Poe dropped out of light speed just inside the Batuu System. He scanned for any ships in the area, wary of the patrols sent out by Hux. He wondered why Hux was searching for her if they'd had a 'falling out' like General Organa had said. It must have been for nefarious reasons, as Hux had never seemed like the type to care about anyone but himself. He approached Batuu and picked a place to land the Skiff. It was a decent clearing in the jungle a ways from the Outpost. He figured it would reduce the chances of being stolen while he was in the Outpost looking for her. He powered everything down and left it safely hidden. The planet was covered in a dense jungle, with towering remains of ancient trees peppering the landscape. They were called "spires" by the inhabitants of the planet and how the Outpost got its name. He set off toward the city, unsure of what he would find there.

The towering black trees loomed above him as he approached the outpost. The city sat nestled in the center of a ragged circle of the giant petrified trees. He guessed that they offered some semblance of protection for the inhabitants. The city itself was modest in size, but was teeming with life. He crossed a narrow bridge and kept his gaze forward, avoiding suspicious glances and trying not to be noticed. The narrow streets and passages between buildings and huts were like a maze. He navigated them carefully, making mental notes of landmarks as he walked. Various unsavory characters passed him as he walked, and he suddenly wondered why Hux's sister had chosen such a place to hide out. "Who is this girl?" He mumbled to himself.

Following General Organa's instructions, he made his way to the cantina to meet with her mysterious source. He had no idea who he was meeting there, she had only said that they would seek him out and provide the information. He chose a small table in the far corner, and sat with his back to the wall. From here he had a clear view of the entire establishment. He waited there, watching the other patrons eating and drinking. The atmosphere here felt close and secretive. Most patrons were dining alone. The few that sat in pairs only spoke in hushed voices. He waited uncomfortably for a long while, silently cursing the mystery source for making him wait this long. Soon it became clear to him that whoever he was supposed to meet had stood him up. He got up and walked over to the bar, motioning for the barkeep to come closer.

"I'm looking for an old friend. Her name is—" the barkeep stopped him quickly, glancing nervously around the room.

"No names here, friend." The barkeep whispered quickly. "Best way to find someone around here is not to look for them." He added cryptically. "If I were looking for someone, I'd start in the market. Busiest spot in the Outpost." He tipped his head toward the door and walked away, cleaning a glass. Poe took that as a clear invitation to leave and not come back.

He headed out in search of the market. He remembered passing an area with what appeared to be merchant stalls lined up along the edge of the street, so he went back to see if he could find it again. He went up a narrow set of stairs and turned left at the first intersection, then right at the next. He found the street he was looking for fairly easily. The street was wider than most he had seen, and there were carts and stalls crammed tightly beside one another on both sides of the street. The barkeep has been right about this being the busiest spot; cloaked and hooded figures filled the market until they were almost shoulder-to-shoulder. He sighed in frustration, wondering how he would ever find her here. He made his way through slowly, turning his body sideways to shoulder through the crowd. Any smaller figures that could have passed for a human female immediately caught his attention, but none stuck out to him. He quickly realized he had no idea what Tressida Hux even looked like. He spotted a raised archway in the high wall behind a cart piled with what could best be described as fruits, though he had never seen any of them before. He made for the archway but was stopped by the twi'lek woman who was selling the odd fruits.

"You look lost. Not a good idea around this lot." She hissed with a sly smile. "If it's information you seek, some can be bought with the right price." Her sharp teeth glinted as she smiled. He hesitated for a moment, then decided to take the chance. He was never going to find her on his own.

"I'm looking for someone. A girl. I know her name and nothing else." He whispered, dropping some coins into her outstretched hand. The twi'lek woman weighed them in her hand and quickly deposited them into a pouch.

"No names here. Maybe if you describe her?" She replied slyly. There was something unsettling about her smile. His frustration threatened to boil over. He hadn't been given a description of the girl. Remembering that they were twins, he thought of General Hux and figured she must look like her brother.

"If she's anything like her brother, she'll be a pasty red head with a pinched face and a high, whining voice." He said, cringing at the vision of Hux that appeared in his mind.

"Who the hell are you calling pasty?" A sharp voice asked from behind him. Startled, he turned slightly to face the voice, but stopped suddenly when he felt the barrel of a blaster pressed against his lower back. "Don't make me stun you, flyboy." The voice said quietly. "Step back this way. Don't turn around." He did as he was told, slowly stepping backward toward the voice. They moved into a close alleyway, just out of sight of the market. "That's far enough. Turn around slowly" he felt the blaster pull away from his back and he turned to face the source of the voice. Standing before him was clearly the woman he was looking for. She was a few inches shorter than him, wearing a pale rose-colored shirt and brown trousers, tucked into brown boots. She had a dark red cowl around her shoulders with the hood pulled low, covering the top of her forehead. Large green eyes glared at him from under the edge of the hood. Her blaster was still pointed at him. She reached up and pushed her hood back, revealing Hux-like red hair. It hung to her shoulders in wild, loose curls. She shared some similarities with her brother and yet seemed to be his exact opposite. Where he was rigid and militaristic, she seemed wild and unkempt.

"Tressida Hux, I presume?" He asked sarcastically.

"Who are you? Why were you looking for me?" She demanded. Her green eyes regarded him suspiciously.

"My name is Commander Poe Dameron. I'm with the Resistance. General Organa sent m—"

"Save it, flyboy." She said, interrupting him. "Tell your General my position hasn't changed. I'm not interested in working for the Resistance." She turned the blaster around and held it out to Poe handle first. "This belongs to you." She added quickly.

Confused, he glanced down at his empty holster and scoffed in surprise. Somehow she had managed to take his own weapon without him knowing. He took it from her with a scowl and put it back in the holster on his side.

"Flyboy?" He repeated, taken aback.

"The flight jacket gave you away." She replied, pointing at his dark jacket. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go pack. Thanks to you this place isn't safe for me anymore." She turned to walk away. Poe reached out quickly and caught her by the arm.

"Wait. Hear me out." He pleaded. She turned back toward him and jerked her arm from his grasp.

"Make it quick, Commander." She snapped.

"If you're looking for a place to hide out, the Resistance can protect you. General Organa sent me to find you. She needs to speak with you." He said, softening his voice. "And please, call me Poe." The General has said she wouldn't come easily, so he used every bit of charm he could muster to convince her. She huffed and shook her head, then pulled the dark red hood over her hair again.

"Not here. It's not safe. Follow me." She said quickly, turning and heading up the hill. He followed quietly as they made their way through narrow alleyways. He tried to maintain some sense of direction, but with all the twists and turns she was taking it soon became difficult to determine where anything was. Finally, they arrived at a stairwell that led up the side of a building to a small door. She glanced behind them quickly before heading up the stairs. She unlocked the door and once they were inside, she shut it quickly behind them, throwing the lock into place. Without hesitation she pushed her hood back and began moving around the room, shoving her minimal belongings into a brown satchel. The room was small, a cot was set up in the corner by the window. A small desk and chair sat against the wall beside it. On the other side of the room there was a square table with a single plate and cup sitting empty. He wondered how long she had been living in this cramped space.

"I know what she wants. I gave her my answer the last time we spoke. I won't do it." She said as she packed. Her voice was strong yet soft, and she spoke with the same affluent accent as her brother.

"I don't know what she asked you to do, but I'm sure whatever it was is absolutely necessary or else she would never have asked." Poe replied. "The Cause needs all the help it can get."

She stopped and faced him, laughing. "The Cause? Sorry, no cause is worth doing what she's asked of me. I simply can't do it."

"Tressida, please—" he pleaded.

"It's Tessa, by the way. I go by Tessa." She interrupted.

"Tessa," He corrected, "come back with me. Talk with General Organa. Even if you can't help, we can offer you protection. Your brother has patrols out looking for you all over the Galaxy. It won't be long before he finds you. At least with us you stand a chance." He said in a sure voice.

TESSA regarded the man in front of her carefully. He didn't appear to be much older than she was. He was slightly taller than her, with a tan complexion and dark brown eyes. His brown hair was a wavy mess that he absentmindedly kept sweeping aside with his hand. The news of her brother shocked her for a moment. She didn't know he had suddenly started searching for her...what could he possibly want with her? She shivered slightly at the thought. Would she be safer with this man she'd just met? Could she trust him? She contemplated her next move, weighing her options in her mind. She could say no, and find a new place to hide, but that would be risky. If the Resistance could find her here, certainly her brother could. On the other hand, if she went with Poe she'd be protected by the Resistance...but that would mean having to face General Organa again. She didn't know if she had the strength to say 'no' a second time. Before she could make her mind up, a commotion outside drew their attention to the window. From their vantage point they could clearly see people running and could hear the screams from three streets over. Suddenly they saw the white armor of stormtroopers filing into the street.

"We have to go. Now." He exclaimed. Tessa felt him tug at her arm and she tore her attention away from the scene unfolding below. She grabbed her bag and put her head and arm through the strap, securing the bag across her body.

"You don't happen to have any weapons, do you?" He asked.

"No...why do you think I stole yours?" She replied sarcastically. Shaking his head, he unlocked the door and opened it slowly, peeking out. When he determined the area was clear he drew his blaster with one hand and grabbed her hand with the other. She started to protest but he ignored her and pulled her out of the door behind him. Stopping at every corner to check for stormtroopers, they wound their way through narrow streets and alleyways. They heard screams and the occasional blaster going off somewhere behind them. Tessa stopped, turning to look behind her. The screams filled her ears and for a second she considered running back to help them. She was the reason the stormtroopers were here at all. Poe pulled her forward again and led her down a set of stairs. The walls on both sides were high, and with the light of the day fading everything seemed darker and more sinister. On the street below they could see dark, cloaked figures hurrying by, seeking shelter. Poe stopped and turned around, looking back the way they came. The screams and blasts were louder, closer. He grabbed her cowl hood and pulled it up over her hair.

"Stay close, don't let go." He ordered calmly, putting her hand on the back of his jacket. She nodded and grabbed his jacket. They moved along the wall to the bottom of the stairs, stopping just before they reached the entrance to the street below. He glanced out, checking both ways. After a second he moved quickly into the panicked crowd and she held on tightly to his jacket, trying not to slow him down. Suddenly bright lights flicked on ahead, flooding the dark street in blinding light. The people around them scattered like frightened animals, taking shelter in doorways and alleys. Stormtroopers filed into the street, pointing blasters at them as they fled. She heard them shouting orders at the crowd, but couldn't hear what they were saying over the melee. Poe yanked her down behind a low wall and they took cover there.

"How many did you see?" He asked breathlessly.

"5? Maybe 6? Hard to tell with those lights." She answered. He snuck a peek over the top of the stone wall they were crouching behind.

"5. That's doable." He quipped casually. She stared at him, impressed that he could find humor in their situation. He shrugged and gave her a wry smile. He was clearly enjoying this. A cloaked figure stepped out from a nearby alley and fired at the stormtroopers. They began firing back and more figures came out of the darkness to fight back. Poe took the opportunity to run now that they had cover fire. He put her hand on the back of his jacket again and took off, staying low to the ground. They moved from cover to cover, making their way up the street toward the stormtroopers. Poe was firing his blaster as they ran, clearing the way past the makeshift blockade. They ran headlong into an open square with 4 roads heading in each direction. Before they could choose their path stormtroopers appeared all around them. They were surrounded. Tessa and Poe turned back-to-back, squaring off with the enemy.

POE fired the first shot, hitting a stormtrooper in the shoulder. He took another down with a shot to the abdomen and another in the leg. He turned around quickly to grab Tessa, finding her gone. He spun in all directions, searching the square for any sign of her. Suddenly movement caught his eye and he saw her, fighting hand-to-hand with a stormtrooper. She had pulled off her red cowl and was using it to subdue the stormtrooper. She wrapped it around his neck and in a few quick motions had his arm tangled in the loop. She yanked his helmet back and punched him square in the throat, knocking him to the ground. She took his blaster and began firing at the enemy in all directions, hyper focused on her targets. He watched her work, surprised at her skill as a fighter and marksman. Suddenly he was embarrassed for dragging her around like a child. Suddenly another stormtrooper surprised her from behind and struck her with the butt of his weapon. She dropped her blaster and spun around to defend herself. Poe started to run to her but he was engaged from behind as well. Another stormtrooper disarmed him and hit him in the head, nearly knocking him unconscious. His vision darkened around the edges and he felt himself being forced onto his knees. Directly in front of him he saw Tessa wrestling with another stormtrooper. He reached for the knife he kept tucked in his boot, but it was gone. He looked back toward Tessa to tell her to run, then felt the arms that were holding him suddenly loosen. He looked back at the dead stormtrooper, his own knife protruding from the eye of the helmet. Stunned, he looked back at Tessa, who was crouched on the ground, her arm still extended from throwing his knife. She rose quickly and ran over to him, helping him up off the ground. She handed him his blaster and yanked the knife from the dead stormtrooper. She casually wiped the bloody blade on her pant leg and handed it to Poe handle-first.

"Will you stop stealing my weapons?" He exclaimed breathlessly.

"Sorry! I killed him, didn't I?" She replied sharply. There was something different about the way she looked, like a feral felinx that had been backed into a corner. There was a ferocity burning in her eyes that made him wonder about her past.

"Where is your ship?" She asked, changing the subject.

"In a jungle clearing east of the outpost." He answered. She picked up a stormtrooper blaster and started walking. Poe shook his head and followed behind.

They made it out of the outpost without meeting any more patrols, crossing the narrow bridge he had come over earlier. Once they passed inside the dense jungle they slowed their pace. They reached the clearing and he pulled her back at the edge. She turned to question him and he put a finger to his lips to silence her. He carefully scanned the area around the Skiff for any signs that it had been found by the enemy. When he was satisfied that they were safe, he led her to the Skiff and lowered the door. She followed him on board and he raised the door behind them. He immediately took the pilot's seat and began flipping switches and starting the engines.

TESSA lowered herself carefully into the copilot's seat and watched him work. Taking off was his sole focus for the moment, and she was amazed at how fast he worked. He reached up and slowly pushed a lever forward and she felt the ship rising from the ground. From the window she could see the tops of the trees surrounding the outpost. She glanced over at the docking pads below and a chill ran down her spine when she saw the First Order transport vessel docked there. She shook the feeling off and looked away. Somewhere her brother was waiting for news of her whereabouts. She couldn't guess as to why he had suddenly decided to seek her out, but she didn't feel good about it. The Outpost shrank away as they ascended. Once they were safely off the planet, Poe set the navigation and prepped the hyperdrive.

"You might want to sit back." He suggested as he pushed the throttle forward. The Skiff jumped to light speed and she watched as the stars flew past.

They didn't speak for a few minutes, both of them replaying the events of the day in their minds. She glanced at him and noticed the wound under his right eye. A trickle of blood was running slowly down around his cheekbone.

"You're bleeding." She said quietly. He looked surprised and touched his cheek gently with his hand, as if to confirm what she said. "I'll go find a medical kit." She got up and headed to the back of the Skiff, searching through compartments as she went. She found a small medical kit and brought it back up.

"I'm fine. You don't need to do that." He protested as she opened the box and rifled through the bandages.

"Nonsense. I can't have you bleeding to death after what we just went through." She joked. He chuckled and focused on the instrument panel as she worked, cleaning the cut. "There. I think you'll live." She added when she was done.

"Who are you?" He asked suddenly, his brow furrowed.

"Didn't we cover this? How hard did that stormtrooper hit you?" She asked, eyeing him suspiciously.

He shook his head. "No...I meant that fight in the square...what was that? Where did that come from?" He asked, flustered.

"You really don't know anything about me, do you?" She asked, sitting down to face him. He shook his head and turned slightly in the seat to face her. "It's a long story, honestly." She said, looking down at her hands.

"We've got nothing but time." He replied.