Chapter 1: Afterwards
Those last few seconds felt like years. They gripped each other fiercely. Held together by hearts rapidly beating. Every inch of their bodies clinging to life and love and lost futures. Intense elation mingled with an overwhelming fear of death. And at those last moments Jyn thought of her parents, and then of the man she was holding. Someone she would know no longer. And the fear of not only losing her own life, but also losing his, was too much to bear.
Suddenly her emotions were no longer bound to her small, strong body but expanded into painless ether. Calm replaced anxiety as her mind began to exist in the spaces between things. She could no longer feel her beating heart. She could no longer sense the presence of Cassian. Yet something was pulling her. Guiding her somewhere with a force. The Force. They were calling her. And as soon as Jyn realized who she wanted to see most they were right in front of her. Existing as only bundles of emotional, unique energy, Jyn and her parents began to converse.
"I am so proud of you, my Stardust." Galen Erso imparted to Jyn. She could feel his strong emotion as if it had been her own.
"I knew you were tough Jyn. From the moment I first held you in my arms," said Lyra, pouring overwhelming love into every word.
"Papa! Mama! What am I doing here? I was…" Jyn trailed off, forgetting her place in this time.
"You have surpassed your mortal body Jyn. We exist now as just the soul and The Force" Galen continued, " You succeeded in making the first step towards balance in the galaxy."
Jyn could feel the closeness of her parents. She felt their longing and their comfort in being in each other's presence. But there was something else.
"Unfortunately your time with us will have to be delayed once more." Lyra expressed with sadness. "Your destiny in the galaxy has still not been fully realized. You must be reborn."
Jyn suddenly remembered living without her parents. Struggling when all she had was memories of their love. "How can you ask me to leave you? I don't want to be without you anymore."
Galen sighed, "My Stardust, don't you think we would rather have you stay? But that is not the will of The Force. You have been chosen to fulfill a destiny. To play a role in restoring balance."
"He is right Jyn." Another energy spoke, drawing nearer to the trio of spirits.
A moment passed and Jyn realized who it was: Chirrut Imwe, the believer.
"Chirrut! We…we won!" Jyn's spirit emboldened. She could remember the feelings of success yet nothing else. This place is nice, comfortable, Jyn thought to herself.
"And we will see you here again Jyn, in time." Her father, mother, and Chirrut all imparted.
It was then that Jyn's energy flowed into something else, far away from this wonderful place and into a transitional dreamland. She was not scared. Images of her childhood flooded her unconscious mind. She saw herself gathering dirt samples with Papa and the feeling of holding her mother's hand. She would have stayed in this place forever if she could. But unfortunately she would have to wake up.