Beating Heart ♔ Rey

sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

After quickly telling Poe everything, the pilot nodded and told both Hester and Finn to follow him. They'd followed without hesitation, entering the command centre where they found General Leia Organa deep in discussion with several other officials. After quick introductions, both Hester age Finn addressed the matter that was most important to both of them: getting Rey back safely.

"And I will do everything I can to help," Leia had said, after Hester relayed the information about Rey being taken prisoner, "but first you need to tell us everything you know."

After relaying every minute detail she knew about the First Order, Hester asked if there was any chance she could change into more appropriate clothes. After Leia confirmed there was, Poe grinned and said, "Here, I'll show you where it is - don't want you getting lost."

Hester smiled back. "Thanks, Poe."

Hester followed Poe as they left the command centre. Her eyes remained trained on him, taking in as much as she could. Ever since they'd left the First Order behind them, Hester had thought Poe was dead - it was almost impossible to comprehend that he stood beside her now. Even though she could feel his Force presence humming strongly, every minute detail she picked up about him made him seem more real, more alive, and reassured her that indeed, her friend was still with them.

"I always thought those robes looked uncomfortable to wear," the pilot joked.

Hester glanced down at her long, black robes and laughed. "They are," she said, spreading her arms to give Poe a full observation. "The Dark Side was all about dramatic style... I, for one, find wearing such long and elaborate robes a tripping hazard and quite impractical. I can't wear to burn these... I hated wearing them. I still do."

Her voice trailed off and suddenly she felt contaminated, like she was carrying some deadly disease. Hester glared at the robes and suddenly wanted to rip them from her body. They were proof of her time amongst the First Order, proof that for years, she had been separated from the Resistance, and marked her as someone with connections to the enemy. She clenched her fists, never hating the outfit she wore any more than she did then.

"You okay?" Poe asked quietly, looking at Hester with gentle, concerned eyes.

"Fine," Hester mumbled. Her arms wrapped themselves around her body as though to protect herself - from both what she had been, and what others more than likely thought of her - and she sighed. "I've just... been surrounded by my enemies for years, surrounded by darkness and formality and a place I couldn't open up to anyone. I can't wait to change, to get rid of the last memory of my life there." She glanced up at Poe, arms still tightly wrapped around herself, and managed a small smile. "This place, already it feels more like family."

Poe stepped closer to her. "I guess we are sort of like a family; we're all united for one cause. And I trust everyone... which is important, since we're comrades on the battlefield, and trust our lives to everyone else."

Hester nodded once. "I really am glad I finally made the decision to bale. Though, I wonder if I'll be able to gain that same trust from everyone else... Finn has it easy. He's so likeable and has an aura of trustworthiness about him, and rocked up in pretty normal clothes... but what about me?" Hester licked her dry lips. "I-I'm a former Dark side Force weirder. I wasn't a Sith, though I bet some people would consider I was close enough to it... and I wear the evidence. Plenty of people have seen me in these robes, and stories and rumours are surely spreading as we speak. No matter what intel I've told Leia and how I've spied the First Order from its beginning... I don't think people are going to trust me."