Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here is chapter twenty of "Not So Far." Poe and Finn finally make it back to D'Qar. Finn meets Leia for the very first time in person. Stay tuned for chapter twenty-one.
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Chapter 20: Finally Home
An old starship traveled through hyperspace. The cockpit was a cramped cocoon of flickering lights and muted hums. Its dented durasteel walls bathed in the eerie blue glow of hyperspace streaking past the viewport. The air hung heavy with the acrid tang of overheated circuits and the lingering musk of adrenaline-soaked flight suits.
Poe slouched in the pilot's chair. He sighed in much exhaustion, and his body shook so much that it seemed it wouldn't be able to stop. He had his hands loosely on the controls. His fingers twitched occasionally as if reluctant to fully let go. He swallowed hard before emitting a shuddering breath. He blinked three times as he looked upward.
Finn was seated in the co-pilot's seat. He had shed his stormtrooper armor hours ago. He was now in a borrowed undershirt and pants that didn't quite fit. He didn't dare to move as he wondered if the First Order would soon come looking for him. He looked between the hypnotic swirl of hyperspace and the blinking console lights. Poe let out a long sigh, his head tipping against the worn headrest.
"We're finally off that blasted rock," Poe said, his voice gravelly from hours of barked commands and stifled panic. "Plint's behind us, and D'Qar's ahead. It feels like a damn miracle."
Finn shifted in his seat while letting out a shuddering breath. His fingers curled around the armrests, his knuckles whitening briefly.
"Yeah, I am glad to be off Plint," Finn said and swallowed hard. He looked down at the floor. "The First Order probably has found out I helped you escape. They don't mess around with deserters."
"It doesn't matter now," Poe responded in a firm voice. "We're out. They can scream and chase all they want, but they didn't catch us. That's what matters."
"That's true," Finn agreed, nodding slowly. "It would have been bad if they did."
"I do not want to think about that at all," Poe commented, shaking his head. "I just want to focus on getting home."
"It is about to become my home," Finn responded while rubbing his nose.
"That it is," Finn," Poe agreed. "Trust me. You will like D'Qar."
Poe ran a hand over his face. He shuddered rather loudly before closing his eyes. He opened them after ten seconds.
"I've got one hell of a story to tell when we get back, especially about you," Poe said while putting his hand on the yoke.
"Not every day a stormtrooper turns his back on evil, huh?" Finn asked, eyeing him closely as he formed a smile on his face.
Poe chuckled softly. "Nope. You're a rare breed, Finn. You are a damn hero, whether you see it or not."
Finn stopped smiling, his body shaking a tiny bit. He leaned forward and put his elbows on his knees. He clasped his hands together as he stared at the rushing blue beyond the viewport.
"I wonder if there are more like me out there," Finn murmured and tapped his finger on his temple. "There could be more troopers who want out and turn if they had the chance."
"It's quite possible," Poe admitted, his voice low and steady. "It is much more than possible. The First Order's got a tight grip, but people break free. You're definite proof of that." He straightened his posture with a painful wince and shook his head. "Life can come at people so fast that they don't have time to blink."
"Yeah," Finn agreed.
"We can't worry about that right now. We've got to get to D'Qar. We need to link up with the Resistance and figure out our next move. Let's take step at a time, yeah?"
Finn nodded slowly as he relaxed. "Yeah. Let's take all this one step at a time. That is the best strategy." He met the young pilot's gaze with a small smile. "Thanks for getting me out, Poe."
Poe waved him off with a laugh. "Are you kidding? You busted me out of that cell. I'd be a First Order pincushion without you. We're even."
The starship gave a faint shudder, the hum of the hyperdrive shifting pitch as it began to slow. Poe shifted his attention back to the controls. He flipped switches and pressed buttons rather quickly.
"Here we go," Poe said with much determination and ferocity. "We are exiting hyperspace."
The starship exited hyperspace and bounce a little bit. Poe and Finn groaned annoyingly. D'Qar came into view. It appeared to be a vibrant orb of green and blue. Its surface was a tapestry of sprawling forests, shimmering oceans, and rugged mountains in both hemispheres. It was all framed by a thin halo of atmosphere glowing under the faint light of its sun. Finn leaned forward, his eyes widening with amazement.
"It's beautiful," Finn whispered, his heart skipping a few beats. "I've never seen a world like this."
"Yeah, it's something else. Welcome to D'Qar, Finn," Poe responded while glancing at him.
"It astounds me the First Order hates beauty like this. They want to destroy and make everything dull," Finn whispered in anger.
"They can't destroy all beauty," Poe commented. "It would take forever to find all of it."
Poe pulled back on the yoke as the starship entered the atmosphere. It leveled out rather quickly. He and Finn saw the nighttime sky coming into view. Star twinkled one at a time. He pressed buttons and flipped switches above him. He narrowed his eyes a bit.
"Ease up on the thrusters," Poe instructed in a firm voice. "Watch the descent angle."
Finn watched as the landscape shifted. He seemed to be mesmerized by it. The base came into sight as they broke through the cloud layer. It appeared as a sprawling network of low buildings and hangars tucked into a forested valley. Their lights shined brightly. Some were so right that it appeared to bask the area in daylight. Poe pressed the comm button.
"This is Black One. I am requesting permission to land," Poe commented firmly.
"I hope this works," Finn whispered.
"Permission granted, Black One," a male voice said. "Good to have you home, Poe."
"Thank you," Poe said gratefully and pulled back on the yoke. "Here we ago."
The starship settled onto the landing pad with a gentle thud, its engines whining down to a low hum before falling silent. Poe unbuckled his harness, as did Finn with his. He slapped him on the shoulder.
"Come on," Poe said, smiling widely. "It is time to stretch our legs and face the welcome party."
"Maybe it will have balloons and party horns," Finn joked.
Poe snickered. "Nice joke. I like someone with a sense of humor."
Finn snorted. "It is needed for times like this."
Poe stood up and headed toward the hatch. Finn rose to his feet and followed him close behind. He felt his heart pounding against his chest as the ramp opened with a loud hiss.
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The landing pad glowed under the harsh glare of floodlights. This cast long shadows across the duracrete and bathed the gathering crowd in a stark, artificial light. Trees dipped and swayed in the wind. Some branches looked about ready to break off. A few leaves left them and fell toward the ground. They twirled as if they were tornadoes or dust devils.
Resistance workers milled about in grease-smeared jumpsuits while pilots in bright orange flight suits swapped quiet words and nods. They all looked exhausted and relieved. A trio of astromechs trundled past, their sensors blinking and their whistles filling the air with a mechanical chatter. At the forefront of the group was BB-8. He rolled forward, his body tilting with excitement. His high-pitched beeps echoed across the pad as he spotted Poe emerging from the ship.
"BB-8!" Poe called, his voice showing much joy as he dropped to one knee. He touched the droid's dome with a big smile on his face. "I told you I'd be back, didn't I, buddy?"
BB-8's beeps turned insistent. His head swiveled between Poe and Finn, his photoreceptor narrowing as if sizing up the newcomer. Poe was about to say something when Paige and Rose pushed through the crowd. Their faces were smudged with dirt and sweat, and their dark hair was tangled from their own escape. Paige reached Poe first, throwing her arms around him. She hugged him tightly, and he responded with a hug of his own.
"Poe, you made it," Paige said, pulling back to grip his shoulders. She looked him over carefully. "We were starting to think you wouldn't."
"I am glad to be home," Poe responded. "I am really glad."
Rose came to her sister's side as Poe released his hold on her. She wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly. He hugged her back, sighing in great content.
"It was a hell of a trek through that forest," Rose said very swiftly and let go of him. She pulled back to look at him. "There was thick underbrush and First Order patrols everywhere. We barely managed to slip past them."
Poe hugged both women again. They did the same to him, though it was more tightly than he was.
"You two are tougher than half the pilots I know," Poe said, his voice showing much warmth. "I knew you'd make it."
The crowd shifted as Leia, Holdo, and Ackbar walked toward Poe, who shuddered and swallowed. Leia clasped her hands together. She felt her heart skip two beats.
"Poe Dameron, you weasel!" Leia said with dry humor. She smirked as she stopped before him. "You have a knack for keeping us all awake at night, you know that?"
"I am sorry about that, General," Poe said, giving a shrug and chuckling nervously. "I had to take the scenic route this time."
"We're just relieved you're okay," Leia responded quietly while touching his shoulder. "We've had too many close calls these days."
Poe raised an eyebrow. "Unfortunately."
"Your return is a victory, Commander," Holdo said, a small smile forming on her face. "We've been holding our breath."
Ackbar nodded as he put his hands behind his back. "Indeed. The Resistance grows stronger with every soul you bring back."
Poe looked toward to Finn, who stood a short distance away. Finn felt his body shake quite a bit. He shifted his attention back to Leia, who tilted her head somewhat.
"I don't know how to tell you this," Poe said, his voice showing much pride. "I didn't make it out alone. This is Finn." He gestured to his friend, stepping aside. "He's the one who helped me escape. He busted me out of a First Order cell and got us both to the ship. I'd be a goner without him."
Leia turned her attention to Finn. She examined him closely while blinking three times. Holdo pressed her lips together, as did Ackbar. Leia stepped forward. She smiled as she held out her hand.
"Finn, welcome to D'Qar," Leia said, her voice steady and warm. "You're more than welcome to stay with us."
Finn moved his hand toward Leia's. He jerked back twice before grasping it. He gripped it lightly at first, but he tightened it within seconds. He nodded at her, a relieved sigh leaving his mouth.
"Thank you, General. I… I appreciate that," Finn stammered and emitted a shuddering breath.
"You've shown remarkable courage, Finn," Holdo said, coming to Leia's side along with Ackbar. "That's a rare thing, and it's valued here."
Ackbar tilted his head slightly. "A stormtrooper turning against the First Order is no small feat. You have my respect."
Finn let out another relieved sigh. Poe looked at him and leaned toward him. He formed a big smile on his face.
"I told you they'd like you," Poe said.
BB-8 rolled up to Finn's feet, his dome tilting curiously. His beeps softened into a questioning trill. Finn crouched down, resting a hand on the droid's smooth surface. He tried not to chuckle, but he couldn't help himself.
"I guess I'm sticking around, huh, little guy?" Finn commented. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
The crowd erupted into soft laughter and murmurs of approval. Finn rose to his full height. It dispersed and proceeded to head inside.