Chapter 63
AN: Thanks for being patient about updating everyone. Please Read and Review everyone! J
The next morning came too early for both Luke and Ari, who had decided that when Luke's chonro alarm started to sound. They had stayed up a bit later, talking, and Ari had written her first entry in her new journal.
The relaxed, enjoyable time from the night before had worn off, now it was back to the monotony of life on the base.
Luke eventually turned off the insistent alarm before slowly sitting up. He ran a hand over his face with a yawn. He paused, having forgotten for a moment that Ari was there.
"'Morning," Ari greeted him, still not moving from where she was burrowed under the blankets. Her hair was fanning out over the pillow, framing her face. Her eyes were still closed, not wanting to wake up just yet.
"Good morning," he greeted. "I have to go to a meeting and get breakfast. I will bring you back something, alright?"
Ari gave the slightest nod yet. "Sounds good."
Luke gave a small laugh as he quickly changed, since he knew Ari wouldn't be moving from where she was for awhile.
Once ready, he went over and patted Ari's arm gently, pulling the blanket up around her a bit more. Ari gave a small contented sigh as she snuggled deeper into the blanket.
Without another word, Luke slipped out the door, and it shut with a hiss behind him.
Even though finally warm under the blankets, the mattress and pillow feeling soft, Ari couldn't fall back asleep. Instead of trying, she just let herself rest, slowly stretching, allowing her body to slowly wake up. It was something she hadn't been able to do in a very long time. It was not just refreshing, but relaxing. It was how she wished she could wake up everyday.
Finally, after stretching, she opened her eyes slowly with a yawn. She was still a bit tired, but was now awake. She felt as if she had done nothing but sleep for a long time.
About half an hour after leaving, Luke returned with a tray, containing a bowl with a plate under it, and a glass of juice. "Breakfast is served. Though, it is more like food you would have for lunch," he smiled. "However, the soup and juice will help you feel better."
"You are always looking out for me," Ari teased as she sat up, able to sit without much support.
"Well, someone has to, or you would go out in a blizzard," he teased back, which only succeeded to have Ari stick her tongue out at him in response.
He smiled, handing the tray to her. "I hope this is warm enough."
"You got something too, didn't you?"
Luke nodded. "I ate fast though. Leia had to talk to Han and me. That is actually why I can't stay," he explained as he pulled on his coat and hat. Ari watched him, sipping on her soup, which was warm, though in another ten minutes, it would be cold.
Luke continued, "There has been a lot of meteor activity. And it is feared that with all that activity, approaching ships won't be seen until they are right over us. So that means that the sensors have to be checked on, and even more are going to be placed."
"Do you really think that the Empire will look here for us?" Ari asked, sipping the juice, sighing inwardly. She used to like juice, but after having it day after day, she wanted to try something else.
"I hope now," Luke sighed. "But I know that Vader will not stop. He also wants revenge on me I think. And after that mission with Leia, I do not doubt that he will do anything necessary to find us and try to wipe out the Rebellion."
Ari nodded, feeling her stomach tighten in knots, no longer hungry and she moved the tray so it was beside her on the bed, the bowl still half full with soup.
Luke went over to her, now completely ready, gloves and thick boots on. He leaned closer and gave her a hug. "It will be ok. What Han and I are doing is just an extra precaution. I know he will want to hurry, because he wants to fix the Falcon. Apparently he fixes one thing and two more things break. He says he just wants to pay off Jabba."
Ari nodded. "I can see why. Does this mean he is leaving though?" she asked sadly. Han had become a very good friend since their encounter with the bounty hunter on Ord Mantell.
"I don't know. I am trying to convince him to pay Jabba and then come back. Leia is asking him not to leave."
"What do you think he will do?"
"I don't know," Luke admitted. "I guess all we can do is wait and find out." He knew it was a sad thought. It was upsetting to him as well. Han was like an older brother to him. Something he had never had. He always felt that Han would stay with the Rebellion, but also knew that Han could be unpredictable.
Ari nodded sadly. She would miss Han if he left. She would miss Chewie as well. Already she had lost a lot of people she cared about. Her parents, her brother, Luke's aunt and uncle, who were like family as well, Biggs, and other Rebels who died during the Battle of Yavin. This time, though, she would lose someone, but that someone would still be alive.
"Hey, don't worry about it. I will see if I can talk to him when we go out on patrol. Speaking of, I should go," Luke remarked, getting to his feet.
Ari gave another nod. "Let me know when you get in though."
"I will do better than that. I will come back here and tell you about it. I want you to stay here though and rest. Alright?"
"I feel better though," Ari insisted. "I really do."
"But the doctor said you needed to rest, or you could get sick again. I don't want that to happen to you, and I doubt you do either."
Ari sighed, knowing he was right. "I know. I just don't like sitting in bed all day."
"Well, you could walk around the room," Luke answered, a bit uneasily. "Just be sure that R4 is there in case you need support or something."
At this, the droid beeped at him and Ari picked up the translator that was on the small bedside table. She glanced at it then laughed and showed it to Luke. "Apparently, R4 doesn't like feeling like being a support like a rock."
"R4, would you help Ari though?" he asked with a small smile. R4 was a lot like R2 in personalities. If anyone said droids didn't have any personality, they had never met droids like these.
R4 beeped, agreeing to help.
"Thank you, R4," Luke smiled, patting the droid's domed shape head as he started for the doorway.
"Be careful out there, Luke."
"I will be. I'll be back before you know it," he assured her from the doorway.
Ari just smiled, almost laughing at how he looked all bundled up. Much different from how things had been on Tatooine.
Luke smiled back, and then was gone.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"R4, I am bored," Ari sighed again. With support from leaning on the wall, Ari had been able to make it to the shower. It was a sonic shower, but still felt good. One day, she vowed to take a real shower with warm water. It would be a long one too, and the warm water would never run out. She sighed, wistfully in thought. If only it was possible.
After a shower, she had read a bit more of her mother's journal. However, seeing all the details her mother had included, Ari decided to write in her own, capturing how she felt and all the little things she could, including how she felt about her time on Ord Mantell and the daily activities on Hoth.
Finally, after her hand cramped from so much writing, she decided to get up and move around. She got to her feet, using the edge of the mattress for support as she did. Then she was standing and started to walk along the perimeter of the room. She went around the room about a dozen times, feeling a slight strain from it. However, she had a feeling that she would soon be better. She hoped that the next day she would be able to take care of some of her tasks.
R4 beeped at her, stealing her from her thoughts. The droid suggested she lay down again and just rest. The droid went on to say that Ari wouldn't want to push it immediately or she might get sick like Luke had said.
Ari sighed at this, but knew that the droid was right. She laid down, feeling warmer after moving around the room. She still felt a bit closed in, but decided that after a nap, she could take a walk with Luke when he got back. There was no reason he would say no if he was to go with her.
That thought in her mind, Ari let herself relax. She would take a nap, and then prove to Luke she was better and able to go back to regular duties. She smiled slightly, but more to cheer herself up. All those thoughts were good. Why couldn't she get rid of the cold feeling that was coming over her? She snuggled under the blankets, but couldn't find warmth. Something was amiss. And it worried her. What was it? The Empire? Darth Vader? Something involving Luke?
These thoughts still plaguing her, she turned onto her side, pulling her knees up slightly so she was in a ball. With that sick feeling still in the pit of her stomach, she drifted into a light, restless sleep.
About two hours passed, Ari drifted into and out of sleep, feeling the cold from her pit of stomach growing. Each time she awoke slightly, it felt as if it had spread, and nothing would get rid of it. It wasn't like how she was when she was sick. This was different.
The interruption came at this time as a gentle, yet sharp knock on the door.
Ari rolled over with a deep sigh, rubbing her eyes. "Come in," she called, wondering what time it was. That thought ended, as another came to mind, as she saw who it was. It was one of Luke's two droids, C-3PO. It was humanoid in form, and the covering was gold in color.
"Threepio?" Ari asked, surprised to see the droid. Why would he have come to find her? A message from Luke?
"Mistress Ari," the droid entered the room, clearly nervous with R2 at his side.
"Is something wrong?" Ari asked. The cold feeling was even stronger. Threepio was noticeably nervous about something.
"Well, no. At least, not at this moment. Princess Leia was just wondering if you had heard or seen Master Skywalker."
"Not since he went out on patrol, why?" she asked, sitting up.
"No one else has seen him either."
"What? No one?" Ari asked, swinging her feet around, placing them on the floor. "What about Han?"
"Captain Solo returned. He said that Master Luke would be returning after investigating an asteroid that crashed. That was the last that anyone had heard from him. And with the storm coming…"
"What?!" Ari got to her feet, swaying slightly, eyes fixed on the droids. "You mean that Luke is missing and could get caught in a blizzard?"
Threepio glanced at R2, then back at her. "Well, yes." He went on saying that he was sure Luke was alright, but while Ari heard it, she couldn't seem to understand it. Her mind was racing, and she finally understood the cold feeling in the pit of her stomach.
Luke was missing, And time was running out.