Us Against the Galaxy

By: Katerinaki

Published: 12/20/2015

Beta'ed: No

Notes: This features an OC, Halla Thane, and Poe Dameron from Star Wars The Force Awakens. It features mostly back story for Poe, but there is ONE POSSIBLE SPOILER, so I don't recommend you read this until you've seen the movie. I hope you enjoy.

There was a new family in the house that was built just over the ridge. Halla had seen their speeder land just a few moments ago and scampered off to watch from the same tree she'd watched the builders build. Now she watched as a man and a woman climbed out of the speeder, and to her great delight, a boy not much older than her! They had dark hair and tan skin and they looked nice, for all the mama and papa wore the uniforms of the Alliance. Halla knew of the Alliance. There was a base not far from her home, and her mama told her not to go there, even though the guards were nice and sometimes gave her sweets. These people looked nice. The mama was carrying a little tree in her hand, cradling it to her chest. That was strange. After all, there were hundreds of thousands of trees on Yavin 4. Why this little one was so important, when there were so many bigger ones?

Curious, Halla crept closer, though she stayed high in the trees so that the new people couldn't see her. She watched as they didn't go into the house, but to a small garden behind it. There, the boy and the papa dug a hole and the mama planted it and watered it. They tended to it so carefully, as if it were made of gold. Only once the tree was placed in its new home did they at last enter their own.

Halla waited a while, but they didn't come back out again and at last she decided it was clear. Carefully, she climbed down into the garden and stepped gingerly over the fresh soil until she came to the little tree placed at the center. It was unlike any other tree on Yavin 4. Perhaps it was a tree from this family's homeworld? Halla wondered if its leaves felt different from those of her homeworld.

"What are you doing?!"

Halla snatched her hand back. The boy stood on the back porch and he looked angry.

"Don't touch it. It's special!"

"I'm sorry," Halla called back, tucking her hands behind her back like she did in the store when mama told her not to touch anything. She backed up as the boy hopped off the porch and hurried to make sure the tree was still undisturbed.

"I didn't do anything, I swear!" Halla insisted.

"You can't touch it, ever," the boy growled. "It was a special present for my mom and dad."

That was strange.

"They were given a tree? But that's silly! There are trees everywhere."

"Not like this one."

"Poe!"

Both children jumped as Poe's mother came out too.

"Poe did you remember to—"She stopped as she saw Halla and smiled. "Oh, have you made a friend?"

"She's not my friend," Poe growled. "And she was trying to hurt the tree!"

"Was not!"

"Was too!"

"Was not, was not!"

"Was too, was too!"

"Poe! That's enough," his mother scolded. "I'm sure she wasn't going to hurt the tree. What's your name?"

Halla hesitated. Her mama told her to be careful, especially with people she didn't know. But the lady smiled softly.

"My name is Shara Dameron. And this is my son, Poe."

"I'm Halla Thane," she said softly.

"'Halla'? What a beautiful name."

"Mama says it was my grandma's name."

"Does your mama know you're here? Where's your home?"

"That way," Halla replied, pointing through the trees and over the ridge. It wasn't too far away, though if Mama knew she was there, she probably wouldn't be too happy. She wasn't supposed to go beyond the creek.

Maybe it was because Shara was a mama too, but she seemed to figure out pretty quickly that Halla's mama didn't know she was there.

"How about Poe and I give you a ride back, hm? Your mama is probably worried."

Knowing Shara was right and wanting to take a ride in the shiny speeder out front, Halla nodded. "Okay."

"But Mom!"

"Poe, be nice," Shara admonished, placing a hand on his shoulder. Poe crossed his arms, grumbling under his breath. Shara sighed but still reached down to ruffle his dark curly hair.

"Mom!" Poe protested, shooing her hands away. He tried to keep a frown, but Halla could see the corners of his mouth start to perk up. To cover it he huffed and made a big show of stomping around the side of the house to the front.

"Come, Halla," Shara said, offering her hand. Halla took it and together they walked down the path to the front where Poe already waited in back seat of the speeder. Shara helped Halla climb in next to Poe before taking the controls. It really was the nicest speeder Halla had ever been in, even nicer than the one they'd taken to the spaceport when they visited Auntie Charal. Poe seemed to like it to; that is, he didn't stop smiling until he saw Halla looking at him and then he stuck his tongue out.

"Poe, I saw that!"

"Sorry," Poe muttered.

They were back at Halla's house in minutes and Halla's mother Jzora answered the door.

"Halla! What are you doing? Where have you—?" But the leaves and twigs in Halla's hair and the dirt on her tunic told Jzora exactly where she'd been. Jzora smiled at Shara with embarrassment as she tried to get rid of some of the leaves. "Thank you for bringing her home."

"It was no problem."

"I'm Jzora, and I suppose you've met Halla."

"I'm Shara, this is my son Poe. We live in the house just over the ridge."

Jzora eyed Shara's tan uniform and black boots. "You're with the Alliance?"

Shara fingered her tunic and Halla thought she looked a bit sad. "Not any more. I was a pilot and my husband was with the Pathfinders, but we've retired."

"You're a pilot!" Halla exclaimed. "Did you shoot any TIE fighters?"

"Of course she did!" Poe replied. "My mom is the best pilot in the Alliance."

"Halla!"

"Poe!"

"Sorry mama."

"But you are, mom!"

Jzora started steering Halla towards the house. "I think that's been enough excitement for one day."

"Mama, you should've seen this tree that they have. Poe says it's a special tree."

"Alright, sweetie. Thank you for bringing her home. I'm so sorry, again."

"It's no problem at all. And she's welcome anytime. Come, Poe."

Shara and Poe headed back to the speeder as Jzora steered Halla into the house.

"Bye, Poe!" Halla called.

Poe seemed reluctant, but he still gave a little, half-hearted wave. "Bye."

The forest rang out with raucous laughter and the low whine of swoops.

"Come on, Poe! Last one there is a nerfherder!"

Halla Thane cackled with glee as she zoomed in and out of the trees, navigating the thick woods at speeds most would never dare. She'd been playing among these trees for years and knew them all. She wasn't going to crash. This was practically child's play.

Just behind her, on a swoop of his own was her best friend, and fiercest rival, Poe Dameron. They'd gotten off to a rocky start at first. Halla had snuck over to Poe's house, and Poe had yelled at her for it. That hadn't stopped her from coming back over and over again. You see Poe had this tree that grew behind his house that he and his parents had planted when they first arrived on Yavin 4. To this day, the tree still amazed Halla, how it grew and flourished even drought and cold. Even in that time when nobody had tended to it, after Poe's mom died.

Halla had been at Poe's house when the news had come in. The hyperdrive on Shara's ship suffered a catastrophic failure. None on the ship survived. Shara had been flying, on her way home to Poe and Poe's father Kes. For years, Poe always said he wanted to be a pilot like his mother. Halla had thought the news of her death would've been the end of his dream, but instead Poe seemed to throw himself into things head on. He and Halla had fixed up Shara's old RZ-1 A-wing interceptor deep in the woods where Kes and Halla's mother Jzora didn't know and Poe learned to fly it. And of course, where Poe went, Halla was determined to follow. Together they were two of the best pilots on Yavin 4, and certainly some of the youngest.

Halla dove under a fallen tree and Poe managed to pull up level with her.

"Give up, Halla!" Poe called, laughing as the wind whipped through his dark hair. "You'll never beat me!" He zoomed ahead and Halla grit her teeth, pushing her swoop harder and faster. They were a blur, flying through the woods. One false move would spell the end of either of them, but neither would mess up. They were almost back to the house and Halla had one last move. There as a log that had fallen and created a perfect ramp. If she made it at just the right time, she could fly over Poe and beat him!

She saw the log up ahead and gunned her engines, trying to pull every bit of power and speed out of the swoop. Poe hear her though and knew exactly what she was doing. In one daring, and maybe a bit crazy, move he swerved in front of her and cut her off, taking the log himself and forcing Halla to veer around the set up or risk being pancaked. Poe whooped as he flew up the log and over the creek, winning the race. The two of them powered down, bringing their swoops to a stop just at the edge of the clearing where Poe's house stood.

"I win," Poe declared, smirking. "Who's the best pilot in the whole galaxy?"

"You are, you buckethead!" Halla retorted as she hopped off her swoop and skipped across the clearing.

"Oh no you don't!" Poe was ready as Halla reached out to push him off his seat. He grabbed her arms and the two of them wrestled for a second before Poe slipped and lost his balance. Too bad he was still holding Halla. The two of them went head-over-heel down onto the packed dirt. Halla landed on top of Poe, who had the wind knocked out of him. Groaning, he rolled over, pushing her off.

"When did you get so heavy?" he moaned.

"When did you get so kriffing slow?"

"I beat you didn't I?"

"By the skin of your teeth. I'll space you next time."

"In your dreams laserbrain."

The two of them slowly pulled themselves up and tended to their swoops before heading for the house. It wasn't until they came around the bend that they noticed the strange fighter standing just at the edge of the trees.

"Whoa!" Halla exclaimed. "Look at this! It's an X-wing."

"It's an XJ-series," Poe added. He ran his hands over the sleek wings almost reverently, admiring the profile and thin lines. Hall knew Poe flew an A-wing, but his dream was to get in the cockpit of one of these, an X-wing Starfighter. It was the pinnacle of speed, stealth, and maneuverability. Halla had never seen one this close before. This was the sort of craft Luke Skywalker used to destroy the Death Star.

Poe was practically in love when the little blue and silver astromech droid came wheeling over, squawking and beeping furiously at them.

"Alright, alright!" Poe replied, putting his hands up and making a show of stepping away. "I won't touch it."

Halla laughed, elbowing Poe in the ribs. "Sounds familiar doesn't it?" she smirked, thinking about the first time they'd met, almost eight years ago.

"Shut up," Poe retorted. "I wonder whose droid that is. Testy little guy."

The astromech whistled at them, shooing them away with a couple of half-hearted jabs with his stun arm. Halla and Poe knew better than to be on the wrong end of that, and they quickly head for the house.

"Dad! We're back!" Poe called, as they dumped their mud-caked boots by the back door.

Kes Dameron had much more gray hair than the first time Halla had met him. He'd grown his goatee out into a full beard and that too was shot through with gray. His face was lined with age and stress, probably from having a daredevil son like Poe.

"Poe, we have a guest," Kes said, and a moment later another man entered.

He had a beard too and sandy hair. He wore a flight suit and carried an old, battered helmet under his arm. One look at him and Halla knew he was an Alliance pilot, without even needing to see the starbird symbol on his helmet. But that wasn't what drew her attention. Hanging from his belt, glinting in the light of the sinking sun, was a very distinct, shiny tube. Halla had never seen one before, but like an X-wing fighter, she knew exactly what it was, a lightsaber. Which meant this visitor, the pilot, was a Jedi.

"Master Skywalker, this is my son, Poe," Kes introduced, "and his friend, Halla Thane."

Master Skywalker! This was Luke Skywalker! He was a hero of the Alliance! He destroyed the first Death Star and killed the Emperor and he was a Jedi. The lightsaber hanging at his hip proved it.

"Pleased to meet you, sir," Poe said stiffly, shaking Luke Skywalker's hand. He was acting really weird, but Halla didn't say anything. She was a little starstruck herself.

"I've heard a lot about you, Poe," Luke Skywalker said. "Your mother spoke of you often. She was a great pilot."

"Thank you, sir," Poe replied.

"Master Skywalker came to check on the tree," Kes said.

"It's outside," Halla told him, eager to move past the quiet moment. She knew Poe still hurt over his mother's death, and like a good friend she didn't want him to dwell on it too much. Then he would get moody and sulky and they wouldn't hang out for weeks until Halla finally got fed up and dragged him out on the swoops again.

She led them out to the tree, which was no longer a little cutting but a good-sized tree now. Its branches reached out over her head. Often she and Poe would sit under its shade and talk or read, or just relax in companionable silence. Halla liked it most when they did that. She felt like she was connected to everything when she was still and quiet. She could hear the birds and feel deep thrumming of life all around her. And the tree, the tree was a great source of light and energy. Sitting at its roots invigorated her, even when she was at her most tired and worn. She stepped up to its trunk and brushed her fingers over it, greeting it as an old friend. Poe often used to tease her for her fascination with the tree. To him, it was a reminder of his mother. For Halla, it was like a beacon that drew her near. She was always aware of its presence, even when she was in her own home.

"Look how big it's grown," Halla said, grinning. To her surprise, Master Skywalker stepped up to the base too, placing his palm on the trunk as Halla did. He took in a deep breath and as he exhaled Halla could feel the tree pulsing, the energy flowing down into the roots and spreading out through the forest in all directions. Halla gasped, clutching the tree for support. Never had she felt anything like that happen in all the years she'd come and helped Poe and the Damerons tend the special tree.

"It certainly has," Master Skywalker agreed as the energy settled once more. He turned back to Poe and Kes. "You've taken such good care of it. Better than I could've ever hoped. Thank you."

"It's been our honor, Master Skywalker," Kes replied.

They stood for a while longer under the tree's branches. Halla never once removed her hand from the tree's trunk and she started to notice Master Skywalker glancing over at her curiously as he conversed with Kes. Poe had taken a seat by her at the roots of the tree and was dozing off when Master Skywalker and Kes joined them once more.

"Poe," Kes said, tapping his son to rouse him. "Let's go inside and start dinner."

"I'll help," Halla volunteered.

"Actually, I was hoping to speak with you privately a moment, Halla," Master Skywalker said.

Poe looked between Master Skywalker and his father with confusion, but he still got up and followed Kes inside, glancing back a few times as if to make sure Halla was going to be okay. Master Skywalker, to Halla's surprise, ended up taking Poe's seat next to her.

"Halla, have you ever heard of the Force?"

Of course she had. It's what Jedi used. It was some sort of energy or something that bound everything together. She said as much and Master Skywalker nodded.

"A basic description, but yes, for the most part. This tree is one of two clippings that Poe's mother and I went through great lengths to acquire. Many years ago, this tree grew on Coruscant, at the center of the Jedi Temple. It is Force-sensitive, which is why we had to save it from the Empire. It's also why you are so drawn to it."

Halla looked up at the tree as its branches drifted in the gentle breeze. It didn't look like a special, Jedi tree.

"How can you be sure?" she asked.

"Place your hand on the trunk."

Halla did, and immediately she felt the energy again as it flowed through the trunk and the branches, out to the leaves and down through the roots.

"Do you feel that? The energy? It flows through the trees, out into the forest, and through you and I. That's the Force." He breathed deep and Halla found herself mimicking him. As she inhaled the light rushed over her and she was caught up in the pulse of the forest for just a moment, until she exhaled and it was like a wave falling back from the beach.

"Wow," Halla breathed. "Can everybody feel that?"

Master Skywalker shrugged. "To some extent. Most simply feel relaxed or renewed in the tree's presence, but for Force-sensitives, people like us, it's so much more."

"Force-sensitive?"

Master Skywalker nodded. "You can feel it all around you. I know you can sense the emotions of those around you. You're much attuned, to Poe in particular. Have you ever been tested before?"

"No."

"I would like to, if it's alright with your parents. Right now I'm looking for those like us, Force-sensitive beings. I want to rebuild the Jedi and train others. You're one of the stronger I've come across in my travels. If you pass the test, and I fully believe you will, and you're interested, I would like to take you on as a student."

Halla couldn't believe it. Her head spun and she was practically giddy at the thought. Her, a Jedi like Luke Skywalker! Training with Luke Skywalker and learning about the Force and how to use a lightsaber, all of it! She'd only ever thought of becoming a pilot with Poe. They talked about going to school when they were older, getting their licenses and maybe even joining the New Republic's fleet. Poe was sure to be the best pilot in all of the armada, and Halla would be his wing-man, right there backing him up in every crazy stunt he pulled.

She paused as she thought of Poe.

"Would I have to leave?"

Master Skywalker nodded. "Unfortunately, yes. I'm building another Temple, and my hope is that everyone can train there, together. It will be easier, and hopefully prevent distractions."

"When would I have to go?"

"As soon as possible."

Halla frowned at the thought of leaving Poe, especially now. She wanted to go, desperately. But she didn't want to leave Poe behind.

Master Skywalker seemed to understand her train of thought. "The training will not be easy. There will be sacrifices along the way. It's not the path for everyone. I would still like to talk with your parents, but in the end it's your decision and it's not one I want you to make lightly or without thought."

After dinner, Master Skywalker offered to escort Halla home. The astromech came with them. Master Skywalker called him Artoo, and seemed to understand each and every whistle. The droid, for its part, was never more than a few paces behind them.

Jzora was not surprised at the late hour Halla was returning. She often stayed at Poe's house for supper, and many times Poe came to her house. She was, however, surprised to see Luke Skywalker escorting her daughter. It was all too reminiscent of their first meeting with Shara and Poe. They sat at the table and Master Skywalker explained to Jzora what he was offering Halla. They did a few exercises where Halla had to tell Master Skywalker what was on a screen she couldn't see. She passed every test as Jzora watched nervously. At the end, Master Skywalker declared her a fine candidate for his new academy.

"I told Halla this is not an easy decision. If she decides she would like to pursue this path, send me a holo-message and I will make all the necessary arrangements for her transportation. If I do not hear from you, I will assume you declined my offer."

"Thank you, Master Skywalker," Jzora said quietly. She'd become increasingly soft-spoken the more exercises Halla had completed correctly until she barely spoke at all.

Halla escorted Master Skywalker to the door where Artoo was already waiting. Night had fallen long ago, but Halla knew she had little chance of sleep that night. Her mind was racing with the possibilities and wrestling with the choices she had before her.

"One last thing," Master Skywalker said, as he left. "I find that if I am overwhelmed, it helps to listen to the Force. It guides us in all things, and when we quiet our bodies and minds, we can hear it best."

"I'll try," Halla promised.

"May the Force be with you."

Sure enough, that night Halla had no rest. She tossed and turned and tried to quiet her mind but it was little use. There was so much to think about, and all of the sudden there seemed to be no time. Master Skywalker said not to make this decision lightly and she was trying not to. It was just that everything in her seemed to scream that this was the right path. She'd never felt anything so right before. And yet, how could something be right if it took her away from her best friend in the whole galaxy?

The next day, she met up with Poe in town. He was looking for parts for his A-wing once more. It was old and had seen its fair share of action. Each time it was harder and harder to find parts as Starfighters were modified and upgraded and the old pieces were discontinued. As it was, Halla and Poe were digging through a junk pile of old parts, looking for something that would at least fit the A-wing, even if it wasn't precisely the right part.

"This is ridiculous," Halla declared as a pile of parts collapsed around her ankles and smeared old grease over her sleeves. "You should save your money for something nice, like Master Skywalker's X-wing. Now that was a Starfighter."

Poe tossed some junk over his shoulder as he sifted through his own pile.

"She was beautiful," he admitted. "But I like what I have. She has spirit."

"If that's what you call it," Halla muttered. She hoped he wasn't referring to the A-wing's tendency to cut out if you climbed too steeply. The first time Halla had been behind the controls when it'd done that, she'd nearly crashed the blasted thing.

They continued to look for another hour but it was no use. This junk dealer didn't have what they needed. Hot and tired from their hunt, they stopped in a small diner that has sprung up in the years while the Alliance base had been most active. The Diner, called Chiila's, was run by a guy called Myles Hooge and if anyone ever asked him about Chiila he'd shove a blaster up their nose and tell them if they valued their brains they'd never speak Chiila's name again. As a result, most just called the place "The Diner". It had been a favorite with the Alliance pilots and soldiers and was now a local favorite too. Halla and Poe waved to Hooge before taking a booth. Hooge's waitress, a green Twi'lek by the name of Oko'ma, brought over their usual with a polite smile and left them to it.

"So what did Master Skywalker talk to you about?" Poe asked as he took a bite of his nerfburger. "You were really quiet at dinner last night."

Halla didn't answer right away, but pretended to take a long drink. She hadn't been sure she should tell Poe about Master Skywalker's offer, but something in her urged her to. Poe was her friend, and perhaps he could urge her in the right direction.

"He wants to train me, to be a Jedi."

Poe immediately started coughing and only after a chugging some of his water was he able to at last stop. "He wants to train you? But, why?"

Halla shrugged. "He thinks I'm Force-sensitive."

"Are you?"

"I don't know. I guess…maybe…?" She pushed her food around, not particularly hungry at the moment.

"You know the tree?"

"Of course."

"You know how I always want to be around it? Remember how I couldn't stay away from it, even after you yelled at me?"

Poe snorted. "How could I forget?"

"Master Skywalker said it's because the tree is Force-sensitive. It came from the old Jedi Temple. I can feel it, that's why I always want to be around it. I can feel the Force in it and it feels…good, light. He tested me last night, when I went home. He wants me to go with him, to train."

"When?"

"Right away."

Poe had seemed vaguely amused up until that point. But his expression fell and he sat back in his seat, clenching and unclenching his hands. It was something he did nervously. Halla had watched him do it so often before that she knew without really having to sense his emotions. They sat in silence, Poe digesting and Halla waiting, desperately hoping that he'd understand.

At last he looked up at her and Halla could see his heart break there in his eyes. "You want to go, don't you?"

"I don't know," Halla said softly.

"Yes you do," Poe replied. "You wouldn't have told me if you didn't." He took a deep breath and released it slowly. He spread his palms out flat on the table in an effort to relax. Halla knew that tic too. He was preparing himself for something he really didn't want to do, but knew he should.

"You should go."

"But what about the fleet? We're going to be in the same squadron, fly together? You and me against the whole galaxy. That's what we said."

Poe chuckled. "It's always going to be me and you against the galaxy," he told her, firmly. "You can be damn sure about that. Anyways, it'll be more useful to have a Jedi with me." He grinned and Halla saw it in his eyes. He was truly happy for her, even if he perhaps didn't want things to change. That was all she could hope for at the moment as they finished their food.

It was two weeks later that Jzora and Poe escorted Halla to the spaceport where a freighter waited to take her to Ossus where a new Jedi academy was being founded. It was a closely kept secret and only Halla, her mother, and Poe knew where she was going. As they said their goodbyes, Halla fought the tears that burned at her eyes. Yavin 4 was the only home she'd ever known, and while she'd travelled a few times, she'd never lived anywhere else before. To leave her mother and Poe behind was the hardest thing she'd ever had to do so far, and it was proving to be nearly impossible. Four times that morning, Halla had considered calling the whole thing off. But something had told her to keep going, that this was the right path. The Force maybe? Or perhaps Halla's own intuition. Maybe they were one in the same. Master Skywalker would know. She could ask him when she arrived. The freighter landed and Halla turned to make her final farewells as the ramp came down and a young man around Halla's age in brown tunics and a long jacket with black hair stepped out. He scanned the spaceport until he found her and strode purposefully across the bay.

"Halla Thane?" he asked in a deep voice full of confidence.

"Yes," Halla said, fighting to keep her voice steady and sure like the boy.

"Master Skywalker sent me to escort you," he said. As he reached his hand out, his jacket shifted and Halla saw a lightsaber, much like Master Skywalker's hanging from his belt.

"Nice to meet you…"

"Ben Solo."

"Ben, this is my mother Jzora, and my friend Poe Dameron."

Ben nodded politely, if a bit briskly to both. "Do you have your things? The ship is preparing to leave again."

"I'm ready," Halla said, hefting her flight bag over her shoulder.

"Just a second," Poe said suddenly. He grabbed her hand and pulled her aside, out of earshot.

"Poe? What is it?"

Suddenly he pulled her into a fierce hug, unlike anything he'd ever done before.

"Be careful," he whispered in her ear. "I'm not going to be there to clean up our messes."

Halla snorted. "Just don't go crashing into anything, buckethead."

Poe glanced over at Ben Solo, who was standing with his hands folded behind his back, watching them with impatience. He shot him a glare over Halla's head.

"Make sure you beat that guy too," he added.

"You bet I will," Halla replied. At last Poe let go and they rejoined the group.

"Ready now?" Ben asked, directing the question at Poe.

"Yeah," Poe retorted cooly. He gave Halla's hand one final squeeze before letting go.