The bridge was its usual unhurried hive of activity. The Dark Lord stood, as was his custom, scanning the stars from the massive viewport at the front of the room.
The admiral of the ship walked forward to the hissing form. "Lord Vader, we have decrypted the message that was sent from the area of suspicion earlier. It appears to be a transmission by Rebels."
"Show me."
The pair walked to a console, and the admiral nodded to the seated officer, who began playing the message.
It started in a storm of static, and never really cleared up. "Come in delta three, Brightstar speaking."
"Delta three, clearing skies." A second voice replied.
"I have an urgent message for my pilot."
"Affirmative. What is your message?"
"Skywalker is alive, and don't trust him. I repeat, do NOT trust him. He's fallen in with a bad crowd, and he... he... wiped out... our whole crop."
"I read, Brightstar. Return to base."
"I can't. It's gone."
Delta three waited for awhile before replying. "Well, find somewhere. Our relatives are still visiting. We can't come to your assistance yet."
"Very well. Brightstar out."
"Delta three out."
The message ended. Lord Vader sat and thought for awhile. The admiral piped up, "They have terrible code words, my Lord. Do you think it's a trap?"
"No. Return to Coruscant. I will be in my quarters." Darth Vader strode from the bridge.
As he walked, he turned a mental eye to his son, down in the detention center. The boy was soaking up the fear of his drowning acquaintance. Vader couldn't help but smile, his boy was taking to the Dark path so easily. Of course, the Dark power would mold any who used it, but Luke was making good headway.
Luke smiled as he walked down the corridor of the Imperial Palace. He'd spent the last few days on the return trip from Tatooine to Coruscant learning from his father. He enjoyed the sessions as they gave him time with his father and furthered his grip on his new power. Vader had said that if he kept this pace up he'd be able to start construction on a lightsaber soon. The thought pleased Luke as he had watched his father practice with his own saber and he desperately wanted to be able to learn how to handle such a weapon.
As he walked out of the back corridor he had been in, Luke entered the Grand Hall leading up to the throne room. Making his way through the crowd he briefly eyed the small purple and green trees that lined the hall. The first time he had seen them he had simply thought of them as decoration, but now he knew that they were so much more. He had learned that they were a special kind of recording device that would record anything said within a three meter radius. Luke had first discovered this when he had studied a plan of the Palace that outlined all the secret corridors and monitoring devices. Most of which were known to only a select few.
Luke looked at the courtiers waiting outside the massive double doors as he neared the end of the corridor. Most of them were in the midst of conversation with one another. Entering their minds with his mental fingers, Luke saw the hatred burning there for each other. It was as his father said; they hated each other, but pretended otherwise. Shaking his head, he knew he still had a long way to go where politics was concerned. Looking at one of the Imperial Guards he sighed. He knew that his grandfather could sense his presence and would call for him when he wished.
Being careful to keep a good posture, Luke moved to one side to wait. He knew from what Vader had told him that as long as his identity remained a secret, he would constantly be judged by the courtiers and anyone else who roamed the Palace corridors. By acting cold and confident he would make the best impression.
"Here to see his Majesty?" a courtier asked as he walked up to Luke.
Skywalker nodded as he looked at the man. Remembering what his father had said about interacting with anyone of the court, he looked for a way to get out of the conversation the red haired man was obviously trying to start.
"I do not recall seeing you here two months ago," the courtier began, hoping to get the young man to talk.
"I wasn't here," Luke replied simply, keeping his voice even and uninterested.
"Ah," the courtier stated, looking around before turning his attention back to Luke. "Have you heard? Grand Admiral Paterson has been put in charge of the major projects Tarkin was in control of. Lord Vader may have some competition coming his way."
Luke cocked his head to one side, fully aware of the fact that the man was probing him for information. To see exactly what he knew and where he stood. And perhaps even to get a reaction out of him. The last comment had had a slight undertone to it that hinted towards the fact that the courtier wanted a confirmation on it.
"Skywalker, the Emperor will see you," an Imperial Guard said as he walked up to them.
With a polite nod to the courtier, Luke turned and followed the guard. Despite what the courtier thought, he was all too well aware of the hate filled glare directed at his back. Entering the throne room, he walked forward, stopped, and bowed before the throne.
"Guards, leave us," Palpatine ordered and turned around to face Luke when all the guards had gone. Studying his grandson, Palpatine leaned back. Vader had already informed him of how the operation had gone and he was pleased, the boy was well underway. "Lord Vader informed me that you brought a few 'friends' back onboard with you."
"Yes," Luke replied. "I wanted to take my time in dealing with them."
"Interesting," the red-haired courtier commented. "But I must wonder whether it could be true or not."
"All evidence points towards the fact," an older courtier stated. "We know nothing of this Skywalker, no reputation, achievements, or anything else that would have gained him the notice of Vader. And then there are the clothes he wears."
"Indeed, he does seem to be well off," the red-haired man replied. "But then why would he see Palpatine?"
"I'm not sure," his companion began. "But if I were to guess, I would say control. The Emperor has to keep a handle on Vader somehow, what with that Sith magic and all. I mean no one else knows how he does it, so the Emperor would definitely want to keep an eye on him. What better way to control him than through the boy?"
"Point taken," the red-haired man admitted as he looked up. "Here he comes."
The older man looked up and caught sight of Skywalker as he made his way through the Grand Hall.
"Probably going back to Vader's Castle," he remarked.
Biggs paced restlessly back and forth in the docking bay of the small Alliance base he was stationed at, letting out a frustrated sigh. He had received his father's message a little over six weeks ago and knew that it had taken at least two weeks to get to him. Despite the time that had passed, he still couldn't bring himself to believe it. Luke alive and with the Empire? And not just as a stepping stone to get to the Alliance? He couldn't believe it. And then the message had gone on to say that he had killed his mother and Kelly!
It couldn't be true. It just couldn't be. Something must have happened to the message along the way. It must have gotten altered somehow. That or the person who had originally talked with his father must have misunderstood him. Or his father could have gotten the code mixed up and given the wrong message. After all, he wasn't used to dealing with codes. His mother and sister just couldn't be dead. Not by Luke. The kid was his best friend!
"You all right, Biggs?" Wedge asked he approached his pacing wingman.
"No, Wedge," Biggs replied as he looked up at the man who been his closest friend since they had flown together on the Death Star run. "I keep thinking of the message over and over again. It just can't be true!"
Wedge bit his lip and looked around the docking bay before turning his attention back to his friend. He knew what the other was feeling. He too had lost all of his family. But then, with him, he hadn't been betrayed by one of the people he trusted most.
"I mean Luke and I used to be as close as brothers!" Biggs continued. "He wouldn't hurt my family. Sure, he might not have liked Kelly very much, and she was a pain sometimes, but he would never have killed her!"
"Pacing won't help," Wedge commented. "The transport with your father will be here soon. Can you just calm down a little? Wearing a hole in the floor isn't going to speed up the shuttle."
Biggs glanced up at his friend as he considered his request. Wedge was right of course, but that didn't make him feel any better. The implications of what it would mean if the message was somehow true were hanging over him like a dark cloud, threatening to overwhelm him. Sitting down on a crate, Biggs sighed once more.
As he moved to sit next to his friend, Wedge tried to think of something to say. He tried to look for a way to distract his friend for a little while. Nothing came to him. Biggs had often told him of this Luke. He had talked about how good of a pilot he was and of how he would join them sooner or later. Wedge had been intrigued and curious, hoping to meet Skywalker some day.
Then Raklin Darklighter had sent a message informing his son of his friend's death at the hands of stormtroopers. Biggs had pulled into himself for a little while, mourning the loss. When he had gotten over the worst of it, he had thrown himself at the Empire twice as hard as before, wishing to avenge his friend's death. It had disturbed Wedge a bit to see the hate Biggs was capable of, but he had to admit that he'd probably be just as mad if he was in his shoes. Then the last message had come. One saying that Skywalker was not only alive, but an Imperial as well.
"Its here," Biggs exclaimed as he jumped to his feet and ran towards the landing shuttle.
Wedge slowly got up and followed at a distance, reaching the shuttle just as the ramp descended.
"Biggs!" Raklin called out as he came down the ramp.
"Father," Biggs replied as he walked up to him. "What happened?"
"Did you get my message?" Raklin inquired and then continued when his son nodded affirmative. "About two months ago, Skywalker appeared at our home. He had about four squads of stormtroopers with him."
"Whoa! Four squads?" Wedge asked as he came to stand next to Biggs.
"Father, this Wedge," Biggs said as indicated Wedge. "He's my wingman."
"Pleased to meet you," Raklin said as he looked the man over.
"You too," Wedge said. "Are you sure it was four squads? I mean they generally don't take that many troopers for one home."
"We were only the first of two planned attacks," Raklin replied as Biggs led the way to the room he and Wedge shared. "Anyway, Luke wanted to know where you were. Due to a comment he had made earlier, I was suspicious and asked him why. The next thing I knew there were stormtroopers all over the place. They interrogated us and killed Kelly when we refused to give them any information."
"No," Biggs whispered, horrified, as they entered the room. "Not Luke. Are you sure it was him?"
"Yes," Raklin replied sadly as he looked at his son. "Your mother was next."
"How did you survive?" Wedge asked after a few minutes of uncomfortable silence.
"I think they thought me dead. I was seriously wounded and when I woke the house and everything else was in ruins," Raklin replied. "Skywalker also had Anchorhead completely destroyed."
"Anchorhead?" Biggs asked. "Why?"
"I have no idea," Raklin stated. "All that I know is that if Luke shows up you are not to trust him. He's definitely Imperial and has a high rank. He was in charge and even ordered the general around, although the man didn't look too happy about it."
"A general?" Wedge repeated incredulously. "But this doesn't make any sense. It takes years to get that much power. Besides, we've done a check on Skywalker and nothing appears. None of our spies in the Empire have heard of him either."
"I know what I saw," Raklin growled with a hard edge to his voice.
"I'm not saying you're lying or anything," Wedge quickly stated. "All I'm saying is that something funny is going on here. We'd better go inform the Princess."
"You're right," Biggs agreed.
"There's one more thing," Raklin said. "Skywalker seems to be swimming in money now."
"What do you mean?" Biggs questioned.
"His clothes were covered with jewels that were probably worth more than our home did," Raklin informed his son, seeing Biggs' mouth drop. "And he was dressed in black."
"Black?! On Tatooine?"
"My Lord, the transmission from the homing beacon Alfa Four has stabilized location for the past two days. Intelligence reports that there is a correlation between its current location and a suspected Rebel base."
"Contact Imperial High Command and tell them to ready three Star Destroyers for the attack. I will see to this personally. Skywalker will accompany me."
"Yes, Sir."
Princess Leia's face was very pale, and her fingers trembled as she put the datacard down on the tabletop. She looked blankly over the small group of people seated with her, Antilles and Darklighter, Biggs' father, and two officers from Alliance Intelligence. One of the officers had gray hair, the other's was brown. They both looked very grim. The Princess had agreed to meeting these two pilots and the father, after hearing their story.
"I'm sorry, Biggs Darklighter, I really am," she began. "But I didn't know that you knew Luke Skywalker."
"What do you mean, Princess?" asked Biggs.
"He helped rescue me from the Death Star. Him and those two pirates did it, actually. And General Kenobi, who didn't make it either. The four of us had gotten out of the detention area, and were crossing the hanger to the ship, when Kenobi died in a duel with Darth Vader. Luke turned and screamed 'No!' and got shot. I yelled to that worthless pirate 'Luke's down!' and he took off, leaving Luke. I could have stayed, but what good would that have done? I needed to get the plans of the Death Star to the Alliance. I would have told you much earlier, but I didn't know that you knew him. I am so sorry." The Princess looked at Biggs, regret in her eyes.
Biggs buried his face in his hands. "It's okay. Either way, I would have thought him dead by the Empire. But, Dad, now he's alive, and you keep saying he did these horrible things." Biggs stopped speaking, his doubt obvious.
"Son, I know who I saw. It was Luke Skywalker."
"But you keep saying that he was cruel, and everyone was following his orders. How could that be Luke? Maybe it was just someone who looked like him." Biggs reasoned. "I mean, he was always one to help out, and Luke never bossed anyone around."
"He never had the opportunity, Son." Raklin said. "Maybe he's different when he has power."
"Luke was," Leia said, "very kind on the Death Star. Even the pirate admitted that it was Luke's idea to rescue me. The smuggler would have just left me, like he did Luke."
"Regardless," butted in an Intelligence officer, "It is becoming more clear that this Luke Skywalker is becoming another threat on the Imperial side."
"What do you mean, Sir?" asked Wedge. "How could some untrained farmboy become a threat?"
The older man began, "We have received a report from one of our spies as to the whereabouts of Luke Skywalker. We would have received news earlier, but information from our spies on Coruscant takes several weeks to safely travel out here."
"Coruscant? Skywalker's been there? But why?" Biggs asked.
"Actually, we had received a report about Skywalker several weeks ago, but the report lacked a name, so we didn't realize who it was." The officer rumbled.
Leia swallowed hard, fear settling in her stomach. She had just read the reports, and she couldn't believe what they said. Luke had seemed like such a nice man.
The second officer began quietly from where he was sitting. "The report stated that rumors in the Imperial Navy say that Darth Vader had picked up a rather young man as part of his entourage. The Sith Lord was rumored to be bringing this young man with him everywhere he went and that they spent a lot of time together, alone. The Imperial Navy currently has several rumors running around as to the exact nature of the relationship between the two. Or, to put it more bluntly, how intimate the two are. Naturally, without a name, we thought nothing of the report. Even though the report mentioned that Lord Vader had ordered the destruction of the man's hometown, as a favor."
"A favor?" Raklin Darklighter asked, aghast.
The officer continued on, ignoring the disruption. "But this morning we received another report, this one from a deep plant on Coruscant, stating that Vader has a young man who has, just recently, moved into his castle. He has showered the man with gifts, including a very expensive wardrobe, and has taken the man to see the Emperor. The man's name is reported to be Luke Skywalker."
The group looked at Biggs Darklighter and his father, Raklin, both of which mirrored the same look of incredulous denial. Biggs blurted out, "Not Luke! He wouldn't want to destroy Anchorhead!"
Raklin added, "Biggs, it is possible. He wasn't very happy there. I just have difficulty believing the boy would be so, ah, close to Darth Vader."
"It probably," Wedge added, "has more to do with what we did to the Death Star. The Imperials have always been big on revenge."
"Actually," Leia said, "if Darth Vader has a hold of Skywalker, it is quite possible that he was placed in charge of exacting revenge on your hometown, Darklighter. Darth Vader is," Leia clasped her hands together in her lap as she tried not to remember the last time she had seen the black clad nightmare, "quite capable of- converting- someone to Imperial thought. Especially someone who has no training to resist his methods of persuasion. Skywalker may have been ordered to prove his new loyalties."
"Of course," the first officer continued, "it is important to note, that if Darth Vader has persuaded this Luke Skywalker to be loyal to the Imperial cause, he is probably completely lost to us by now. It would be very important for you to remember that, Biggs Darklighter."
"Yes, Sir."
"My Lord, I have scheduled the holovid meeting for the admirals and captains of this attack group at twelve hundred hours." Garret Ravenell, newly promoted to major, found himself as nervous as the first day he had reported to duty as Lord Vader's adjunct. It had nothing to do with the coming attack, but everything to do with that damn rumor he had just heard.
"Thank you, Major. What else is there?" The armored figure was sitting in his chair in the front room of the quarters that had been provided for him, with Luke Skywalker sitting in another chair off to one side, reading a datacard. The hiss of the respirator was loud in the room.
"Sire, I don't know how to put this, but I heard a very disturbing rumor today that I thought you should know about it." Garret took a deep breath, then plunged on. "It concerns your relationship with Skywalker." Garret could tell that Luke was listening now, even if his eyes were still on the datacard.
"Are the rumors anywhere close to the truth?" the mechanical voice growled.
"No, my Lord. But, well, the rumors are saying that Skywalker is, uh, your personal, uh," Garret cleared his throat, "plaything, my Lord. They hint rather extensively at why he spends so much time in your quarters, Sire."
Luke dropped his datacard. "What?" He hissed. Vader just sat there, thinking. Luke's face was rapidly becoming purple with rage. Garret winced.
Vader spoke. "Ignore it. Refuse to answer any questions."
"Yes, my Lord." Garret bowed.
"Ignore it?" Skywalker almost shouted, rising out of his chair. "It's disgusting! I won't stand for it!"
Darth Vader just turned to his son. "If you say anything, you fuel the rumors. Silence is your only weapon against rumors. That, and truth. We are not ready for the truth. You will say nothing, do you understand?" Skywalker answered with stony silence. "You will be silent, Luke. Or I will have you sent back to my castle."
Luke sat back down, still furious. "Yes, my Lord."
"Good. Besides, it is good camouflage. Never be ashamed to use the opportunities given to you." Vader measured his still seething son with his masked gaze. "It disgusts me as well, but it will make the fools who believed it look all the more foolish in the end."
Luke fumed as he stood off to one side as the officers of the Star Destroyer he was on entered the room. As soon as the first captain had entered the room, he had reached out and effortlessly stroked his mental fingers through the man's mind. He had wanted to confirm if what Garret had said was true, not that he doubted the newly promoted major, it was just that he needed to see it for himself. What he had found had infuriated him, but he had restrained his anger, through an extreme effort, and had refrained from lashing out. Soon he'd have more than enough time.
Indeed. As soon as the Rebel base was captured he'd be able to deal with Biggs himself. He couldn't kill him just yet, Palpatine had said that he wanted both Darklighter and Antilles to be publicly executed to set an example to the galaxy. However, that didn't mean that he couldn't hurt him emotionally until then.
'Son,' Vader said mentally, pulling Luke back to the present.
With a sharp nod in his father's direction, Luke moved forward and took a chair at the conference table. A few of the officers already seated shot him a glance, but quickly looked away when he turned to meet their eyes. Entwining his fingers on his lap under the table, Luke turned his attention to the holos of the admirals, generals, and captains of the other two Star Destroyers as they came to life.
"The Rebel base we will be attacking is only a minor one," Vader began. "However the Rebel pilot Biggs Darklighter is believed to be present there and perhaps even Wedge Antilles."
Vader could see hate appear on the faces of his officers at the mention of those two names. Almost all of them had had family or friends on the Death Star at the time of its destruction, and even those that hadn't, wanted revenge for what had happened.
Admiral Cobb looked out the viewport of the Star Destroyer two days later as it jumped out of hyperspace. They were still a good way away from the Rebel base, but Lord Vader had been very precise in his orders. He wanted this mission to go flawlessly and he wanted Darklighter and Antilles alive if they were on the base. Now, considering that they were both fighter pilots, meant that they had to move quickly and disable the Rebel fighters before the pilots had a chance to reach them. This could only be achieved if the attack was swift and totally unexpected.
Therefore all three Star Destroyers were to come out of hyperspace well outside of the Rebel's scanner range. This way they could move into position before making a microleap through hyperspace and coming out once more exactly where they needed to be. Once there, they would open fire on the aircrafts the Rebels had and any weapons they might try to use against them. While this was happening, armored transports filled with stormtroopers would be sent down to the planet along with a few AT-ATs and AT-STs.
Admiral Cobb only hoped it worked. For if it didn't, he was probably the one that would pay the price for it, seeing that he was the admiral on the Star Destroyer Vader had decided to use as his command ship. It was at times like this that Admiral Cobb wished that the construction of the Super Star Destroyer would hurry up. Not only would it provide the Empire with another formidable weapon that they could use to destroy this irritating rebellion with, but it would also give Vader a flagship meaning that he would no longer go around using different Star Destroyers as his command station.
He caught his captain's eye as he turned around and nodded his head, indicating him to have the ship moved into position. Saluting, the man moved towards one of the other officers and instructed him on what to do. So far everything was going smoothly. He was just about to move away from the viewport when the doors to the bridge opened and Lord Vader swept into the room, followed closely by Skywalker.
"Is everything going according to plan?" Vader demanded.
"Yes, my Lord," Admiral Cobb replied as he moved out of the way.
"Good," Vader stated. "Contact the other Star Destroyers, tell them to be ready to make the final jump on my mark."
Despite the fact that the meeting had been several days ago, Leia couldn't push the thoughts of Skywalker aside. The more she thought about it, the more she couldn't help but agree with Darklighter. The Skywalker she had seen on the Death Star didn't seem anything like the Skywalker, Raklin Darklighter had described. And yet she knew that he wouldn't make a mistake as big as this, having seen Skywalker a lot.
And yet Skywalker had been traveling with General Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi. Since the meeting, her mind had wandered to the possible reasons why the general would take Skywalker with him. The only thing she had been able to come up with, given what Darklighter had said about his past with Skywalker, was that Kenobi had known the boy wanted to join the Alliance and had decided to help him when he had gotten her message. It made sense because Vader was very good at manipulation and had probably quickly squashed Skywalker's former dreams.
Despite being reasonable, the explanation didn't explain why Vader was so interested in Skywalker as to spend so much money on him. Unless, of course, the rumors circulating the Imperial Navy were true. Leia wouldn't put it past Vader to be like that. After all, considering all the other things he had done so far for the Empire, this was really minor. The question was what Skywalker thought of the situation. It could be that Vader had manipulated him to the extent that he was content.
Leia sighed and shook her head. This was all too confusing and she couldn't help but wonder what would have become of Skywalker if he hadn't been left behind on the Death Star. From what Darklighter said of his piloting skills, he would probably have been put into an X-wing and sent against the Death Star. He would then either have died in battle or survived and be with the Alliance now.
Two extremely different futures and all decided by one man's selfishness. If it hadn't been for that damn pilot, what was his name again... oh yeah, Solo, she would have helped Skywalker and they all would have been able to leave the Death Star together. But Solo had been too busy worrying about his own hide to care what happened to Skywalker. Although she hadn't mentioned it to anyone else, she had always felt a little guilty about what had happened to him. He had, after all, risked his life to save hers and he had ended up paying the price.
As if leaving Skywalker behind wasn't enough, Leia was sure that Solo had demanded more money for the transportation then had originally been agreed upon. For although Leia hadn't been there when the fee had been agreed upon, she knew that General Kenobi would never have agreed to pay a total of 25,000 credits. It was ridiculous. However, being unable to prove this, the Alliance had been forced to pay the pirate the money. After receiving his money he had still had the nerve to eat at the base before fleeing as soon as the Death Star had appeared on the scanners.
'Not this ship, sister,' his words rang through her head. They were arrogantly spoken words that had led the Empire straight to the Yavin base. For, although he believed otherwise, his ship was being tracked. Leia could only be glad that Antilles and Darklighter were the pilots they were and that the confrontation had ended the way it had.
Leia froze momentarily as loud sirens started to go off. Cursing loudly, she turned around and ungracefully ran down the corridors towards the command center. Those sirens only went off for one reason: Imperial attack.
Luke reached out with the Force as he watched the green streaks of pure energy bombard the planet. Quietly he savored the ripples of disturbance that ran through the Force as Rebels died. He then reached out further and swept the base more thoroughly, looking for a certain mind. He would have looked for that of his former friend, but he knew that he'd have to dig too deep into every mind he came across as he didn't know Biggs' mind. The mind he did know, however, was that of Raklin Darklighter as he had taken the time to memorize it on Tatooine.
He smiled as he found it and sensed the fear and anger that radiated from that mind. Luke was suddenly distracted when he felt a strange ripple in the Force unlike anything he had ever felt before.
"What?" Luke whispered softly.
"Luke?" Vader inquired, making sure to keep his voice low enough so that the officers wouldn't hear.
"What was that?" Luke questioned. "That... ripple."
"I felt nothing."
"But..." Luke began.
"Lord Vader," General Veers said as he approached the two.
"General," Vader said as he turned around to face the man.
"According to the scans we have received it would seem that there are three main entrances to the base," General Veers said as he looked at Luke. He had heard the rumors concerning the boy, but he dismissed them. He had been in the military long enough to know that anything that was even remotely interesting circulated quickly no matter whether it was right or wrong. The rumors circulated only to provide amusement.
"I'll take one," Vader began, pleased with the general's train of thought. "You take another, and Skywalker will take the last."
"As you wish, my Lord," General Veers replied as he bowed and turned around.
"Tell me what you felt later," Vader instructed as he turned back to Luke. "It may or may not be something of importance. However, since I did not feel it, it can't be coming from a source of immediate danger. After this is done, and before I leave, we can discuss it in private as it is entirely possible that you felt a subtle warning for the future."
Luke silently acknowledged his father as he briefly shot another look back out the viewport before following the man off the bridge. His mind, however, couldn't quite push aside what he had felt.
The AT-AT lumbered forward, the ground shaking beneath the feet of the walkers. The front guns sporadically firing at the few Rebel speeders that had rushed out to fight them. Most of the Rebel craft had been in the main hangar and landing field, which had been slugged by the earlier ship bombardment. They had made quick work of the flight craft and the base defenses, preventing the Rebels from launching an adequate aerial defense.
Once they reached the base, Luke slid down the thin cable he had released from the belly of the AT-AT with blinding speed. In truth, he was basically falling, the line only a diversion to hide his abilities. He openly dropped the last several feet, running towards the cover of the buildings.
The troop transports were busy dumping their white armored cargo under the cover of the AT-ATs. The frontal assault troops nodded to Skywalker and moved over, not pausing from launching sleep-gas grenades and firing stun blasts into the entrance to the base.
"Sergeant," Skywalker commanded, "start moving your men forward. We can't give them time to realize we're here to take them all alive." The man grunted, and white armored troops started rushing forward in waves.
Princess Leia watched the advancing stormtroopers taking the entrance from the command center, the security holocameras taking in the scene. People were nervously doing their jobs, despite the shrieking alarms. "Major," she said to the man on the other side of the com she had pressed to her ear, "they've cut us off at both entrances. Start sending people out the back, the transports have been destroyed." Maybe they could hide in the woods till they were rescued, maybe-
Suddenly, a blond man in civilian clothes walked past the wreckage in one of the entrances. Leia gasped, recognizing him. "Oh no," she whispered.
"Princess," one of the techs cried in fear, "Darth Vader just came in the East entrance." The room was suddenly gripped in terror, the raid had just become a death sentence for all of them.
"Princess," another tech cried, "we just got a report- it's not poison gas, it's sleep-gas. And all the stormtroopers are using stun blasts."
Things suddenly snapped into place. "Antilles and Darklighter," she whispered, "they know they're here." She spoke briskly into the com, for all to hear. "Major, they're trying to take us all alive. I give everyone permission to do whatever they think is necessary to prevent that." The Princess knew that she had just given the order to let her fellow Rebels commit suicide rather than be taken, but she knew that few would take the option. Life was sacred for many of them.
Leia looked around the room and the technicians of this small outpost. "You're dismissed," she announced, "try to get out the back, if you wish. Hide in the woods, a rescue mission should be launched in a week or two. Good luck and may the Force be with you."
With that, she ran for the door. She wanted to find Antilles and Darklighter- they needed to be protected. And warned.
The yellowish smoke stung his eyes, but Luke just blinked furiously, and kept up his pace. He ducked behind cover, his escort following. He needed to stay close to the front of the battle line. If one of the stormtroopers recognized the men responsible for the Death Star's destruction, they might try to take matters into their own hands and kill them. But the Emperor had been very clear that he wanted both men alive and unharmed for their public execution. His father had warned him to keep an eye on the troops, they weren't to be trusted.
'Like Biggs,' he thought, 'I can't believe you would turn on me like this, Biggs. Remember when we used to talk about how we were going to be TIE pilots together? You got to go to the Academy, and I didn't. You come back and tell me that you had lost faith in the Empire and were jumping ship. Damn it, what happened to your faith? If you just stuck around, I wouldn't have to hunt you down!' Luke fumed, furious at his former friend.
A wave of sleep-gas floated past, and Luke was thankful that he had already taken the antidote. The smoke didn't do anything more than sting his throat. Luke used the cover of the gas to catch up to the front wave. He scampered over fallen bodies that were either unconscious Rebels or dead stormtroopers. He ducked behind a piece of blasted equipment, still fuming.
'Damn you, Biggs! You could have become my wingman! Father said I would get my own ship in a couple months! But no- you have to turn traitor! And now, the Emperor wants me to kill you, in front of everybody, to prove myself!'
Luke's danger-sense went off, and Luke threw himself at the ground as his cover was blasted apart over him. 'Damn, get your head out of the clouds, Skywalker!' He yelled to himself as he rolled into an open door. 'You're supposed to be herding these Rebels, not getting shot by them!'
General Veers sneered at the fleeing Rebels beneath him. He was guarding the third entrance to the Rebel compound. The third entrance was really a back door, cut into the side of the hill. Most of the living quarters of the compound were underground, buried under the hill he stood on.
The plan was simple, really. Take out the Rebels' ability to mount an aerial attack or to escape by ship. Drive them into the compound with terrifying Imperial weapons such as the AT-AT. Launch a tidal wave of stormtroopers into the base, headed by the terrifying visage of Lord Vader, driving them further in to the compound. Leave the 'secret' backdoor apparently unfound.
Another wave of Rebels streamed out of the door.
"Wait." General Veers told his men. He waited until the group of Rebels was well away from the door. "Now."
Stun blasts lanced out, and the Rebels dropped all caution and plunged for the woods. Once they reached the cover of the trees, the troopers at Veers' side stopped.
"Tell the Sergeants that more are coming." Veers said. He smiled a cold smile. Once in the woods, the Rebels would drop unconscious, one by one. The woods were thick with an invisible version of the same sleep-gas they were using on the other side of the Rebel base. The stormtroopers in the woods only had to run around and pick up the unconscious forms.
"It's like herding Banthas to a slaughter." Veers chuckled.
"Antilles! Darklighter! Thank the Force I found you!" Leia yelled as she ran up the hall toward the pair. "We've got to get you out of here!"
They were crouched behind an overturned table, vainly firing through a smoke-filled room, several other pilots beside them.
"Can't leave," Antilles choked.
"You have to," Leia said, "it's you two they're after." She started to pull on their arms, "come on, we'll go out the back way. We have to hurry, Vader is here."
"Vader?" Someone said, horrified.
"Yes, and Skywalker. Come on."
"Luke?" Darklighter asked, pulling back and tugging on Wedge.
The whole group of pilots retreated. Once through the doors at the end of the hall, Leia closed the blast doors, shooting the controls. "Come on!" she yelled, trying to drag Antilles along. He was blurry-eyed, Leia realized that he must have gotten a whiff of the gas.
They ran down corridors, charging down the white-walled maze towards the backdoor. Once they got there, Leia was surprised to find Threepio and Artoo waiting. "Mistress Leia!" Threepio cried, "I'm so glad to have found you!"
"Not now, Threepio. We have to run for the woods." Leia said, looking out the open door at the inviting woods. Many tracks led away from the door, so the Empire must not have found this exit yet.
"But Mistress Leia, you can't do that-"
Suddenly, a group of fellow Rebels ran up from an adjoining hall. "Princess!" One called, "Vader's right behind us!"
"Okay, we've got to get to the woods. Everyone ready?" Leia asked.
Murmured assents, while Threepio yelled, "No! Mistress Leia, you can't!"
Darklighter glared at the droid, "Why not?" He barked.
"It's a trap!" Threepio wailed, Artoo bleeping.
"What?!?" Someone said.
"I've been trying to tell everyone who comes by while I waited, but no one listens-" Threepio whined.
"Spit it out!" Darklighter fumed.
"There are Imperials above us. When you get halfway, they open fire. They're driving everyone into the woods, but I don't know why." Threepio explained, Artoo beeped agreement.
"Damn!" Darklighter said.
"But Vader's coming!" Someone yelled.
"This way!" Leia commanded, and the whole group began running back the way the Princess and the pilots had come. "We'll find someplace to blast a way out!" She exclaimed. "The roof is thinner over here!"
They ran down the corridors as close to the fighting as they dared, and into a large room. "Here." Leia said, blasting at the ceiling. Rock fell down.
"They're coming!" Someone yelled.
"Shut the door and seal it!" Leia called as others began shooting at the ceiling with her. The rock continued to rain down, falling on the floor. The lights flickered out.
"The generator!"
"Oh my!" Threepio called, Artoo beeped.
"I see daylight!"
"Big enough! Get the table!" People grabbed the table by the wall, and shoved it under the opening.
Leia jumped to the tabletop, ready to scramble up. The first one out needed to be able to tell if their escape route was discovered. Arms began lifting her, but then the arms wobbled. She fell back to the table, stunned. Looked around, suddenly dizzy. As her head slumped forward, her eyes caught the gas canister with the Imperial seal on the side.
"General Veers, some of the Rebels tried blasting out through the roof as predicted. We threw some canisters down the hole, the colorless version."
"Good. Maintain a guard at the hole, just in case. We can investigate when all this is over."
"Yes, Sir."