part 3; chapter two

                                    

                                          
"We've decoded the intel from the First Order spy and it confirms the worst. Somehow, Palpatine returned."
                          
You shifted from your left foot to your right. You glanced around the group. Everyone was huddled together to hear Poe announce what the spy had told them. They'd wanted a glimmer of hope, but this wasn't that. This was a confirmation of what you were afraid of. Bad things were coming. 
                          
"Wait," Rose said, shaking her head. "Do we really believe this?"
                          
"It cannot be. The Emperor is dead!"
                          
"Unless... cloning---"
                          
Poe continued, "He's been planning his revenge. His followers have been building something for years... the largest fleet the galaxy has ever known. He calls it the Final Order. In sixteen hours, attacks on all three worlds begin. The Emperor and his fleet are hiding in the unknown regions on a world called Exegol."
                          
"Exegol does not appear on any star chart, but legend describes it as the hidden world of the Sith," C-3PO said. 
                          
Rey backed out of the crowd and ran away. You watched her go back to her tent before you turned your attention back to Poe, who was shaking his head slowly.
                          
"So Palpatine's been out there all this time, pulling the strings from the beginning," he said. 
                          
"Always in the shadows," Leia said. 
                          
"If we want to stop him," Maz Kanata said, "then we must find him. We must find Exegol."
                          
"General," Rey said, clutching a book to her chest. "Can I speak with you?"
                          
"Certainly," she said. 
                          
The crowd dispersed as Rey went to go talk to General Organa. You stood where you were, arms crossed over your chest. The wind was barely cool, barely blew your hair across your face, and yet you shivered. You swallowed hard and turned around when you saw someone walking towards you.
                          
"Hey, wait," Poe said. He grabbed your shoulder. Hesitantly, you looked at him. "I'm sorry."
                          
"I shouldn't be hurt or mad," you said, shaking your head, "because you basically told us that we're all going to die in a few hours. But I am mad, because you put me on babysitting duty for the droid and I can handle it fine. You want Rey out there so bad instead of training, but you insist that I am kept here and forced to watch your droid or train in physical combat. Then you yell at Rey for doing the same as me. I know she is the best fighter we got, but that doesn't count me out. Does it?"
                          
"First," he said, "it's our droid. And second, it doesn't count you out. I just... I feel safer knowing that you're here. And I know that is selfish of me but when I need you, I will tell you that I need you. I promise. Okay?"
                          
You swallowed hard and met his eyes. He moved his hand on your shoulder, gently rubbing. You took your hand and grabbed his wrist, making him drop your shoulder.
                          
"You should need me all of the time," you said. "I'm more than just your girlfriend, Poe. I'm your partner and I'm a member of the Resistance."
                          
You walked around him, refusing to look back as you headed towards your quarters. You knew you wouldn't be able to sleep tonight, but you really didn't want to have a chance to see him again.
                          
/ / /
                          
Over the next few hours, you sat outside of your tent, cleaning out your blasters. The night was silent. Most people didn't know what to say after tonight's news. No one was sleeping, though; everyone sat outside of their tents, never speaking a word. You could hear every single creature in the trees around you.