INT. BARRACKS - ONE WEEK LATER
Aleea finishes opening the last drawer in Dillon's space. Nothing. She had been searching every office, military camp, ship, and room in the palace that Dillon could've left any clues in.
Aleea sits on Dillon's bed and rubs her eyes. Her hands fall from her face as she starts to cry. Aleea tries to wipe the tears away, but she can't stop them from coming.
Suddenly, the door slides open. Cayson walks in.
Aleea quickly tries to wipe away all the tears so he doesn't notice. Cayson cocks his head to the side and immediately goes to sit next to Aleea.
CAYSON
Couldn't find anything?
Aleea nods her head and lets out a shudder of breath, still hiding her face.
Cayson wraps his arm around her shoulder and holds her.
CAYSON
We'll find him. Even if it's hard and it takes months, we'll find him.
Aleea starts bawling again.
ALEEA
I... don't want... it... to take months!
Aleea looks over into Cayson's eyes.
ALEEA
I have to find him now!
Aleea stands up.
ALEEA
He's in danger, I know it! And I won't just wait around!
CAYSON
But you're not waiting around. You've been searching for days.
Cayson stands up.
ALEEA
I just wish I knew where to start.
(whisper)
I have no way of finding him.
Cayson steps forward and surrounds Aleea in a hug. He closes his eyes, feeling the pain of the moment. He tries to push out the disturbing thoughts "what if I never see him again?"
Cayson moves his head and whispers into Aleea's ear.
CAYSON
We'll find him. We have to.
INT. CONTROL ROOM - LATER
Aleea sits at her desk in the room where the Alderaanian soldiers are given orders and briefings. Cayson stands at the center consul swiping the air, viewing different holographic files.
Aleea hears Dillon's voice behind her. Confused, she spins around.
She sees Cayson point at a hologram in front of him.
CAYSON
I may have found something.
ALEEA
Shh! Shh!
DILLON
... don't know if anyone will ever see this message. I'm recording this because... because I have some things I need to figure out for myself. I'm sorry to have to do this, but I can't stay. ... And I'm not going to tell you where I'm going either because I know you'll come after me. Please trust me. I hope to be back soon.
Aleea feels her insides start to boil. She almost yells out loud to the hologram, but holds herself back. She takes a deep breath and tells herself "whatever he's going through he has to figure this out on his own."
Aleea's head tilts. "On his own?"
Aleea rushes forward to the hologram to turn it off because it was on a loop.
ALEEA
He may not realize it, but he does need us. Whatever this is, we need to be there for each other.
Cayson smiles at Aleea's enthusiasm. Aleea looks over to Cayson.
ALEEA
That's what you taught me, remember?
Cayson's smile grows even wider.
CAYSON
Yes. I'm still here for you.
Aleea smiles back.
ALEEA
I'm here for you, too.
(beat)
Dillon needs to know we're here for him.
CAYSON
If we only had a way of finding him or contacting him.
Aleea mumbles to herself.
ALEEA
Hmm. Contacting him.
Aleea's face lights up.
ALEEA
Ooh! He never goes anywhere without a comm, right? Not after that incident when we were kids.
Cayson laughs.
CAYSON
Yeah. But I already tried calling him. He scrambled the signal. I can't get in contact.
ALEEA
Well, I think the next best thing is to think like Dillon!
Aleea speaks up again when she sees Cayson looks genuinely confused.
ALEEA
You know, what would Dillon need to sort out on his own, where would we go first if we were him.
CAYSON
Oh. Hmm. That's easy.
ALEEA
What?
CAYSON
If he were leaving Alderaan he'd go to Naboo first.
Aleea slaps Cayson on the shoulder.
ALEEA
Don't make jokes at a time like this!
Cayson laughs.
CAYSON
I wasn't trying to just be funny, it's true!
Aleea thinks about it for a moment.
ALEEA
Yeah, I guess that is true. Let's start there.
Author's Note: A little bit of foreshadowing… Dillon doesn't stay safe for long, and Cayson and Aleea don't know yet. Stick around for the next chapters! Will be including more fluff and adventure.