Star Wars VII - Revised and Redacted

Chapter 11: Aftermath

Restricted Scene Summary – During the battle in the sky, Poe and Chewie fly the Falcon, dispatching many enemy fighters. Rey and Kylo have a lightsaber fight where she's easily defeated and captured. The First Order withdraws, and a small Republic fleet arrives.

Escorted by a flight of X-wings, a Republic transport landed in the smoking ruin of what had once been a landing pad. The Falcon touched down beside it. Finn came running up as Han approached the transport.

"They took her," Finn said hurriedly. "They took Rey."

"I saw," Han admitted grimly. "Kylo Ren, apprentice to Supreme Leader Snoke. The Republic knows very little about him, but they suspect he may have been involved in the destruction of Luke's Jedi academy as he's one of the last people to still wield a lightsaber."

The side of the transport split, half of it folding down and other swinging up and out of the way. Republic soldiers swarmed out to secure the area. Exiting behind them was an older woman, her brown hair braided and wrapped around her head in a manner resembling a crown.

"Leia," Han said in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"Poe Dameron sent us a message requesting reinforcements," Leia explained.

Han looked toward the Falcon where Chewie and Poe were coming down the ramp. Poe offered Han a casual salute.

"I was expecting to find Poe and BB-8 here, but I didn't know you..." Leia began, but she got not further as Han wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. When their kiss ended, Han continued to embrace her.

"I missed you," he whispered in her ear.

"I can tell," she laughed.

Finn saw the reunion and decided to give them some time to themselves, walking over to where Poe and Chewie were standing by the ramp of the Falcon.

"That was some incredible flying," Finn told Poe. "I could really use your help. The First Order took Rey."

"Come with me," Poe encouraged. He led Finn over to Han and Leia, regretfully interrupting their conversation. "Excuse me, General Solo?"

"Poe," Leia said as she turned and recognized him. "Glad to see you made it. What do you have to report?"

"This man is Finn," Poe introduced. "He used to be a stormtrooper with the First Order. He got me out when I was captured."

Restricted Scene Summary – There is a brief conversation here I had to cut because it was identical to the original source material where Finn explained about being stationed on Starkiller base and how he can provide information.

"This squadron is heading back to the Republic base on D'Qar," Leia explained. "I was taking an inspection tour there when Poe's distress call came through. These are just the forces we were able to scramble on short notice. If we're going to assault Starkiller base, we'll need a sizable fleet. Come with me, we'll talk on the way."

Han started to follow Finn and Leia but paused, looking back toward the Falcon.

"Why don't you stay with her?" Poe suggested. "I'll fly the Falcon to D'Qar as soon as we find BB-8. Don't worry about your ship. It won't get a scratch."

Han nodded but as he turned away, he muttered under his breath. "I've heard that before."

Poe spun around as an enthusiastic trilling started nearby. BB-8 came rolling out of the forest and over to him at full speed.

"BB-8!" Poe exclaimed. "We were just about to come looking for you. Do you still have the map?"

BB-8 rolled its dome head forward and then back up in a quick nod.

"Good," Poe accepted. "Get aboard because we're going home."

BB-8 beeped happily and zoomed up the ramp, followed by Chewie and Poe. The Falcon and Republic transport ships lifted into the sky and joined formation with the X-wings still flying in a covering position. As they reached orbit, a secondary fleet arrived in system. A heavy cruiser and a several squadrons of fighters headed for the planet.

"Who are they?" Finn asked when he, Leia, and Han reached the moderately sized conference room. The large windows on the wall opposite the door offered a clear view of the incoming fleet.

"They're the second wave," Leia explained, taking a seat near the window. "They'll secure the planet from further attack, provide aid for the wounded, and help repair the damage suffered during the First Order raid."

Finn had only seen fighting, killing, and destruction during his time with the First Order. What little time wasn't accomplishing one of the three was used in preparation for it. This was his first experience seeing the Republic and their efforts, and it left him stunned, staring out the window as the ships cruised past.

"Finn," Han said in order to center Finn's attention back on the meeting. He took the chair next to his wife.

"Sorry," Finn apologized. He sat in the remaining chair and looked at the two people across from him.

"Do you know of any weaknesses in Starkiller base we could use to destroy it?" Leia asked.

"Probably," Finn answered in confusion. "What about Rey? Aren't we going to rescue her? That is why I'm here."

"That weapon destroyed the entire Hosnian star system," Leia reminded. "Although rescuing your friend is an admirable goal, I have to consider the billions of lives still in danger because of that thing. We'll rescue her if we can, but if not, our priority has to be the elimination of Starkiller base, no matter who might still be on it when it goes."