Here's chapter two, I hope you all enjoy it! Thanks so much to those who have reviewed, I love getting reviews.
Poe looked up from the magazine he'd been reading as General Leia walked into the mess hall. He could tell by the look on her face that the news wasn't going to be good.
"Commander Dameron, Lieutenant Connix, Finn, and Rey, please assemble in the cockpit."
All four pairs of eyes looked up in surprise, but no one said a word. They all stood up to follow Leia to the cockpit where Chewie was busy checking the logistics and matching them against the computer's calculations. Leia waited until everyone was settled before closing the door.
"I know a few of us spoke about this earlier." Leia began, her voice low so it wouldn't carry beyond the area should anyone be passing by, "but we need to locate some more supplies, equipment, and, if possible, another ship."
Lieutenant Connix and Finn both nodded in agreement. Another ship would help lighten the load and boost morale at the same time.
"What's the plan General?" Poe asked, curious as to what clever plan she might have up her sleeve. So far, Leia Organa-Solo had far surpassed any folklore or tall tales when it came to her ability to command and lead. She was the stuff legends were made of.
"Commander Dameron, using the escape pod, I want you go to Verdanth, to get the ships and fuel we need." Leia said.
"Verdanth?" Where were they?
"It's the nearest planet. I'll get you a list and money." Poe nodded as Leia continued talking. "Then, after Commander Dameron returns, we will use the ships to split up and go to Sullest and Naboo to restock up our provisions and supplies," Leia concluded.
"What exactly do we need?" Finn asked.
"Everything. Food, medical supplies, weapons, fuel, equipment….just to name a few things," Leia recited the never ending list, sounding weary. "I'm still deciding who is going where, but Finn and Lieutenant Connix, you'll be teamed up, and Rey and Poe, you'll be teamed up."
Poe smiled to himself. He would be glad of the opportunity to get to know Rey better.
"What about BB-8?" Poe asked, "do you need him to stay here or…"
"He can go with you and Rey once you get back from Verdanth." Leia frowned. It felt as though all he did was leave his droid with other people.
"I'll leave you to get ready, Commander. Let me know when you're ready to depart," Leia ordered. "I'll be giving you a homing beacon…" She held out the wrist device. Poe briefly wondered if it was the same homing beacon Rey had used. "And an extra holo pad so you can stay in touch with us."
How could he say no? Poe nodded. "Give me a few minutes to pack a bag and gather a couple rations." Poe disliked sitting around and doing nothing. The sooner he could leave and get back, the better.
"I'll see you when you're ready. Meeting adjourned." Leia motioned for Poe to go pack. As the others hurried to make themselves ready for their own journey, Poe headed toward the galley. Deliberating between an packet of something that resembled stew but tasted like hind end of a Taun-Taun, or something that was tasteless but high in calories and protein.
"I would go with the second choice," Leia said, taking a seat at the circular table. Poe grabbed a few of the pouches and shoved them in his bag.
Leia slid the holo-pad, the credit disc and homing beacon across the table. Poe carefully placed the beacon on his wrist and shoved the other two items in his bag. It was now or never. In silence, they walked to the back of the Falcon where the escape pod was located.
Lifting one leg inside, Poe looked to Finn, then at BB-8 and Rey. "Take care of my droid please."
"I will." Both Finn and Rey spoke as one. The ominous sound of the vacuum sealing the escape pod door closed filled the small pod darkened and Poe felt it exiting the Falcon. As it drifted towards Verdanth, Poe mentally went through the list General Organa had given him. A passenger ship, a freighter, more rations, medical supplies and if he could finagle it, lots more weapons.
Poe played with the homing beacon for a moment before slipping it back onto his wrist. He thought back to Rey's smile as she promised to take care of BB-8. He had no doubt that his droid would have quite a story to tell when he returned.
The trip was only a few hours, and despite catching a few short catnaps, Poe was antsy when he finally landed on Verdnath. He exited the pod and did a quick check to ensure he had everything with him. He glanced at the fuel gage. Almost empty. Certainly not enough to make it back to the Falcon. He made a mental note to see if he could later siphon the rest of the fuel if he got the chance or even fill it up and take the escape pod back to the Falcon again.
With a tad of self-assurance in his feet, he began to make his way to the closet was just his luck that he would arrive around the same time businesses were scheduled to open. Still, he had an hour to kill.
Poe could feel someone staring. As inconspicuous as possible, he surveyed his surroundings. His sharp eyes checked out every possible hiding place but came up empty. He couldn't shake the feeling. However, it wouldn't help him to let them know he could feel them watching. Besides, if they continued to stare, they'd eventually slip up and then he would have them.
His stomach growled loudly. He pulled a ration bar out of his bag and ate it slowly, watching as the shop owners prepared for the day. He lingered by a stall advertising X-Wing fighters.. He wanted a new one, but he finally continued to walk past it. The Resistance would be able to repair some or buy some more X-Wings. Right now a freighter, rations, and medical supplies, were a bigger priority than feeding his ego.
He glanced at some tables in the middle of the small plaza and took a seat. He played with his necklace and wondered how BB-8 was faring. He knew the little droid was resilient and could take care of himself, but he was relieved to know Finn and Rey were with him. Before departing, BB-8 had sung Rey's praises so much that if he wasn't a droid, Poe would have thought that BB-8 had a crush on Rey.
"She's a lucky girl," a dulcet-toned voice pulled Poe from his thoughts.
"I'm sorry?" he asked, confused by the remark..
"The woman you're smiling about. The ring belongs to her, doesn't it?" There was a pause as Poe tried to think of a way to explain that it was his late mother's ring. The woman had a nurses' insignia on her lapel. "She's lucky, not everyone has a man who thinks about her like that."
Poe flushed. "We're not…." he began "that is….she's not…."
"Ahhh." The nurses eyes danced. "But you want to be with her." She pointed out.
Poe was saved from having to come up with a response by the shops opening. He stood, said his good byes and made his way to a stall advertising freighters for sale.
By the end of the day he had to rent a docking bay so that he could have a place to direct his purchases. That night, after settling in, he called the Falcon from the new Resistance freighter. "I managed to get both ships, along with a freighter and passenger ship. They're not pretty but they work," Poe described to Leia. "We'll still need a larger ship, but these will do for now."
"Thank you, Commander," Leia praised, "I knew I could count on you."
"I'll pick up the remainder of the rations, medical supplies and extra fuel tomorrow. I think I can get the escape pod I used into the freighter here."
Leia nodded in agreement.
"How's BB-8?"
"I've hardly seen him, he's been following Rey around all day," Leia relayed, "I'll let you talk to Rey."
Normally Poe would have objected. There was no need to call someone away from their station to see how a droid was doing, but part of him wanted to see Rey, so he waited patiently.
"Is everything alright, Poe?" Rey asked, finally appearing on the holo-Pad.
Poe smiled as he heard BB-8 beeping in the background. "How is BB-8?" Poe asked, "It feels like all I do is leave him with other people."
"He misses you," Rey said. "But he's doing well. He wants you to hurry back." Rey ignored BB-8 chirpy but indignant responses.
"I'll be back in a couple of days, I still need to get a few things." Poe said, not missing the way his droid was behaving.
"All right, we'll see you then." Rey smiled, the holo call ended and Rey spent a moment smiling at the space Poe had been. Finally, she got up and went back to the kitchen, with BB-8 trailing along behind her.
Poe tried to sleep, but soon gave up. He dug through his pack and took a drink packet to the kitchen. After warming some water, he mixed the powder in. Since he'd bought a freighter, he was in one of the bigger docking bays and he could see the Verdanth rain forest beyond the platform. The trees rustled and the sounds were unfamiliar to Poe.
Something didn't feel right. He peered out of the windows, but didn't see anything except the dark forest. Was anyone out there? It had felt like someone had been watching him all day. It pissed him off that he hadn't been able to figure out who it was.
He heard the holo-pad beeping, By the time he got to the cockpit, Leia had left a message reminding him of oil for the droids. Poe deleted the message and leaned back in the pilot's seat, formulating a plan for the next day. Finally, he went to the back of the ship to bed.
The next morning, Poe rose early and wandered around the market-place buying the much needed rations and medical supplies, and oil for the droids and bedding. Most of the items he directed to be delivered to the docking bay, but he still had a couple of boxes to carry. The sun was setting as he gathered up the rest of the supplies and started making his way back to the ship.
"Excuse me." A woman in a low cut blouse and shorts walked up to him, he accidentally dropped the box he was carrying. He sighed deeply and bent to pick it up.
"Yes?" he asked, annoyed.
"I need a ship but don't have any money." The woman's lip quivered.
Poe nearly laughed, what did she expect him to be able to do about it? "Maybe you can work on a freighter or work for one of the shop owners." He suggested politely, "I'm out of money, so I can't help you."
"But…." The woman leaned over, helping him with boxes. Poe grunted and looked away as her breasts nearly fell out of her top. "I'm worried that someone will take advantage of me. Don't you want to help a girl like me…?"
"I'm sure there are freighters for women," Poe said abruptly. "I'm not able to help you." He made to move past her, but the woman leaned up against him and purred seductively.
"I'd feel better if a nice strong, good looking….."
Poe gently pushed past her and said the only thing he could think of to get this woman to back off. "I'm married, okay? See this ring?" He pulled his necklace out of his shirt and showed it to the woman. "She's waiting for me to bring my freighter and take her home to Tatooine. Every credit I've got is going towards that, nothing is going to stop me, leave me alone." And with that, he turned around and walked away.
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