Chapter 132
AN: I have been a very bad author and I am so sorry for how long this took! Real life kind of was out of control. However, I will not let there be another break like this! No matter what! Also, it has been mentioned about how I am doing things differently from what happened according to the post Return of the Jedi books. While I kept very close to the events as they happened from A New Hope until "Truce at Bakura", the only way to go now is to create the rest of what happens as an AU, because as you all know, I created Ari and since she is in the story, it will change things. There will be a few things perhaps that remain true to the real EU, but this will be mostly AU.
I hope you all enjoy it!
When they arrived at the bridge, there were a number of others there already. The mood was still a celebratory one, which was only fitting after how long it had taken them to defeat the Empire. There was still more to be done, since not everyone would believe that the Alliance had won, especially those loyal to the Empire.
R4 beeped as Taga jumped onto the droid's head again, but seemed more resigned than before. Perhaps R4 was getting used to letting the alien doing such stunts.
"Mistress Arianna, it is good to see you," Threepio spoke up as he and R2 entered the bridge.
"It is good to see you as well," she told golden droid. "And did you get an oil bath?" she asked.
"Oh I did and I was polished as well, thank the maker," he sounded so pleased that Ari had to bit her lip to keep from laughing. While Threepio, Artoo and Arfour were considered droids, Ari sometimes forgot about that. They seemed more like living beings, instead of being mechanical programmed objects.
A beeping sound could be heard and everyone turned to see the source. It was the warning that they would soon be exiting lightspeed. Ari had found lightspeed exciting at first, but had grown used to traveling in such a way. In some ways, her life on Tatooine seemed like a dream or a story she heard, one that had happened to someone else.
A familiar shudder pulled her from her thoughts and she glanced out the viewport as the streaked slowed and became the small specks of light she grew up looking at. However, she was not looking at the stars. Instead, she was looking at that city-planet in front of her. It was amazing to see and Ari started to pick out details, such as where there seemed to be circles of lights, which probably meant they were more populated areas. She had heard that the entire planet was a city, but she hadn't been able to believe it. Even now that she was seeing it with her own, she was finding it difficult.
"That was the same look I had when I first saw it," Luke smiled at her hand brushing over hers. She looked over at him for a moment as she took his hand in hers. He glanced at her and their eyes met for a moment before they turned back to look out at Coruscant, Luke giving her hand a small squeeze.
Ari was fascinated with Coruscant, watching as it grew larger. Little things moving soon showed themselves to be speeders and other small ships. Ari was certain she had never seen so many beings in one place before, and she was only seeing a small part of the population. The city went miles underground and it was an amazing thought, though Ari had heard it was quite unsavory, even more so than Tatooine's worst cantinas. However, if she had to go there for a reason, she would. That was part of being a Jedi.
As they came closer, heading for a platform, Ari could see a number of beings glancing in their direction. She had never seen such a wide array of beings. Humans, humanoids, aliens and droids. It reminded her of just how large the galaxy was. She had not traveled all over the galaxy like she wanted, but she had gotten further than she expected.
They settled in for a landing and Taga hoped off R4 and at Ari, who caught the alien mid air. "We weren't going to forget you," she told the alien.
But you are taller. I can see more with you the alien told her.
Luke glanced at Taga, a little surprised. Ari realized that while she had mentioned the aliens' abilities, it was probably still odd to hear voices in one's mind. She was the only one that seemed able to hear him and now that Luke could, she assumed it had to be due to a certain amount of sensitivity in the Force.
"When we get off though, you might want to be in my bag. You could fall off and get lost," she warned the alien and then laughed as she felt Taga's fur brush against her neck.
That is fine. Your bag has to be more comfortable than the one I came in.
Ari smiled at this. "He stowed away in another bag, which is how he got here," she explained to Luke.
She felt a change in the engines and saw they were about to land. She was excited, but a bit nervous. She had heard that citizens were celebrating, but this was the Empire's capital. There were probably a number of beings who did not want the Republic to return.
They landed with a slight bump on the landing platform and the bridge was abuzz with activity. Alliance members moved around and talking to one another as they prepared to disembark, raising the level of energy.
"We will be meeting with some of our Coruscant contacts."
Ari and Luke turned to where Leia stood, just a step behind them. "I'd like you to be there. Both of you."
"Both?" Ari asked. Leia was royalty, Luke was her brother and a Jedi Knight. Han was a General and the other had played a major part in the Rebellion as well. She felt she had done as much as possible, but no one had really taken much note of her.
She nodded. "Both. I'll meet you at the ramp."
"You're a Jedi too, Ari. I think you sometimes forget that," Luke remarked as Leia left.
"I haven't completed my trials," Ari pointed out.
"You will," Luke assured her, giving her hand another small squeeze before releasing her hand.
Ari nodded. She once more thought about the message she had received from Siri. She felt as if the time to act on the message was drawing near. It was not yet time, but she could sense it.
R4 beeped, breaking Ari from her thoughts and she glanced at the translator. "I think we are being urged to pack," she showed the translator to Luke who nodded, patting the droid on the head. "I agree. I will see you in just a few minutes."
It didn't take long for Ari to pack, even with Taga on her shoulder. However, it took some urging to get Taga to agree to get into the bag before actually stepping outside. The alien finally agreed after Ari promised to allow enough room for Taga to look outside from the bag.
Ten minutes later, she joined the others who were meeting there. Leia looked a bit upset, but resigned.
"What happened?"
"Our contacts won't be here until evening. We were all given places to stay, but I had hoped to talk to some of the others, like Mon Mothma, as soon as possible.
"Leia, you have time to rebuild the Republic, but it won't happen overnight. Perhaps you could try to enjoy our success for a short time," Luke smiled slightly at her and Leia couldn't help but shake her head with a smile.
"Perhaps later. I have to make sure everyone gets to their proper quarters. There are a lot of us, though most are going to be receiving orders to go elsewhere. Not everyone believes that the Empire was defeated and I think some of the systems further away have not even received the news yet so we will send teams where we can. Speaking of rooms," she handed them each a small item that easily fit in the palm of her hand. "Your keys to your rooms," she then waved to a building to indicate where they would be staying. "I'll contact you both later tonight."
Without another word she rushed off and while Ari lost sight of her in the crowd, she could hear Leia speaking loudly to get the attention of some of the Alliance members that were close.
"I thought she might take a short time to enjoy what we accomplished," Ari remarked as she and Luke walked toward the building that Leia had indicated. R4 and R2 followed behind the humans, conversing to one another in beeps and chirps.
"Not Leia," he shook his head slightly. "She will always find something else that needs to be done."
"Not like teenagers I knew from Tatooine who always tried to finished their chores quickly and spend the rest of their time racing," Ari gave him a pointed look.
"I have no idea who you are talking about," Luke answered. He sounded as if he was innocent when he said this, but the small glint in his eye showed some of his younger self. However, that faded and he once more looked like a Jedi Knight, lost in his thoughts for a moment. "A lot has changed."
Ari nodded. "But not all of it is bad."
He gave a small smile in her direction. "No, not all of it is bad." He leaned over and kissed her cheek gently before leading her inside of the building.
It clean and simple, which suited the two of them. It appeared to be a hotel or apartment complex of some sort, though no other beings were seen. Ari could only assume that it had been made vacant for all the arriving Alliance members.
There were six turbolifts and almost immediately after touching the control pad, one arrived on the main floor. Ari realized that while most saw such things daily, she didn't. This would only be her second time on such a thing, at least the second time she could remember.
They stepped on and when Luke waved his key over a scanner, the lift ascended quickly into the air. While the turbolift was enclosed, as the number of floors rose in number, Ari could just imagine how it would look to be up so high. There was something vastly different about staying on in a place so high above the ground, compared to being in ship taking off or landing.
When they arrived at the thirty first floor, the turbolift stopped and they got off. "I wonder how everything looks from up here," Ari remarked as she glanced at the doors, searching for number that corresponded with her key.
"I am sure you'll find out soon," Luke answered, walking beside her. "I think every room in every hotel here has a window."
Ari found her room touched the key to the lock. There was a soft hissing sound as it opened and Ari gasped.
It was a large room with a very comfortable looking bed, a small kitchenette area complete with table and chairs as well as an area that looked to be used if company came over. Ari thought back to her home on Naboo when she saw it, since it was more like her home there, compared to the homestead on Tatooine.
"This is more than I was expecting." Ari finally spoke as she looked around. She set down her bag down on the floor and helped Taga out.
It took Taga only a moment before he started to scurry around the quarters, looking over everything.
"Definitely not like our quarters on the ships," Luke told her as he started to walk around as well as a slower and less hurried pace compared to Taga who decided to jump on the bed a few times.
It is soft he announced before hopping off and rushing to the other side of the room.
Ari chuckled watching him before turning to R4 and R2. "There is a power outlet if either of you want to recharge a bit," she motioned the wall where there was a comm. unit along with anything the power outlet.
"Ari," Luke called quietly to her from where he was standing by the window.
The young woman walked over to join him. "What…" the question she was about to ask died on her lips as she look in the sight before her. While Coruscant seemed amazing when they landed, it was even more so from where they were. Buildings were all over, but they made a landscape nonetheless, just not one Ari had ever seen. All the lights and speeders and movement were a lot to take in and though most of the city-planet was metal and other such materials, she could feel the Force flowing strongly through all the millions of beings.
Luke took her hand in his real hand, rubbing a thumb over her knuckles. He still wore his glove on his artificial hand, though it had been fixed after the battle on Jabba's barge. "It's amazing here, isn't it?" he asked.
Ari just nodded, giving his hand a small squeeze. "It is."
Luke glanced at her for a moment. "I want to show you something. And I am not going to tell you before hand, so don't try asking."
Ari couldn't help but smile slightly. He knew her too well. While Jedi were meant to be patient, the look in his eye was one of a secret. It wasn't happy or sad. In fact, he looked as if he was thinking about something bittersweet.
Luke tugged her hand and led her out of the room. "We'll be right back," he told the droids, and Taga, who was now staring out the window, seeming entranced by everything outside.
Ari let Luke lead her to the lift and they went up three more floors to the very top.
"How do you know where we are going?" Ari asked as they stepped off.
"Because I have been on Coruscant before," he reminded her. "At one point we were in this area and I know we can get to the top."
A small, simple ladder was in place next to the wall. It only had ten rungs, ending right below a small panel. Without any difficult, Luke climbed up it and using the Force, easily opened the panel.
Outside light shone inside the hallway, illuminating a square of the floor, including the ladder.
Without any urging, Ari followed Luke. He offered his hand as she got to the top rung, pulling her up onto the roof next to him.
Outside, the sounds of the city could be heard all around them. The sounds of speeders and ships were fairly loud and the smell was one that could only be experienced in such an environment. It was very different from anywhere else Ari had ever been and while it was amazing, she did miss seeing trees and other foliage.
Luke walked to one edge of the roof and was just staring at something. The wind was a slight breeze and Ari had to tuck back her hair behind her ears as she walked over to him. "If you aren't careful, you'll fall," she told him.
"Not with the Force on my side," he remarked, still not looking at her as she joined him.
They were silent then, both looking at the busy city-planet as beings and transports continued on with their day.
"Do you see that structure?" Luke asked, motioning with his hand.
Ari followed where he was motioning, but there were structures all around. "Which one?"
"The one with five spires," he answered, still not looking away from it.
Ari nodded, seeing it and then she felt a shiver run through her, though she didn't know from what.
"What is it?" she whispered.
"That is where we will have to go. That is the Jedi Temple."