Summer POV
I convinced Poe to wait until morning before breaking the news to the rest of the Resistance. It's bad enough I ruined his night; everyone else can get a good night's sleep.
I spent the night in his room. Before you ask, no, nothing happened between us. I think it's going to be a while before he makes another move at me.
As to why I didn't go back to my room? I really can't recall. I remember him and I talking in his bed, next thing I wake up to him holding me close to his resting body. Last night was something I didn't want to go through again. The emotional stress has probably taken a toll on both of us, and I'm sure everyone else will feel it too.
But putting all that aside, it was now morning: and I have to relive last night all over again only with many more people, Leia and Rey being part of that number. This is going to be one of the hardest things I have ever done, but once it's over...I can clear my conscience of any guilt I've been collecting the past few weeks I've been here.
While Poe showered, BB-8 kept an eye on me. He probably overheard last night or Poe told him. Either way, he was suspicious of me. I can just tell.
I was studying Poe's room down to detail, some medals he collected from flying races or military honors on his dresser. BB-8 stayed right at my heels as if I was going to swipe it all off the shelf when he wasn't looking.
"Relax little guy. I'm not a thief. I never was," I tried to insist but the droid wouldn't buy it. Whatever. I have a little duckling following me around then, only a little more dangerous but just as cute.
My fingers traced the wall and furniture, bored and curious. I was probably giving BB-8 repeated mini heart attacks but that's really his problem at this point.
My hand stopped on Poe's closet, almost tempting to open and take a peak. BB-8 was already screeching at me not to, but I resigned as he wished. It's really none of my business anyway.
I sat down on the floor cross-legged, figuring meditation will pass the time until Poe gets done. I took a deep breath, feeling the Force flow through me. Both light and darkness, a mixture most would be afraid of. Not me. I didn't push either out. I welcomed it for a change, figuring I'll be needing both sides to fix this mess I created.
I was in deep mediation when I felt a familiar spark. My eyes fluttered open. "Kylo?" I looked only at a confused BB-8, who was probably debating on just using his taser on me so he could relax.
I tried to calm my beating heart. Was that Kylo I felt? Maybe I'm just wishing it too hard. He blocked me in the Force; I doubt he would welcome me back this soon. I truly wish it was him, but the more I thought, the more I doubted.
Sighing, I tried to meditate again only to feel the same spark. What was it...
I tried to signal the location, expecting my answer to be somewhere ridiculous...but it felt like...it was right behind me?
I stood up, eyeing the closet again. Something in there is calling to me. I feel the pull. I'm going in.
BB-8 was having a fit as I opened the door, scanning the contents inside. I ignored him, all noise being drowned out as I stepped inside. All I heard was this song, a song of power. I know that song...but from where?
Eventually BB-8 ran off to get Poe since he was useless. I think I heard the shower turn off but everything felt like an echo.
I pushed further into the closet, making the small size seem huge. The pull was strong and I tried to follow it like a magnet. I closed my eyes and dragged my hand across everything, trying to find the source.
I stopped at it being strongest, opening my eyes to see one of Poe's jackets. I pushed all other clothes aside, my main focus on this beautiful piece of leather. I searched the pockets until my hand colliding into a piece of metal. Grasping it, I gasped.
"Summer!" I heard Poe call my name, but all I cared about was what was in my hand.
My lightsaber.
I grasped the weapon tight, feeling the crystal connect with me once more. To be reunited was the greatest feeling...but...
If Poe had this all along, why was he keeping it from me?
"Summer!"
I snapped from the trance and turned to see him standing dripping wet holding a towel around his waist. What I noticed (somehow) before that was the look of fear across his face since I was now holding what may be the most deadly weapon the galaxy had ever seen. BB-8 was also on full defense mode, his taser out and ready to shock me. Despite being no match, he was ready to sacrifice himself to save his master, yet that wasn't my objective. Although I was mad.
"Summer...let me have that..." Poe said gently, reaching his palm out. "Just put it in my hand, okay?"
"When did you obtain this?" I asked, almost in a way of demand.
"Let me have that first-"
"No Poe. Answer me now."
He sighed. "When you wanted your satchel back...I found the lightsaber and kept it behind. I wasn't sure I could trust you yet; you did just get here after all. I had full intentions of giving it back to you in the future..."
"Was that day ever to come?"
He couldn't answer. He didn't have one.
"I see." I ignited the weapon, the red glow carting eerie shadows in the closet. BB-8 was completely freaking out now and even Poe backed up, reaching behind him to his nightstand, which I'm sure he had a hidden blaster.
"Don't do it," I warned, sensing his fear.
"I'm sorry." Reacting on instinct, he drew his blaster and shot a stun ray at me. I sliced it in two and pulled the weapon from his hand to me with the Force. That blew his mind.
"Poe, I'm not going to hurt you. I'm not the threat you need to end," I spoke, tossing the blaster back into the closet, letting it hide itself amongst his clutter. "The lightsaber is not just a weapon for those that wield it. The crystal within has a deep connection to the owner, thus is why I sensed it and could find it while meditating."
As for how I didn't find it sooner is beyond me. I have been a slacking a bit since I got here...
"Summer, if the rest of the Resistance find out you have that back-"
I groaned. "You know, I'm getting sick of having to pretend to be one way or another to get people to like me. Kylo can't accept me for who I am, neither can you, or Leia, or anyone in this freaking galaxy! Well guess what? You want my help?" I sliced the restraining bracelet off my leg. "We're doing this my way."
Poe's eyes widened. "You...Summer they're going to-"
"I don't care. I'm finally going to embrace the person I truly want to be. Use whatever side of the Force I want, be the kind of hero I want. You're either with me or against me. You either trust me or don't. Make a decision Poe."
He looked troubled and frightened over my sudden change of character. But I can't help it. I'm just done.
There was suddenly loud knocks at the door. "Open up!"
"That's security because you broke the bracelet," Poe said, shaking his head. "I don't know what I can do..."
"You will do just fine," I smirked, pulling him over and holding the lightsaber to his neck.
He gasped. "Are you freaking crazy?! They will shoot you for this!"
"No they won't. You're too important."
"You're going to bargain with my life?!"
"I won't hurt you baby. Promise," I winked at his pale face.
The guards burst in and aimed their blasters. "Release him now!"
"You couldn't have done this when I was dressed appropriately..." Poe sighed, struggling to keep his towel up.
"No, I want to speak with Leia."
"That's it? That's why you're doing this?" Poe exclaimed. "Summer, I told you we will go see her! Why create a new mess?"
"Because I'm going to make my own deal with her," I replied. "I don't want to be held back anymore because people are 'afraid' of me. I want to be trusted and respected just like anyone else."
"Holding me hostage is not a good start..."
"Make them stand down."
"What?"
"Poe...you're either going to help me or not. You have to trust me...just like I trust you." I turned off my weapon, let him go, and gave him my lightsaber, leaving myself completely defenseless. "As soon as you step aside, I will be shot. My life is in your hands."
He paused, staring down at the weapon. I watched the guards trying to see if they could aim around him and hit me. They wanted it so badly. Only Poe will decide.
"Men...blasters down."
The group was in shock. "But-"
"I said, stand down, that's an order," Poe repeated in a more authority tone. "Summer let me go and she surrendered her weapon, is that not good enough for all of you?"
They looked somewhat sheepish at each other. "But sir, she threatened your life."
"Yeah well...we all do crazy things when we're in love." He smiled at me, a smile that I knew meant far beyond a simple sigh of trust. I wish I could kiss him right now.
"Now if I could just have a moment to get dressed..." Poe muttered, grabbing his clothes. "Then we can head on our way."
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"Poe, do you understand what you have done?" Leia scolded him. "The threat you just unleashed is impossible for you to comprehend!"
"Leia, you have to hear us out," Poe nearly begged her. "She's our only hope..."
So to sum it up, Poe and I had a lovely "escort" from the guards to a large conference room where Leia was holding a meeting with other Resistance officers. We weren't under arrest, but none of the guards were going to dare take their eyes off me.
Familiar faces didn't exactly greet us. Those I could recognize: Rey, Finn, Trace and Rose. Chewbacca was in the corner but has moved closer since I entered.
Now, as you can see, Leia isn't so appreciative that I'm standing in the room free as a bird with no restraints and my lightsaber on my waist. Just to screw with everyone, I'm even wearing my old First Order uniform. It makes me feel like...me.
"Poe, I don't think you understand the risk involved here," Leia continued. "Not only did she threaten your life, she is now admitting she was never a defector at all!"
"Summer made a mistake, yes, but now she is willing to fix it," Poe countered. "The Resistance will be doomed as it is with the upcoming First Order attack."
The two were going head to head. I stood back, watching and waiting. Trace and Rey were staring me down I ignored their glares. They don't intimidate me. Well, Rey does, but I won't let her know that.
"If what she says is true, then yes. But there is no proof. Commander, did you ever consider this was a way to lure us off planet so they could pick us off in space?"
"I...may have had that thought but this is a situation where you can't think, you just act."
"Ah yes, you're 'jump in an x-wing and blow something up' scenario? Need I remind you how that cost us our entire bombing fleet and nearly the rest of the Resistance?"
He stepped back, feeling a smack in the face. "Leia..."
Rey stepped in. "Poe, I think you're too trusting of this girl. I sensed from the start that she would be trouble yet no one would believe me. Perhaps we should just ship her back and handle the problems as they come."
"Perhaps everyone in this room should start speaking as if I'm a human being standing here and not a token," I interjected, getting annoyed with how my fate was being discussed. "Poe is the only person here who has truly shown me any kindness and I'm indebted to him to that. I will make sure his life is spared in the massacre to come. Now for all of you? I suggest you start treating me better so I make room for you on our shuttle."
The room erupted with a boggle of conversations. Some were enraged we would just escape rather than fight, some thought this was the end and to just surrender, most believed I was insane and should just be executed for my "crimes".
Chewbacca roared and it silenced the room. Leia thanked him. "Alright. The decision will be made privately. Summer, we ask you to stand outside with the guards. Poe may stay and say his peace."
I held my ground. "I'm not going anywhere. You don't understand the First Order like I do." My eyes fell onto Finn. "But you do, Finn. You know that what I'm saying isn't impossible."
As the eyes fell on him in the room, he shook his head. "No, it's possible. But once I defected I was done with the First Order and I never went back. You had a good thing going here...and you just let it go."
I took a breath to calm my nerves. "Okay, let's try this for a good suggestion. Who here asked Finn's advice on Starkiller Base not even hours after he arrived here? How did you guys know he wasn't a spy? Oh wait, you took Poe's word for it? Suddenly he's not as reliable now as he was months ago?"
I knew the answer. I watched The Force Awakens.
"Am I missing something? Please correct me." I met each other silent eyes. Even Poe had his mouth hanging open. "Mhm. I thought so. Then what is it about me that makes me so much freaking different than Finn? Is it because I have the Force and he was just a dumb stormtrooper? No offense Finn."
Finn shrugged.
"Well? I'm waiting! Tell me!"
"You can kill us with a snap of your fingers, Summer," Trace said, staring at me. "You worked for Kylo Ren. You were trained to fight, to kill the way he does. You're a weapon the First Order has. Finn's job was expendable; with Starkiller gone, you are the most valuable resource they have apart from Kylo. That's the difference."
"Stop treating me like I'm just a tool, an asset," I snapped. "I am a human being and so help me if I have to state that again! And Finn has had probably far worse training than what I've had since he was enlisted there! Probably since he was a child! I've only had a few months. Kylo isn't a monster." I turned to Leia. "You know he isn't, yet you think he created one."
The room looked at each other, muttering under their breath. All except Leia. She stared at me, wanting so badly to believe me.
"You of all people know you can't judge a person from where they come from, I said to her, although everyone heard. "You're Darth Vader's daughter. He's in your blood. Yet everyone gives you the highest respect and honor because they know you're a good person..."
"I want to help the Resistance, just like you want to help those suffering from the First Order," I continued. "I'm doing this with my own good faith. I don't have to. I could have just escaped and left you all for dead, but I'm willing to help. If you don't want me, then I won't waste my time. I'm out of here then."
"We...can't let you leave with how much you know," Trace said. "You have to wait until after the raid."
That can always be fixed, but I'll play along. "Well then, if I'm stuck here, you want my help or not?"
Everyone exchanged glances. Leia spoke up. "I am willing to give you one more chance due to the circumstances. Our lives will be in your hands. The future of the galaxy is in your hands. If we don't prevail..."
"With me, you will," I smirked. "Because I know Hux and how he strategizes attacks. We're going to force him to land troops on the ground. Fight face to face."
"Hux won't care if he loses a few bucketheads," Finn pointed out. "They have an army so vast they outnumber us one hundred to one."
"But Kylo is not General Hux," I said. "He has a heart. He won't slaughter his own men as willingly unless there's no other way."
"He's led so many raids and killed so many people though," some officer interrupted. "His kill record is worse than Hux because he slaughters face to face."
"Hux eliminated multitudes of people on planets," Leia stated. "He didn't hesitate. He pressed the button and basked in the glory of millions of lives lost as a cruel statement to the galaxy. I don't want my son or his actions to be compared to him anymore. Am I clear?"
The room agreed, not daring to go against her.
"Good. Now Summer, if you think there's any chance of survival, now is the time to tell us."
I nodded, standing a little prouder. "Okay, so here is what we're going to do..."
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Chapter 25 done! I know, a nasty cliffhanger but that's just me ;) I have huge pivotal scenes coming up in the next few chapters, and I'm wondering just how many more until this book ends...
And debating on how episode 9 ends will I make a third book to this and form a trilogy.
But until then, let me know what you thought! I love hearing from my readers!
Pics of chapter: Not sure if I posted these already, but isn't the Celebration's art just so pretty to gaze at? <3 I included both pieces of promotional art on the chapter!