Rey could smell the ocean before she saw it. The jeep sped out of the jungle, entering a wide clearing where the road curved toward a fenced-in compound, the ocean now visible off to her right. The gates to Camp Ahsoka were open and the soldiers guarding them waved them through. The jeep Rey was in turned immediately to the right and continued on toward one of the larger buildings on the base, but the jeep following them continued on straight.
Rey watched it with concern. "Where are they going?"
"They're taking him straight to medical," Snap told her. At her worried look, he continued. "He's still stable, but he may need surgery." He nodded toward the building they had stopped in front of. "You need to debrief with the Admiral."
Rey sighed, but she knew he was right. She followed him out of the jeep, Iolo joining them as they entered the building. It was obviously the administration building, with desks dotting the large room, and most of the occupants watched her with interest as she continued following Snap toward a hallway near the back of the room. They walked down the hall toward the office at the end. The door was partially open, and Snap tapped on it lightly. "Admiral?"
"Come in," she heard a woman's voice say from inside.
Snap stepped inside and moved over so Rey could stand next to him. Standing behind a cluttered desk was a tall blonde woman in fatigues, her hair in a tight regulation bun, her bright blue eyes intent and curious. She appeared to be in her late 40's.
"Admiral," Snap continued. "This is Rey Skywalker, alive and well after an almost forty-mile jaunt through the jungles of Ajan Kloss."
Rey was taken aback twice over by Snap's statement. First, this was the Admiral? A woman was in charge of all these SEALs? And second, forty miles? Had she and Poe really walked that far? She stood there, speechless, as she looked back and forth between Snap and the Admiral.
"Thank you, Captain," the Admiral told him. "You and Arana can go get cleaned up. I'll expect your debrief in an hour."
Snap nodded and he and Iolo turned to leave. Rey watched them, wanting to ask about Poe again, but decided the Admiral would know as much, maybe more, now that they were on base. She turned back toward the woman.
"Miss Skywalker, I'm Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo. Please, sit down."
Rey grudgingly sat in the one chair in front of the desk and watched as the Admiral sat as well. "I want to know how Poe Dameron is doing, please Admiral," she said as she settled on the edge of the seat.
Holdo nodded. "I understand, and I'll get you that information as soon as it becomes available to me. I do know they were taking him in to surgery, that he suffered a gunshot wound to the shoulder and another in the abdomen, but I have no other information as of yet." She folded her hands on the top of the desk. "I have arranged for a helicopter to fly you to Bespin where your belongings, including your passport, are waiting for you. We already have you booked on a flight from there to Denver this evening."
Rey was stunned. So soon? "I… I don't know what to say. Thank you."
"The church group you were travelling with will be notified that you're safe, as well. The press will not be told anything, but I'm sure they'll find out soon enough and you'll be getting plenty of attention from them in the near future." She tilted her head. "In the meantime, do you need to be seen by a medic? Are you injured in any way?"
Rey shook her head. "No, just tired," she said. "It's been a long week."
Holdo smiled. "I bet." She leaned forward. "Tell me about it?" The Admiral produced a recording device from a drawer in her desk, and looked at Rey with a question in her eyes.
Rey nodded her permission to record the conversation, then at Holdo's nod to continue began to tell her story from the day El Halcón's men stormed the schoolhouse to her arrival at the base just minutes ago. Obviously, she left out some very important facts. Need to know, she thought. Holdo, the military, the DEA, the press… they did not need to know certain things.
Rey spent a good hour in Holdo's office. At one point, an aide came in with water and a ham and cheese sandwich for Rey, which she ate gratefully as she continued on with her story. After she was done and Holdo had turned off the recording device, Rey used the restroom to freshen up, then made her way back to the Admiral's office. Holdo was speaking to another officer when she entered, a young woman wearing Lieutenant Commander bars. They stopped talking when they saw Rey.
Holdo gave her a smile. "Are you ready to go home?"
Rey nodded, her eyes flashing between the two women. "Yes, but not until I know how Agent Dameron is doing?" She needed to know Poe was okay.
She didn't fail to notice the look the two women gave each other. "Rey, this is Lieutenant Commander Connix. She's going to escort you to the helicopter."
"Admiral?" Rey insisted.
Holdo sighed. "I'm sorry to tell you that José Dominguez did not survive surgery."
Rey felt her heart drop down to her stomach. No. Not possible. She swallowed, feeling a scream build in the back of her throat.
"Rey? Did you hear what I said?" the Admiral was saying. Rey blinked rapidly and tried to focus on her. "José Dominguez is dead."
With suddenly clarity, Rey recognized the emphasis in the Admiral's words. She had said José Dominguez. Twice. Not Poe Dameron. Her mind quickly recalled her first real conversation with Poe, back in the cave: "I would get caught in the crossfire, the SEALs would pull me out and sadly inform my 'father' that José Dominguez was dead."
Rey took another deep breath, hope filling her. She looked Holdo in the eye and the woman slowly nodded. Then Holdo looked at Connix. "Commander?"
"Yes, Admiral," the younger woman said, then she walked around the desk and motioned for Rey to walk with her.
"Have a safe trip home, Rey," Holdo said as Rey turned to leave. "And be prepared for a hero's welcome when you get there."
Rey nodded, still feeling a bit stunned. Poe was okay. That's what the unspoken words meant, right? She walked along with Connix almost blindly as they left the building. Rey found herself in the back seat of another jeep with Connix next to her, an unfamiliar soldier in the driver's seat. She looked about her, trying to find a familiar face. Snap. Iolo.
Poe.
The base wasn't large and it didn't take long before they were at the small airfield. Connix led Rey to a large helicopter Rey recognized as a UH-1N Iroquois, also known as a Huey. One of the pilots came around and opened the side door, helping her up and getting her seated and belted in, then handed her a pair of headphones. Connix stood outside. "Captain Kin will take you to the customs office once you arrive in Bespin and make sure you get your belongings and your ticket. Then you'll be good to go!"
Rey nodded, then noticed someone running up behind Connix. It was Snap!
"Rey!" he called as he passed Connix and Kin, stepping up into the helicopter. He handed her a folded-up handkerchief. "I was asked to give you this," he told her. "For you to keep safe." He turned and stepped out of the helicopter, then swung back to her. "Until he can come back for it." With that, Kin closed the door, and Rey heard the engines start up.
Confused, Rey looked at the cloth. Carefully, she unfolded it and gasped when she saw the silver chain glimmer as it fell from the handkerchief into her hand.
In her palm sat Poe's ring.
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