Returning Home

Chapter 6: The Death Star

The Falcon dropped out of Hyperspace and was immediately hit by asteroids. The ship shook with the force of the impacts. Ezra, Luke and Obi-Wan rushed to the Cockpit.

"What's going on?" Asked Luke, coming up beside Han and Chewie.

"Our position's correct, except no Alderaan." Said Han, looking at the controls.

"What do you mean, where is it?" Asked Luke, confused.

"What I'm trying to tell you kid, it ain't there." Said Han, "Totally blown away."

"What how?" Asked Luke, looking at Obi-Wan and Ezra.

"Destroyed." Said Ezra, looking at the rocks, "By the Empire."

"An entire fleet couldn't destroy a planet," Said Han, "It'd take a thousand ships and more fire power than I-" The Falcon let out a rapid beeping sound.

"There's another ship coming in." Said Han, looking at the controls.

"Maybe they know what happened." Said Luke, looking at them.

"It's an Imperial fighter." Said Obi-Wan, looking distant.

Han leaned back and hit two levers above him, causing two loud banging sounds.

"They followed us!" Exclaimed Luke, looking at the TIE.

"No, it's short range, it doesn't have hyper drives or shields." Said Ezra, looking at the TIE.

"There aren't any bases around here, where did it come from." Said Han, looking at the controls and then at the TIE.

The Flacon followed the fighter.

"It sure is leaving in a big hurry." Said Luke, "If they identify us, we'll be in big trouble."

"Not if I can help it," Said Han, "Chewie, jam its transmissions."

"It'd be just as well to let it go, it's too far out of range." Said Obi-Wan, looking at Han.

"Not for long." Said Han, speeding up.

"A fighter that size couldn't have gotten this deep into space on its own," Said Ezra, "Search for any Docking ships."

"It must've gotten lost, been part of a convoy or something." Said Luke.

"Well he ain't gonna be around long enough to tell anybody about us." Said Han.

"I think he's heading for that small moon." Said Luke, pointing at a gray dot.

"I think I can get to them before they get there, I'm almost in range." Said Han, as Obi-Wan and Ezra stiffened.

"That's not a moon." Said Ezra, his eyes widening.

"That's a space station." Said Obi-Wan, eyes widening.

"It's too big to be a space station." Said Han, as they drew closer.

"I have a very bad feeling about this." Said Luke, looking at the station.

"Turn the ship around." Said Obi-Wan, while Han agreed.

"Yeah, I think you're right." Said Han, "Full reverse, Chewie, lock in the auxiliary power."

The ship started shaking.

"Chewie, lock in the auxiliary power." Said Han, looking at Chewbacca.

"Why are we still moving towards it?" Said Luke, looking at Han.

"They've got us in a tractor beam, it's pulling us in." Said Han, desperately fiddling with the controls.

"There must be something you can do." Said Luke, looking at Han.

"There's nothing I can do, Kid, I'm at full power," Said Han, "I'm gonna have to shut down."

Han flicked a couple of switches, "There not gonna get me without a fight."

Chewbacca roared a couple of time.

"You can't win." Said Obi-Wan, leaning forwards, "But there are alternatives to fighting."

The Falcon was pulled aboard the Space Station.

*/RH/*

Vader, Dominus and Tarkin received a call from the bays.

"We've captured a freighter that's made its way into the Alderaan System." Said the Stormtrooper, "It has the same markings as the ship that blasted its way out of Mos Eisley."

"They must be returning the Plans to the Princess." Said Dominus, looking at Vader.

"She may yet be some use to us." Said Vader, before taking Dominus down to the ship.

They met the Officer in charge of searching the ship.

"There's no one on board, sir," Said the Officer, "According to the Log, the crew abandoned ship right after take-off." Vader and Dominus were silent, "It must be a decoy, sir several of the escape pods have been jettisoned."

"Did you find any droids?" Said Dominus.

"No, sir, if there were any on board they were most likely jettisoned." Said the Officer.

"Send a scanning crew aboard, I want every part of this ship checked." Said Vader.

"Yes, sir." Said the Officer.

"I sense something, a presence I've not felt since…" Vader trailed off, before leaving the bay. Dominus stood still and felt through the force.

"The Apprentice has arrived." Said Dominus, quietly.

*/RH/*

Ezra heard the Stormtroopers leave, before pushing the floor above him upwards.

"It's lucky you have these." Said Luke, looking around him.

"I use them for smuggling," Said Han, "I never thought I'd be smuggling myself."

"No one ever does." Said Ezra, thinking back to Hondo.

"This is ridiculous, even if I could take off, I'd never get past the tractor beam." Said Han, looking at Obi-Wan.

"Leave that to me." Said Obi-Wan, getting out of the compartment he shared with Chewbacca.

"Fool, I knew you were going to say that." Said Han, hopping out.

"Who's more foolish, the fool or the fool who follows him?" Asked Ezra, placing him floor panel back in place.

*/RH/*

Obi-Wan, Han, Luke, Ezra, Chewbacca and the three Droids made their way off the ship. Luke and Han dressed as Stormtroopers. Ezra had refused to put on the armour.

"We should be able to access the Imperial network, sir." Said Threepio, to Obi-Wan.

"Good, plug in." Said Obi-Wan, nodding.

Artoo beeped a few times.

"He says he found the main controls to the power beam that's holding the ship here," Said Threepio, "He also said he'll try and bring up the precise location up on the screen here."

The screen lit up with various designs.

"The tractor beam is coupled to the main reactor in seven locations, a power loss at one of the terminals will allow the ship to leave." Said Threepio.

"I don't think you boys can help, I must go alone." Said Obi-Wan, looking around them.

"Master, allow me to come with you, you can't do this by yourself." Said Ezra, walking up to Obi-Wan.

"Ezra, your fate lies upon a different path, as does yours Luke." Said Obi-Wan, "Stay here and protect the droids, or other star systems will suffer the same fate as Alderaan."

Obi-Wan opened a door, "The force will be with you, always." Said Obi-Wan, leaving.

"Master!" Called Ezra, making Obi-Wan stop and look at him, "May the Force be with you."

"And also with you." Replied Obi-Wan, before leaving.

They then got a transmission about the Princess being executed, Luke wanted to save her. Han had decided he wanted to stay where he was. Until Ezra had mentioned that he would probably be paid a lot for saving the princess.

*/RH/*

Luke and Han escorted Chewbacca and Ezra to the detention centre. On the way they came across a mouse droid, which Chewbacca roared at.

"I can't see a thing in this helmet." Said Luke, while pushing Ezra and Chewbacca into the turbo lift.

"This is not going to work." Said Han, while Ezra leant back against the wall.

"Why didn't you say so before?" Asked Luke, looking Han's direction.

"I did say so before." Said Han, as they arrived.

Luke and Han guided Chewbacca and Ezra out of the lift. Ezra slowly reached for his Lightsabers, having left Kanan's back on the Falcon for safekeeping.

"Where are you taking this thing?" Asked the commander, looking at Han and Luke.

"Prisoner transfer, cell block 1138." Said Luke, gesturing to Chewbacca and Ezra.

"I wasn't notified, I'll have it cleared." Said the Commander, gesturing to two men.

One of the men approached them, then Chewbacca knocked him away, Ezra ignited both his lightsabers and swung them at two of the other guards, cutting them down with ease.

"Look out, they're loose!" Cried Han, shooting wildly. Luke doing the same.

Ezra jumped, removing the heads of two other guards and then cutting another along the back, severing his spine.

When all of the Imperials were dead everyone stopped.

"We gotta find out which cell this princess is in," Said Han, "Here it is, 2187. You two go and get her, I'll hold them here."

Luke and Ezra rushed down the cells, stopping when Han yelled that they were going to have company. Luke stopped by a cell and opened it, revealing Princess Leia.

"Aren't you a little short for a Stormtrooper?" Said Leia, looking at Luke.

"Oh, the Uniform," Said Luke, taking off his helmet, "I'm Luke Skywalker, I'm here to rescue you."

"You're who?" Asked Leia, confused.

"I'm here to rescue you, I have your R2 Unit. I'm here with Ben Kenobi." Said Luke.

"Ben Kenobi?!" Said Leia, "Where is he?"

Leia rushed out of the cells and ran straight into Ezra.

"Hello to you too, your highness." Said Ezra, looking at her.

Down at the control centre a Red lightsaber blade burst through the door.

"Get behind me!" Han yelled to Chewbacca. The Wookie complied, as the blade continued to cut through the door. As the door collapsed, Han fired three shots, one hitting a Stormtrooper and the other two being deflected by the red blade.

Leia looked up at Ezra, before slapping him across the face and then kissing him. Leia pulled away, leaving Ezra slightly stunned.

"I'll be honest, I was not expecting that." Said Ezra, confused.

"The slap was for leaving and the kiss is for coming back." Said Leia, walking past Ezra.

Han ran up to them, allowing Ezra to see the hooded figure with a face mask and a red lightsaber.

"You guys find another way out." Said Ezra, igniting his Blaster Saber.

"What about you?" Asked Luke, looking at Ezra.

"I'll take the long way," Said Ezra, "Don't worry, I'll be right behind you."

Ezra walked towards the Inquisitor, his presence slightly familiar.

"So the Apprentice has come to die, as his fool of a Master did before him." Said the hooded Figure.

"I don't believe we've been introduced." Said Ezra, looking at the Inquisitor.

"I am Inquisitor Dominus, the Tenth Brother." Said Dominus.

"Ezra Bridger, a Jedi and also not a Jedi." Said Ezra, looking at Dominus.

Dominus didn't respond as he swung at Ezra.

A/N: Chapter 6, Shit has finally fallen, the Death Star, Leia and Ezra Vs. Dominus. Tell me, who do you think Dominus is.