Who: Leia Organa and Poe Dameron What: Leia's arrival Where: A street in town When: Monday Warnings: spoilers for The Last Jedi Status: complete gdoc
Leia was tired but relatively happy. They’d survived and as she had told Rey they would rebuild the rebellion, they had what they needed. They had hope. It wouldn’t be easy and while it seemed as though most of their allies had lost their dreams of freedom their story would spread and that would bring both new and old friends back to them.
Smiling as she took in those around her she got to her feet and moved away from them all. She knew this ship better than any other and felt a wave of nostalgia sweep over her as she moved through the familiar corridors. Turning a corner she suddenly found herself in a very unfamiliar area, looking around she realised she was on a street in a city on a planet that at first glance was completely new to her. What was going on?, she wondered frowning.
***
This was the longest Poe had ever gone without flying. It really sucked being grounded and not having any opportunities to hit the air, especially since he had so much free time here without needing to fight the First Order. He also knew he needed to figure out something to bring in money since his pilot skills weren’t exactly in demand.
He was out for a walk, burning off some energy, when he spotted a familiar figure up ahead. Sprinting, he ran over with a huge grin on his face. “General, is that really you?”
***
Leia, of course, had no idea that the place she had ended up was so grounded. It wasn’t something she’d ever truly come across, travel to other planets and just in space itself was normal for her. More so for Poe.
Turning at the sound of a familiar voice she smiled, “Poe” she said happily, “It’s good to see you. I was beginning to think I might be hallucinating. Where are we?”
***
Even moreso than finding Finn here when he first arrived, Poe was thrilled that Leia was here. He resisted the urge to greet her with a hug even though he really wanted to. She looked to be in relatively good health and that was the important thing.
“We’re stuck in a very strange town on a planet called Earth,” he said. “I haven’t been here very long, but it is very different from anything I’ve ever seen.”
It suddenly occurred to him that she might not have the same memories he did since people came here from different times. At least she recognized him. That was something. “This may sound like an odd question, but what’s the last thing you remember?” he asked.
***
Leia bit back a grin when she saw him holding himself back, reaching out she took his hand in hers and squeezed it. She was very pleased to see him as well, he was always a reassuring sight even when he was frustrating her.
“It certainly seems different” she nodded, looking around once again. At Poe’s question she turned back to him with a frown, “We were on the falcon, escaping from the First Order on Crait” Or more specifically running from Kylo Ren.
***
Poe squeezed her hand in return and was reluctant to let go for fear she would somehow disappear. It was almost too good to be true that she was here now.
There was palpable relief in his expression when she said that she remembered being on the Falcon. At least Poe didn’t have to try to explain anything to her about what happened, particularly how his impulsive actions cost them even more lives. He’d tried to take her lessons to heart and do better on Crait.
“That’s what Finn and I remember too,” he said. “There are some other people here from our world though and, well, they have different memories.” He hesitated for a moment. Did he really want to tell her that her parents were here? Maybe he should leave that to Luke. “Like your brother,” he said. That seemed like a safe place to start. “I guess he’s from a different version of our world where things didn’t happen the same way.”
***
Leia had never doubted that Poe would learn, she was putting her faith in him, he would be her successor as leader of the rebellion when the time was right. A time that she was beginning to think would be coming sooner rather than later. But he had learnt and put that learning into action. He would always be a little bit headed but then so was she. She just had a better handle on it now.
It was good to hear that Finn was here too, that Poe had not been alone in this strange new place. Her eyebrows raised at the next revelation, “Well, that isn't something you come across everyday” she said,
“It will be good to see him though, even if he is a different Luke”
***
“As I said, this place is very odd,” Poe repeated. “It defies explanation, really. And there are no ships or planes.” Something that obviously frustrated him given that he’d been flying since he was six.
He hesitated again, still not sure if he should mention Anakin. He wouldn’t want her to be blindsided by seeing him though. “There are also a few people here from the past,” he said, trying to figure out the best way to warn her without causing any major upset.
***
“You're grounded? Oh Poe” Leia knew how much flying meant to him, being stuck in a strange place was bad enough but a place with no aircraft was worse. Even Leia knew she'd miss the stars and she wasn't a pilot.
“Our past? Or specifically my past?” she asked watching him closely, he was obviously worried about telling her. Could it be Han? Would that cause this level of concern? She didn't think so.
***
He appreciated the acknowledgement of how difficult it was for him to be grounded. She knew him well and that was definitely the worst thing about being here. The second worst had been being separated from her and now she was here. Maybe BB-8 would show up and relieve the third worst thing too.
“Your past,” Poe said. He figured he may as well tell her now. She’d find out eventually. “Your parents are here.”
***
Leia was here now and she'd do everything within her power to ensure Poe was content with things until they could get home. At least it would be a break from the First Order though she didn't much like the thought of them out there doing who knows what without being there to see it.
When Poe said those words Leia was glad for the cane she carried as she leaves heavily on it. Vader? Here? As much as she wanted to say it was an impossibility she knew Poe was speaking the truth. “I can't...” believe it, she wanted to say but she could and it worried her, scared her even. She wasn't the young woman she had been when she'd stood up to him, not realising at the time who he was. How could she do it now?
***
“He hasn’t turned to the dark side yet,” Poe said, assuming that was where her thoughts went immediately and wanting to reassure her. He didn’t miss the way that she leaned on her cane and he moved closer, putting his hand under her elbow in case she needed the extra support. “He’s aware of what happens in the future, but it hasn’t happened for him yet.”
That may or may not be easier for her to deal with. Poe wasn’t really sure.
***
Giving him a grateful smile Leia took a moment to compose herself, it seemed the place they’d ended up really was full of surprises. Leia herself wasn’t sure if it was easier or not. Knowing he wasn’t yet Vader was of course good but at the same time Leia had never known a father other than Bail Organa. What would this man be like? It would certainly be an interesting time here. “Thank you for telling me” she said, looking at Poe, grateful that the news wouldn’t come out of nowhere to hit her.
***
Poe smiled in what he hoped was a reassuring way and patted her arm. “The welcoming committee should be along any minute to give you some things,” he said. “I’ll help you find your apartment and show you some of the really cool things about this place.”
Like chocolate. That was definitely worth sharing.
***
“Welcoming committee? Well it sounds like they’re at least organised here” Leia said, “Exactly how many people like us here are there? Stranded I mean” she asked, because if they had established things like a welcoming committee this must be a fairly common thing.
***
“A couple hundred,” Poe said with a shrug. It was an estimate, he hadn’t actually counted or anything, but from paying attention to the network, he figured it was a fair guess. “Apparently this has been going on for nearly five years.”
So it made sense that they were organized.
***
“How incredible” Leia said, her mind already wondering at exactly what could have brought everybody here, from different timelines as well as worlds. Fascinating. “Well I look forward to seeing the cool things” she smiled, “And meeting the others” from their world as well as others. For a former diplomat and politician it was going to be an interesting experience.
***
Hearing Leia say ‘cool things’ was pretty amusing. Poe grinned as he spotted a couple of people walking towards them. “I think this is the welcoming committee now. I’m going to send Finn a message while you’re talking to them and let him know that you’re here.”
***
Leia smiled at Poe’s grin, she had to keep him on his toes after all. She nodded, “Alright, that's a good idea. It'll be good to see him too” she said before turning to the people approaching to see what they had to say.