Errant Venture, Medbay…
It's only been a matter of a few hours since Rey gave birth, and already the young woman was fast asleep. Unlike her, Poe is too wound up to rest. Instead, he watches through the glass divider as Kalonia once again checks on his daughter's vitals.
His daughter. Their daughter. His and Rey's.
During Rey's pregnancy, Poe would imagine how their lives would be – how and where they'd raise their child. He'd build them a home, somewhere safe and out of reach of the First Order. Poe originally envisioned it would be on Yavin IV, but that part of the dream shattered upon seeing his father.
The Falcon was his current backup plan – at least until they find another planet to settle.
Maybe, if the fight against the First Order goes well, they might even give their daughter a few siblings…. Maybe.
BB-8 emits a small whine and gently bumps into his leg, shaking him from his thoughts.
"Hey buddy." He says, looking down at his loyal companion.
The droid lets out several more beeps, his dome head twisting back and forth between his owner and Rey.
"Rey's okay. Just asleep." Poe replies soothingly. "Giving birth burns up a lot of energy."
Once again, BB-8 trills out several long strings of notes and beeps while his ocular lens focuses on Poe.
"Give Rey a few days to recover and she'll be back to her old self again." Poe caresses the droid before continuing. "Would you like to meet the baby?"
The answer is immediate, with BB-8 letting out an excited squeal and bumping against Poe's legs.
Chuckling softly at the droid's excitement, Poe leads BB-8 into the small exam room. His eyes fix on the small infant, wrapped up in a deep blue-green blanket with a cream-colored hat on her head. He knows that beneath the hat, his daughter has a lot of his dark hair.
"Dameron." Kalonia says, finishing up entering in the newest data on the baby's vitals. There's a worried look on her face.
Poe loses the pep in his step. "What's wrong, doc?"
Kalonia shakes her head at him as she carelessly tosses the data-pad on the table next to her. "Nothing. Absolutely nothing is wrong with her. And that's what concerns me."
"How so?" He asks hesitantly.
She gives him a look like he's a particularly challenged human. "She was born several months early. That's…that's unheard of. You do realize that, right?"
Poe doesn't really have an answer to that. "Well, it's… I mean it must be the-"
"If you say 'the Force' Poe Dameron I will kick you out of this medical wing."
"Explain it otherwise then." He smugly replies.
Kalonia throws her hands in the air, "That's just it. I can't! I've spoken to Leia and to Jaina, concerning their own pregnancies and using the Force during them. Neither of them have ever heard of a pregnancy being sped up via the Force. I'll be honest with you, Poe; that baby should be three months younger and frailer due to a premature birth. And that's if the pregnancy was natural, without any influences of any kind."
"But it wasn't." Poe comments, knowing full well that nothing about Rey's pregnancy made any sense.
"Exactly. And don't get me started on her genetics." Kalonia states before showing him her data-pad. "That baby girl has three different sources for her DNA. Rey's, yours, and an unknown donor."
Hearing of a third person sharing his daughter's genetics shocks Poe enough to cause him to look back and forth between the infant and the data-pad. Then, he swallows down the lump that had grown in his throat before asking the only question he has.
"How is it unknown?"
"It's not Hapan, I can guarantee that much." Seeing the sudden panic on Poe's face, the doctor is quick to reassure him. "Nor is it a match for anyone of the General's bloodline."
She lets this sink in a moment for Poe before continuing. "I can't say that he never did anything to her, but he's not that baby's father. All I need to know is who's name do I put down as being that baby's father."
"I'm her father," Poe states rather emphatically. "And that's all anyone should ever know."
Kalonia nods her head and takes back the data-pad so that she can put his name down on the infant's official birth certificate. However, she doesn't file it as it would be easily accessible to any First Order operative to exploit. Then she leaves, knowing that she'll need to update Leia on the newest and smallest member of the Resistance.
Poe, however, moves closer to the small medical bassinet as the tiny human lets out a soft squawk of displeasure at being wrapped up. Carefully, he lifts her up and cradles the babe to his chest.
"Hey. It's okay. I'm here." He coos and smiles as his daughter opens her eyes. "Good morning, Mya."
The baby girl attempts to stretch out again, but with the blanket restricting her moment, she lets out another sound of frustration. This has her father chuckling and slowly loosening up the blanket.
"I don't blame you for wanting to be free." Poe softly tells her and presses a gentle kiss to her now free hand.
Being as careful as possible, Poe kneels to where BB-8 is waiting patiently at his feet. He keeps a good grip on Mya, making sure that she's secure and safe in one arm, before leaning towards his droid.
"BB-8. Meet Mya, your little sister."
The curious droid rolls as close as it can to Poe and focuses its ocular lens solely on the tiny human. It lets out a few soft coos of its own towards the baby. This causes the baby to let out a few whimpers and kicks its legs a few times.
"Looks like she likes her big droid brother, BB." Poe laughs softly.
However, Mya's soft whimpers soon become loud cries which has Poe feeling a little panicked, and this of course, causes BB-8 to start panicking.
"She's hungry." Rey's scratchy voice calls out. "Bring her to me?"
Moving as if his tiny daughter were a live-bomb, Poe gets up from the floor and makes his way into the room. He hands Mya over to Rey and watches as Rey maneuvers their daughter towards her meal. The squalling infant goes quiet once attached to her mother's breast and begins sucking away in earnest.
"Slow down there, sweetheart." Rey softly says to her child. "You're not going to starve, I promise."
What Rey gets in reply is a small slap against her breast from her daughter's hand.
"Hey now, none of that attitude young lady." Poe admonishes, settling himself next to Rey as he looks down at Mya. "She's your mother and you need to respect her."
The babe lets out a whimper followed by kicking her feet which has her parents snorting with laughter.
"Guess she told you." Rey remarks with a grin.
"Well she's still new to the galaxy, but eventually she'll learn." Poe states before looking up at Rey. "I love you."
"Love you too." Rey replies, but immediately she can see that something is bothering him. "What is it? Poe?"
Part of Poe wants to tell Rey about Kalonia's findings about Mya, but he also doesn't want Rey to brood over what it all could mean. Especially since they've already got enough things to worry about.
"It's nothing, Rey." He lies, hoping that she won't know. "Just thinking about us. About our future."
"Poe." Rey sighs, knowing exactly what he's about to say.
"Rey, please." Poe begs. "I want us to be a family. You, me, and Mya. I want you both to have my name. For us to live together in peace. For Mya to know her grandfather – my father."
"But where would we go, Poe? We're high ranking members of the Resistance. We can't just leave. Where would we even go that was safe?"
"My father would be willing to look after Mya till the war has been won. Karrde and Terrick have offered to let refugees from Yavin stay on the Ralroost and Errant Venture till they can find other places to live. I'm sure they'd let dad and Mya stay with them."
"Poe."
"Please Rey. Just think about it." Poe requests, pressing a kiss into her hair. "We'd both sleep easier knowing that Mya and dad are safe."
Rey doesn't give an answer and just lets herself be held by him. She doesn't want to admit it, but Poe is right about one thing. They'd both sleep at night knowing that their daughter is safe. Yet, she wants to keep Mya with them, not have her living several lightyears away.
Mya is barely done feeding before she falls asleep in her mother's arms. And it's not a minute later when there's a gentle knock at the door. Poe extricates himself from Rey's side, and with BB-8 following, he presses the door release.
"Hi, kid," Kes greets, pulling his son into a hug. "Just came to check in on my granddaughter and her mother."
Poe moves aside to let his father into the room and watches as Kes approaches the bed. Kes & Rey haven't formally 'met' yet. He'd delivered the baby, but they didn't get a chance to really introduce themselves.
"How are you two doing?" The older Dameron asks, looking down in delight at the sleeping baby.
"We're doing just fine. Would you like to hold her?" Rey asks, carefully moving the sleeping infant.
"I'd love to." With muscle memory guiding him, Kes securely holds Mya in his strong arms and he begins mumbling in Yavinese to the baby.
Poe grins as he watches his dad, tough-as-nails Kes Dameron, go all mushy over his grandchild. Looking over at Rey, he can tell that she's finding this just as amusing as well. He rejoins her on the bed, though is quick to notice her flinch while shifting to make more room for him.
"You okay?" Poe whispers, not wanting to draw his father's attention away from Mya.
"Mmhmm. Just sore is all. Kalonia said it'll take a few days for the soreness to lessen." Rey says, trying to pacify him. Then she gets a nervous look on her face. "And no sex for at least the next two months. Plus we need to use birth control when we do."
Poe looks a bit bewildered at Rey's words. "What does she take me for, an idiot? Kriff, Rey. We'll wait as long as it takes and definitely be careful."
"A bit late and a credit short on being careful, I'd say." Kes interrupts. "Seeing as you've got this beautiful little lady here."
Without thinking, Poe snarks back, "She was already pregnant, dad."
"What?" Kes shouts, flinching as the baby in his arms startles awake and cries. Handing the baby back to Rey, Kes turns to Poe. "You've got some explaining to do."
Several hours later and having gotten permission from Kalonia to take his daughter with him, Poe finds himself walking towards the hanger bay with a wide-awake Mya in his arms. He'd offer to take the babe with him since Rey was tired and wanted to sleep before the next feeding. Upon entering the hanger bay, Poe slowly walks around two familiar ships and begins telling his daughter about them.
"Your mum flies the Falcon, which the YT1300 Corellian light freighter here. Mind you, it's been modified not just by her, but also the two previous owners. I'll let her tell you about them when you're older." Poe says before smirking at Mya's yawn. Then he moves on the x-wing. "Now I prefer to fly the T-70 x-wings. If you remember, I told you about how different the T-70 is from the T-65. This beauty may not look like much now, but just you wait. I'll have her modified and finely tuned to how I want her. Then, I'll take you up and show you the stars."
"Hard at work I see," Leia's voice calls out before the woman approaches where the father and daughter are. "trying to turn her into a pilot."
"Just trying to show Mya that she's got options when it comes time to teach her how to fly." Poe retorts with a grin.
"What makes you think that she'll become a pilot?" Leia asks before focusing most of her attention upon the infant.
"It runs in her blood," he says with a wink.
"So certain your father is." Leia says, addressing the baby before scooping Mya up into her arms. "Best not tell him that you'll most likely become a politician or a general. Or better yet, a farmer like your grandfather."
Poe scoffs at Leia, but he can't help smiling at Leia's teasing. Seeing the older woman so at ease and lavishing attention upon his daughter, has him hoping that all the suffering Leia has endured will come to a swift and final end. He's so caught up with watching Leia interact with Mya that Poe fails to notice two people coming towards them.
"Leia, I didn't know that you'd had a baby." Wes jokes, coming to a stop far enough away so that Leia can't hit him.
"Oh, she's yours." Leia deadpans, causing the pilot to jolt in panic.
"I don't think so," Hobbie says with a knowing smirk. "This cutie is too pretty to come from his ugly mug."
"Shut it, Hobbie." Wes cuts in.
"So who is this little beauty's parents?" Hobbie easily says, turning the tide of the conversation.
"This is Poe's daughter, Mya." Leia announces before handing the infant back to her father.
Hobbie saddles up alongside Poe and looks down at the babe with an all-knowing smile. "She's beautiful, Poe. I'm sure if Shara was alive she'd be hogging little Mya all to herself."
Hearing the former pilot speak of his mother causes Poe's eyes to become misty. "Thanks. I'm sure she would."
"And she'd be beating Kes back with a stick to guarantee it." Wes tells Poe wistfully. "She nearly did that to him when you were born."
Poe simply smiles and looks down at his daughter. Part of him wishes that his mother had been alive to meet her granddaughter. Yet, deep down in his soul, he knows that Shara is smiling down on them.
"I hate to interrupt this little party, but everyone you asked for is assembled in the main briefing room." A voice Poe hasn't heard in years calls out across the hanger.
Turning, Poe can see none other than his former Academy flight instructor.
"General Antilles." Poe says softly as the man approaches.
"Dameron." Wedge nods his head to his old student before looking at Leia. "They're waiting for you."
"Of course they are, and they can wait a little longer." Leia tells her old friend before looking back at Poe. "You'll be joining us I presume?"
"Of course. I just-"
"Bring her with you." Leia comments, knowing what Poe was about to say, as she starts walking.
Poe looks down at his daughter and lets out a sigh. "Looks like you'll be getting a briefing instead of a bedtime story."
Several minutes later Poe is standing in the back of the briefing room as Leia, Wedge, Maz, and Karrde discuss their next move. With more and more former Rebellion members fleeing for safety, Karrde has tossed the idea of using the Maw Cluster to hide the ever-growing ships from the First Order. The older man even offers allowing the Errant Venture as a Resistance hub once they find a suitable planet for a more permanent base.
"What about Kaz? Any word from the Colossus?" Leia asks, looking over at Wes.
"The last communique we received was that Agent Kaz and his comrades were planning on revolting against First Order Commander Pyre." Lt. Connix says, looking up from her data-pad. "That's the last known transmission we got from them."
"Well I know they'd made it to D'Qar." Wedge pipes up. "But by the time Feylis and I got there, the Colossus was gone."
"We'll keep searching for them then. I'm sure the First Order will be as well, so we need to get to them first." Leia states, giving Wedge a nod.
"What about Jace?" Jaina asks as she steps into the room with her husband, now fully healed, beside her. "We need to get our son back."
"Have patience, Jaina, and trust the Force. He'll come back to you." Maz tells the worried woman.
"He has been seen with the Supreme Leader," Karrde says before turning on the holo-projector to show the young boy. His hair's been cropped short and he wears dark, military style tunic and pants. "Ren had him by his side at his latest public address."
"But why?" Tycho says, stepping out from the shadows.
Leia is the one to answer the old Rogue Squadron member. "He's turning Jace into his apprentice."
"Because Rey is no longer an option for him." Poe speaks up, causing everyone to look directly at him.
"I wouldn't count on that, Poe." Kyp replies before stepping up to the holo-projector and giving Leia an imploring look. "If I may?"
She simply nods, already knowing what Kyp is about to tell everyone else.
Kyp inserts a data-stick and a series of foreign texts appear.
"Before Jaina and I's disappearance, Luke had sent me on a mission to uncover the lost history of the Original Jedi Order by means of locating any of their archives. This meant traveling all over the galaxy. When I got to Wayland, Palpatine's old cloning facility, I came across this." Kyp says pointing up at the scrolling lines of texts. "Palpatine had many files concerning cloning, but what struck me was that he'd also had mentioned attempting gene splicing. His plan was to find two powerful Force-users and combine their genetics with his own during the beginning stages of the cloning process. Therefore, guaranteeing that the clone body would be stronger within the Force than his own."
"Thank the Force that he didn't manage it." Wes whispers to Hobbie and Wedge.
"At first, it looked as though I'd been the first to read this file." Kyp keeps scrolling till the bottom of the file is revealed. "However, someone else had accessed it before I did. And that was only a year before me. I didn't recognize the code signature, so I took it to Iella Antilles. It took her three months to break the code and what she told me gave me great concern. She'd managed to discover that the code was neither Imperial nor Republic. Nor did it come from a smuggler or one of the major crime rings. It was completely unknown in origin, but Iella contacted one of her operatives within the Imperial Remnant. They'd told her about a growing movement within the Remnant which wanted to bring back the glory days of the Empire. This operative also gave up a name… Snoke."
Whispers started up within the room but were quickly squashed down when Leia held up a hand to silence everyone. "Continue Kyp."
"Without permission from Luke, I went to the outer edges of Remnant space, close to the Unknown Regions. It was there that I found an out of the way planet that was exuding the Dark side of the Force stronger than any Sith planet I've ever encountered. Once I made planetfall… I fell."
The room was silent before blowing up into shouting. Poe flinched, knowing that the yells would wake the now sleeping babe in his arms. Yet, his daughter slept through it all, even as Leia commanded the room into silence once again.
"Go ahead." Jaina softly says, caressing her husband's back.
"I fell not by choice, but by compulsion and manipulation. You don't – you can't possibly-. Snoke worked the Dark Side like nothing I've ever witnessed before. He could do things to a person without even being in the same part of the galaxy as them. I was his puppet for over a year, and when I managed to break free from him, I was already aware of his plans. You see, unlike Palpatine's idea of splicing genetics to make himself stronger with the Force, Snoke wasn't planning on making a clone of himself. Instead, he planned on finding the strongest Force-user, preferably a human female, and produce a child with that woman. And Jaina was the object of his plan. He knew of my connection to the Solo's and wanted me to retrieve Jaina for him."
"What he didn't count on was your loyalty and devotion to my family." Jaina adds in.
Kyp nods his head at her words. "Yes, I owed your father two life-debts and knew that I could never betray him. I kept my connection with Snoke till landed on Ahch-To. There, I managed to sever the connection and called out to Luke to meet me there. When he arrived, I told him and Mara everything I knew and warned them about Snoke. Mara wanted to confront him, but Luke wasn't so sure about going in half-cocked. So it was decided between the three of us that I'd take Jaina and flee. Jacen and Anakin had just discovered a planet that could travel through hyperspace, and Luke recommended that I take Jaina there till they could find out more about Snoke. Within a week from that meeting, I'd taken Jaina and fled to Zonoma Sekot."
"If Snoke was so focused on Jaina, why did he move on to Ben?" Poe asks, dread already beginning to sing throughout his body.
"Because Ben was always envious of his older siblings." Leia states. "He was the youngest and always felt as though he would forever be living in everyone's shadow."
"But with Jaina having been effectively kept away from Snoke, whatever happened to his plan? Did he ever complete it?" Karrde asks, concern evident in his tone.
"I don't know." Kyp replies.
As nearly every person in the room begins sharing their speculations, Poe's mind is running wild. Rey had told him of Ben's, well Kylo Ren's, preoccupation towards her and of having been tortured by Snoke aboard the Supremacy. With Kyp's words now spinning around in his mind, Poe starts to wonder if perhaps Snoke did more than torture Rey.
He looks at Mya, still asleep in his arms, and his mind quickly rejects the idea that Snoke could possibly be the third set of DNA within his daughter. Yet, how can Poe explain the acceleration of Rey's pregnancy; or that somehow part of his DNA managed to enter into the child's when Rey was already pregnant by the time they'd finally made love to each other.
From across the room, Leia watches Poe and can feel his fluctuating emotions via the Force. More than anything she wants to comfort him. To tell him the truth about Mya's conception. A truth that only her and grandson Jace know.