A/N: Chapter 10 here! Loving the reviews - if I haven't gotten back tp you, I'm so sorry. I don't actually have days off from work, so I see them, but I cant necessarily respond right away. So know that I love them and I appreciate every single one!
Chapter 10
Before the Storm
Back in the command room, filled with maps and diagrams and people running around in orange jumpsuits, General Organa called for quiet. Poe and Finn walked them through what the weapon, called 'Starkiller Base,' was and how it worked. It was going to be tough, the hardest mission they'd ever faced, but eventually a plan was formed, an assault on the base at a specific point after Finn, Han, and Chewbacca made their way in and shut down the shields. Han wouldn't elaborate on how he would get through the shields that guarded the base, but General Organa gave them the benefit of the doubt.
"You have one and a half hours to eat, nap, whatever you need to do as we make final preparations," Major Ematt said as the General headed off to discuss more with Han. "Meet back at 1200 at your ships to make final inspections."
"Most dangerous one yet," Snap Wexley, Vara's fellow Captain and leader of the Blue squadron said, walking with them towards the barracks. "Small target on the First Order base, not very many of us."
"Don't remind me," Vara said, shaking her head. "There are only twelve of us that can fly out there." That number made her extremely nervous. Such a daring mission meant they needed all the firepower they could get, but that wasn't very much.
"I'll meet you guys at the hangar," Wexley said, turning away. The air was thick with anxiety, everyone on the base preparing for what was to come. They would possibly lose many of their friends in this mission, and if they failed, they would be destroyed.
Poe and Vara wordlessly walked back to his room. It was automatic for them to spend time together before a mission, usually talking through logistics or reviewing tactics. Today was different, mostly because of the weight of the situation. They were both keyed up for the mission - nothing had changed there. But something had shifted between them just before the most dangerous operation of their lives.
Poe let her in and shut the door behind them. They looked at each other, not quite knowing what to say. Vara stood by the chair she'd sat in so often, debating with him about certain flight patterns and formations. She bit her lip slightly, her mind racing.
"Poe..." she said quietly, trailing off.
In two huge strides he was in front of her, his arms around her waist, kissing her. Everything that they had held back, consciously or otherwise, came out in a rush. Vara slung her arms around his shoulders and tangled one hand into his hair. He pulled her into him, closing the gap between them, sending a flurry of heat through her. They fumbled over to the twin-size bed and practically fell onto it when Poe paused, breathing hard.
"Have you ever…?"
She cleared her throat, looking up at him. "Once. Before I even met you."
"So it's been a while."
"You could say that." Her heart was pounding. It all made sense, and she wanted him more than anything, but she didn't know how to tell him. This was a bridge they had never crossed, but Vara knew it could very well be their last chance.
"Vara, if you don't want to, I -"
"I do want to," she murmured. "Poe, I've always needed you." She had never known him like this before, but when it was just the two of them, no Resistance or New Republic taking up all of her time, she couldn't imagine wanting anything else.
When Poe spoke, it was barely above a whisper as he gazed at her. "I've been waiting a long time to hear you say that."
"I want to know what you're thinking," Poe said.
Vara sighed. She didn't want to say it because that's when it became real. "I don't want this to be the last time we see each other."
"Don't think about it like that. We're gonna come out on the other side of this. I..." Poe trailed off, running a hand through his hair. Their orange jumpsuits hung in the corner of the room, reminding them of what they had to do next.
"I know, I shouldn't. It just all happened so soon, you know? We finally realize this and then suddenly we're leaving again." Her fingers traced over the lines on his back, the shoulder blades and muscles working under his tanned skin. She was lying on the bed, a sheet pulled up to her ribcage, her head propped up on her hand. Poe, sitting on the edge of the bed next to her, shivered just a little at her touch.
"You do know how to make time fly, don't you?" he said, turning to her with a sly smile.
"Oh my god. Oh my god," she groaned. "We're going on a mission to take down Starkiller Base with a dozen ships and you're making pilot puns." She rolled onto her back and rubbed her eyes with the heels of her hands. "I should expect this from you, shouldn't I?"
"Of course you should," he retorted, leaning down so his nose almost brushed hers. "I want you to remember that as my best joke." Poe smiled at her. His was her favorite smile in the whole galaxy. The small lines that appeared at the corners of his eyes, the way he lifted one side of his mouth when he was feeling cocky, the sincerity of it. If that was the last thing she saw, Vara would die happy.
"I sincerely hope that a pun was not your best joke. Unless you're not quite who I thought you were," she teased.
"You know me better than anyone, Vara, especially now," he replied, his voice turning heady. "Do you want me to show you again, or what?"
Vara leaned up and kissed him. That was enough of an answer to his question. Poe's hand slid under her and pulled her closer, arching her back into him. Goosebumps covered her skin and her heart began to race again. She wrapped her arm around his ribs, savoring the warmth of his skin. He started crawling back into the bed, throwing the sheets off of Vara and onto the floor.
From the small bedside table, both of their comms began to buzz. Vara groaned, releasing her grip on Poe.
"If I didn't respect General Organa so goddamn much," he growled, slowly sitting back up. "Which one is mine?"
"The newer one," she replied, closing her eyes for a moment. She was pretending that it was their morning alarm, that maybe Poe was a mechanic and she was a doctor on a lush planet somewhere and they lived in a nice house with BB-8 rolling around helping them with errands instead of...all this. What he'd said a few days ago resonated with her - what if they had stayed and lived a more normal life? It was clear that they were fated for much more than a simple existence, but Vara couldn't help her curiosity.
Of course, neither of them would give up the Resistance for anything. This was their cause, and they were going to do whatever they could to bring down the First Order. Even if it meant sacrificing themselves.
"And if you weren't the most talented pilot we have and the hero of the Resistance," she teased, swinging her legs over the edge of the cot. Poe had pulled on a pair of the slim-fitting black pants issued to the male pilots for under their jumpsuits. Vara stood and grabbed her own pair of underwear and leggings from the floor where they had been thrown.
"Not yet," Poe murmured in her ear, his arms slipping around her from behind. His hands brushed over the skin on her stomach and it was her turn to shiver. Savor every moment, she reminded herself After her brush with mortality on Takodana, she wasn't going to waste a second with him. But the Resistance was calling for them.
"We're being summoned," she said softly, leaning back into him just a little.
"That's right, we have to save the galaxy from evil!" he exclaimed, slapping his palm to his forehead as Vara slipped on her black undershirt.
"Yeah, something like that. Now put your suit on, or General Organa will be wondering why we're so delayed."
Poe shot her a smirk, and they both put on their jumpsuits, the piece of clothing a Resistance pilot was the most proud to wear. Vara stood at the door and looked out the peephole, making sure the coast was clear.
"Two coming down the hall, but they'll be gone in a second," she said, pulling her coppery hair into a ponytail.
"Wait," Poe said, grabbing her belt and pulling her back to him. He pressed a kiss to her lips, slow and deliberate, his arm around her waist. "A nice one. For good measure."
Vara looked into his eyes. For once, at least for just a moment, they weren't full of that confidence and hunger that she was used to. They were studious and kind, as if trying to remember each detail before they headed out to the ships.
"And I want another one just like it when we get back," she said with a small smile.
Something bumped against the outside of their door and gave a loud whistle. Vara laughed at the little droid, who was obviously very excited to get going. "Well, at least BB-8 seems to have noticed we're missing. You ready?"
"After you," he said with a grand sweep of his arm. "Let's go fly."
Final inspection of the X-wings was complete. R9 was set, battery casing and all. There was nothing left to do but go. Takeoff was still another fifteen minutes away, so Vara checked in with her fliers in Red squadron, making sure they were all on track, before heading over to the Millennium Falcon, which was also preparing for takeoff.
"How's it going over here?" Vara asked, staring up at the ship.
"Fine," Finn said, a nervous edge to his voice. He was placing a set of explosives very carefully into their case.
"Hey, kid," Han Solo said, coming down the ramp. "Captain Hesh, right?"
"Yeah," she said, trying to contain her excitement that Han Solo had remembered her name. "Just coming to say hi."
"Leia didn't send you to check on us, did she?" Han sighed.
"No, I promise she didn't. She'll probably just come check on you herself," Vara laughed. "I also kind of just wanted to see this ship. It's legendary. Kessel run in twelve parsecs, right?"
Han grinned. "Thank you! When Rey said it was fourteen, I almost went back to Jakku to beat the tar out of that Plutt guy."
"From what I've heard, not worth your time."
"I agree. Putting a compressor on my ship, making me prime the fuel lines…"
"A compressor? On one of these?" Vara scoffed. "Not a good idea. If it has its original hyperdrive, then it would have been toast." She looked over the ship again. "I'm assuming you fixed it?"
"Rey did," Finn interjected. He looked so sorrowful and enraged at the same time when he said her name, like he was out for blood.
"I keep hearing about her," Vara said softly. "We're going to get her back, Finn. If you were able to help out BB-8, then you can help her, too. Which, thank you for that," she said, looking back to Han as well. "Poe is over the moons about having him back again." After a moment, she added, "We're glad to have you back on our side, Han. Leia probably didn't say that to you, but we are."
"Don't get used to it," he grumbled, but Vara saw the small smile that crossed his face, even if it was only there for a second. "I heard you're one of the better pilots out there, Kilo-Nine."
She stuttered for a moment. Not only did he know her name, he remembered her nickname. "That's what they tell me."
"And that Commander of yours too."
Vara felt the heat creep into her cheeks. "He's the best pilot most people have ever met."
"Let me give you some advice." He hitched up his belt a little. "One, if you're good at something, don't be humble. Own it. Two, fraternizing usually ends up going bad," he said, looking over her shoulder. "But I wouldn't have traded a minute of it for anything. You hear me?"
Vara smiled, not trying to hold it back. "I hear you."
Chewie roared appreciatively as he walked up. That was one language Vara hadn't learned yet, but the message was fairly clear. Han is right.
"Why do they call you Kilo-Nine?" Finn asked, shutting the case and handing it to the Wookiee.
"Because I'm the best ally to have in a dogfight," she said proudly.
"Atta girl," Han said. "Now we gotta take off. Good luck out there, Captain."
"May the Force be with you," Vara replied. Finn nodded to her before heading up the ramp, and Han gave her a small wave.
After the last few ominous feelings she'd had, Vara had learned to trust them. She felt sadness, just a small bout, as she saw Han walk up the ramp behind Chewie. Maybe this was the last time she'd see one of them, even though that would be heartbreaking. There was nothing to do about it except fly the best she could, however, so she headed back to her fighter, slapping her hand over the newer ship's serial number as she did another once-over.
"Good luck, Captain," Wexley called as he jogged past.
"You too, Snap," Vara called back. Everyone was moving to their ships, pulling their droids up and keying in coordinates. She searched for Poe one last time and saw him clipping on his white flight vest. He looked up and caught her eye, giving her a wink and nudging BB-8. The droid wiggled a little before rolling to his place behind the cockpit.
"All right, R9. You ready to go?"
The droid whistled, glancing at her ship.
"You're right. New ship. First time I've flown for the Resistance without the Korrina," she said. "It'll be fine. A little strange, but fine. I have you, right?"
The droid beeped appreciatively and wheeled back to his spot. Vara climbed the ladder up to the cockpit, looking out over the open-air hangar of D'Qar once more. Her team was ready for the mission of a lifetime, raring to go. This was what she lived for, what everything so far had led up to. After the last few days, even with the lack of sleep and food and all the flying and newfound emotions, Vara couldn't be more excited. She climbed into the cockpit and started her up, testing the radio. She heard Poe start up his fighter two ships over, and she smiled, ready to follow him to the ends of the galaxy.