Han was in his element, all roguish smirks and swaggering pride. "Not a bad bit of rescuing, huh? You know, sometimes I amaze even myself."

Leia rolled her eyes. "That doesn't sound too hard. They let us go. It's the only explanation for how easily we escaped."

"Easy?" said Han incredulously. "You call that easy?"

"They're tracking us."

Han smirked. "Not this ship, Sister."

The princess just shook her head. "I just hope the information in that Artoo unit is still in tact."

"What's so important? What's he carrying?" demanded the smuggler. Leia turned to him. "The technical readouts of that battle station. I only hope that when the data is analyzed, a weakness can be found. It's not over yet."

Han snorted. "It is for me, Sister. Look I'm not in this for your revolution and I'm not in this for you, Princess. I expect to be well paid. I'm in it for the money."

Leia suddenly became cool. "You needn't worry about your reward. If money is all you love, then that is what you'll receive."

Luke was on his way into the cockpit as she was on her way out. "Your friend is quite a mercenary. I wonder if he really cares about anything or anybody."

"I care;" Luke timidly called after her. Before slowly turning and dropping into the co-pilot's seat."So," he asked nonchalantly, "what do you think of her, Han?"

"I'm trying no to, Kid;" said the older man. Luke couldn't help but let a smile cross his face. "Good."

Han turned to look at him and a little mischief began to rear its ugly head. "Still, she's got a lot of spirit. I dunno, what do you think? You think a princess and a guy like me..."

"No;" said Luke emphatically. Han couldn't help but grin broadly. The farm kid was worried about competition. Now Han found that terribly amusing.

They dropped out of hyperspace and the massive orange gas giant Yavin ponderously spun before them. Circling around it, they made their way to the fourth moon of that world. From the viewport, they could see sprawling forests and massive, ancient structures of carved stone and tall watch towers that were much more modern. After a quick scan, they found that the largest temple was occupied by a large number of people. Han put the Falcon down not far from it in a clearing just large enough for it and they were met by an armed escort. Princess Leia hurried to them and explained everything and, before they knew it, a squad of soldiers was escorting them to a hover cart which then carried them to the command center.

As they got off the cart, a man of medium height with gray hair and a definite military baring strode out. Immediately, Princess Leia went up to him and they embraced. "Your safe;" said the man, relief clear in his voice. "We heared about Alderaan and feared the worst."

"We have no time for sorrows, Commander;" said Leia, all business and confidence. "You must use the information in this Artoo unit to help plan the attack. It's our only hope."

Two techs escorted Artoo-Deeto away and the commander turned to Luke, Han and Chewbacca. "We are most obliged that you brought Princess Leia back to us. The dangers you must have endured are staggering."

Han just shrugged. "It wasn't so bad."

Luke rolled his eyes and said, "We were just glad we could help her out. But how can we- I help here, now?"

The man frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I want to help fight the Empire however I can. I want to help stop them;" said Luke eagerly. The Rebel commander nodded. "What's your name, son?"

"I'm Luke Skywalker."

Rieeken's eyes widened infinitesimally and he said, "I see. What skills do you have, Mister Skywalker?"

Luke blushed and said, "I'm a pretty fair pilot."

"He's a hell of a gunner too and crack shot with a blaster of any kind. To cap it all, he's going to be a Jedi;" said Han, clapping Luke soundly on the back. From inside the command room, a gruff, slightly raspy voice said, "A Jedi, you say? Is that so? What did you say your name was, young man?"

Out of the the command room came a tall man in battle armor. Across his face was a scar, cutting right over two milky white and obvious blind eyes. His silver hair was in a top knot and he had the baring of one who expected his commands to be followed, a real military commander. Luke replied as firmly as he could. "I'm Luke Skywalker and yes, Ahsoka Tano said that I could be a Jedi some day."

"Tano, huh? Where is she? I'd like to speak to her."

Silence followed until Leia said, "Agent Fulcrum is dead, General Kota. She sacrificed herself to save us and the Emperor's Hand cut her down."

Kota was silent for some time before saying, "You're telling me that Ahsoka Tano, the one-time apprentice of Anakin Skywalker was cut down by that teen-aged, spoiled, redheaded brat?"

"She had help;" explained Leia. "Four Shadow Guards and nearly a platoon of Stormtroopers by the time we escaped from the hanger."

General Kota nodded, still silent for several long moments before he turned his unseeing gaze fully on Luke. "Well, young Skywalker, my name is Rahm Kota, Jedi Master and General in the Rebel Alliance. At the moment, we're planning an attack on that battle station and can't get into your Jedi training as I, and I'm sure you, would like to. However, I think I know one way that you can help. You see, we're short on fighter pilots and, if you are anything like your father, I think you would be an excellent addition."

Leia shuffled uncertainly and said, "I'm not sure about this, General Kota."

"I am;" said the old man with a small grin. "Come on, Boy. Let's see how you do in the simulators and we'll go from there. Now what have you flown before?"

Luke lowered his head slightly and said, "Only an Incom Corporation T-16 Skyhopper, Sir."

"Good, good. From what I understand from a couple of our other pilots, Incom Corporation tends to make all of it's controls very similar from vehicle to vehicle. Let's go take a look."

In one of the large halls of the massive ancient temple was a room with a series of different simulator pods. "Hop right on in there, boy. We'll be right over there to judge your talent, alright? Hey Antilles, get over here and show him the details, will you."

A young man right around Luke's own age ran over with a cheerful grin. "You got it, General."

He ran over and said, "Hi there. I'm Wedge Antilles of Red Squadron. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Luke Skywalker;" said Luke, shaking his hand enthusiastically.

Wedge looked down at the simulator controls and said, "So you've flown an Incom craft before? My first starfighter was an old Z-95 Headhunter. How 'bout you?"

"A skyhopper, T-16 actually."

Wedge nodded sagely. "Yeah we have a couple pilots who grew up on those. They've turned out to be pretty good so far. Right, let's get started."

The controls of a T-65 X-wing Starfighter weren't too far off from a T-16 Skyhopper. The steering and maneuvering were pretty close to the same but Luke found that a starfighter's controls were a lot more extensive than a Skyhopper - not that it surprised him considering this was a combat ship, not an air speeder. After Luke had hastily memorized the controls, Wedge hopped into one of the sim pods next to him and played his wingman.

Luke was giddy with excitement as he began his simulated flight, taking all his commands from Kota and needing very little help from Wedge. For almost two hours, he engaged in scenarios of greater and greater difficulty, succeeding at every one of them until the General said into his mic. "Well I'll be Kesseled, Skywalker! We're going to make one hell of a pilot out of you. Hop on out of there and go get yourself a flight suit. I just received word that the techs found exactly what we were looking for in the technical readouts of the Death Star and your first combat mission is going to be fighting it."

Luke hopped out and Wedge looked suddenly very serious. "Remember everything you just did, Luke, and you'll hopefully survive this mission."

Luke felt more confident than he had in years. He clapped Wedge on the shoulder and said, "Wedge, if half the pilots we have are anywhere near as good as you, I'll bet a bunch of us will survive this mission. I need help finding some kit. Where should I go?"

Wedge hustled him over to the supply area and Luke was outfitted with a combat uniform to wear under his orange flightsuit and a flack jacket to wear over it. He was given a life support system, a blaster pistol, a harpoon gun and a dingy gray helmet with an orange face shield that went down almost to his nose. When he was all set, he and Wedge ran to join the other pilots in the briefing room. Just as they entered, Artoo was being plugged into the display unit.

Moff Tarkin and Mara Jade stood in the stateroom just off the observation deck of the Death Star when the comms unit chimed. Activating it, Moff Tarkin said, "Yes?"

"We're approaching the planet Yavin. The Rebel base is on a moon on the far side. We are preparing to orbit the planet."

Moff Tarkin signed off and looked at the much younger woman, a cold smirk on his face. "I find great pleasure in the fact that it will be me and my battle station, not your brother and all of his fantastic powers, that will be the end of the Rebel Alliance."

Mara Jade cocked a dark eyebrow. "Your aspirations may yet be the death of you, Governor. Don't call the fight before it's over and don't let your pride in this station inflate your ego to a size that causes you to think yourself higher than your station. Not even this station would save you if I found you taking too many liberties with it. Remember, you will still answer for Alderaan."

Moff Tarkin snorted and said, "If you think that the Emperor is going to have me punished after I eliminate the Rebel Alliance once and for all, then perhaps you do not understand how he thinks as well as I do."

"We shall see;" was her only reply before she swept out of the room, her black cloak billowing behind her.

The pilots were all crammed into a small briefing room with a large screen at the front. Before them, briefing them on the mission, was an elderly man in long robes and with a gray beard. Luke learned before it began that his name was General Jan Dodonna, the Rebel Alliance's war minister, formerly of the planet Commenor. When they were all gathered, he began. "The battle station is heavily shielded and carries a firepower greater than half the starfleet. It's defenses are designed around a direct large scale assault. A small, one man fighter should be able to penetrate the outer defense."

One of the pilots lifted a hand. "Pardon me for asking, Sir, but what good are snubfighters going to be against that?"

"Well the Empire doesn't consider a small, one man fighter to be any threat or they would have a tighter defense. An analyses of the plans provided by Princess Leia has demonstrated a weakness in the battle station. The approach will not be easy. You're required to maneuver straight down this trench;" and he indicated the wire-frame image on the screen, "and skin the service to this point. The target area is only two meters wide. It's a small thermal exhaust port right below the main port. The shaft leads directly to the reactor system. A precise hit should start a chain reaction that should destroy the station. Only a precise hit will set off the chain reaction and the shaft is ray shielded so you'll have to use proton torpedoes."

One of the pilots directly next to Luke blurted out. "That's impossible, even for a computer."

Luke leaned over and said, "But it's not impossible. I used to bulls-eye wamprats in my T-16 back home and they weren't bigger than two meters."

General Dodonna looked grim as he ordered. "Man your ships and may the force be with you."

Lady Jade and Moff Tarkin stood on the observation deck as one of the deck officers announced. "Orbiting the planet at maximum velocity. The Rebel Base should be in range in thirty minutes."

Moff Tarkin smiled thinly to himself. "This will be a great day long remembered in the annals of the Empire. In thirty minutes, this insignificant rebellion will be gone and the galaxy will be brought to order fully under the Emperor's command."

Mara was not so sure of it. Something was bothering her. Her danger sense was thrumming, announcing that there was something terribly wrong. "I see no harm in taking precautions, Governor. Have the fighters standing by."

"There is no need for that, Lady Jade. What could they possibly have that could penetrate this station's defenses?"

Mara gritted her teeth. The lives of a hundred million Imperial personnel were at risk. The least Tarkin could do was exercise due caution, but she knew that he would not be swayed. Turning away, she headed towards the exit. "You aren't going to watch from here, my Lady?" called the governor behind her. With a cool stare, she said, "No I will not. I am going to have my personal fighter ready just in case your are proved to be wrong, as unlikely as you seem to think that it is."

Luke hurried to the temple's main hanger, See-Threepio on one side and General Rahm Kota on the other. The old man was giving him instructions as they went. "Remember, boy, trust in the force and always remain alert. Feel and don't think. Let it guide you as you fly and as you fight. I'm sure that Ahsoka told you that your eyes can easily deceive you."

"She did, General."

"Good;" said the General with finality. "Just remember what she taught you and you'll do great. I'll be on the other end of the comms if you need me, Skywalker. May the force be with you."

He slapped Luke on the shoulder and hurried away, winding between hustling pilots and technicians as if he could see just fine. As Luke hurried through the throng, he noticed Han loading crates onto a cargo hauler. Taking a quick detour, Luke ran over and said, "So that's it. You've gotten your reward and your just leaving then?"

"That's right, yeah;" replied Han as he loaded another crate. "I have some old debts I need to pay off with this stuff. Even if I didn't, you don't think I'd be fool enough to stick around here, do you?"

Luke wasn't surprised but he was disappointed. Suddenly, Han turned to face him. "Why don't you come with us? You're pretty good in a fight. We could use you."

Luke was incredulous. "Come on! Why don't you take a look around? You know what's about to happen and what they're up against. They could use a good pilot like you. You're turning your back on them."

Han felt a tinge of guilt creep into his chest and that guilt caused irritation. "What's good's a reward if you ain't around to use it?" he demanded. "Besides, attacking that battle station ain't my idea of courage. It's more like suicide."

Luke nodded. "Alright, well take care of yourself, Han. I suppose it's what you're best at, isn't it?"

He turned away, heading towards the fighter prepared for him. "Hey, Luke."

He turned and looked levelly at Han. The smuggler gave a small smile and said, "May the force be with you."

Though the disappointment was still there, the animosity drained away and Luke nodded before jogging over to his ship. All around him, X-wings and Y-wings were being loaded with the scant ordinance that the rebel's had left. Astromech droids were being set in their sockets and pilots were scrambling into their cockpits. There was an heir of nervous determination and of solemness in the air and Luke could plainly sense it.

As Luke made it to his fighter, Leia walked up to him, looking concerned. "What's wrong?"

"Oh it's Han;" sighed Luke. "I don't know, I thought he'd change his mind."

Leia sighed herself and shook her head. "He's got to follow his own path. No one can choose it for him."

Luke nodded and then looked down. After a short breath, he said, "I just wish Ahsoka were here."

Leia smiled sadly and put a hand on his shoulder before leaning up and planting a soft kiss on his cheek and hurrying away. That helped Luke feel just a little bit better. With the smallest of smiles tugging at his lips, Luke gave his fighter a once over, just like he would his old skyhopper. Suddenly, a voice called out, "Hey, Luke!"

Turning, Luke saw the last person he expected. Biggs Darklighter, an old friend from back on Tatooine who had gone to the Imperial Academy, ran over with a big grin on his mustached face. "Biggs!" Luke exclaimed in disbelief.

His older friend laughed and said, "I don't believe it!" at the same time Luke asked, "How are you?"

"How'd you get here?"

Suddenly more serious, Biggs asked, "Hey, you coming up with us?"

"Oh I'll be right up there with you. And do I have stories to tell you."

"Skywalker!" came another voice from behind them. A tall man who Luke vaguely recognized as Commander Garvin Dreis, Red Leader and his new commanding officer, strode up. "Are you sure you can handle a starfighter like this?"

Before Luke could reply, Biggs interjected. "Sir, Luke's the best bush pilot in the Outer Rim territories."

With a small smile, Commander Dreis nodded. "You'll do alright."

Luke smiled eagerly. "Thank you, Sir. I'll try."

As the commander walked away, Biggs said, "I gotta get aboard. We'll hear all of your stories when we get back, alright?"

"Right;" replied Luke. "Hey Biggs, I told you I'd make it some day."

Biggs grinned broadly and said, "It'll be just like old times, Luke. They'll never stop us."

His old friend hurried off and Luke climbed quickly up the ladder to his fighter's cockpit. The tech who was doing final maintenance checks commented, "Hey this Artoo unit of yours seems beat up. You want a new one?"

Luke, realizing that Artoo was being set in his socket, grinned and said, "Not on your life. This Artoo unit and I have been through a lot together. You okay, Artoo?"

The little droid whistled and chirped cheerfully.

Throughout the hanger, ships began to hum and roar. Technicians removed ladders and hurried out of the way as they lifted off the ground and eased their way through the hanger entrance. As they lifted into the air, Luke heard General Kota's gruff voice in his headset. "Remember, boy. The force will be with you."

With twenty-nine other pilots, he blazed through the clouds and out of the moon's atmosphere and was surrounded by the stars and the darkness of open space.

12.12.2017