Hey everyone, I hope you had a happy Easter! I know it had been a while since I've updated, but I was wondering if you were all still out there? It would be great to hear from you! :D Enjoy the chapter - sorry for the lack of Mara!

~.~.~.~.~

The atmosphere of Naboo was actually breathable, which was one thing that you didn't often come across when it came to planets near and inside the Outer Rim territories. Not only was the air bearable, but the landscapes were beautiful enough to make you forget all of your worries and fears. It was an escape for the mind, and although Poe's mission was of the utmost priority, he knew that it would be a struggle to stay focused.

"The last time I was here, I stayed an unnecessary six days." He laughed at the memory.

BB-8 made a low whizz of disappointment from the ship's back seat. It was his way of telling his master that they could not repeat his foolish decision. Poe didn't expect the droid to understand the easier days. Those were the days when a mission really meant going to pick up someone's family or getting the food that you'd been missing for months while maybe dodging a few enemies.

Naboo was different than anywhere near D'Qar. Its luscious green fields trickled into Poe's vision as his ship entered the atmosphere, and the waterfalls surrounding them were unmissable. Their shimmering blue appearance bounced off of the ship's glass canopy, almost blinding Poe with their beauty.

"You alright back there, buddy?" Poe tried to turn around to face his friend, but couldn't manage it in the tight cockpit. He didn't want to discredit the mechanics, but he had hoped they would have gotten him a more comfortable ship. His lack of sleep was wearing on him, and even a pillow on the seat would have been a nice touch. Wishful thinking, he thought glumly to himself.

BB-8 whizzed excitedly. He also loved Naboo, as well as the Naboo people and the quirky Gungan. Despite their friendly nature, sometimes the Gungan were too hard to handle after three days. He was glad their trip would last no longer than that.

Poe could see Theed approaching on the horizon, the early morning sunshine illuminating the royal palace. He couldn't help but smile, despite the severity of his mission. There was something always enticing about being around royalty and fancy things. Granted, his parents provided for him very well, but Poe was always so focussed on work to think about spending the income he received. His room in the Resistance base was practically empty, with the exception of his model X-Wing that his father built for him when he was only a boy.

Just as Poe began to land near the gates of the royal palace, he felt an attack signal launch onto his ship. He knew waving would be out of the question, as security was high and his small gesture could taken as a threat.

"You're trespassing royal territory. We need your ship's ID number and your name before allowing you to approach any further."

The voice rang over Poe's headset as it intercepted his signal. Any invoice from the Resistance base would be cut off now, and Poe knew that he was now entirely on his own. "ID number is 6788, and the name is Poe Dameron." Poe paused for a second. Once they heard his name, he assumed he wouldn't have to tell them any more.

"What's the reason for your approach, 6788?"

Poe whistled beneath his breath. Security had gotten tighter, even on the peaceful grounds of Naboo. It was one of the Resistance's biggest allies, yet they didn't seem to care that the galaxy's best Resistance pilot was in their reach. Nobody made it out without an interrogation anymore.

"I've been sent here on the request of General Leia. Senator Berenko might have some answers to that puzzle we're putting together." Poe was trying to be discreet, in case anyone was tapping into their conversation. He knew, however, that he wasn't an entirely creative person and was struggling to think of a subtle explanation. "Do you know what I mean?" Silence rang out on the other end. "I mean… You know, there's that Princess and she has a friend who hasn't been around lately-"

"Bring your ship into the carrier. Someone will greet you to take you into the palace."

The intercom switched off and Poe was once again left to the sound of his own heavy sigh. He rolled his eyes up to the glass cover of his ship, soaking in the blue sky to calm himself. "No time for manners these days," he laughed. "At least we got in without exploding into the atmosphere. We can thank Crescent for that."

BB-8 was too distracted by the lowering of the ship to comment. They were just about to enter the large, brick hangar. He could see some droids rolling around nearby, and his curiosity to meet them spiked up instantly.

"It's a shame the droids at the base are so fussy about a chat," Poe said, also taking note of them. "They've always got something going on. Some mission or other."

Like you? BB-8 laughed with a high-pitched screeching noise.

Poe chuckled before lowering his ship onto solid ground. "There's a difference between finding Luke Skywalker and getting some oil. Totally different kinds of desperation."

When Poe and BB-8 finally made their way out of the ship, they found themselves face to face with a stern looking Gungan. "You have come to meet the Senator?"

Poe nodded. "There are some things we need to discuss regarding the search."

Although the palace should have been considered safe grounds, the Gungan's eyes darted sharply to both sides of him. In terms of war, you could never trust anyone with certainty. "Follow me to the inner gates. When you reach the inside courtyard, please wait there."

Poe and his droid did as they were told. The back of the palace was not as spectacular as its main halls and dining areas, and the cold stone corridors made Poe feel like he was more likely in a prison. It was one time where he decided to keep his mouth shut. Any turned ears might have picked up on his presence, as well as his mission.

The three of them finally reached the main gates, and the Gungan turned sharply towards the duo. "You need to remove that uniform. Nobody will be watching you here." His eyes shot down to Poe's dusty brown sack. "I suspect you have a change of clothes."

The solider left Poe and BB-8 to their own quiet thoughts inside the courtyard. No windows turned inwards to face them, so Poe began to undress without any mind. He replaced his uniform with a faded grey shirt and his signature leather jacket. He tossed on some large black pants, feeling as if he were back home in the forests of Yavin-4. He certainly looked out of place in the elegant palace, but at least he could have been mistaken as a trader rather than the Resistance's best pilot.

With another heavy sigh, Poe let himself sink onto the concrete bench. There were a few trees surrounding them, as well as a small stream with long-whiskered fish. He couldn't distract himself away from their purple hue, as the big creatures stuck together in a pod. When they all blended together, their appearance seemed to form a giant purple flower, like a lotus, floating on the water's surface.

"My mother's always liked that shade of purple." Poe pointed in the direction of the fish. "She used to say that it reminded her of the sunset on her home planet, before she moved to Yavin-4." BB-8 asked a question, his head rolling to the side of his circular body. "Me? No, I've never seen a sunset quite like that." Poe smiled. "Maybe after all of this we can go on a vacation and see one. Wouldn't that be nice?"

"Your mother also enjoys the colour brown. How interesting, considering the two colours are such great contrasts."

The voice came from behind them, causing Poe to stand up abruptly from the bench. When he turned around, he was unsurprised to see Naboo's young senator, Thadlé Berenko piercing him down with her striking blue eyes.

"It's good to see you again, Senator." Poe nodded his head towards the woman respectively. BB-8 copied Poe's gesture, not used to being around such formal situations. Even General Organa disregarded her loyalty, and thus made for a more comfortable atmosphere in the Resistance base.

"It has been a very long time since we have seen one another, Mister Dameron. Things have certainly changed."

What hadn't changed? It had been nearly a year since the two had run into each other, their admiration for each other blossoming with each visit. Her poise and elegance was almost as bewitching as her striking red hair, and Poe felt the utmost respect for her and her politics.

"As you may have heard, things with the First Order have gotten out of hand. They're attacking innocent villages that have a high percentage of New Republic supporters," Poe struggled to stay the words with ease. "They're killing mercilessly in order to get our attention. They want to know where our base is and they won't stop until they do."

Thadlé's thin brow rose on her pale face. "You've managed to keep it secret, no?"

Poe nodded firmly. "They're not even aware of what I look like, let alone our base."

"There are rumours, however, Mister Dameron. There is word going around that the base is in the Outer Rim Territories. You do not have to tell me if this is the truth, but I want you to know that they are getting ever so close to finding our weaknesses."

BB-8 beeped loudly to gain the two's attention. Theadlé stared down at him in shock, surprised to see a BB unit on her planet. "Why, who do we have here?" BB-8 introduced himself casually, and continued to explain their quest to find the missing piece of the map.

"This is the reason you have come," she sighed. "I am glad for it."

Poe took a step forward. He knew her well enough to understand her facial expressions, and could see the flicker of a rare smile curling on her ruby lips. "Do you know something about the map?"

Theadlé turned her back on the two of them momentarily, before twisting her head over her shoulder with a smirk. "I believe there is something I can do to help."

~.~.~.~.~.~

The palace's library was towering, and it was also far from view and shrouded in secrecy. It was where Theadlé led Poe and BB-8, not only in order to keep their discussion private, but also to demonstrate her knowledge with the proof of documents. Once they made their way inside, the towering books that trickled up to the ceiling on their shelves protected their hushed words from outside ears.

"It has been a long time since the General has visited Naboo," the Senator said, reaching for a pale white book in the centre aisle. "She often came for basic visitations and enquires, as well as to install a kind of momentum for the people who are her ancestors." Poe already knew the story of Leia's mother, Queen Amidala, and her forbidden love with Anakin Skywalker. She had been a Queen of Naboo and a greatly loved one. "However, her brother was of the utmost attention to us, as he was also the offspring of our former Queen and a great Jedi."

Theadlé began flipping through the books pages, her thin finger pausing on a long paragraph in the middle of the book. "Luke Skywalker is one of the galaxy's most powerful Jedis. Now, he is our only hope. There are many rumours of the First Jedi Temple still surviving, but the knowledge of its location has been lost." She lifted her head to the pilot. "This is the map you seek, is it not?"

Poe nodded, his eyes scanning over the unfamiliar language of the book. "Luke has been in exile since the Galactic Civil War. He's nowhere in the galaxy, otherwise we would have found him by now."

"It has been three decades since Master Luke has shown his face to anyone," she whispered sadly. "Our hearts ache for the last Jedi."

Poe leaned forward on the table, using the heartache of Theadlé to his advantage. "You and I both know that he's still out there. We don't need a map to tell us that. The map's key purpose is giving us the exact directions to the First Jedi Temple. Once we have that, we'll be able to find Skywalker and bring him home. He probably can't understand the havoc that's occurring here, and someone needs to remind him of his importance."

Her red lips once again formed a smirk. "Is that person going to be you?"

"I doubt it." Poe mumbled. "That's another problem. We need to find someone who can convince Luke to come back, but it's not worth wasting any time on it until we actually know where he is."

Theadlé's sharp eyes continued to scan the page. "It says here that Luke had many allies in the sand planets. They were often safe due to the rough and roguish nature of of their hands, and were thus able to keep secrets for many years."

"Like Tatooine? I'm not sure how soon I'd like to go back there."

"Perhaps not. Jakku is also a prominent sand planet, despite the small population."

Poe scoffed with a chuckle. "There isn't anyone or anything special on Jakku."

Theadlé's brows came together in her forehead. "Don't be so quick to assume. Luke knew many explorers who have made their home bases there. They would be aged by now, perhaps even gone. But if they did possess a star-map that led to Luke Skywalker, they would certainly make sure that it would not fall into the wrong hands."

"It's likely to be someone elderly then? And on a sand planet?"

Theadlé nodded firmly. She was often right, though Poe didn't want to boost her ego by telling her so. "I might be able to gather some information about Luke's explorer allies in all of the sand planet regions. They will likely be associated with the Church of the Force." Her eyes darted over the page once again before her hand firmly slammed the cover shut. "Give me time. I can meet you after dinner to discuss my findings."

Poe nodded, feeling as if things were truly picking up. "And until then?"

"Give yourself a break. Explore. You know that Naboo has many things to offer."

~.~.~.~.~.~

Naboo certainly did have many things to offer. Their planet had regained prosperity despite the threat of oncoming war. Their food source was stable, the environment was healthy, and in Poe's mind, the women seemed to be getting even more beautiful with the passing years.

He knew the size of the palace was large, and not wanting to stray too far from the library, he remained inside the palace's towering walls. Several people passed him with curious eyes, but most of them seemed to recognize him and offer him a small smile. It wasn't exactly home, but going to a familiar planet was a treat in itself during such difficult times.

For a few hours, Poe and BB-8 roamed the corridors, strayed in the garden and passed the time with thoughts to themselves. They certainly didn't fit in with the Gungans and palace royalty, and therefore decided to keep to themselves for most of the day. Just as dinnertime was drawing nearer, Poe longed for a break on the large expanding balcony. Before him was the towering waterfalls that he had seen from a distance, their blue shades beginning to turn darker with the setting sun.

It was an odd experience, and a completely unexpected one, but the image of Mara trickled into his mind. Her weary expressions from that morning were plastered in his face like a warning, as if he should be concerned about her happiness. Sitting before the waterfalls and being surrounded by the tranquillity of nature made him wish that she could have been there too. After all, she had said she was from Coruscant. How much natural beauty had she actually seen in her life?

It had now been almost two months since Poe had touched a woman. Granted, it had only been a short fling. This was a common occurrence for lonely pilots, but he had forgotten how long it had been since he actually wanted to spend the days and evenings with someone.

That person can't be Mara. She's a mechanic from Coruscant. She's one of the best in the Resistance. What kind of career driven girl would pay attention to a scatter-brained pilot? He folded his hands in his lap, hoping that BB-8 couldn't notice the distress on his face. Besides, she has a natural beauty that's hard to come across anymore. What would make other men not notice her? In fact… have they been noticing her?

BB-8 had rolled to the edge of the balcony, his spherical frame hitting the protective ledge. Seeing that his droid was the only creature around, the urge for Poe to speak to someone overshadowed his desire for privacy.

"BB-8, let me ask you a question."

The droid spun around inquisitively, his eye focussed. He had been waiting for Poe to open up for several days, but wanted him to do it in his own time.

"My parents both worked with the Resistance. They were lucky enough to find one another and still have time to form a relationship. They also worked together in some of the most dangerous moments of our history." Poe ran his finger over his bottom lip, delving into thoughts that he had not brought up in his mind for several years. "Being with someone now is an impossibility. Yet, sometimes I wonder if being someone is the key to keeping a level head."

BB-8 could see how much Poe was inwardly struggling. It was something nobody else could detect, particularly with his boyish charm and amiable nature. Poe would do anything to put on a good face for a crowd, but BB-8 saw the lack of sleep in his eyes and the loneliness in his soul.

"Don't get me wrong. These are just passing thoughts. I don't have anyone in mind, but I wonder as I'm getting older if I'll ever be able to experience something that my parents had." Poe finally tore his eyes away from the waterfall to meet his friend's vision. He smiled widely, but a lingering sadness crossed his lips. "Who ever said that thirties were the best time of your life?"

BB-8 needed to find the best words for his friend. It was not in his programming to give romantic advice, but when he scanned his memory and data over the past two weeks, he could detect some kind of shift in his master's character. He had grown tired before, but his attention had rarely shifted. Now, he was growing distracted without explanation. Overall, his missions had gone well. Things had only changed with the arrival of a certain mechanic.

Not wanting to upset his master, or call him out on anything false, BB-8 chose his next words carefully.

You should buy a birthday gift for Mara.

Poe's eyes quickly darted away from his friend, the colour rising in his cheeks. Why was he suddenly so nervous at the sound of her name? BB-8 clearly knew some interest was growing inside Poe in relation to the engineer. He just hoped nobody else was. He was a pilot. He didn't have time to care for someone, and he didn't want her to suddenly care for him. That might only lead to disappointment and heartache for both parties.

Distractedly, Poe looked down at the faded leather watch on his wrist. "We should head back to the library. The Senator will be finished with her dinner soon."

~.~.~.~.~.~

When Poe and BB-8 had reached the library, Theadlé was already waiting for them. Her expression was grave, but that was nothing new. Her eyes were barely readable, which emphasized her status as Naboo's Senator. When they got close enough, Poe was able to see her creeping smile, and all of his stresses were suddenly relieved.

"I may or may not have some very good news for you, Mister Dameron."

"Oh really?" Poe placed his hands on his hips with a mocking sternness. "Do tell."

She began to slowly pace the floors with the explanation of her research. "After going through several files, I came across a suitable candidate that might know the whereabouts of your map. As Master Luke went missing three decades ago, we can presume he passed it along to a friend in a remote area. As I mentioned before, the sand planets are a good guess. I believe Jakku is the planet you are seeking. As you know, Naboo and Jakku have close ties in relation to the New Republic. I am glad that you asked for our help." She smiled, nodding her head low. "I was able to get in touch with one of our allies there, who said a certain explorer, once close to Luke Skywalker and a member of the Church of the Force, resides there in a small village. You might have heard his name before."

Poe couldn't place his finger on who the man might be. However, he was grateful for all that Theadlé had done. By intercepting her voice message into Jakku, she had taken a huge risk. It might have gained the attention of the First Order, but for now, they were safe.

"The man's name is Lor San Tekka. We haven't been able to reach him directly, as it would be too great of a risk."

"Lor San Tekka. I've heard the name mentioned by Leia." The memory from long ago was suddenly flooding back into Poe's head. "He was a strong believer in the Force, despite the rule of the Galactic Empire and not being force sensitive himself."

"I have never had the pleasure of meeting him personally. However, many here have spoke highly of him. He has retired since Luke's disappearance, in a spiritual and non-violent village on Jakku. I believe he may be of some use to you."

Poe mulled over the idea in his head. This could be their main lead. If Tekka had any information regarding the map, Poe had to be extremely careful about how to approach it. In fact, with the interception into Jakku's system from Naboo, the First Order could already have Theadlé in their system. If Poe wanted to keep them away for a while, he knew that waiting was the aim. Hopefully Tekka would remain safe and healthy in the next few weeks, which would be the amount of time that needed to pass before Poe could get to him.

"I am afraid that communication with our allies on Jakku was rather short and the signal was weak. I do not believe I can give you any more information."

"You've put yourself at risk," Poe intercepted. "You don't need to do any more than this. We wouldn't have been able to reach our Jakku allies at all if it weren't for the help of Naboo."

Theadlé offered him a warm smile, one that seemed more reminiscent of her youthful self than the headstrong woman she had become. "You know that Naboo would do anything to help the Resistance. Out of respect for the mother of Leia and Luke, we will never fail to see a mission through." Her eyes seemed to flash a shade darker, as if being clouded over with doubt. "No matter what the cost."

~.~.~.~.~.~

Poe's eyes stared up at the wooden ceiling above him. The sunlight was already cracking in from a nearby window. He had been watching it for several hours, as his mind was unable to bring itself into a dream. BB-8 had shut himself down as soon as they had been given their small guest room in the back of the palace, and Poe was left alone with his silent thoughts.

He let the cold air brush against his bare chest, his trousers slipping down past his waist. He was comfortable, to say the least, but being in such a place with nobody to talk to made him feel somewhat insecure, as if he had been forced out by the Resistance. Of course, he was the only person who could handle the jobs he'd been assigned.

He glanced down at the watch on his wrist, staring at the intercom button. If he pressed it, he would be able to get in touch with the Resistance on D'Qar. Naboo was a safe zone, and the Gungan's were experts in blocking out signals to make it seem as if they had need been made.

Mara would be getting her uniform, as well as her transmitter number at the end of the week. That was in two days. After that, Poe would be able to message her freely… Only in emergency situations, of course.

He groaned loudly, sliding his hands over his face. "What am I doing?" He whispered to himself. Mara's white teeth flashed in his memory, as her smile was her defining feature. It wasn't often that she showed it, since her inherent nature was shrouded over with shyness.

"I can't believe she likes Cry of the Ewoks. Unbelievable."

He remembered the excitement on her face when she told him about her favourite film. It was like the movie had been real, like a legend from the past. Of course, it was only a film, but to her it had meant something. He wished he could pick at her brain and see why it had fascinated her so much, but that would be a conversation for a day in the far away future.

"Maybe it's not as bad as I remember."

Her long hair would sometimes drape over her shoulders and fall towards the small of her back. Poe had worried that during her work it would come loose from the top of her head, and she would end up hurting herself due to its length.

"Don't worry so much," Poe mumbled to himself. "She's a grown woman who can take care of herself."

When Mara had come to fix his ship in the middle of the night, she had mumbled about what a fool Poe was. She was right, of course, but he was surprised that she had seen straight through him so quickly. He was proud and often reckless, but most people viewed him with admiration. She had side stepped his instructions in no time, risking his annoyance in order to protect him and fix his ship. Of course, Poe rarely got annoyed, but he had given her strict orders to stay away.

"It was a nice gesture, though." Poe cocked his head to the side. "She didn't need to do that."

She had said before that she had a hard time sleeping. In fact, he didn't tell her, but when she had woken up with a scream on Tatooine, he was only just outside. She thought she had been alone, but he couldn't help but watch as she tried to calm herself down. If Poe had revealed himself in order to help, he was worried it would only frighten her even more. Along with that, she said that death was always on her mind at the shooting range. What had happened to her? What were the horrible things she may have seen?

Poe didn't want to admit it openly, but he didn't want her to suffer alone.

He wanted to keep her beside him at night, not for any kind of lust or selfishness, but for her to feel safe. After all, that was in his job description. He only wanted to help her. He only wanted to see her smile again, as she had on her first day.

Poe felt as if his thoughts on the new mechanic could have reeled on, except they were interrupted with a shattering clang with the sound of shouts and cries following afterwards.

His body lunged forward in the bed, his hands instantly reaching for his shirt hanging at the edge of the bed frame. Whatever was going on outside, it couldn't have been good. As he fumbled to dress himself, the cries only grew louder. "BB-8!" He shouted. "Wake up! Something isn't right. We've got to move. Fast."

The droid instantly shot into action, his eye reeling around the room with distress. It only took him a moment to realize that the sound was coming from outside, but that it was getting louder with each passing second. He tuned his senses more accurately, and was able to detect that the noise was coming from outside of the hangar.

"The First Order," Poe spat through clenched teeth. "They probably intercepted the Senator's message and have come for her. We have to go. Now."

Poe had only seen Kylo Ren from a distance before. His long black mask resembled his grandfather before him. Of course, Poe had to keep that a secret from most people, as Leia had trusted him not to harm her son. Poe kept his blaster close to his hip, however, and hoped that he wouldn't need to use it.

When he cracked open the door, the sound of bullets flying and groans of wounded men and Gungan filled his ears. "C'mon, buddy!"

Him and the droid took the back passageways towards the hangar. Nobody was to be found in the corridors, as he had been placed under high protection and security. It was only when he reached the end of the hallway, with the heavy metal door that led to the hangar, when he truly felt his stomach flip.

"Mister Dameron? Do you read me? Mister Dameron, do you copy?"

The voice came from over his watch. He flicked it a few times, realizing that it was Theadlé who was trying to reach him. A hologram of her body appeared before him, her red hair a shade of blue that matched the serenity of the waterfalls. He only wished the moment was as serene. "If you get this message, do not come for me. Do not fight. You need to head back to the base before anything happens to you. You are the only one who knows the next target of the Resistance. Do not risk your life." She paused with the further words lingering on her lips. "We both know how reckless you can be for those you care about. Please, Poe, do not risk your life today."

Her image suddenly cut out, but before it did, Poe caught sight of her eyes darting elsewhere. It was likely that the First Order had made their way into her room, seizing her for more information. There was nothing he could do now but listen to her orders. She was not a forgiving woman.

And truthfully, she was right. Poe was the only one aside from her with the information of Tekka. He had to pass on the information to Leia as soon as possible, and without anyone fixating their attention on him. He and BB-8 needed to run out, head straight for the ship, and launch into light speed. Going back to D'Qar was too risky, however, and he knew that he would have to find a safe hiding ground for the next day or two.

Yavin-4 had too small of a population. He didn't want to put his family, or himself on the radar by making such a big mistake.

Where could he go?

There was only one option. Poe turned his head down to his droid. He sucked in a sharp breath before letting him know what would be happening.

"Alright, BB-8. I have a plan, and you're probably not going to like it."

~.~.~.~.~

PLEASE REVIEW! The more reviews, the more motivated I am to write :) xoxoxo