"Now, what the hell do you want?" Aedan's sharp question echoed in the dimly lit hangar bay, her eyes fixed on Poe with a mix of skepticism and curiosity. The tension in the air was palpable as if it crackled with the energy of a charged lightsaber.

Poe's thoughts swirled like a hyperspace vortex for a fleeting moment, resembling a malfunctioning droid desperately seeking order in chaos. Numerous ideas and notions clamored for his attention, but the majority of them held no relevance to the pressing matter at hand. Poe, ever the composed problem-solver, executed a maneuver known to seasoned veterans facing a perplexing situation: he adeptly sorted these stray thoughts into a mental storage unit, designated as the "Things not to think about when facing an annoyed Aedan" file.

Poe beckoned to BB-8, and the little droid rolled over to his side, emitting a series of cheerful whistles. "Hey, buddy," Aedan greeted him warmly, her hand resting on BB-8's spherical body. "I missed you."

BB-8's response shifted from joy to a mournful tone, making Aedan pause in her affectionate rubs. She glanced up at Poe, her eyes catching his, and for a moment, an unspoken connection passed between them. But Poe swiftly cleared his throat, breaking the brief but charged moment. His gaze shifted around their surroundings, the urgency of their mission taking precedence over personal interactions. "We need to move to a more secure location," he suggested, his voice carrying a sense of determination. "Your ship, Aedan?"

Aedan nodded, her expression growing serious. She understood the need to relocate to a safer place, away from prying eyes and ears. "Yeah, my ship should do the trick. Follow me." She turned and headed for the ramp that led into her sleek starship, the Celestial Serpent, with her crew and Poe close behind.

As they entered the ship, the atmosphere shifted from the stark hangar bay to the warm and dimly lit interior of the vessel. The scent of metal, oil, and a hint of something exotic filled the air. Aedan led them to the ship's central lounge area, a comfortable space with plush seating and a holo table at its center.

Poe took a moment to glance around, his eyes noting the ship's unique features. "Nice ship you've got here," he remarked, genuine admiration in his voice.

Aedan smirked, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Thanks, won it in a card game."

Poe raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Really? Isn't that how..." He let his words trail off, but the unspoken question hung in the air. Isn't that how your dad lost the Falcon?

Aedan chose to ignore the unspoken question as Garik, Dana, and T'Rani took their seats around the holotable, their faces a mix of curiosity and concern. BB-8 rolled in and settled beside Poe, ready to assist.

Poe signaled to BB-8 to activate the holo-screen.

With a series of beeps and clicks, the holo-screen sprang to life, displaying a troubling array of reports. Poe's fingers danced deftly across the console as he began to explain. "We've been monitoring the hyperspace routes in this sector," he started, his tone growing serious. "And we've detected a disturbance—a fluctuation in the hyper-lanes."

Aedan studied Poe as he started explaining the situation, her initial sharpness giving way to a more attentive and analytical demeanor. She knew Poe well enough to understand that if he had sought her out, even if it was under orders from her mother, it was undoubtedly something of significance. Her gaze shifted to the holo-screen, her eyes scanning the data as he continued.

Her crew leaned in closer to get a better look. Garik's eyes narrowed as he absorbed the information, his brows furrowing in concern. Dana leaned forward with an inquisitive tilt of her head, her interest piqued by the holographic display. T'Rani observed the unfolding situation with a mix of anticipation and wariness

Poe's holographic projection pointed to the fluctuation on the screen. "Any idea what's causing it?" Aedan asked, her voice steady despite the growing sense of unease in the room.

Poe paused briefly, a crease forming on his forehead as he concentrated on his next words. "Not yet," he finally admitted. He then swiftly brought up another screen, revealing a galaxy map adorned with several marked locations in red, indicating Resistance bases. "Now, look at this," he urged, his tone growing graver.

The crew's attention shifted to the map, their eyes scanning the marked bases with concern. "In the past week," Poe continued, "these bases have been subjected to mysterious attacks. There has been no evidence that The First Order is involved, and we've been unable to discern any discernible patterns in these assaults."

Aedan's expression grew more serious as she examined the map, her eyes narrowing in deep thought. "Mysterious attacks, no discernible patterns," she mused aloud. "That sounds like a potential nightmare scenario. If it's not the First Order, who could be behind this?"

"Could it be pirates? Or perhaps a new criminal syndicate trying to make a name for themselves?"

Dana shook her head. "These attacks are too coordinated for mere pirates. And no criminal organization would dare to hit Resistance bases unless they were suicidal."

T'Rani regarded the map with a contemplative expression. "It could be a rival faction within the Resistance itself," she suggested, her lekku twitching with thought. "Or someone with a personal vendetta."

Aedan's gaze flicked to Poe, her eyes seeking answers. "What's your take on this, Commander?"

Poe's brows furrowed as he considered the possibilities. "Honestly, Aedan, at this point, we're running low on leads. It could be any number of groups or individuals with motives we can't yet grasp. That's why I'm here."

Aedan nodded, her expression grave. "So, what's our next move?"

Poe leaned closer to the holographic map, his finger tracing the locations of the attacks. "We need to gather more intel, dig deeper into these incidents. Find any connections or patterns we might have missed. And we should be prepared for more attacks. The Resistance can't afford to lose any more bases."

Aedan nodded again, her determination clear. "Alright, we'll help in any way we can. But remember, Poe, if this leads us into something too dangerous..."

Poe met her gaze with a solemn nod. "I know, Aedan. We'll be careful. And we'll watch each other's backs."

With a shared understanding, they turned their attention back to the holographic map, ready to unravel the mystery and face whatever challenges lay ahead.

Aedan sat in the pilot's chair of her ship, her gaze fixed on the endless expanse of space as they made their way toward the Resistance base. The hum of the engines was the only sound that filled the cockpit, but the thoughts swirling in her mind were far from silent.

Garik's voice broke the stillness, clearing his throat softly behind her. "It was something seeing the Commander again, wasn't it?"

She knew he was aware of their history, having served alongside both of them before making the choice to leave with her. Garik understood just how difficult it had been for her, and he knew the depth of her feelings for Poe.

Aedan sighed, her fingers lightly tapping on the control panel. "Yeah, it was," she admitted, her voice tinged with a mix of nostalgia and melancholy. "It's been a while, but it's like no time has passed at all when we're together."

Garik nodded, even though she couldn't see it from her seat. "You two have been through a lot."

A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "Yeah, we have. It's funny how life keeps throwing us back together, no matter how far apart we are."

The memories of their adventures, their battles, and their shared laughter filled the cockpit. Aedan couldn't help but feel a warmth in her heart at the thought of Poe, a friend who had become something more over the years.

Garik spoke softly, understanding the unspoken words between them. "You still love him, don't you?"

She turned her chair to face him, her eyes reflecting a mixture of affection and longing. "Yeah, I do. I can't explain it. He's... well, he's Poe."

Her words held a world of meaning, and Garik nodded again, this time with a knowing smile. "I get it, Aedan." Aedan knew that among her crew members, perhaps Garik was the only one who truly understood. The loss of his wife, Maria, still felt fresh and painful, ten years later.

Aedan reached out and placed a comforting hand on Garik's shoulder. Together, they shared the weight of their pasts, finding solace in the understanding that, no matter how deep the wounds, they were never truly alone in this vast galaxy.