Signy took a bite of bread, chewing it thoroughly before swallowing hard. Her throat was dry and it felt as if the bread was going to get stuck there. If only she had grabbed some water.

"Phew, it certainly is warm out today." Zinc sighed as he came to sit down next to her.

Signy had gone outside to escape the crowd in the dining hall, but it now seemed as though it would've been better to just stay inside.

"Warm is an understatement." She replied, wiping her forehead with the back of her hand and glancing over to make eye contact with Zinc.

His dark skin shined in the hot light and his smile revealed white teeth.

"I think you're right about that one." he laughed, shaking his head and squinting in the sunlight.

"Do you have any water?" Signy asked him, almost coughing a bit, before lifting a hand to her throat.

"What? Bread not dry enough for you?" Zinc teased, holding up a canteen just out of her reach.

"Shut up and hand it over." she grinned, reaching for the canteen and nearly falling over his lap in the process.

"Fine, fine. I see how it is. No more complaints about me being late to work then, you hear?" He raised his eyebrows, letting Signy snatch the canteen from his hand.

"I'm afraid I can make no promises." she gasped after taking a long drink. The water was cool and trickled down her throat, taking away the dry sensation the bread had left.

Zinc's eye caught something at the lower nape of Signy's neck as she leaned forward to gather her mess of sandy hair together and tie it up on her head with what looked to be a shoelace she had had tied around her wrist. He didn't know where she found half the things she had in her possession and he'd never really bothered to ask her.

While they'd worked together for a while he was still curious about her. She certainly knew more about his past than he did about hers. Signy never seemed keen to talk about it though so he never mentioned it. This though, it looked like some sort of tattoo or brand.

Zinc quickly averted his gaze as she threw her head upwards again, the collar of her shirt covering it up. It would be rude of him to ask and he didn't want her to think he was staring. Signy was the closest thing he had to family and he wished he could be closer to her somehow. It just wasn't easy. She wasn't the most open herself and he didn't really blame her. It was difficult for him to talk about where he'd been before he'd officially joined the Resistance. He'd hoped sharing pieces of his life would allow her to open up to him, but it hadn't happened yet.

"You ready to head back to work?" Signy asked, raising her eyebrows.

"Yes ma'am, I most certainly am." He replied and both stood.

"Thanks for the water." She told him, holding the canteen out for him.

"You can keep it for now if you want to."

Signy shrugged and both headed back inside and down the hall. Zinc shoved his hands in his pockets as they walked. They turned a corner and the doors opened to the droid repair center.

"What are you two talking about, huh?" Signy questioned, stepping inside and walking over to BB-8 and R2-LE who seemed to be in intense conversation.

"BB-8 sharing adventures with Poe Dameron, yeah?" Zinc grinned and BB-8 gave a sound of approval.

"It sounds fascinating, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to take a look at those liquid cable launchers now." Signy explained, rubbing her hands together and walking past the droids toward one of the toolboxes along the counter, next to the rags. She sat down Zinc's canteen and began to rummage through the box.

BB-8 gave a disapproving whirl and looked to Zinc. He shrugged at the droid and began to head back to the corner of the shop where the R2 unit he'd been working on previously sat.

R2-LE gave the an encouraging beep to BB-8, but the little droid still seemed unsure. Signy took out a screwdriver from the toolbox and sat down on her crate, patting the ground in front of her.

"Come on BB-8, it'll be fine. I promise. Your master will be back before you know it."

Just then the automatic doors opened again and Poe Dameron stepped inside. BB-8 squealed in delight and rolled to his friend.

"Before all of us knew it..." Zinc mumbled.

"Ah, hey BB-8, good to see you again too." Poe laughed with a grin.

Signy's eyes widened and she turned to Zinc, who shook his head.

"Um…Commander Dameron, I…I haven't gotten the chance to work on BB-8 yet. We've been backed up and I-" She began, standing up and using the screwdriver to gesture to the line of deactivated droids in need of servicing.

Poe held out a hand for her to stop talking. "No, no, I understand." He glanced down at BB-8, his mouth forming a thin line before moving his gaze back to Signy. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Of course." Signy replied, nodding her head and following him just outside the doors of the shop.

"Look, something urgent's come up and I need to go. BB-8 usually flies with me, but I don't feel right bringing him along when he needs work done on him. I thought I'd have more time before we needed to leave, but not anymore." Poe stopped, rubbing his nose before looking Signy in the eyes. "If something happens to me I just want to make sure someone takes care of BB-8. I know you're good with droids and I know it's a lot to ask, but just on the off chance I can't come back…" His voice trailed off and Signy watched his gaze fall to the ground.

"BB-8's safe here. I promise. I'll make sure he's taken care of until you get back." she assured him.

Poe smiled at Signy. "Thank you." he replied softly.

This was a side Signy had never seen of the commander before. Granted, she didn't know him too well, but she understood. BB-8 was very important to him and she could see why. Droids were good companions and the bond between them and their masters was a strong one.

"Do you want to say goodbye to him again?"

"Nah. Just tell him I'll be back soon."

"Alright. Stay safe."

With that, Commander Poe Dameron departed again and Signy watched him leave. She stayed in the hall until he disappeared around the corner. The reality of the situation hit her again. Poe Dameron was not invincible. None of them were.

Signy entered the shop again, screwdriver still clasped tightly in her hand.

"Where's Poe?" Zinc asked.

"He had to go." she said absently, before kneeling in front of BB-8. "I'm sorry BB-8, but he needed to leave. He said he'd be back for you soon."

BB-8 looked to the door sadly and let out a few beeping sounds.

"I know you usually fly with him. He didn't want you going out without your liquid cable launchers intact. He didn't think it was fair. You must understand he didn't leave because he wanted to go without you."

BB-8 rolled closer to the door. The image of the droid standing there nearly made Signy cry and she bit her lip. It hit so close to home. She knew what it was like to see people walk away and never come back. She hoped with all her heart that Poe Dameron would return soon and in one piece too.