[Legacy Of The Force] - 03(122)
With the Royal Battle Dragons was an Imperial-class Star Destroyer with a designator symbol reading UNKNOWN. While the vessel was directing most of her fire toward the usurpers, she had dedicated a single long-range turbolaser battery to attacking the Falcon.
“I thought I told you to look for pressure leaks,” Han said, relieved he hadn’t caught Ben actually trying to sabotage the Falcon. “I’m still captain of this tub, and that means you do what I say.”
“I’m using my own best judgment,” Ben retorted. He put a finger on the display, indicating the mysterious Star Destroyer. “And it tells me we’re in big trouble. Our only chance of surviving is to make for that Star Destroyer.”
“Are you crazy?” Han asked. “She’s already firing on us!”
“Only because you’re trying to escape,” Ben countered, “She’ll stop firing if you surrender. That’s the Anakin Solo.”
Han’s jaw dropped. “The Anakin what?”
“The Anakin Solo,” Ben said proudly. “Jacen’s ship.”
“Jacen’s ship?” Han actually stumbled back, and not just because the deck had tipped again. He felt like a ban-tha had kicked him in the gut. “They named a GAG Star Destroyer for my dead boy?”
“Well, yeah,” Ben said, clearly confused. “Anakin was |- a really great Jedi.”
“I can’t believe it!” Afraid he would lash out at Ben in his fury, Han turned and kicked the wall so hard he felt his toes pop. “The kriffing rodders!”
Ben cringed and began to back away. “It’s an honor. Jacen said…”
“Forget what Jacen said,” Jaina interrupted, returning with Zekk and the patching supplies. “He’s living in his own galaxy these days.”
Ben frowned. “But Admiral Niathal thought it was a good idea, too.”
“Then Admiral Niathal is one dumb fish.” Han snatched the reinforcement strips from Zekk’s arms and nodded him toward the engineering station. “I think we’ve got a pinched fuel feed. See if you can clear it before the engines shut down and we turn into a target barge.”
Without waiting for a reply, Han stepped around the corner. The pressure had fallen far enough now that the air was beginning to cool as it expanded. They had less than three minutes until the atmosphere grew so thin that breathing would become difficult. He dropped the strips on the floor in front of the spatter perforations, then turned one over and tried in vain to scratch off the flimsiplast backing. It was not something that could be done one-handed-at least not when your only working hand was shaking in fear.
“Uncle Han, surrendering is our best chance of surviving,” Ben said, following. “All I have to do is comm Jacen and tell him I’m bringing you in.”
“So he can torture his parents like his other Corellian prisoners?” Jaina demanded. She knelt at Han’s side and took the metal strip from his hand. “They’re better off taking their chances in the Falcon.”
“But we’re not,” Ben countered. “We’re not traitors to the Alliance-at least I’m not.”
“I’ll forget you said that-because if I don’t, we’re both going to regret it.” Jaina removed the strip’s backing in one smooth pull. “Be careful how you apply this, or you’ll just create more suction. Dad will show you.”
She held the strip up for Ben and reached for another, but he was shaking his head and ignoring her. “No, not until Uncle Han promises to…”
The strip fluttered past Ben and plastered itself into the middle of the spatter perforations. The scream of escaping atmosphere grew shrill and urgent, and a crease shot across the damaged area.
Han’s heart climbed into his throat. “Uh, Jaina…”
“Oh, kriff!” She jumped up, already peeling the backing off another reinforcement strip. “Ben, what’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing-I’m just doing my duty.” Ben snapped his lightsaber off his evac suit’s utility loop. “If we help make repairs, they’re just going to escape.”
“And if we don’t, we’re all going to be sucking a vacuum in about thirty seconds.” Holding the reinforcement strip in two hands, Jaina stepped toward the wall-then suddenly stopped when Ben ignited his lightsaber. Her jaw dropped, and she looked up and said, “Please tell me you didn’t just pull your lightsaber on me.”
“I’m sorry, Jaina,” Ben said. “But you don’t have any discipline-like Jacen says, you’re always making up your own orders instead of following the ones you’re given.”