Rose inspected the transponder in her hands thoughtfully. She furrowed her brow in consternation, trying to figure out why she couldn't get it to work. Then it struck her; she picked up the screw driver next to her, opened up its back, and began to poke around. A moment later, she screwed it back shut and the device glowed to life.
"Got it," she said to herself triumphantly.
She stood up from the bench she was working at and pocketed the transponder. She twisted her torso side-to-side, loosening her back, then moved to the front of the ship.
"Hey, guys," Rose began, ducking her head into the cockpit. "I'm gonna walk around, stretch my legs a bit. I've been cooped up in here a little too long."
"Alright, just keep a safe distance to the cruiser," replied one of the pilots.
Rose left the ship. She stepped out onto the grass, liking that for once she didn't hear her footsteps echoing underneath her. She let out a big yawn and stretched her arms skyward. She set off into the trees to explore.
There wasn't too much vegetation to look at. Being so close to the city, builders had cleared out most of the underbrush for aesthetic and practical reasons. Rose moved along the clear paths between the trees, finding little patches of beautifully colored flowers here and there. She got close to the flowers to inspect them further, but didn't dare touch them. She had no idea whether they were dangerous or not; they were unlike anything she had seen on D'Qar.
After admiring their beauty for a few minutes, she decided to head back to the cruiser. She didn't want to be out too long to avoid being spotted by the First Order.
On her way back, she felt the rough bark of the tall trees and listened to the soft crunch of the grass underneath her boots. She gazed up at the bottom of the canopy, which blocked out the sun and seemingly continued on forever. Just as the Resistance ship came back into view, she heard a crackle - the sound of a radio.
Then nothing.
Then she heard it again. She listened more closely, shutting her eyes so she could concentrate on the sound.
"Report? Over," a voice said through a radio.
"We've spotted a Resistance ship in the Eastern quadrant of the forest," replied a much louder voice. "Do we engage?"
Rose moved to the side quickly, peering around some trees. The louder voice was coming from a Stormtrooper. He was accompanied by a second trooper, dressed in identical battle armor.
She threw her body behind a tree, hoping she hadn't been spotted. Her chest began to rise and fall rapidly as her breathing intensified.
Alright, think, Rose, think, she thought to herself.
She grabbed at her right hip: nothing was there.
Damnit, no blaster.
She began to pat herself down, feeling the contents of all of her pockets until she felt the transponder.
This could work.
She pulled out the transponder. She clicked the button on its head and it blinked on. The front screen was blank, awaiting further instructions.
Rose started working the buttons on the device, eventually connecting to the line of communication with her ship. She waited a moment, then she heard someone pick up on the other end.
"Identify yourself," said one of the pilots.
"Hey, Garrick, it's me, Rose!" she said in a hurried whisper.
"Rose? What are you calling on?"
"A transponder I repaired earlier," she answered. "Listen, I'm about 50 yards out from the ship and there's two Stormtroopers here."
"Ok, wait -" Garrick began until the transponder cut out.
Rose stared at the transponder.
"Garrick? Garrick?!" she frantically called, shaking the device. She hit it a couple of times, but the line still didn't reconnect.
Rose began turning knobs, desperately attempting to call back the ship. Frustration setting in, she smacked the transponder, when it suddenly screeched loudly. The device started going haywire, making all sorts of loud and annoying noises, when the Stormtroopers overheard it.
"Hey, what's that over there?" one said to the other.
Rose peeked her head around the tree again, still trying to calm down the device. The two Stormtroopers spotted her.
"Stay where you are!" one ordered.
Just as they began to move, the Resistance ship's guns trained on the Storm Troopers and fired. The explosion fell short, hitting trees on the other side of the troopers. The blast shook the ground around them, knocking them off their feet.
"Call for backup - I've got the girl!" one Stormtrooper yelled to the other while getting back on his feet.
Rose steadied herself, regaining her balance after the explosion, and took off towards the city. The Stormtrooper tasked with calling for backup started firing on the Resistance ship, while the other set off after Rose.
Finn pushed aside the red satin curtain and entered the back room. Inside were several large, circular booths, adorned with marble tables, soft seats and curtains that could be drawn for privacy. He looked around and saw that all the booths were empty, except for one in the back, which had its curtains drawn.
A large, burly man with gray skin stood in the middle of the room with his arms crossed, a blaster hooked to his belt. Not knowing who else to talk to, Finn approached the man.
"Hi …" he said, unsure of what to say. "I, uh, am here to speak with Sicar."
The man stared at him. He didn't move.
"About a business transaction."
Still nothing.
"I'm willing to pay 40,000 New Republic units."
At that, the man blinked.
"Prove it," he said in a deep, rough voice.
Finn pulled out his transponder. He clicked a few buttons and brought up the screen showing he had the money ready for transfer.
"One moment," the man said again, this time turning and walking to the booth behind him.
The man pulled back the curtain, ducked his head in for a few moments, then returned to Finn.
"Give me your weapon," he said.
Finn reluctantly handed him his blaster.
"Back booth," the man said, taking his gun and nodding toward the curtained-off table.
Finn approached the back booth. He pulled aside the curtains, revealing a man sitting against the wall, dressed in all black. He had a hood drawn and a cowl pulled up over his face, just like in the picture. Two dark eyes stared at him from within the depths of his hood, looking Finn up and down.
"Sit," a sturdy voice said from under the cowl.
Finn sat, electing not to move too far into the booth. Sicar looked at the curtains, and Finn closed them in response.
"So I'm told you have 40,000 New Republic units with my name on it?" Sicar said.
"Yes - correct," said Finn nervously.
"New Republic units … odd," Sicar began. "Either that's stolen money, or the New Republic needs something - badly."
"What do you mean?" Finn asked.
"I rarely get buyers from the New Republic," Sicar answered. "I deal mostly with those who operate on the black market."
He paused for a moment, then continued.
"The New Republic tries to distance themselves from the First Order. They want to do everything the right way. No black market, no brokers, just intel from reconnaissance. So why does the New Republic come to me now, seeking to buy information?"
"Actually, I'm with the Resistance," Finn corrected.
Sicar straightened up in his seat.
"The Resistance?" he said curiously. "Interesting … now what would the Resistance want from me?"
Finn gulped nervously.
"We heard that you know the whereabouts of the First Order's base," Finn answered. "I've been sent to offer 40,000 New Republic units for that information."
Sicar's eyes narrowed. He stared at Finn, deep in thought.
"It's all right here, on this transponder," said Finn, pulling out his transponder and placing it on the table.
"I trust you," said Sicar, surprising Finn. "I see the Resistance wants to end this conflict by going after Snoke himself."
"You know he's there?" asked Finn, surprised at the mention of Snoke. "How do you know that?"
Sicar reached out his hand.
"Give me the transponder."
Finn hesitated.
"I will give you the information that you seek - for the 40,000," said Sicar, noticing the hesitation.
Finn slid Sicar the transponder.
"I am not an ally of the First Order," continued Sicar. "Not anymore, anyways."
Finn was shocked. Did he just give his money to someone tied to the First Order?
"Don't worry, don't worry," said Sicar, clicking away at the transponder, without looking up. "I have no more ties to that wretched group of extremists."
After a few more moments of pressing buttons, he slid the device back over to Finn.
"There," he said, this time looking at Finn. "The transfer's been completed."
"Hey, you owe me some answers," said Finn, starting to feel like he'd been ripped off.
"And you'll get them," Sicar began. "First, the info you paid for."
Sicar reached into the folds of his black coat and pulled out a small tablet and memory stick. He plugged the stick into the side of the device and began poking at the screen. After a minute, a small green light began to blink at the end of the stick. He pulled it out and gave it to Finn.
"That right there contains the coordinates to the First Order base. It's located on a planet called Xanata. Snoke is based out of that planet, but will leave from time to time on a star destroyer to attend to First Order matters."
Sicar tapped on the tablet and pulled up a map of the galaxy.
"Here is a map of Xanata," said Sicar, handing Finn the tablet.
Finn studied the map while tucking away the memory stick into his breast jacket pocket.
"And now the information you didn't pay for," said Sicar.
Finn looked up at Sicar.
"I know the location of the First Order base … because I've spent a great deal of time there."
"What?!" Finn burst out. "Why the hell were you there? Were you also a Stormtrooper?"
"No," answered Sicar, a quizzical look in his eyes. "I am Sicar, a former Knight of Ren."
Finn instantly straightened up. His whole body tensed, hands clenched tightly on the tablet.
"What is a Knight of Ren doing here?" asked Finn, the anger palpable in his voice.
"Former Knight of Ren," Sicar corrected. "I was trained as a Knight, and served as one for a short amount of time, before abandoning them and their delusional cause."
"Why did you leave?" asked Finn, his body beginning to relax.
"You know the First Order - they think they have a right to the galaxy, that they're actually making a positive difference. I took too many innocent lives before I realized what I was doing was wrong."
Finn detected some sorrow in Sicar's voice.
"It's ok," Finn began. "I was once a part of the First Order too. A Stormtrooper, actually. After my first battle, I made a choice. I ran away as fast as I could."
"You were a Stormtrooper, yet you don't know where the First Order base is?" asked Sicar, confused.
"I was trained and raised in a space station near Jakku. I was in sanitation and infantry, so my knowledge of First Order business outside of my space station was limited, almost non-existent."
Finn returned the tablet to Sicar.
"Sicar," said Finn. "Why didn't you join the Resistance?"
"After serving Snoke, I knew I had to run far away and out of sight if I were to keep from him," he answered. "He is far more powerful than you know. If I don't keep my distance, he'll find me."
Finn grew quiet. Sicar returned the tablet to the folds of his jacket.
"I'd get moving if I were you," continued Sicar. "First Order likes to patrol this block on the hour. They stop in here, too."
"I'll be on my way then," said Finn while getting up.
"Finn," said Sicar, before he could leave. "Good luck."
Finn nodded, then left the booth. He crossed the room, grabbing his blaster from the guard before exiting to the bar.
The bar remained as it was from before. Mostly the same patrons sat eating at their tables, except the blue woman was no longer at the bar-top. No one seemed to notice him as he made his way back to the front door.
As Finn reached the entrance, two Stormtroopers walked in, blocking his path. He stood paralyzed, unsure of what to do. They stared back. A moment passed before either moved.
"Don't move," ordered one Stormtrooper, raising his blaster to Finn.
"Hey, man, what did I do?" asked Finn, trying to act innocently.
"I recognize you from the First Order's 'Wanted' list," he replied. "You're coming with us."
Finn made a move for his blaster.
"Watch it!" the Stormtrooper yelled, shoving his weapon into Finn's chest.
"Alright, alright," said Finn while raising his hands, giving up. "Where are you -"
There were two loud thuds and both Stormtroopers dropped to the ground before Finn could ask where they were taking him. Standing behind the unconscious Stormtroopers was Rose, wielding a stool.
"Rose?" said Finn, utterly confused. "What are you doing here?"
"First Order found our ship - we gotta go," she said, grabbing Finn by the arm and pulling him out the door.
