Chapter Eleven

Bad luck continued to haunt Finn and Rose. It felt like they could not catch a break since Canto Bight. First the rebel leaders from the outer rim had refused to meet with them and now they were cut off from their ship.

The population erupted into chaos. Finn didn't know who the enemy was or why people were fighting. He could feel the simmering tension in the air as soon as they landed. It felt like the entire world was waiting for something to happen. Now, they were fighting just to return to their ship.

"Can you see the hanger?" Rose had to shout for him to hear her, even though they were standing right next to each other. They had taken refuge in a narrow alley.

"We still have three blocks to go," Finn replied.

Three blocks might not sound like a lot, but it might as well be half a system away. The entire way was blocked by fighting and looting.

"There is no way we can make it on the street." Looking around Rose's gaze settled on the roof line. "I think we need to use the rooftops."

"I think you are right," Finn replied.

Looking around, they spied a clothing line that become disconnected from one rooftop. Tugging on the line to test its hold, Finn started climbing first. He reached the rooftop quickly and turned to reach an arm down to Rose. She was struggling but once she got within reach, he hauled her up.

Keeping low, they surveyed their surroundings. It didn't seem possible, but it looked even worse from up here. Fires had broken out in some parts of the city. Smoke billowed in the air, obscuring the skyline. There didn't seem to be any clear sides to the fight. Everyone was fighting everyone. If people weren't fighting each other, they were looting the nearby businesses or just destroying property.

"Any idea what caused this?"

Rose shock her head in response. "No idea. I didn't think a region could destabilize so fast."

"We need to get out of here and report back to Leia. Hopefully, this is just an isolated incidence." Even as Finn spoke, he knew it was probably wrong. Why would this place fall into chaos and not another? It was hard to believe that this could happen so quickly after the First Order withdrew from the system. Surely, the local government was strong enough to prevent this from happening. However, the proof that it wasn't was all around him.

"I think we should be able to make it to the hanger. All of the buildings look pretty close together."

Finn and Rose kept low as they ran across the rooftops. All around them the sounds of pandemonium roared. Someone had taken up a sniper position and was now shooting indiscriminately down into the crowd. Finn wanted to stop and help but there was just no way. The best they could do was get off world and report back to command. Two people couldn't stop all of this.

As they neared the hanger, Finn had a moment of hope. They were going to make it. Almost immediately after thinking those words, the entire hanger blew up. The blast was so strong, it threw them both back across the entire rooftop.

Ears ringing, Finn unsteadily got up. He checked on Rose and saw that she too was only disoriented. They were lucky. They could have been in the hanger.

"We need to get out of here," Rose stated. Her expression was grim.

"Where?"

"We need to get out of town. We'll lie low somewhere in the country and try to reestablish communications with command."

It sounded like a good plan, but Finn feared it was easier said than done. Keeping to the rooftops. They started heading in the opposite direction. They followed the rooftops for as long as they could. Eventually they could go no farther. Several buildings had been reduced to rubble. With no other options, they were forced to climb down. Finn shimmyed down a drainpipe first and then turned to help Rose down.

They crouched low and cautiously peered around the corner. Fight still raged on but it wasn't as intense in this part of the city. Taking a deep breath, they headed out.

…..

"Any word from Finn and Rose?"

Rey had been anxious ever since they had received word that the Hartarian system had fallen into bedlam.

The grim expression on Leia's face told Rey what she needed to know.

"I am going to get them," Rey stated.

She turned to leave. Their group had already lost several members to the chaos that was spreading throughout the galaxy. She wasn't going to stand by and let anything happen to Finn.

"Rey, I don't think that is a good idea."

Rey looked back at Leia. Utter confusion and disbelief written on her features. "What? Why?"

"Rey, I know how hard it is, but we need to be smart. Finn and Rose are intelligent and well trained. They will find someplace to lie low. It is far riskier to try to get them than it is to stay and wait this out. The First Order and every bounty hunter in the galaxy will be looking for the Falcon."

"Do you think that I care about any of that?" Rey's voice got louder the longer that she spoke. "We can't count on the fact that Rey and Finn will stay safe for long. The entire system has fallen into chaos. How long before some lunatic gets their hands on some heavy arsenal and major damage starts taking place?"

"Rey, please," Leia begged. "At least give it a few days to calm down. Have enough faith in your friends to at least wait."

Rey didn't like the implication that Leia was trying to force on her. Of course, she had faith in her friends but that didn't mean she wasn't going to rush to help them. She could not stand by while the people she cared for were in danger.

Steeling her resolve, Rey straightened her spine before replying. "I am not going to wait."

"Rey, you will remain here. That is an order."

"Lucky for me, I am not one of your soldiers." With that, Rey turned and left the room. She would find Finn and Rose. Find them and bring them home. Wherever home was.