AN: Sorry this is a bit short, but it was the best pausing point for a bit. Enjoy!
Over a standard month passed on the icy planet and Ari fell into a pattern of life.
She got up early, much like everyone else on the base. Often, she would practice with her lightsaber for about half an hour, sometimes longer if she could. Not only to practice but to warm up for the day.
After a quick sonic shower, Ari would dress for the day, bundling in many different layers. It was almost the exact opposite of Tatooine. The only similarities were the blinding landscapes and the intense storms that could attack with almost no warning.
With the company of a fully charged R4, the young woman would go to the cafeteria, where she always had people to sit with including Cal, Wedge, Dak and sometimes both Han and Chewie would join them.
After a meal, Ari would gotten get asked to do a few tasks in the base, relaying messages and helping with conditioning the snowspeeders ready to handle the chill. Everyone was busy with many different tasks. Even R4 was sometimes put to use, though often helped Ari with the speeders.
After a quick lunch with Cal, Ari would join him once again, checking and placing sensors during the few afternoon hours that were tolerable by both the humans and tauntums. It was during this time that Ari and Cal got closer. They shared stories of their lives, as well as hopes for the future.
After patrol, Ari would often go back to her room to change into her typical Hoth clothes. Warm, but not to the extent of what she wore on patrol, because it was too bulky for when she was just inside the base.
From there, Ari usually had more lightsaber training until dinner, which she usually had with the same group that she ate with during breakfast. After the meal, there was always a meeting between the officers, which including Ari.
The meetings were always loud. It seemed as if everyone had something to say or add. After the first meeting, Ari was one of them. Usually on issues concerning sensor placement and the problems they had with the snowspeeders.
The meetings seemed to take forever at times, lasting from thirty minutes to two hours. However, no matter how long it lasted, Ari always came out exhausted. If she had the energy, she would do a round of the floors, seeing the technicians who were just as exhausted, and she often advised them to get sleep. There were some days, however, when she was so tired, she barely made it back to her room before collapsing onto the bed, sometimes not even having the energy to change or even more to slide under the blankets.
Even with so much going on, there was always something on Ari's mind. That was Luke. He hadn't contacted her once he and the Princess had left. The worrisome thought was that the resistance leaders had been able to contact the base with the simple message saying "Representatives no arrival". Since then, it had been silent. Very few knew that the Princess and Luke were missing. The worst was feared, but the best was hoped for.
Every morning, she awoke with the same question. She would say good morning to R4, and ask if there was any news of Luke. The droid would always check though an information outlet in her room, and would always have the same negative answer.
Ari wasn't sure if she should be mad, or worried that no one had heard from Luke or Leia since they had left. Even though she kept herself as busy as she could, that thought always plagued her. What if something had happened to Luke? What if he was never coming back?
Ari had to force these questions from her mind as soon as they appeared. Luke was coming back. He had to.
It was on a morning, much like the others, when R4 awoke Ari with beeping and chirping.
"R4, what is it?" Ari groaned then looked at the chrono. "I am not late. I have at least another hour to sleep," she murmured and rolled over.
The little droid was not going to allow this though. All of a sudden, his retractable claw grabbed Ari's blanket and pulled it off. The plan might have worked, that if is Ari hadn't become wrapped in it during the night.
She hit the ice floor hard. "R4!!" she yelped, sending a glare at the little droid, who in turn, gave her a metallic raspberry before chirping again.
Ari reached up, finding her translator to look at it, still on the floor. However, as soon as she read the message, she jumped to her feet. "Luke?! Are you sure?"
The little droid gave an affirmative. The ship had just landed.
Not wasting any time, Ari quickly changed, throwing on a tunic, coat, pants and boots in record time. She rushed for the door, R4 on her heels, trying to keep up as Ari ran through the frozen, empty halls.
Seeing the new ship, and the passengers talking to General Riekan, Ari sped up. While she knew that Luke was probably exhausted, and that it would be frowned upon, that didn't stop her. Especially when Luke looked up, seeing her. A tired, yet genuine smile came over his features as Ari threw her arms around him tightly. They met with such a force, both stumbled back a few steps but neither cared.
"Oh Force, Luke I was so worried about you," Ari told him as they finally let go.
"I thought you would be," he gave a small smile. "I have a story to tell you," he answered.
"I have so many to tell you too!" Ari exclaimed. She paused, studying him a bit closer. He looked so tired. The look in his eye could only be seen as haunted. "Luke?" she asked after a moment.
Luke glanced over and saw Leia nod with a small smile, to show she had everything under control. With a relieved sigh, Luke slung his arm over Ari's shoulder holding her close. "How about I tell you about it as we look for my room?" he suggested.
