Star Wars: A Resistance Story. Book 1.

Chapter 25: Leaving.

The Sun was just rising on D'Qar and the Resistance base was calm and quiet. The night team made a last watch before the crowd took place with their needed warning exercises, an obligation lately. Discreetly, the mecanics took out from the shed the mercenaries's Fighters and were finishing to fill up the ships with the needed fuel. Most of the mercenaries were already ready to leave, settled in their own ships, Bango was half asleep on his copilot's seat and Dante was staying still, in the large door frame of the shed, Leïa by his side.

"I would have prefered it ended up differently..."

The pilot nodded softly.

"I know... Me too. But she's right. We'd better leave, at least for now."

The General turned her eyes on her childhood friend with a sad smile, placing a hand on his arm.

"She still doesn't know right?"

The man looked right in her eyes before looking away, shaking his head firmly.

"Nope. But it's better like that. She has enough problems to handle for now..."

"But for who is it better Dante?"

The man didn't have time to answer. As he turned to face the Princess, he noticed Poe and Ly'ra arriving behind her. The man straightened and nodded softly at Leïa.

"See you soon Your Highness."

The General softly smiled back before turning to face the couple who just left the shed.

"I'm going to miss you Ly'ra... Please be careful!"

The young woman smiled sadly before taking her into her arms.

"I'll miss you too... You know how to join me if needed."

With a soft nod, Leïa stepped back, leaving the couple alone for their goodbyes. Poe had kept his eyes fixed on the young pilot. He finally had to let her go, despite his violent desire to ask her to stay, he knew she didn't have any other choice. Ly'ra turned to face him, smiled softly before quickly running into his arms. Dameron embraced her and hid his face in the young woman long and dark curls of her hair.

"Promise me to be careful okay? Don't be like me!"

The young woman let out a laugh, looked up at her man and took his face with her hands.

"I promise. I'll see you soon."

Poe nodded softly before leaning in and kissing her. Ly'ra slackened into his arms, kissing him back with passion. Dameron held tight on her, keeping her as close as possible for few more instants, but the young woman ended up stepping back, obviously against her will. As she stepped back, Poe caught her and brought her back into his arms one last time. He kissed her and whispered into her ear.

"I love you."

Ly'ra smiled, kissed him quickly and winked.

"I know..."

Even Leïa couldn't hold back a smile. She watched the couple stepping away from each other, still holding their hands. And, as the young pilot was heading towards her ship, Poe turned to face BB8.

"Okay Buddy... See you soon..."

"Oh, actually..."

Ly'ra turned on her heels, a smirk appearing on her face.

"He's staying with you."

"What?"

"He doesn't have a price on his head and he'll be much more useful to the Resistance than he would be with me. And he could keep an eye on my favorite pilot..."

Dameron's eyes went from Ly'ra to the small droid who didn't seem surprised or even chocked by this decision.

"We already talked about this together. And he likes you, right BB?"

An enthusiast beep escaped the round body of the droid.

"But one thing Dameron. If anything happen to him, even a simple bolt that disappeared, you're gonna regret to ever have met me, okay?"

Poe raised his hands above his head, an innocent look on his face.

"I'll take good care of him, I promise!"

He then watched as Ly'ra jumped in her ship, checking everything before getting ready to leave. She glanced one last time at him and put on her helmet, locked the cockpit and started the X-Wing's engines.

Poe stepped back from the tarmac with BB8 and Leïa and watched as the group of mercenaries were taking off and disappeared into the morning mist of D'Qar. The X-Wing with the fire bird stayed in suspension few more seconds, and Ly'ra slightly bent the nose of her ship, to send a last goodbye to which Poe nodded softly. She then took off and disappeared into the Hyperespace.

Dameron, BB8 and the General stayed still few moments, keeping their eyes on where the ships had vanished. The pilot knew it wasn't over. That it was just a simple goodbye. He knew he would see Ly'ra Kaplan again, very soon, and this thought made him smile softly. And, as the base was slowly waking up and the first Resistants were stepping onto the tarmac, Poe looked down at BB8 and gestured for him to follow.

"Come on Buddy. We have some work to do."

And here we are! The end of Book 1! I really hope you enjoyed this story and all the new characters I brought to you. As you may already know, Ly'ra, Dante and Bango are really complex characters and thus they will come back in a Book 2. It's written and finished in French so I will start translating it quickly. There'll also be a Book 3. It's not started yet, not really, as it'll take place both during the year between Episode VIII and Episode IX and during Episode IX. I already have few chapters, but I'll need to wait and read the book and see the movie to really include and work this out. In the meantime, don't hesitate to give me your opinion, I always like to see what you thought and what you think Book 2 and 3 will bring. Love you guys and Thanks!