AN: I know there was a bit of a break there, but I hope it is worth it for everyone! J
Ari awoke to the gentle hum of the engines as the Falcon traveled through lightspeed.
Opening her eyes with a low moan, the day's events came flying to her. She couldn't imagine she would have done such stunts. However, she had. That was the only way to explain the pain that was still very persistent.
Slowly, Ari shifted and forced herself to sit up. Han had dimmed the lights in the room, for which Ari was thankful.
Glancing at the foot of the bed, Ari was relieved to see her clothes and bag.
Slowly, careful of the still tender wounds, Ari slid the now torn flightsuit, letting it fall to the floor as she pulled on her comfortable tunic, pants, belt and boots, transferring her belt and saber to her outfit from Tatooine again.
Sighing in relief, glad feel more like herself again, she started for the cockpit, footsteps covered by the hum of the engines of the ship.
"Good morning," Han greeted her with a small smile.
"Was I asleep long?" Ari asked.
"No, just a few hours. You needed it."
"Thanks," Ari smiled and yawned. "I still feel a bit sore."
"You will for awhile. It will just take a few days."
Before Ari could respond there came an urgent beeping that turned into a wail of a siren and the entire ship shuddered.
"What the…" Ari started, grabbing onto the back of one of the seats to keep her balance.
"Blasted!" Han exclaimed, as they came out of lightspeed, and right into the thick of a battle.
"Han!" Ari exclaimed.
"The Imperials must have done it," Han answered and cursed under his breath.
Gripping the back of the chair, Ari's knuckles were white as a trio of TIE fighters flew by, engines screaming as they shot at the Falcon.
The ship rocked violently and Ari was thrown into a seat roughly as the TIEs came back around, attacking again.
Out the cockpit window, Ari could tell the opposing force was the Rebel Alliance, and that their fighters and transports were almost all nearly destroyed. The still burning debris was littering the area. Ari had to wince, wondering if any were some of the Rebels she had met just a short time earlier, and her stomach dropped at the thought. Mouth dry, she watched helplessly as another fighter exploded, and Ari though she could almost hear the pilot's dying, anguished cry.
Another jolt threw Ari against the wall behind her and she gave a gasp of pain as a fire seemed to run up her side. However, it did bring her back to their present situation
"Han get us out of here!" Ari ordered briskly, even though Han was already working at that, flipping switches, but she could see the worry lines etched in his face. "Han!" Ari shouted again.
"Let me work," he barked as a second siren started, and the warning for the shields started to flash on the console.
"Please don't let us die…" she whispered as the ship rocked again.
"Come on baby, come on," Han chanted under his breath as he pulled back to jump to lightspeed and with a sharp shutter, the stars turned into streaks of light. They had escaped
"Oh, Force, I thought we were dead!" Ari exclaimed, shaking from this.
"Yeah, well, let's just hope they aren't following us," Han muttered, running a hand over his face.
"Can they?" Ari asked, worried.
"Yeah, but don't worry," Han tried to assure her, though it was clear he was concerned.
"Might as well tell the suns to step shining on Tatooine," she murmered in response and sat down, shaken from the encounter.
Both Han and Chewie were silent, and a tense silence passed over them for the remainder of the journey, the cries of pilots lost rang in Ari's mind, images of Yavin coming to her.
Finally, the warning sound siren, and the Falcon pulled out of hyperspace. Ari let out a deep sigh of relief. They had made it.
"I hoped you packed your thermal clothes," Han told her and she gave a small laugh, glad to have some of the intense feeling dissipate.
"Actually, no," Ari admitted, seeing Han pull on a jacket that had been sitting next to him.
"No? Well, let's see if the Rebels have something for you. I don't have another jacket, and I would give you this one, but it might be a bit too big for you," Han remarked.
"Maybe it won't be that bad," Ari tried to be optimistic.
"Sure, kid, sure," he gave a good-natured laugh. "This is Solo to base, Solo to base," Han tried to contact the Rebels over the comm.. There was a long pause, until some static started, followed by a voice.
"Millennium Falcon, this is Echo Base. Please transmit clearance code."
"Clearance code? I don't have a code. Listen, I have Arianna Narabe here with me, and we have just gotten shot by some Imp, so-"
"Captain Solo, this is General Riekan. Set your course for two-three-nine-zero-two."
"Finally," Han muttered as they passed through the atmosphere. "Thank you General," he said into the comm. in response.
Ari wasn't paying attention to the conversation. She was looking out the window in awe. She had never seen so much snow, even in holos or books.
"Kind of pretty, huh?" Han asked and Ari just nodded. It was beautiful. The sunlight hitting the snow was blindingly white, and she saw mountains in the distance, making the whole setting feel majestic.
Soon, Ari saw what looked like generators, and then trenches before coming to openings that led into what she assumed were ice caverns.
"We are going in there?" Ari asked, as Han pulled closer to one of the openings.
Han checked the navigator again and gave a nod. "Yep."
"Are you sure it is safe? I mean…it looks like it could cave in," Ari remarked.
"I doubt they would be that foolish," Han gave a small, but not unkind smirk as they pulled into the hanger. There was a small group of people apparently waiting for them, while others were quickly going about their business.
"No one can say they aren't moving fast…" Han remarked as they landed.
"I heard them talking about having a second base they were working on, after the Death Star. They have been building it for a few months," she answered.
Han just nodded as the Falcon touched down and got up, followed closely by Ari and Chewie.
"Ready?" Han asked, pulling his coat on a bit closer and Ari nodded as Han lowered the ramp. As the ramp started to lower, Ari saw a group of people coming closer, led by General Riekan.
"We are glad you are back," Riekan told them as the two humans and Wookie started down the ramp. Ari had been about to answer when she was hit by the cold blast of air at the bottom of the ramp. It almost took her breath away and she immediately shuddered. The cold air was almost overwhelming. It was intense. Attempting to keep warm, she rubbed her arms, trying to be careful of her injuries. Tatooine had been cold at night, but never like this. This cold seemed to enter into her bones.
Finally, missing some of the things being said, Ari forced herself to listen, but her attention was again pulled to all the activity happening around them.
"It seems very busy," Ari finally spoke up.
"We are," Riekan sighed. "The environment is working against us. The few snow speeders we have aren't working in the cold. And everyone is working hard to expand the base and have it up and running as quickly as possible."
"General, does this mean my shop is not going to be able to get some help? We got shot up by some Imps getting here. And Ari here needs some medical attention."
"I am fine," Ari insisted.
Before Han could return, General Riekan started to lead Han and Chewie towards his office. "Come Capitain, Chewbacca. I would appreciate hearing what happened in this battle, and then we can discuss what we can spare to help work on the Falcon…"
Knowing Han was right about Ari needing at least to get looked at by a medical droid, the young woman slipped away from the trio. She didn't want Han to know where she was going, and she looked almost casual, carrying her bag in one hand at her side, to not risk agitating the wound anymore.
She hoped she would be able to find it soon. Then she could look for R4, Cal, Wedge and the others.
All of a sudden, Ari heard her name being shouted and turned to see Cal walking quickly towards her.
"Cal!" Ari smiled, stopping so he could catch up.
"Where have you been?" he asked, clearly relieved and flung an arm around her shoulders.
However, as he did this, he accidentally bumped into her and Ari gave a wince from the slight touch on the wound.
"I'm sorry," Cal pulled back, confused. "Are you okay?"
Ari bit her lip and nodded.
"Then why…" he trailed off.
"Just a rough mission." Ari answered. "If you would like to show me to the med bay, I can explain on the way.