Princess of Darkness

Chapter 8

Space never looked so terrifying.

It wasn't the endless amount of stars, or the blackness in between. 

No, it was the very real, very scary, prospect that they could all be dead in a few hours, and let down the entire Rebellion, condemning them to share their fate. 

Fighters, check in. A voice came over the comm. 

A bunch of unidentifiable voices, Biggs' was in there somewhere.

Luke. Red Five, checking in.

Her. "Red Six, checking in." Lily's voice was deceivingly steady. 

The mass of fighters flew to the Death Star.

That thing is enormous! Someone said. R7 beeped warily.

"I know, but there's a lot of people depending on us. We aren't alone." R7's next noise didn't sound convinced, even if she couldn't understand the faked We got this. "Relax. You got my back, I got yours." I don't have a back "It's an expression, R7!"

Anyone else see what's missing? Red Leader's voice said. 

"TIEs."Lily said suddenly. "We still have the element of surprise."

How do we know they won't ambush us? Someone else asked.

"Something tells me the Empire wouldn't use surprise in this situation." No one argued.

We need to take out the towers so we can blow this thing up. The unsaid order was understood by all of them, and they went toward the Death Star even faster. 

They had taken out a few of the batches when the TIEs showed up. 

Incoming fighters! Someone shouted.

Where? I can't see anything!  It was Luke. Lily looked around frantic. "Two o'clock Luke!" She saw him take down a few with someone else's help.

Thanks, Lily. He breathed. "Anytime." R7 beeped. There was one tailing her. She swore. "Hold on back there." She moved upside down and fired. The TIE exploded. She put herself right again. 

Luke attracted attention too. He lost a couple on the towers, taking them out in the process. There was one left. 

I can't shake him!  His panicked voice said. Lily found the X-wing with Luke's familiar patterns. She sped toward him, and dove. 

Closer

Closer. 

She pulled up. The TIE moved his attention to her, and fired. 

The blast hit Lily straight on. Everything went black, for a split second. 

Then she was diving again, took a chance and fired. What just happened. There wasn't any time to wonder, though. Yet another TIE started tailing her. "Kriff." She muttered. Sh.e flipped around to avoid the green lasers. Red ones shot from another direction, hitting the TIE. 

"Thanks, Wedge." She breathed in relief. 

I'm going in. Someone said. They tried. 

Well? Did it go in? Someone on the surface said.

Negative. They flew around more, trying to steady the endless flow of TIEs. There was only four of them left now. 

I'm going in. Luke said. 

I'll cover you. Biggs and Wedge followed.

"Be careful." Lily said.  A TIE hit scraped her fighter. R7 beeped indignantly. "Yes, I see him! See how bad that is." She told the droid. She flew above the trench, taking out as many TIEs that went for the group as possible. A group of three TIEs went in behind Biggs and Wedge. "Boys, you've got three on your tail. One of them's an Advanced." One of the TIEs damaged one of Wedge's wings. 

Get out,  you're no good back there. Luke said.

Sorry Wedge apologized. Lily watched anxiously.  The Advanced TIE took out Biggs.  He began to fire again. A flash of a gray ship, the TIE spun out.  Another two shots, the first's helpers exploded into shards of metal.

Yahoo! A new but familiar voice said.

Han? Luke asked excitedly.

You're all clear kid,  now let's blow this thing and go home. 

Lily watched her brother fly closer to the mark.

Lily watch out! A voice like Old Ben's rang in her ear.  She saw a TIE above Luke.  "Not on my watch." She growled.  She flew fast to it and hit it and the last second. Luke fired.

It went in.  Let's get out of here.  Luke sounded out of breath.
***

When they landed all they could hear was cheers. Everyone was swarming the two Skywalkers, and it was almost intimidating.

"Luke!  Lily!"

"Ava!" The three embraced each other. Han joined in.

"I knew you'd come back I just knew it!" Luke told him.

"Ah,  couldn't let you two get all the reward!" He joked. They broke apart.

"Eli!" Lily shouted and ran. She collided with him in a hug.

"Lily.  You're okay. I thought... I thought I'd lost you." He said into her hair.

"Can't get rid of me that easily." She said,  and pulled the end of his jacket down to her and kissed him. He lifted her up.

They stayed Luke that for awhile. Hidden between two fighters lost in each other. There was no reason to move.

Everything was... Perfect.

Boom. Finally, but I got this and a one shot done last night so to me I'm on a roll. And I should definitely be doing Spanish.

Bye!