Chapter 9

"Biggs, Wedge, let's close it up. We're going in. We're going in full throttle.

"Right with you, boss." Wedge said confidently.

"Luke, at that speed will you be able to pull out in time?"

"It'll be just like Beggar's Canyon back home."

Wash had turned back on the radio so as to follow the progress of the battle as they raced to the rescue. The way Mal saw it, they had two main things going for them. One of course, was the element of surprise. Which may or may not last. But the other thing they had, was River.

"Captain no, this is crazy!"

Mal gave Simon an 'are you kidding' look. "We passed crazy a few minutes ago Doc. Weren't you payin' attention? It's this or we let Jayne lean out the door with Vera again."

All in all Simon preferred that option. He was far less concerned about Jayne's safety than River's. Plus it ran less of a risk to Jayne's sanity. He was worried primarily that asking River to repeat what she had seemed to do back in the asteroid field would only make her condition worse.

They were in visual range now. River sat in the co-pilot's seat staring intently out the viewport. Wash had to resist the urge to glance over at her. The gunners on the Death Star didn't seem to have spotted them yet, but he knew it wouldn't be long before he had to do some fancy, twisty turny maneuvers to avoid their fire.

"There." River pointed. There was a trench running down the side of the station, where apparently the deciding battle was already taking place.

"I'm hit! I can't stay with you."

"Get clear, Wedge. You can't do any more good back there!"

The idea was to get in and out quickly enough that the White Belly's didn't even have time to fully acknowledge their presence. Mostly he just needed to get River close enough to see what was happening and intervene.

Which really made no sense to Wash. Like many people, he had heard of the Force, and Jedi, but it was all abstract to him. Something you read in some of the stranger holo-novels. Now suddenly he'd been thrust into an abstract world.

"Hurry, Luke, they're coming in much faster this time. I can't hold them!"

"Your back is turned." River said softly. "Of course you can't keep back the tide."

River would have been terrified, but she had somehow turned all this into something not quite real. Not concrete. There were billiard balls out there. Three of them.

"Side pocket." She muttered.

Wash spared her a quick, puzzled look. He adored her like a sister, but sometimes River just confused the hell out of him.

One of the pursuing Tie fighters spun, just as it fired at Bigg's ship, clipping it's fellow wingman, and spinning out of control.

"What?!" Biggs cried in surprise, unknowingly echoing Vader's own reaction.

Suddenly River's vision blacked out, to be replaced by a gleaming black, death mask.

YOU!

River screamed, recoiling in horror. She fell to the floor and scuttled into a corner, where she sat rocking.

Wash couldn't deal with that however, the Imps had spotted them. It was okay, Simon was on it.

"Machines." She whimpered. "They're all machines."

"Luke, you switched off your targeting computer. What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I'm all right."

Mal would worry about River, and Simon's recriminations later. There was still one fighter going after Luke.

"I've lost Artoo!"

"Kaylee!" Mal shouted into the intercom. "Get ready for hard burn!"

"What?"

"Just do it! Wash get us right over that bastard's head."

"I think we're approaching our quota for thrilling heroics Captain." Wash said, even as he obeyed. "Aren't we legends yet?"

"I'll let you know if and when we survive this. Everyone strap in!" Mal commanded.

Vader could not believe his luck. River Tam was within his grasp. Once he dispatched these rebels he could disable the ship she was on, and they could collect her at their leisure once the rebel base was destroyed. And it looked like their efforts on her behalf had borne wonderful fruit besides. She might be able to replace both the Emperor's Hands.

But first things first. The wing man was nothing. The leader was the true threat. If he somehow made the shot into the exhaust port all this would be for nothing. He didn't have time to destroy them both in order, so he would have to get higher, and over shoot-

River's ship wasn't trying to escape. And people had called Anakin reckless. The Serenity swooped just ahead and above him, then suddenly it's back nacelle burst into radiance, flooding his field of vision, and overloading his port solar fin.

Sparks flew across its surface, and the fighter spiraled out of the trench.

The Sith Lord had not sworn since he'd ceased to be Skywalker.

"GORRAMIT!"

"We're clear Luke!" Biggs shouted jubilantly. "Now let's blow this thing and go home!"

Wash felt as astounded as Biggs sounded. They had done it. It was all up to Luke now. If he missed the shot, all this would be for nothing.

River slowly calmed, hearing, just as Luke was, the soothing voice of Ben Kenobi in her head.

Peace, little one. Peace. The force is with you, let it calm you.

Outside, Luke, in an incredible shot, even guided by the force, considering he was still a novice, hit the exhaust port precisely, sounding the death knell, for the Death Star.

River was startled out of her reverie by Wash leaping to his feet, cheering.

"Mal!" Luke shouted jubilantly when they exited their respective crafts. "I can't believe it! I really thought you'd left!"

"All part of our cunning plan." Mal said nonchalantly. "Old soldier's trick, you never put all your forces in the field right off."

"Luke!" a female voice cried, diverting Luke's attention.

"Kaylee!" Serenity's mechanic caught him in a tight hug.

There were more than enough congratulations, and heartfelt thank you's and joyous reunions to go around. Even Leia had a smile for them, and kissed River on the cheek. She remembered, even if she didn't understand, what River had done back when they first escaped. And given what Biggs had said, she'd deduced that River had done the same thing again.

Abruptly, Luke's face fell. "Oh no." he said softly, rushing back to his fighter. Artoo was being lifted out of his cradle and lowered, lifeless, to the hangar floor. There was a nasty looking hole in his dome.

"Oh no Artoo!" Threepio wailed. "Artoo speak to me!"

Kaylee was just as, if not more upset than the golden translator. She ran to Artoo's side, looking like she was about to cry. But when she got to him, her heart leaped. She was certain she could help.

"Let's get him to the repair bay right now." She said firmly, taking charge.

"Mistress Kaylee you must save him." Threepio pleaded. "If any of my circuits or gears will help I'll gladly donate them."

"Don't worry Threepio." She assured him. "I haven't lost a patient yet."

"Mal," Luke introduced, "This is Biggs Darklighter. Biggs, this is Captain Reynolds. I don't think I ever would have gotten off Tatooine if not for him. Much less escaped from the Death Star." Luke had only had time to tell his old friend the barest details of his adventures. He sensed a night of tale telling and carousing ahead.

Reynolds shook Darklighter's hand. "You two are acquainted I take it." He guessed.

"Heck Biggs taught me everything I know." Luke beamed.

"Oh, not everything." Biggs guessed. "Seems like you picked up a few tricks without me. How did you make that shot without a computer?"

Artoo came around with the Droid equivalent of a headache. He was getting tired of getting shot.

With an inquisitive whistle, he looked around. Well well, look who it was. He beeped happily to see Kaylee again, but his greeting cut off in surprise when she hugged him.

"R2-D2," Threepio huffed, "What do you mean worrying me like that? I don't know why I bother with you sometimes."

Artoo actually whistled apologetically. Then he asked Kaylee how bad the damage had been.

"Oh you were just singed a little." She smiled. It was her version of the doctor's reassuring 'it's just a scratch'. "Nothin' I couldn't handle"

Naturally, Jayne was the only one not happy with this. They stood together, Luke, Biggs, Wedge, Mal, and the crew, just waiting for their cue.

"I ain't no hero." He muttered. "Ruttin' ceremonies."

Mal just smirked. He had a feeling that once they put that medal around the mercenary's neck, maybe a few drinks into him and some accolades, and he'd be happy as a clam to be a hero for a while.

"Well Captain," Book said softly to his friend, "How's it feel to have a cause again?"

Mal gave him a sidelong look. "I always had a cause Shepherd. Always had somethin' to fight for. Just now, now I got some more to believe in. And I have to admit, if feels pretty ruttin' good."

Then with enormous fanfare, trumpets called them forward to get their ovation. Even Jayne decided to enjoy the moment.

What tomorrow would bring, well they'd wait to deal with that tomorrow.

The End