D'Qar was green. It almost looked like home. The green stretched as far as the eye could see, not quite like home. Ellra could almost feel the humidity now, safely strapped into the passenger compartment of a small livestock shuttle, even though the cabin was artificially cooled. Lakes glimmered in the distance where the sun shone through the clouds. Rolling hills cast shadows, peculiar looking from this height.
The descent was easy, just like the entire journey from Ellra's home planet, Tawria. Her first time away from home - her home village, her home planet, her home quadrant of the galaxy - had been a pleasant little adventure, chatting with the pretty pilot, reassuring the animals in the hold, learning more about the Resistance, receiving instruction on interacting with the strangers she would soon meet from her traveling companion, Karak.
As she watched the surface of the planet grow larger in the front viewport, the debris ring seemingly parting to welcome her, Ellra's heart shuddered in gleeful anticipation. The fear she felt at such a monumental change paled in the shadow of her desire to be here, her thirst for adventure, her need to be here.
Her people, the Ishta, decided to donate a portion of their wealth, a heard of large animals, to the Resistance, because they didn't have anything else of value to contribute. When her father, the leader of the Ishta, had asked the villagers for a volunteer to live on the Resistance's secret base and care for the animals, Ellra leapt at the opportunity. She wasn't certain why, but she knew in her heart it was the right decision. The spirits she consulted reassured her, deep down in her soul, that this was what she was supposed to do. Her friends and family, also assured by the spirits, blessed her decision. Two days later, she boarded the shuttle with her travelling companion and all her things.
Now, the real adventure was beginning.
The shuttle settled noisily down on the winding tarmac which was neatly, almost delicately nestled in a valley surrounded by lush emerald hills. The hills were dotted with antenna and satellite arrays as well as grey stone ruins from centuries before. Big, glimmering ships rested intermittently on the tarmac, in various states of repair and cleanliness. Ellra immediately recognized a T-70 X-wing starfighter craft from an image she had seen in a news feed; her heart fluttered in her chest at the sight.
A crowd of people in bright orange flightsuits, olive and tan uniforms, grey coveralls, and civilian dress stood gathered in front of what appeared to be a huge hangar embedded in a hollowed-out hillside; more spacecraft were visible in the shadowy interior. That one structure seemed larger than half of Ellra's home village.
The door of the shuttle's hold opened slowly, hissing as the pressure equalized. The animals lowed as their sinuses popped and crackled. Frankly, Ellra's ears popped too, but she thought it impolite to low before strangers. It was as humid as she had imagined; her mountain of silvery curls suddenly felt lank against her back.
Karak, the emissary of their village, stepped out of the shuttle onto the tarmac. Clothed in a ceremonial gold and brown gown, he raised his arms out and lowered his head in respect to the Resistance's leadership.
"Emra vo," he said in greeting.
Ellra stepped out beside him, awestruck by the sight of her reception on this foreign planet.
"Welcome, both of you," said a gentle, regal voice.
The voice belonged to a tiny woman, older, perhaps in her 60s. She was dressed in a heavy, ornate wrap over an aubergine gown that glittered subtly in the diffused sunlight. Her nickel-colored hair must have been miles long; it was piled high in an elegant beehive, suspended impossibly behind her head; around the beehive were wrapped tiny braids and gold cord. She exuded grace, benevolence, and power, like some kind of supreme being.
She was flanked on each side by several important-looking lieutenants: a young blonde girl with peculiar braids in her hair, clutching a datapad and smiling sweetly; a handsome man in civvies with soft-black curls dancing in the breeze; a stern older gentleman in an olive uniform, his hands folded militarily behind his back; two pilots in flightsuits, standing at ease, their faces polite but concerned; and a silver and gold protocol droid who looked uncomfortable even though its face wasn't capable of expression.
Ellra had never seen such a grand display on any occasion. Before her were more people than she'd ever seen. She'd never felt so small.
Karak clasped the older woman's hands graciously.
"General Organa," he said, maybe a little too unctuously. "I am Emissary Karak of the Ishta. It is an honor to represent our people to you and the Resistance. It brings our people immense pride to share our wealth with you to aid your great cause. May I present Cappa Keeper Ellra Oka."
Karak gestured to Ellra dramatically and she bowed to the general and the group.
For the first time in her journey, Ellra felt nervous. She hadn't anticipated such a reception. As she bowed humbly, she said, as she'd rehearsed many times in her head, "It is the greatest honor I can imagine to be of service to the Resistance. I look forward to my future here with you all."
Once the obligation of the formalities had been met - an important part of the Ishta's culture - conversation broke free. The general and the blonde technician began confirming information with Karak and the transport pilot. The pilots and most of the uniformed people dispersed, clearly having important things to do. A few others lingered, giving the impression they wanted to learn more about the newcomers.
Several people began hounding Ellra with questions. Questions about her people, her planet, the animals she had brought. She was pleasantly overwhelmed. So many beautiful faces of all shapes, sizes and colors surrounded her, even robotic ones. They smiled and listened intently to her answers. They also had plenty to tell her themselves.
"We never had live animals on a Rebellion base in my day!" cried a beaming older face full of bright teeth.
"I know!" gasped Ellra, beaming back. "That's part of why I volunteered to come! I was so excited to take part in something new!"
"You're gonna love it here," boomed a deep voice from a large, grinning face. "It's a lot like Tawria!"
A bloopy voice said through thick lips, "I can't remember the last time I had fresh meat!"
A tiny person with a tiny face and a tiny voice said, "I helped build the paddock! I want to show you!"
Ellra smiled and looked around as a dozen people shook her hand. She shook soft and small hands, large and calloused hands, metal hands, flippers, paws. It was exhilarating.
Her eyes sought out those of her traveling companion. He gave her a permissive nod. She nodded in response.
Before looking back in front of her, Ellra glanced at the general, who spared her a motherly smile. The handsome man at the general's right hand cast a friendly grin and a soft gaze, momentarily withering her confidence for some reason. She gulped and looked back at the companions before her.
"I need sixteen volunteers to unload the cappa!" she said jubilantly.
It was only a matter of moments before sixteen excited volunteers were lined up in front of the transport, a rope clutched in each of their hands.
Ellra jogged in and out of the hold, leading the animals out individually, passing each one off to one of her volunteers. Many of the people present had never seen any kind of livestock. They oohed and ahhed at the graceful creatures as they waltzed out of the hold, their lilac-silver coats shimmering as they shook off the cramps of interstellar travel.
"That's a cappa!" cried a dark-skinned man, pointing triumphantly at the creature's peaceful face.
"Seventeen of them!" giggled Ellra, handing one to the man.
The creatures were a little unusual, especially if one wasn't acquainted with livestock or beasts of burden. They were three meters tall at the top of their heads, shaggy and fat. Their black eyes were startlingly small for the size of their heads, and a bushy fringe protected the eyes from the sun and wind. The fronts of their faces were slightly convex with defined sinus chambers that resonated with the creatures' breathing; when the cappa lowed, a deep, hollow cry, their faces vibrated. Their chubby, hairy legs ended in bizarrely round paws. Those present couldn't see the extremely tough pads on the bottom of the paws, but they were equipped to withstand hot sands and rough terrain as well as soft grass; crystalline claws provided adequate traction in mud and water.
The tiny person who helped build the paddock stepped closer to her cappa, gently stroking her tiny fingers through the candy floss coat. "It's so soft!" she exclaimed.
"It makes the most comfortable fleece!" said Ellra, bringing out yet another creature. "It is what I'm wearing right now!"
Each cappa's coat was a slightly different shade. Some went as far as a pinkish lavender, some went all the way to a dull, mousy grey. Each animal had a rope that knotted around its arched neck, woven of silky reeds and dyed bright colors to contrast its coat.
Ellra had tended these animals almost since her birth. The pride she felt now, getting to show them off, getting to tell others about them, listening to the excited murmuring, it was more than she could ever express. From the top of the loading ramp, she looked out at everyone present, the last cappa's lead in her hands, smiling at her new friends.
General Organa strode about gracefully, glancing over the creatures. She and her closest lieutenants had already learned everything it was possible to learn about Tawria, the Ishta, and the cappa only hours after the Ishta's chief made the offer to donate the animals. The two foremen in charge of the construction of the paddock also had quickly become versed.
"They're actually bigger than I pictured, General," said the general's handsome right hand, looking up at the creature.
The cappa tilted its head to fix a beady eye on him and lowed softly, its large nostrils chuffing.
"Let's get back to work, Commander," said the general, her mauve lips flicking into a sly smirk. "Before this thing gets too interested in you."
"Yes, ma'am," said the commander, grinning right back at her.
"Miss Oka?" added General Organa, looking around the beast at Ellra.
"Ellra, please, ma'am," said Ellra, leading the cappa down the ramp.
"Ellra, once you get the animals settled, I'd like to see you. May I send for you before dinner?" asked the general.
"Please, ma'am," said Ellra, bowing her head slightly. "I look forward to it."
The general and several of her lieutenants left with the transport pilot and Karak. The rest of the crowd dispersed, leaving Ellra with her sixteen volunteers and seventeen cappa.
Ellra stood before her group and said, "Well, who wants to show me the paddock?"
The group tittered cheerfully and the tiny person led the way.
The valley in which the tarmac was situated was meandering to say the least. It was clearly a benefit to the base's security, but it was a little overwhelming to someone used to flatter plains.
At the end of the valley, some of the hills flattened out into a small glen, which was surrounded by tall wire fences; tall, lush jungle trees shaded the enclosure and hid the fence from aerial views. Every 5 meters the fence was equipped with delicate sensors that were connected to the main security system.
The tiny person and the person with the booming voice, who were the second and first foremen on the project, respectively, rattled off every detail about the construction of the enclosure and its security.
"This datapad has a program installed so you can monitor the enclosure wherever you are on base," said a pale, pudgy young man, handing Ellra a flat, handheld computer.
"Thank you," said Ellra, nodding at everyone who spoke.
The animals were released momentarily, and their graceful walk became a plodding saunter as they dispersed through the trees. Ellra's heart soared at the sight. She ceremoniously knotted the seventeen lead ropes to a bar across the gate.
"See that symbol that appears in the braiding pattern of the ropes when they are knotted this way?" said Ellra, gesturing to the gate.
Several people nodded and murmured confirmation.
"That is a sacred symbol that will protect the cappa from harm and ensure the gate can only be opened by those with pure intentions."
Everyone smiled and chuckled at the knowledge.
Ellra lifted up her tunic slightly to reveal a braided belt around her hips. Several braided strands met just below her navel and were knotted to reveal a bright violet symbol that slightly resembled the ones on the lead ropes.
"See? This one is similar. It protects my body from harm."
It was almost an hour Ellra remained there in front of the cappa enclosure, sharing her knowledge with those remaining. As the sun dipped down to the tops of the tallest hills, they all dispersed to finish their day's work before the evening meal was served, leaving Ellra to acquaint herself with the cappa paddock.
Ilya, the tiny woman who was so proud to have contributed to its construction, explained that it was over 25 acres in area. Plenty of shade trees as well as those that bore edible fruit were inside, providing shade, protection, and seasonal food to the animals. In the middle of the enclosure was a large, deep pond, which would provide the herd with enough water. A small shelter had been constructed from several large blocks taken from the nearby ruins, giving the animals shelter from the winter and cover from passing craft.
Ellra wandered to the closest corner of the paddock, studying its construction and reinforcement. Considering most cappa pens at home were made from wood and reeds, she was beyond impressed. She looked forward to learning how to operate her security system.
She was a few meters off the beaten path, following the fence around, so she didn't immediately hear the voice calling her. When she heard it, she thought it was perhaps Condo, the foreman with the booming voice because the caller was so darn loud.
"Coming, Condo!" she called, trotting back around the enclosure's first corner and out of the thicker trees. "Wait for me, please! Oh!" Ellra cried out, coming to a sudden halt when she saw who was calling her.
It was the handsome commander.
"Commander..." she said, attempting a military salute, but it just looked awkward.
He chuckled, his dark eyes twinkling. "It's Poe," he said, surprising her by how soft his voice now was. "Commander Poe Dameron," he added, emphasizing the name over the rank.
"Commander Poe," said Ellra, repeating her awkward salute.
"That's not... You don't have to... You're not military," he stammered, waving his hands in a stifling motion. "Never mind," he added, briefly rubbing his brow in amused frustration. "The general would like to speak with you."
Ellra smiled, remembering what General Organa had said earlier. She had positive feelings about the general and looked forward to interacting with her more.
"Yes, sir. I am excited to speak with her again!"
"Nope. You cut that 'sir' shit out right now," said the commander, making a cutting motion under his chin. "Nope, nuh-uh..."
Ellra recognized the humor in his voice and smiled and nodded as she fell in step beside him. Of course she had to take two steps for each of his.
The walk wasn't that long, but after spending around two hours educating others about her world, she was a little exhausted, and the gentle barrage of questions Commander Poe Dameron kept up nearly wiped her out. He knew enough about the animals, but not about the strange little young woman in native clothes and he didn't hesitate to make that clear.
"... So when the opportunity arrived to volunteer to essentially join the Resistance, I leapt at it. I could combine my lifetime of knowledge of cappa care with my thirst for adventure," said Ellra, panting slightly as they arrived before a large door in the hillside near the hangar, darkness engulfing the valley.
The commander stopped to look at her as she caught her breath. The light from a pole above them made her hair shimmer and small insects buzzed around her curls; the impression this combination made was ethereal. She wiped a bead of sweat from above her eye.
"What is it?" she asked, a bit uncomfortable beneath the man's curious, steady gaze.
"You're interesting," he said matter-of-factly, as if there could be no other answer.
Ellra screwed up her face for the first time since she had arrived. His earnestness was both comforting and strange. She mumbled, "Th-thank you?"
"You're welcome," said the commander, nodding sharply and turning away.
Chewing on her lip, Ellra shrugged and followed him inside the base.
The base wasn't the most massive as hidden bases went, but it was bigger than anything that Ellra had ever seen. Beneath the hills were echoing hangars full of spacecraft and mechanics and busy droids, beneath those was a large and loud space where fighters and speeders were constantly being repaired and upgraded. Deeper under the hills were the barracks and commissary, and deepest of all, safe from atmospheric bombing runs, was the command center. A handful of winding corridors connected the mechanical spaces with the social spaces and the surface.
People in various states of uniform met Ellra and Commander Dameron as they went deeper under the hills. He nodded or saluted at a few of them and some addressed him by name. Everyone spared a polite nod or curious glance at her but didn't address her.
Ellra caught a glimpse into many of the spaces as she went down the corridors. She saw a service droid shoving a new hyperdrive into the back of one of the X-wings. She saw the first people lining up for dinner in the commissary. She peeked down the corridor that led to sick bay and saw a nurse carrying a box.
Shortly, Commander Dameron and Ellra arrived at a small area near the door that led to the command center. She felt, though she could not see, the buzzing in the hive behind the door. There was a sense of urgency in the air; she even thought she could smell the determination radiating out of the people in the next room.
General Organa stood in the room next to a wall of servers, the blonde young woman at her side. They both wore their olive Resistance uniforms, but the general's astounding hairstyle remained. The machines behind them hummed warmly. Karak stood nearby, his arms folded into the sleeves of his robe.
"General," said Ellra, quickly bowing her head.
"Hey," said the commander, startling Ellra, "how come she gets a bow and all I get's that lousy salute?"
Ellra gasped, looking back at Commander Dameron in shock. He started laughing at his own joke and winked at the general.
"He's teasing you, Ellra," said General Organa, chuckling softly. "You'll have to get used to it because he drives everyone around here crazy, but… he's indispensible. And he doesn't bite."
Ellra glanced back one more time and suspected that the commander had to restrain himself from adding, "Unless you want me to," for which she was grateful. She wasn't sure she was ready for that type of humor from someone she had known so shortly.
"Ellra, I'd like to introduce Operations Controller Kaydel Ko Connix," said General Organa, gesturing to the young woman beside her.
Controller Connix's blonde hair was done up in two small buns on top of her head, but several strands hung loose, suggesting the officer was stressed. She had several datapads stacked in her arms, but she managed to get a free hand with which to shake Ellra's. She was very close in age to Ellra. Her brown eyes gleamed with passionate determination and her gentle smile belied something fierce Ellra could sense.
"Controller," said Ellra, nodding politely.
"Connix will be your liaison, as it were; your contact within my office," said the general. "You won't be affiliated with military command in any way – an independent contractor, if you will. You report directly to me through Connix and Dameron. You do what you know how to do and if you need any help, reach one of these two and we'll be at your disposal."
The general went on to explain that the cappa project was really a morale experiment. Ellra hadn't been foolish enough to think that the Resistance actually needed livestock, but she understood the importance of morale, and frankly, of fresh milk, and was excited to help. She got the feeling that everyone present expected her to eventually become an official part of the Resistance in time.
Connix showed Ellra the security program on her datapad and explained how to use it. The device would allow Ellra to communicate with Connix and Dameron, and by proxy, the general; it also had basic information about the base and its residents so that she could familiarize herself with everything quickly.
Ellra was thrilled to have so much power and information right in the palms of her hand and she looked forward to learning everything she could.
"You're free to ask anyone on base how to get around if you aren't certain," said Controller Connix. "You'll find everyone's friendly and polite."
"I have had a taste," said Ellra, smiling softly, her eyes warm. "They are all really lovely."
"The most important thing to remember is than in the event of an attack, an evacuation, or another emergency situation, you will be expected to follow the orders of command, for your safety and that of others. And your help may be utilized as if you were enlisted. Do you understand?" said Connix, looking very serious.
Ellra nodded solemnly and offered her awful salute.
"Yes, ma'am. I am fully prepared to serve to the best of my abilities."
"Ellra," said General Organa, "this is going to be your home for a while. I want you to know that as long as you don't interfere with operations, you're welcome to interact with professionals around the base and learn from them in your free time. We want you to feel safe and at home here."
Ellra smiled and nodded.
"Thank you, ma'am. I am excited to be a part of this."
Karak stepped forward and took Ellra's hands in his.
"I'm so proud of you," he said softly. "Your father is proud of you. We're all so proud of you."
Ellra smiled and her eyes misted.
"I am proud of me too," she said, shaking her head so some of her curls fell away from her face. "I am going to miss you."
"Not as much as we all will miss the sunshine of your smile and the radiant kindness in your heart. The gentlest spirit of the village has left us to help a noble cause. Perhaps you are also the bravest spirit, too."
At those last words, all control Ellra had over emotions was destroyed and she broke down to gentle sobs. She threw her arms around Karak's neck and squeezed him tightly. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
"I shall be leaving tonight. Pria has to have the shuttle back by daybreak on P'el," he explained. "We shall communicate by holo in the village, alright?"
She nodded sadly.
"I shall return in a year to check on your wellbeing, alright, Ellra?"
"I cannot wait! Eisha-tel. Posa alo to."
"Eisha-tel. Emra vo orif tel," said Karak softly. "And always do what the spirits whisper in your heart."
"Never forget the voices of those gone," added Ellra, wiping her eyes.
When the two had said their goodbyes, General Organa returned to command and Karak went to prepare for his trip home. Controller Connix escorted Ellra and Dameron to Ellra's new quarters. She explained a little bit about the space, even though that was pretty self-explanatory, and how to secure her room.
Ellra nodded along as she wiped the last of the tears from her face with the hem of her tunic.
When that was finished, it was time for the evening meal and Commander Dameron volunteered to escort Ellra to the commissary, leaving Connix to return to command.
"Is… Is everyone going to be there?" Ellra asked the commander.
He looked down at her and nodded.
"Pretty much. But like the general said, we don't bite."
She smiled, oddly comforted by the commander's presence.
They entered the dining room and Ellra again felt small. Several hundred people of all races, ages, and genders were seated, eating, or standing in line for food. Some stood against the walls with cups of caf or dessert, talking with each other. Some sat on crates stacked at the end of the food line. Droids, who clearly were not there to eat, also socialized throughout the room. Many of the tables held separate groups: the medical technicians were in white and brown, laughing loudly by the wall; the mechanics, in dark olive, all sat together in the middle, their heads hunched together.
When she stepped in, Ellra paused to look around and take it all in. Even though only a few looked up at her, she felt very exposed. Almost everyone was in uniform, the rest in civvies. She was the only one in a seashell pink tunic adorned with brightly colored accents. Her hair felt unnaturally big; her thick, silvery curls hung around her like a protective wall. Most of the other women had their hair pulled back. An unfamiliar and unpleasant sensation crept up her body.
"I look weird," she whispered to herself.
"The hell you do," said Commander Dameron.
She jumped, not realizing he could hear her.
"You haven't seen Mos Espa on Boonta Eve."
Ellra looked up to see he was smiling reassuringly down at her.
"I've never eaten foreign food," she said pathetically as he led her to the end of the line.
"This is your first time away from home, huh?" asked the commander, leaning against the wall, watching the servers scoop food onto the trays.
"I am sorry," said Ellra, feeling a wave of shame.
"Why would you be sorry? You're brave as hell."
Her eyes snapped up to Commander Dameron's and she noticed what a rich, dark brown they were. They were fixed on her, that same curiosity from earlier glinting again. The feeling she got under that gaze was the strangest mix of comfort and anticipation.
"Brave?" she repeated simply, just not seeing what he meant.
He grinned.
"You left everything you've ever known behind to come here and fight for a noble cause. It's admirable," he said, nodded with solemn certainty. "We're all strangers to you and you came here to help us. Everyone knows. They're all grateful."
"That is ridiculous," said Ellra, ducking her head so a curtain of curls fell between her and the commander. She struggled with embarrassment and pride and whatever one calls that feeling when they know someone else is going to be disappointed in them eventually. "Everyone here did the same thing. They all gave up their lives to come fight. I am only one of many. Many."
Commander Dameron let out a curious bark of a laugh.
"Not me!" he said, his eyes bright.
"What?"
"This is all I've ever known," he said, gesturing widely. "In some ways, at least. I was born in the Rebellion!"
"Born in…?" repeated Ellra, blinking slowly.
"I was two when my parents fought in the Battle of Endor."
"Oh, spirits!" Ellra cried, covering her mouth with her fingertips. "Endor?" she repeated in a solemn whisper as it sank in.
The commander chuckled at her surprise as they arrived at the stacks of compartmented trays.
"We are so different," she said softly to herself, sliding a tray in front of her.
"Hey. Do you believe in this? In the Resistance and what we stand for?" asked Commander Dameron. "Do you want to see the end of the First Order?"
"Absolutely," said Ellra, softly, almost in a whisper, as she stared into nothing. "With everything in my being."
Perhaps it was a little dramatic to say out loud. But it was true. She knew in her heart that she was willing to die for the cause, even though she was just a cappa herder.
The commander gently bumped his shoulder into Ellra's. She met his eye.
"Then we're all the same," he said softly, solemnly, flicking his eyes away from hers for a fraction of a second to indicate the entire room.
She smiled at the commander, glancing around the room once, and nodded. Unknowingly, she had entered a sacred bond with hundreds of people, complete strangers. But in the cause, they were family. Ellra felt her heart could burst.
The commander showed Ellra what foods to choose – savory vegetables, sweet fruits, salty preserved meats, herby teas, bubbling brews.
He took her to one of the last empty tables and left her for a moment to go find some of his closest friends to introduce to her.
Alone for a moment, Ellra examined her food and the people around her. She tasted the vividly orange fruit on her plate and thought it tasted familiar. As she wallowed a chewy green vegetable in her mouth, something hard gently nudged her booted foot.
"Hm?"
She looked around and then down and saw a strange droid, not a variety she had seen before. It was spherical with a rotating half-sphere head, painted bright orange on white with silvery trim. It beeped and whistled at her, rotating its shiny black eye. It was a little beat up, but she instantly felt it was well-cared for. Loved even.
"I am sorry, little friend," said Ellra, reluctantly swallowing the vegetables. "I do not speak your language."
It beeped again and nudged her leg. She smiled and gently petted its rotating head. It released a soothing whistle.
"I don't speak Cute Little Robot," she said, "but I understand your tone."
It beeped simply then whistled sweetly.
"I'm Ellra," she said. "I cannot wait to learn your name."
Beep-beep wheet.
"Beep-Beep Weet?" she repeated. "Can I call you 'Beep-Beep' until I learn your name?"
It booped softly.
"Nice to meet you, Beep-Beep," said Ellra, patting its round body. "You're welcome to keep me company while I eat my dinner."
It repeated the sweet whistle from earlier.
As she returned to her meal, the little droid rotated on the spot, whistling and beeping softly as if it were telling her stories. It rolled in circles on the ground by her leg and occasionally looked up at her and tooted to make sure she was paying attention. She wished with all her heart she could understand what it was trying to tell her. She believed it was something amazing.
"Are you tryin' to steal my girl?" cried a familiar voice.
Commander Dameron stood in front of Ellra's table with his hands on his hips.
"What?" said Ellra, looking up in confusion.
The little droid spun its head and beeped loudly and defensively at Dameron, who laughed good-naturedly. It then rolled into his leg twice.
"Ow, cut it out, you little shit," said the commander, gently pushing the droid back with his boot. "I'm joking, buddy!"
"Oh, no," said a female voice. "BB's already in love."
Ellra looked up to see a young woman with a big cup of hot tea smirking at the altercation before her. She was pretty and sweet looking. Her shiny black hair was pulled back in a simple plait and she wore her civvies.
Commander Dameron straightened and gestured to the woman.
"Ellra, this is Lieutenant Jessika Pava."
Ellra rose and saluted awkwardly. Pava snickered.
"Naw, cut that out. We're all grunts here," she said, offering Ellra a hand to shake.
"Oh, I didn't think…"
Suddenly, the table was surrounded by people she hadn't yet seen. Including Pava, there were five humans, a tall man with green skin and red eyes, and two shorter men with brown skin and barbs at the corners of their mouths.
Accompanied by Dameron's boisterous commentary, Ellra was soon introduced to this group of pilots and mechanics: Karé Kun, Bastian, L'ulo L'ampar, Iolo Aran, Ello Asty, Oddy Muva, and Snap Wexley.
Ellra's head spun as she tried to absorb all the new information: names, faces, dates, battles, pilot-speak, whatever sounds Beep-Beep kept making over the racket. It was overwhelming.
A particularly loud whistle interrupted the conversation and everyone looked down at the oscillating droid, a blur of orange and white. It beeped something important to Commander Dameron and he laughed.
"Oh, I forgot to introduce you two properly. Ellra, this is my best pal in the entire universe, BB-8! BB, my new friend, Ellra."
BB-8 whistled warmly and bumped Ellra's leg affectionately.
"BB?" she repeated. "I was close! I should have known you belonged to Commander Poe!"
"Oh, he doesn't belong to me," corrected the commander.
BB-8's head rolled back on its little body to look up at its master, whistling in devastation.
Dameron looked down at BB-8 and smiled. "I belong to him!"
As Ellra laughed, BB-8 rolled around in elated circles.
"Do you understand Binary?" asked Wexley, leaning across the table.
His smile was kind.
"Not a beep of it," said Ellra, smiling, pulling a large lock of curls out of her face. "I'm going on tone and body language."
The pilot across from her laughed.
"You'll pick it up fast. BB is very vocal."
"He never shuts up," said Bastian, laughing and downing the last bite of his dessert cup.
His body jerked slightly and everyone at the table could tell BB-8 had just rolled into his leg. The party laughed.
"Just like his daddy!" said Pava, laughing and clapping Dameron on the back.
The group surrounding Ellra shifted and evolved as people came and went. A pilot would leave and his seat would be taken by a technician; a mechanic would go to get a drink refill and two commandos would lean into the empty space and loudly introduce themselves. This didn't improve the pleasant but powerful whirlwind in her head.
Despite being overwhelmed, Ellra suddenly found herself feeling the most at home she had so far on this adventure. These people didn't know her, but they were sharing a meal with her, laughing and sharing stories and scars. Commander Dameron, her first friend here, had welcomed her into his big, weird family, and they were all now making her feel like it.
As she relaxed, she let her vocal and body language relax accordingly. She had been keeping herself in tight check as she met her new friends and acquaintances, but now she spoke more familiarly with everyone and didn't hesitate to brush arms or shoulders with her companions.
The pilots had lots of questions. Almost as many questions as they had stories to tell. They loved the way she referred to Dameron as "Commander Poe."
"It's cute as can be," said Pava, laughing softly. "I may start using it!"
"You've never called me anything but 'Poe'!" laughed Dameron.
"Oh, no!" yelled Ellra.
"What?" several people at the table shouted back.
"I just realized how I screwed up your name!"
Dameron laughed.
"Took you a while," he said, chuckling.
Ellra hid her face in her arms on the table.
"It's 'Commander Dameron,' right?" she asked loudly from her elbows.
"Honey, when you get up from this table, you're calling us all by our given names!" shouted Kun, patting Ellra's arm.
"Really?" asked Ellra softly, raising her head and looking around.
"Snap!" said Wexley, holding his hand out.
"Karé!"
"Ello!"
"Jessika!"
"L'ulo!"
Commander Dameron looked at the arms outstretched across the table. Ellra was staring blankly at them and he smirked at her bemusement. He placed his hand on top and said, "Poe!"
"Ellra!" she eventually yelled, throwing her arms on top of everyone else's.
The group laughed and the familiarization was officially complete…
Not quite.
The table thumped as a certain droid banged into it.
"BB!" yelled Ellra, laughing.
A clear wheeeeeee sounded from under the table.
…And the familiarization was complete.
Conversation resumed. Laughter echoed in the gradually emptying dining room. Over the next hour, several people associated with various branches of the Resistance stopped by and were introduced to the newcomer, who greeted everyone kindly and with a smile.
Karak had said that smile was sunshine. Poe Dameron seemed to notice that he was right. The commander watched Ellra from the corner of his eye the entire night, his eyes sparkling whenever she laughed or smiled.
When the conversation lulled again, Poe asked Ellra, "Basic is not your first language, is it?"
Ellra smiled and shook her head, the cloud of curls dancing.
"Kor ke. Isa bela ko."
"You don't say," he replied, giving her his signature grin.
"It's Ishta, my people's tongue," she said, laughing. "I thought my Basic was great. What gave it away?"
Poe smiled down at the empty cup in his hand.
"The way you say 'Poe,'" he said.
"Poe?" she repeated.
Ellra could be heard repeating the word under her breath for a moment.
"He's right," said Snap. "You say the 'oh' sound kind of different. Say 'flow.'"
"Flow," said Ellra, feeling her cheeks get hot for the first time over dinner.
"Say 'over,'" said Karé.
"Over."
"See?" said Poe. "Say 'Poe.'"
"Now you're all mocking me," Ellra deadpanned.
"They're just curious," said L'ulo gently.
"Yeah," said Poe. "I've been around the galaxy and no one's said my name like that. It's interesting."
Ellra picked up something in the commander's tone that made the back of her neck prickle.
"We're extremely isolated," she explained, scratching the place that prickled. "Our pronunciation is based on an ancient language."
"I think it's pretty," said Jessika, draining her last drop of tea. "Pohhh…" she mumbled to herself, trying to emulate Ellra's accent. "Pohhhh…"
It was late. The group dispersed. Jessika, Poe, and BB-8 remained to escort Ellra to her quarters. She walked slowly between the two humans as the little droid rolled cheerfully in front of them.
Next to the command center, the barracks was the deepest part of the base, safe from ground-level attacks. Ellra's room was in the same level as the enlisted. She had the smallest compartment in the whole base, right at the corner of a row, near the lift.
Connix had let her look around it earlier. It was just a small work station, a bunk with a bookshelf at the head for personal items, and a refresher. Near the head of the bed, built into the wall was a compact charging station for small droids and astros. Two small crates of Ellra's personal belongings were waiting by the workstation to be unpacked.
Ellra was tired. She looked forward to slipping into her new bed and sleep. Space travel was exhausting.
"Hey, BB-8," said Poe when they stopped outside Ellra's door.
The little droid rolled over to Poe and beeped curiously.
"What if Ellra gets lonely on her first night here? Shouldn't you keep her company?"
BB-8 beeped an eager confirmation and Ellra broke into a grin.
"A spy?" she said softly, daring to flick her eyes up to Poe's before looking back at the little droid.
BB-8 beeped sweetly and she understood. He would be her confidante as much as he was Poe's.
"Alright then," she said, keying in the passcode Connix had showed her earlier. "Happy to have you, little friend."
BB-8 beeped and whistled his goodnight to Poe and rolled inside. Ellra turned to her two companions and thanked them for their help and company and bid them good night. Jessika shook her hand and Poe seemed uncertain if he should shake her hand or hug her, so he settled for an awkward kiss on the back of her hand, which left Ellra giggling helplessly.
She stepped into her quarters and locked the door. Through the door behind her, she heard Jessika hiss, "You kissed her hand?"
"She thought it was sweet," whispered Poe defensively.
"You're pathetic," said Jessika, unable to stifle her laughter.
BB-8 was rolling around inside the room, examining it. He whistled and booped softly to himself. Ellra couldn't stop the smile that split her face.
"Tomorrow, I'll plug you into my datapad and we'll have a real conversation," she said.
BB-8 rolled over to her and beeped cheerfully and softly.
Ellra needed to unpack, check the security feeds, shower, change, and pull down the bed. But she didn't have energy for all that. She confirmed that the animals were safe, milling about quietly in the dark, and crashed into her bed, clothes and boots still on.
The last thing she remembered was rolling to her side to lay her arm across BB-8's head.
"Good night, little friend," she whispered.
Boop-bee.