Okay, so this is a crossover-ish of the sequel trilogy and Star Wars Resistance. This takes place after the Poe Dameron comic #31. Set, obviously, after season 1 of Resistance. Spoilers for the finale, obviously, so be warned! This also has slight Damerey friendship building into something more, and mentions of Kaz/Synara.
Ten days ago...
After returning to D'Qar, Poe updated Leia about his little adventure.
"Anyway, did I miss anything exciting?" Poe asked.
"Yes, actually." Leia nodded. "I received a message from Kaz the other day."
"Kaz? Is he okay?" Poe asked, with concern.
"Health-wise, he seemed okay." Leia replied. "He said that the First Order took complete control of the Colossus and they need help. Unfortunately, we had no ships to spare, you were missing..." She sighed.
Poe turned around, sighed, and stared out into the distance with concern. 'Hang in there, kid.' He turned back to Leia. "As soon as we stop the First Order from doing whatever it is they're planning, I'm heading straight to Castilon."
XX
Poe flew through hyperspace towards Takodana. He received a hologram of Leia, who looked distraught. "Poe, it happened."
"What happened?" Poe asked.
"The First Order just destroyed the entire Hosnian System." Leia announced. "That must be why they were drilling so much dedlanite."
Poe stomach dropped. "Oh my God...no. Oh, Kaz..."The poor kid. He just lost his home, everything and everyone he knows. He took a deep breath. "As soon as I get to Takodana...ohh! They are in for it!"
XX
One week ago...
They had finally found the First Order's superweapon Starkiller Base. On the way, Poe's thoughts again went to Kaz. He wondered if he knows his homeworld has been destroyed. He wondered how he was taking it. On any other day, he would have gone to Castillon, liberated the Colossus, and invited Kaz along for the ride to Starkiller Base so he could have some form of payback. But, they were pressed for time. Hopefully, news of the destruction of the base will reach Castillon and it will cheer him up.
X
"All units, this is Black Leader." Poe said as he flew through the interior of the base. "Target structure has been breached! I repeat: target integrity has been breached! There's an opening. Now's our chance! Hit it hard, give it everything you've got!"
Poe and his squadron shot at the interior walls. Poe noticed a small explosion from an oscillator and headed towards it. He took a deep breath and tightened his hands on the trigger. 'This is for you, Kaz.' He shot the oscillator, which went off without a hitch.
XX
Three days ago...
Poe lead the remaining Resistance through the back of the caves. Connix caught up to him.
"Connix, did anyone respond to our distress call?" Poe asked.
"No. They reached multiple points, but...no one's coming." Connix shook her head dejectedly.
Poe exhaled slowly. 'Dammit, Kaz, where are you?' He hadn't known Kaz for very long, but he knew him well enough to know that he would jump at the chance to fight the First Order especially after they destroyed his home and murdered his friends and family. He hoped it didn't mean Kaz was captured or killed. He chuckled and shook his head at the irony of Kaz sending out a call for help, Leia was unable to help him; now they sent a distress call to Kaz, who is for some reason unable to help.
XX
Now Poe lay in his bunk on the Millenium Falcon. It has now been two weeks since he last saw Kaz. He wondered if he somehow managed to get the First Order off the Colossus.
The Millennium Falcon landed in Yeager's Repairs. Poe, Rey, Leia, and the rest of the Resistance walked down the ramp and were greeted by Yeager.
"'Bout time you showed up." Yeager said good-naturedly.
"Yeah, I was at war with the First Order." Poe shrugged. "Where's Kaz? Is he...?"
Yeager stepped aside as Kaz walked up. He stopped short when he saw Poe. Kaz's expression changed from surprise to fury. He marched towards Poe and punched him in the jaw.
"Kaz!" Yeager admonished.
"You son of a sleemo! You lied to me! You told me we would stop the First Order!" Kaz yelled, his eyes burning with hatred. "I lost everything- my friends, my family, my home- because of you!"
"Kaz, I'm so sorry." Poe said sincerely.
Kaz scoffed softly and shook his head. "You're sorry. You're sorry?! You ruined my life, Dameron. I never want to see you again. I HATE YOU!"
Yeager and Poe stared in shock as Kaz stormed away. Yeager sighed and shook his head. "You really let him down, Poe."
Poe woke up and blinked away tears. He took a deep breath, brushed his tears away, and hoped nobody saw it. He sat up and looked around. D'Acy, C'ai, Rose, and Finn were all sleeping; Connix was slowly leafing through a holobook, Chewie and the droids were at the holochess table. He assumed Leia and Rey were in the cockpit and headed there. Sure enough, Leia and Rey were in the pilot and copilot seats respectively talking.
"Ladies. Mind if I join?" Poe asked. Leia and Rey turned around and smiled.
"Of course not." Leia replied.
Poe sat in the seat behind her. "So, where are we headed?"
"Right now, nowhere." Leia replied. "We've been trying to track down any leads on the First Order, but so far, nothing's come up."
Poe remembered Leia telling him about Kaz's distress call. "I have one. Castilon."
Leia's eyes widened in realization. "Oh, that's right. The First Order took over the Colossus."
"Yeah. I think it's about time we come to Kaz's rescue." Poe said.
Leia smiled and stood up. "I'll let everyone know." She squeezed Poe's shoulder and left the cockpit.
Poe climbed into the pilot's seat and entered the coordinates for Castilon. He sighed and smiled. "I have always wanted to fly this thing."
"Really?" Rey asked with interest.
"Yeah. My parents were friends with Han, Chewie, and the Skywalker twins." Poe replied. "Han and Leia had a son, Ben. He and I were best friends when we were little. He and I used to come here in the cockpit and pretend to be flying this thing."
Rey froze. Poe and Ben were best friends? Does he know...? "So, whatever happened to Ben?"
Poe sighed sadly. "He went away to become a Jedi under Luke, but...he was killed when Kylo Ren burned down the academy. Leia and Han were devastated, and it ended up breaking up their marriage."
"I see." Rey stared out the window. 'How could he not know Ben Solo is Kylo Ren? Why didn't Leia tell him?'
Poe seemed to read Rey's mind and scoffed softly. "Yes, Rey, I am very well aware Ben Solo is Kylo Ren."
"Oh." Rey replied, relieved. "I was gonna say..."
"Yeah. We were so close when we were little, but...well...people change, I guess."
Rey nodded and decided to change the subject. "So, what's the Colossus?"
"A giant refuelling station." Poe explained. "Basically a hangout for star pilots and gamblers. Six months ago, we received intel from the New Republic Navy that someone on Castilon was helping the First Order. It also said there was going to be a full-scale attack on the New Republic. I needed help for that mission, and I thought Kaz was perfect for the job."
"How so?" Rey asked.
"When we met up in space, his squadron was under attack by the First Order." Poe replied. "He had sent his squadmates back to the naval base. Thanks to his quick thinking, we scored a hit on that TIE fighter. I saw a little of myself in him and I was very impressed with how he handled that TIE, so I recruited him for the Resistance. I figured he'd be more motivated and dedicated to fighting for his home, so I recruited him as a spy on the Colossus."
"What was his cover?" Rey asked.
"A mechanic for an old friend of mine." Poe replied. "There were moments when I thought 'What the hell was I thinking hiring this kid? This kid from one of the wealthiest families on Hosnian Prime, the son of a senator, who had no spy training and is a bit...clumsy and not the sharpest tool in the shed.' But, he's really proven himself, and within the first month, he had a suspect: the captain of the whole station, Immanuel Doza. Turns out he is ex-Imperial, and he made a deal with the First Order. Apparently, there had been a lot of pirate attacks in the last year, so he made a deal with the First Order for protection." Poe scoffed. "Mistake. Turns out the First Order wanted the Colossus for their military base. A couple weeks ago, Kaz sent a message to Leia asking for help because the First Order had them on lockdown."
Rey took a deep breath. "Wow. Where to begin? Um...okay, so you knew the First Order was going to attack the New Republic six months in advance and you didn't tell anyone?"
"We didn't have any solid evidence." Poe shrugged. "The senate didn't want to believe or accept that there may be yet another war brewing. I can't really blame them. How many wars has there been in the last fifty years? They were just...done. And they paid the ultimate price for their passiveness. There were also First Order sympathizers within the senate."
"Sounds messy." Rey replied. "So were you able to help?"
Poe sighed heavily. "No. That message was sent after the Lor San Tekka fiasco. Everyone was busy looking for me and BB-8, and...well, you know the rest. I feel terrible."
"Why? You had no idea what was going to happen." Rey said, surprised.
"I know, but...I kind of feel responsible for him, you know?" Poe lamented. "I took him away from everything he knew and threw him in a world he was less than ready for, told him not to contact anyone from his home planet and not to return there, and six months later, his entire world is destroyed after I promised him it wouldn't be. I failed him. I wouldn't be surprised if he hates me now."
Rey shook her head in sympathy and squeezed Poe's shoulder. "No, you didn't. You saved his life. From what I understand, the entire naval fleet was destroyed along with Hosnian. He would have died with everyone else."
"I guess that's a good point." Poe nodded slowly. "Still...I'm just forever glad that he doesn't have a family of his own, 'cause...that would be even worse. I've seen what it's like to lose your family. It's not something you want to go through."
"Leia." Rey guessed.
Poe nodded. "And that old friend of mine I mentioned earlier. His wife and daughter were killed in a tragic racing accident."
"Wow, I'm so sorry." Rey replied. She stared out the window again. All those families died, her parents chose to leave.
They came out of hyperspace to a big ocean planet. Swirls of clouds surrounded the surface.
Poe looked around cautiously. "Well, I don't see any star destroyers orbiting the planet."
"That's good news." They made it into the atmosphere before Rey asked. "So, what's the plan?"
Poe stiffened. "Uh..."
"You don't have a plan?!" Rey exclaimed.
"Well, I got sidetracked. Okay, let's see..." Poe sighed. "I got it. You and Chewie can fly close and distract the TIE fighters while I fly to Yeager's Repairs on the escape pod."
"That...actually sounds brilliant." Rey replied, smiling. They headed for the coordinates of the Colossus and flew out of the clouds.
Poe smiled and turned to Rey. "Rey of Jakku, I present to you..." When he turned back to the window, Poe's smile dropped, his heart sank, and his eyes widened in horror. "No..."
Rey looked around in confusion. "Um, Poe, there's nothing there."
Sure enough, where the Colossus should be, there was nothing but water.
"These are the right coordinates, right?" Rey asked.
"Yes, these are the right coordinates!" Poe snapped, but double-checked anyway. "I don't understand. It should be right here!"
"So you're saying it vanished into thin air?" Rey asked. She looked around. "There are no signs of destruction. Let me use the Force. I've been practicing."
"Okay." Poe nodded and waited patiently while Rey meditated.
Rey stretched out her feelings and her senses soared over the planet's ocean surface. All she saw was endless ocean and the occasional giant fish diving out of and back into the water. She sighed. "There's nothing above the surface except us, and there are no signs of destruction."
Poe exhaled sharply. "Dammit."
Leia walked into the cockpit. "Poe, what's wrong?"
"The Colossus is gone." Poe answered. He groaned in despair and rubbed his eyes and ran his hands through his hair.
"But...how can it be gone? Unless..." Leia sat down and thought about it. "unless it's a ship."
"So the Colossus would be a space station?" Rey asked.
"It has to be. It's the only explanation." Leia replied.
"Then where the hell is it?!" Poe exclaimed.
"I sent Kaz the coordinates to D'Qar...then I sent that distress signal to Crait." Leia said slowly. "Maybe it's on one of those planets."
"Good places to start." Poe said. "We'll head to D'Qar first."
