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| As Strangers Friends Are Met (part 2) |
The Imperial Colonel gathered the commando unit around him. "The honor of retaking the prisoners will be yours." He told them. "I want them alive, especially the Jedi. They will be heading for their ship. Secure them before they can escape." He watched in satisfaction as the team moved out to prepare the ambush. The Colonel thought. 'and I will see him die before we crush the rebels.'
With Luke leading the way, they quickly headed toward the section where the Millennium Falcon was berthed. Several times, alerted by Skywalker's
Jedi senses, they hid while patrols swept by. At one point, they were forced to take out a small group of stormtroopers, that time there had been no where to hide. Now they were within two corridors of their goal when Luke stopped.
"There's an ambush up ahead," He warned. "Commandos; but they won't know we're expecting them."
"Can you tell how many?" Solo asked, gripping his blaster.
"Plenty, but they've been ordered to take us alive." Luke answered. "That should give us the advantage. Let me go first. Maybe I can confuse things a bit."
What Luke didn't tell his friends was the he had recognized Forsstan in the group ahead. 'He's made his choice.' Luke thought sadly.
Luke knew he had to face Forsstan himself and finish what they'd begun in the destroyer's sickbay.
Han, and Leia followed just behind Luke, with Chewbacca protecting the rear. Reaching out with the Force, the Jedi projected images into the minds of the lead party making them think there were more than four rebels coming at them. Ducking under their wild swings at invisible foes, Skywalker jumped into the middle of the group. His friends following his example and attacking while the Jedi's illusion still persisted. Luke saw Forsstan moving to intercept him.
Off to one side, stood an Imperial who had had experience fighting Skywalker, and knew his weak point. Ardront had come specially prepared with a weighted fighting stick. Now, as Luke fought his way through the others toward
Forsstan, the commando swept around them and struck the Jedi savagely on his wounded side. Skywalker fell, blood seeping from the tissues already damaged by the blaster wound. He fought down the pain, trying to protect himself from another attack.
Through a red haze he saw Ardront standing over him, grinning, stick raised for another blow. Then Ardront suddenly went down hard.
His vision clearing, Luke was pulled to his feet by a grimly smiling Pel Forsstan.
"Let's go," The Lieutenant urged. "We don't have much time."
As they raced for the Falcon, the Commando unit opened fire, having given up trying to take them alive. Now, they wanted only to stop the four rebels and the traitor from their own ranks. At the door of the docking bay, Forsstan stumbled, hit by
a blaster bolt.
"Help him!" Luke called to the others. "I'll hold them here."
Luke turned to face the onrushing Imperials, deflecting the blaster fire with his lightsaber while slowly backing toward the ship. Han and Chewie raced to ready the Falcon for blast off. When Luke reached the ramp, Solo hit the emergency release, and the hatch closed almost on Skywalker's heels. When the Falcon slid out of the docking bay and headed for deep space, no fighters were launched against them.
The Colonel had kept his operation a secret to preserve his factions advantage, and now that secrecy worked for the fugitives. By the time the destroyers captain was alerted, the Falcon had made the jump to lightspeed, and safety.
In the crew quarters of the Millennium Falcon, Luke and Leia got Forsstan onto one of the bunks. The Princess didn't understand why this Imperial had come to their aid, and she was too busy trying to help him now to ask questions.
"It's no good." Leia told her brother. "The blaster did more damage than I can treat with the Falcons' medical setup. He needs a bacta tank to survive, and I'm not sure he'll last the trip to get him to one."
Lukes' Jedi senses had already told him as much. There was something he could do. Before he could begin tho, Forsstan opened his eyes.
"Looks like our situations are reversed." The Imperial joked in a voice hoarse with pain. "I'm sorry I took so long making up my mind." He paused for a breath . "I couldn't let my men down; I had to go with them, but...when I saw Ardront attack
you, I knew I didn't belong there anymore." His eyes closed slowly.
"We're losing him." Leia's voice was urgent.
"In response, Luke placed his hand on the Lieutenants forhead; his eyes shut with intense concentration as he gave his strength to the other. Leia felt the disturbance in the Force as her brother worked.
Finally Forsstan's eyes blinked open for a moment. "More Jedi tricks?" He whispered. and was unconscious again.
"He's stronger." Leia breathed as she checked the mans life signs. "What did you do?" She looked at her brother with awe and wonder.
"What he said." Luke smiled wearily. "Another Jedi trick." He swayed, eyes closing; all his strength gone. Leia helped him to the other bunk where he collapsed.
Several days later, Pel Forsstan was recuperating in the hospital facilities at Republic headquarters. He had just decided that he was bored to tears when Luke, and Leia showed up. The Princess had taken the former Imperial Lieutenant under her wing after hearing about all he'd done for her brother. As a result, Forsstan was madly in love with her. Recognizing the signs, Luke had merely laughed to himself. When they'd gotten back to base, both he and Forsstan had been placed in bacta tanks. Luke healed quickly, and despite the protest of the medical droid, got up and returned to his duties. Today he'd been engaged in planning a new mission with Han and his unit when Leia came and took him off for a serious talk. Now, they were here to present Forsstan with a proposal for his future.
"I see you're still goofing off, Pel." Luke greeted him. "They give you any idea when you can get out of here?"
"Probably tomorrow." Forsstan replied. "After all, I can't cheat the way you do." Forsstan was speaking to Luke, but his gaze was fastened on Leia.
'You don't have to be a Jedi to know what he's thinking.' Luke mused. 'I'm glad Leia suggested that she make this proposal to him.'
"Have you given any thought about what you'd like to do?" Leia asked gently. She was well aware of the effect she had on the young man. In many ways, he reminded her of her brother at an earlier stage.
She projected this thought at Luke, and enjoyed his indignant reaction to her image of a particularly devoted pet following her around with its tongue hanging out.
Pel was aware of some byplay going on between the Jedi brother and sister, but it didn't bother him. He now accepted Luke for what he was; admittedly helped along by his feelings for Leia, who had
told him right away that Luke was training her in the ways of the Force. Actually, he was less comfortable in the presence of Han Solo, Leia's husband, than the Jedi; for he both liked, and irrationally resented the
Corellian for having won the Princess.
"I've been giving it a lot of thought. Not much else to do here. I was hoping to join one of the New Republic's fighting units. If no one minds my background, that is." His tone was just slightly defensive.
"That won't be a problem," Luke responded. "There are lots of former Imperials working with us now. We've always gotten a certain number of recruits from the Imperial forces, and that's been on the rise since Endor."
"Pel," Leia nodded in agreement. "We wondered if you would consider a special placement. It's a difficult assignment, and very dangerous, so please think about it carefully."
"It would also involve working with Han," Luke grinned. "So you better give it a lot of thought."
Leia scowled at her brother, then turned back to Forsstan.
"There's going to be a vacancy on our primary recon team shortly." Her voice emphasized the last word, and the young man noticed that Skywalker had become very uncomfortable. "Your background, and
training make you an ideal candidate for the assignment, but it could involve combat situations against your old unit. Do you think you can deal with that?"
Pel frowned, clearly giving the idea deep consideration. "I'd be foolish if I didn't admit that it bothers me, but I know I can handle it. Tell me more." He turned to Skywalker. "That's the group
you work with, isn't it Luke?"
As Pel had spoken, Luke had been assessing him with his Jedi senses, and knew his friend had been honest with them, and with himself. He sighed. This part wasn't easy for him.
"Yes, it was, but not anymore. That's why there's an opening." Luke hesitated, then after a moment continued. "I'm going to resign my commission, and drop out of active military service for awhile."
"But, why?" Pel asked confused. "I'd have thought you were very valuable to the New Republic."
"That's just the point," Leia answered for her brother. "Luke is valuable to us, too valuable to use as an ordinary fighter. This last incident taught us that if we ever hope to re-establish
the Jedi order, the Republic can't afford to risk its only trained Jedi without a very good reason."
"The Council asked Leia to talk to me," Luke began. "About taking a leave to work solely on my Jedi training, although I'd already been thinking along those lines myself. She's convinced me this
move is necessary. My own wishes aside, it's the logical thing to do. However I did insist on having a say in who replaces me in Han's unit."
Pel Forsstan, former Imperial commando, was speechless. Then he grinned at the two standing beside him.
"I'd be truly honored." He told them. "It'll be great to be a part of your old unit, Luke."
The Jedi smiled broadly as Leia hugged the new Republic scout.
"You better not let Han catch you at that." Luke warned. "Or it'll be a short career for you."
Luke ducked quickly as both Leia, and Pel swung at him.
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