Almost

Chapter Four

"There's Aeos!"

The meeting, which turned out to be more of a conference, went as well as Tam could've hoped. They were not only going to check up on Aeos, but they were going to find any survivors and make amends.

"You sure this is a good idea, Imanuel?" Venisa- er, Commander Doza said.

The captain let out a soft sigh and turned toward his wife. "I really have no idea, love. I just know these people are hurt because of us. And that we should help."

The older woman smiled. "And do what is right is what we do."

The corners of Captain Doza's mouth turned upward. "Indeed, Commander."

The two stared at each other for some time. Kaz let out a soft cough.

The noise pulled the Doza's back to reality, and the Captain stated, "Er, Kaz take the Aces and any volunteers who would like to go scout out the area. I want check-in's every half-hour."

Kaz nodded and said, "C'mone Tam."

She quickly followed.

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"Your an Ace now, right?"

"Ya. You're not... mad, are you?" Kaz kicked some loose rock, sending some speckles of dirt into the air.

"No. Why would I be?"

He tilted his head. "I just... don't want to make anyone else angry, ya know?"

Aeos was covered in shimmering waves of seguin water, gently lapping against the soft golden-pale land. The sand was surprisingly spongy, and had small shells embedded in the sticky turf. It didn't smell like fish and rot and bird poop, but instead a salty-sweet smell that reminded her of rain. The sky was a soft periwinkle blue, and clouds bobbed lazily in the sky, like bantha-fluff in water.

It was beautiful.

This was the part that made Tam gloomy. The First order had demolished the land, leaving a smoking hole where life should be.

No. It didn't make her sad. It made her livid.

Her and Kaz had been sifting through the ruins trying to find some sort of life. But it seemed everything was gone.

A frustrated sigh escaped her lips.

"And it seems I failed at that, too."

Tam looked up to see a defeated look on his face. "What? Oh no- I was just thinking."

"How beautiful this place is?"

"And how much more beautiful it should be."

"Something like that, then?" Kaz scooted aside a piece of a fallen building. "Sucks, doesn't it."

Tam wiping sweat from her brow. "Sucks is a stupid way of putting it."

He chuckled, running his hand through his nicely-combed hair.

"Kaz?"

"Hm?"

"I was thinking, I- I- mean considering, if it's not too soon-"

"You want to join the Resistance."

Tam took her eyes off of the bottom of a rock she was observing and stared at him, open mouthed.

"It's not too hard to tell." Kaz snickered, savoring the look of surprise on her face. "You have been going on about wanting to atone for your sins or what-not, and what better way to do that then to join the good guys!"

"That's creepy." Tam accused. "Are you really watching me that closely? Or are you just reading my Journal or something."

"You have a Journal?"

Tam groaned, throwing her hands up in the air.

"You can't be too mad at me." He said, trying to defend himself. "Doza said to keep an eye on you."

She rolled her eyes.

"Hey!" Someone shouted from up ahead. "Someone's under here!"

Kaz echanged a look with Tam, then the two took off towards the sound.

"Over here!"

Hype and Torra were crouched next to a large wall that looked like it had recently fallen. One of the sides was propped up against a rock, giving little room, but just enough for someone to squeeze under.

"What's going on?" Kaz asked, sliding next to the other aces.

"I was looking under, and saw something move." Torra said. "Then Hype came and shrieked at the top of his lungs for someone to help. Scared the kid farther down."

"There's a kid under there?" Hype said, squinting into the darkness.

"That's what it looked like."

"Hey." Kaz said to the something under the wall. "We're not here to hurt you. We came to help, little one."

Tam saw a small shape shift under the wall.

"Why should I trust you?" A soft voice squeaked. "That one wears t-their symbol."

Tam felt a wave of guilt as she looked down at her jacket that she and Kaz had made from her First Order flight suit.

"Oh." Tam stammered. "I was once apart of them, yes. But I saw what monsters they were, and I... I left."

"How did you manage that?" The small figure demanded. "They have destroyed my home, brought down fire from the sky."

"We know you're scared." Kaz said benignly. "And we can help." He offered his hand. "We are trying to find the rest of your people too help them to."

"What do your kin call you?"

"Kaz."

A pause of silence settled between their words. Then miraculously, a small, webbed, aquamarine hand took Kaz's.

The Aeosian child was small, and her clothes were in rough shape. Large eyes darted back and forth, as if danger were to jump out at any moment.

"Are you hungry?" Hype got down on his knees and handed the girl an energy bar.

She took one more look at the faces that surrounded her, then gobbled up the bar in three bites. "Do... you have any more?"

After the small crew had given her all they had, Kaz asked, "What's your name, little one?"

She swallowed the last bite of their snacks and proclaimed, "Anastasia!"

A soft smile had touched Kaz's lips. "That's a nice name, Anastasia."

"Thank you. My mum calls me Annie. And you can too, I suppose."

"Well then, Annie, would you help us find your mother?"

Her eyes widened. "You can really find my mummy?"

He grinned. "We can try."

"You are very kind." Annie said. "I just wish I knew where everyone was."

"That's alright." Tam cut in. "You've been through a lot, and you would probably would like to rest a little bit, right hon?"

"That sounds nice." She looked up at Tam, her blue eyes bearing into her soul. "I'm afraid I've miss- judged you, ma'm. Please forgive me?"

Tam blinked. Several times. "You don't have anything to apologize for. Now let's go, so you can rest."

"Yes please! " Annie giggled.

"To the Colosuss!" Kaz cheered.