AN: Well I hope you all still enjoy this story since I got some mixed reactions on the last chapter.
Ari paused to catch her breath, lungs burning as she raised her arms, resting her hands on her head to help. When her panting had subsided somewhat, she glanced around the bay, noting all the troopers guarding the ship.
"This day just keeps getting better and better," she sighed, as she wiped the last of her tears away, counting seven stormtroopers.
Silently, Ari crept towards the Falcon; glad she was facing it from the back so she could slip under with no confrontation.
Once hiding beneath the shadow of the ship she looked around cautiously, trying to figure out how she would get on board. The troopers weren't in any real formation, which could help or hurt, Ari wasn't sure which yet.
Catlike, she slunk closer to the ramp that had two troopers guarding it where it touched the ground. Out of the corner of her eye she saw two droids, who seemed to be taking an interest in the ship and Ari wondered ever so briefly if they were Luke's.
She shook her head though, knowing she had to concentrate on the mission at hand as she watched the troopers, waiting for a chance to get back onto the Falcon. Her eyes flashed as she watched them, nerves screaming in anticipation.
Finally her chance came as the guard that had been facing the ramp, turned his head for a moment. Ari jumped and grabbed the edge of the ramp and winced from the sting of metal against her raw hands.
Biting her lip to stop from making any sound, she pulled herself up to her knees and stayed low as she hurried in. She leaned with her back against the bulkhead until she heard the stomping of boots. Glancing down the ramp she saw the troopers leaving, blasters ready.
Curious, she leaned just a bit further but saw nothing. Getting to her feet, she hurried down the hall and to a porthole. She saw Han and Chewie running to the ship, followed by a girl in white. Luke was the last one as he stopped, looking at something.
Following his gaze, Ari gasped. It was Ben dueling with none other than Darth Vader, both had their lightsabers ignited, facing each other.
In that instant she watched almost in slow motion as Ben looked over at Luke then it seemed he looked at her though there was no way he could have seen her as he raised his lightsaber in a mock salute.
Ari's breath caught in her throat as the black figure then raised his sward, bringing it down to cut right through Ben.
"NO!!!" Even inside Ari could hear Luke's shout, showing the shock and pain.
The troopers who had been watching the fight then turned and shot at Luke who took a few steps toward them, shooting at them as Han and the woman yelled to him it was too late.
"Blast the door Kid!" she heard Han yell as he helped return the fire. It was at that moment that Ari noticed something through the shock. There was no body. Only robes and, more than likely, Ben's lightsaber. Ari just couldn't believe he was gone like that.
Perplexed, she stood in her spot as Luke shot the door, leaving only three troopers, shutting the others, along with Darth Vader, out. Luke started to advance on the remaining stormtroopers as Ari heard the others come up the ramp, hearing at least four footsteps, at least two of those, Han and Chewie's, running to the cockpit.
Her eyes on Luke, Ari watched as he paused in the middle of a shot, after shooting one, then he turned and ran up the ramp as the engines fired up and the ship started to lift off.
Ari started to move a bit to find Luke, feeling his loss, though uncertain if it was the best time to make herself known. She hadn't known Ben well, but was still deeply saddened by his death. Her gaze fell out the window as she paused, seeing the station for the first time. It was huge. It was the size of a moon; maybe even some planets and Ari felt her jaw drop open slightly from shock.
Her gaze stayed transfixed as they blasted off towards open space until she heard the blood chilling sound of TIE fighters as the screamed by.
AN: I know a bit short but please do read and review. J