CHAPTER FOUR
Toah had never thought that speaking to the King of Naboo would be so...boring. The only words that came from either Leia Organa or King Narus' mouths were about politics and such. After what felt like an hour, Toah finally heard Narus say something interesting.
"What about the Jedi?" the King asked.
Leia looked at him. "Pardon?"
"The Jedi," Narus repeated. "How is Luke Skywalker reorganization going?"
"Well, he has found quite a few Jedi Knights who survived the Great Purge," Leia said. "But the number is very small compared to the Old Order."
"Yes, I am aware of that," Narus said, sighing. "I do wish I could help."
"Actually," Leia murmured, as if an idea just popped into her head, "I think you can. Did you ever have a Jedi survivor seek refuge here on Naboo?"
The King frowned. "No, I'm afraid not, senator."
Leia sighed. "That is unfortunate. Luke was hoping to find more Jedi Masters, for he can not train all of them at once."
"I understand," Narus replied, sadly. "Again, I wish I could help, Senator Organa."
"It's all right," Leia said, sighing as she got up from her seat. "We'll try our best elsewhere."
As she and Toah began to leave, Narus stopped them.
"One more thing I might add, if you don't mind, senator," he said.
Leia turned back to the King. "I don't mind at all," she said. "What is it?"
"I just wish to say that you remind me of one of my predecessors, whom I knew when I was younger."
Leia tilted her head. "Who?"
"Queen Amidala," Narus said. 'She was Senator of Naboo during the Clone Wars, and was good friends with your father, Bail Organa."
Toah glanced at Leia, who, for a brief second, looked lost, until she finally said, "Uh, thank you, your Highness. I appreciate the compliment. Er, farewell..."
As Leia turned back, Toah glanced at her again confusingly before following her out of the throne room.
* * *
"I think this is Byss, Artoo," Luke said to his astromech droid partner as his X-wing fighter approached the dreary looking planet. "It certainly fits its name, doesn't it?"
R2-D2 beeped nervously, his comment being translated on Luke's computer screen.
"Don't worry," Luke chuckled. "I'm sure we've been through worse."
<Are you sure?> R2-D2 asked on the screen.
Luke smiled. "You just don't like going to new planets," he said. "Don't worry, all right? You're with me."
The X-wing fighter flew through thick clouds and toward the ground below. The surface was quite hard and made of stone. Luke took a sniff of the air as he climbed out of the cockpit and coughed. The scent was horrible.
He scanned the area, seeing small mountains and deep canyons in the distance. But the first thing that caught his eye was an abandoned, ancient temple.
Could it be a Jedi Temple? he thought. Only one way to find out...
He signaled R2-D2 to follow him as the Jedi Knight made his way to the temple.
* * *
Red blaster bolts fired towards the large Super Star Destroyer in the sky, hardly making any damaged, not even a simple dent. Soon, six squadrons of TIE fighters, bombers, and interceptors flew towards the Republic Base stationed on Had Abbadon, firing everywhere.
As turret towers fell, Lando shouted to Hawk, "Get your fliers ready!"
"On it, general!" Hawk replied, putting on his blue-marked helmet. He called into his arm-mounted communicator, "791st Team, move out!"
Soon, Republic troopers in white-and-blue armor followed Hawk, jet packs mounted onto their backs. Hawk and his team took off as TIE fighters fired rapidly at them. Five soldiers went down, while the others threw thermal detonators at the fighters. The TIEs exploded upon contact and the troopers continued their flight.
While Lando observed the battle, Nien Nunb came up behind him.
"Rogue nuradon un deh weh!" the Sullustan said in his native language.
Lando smiled. "I knew Wedge wouldn't let me down!" he said. "Get the Lady Luck up and running, and tell General Bel Iblis to come down here and fill in for me!"
* * *
"TIEs at five o'clock!" Tycho Celchu shouted from his comlink, evading green bolts of plasma.
"Got it, Rogue Two," Wedge said. "Rogues, lock S-foils in attack position!"
As the X-wings moved out, the voice of Corran Horn spoke through Wedge's comm. channel. "Rogue Leader, we may need more fighters for this battle."
"Why do you say that?" Wedge asked.
"See for yourself..."
Wedge glanced out his viewport and froze, his eyes widening.
Coming out of hyperspace was something that was so terrifying, so vast and titanic, that it made the Super Star Destroyer at both this battle and at Endor, look little more than a regular Star Destroyer...
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