FINN

Finn set the thick slice of bread with nuts and seeds in it, back into the clear preservation bag. He didn't feel like eating. The constant hum of the ship was driving him crazy. On a larger ship, like a cruiser, it was less noticeable and it didn't feel much different than being in a big building, on planet. But the Falcon was like a tiny particle lost in the vastness of space, moving at a snail's pace through the expanse.

Rose had gone for a nap and now Finn felt unsettled. He couldn't stop thinking about her. He felt nervous whenever he couldn't be around her, and the only time that nervousness in his stomach went away, was when she was with him again. It didn't make sense.

Finn set his uneaten food next to his backpack and went in search of Poe. Hopefully Poe wasn't napping too. The General had been sleeping a lot on this trip, as they waited to get within comm range of someone who could pick them up. It wouldn't be too much longer, maybe another five hours. But Finn didn't want to sleep for the remaining time. The ship's low ceiling made him claustrophobic and he just wanted to be back near some kind of civilization.

He headed down one of the narrow corridors where Poe had been staying and called ahead before entering the small room at the end of the hall.

"Poe?"

"Yeah!" The response came right away. Finn walked in and found Poe lying on a small cot beside BB-8, who was turned off.

"Oh, were you sleeping?" Finn asked.

Poe rubbed at his eyes. "No, just thinking about how we're going to deal with this Ruling Order situation."

"Well, we destroyed part of their space station. They're probably planning a counter attack."

"Then we're a bit unprepared," Poe said.

There were no Porgs in Poe's room, which was odd considering they were everywhere else.

"Want me to bring Hanso in here? To hang out?" Finn asked, thinking it might cheer up Poe.

"No, no. Don't do that." Poe sat up and looked at Finn. "So, what's up?"

How did he know something was up? Was it that obvious?

Finn rubbed the back of his neck and cleared his throat. "I grew up in the Stormtrooper program," he started, taking a seat on an old crate next to the cot. Poe leaned forward, resting his elbows onto his knees, and giving Finn his full attention. "And, well," Finn continued. "The boys and girls were always kept separate."

Poe shook his head. "I'm not the best person for this kind of advice." He lay back down and put his hands behind his head. "So, you and Rose, huh?"

"I don't know," Finn said. "That's what I wanted to ask you. How will I know?"

"You'll definitely know."

"I think I know. I mean, I can't stop thinking about her."

"She's with you every waking moment, that could be why."

"Even when she's not with me, like now, I can't stop thinking about her."

Poe looked up at the ceiling, as though deep in thought.

"What if she doesn't feel the same way about me?" Finn asked. "What do I do then?"

Poe shrugged. "Same thing you would be doing either way. Watch out for her and be there for her."

"Poe?" Rey's voice echoed down the narrow corridor outside the small room. Poe quickly sat up and adjusted his shirt.

"Oh, hello Finn." Rey entered, holding a pile of books in her arms. She looked shy suddenly. "Sorry," she said. "I didn't know you two were talking."

"It's fine," Poe said.

Finn moved over on the crate he was sitting on, so Rey could take a seat beside him. But she didn't sit down. There was an awkward moment of silence and Poe got up.

"Finn was just leaving," he said, patting Finn hard on the back.

"I was?"

Poe grabbed Finn's jacket at the shoulder and half lifted him into standing position.

"Oh, right," Finn said. "I was."

Why did Poe want him to leave? Maybe he and Rey had plans to read the Jedi books? But Finn was bored and wouldn't mind hanging out while they read.

Rey seemed uncomfortable with her stack of books and her face was flushed. Maybe she was too shy to read in front of both of them at the same time. Poe gave him a slight push and he held up his hands.

"I was just going," he said. "I need to get some food, anyway." He ducked his head to go under the doorway. "See you guys later."

"I'll come out in a bit and have a snack with you, buddy," Poe said behind him.

"Sure thing," Finn replied, lifting his hand in a wave over his shoulder. The minute he was back at the center of the ship in the common area, his mind traveled back to Rose again. He sat down and his shoulders slumped. How long was she going to nap for anyway?

REY

I set the old books down gently onto Poe's cot, my wrists hurting with the weight of them. There are no tables or benches in this ship area and the crate Finn was sitting on looks dirty. I take a seat beside the books, which are now between me and Poe.

"Are your wrists okay?" he asks.

I nod, unable to look him in the eyes.

"You'll need to rebandage them soon," Poe says.

I nod again. BB-8's motionless droid body lying on the cot suddenly makes me sad. Poe seems to notice where I'm looking and he pats BB-8's head.

"He's a tough droid. He'll be up and running soon enough."

Poe picks up one of the books and carefully opens it. The spine makes popping noises and cracking sounds. The pages inside are a yellow color and bumpy, as though they'd gotten wet once, then dried again. I lean over to look. The markings on the pages are beautifully drawn, in intricate patters created by a masterful artist. Poe squints at the page in concentration and I wait.

A little Porg flutters in, like a bird that's too fat to fly, yet somehow it manages to get off the ground, just high enough to land on the open book in Poe's hands. He startles and almost tosses the book along with the Porg. The small creature wobbles a bit but keeps its balance.

"Awww," I say, looking at the Porg's big, sad eyes. "What's wrong little guy? Are you lonely?"

Poe leans as far back as he can. "Rey?" he says, his voice sounding tense. He looks stressed and I finally clue in as to what's wrong. He's scared of the Porg.

I quickly scoop up the little guy and Poe sets the book aside, getting up quickly and standing at the other end of the room.

"You don't like-" I start to say.

"Just-" Poe interrupts. He runs a hand through his hair. "Can you just put it out of the room?"

I hurry to the doorway. "I'll take it to Finn," I say. "I think it might be his Porg."

Poe nods, keeping his distance.

I hurry down the corridor into the common area, where Finn is eating a thick slice of bread.

He looks up. "Hanso!"

I set the Porg down in front of him. "He missed you," I say, then head back to Poe.

When I return he's on his cot again, with the book open in his lap. I can't help but grin.

"So, you're scared of Porgs?"

"They have creepy eyes," Poe says.

I laugh out loud, something I haven't done in a while.

Poe returns his focus to the book again, a look of confusion on his face.

"Can you read it?" I ask, taking a seat beside him on the cot.

"I think so," he mumbles, his head bowed. His brown curls hang into his eyes and he pushes them off his forehead, but they fall forward again.

I glance at the pages he's looking at. How can all those lines and squiggles turn into words that someone can understand? And then someone else, also understand the exact same thing when they look at it? Or are the symbols and lines interpreted differently by everyone? Are they specific words, or just general ideas?

I want to ask Poe but he seems really focused.

"Got it!" he says, looking up with a big smile on his face. "I figured it out."

His smile is contagious.

"This is the oldest recorded form of humanoid writing we know of," he continues. The excitement in his eyes makes me excited too. "I just couldn't figure out this one word." He points to a series of finely drawn lines and circles, and circles with lines attached to them.

"What does it mean?"

"Jedi."

Poe glides his fingers slowly across the first line of markings at the top of the page. Then, he begins...