Beating Heart ♔ Rey

three

Chapter Three

Hester wasn't kept waiting long.

She leaned against a wall, arms crossed and hood over her face. Anyone who noticed her was quick to turn away. No one gave much thought as to what she was doing alone by the hanger - maybe they thought she was waiting for Kylo Ren.

Then FN was approaching, and he was dragged the pilot along. The pilot's dark hair fell in his eyes. Hester winced when she saw him - she could see evidence that he'd been tortured for information before Kylo Ren forced the information from his head.

Of course Kylo Ren would do it that way.

"In here!" Hester hissed, gesturing to a small niche in the starship's wall.

FN and the pilot steered toward her. Hester quickly reached out with the Force, turning away the attention of anyone who might be looking their way, as they hid in the small niche. They were all so cramped in the small space that Hester couldn't move without touching either of them.

"You made it," she breathed to FN. "Any difficulties?"

The trooper shook his head. "None at all."

While they exchanged news, the pilot had been staring at Hester with narrowed, suspicious eyes. Hester swallowed, suddenly under the impression of being x-rayed.

"Who's she?" the pilot demanded sharply.

Hester managed to send a smirk his way.

"Hester Mirren, mastermind behind this damn escape, and the First Order's first and worst enemy." She winked. "I've been working against them since day one."

The pilot considered her for a minute longer then chuckled lowly. "I like you. I'm Poe Dameron."

Hester grinned back.

"Nice to meet you, but keep talking to a minimum, it'll look suspicious." She pointed at several TIE fighters visible in the hanger. "Head for those TIE fighters. Go in front of me, quickly."

Both nodded, and FN dragged Poe out from behind the gap toward the fighters. Hester gave them a half minute head start then followed, keeping a quick buy deliberate pace. She scanned the area to create the appearance she was inspecting the hanger, while frequently checking FN and Poe's position.

When the three were about level and had passed a line of Troopers, Hester cast a glance around and once again used the Force to distract everyone. "Quick, go!" she hissed, she the three turned and sprinted toward the stairs leading to the fighters.

FN and Poe clambered into one. As FN was entering his, Hester kept climbing to the fighter just above theirs.

"You're flying one on your own?" FN exclaimed lowly.

Hester rolled her eyes. "Unless you didn't notice, these things are only built for two," she muttered, jerking her head toward the fighter.

FN nodded and clambered in after Poe. Hester hurried up the last few steps and clambered into her own, sitting herself in the pilot's seat.

"Okay," she breathed, turning the controls on. She'd only flown in these things a few times - you couldn't exactly be a Jedi if you couldn't fly to your own destination. She'd learnt how to master flying from a young age.

After fiddling with the controls for a few seconds longer, the engine came to life. Hester's lips curled up into a small smirk. "There we go." 

She noticed that Poe and FN had already entered the air. She tilted the controls so she followed them, but -