Chapter 21: Victory For Now

The Rebels retreated from the battle zone, as Vader's fleet destroyed the treacherous Imperials, and soon our heroes caught up and jumped to hyperspace just as the Praetor and the Catalyst Cannon exploded in a fireball. Vader flew back to the Executor, where he immediately reported to the Emperor.

"Master, I have dealt with the traitor, Admiral Kreeshkin. But the Catalyst weapon has been destroyed by the Rebels." said Vader.

"No matter. Nothing which the Rebels do will avert their fate. Even without the Catalyst Cannon, I have a new plan which will bring the Rebels to their doom…." said the Emperor.

Meanwhile, the Rebel Fleet regrouped at Mobius, and everyone gathered atop the newly rebuilt Castle Acorn. The Star Tornado landed on the main pad, with the Falcon and the Stryker landing next to it. Many Rebel Pilots and Soldiers, as well as several Mobians cheered and gathered around the Tornado to congratulate the Freedom Fighters for a job well done. Soon, the crowd was broken by the arrival of Mon Mothma.

"Well done Sonic. You've destroyed the Catalyst Cannon and defeated the scheme of a madman. You've saved us all."

"Thank you, ma'am. But I couldn't have done it without Sal."

Sally couldn't help but blush a little at Sonic's comment, but hid it from sight, as then, Mon Mothma retrieved a small box from a soldier.

"Sonic the Hedgehog. Sally Acorn. It is my privilege to present you with the Kalidor Crescent." said Mon Mothma as the case opened and revealed two medals. Leia walked up and pinned the medals on Sonic and Sally. Then Mon Mothma turned to the other Freedom Fighters and said: "You did fine yourselves. You each will also receive a Kalidor Crescent." Leia then pinned the medals on the other Freedom Fighters, who were most impressed.

Then, Mon Mothma turned to Kaylor. "Lt. Commander Raeglan, I hear you did good as well. I hereby award you with the Nebula Award and a promotion to the Rank of Commander."

"Thank you, Mon Mothma. I appreciate the award, and the promotion." said Kaylor. "And you deserve that Kalidor, Sonic, that is one of the finest awards anyone can receive."

"Speaking of which, I think there is a certain somebody who deserves a medal as well." said Sonic.

"Well, present him then." said Mon Mothma.

Sonic and Sally turned and looked at Teero, who stood floating next to Cross and Guts. "I want to thank my new friend Teero. I wouldn't even be here if it weren't for Teero."

Teero floated up alongside Sonic and Sally and presented himself to Mon Mothma.

"I wish he could explain why he did it." said Sonic.

Sally then brought up NICOLE and asked: "NICOLE, can you help Teero speak?"

"I believe it is possible Sally." said NICOLE as Sally plugged NICOLE into Teero, and NICOLE worked for a few moments and then she said: "I have accessed this droid's brain. I will be able to relay what he says through my vocal processors."

Sonic then turned to Teero. "Hey, Teero, can you speak now?"

"Yes…" said Teero through NICOLE.

"Thanks for the save back there, I owe you." said Sonic.

"You…are…welcome…Sonic." said Teero slowly and clearly.

"Why did you do it? Don't interrogation droids like watching organics suffer?" asked Kaylor.

"I…hate…making…organics…suffer." said Teero.

"Why?" asked Sally.

"Because…something…happened…inside…me…I…felt…bad…making…organics……suffer." said Teero.

"So why me?" asked Sonic.

"I...saw…my…chance…to…escape…that…life…I…wanted…to…help…you…" said Teero.

"NICOLE, scan Teero. Is there any damage inside?" asked Sally.

"Scanning, Sally. I am detecting irregularities inside this unit's personality matrix, indicative of electrical damage. It appears to have caused the safeguards inside to deactivate."

"Well, you must have been shocked to finally gain a conscience." said Sonic.

"Why…?" asked Teero.

"Well it told you the right thing to do. Rebel against the Empire for the things they made you do." said Sonic.

"Yes…it…did…" said Teero.

"Well then, for such a heroic droid, your reward will be anything you like." said Mon Mothma.

"I…want…to…serve…Sonic…I…want…a…vocabulator…and…I…want…to…not……be…an…interrogator…anymore…" said Teero.

"I think we can make those requests possible." said Sonic. "Rotor, can you make that happen?"

"Sure can, Sonic!" said Rotor.

"Can I help?" asked Tails.

"Sure can, little bro." said Sonic. "Be cool, Teero."

"Yes…way…past…cool…I…will…be…ready…to…juice…it…loose…" said Teero.

"Oh my gosh! All that work, and now he sounds just like you!" said Sally sarcastically.

"Now we're talking!" said Sonic as everyone laughed.

Later that day, as the sun set over the sky, Sonic found Sally sitting atop the Tornado's cockpit, looking at the sun. He climbed up atop the ship and joined her, sitting next to her.

"How 'ya doin', Sal?" asked Sonic.

"Nothing much, just thinking that so much has happened ever since that Chrono Transporter went off and we ended up in this Galaxy."

"Yeah, you're right, Sal. We've been through a lot these past couple months. But I'm gonna keep on fighting until ol' Buttnik and the Empire is history!"

"I guess so….I'll keep on fighting by your side, Sonic Hedgehog, and then…"

"Then what?"

Sally then embraced him, and they kissed. For some reason, both could feel that one loved the other, but couldn't fully realize this.

Meanwhile, Luke and Kaylor were walking towards the two just as they finished kissing. Luke then sensed a strong Force Presence around them, but he didn't fully realize this yet.

"I hope we're not interrupting!" said Kaylor as the two men walked under them.

"No, not at all Kaylor and Luke! What do guys need?"

"Just letting you guys know something. Kreeshkin maybe gone, but Robotnik, Vader, and the Emperor still remain. We still have much work to do." said Luke.

"Hey, there's still a galaxy with a war going on! Are you guys ready for another Tour of Duty?" asked Kaylor.

Sonic and Sally, holding hands, jumped down from the Tornado, and Sonic had to say: "It's what we live for! We're ready for anything!"

And so, they headed back into the castle to get ready for their next adventure with the Rebel Alliance.

The End

(Author's Note: Hold on, everybody! The fun isn't over yet! Stay tuned for Part 2 of "Sonic Meets Star Wars."!)