Chapter 77

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A loud beeping penetrated through Ari's dreamy haze. She went to turn, as if that would help tune out whatever the sound was. However, when she moved, she felt as if her entire body was stiff and she could feel soreness deep in her muscles. With a wince, and realizing that the sound was not going to stop, she opened her eyes. It took her a few moments to get her bearings when she realized she was not sleeping in a bed. She was sitting the fighter, having fallen asleep, and the alarm was to alert her that they had to pull out of hyperspace. She had told R4 to wake her before they were supposed to exit hyperspace, and she thought that the droid had not done so, until her eyes fell on the inboard translator. Apparently R4 had been trying to get her attention. "I am awake," Ari announced, her voice a bit scratchy from the sleep, and the coughing she had done due to the chemicals on Cloud City.

She reached up to pull the ship back into real space and realized that her arm felt worse than the rest of her. She looked over and saw the wound. It looked even worse now, and could be seen through the charred cloth. She was fairly certain that she would be alright though. It was nothing too serious.

Letting out a sigh of relief as she pulled back on the hyperspace lever, she saw the streaks become definite stars and the Rebel's fleet which had congregated there. There were a number of transports that were being protected by fighters making a perimeter. She was grateful to be back and she started for the transport she had been on before. She still felt worried about Luke, Leia, Han and Chewie, but when she saw a familiar sight, she felt her spirits rise. There was the Millennium Falcon, connected to one of the transports.

"Identify yourself," a voice came over the comm.

Ari frowned slightly then answered, pushing the button on the console to answer the hail. "This is Lieutenant Narabe, requesting permission to land."

"Lieutenant, we are glad to hear you are back," the male voice replied. Ari couldn't place who it was, though it sounded familiar. "You can land in the main docking bay of the transport you are flying toward."

"Thank you, Narabe out." She ended the transmission before picking up a bit more speed, flying toward the docking bay. It was easy to find and there was enough room for a few other fighters as well. She saw that there were mostly X-wings, which made sense, due to how useful they were. Ari even considered getting an X-wing as a replacement.

She landed it with a gently bump and then powered down the engines as the docking bay doors closed. She waited a few moments to just be sure that everything was going as it should before she opened the canopy. The pressure had to be regulated to the standard amount or it could cause headaches and other problems. Ari allowed herself to take a deep breath, filling her lungs before letting it out. The air, while recycled, seemed almost fresh when compared to the air in the fighter.

While Ari climbed out of the X-wing with a nearby ladder, a technician came rushing over. He used a machine to help

get R4 to the floor with relative ease. The droid gave a beeping sound to thank the technician. Ari echoed the sentiments as well. Not only was she thankful to be out of the fighter, she was thankful to be back. However, there was one thing that she wanted to do that would make things better. That included a warm meal and a long warm shower, preferably with water, but she could handle a sonic shower if that was the only thing available. As on Tatooine, water was precious.

Before she could enjoy the possible shower though, she had to find out about Luke and the others. To make they that they were all okay. "Are Commander Skywalker, Princess Leia or Captain Solo on the base? I saw the Millennium Falcon" she explained to the technician.

"Commander Skywalker and the Princess are in the medical bay and the Millennium Falcon is due to leave in less than a standard half hour," the man answered after a short hesitation, which Ari did not seem to notice.

Instead, she was taking all this in. So that meant that Luke probably was injured, but he would alright, Ari was sure of it. It took a weight off of her, remembering how he had sounded in her mind. Knowing that, she knew that as much as she wanted to rush to see him, if Han and Chewie were leaving, she had to say goodbye. She might never get another chance. She thanked the technician as she turned to leave, heading for the door that would take her to where the Falcon was docked, instead of the medical bay.

The man gave a salute and she gave one in return. Seeing her injured arm, he called out to her. "Shouldn't you get your arm looked at first?"

Ari turned to look at him, continuing to walk backwards and she shook her head. "I just want to catch them before they leave, then I will get it looked at, thank you for your concern." With that, she turned around once more and started to walk briskly down the hall. Moving was helping ease some of the soreness and stiffness in her muscles, and she rolled her shoulders as she walked which was helping too.

When she got to the Falcon, the only part of the ship attached to the transport was the main upper hatch. Through there, she could hear movement inside. Since R4 could not descend into the ship, the droid stayed near the hatch while Ari scrambled down the hatch, and into the ship. "Hello?" she called. "Han? Chewie?"

She heard a sound from the cockpit and smiled when she saw Chewie coming toward her. He gave a bark of happiness and pulled her into a big hug. Her face was soon buried in his thick brown fur and she gave a small laugh until one of his large arms pressed against her wound and she gave a hiss of pain. "Easy, Chewie," she managed through the fur shot of pain she had felt. Hearing her tone, Chewie set her down and started to study her, as if to see if anything was wrong with her. When he saw her arm, he made a few sounds, but Ari couldn't understand him.

"He says you should be getting that taken care of," a man answered as he came toward them from the cockpit. It was not Han. In fact, this man did not look at all like Han. This man had dark skin, dark brown eyes and black hair. It was not only his looks that were different, but he also was not wearing anything like Han's usual attire, aside from a black vest. His tunic was tan in color, as were his pants and he wore nondescript black boots. His mustache gave him a look of sophistication, making her think that he usually wore finer clothing than his current ensemble.

"Umm, I will," she answered, attention on this new man. "Who are you?" she inquired, holding out her hand so she could shake his hand.

"I am Lando Calrissian," he greeted her, becoming quite charming as he took her hand. However, instead of shaking it, he kissed the top of her hand. Ari felt her cheeks warm a bit at this, and she knew she was blushing. "And you are?"

"I am Arianna Narabe. I am friends with the Princess and Luke Skywalker, as well as a friend of Han and Chewie. Speaking of, where is Han?" she asked, looking from Lando to Chewie and back to Lando again.

Chewie made a mournful sound and looked away. Lando also looked a bit nervous. "Well, I am a friend of theirs too. Han was captured by Boba Fett. He is being taken to Jabba the Hutt."

"He was kidnapped? How?" she asked. So many questions ran through her mind. "When-"she froze, and then gasped as she realized what had been happening. "The ship leaving Cloud City. That bounty hunter. They had Han," she spoke aloud, though it seemed to be more to herself.

"Wait, you were in Cloud City?" Lando asked, frowning slightly. "Since when did my city become such a hot place for Rebels and Imperials?"

"Your city?" Ari asked, and then realized that his voice was familiar. It was the one that

had made the announcement in the city. The one that had told everyone to evacuate.

"Well, it used to be. Not anymore," he replied then looked over at chrono on his wrist. "Listen, we would stay longer, but we are going to go track the bounty hunter that captured Han. Hopefully we can get to him before they reach Jabba."

"And if he is already there?" Ari asked, a bit uncertain if she wanted to know.

Lando paused and then shared a look with Chewie. "Then we will need another plan. Either way though, we will get him back." He sounded so confident and certain of their success, Ari picked up on it, feeling that they would prevail.

"We will. We have to," Ari agreed. She looked up at Chewie and gave the large alien a hug, which was returned. Once he set her down, he affectionately rubbed his large paw over her head, messing up the hair. Still smiling from this, she turned Lando, who gave her a flash of a smile, showing very white teeth and a glint in his eye. It took her a moment to realize it was the same look that Han seemed to have. She had many questions, but knew that they did not have time. "Be safe you two, and may the Force be with you." She cast one look over her shoulder and then climbed back up the ladder, lightsaber hitting against her leg with each step, as if to remind her that she was a Jedi and that with the Force, they could overcome any obstacle. They had to get Han back, and they would. Somehow.