Star Wars: A Resistance Story. Book 1.

Chapter 3: Mission and Compromises.

It's been few days now that the mercenaries settled down on board of the Resistance frigate. But they were no troubles. Most of the times, they were staying together working on their ships. Even during lunch times, they didn't join the Resistants. As if they understood that they weren't welcome on board, despite their help during Ando's battle.

A morning, Poe decided to check on his fighter after having asked a mecanic to work on the hyperdrive that was messing up lately. It was really early and he thought he would be alone but he was wrong. He felt someone's presence in his back, someone who was studying him, and he turned around.

"What? You don't even trust your own team? You have to check everything by yourself?"

The pilot sighed. Ly'ra was settled in a corner, her back against the wall, her chair balancing behind her and her legs crossed on a small stool. The small droïd was next to her and he was turning his head between the two humans, following the exchange. The Commander folded his arms and leaned against his ship. The young woman let out a small laugh and stood back up, leaning her elbows on her knees.

"Actually you trust nobody. That's sad... Even more for a Resistant... You're not in the good team Dameron!"

The pilot took a deep breath and stepped closer to the woman.

"Listen... I don't know why but Leïa trusts you. And thus, I accepted your presence on board. If it was just for me, the Resistance wouldn't even have contacted you. The General took this decision alone and now you're here. But let me warn you that if you..."

Poe was stopped by C3PO who was hesitating. The pilot frowned, his brown eyes going from the droïd to the young woman still seated in front of him.

"Yes?"

"The General... She wants to see you now. Both of you..."

Obviously amused, Ly'ra stood up and started following the droïd back to the pilothouse.

"Come on BB8..."

Poe stayed still a moment, watching this odd duet walking away, hesitating between several ways to kill the woman, but the green look of the pilot stopped his thoughts and he let out a sigh before following them as well.

*******

Leïa was facing the window, but she was obviously waiting for them quite nervously. When she heard the door being opened, she turned around and made a sign for them to come closer.

"Thank you 3PO."

The protocol droïd nodded slightly and left the pilothouse. Poe and Ly'ra watched him leave before stepping closer to the Princess.

"I have a mission for you."

The two pilots stared at each other before facing Leïa.

"For... Both of us?"

"Together?"

The General nodded before sitting down in front of one of the various screens in the room.

"Yes, for both of you. I need you to take a small team, one that you will lead. It must be ready as soon as possible. Once it will be done, you will take one of our shuttles to go to Affavan..."

At the name of the planet, Ly'ra arched a brow and crossed her arms on her chest, obviously ill-at-ease.

"... Once there, you will meet a bounty hunter named Valek. You will have to convince him to do a transaction."

Poe took a quick look at the other pilot before tuning to face Leïa again.

"What kind of transaction exactly? Because I don't get why we need a team of both resistants and mercenaries, why is it so important?"

The General rose her hand in front of her, nodding slowly.

"Hold on. Valek has the last Stygium crystals. And the Resistance needs them before the First Order. I want you to form a special squad because I need each of your abilities. You are both the best pilots I know, Ly'ra knows very well this kind of planet and she knows how to deal with that kind of person. Poe, your military past will be an undeniable asset."

Ly'ra looked down at her little droïd and sighed.

"Look... I know what it means to you, really... But Affavan? This planet is one of the most dangerous I know... The Hutts..."

"Oh don't worry, I know them pretty well... I would not ask you this if it wasn't crucial. These crystals must not fall into the First Order's hands. We already have a cruel lack of staff, most of our pilots don't even have ships and without the Stygium, we can put an end to the Resistance now. You will be paid..."

Before the pilot could answer, Poe let out a humorless laugh.

"It'll change everything in that case..."

Ly'ra didn't even look at him.

"You know it's not the problem..."

"Oh really? Because you seemed to be in a hurry to get this money last time..."

The young woman turned around quickly and pushed the pilot against one of the tables. Poe was so taken aback that he stared at her reactionless. 

"No that's not the problem Flyboy! What do you think? If the Resistance found this guy, the First Order also knows his existence! And I don't know for you, but personally I'd prefer not be near them at all!"

Leïa intervened between them, softly pushing away the young woman from the pilot.

"I know Ly'ra... I know what this mission can cost you. But once again, if I had a choice, I would not have asked you this."

The woman stared at the Princess a moment, staying silent. After what seemed to last several minutes, she finally nodded slowly and stepped back.

"Okay... I'm gonna wake my men. Please, ask you guard dog to not cross my path again."

With these words, she left the pilothouse, leaving Poe completely thunderstruck and Leïa, relieved.

"She's crazy! And you want me to team with her?"

"She is terrorized Dameron. You have no idea how much. What I am asking today is terrible for her. This is also why I need you to lead this group. Don't misunderstand me, I trust her with my life. But I am afraid of her reaction if, unfortunately, the First Order finds you."

Poe stayed silent, fixing the door Ly'ra walked through a moment ago. This girl was a complete mystery, but he had to agree on one thing: if the General was asking him something, he would do it without a question.

"Very well Madam. I'll keep you in touch for our choices for the team then."

The pilot walked back towards the door as well, but Leïa held him back a moment.

"Oh by the way... Ly'ra never accepted a single credit from the Resistance. What she took was only to pay her men. She never kept anything for herself. I thought you needed to know that before you could blame her about something you might regret later...