A/N: Hey again! This is a long one so it might be a few days until the next update. Just working on where to go from here, but I have ideas! Also, I am going to put a tracklist that I threw together that kind of goes with Poe and Vara's relationship on my profile, so if you'd like to check that out it's there. This is a good one so I'm excited to hear your feedback!
Chapter 12
Going Home
The welcoming party had just begun when the freighter touched down on D'Qar. The small group of Resistance allies rolled over to them as they came down the ramp, led by Snap and Jessika. They each took Poe and Vara in a hug, followed by the few remaining members of the Red and Blue squadrons. The two of them stayed separate, much to their reluctance. For now, they had decided to keep things quiet, at least until everything settled down a bit.
General Organa made her way through the crowd followed closely by around young woman, shaking both of their hands. When Vara looked in her eyes, she saw a sadness that hadn't been there before. Glancing around, Vara saw Chewbacca easily, but his right hand man was missing. Without hesitation, Vara pulled the General into her arms. She couldn't even imagine what the older woman was going through, and yet, she could. Vara felt the General relax a little and she let her go, keeping it short.
"Thank you, Captain. I'd like you two to meet Rey. Rey, Captain Vara Hesh and Commander Poe Dameron."
"You're the one Finn saved before he landed on Jakku! BB-8's master!" the woman exclaimed, turning to Poe. "Finn said you're the best pilot he's ever seen."
Poe shrugged again. "I guess so."
"He's being modest for once." Vara shook her head. "Best pilot in the galaxy."
"Where is Finn? He came back okay, right?"
Rey's face fell. "He's not good. Alive, but in a coma. They're not letting anyone see him yet."
Poe almost visibly started. From behind him, Vara subtly grabbed his hand and squeezed.
"We'll go as soon as they let us, okay?" she said softly. She turned back to Rey. "They're very capable in the infirmary. He's in good hands."
She nodded, glancing at her feet.
"Hey, let's go have a drink," Iolo said, clapping them on the back. "You two need one."
Vara reluctantly let go of Poe's hand. "Only if you have one with us before you go back. With the whole squadron," she said as they started to make their way back to the building.
"Old time's sake, or something. After I get this grime off of me," Poe said. They fell in with the squadron, most of whom were headed to their quarters for a shower.
"That sounds like the best idea in the entire galaxy," Vara sighed.
It didn't take the squadrons long to meet back in the General's quarters after she had summoned them. They were back in their regular clothes, Poe wearing his classic khaki shirt and brown pants and Iolo with a loose red shirt and black pants. Vara had on a white t-shirt and form-fitting grey cargo pants, wearing her favorite leather jacket as always. As everyone gathered, glasses were passed around with a pour of a brilliant green liquid in each. The seven remaining pilots along with Chewbacca, Admiral Ackbar, Major Ematt, Iolo, and Rey stood in a circle, looking at each other in silence. For some, it still hadn't hit home that their most dangerous mission had been a success and that they'd taken a huge step in defeating the First Order.
The General raised her glass. "I wanted to thank you all. Without your bravery, and that of many others who are no longer here, we would never have managed to do what we did today. They are not defeated, but we hit them where it hurts, and we will not stop until they are gone. To the Resistance," she toasted.
Chewie roared as everyone clinked glasses and drank.
"Is this emerald wine, General?" the Major asked with a hint of surprise. "It's wonderful."
She nodded. "Two of the last bottles ever exported from Alderaan, aged to perfection. They were a bitch to track down. Felt like the right time to open them."
Vara stared into the glass with newfound appreciation. She briefly wondered if anything like this made it off of Hosnian Prime, but pushed the thought away. Now was not the time.
"Captain Hesh," Major Ematt said, walking regally over to her. "I have something to ask of you."
"Of course, Major," she said, standing a little straighter.
"We are already looking into people to fill our ranks again," he said. "Rather blunt, I know, but we need the numbers back if we're going to continue. Once I return from the other systems, I would like you to teach them, along with Captain Wexley."
"Me?"
"You are a Captain, aren't you?" he said with a small smile. "Your humility never ceases to amaze me. They need your expertise, Hesh. The Commander will assist, of course, but they will be mostly under your tutelage."
"I've never really taught before, but I will do my best, Major."
"Good," he said with a smile. "I think they'll learn quite a bit under you," he said.
She glanced at Poe, now deep in conversation with the Admiral, wondering even more about what was to come next for the two of them. They were still pilots for the Resistance first and foremost, but now that they had finally shown their true colors, how was it going to balance out? How much were they going to show, if anything at all? Han had guessed at something between them, and Leia could see it - who else could?
"Vara," the General said gently, breaking her from her trance.
"Yes, General?"
The older woman smiled. "For now, at least, call me Leia. Come with me for a minute."
Confused, Vara finished the last of her wine and followed her back out to the base.
"May I ask where we're going, Leia?" The name felt foreign on Vara's tongue. She had never called her that out of respect.
"Just to the civilian quarters," Leia said. "I know you've had a long few days, but I didn't want to make you wait any longer. After you'd taken off for Starkiller, he showed up on our doorstep."
Vara furrowed her eyebrows, confused. Who had shown up on their doorstep? She clasped her hands behind her back as they walked in silence, thinking. Was it someone she had known from the New Republic? Since joining the Rapiers, Iolo and Poe were the only ones left that she really knew. Maybe someone she had trained with? She hadn't spoken to that particular group of people since she had joined Poe's squad, much less the Resistance.
Her brow furrowed, Vara followed the General around the corner into the small lobby that was usually empty. Vara stumbled to a halt, her hands flying up to cover her mouth. Her brain didn't believe what her eyes were seeing after she'd already come to terms with the destruction of her home planet. The lone figure stood from his chair, dropping the holopad from his lap.
"Vorik," Vara whimpered, her voice breaking. She stumbled to her younger brother, embracing him for the first time since he'd visited Mirrin years ago. He stayed silent, burying his face in her hair, holding her as tight as he could. She was crying again, tears wetting the still-pristine Senate jacket he wore. After a moment, she leaned back to look at him, her hands on either side of his face. He suddenly looked nothing like the young man she'd known, but a sorrowful and weary version of him. The thought made her chest tighten.
"How?" she asked softly, bringing him into a hug again.
"I was on Chandrila, wrapping up some of the final business of transferring the capital," he murmured. "We were flying back when we got the news."
She nodded against him. "We were flying too. We've been just going and going since I heard and haven't had a chance…" Glancing behind her, she saw that General Organa had vanished. Leaving them to their reunion, she assumed.
"To really think about it?" he finished for her. "I know what you mean. I'm one of the last people left that was even associated with the Senate. I'm assuming this happened on one of those flights?" he asked, examining the side of her face.
"Yeah, it did. I'll tell you about it in a bit. I can't even imagine what you're dealing with right now." She looked at him in awe. When she was twenty years old, she was still learning the ins and outs of all the different planes of the New Republic fleet, learning flight tactics and figuring out where she really belonged. Even three years later, when she had been promoted to Lieutenant, she had been sure they'd made a mistake. Vorik had clearly developed a maturity that it had taken Vara years to learn. "I'm proud of you, Vorik."
"Who do you think I looked up to all these years? Besides them, of course," he said, looking at the floor. "And if what they're saying about that base is true, that you and a few others destroyed it, then I'm the one that should be proud."
"We did," Vara said, her face hardening. "I don't regret it. There were a lot of people on that base, and by neutralizing it we may have killed a lot of them...but the billions of people in the Hosnian system…" She shook her head. It was something that had been in the back of her mind since watching the station explode in brilliant fire against the black backdrop of space.
"Don't guilt yourself," Vorik said softly. "You did the right thing for the Republic. For the galaxy. And no matter what Chancellor Villecham thought about the Resistance, I am grateful that you took action when no one else would. They say that whomever had the gall to steal Senator Ro-Kiintor's ship delivered the information to the Resistance because they had more faith in their abilities than the Republic's."
Before she could stop herself, Vara began to laugh. For one, she was glad that no one had been able to trace their involvement in the theft, but the thought that people around the galaxy were spreading rumors about their antics was too much.
Vorik looked confused for a moment, and then it dawned on him. "Vara, you...you?!" he barked.
"Not just me," she said through her laughter. "It was mostly Poe, and we helped him get away with it, but you can't tell anyone, all right?"
He stared at her, shaking his head slowly. "There were people talking about hunting you down and trying you for treason," he mused. "Until the data came out, of course, but still."
"And did those people know that we were nearly killed because the First Order was the first to respond to his distress signal? With almost enough ships to invade somewhere like Naboo? Those people didn't know how close that one was," she spat, suddenly angry again. "It was clear that they were willing to obliterate that ship before they let us get that information." Closing her eyes, she paused to take a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Vorik. It's just hard to imagine everyone so...blind to what was really going on. Kylo Ren tortured Poe, Vorik. They're not playing games."
"I understand, Vara. I'm sorry you have had to fight so hard to make us see what was you knew all along." He hugged her again. Vara couldn't get enough of it, not after thinking he was dead. She could hug her brother forever. "How is Poe?"
If there was anything that could melt her anger, it was the thought of Poe. "He's...he's been through so much in the last few days," she sighed. "The First Order captured him. A Stormtrooper helped him escape, they crashed on this desert planet, and I went to rescue him. And that was before we flew on Takodana, and then we flew on Starkiller Base. It's been a hell of a time."
"How are you still walking?" Vorik asked incredulously.
"The same way you can sit through a whole week of caucuses and meetings and senate hearings. We were meant to," she replied with a small smile. "Are you hungry? I think there are people I'd like you to meet and some who'd like to see you again. Come on," she said, taking his hand and leading him away. "Plus I think I can get you quarters in a less lonely part of the base. If you're all right bunking with all of the Resistance goons," she teased.
"I think I'd like to meet these goons, if General Organa was any indication of the way things are done around here."
"She's something else, isn't she? You should meet…" she trailed off. Han hadn't come back from Starkiller Base, and was never going to. So much had changed so quickly that she didn't even remember half of it.
"Who?"
"I'll fill you in later," she said. "We have a lot to talk about." They trotted down a flight of stairs and Vara led him towards the cantina, where most of them had probably gone after the small meeting in the General's quarters. The emerald wine had a lovely effect of making her feel lighter on her feet than she should have, especially after sleeping about 4 hours in the last 48. She knew that she was going to crash soon, but not yet.
In the hallway coming from the cantina, Vara spotted Poe and Iolo. They were discussing something, Poe gesturing wildly. Iolo stood with his hands on his hips, nodding. It was a good summation of the two: the calm one who took everything in and the one who was enthusiastic about everything and raring to go.
"Same as ever, I see," Vorik said.
"A few things have changed, but yes. Poe!" she called, grinning. The two looked over at them, and Poe's jaw dropped. Iolo's eyes grew wider, if it were possible.
"No way!" he cried, running over to them and taking a surprised Vorik in a hug. "I don't know how, but I'm glad. You need anything, Vorik, you come to me, okay?"
"Thank you, Poe. It's good to see you again."
Poe clapped him on the shoulder, a huge smile on his face. He turned back to Vara, taking a step closer to her. "The Major tells me he's putting the training of the new recruits in your hands."
"Mine and Wexley's, I hope, but yes. I don't know why they're not having you do it, honestly."
"He trusts you, Vara. We all do, you know. You're going to do well, I know it." He looked into her eyes for a moment, making Vara blush madly. They hadn't gotten the chance to talk about anything yet, and she still wasn't sure quite what they were, but now there was time. "I need something to eat after that wine," Poe said. "Want to come with us, Vorik?"
"Of course," he said with a smile. The young man's sorrow had faded a little and he looked more like Vara's younger brother again. She looped her arm through his on their way to the cantina, Poe flanking her other side. The Commander's hand brushed hers a little, just barely, and her blush returned. He seemed to understand that there was time to talk later, that now she was just reveling in the fact that she hadn't lost her brother after all.
"So, Vorik, what's next for you?" Iolo asked when they had gotten their food and sat down at a round table in the lounge.
"I'm not sure yet," he said through a bite. "Sorry. It's just been a while since I've sat down to eat."
"Don't worry. Us too," Vara said, biting into a muja fruit.
Vorik looked down at his plate for a moment. "I'm not sure what's next. I spoke with General Organa a little, and she's very knowledgeable. I have some ideas, but what probably comes next is contacting whomever is left from the planets represented in the Senate and building it up again."
Vara shook her head. "He got the brains in the family. And the patience."
"Yeah, I can tell," Iolo joked.
Vorik shook his head. "Please. I can't even begin to fly one of those ships, never mind the way you guys do."
"One of these days I'll take you up in a double. Show you how it all works."
"I'm telling you," Poe said, using his fork to point at Vara and Iolo. "We have to get a hold of one of those TIE fighters. It was crazy. The one Finn and I took had two seats, a pilot and a gunner. When did they start making those?"
"You flew one?" Iolo spat. "Man, there has been a lot of shit that went down without me knowing in the last few days."
"The acceleration is insane. They could work on them, maybe fix one up and make it handle better. We have to get one," he said again.
"You have to come up with a reason to go take one. Reconnaissance on First Order bases or something. More than just identifying enemy technology," Vara said, leaning back in her chair. With food in her stomach, she was quickly losing energy. The last few days caught up to her all at once, and her eyelids drooped a little. "I hate to be the first one down, but I'm about to pass out at this table," she yawned.
"Wouldn't be the first time," Iolo said with a smirk.
"The only time that ever happened was when I tried keeping up with you," Vara groaned. "Last thing remember about that night was dropping a little glass into a big glass and chugging it with you."
"That's a good point to quit remembering," Iolo said, a wistful look in his eyes.
"Either way, I'm out. Vorik, is it okay if I get you situated in a new room after a nap?"
"I was planning on talking to General Organa about a few things anyways. She said to find her when we were done," he replied.
"Look at you, getting connections already," Poe mused. "I'll walk you back, Vara."
"Okay. See you guys later, then. Iolo, if you're gone when I wake up, I'll give you a call, okay?"
"Good plan, Kilo-Nine. Sleep tight."
Vara and Poe walked slowly back to the barracks, stopping in front of her quarters.
"Poe, I can't believe it."
"You will when he's here after you wake up," he said, the corners of his mouth lifting in a smile. "He's a good kid."
"Better than I am, in different ways," Vara said through a yawn.
"That was cute, but I'm gonna let you sleep," Poe murmured, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "We'll talk later?"
"Yes, we will. You should sleep too."
"Believe me, I'm going to," he sighed. "Goodnight, Vara." He kissed her on her bruised temple gently before turning and heading towards his own room. She watched him walk away, his shoulders high, hair tousled, stride jaunty. After everything they'd been through, he was still optimistic, still ready to take on the galaxy for the greater good.
Smiling to herself, Vara went inside and shut the door behind her, undressing for bed. Her joints ached and her brain was fuzzy, but in the most pleasant way. It had been the most trying time of her life the last three days, but worth every moment. When she laid down, everything in her cried in relief, and she was asleep within minutes.