In her windowless, blue-walled conference room, General Leia Organa listened patiently to Poe's broken-hearted tale of following the signal of Rey's communicator to the landing area of Ilum, only to find it hidden within her gear. Fearing that Rey had been in danger and left a call for help on her communicator, Poe and his crew listened to it immediately.

"She betrayed us, general," Poe said, his voice cracking. "She abandoned us for the First Order."

Luke and Finn, who sat next to her with half-empty plates on the glass table top, were speechless. Leia instructed Poe to set the cylindrical, scuffed device down and play her message. Poe obeyed, and a miniature hologram of Rey hovered above the lit screen.

"Master Luke, it took a while, but I found my crystal and have crafted my first lightsaber. I wish I could return to show it to you, but I can't." She folded her arms behind her back. "I was only able to find my crystal because Kylo Ren followed me to the temple. He showed me the power of the dark side, and with that power I was able to find my crystal. I understand now that the dark side of the Force is clearly stronger than the light, and I've accepted Kylo Ren's offer to be his apprentice and to join the First Order."

"Rey, no," Finn said under his breath.

Rey turned around as if someone called her, and then she faced them all again.

"I hope you will forgive me, but I understand if you don't. May our paths never cross again."

The hologram dissolved away. Leia picked up the communicator, and looked at her solemn-faced brother with a smile.

"She really is your student, Luke. Such a terrible liar."

She could feel the men's stares on her as she examined the communicator more closely. Sure enough, there was a loose nail on the bottom of the device that connected the shell to the computer within. After she had Finn practice his Force skills by prying the shell apart, Luke picked up the folded piece of paper that fell out. He unfolded it, revealing a side with the old Jedi symbol on one side and print on the other. Luke was silent as he read, then chuckled and handed it to Leia.

"What does it say?" Finn asked.

Leia squinted as she read the shaky handwriting in between the lines of print, then shot out a sigh and closed her eyes.

"Did Rey lie about joining the First Order?" Poe asked eagerly, leaning on the table.

"No, she's going to the First Order with Kylo Ren," she said as she slid the note to the center of the table. "They're going to assassinate Snoke."

Poe joined Finn's side as they both clawed for Rey's note and deciphered it as quickly as they could:

Ben and I are going to his base.

We will end his master.

Do not come after me.

May the Force be with you.

Leia shook her head at the boys' gasping and theorizing at how this could have happened and what they could do to help Rey.

"Here we go again," she said, though more to herself and her memory of Han than anyone else.

TO BE CONTINUED

WINTER 2017/18