Chapter Seven

There was delight throughout the base at the reappearance of Luke Skywalker. There was one person who was not wholly delighted by the return of the Last Jedi: Jaina. She was afraid to talk to him. Afraid to face him. Not for any particular reason. Just afraid to face the past.

Apart from her Uncle returning, Jaina was concerned with her developing relationship with Poe. They had not said nothing since the kiss. Though it was only 30 minutes ago. She was nervous. He had insisted on leaving her ship to greet the returning ship. "No. I need time alone." Avoiding looking at him. Afraid to give away her true thoughts and feelings.

"Sure. I will bring you news." He gave her a small nod before leaving her alone. His head was telling him to stay with her. She seemed slightly more nervous than before. He noticed that she kept herself away from the windows. Nervously looking outside, keeping hidden in the shadows. "Maia? Are you sure you are all right?"

"Just a little shaken about Coruscant." Avoiding his eyes. Avoiding him for a moment. "I don't want to see Luke. He trained me when I was young and I don't know if he knows that I am alive."

"I see." He nodded. "Hide here. I won't tell." Giving her a cheeky wink. Before leaving her alone to her thoughts.

Jaina watched him leave. It was as if their kiss never happened. Was it her? Was it him? Her mind was filled with unanswered questions. Not just about her relationship with Poe. But also about her life that she was living. Living a lie. Pretending to be another woman when her true self was desperate to escape and reveal herself. But the lies were building and starting to crack. How long would she have to keep hiding her true self? Keeping the truth hidden because it would destroy many lives. Especially if she was found. The planet would be destroyed just to see her own destruction.


"You are hiding something from me, Leia," spoke her twin brother. He had arrived on D'Qar only moments ago to great celebrations. But he waited no longer than he needed. Immediately he and Leia went into her office to talk. She needed to pass on the news of Han and away from prying eyes.

She took a slow breath and sat down. "Did you feel a disturbance in the Force not so long ago?"

"I did. I couldn't work out what it was." Taking his place next to her. "What was it?"

A slow breath out and she was telling him the truth. "It was Han. He was killed."

Luke could not believe what he had just heard. One of his oldest friends. Dead. The good strong Han Solo. "How?" He finally managed to speak.

"Ben. It was Ben."

"No. His own father?" Shaking his head in disbelief.

"There is one other thing."

"I don't want any more horrid news."

"Not so horrid. There has been reports of sightings. A Jedi. You are not the last." She found that hard to say.

"Who?"

"We don't know. Just someone has been spotted fighting with a lightsaber." She reached over and rested her hand upon his. "They will show themselves to you when they believe the time is right."


Jaina never moved from her ship. She hid herself inside. Poe had left an hour ago and had not returned. In that hour she contemplated on leaving and never returning. But there was always an excuse to stop her from leaving. Her mother. The resistance. Poe. A month ago, they would have been excuses for her to run away. But they had become excuses to stay.

She would normally avoid her mother. She would definitely avoid being a part of the Resistance. She would, more than anything, avoid men. Afraid to get too close. Afraid to getting hurt.

Now, she didn't care about that. She wanted to be with her mother. She wanted to fight for the Resistance. She wanted to get to know Poe more. It was something new. Never had she felt about a man like she was. It was confusing.

Her hands hovered over the controls. Just itching to control her ship. To control the way she lived. To leave without telling anyone. To leave without having to worry about others and big responsibilities. Her fingers twitching. Eager to press the right buttons to control the ship and leave. Her heart and head were conflicted. Torn in two. She was moments from summoning her R5 unit back to the ship when a set of footsteps walked up the ramp. Stopping her from making any more decisions.


"The Dark Side is growing. I'm not the only one who can feel it. Every planet can. Snoke is just a game maker. He is using the Knights of Ren to play his game." Luke explained to Leia and the main commanders. "Call a meeting. We need to discuss the plan of attack. The faster we destroy Snoke, the faster the galaxies will be safe."

With Luke back, they all felt at ease. But the threat of the First Order was still constant. Hanging over them like a dark black cloud threatening to burst. "Luke," sighed Leah. "You need to rest. We all need to rest. Call the meeting tomorrow."

"Leia."

"No Luke. This is an order from your General." Putting her hand on his shoulder. "Please Luke. Wait until tomorrow."

Reluctantly he nodded in agreement. "You do look tired, sister."


"Poe," she gasped when he came into view. Her hands far away from the controls. "You scared me."

He smiled as he pushed his hair back. "You knew I would be coming back."

Pulling herself to her feet with a laugh. "I know. I was lost in my thoughts." Walking past him to some of her cargo, that lay aimlessly around her ship. "How was the welcoming return of the legend, that is Luke Skywalker?"

"Not what I thought would be. He was happy to be back but him and the General soon disappeared into her offices." He leant back on the wall of her ship, watching her carefully. "I am just waiting to hear if they will call a meeting. They most likely will."

"Oh right," not truly bothered by the fact.

"Maia? What's wrong?"

"I'm scared to see him." Dropping an empty box carelessly and giving it a small kick. "I'm scared Luke will look at me and blame himself for everything that happened. Blame himself because I was the only one who survived the massacre and that the others could have survived. It wasn't his fault but he will blame himself. Especially if he sees me." She turned around and tears were streaking down her cheeks. "I'm scared for that. For him. Not for me."

He wasted no time. He wrapped his arms around her and comforted her. She needed this. "It's ok. It's ok." Holding her as she sobbed against him. Her emotions had become too much. Overwhelming her. Her fingers gripped the collar of his jacket and pulled herself up to press her lips against his cheek. A sense of urgency filled her. She moved to his mouth and kissed him hard. For a moment he kissed her back but he pulled away quickly. He knew that she was seeking comfort through her pain. "Maia, stop. I would love to kiss you more but you are upset and tired. You need to rest."

Her hands still on his collar, holding herself against him. She was filled with so much emotions, she could not decide on what to do. She found herself agreeing with him. "Sure." Releasing her grip on his collar. "Sorry."

With gentleness, Poe kissed her forehead. Such a soft gesture, she barely felt it but she knew it was there. It calmed her. "Come. You need to eat and rest."

"I've eaten. Still had some horrible dry food left over from my travels." Chuckling nervously and walking past him. "I'm going to sleep here tonight. I'll set the heating on and I will be fine here."

He watched her carefully. "I don't believe you. I'll stay with you. You look like you are about to drop." Taking her in his arms and held her. He just held her.


Jaina agreed to allow Poe to stay the night on her ship. Reluctantly. She was very protective of her ship. Not wanting to share the space unless it was needed. Again, that was very rare. He had gone out to get them some warm food. Giving her time to change out of her travel clothes, which were dirty and slightly torn because of her recent fight. After a quick refreshing wash, she changed into a pair of comfortable trousers and a loose white shirt. Her long hair tied into a side plait. She looked neat and tidy. The tidiest she had been in a long time. Being in the resistance had no time for personal appearances.

"There isn't much in the way of warm food except meat soup and some freshly baked bread." He spoke as he walked onto the ship. "So is that..." He stopped when he saw her. She looked completely different. She looked feminine. "Wow."

Jaina didn't know how to reply. A blush painted her cheeks. "Thanks. It's amazing what a wash and clean clothes does to you." Pulling at the bottom of her shirt. Feeling self-conscious about the way she looked. He was the same as her. He had washed and changed his clothing. Standing in more comfortable clothes. "Come. Let's eat. I'm starving."

The pair of them sat at her small table and ate, laughed and talked. "Where is R5?" He asked when food was finished, the plates and bowls lay dirty on the table.

"He is in the hanger. I sent a message to him for him to stay there tonight. But knowing him, he is keeping guard outside the ship." She could feel herself becoming tired. "I need to sleep. I've not felt this tired in a long time."

"Bed." He ordered her. "I'll clean up here."

"Leave it. R5 will break in here in the morning and do it. He is useful for most things. Cleaning is his speciality." Finishing her sentence with a yawn. "I only have one bed. But it is big enough for us both. No nonsense though." Giving him a small but tired smile.