There is always work to do at the Resistance base. Be it a minor fixing on some ship or equipment or unloading some supplies coming from the Republic. With the destruction of Starkiller base and the loss of many workers, the First Order has ceased fire to recover. No doubt it was dangerous. Snoke would be back to action soon with more intensity. The New Republic should be prepared.
Poe enjoyed being occupied. He has been like this since his father died when he was already a great young pilot on mission to Nar Shaddaa. The Resistance was his family since then, he should take care of it, honor it. Dedication cheered him up. Until some news would cheer him up even more.
"Poe, I think you still don't know," said Leia entering the hangar. "but we are going to have a visit shortly, and you will not want to be dirty of machine fluids."
"Some Senator coming to inspect the base again?"
The General denied containing a smile.
"The Millennium Falcon is at this moment entering on D'Qar's orbit and…"
"Rey's coming?" diminishing the excitement and failing miserably. "Bringing Luke Skywalker?"
"Yes, Rey is coming. Don't you think I have never noticed how you asked if we ever received messages and showing concern."
Poe really tried to hide feelings, but the General never bought his pretending. He scrubbed the back of his head, laughed of himself and got off the hangar with Leia.
The massive freighter was received with much expectation. Almost two months ago it has left to find the last Jedi Master, and now it would bring him back to fight against the Dark Side with the Resistance. But only a lass with backpack and a wookiee walked down the ramp. Leia saw there the same girl who has gone carrying hope, but there was something different in her, and it was not only the long loose hair with side braid. The training gave her some sort of aura of bravery. They rushed into an embrace. One waited so long for the mother, the other lost the only child. The union was flawless.
"Finally you got some time to visit us. I thought my brother's personality has passed on to you."
"I don't understand why he refused to come. He wanted to see you, but…"
"Don't be sorry for him. I've already imagined he wouldn't come easy. Patience."
Leia and Rey talked in private while eating. They talked about training with Luke, about the reason why Leia never wanted to follow the way of the Force, about the decay of Ben to the Dark Side, about what Han Solo represented for them.
"Forgive me, General, but your son may not have some good in him. He killed his own father and keeps spreading terror as you told. His training goes on. When I stand before Kylo Ren again, I may try to argue with Ben, but I'm not going to lower my guard."
"When I asked someone to convince Ben to come back home, I lost a husband. I can't afford losing you the same way. Just tell him I forgive him."
"Looking for Finn?" a known voice coming from the doorway of a hangar made Rey feel a soft shiver. Not what she felt in front of Unkar Plutt or when she was chased by a monster in a mask on Takodana.
"I've just come from the infirmary, Doctor Kalonia said he was totally recovered two weeks ago."
"He received a very important mission." said Poe. "General Organa asked him to try to bring more stormtroopers to our cause. A great team went with him and we have won since.
"No doubt he came back much braver from coma."
After they laugh, Rey continued.
"I need a small ship. I want to go back to Jakku, pick up some things in my former house. The situation when I got out gave me no choice but just fly away."
"Our boss told me about your crazy plan. As you wouldn't find Finn, you would go alone. No, I'm going with you. By the way, I need to show you something in my house. Luke should see it too, but since he didn't come…
"Great!" containing excitement. "Yes, let's go then. A small ship against tracking.
They chose a small shuttle unbound from a larger ship, it worked independently. It was called Phantom. There was only one seat and Poe was there.
"She doesn't look harder to pilot than the Millennium Falcon." said Rey eager to try. "I think I can handle it, if you allow me."
"I don't know..." said Poe sounding a bit doubtful. "Finn told me that you almost crashed the Falcon on your first attempt."
"But I managed! And I've been doing it very well! Ask Chewie! I can..."
Poe turned to her, laughing. "All right, fine! The console is yours."
Rey got the controls and easily took off. "Ha! I told you I could... Wait, you were just kidding me, right?"
"Just show me what you got, flygirl." Poe trusted in her skills and never regretted.
Rey flew straight to the spot where the fallen AT-AT she once called home was. Poe thought it was not a good idea to pass close to some settlement because the First Order could be alert. Everything there inside was just like Rey left, except the desert flower that turned to dust. Rey was searching pieces in boxes and Poe just looked around for details. The wall of countless scratches showed how much time she waited for the family to come back, and that saddened him. A rebel helmet caught his attention. It was from the Yellow Aces squadron, in the name of the pilot Dosmit Raeh. Poe was astonished, never thought he would see that item someday. Rey was back with a small box of pieces and saw Poe using the helmet.
"I'll take that too!
"Would you by chance be Dosmit Raeh's daughter?
"No, I found her helmet on the battlefield. Have you heard about her?
"Yes, a heroine. She fought for the New Republic. I can tell you stories about her later."
"I'd love to hear them." said the scavenger while sitting down with a heavy gaze. "I was little when I found this. I used to play as if I explored the universe with Dosmit. That was her," reaching out for a rude doll made of badly sewn felt. "I made it imagining how would be a rebel suit. I've seen one before…"
She dried the tears, standing up. Poe didn't like to see her like that.
"I still need a piece and can't find it," she said turning to the boxes. "just wait a little more."
"Wait, let me stop here."
Rey landed Phantom behind a dune and went out taking her staff.
"What are you going to do?"
"I need to talk to someone. I'll be quick."
From over the dune, a settlement could be seen. Niima. At the entrance, Poe held Rey's arm.
"I can't let you expose yourself, what do you really want here? Talk to someone trustworthy?"
Rey hesitated looking to the horizon.
"My old boss. The creature who I sold pieces to. I want him to see me no more as a scavenger. I want to make him pay for all these people who he exploits and humiliates."
"I knew your plan to come back was nonsense! How do you intend to do it? With that mind control? Would you get to disarm all of his thugs in time? Rey, you are in training! What Luke would say?"
Then the girl listens to reason. What would happen if something went wrong? What would be the consequences? Would she have the control of the situation and don't cross the line? What made her do it?
Rey hugs Poe. Surprised, he hugs her in silence.
"Let's get going." Rey goes back to Phantom and Poe follows her.
The silence remains in the ship yet after the take-off, then they notice that something followed them. A call in hologram gets to the panel.
"Scavenger!" speaks the rodian. "Think Unkar Plutt haven't noticed you trying to visit? Came to take you back home. You knew you owe him a freighter?"
"I told you, that was a bad…"
"You tell him to swallow everything I sold to him!"
Rey makes a fast maneuver to get out of target. The rodian shots and misses.
"I make you go down, then. I am paid for you live or dead. Unkar is really angry, girl!"
Poe turns off the hologram.
"Hyperdrive route calculations are finishing! Dodge at will, this thing doesn't have a very good shield."
Rey gets to make the rodian miss several shots.
"Now, stabilize for the hyperspace!"
That was the chance for the rodian. Some shots at the Phantom. Alert of damage.
Hyperspace.