Chapter 102
AN: Sorry for the long wait everyone, but I wanted to get more of the website done before I attempted to share it again. The website is now listed as my homepage under author information. Please feel free to look around there. Thank you again for all of you who continue to read and review!
It did not take long for Ari to pack. She checked the information she could about Alderaan, finding that it was forest with large trees. Some went so far up, it was impossible to see the sky. It was something she could not even fathom. However, it helped her come up with clothing that would be appropriate. She donned her camouflage clothing and put the rest in a small sack as well as some rations and filled her canteen. She also checked the battery level of her comm. unit and blaster.
Once the large pack was on her shoulders, she looked around the room. R4 was still there and he made a mournful sound.
"Oh, R4, I am so sorry. I would like to have you with me, I really would, but you saw the information. It would be difficult for you to move around. Besides, I know that Lando could use a lot of good droids, if you want to help with that."
The droid beeped and finally Ari understood what was being said without looking at her translator. It had just taken a lot of time. "Are you sure? It is going to be dangerous."
Once again the droids answered with a few beeps and a chirp. "Alright, I will tell Lando. Just be safe. I don't want anything to happen to you." She knew some would think she was crazy to treat the droid like she would a living, breathing being, but in her opinion, the droid had more personality and life than some beings she had known. R4 had become a good friend of hers over the time they were together.
The droid beeped a few well wishes of his own and Ari gave the droid a small hug. "I'll see you when this is all over."
After leaving her mechanical companion, she shouldered her bag once again and headed to meet the others. On the way she saw Wedge. "Hey," she greeted him with a quick hug. They were both very tense. "Are you ready?"
"I don't think any of us will be ready. We do have some things the Empire does not though."
"Creativity, drive, and probably even that Force that you and Luke are always talking about." He gave a playful tug on her hair, which was pulled back so it would not get into her eyes and cause her to potentially miss something important.
"You have that right." Ari gave him a smile though her stomach was in knots, seeing everyone leaving to get ready for what could only be considered the final attack. Either they would succeed and free the galaxy from the grips of the tyrannical Empire, or they would all be destroyed in one swift blow. "But I will be seeing you when we are celebrating our success," she added and he gave a small smile in return. They gave each other mock salutes then went their separate ways.
Ari and a few others wished luck and at one point while walking toward the stolen shuttle, she was not looking where she was going and bumped into someone. The weight of the pack did not help her balance and luckily her arm was caught by the person she had bumped into so she did not fall.
"Thank you, I wasn't looking-"she stopped when she saw Cal and her shocked expression turned into a smile. "Cal."
"Ari, you seem to be doing well," he remarked.
"I am," she nodded. "About to get the shuttle. I am back of the strike team."
"I guess this means I am your boss. I was given command of the team, under the command crew that is."
"Really? It will be good to have you around. I would have thought you would be a member of the strike team though."
"It is a long story. Either way, I am glad we have this task," she remarked as they made their way to their area of the shuttle. It stood out among the various array Rebel ships there, many patched up like the Falcon.
"Me too. I have a lot of respect for those pilots though," Cal remarked. "I think that their job is more dangerous than ours."
Ari nodded. She would have been up there with them if she had not already agreed to join the strike team. A thought crossed her mind. Could that have been one of Han's reasons to do what he did?
Someone called out Cal's name and they both turned. "I better go wish them luck. I'll see you onboard."
Ari nodded and continued on her way. She had liked Cal when they were spending all that time together. While something could have occurred between the two of them, she felt that things had changed. He was still a good friend, but she was almost certain it would not turn into anything more.
As she came closer, she saw Han and Lando talking to one another. "Good luck," she heard Lando say to Han who replied with "You too."
Lando turned to leave, but paused when he saw Ari. "You better hurry, your ride might be leaving without you," he motioned to the shuttle.
"That would be tragic wouldn't it? Then you might be stuck with me as a co-pilot or something," she joked.
"I will admit that you would be a valuable pilot, but someone has to go along to make sure Han and Luke stay out of trouble," Lando laughed. His spirits seemed light, though she wondered if maybe the bravado was used to cover nervousness or fear.
"I will make sure of it," she kept up with the joke, then it faded and she became a bit more serious. "Actually, R4 is going to be joining the squadron."
"Your little droid? Are you sure abou that? It could get rough."
"I am sure because he wants to do it. He is a good droid too and I think he would be a valuable asset."
"Well, I will be sure to thank him when I see him. Who knows, maybe he can help me with the Falcon."
"The Falcon? How did you get Han to agree to that?"
"He offered actually. I think that time in carbonite might have done something to his mind," Lando joked, tapping his temple.
Ari couldn't help but laugh at this. "Well, you have handled her pretty well so far."
"I would hope so. After all she was mine until I lost her to Han in that game." When they first knew each other, there had been a high stakes sabacc game which Han had won. In the pot had been the ownership to the Falcon.
"Then I guess you better be careful," Ari remarked.
"I have to be more than careful. He said he didn't want a scratch on her."
"Did you remind him that you were flying into a combat zone?"
"I thought it would be better not to remind him," Land remarked, tone light. Then he sighed. "And I figure if we make it through, a few scratches won't matter."
"You had better be careful then," Ari told him.
"I will. Be safe as well.
Ari nodded. "May the Force be with you." She held out her hand as if to shake hands. She knew she could have hugged Lando, but for some reason, did not feel it was the right thing to do.
Lando, flashing a dashing smile, leaned over as if in a bow and kissed her out stretched hand, much like he had when they had first met. "You as well." He straightened and with one final look at one another, they both turned to go back to the task at hand.
Ari jogged up the ramp where she saw that the members of the team were getting ready. Han was in the back talking to them when she entered. "We were starting to wonder if you were going to make it," Han remarked.
"I was just wishing Lando well," she explained. This was the first time she had spoken to him since the confrontation earlier. While she tried to act like normal, there was a slight hint of distance between them still.
"Good. Are you ready?"
"Yeah. I'm all set," Ari answered as she slipped into a seat, the one next Cal. At least she would have pleasant company during the journey.
"Hey, Kid," Han started and Ari looked over at him.
"Don't worry about it," she told him as a way of a peace offering. He gave a small smile in response to that and then hurried back up to the cockpit.
Ari leaned her head back against the cool metal and closed her eyes for a moment, letting out a breath she did not even know she had been holding.
"What was that about?" Cal asked her and Ari waved her hand, as if batting away the thought.
"We just had a misunderstanding," she replied as she opened her eyes. "Not something you want to have hanging over your head before going into a war zone with someone."
Cal nodded in agreement and the two fell silent, though it was not uncomfortable due to that reason. There was tension in everyone though as they checked their weapons over again, though they had already done it half a dozen times already.
Ari could hear voices from the cockpit, but could not make out what was being said. She did feel the change though as the ship rose up and started to move. It was smoother than her Y-Wing, but she was fairly certain that weapons and mobility were not as vast on this ship either. It would suit their purposes though.
"All right, hang on," they all heard Han say, then there was a slight change in sound as the sublight engines stopped and the hyperdrive kicked in. Less than a second later, there was the familiar, faint shudder. While Ari could not see the stars, she knew they would be streaking by. They were now on their way to the Endor moon.