Arriving on D'Qar had been a trial.

I had tried to convince some of the rebels to allow me on board one of their vessels which had tried to get resources in secret. Using my tongue rather than my gifts was something I had to make the active decision to do. It was a giveaway and incredibly easy which didn't show patience – something someone had forced me to evaluate within myself. It took some convincing and some amount of credits but eventually they allowed me on board.

The rebels had ushered me off the ship quickly upon landing. I saw a familiar face and felt my resolve quiver.

"General Organa…" I smiled awkwardly and saw the same expression mirrored in her face. The rebels who had so eagerly allowed me on their ship, stood patiently waiting to be reprimanded.

"Auren, it has been a long time," Leia said as she walked towards the entrance to the base and waved the nosy rebels away.

"Yes, it certainly has." The door opened instantly as Leia approached. She walked slower than I remembered but she was older now. Once in the corridor, she turned expectantly and raised an eyebrow.

"Why are you here?"

"I heard about Han Solo, I am here to deliver my sympathies and… to offer my services," I sighed. I could feel my bun slipping out of its place but I gripped my hands so tightly behind my back that I couldn't bear to move to fix it. Leia looked me dead in the eye.

"Thank you," She stated. "But I don't need your sympathies – I do however need your services. We found a girl…"

"Rey," Leia looked surprised. "I'm not too sure on the details but I got the gist of what has happened," I shrugged. "I had my first vision in the many years since... It's why I sought you out. I can no longer run. The force will not allow it… I can no longer sit by stuck in my fear…"

Leia smiled knowingly. She knew what I meant. She could feel it as strongly as I could.

"I will help you in any way I can," I said as I bowed. My loose tendrils of red hair dropped down into my face. I tucked them away as I stood.

"I know you will," Leia said as we entered the command room.

…

Most of my time spent on the base was spent fixing any technical errors and assisting with basic research. Most people didn't know who I was or why I was suddenly there but the first time I fixed a problem with the hot water in the showers I was left plenty of respectful breathing room.

But I was also lucky to be given adequate time to meditate.

Sitting cross-legged on an empty stretch of runway, I could feel the eyes on my back. I focused on my breathing and finding it. The space in between everything was constant and required a disciplined focus of mind. The focus was never something I struggled with. It was everything else - the acceptance of things, the visions and the persistent fight for balance.

I heard footsteps behind me and I opened my eyes slowly. I looked up to see the famous Poe Dameron gracing me with his presence.

He was wearing his orange jumpsuit. I could tell he had returned from a flight and felt drained but he was still smirking. When I first arrived on base, he didn't seem to notice me until Leia asked for me in the command room. Then he tried to ask me out for a drink. I gently declined. I got the feeling it wasn't so much about me but about my relationship with Leia he was interested in.

Poe was fascinated by my need to meditate daily. Any time he was on base, he usually tried at least a couple of times to distract me. Once he even threw small pebbles at me.

"Do you always have to interrupt my meditations? Do you see someone at peace and think to yourself 'that's enough of that'?" I teased.

"General needs ya," Poe smirked, ignoring my jabs. "Our new plan, or something. I've been told I'm too reckless to give advice on such things."

"Ah yes, I remember something of her last lecture about being Poe the Hero," I chuckled as I stood. I grabbed my satchel and swiftly put it on.

"You don't think I'm that bad," Poe said as he walked with me to the doorway. His arm brushing mine.

"Well I watched you ask out one of the ground crew with a line that went 'I'm Poe – y'know Poe Dameron War Hero…' so it's clearly unfounded," I laughed as he stopped in his tracks and huffed. I walked close to him and placed a pale hand on his tan cheek. "Sometimes Poe, I think you need to meditate more than me." I gave his cheek a gentle pat before turning to walk to the command room alone. I could sense his eyes on me the whole way.

When I entered the command room, Leia stood quietly near the main console. I took my place next to her usually close enough to whisper or at least appear to.

What do you need? I pushed the thought into her head as I sensed a disquiet in her.

Rey has found Luke, will they return soon? She looked at me.

No, I know that for sure. I glanced around the room before meeting her gaze once again.

We must stay vigilant. I nodded in agreement.

"Auren, I need to know your thoughts on the idea of sending a small team to Tatooine to retrieve one of our agents," Leia said. She paused before continuing. " I would like to know your thoughts of sending you as part of the team."

Realization hit me like a brick wall. There was a possibility that I would need to be able to fight.

"I will follow your orders, General," I stated. I tried not to look worried.

You can't hide forever, she spoke into my mind.

"I need to have someone with foresight on the mission, and you… are the best person for thinking through decisions."

I grimaced but nodded as Leia turned to the other commanders and detailed the plan.