The Last Jedi: The Spark of Rebellion

"I Had No Idea..."

"Breakfast?" My heart hammers in my chest. Kylo wouldn't have said anything stupid. He's not that cruel, is he? "No, not yet."

Poe keeps his gaze on the console. He looks like he wants to say something, but hesitates.

"How are your wrists?" he finally says.

"They're fine," I reply. I want to tell him how I healed my wounds. I want to ask how BB-8 is and tell him about how I was in zero gravity at the swimming pool and about Kylo Ren's mood swings; hugging me one moment then being mean in the next, and how confused I am about all of it. And I want to tell him about Finn's response on the beacon. But I can't seem to say anything. Poe is quiet too. Are there lots of things he wants to tell me, that he can't say either?

"Shall we see if they will let us out of here?" I say instead.

"He's mad," Poe replies.

"Who?"

"Kylo Ren." He comes closer. "Hux and his mom are having their strategy meeting soon, about the A.I. droids. I was invited to join, too."

"But Kylo Ren said we're his prisoners."

"Maybe he meant just you," Poe says softly.

I cross my arms. Before I can reply Poe continues.

"He's not quite ready to accept this alliance yet." Poe stands close and I suddenly wonder if he's talking about something other than the alliance between the Resistance and the First Order. My heart races. I'm probably reading too much into his words.

Poe keeps his gaze on the carpet and there's a moment of awkward silence.

"Rey? Why did Kylo Ren send me here?" he asks after a moment.

"What do you mean?" I swallow hard. "I don't know why."

Poe takes another step closer and nudges my bare toes with his boot. We're both looking down now and his hair brushes against my forehead.

"He's just insane I guess," I whisper, finding it hard to think.

"You don't need him, Rey," Poe says. He steps away and I grab the front of his jacket, without thinking. I don't want him to step away. Not yet. Despite the passion I feel towards Kylo, which I can't seem to control, he scares me. But Poe is logical and smart and kind and good, and he doesn't scare me. I wouldn't mind asking him for help, but I'm not sure what kind of help I need.

Poe doesn't move away from my grasp, but does he move any closer either. Let's get out of here, I think. Let's go talk to Leia and steal an escape pod or something. But of course, Poe doesn't hear any of those thoughts. I finally let go of his jacket and he captures my hand in his.

"Rey?" he says.

"Yes?"

Poe hesitates for a moment.

"Let's go."

---------

GENERAL ORGANA

General Leia studied the star chart on the large viewscreen in front of her. She was early for the meeting, but wanted to make sure they had all the information they needed to start forming an attack strategy.

"The meeting has been cancelled."

Leia turned to see Hux standing at the entrance to the Command Center. He had two stormtroopers with him.

She waved a hand dismissively in his direction. "My son has always had a flair for the dramatic," she said, turning back to the star chart. "I've rescheduled the meeting. Now come here and have a look at this, General."

She didn't turn to see if Hux would acknowledge her request, but she hoped he would. A moment later she heard his footsteps approaching behind her.

"This Ruling Order has five space stations-" she started to say.

"Six," Hux interrupted. He re-positioned the map and zoomed in. "There's a new one still under construction in the Otomok System."

"How nice for them," Leia said. She nodded to Hux. "I appreciate your attention to detail." Hux seemed slightly unsure of how to respond, beneath all his usual composure. "And these space stations, are where this enemy contaminates all the ships with their virus programming?"

"Yes, the stations are likely the command centers for systems control."

"The Command centers... So we don't have to fight all the droids and ships in the Galaxy. We just need to blow up these command centers?"

"Exactly." Hux stood straight, with his hands behind his back. He seemed like a very serious young man. She could tell he valued order and discipline. Ben could learn a thing or two from him.

A few First Order Commanders entered the room and took a seat on one side of the command table. The Rebel leaders paraded in right after, loud and boisterous. They quieted down when they saw the other Commanders, and then took a seat on the opposite side of the table. Leia had to stifle a grin at their grade-school behavior. She was glad no one had killed anyone from opposing sides, so far.

"Don't you have some sort of back-up Death Star weapon we can use to destroy these bastards in one shot?" Leia asked Hux.

"You mean Starkiller Base?" Hux replied.

"One of your big sun guns," Leia answered. "Or any other weapon of mass destruction, which could destroy these command centers."

"I'm afraid not, General," Hux said. "They were all destroyed by the Resistance."

Leia couldn't contain her smile this time. "I suppose we should have left at least one intact." She leaned in to look at the sixth Ruling Order station and suddenly felt the undeniable presence of the Force, or rather, the presence of one with great Force sensitivity. It was not something she felt often. She could always tell when her son was near.

She looked behind her, but Ben hadn't arrived yet. He likely wouldn't want to attend this meeting. She glanced at Hux. His clear blue eyes were studying the map. It was him that she sensed. She'd had no idea he was Force sensitive. His eyes turned to her.

"What is it?" he asked, sounding irritated.

"It's just." Leia squinted her eyes at him. "I had no idea." She spoke softly so the others wouldn't hear.

Hux frowned. "About what exactly?"

"That you were Force sensitive."

Hux stared at her for a moment, looking confused.

"Sir," one of the First Order Commanders said. Hux turned abruptly and raised his hand in the man's direction. The Commander's eyes went wide and he began to choke.

"Don't interrupt me when I'm in the middle of a conversation with a General," he said fiercely. Then he let the man go, seeming just as surprised as everyone else in the room at his sudden Force choke hold. He lowered his hand and looked at it, as though seeing it for the first time. His gaze turned to Leia.

"General Organa," he said, his expression so full of wonder that he looked like an entirely different person. "Thank you for telling me."