Luke Skywalker's hands tremble over the controls. The recirculated air of the cockpit of his X-wing seems too thin, too devoid of true oxygen. The situation is bitter, corrupt, and deathly. The pressure of the moment consumes him.
Death. Luke feels it everywhere. Feels it in the compression of the air. Sees it in the moon-size station. Knows it in the ship actively pursuing him. Death is coming for him, just like it came for Biggs only moments ago—a compressing, shadowy thing that threatens to swallow him whole.
Biggs, Luke thinks. Oh, Biggs. And the whole rest of the squadron, too, besides Wedge Antilles. How can you all be gone?
Scrubbing the tears from his eyes, forcing the fear to the back of his mind, Luke makes ready to conclude his run. This is for you, Biggs, he thinks. And this is for all of Rogue Squadron.
Suddenly, the ship in pursuit of Luke's gets blasted away. A voice cries, "Wahoo!" and Luke can't help but break into a grin despite everything. Han. Back after all. I knew there was more to you, he reflects. But his run is coming. Coming so soon. He must focus now. He tenses, preparing.
Then, a voice, soft and calm, urges him, Use the Force, Luke. There it is, again! Ben's voice! The voice he swore he heard onboard the Death Star, but told himself such a thing was impossible. He is willing to consider the possibility now.
Let go, Luke! Ben urges. And Luke notices how hard his hold is on the controls—a death grip.
He makes the decision in a split second; he turns off his targeting computer; he draws in several deep breaths. When the protestation comes through about the turned-off computer, Luke assures them, his voice steady and calm. For a calm has taken him that is ethereal, other-worldly: he remembers this same calm from lightsaber practice with Ben. Luke feels out into the currents of the Force, a baby bird in its second attempt at flight. And he feels it. The shot. The angle. The right moment. Luke presses down on the trigger… and fires.
"It's in!" someone cries exuberantly. Luke breathes out hard. "Get away from the station immediately! It's going to blow!"
And Luke does. Flying off with Han and getting into formation with Wedge, Luke waits. And waits. And all the Rebellion waits. And all the galaxy waits. But nothing happens.
Then, a solemn, somber declaration: "The torpedo misfired. It got in… but it misfired inside the shaft."
Luke knows what that means. What it can only mean. Yavin, he thinks desolately. Leia! The Alliance!
OOO
Leia Organa watches on, unable to comprehend, feeling as if she is inhabiting a nightmare. All around her are grim looks and tight lips. A nauseated feeling rises up in the core of her, unfurling through her whole body… She just might be sick, right here.
The torpedo failed. Luke made the shot, but it doesn't matter. The Death Star won't be destroyed. But this isn't right. This isn't right! Leia thinks frantically. It should have worked! It should have fired correctly in the shaft. This is all wrong. We should be celebrating our victory right now, not—not—
But they aren't. Instead, they all watch, and they wait, and they stand vigil for death to come. Looking out into the grim sea of faces, Leia wonders if this is what her parents felt like in their final moments. Were they afraid? She'd like to think they weren't, that the end came quickly… but they had to know. Had to see. Had to feel some measure of the same terror coursing through Leia's veins now.
But death doesn't come. At least, not yet. A mass of stormtroopers does. They arrest Leia and all of the major rebel leaders. With the third pair of binders on her wrists in so many days, Leia finds herself… desolate. There will be no victory. No celebration. No upsurge of hope in the galaxy.
It's over.
It's all over.
Tarkin smiles to see her. Vader doesn't react. Tarkin says, "What a delight to see you again, Your Highness. What—no rude words this time?" He cocks his head at her, like a predator studying its prey.
Leia whispers, "No."
It's over. No defiance remains in her. She only hopes death will come soon, but doesn't anticipate the mercy.
OOO
Author's note: Please review if you enjoyed reading, because I'd find it super encouraging. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Thanks!
