Across The Stars // Star Wars (Sequels)

✰Chapter 20✰

"The scan data from Snap's reconnaissance flight confirms Finn's report," Poe speaks to the group surrounding the hologram computer. 

 "They've somehow created a hyper-lightspeed weapon built within the planet itself," Snap adds. 

"A laser cannon?" I ask. 

"We're not sure how to describe a weapon of this scale," Snap replies. 

"It's another Death Star," Major Ematt speaks up. 

"I wish that were the case, Major. This was the Death Star," Poe says, pressing a few buttons on the panel. A small hologram projection of the former Death Star appears. He presses another button. "And this is Star Killer Base." Gasps are heard as the massive weapon appears. 

"So, it's big," Dad comments and I sigh.

"How is it possible to power a weapon of this size?" Admiral Ackbar asks. 

"It uses the power of the sun," Finn answers. "As the weapon is charged, the sun is drained until it disappears." 

"Ma'am," Aide, one of the girls who works at the control panels, comes up to my mother to hand her a small device. 

"The First Order," Mom says. "They're charging the weapon again now. Our system is the next target." 

"Oh, my. Without the Republic fleet, we're doomed," C-3PO comments gloomily. 

"Okay, how do we blow it up? There's always a way to do that," Dad speaks up. 

"Han's right," Mom adds. 

"In order for that amount of power to be contained, that base has to have some kind of thermal oscillator," Statura says. 

"There is one!" Finn states. "Precinct 47. Here." Part of the hologram lights up. 

"If we can destroy that oscillator, it might destabilize the core and cripple the weapon. And maybe the planet with it," Statura says.

"We'll go in there, we'll hit that oscillator with everything we've got," Poe says, fully determined and ready to go.

"They have defensive shields our ships cannot penetrate," Admiral Ackbar remarks. 

"We disable the shields," Dad says. He motions to Finn. "Kid, you worked there. What do you got?" 

"I can do it," Finn says. "I can disable the shields but I have to be there. On the planet."

"We'll get you there," Dad says after shooting a glance at Chewie. 

"I'm going with you," I say. 

"Raven, no," Poe says at the same time as Mom asks, "Han, how?" 

"If I told you, you wouldn't like it," Dad answers. 

"This is my duty as a Jedi. It's what I was meant to do," I tell Poe. "I'm going and that's final." 

He grumbles a few words under his breath before turning back to the others. "So we disable the shields, we take out the oscillator and we blow up their big gun," he says and Chewie roars. "Alright, let's go!" 

The group disperses and I walk with Dad and Chewie, but when I pass a side hallway, something grabs my arm and pulls me to the side. I yelp softly as I stumble but regain my posture when I see Poe standing in front of me. 

"If you're going to try to keep me from going, I can tell you, that's not gonna happen," I tell him, pointing a warning finger at him. 

He just smiles softly and shakes his head. He takes the finger I pointed at him and lowers it. "No, that's definitely not what I was going to do," he says. "I was going to wish you good luck and tell you to be careful out there." 

My expression softens and I withdraw my hand. "Oh," I mutter. "Sorry." 

"It's fine." He chuckles. "I know holding you back isn't a very smart move. I learnt that from playing sports with you when we were kids." 

I giggle softly. "You'll be careful too, right?" 

He nods. "Of course," he says. "Come here." 

I don't hesitate to wrap him in a tight hug. He lifts me off the floor slightly but I let him. Just this once. 

He sets me down, draws back from the hug and just stares at me. "Okay, good luck, shortie." 

I smile. "You too." 

***

"Chewie, check that donal capitator, come on!" I hear my father tell Chewie as he stands in front of a control panel. 

"Got everything under control?" I ask. "Oh, Finn, careful with those! They're explosives!" I call to Finn as I see him almost drop one of the bombs we'll be needing once we get to Starkiller Base.

"Now you tell me?" he asks. 

"You know, no matter how much we fought, I've always hated watching you leave," I hear Mom's voice say and I turn around, seeing her watching us with a smile.

"That's why I did it," Dad says. "So you'd miss me." 

She nods softly. "I did miss you." She takes my hand. "Both of you." 

"Some things never change," Dad says, taking her shoulders and pulling me closer. 

"True," Mom agrees. "You two still drive me crazy." 

Dad looks at her for a moment before pulling us in a tight hug. 

"If you see our son..." Mom whispers. "Bring him home." 

I pull back first, offering them a smile and attempting to hide the tears in my eyes. "We should get going. Don't want to keep the others waiting," I say, toying with the Lightsaber that hangs from my belt. 

"You're right," Mom says. "I'll see you back here once this is over." 

"The three of us, hopefully," Dad says and I look down. The thought of seeing and possibly speaking with Ben again makes me nauseous and for a second, I regret making the decision to go to Starkiller Base, but that regret quickly fades when I realise I could be making things right. I could turn Ben back to the Light Side and we could be brother and sister again. We could set up the new generation of Jedi like Luke once meant to do.

"Alright, let's go." Dad wraps an arm around my shoulders and takes me to the Falcon after saying goodbye to Mom. 

Dad and Chewie sit down behind the controls while Finn and I take the back seats. "Okay, Dad, now spill it," I say. "How are we going to get through the defensive shields?"

"Their shields have a fractional refresh rate. It keeps anything travelling slower than lightspeed from getting through," he answers plainly.

I stare at him for a moment, my mouth slightly agape. "So... just to be clear," I start. "You're saying we'll be making our landing approach at lightspeed?" I've never understood the arts of flying a spaceship, but I know one thing. Landing when you're flying at lightspeed is not possible.

Chewie roars to answer my question and I grip the sides of the of my seat tightly as Dad tells Chewie to get ready. Finn shoots me a quick glance before bracing himself.

We exit hyperspace and approach a snowy mountain at a speed that's way too fast for my liking. "Pull up!" I shout as we soar right over the sharp ridges of the rocks. 

"I am pulling up!" Dad retorts, struggling to keep control over the Falcon. We end up ripping through a dense forest and Chewie roars loudly. "I get any higher and they'll see us!" Dad replies frustratingly. We break through the edge of the forest and hit the ground. I close my eyes as the edge of a cliff approaches quickly.