CHASE ME | DISCON.

EIGHT

Poe

I've never felt more exhausted.

As I slowly creep out from unconsciousness, I find myself in an ejected pilot's seat, still buckled down. The pain that surfaces comes it waves, my head pounding and chest heaving, trying to recover whatever air that was knocked out of me. I fumble with the straps keeping me down, pushing away the discomfort and rolling out of the seat, coughing up... sand.

I blink away spots, memories coming back in flashes: Andromeda's fading smile, the TIE fighter, the stormtrooper- Finn-  and the fear in his voice when I told we needed to go back to-

Jakku.

"Finn!" I scream at nothing, staggering to my feet to scan my surroundings for the former trooper, but in the darkness of night, I can see nothing. Theres nothing but sand. There's no ship. There's no Finn.

There's nothing but me and an ejected pilot seat.

My quick breathing hitches momentarily, and I run my hands over my eyes. I gather what I can of myself, going through everything I have. Not much. Not enough. Checking myself for injuries, I take a tally- head wound, bruises, sketchy memory- but at least I'm still alive. Now I just need to make sure I stay that way, and that would be enough for me.

I look at the pilot's seat, and I'm reminded of Finn. There's no ship- no trace of a crash. If I want to find him, the only thing I can do is guess. But what was the point? If he didn't eject, he could be dead by now. 

Dammit.

He can't be dead. He can't. He helped me escape- for Force sakes I just named him. After everything he's done so far, he deserves a second chance at life. He already means enough to me that I don't want him to have to give up his chance of being better.

Though, if he is alive- if he survived like I have- he can take care of himself, can't he? Focus on yourself. Just... stay alive.

*****

It's been hours since I started walking with no sense of direction, hardly thinking of anything other than the next step. The most interesting thing I encountered was a disgruntled scavenger that didn't seem to care what happened to me.

The sun has risen, the heat sweltering. I sit, perched on the top a large dune, squinting at the horizon in search of life. I may not be prepared for desert survival, but I have definitely noticed that Jakku's population is scattered. With any luck, I should run into a town or trading post. Unfortunately, my luck seems to be wearing thinner the farther I go.

The roar of an engine gives me a few seconds headstart, and I'm already sliding halfway down the dune when a speeder goes by only a few feet from where I was. The driver throws a curse my way before turning to go in the opposite direction, kicking up sand as he does.

I turn back to my search with somewhat renewed confidence, knowing that if there's any speeder around, there should be a trading post of sorts to go with it.

It doesn't take me long to see it- a town- small, but there nonetheless. Several tents surround a set of basic buildings. Relief floods through me at the thought of salvation, and I skid down the rest of the dune, sand flying up and getting into my shoes. I hardly notice, concentrating more on how this place can me have home. If there's still any luck left in me, I can transmit a signal back to base.

As I walk in, slightly unsure, several heads turn. I realize that before I ask for anything, I need to get those here to trust me. A blarina stops his work, coming out from under his tent. His tiny, sunken eyes look me over, and he seems to draw a conclusion before greeting me, "Welcome to Blowback Town, stranger," he beckons for me to follow him, "I'll show you around."

dedicated to another friend who got themselves into this and encouraged me. love ya, buddy o pal 💛