One week later, all the Children of Jakku gathered for their seemingly biggest battle. While the great numbers of TIE-fighters was waiting the enemy on the lower orbit, Simon and Finn took the position near Empire fort. They watched as exited crowd screams, as they thirsty for blood more and more. And attack begin. As the single fist they seek to the main gate. But far aside crowd began to run and scream. They saw the big machine, walking on the four pedals. Nearly this moment they heard the hum of TIE fighters in the dark sky above them. In the next moment, blasts of hundreds rackets lighted the sky. The crowd crawling on the ground and under walking machine pedals saw as the TIE-fighters are tacking between explosions and random moving rackets. However, everyone knew this was not the right time for stargazing, when Empire's Ground Walkers is still walking.

Simon turned up the walkie-talkie and said, "Nelson, we have quadrupedal armored transport here. I afraid this will disperse the crowd. a Mind you hit it?"

"I don't see that. Show me the target."

"Now I see why they doesn't shoot. Blast will make them seem." Simon lowered his head. "I'll use a spotlight."

"Not now. I'm a little busy right now. Give me ten minutes."

"We must retreat," Finn said. "Its armor is very tough for TIE fighters. Your weapon won't damage it."

"There can't be a hard armor in every part of machine. There should be Achilles heel. Nelson is the best warrior I ever know. He will find it."

Simon waited near the spotlight. And started to panic when the Ground Walker got close.

"Nelson, time is short."

"I'm ready," radio answered.

"Okay, guys. I turn on the spotlight for a short time. I'll be under the fire after that. Back me up and don't let them kill me." Simon turned on the light and everyone saw AT-AT Transport in all its glorious. "It's all yours, Nelson."

One of the TIE fighters in the sky changed its course and started to fall down. Flew by the Walker very close and fired two rockets what made the Walker fall on the ground. In the next moment, the spotlight had destroyed and Simon forced ran away. One shoot in his shoulder and he fell on the ground. Moaning and bleeding he cried very angry, "Back me up batter!" Overcoming pain, he got back in the trench and fell on the back. At the same time a picture was revealed before him, in which the TIE fighters attacked the fort. And there was the one big starship in the air. Flames engulfed it and like a big fireball it rushed to the ground. But the wound in the shoulder hurt Simon and made him lose consciousness.

Next day Simon woke up in a hospital. He didn't know what was the end of the battle. Waiting is only one thing that he could. Finn was the first who visited him.

"Doctor said that your awakening is a matter of time. I came bearing good news."

"Have we won?"

"Of course we have. If we not, we wouldn't be talking."

"Yes, indeed." Simon sighed.

"This was the hard battle. I was very scared when the burning shipwreck started to fall on the ground. The sky above us and the desert around was burning. I'm very happy that many pilots survived this battle and my girl did. They prepare for medal ceremony now. Are you coming to watch?"

Simon nodded. "What's kind of medal."

"Don't you know? Jakku's sector had renamed as Republic of Jakku today. We can't be a part of Galactic Republic because there is not such thing yet. However, we are not part of Empire anymore. This is the result of war. This battle played a vital role in the overthrow of dictatorship in our sector. The heroes will get a republic medal and a place in the local senate. I heard there is a place for you."

Simon smirked, "No, Finn. I'm too young for that. I'm just Nelson's henchman, some kind of secretary. But I will one day. Nelson is old and want me to pick up the torch. We agreed about that long time ago."

"I thought that you're big boss here. How young are you?"

"The youngest child of Jakku. All really bosses are pilots. They are first children of Jakku. They are still major part of our army. But my role here is… Nelson has entrusted me with the newcomers what he recruits."

"Interesting. I never heard about the pilots of a garbage scow who could give a challenge for empire army. Who are they?"

"I don't know." Simon raised his head, "I mean I saw them but I don't know who they are. Finn, don't think about it now. We won. That's the point."

They came to the Medal Ceremony little late. Finn find his friend aside of main stage and stood next after her. He asked, "Why you're not on the stage?"

"I got my medal. You missed it."

"Show me." Finn looked in her hand, frowning. "There is not lust name on this medal but nick name. You have bad taste. Even Stormkiller sounds batter. Can I call you Girl Who Must Not Be Named?"

"No." she smiled.

Simon stood next after them and said, "Your father should be proud of you."

"My father is dead."

"Oh, I'm sorry. However, my father is still alive. What can I know about your feeling?"

She smiled and wiped away her tears. "Oh, kid, my father was too old. And I'm not little now. It isn't an injury."

"You are crying."

"I know. But they are tears of joy. I can't to believe I got a medal as a hero of Republic. Father would laugh at me for a long time."

Finn smirked either and said, "Yes, certainly. If someone had told me that you would fight for Republic, I would have tied him for fear he'd gone mad. But here we are. We was fighting side to side with a freedom fighter. Who is the next medalist? I'm looking forward to see." He looked at the stage and his face changed, "Scott Fryer? Maybe I'm sleeping now?"

"Scott Fryer?" Simon's eyes opened wide, "Who is that?"

"Don't you know? Of course you don't. You have been lived in the waste sites all your life. How can you know him? It's just a luck that I saw him before. And this was very far away from Jakku. He is typical Tie pilot." Finn looked at every person on the stage and he could not conceal his astonishment. "I see all of them are empire pilots. And no one commercial pilot from Jakku is here. Something is wrong."

"What are you afraid of?"

"I want to get out of here."

Simon was only one who stayed on the place. Another two got away. Finn was muttering under his breath and time after time looked over his shoulder. When they got the long distance of the square, he said, "I need a little rest far away from here. Mind you bring me in another sector? Far away from Jakku."

"No. Tie Fighter flies short distance. And I can't find a hyperdrive. Why do you want to run away? I believe that new Republic won't be worse than old Empire."

"Either I do. Because our liberators, heroes and the new hope are the same Empire's pilots. They just changed a flag. Why you didn't say me that?"

"I was not sure. One Tie Pilot can't know each one in all the galaxy. On the other side, who this supposed to be? Cosmic truckers?"

"Good argument. Then I know who should be in charge here. Good old Palpatine. No, Jakku would be so little piece of cake for so big man like him. Maybe you would like to do this, pure blood imperialist?"

"No, rebellions win one victory after another. There is a little chance but still a chance that they will come here. I'm afraid of them. Here is no harm to go the winning party. You said me that, remember."

"Yes, I said so. Otherwise, I would never join Empire. I'm not a big fun of dark side of the force. But now, I'm not only one who afraid. Did you hear about Alderaan? This planet had destroyed when Wilhuff Tarkin decided to demonstrate destructive power of the Death Star. The same officers like Tarkin rules Jakku in our days. Bloodthirsty piranhas went out of control and killed officers what have been manage Jukku to take their place. You believe that you're safe in their ranks but deep inside… Deep inside you know that you're either vulnerable."

A moment of silence. But while they stared at each other, the kid ran alongside them. They could hear as he shot them from a toy pistol and said, "Die, Empire rats!"

"Okay, you convinced me. Now I believed the idea of Rebellion. What I'm supposed to do? Put on a T-shirt with inscription that I love Luke Skywalker? And then I'll say them, "Guys, don't hit me. I'm the one of you. I'll create good Republic for you. Give me five.""

Finn laughed shortly but gave her five, "Typical Empire rat. And what important, how do you know what the old Republic looked like? You are born in Empire."

"Do you mean I don't fit with them? Because I'm not old enough? You're kidding me. Stop it. Let's go to the White House. There is a big cake for us."

The all senate already gathered when they arrived, Nelson include. And Erik Simon was there. They gathered around the big cake what has the form of a map of Jakku. Nelson leaned over the cake and spread his arm wide so that his shadow falls on almost all its surface. He said, "Friends, you know I waited this day since Emperor died. We destroyed his henchmen in our sector. We are free now. We have a freedom to do whatever we want. Listen my wish. We are going to cut the cake. Who want after me?"

In that moment, the door opened. Even this was a day, dim light filled the room. And everyone saw something like a man coming in. But he has the ball on his head like the part of spacesuit. And the lights of lamps covering his body. He says through the radio like very famous Darth Lord, "Sorry, I didn't mean to distract you. I'm her to take the last stuff from my old work place. I'm Karl. Karl Son Rose if you don't know."

Everyone replied, "Hello, Karl!"

Karl looked around at each one in the hall and said, "Yes, you don't know me. But I believed we're on the same side. So, what happened? Why you have killed officer Meero and the others. Meero got your ass, Nelson. If he was someone like you, you would be already dead. So, was this bloodiness so necessary?"

"Do you really want to know?" asked Nelson. "I have promise to give angry blood rusty crowd satisfaction. They were a necessary sacrifice for a peace."

"Of course. This is the will of our people."

"Another point. I didn't want they come back with a few good strong friends. This was a necessary act for a peace. As you see, I don't kill more then it's necessary. And you're a big confirmation of this. Old fellow who should to see that the world has change. And what gonna be next, it's up to you. I gave you a chance to choose, one old officer of Empire."

"Sounds like a reason, but it's not exactly what I wanted to hear. As soon as emperor died, you started to divide the estate he left us. But you're not only one shark in the sea. This why you're here. I hope this garbage of the galaxy is good enough for you."

Karl took the carton box and walked away. Silence settled down over the hall. And Simon was the first who broke this silence, "I wanted to offer him a piece of cake, but he started to speak strange things about sharks. Who is this guy?"

"Don't pay attention to him." Scott said.

"No, I'm serious. He gave me a tip about Nelson's jail. I thought he is our spy. Or traitor of empire but he hadn't fight on our side in decisive battle."

"One poor office worker. He is no one here. But this oldster has two days before retirement. Seems a pity to kick him out. At least Nelson said me that."

"So sad. The man couldn't accept the fact the world is changed." Simon continued to eat the cake. He didn't attach importance to one angry old fellow and forgot about this happen soon. His life carried on. It promised a time of peace and security. At list, that what he thought.