8

Chapter 19: The Attack of the Death Star

It is an unfortunate fact that we can secure peace only by preparing for war.

John F. Kennedy

Campaign address, Seattle Washington, September 6, 1960

Sam and Brandon started to enter the protected area of the main reactor. Without warning Sam was attacked by an electric shock. Brandon used the Force to rip the device from the wall that attacked her. She hit the floor unconsciously.

Brandon pulled Sam back a few feet. Brandon used to Force to check on her vital signs. She was alright other then the electric shock to her system. Brandon grabbed his comlink and called for Luke. "Sam has been hit by some kind of electrical field. She is out, but alive."

Luke, Jack, and Dentralla ran to her aid. When they got there, Brandon ordered to get her out of here. Get her to the Peacemaker. Stay there until I return. I am going to have to do this alone, or die trying."

Luke at first wanted to stop him, but he knew that blowing up the Death Star had to be done now, or there might not be another chance. Luke said, "We will take care of Sam. I want you to concentrate on what needs to be done. You can do this."

Brandon understood Luke. He looked at Sam once more, and went back to where he was before Sam was attacked. Brandon put himself into the Force as he did with the recent storm trooper attack. He went through the defense system that was protecting the main reactor.

The defenses were hard to fight, but the Jedi training course that Corran and Mara made for him was harder. The special training that Yoda gave him helped. Brandon was able to be as limber as a rubber band and as agile as a cat. The defenses were able to think. This made Mater Jedi Brandon Bowers' job even more difficult.

He saw the main reactor. The Force warned him of the same attack that Sam was hit by. Brandon stopped the electricity that was going to hit him, and redirected the attack to destroy the device that shot out at him. The device then blew up.

Brandon realized the last obstacle was similar to the one that was in the Asgards' training course. Sensing no other danger, Brandon turn off his lightsaber, and carefully walked passed it. He made it through without a hitch. With the Force he scanned for any other dangers. He did not find any. He quickly set all the charges that Sam had on her as well as what he had. Brandon set the timer for three minutes on all of the bombs at the same time with the Force.

Brandon then carefully walked past that same obstacle, and went through the rest of the defenses. He made it through them.

The timer on all the bombs showed two minutes. Still concentrating on the Force, Brandon went carefully and quickly toward the Peacemaker.

About half way, Brandon and twelve storm troopers ran into each other. They all were about to fire on him. The Jedi moved at lightning speed. With his lightsaber he was able to nearly cut in half of all the storm troopers before they had the chance to lift their riffles to fire. The timers showed 1:45.

Brandon finally made it to the Sam's ship. He yelled, "Take off now! We have one minute and fifteen seconds before this Death Star goes boom.

Luke did have the ship read for takeoff, and took off. Brandon opened a hole in the shield that was around the Death Star. Luke went through it. When they were clear to jump to light speed, off they went and not too soon. Seconds after they jumped to light speed the Death Star exploded.

Brandon went to check on Sam. He found her sitting up. She was smiling at him. "Great work Master Jedi." She got up, and they both gave each other a big hug.

"How are you?" Brandon asked.

"I am doing better. If it was not for Force protecting me, I would have been dead." Sam answered.

Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival.

Sir Winston Churchill

House of Commons, May 13, 1940

While Sam and Brandon were hugging each other, Emily and Ben came in the room. Both Sam and Brandon hugged them both. Brandon and Sam thanked them for helping while they were in the Death Star.

"As soon as we were safe aboard the Peacemaker, Yoda and Jolinar had left us. From what we have learned already from the Force, Emily and I are very thrilled to start our Jedi training." Ben said.

Sam replied with a smile, "Then you two will become Jedi Knights."

They both understood. They also saw that their uncle need deserved rest. Before the three left him, Brandon asked Sam, "Could you please tell Luke to take it slow back to Coruscant?"

Sam smiled, "When I get to the cockpit, I will be driving, and I will." After Brandon lay down on the bed, Sam used the Force to put him in a deep sleeping trance. She told him, "You will wake when you get your full rest Master Jedi Brandon Bowers."

Oh sleep! It is a gently thing

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

The Rime of the Ancent Mariner (1798), 5.1

When Brandon did wake up, all of his family was there beside him. Brandon smiled, "Mom and dad! Glad to see you all here."

He jumped up and hugged them both. He also hugged his grandmother, sister and brother-in-law.

Brandon continued, "I am very happy that all of you are here."

Sam walked in. She smiled, "You have been sleeping for six hours. It took us a little over an hour to get to Coruscant. I wanted your family to be here when you woke up."

"Since you are part of our family, all of the family members are here." He looked around and asked, "Where are Ben and Emily?"

Sam answered, "They are with Luke and Mara. They have been preparing something for you while you have been sleeping. I too think that you are my family. I am delighted to be a part of yours Brandon."

Brandon was about to walk out of the room of the ship when Sam stopped him. "Sorry you cannot leave the ship quite yet. Do not use the Force to find out what they are up too either.

Brandon smiled, "I will not spoil everyone's hard work on my behalf."

Sam said, "Now since you are awake. I am told to take you all to Earth. My ship has warp capabilities. We will be there in six hours. Once I get the Peacemaker on course, I will be with you all. Dentralla will land the Peacemaker when we arrive.

After Sam did just that, all of them during the six hours spent time together as a family. They talked, laughed, played games, and the other things that families do together.

After Dentralla landed the Peacemaker at Warner Robbins Air Force Base, there were a great many people waiting for them. There was a loud cheer for them as they exited the Peacemaker. The news cameras and news personnel were all over them. Earth was proud of their sacrifices. Earth was now safe from the threat of the Death Star. Air Force officers directed the welcomed passengers to their private airplane set for New York City.

The applause of a single human being is of great consequence.

Samuel Johnson

The Rambler, June 6, 1751

When they arrived at the New York airport, they were taken to their hotel. There waiting for them was George Hammond. He looked at the Bowers and Aarons. "It is great to finally meet all of you. I am George Hammond. The ceremony of the victory of the Death Star's destruction will be at 8:00 PM. You all have a few hours to rest up for the event."

He looked at Brandon. "Princess Leia wanted me to remind you not to use the Force at all until you are taken to the ceremony. If you are caught using the Force by Sam here, Leia said that she would skin you alive."

Sam replied, "Not even the Force will protect you."

Brandon smiled, "Are you two trying to tell me something."

George smiled, "Yes we are. Even Emily said that she would torture you. She said that she would not have to be turn into a Goa'uld in order to do it."

Brandon thought for a moment, "I think I better behave myself then, yes?"

George smiled once more, "For your health and well being, you should."

George showed them to their rooms. The Air Force is paying the bill. I will knock on your doors when it is time for you all to be taken to the ceremony. He gave them the keys to their apartments, and walked away.

When Sam opened her door to her apartment, she got a big surprise. Jack was sitting watching television. He was watching a 24 hour marathon of his favorite television show. Jack was teasing her by not paying attention to her as she walked in. She did not have to use the Force to tell that he was doing this. She did use the Force to grab the remote to turn off the television. Jack looked up and pretended to be surprised. "Oh high, you finally got here."

"Hi yourself. I was not expecting you here, but I am glad you are."

"After that kiss you gave me the other day, you promised me something when you got back. Since we have a few hours, you can fulfill it."

Sam just grinned wide, and shut the apartment door behind her.

The Bowers and the Aarons went to their rooms, and rested until George Hammond came for them.

In Brandon's apartment, he just sat and watched television. It was great to sit down quietly and do nothing. It has been a long time since he been home, and not worry about anything. Brandon said, "It is great to be home."

Time did pass very quickly. George Hammond knocked on all their doors. He said, "It is time for us to leave. I have transport ready to take all of you to the ceremony. When they got there, Brandon was excited to find out they arrived at the same place that he became a full Jedi. They were greeted by four Air Force officers. One of them said, "If you could follow us, we will show where you need to be.

Sam playfully reminded Brandon not to use the Force.

Brandon said jokingly, "Don't worry I am behaving myself. I am being a good Jedi."

They were brought to the back of the stage. One of the officers looked at Brandon and said, "You will be announced on stage at the proper time. Then you will speak to the entire world."

Brandon was very excited about what was the officer said. The officer left them all there. In a few minutes, Princess Leia was talking to the entire world once more. She said, "It was a good many years ago I was talking to everyone on planet Earth. I was telling you about the Stargate Program, and the possible dangers that Earth might be facing. I can say with confidence that Earth is free from danger, thanks to one Jedi Knight."

The crowd cheered.

Princess Leia continued, "If it was not for Master Jedi Sam O'Neill taking us to visit Earth, we would not have found out that he could be a Jedi."

The crowd cheered once more.

Princess Leia smiled and said, "With his strong ability to use the Force, Master Jedi Sam O'Neill was able to train him very quickly, so he would be able to do the task that he has perform for everyone here." Princess Leia paused for a few seconds and continued, "Please, ladies and gentlemen of planet Earth, let me introduce to you today, Master Jedi Brandon Bowers."

Brandon then walked up on stage and to the podium that Princess Leia was standing beside. Everyone was giving Brandon a grand standing ovation. He just looked at them with a big smile.

When the crowd quieted down, Master Jedi Brandon Bowers spoke, "Thank you for that standing ovation. I am very humbled by your responses over my actions towards the destruction of the Death Star. Before I continue, I want Master Jedi Sam O'Neill to come up while I make my speech to you today."

Everyone gave her the same standing ovation including Brandon. After everyone took their seats, Brandon continued his speech to the world:

"If it was not for this Jedi training me over the past several years, I would not have been able to do what I just did to the Death Star. She is more than a friend to me. She is family. The sacrifice that I did for everyone here today is my tribute to you. As Andre Gide once said, 'The very act of sacrifice magnifies the one who sacrifices himself to the point where his sacrifice is much more costly to humanity than would have been the loss of those for whom his is sacrificing himself. But in abnegation lies the secret of his grandeur.'"

"I would sacrifice myself again for the safety of this planet and everyone on it. I am very much grateful that I survived from my duties. Most people throughout history have not. Their sacrifices are no less important than mine. Today in this celebration of Earth's freedom we need to place everyone on stage especially the ones that have died for the cause of freedom."

"As John F. Kennedy once said, 'The most powerful single force in the world today in neither Communism nor capitalism, neither the H-bomb nor the guided missile—It is man's eternal desire to be free and independent.'"

"Freedom comes with a cost. For the soldiers that have sacrifices their lives for our countries we need to celebrate what they have done. They are just as important as my sacrifice for Earth. The applause that you have given me, I share with them. The ceremony that is in honor of what I have done, I share with them also."

The crowd gave another standing ovation. Even a few fireworks went off.

Brandon continued, "I don't want you to think that I destroyed the Death Star on my own. It took a team to work together, and in the end result allowed me to do my job in destroying the Death Star. There is no 'I' in the word 'team.' In history, you hear of great men doing great things. If you study history hard enough, you will find that they did not do it alone. Scientist learns from their peers of other scientist. General Patton could not do all that he was great at without the 3rd Army. In that team, it took hard work and determination."

"Tonight I want to thank all that was involved on the attack on the Death Star. Ladies and gentlemen, please give these people a standing ovation."

Everyone did just that.

Brandon continued, "It is all of us that made it possible for Earth to be free. Their price paid for your freedom. Now since it is all over, I am very grateful to be back on Earth. For a short time, I will be relaxing and not doing a single thing. After my rest, I will be going back to my Jedi duties to where ever they may take me. I believe I can safely state that those duties will be with my Master, Master Jedi Sam O'Neill. We are a team. I believe a special team. I do not think even the full Jedi council could break us apart."

"I have heard there is a statue on planet Tatooine in the honor of both of us. It has us looking up in the air with our lightsabers on and crossing each other. There is writing at the bottom of that statue saying, 'All for one and one for all.' So in that respect. . ."

Brandon looked at Sam, and they both brought out their lightsabers and crossed them. They both said, "All for one and one for all."

Cameras went flashing from nearly everyone and everywhere. The rest of them gave another standing ovation. The day was the celebration of peace throughout planet Earth. Earth was very much grateful of their freedom and thankful for the ones that sacrificed their lives for it.

Before Sam and Brandon took their seats to watch the rest of the ceremony, Luke came up to the podium. He said, "Before you two take your seats, I and the Jedi Council has an assignment for you, Master Jedi Brandon Bowers. Don't worry you will start this after your deserved rest. I have talked with many people about this assignment that only you can do. It is not just because of your special abilities of the Force, but this task can only be done by you. The assignment that I want you to do is. . ."

Just then Emily and Ben walked up beside their uncle. Luke smiled and continued, "To train Emily and Ben Aaron as Jedi Knights."

Brandon was just as excited as he was when Emily announced that he was a full Jedi. He then gave both Emily and Ben a great big hug. They both gave him one in return.

Brandon said, "I will be honored to train you both."

He looked at Sam. She had a big smile on her face as well.

He also looked at his other Jedi family. He said to his Master, "You all have my permission to train these two while I am on my vacation."

Luke replied, "We will be honored to help as we have help Sam in training you."

Brandon looked at Emily and Ben once more. He gave them another big smile and said, "It would be a great honor for me to train you two."

Emily said, "We would not want anyone else to do it." They all took their seat, and watched quietly the ceremony that has been prepared for all that have been responsible in destroying the Death Star and saving Earth.

I want to dedicate this story to the men and women that are sacrificing their lives for our freedom. I also want to dedicate to the ones that have done so already. We need to remember why we have freedom. Even though we need people in the U.S. Congress and other government positions, it is the ones that are in the military, the local police, firemen, etc. that allows the United States of America to be a free nation. Please do not be too comfortable that you forget where your freedom comes from, and the ever so large price tag to keep it.