Chapter 79

AN: I apologize for how delayed this is. Without further ado, the first update of the year. Please continue to read and review everyone!

Ari was lying under the blankets of a bed. Her arms were behind her head and she was looking up at the ceiling through the darkness. While she was in her room, she had needed an extra bed. She had taken this new bed because it was smaller than the other bed, and, she noted, not as comfortable. However, even though she was exhausted, she did not feel like she could sleep.

Rolling over, she glanced over at the figure in the other bed. It was Luke, who was asleep. While they had shared a room before, Ari found that this time, things felt tense. When Luke had finally fallen asleep, his usually calm features were troubled. He was frowning and Ari kept hearing him toss and turn.

In the dim lighting, Ari could see that this had not changed. He still was frowning and he was turning again in his sleep, he, but it was nothing that anyone except those close to him would notice.

Looking at him for another few minutes, Ari noticed something else that was different. His arms were close to each other, and it looked as if he was cradling his injured hand. It had been hard for Ari to not ask about it during dinner, especially since neither Luke nor Leia seemed to feel like talking. Leia mentioned a few things that had happened, such as their capture, and Ari could tell that Leia loved the smuggler, even if she didn't come out and say so directly.

If Leia had been quiet though, Luke had barely spoken. He had not answered any of Ari's questions, of which she had many. She had asked where he had been over the past few days, how had he gotten into the battle with Vader, and what else had happened. While losing a hand would be traumatizing, Ari sensed that there was more that he was not telling her.

Due to all of this, when they asked her about what had happened, Ari had held back. She just said that she would tell them the following day since they were all tired. After putting away their trays in the mostly empty cafeteria, Leia went to her quarters after bidding them both a good night.

The remaining two had walked to Ari's room, and Luke had paused. "Listen, Ari, I know you are tired. But I really don't want to be alone tonight," he admitted. "Not after that." Ari had nodded, and soon there had been another bed in the room. It had surprised her though. Luke had never asked for that before, and she had never seen him look so lost than she had at that moment.

Sighing, she rolled onto her back again. She wanted to tell him everything, about Siri and Taylor, as well as her training. Also, Ari was certain that they would want to meet Luke. After all, they had known his father. Even if they had not mentioned him very often, and that was only when Ari had spoken of him. Looking back, she realized that the Jedi had been keeping a number of secrets as well. How could they know Luke's father and not want to share stories unless there was something they were hiding?

Though all these thoughts that were plaguing her, her attention was brought to the present by a sound she heard. It was Luke and it sounded like a sound from deep in his throat, almost like a whimper. Frowning, she turned and looked at him.

There was a light sheen of sweat on his forehead and pieces of his messy hair clung to his forehead. His features showed pain, the frown becoming more noticeable. "No…" he whispered. "No…" He started to thrash on the bed, voice getting louder.

When Ari had the other bed brought in, she had also received a not. It had been from that medical droid, telling her that Luke needed rest and that he should not be woken up unless necessary. The young woman was sure this was a time when he needed to be woken up.

Throwing back her blankets, she rushed the few feet to the other bed. Her feet found the floor cold enough to be uncomfortable. She sat down next to Luke and pulled her legs up so she was sitting beside him. "Ben…why…" Luke continued and Ari had to shift away as he turned toward her, to avoid a kick from his continuously moving form.

"Luke," she whispered and started to shake his shoulder, trying to wake him up. "Luke." For a moment, he thrashed a bit more, almost wildly before sitting up quickly. His blue eyes were wide with fear and pain and a sound, almost like a shout died on his throat. One hand was holding the mechanical one, as if to prevent from anything else to happening to it. He was panting heavily, as if he had just been running, his chest rising and falling quickly. The shirt he wore was clinging to him, and Ari could see the gleam of sweat over his entire body. The last time he had looked like this, it had been with sand fever many years ago back on Tatooine.

"Ari?" he asked after a few moments. He had one hand placed over his chest, as if to slow down the heart that was beating rapidly.

"Yes, it is me," she told him, placing one hand on his shoulder. "Are you alright?" She knew he wasn't, but she felt it was the best thing to say.

Luke was silent for another moment, biting his lip as his breathing slowed down slightly. He started to nod and forced a small smile that was not convincing, but then the tight smile faded and he sighed deeply. He seemed to deflate slightly, as if becoming smaller. "No," he answered, as if defeated, hanging his head.

Ari hugged him tight, and he patted one of her arms with his hand in response. It seemed to be more automatic than anything, as if to be sure she was really there. "Do you want to talk about it?" Ari ventured after a moment.

Luke paused. "I don't know if I can," he admitted.

"Are you sure?" she asked. He usually told her everything, or at least he used to. This was something so big though, that she was certain he had to share it. It might help lighten the weight that seemed to be crushing him.

Another long pause occurred and for a moment, Ari was afraid he would never answer her. "I have to face him again," he finally spoke, voice quiet, yet firm.

"Face him again?" Ari repeated then shook her head. "No. You can't." She looked at him closely for a moment before speaking again, this time her voice was less intense. "Why? Why must you face him again?" Her eyes traveled over to his robotic hand.

If Luke noticed her gaze, he did not show it, his own eyes that had been looking down at the blanket that half covered him, now went to his hand. "It isn't over yet," was his response. He tightened his hand slightly, studying it.

"Why not?" Ari asked. "Why can't it be over?" She feared for Luke. Facing Vader again could result in something worse, including death. Ari hugged him again, not wanting to think about losing him. They had so many close calls; she feared that one day one of them would not return from a mission.

Luke pulled her into a hug now, using his good arm, wrapping it around her lower back. He was silent a moment and there was no sound except for the sounds of their breathing. "I am connected to him," Luke admitted, breaking the silence.

"Connected to him?" Ari asked and realized she was repeating him quite often. It seemed to be the only way to allow herself to digest what he was saying.

Luke finally looked at her, intense blue eyes meeting hers, and once again Ari found herself shocked at the emotions that laid there. There was so much. She expected something terrible, but was still not prepared for what Luke said next.

"Vader is…my father."