BB-8 chirps softly, whirring and rolling around the floor of Ochi's ship. As he surveys, his eye locks onto something. He chirps softly and rolls over to the small droid.
He extends one of his arms and jabs it into the small, wheeled droid. It flickers to life and powers up, rising all the way and buzzing and stuttering.
D-O: B-Battery charged.
The droid rolls around in confusion and then spots BB-8.
D-O: Hel- Hello.
BB-8 chirps cheerfully as he and his new friend roll into the main section of the ship.
D-O: Hel- Hello.
Rey: Hello.
With a weak smile, Rey reaches a hand out. The green and white droid backs away quickly.
D-O: No- No, thank you.
BB-8 chirps a few words to Rey.
Rey: Looks like someone treated him badly. It's all right. You're with us now.
BB-8 whirrs softly, turning towards D-O.
--------------------------------------------
Ochi's ship blasts down into the atmosphere of Kijimi and towards a nearby city, aglow with light.
--------------------------------------------
A battalion of troops march through the alleys.
Announcer: (on P.A.) U-A-T-T walker patrol, head down Thoroughfare 60.
A hooded figure, Poe, sticks his head out and watches the troopers pass. Alarms wail in the city. Poe nervously marches under spotlights, through tunnels and past troopers. The troopers bang on doors, yell at their inhabitants and throw them around.
Poe walks halfway up a set of stairs, but stops at the sight of growing shadows. More troopers. He turns and walks down to hide by the turn in an alley.
Stormtrooper: Open up. You're wanted for questioning.
Snow falls past Poe's shrouded face, as the troopers attempt to break down the door.
Stormtrooper 2: Check this side of the street.
A spotlight flits past Poe to an opening door. An alien speaks his language and gasps, retreating back into his home and shutting the door.
Stormtrooper 3: Door is locked. Move on to the next one.
Poe looks to the other side of his hiding place, spotting somehow even more troopers milling about.
Stormtrooper 4: Give me regular reports, please.
Poe moves, walking past a trooper and a citizen in an altercation.
Stormtrooper 5: You, up against the wall. Show me your identification. Where's your identification?
He keeps moving, out to where Y/N, Rey, Finn, and the droids are hiding away.
Poe: They're everywhere.
Y/N: That's wonderful news.
A woman shouts, pleading with troopers for another, younger woman in their clutches.
Woman: Please!! Leave her alone! She didn't do anything.
Mournfully, Poe looks away and back to the group.
Poe: Alright, I know what we should do.
C-3PO: So do I. We should leave.
Y/N: I cannot wait until we get to wipe your memory.
Poe: Clam it, 3PO. Follow me.
They follow the reckless pilot. Blaster fire reverberates on the stone walls of the city, Rey flinching and the droids squeaking song behind them. They trudge past fleeing civilians, sneakily down the alley and to another bend.
Poe: All right. Let's head down this way-
A blaster is aimed at Poe's temple. His eyes widen and his breath hitches. He knows who it is. Someone he had hoped wasn't here.
Woman: Heard you were spotted at Monk's Gate. Thought, "He's not stupid enough to come back here."
Poe: Oh, you'd be surprised.
Rey, Finn, and Y/N escape from cover, shielding themselves from the falling snow.
Rey: Who's this?
Finn: What's going on?
Y/N: Poe you got a girlfriend?
Poe: NO!
Y/N: Wow. Really quick on the denial there.
Poe: (sighing) Guys, this is Zorii. Zorii, this is Rey and Finn-
Zorii: I could pull this trigger right now.
Poe: I've seen you do worse.
Zorii: For a lot less.
Poe: Can we just, uh.... talk about this?
Poe slowly removes his hood, meeting the golden helmet and black visor of Zorii.
Zorii: I want to see your brains in the snow.
Y/N: You seem to have unmitigated anger issues. I've heard-
Rey pinches Y/N on the arm. He lets out a soft yelp and rubs that spot.
Y/N: That stuff hurts worse in the cold.
Poe turns back to Zorii.
Poe: So you're still mad? Zorii, we could use your help. We got to crack this droid's head open and fast.
C-3PO: Pardon me!
Y/N: It's only my whole life too late.
C-3PO: How dare-
Poe: We're trying to find Babu Frik.
Zorii: Babu? Babu only works with the crew. That's not you anymore.
Rey: What crew?
Zorii: Oh, funny he never mentioned it. Your friend's old job was running spice.
Y/N stifles a chuckle. Rey is incredulous. Finn is shocked, looking at his best friend with a hint of humor in his voice.
Finn: You were a spice runner?
Poe: You were a Stormtrooper?
Rey: Were you a spice runner?
Poe: Were you a scavenger? We could do this all night.
Y/N: (poorly hidden laughter) Poe Dameron. You were a spice runner??
Poe: You were a... What were you?
Y/N: A slave?
Poe: Yeesh. Can we not do this now?
Zorii: You don't have all night.
She moves out in front, standing ahead of the group, with her blaster still trained on Poe.
Zorii: You know, I'm still digging out of the hole you put me in when you left to join the Resistance.
She notices Rey.
Zorii: You. You're the one they're looking for. Bounty for her just might cover us. Djak'kankah!!
Poe: Don't djak'kankah.
In a flash, Rey whips her staff around, calmly but savagely. She whacks Zorii in the head with it, swinging it downward and taking her off her feet.
Y/N: Damn!
Finn jumps and acts slightly excited as the staff speeds past him. Then, in a single sweeping motion, she whips it in a circle, downing the other assailants. Zorii raises her blaster at Rey, to be met by the glowing blue lightsaber in her hand.
Rey: We could really use your help. Please.
Zorii: Not that you care... (panting)... but I think you're okay.
Rey: I care.
She smiles, putting away the lightsaber and reaching her hand out to help Zorii up.
--------------------------------------------
A Stormtrooper battalion marches through the falling powder, Zorii leading the group through the streets.
Stormtrooper 1: T-18's online yet?
Stormtrooper 2: Yes, sir. Scouting the perimeter.
The group huddles behind a wall, following the Zorii down the dimly lit alleys.
Zorii: Walkers. Stay close by.
She takes off, Poe leading behind her, Finn still chuckling silently.
Finn: Poe Dameron, spice runner. Runner of spice.
Poe: All right.
Y/N: Everybody come get your spice!
Finn: I'm surprised you never crashed the spice ships.
Y/N: Who said he didn't?
Finn: Maybe that's why he left?
Y/N: It's a possibility.
Poe: Stop it, you two!
Y/N: He's not denying it.
Finn shrugs as Poe lets out a frustrated grunt. Rey follows.
Rey: Come on, 3PO.
C-3PO: Oh.
The golden droid throws his hands up in annoyance, waddling down the streets.
Smoke flows out from a tunnel after the droid fled past. Several black figures emerge from the smoke. The knights of Ren, lit by their red weapons but still shrouded in a hanging darkness. They march onward.
--------------------------------------------
Zorii, Poe, Y/N, Finn, Rey, and the droids funnel through a small doorway, through blue light and past other random figures.
Zorii: Babu's in the back.
They walk past tables. Folk music plays, some people drink, others dance, most smile, blissfully unaware of what's going on in the galaxy. Many diverse aliens, some with big teeth, some that could fit in a shoe, others that could barely fit in a ship. They all revel and drink.
C-3PO: Don't mind us.
The bartender, a man with slick white hair and a device over one of his eyes, rolls the other, frowning and wiping a glass clean.
--------------------------------------------
In a back room, the golden droid is wired up the wazoo. Countless threads of copper and other conductors are jammed into the back of his head, jarringly and haphazardly. He whirs about, complaining about anything and everything.
C-3PO: I haven't the faintest idea why I agreed to this. I must be malfunctioning. I must be malfunctioning.
Y/N: Do you remember who built you? You've been malfunctioning the whole time.
C-3PO: Who did build me?
Y/N: Oh yeah...
Rey pushes him away and places a comforting hand on the droid's metal shoulder, moving past, to the tiny, jittering alien, Babu Frik. About a foot tall, with hands the size of his head, and welding goggles on his forehead.
Rey: Babu Frik? Can you help us with this?
The small alien sputters but gets out words. He is unsure. Rey looks over at Finn, he shrugs. Then to Y/N. He cheerfully raises his thumb up, signaling his approval. She then looks back to Zorii and calls out.
Rey: Zorii? Is this going to work?
Zorri and Babu Frik converse in the alien language
Zorii: He says he's found something in your droid's forbidden memory bank. Words, translated from Sith.
Rey: That's it.
Finn: Yeah, that's what we need.
She looks at Poe, even though she's wearing a helmet, you can tell she's disgusted.
Zorii: Who are you hanging out with that speaks Sith?
Her eyes track over to Y/N for just a moment. He catches them and meets her gaze, briefly, annoyedly. Moving away from his window, Poe nervously moves towards her and Babu.
Poe: Can you make him tra-... Babu, can you make him translate it?
Zorri and Babu Frik converse in an alien language
She translates for Babu. He nods and speaks.
Zorii: Yes. But it will cause a complete-
C-3PO: A complete memory wipe.
Poe: Wait, wait, wait. We make him translate it.... he won't remember.... anything?
Babu: Droid, memory go blank.
C-3PO: Oh!
Babu: Blank, blank.
C-3PO: There must be some other way.
Y/N: Hopefully not.
Finn: Doesn't R2 back up your memory?
C-3PO: Oh, please. R2's storage units are famously unreliable.
Rey: You know the odds better than any of us. Do we have a choice?
A long pause. 3PO looks around, standing up, walking away, solemnly.
C-3PO: If this mission fails.... It was all for nothing. All we've done.... all this time.
The golden droid is silent. He turns, looking at Y/N, Poe, Rey, and Finn. Confused silence as his blank face stares through them.
Y/N: Whaaat are you doing chromedome?
C-3PO: Taking one last look, sir.... at the people I know.
He nods at the droid. Looks are exchanged. Sad, but resolved. D-O turns to BB-8.
D-O: Sad.
Lights shine brightly through the windows, countless footsteps rumble outside.
Babu: Uh-oh.
Zorii: Night raids are going to start soon. I'll keep lookout.
Poe: I'm coming with you.
Zorii: (scoffs) You still don't trust me, huh?
Poe: Did you ever trust me?
Zorii: Nope.
They ascend the steps. Babu Frik laughs heartily.
--------------------------------------------
Kylo emerges from a door, out to Hux, Pryde, and another Final Order officer.
Kylo Ren: Report, General Pryde.
Enric Pryde: There's been a development, sir. The Knights of Ren have tracked the Jedi and the scavenger.
Frantis Griss: To a settlement called Kijimi.
General Hux: Shall we destroy the city, Supreme-
Hux winces, bracing to be strangled again. But Ren only throws up a single finger, much to Hux's delight. Ren walks down the hall, silently, but for the thud of his heavy boot on the floor.
--------------------------------------------
Sparks crackle and Babu Frik mutters, messing with the wires, and fiddling with 3PO's circuitry.
C-3PO: I just had the idea. There's something else we could try-
C-3PO powers down suddenly.
Y/N claps a hand to his smirking mouth. He can barely suppress a laugh. Rey and Finn stare wide-eyed. Rey shakes her head, unable to believe the timing. She walks out of the central workshop and away. BB-8 whirs, also dumbstruck.
--------------------------------------------
Out in the streets, Zorii and Poe sit on a roof. Distant explosions fill the quiet, dark night sky. People exclaim in fright and Poe shudders, remembering his history.
Poe: How long's it been like this?
Zorii: First Order took most of the kids a long time ago. Can't stand the cries anymore. I've saved up enough to get out. I'm going to the Colonies.
Poe: How? All those hyperlanes are blocked.
She reaches into her pouch, pulling out a small metal disk.
Poe: That's the First Order... Captain's medallion. I've never seen a real one.
Zorii: Free passage through any blockade. Landing privileges, any vessel.
She reaches up, clicking a button and opening part of her helmet, lifting the visor and looking Poe in the eyes.
Zorii: Want to come with me?
A solemn quiet, spotlights passing over them. Poe looks down for a moment and then back up at her.
Poe: (sighs) I can't walk out on this war. Not till it's over. Maybe it is... We sent out a call for help at the Battle of Crait. Nobody came. Everyone's so afraid. They've given up.
Zorii: No, I don't believe you believe that. Hey. They win by making you think you're alone. Remember? There's more of us.
He nods at her steadfast eyes.
--------------------------------------------
Y/N holds a lubricant can to D-O. Pumping the fluid onto the droid.
D-O: Squeaky wheel. I- I- I have a squeaky wheel.
Y/N looks at the droid with a hearty smile, putting the can down and placing the sputtering droid on the ground. D-O looks up, then rolls back. Quiet. Rolls forward. Quiet.
D-O: Squ- Squeak elim- elim- el- inated. Thank you. Very- ry k- kind.
Y/N: You're welcome.
The small white and green droid excitedly drives in circles around BB-8.
Rey: Something's not right about all of this.
Finn: Hmmmm?
Rey: I know where I've seen it. The ship he was on. Ochi's ship.
Y/N: What?
Rey: The day my parents left. They were on that ship.
Y/N: Rey... How do you-
Finn: Are you sure?
A door opens. Poe and Zorii charge into the workshop.
Zorii: There's an incoming Destroyer.
Y/N: Of course there is.
Poe: We got to go now. Did we get it? Babu?
Babu: Ay-yup the Droid is ready!
Sparks crackle. Babu presses the two wires together. 3PO whirs to life and speaks in a dark, steely voice, his eyes now red.
C-3PO: The Emperor's wayfinder is in the Imperial vault. At Delta 3-6, Transient 9-3-6, Bearing 3-2.... on a moon in the Endor system. From the southern shore. Only this blade tells. Only this blade tells.
C-3PO powers down, crashing to the seat. Babu cheers with his arms up. Everyone looks at each other with trepidation on their faces.
Y/N: Endor!?
Finn: Where the last war ended?
The workshop shakes. Rey looks around, then runs up the stairs.
Finn: Rey!
Y/N: Rey, come back here!
He pursues her. She presses on the door switch and opens it. The clear night sky, can not hide the massive gray ship in the sky. Y/N catches up to her, his hand on the doorframe.
Rey: Ren's Destroyer.
Poe: He's here?
Y/N: He's fucking here...
A wave flows through her. Rey's mouth hangs open and her eyes fill to the brim with tears. Uncertain, she thinks, wondering if it could be true. She looks over at Y/N. He cocks his head, unsure of what she's thinking.
Rey: Chewie...