The Palpatine Wannabe

"SITH!"

A blast of purple light nearly takes off the plating on Delta's right side, and she goes into an out-of-control spin. I grab for her controls to steady her, but before I can stabilize the fighter she smashes into the trees. My stomach and sense of balance both violently protest as she flips several times, finally coming to rest upside-down in a stand of pines.

"Who's bright idea was this?" she demands in a pained tone.

"I'd blame Rose, but it was our choice to take off after her," I moan. "Any chance of you turning right-side-up before I lose my lunch?"

"Ugh. No puking in the cockpit." She transforms halfway, enough to free her arms and right herself, then pops open the canopy. "Get out."

I hop down and let her transform the rest of the way. "Where's Rose and Mel?"

"Sorry, lost 'em when I had to dodge Galvatron's shot," she replies.

"Poodoo." I take off my flight helmet long enough to wipe sweat off my face, then replace it. "We'll search on foot. We have to find them before the nutcases do..."

A scream and a draconine roar rip the air, followed by a terrible sizzle. I look up just in time to see a black dragon -- not Meleficent, but Shruikan -- fold his wings and dive.

"Double poodoo." I break into a run.

Delta and I break into a clearing just in time to see Galbatorix dismount and face Rose with a sneer. She holds Vector's sword and braces herself, prepared to fight to the death if needed. Behind her, Maleficent lays in dragon form, one wing shattered and scales smoking ominously.

"And so it ends," taunts Galbatorix once he sees I've entered the clearing. "We have you right where we want you, foolish girls. The men -- or other creatures -- you love will never see you again."

Maleficent snarls, and Rose's eyes turn to stone. Calling their boyfriends "creatures" must have touched a nerve.

"Hate to tell you, you Palpatine wannabe, but we have you outnumbered," I grin.

"Oh?" He laughs. "It may just be me now, but Nemesis, Galvatron, and their mates are on their way..."

That's when all heck breaks loose. A blue F-15 shrieks overhead, followed by about twenty X-wings and TIE fighters, a gummi ship, and who knows how many other fighters and aircraft I can't identify off the top of my head. Blaster fire and shouts fill the woods, and trees snap and crackle as huge bodies push their way through them.

"You forget something, Galbatorix," I tell him. "You mess with one Resistance member, you mess with the whole kit and caboodle."

Yet another black dragon bursts onto the scene at that moment -- Temeraire! Shruikan screams and launches himself toward him in a desperate attempt to fight him off. Rose, meanwhile, raises her sword and charges Galbatorix, who's forced to draw his own blade in defense.

Delta looks up, optics widening. "Vader's comming me. He wants us to help with the aerial battle."

"Tell him someone needs to pick up Mel!" I reply.

"Megatron and Jetfire are on their way," she tells me.

"All right then, transform!"

She complies, and I hop into her cockpit to kick a little villain butt.

***

Maybe the four of us should have let Galbatorix have his way with us. Because suddenly facing him and his allies doesn't sound half as bad as what Vader has in store for me and Delta, and I don't even want to know what Rose and Mel are going to go through.

Being the cowards that most villians tend to be, Nemesis and company hightailed it for the hills once it became apparent they were outnumbered by the incoming Resistance members. The only one who didn't make an escape was Galbatorix, who's now getting an up-close look at the Autobot brig, the lucky guy. Babylon Palace seems to be settling in a new location, right at the Idaho/Canada border, and there's been no sign of movement since. All the same, we're keeping a close eye on it. It's in a perfect spot to move against headquarters...

But for now the bigger threat seems to be the threat of Vader locking me in my room for the next five years or so.

While Vader continues his ranting about how idiotic it was of me to take off on a half-brained rescue mission and from now on I need to consult with him before doing anything rash (look who's talking, buster), I glance out the window at the airfield that's been set up in the pasture. Ratchet and Hook are looking after Maleficent's wing while Megatron looks on protectively. Prime's driving down the lane in a cloud of dust, off on a drive with Rose to talk things over most likely. Thundercracker and Delta are talking near the barn; what I'd give to know what they're discussing.

Am I sorry I took off and made the entire Resistance come chasing after me? A little, sure. Would I do it over again? Heck yeah. One of us in trouble means all of us in trouble.

Vader's winding up for another rant. Suppose I should at least pretend to be interested in what he's saying...