SWTFW 07 - "The Game Of Hearts"

All the while Rebecca stayed. She told herself she would leave once Luke had recovered. But even then she was more than just interested in his health. She found him quite handsome for a space pilot.

PRESS CTRL = (EQUALS) TO INCREASE THE PAGE SIZE AND CTRL 0 (ZERO) TO RESET THE PAGE SIZE THIS PAGE VIEWS BEST IN FIREFOX Want to read this in a different language ? Change the TO field to your own country and click the TRANSLATE button after going HERE THE FORCE WITHIN © May 2017 Written by David Wicker Please do not reprint without permission CHAPTER 7 - "THE GAME OF HEARTS" [ CHOOSE A DIFFERENT CHAPTER ] * * * This entry is Rated: EVERYONE Boba Fett launched his Z-Bombs directly at the massive aperture on Yavin's moon. At first, nothing happened. But then the security system clicked into effect when the computer realized these small objects were traveling directly towards the aperture at destructive speed ! Two nearby X-wing pilots immediately intercepted the salvo and fired their shots to detonate the bombs early. But their firepower was not enough, not nearly enough to even scratch the surface of these rare and deadly weapons. . . . Back with Luke and Rebecca, they were just now coming out of warp and had arrived at Tatooine. The inhalation Luke had done earlier had knocked him out, and Rebecca was flying Luke's ship all on her own. She cleared the security satellite with identification and landed at the closest hospital on the planet's surface. At once Luke was removed from his ship and sent to emergency where he would be treated for inhalation poisoning. Rebecca could have left now but didn't, and stayed by Luke's side. Which was just as well as he was mumbling in his sleep. Something about Ben Kenobi, his parents, and a "thing" inside him. Scans were immediately done to see if there was indeed a hostile creature or parasite within him, but none were revealed. The medical computer finally stated that Luke was just hallucinating due to his sickness - and it was not to be of any concern. The treatment for "inhalation" was to receive injections of a chemical stabilizer and to spend a few days in a specially oxygenated tent until the body became use to breathing regular oxygen again. All the while Rebecca stayed. She told herself she would leave once Luke had recovered. But even then she was more than just interested in Luke's health. She found him quite handsome for a space pilot. She liked everything about him that she knew so far, and wanted to have a chance to tell him how she felt. . . . Back at the aperture over Yavin IV, an all out attack was taking place. Boba's bombs had hit the surface of the metallic aperture with devastating results. The anti-matter explosion that followed had all but wiped out the protective iris. A moment later and the entire moon's shielding failed. Boba didn't even have to relay this to Vader who stood watching and ready. As this was Boba's only task from Vader, he took off into warp during the fracas. Vader addressed Smite, "Their shields are down. Carry out the attack ! Do as I do !" and with that he impelled his engines forward to see that Yavin had already launched several countermeasures including a rare rebel interplanetary starbase. Vader smiled behind his mask. He had never seen one of these before, but likely it was just as deadly as his own Star Destroyers. It would be important to remove this obstacle first or lose many of his troops to it. "Smite ! Ignore the X-Wings, take down that rebel starbase - now !" Smite addressed the other Tie-Fighters. "You heard him ! That's our target ! Shoot it down !" And Vader, Smite, and the other chosen Empire pilots swooped in to engage attack with the rare rebel starbase. . . . Luke had finally opened his eyes in the hospital facilities and saw Rebecca there beside him. She was strangely silent yet clearly holding back tears. Luke coughed for a moment to clear his lungs. He was finally awake. "You're okay !" she said and smiled at him, unable to maintain her emotions any longer. "Rebecca ?" Luke asked in confusion by her concern. She only leaned closer and kissed Luke gently on the cheek of his face. Luke smiled. He had never had a girlfriend before, being too busy doing the vapor farming back at home with his uncle and aunt. Oh there were one or two girls he liked, but he never had the time to get serious with them. Not really. Now it seemed he didn't have to make the first move. Rebecca did for him. A thousand things whirled in Luke's mind, emotions tumbling one over the other. "Rebecca." he finally said, his heart filled with emotion. "Luke." she said, echoing his sentiments. Suddenly a robotic nurse wheeled in and spoke with a slight degree of sarcasm.  "I see the patient is doing better. That's fine. I am called Aida here at this facility. Do you know why you're here ?" and looked to Luke with it's multi-faceted computer eyes. Luke looked to Rebecca. He would've liked her to answer, but she wouldn't. It appeared they all wanted to see if he knew why he was here at all. He spoke, "I remember ... I remember entering a bad warp. I had escaped a wormhole but was in unknown space. I was trying to calculate my way back - I don't remember beyond that." Aida spoke in her digital tones. "You had apparently adjusted your atmospheric settings. From what Rebecca told us, you input your settings for too much oxygen." Luke was puzzled. "Is that a problem ?" Aida nodded. "Yes, it can be. Too much oxygen for a human and your brain drowns in it. We want to do some preliminary testing to ensure there was no permanent damage to your brain or cortex. From what I can see so far - " and Aida's eyes gave a funny twirl. "you seem to be in good health. Now." Aida looked at Luke, then Rebecca. Both of them smiled knowingly. Aida finally added, "I will be back later to check on you." Then left the room leaving the pair alone again. Rebecca now spoke. "Luke. There are so many things I want to ask you." she leaned in for another kiss. This time it was on the lips. They stayed connected for nearly a minute before pulling away. Heat beat down on Luke in every part of his body as he was clearly curious and aroused by his savior from space and her interest in him. He leaned back in his bed and smiled. "I guess I'm not going anywhere for awhile. Ask away." . . . Vader and Smite's attack on the rebel starbase was underway and already signs of the massive ship's failing were starting to appear. Large pockets of explosions and fiery circles had encompassed the protective ship. As of yet none of the Empire's ships had even been hit yet, not even by a stray bolt. Vader was beside himself with glee. Destruction was always a good thing to him - especially when he was the one doing it. Smite had leaned in close to where the nose of the starbase was and had fired off all his onboard rockets and salvo. He then pulled back and used the radio. "Vader. I am out of ammo. I will need a few minutes for my laser system to re-energize." Vader looked to see the damage Smite did and was impressed. Most space pilots in the Empire didn't have enough skill to "burn" out their firing systems unless they were just careless and missing everything. Vader looked to see the damage Smite had made and deemed all of his shots were carefully placed and outstanding in selecting vital targets for the demise of the starbase. He finally replied with admiration, "Impressive, Smite. Indeed. Fall back for the moment. We will finish the job from here." With Smite directing his troops from the back and Vader pressing strongly on the offensive, in order to salvage the starbase, it shakily took off into warp at light-speed where repairs could be made so the ship was not a total loss. Smite then addressed Vader, "Do we follow ?" Vader shook his head. "No. That was their trump. It will take weeks of repairs before that thing can even be remotely worthy of defense for the rebels. Let us press our attack on the surface. Time is of the essence !" Back at base, Jan, Leia, and every able-bodied pilot were already at work to repel the invaders. There was some concern with Jan, however, in that nobody seemed to know what happened to Luke nor the unexplained absence of an X-Wing with no record - or even anyone seeing its departure. The two had to be connected - but for now, she had other concerns. The safety and sanctity of the rebel base and its inhabitants from the Empire's incoming ground attack ! (to be continued) END OF CHAPTER 7 Return back HOME You are Earth Visitor #