Stepping In (Star Wars AU)

Chapter 10

Third Person

Aayla and Kit cut down the last stormtrooper guarding the elevator to the control room. The two Jedi silently board the elevator. Kit presses the button and the elevator soars upward.

"Get ready. There has to be stormtroopers up there." Kit warns taking out his lightsaber but not activating it.

Aayla does the same. The elevator comes to a stop and the doors open.

"Have you gotten rid-JEDI!! BLAST THEM!!!" A stormtrooper screams.

The Jedi ignite their lightsabers and kill the stormtroopers in the room. They both clip their hilts to their belts. Aayla walks to one of the control console and brings up a screen. She presses it and the the ray shields keeping the prisoners in are deactivated.

"Great, now we have to get back down to the hanger."

------

Luminara and Plo get to the highest level when the shields get deactivated. The prisoners on that level quickly gather around the Jedi.

"Jedi!"

"Get to the transports!" Luminara screams at the prisoners.

They run away. Luminara looks around and sees a body covered with blankets in one of the cells. She walks to the cell and pulls the blankets off. Ki-Adi Mundi lays unconscious on the cot.

"Over here! Help me get him up." Luminara says putting an arm over shoulder.

Plo runs over and does the same. They quickly get to the hanger which is filled with prisoners. They see Kit and Aayla. They walk to them.

"Where are the transports?" Aayla asks.

"I don't know. They should be here by now." Plo responds.

Plo gets his comm out.

"Admiral! Where is the transports?"

"The Rebellion is sending them from Ryloth so it will take at least another half hour."

"The Empire will be here by the time the transports arrive. Blockade the prison! Hold out until the transports get here!"

"Yes, sir!"

------

Fifteen Minutes Later

Empire ships come out of hyperspace right in front of the Rebel blockade.

"Get through the blockade. Then destroy the prison."

"Bu-but Lord Vader-"

Vader lifts his fist in the air and clenches it. The officer drops to the ground, dead.

------

Another Fifteen Minutes Later

The transports come out of hyperspace on the opposite side of the prison. They quickly dock in the hanger while the blockade is barely holding off the Imperials. The senators and the other prisoners get on first before the Jedi and Rebels. The transports take off into space going the same way they came. The ships that were blockading the prison follow.

"Blow up that prison!" Luminara says to the star cruisers from the transport she is on.

"Destroy them before they obliterate the prison!" Darth Vader orders.

"I thought you said to destroy the prison, My Lord?"

"When the Rebels were on it! Now they are escaping! Now destroy those Rebels before they destroy the prison!" Vader says, aggravated.

The star cruisers quickly aim and shoot at the prison. The Imperials shoot at them trying to stop them but to no avail. The star cruisers have blown up the prison.

"Get us out of here, boys!" Aayla says over her comm.

The Rebels enter hyperspace.

Vader stomps back into his quarters. He kneels down and bows his head for his master.

"Lord Vader. Have you destroyed the Rebels?" Sidious asks in his gravely voice.

"...No, my master."

"You have failed me again, Lord Vader. You deserve punishment."

Vader knew what was coming. Lighting cam from the hologram's fingertips. Vader tried not to scream or give any indication he was in pain for his master will make his punishment even worse. Suddenly, the lightning stopped.

"I have a..... mission for you."

"What is the bidding?"

Vader struggled to kneel in front of his master. A hologram of what looked like a moon speared in front of him.

"What is it?"

"I call it...... the Death Star."