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| Attack Of The Bikes! by Sidra |
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He saw her through the big bay window, her hair in buns and wearing a long white, cotton robe. The mumps kept Leia behind that window with only her teddy bear, 3PO, to keep her company. Luke hoped she would be O.K. She'd been out of school the last two days and he'd been bringing her all of her homework. She seemed happy to see him and that made Luke feel good.
Luke knew she would be watching the battle to win back Yavin Drive from the new boy. The Vader family had moved here only a few weeks ago, from Germany, and already their 12-year-old son, Anakin, had taken over the street. After only three days Anakin had built a huge tree fort in the front yard of his mom and dad's house and his gang now bombed passer bys, with water balloons, from the relative safety of that huge tree fort called the "The Death Star".
Leia had told the other boys that over the past couple of days Anakin's empire had built the biggest water balloon launcher she had ever seen. Luke was still new to the neighborhood himself, but had made lots of new friends. He felt confident that the other boys in the neighborhood would not allow their long standing friendships to be terrorized by this new kids ultimate water balloon weapon.
He was correct. Leia provided a plan of the ultimate water balloon launcher to the boys, now calling themselves "The Rebels". She had sketched it out while at home during her sick rest, as well as, a plan of the entire tree fort, as far as she could see it anyway.
The Rebels moved quickly. Jan Dodanna, the oldest at 10-years-old, reviewed the sketches and devised a plan. They would speed past the Death Star, on their "Huffy" bicycles and hurl water balloons of their own to cause confusion and as much damage as they could, while the older boys on their "Schwin" 10-speed bicycles would speed in after and hurl balloons full of ice at the ultimate water balloon weapon. Only a precise hit would knock the balloon launcher from the tree house and shatter it to bits on the ground below.
The only problem was Luke's bike was broken. He had broken it two weeks earlier while riding in the Dune Sea sand dunes to the west of the town. Upon hearing of his loss, Jorg Sacul volunteered his "Huffy" to Luke and would instead, himself, ride his big brothers "Schwin" 10-speed into battle. Luke was appreciative of Jorg's gesture and promised not to scratch it.
The time was set for May 25, ten days after Luke's seventh birthday, at five P.M., after school. All the boys gathered at the staging area in the driveway of Jan's mom and dad's house to start their runs at the Death Star. The Rebels were broken down into groups of three. Luke was teamed with Wedge, another new kid, and Biggs, a friend of Luke's from the other side of town. All of Luke's team would be riding "Huffys".
First left two sets of "Huffys" followed closely by one group of "Schwin" 10-speeds. After only a minute or so, two more sets of three "Huffys", let by an over weight boy name Porkins, left. Luke was in the second group. Then the last group of three "Schwin" 10-speeds left. All the bikes were equipped with baskets full of water balloons and cards in the wheel spokes. The roar of the carded wheels was terrifying.
Now, as they approached the tree fort they would find out if the information provided by Leia was correct. The tree fort loomed in the distance.
"Look at the size of that thing!" Wedge said from the bike at Luke's right.
"Cut the chatter Wedge…" came the shouted response over the noise of the card spoked wheels from the "Huffy" leader in front of them. "and accelerate to attack speed. You're falling behind."
Luke, Wedge and Biggs pedaled harder to catch up with the first of the second launched "Huffys". They could see, at the north end of Yavin Drive, the first set of 10-speeds turning left onto Vermont Street to re-load themselves with ice balloons. The first strike was unsuccessful. The first two groups of "Huffys" were turning back to the south to pound the Death Star with more water balloons and provide more cover for the second group of approaching 10-speeds. Luke's group of bikes began their run.
"How many balloons do you think they're throwing Luke?" Biggs yelled over the sounds of battle.
"I'd say about twenty balloons. Some from the bottom of the tree, some from the tree house." Luke replied.
A passing rider yelled at Porkins, "There's an awful lot of water coming from the south side of that tree tower."
"I'm on it" called Porkins. The "Huffys" made their pass followed by the 10-speeds. It was a fast run, but not as fast as Luke could manage. Luke and his group made it out of the run only a little wet and began turning south for a second pass. The 10-speeds had a close hit the water balloon canon wobbled a little, but didn't fall from the tree house.
"It's a hit! It's a hit!" came the shout from the boy on the lead 10-speed heading north for Vermont Street.
There was a shout from the south end of the Street from a boy with a better point of view. "Negative! Negative! It didn't fall from the tree, it just impacted on the surface!"
The second group of 10-speeds turned left down Vermont Street to re-load.
On his second pass to the south Luke noticed the water balloons stop flying from the Death Star.
"The balloons, they've stopped" One of the boys heading north said as the two groups passed one another.
"Stabilize you water balloon load, watch for enemy bikes" called Porkins from the south end of Vermont Street.
"I can't see anything…to much water in my eyes." came the call from the north end of the street.
"Can you see them from where you are?"
Luke suddenly saw Anakin and about 15 bikes.
Luke yelled, "There coming in, about 15, from the ally!"
Suddenly a group of boys, lead by Anakin, come shooting from the ally along Yavin Drive, on mountain bikes, at high speed. The new enemy bicycles were loaded with water balloons. After there first pass two of the "Huffys" crashed into the grass. They were soaking wet.
Porkins began the next run north leading the re-loaded 10-speeds for another run at the tree house, but Anakin's mountain bikes were too fast and had already gotten behind Porkins group.
Luke shouted desperately, "Turn to the right, we'll cover for you"
"Hey there, I just lost my right pedal!" Porkins cried. "Get set-up for your attack run to the south, Luke!" The pass was made and no damage was done as Porkins went down into the grass.
The Rebels began dropping like flies with broken pedals, flat tires, skinned knees and even a bloody nose. Watching through the picture window, Leia was very worried for Luke's sake. This was no longer just a water balloon fight. It had gotten rough and she was afraid someone's mother might come out, break it up and send the boys home. She said a silent prayer for the rebels.
One of the 10-speed bike riders that was down threw Luke an ice balloon, "Good luck!" the stranded rider yelled.
"Biggs, Wedge, Lets close it up. We're going in full speed to the south, that'll keep those mountain bikes off our backs" Luke instructed.
"At that speed, after the run, will you be able to turn around?" Biggs said.
"What about the balloons from the tree house?" said Wedge.
"You worry about those mountain bikes, I'll worry about the balloons from the tree house." came Luke desperate reply. He knew they were in bad shape. Most of the 10-speeds were down and there were only a few remaining "Huffys" still on the move. Luke began his run to the south. Like lightning Anakin and two other mountain bikers shot from Vermont Street and began to chase after Luke down Yavin Drive. Wedge and Biggs had fell back from Luke in order to slow Anakin's approach. Anakin threw a water balloon that hit Wedge's "Huffy" square in the chain guard knocking his pedal chain off.
"I can't stay with you," cried Wedge.
"Get clear Wedge, you can't do any more good back there!" Luke called over his shoulder.
"Sorry!" yelled Wedge over the sound of playing cards slapping metal wheel spokes.
Anakin saw Wedge coast off to the side of the street, "Let him go. Stay on the leader" he instructed his wingmen. He sped right up on the back of Biggs's "Huffy".
"Hurry Luke, they're coming in much faster this time." Biggs screamed. "We can't hold them!"
Luke tried to petal faster, but it was too late. Anakin had nailed Biggs in the head with a water balloon and Biggs had crashed into a tree. Biggs began to cry. This is it, Luke thought, after our parents find out about this we'll never have another shot at it.
Anakin shifted gears and caught up to Luke in no time. Looking back, Luke realized he would never reach his target in time.
Suddenly, out of the ally flew Han Solo, a 14-year-old kid from the neighborhood, and his dog Chewie. Han said he was too old to play water balloons with Luke and the other boys. He said he was going skate boarding and, now, here he was shooting from the ally along Yavin Street on his skateboard with Chewie in tow. Chewie, in the lead, ran out in front of Anakin, who swerved to miss him and bent the front wheel of his mountain bike. Han crashed headlong into Anakin's wingmen sending all three tumbling to the ground.
Luke looked back, over his shoulder, just in time to see the Malay. Knowing, now he had the time, Luke lined up his shot, threw the ice balloon as hard as he could at the ultimate water balloon weapon. All the kids in the Death Star jumped from the tree house and ran for cover as the giant balloon launcher fell to the hard ground and broke into a million pieces.
"Great shot, kid. That was one in a million." Han said, as he got up and dusted himself off.
Luke was glad he had made the shot before their parents grounded them. He saw Anakin riding for home, warbling all over the street due to his bent front tire. Luke knew this was not the end between him and Anakin. They would meet again.
That night, before the boys went home and were grounded, Leia was allowed out to play. She was feeling better and came to see her friends. The boys were still sitting there, in the glow of the bug zapper, congratulating one another, trading stories of the battle and bandaging Chewie when she arrived. She gave Han and Luke paper awards she had made, with crayons, earlier that day and a kiss.
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