They spent the next few hours bringing up the weapons and strategically placing the guns behind certain rocks and the grenades near their new exit. The two pilots exchanged more flight banter, which Mara found herself enjoying. It'd been awhile since she'd had a genuine conversation about aerial warfare that wasn't with some stuck up general who believed she wasn't good enough for their mighty Order. She was continually impressed by Dameron's overall knowledge on the subject, not that she'd ever admit that to his face. Whenever it seemed like Poe was winning a trivial debate, she'd snark back and hand him another grenade.

BB-8 just watched from afar, chirping mostly in support for his companion. If the astromech didn't like the tone the blonde used with his favorite human, he'd shine the light directly in her face and momentarily blind her.

The sun did eventually begin to rise as Poe hopped back into the base carefully, then climbed back up with the remains of the lizard they'd gotten a few days earlier. BB-8 warmed it up for them, and they ate the last of their rations as they waited for the First Order to arrive.

"So what your saying is, the flight raid on Onderaan back in the Clone Wars was foolhardy? Man, you just disrespected like three dead generals." Mara commented in between a bite, shaking her head at Dameron's logic.

He sighed, "No recon flight, just going in there head on? Four more hours would've bought them twenty more ships from reinforcements. It's actual madness they succeeded."

The blonde scoffed at him, "They already knew the Separatist attack patterns. The enemy was taken by surprise at that time. Besides, they might not even have had fours hours. Who knows what would've happened if they waited."

"They had hope, I'll give you that, but it was also a bit of arrogance there as well. Risking your pilots lives like that when an alternative way was there in that crucial of a fight? It's something you do to put on your résumé if you win, and definitely was not the best interests of saving lives." He responded, finishing off his meal while Mara crossed her arms.

"That whole 'Resistance Poster Boy' thing? You are really selling it." The blonde retorted quickly, noticing how his little speech practically reeked of 'sense of duty plus hope plus innocent lives' propaganda she'd read about in the times of the Rebellion in the Imperial era.

Poe slightly chuckled at the remark, but did continue to challenge her, "C'mon, it's the old academy routine. You look at some old engagements and you point out where things could've gone wrong."

"And once you're done, I expect 'and that's why we should fight for freedom and justice in the galaxy' to be your closing statement." Mara cocked her head to the side, giving him a look that said all to well 'I'm right, aren't I?'.

Dameron glanced away from her back over the base, seeing the day's first light hit the basin floor, "Well, is that such a bad thing?"

She rolled her eyes, grabbing for the water sack and taking the last shallow gulp. They'd now used up the last of their resources, putting all their faith in the attack, because if it failed or not, they really wouldn't anymore good from this planet. Dead and captured? No need for this planets food then. Safe and imprisoned? Nope.

Mara had been thinking about being imprisoned lately. Yes, it was about 13 times better than dying here, but still sucked. How long would they keep her there? For how long would they interrogate her? She'd decided when they did, she'd cooperate for the most part as a revenge against the First Order. Yet, would they detain her for years? Use her as a bargaining chip at some point?

The last thought had scared her. She glanced at a now unconscious Dameron, who probably needed sleep for the fight if his brief episode of laughter was evidence enough. She narrowed her eyes slightly as she continued to explore the thought of being used to bargain with her brother's army.

It may work. If she did return with Poe, the Resistance might as well need to make some trade with the Order. It happened in every war in some way, whenever one side got a hold of someone with potential information that could hurt their enemies. They could threaten for Mara to testify at the Senate (which partially refused to believe the First Order was an actual threat) or something similar to get captured soldiers back. That was just one of many scenarios in which she could end up back in the Order's hands.

Dying here meant literally ending her life on a wasted planet. If by some miracle they did succeed, her life wasn't really showing any future positives. The very thought of facing her brother again made her shudder. 

Mara lingered on that possibility longer as the sun continued to come up over the never ending horizon. She tinkered with her batons more, continuing to polish until it could show her a reflection. When that small task was done, she messed with one of her blasters, checking to make sure it all functioned.

After maybe a half-hour, Dameron stirred next to her, waking up and rubbing his eyes, "Still not here yet?"

Mara twirled one rod in her hand out of boredom, answering him, "Nope. I suppose we've got maybe a half-hour left. Until then, we're still two people up against a whole task force with no backup plan and a cute droid to help us."

Poe winced again, still gathering himself after the short nap. His voice droned on as he pinched the bridge of his nose, swallowing before talking, "Yeah, about the whole backup thing, I've had an idea rolling around in my head for awhile."

Mara's eyes popped wide open, and found herself swiftly pushing him as she spoke fast, "Really?! And you didn't say anything until now, barely before the people who are coming for us show up?! Go on now, spit it out."

He let out a breath, the disgruntled face Mara had put on and the threat of one of her batons impounding his face made him finally decide to share the plan he'd come up with. Still, he didn't like the idea, and it would be risking one of their livelihood in order to do so. It was reckless, but right now they were to desperate to think of anything else, "You're not going to like it."

"Believe me, you'd be surprised how many stupid and desperate plans I approve of. Now shoot!" She urged him, more rapid hand gestures proving her point.

Poe looked back at his beloved droid, Mara following the suit to glance at BB-8, still having no idea of Dameron's plan. The astromech took notice, becoming a little anxious as they continued to stare at him.

I have a bad feeling about this.

~~~~~~~~~~

"I feel like I'm sending a child into war." The blonde commented, watching BB-8 ball-like structure fade into the distance. The droid was now out of the basin, going south to fulfill his given orders.

"He's been in the war awhile, he'll be okay." Dameron assured, yet followed up with a nervous response, "Yeah, he'll be fine."

"I hope."

"He will. Sure he will. Of course."

Mara resisted the urge to make another smartalic remark, instead taking a deep breath, "You're doubting your own plan and your droid. Sure, it's maybe not the best idea, but it should work. It's crazy enough to."

Poe shook his head, before going back down to their previous spot in the rocks, "Yeah, yeah, it will. And he'll come through. Always does."

They sat back down near the exit, both now knowing there wasn't much time until the attack. Mara let her legs dangle off the edge off the barrack's ceiling, swinging them slightly as she watched her shadow down on the concrete floor. Bile had begun to rise in her throat without thinking, and her stomach began to flip flops. This was really happening. They were really going against twenty guys with a couple explosives and a few desperate plans.

It didn't take long. Silence became almost intolerable as Mara saw something far off in the sky, a dark spec appearing amongst the cloudless blue. It moved in steadily, her heartbeat progressively speeding up as it came more into view.

Those were the same people she'd seen pry young children away from dead bodies of loving parents. Those were the same people who answered to those who had shot her out of the sky. Now, they'd come to kill her.

Mara made sure her batons were strapped to her belt, as well as observing the stack of grenades as if seeing them would bring her a small comfort. It didn't.

She folded her hands together in her lap, her fingers twiddling out of habit. She turned her head to look at Poe, who outwardly didn't seem to be as distressed as she felt. His dark eyes momentarily met hers, and for a second, both reached for oxygen in their lungs as they took a deep breath. Mara was only met with more dismay, yet went over her small mantra in her head.

1

You're about to engage in a battle in which you are vastly outnumbered. You're probably going to die.

2

You have a plan, however desperate it is.

3

You've made it this far. You've survived this long, and this time you aren't alone.

You aren't alone.

Mara found herself feeling a strange sense of reliance, dare she say trust in this situation. For someone she had dead set decided she wanted to kill just four days prior, the blonde was glad Poe was there. Life had taught her quite a few times that she should get used to getting lonely, get used to getting by on her own. She did, she did survive. Yet, it was comforting to know she wouldn't be the only one risking her life today.

So Mara gave Dameron a harsh pat on the back before he jumped down, saying a curt, "Good luck, please don't die between now and when you need to throw grenades at hordes of stormtroopers in order to save us."

Poe sighed at her remark, yet the corners of his mouth tugged into a smile, "Your faith in my abilities is inspirational."

The blonde moved back from the edge as he jumped back down into the base, "Glad I could be motivating."

The Resistance pilot reached the ground, craning his neck to see the blonde wait near the pile of explosives. He'd sensed her anxiousness earlier, and decided to say a quick word of assurance, "We're going to do this, okay?"

Mara nodded from above, swallowing once more as the First Order ship made its way towards the partially destroyed tarmac, a tense fear shooting up her spine, "One can hope."

"Well, resistance is built on hope-"

"Enough poster boy! Get to your spot!" She whispered fiercely, backing to what she believed was out of sight from the ship's view. Dameron disappeared into the base, the blonde hearing the sound of his quick footsteps pound against the corridor floors. She stayed down, her steady breathing filling the hot air around her.

Her pulse pounded in her skull, her adrenaline filling her veins as Mara tried to calm herself. She once again restlessly moved her fingers, audibly counting the seconds that passed as she mentally prepared for the fight that was now here. Her eyes closed, and she pressed her lips together. Mara prayed to whoever would listen, almost begging that whatever space force existed that it spare her life.

The sound of running came all to fast. Mara's eyes flew open, grasping the rifle next to her and peering back down into the base.

A frantic Poe burst into the room, shouts ordering him to stop following not far behind. He climbed the bunk bed, Mara offering a hand to help haul him out of the room. No blaster shots came, but white helmets were in sight by the time Mara aimlessly tossed Dameron a grenade.

Of course she threw too far and he didn't catch it.

"Goddammit, just hand me one!" Poe desperately shouted as she reached for another explosive.

She passed this one directly to him, firing back, "Why, next time just catch it!"

"Stop resisting!" A trooper aimed his gun at the top of the ceiling, discovering the second exit they had created. As the soldier realized what they intended to do, both pulled pins on grenades and sent them down into the room.

Mara fled the hole, not wanting to get hit by any of the shrapnel the explosion created. She grabbed Dameron's jacket and dragged him along with her, and the two hid behind the closest rock as a boom rocked the terrain.

Ringing sung in her ears, but it didn't drown out the cracking and fatal crash of the base losing all stability. Sickening crunches and screams accompanied the fall as the building crumpled to the ground. Dust flared up as the metal impounded into itself, sand flying into the air as the structure shrieked at its own demise. Large portions rammed into each other, the sound rattling Mara to her core. The rocks shook while everything shifted, the descending base creating a tremor once it hit the basin floor.

The constant ring blaring in her head made it hard for Mara to focus, the dust around her clouding everything and making it impossible to see anything past five feet in front of her. She attempted to stand up, but was forced back down by the hand on her shoulder. Due to this, a blaster bolt missed her and traveled where she previously attempted to go.

She brought up her own gun, firing when she saw white emerge in her line of view. She looked over her shoulder and past the rock she took cover behind, not finding any immediate threats. Mara again tried to stand, being successful when no more bolts came her way.

The blonde whipped around, informing Poe that she would go right. She stepped over the ruble, her bad leg momentarily catching on a loose wire. More ringing made her lose her focus, but her hearing slowly came back as the sound of her own footsteps made her more aware.

She ran, gaze searching for another target. Her eyes swept the field before her, her pulse rampant and her breath inviting dust into her throat. How many left? Ten, fifteen? She didn't know.

Another armored figure came from her front, and Mara raised her gun once more. She pulled the trigger several times, but her aim became shoddy. One blast found its mark, but it didn't take the soldier down.

She dropped to the ground, skin catching on sharp rocks and drawing blood. Her quick movements allowed for her opponent to miss, and the blonde aimed from a prone position. The stability made her shots more precise, and the trooper went down.

Mara kept up, again tripping among the debris. Sharp edges cut long red scratches when she met the shrapnel. She narrowly missed falling on a rock, but defiantly pushed herself back up into the dust. Again, she raised her gun once a trooper came into her vision.

That one went down as she kept persistently moving forward, trying to watch her step as different areas of pain buzzed all over her body. The dust had begun to settle now, but her mind was still felt clouded and fuzzy as she stumbled through the uneven territory.

Focus focus focus focus

Mara heard rummaging to her right, and she aimed that way. At first nothing, then a rough hit from her left blindsided her. She went back down, struggling to get up before a barrel was rammed into her skull. She felt dizzy, delirious, but the blonde looked up at the trooper who pushed her. Panic spread over her as she stared into a faceless helmet as the soldier roughly commanded, "State your name."

Think think think think

She was cornered, her throat clogged as she watched a trigger start to pull back. She spoke harshly, forcing the words off her lips fast as she tried to keep him from shooting, "Commander Marana Nyota Hux, aerial strategist and commanding officer over the AA flight squadron."

She didn't take another breath between her next burst of reasons why the trooper shouldn't kill her instantly, her head throbbing as her heart pounded against her ribs. She was working off the assumption her brother hadn't told his army that he'd blown her out of the sky. Right now, it was her only chance, "I'm stationed on the Finalizer, but am the first anyone calls for base layout plans. I crashed here four days ago and was taken prisoner by Resistance members. Thank god you came."

Still no response from the soldier, who kept the barrel inches away from Mara's temple. She did see his grip on the blaster soften, which was progress enough. She kept running her mouth anyway, hoping to win him over, "Just imagine my hair in a bun and a funny black beret on my head. And you know, less blood everywhere."

At this, the trooper took a step back, relief bathing Mara while he asked, "How many Resistance insurgents are there?"

"Three."

Lie, baffle them. Confusion can be your friend when it messes with the enemy's mind.

"They aren't expecting you. I think they all went down with the base, but I'm not sure. They thought their backup was coming."

Poe was several yards to her left, ready for them to come around the corner.

"You caught them off guard. It allowed me to get a blaster and run. Thanks for that."

BB-8 would be here any minute.

"They're valuable though. I overheard them discussing certain plans, bases. I assume you expect to take them alive?"

That would guarantee Dameron's survival. She was a superior, they should listen to her. They had to.

"Take me to your ship. I wish to tell my brother, General Armitage Hux, I'm alive. It wouldn't look good if the Order's best flight strategist died on your account." She forced sentences through her teeth, trying to make them sound genuine. Her mind was buzzing and her hands were shaking and she felt like she had no control. Yet Mara stared the trooper down, hoping he'd think her story true.

Her assailant didn't move. She mentally cursed, knowing he was doubtful. Still, she was their commander. She was in charge, "Well shit trooper, I said take me to  the ship."

The faceless helmet nodded, now fully giving her space to get up. Mara held in all too suspicious breath of relief, getting back up on her feet. She glanced around another time, gulping while hissing yet another command, "Cover me, but no kills. We want them alive."

She took a step forward, maneuvering around the ruble. She kept to the right, coming around the corner of the destroyed base to see the ruined tarmac in front of her. The shuttle they came in landed a few yards away from it, dead ahead.

Mara made sure not to stumble once she cleared the rocks, now walking on flat ground. She did her best to keep her stride confident, keeping her eyes set on the ship and not darting around to see if Dameron was anywhere near. She needed to act like she was still a high-ranking officer. Truth was, she was lying her ass off in hopes that she could make it to the shuttle before BB-8 brought the backup plan. Then in the chaos, she could secure it.

Thirty yards to the ship. Mara tried to still her heartbeat, hearing more explosions from what she could only hope would be Poe from behind. Twenty-five yards. The ringing in her ears had completely stopped, but pain still webbed under her skin on the side of her head. Blood ran down from her scalp, and she just wiped it away to keep red from seeping into her vision.

Fifteen yards now. She saw two stormtroopers waiting at the entrance to the ship, readying their guns as they had not been informed of Mara being there.

She put her hands up to show she meant no harm, then gestured to the soldier next to her, "Commander Marana Hux. I survived the crash and was taken prisoner by the Resistance members you're currently fighting. Your guy found me. Now let me in to air-conditioning."

The soldiers lowered their blasters, nodding as one acknowledged her, "Commander. The general reported you MIA three days ago."

Mara smirked, stepping in to the much cooler environment, "Well, it'll take a bit more than some scum to kill me. The rest of your task force are gathering the three insurgents now. They should expect no resistance."

A grenade popped off in the distance, one of the last standing pillars from the demolished base exploding into shrapnel.

One of the three troopers around her glanced outside the aircraft just in time to see a small fire start from the last blast, "You sure Commander?"

Mara smile fell, praying she could sell it. Her mouth formed a tight line, an anxious sweat breaking on her forehead as she used her voice to emphasize her point, "I want them alive. That shouldn't be to hard for you, should it trooper?"

"No sir-ma'am. No problem at all."

Another explosion rocked the basin.

"Thank you trooper. These rebels, er, resistancers have information we need." She still talked partly through her teeth, but she had settled into her role easily now. Less than a week ago, she was still holding her former title. She could pretend to have it for a few more minutes now, just until BB-8 showed up.

Mara sat down in the pilot's chair, letting out a long sigh as her bare arms felt cold leather. Oh, it was wonderful, heavenly. Her muscles still stayed tense and taut due to the situation she was in, but she did find a small second of relaxation. For a minute, she wasn't in the hot desert sun surrounded by sand. Oh, it was lovely.

"So," one soldier piped up, making the blonde swivel in her chair to face him, "how'd you survive this long, if you don't mind me asking?"

Mara gave a lopsided grin, hearing yet another grenade explode in the distance. She prayed Dameron was still okay, all while trying to answer the man's question best she could, "Well-"

"What the hell is that?" The stormtrooper to her left looked outside the cockpit window, pointing to above the basin, right where the carved stairs were. The blonde turned back to it, not standing up from her chair as one hand slowly went to her batons on her belt. She narrowed her gaze to see what the soldier observed.

She suppressed her smile when she saw a ball like structure bouncing down the ancient rock steps at alarming speed. The astromech had arrived just on time, and seemed to bring what he needed with him.

"What the hell - what's that following it- It's huge! 3466, 3485, out there now!" The soldier ordered the others, and Mara acted quickly.

She unhooked her batons, slamming them into the closest one's head as fast as she could. She kicked her foot into his kneecap before she slammed another hit from her weapon into his neck. Mara stood up, letting her batons go and pulling a blaster out of her holster.

The remaining two halted, the commander's quick violence catching them off guard. She fired again and again, watching the bodies drop while the last tried to get up. Mara pulled the trigger again, the ship now under her control.

She darted outside, seeing BB-8 whiz towards the destroyed building to find cover. She glanced to her right, seeing Poe's backup plan enter the basin.

Two beasts roared past, lithe bodies bounding toward human flesh. Their long tusks aimed towards a cluster of four soldiers up on the debris that used to be the roof. The troopers took notice, raising their blasters to fire on the leathery hides of the monsters. It didn't slow the creatures down, and Mara heard a few screams as she hauled the three dead bodies out of the ship.

BB-8 spotted her, beeping frantically as he rolled over to her. She couldn't make out what the droid was screaming, but she didn't have time to translate.

"Get on bud!" Mara yelled to the astromech, who boarded the ship as fast he could. The blonde faced the control panel, flipping a few switches as the shuttle came to life.

A smile painted it's way on her face as the aircraft rose off the ground. The familiar hum she loved so dearly came to life around her, and the intoxicating feeling off flying again took over. Her mind seemed to steady, her breathing calmer now while she pivoted the ship around. She was in her element now, and suddenly it felt like victory was right in her grasp.

Mara's turned on the shuttle's aiming system, the lone turret on the top of it rotating where she wanted it to be. She surveyed the battlefield from a higher view, spotting at least nine different figures. The four she'd seen earlier were being mauled by the beasts. Two white specs stood near the end of the building, two more going to help them. She guessed the last was Poe, so turned the turret away from him.

It was all too easy. It took only a few shots, and both the tusked creatures and stormtroopers were gone. Mara sat back in the chair, a tired breath racking her entire body.

She was alive. They all were.

She stayed in the air a bit longer, glad to be back in the sky. The blonde pushed back strands of bloody hair behind her ear, still loving the cool air so much. Oh, she wouldn't have to step out into the desert again. Oh Lord, it was amazing.

Mara looked back down at BB-8, who had come up next to her chair. She gave a happy, joyous laugh, sitting up and leaning against the control panel, "We did it buddy! We've done it!"

Excited sounds emitted from the droid, praising the three of them and their accomplishments. Then he promptly told her to land and pick up Dameron.

She did just that, descending easily back to the basin floor. She reluctantly got out of the pilot's chair, going to the exit and opening up the door. When it did slide open, Mara rested against the frame and crossed her arms over her chest. Mara eagerly waited for him to emerge, but a cord of anxiety running through when she didn't see a figure moving through the ruins. She didn't fire on him instead of some stormtrooper, right? She'd shot him out of the sky once and that was enough attempted murders on her part.

She shouted out, a mix of excitement at being alive along with misconstrued worry elevating her volume, "C'mon Dameron, don't tell me you've gone on and died on me!"

"Still kicking!"

Poe came in little to no time after the response and BB-8 went out to greet him. The droid of course couldn't scale the ruble, so he faithfully waited at the edge of it for his owner to greet him. Dameron did just that, patting the little guy on the head and kneeling down to talk to him once he made it passed the ruins.

Mara still didn't even attempt to walk outside, still swearing never to walk in that damned sand again. She stood back until both made their way towards the ship. Poe spread his arms wide, gesturing back to the collapsed base, "We did it! Or you could say, we crushed it, like literally-"

The blonde put up her hand, but that didn't dismiss the joyous smile that had remained on her face, "Stop, now. Please, I have suffered enough already without tacked on humor. But yes, my plan did work and we survived-"

"Your plan? What about my plan! C'mon, those things really helped."

Mara nodded slightly, adding in a sarcastic tone, "Sure, okay. Let me remind at the end of it all, we probably didn't even need those creatures to help us. My shooting did all the work."

He stepped into the aircraft, shaking his head as dust flew off his clothes and dirt from his dark hair, acting offended by her last comment, "You're just jealous you didn't think of using those things to our advantage first."

Mara put a hand on her chest, "Me jealous? Bless your delusional heart."

BB-8 broke up the mock fight, muttering, I was the one who was chased after by monsters. I did all the work.

"You did pal. Good on you." Poe again complimented his droid. His eyes darted up from the ground, brows furrowing together once he examined the blood now running down the woman's forehead. Mara didn't take notice of her ailment, instead also checking him for injuries once she saw a new bruise on his temple. He asked before she could, "Little bit of a wound there. Not too bad?"

She touched her hairline, feeling the scrape she procured earlier after several different stumbles, "A little banged up, but I'll be fine. The rocks just kept tripping me. You?"

"I'll live." He answered in a usual lively voice, walking over to the cockpit before shooting another question at Mara, "So how'd you take the ship? Imagine there were a few troopers guarding it."

The blonde shrugged, acting as if the deed was easy enough, "Their superiors didn't tell them I was a traitor or anything, just that I went MIA over the planet and was presumed dead. Couple of orders, which by the way, including telling them not to kill you, was all they needed to believe it. Once BB-8 came, it was the distraction I needed. Easy peesy-"

Mara stopped short once Dameron sat down in the pilot's chair, settling himself down. He glanced back up at her, then realized why she'd ceased talking, "Oh, were you going to sit here-"

She brushed it off with a laugh, used to being in the captain's seat, but would have to make the change, "No, no it's fine, yeah go ahead-"

"Probably best since-"

"We're going back to your base and all. Yeah, totally okay." Mara slowly eased herself into the co-pilot's chair off to his right, swiveling it forward towards the window, "Considering I'm actually now your prisoner, if you think about it."

The euphoria of being in the air again and actually surviving everything became sucked away as she remembered what now awaited her. Images of bars and interrogators became vivid in her head. Her life had been saved, and she was glad, but now Mara became very, very aware of her future.

Poe pressed his lips together once he too realized the situation they were now in. BB-8 noticed the change in atmosphere as the two human became strangely quiet, worrying the little droid. A moment passed before Dameron spoke again, clearing his throat, "Um, so I better send a heads up message to the base. Probably don't want to show up in a First Order ship unannounced."

Mara again twiddled her fingers, agreeing with the statement, "Yeah, the only thing is, that one channel is compromised."

"Well, that's pretty evident, considering the last eight hours. I do have another idea. This ship has the range for the message to reach the Resistance unlike the base did, which means we should get a response much, much faster on an alternate channel. A bit more of a risk, but it should work." He started to turn on the communication system, resetting the channel and making sure everything was working correctly, "Then, we'll be on our way."

Another stretch of silence passed, Mara chewing the inside of her cheek as her mind went back to her thoughts she had before the battle started. Interrogation. Imprisonment. Being used as a bargaining chip to bait her brother. All seemed less than ideal.

So she watched as he calibrated everything into the shuttle's system, going over her fate constantly in her mind. Even the thought of being used as some pawn in this war was sickening, and the more she thought, the more Mara became anxious. So she asked instead of letting her imagination wander any farther, "So, just out of sheer curiosity, what does the Resistance do with most of its prisoners of war?"

Poe didn't answer her, passing it off while he continued to work. This unnerved her even more. Perhaps all the things she dwelled on were true, and him not answering the question was confirmation of that.

Dameron broke her train of thought as he spoke, pressing one last button, "Here goes nothing."

BB-8 scooted closer to his owner's chair, eager to hear the response. Mara pulled both of her legs up into her chair, crossing them while she waited.

Poe pressed down on the speaker, giving the phrase, "It sure is a rainy day on Alderaan."

It was even two seconds before a male voice crackled back to them, "There's no more Alderaan, asshole."

Dameron let out a deep breath, cracking a relieved smile as her heard a familiar voice, "Oh, Snap, you have no idea how nice it is to talk to you."

A hearty laugh was shared from both ends of the line. Mara curled up in her chair, finding both men's delight at hearing the other's words actually quite nice. BB-8 beeped a few kind words to the other Resistance member, who also greeted him with a jubilant reply.

"So, what's new?" Snap offered an already answered question, "Besides the fact that you're actually alive on a planet, I assume all alone besides that droid of yours. Need a ride?"

At the mention of being alone, Mara's stomach churned. There was no going back now. It was time she accepted the fact the next few years of her life she'd be at the whim of something that considered her a murderer and the enemy.

Yet, Poe hesitated before speaking. Mara widen her eyes and bobbed her head towards the speaker, as if to say 'go on'. There was no use in delaying the inevitable. Still, the pilot focused back on her, then the speaker. Still, he didn't reply to the previous message.

If this was some poor type of attempt at humor again, Mara was done with it.

She still didn't say anything, giving BB-8 a quizzical look whilst the droid seemed as lost as she was. Dameron should just answer the question.

"Poe? Still with me?" A worried tone indicated that Snap to was pretty much lost because his friend wouldn't answer. At this, the blonde tapped him, forcing him to look at her.

Before she could chide him, Poe bit his lip, then muttered a profanity under his breath before pressing the speaker button again, "Sorry about that. Yeah, I'll need a ride."

If you saw into Mara's mind at that exact moment, huge bold words spelling ERROR would be the only thing you'd see, followed by sirens.

"Okay, I'll be right there after I inform the General. Better have some good stories for me."

"Course I will. Hurry on up Snap."

Poe shut off the communication system, almost immediately regretting his decision as soon as he did. He turned to his right to face a now rather confused woman, one who snapped at him the first second she could,

"What the hell!" Mara threw out her hands, having absolutely no idea what was going on and frankly hating that state of mind, "You're not alone. You have a ship to get there! Why'd you lie?"

Why? Even BB-8 was completely in the dark about Dameron's intentions.

Poe let out another long sigh, first avoiding the question as he took into account what he was actually about to do. He glanced out the window, watching the basin walls as the ship's shadow was cast on it.

Now, Mara really didn't want to hurt Dameron. She truly didn't after the last five days, but her hands instinctively reached for her batons. Her entire body tensed as her fingers wrapped around silver finish. Whenever she couldn't deduce someone's motives, it made her incredibly uneasy. It also seemed whenever she couldn't figure out what someone intended to do with her, overwhelming statistics showed they most likely intended to hurt or kill her.

Dameron not telling Snap that she was there meant he didn't want the Resistance knowing she was coming with him. That defied the whole layout of the discussed plan.

So when Poe reached for the pistol she had set down on the dash, she hit it right out of his hands.

It surprised him obviously. Mara bared her twin staves, kicking the gun on the floor behind her chair. Her pulse sped up as she readied for another attack, really, really not wanting to be betrayed again, but here she was.

It was even more confusing when Dameron tried to explain, "Ease up Blondie, I was giving it to you!"

Excuses were always made once she figured out why people intended to try and kill her. It was supposed to catch her off guard, but that trick was vastly overused in her case. Mara didn't loosen her grip on her weapons, taking note of every single hand motion he made. He'd probably go for the blaster in his holster next.

One thing she didn't expect was his next sentence; "I'm letting you go."

You know that whole ERROR thing we were discussing earlier? Yeah, imagine that times tenfold. Mara's thoughts were blaring, and she felt as though her own ears were lying to her.

No, her ears were fine. Poe was lying to her.

"Banthashit. Next excuse." She practically spit, adrenaline introducing itself back into her system. The blonde was waiting for him to lunge for a gun, to grab her batons, anything. She didn't know what she'd do from there once she beat him to the ground, but right now seemed as though improvising  along the way was going to be her only option. She just had to wait until he made his next move.

Dameron was actually very surprised by her response. The rare tenderness he'd seen from Mara since they had won the battle completely left her, replaced with a stoic scowl and weapons at the ready. Did she honestly assume he meant to do her harm, after everything they'd endured?

"No." Poe stated, perplexed as he decided not to make any movements that might invoke her to attack, because she sure was ready, "I can't believe I'm doing this, but I am."

"That's stupid." Mara tightened her jaw, remaining still as her eyes resembled those of a wild animal ready to flee from it's predator, "And you're not stupid. So tell me why you lied."

He tried to lighten the tense air between them, going over her quick statement, "Did you just compliment me?"

"Explain your motives or I'll break your nose." She threatened, continuing to try and fathom what he could possibly gain from her death. Nothing really. Taking her to the Resistance would prove much more useful than sending her dead body into space in an Order shuttle. Possibly to send a message to her brother? She didn't know.

"Why do you think I want to kill you?" Poe was actually dumbfounded, shaking his head as Mara still held herself in a defensive position. Still, she refused to back down.

"Because everyone does." She told him through her teeth, and she manufactured an odd chuckle that actually sent shivers down Dameron's spine, "Hell, it happens so often, it might as well be its own cliche."

Was she really attempting to make a joke out of this situation? Mara was hellbent on thinking he actually intended to hurt her. Poe moved his hands up, causing her to flinch and move her batons slightly to track his movements. All he did was show his empty palms and hope explaining everything would convince her that what he was saying was honest.

"Okay, okay. I'm not reaching for my gun, I'm not going to hit you." He kept his voice cautious, moves slower now with eyes trained on her face. It seemed if he looked anywhere else, she'd poise to strike, "Let me explain-"

"Explain what exactly?" She challenged his words, going over every tactic he could attempt to make her lower her guard, "Hopefully what you intend to do."

"Yes, but I really hope neither one of us does anything rash before I finish talking. I promise I won't."

Mara still didn't budge from her stand. Survival was too well bred into her veins and her chest was burning from the desperate desire to stay alive. She wouldn't ignore her instincts, no matter what he wanted to convince her of. She was ready to fight Poe, although she would really rather not, but she would do what was necessary to save her own burnt skin.

Dameron kept his hands up in her immediate view so he wouldn't spook her, and began to disclose what he had withheld from the blonde their entire stay on Ratakka, "I lied about knowing your rank and name earlier, that you know. What you don't is that we've known it for weeks now. Resistance Intelligence discovered your connection to General Hux, and they tried to exploit it. The reason I've been pretty much stalking you every fight since you've been promoted to Commander is because I was ordered kill you- which is not what I'm going to do now!

Mara had exploded up off the chair, taking a few steps back and warming up her batons by twirling them expertly between her fingers, gulping down bile. She felt like someone had shocked her, electricity traveling through her bones and alerting her to the ever present danger she might have considered a friend, "So far, all signs point to you doing just that."

Poe restrained from any quick action. His mouth parted once again, gaze locked with her's as continued to justify himself, "But think about it now. Think about it logically if you don't understand. Intelligence hoped your death would affect the First Order, strategically and emotionally. They thought permanently taking you out of the picture would incapacitate aerial warfare for a time. Eliminate the commander, suddenly all attack patterns come to a halt. There's no leader for the squadrons, which causes a small crisis there in and of itself.

"They hoped your death would disturb your brother. He's one of the major driving forces behind the First Order. If we attacked his family, who knows what the emotional repercussions might be."

Mara really hated the way that this made sense, and despised it even more when Dameron came to his final conclusion, "And I'm sorry to say this, but if we killed you, it wouldn't matter in the long run. They expelled you. The very reason my orders were given disappeared the moment the Finalizer shot at you."

She had unconsciously held her breath through the end of Poe's explanation. It was all connecting, the facts in her head and the evidence he presented. Her stubborn will had to bend to the realistic reasoning that he wouldn't kill her on the Resistance's orders. Still, it didn't provide an excuse to why he hadn't informed Snap that she was with him.

"Why didn't you tell your friend about me?" Mara inquired further, searching for holes in the story he was presenting, "I'm practically a living holocron of information on the First Order. Taking me back to your base is your best option."

At this question, Dameron halted before he articulated his response. This made Mara wary, but she'd picked up on enough of his external hints to know when Poe went into thought. She didn't know if he was conjuring up a lie or finding a way to say his intent better.

Another uneasy moment left the blonde more apprehensive. She wasn't getting an immediate answer to a simple enough question, and it only made the cool air seem more strained in the atmosphere surrounding them. She kept waiting, waiting for a doubtful reason to come.

"I'm doing this..." Poe started, but once again cut himself off. He closed his eyes briefly, inhaling before going on, "I'm going to give you this ship, and I'm going to let you go. I'm doing this because you saved my life multiple times. You got me out of the village, you found the base, you came up with the idea for the trap. You even had full control of this shuttle, and could have just taken off and left me. You had no reason to come back."

The thought of fleeing Ratakka after Mara had killed all of stormtroopers and creatures hadn't even occurred to her when she was in the air. Now, she clearly saw that she indeed had the opportunity to leave as a free woman. The blonde could be on her way to an entirely different system by now.

"If I took you back to my base, everyone would view you as the big bad symbol of hatred and evil they've sworn to protect the galaxy from. They wouldn't see a person. And I'm well aware those horrific First Order officers exist, but I don't think they carry guys like me across a desert or willingly become prisoners. I don't think you're one of them." Poe saw the consistent glare she had held with narrowed blue eyes for the last few minutes soften and a questioning gaze replaced it. Her weapons didn't lower, but Mara's willingness to escape him had changed into a more confused state. He took this as progress.

"So I'm giving you another chance."

That was something she had never heard in life. It was like a blow to the face, the shock of the words stripping her of oxygen for a few precious seconds. It took awhile for her to register what he truly meant. The idea felt foreign and like a blatant lie.

This universe didn't give Mara chances. This galaxy wanted her gone and it made that fact apparent. The possibility of renewing herself was something she forced it to. She refused death. She would will her own fate to not yet let her go. Sometimes it felt like she was crawling out of her own grave, more often than not literally dragging herself out of a demolished tangle of debris she'd ended up in to defy the wants of those who wished her gone. It was as if she grabbed the stars in her hands, forcing them not to take her soul from this life just yet. She made her own possibilities because they were never offered to her.

Yet here it was, an easy pass to live. Someone was actually giving her a way out, giving her a chance to start again.

Mara's batons finally did lower, her eyes wide and her thoughts running rampant. She couldn't form words through the mess of feeling she was experiencing, but her words were said anyway, "Wow, that really is stupid."

Poe blinked a few times, once again caught of guard by her response, "I'm choosing to let you live life freely, and you're complaining about it?"

The blonde quickly snapped out of her stupor, waving her hand quickly as a dismissal of her previous statement, "No, no, of course not. But I mean, it is stupid. Again, I know so much, but you're just letting me go?"

Her surprise as his reasoning made Dameron think more, wondering why she had so much trouble trusting him on this. After a moment, it did dawn on him, and the reality of it deeply saddened him, "No one's ever done this for you before."

Mara jaw worked, pressing her lips together as her batons stayed limply at her sides, "Well, that's not really the universe we live in."

"One where acts of goodwill are repaid? Sure it is." Poe stated, getting up from the pilot's chair still with caution, but he perceived that she mostly likely wasn't going to hit him again.

"Then I've never been to that side of the galaxy before. You know, where there are honest strangers and rainbows." A careful smile curbed over her teeth, making Dameron sigh immediately in relief. It seemed now that she had actually begun to trust him in this matter.

BB-8 who'd stayed quiet in the back of the ship the entire exchange for fear of intruding, finally piped up, So she's not coming with us?

"Nope, buddy. Not this time." Poe answered his droid, but still didn't take his eyes off Mara's face quite yet. He still watched her as she processed everything, shaking her head in disbelief.

The blonde's eyes drifted to the captain's chair. She was going to sit there and fly away from this hell. She was going to release herself from the Order's hold. She was going to find a home.

Mara turned back, feeling fragile and vulnerable for the oddest of reasons. The man in front of her had just given her a way out at which he didn't stand to gain anything from. This was no ploy or game. It was kindness, an act she had not seen from another person in a very long time.

It made her almost feel selfish to leave Poe here.

"Wait just a sec." She put up her index finger between them, going back over to the control panel to even out the score a little.

Mara searched around the space, finding a holotransmitter. She grabbed it, finding it blank. Dameron watched over her shoulder as she typed in a few different sequences, "You have to get going soon. Don't want my guys showing up-"

"And blowing the enemy ship out of the sky? Yeah, that'd suck, but I think you'll want this." The blonde finished punching into the device, standing back up and almost running into him. She pushed the transmitter into his chest, explaining herself with a genuine smile sticking on her face, "Three different bases. That's all I know of and there's bound to be more, but this should help you guys."

Poe took the device from her grasp, momentarily taking a peek at the coordinates before returning the grin she shared, "Thanks a lot for this. You've probably just changed the tide of the war."

She shrugged it off carelessly, but didn't do well at hiding her arrogance with a smirk and a raise of the eyebrow, "It's nothing really."

BB-8 rolled over to her, beeping the cutest little things, I told you that you could be a good girl.

The use of the correct pronoun and his adorable message made Mara's burst whilst she crouched to the droid's level. Oh, she'd greatly miss him once she left. His overall programming and enduring remarks had left their little mark on her, "You were right, sort of. Now, you two better not forget me, okay?"

"Oh," Poe interjected, back to a more playful tone, "Will you miss us?"

Mara got back up, walking them to the exit of the ship while she rolled her eyes, "You wish. Remember me so when I show up on the Resistance's doorstep in a few years asking for a small loan of credits, you won't forget I carried you on my back for several miles out of the goodness of my heart."

Yes, she would miss both of them fiercely, but yet again her pride wouldn't let her admit that.

Poe stepped back out under Ratakka's sun, boots churning against the warm sand as he looked back out at the base. He turned back to the ship, thinking over her last sentence before he proposed the idea, "You know in a few years, you could try the Resistance. You're a natural born warrior. We need people like you to end this war."

Mara actually chuckled at that, her cheeks growing somewhat warm as she laughed. Warrior? The whole sentence sounded like it came right out a famous speech as propaganda to get people to join their rebellion, "Bet that's what you say to all the enemy defectors. Don't get ahead of yourself Poster Boy. I just need to find actual job and make a life for myself before I even think of wading back into this mess."

A more comfortable silence settle between them now, one that would've been observed as hostile by both five days ago. Mara thought it crazy how dramatically the dynamic changed, but she guessed life-threatening circumstances changed people. She now saw what she had previously considered a threat as one of the better people she knew.

Except BB-8. She thought he was an adorable ball of blessing the minute she laid eyes on him.

Mara crossed her arms, directing parting words to the droid, "Stay safe buddy. Keep your pilot from doing anything too stupid."

That's easier said then done.

"Hey," Poe glanced down at his droid, "We're still alive aren't we? Sometimes my stupid plans aren't that bad."

I just got chased for several miles.

Mara came to the astromech' defense, "Which you did very bravely."

She swore the droid beamed, proud of himself.

Dameron couldn't hide his grin, but his mood slightly dampened when he realized how much time they were wasting. She needed to leave soon, or his friends might mistake her for the enemy, "You really need to go."

Mara nodded, licking her lips as she uncrossed her arms. She completely faced Poe, showing a gentle smile he had not yet seen from her. The blonde exhaled, pushing hair behind her ears once again as she said something she should've awhile ago, "Thank you for this."

"No problem. Let's just say you owe me one."

She had to go. Mara did stare at him the slightest bit longer, making sure to seer his face in her mind. It was one of the only faces she could call her friend. From tan skin to dark curly that was now a tousled mess and an odd bruise on his head, this was the man who let her go. For that, she was forever in his debt.

She took in a sharp intake of breath, knowing she needed to leave now or risk running into people who'd mostly likely shoot her. She gave one last grin, muttering a soft, "Take care you two."

The blonde pressed the button to shut the door, turning away from the duo before she heard a quick, "May the force be with you."

The door clicked shut, but Mara muttered a exuberant mumble to chide him, "Poster Boy."

She sat down in the pilot's chair, making herself comfortable as she stretched out. The hum of the ship came on was a welcome reassurance. It felt as though the metal bonded to her bones, and the aircraft became another part of her it ascended back into the sky. She maneuvered it towards space, glancing down from the window as the two companions became specs on the desert floor.

Mara would see them again. It may be awhile, but she would.

The blue sky receded into the dark, the stars she called home now visible right out in front of her. The cool air in the cockpit accompanied by the clusters of lights that represented far off galaxies brought her a sense of assurance. She wasn't bound to the First Order now. The blonde was free now, and she could make another life amongst the sea of the universe.

Then it came all to fast. A flash off White torn through her perfect view of the galaxy, and Mara witnessed a U-Wing come out of hyperspace, assisted by two X-Wings. Familiar red streaks painted their hulls, and her mind reeled when she guessed what was about to come.

Her hands evaded the first few warning shots the Resistance pilots threw her way, but at the same time calibrated the jump to the next planet. She needed to get out of here, and in her current situation, she couldn't be picky about where she sought refuge.

It was all to fast. Mara dodged more oncoming hits, cursing about everything she could think of as the system took its time finding the hyperspace route. Her quick movements saved her in the long run, but as soon as she pulled the lever to jump, a hit came from the starboard side.

The whole vessel jolted as Mara was thrown past them, only hoping the ship held together to reach the nearest planet.

Congrats to you. You just read 9,385 words. Now you can probably guess why I took an extra day to finish this.

The Ratakka flashbacks were fun, but I am so done with them. There were originally supposed to be just three chapters. Hahaha oh god that was an idea. Now, ten chapters and around 40,000 words later, we'll go back to the movie plot. But hey, we saw Mara without a Rey, and which showed her development since then. I hope you enjoyed this partly edited mess, and expect another update later next week. Adios for now.