Resistance cruiser Audacious
Secure Conference Room
"What?!" Both young Jedi and starfighter exclaimed.
"Please, have a seat," Leia gestured. The two of them just stood there. "Please, I'll explain."
Without pulling up the 3-D screen or a data pad, she continued, "I know you two have been through a hell of a a lot, Jessika, with your capture and torture and the destruction of your home world and you, Rey, your battles with Ben, uh Kylo and the loss of your leg. But we've, no, you two have to face more threats. We've just received credible news that all both of you have an extremely large bounty placed on your heads."
"Bounty? Haven't heard that for ages since my family escaped from pirates," Jess remarked.
Leia ignored her and continued. "We received word that a bounty has been placed on every Star System for both your heads, dead or alive, numbering in the millions. Bounties mean much to people but this one isn't just about finding you. Just as they attacked your home planet Jess, we lost contact with dozens of our political and military allies and discovered they were all assassinated by First Order operatives.
"Super Sith," Rey remarked.
Leia grimaced and continued. "They are targeting anyone, not just Resistance or former New Republic or former Rebellion members who have any knowledge about you two specifically and just you two. Anymore such attacks could eliminate any of our possible hiding spots and forcing our fleet out in the open."
"I don't see why we two must move away," Jessika argued. "Aren't we protected by layers of defences and moving randomly?"
"Explain then how those First Order intruders could so find us and penetrate this capital ship?" Leia argued. "We may have destroyed their superweapon, but they are squeezing us tight. And there's a political tug-of-war that's going to happen—I don't want to bore you with the details—which could further fracture the Resistance—so I need, no, require you to…
"Run away," Jess interrupted with a bitter, disapproving tone.
"I rather say it as 'scatter' Jess. We must reorganise and reform by moving apart…"
"What you are suggesting is cowardice, General," Jess interrupted again. "And I disagree. I'll take it up with the other senior staff officers…." She turned around and was about to exit when Leia called her sharply. "Jessika, Lieutenant Commander Pava!" Jessika felt her body yanked backwards and she was dropped down on the chair.
"Sorry I had to use the Force again, Jess," Rey remarked. "The General has a point. But what do you exactly want us to do uh, ma'am?"
"It's Leia," the elderly princess turned stateswoman and warrior smiled. She passed over a code key and what looked like a communication device. "There's an unmarked, rather old but still in flyable condition transport which you should fly off to a secluded part of the galaxy. This device," she held it up, "will be the means by which I will contact you; I know you'll try Force connection Rey, but I'm still not yet an expert with that."
"On that, you expect me to forgo my training with Master Luke?" Rey asked.
"I believe from your time back here and shall I say adventures, you are really strong in the Force. And you probably can here it from Luke now," Leia waved her hands in the air. Rey, the time will appear another time, she heard the bearded Jedi Master's voice call.
"Uh, General, I still have flight duties," Jessika said truthfully, still not on board with this idea.
"Poe will sort that out. On that note, this 'scattering' is really discreet, only myself, your two, and Commander Dameron. Call it 'trust no one else' ok?" Leia added more details and finally wished the two of them good luck.
"This sucks man," Jess whined as they head out to pack their belongings. "It's all your fault isn't it?" She jabbed Rey's arm.
"Yeah well, either this of we'll have to fight another incursion," Rey added. "See at hangar bay 94 later ok?" As Jess head towards to her quarters, she instinctively veered towards the Starfighter briefing room. The General said not to talk to anyone else but Poe right? She thought. She didn't say not to visually see her colleagues one last time. Peering through the plexiglass, she saw Poe briefing her starfighter colleagues. Surprisingly, she could even hear him speak although the crusier's walls were designed to block out any sound.
"….One last item. Lieutenant Commander Jessika Pava will be taking personal leave for a while. Lieutenant Tallisan Lintra will cover her flight and duties for…." Tallie?! That bitch who beat me in the Academy?! That ass of a pilot who nearly got herself killed if it wasn't for me?! This hiding plan sucks man! It sucks, it sucks…
"Aren't you not suppose to be here?" Jess spun around and saw Poe, her Wing commanding officer and now boyfriend staring at her.
"You…you picked Tallie to replace me?!" She cried incredulously.
"Tallie's a great stick and…"
"She's a shit of a pilot and…." Jess noticed the other starfighter pilots exiting and yanked Po into a side corridor, "and she's just a freakin' Lieutenant! She's…"
"She's due to get her Lt Commander bars like you did and she the next ace. I know you two don't get along but this is the best I can. Look, Jess," he lowered his head to reach hers, "I know this isn't ideal.."
"It is a shit plan…." She interrupted.
"Will you let me finish? It isn't the easiest act for you to make, Jess but remember, I'll always be with you in spirit. Don't tell the General, but you can contact me using this device," he produced an even smaller version of the beacon Leia gave them. "I have a corresponding device with…."
"Beepmebeep!" BB-8 completed Poe's sentence, bursting out of a corner. Instead of rolling up to their legs, the ball droid deployed special hooks that attached them to the sides of the wall, thus lifting it up and 'hugging' Jess.
"Ow…oh BB…" she cried softly against the droid. As the droid lowered itself, she turned to Poe and said, "thanks for this, uh, sir," she reverted to her officer status. "I guess, I'll see you around and.."
"Not before one last quick one," Poe smiled, checking the corridor and dragging her to his quarters.
A few hours later, Jess found Rey inside an oblong-shaped transport. "When she said, old transport, I didn't expect this sort of relic. I mean, these controls probably date back to the Old Republic!" Jess exclaimed.
"Old what?" Rey called, checking the load of nutrition, clothing and survival gear Leia also provided. "I say, this load is far better than anything I had back in Jakku or the lodging Master Luke provided…" Rey stopped in mid-sentence.
"What? I didn't catch you?" Jess called then walked back to the cargo area, finding Rey looking down at her Jedi suit. "Rey, what's up?"
"I…" the young Jedi started. "I…don't have my lightsaber! It's gone!"
To be continued.
