Chapter 56

            AN:  Please read and review everyone!  The more you review the more writing and posting that will be!

            Ari almost fell into bed. She was shaking so bad her teeth were almost chattering.  She was still very used to Tatooine's warm, dry climate.  Hoth's climate was still getting to her, even though she was almost always fully dressed in warm clothing.

            "So cold…" she whispered to R4 who just beeped in agreement.  "R4?  Can you turn up the heat anymore?" she asked, kicking off her boots, sliding under the small pile of blankets she had.

            R4 shook his domed head no and Ari sighed tiredly. If it got too warm the walls would melt and that would be a disaster.

            "You can go charge R4," Ari managed to tell him, feeling as if her tongue was heavy.  She closed her eyes with a deep sigh, feeling sore all through her body, as if her bones themselves hurt.

            R4 beeped and Ari snuggled under the blankets, curling into a ball, trying to stay warm, arms pulled tight to her body, knees pulled closed to her chest.

            The night passed in a haze as Ari drifted in and out of sleep.  One moment, she was shaking from the cold, almost violently.  The next, she was kicking back the blankets, feeling as if her very blood was burning her through her veins.

Somewhere between the two worlds, the first of reality, and the second of sleep, Ari felt as if she was stumbling through a Tatooine sandstorm. She saw things through the blinding sand.
     First it was Luke, but as she got closer he disappeared and she turned, only to find herself face to face with Vader. Unable to scream, feet feeling as if they were frozen in carbonite, she stumbled back. When she looked back up, he was gone, replaced by Jett.

Reaching for him, her fingers were almost brushing against him, but it just wasn't enough. She tried to call his name, but it was as if he didn't see her, before glancing over his shoulder, then disappearing.
     The dreams continued and Ari thrashed in the bed, perspiration beading on her forehead as she tossed and turned, small whimpers escaping her as she did.
     When the morning finally came, and the chrono alarm next to Ari went off, she didn't move for a moment. Her throat hurt so much that when she tried to breath, it burned, bringing tears to her eyes.
     Finally, with great effort, she reached her hand over to the turn off the alarm. Her head felt as if it was full of cotton and the ringing her in head felt muffled, yet it made her ears throb.
     Giving a low moan she turned over. She was supposed to meet Luke. However, as she tried to push herself out of bed, she found it nearly impossible. Each inch she moved was painful, causing the dizziness to get worse.
            However, she pressed on. She was not going to let herself stay bed ridden. She was needed. She had more patrols to do as well as helping around the base. Ari also knew that falling sick would probably diminish Rouge Squadron's spirits.

Finally, she was sitting up, though her blankets still covered her, the cold air making her shudder.
     "R4," she croaked, wincing at how it sounded and the burning sensation trying to speak made in her throat.
     The little droid powered up completely and slid over to her and beeped a few times.
     Ari sighed inwardly, seeing the translator on her nightstand and reached for it, feeling as if her head was detached from the rest of her.
            Grabbing the translator, she looked at it, the words, even in though they were in Basic, seemed foreign as the letters seemed move. Forcing herself to blink, Ari opened her eyes and finally read it correctly.
     "I just am not feeling too well," she told him hoarsely. "I need your help."
     Before she could continue the droid started 'talking' a lightyear a minute.
     Ari held up her hand. "No no, R4, quieter," she instructed, the volume of his sounds were louder than an explosion to her.
     R4 beeped and then became quieter, repeating things, slower.
     "No, not the med bay. I just need some help getting ready," Ari told him
     The droid continued beeping as he brought over some warm tunics and a jacket with his mechanical arm.
            "Thanks," Ari managed with a sniffle, changing tunics as quickly as she could, the pounding sensation made her feel as if her head was going to explode.
     Trying to reach out with the Force for help, Ari felt herself becoming more drained.
     Dizzily, Ari pulled on her boots, stopping several times to rest her warm forehead in her cold hands.
     When they were finally on, she slowly straightened up, each vertebrae slipping into place. She felt like she was 180, instead of just eighteen.
     Finally, Ari had her belt on as well, the lightsaber resting against her leg, unable to feel its cool metal on her skin.
     R4 beeped at her a few times and spun in a circle. Checking the translator, Ari shook her head, and then had to grab the side of the mattress to keep from falling over. "I will be fine."

The R4 unit beeped to show he didn't agree but allowed her to slowly stand, using him for support. 

"Once I get moving again, I will be fine," Ari assured him, slowly shifting her weight until she was standing without leaning on the droid.  "See?"  she tried to smile, but felt sick as she did and it came out as a half wince.

 The droid beeped at her, clearly not agreeing.  Humans could be so difficult.

  Finally, Ari made it to the door.  "Are you going to stay here?" she asked R4, voice so scratchy, it sounded foreign.

The little droid shook his domed head, beeping.  Too exhausted to glance at the translator, she just let it go and started for the small room where she and Luke had been before.

Luke was already there, warming up.  "I was just about to come get you."

"It took longer than I thought," Ari answered, calling on all her energy to appear stronger and steadier than she felt. 

The ruse didn't work.  Luke glanced over at her, a worried expression on his face.  "Ari, you don't sound, or look too good."

"I didn't sleep well," she half lied.  Luke apparently was considering it, but R4 started to beep.

"R4…" Ari almost hissed.  She had never lost her temper at the droid, but she didn't want the droid to say something to Luke.

"Ari?" Luke asked, clearly concerned.  "Listen, maybe we should wait until another day to train. Maybe you should get some sleep."

Ari turned from the droid to Luke, her vision spinning as she had to blink to focus on him.  "No, I am fine.  Let's spar."

Luke nodded; almost reluctantly as they both ignited their lightsabers.

             The two faced each other, Luke's saber steady yet swaying ever so slightly, ready for anything.  In stark contrast, Ari's hold was shaky, which was showed by the awkward way she held the saber.  The slight sway that should have been there wasn't.  The little movement was in sharp, short, quick moments.

            "Ari…" Luke started

            "Luke, I'm fine. Really," she answered. It was a bold faced lie, and she knew it.  However, she had been practicing, and had waited all month to show him this. Besides, she was sure it was something that would soon pass.  To take the initiative, she lunged forward, clumsily.  Luke blocked her with ease, deciding to be a bit easier on her, worried about hurting her.  Another easy block came as she attacked again.

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"I think we should call it a match," Luke spoke up from where he had Ari pinned back, her saber on the floor, deactivated.

"I can beat you," Ari told him.  "I know it." She reached down and picked up her lightsaber, wishing she hadn't because when she stood up again, her whole vision swam and she had to force herself to stand still and not grab onto the wall for support.

"Ari, we have to get ready for the rest of the day.  Tomorrow though, ok?" Luke asked.  He was going to try to get her to rest. She needed it, badly.  She had never been so slow with her reflexes, even before training.  He was worried she was getting sick.

Ari nodded. She was honestly exhausted, and the idea of going through a whole day was almost too much to handle.  However, she felt a need to prove to herself, to Luke and to everyone else, that she could do this.

"Umm, want to get breakfast before showering?" Luke asked.  "We wouldn't have to worry about the others. We would have some time, just the two of us."  He hoped this would help. Ari had opened up to him last night, but once again it felt like she was far away still.

Ari paused.  The thought of food was enough to make her feel sick.  "I'm not really hungry," she admitted.

"Well, you should eat something," he reminded her leading her out into the hallway.  "You have a busy day."

"Really, I don't need anything…I should go see Cal though," she decided a few minutes later, through the haze she was in, shaking so bad she thought her knees would give way.

"Cal?" Luke frowned at this and touched her shoulder to stop her, noting that she looked as if she had been about to fall over when she turned.

"He is still in the med bay," Ari stammered, tongue feeling like cotton and she was certain there were two Lukes for a moment until she was able to focus.

"But Ari-"

"Hey you two," Han greeted as he sauntered up from behind them.

"But what?" Ari challenged, trying to force her teeth to not chatter.

"Why do you want to see him?" Luke continued, ignoring Han as well.

"Good morning to you both," Han muttered, leaning against the wall casually. He was probably going to have to break up another fight.  He got sick of babysitting these two.  They were both smart kids with good heads on their shoulders, as long as it wasn't around each other.

"He is a friend," Ari continued, tears coming to her eyes. She hated fighting and she hated feeling so sick. She felt like she was trapped in her nightmare again, having no control of her movements or the situations she faced.

"I don't trust him," Luke continued, feeling defensive.  He was just trying to protect her. Why didn't she see it?

"Luke, I am a big girl. I can take care of myself!" She exclaimed, getting more upset by the moment, not caring that it made her head spin more when her voice got louder.

Han sighed.  They got along great, except for the constant bickering.  They were both too stubborn for their own good, the smuggler mused as he followed Luke, keeping silent for a moment.

Luke stared at her in exasperation. "But Ari! What kind of a friend would I be if I didn't make sure you were safe? Especially from 'ladies' men' pilots who think they're the finest looking things in the galaxy?"

"You don't know them! You have no idea what they are like!" Ari exclaimed.

"I know enough!" Luke cried in return, "I see the way they look at you. I  know!  I am not blind, Ari..."

"But you don't know how they can be. They are great guys."

Luke scowled. "No," he disagreed. "You are just being naive..."

Ari looked at him in surprise. "You are calling me naive?!"

Luke paused, staring right back at her. "Yes, I am calling you naïve," he answered, suddenly feeling squeamish, as though he was wrong in telling her that.

"And now that you have went on one mission with Princess Leia, you think you know it all?" Ari shot back, looking around dizzily. She just wanted to get away from this. Away from the ice and away from this conversation.

Luke paused, studying Ari thoughtfully, ignoring the question. "Ari, are you alright?"

"I'm fine! I always am! I can handle myself, Luke," she almost snapped before turning and making her way down the hall. She only made it a few steps, however, before everything started to spin in front of her eyes. Ari stumbled a couple feet, then everything went black as she fell to the ground.