Destinations {Poe Dameron}

IV: Truths and Lies

It felt like days passed, but in honesty maybe just over six hours. My canteen was low on water. BB-8 however was doing just fine. Damn droids. We continued to trudged along the dunes, the sun falling. I could still feel it's heavy rays on my cloaked body.

BB-8 rolled past me, going down a hill beeping in excitement. This droid is hardly a droid, rather a child. I stumbled behind him, until I heard him whistling in distress. My head picked up as I ran to the edge of the hill.

Scavengers.

"Get away from my droid!" I yelled racing down it, pulling out my staff ejecting it to its full length. But I wasn't the only one coming to BB-8's rescue. She pushed the alien off the droid, and after a moment the scavenger retreated. Cautiously I walked up to her, she also like me had a staff. Her brown eyes met my blue ones.

She looked rough, but beautiful. Her hair was in three buns going down the back of her head. Adorned in simple clothing, she stood powerfully. I matched her stance, ready for anything that could possibly happen.

"This is your droid?" She asked, studying me carefully. Just as wary of me as I was of her.

Nodding, "yes, thank you for saving him." She nodded respectfully to me. Putting out a hand to me.

"My name is Rey." She announced.

Taking her hand, "Ava." After the exchange I dropped my hand. She began to walk towards an old speeder.

"Wait, Rey! Do you know how far we are from the nearest town? We're trying to get back to the droids home." I called out, taking a chance on this stranger. She paused for a moment looking at me.

"Yeah, but it's late. You might as well come with me." And offer at this point with how low my water was I could not refuse. I helped her strap BB-8 to the speeder. Hoping on, we were off across the desert. Such a nice change from walking.

Minutes passed and we came across what looked like an abandoned AT-AT. She slowed to a stop near it, detaching BB-8 as I continued to stare at the old piece of machinery. Curious as to how long it's been here, what history it holds. Rey shoo'd me off the speeder so she could cover it.

We walked inside her home, I was more so amazed she's living in the beast. The girl and I talked all night, she asked where I was from. And I told her Naboo, she stared in awh. Asking why I'd ever leave what is known as a beautiful planet.

"I felt something calling me." I lied, but it was slightly true. She nodded, after we ate what was an incredibly small portion. She explained how life is on Jakku. And I felt so terrible for her, the way that this war has harmed the people living here. Not just from destruction, but destroying any sense of having the means to survive.

On that note, we went to bed. With a promise of being delivered to the market place tomorrow.

Morning came early, stretching I could sense how poorly I smelt from not showering in now to be three days. I filled my canteen with Rey's permission, not wanting to waste anything she truly needed. Walking out of the AT-AT we were on our way atop of her speeder.

Nearly ten minutes passed and we reached the market. I thanked her dearly as we walked around, she was going to sell some parts. And help me find a communicator to reach the planet BB-8 and I were going to. Due to his own not being able to stretch that far.

As she argued with the alien manning the kiosk, about selling BB-8. I looked around, watching humans and aliens alike bustle about with their lives. Off in the distance, however, I could see a black man running down the dune toward an animal watering hole. He wore a leather jacket and black pants. He looked so familiar.

My eyebrows raised in surprise.

FN-2187!

I mimicked his motions and ran over to the watering hole, and he dropped his face into it. Cringing I still approached him, BB-8 right on my heels. I stood and waited for him to finish.

"I've never seen a man that desperate for water, that he'd drink from a filthy animal trough. He looked up to me, smiling big. And without noticing the small droid next to me, and to my horror of my plans screamed;

"Kou! You're alive!" My eyes widened, the bounty hunter name slipped out of his mouth. I could hear BB-8 beep confused to shocked to mad.

And all I could feel was electricity going through my body, as I collapsed to the floor.

See Phasma, that's how you're supposed to paralyze someone.

My eyes fell shut as I slipped into darkness.

. . .
Third person

"Why'd you do that BB-8!" Rey yelled, he looked to her and began to beep that her real name is Kou. A deadly bounty hunter. But how he was confused by the fact she seemed to have defended the village that had been under attack a few nights ago.

BB-8's attention went to the unknown man, seeing Poe Damerons jacket. The droid got mad, beeping at him, taser back out.

"The droid wants to know why you have that jacket. He says you stole it." Rey translated, now with her staff pointed towards the man.

"Look, I've had a pretty messed up day. Alright, so I'd appreciate it if you stopped accusing me of-" he was cut off by BB-8 zapping him.

"Stop it!" He scolded the droid.

"Where'd you get it! It belongs to his master" Rey pushed him. The trooper looked between the two.

He let out a sad sigh, "his name was Poe Dameron. That was his name right?"

BB-8 glances up at Rey, confirming that much true. Then back to the man.

"He was captured, by the First Order. I helped him escape, and our ship crashed." FN-2187 explained, he paused. "Poe didn't make it." The droids head dropped, beginning to roll off.

FN-2187 picked up Odessa's body first.

"Why are you bringing her? If she's a bounty hunter?" Rey questioned.

FN had to think quickly, "I know her, she's from Naboo. We met a long time ago. And I need to bring her with us, she still has good in her. The Resistance can influence her." Smoothly he lied through his teeth.

Both the humans followed BB-8 as Rey questioned him about the Resistance. Only not to soon were they spotted by stormtroopers. Creating a huge fiasco in the market. Dodging bullets from blasters, they ran as fast as they could. Well as fast as the former trooper could with a grown woman on his shoulder. Towards a ship yard.

"What about that ship!?" FN-2187 yelled, pointing to a beat up looking cruiser.

"That's garbage! That will get us out here faster!" She pointed to a shiny red new ship. But long before they could reach it, TIE fighters demolished it.

"The garbage will do!" She took off towards the old ship. BB-8 and FN following close behind, as they made their first of many escapes from the First Order.