Chapter 24
Ari beamed as the canopy opened. She pulled off her helmet, shaking her blonde hair loose as she swung her legs over the side and quickly descended the stairs.
Her smile faded when she turned and came face to face with Luke, who had his arms crossed, a frown etched into his features.
Ari averted her eyes, seeing not only that he disapproved of what she did, but something else. Worry? Concern? She couldn't place it.
Before she could dwell on it her thoughts were broken away when he spoke up.
"How did it go?" he asked, sounding somewhat casual, yet it was forced.
"Went well," she answered. "I'm in."
"Ari, I really want you to reconsider I-"
Luke was cut off by the sound of a metallic voice reciting how Ari did. "Kills,
32. Shields at 23 percent. Time, five minutes and twelve seconds. Number of times killed, one..." the voice continued, but that was all Ari caught before Luke's look made her see only him.
"You see? You were killed already in a practice run!"
"Look at what I was up against! I beat them all without any help," Ari replied with a confident nod.
"I don't care, you aren't going up there," Luke told her stubbornly.
"Luke, you can't tell me what to do. It would be like me telling YOU not to fly," Ari answered.
"WHAT? Ari, that's different," Luke insisted
"No it's not!" Ari shot back, growing frustrated.
"Yes it is,"
"How? How is it so different?" Ari asked, hands on her hips
"It just is! You might get hurt..." Luke told her, obviously concerned
"No more than what you could be..." Ari pointed out.
"But Ari..."
"But nothing Luke. I am going up and you can't stop me," she told him, and started down the hallway.
"Ari, you can't! If something happens to you it will be MY fault…" Luke said, grabbing her shoulder to stop her.
"No, it would be the Imperial that shoots me," Ari replied simply with a small shrug.
"Ari, be reasonable..." Luke started
"I am fighting for a cause I believe in Luke. That is reasonable," Ari cut in.
"But you could get hurt! I don't want you to get hurt. How am I supposed to make sure of that if you take off and put yourself in danger?" Luke asked, his hand dropping from her shoulder.
"You are putting yourself into the same amount of danger if not more by flying an X-Wing against the Death Star, I just have the fighters to worry about," Ari answered pointedly.
"Ari! It is NOT the same..." Luke started.
"Then enlighten me, Luke" Ari responded, crossing her arms over her chest.
"It's just NOT. It's easier for you to get hurt than me," he told her
"And why is that?" Ari asked, looking at him, one eyebrow raised in question.
"You're…well...more delicate," Luke told her, trying to find the words.
"Delicate?" Ari asked, as if surprised he had said that. "You mean because I am a girl, don't you?" she asked simply
"Well, Ari, you ARE a girl," Luke pointed out.
"You know I was amazing at home against the others," Ari reminded him
"That doesn't matter...whether you can do it or not is not the point."
"Then what is the point?" Ari asked with an exasperated sigh, hands on her hips
"I don't want you hurt, that is the point!!!" Luke exclaimed
"They need every available pilot," Ari countered
"You're making this very difficult, Ari...why can't you just stay with Leia? I'm sure she'd have something for you to do," Luke suggested, hoping she would agree.
"Oh, sit around like a coward when I could be up there fighting and making a difference?" Ari asked with a stomp of her foot.
"Are you calling Leia a coward? I can hardly put those two words together in one sentence," Luke admitted, honestly surprised that Ari would even suggest that.
"She has her role here, but I would be useless down here," Ari answered
"You'd be useless DEAD," Luke corrected, almost harshly
"But I would have made a difference at least," Ari remarked
"Well, I don't want you dead," Luke told her firmly
"Luke...I have to help. I have to do my part. For my mom. My dad. Jett, even Saber," Ari told him sadly, yet determined
"Ari, please! I'm begging you not to...at least go with Han, if you won't stay with Leia," Luke pleaded, trying to think of someway, any way to get to her not be in a fighter.
"I am not going to run and hide like a whipped canido. I refuse to leave," Ari answered with a sharp nod of her head, shocked he would even suggest such a thing.
"ARI!!!" Luke shouted, exasperated
"What?" Ari asked, turning to him, slowing her pace only slightly.
"Stop being so stubborn!"
"Me?!" Ari let out a short laugh. "You are the one being stubborn," she muttered.
"Good thing, too, or you'd just go off recklessly and get yourself killed," Luke answered, somewhat hotly
"Oh and what do you think you are going off to do?" Ari asked. "Going to a party?" she asked sarcastically, frustrated
"My job!" Luke answered
"And what do you think I am trying to do?" Ari asked, looking at him, blue eyes shone with determination and defiance
Luke let out a cry of exasperation. "You don't have to, Ari."
"Yes I do!" she answered and stopped for a minute. "Can't you see it Luke? I want to fight what I believe in, the same cause you are fighting for. The one you would willingly die for," her voice full of emotion, but also deep determination
"But, please don't, Ari!" he begged
"Luke I don't want to see you hurt but I am not going to try and stop you because I know how stubborn you are," Ari answered and started down the hall again but only got a few steps before he spoke up again.
AN: Ari and Luke going at it again…tsk tsk…what will happen next?
I also want to thank my friend Emily for helping me with this chapter as well as the previous one and future ones. She has helped me with parts of Ari and Luke.
Please R&R guys! I want to know you guys are enjoying it and will continue reading!