Star Wars: The Rising Sun

The Dispaired Pilot

(Darkness, pure as ebony incased a broken x-wing. Both engines overheated. Not a single sound was present, no lights, just the distant twinkling of stars. Drifting into a void caught between the sectors of space. When all of the sudden, a white noise started creeping louder and louder. Only the feeling of cold fluid on ice-cold skin which was believed to be blood could be recognized. One last desperate gasp for air led to white light with a faded silhouette in the middle of it.)

All of the sudden the Resistance pilot, Poe Dameron, shot up from his pillow with a loud holler. Throwing the thick, warm platinum-colored covers on the shiny silver floor. He hung his legs off the edge of his pod's bunk, which sat a few feet off the ground, and let them dangle for a few seconds. He understood he was in a cold frantic sweat and came back to reality. Poe carried the expression of worry, and his eyes were filled with a worn appearance.

What is this dream I keep having, he thought?

"Dameron... Poe Dameron?" A young lady lightly called out in the resting bay.

Poe reacted a few seconds late shaking his head to become in the present again. "Yes, dear?"

"It's time for your recheck again, sir" she expressed in a calm tone.

Poe hung his head with his eyes shut and let out a minor sigh. Reality calls even those with little hope anymore, he thought as he lifted his rich chocolate brown eyes and laid his sight upon his wrapped left arm.

He shuffled onto the ladder and descended from his bunk at a slow pace. He was still dressed in his red-topped pajama shirt and puffy cream pants, along with chaotic curly hair. He stood tall and rolled his shoulders back walking with sureness down the hallway to deflect others from his real doubt to the nursing/restoration room. Normally, Poe is a fearless leader and pilot who doesn't let a single ounce of his hope be destroyed. Hope is what he is known for as if it was written in his soul. But given his current injury, Poe hasn't flown for a concerningly long time by now.

BB-8 peaked around the corner of the room and saw Poe sitting up straight on the table waiting for the latest results. He hesitated to enter, but Poe caught him out of the corner of his eye.

"Come on in little buddy". Said Poe with a calm but numb voice. BB-8 exclaimed some short, scared beeps for his master.

"Happy beeps BB-8" Poe replied. He bites his lip with nerves and thought happy beeps.

"Black Leader, welcome back to the fleet!" said a mother-like voice that rang like honey in Poe's ears.

"General Leia..." Poe whispered in disbelief. He hopped off the table and went to run towards her but two nursing droids stopped him and began removing Poe's bandages. BB-8 began rocking back and forth happily for his master, but he wouldn't show he was still distressed by the accident.

"Now, you have some explaining to do. What happened?" General Leia questioned Poe in a stern yet concerned tone. "I've been gone for a short time and-"

"General, pardon my interruption, but you've been gone for almost 6 months," Poe stated boldly.

General Leia paused and slowly looked away unfazed. She was hoping things would go unrecognized. Poe squinted and curled his nose in confusion.

"Couldn't you see the expression on my face when you entered this room? I-I've been worried sick about you. Wondering if I would ever see you again? I thought I'd never have your guidance again." Poe stuttered in shock. There was a silent draft in the room. The nurse droids finished removing Poe's bandages revealing burn-scars on his left forearm. He had some quivering in his hand that he hadn't taken notice of yet.

General Leia looked back at Poe with glossy eyes and her mouth slightly open in despair. "Come with me," she said gently reaching her hand out to Poe. He went to take her hand and paused with his hand a few inches above her palm and observed his shaking. She grabbed it making the connection and they went to go bond over their previous traumas.