Fanfiction has been a specter of mine. I grew up in these forums-I've held many accounts. I come and go as I see fit. This account holds such proof.

I've grown up now. I work now in writing-but in agencies and formalities. The toll of freelancing and the associated work has left me wanting more. And the Last Jedi has inspired such an occasion.

I cannot promise you a completion of the story you're about to read. I cannot promise you an error-free document, and I'm not left with enough time in the day.

I can promise you this-I know the broad strokes of a story Rian started. I know where I would want this story to lead after the credits rolled. Maybe you'll agree with me. Perhaps not.

The story derives canon from the live action films, and little else. I'd advise not reading until you've seen all 9. If you are the kind of person that dislikes a writer playing fast and loose with the internal layouts of ships or the unexplored reaches of the Outer Rim, I would suggest another story.

All that being said...

We'll be following a different character in each chapter. Today, we start with-

1. Poe I

The Falcon's sleeping quarters were small. This was under normal conditions. To add dozens more to such a small vessel required careful planning of basic human necessities. For now, the Falcon flew vast and open space. There was no telling how long this would last for.

The ship held two main chambers for sleep-one twice the size of the other. The larger had been fitted with a table and several chairs for meetings. In the night, it was occupied by Leia and Rey. Knowing the shadow of Han Solo lingered in the area, it was a surprise to many that she chose the old room. Perhaps there was some solace in the nostalgia.

The smaller chamber was converted into a medical station. The medical supplies typically found in one of the major rooms had been moved into here-and the only permanent occupant was Rose. It had been well over twelve hours, and she had yet to awaken.

Regardless, this decision left no room for the others-save for the two vast, hollow rooms typically used for cargo. When the Resistance had entered the Falcon on Crait, very little remained on board from Han's smuggling days. Much of it had been ditched on D'Qar before Rey had taken the vessel. Surprising, that it was not as long ago as it seemed.

Each of these two rooms was filled wall to wall with cots and supplies. What little clothing was found on board was tossed into a corner, but most of the supplies were what some had tactfully stolen from Crait. Which was a fancy way of stating that they truly had nothing.

These were the ashes of the Resistance, and no matter which way the General wanted to spin it, there was little left.

These were the thoughts of Poe Dameron as he lay sweating on the floor of Cargo Bay #2. To his left and right were the bodies of people he did not know. Their faces were familiar but strange back on the Raddus. But the pungent and stale air and the scent of their body odor did Poe no favors in wishing to speak to them. Still, he knew that he would have too soon. These strangers would soon be the only familiar faces he would know until they built the Resistance from such a state.

If they could build the Resistance from such a state.

Poe tried to stretch in place but found himself bumping his head against the soles of another soldier's boots ahead of him. The only free space in this Cargo Hold was below his feet-where a makeshift pathway had been carved.

Forcing himself to his feet, Poe walked carefully through the thin pathway and to the exit of the Cargo Hold.

There was clearly no way he'd be sleeping tonight. Or, at least, what had been delegated as "nighttime" for the Resistance crew.

Besides, how could he?

He doubted Leia would be asleep at a time like this. These movements were crucial-their next steps must be chosen with tact. Luke Skywalker might have bought them an escape, but he could not build them an army. Perhaps they'd try to join him on his island? Convince him to join the fight? Every option needed to be considered if they were to succeed.

Poe found himself pacing through the curved hallway of the Falcon. The ships engines hummed warmly in the background. His footsteps reverberated in the open and empty space and faded into the sounds of the ship. Maybe nobody was awake?

"Poe?"

The sound of his name startled him. He jolted before turning his head to the left.

Here, he found the door of the secondary sleeping quarters were left open. Inside in the dim lighting, Finn peered out. He was crouched next to Rose-his eyes drooping from exhaustion.

"Finn, buddy," Poe said, releasing the tension more for himself than his friend. Poe entered the makeshift medical bay. Even before the conversion, the space was little more than two beds and an aisle. Now, one bed lay occupied and the other full of supplies and weaponry. "There's nothing you can do. Torturing yourself isn't going to bring her back."

Poe winced at his phrasing. Bring her back? It wasn't as if Rose was dying. Was she? He had been so captivated by the proceedings of the past several days, he had yet to really look to her. He wasn't sure if she had one foot in the grave or merely needed a rest.

Finn, for his own sake surely, brushed off Poe's phrasing. "How am I supposed to sleep? She saved my life, Poe."

"And you saved hers," came Poe's reply. "You're the one that dragged her across the battlefield. Without the trenches for cover and Luke as a distraction, you'd have been blasted across seven systems for sure." Poe leaned against a nearby wall. "I'd say that's a fair trade."

But Finn didn't respond. Poe watched as he placed a hand on her closest shoulder. It was as if he was pausing to see if she still had breath in her. Yet, even from Poe's position, he could see the girl's torso rise and fall. She was breathing, and she was sleeping. Finn was not.

"Did you get a cot?" Poe asked. "Or at least a blanket? I know we were a couple people short. If you need a spot to lie down, I'm not sleeping the rest of the night."

"I slept a bit here," Finn said, pointing to the chair nearby. "I'll be fine."

"Suit yourself," Poe said. He continued to keep the mood light. "It's a sauna in there anyways. And cramped, too. If we had any more members, we would've had to ditch them on Crait. The First Order holding rooms beat this."

"No," Finn said with finality. "They don't."

Poe made a mental note: Don't joke with the former stormtrooper about the comforts of the First Order.

"So where'd she get hit?" Poe asked, changing the subject.

"I'm not sure," Finn responded. Poe glanced up and down her body as he continued: "When she crashed into me, her ship was already damaged. I think it was whiplash, but something definitely is broken in one of her legs. Our medic said something like that, but I don't think even she knows."

"Well, when she wakes up, thank her for me," Poe replied. He pushed off from the wall and exited the room.

"For what?"

Poe smiled and turned around. "For saving your ass."

For the first time that evening, Poe was able to make Finn smile. Perhaps that was good enough.

Poe continued on in the ship, past the closed door of the first sleeping quarter. Eventually, the hallway ended at the front of the ship. Here, Poe could see out the cockpit window-the stars moved past in a blue fury. Ahead of them, a singular white dot was all that could signal to him of their destination.

Poe entered the cockpit and sat in the passenger seat. In the captain's chair was a Resistance member he did know-a thin, younger soldier who only went by Yorn. His only interactions with the boy were when he helped fuel his X-Wing.

"So where are we going?" Poe asked.

"Where do you think?" Came an unexpected voice.

Poe turned around to see Leia-resting comfortably in one of the rear two chairs. How hadn't he noticed her when he entered?

"Luke's planet seems like a safe bet," Poe jested. "From what I hear, it's pretty low on the visibility scale. What's that place called? Achoo?"

"Ahch-To," Leia corrected. "And you want the entire First Order going to the last known vestige of the Jedi?"

"No," Poe replied. "I want Luke Skywalker."

"Luke's gone, Poe," Leia said. Her voice didn't waver, but her eyes seemed to almost quiver with a finality.

"Excuse me?" Poe sat up in his chair. "The man just got shot with every blaster bolt the First Order had and kept walking."

"You think it's easy to do such a thing?" Leia said. It was now that she grew frustrated. Poe could always tell when he was pushing her too far. Sometimes it was necessary. Today...not so much. "Luke saved the rebellion already. He did it before, and he's done it now. And now we're going to have to continue that spirit ourselves."

"I don't think I fully understand," Poe admitted.

"I don't either," Leia said. "Perhaps I never will. I've made peace with that. And I hope you will too." Leia rose from her chair. "It's late. We can talk in the morning. But if you must know, we're heading to the Outer Rim. Once we're clear of the major hyperlanes, we'll talk to Maz and sort out our next steps."

Leia stepped out of the room soon after. Poe watched as she left, then turned his eyes back to the brilliant blue streaks of the space passing them by.

His gut reaction was to tell her that they shouldn't run. But he knew better now. He had seen too much death these past few days to criticize the fact that they were running.

Because they weren't running.

They were surviving.

"Alright, Yorn," Poe said as he rose to leave. "Don't get us killed, okay?"

"No promises," the young boy shot back.

Poe laughed as he moved into the hallway. A man after his own heart.

As much as he hated to admit it, nothing else could be done tonight. While he knew there would be rest, maybe it was best to at least lie down and enjoy every moment they weren't running. There was no doubt more of these moments were coming.

But something caught his ear as he moved to enter the Cargo Bay. A voice reverberated throughout the halls. A woman's voice. Who could be up now?

Without the desire of sleep on his mind, there was no harm in exploring further.

Poe walked carefully towards the sound of the voice. It was coming from one of the central rooms on the Falcon-where the couches rested and where occupants were supposed to relax and play dejarik. Except for tonight, the lights were off.

As he approached, he began to make out words in the echo:

"If you won't listen, then what's the point of this?"

Then a pause. Then:

"I know what I saw-same as you."

As Poe rounded the corner, he saw the silhouette of a young woman standing in the dark, facing one of the far walls.

"Rey?"

Rey's head snapped in the dark towards Poe. A strange sensation surrounded Poe. It was as if he had momentarily lost half of his weight. He slipped about a half foot back-his boots sliding back on the polished steel.

Did she just push me?

"Hey, it's me," Poe said, ignoring what had happened. He moved his arm to the wall and lifted the lights. About twenty feet or so away from his was a very perturbed-looking Rey. "Don't freak out."

Rey hesitated for far longer than normal before responding. She turned her face to the wall, then back to Poe.

"You shouldn't have done that," she seethed. She walked towards him-passing him on his left-hand side.

"What?" He asked. He turned to see her march around the corner. "The hell did I do?"

Poe knew the girl had powers-she had the Force, same as Leia. But aside from the stories, there was little else he had known. What was she doing in the dark? Who was she talking to?

Poe looked around the room for answers but saw nothing but a pile of old books on the dejarik table. Dissatisfied, he turned the lights back off and headed for his cot.

I wonder if she's always like that, he thought to himself as he lay back in with the musk of his newfound friends. And he hoped not.

Like her or not, she might have been the most important person aboard.

Either way, he wasn't about to get on her bad side.

More chapters to come soon from separate perspectives throughout the evening. Then, we move forward.

Until next,

-BYIT