Star Wars: Duel of the Fates

Chapter 18

Poe sat back heavily in the cockpit seat of the Millennium Falcon and sighed nosily.

BB-8 slowly came towards him and let out a series of bleeps.

Poe patted his head, "Thanks."

Another few beeps caused Poe to sniff and look down.

"It's good to know I'm forgiven," he said, "I promise to take you next time."

BB-8 wheeled away as Finn appeared at the door.

"You alright?" he asked.

"Just tired," he replied.

Finn sat down in the chair behind his and nodded, "Rose said that the second hyperdrive and the seventh engine are close to being functional. She just needs a lot of new parts to complete them."

"Good, that's good," Poe said, "And the deflector shields?"

"She's got people working on it but they need new power conduits for the manifold and two new field extenders."

"Communications?"

"Totally fried."

Poe shook his head, "...And...the disrupter?" 

"That is going to take more time...you're asking them to do something that's never been done before."

"The First Order did the impossible: we can too. Let's just hope that we can get all of the parts we need."

"You been friends with this Lando guy for long?"

"Years now. He prefers to keep his head down but he's saved more than his fair share of Resistance missions on the brink of failure. He was the one who gave us the additional shuttles we used to fly down to Crait, got them to us barely four days before the battle of Starkiller base. His timing couldn't have been any better."

"Must have been the force."

Poe smiled wryly, "I don't think it works that way. You'll have to check with Rey."

"I haven't seen her for a while; do you know where she went?"

"I sent her to get some sleep," Poe said, "She's taken it hard."

"...She coming with us?"

"I asked her to get here...five minutes ago."

"It's not like her to be late."

Poe sighed, "No it isn't."

"Have you gotten her to talk about it?"

"Haven't had the opportunity. We'll all talk after the ship is fixed."

Rey and Chewie entered and sat, as he and Poe started activating the Falcon.

"How are you?" Finn asked Rey.

She sighed, "I saw him again...Kylo Ren."

Finn leant forward, "But that hasn't happened in over a year."

"Did he...sense her passing?" Poe asked.

"Yes."

"You sure you're up to this? We'll be fine if you wanna stay on the cruiser."

"I want to go."

"And you Chewie?" Poe said pressing buttons and dials.

A small cry was the only reply.

"Right then...let's get this done."