Chapter 78

AN: Happy Holidays everyone!!

As she climbed up and then got off the ladder, the hatch closed behind her. R4 beeped at her a few times and after glancing at the translator, she nodded. "Yes, we are going to go find the others now." She brushed off her pants before they started down the hallway, this time headed for the medical bay. "And then maybe we can get you an oil bath. You deserve one." This comment was happily with a droid who played a few notes of a song, turning in a circle as if dancing.

Laughing, Ari shook her head. That droid was something else.

Her laughter faded when she reached the medical bay. She was worried, remembering what had happened last time Luke had been in the medical bay. It was amazing that Luke had survived not just an attack by a wampa, but also a blizzard during a night on Hoth. She just hoped that whatever was wrong now was not that serious.

Getting to the doors to the medical bay, Ari paused for a moment before placing her palm over the detector, and the door opened with only the faintest hissing sound. It was enough to cause the two figures standing at the large window to look over their shoulders, away from the amazing sight. The galaxy seemed so small now, a circle in space, where billions of beings were living on hundreds, even thousands of worlds. It was breathtaking. Then her attention turned to the two humans who were now looking at her.

Leia was dressed in a simple white dress and as usual, her hair was pulled back in an elegant style. However, the sadness and despair in her brown eyes was so evident, Ari had to look away. Even after Alderaan, Leia had not looked so distraught. It looked as if she just wanted to give up, something that Ari would never have expected from the Princess.

The other human there was Luke. He was dressed in gray-tan colored pants and a gray loose tunic that was more like a robe, since it hung past his knees. A sash was tied around his waist, instead of the bantha leather belt she was used to him wearing. For a moment, he looked much younger than he used to. His arm was wrapped around Leia's back, hand resting on her shoulder. While Ari knew she could get jealous of that, she wasn't. The look on Leia's face was enough to show Ari that Leia needed the support at the moment.

Like Leia, something had changed in Luke as well. However, the look in his eyes was different from the Princess'. Whatever was troubling him, he tried to hide it, but the haunted look chilled Ari to her core. Something was seriously wrong, and Ari was fairly certain there was nothing she could do to help.

"Ari?" Luke asked, looking surprised, but also relieved. He then moved away from Leia and walked briskly to Ari, who was walking toward him at the same time. She opened her arms and threw them around Luke's neck, ignoring the throbbing pain in her arm. Luke hugged her tightly as well, face buried in her shoulder for a moment. "I asked where you were, and they told me you were not in yet. I was worried," he admitted.

"I am fine," she assured him as he pulled back. He looked over her, and when he saw her arm, he frowned.

"That does not look fine," he remarked, motioning to it. Ari's other hand went to cover it, giving an almost sheepish smile. "Come on." He took her uninjured arm and led her to where the droid, Too-Onebee was just putting away medical supplies.

"Luke, I don't need the droid to fix it. Just some bacta."

"Synthaskin is good for blaster wounds," Leia offered from where she was standing, looking out the window again. Both Luke and Ari looked at her for a moment, before turning back to the medical equipment.

"I saw some of that. You sit right here," he motioned to a medical cot, which was now in the upright position, like a chair. Then he pulled out a first aid kit from one of the cabinets near by. He was using only one of his hands, his left, and he seemed to be keeping his other hand close to his side, but not using it to get out any of the supplies. After seeing Luke use both of his hands to work back on Tatooine, it seemed very strange.

"Luke, is your hand alright?" Ari asked, reaching to take it and he pulled it back, as if her touch would burn him.

"Fine," he replied, voice gruffer than she was used to.

"You know, I don't believe you," she remarked, and he sighed, not looking up from where he seemed to be staring intently into the medical kit. "Luke, please tell me. What happened?" she asked. Her stomach lurched. The look in his eyes was more evident, and it frightened her. Leia and he both looked much older than they were.

"Vader," he answered after a long pause.

"Vader?" she repeated as a question. Before he could protest, she reached out and took his hand, looking at it. At first, she could not see anything wrong with it. It looked alright, and it felt similar. After a moment, she rubbed her thumb over his hand, feeling that it was slightly different. Life like, but something felt different.

Luke gently pulled his hand back and sighed deeply. "This isn't my real hand," he murmured. "Vader and I dueled. He won by cutting off my hand."

"He…" Ari trailed off, too shocked to say anything else. "Are you alright?" she whispered, and after she said it, she realized how foolish she sounded. Of course he was not alright.

Luke forced a small smile and nodded. "Yes." He took out a bacta patch and placed it over her wound.

It was cool and soothed the burning that seemed had been constant since being shot. Now the pain had faded, leaving a soothing feeling over the wound and she was almost certain she could feel her skin healing.

"Luke…" Ari started, but he shook his head. He clearly did not want to talk about it. The look in his eyes clearly showed that he did not want to discuss what had happened. He wasn't ready, and Ari had learned not to push him.

"Let's go get something to eat," Luke suggested, glancing at Ari, who nodded.

"That sounds good," she agreed. Now that she knew what had happened to everyone, she could feel the emptiness in her stomach.

Luke glanced over at Leia, who had not moved. He walked over to her and touched her arm, causing the dark haired woman to jump slightly. "Come on, Leia. Some food will help you feel better. There is nothing else we can do here." Leia looked at him, then out the window for a few moments before nodding.

"Okay," she replied, voice quieter than Ari had ever heard. Leia took a deep breath and gave another nod. "Yes, that sounds good," she added, voice sounding more certain, more like the Leia that Ari knew. However, Ari had a feeling that no matter how much everyone acted like they used to, things would never