Chapter 100
AN: We have reached a milestone! When I first started this story I never thought it would reach Chapter 100. Thank you so much to all of you who have read and reviewed this story. I hope you all enjoy this chapter and thank you again!
While many of the pilots and others were talking amongst themselves, Ari just stayed in her seat, mulling over all the possibilities of the mission. She did not know much about it, but she did not regret her decision.
"Is this spot taken?" a voice asked and when Ari looked up, a smile appeared. "Wedge! How have you been?"
"Busy. Though, once again, I have been hearing reports about things that have happened on Tatooine," he remarked good naturedly.
Ari's cheeks flushed slightly, thinking about the outfit she had worn, as well as her injured shoulder. It was slightly stiff and sore; as she was sure it would be for the rest of the day. However, aside from that and Chewie's injury, they had all escaped relatively uninjured. "What have you heard?"
"That you and General Calrissian went undercover, and then the Princess pretended to be a bounty hunter, with Chewie as her captive. Luke showed up, killed a rancor, and then when everyone was going to be killed by some creature out in the desert, there was a fight. The Princess killed Jabba and everyone escaped."
Ari nodded in response. She knew about what had happened to the others since she had asked them on the way to meet at the rendezvous. She still was amazed that Leia had killed Jabba with the chain he had held her captive with. The irony of it all was not lost on any of them.
She gave Wedge a small smile, seeing he was still looking at her. "That about covers it," she spoke. She really did not want to talk about it. On later reflection, she wondered if she had let everyone down, feeling like she had not done her part in the mission.
She forced those thoughts from her mind though and turned back to Wedge. "So how have you been?"
She was happy to hear about Wedge's life instead of talking about her time in Jabba's palace. He had engaged in a few dogfights during his missions, but had completed all of them without too many losses. He did add with a solemn tone that he had lost a few friends to the Imperials. Ari looked at him closely while he said this. Wedge had been a rookie, like she and Luke had been. He had considered life as a smuggler after his parents had died in an accident but said he was not right for it. Instead he had joined the Rebellion. Ari had to agree with his decision. She could not even imagine him as a smuggler, but he was a great pilot.
A hush fell over the group as Mon Mothma gave a signal. Ari quickly noted that Leia, Han, Chewie, Lando and C-3PO were up front. Her gaze then fell on a holographic model of the not yet completed Death Star. Even though it was just a model, she felt a shiver run up her spine. She remembered the time she spent on the first Death Star, as well as the attack. It was dangerous not just to ships, but entire planets.
"The Emperor has made a critical error and the time for our attack has come," Mon Mothma spoke and there was a little whispering among the crowd as she then turned to the hologram. It was then that Ari noticed there the hologram showed not just the Death Star, but also another planet as well as something else. Was it a shield? Whatever it was, it looked as if it was protecting the Death Star.
"The data brought to us by the Bothan spies pinpoints the exact location of the Emperor's new battle station. We also know that the weapon systems of this Death Star are not yet operational. With the Imperial Fleet spread throughout the galaxy in a vain effort to engage us, it is relatively unprotected. But most important of all, we've learned that the Emperor himself is personally overseeing the final stages of the construction of this Death Star," Mon Mothma announced. She could not get any further though as chatter erupted.
"The Emperor himself…" Wedge muttered and he glanced over at Ari who gave a small nod as well. She had never seen the Emperor, except in a few holos. However, she remembered what it had been like facing Darth Vader and just knew the Emperor was much worse. Now they knew where he was. He was somewhere in that yet to be completed battle station.
As the buzz in the room lessened slightly, Mon Mothma spoke again. She no longer had strong conviction in her voice, but instead her tone was solemn and quieter.
"Many Bothans died to bring us this information." Then she turned from the assembled beings, and to the Mon Calamari leader. "Admiral Ackbar, please."
The large eyed Admiral stepped forward and motioned to the hologram. "You can see here the Death Star orbiting the forest Moon of Endor. Although the weapon systems on this Death Star are not yet operational, the Death Star does have a strong defense mechanism. It is protected by an energy shield, which is generated from the nearby forest Moon of Endor. The shield must be deactivated if any attack is to be attempted. Once the shield is down, our cruisers will create a perimeter, while the fighters fly into the superstructure and attempt to knock out the main reactor."
Once again, a murmur rose among the crowd. "This is like Yavin all over again," Ari remarked to Wedge, who nodded. She looked at her friend for a moment, knowing that he would be one of the pilots up there. In fact, a number of her friends would be up there fighting. She wondered if Han, Lando or Chewie would be flying in that war zone.
"General Calrissian has volunteered to lead the fighter attack," Admiral Ackbar announced and Ari bit her lip for a moment. She knew it would be dangerous and hoped he would be alright. She kept thinking back to the Battle of Yavin and how many pilots had died. She had grown close to Lando in the year they had known each other.
"General Madine," Admiral Ackbar stepped back as General Madine stepped forward. He was a kind man, yet held an air of authority, as did the other two.
"We have stolen a small Imperial shuttle. Disguised as a cargo ship, and using a secret Imperial code, a strike team will land on the moon and deactivate the shield generator," Madine announced and for a moment Ari felt his eyes on her. This was the mission she would be on. She could hear the buzz of conversation, but it fell away as Madine continued and glanced over at Han.
"General Solo, is your strike team assembled?"
All eyes in the room turned to Han. Some seemed surprised, but Ari had known ahead of time, but it appeared she was the only one.
"Uh, my team's ready. I don't have a command crew for the shuttle," Han answered. This comment caused Ari to frown slightly. Yes, she had been told he was in charge of the mission, but why had Han not asked her to be a part of the command crew. It was not formed yet, so why had he decided not to ask her? She felt privileged by her position, to know she was so trustworthy, but it made her wonder if it was because he did not want her as part of his command crew.
Her attention was pulled back to the moment at hand as Chewie raised a large furry paw making a few sounds. Han said something to him that Ari missed and Chewie waved a paw as if waving away whatever he had said.
"That's one," he announced
"General... count me in," Leia's voice held a bit of laughter to it.
Right before the next voice spoke, Ari felt a change and her darkened mood lightened with a small smile. She knew who it was.
"I'm with you, too!" a voice called from the entrance.
Everyone turned and the voices of the crowd picked up. Most had not seen Luke lately, yet they had all heard of what had occurred at Jabba's. He descended a few steps, a small smile on his face. While on first glance it looked real, Ari could see it was strained. Something had happened. She would have to ask him when they had a moment alone.
Leia rushed up the stairs and hugged him. While a year ago, Ari might have bristled, she did not. It was not the first time she had felt not trace of the old rivalry she had felt with the Princess. Was it because Ari knew that Leia loved Han and not Luke? She decided not to focus on that at the moment. There was too much going on. The meeting was breaking up and even Wedge was going over to see Luke. Ari hung back slightly and after greeting Han, Chewie, Lando and Leia, she saw Luke's eyes travel over the crowd that was forming to see him and then they landed on her.
Ari offered him a smile and he gave a small lopsided smile in response. She saw the look in his eye and it reminded her of when Ben Kenobi had died. She sensed sadness and many torn feelings from him. She gave him a questioning look and he gave a nod. "Later" he mouthed to her. She then nodded. While he was busy at the moment, Ari was happy that at least they would be together on this mission.
Remembering the mission, Ari turned and found Han talking to Leia and Chewie. She had to talk to him as well. She had a few questions that only he could answer.