Flying Through the Flames || Poe Dameron [The Force Awakens + the Last Jedi]

Scarlet Sky

The sun burned a deep orange the next morning, not yet having cleared the horizon. The blazing light matched the one inside me, as fresh and fierce as the night before.

I rose from my bed after an incredibly unrestful sleep, and quickly dressed in mostly dark grey; General Organa had instructed that I didn't wear my orange flight suit. Wearing it, I'd be far more recognisable.

I wanted to get out as quickly as I could, and as I hoped my journey would be short, so I hardly wasted any time when I got something to eat. It wasn't the most substantial breakfast, but I thought it would do for a few hours until I returned.

Lastly, I picked up my helmet from my desk, and left the building to walk across the tarmac.

Man, it was a slow walk; I missed Poe already and I literally hadn't even left the planet, and yet I was still so angry with him.

So, I kept walking.

I kept walking all the way to the rust-bucket of an x-wing General Organa had assigned me to for the mission. This spacecraft was hardly recognisable, not like my usual blue and grey x-wing was. It was old, perhaps from before the Death Star was destroyed yet hadn't been properly fixed up since then.

Normally a mechanic would've been there to assist me, but since the nature of the mission was under lock and key, I was by myself. Really, all that needed doing was removing the chocks from the x-wing's landing gear, and the engine exhaust covers.

I had it down.

Automatic lights came on in the hangar as I walked near; the scarlet sun wasn't enough to light my way. The spacecraft was already outside, ready to fly.

I proceeded to throw off the plasticky sheaths covering my engine exhausts and toss away the chocks, not so much caring if I left them in order; I just wanted to leave.

As I climbed up the ladder with my helmet in hand, my boots clanking against the metal, sudden shivers lanced up my spine. I stopped.

Someone was calling something in the dim distance, running across the tarmac.

I squinted in the mist, perplexed as the person drew nearer.

My breath caught in my throat as the face of the runner came into focus.

It was Poe.

"Nyssa!"

He continued running, as I looked down at my helmet, then back up at him. I could feel emotion rising in my throat; I needed to get away.

I watched as he slowed to a stop a few metres in front of the x-wing, his eyes glistening.

Without a word, our eyes locked, I pulled my helmet over my head and stepped the rest of the way into the spacecraft. He didn't move again, didn't try to stop me.

"I'll see you." I whispered, firing up the engine before taking off into the scarlet sky.