WARNING: THIS IS A COMPANION STORY FOR Two Parts of a Whole: A Reylo Star Wars story. PLEASE READ CHAPTER 1-19 BEFORE STARTING THIS STORY!
This story is a self insert so please be kind! Also RandR!
Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars or any of the Characters!
Chapter 2:
"Rey isn't missing, Leia. That monster took her," Poe said, now angry.
"What," Cade asked again.
Poe began pacing behind Leia's chair. Taliki watched his movements with a bored expression on her face. Leia looked so much older than she had a moment ago. Poe began ranting about the Resistance capturing Hux, Leia having the idea to trade him for ships, Kylo Ren agreeing and then double crossing them before killing one of their new members and kidnapping Rey.
Eshreal's mouth was hanging open and Cade put his hand on her shoulder. Gear just stood there gaping at Leia and Poe. Zer-o's expression had hardened. Taliki looked desperately uncomfortable with the whole situation.
"You people let Kylo Ren kidnap the only light Force user left," Eshreal said in a horrified whisper.
"Where are we on a rescue plan," Cade asked.
If they didn't have one, Cade was sure he, Gear and Poe could come up with a decent one fairly quickly. The sooner they rescued Rey, the sooner they could all begin training. Plus taking her back from the First Order would be a huge victory for the Resistance.
"That's easier said than done. We have no clue of where we would even begin looking for her. Don't think we haven't attempted to but until we have some clue as to where to look we can only pray to whatever gods you want that she is still alive and he isn't torturing her," Poe said.
Zer-o couldn't believe the man had let that come out of his mouth. Rey of Jakku was the last Jedi. She was the hope of the Resistance and they were just sitting around like she was on vacation and hadn't been kidnapped by the Supreme Leader of the First Order. Zer-o found himself getting angry.
Cade looked over at his brother and touched his arm.
"You need to calm down, Zer. We will get Rey back one way or another," Cade said and he sounded sure even to himself. Though he wasn't really sure, yet.
"How long has she been missing? Retrieving kidnap victims are House Benelex's specialty. We could contact our people back home and see if they know anything," Zer-o suggested.
Leia, Poe and Taliki all looked surprised. They had no clue that group in front of them were bounty hunters and Leia said as much.
"Well, only Cade and Zer and bounty hunters. I was learning to be Jedi before my entire species was wiped out and I was stranded on Ilum for 14 years. Gear is a scientist and was training in the ways of the Jedi and the Sith before Stormtroopers killed his master," Eshreal said leaving out the part where Gear was trained by Snoke.
"So two of you have formal training," Taliki asked, looking impressed.
"I only had 4 years of training before my master was killed. I know the basics but that's it," Essie said.
"I was trained more in the ways of the dark side, but my Master snuck in regular Jedi training, too," Gear answered.
"I don't have formal Jedi training but my mother was a Nightsister and she taught me everything there is to know about Dathomir's magic and a surprising amount correlates with the teachings of the Jedi," Zer-o said.
The beautiful Twi'lek turned to Cade expectantly.
He huffed and then said, "I don't have any formal training. I've just been collecting Holocrons since I was 10 years old. I know a lot about the Jedi but not enough to train myself."
Taliki nodded in agreement, "That's more than I can say. Everything I know about the Force, I thought myself."
"Well as soon as Rey gets back she can start training you guys the way Luke Skywalker trained her," Poe said with a bright smile.
"Cool! I can't wait," Essie said with a brilliant smile on her face.
Suddenly it was announced that Leia had an incoming communication.
"Poe, Taliki, why don't you show our new members to some open rooms? I'll send for you when I need you, Poe," Leia said dismissing the group.
Poe and Taliki led the ground through the long winding halls of the Olara base. Most of the rooms were occupied with all species of aliens, though most appeared to be Jasmenerthians. As she did before, Essie tried to stop and talk to every new person they came in contact with. It got so bad that Cade and Zer-o kept a tight grip on her arms until they got to one of the dorms that were only half full.
"You guys are welcome to claim any open room," Poe said with a smile.
"My room is right over there," Taliki said pointing to a closed door near the end of the corridor.
Eshreal immediately claimed the room next to hers. The other members of the group went and checked out the other open rooms. Cade and Zer-o chose rooms right across from each other while Arca chose a room closer to the balcony on the other end of the hall. As Taliki took them to get towels and linen for their rooms, Eshreal began telling Taliki about the adventures the 4 of them had gone on and by the time the 4 rooms were fully stocked Taliki had agreed to join them the next time they headed out.
"So, Taliki how did you end up joining the rebels fleeing Jasmenerth," Zer asked, speaking to the beautiful pink woman for the first time.
Taliki blushed furiously for a second. Both from embarrassment and something she couldn't quiet explain. She'd never met a Zabrak in person before and there was an air about of power about him.
"I was sold into slavery very young and passed from master to master until I was sold to a man named Nak'tul who owned an exotic show there. When I was a child I just took tickets but Nak'tul was a cruel man and when I turned 15 he forced me to dance with an electric whip for the rich people who visited the show when purchasing their weapons and armor on the planet. It wasn't until later that I learned that I was supposed to hurt myself. It was part of the entertainment," she said and paused for a second as she remembered the first time she felt the sting of the whip biting into her tender flesh. "For years I suffered preforming that dance until I learned to control the whip after I felt the Force awaken in me. When I learned that Rey and her band of Rebels were coming to rescue the people who didn't want to serve the First Order I knew it was the perfect time to escape. Nuk'tul didn't suspect anything when I took the whip and went for a walk," Taliki said with pride as she ran her fingers lightly over the whip.
"Cruel bastard! We should go back there and kick his ass," Cade growled, his normally sophisticated tone lost in his anger.
"Just say the word and he can go back and free the rest of the slaves and make sure he never harms anyone ever again," Zer-o vowed.
Taliki just smiled and shook her head at them.
"There is no need for that. I am sure he will get what's coming to him for all the pain he has caused," she said confidently.
"Don't worry you get used to how dramatic they can be," Essie said.
"I'm not sure that's true," Gear grumbled.
"No one asked you clone," Zer hissed back.
Gear cried, "I am not a clone."
"Who's a clone," Poe asked finally interested in the conversation.
"Gear," Essie exclaimed gleefully and collapsed into a fit of giggles as the much younger man grew red in the face.
"I am not a clone," he reiterated in a scornful way.
"It's just funny that there were a bunch of guys who looked suspiciously like you on Kamino, a planet known for producing clones," Cade said staring at Gear.
Gear's face got even redder. Zer-o could barely contain his laughter. Eshreal was still laughing uncontrollably. Taliki was staring at the group like they were the strangest thing, but Poe had picked up on the teasing nature of the conversation and shared a chuckle or two with the younger people.
Poe and Taliki were just about to show the newbies the common area when Kaydel came running down the long hallway toward them.
"Hey Connix, what's up," Poe asked.
She huffed, "Leia wants you back in her office; ASAP. And she said bring the newbies too!"
"Okay," Poe said and Kaydel hurried off ahead of them.
The group headed back down the lift to Leia's office. Kaydel was standing by Leia's side waiting for them as though she had run just to get back before them. Leia's face was even more serious than before.
"We just got a distress call. A group of rebels on their way here were captured and taken to the First Order controlled planet Vardos in the Jinata system," Leia said.
"What," Poe exclaimed.
"Furthermore, they have the location of our meeting place which could lead the First Order right to our doorstep. Poe, I need you to put together a team to go and save them," Leia said.
"You want me to take the newbies with me," Poe asked expectantly.
Cade, Zer-o, Gear, and Eshreal all perked up. Leia looked over the 4 of them, noting that three of them had lightsabers.
"General Organa, we have all been fighting the First Order all of our lives," Cade started.
"Well most of us," Zer-o said, not wanting to miss out on another opportunity to get a dig in at Gear, who blushed so furiously that Eshreal thought he was going to pass out.
"Stop it, Zer," Eshreal said, being completely serious for the first time, maybe ever. "People's lives are on the line. This isn't the time for games. General Organa, I am confident my team can bring your people home without you risking any more lives," she said, her usual child-like demeanor gone.
Cade, Zer-o and Gear stared at her as though they had never seen her before. She had never been so serious; not when they were surrounded by Stormtroopers, fighting their way out of some crazy situation, and not when she was flying through some crazy asteroid belt with them all clinging to their seats with their lives flashing before their eyes. Apparently, she only got serious when it was other people on the line.
"Gear, can you tell if we'll be successful or not," Cade asked.
Everyone's eyes went to the man still hidden under his goggles and hooded cloak. He stood there silently for a few seconds and his friends watched him intently. Poe, Taliki and Leia watched it all with curiosity.
"The darkness clouds things," he said finally.
"Ours or there's," Zer-o asked, cryptically.
"Can't say, but if Eshreal thinks we can do it. We can do it," Gear said.
"So, what do you say General," Cade asked.
Leia looked to Poe who was watching the group with intensity. As if he felt the older woman staring at him, he turned back to her. They exchanged a glance that spoke of the years they'd spent together.
"Well, we trusted them enough to let them in the base, I suppose we don't really have a choice but to let them prove that they are worthy of our trust. I still think I should go along," Poe suggested.
Leia sighed warily. "If you think it's best. Don't do anything foolish. There are so few of our leadership left that if something happened to you I don't know who would take up this fight after I'm gone," Leia said sounding like someone's mother.
"General, we will do our damnedest to make sure that Commander Dameron makes it back safely," Cade vowed and everyone else nodded.
"General Leia, I would like to accompany Eshreal and the others on this mission," Taliki said suddenly, surprising everyone except Leia and Eshreal.
"I figured you would. The 5 of you fit together well," Leia said with a gentle smile.
With that Poe led the group of Force Users to the living area where Poe found Rose and Finn. Once Poe explained the situation Finn and Rose were quick to want to join in but after a bit of arguing they finally agreed to stay behind and watch over Leia and the others. Then Poe and Taliki went to their sleeping quarters to collect their things including Poe's droid BB-8.
Finally, they were ready to go. Cade led the way back to the Starfall. Poe was impressed with their ship and Eshreal gleefully explained that she had almost totally rebuilt the Light Freighter all by herself. Zer-o showed them to the open rooms on the ship as Eshreal and V5 entered the coordinates for Vardos.
The little droid beeped a greeting to the two new organics from near Eshreal's pilots chair. Poe's own Astromech BB-8 rolled over to V5 and the two started up a conversation in droid that only Eshreal and Poe seemed to fully understand.
Taliki wandered around the Freighter admiring all of the beautiful plants that seemed to be growing of their own accord. When she commented on them Zer-o informed her that the plants grew as Eshreal willed them to because the pollen created by the flowers was a Curian's main food source. She was doubly impressed at that.
The group spent the first 24 hours of the trip getting to know each other better. Poe told everyone about his resistance fighter parents and how he joined the Resistance immediately following their deaths. Eshreal told Poe and Taliki all about her home planet of Quycury and her time on Ilum. Cade told them about growing up as a bounty hunter. Zer-o told them about growing up on Dathomir and then spending time all alone before joining up with Cade.
Gear was the only one who remained quiet. Essie explained that he wasn't comfortable talking about his past. No one pushed him on it, but Cade and Zer-o made several clone jokes that made the younger man lock himself in his quarters. Eshreal also explained that this was the usual dynamic of their little group.
When they were a little less than 3 hours away from Vardos Poe called everyone into the living area of the Starfall to discuss their plan.
"This is everything we know about the base Evanna and the others were taken to," Poe said and produced the blueprints of the First Order Vardos base. "The planet is still in a state of rebellion with only certain parts of it remaining under First Order control. Out of the many territories it is most likely that the captured Rebels were taken to this base here. The base is run by clones and a few high ranking First Order officers," Poe said pointing to spot that lit up.
"Any ideas on how to get in," Taliki asked, running her fingers over her whip.
"This is usually when Gear would come in handy, but he still hasn't come out of his room. If we could get one of the outfits that the clone soldiers wear we could send him in with no trouble," Cade said.
"I'll go and get the miserable clone bastard. The least he can do is actually help instead of eating up all of our food and breathing up all our air," Zer said heading off for that part of the ship.
"Hey, no matter what you hear next do not be alarmed," Essie warned just as the sounds of yelling and fighting could be heard.
While they waited Poe and the others came up with something like a plan. After a few minutes Gear and Zer came back down the hall. Both males looked pissy, but neither said anything.
"So, we're gonna land in rebel territory and Eshreal and Cade are gonna scout out the base to locate a clone soldier. Once the clone is located, Taliki will incapacitate him and take his uniform. Gear, that's where you come in. Once you're in uniform you can bring us in as captives," Poe said.
"That's a fine plan but Commander Dameron I think you should wait on the ship. You are far too valuable and recognizable as one of the 3 people able to escape the First Order. Besides we're gonna be coming outta there hot so we'll need you here ready to take off as soon as we're all on board," Gear said.
The crew agreed.
Once they landed on Vardos, Cade gathered motion senses, arakyds moon moth recording device and an individual field disruptor and was ready to go. Eshreal took a couple of her vines and willed them around her wrists like bracelets and unfurled her wings from the tattoo on her back. Poe and Taliki just about fainted as the young woman sprouted burgundy, red and sepia wings and took flight from the back of the ship and Cade took off on all fours.
"A butterfly woman and a wolfman? I thought I'd seen everything," Poe exclaimed.
"Well she did say that her people were like humanoid insects, I'm not surprised and Shistavanens are faster and stealthier on all fours," Taliki said.
"Yeah but hearing about it and seeing it are two totally different things," Gear said, and Poe nodded in agreement.
Eshreal took to the night sky, glad that it was cloudy enough to make the night seem darker; it made it easier to hide her presence. She loved feeling the air on her wings and through her hair so much that for a second, she forgot what she was supposed to be doing. When she did remember the mission she flew over the building a few times, noting any single guards walking by themselves and communicated them to Cade.
Cade moved through the wild grass that surrounded the base toward the guards that Eshreal pointed out until he found the right one. He was stationed in a guard box and was loudly complaining about being bored. He was the perfect mark and relayed it to Eshreal who returned to the ship to tell Taliki.
"Are you sure you're up to this," Poe asked the Twi'lek.
"Of course, seducing a man is simple work," Taliki said with a wink.
She walked the short distance to where the guard was stationed pretending to panic.
The guard who was a slightly older duplicate of Gear jumped to attention as the beautiful young Twi'lek came running toward the tiny guard post. He aimed his blaster at the young woman just to be cautious. Taliki was rambling in Twi'lek, exclaiming that she'd been attacked.
"Slow, down pretty lady. Do you speak basic," he asked.
Taliki moved around the man until she could see what was all inside of the Guard Box. There were monitors watching the entrance to the base closest to the box as well as the end of the very long road leading away from the base. None of the monitors showed feeds from other spots on the base so Taliki figured none of the other four guard boxes would have feeds for this one.
"I was attacked by some rebels not too far from here, sir. I need help," Taliki said.
The man startled. "Rebels? Where," he asked.
Taliki pointed in the direction she had come from.
"Stay here ma'am. I'll go check it out," the foolish clone said, aiming his blaster in the direction that she had pointed and heading off into the darkness.
Taliki grabbed his badge from the console and followed behind him after a few seconds. She clubbed him over the head once they were out of range of the cameras. The man went down easily. Liki signaled the others and they made their way over to where she was hiding with the man.
Gear got changed into his uniform while Eshreal used a piece of one of her vines to tie the man up. Taliki was amazed as the small piece of vine grew until it was long enough to successfully hog-tie the man. When Gear came back he had discovered a hitch in their plan.
"There are only 3 pairs of handcuffs," he said.
"Do you think they would accept that Josiah invited me in to take down a report," Taliki asked coming up with a way to smuggle herself inside.
"That could work," Gear said.
"That has to work," Zer-o corrected.
"If it doesn't I can always use the mind trick," Eshreal said, helpfully.
"Eshreal's record: 125 Jedi mind trick attempts. 119 successful, 6 unsuccessful," Gear reported and Cade shot him an unfriendly look.
"Don't start, clone," Cade growled.
"Guys we don't have time for this," Poe reminded them and everyone got back to business.
Poe helped Taliki and Gear get everyone into their cuffs before heading back to the ship. Taliki pinned Josiah's badge onto Gear and then the group of five headed toward the base. Cade, Zer-o and Eshreal made sure that their lightsabers were well hidden. Just as Taliki suspected, one scan of the badge and they were inside. Few people took notice of the group until they got to the center of a circular hallway where there were high ranking officers sitting at a circular desk.
"Hey Josiah, what's this," one of the men in black asked.
"These so called rebels attacked this young Twi'lek woman. Luckily I was able to apprehend them. I'm gonna take them down to the detention level and then I'll take her statement," Gear said doing an almost spot on impression of the real Josiah.
"Yeah, those tail heads always give the best 'statements'," one of the other men said with enough emphasis on the word to know that he meant something else entirely.
Gear just laughed it off and led Taliki and the others on to the lift that would take them down to the cells.
"Before we leave, I plan on relieving those men of their most prized body parts," Eshreal vowed.
"Not if I get to them first," Zer-o said in a low voice.
Taliki just stood there as though she were unaffected by anything those men had said. After all she had heard worse during her time as a slave.
"Let's just focus on rescuing our people before you two go off laying waste to things," Cade suggested.
The doors to the lift opened to another round hallway with a desk in the center. Luckily there was only one man seated behind it and he looked as though he was two seconds away from falling asleep. Gear stepped out of the lift with Taliki at his side and Zer-o, Cade and Eshreal in front of him.
"Josiah, what are you doing leaving your post," the man snapped.
"Caught these rebels trying to attack this Twi'lek. Gary and Thomas told me to lock 'em up before getting a statement," Gear said adding a little more to the story so that the officer would be less likely to question it.
"Fine, you can stash them in the holding cell with the other rebels waiting for Hux to come interrogate them," the guy said and nodded down the hallway behind the desk.
"Thanks. Will you watch her while I throw them in," Gear asked and the man nodded.
Eshreal and Taliki exchanged a glance and Taliki knew that as soon as this man pressed the button to open the cell she would have to knock him out like she'd done the real Josiah. Taliki watched the others disappear around the desk.
"You're one fine tail head, lady. Maybe after Josiah is done with you, you can come keep me company," the vile male hissed.
Taliki counted to 10 as she waited for the man to see Gear and the others approach the cell so he could open it but he was too busy objectifying her. She gave the man a death stare until he turned his attention back to the monitors in front of him. He pressed the button and a loud buzzing noise filled the detention level. The man took his eyes off of the monitor as Eshreal and the others entered the cell and ditched their cuffs. Gear, waved at the camera and Taliki knew that was her signal.
She took the handle of her whip in her hand and brought it down as hard as she could. The man was out like a light before Taliki could rip his badge from his chest. She figured you never know when you might run into a locked door that a guard might not have access too but an officer definitely would.
Cade and the others helped Evanna and her four children ranging from age 18 to 6 out of their own cuffs. The older woman kept thanking the rebels even as they warned her that they had to get out of there as soon and as quietly as possible. Eshreal and Cade took up the rear while Zer-o and Gear led the way back to the lift where they rejoined Taliki.
"I checked the cameras and it looks like the way we came in is still clear. It's just a matter of getting passed Gary and Thomas," she warned.
"Gear, Liki, I want you two to lead the hostages out of here. Essie, Cade and I can handle anyone coming after you all," Zer said and everyone nodded.
"Let me play with Gary and Thomas. I promise I won't be longer than five minutes," Eshreal pled.
"No, we stick together," Cade shut that down right away and Eshreal pouted about it but didn't argue.
When the lift stopped Eshreal and Cade stepped out first with their lightsabers held at the ready. Gary and Thomas' mouths dropped when their eyes landed on them, but before they could do anything, Eshreal threw a vine at one which immediately began growing around Gary's body and Cade jumped on the other man with his claws digging into his chest.
Eshreal's vine had the man totally incapacitated. The one that Cade had jumped on had hit his head and was currently unconscious and bleeding on the floor. Zer-o and Evanna were carrying the smaller children with Gear and the older children leading the way. Cade was quick to follow but Eshreal saw a guard talking into his com device. Suddenly an alarm went off and Cade noticed a dozen or so Stormtroopers headed their way. Eshreal stopped to fight them but Cade grabbed her.
"If we don't have to fight, let's not. We need to get out of here," Cade reminded her as they ran.
"What about our ship," Evanna asked as the group approached the Starfall.
"What about it," Zer-o asked as he used his lightsaber to deflect a blaster bolt.
"Well it has the coordinates to the meeting place in the Amara system. I am sure that once they realize we are gone they will tear the ship apart looking for anything leading to the resistance," Evan, Evanna's oldest son replied.
"Where is it," Cade asked.
"In the hanger in the middle of the base," Evanna said.
"Anyway we can hit it as we fly out," Taliki asked.
"Only if the hanger doors are open," Evan said.
Cade cursed under his breath.
"We don't have time to search all over this place. Our mission was to rescue you guys," Gear exclaimed.
Taliki ran onto the ship with Evanna and her children to ask Poe what he thought they should do.
"Forget the ship! As long as it was just the meeting place and nothing about Olara itself we can handle it. If we can blow it on our way out of the atmosphere so be it, if not it's not the end of the world," Poe replied.
"No, my mother made sure not to have anything other than the knowledge in her head about Olara and the Resistance left where anyone could find it. But that ship was our home for the last 4 years," the boy said.
"I am sorry about that but we can't risk you or anyone else for a ship. Liki, go tell the others that we are leaving like now," Poe said.
Taliki ran to relay the message.
Cade, Zer-o and Eshreal were fighting the Stormtroopers that had caught up to them. Zer-o and Cade were fighting back to back with hacking slashes that were severing limbs and cutting blasters into unusable pieces. Eshreal had put her lightsaber away and was using her plants and hands to put a hurting on the Stormtroopers.
"Poe said we have to go," Taliki called.
"You guys go. I'll get these guys off our tails," Eshreal said and the guys nodded before taking off from the ship.
Eshreal took to the sky and sent a shockwave made up of the Force toward the group of Stormtroopers looking mystified by the winged woman. When the wave of energy hit them they all flew backwards. Some were knocked unconscious while others were just dazed. Either way it was enough for Eshreal to make it onto the Starfall.
Poe got them up into the air but made sure to fly over the middle of the base. Cade was in the gunners seat just in case they got the opportunity to blow up the captured Resistance ship. The doors opened and 2 TIE Fighters flew out of the top. Cade got one shot off at the abandoned ship before he had to turn his attention on the TIEs. He hit one right away, taking out its wing to send it spiraling toward the ground. The other was a much better pilot and stayed on their tail no matter what maneuvers Poe preformed or how many shots Cade fired at it.
Finally the Starfall made it out of the atmosphere and Poe was able to put in the coordinates to a nearby star system. They finally lost the TIE fighter once they jumped to hyperspace. Evanna and her children celebrated being free and on their way back to the Resistance.
Poe couldn't believe these strange individuals worked so well together when it really mattered. They were great additions to the Resistance and he couldn't wait to tell Leia. On the long flight back to Olara, Eshreal and Taliki made sure that Evanna and her children were safe and comfortable. Once back on Olara, Poe reported the success of the mission to Leia who didn't seem surprised.
And just like that the members of the Last Hope with the addition of Taliki, had earned their places among the Resistance.
