On the jungle planet D'Qar, the Resistance has set up its base of operations, a mostly underground facility around which ships of various types are landed, including the Millennium Falcon, and an ancient looking x-wing that has seen better days.
Tobias is the first to exit the Falcon, immediately followed by Rey, Finn, BB-8, Han, and Chewbacca.
Suddenly, BB-8 races past the others, almost knocking Finn down. The small droid races toward a nearby x-wing. Tobias watches as the ship's pilot takes his helmet off.
Looks like Poe made it after all. Tobias thinks, as he starts walking toward the x-wing.
Tobias reaches the x-wing, and watches as Poe Dameron is kneeling on the ground, talking to BB-8. The pilot stops talking to the droid, and looks at Tobias. He stands up.
"Toby!" Poe says. He runs to Tobias, and embraces him.
"I thought you were dead." Tobias says.
"Right back at you, buddy. Where've you been?" Poe asks.
"Jakku. Didn't have comms, or a ship." Tobias answers.
"So, you couldn't call for help." Poe says.
"Honestly, I needed the time away. Time to heal. Time to think." Tobias answers.
"The general thought you were dead too. Not cool man." Poe says.
"I know. Mom and I... already talked about it." Tobias says.
"So, you sticking around?" Poe asks.
"Yeah." Tobias answers.
"Good. Well, who do we have here?" Poe asks, as he spots Rey walking toward them.
"This… is Rey." Tobias answers.
"Welcome, Rey. I'm Poe Dameron. Best fighter pilot in the galaxy." Poe says.
Of course, he's trying to impress her. Like he does with all the ladies. Sorry, buddy. She's already spoken for. Tobias thinks.
"Hello, Poe. I've heard all about you from Toby." Rey says.
"He told you everything, huh? Well, don't believe everything the Ice Queen says. I'm a nice guy." Poe says.
"Ice Queen?" Rey asks.
"He's called me that since I was about fifteen." Tobias answers.
"That's because he's so damn quiet all the time. Hardly ever smiles. And he won't date anyone. I tried to set him up with girls more times than I can count. He shot me down everytime." Poe says.
"He doesn't have that problem anymore." Rey says, as she takes Tobias' hand.
"Oh. So… you two are… " Poe says.
"Yeah." Tobias says.
"Cool, man. I'd better get inside and check in before the general skins me alive. We'll catch up later. Nice to meet you, Rey." Poe says.
"You too." Rey says. Poe walks away, followed by BB-8.
"So, that's your best friend. Not what I pictured." Rey says.
"What did you expect?" Tobias asks.
"Sweeter. Gentler. Someone more like you." Rey answers.
"We have a lot of differences, but we've been friends since I was seven. Hot Dog's okay once you get to know him." Tobias says. Rey starts giggling.
"Hot Dog?" Rey asks.
"He calls me Ice Queen. I call him Hot Dog." Tobias answers. Rey smiles.
"You're a silly one, Tobias Solo." Rey says. Tobias wraps an arm around her, and kisses her cheek.
"Yes, ma'am." Tobias says.
In the command center of the Resistance base, Tobias is standing at a large holotable with Rey, Luke, Leia, Finn, Poe, BB-8, C3PO, and several pilots and officers. The group is looking at a holoprojection of a planet that appears to have a large trench cut into its surface.
"They… cut up a planet to make this thing…" Tobias says.
"It's called Starkiller Base. It draws its power from the sun, and... Well, we know what it can do." Finn says.
"Why would somebody make such a thing?" Rey asks.
"Snoke… wants to control everything. That which he can't control, he destroys." Luke answers.
"It's happened before. With the old Empire and their Death Stars." Poe says.
"How do we take this thing out?" Tobias asks.
"You have to get through the shields somehow. The only way in is by access code." Finn answers.
"You seem to know a lot about this thing." Tobias says.
"I used to work there. One of my guard assignments happened to be shield control." Finn says.
"It's like Endor, all over again." Luke says.
"Except this time, we don't have a stolen shuttle to sneak in with." Leia says.
"Then we just find someone from the First Order and ask them to pretty please give us their code." Poe says.
"That's exactly what we're going to do." Leia says.
"Pardon me, general, but… how?" Poe asks.
"Luke's going to get the information we need from... the prisoner." Leia answers.
"I don't think Kylo Ren is going to help you." Finn says.
"He won't have a choice. I'm going to take the information we need from his mind." Luke says.
"You can do that?" Finn asks.
"Of course he can. He's Luke Skywalker. If he told us he could teleport across the universe, I'd believe him." Poe says. Luke chuckles.
"It's been a while since I've done that." Luke says. Leia smiles.
I've missed this. My family… is almost whole again. Han, Luke, and Toby they're all here. If we can get Ben back too… First, we take out this abomination, then… we deal with Snoke. Leia thinks.
"It sounds like we have a plan. Luke will get the information we need. Once we have it, we'll launch a fighter assault against Starkiller Base. Poe, have your squadrons on standby." Leia says.
"Understood." Poe says.
"Alright, everyone, we have a lot of work to do, so we'd better get to it. Dismissed." Leia says.
As the meeting in the command center ends, Tobias and Rey return to the Millennium Falcon, and head to the cabin that has been serving as their quarters.
"Now that you and I have some alone time, why don't we put it to good use?" Tobias asks.
"Good idea. What are you thinking? Dejarik? Sabaac?" Rey asks.
"Actually… I had something else in mind." Tobias answers.
"Really? What's that?" Rey asks.
"Let me show you." Tobias answers. A few seconds later, he suddenly kisses Rey on the lips.
"Oh. I like this game. What's next?" Rey asks.
"We… take each other's clothes off, then we go from there." Tobias answers.
"I've heard of this game. I'm pretty sure we've played it before." Rey says.
"I'm up for a rematch if you are." Tobias says.
"Always. It's my favorite game." Rey says.
"I thought so." Tobias says.
An hour later, Tobias and Rey are in the process of getting dressed. Tobias watches as Rey looks at her outfit, appearing to be disgusted with it.
"I look like trash!" Rey says.
"No, you don't." Tobias says.
"Yes, I do! Everybody here… is dressed so nice, and I'm in the same rags I wear everyday!" Rey says. Tobias walks to her, and takes her hand.
"We're not on Jakku anymore. If you asked my mom for new clothes, she'd get you something. Even if it's just a basic uniform." Tobias says.
"Clean clothes? All I'd have to do…. Is ask for them?" Rey asks.
"That's right. Around here, people help each other. Oh yeah, you get free food too." Tobias answers.
"Food… without paying for it?" Rey asks.
"Yeah." Tobias answers.
"So, I could just go into the base and ask for a quarter portion, and they'd give it to me?" Rey asks.
"You could ask for a meal, and they'd give it to you." Tobias answers.
"A... meal… is that like… a whole portion?" Rey asks.
"It's a little more than that. I'm talking real meat, with usually some kind of fruit, and a drink." Tobias answers.
"A drink? I'd get water too?" Rey asks.
"Water, caf, blue milk. You name it. I think they have a few kinds of juice too." Tobias answers. Rey starts crying, and Tobias comforts her.
"I've had to struggle… for so long. Hunting for scraps everyday, just so… I could get enough to eat to survive. It's the… only life I've ever known." Rey says between sobs.
"I know sweetheart. I know it's been hard on you, but you don't have to live like that anymore." Tobias says.
"I don't?" Rey asks.
"No. You can do whatever you want. You don't have to go back to Jakku. Ever." Tobias answers.
"Really?" Rey asks.
"I mean it. You don't have to set foot on that rock ever again. When this war's over, you and me… we can go... wherever. Do whatever." Tobias answers. Rey smiles, then kisses him.
"We can… do whatever we want. I'd like that." Rey says. Tobias smiles.
"I love you." Tobias says.
"I know." Rey says. The two lovers kiss once more.
A few hours later, Tobias and Rey are in the command center. They are standing near the large holotable with Luke, Leia, Han, Chewbacca, Finn, BB-8, and C3PO. They are now joined by R2-D2, who is standing next to Luke.
"Admiral, how long before our squadrons get to Starkiller base?" Leia asks.
"Our fighters should be entering the system... now." Admiral Ackbar answers. Leia nods, then presses a few buttons on the table in front of her.
"Commander Dameron, report status." Leia says.
"All wings are in position, general." Poe Dameron says over the comm.
"Enter the access code whenever you're ready, then wait for confirmation that the shield is down." Leia says.
"I copy, general. Are you sure about this? What if Kylo gave us the wrong code?" Poe asks.
"He didn't." Leia answers.
"Okay, then. I hope this works." Poe says.
"Me too." Leia says.
"Entering code now." Poe says.
After a moment, Leia says "Admiral, what's our status?"
"The shield is down." Ackbar answers.
"Commander, you have a go. Begin your attack!" Leia says.
"I copy, general. Black Squadron, with me! Red and Blue Squadrons, keep those TIEs off our backs!" Poe says over the comm.
Over the next several minutes, the gathered crowd listens to the comm chatter between the pilots as Poe leads the fighter assault on Starkiller Base. Along the way, Poe loses a few pilots during the battle.
"Black Leader to base, thermal oscillator is in firing range! Torpedoes armed and ready!" Poe says over the comm.
"I copy, commander. As soon as you have the shot, you take it." Leia says.
"Yes, general." Poe says.
The resistance members listen as Poe makes his final approach. Eventually, the comm goes silent.
"Base to Black Leader. Come in please." Leia says. There is no response.
I hope Poe's alright. I should have gone with him. Tobias thinks.
"Black Leader, please respond." Leia says. There is no response, and nearly a minute of silence follows.
"Black Leader to base! Target destroyed! I repeat! Target destroyed!" Poe says over the comm. The resistance fighters begin celebrating.
Starkiller Base... is gone. The Resistance has just had its greatest victory. Maybe we'll win this thing after all. Tobias thinks.
This one's going on break for a bit as I write the next chapters. Most likely won't update again until March.