[Chapter Twelve]
The Fleet entered its next-to-last waypoint when disaster reared. A Super Star Destroyer awaited the Rebels, far enough to avoid collision when they came out of hyperspace, but within firing range. The Destroyer targeted with all cannons and lasers.
Leia zipped her black jump suit, and started to tie her hair. Her quarters shuttered, plant jars and figurines crashing. She looked to Luke. He held his head, pained. Another quake tilted the floor and flickered the lights. A couch tumbled toward Leia. She dodged and pressed her back to a wall. She suddenly felt lighter, as though she'd lost twenty pounds; the artificial gravity generators were damaged. The floor gradually evened, but explosions and screams reached her ears.
"I'm getting to my X-Wing." Luke left in a flash.
~ ~ ~
Landing gear magnets kept most the fighters rooted to the hangar, but a Y-Wing had managed to flip over onto an X. Luke worked his way through a crowd of maintenance workers, pilots, and droids, and stepped over scattered tools. A man bled out on a stretcher, medics cursing.
He arrived at the Millennium Falcon. Han was at the end of the ramp, fists on his hips as he yelled to Chewie. "Bring down the spare parts! Come on, this frigate's in straits."
"What's the Fleet's condition?"
The smuggler hardly appeared relieved to see Luke. "About the same as that poor guy over there."
"These fighters need manned right now," Luke noticed that the cockpits were empty. "We should already be out there."
Chewie growled acknowledgment while he pushed a supply loader by.
"I spoke to Ackbar on the way here," Han said. "He's letting this one slide. Alliance will arrive at Coruscant with a fraction of its forces," Han said. "But better than everyone dying here. Hit where it counts, where it'll do the most damage."
Luke shook his head, taken aback. "How do we re-power all the engines in time? We'll leave ourselves more open."
Something slammed into the hull outside. A ceiling panel fell, and exposed wires showered sparks.
Han was silent for a few moments. "A scoundrel with a freighter can draw a lot of attention to himself. Maybe buy some time for ships to jump." Luke opened his mouth to speak, but Han jabbed a finger into his shoulder. "Lead that squadron. Take down Blood Shard. The suits can find a new leader for my ground team."
"She saved you," Luke's voice cracked. "Leia saved you, and now you're throwing it all ---" He noticed that he was speaking as a boy, and bit down on his tongue.
Han gave Luke a casual pat. "Hey. It's me." His tone and face held a finality that said he understood and accepted the implications of this flight. He turned and ascended the ramp, Chewbacca at his heels.