Part 43 (2/2)
The coldness at Xizor's core blossomed uncontrolled into an angry heat.
He tried to keep his voice calm. ”I will not. I will take this up with the Emperor.”
”The Emperor is not here. I speak for the Empire, Xizor.”
”Prince Xizor.”
”You may keep the t.i.tle-for another two minutes.”
Xizor forced a confident smile. ”What are you going to do, Vader? Destroy my skyhook? You wouldn't dare. The Emperor-”
”I warned you to stay away from Skywalker. Recall your s.h.i.+ps and surrender into my custody or pay the consequences. I will risk the Emperor's displeasure.” He paused. ”However, you will not be there to see it, this time. ”
Xizor felt a surge of fear as the image of Vader turned ghostly and vanished. Would he do it? Would he fire on the skyhook?
He had less than two minutes before he found out. He had better decide what he was going to do.
Fast.
Luke, look out!” Lando yelled.
”I see him!”
Luke put the Falcon into a steep climb, but there were more s.h.i.+ps looming at that angle, and he peeled off to starboard. The vacuum was filled with energy flashes, debris of destroyed fighters, more s.h.i.+ps than he'd ever seen in such a small s.p.a.ce. The area looked like a nest of angry mermyns.
But-while the TIE fighters occasionally fired on the X-wings, they seemed to be targeting the unmarked attackers. Xizor's s.h.i.+ps. Why? ”They're on the same side, aren't they?”
Luke didn't realize he'd spoken this aloud until Lando said, ”Thank your lucky stars for small favors. If they're shooting at each other, they aren't shooting at ms! Look out!”
Luke zagged, missed the incoming fighter by centimeters. He felt a familiar disturbance in the Force then. Va-der?
No time to worry about that, either. Luke put his questions aside for later-if there was a later for them - and concentrated on flying the Falcon.
The commander of Xizor's navy put in a frantic call to his master. Vader listened to the decoded communication over the speaker system.
”My prince, we are being destroyed by the attackers! We are outnumbered and being slaughtered! I need permission to offer our surrender!
Highness?”
Vader watched the chronometer, enjoyed the time melting away. Not much left for the Dark Prince now.
Seven seconds... six seconds... five...
The terrified commander kept babbling: ”Prince Xizor, please respond! We must surrender or we will be blown to pieces! Please!”
... four seconds left... three seconds...
”Highness, I-” The commander's transmission ended abruptly. One of the Imperial fighters must have gotten him.... two... one-”Commander, destroy the skyhook.” One did not stay in command of Darth Vader's s.h.i.+p by questioning orders. ”Yes, my lord.” Darth Vader took a deep breath, painful as it was to do so, and let it out slowly. Smiled, unseen.
Goodbye, Xizor. And good riddance.
As it happened, the Millennium Falcon was facing it when the skyhook exploded.
Luke saw the giant Star Destroyer's powerful beam strobe, saw it pierce the skyhook. The planetoid shattered, blew apart, went nova, became a small star that burned brightly for an instant before it faded, leaving millions of glowing pieces behind.
It was a spectacular sight, for all its violence. It reminded Luke of the explosion that had destroyed the Death Star.
”Oh, man,” Lando said softly. ”They must havemade somebody real mad.”
Luke shook his head, didn't speak.
Dash said, ”Heads up, boys. Follow me.”
Luke blinked. ”Huh?”
”Somebody just opened us an escape hatch.”
”Are you crazy? We can't fly through that wreckage!”
”We don't have a choice. There are s.h.i.+ps everywhere. What's the matter, kid? Don't think you can do it?”
”If you can, my droid can. Go.” Luke understood what Dash meant. It would be tricky, dangerous, but the s.p.a.ce around the destroyed skyhook was relatively clear-the debris was expanding outward. If they could avoid being holed by the stuff on the way there, it was their best chance.
”Yeeeehaww!” somebody in Rogue Squadron yelled.
Luke laughed. He knew just how they felt.
They headed for the debris, and it looked as if it was going to be just fine. The good guys had triumphed!
”Look out, Das.h.!.+” Lando yelled.
Luke could hardly spare a glance, but he did. Just in time to see a block of shattered skyhook the size of a resiplex zero in on the Outrider.
”Das.h.!.+” Luke yelled. It was too close to avoid-There was an actinic flare of light too bright to look at. Luke turned away, saw Lando throw one arm up to block the glare.
When the light faded, the Outrider had vanished.
”Oh, man,” Lando said. ”He-he's... gone.”
Just like that.
The sweet taste of triumph went bitter in Luke's mouth. There wasn't time to worry about it now. ”Brace yourselves! This is going to be rough!”
The debris flashed around them, impacts waiting at every turn. He was sorry about Dash-the man had turned out to be okay after all-but he didn't want to end up a pile of flaming rubble. He let the Force take him and flew.
The secret Alliance base was light-years away from Coruscant and they had barely made it-but they had made it.
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