Star Wars: A Resistance Story. Book 2

Chapter 1: Nightmare.

Bended under the pain, Ly'ra coughed and spitted some blood before looking up at her tormentor. Slowly, a red light came and surrounded the young woman who let out a painful cry when she was lift above the ground by this invisible strength. She was now alone, the bodies of Dante, Bango and all her mercenaries were lying, dead, around her. She was thrown against the mountain in front of her and fell back on the earth, hearing the bones of her arm cracked. A high figure, hidden under a hood, slowly stepped closer before kneeling in front of the young pilot. Terrified, Ly'ra shook her head and tried to step back, in vain. A hand plunged in her chest and she screamed in pain, unable to move. Ceremony's chants speeded up when the young woman's heart was being ripped away from her.

"NO!"

With a scream, Poe woke up in a sudden, matted and perspiratory in his sheets. A nightmare. It was just a nightmare. Another one. It had been several weeks now he had troubles to sleep, this same dream coming back again and again. He had tried to beg Leïa to let him go to find Ly'ra but the General kept her position and refused every time, saying that she didn't even know where the mercenaries were. The pilot sighed and freed his legs from his sheets before sitting on the edge of the bed. BB8 rolled off hearing his new owner being awaken and unplunged from his charger. He beeped softly towards the man.

"No, it's nothing BB... Just a bad dream... I'm fine..."

The pilot slowly got up and headed towards his window. It was still early and most of the Resistants were probably still asleep. It had been several months that Ly'ra Kaplan and her group of mercenaries had left D'Qar and since then, no one had heard about them anymore. Dameron was trying to keep in mind that all his bad dreams were caused by his worry but deep down, he doubted it. He had the feeling that she was in danger and the fact that he couldn't do a thing was a real frustration for him. He groaned and finally decided to take a shower and then, he headed towards the shed. He would go to eat later, he was awaken so he would be useful. The Sun would rise in few moments and Poe glanced quickly outside before turning to face his ship. The black and orange X-Wing was proudly waiting, ready to take off. He let his hand run along the cabin, checking the potential repairs that would be needed but quickly, his mind turned on back on Ly'ra and this dream he was always doing. What could be the meaning? Who was that dark figure who was attacking the young woman? And these chants? Dameron tried to understand them and even asked C-3PO to help him, in vain. The Protocol droid didn't understand the approximate transcripts Poe tried to do and he finally concluded that the pilot didn't understand the words he heard or it was a disappeared language he didn't know. Which reduced greatly the field of researches, but also brought up more questions.

Deep in his thoughts, Poe didn't hear Jay arriving behind him. He jumped slightly feeling a hand on his shoulder.

"Hey Buddy! Wow! Sorry, I thought you heard me, I called you out from the tarmac!"

Jay had been sent in a recognition mission with Snap and they both just landed back to make a report to Leïa.

"It's okay, I was just thinking."

Jay sighed and put down his helmet on the ground before facing his friend. Dameron looked exhausted. Since Ly'ra had left the base, the pilot was always worried and he even started to have nightmares.

"Your dream again? Poe I'm sure she's perfectly fine! You're worried and your imagination is taking over your logic that's all. I'm sure that the First Order would let it know if she had been arrested. Which is not the case as she still has a price on her head so... She's fine."

Dameron nodded softly, trying to convince himself that Jay was right, but something was blocking his thinking, without knowing what it was.

"If only it was that simple..."

Jay didn't answer. He understood several months ago that Poe had strong feelings for Ly'ra. He could deny it all he wanted, their looks and the shared smiled between the two pilots were talking for them. He knew what happened on Affavan few days after the mercenaries's departure. The torture, the arena, Ly'ra back story, all of this, he was sure, could only reinforce his friend's worry about the young woman. He was only hoping that they would soon have news from her, so he can be reassured.

"Commander Dameron, you're needed in the Operations Room as soon as possible."

The two pilots froze and looked up. It was pretty rare that the intercoms were used on the base, except if they were under attack, which obviously, wasn't the case. Poe stayed still several seconds, hesitating.

"What have you done this time?"

A sigh escaped the man's lips as he turned to face his friend.

"Nothing! I just woke up!"

Jay let out an amused smile and he raised his hands innocently.

"You should go! You know she doesn't like waiting..."

With these words, the pilot picked up his helmet and stepped away. Poe looked down at BB8 who seemed to be waiting an answer from him. With a shrug, Dameron waved for him to follow and he headed towards the Operations room.

There, he found the General Organa, arms crossed on her chest, deep in thought, her gaze fixed on the screen in front of her. The pilot stepped closer, frowning.

"General? Is everything alright?"

Leïa looked up and nodded softly before reducing the gap between them.

"Commander, I have a very important mission to give you."

Suddenly, Poe was on the look-out, focused and serious, his military past resurfacing in a second.

"Madam?"

"One of my sources just contacted me. She stole a map to the First Order. A map that could help us find Luke."

Of course, Poe knew the name and the reputation of Luke Skywalker. He was Leïa's twin and one of the last Jedis still alive in the Galaxy. He also knew that he disappeared long ago after the destruction of his temple by Kylo Ren. Taking his silent as an agreement, Leïa went on.

"This map has been entrusted to one of my closest friend, Lor San Tekka, on Jakku. You absolutely need to take it back before the First Order find it. It's a question of life and death!"

Poe nodded.

"I can leave in ten minutes."

He was about to turn and leave but something stopped him. Maybe it was his instinct or something else, but he turned back to face Leïa, a small light of hope burning in his brown eyes.

"Madam? Your source? Was it...?"

He didn't finish his sentence. The small smile Leïa had gave him the answer he was waiting for. He was hoping for. The pilot smiled back and gestured to BB8 to follow him. He was almost out of the room when Leïa called him back.

"Oh Commander!"

"Madam?"

"Take a minute to stop by your barrack and shave this beard please."

"Yes Madam."

With a small laugh, Poe turned on his heels and stepped out. His hope was coming back. And in the end, maybe they were, in fact, just dreams.