Finn sat back in his chair around the comms table with a huff. He crossed his arms over his chest, expression neutral - neither happy nor sad.
Finn worked his jaw in concentration and looked up to the group seated around the table. Poe sat next to him, with Rose on his other side. Jannah, Lando, Chewy, and Zorii were all present as well.
Poe was happy - happier than he cared to admit - that Zorii had decided to hang around the base after the war ended. It was a pleasant surprise - she was always on the move, so it was nice to have someone from his past in his life. Especially someone with whom he shared an intimate history.
He wondered, though, when she would get restless. Zorii always did. She would suddenly be ready to pick up and leave again - onto her next bounty or next exciting new adventure.
Poe was first to break the silence after Rey's voice disappeared. "Well, she's ok. That's good news."
Finn sighed, "Yeah, for now. I don't trust him." Finn's eyes moved to Rose across the table.
Poe nodded, "How can anyone trust him?. But, don't you think if he was going to hurt her, or even kill her, he would have done it by now?"
Finn shook his head, eyes flicking back to him, "Not what I'm afraid of."
Poe knew what he meant. Finn was terrified of the possibility of his best friend's pure soul turning dark by the influence of Kylo Ren, becoming the next Empress or Supreme Leader. He practically considered that worse than death.
Poor guy. No wonder he's been absent these past few days.
Finn shook his head and sat up straight. "Let's get to the point, to why we've called you guys here. 'Specially you, Lando." Finn nodded in his direction.
Lando let out a short laugh, placing his hands on the table. "Ha! O-k. Out with it, then."
Chewy groaned in agreement, the sound echoing off the Ajan Kloss cave walls.
Everyone around them leaned in slightly, eager to know why they were there.
Poe cleared his throat, then spoke up, "I like this planet as much as anyone, but we can't stay here forever. We've won the war. Now, we have to move on, to continue the work."
Poe paused, letting that sink in. He eyed his friends around the table, who were listening intently to his every word.
"Leia fought for freedom and a just-galaxy. No more tyranny by a corrupt and evil government" Poe continued, "But right now, that's not what we have."
A few of the heads around the table started to nod.
"We have a mess." Finn interjected.
Poe nodded, agreeing, "Yes, it is a mess. But it's also an opportunity. The galaxy needs our help. We have to lead them, to rebuild. A new republic, just like...before, like the Hosnian System."
They all silently cringed, remembering the millions of lives who were so cruelly stolen by the First Order's Starkiller base. Poe remembered how Leia had crumbled to the floor as she felt those souls simultaneously end. Poe had thought the pain of it alone may take her life too.
Poe continued, "But I say it again...freedom and opportunity. We need you, but if your life is calling you somewhere else," he shook his head, "then by all means, do it. No one is forcing you to stay here."
Rose spoke, "I go where you go." Then, her eyes flicked to Finn.
Finn smiled back at her, nodding his head once.
Jannah shrugged, leaning her arms on her legs, "Hell, I've got nowhere else to go. Certainly not going back to Kef Bir. There's nothing for me there. I've been searching for belonging ever since I defected. I'm in, all the way."
Chewy roared, to no one's surprise, a definite yes.
There was a movement out of the corner of Poe's eye and a small hissing sound as Zorii took off her helmet. It had been so long since Poe had seen her entire face. She rarely took it off, practically a Mandalorian.
Zorii was striking. Her hair was wavy and cropped angular and short to her shoulders, with dark eyes and eyebrows that framed her face. She was beautiful, a mature and seasoned version of the young, scrappy girl Poe once knew from all those years ago.
Heat always built inside Poe as he remembered the fiery romance they once shared as young teenagers. That same fire still burned dimly, at least for Poe, especially now seeing her face again.
Zorii twirled her helmet in her hands as she sat in silent thought..
Poe looked at her, expectantly. "Zorii, you don't-"
"I'm with you." Her head snapped to meet Poe's eyes.
Poe's stomach dropped, not expecting her response.
Is that why she's still here? Does she...?
Poe's lips pulled across his teeth in a giant grin.
She raised a finger in his face, shaking it at him, "But don't you dare expect me to play by stupid rules or get involved in that fancy politician non-sense! No way. Just here to help you guys get back on your feet, then I'm out."
Poe laughed, expecting nothing less from Zorii. Always the spit-fire.
All eyes turned to Lando.
"General Calrissian." Poe said, "You've got more knowledge of the galaxy than any of us around the table, combined."
"Hey, woah now, I'm not that old buddy." Lando laughed.
Poe smiled and shifted in his seat, "You've seen almost every planet, you know all the ins and outs, the secrets and the people."
Lando smiled, clearly understanding where this was going. "You need a capital. A new home."
Finn and Poe exhaled and nodded, "We need a capital."
Lando sat back in his seat and sighed, eyeing the table in front of them as he thought. "Well, it would be best if the planet was on a major trade route. To damn difficult to get resources anywhere else in the galaxy, unless you want to rely on the planet 100%, which...don't do, trust me."
He rubbed his chin, frowned, then continued, "It needs to be large enough, but not too large. You have to maintain control, at least in the beginning. And I don't pick a planet that already has an established democracy of their own - you'll just piss the locals off coming in telling them what to do."
Finn huffed, "Damn, so Naboo is out."
"Afraid so, kid." Lando smiled at Finn, "Hmmm..."
Chewy roared a suggestion.
Lando laughed, "Chewy, nice try, but we can't do Kashyyyk. I don't think you wookies would take nicely to us barging in."
Chewy shook his head and grumbled his disappointment.
All eyes turned back to Lando as he continued to ponder, "Corellia? No, too corrupt..hmmmm, Vendaxa? No, can't go back there after that little incident...hmm, Fondor? No, too boring..."
Lando sighed and shrugged, "I think Chandrila's your best bet, kids."
"Knew it,' Finn mumbled.
"There's still a lot of support for the Republic there, so you would be welcomed. Small enough to maintain control and not let things get out of hand. Leia loved that world..." Lando's eye lit up as he remembered the princess, "In any case, it's also on a major trade route and it's right next to Coruscant and the other core worlds."
Poe nodded, "It's as good a place as any. We'll start there."
Lando grinned, nodding. "I have a few connections on Chandrila. Let me get in touch with them, to ensure a smooth arrival." He winked.
Poe nodded, "Thank you, General." He turned his head to the rest around the table. "And thank you all, for everything. Leia would be proud."
They rose and returned back to their duties. Finn and Rose walked off together, his arm slung around her shoulders and her arm snaked tightly around his waist. Poe smiled as he watched his friends leave.
Zorii stayed behind, her helmet still removed and the ends of her dark brown hair brushing against the golden plate of her body suit.
Poe turned to face her, saying nothing. He crossed his arms, shifted his weight to one hip, and raised his eyebrows.
Zorii eyed him, tilting her head back and laughed, "Oh, don't give me that look, Dameron. I've nowhere else to go."
Poe laughed and shook his head, looking down at his boots.
"Plus, if you can't beat 'em join 'em." Zorii stepped closer to him, "You wouldn't stay with me back on Kijimi, so..." She shrugged, "Figure this whole resistance thing must mean a lot to you to give up your old pirating days." She stepped closer and ran a finger down the trim of his jacket, "Guess I'll stay with you, wherever that is."
Her dark eyes sparkled as they looked up at him. Something in Poe's stomach dropped straight to the floor and he was immediately taken back to sweet memories of his past with Zorii. She used to saunter close to him like this, and gaze up into his eyes, straight through to his soul. She was good at whatever it was she did to him.
And he never wanted her to stop.
Poe stepped closer to her, placing a finger under her chin. "I'm glad you're staying." He paused as he enjoyed the view of her face filling his vision. "Can I have that kiss now?"
Zorii grinned and closed the gap between them, crushing Poe to her as she melted her lips against his.
