“Yeah!” Tash said excitedly.
Luke raised an eyebrow. “Do you get that feeling?”
Now it was Tash’s turn to shrug. “Well, I guess-“
Before she could answer, Chewie let out an ear-shattering roar. At the same time, Luke’s eyes went wide with alarm, and he yelled, “Get down!” He dropped to the rocks, pulling Tash down with him just as a blaster bolt screamed through the air overhead.
Chewbacca roared another warning, and Tash didn’t need Han Solo to tell her what he was saying.
“Ambush!” she repeated, as blaster bolts fell like an energy storm around them.
The Rebel company dove for cover among the rocks. One commando was too slow, and a blaster bolt struck his chest, spinning him around.
“Return fire!” Leia ordered. The air quickly grew hot from crisscrossing energy bolts.
“Who would be on a lifeless rock like this?” Han asked. “Pirates? Smugglers?”
“Worse,” Leia said. “Look!”
On the path ahead of them, they could see figures slowly advancing. The figures were dressed in white armor, and white helmets masked their faces.
Stormtroopers.
“What’s the Empire doing here?” Han complained.
“I don’t know,” Leia said. “But at least that answers our questions about Rax. The Imperials must have got him somehow.”
“Why would they have left his clothes and equipment?” Luke asked, then ducked as a blaster bolt flashed overhead.
“Ask them!” Han shouted back. “All I want to know is how they found us.”
“Maybe they tailed us,” Luke called out from behind a rock.
“No way. No one followed me!” Han stated.
“I am afraid they may be after us,” Hoole said. “We thought we had escaped some Imperial pursuers before we came here. Perhaps I can help. I can shape change into a creature that will-“
“I think that would be a very bad idea,” Han said. “Look!”
They all looked up the path again. The stormtroopers scurried about, trying to remain hidden from Rebel blasters while they advanced. But one ominous figure stepped into the open and strode forward. His armor was as dark as his heart, and his cape swirled around him like a shadow.
“Darth Vader!” Leia shouted. “Fire!” she ordered.
The Rebels opened fire, pouring energy beams on the Dark Lord of the Sith. From his hiding place, Zak watched the blaster bolts streak toward Vader and figured that the Dark Lord was doomed. But Vader simply waved one gloved hand, and the blaster bolts changed course. They scattered like leaves blown by the wind.
“What the-?” Zak cried. “That’s impossible!”
“We’ve got to stop him,” Han growled.
“I’ve got an idea,” Leia said. She raised her blaster, not at Vader, but at the rock wall above him, and fired. The blaster bolt struck the wall, blowing out a chunk of rock. More rocks followed it, and in moments a small avalanche of stones tumbled down onto the path right in front of Vader. When the dust settled, they saw that the falling rocks had blocked the path.
“Nice shooting, Leia!” Tash cheered.
“Not bad, Your Royalness,” Han Solo admitted.
“It won’t hold Vader back for long,” Leia said. “We’ve got to do something.”
“He must be after me,” Luke said. “He’s wanted revenge since we destroyed the Death Star.”
“If that’s true, then we should send Hoole, Zak, and Tash away,” Leia said. “The ship should be repaired by now, and they’ll be safer there. Vader won’t bother them if he’s after us.”
“We can’t just leave you!” Tash argued.
“This is our fight, Tash,” Luke said calmly. “Vader is more powerful than you can imagine. You’ve got to get out of here. We’ll hold the Imperials off as long as we can.”
Hoole shook his head. “We cannot allow you to risk your lives on our account.”
“Hey, risking my life for other people’s problems has become a hobby,” Han smirked.
Leia pointed to four of the Rebel commandos. “Sikes! Bergan! Tino! Meex! Front and center!”
The four commandos hustled forward. “You guys have a new assignment. Get these civilians safely back to the ships. If we haven’t joined you in four hours, blast off this planet and don’t look back.”
“Yes, Your Highness!” said the commandos.
“We’re leaving,” Hoole said. “Where’s the child?”
“I hid him over here where it was safe from the blaster fire,” Zak said. “He’s right behind this rock.”
Zak stepped behind the rock, and gasped.