and Anakin bowed.
"Thank you masters," Anakin said humbly.
"I move that Anakin be granted his rightful seat on this council," Obi-Wan proposed. Master Kuro was the first to scoff.
"Please master Kenobi, it did not take the Force for anyone here to tell that you were going to make that absurd claim. Commended for destroying the death star he should be, but let's not get carried away. He's still broken far too many codes to sit on this council," Kuro said.
"Why does that blasted code matter. It has gotten us no where!" Obi-Wan argued.
"Argue anymore, we will not!" Yoda interrupted their squabble. Yoda chuckled a bit.
"Changing the rules I am. No longer need full acceptance of the council to appoint new members I do. Growing thin our numbers do and even thinner do our allies grow. More than enough trial your battle above Yavin was. Confer on you, the rank of Master I do, Anakin Skywalker," Yoda announced. Anakin was stunned.
"Thank you master," he humbly bowed. Luke grinned up at his father and patted him on the back. Anakin smiled back at him.
"Take your seat you may master Skywalker," Yoda motioned to the one next to Obi-Wan.
"Master, you can't do that!" Kuro argued.
"He has been on the council for many centuries and he has been the leading member for many also. He can and he just did," Kit Fisto replied with a grin.
"Anger will lead us to the dark side. Learned that long ago Anakin did. Learned it yet, you have not master Kuro!" Yoda scolded. Master Kuro was quickly silenced by the public scolding and retracted her arguments.
"Dealt the Empire a serious defeat, we have. Pursue their end, we will. Dismissed this meeting is," Yoda said. Obi-Wan and Anakin stood up. Obi-Wan patted Anakin on the back.
"It's about time Anakin," he said.
"Thanks master," Anakin replied.
"Hey mom, Master Yoda made dad a master!" Luke announced, as his mother approached them. Padme's face lit up with a smile and she hugged Anakin tightly.
"That's wonderful Ani, it's certainly a long time coming," Padme said.
"Thanks angel," Anakin replied.
"Come on, let's go celebrate with the kids. And then later, we can celebrate alone, master Jedi," Padme said, seductively in his ear. Anakin grinned.
"I like the way you say that," Anakin replied, as they rounded up their three kids and went to get something to eat.
The next day, the entire rebel fleet and it's leaders gathered in the formal throne room on the Hoth base. The procession began, as the four they were celebrating entered the throne room, where the rebel fleet stood at attention. Luke and Anakin smiled, as they began walking down the aisle. Han and Chewy followed behind them, as they approached the throne. Padme stood waiting for them in a stunning white gown. Her hair was back and her curls flowed down her back. Leia and Larisa both stood on either side of her, also in white gowns. They arrived at the podium and Padme smiled at them. Bail handed Leia a medal and she placed it around Han's neck. Obi-Wan held Larisa up so that she could place one around Chewy's neck. Padme stepped up to her husband and son. She placed a medal around Luke's neck and hugged him. She carefully took another medal from Bail and approached her husband. He gave her one of his roguish smiles, as she placed the medal around his neck. He smiled and stepped up, taking her in his arms and kissing her passionately. Luke and Leia rolled their eyes, but then ran up to hug their parents. Little Larisa followed suit and was hoisted into her father's arms. A familiar string of beeps and clicks caught their attention. A newly shined and repaired Artoo rolled up to them, followed by Threepio. Artoo and Threepio were more than just droids to the Skywalker family. They were part of the Skywalker family.
They had won a crucial battle against the Empire, but the war was far from over...