Continued...
The lead was a bust. Nobody was anywhere in the small facility but them. If she had been here, she had left.
"Mind if I come back with you?" She asked Finn.
He shook his head. "Come on."
"I would love to see-" she started before seeing the ship that Finn rode in. "Nice, an X-Wing with dual-cylinder engines."
"Yeah, that's nice and all, but where's my pilot?" Finn asked, looking around. I went around the ship and found the body.
"Finn, I found him."
He saw the body and sighed loudly. Then he had a lightbulb moment.
"Can you fly this?" He asked.
"If it's anything like the normal X-Wings, then yeah."
"Pilot's blood, eh?" He said with a grin.
I shrugged. "My parents were a part of the rebellion back in the days of Darth Vader."
"You tell me the rest later, but we need to get out of here," he said, getting in the ship. I followed him, getting into the pilot's seat. I closed the lid.
"You in?" I asked Finn.
"Yeah."
"Take off!" I shouted, quickly activating all of the engines and taking off. "Where are we headed?" I asked Finn.
"Resistance base."
"Is that still on D'Qar?" I asked.
"Yeah."
"Let's go. Jumping into light speed." I informed him, doing so. "Wow, it's been awhile since I've gone into light speed."
"You know what you're doin?" Finn asked, seemingly untrusting.
"Both my father and my brother are considered top rank pilots. Given, I'm not as good as them, they rub off on me. Going out of light speed."
"We're here?"
"Let me land, geez. And yes, we are here."
"Who's there?" The radio asked.
"This is Charlie-413, requesting landing."
"Ellie, that you?" The radio asked.
"Yep, I'll see ya in a sec," I said with a grin, seconds away from the ground.
"Are you-" Finn started.
"Shut up. I need to concentrate," I interrupted, slowing down and dropping the landing gear. The plane finally touched the ground and I turned everything off and flipped open the hatch so we could get out. When my feet touched the ground, I heard my name come from a very familiar voice.
"Ellie!" Poe shouted. I looked up with a huge grin and wet eyes.
"Poe!" I said. I ran up to him and gave him a hug. The hug lasted for a few seconds, then we leaned back.
"What happened?" Poe asked. "One second you were behind me and the next you were gone. I tried to find you but I got shoved into one of the pods before I could."
"I twisted my ankle. I barely managed to escape. I always knew you were alive," I said, hugging him again. "But," I said, wiping my eyes and letting go. "I never would have known if it weren't for Finn here wearing your jacket."
"I gave it to him."
"Yeah I told her-" Finn started.
"He used to be a stormtrooper, but instead of working with the first order, he helped me escape." Poe finished.
"And you gave him the jacket to thank him?"
"No, we wrecked on Jakku and the jacket was all that I found of his before the ship sank in the sand, so I thought he was dead."
"Wait you crashed?" I asked, lingering on to that.
"Yeah, but I-" Poe started.
"Poe Dameron, greatest pilot ever, crashed," I laughed.
"Anyways," Poe said, waiting for me to stop. When I did, he continued. "He finished the mission I was on, and when we found each other again, I thought it suited him, so I let him keep it."
"Nice. What mission did you have to do?" I asked.
He leaned in. "I had to go to Jakku to get a clue to where Luke went when he disappeared. You knew Luke disappeared, right?"
"I've been living with Ewoks for most of my time gone from the Rebellion. So no. I haven't."
"You were on-?"
"Yep. Endor."
"Don't Ewoks eat humans?" Finn asked.
"Nah, they're half our size and very primitive. They're virtually harmless to me, and they were very friendly."
"Do you know some of the language?" Poe asked. "Since you've been living with them for what, like four years?"
"A little," I said with a smirk.
"Will you miss em?" Poe asked, genuinely concerned.
"A little bit, but who knows? I may be back there someday."
"I gotta go tell the General about Phasma," Finn said. "You guys want to come with?"
Poe nodded. "Yeah, we'll go. I think the General will be very pleased to see you."
I shrugged. "Sure."
We followed Finn inside one of the bunkers, where there was an equilibrium of nature and technology. Vines and trees lined the walls, while wires and hardware were distributed evenly throughout the large room.
"Why if it isn't the Dynamic Duo, back together again," I heard Admiral Ackbar say behind us. I turned to face him and I saluted him.
"Glad to be back."
"Sure you are," the old fish replied. I turned and continued to follow Poe and his new friend until he found his way to General Leia.
"General," Finn said, getting her attention. She turned around and when she saw me her eyes went into a smile.
"Aw, Ellie, I knew you would be okay. Poor Poe thought you were dead, and I knew you were alright."
"Did he cry?" I asked, pouting my lip like a puppy.
"Maybe a tear or two," she said with a wink. "Nice to see you, Ellie."
"Glad to see you as well, General," I replied with a smile, brushing my short wavy hair out of my face.
"Why don't you go clean up, get some different clothes on? You smell like Ewok," she said, intending on her classic sarcasm.
"Well, ma'am, that's where I've been these last four years," I said with a smirk.
She laughed. "Go shower."
"Yessir," I said, pivoting on my heels and going towards the barracks. On my way I patted Poe on the back. In return, he nearly tackled me to get a hug.
"Good to see ya, sis."
"Love you too, Poe. Now can I shower?" I asked patiently, patting my brother's arm. He grunted and let go, and I continued on my way.
About an hour later, I returned to the Command Bunker and found General Organa again. I was clad in my self-designed uniform, complete with collapsible jet packs, dual gun holsters, and a cool helmet that helps me to breathe at high altitudes. I held my helmet in one hand and stood at attention.
"General Organa, ready for orders."
She paused in thought. "Your brother could use some help; let him debrief you," she ordered, dismissing me.
I found Poe on the flight pad, just about to embark his X-Wing for takeoff.
"Poe!" I called. He turned, eyebrows raised. "General Organa told me you needed my help."
"Yeah, I guess you can come. We got another lead on where Phasma is. You wanna come with?"
"Got nothing else to do. General's orders."
"Fine. Get in the gunman's seat."
I put my helmet on and got in, fastening my seatbelt and waiting for Poe to lift off. Soon enough, we were set off, just exiting the planet's atmosphere, when I decided to start conversation.
"So, besides Finn, are there any more new people since I left?" I asked.
"There's this girl that came with him-"
"Oh no…"
"Her name is Rey. I haven't really spoken to her because she went to go find Luke-"
"Wait. She got to go find Luke? Not General Organa? He is her brother."
"Yeah, she's apparently connected to the Force, so Leia sent her instead so she could train with him."
"I see."
Poe took us out of hyperspace and we were approaching a very green planet. I didn't really care where we were.
"So you think Phasma is here?" I asked Poe.
"Some of our allies spotted her here. We're here to capture her and take her in for questioning."
"That's why we don't have your X-Wing," I concluded as we landed.
"Yep. Now let's go," he instructed, getting out. I followed him out and followed him to the building where she's supposedly at. We were quiet, stealthy. We didn't need to talk; we were a well-oiled machine. We communicated through small gestures and eye contact, there were no need for words. Our bond was closer than a Jedi to the Force.
We had entered a hallway when we got approached by some stormtroopers. I quickly got out my double-barreled blaster out, pointing it at them.
"You! Drop your weapon," one of the three ordered. I turned to Poe and shook my head, signaling him to do nothing and let me handle it. He nodded.
"No," I said evenly. "You drop yours."
"You're outnumbered," the second one said.
"And out gunned," the third said.
"Surrender," the second one said.
"No," I said, about to fire when Poe nudged me, I turned and saw another trio of guards headed our way from the opposite direction. I nudged him back and held up my pointer finger, telling him to wait. He set his hands on his hips, ready to pull his blaster and start shooting.
"You thought we were out gunned before," Poe remarked.
"Whatever," I said. "You know, my only weapon is this blaster," I said, bringing it down and holding it in my hands. "I don't really need any other blaster."
"Why not, Ellie?" Poe asked, already knowing what was coming.
"Because I can do this," I said, pressing a button on the handle, unlocking a seam and separating the gun into two. I quickly took down one on either side of me. "Poe, now!" I said. He got out his blaster and took out two on my left while I got the last two on the right.
"Four to two," I said mockingly, putting my blaster back together.
"I'll get ahead," he said hopefully. I scoffed, then it went back to silence as we continued.
We finally found a door with patrolling guards at every hallway leading to it.
"That must be where she is," Poe acknowledged.
"That or Kylo Ren."
"Let's hope not," he replied.
We emerged from the corner, both of us blasting one guard each. A band of four rolled along and Poe got three while I got one.
"6 to 6, they're neck and neck," I mumbled. We approached the door, but there was a wall panel requiring an access code. I turned to Poe. He sighed, approaching it and pressing some buttons. In return, the panel made deep beeps, almost as if it were angry. He finally got frustrated and punched it, leading the door to open, revealing someone in a long, flowing cape with a hood and a triple-bladed red lightsaber in hand, about to use it on someone. He turned to see our surprised faces as he put us in a force-hold. He had a strange helmet on.
"Why am I not surprised to see you," he asked to Poe.
"Hey, pal," Poe greeted him mockingly.
"And who are you?" He asked, turning to me.
"Someone who gets angry easy," I replied.
"Mhm," Poe agreed.
Kylo Ren approached me, and the only emotion flowing through me was fear. He could do anything to me that he wanted to, I was at his disposal. He glanced at Poe, then back at me.
"You two are related," he concluded. "Siblings." He got closer, concentrating more on me than Poe. I felt him in my head, searching my innermost thoughts. "You're scared," Kylo observed. "Finding me on your first official mission since being back-and with your brother too-and you find me, when you were expecting my Lieutenant. You miss your Ewok friends, and you fear that you'll never see them again. You're right."
"Leave her alone!" Poe shouted.
"Silence!" Kylo shouted at Poe.
"You'll be relieved to know that I'm not going to kill you."
"Whatcha gonna do, Crylo?" I asked through gritted teeth. He heaved a heavy sigh.
"I am now your master," he said, using the force.
"You are now my master," I repeated, with no choice in the matter. He let go of me.
"NOOOOOOO!" Poe shouted. "ELLIE!"
I turned to him, wanting to take it all back and run away with him, but knowing Kylo wouldn't let me.
"Go back to your resistance, Poe Dameron, and tell them that your sister is with me now. Even the most stubborn can be bent to my will." Kylo let Poe go, and he crumpled to the ground in tears.
"Please, take me instead. She's innocent."
"But she's useful. You're just another pilot."
"I'm the best goddamn pilot in the galaxy!" He shouted. "She's just a girl who knows how to use a gun!"
"Ellie, would you escort your brother to the exit?"
"Of course, Master," I responded, getting out my blaster and pointed it at his head.
"Oh, and take some stormtroopers with you," Kylo ordered sending four to follow us.
We walked the way to the door and Poe continued to plea.
"Please, Ellie, fight back! You can't let him win. Ellie, it's me, your older brother, Poe! Come back!"
"Don't you see? He's already won. The First Order shall rule the entire galaxy, and the rebellion will fall, starting with the best pilot," I said.
"I'll get you back Ellie," he said before going through the exit. The doors closed between us and I returned to Kylo Ren, a tear rolling down my face.
"He has been escorted to his ship, Master," I reported.
"Great. Let me show you where you'll be staying."