Chapter 3: Poe Dameron II
The streams of hyperspace vanished, replaced with static stars. He knew the planet below instantly. He had been there before about ten standard years ago.
"Are you serious?"
The boy, crammed into the rear seat of the X-Wing chuckled. "The Tekka says it's because of the damage that was done here. Force is all messed up, yeah? Safe place."
"I hate Jakku, the place feels wrong." Poe said, looking down at enormous scar line from the death of the last ever Imperial Super Star Destroyer that was even visible here in geosynchronous orbit.
"You got the coordinates?"
Poe nodded, putting the memory of his first and last time on that hell-world. He took manual control of the X-wing and headed down into the thin skin of atmosphere. The co-ordinates led to an area just behind the terminator, in heavy dusk. At least it would be cooler.
"That's it, right there." The boy said after a few minutes of descent. Life signs were starting to flick into life on the sensors, marking out Tuanul.
"Good, I hope you're right about this kid." Poe said, eager to see the back of deserts, desert planets and planets in general.
If only the rebellion had decided to have a fleet-based leadership. He thought as the small village started to take shape out of the heat haze in the distance.
He dropped the landing gear when people could be clearly picked out among the buildings, all of which were simple, primitive and little more than shacks.
"It not much, but it is home." The boy said, un-fastening his harness. "We live simple here. Don't see many strangers, but I take you to Tekka."
Eager to get it finished and back to base, Poe released the roof of the X-wing.
The air was scorching despite the sun being below the horizon. The boy had leapt from his X-wing and into the arms of the gathered crowd. The people of Jakku seemed all small, dry things, mostly human and covered – for the most part – head to foot in sand robes.
One figure separated itself from the crowd and approached: taller, leaner but just as heavily robed.
BB-8, free from the interface, rolled over beeping and clicking.
"I sure hope so buddy. This planet is a killer."
The figure reached up to its face and pulled away the smock covering its nose and mouth.
Poe sighed in relief. It was Tekka. Older, worn, but unmistakably him. He stepped forward, meeting the old man and held out a hand.
"Master San Tekka. I'm Poe Dameron, she sent me to find you."
The old man smiled. He was almost extremely thin, with wispy white hair fluffing out from his veil and his grey eyes were watery in the heat. "Hello, commander Dameron. I've been waiting. Please come inside."
The air inside the hut was cool and less arid than outside, lit with simple glowing orbs that did little to penetrate the darkness.
"You must appreciate that I am both glad and unhappy to see you, commander." Tekka said, easing himself onto a stool. "If not for the coming of this First Order, my secret would have died with me, as he wanted. But time is short."
"I'm sorry, Master Tekka, but that's maddeningly vague. The general has been searching for Master Skywalker for almost a decade. Are you saying you've known where he is all this time?"
The old man smiled wearily. "I'm afraid so. I've known her since she was a child and keeping the truth from her all this time has been an agony for me. Hopefully this will begin to make things right." He reached out and dropped a small leather pouch into Poe's hand. "Without the Jedi, there can be no balance in the galaxy. And to me, your general will always be royalty."
"Why did you choose to get in touch now, after all these years?"
Tekka sighed then tensed, pausing stone still for several seconds before terror passed over his face.
"You must go, commander" he said, standing quickly. "We are discovered."
What now? Poe thought, getting to his feet.
BB-8 rolls into the hut, beeping wildly.
"What do you mean, they're in space? How?"
"Come, commander." Tekka said, taking Poe by the arm and projecting him through the door. "Get to your ship and away before they arrive."
Outside dark had fully settled and people were running around in every direction, carrying children, valuables and taking cover.
"Go, BB-8, get the ship ready to take off! Wait, take this!" Poe shouted over the noise. He dropped to one knee and pulled out the pouch. Inside there was only a single data chip. "Take this and get to the ship."
BB-8 opened a small panel on his orb and took the chip, locking it safely away before spinning hard in the direction of the X-wing.
Poe stood and looked for Tekka, seeing him talking urgently to the boy and three other youngsters, all about the same age.
Sprinting over to him, he grabbed the old man's arm. "Master Tekka, come with me, we need you." He said, his voice shaking with the first surges of adrenaline.
Tekka turned to him, smiling sadly. "I'm afraid not, commander. You must go. Find Luke and help him complete what was started so long ago. Go now!"
"Get to safety at least!" Poe said, bursting into a run toward the X-wing which was starting to cycle up, BB-8 visible in the astromount.
Over the sound of screaming and panic and the noise of his flightboots scrunching through the ground, he heard Tekka's voice. 'May the force b-'
And the world exploded around him.
Halfway to the X-wing, the world exploded around Poe.