Chain Reaction

Chapter 11 - Darkness

Paige

"I think it'd be easier to teach by actually doing." Poe said.

After they had eaten breakfast, Poe led her towards his X-wing. He did the whole, leaning against the vehicle and telling stories of his adventures bit, then toured Paige by walking around the vehicle. He slapped it one time, and winced as he had put in too much force and hurt his hand, Paige laughed. Soon, Poe led her inside the X-wing and let her sit in the pilot seat. He introduced all of the controls to her, and told them what they did. Paige asked him if he could actually teach her to fly the thing.

"Then do." Paige replied, waiting for Poe's response.

Poe chuckled.

"You really wanna fly?"

Paige nodded, grasping at the joystick. Poe shrugged and complied. It was cramped in the X-wing, Poe had to hunch over the seat, looking over her shoulder to monitor her. He realized she had truly been listening as she touched and pressed on the right buttons and pulled the right levers whenever he'd mention her to do something. She flew around the forest and attempted a dive, Poe screamed. By the end of the day, Paige had gotten the hang of it, when they landed, they watched the sunset of the planet, laid back on the wings of the fighter. A few hours into the night however, they were met with the serious face of Marcus, walking towards them.

Poe hopped off the vehicle and stretched.

"That thing was not built for two pilots."

He took a deep breath, exhaled, and quickly rushed back near the vehicle to help Paige get out.

"I got it, teacher." She chuckled, and jumped off, landing beside Poe.

"There's news from the First Order." Marcus said. "The general wishes to see the girl."

Poe and Paige's expressions turned from happy to worried. Marcus led them towards the base's command center, where General Leia stood, expecting them. Paige hid behind Poe, her eyes fixed to the floor. Poe noticed this and straightened, readying himself to defend her.

"Thank you, Marcus." Leia said, and she dismissed the man.

Marcus left the room, leaving only the three of them present. Leia tilted her head to the side as she noticed Poe with no plans to leave.

"What's this about, general?" The man inquired.

"We've received news."

Paige felt the general's eyes boring into her, but she did not look up.

"The First Order has issued a bounty over your friend's head. They want her back."

Paige saw Poe's jaw clench. She then became worried as to what he was going to say, everyone in the galaxy was probably looking for her now, and since she wasn't liked that much in this place, she wondered how long it would take before someone from the Resistance took her and shipped her off to some other planet and be done with her. This was a cruel trick to do, making the Resistance torn between keeping her or sending her off. It would be easier for them if they let her go. She wasn't valuable to them, she thought.

"Then we shouldn't give her to them." He replied, which shocked Paige.

Leia nodded, shocking Paige even more.

"It was never in my intention. Although, I can't say the same for the others." She said.

It was true. Paige knew the other members of the Resistance would want her out of their hair. The last thing they needed right now was bounty hunters scouring the planet trying to find someone they were currently harboring. She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, and finally spoke up, not understanding why the general of the Resistance refused to give her up.