"Papa...Papa, I'm sorry! I'm so sorry...Papa...Papa!" Jyn woke with a start and looked about wildly. She half-expected the phantoms of her dream to stand before her and keep reminding her of her failure...to the Rebellion and to the memory of her family. But her room was empty. Faint daylight streamed in through the narrow slit of a window, a warm yellow glow. Yavin had risen long ago.

Jyn shuddered in relief even as fresh tears brimmed in her eyes. The nightmares had started her first evening and had yet to let up. Always they were of her parents, though sometimes the faces of the Rogue One strike team joined in to haunt her. Always Lyra and Galen had harsh words for their daughter. Everyone spoke of her failure. And then, one by one, they all died before her eyes as she stood and did nothing but scream.

Just a dream, Jyn reminded herself, running an arm across her damp eyes. A glance at her small table showed a tray of her usual prepared rations. She frowned. Why hadn't anyone awakened her so she could eat, or at least be spared the nightmare?

Before the young woman had a chance to dress, the door alarm buzzed. Jyn groaned. The Rebellion was decent to nonviolent prisoners, though she did have a time limit in which to eat. She hurriedly shoved a forkful of food into her mouth and started chewing. The door buzzed again.

"Jyn! Wake up," urged a familiar, if muffled voice. "You need to come out here."

"Cothon!?" she exclaimed around a mouthful of beige mush. Either they'd turned Cassian loose, or he was here with her escort. Jyn gulped down the cup of water to clear her mouth so she could speak clearly. "I'm awake. What is it?"

"You're dressed?"

Jyn glanced down and groaned. While unworried about decency, she probably wouldn't make a very good impression on the guard if she came to the door in her skivvies. "Just a second!" She snatched her trousers off the chair and hopped into them, then yanked on a shirt. "What's going on?"

Accordingly the door slid open and both Cassian and a fleet trooper escort stepped in. Cassian was out of breath and very excited about something. "Jyn...the plans...they found the plans!"

Jyn flinched in surprise. "What? What are you talking about?"

Cassian lifted his brows. "The Death Star plans! They're safe...they were in a droid! We just got word, they're on their way right now. General Dodonna wants us to meet them. Hurry up!"

Jyn's head was spinning at the overload of information. "What? Who? Cassian, slow down. Who has the plans? How did they get them?"

Cassian paused to catch his breath before continuing. "I don't have all the details yet...and it's a long story. Hurry up and get dressed, and I'll tell you on the way."

Jyn blinked and looked around helplessly. "I..." She still didn't understand why Cassian was at her door and wanted her to hurry up. The one fact that stood out was that the plans had been found, and they were safe. "Give a minute, all right?" Hurriedly the woman hopped into her boots and splashed water on her face. She'd hardly buckled her belt and shrugged on her vest before she was prodded out the door. When she raised a meager protest about breakfast, someone shoved a ration bar into her hand. The woman frowned and put the bar in a pocket.

Cassian glanced at her. "I'd eat that if I were you. I don't know when you're going to get another chance."

"Fine." Jyn unwrapped the bar and took a bite, chewing quickly. "Now, will you please tell me what's going on?"

"All right. When the Imperials captured the Tantive IV, Princess Leia hid the plans in a droid and sent him and another droid down to Tatooine. Then she was captured by the Imperials. Someone on Tatooine found the droids and saw a message that the Princess had left. So he hired a pilot to go to Alderaan, but it was destroyed and they ended up at the Death Star. While they were there they managed to rescue the Princess and-"

Jyn held up a palm. "Wait. Princess Leia? Senator Organa's daughter? She's alive?"

Cassian nodded. "Yes! The Imperials had intended to kill her, but this young man and his pilot friend rescued her. Now they're all on their way here with the plans."

Jyn's eyes widened as she processed this information. "They rescued the Princess from the Death Star? How? The security there is almost impossible to breach."

Cassian shrugged. "As I said, I don't know all the details yet, but they must have found some way in." He nodded with new determination. "The important thing is the plans are secure. Now we have a chance."

Jyn wanted to smile, to celebrate, to breathe a sigh of relief that the deaths of Rogue One had not been in vain...but she couldn't. Not yet. "Are you sure?"

"Sorry?" Cassian blinked.

"How can you be sure that these people are telling the truth...that they really do have the Princess and the plans?" Jyn knew her inner skeptic was showing, but it took time for her to trust anyone. She trusted Cassian. She didn't trust a person she'd never met.

"Jyn..." Cassian turned to meet Jyn's hazel eyes. "The Princess herself made the call. Her security code checks out, and her voice has been confirmed twice. It's all right."

Only then did Jyn allow a small sigh to escape her lips and some of the tension on her face to ease. "Well...then I hope they find the weakness my father put in quickly."

Cassian offered a slight smile. "They will. Don't worry; we're going to destroy that beast." Their quick pace resumed. "Come on. We have to meet the General."

Jyn made a face as she gulped down the rest of her ration bar. "What does he want with us, anyway? Have the charges been dropped?"

The captain shook his head in amazement. "He wants us to meet the Princess when her transport lands."

Jyn froze. "When?"

Cassian suddenly looked nervous. "In about fifteen minutes."

Jyn caught a glimpse of her reflection in a nearby panel, groaned loudly, and tried finger-combing her hair straight. Gratefully she accepted a comb from Cassian. "And you just now decide to tell me?"

"You were asleep."

"That's no excuse."

Jyn and Cassian were soon joined by Bodhi and half a dozen Fleet Troopers as the group to meet the Princess. At first none of them paid much attention to the battered YT-1300 coming in for a landing just a few meters away...until the loading ramp touched down and a very motley crew emerged.

The first one Jyn noticed was the Wookiee. She'd heard of the massive creatures before, but the only Wookiees she'd ever seen had been half-starved and half-grown, working away in one of the Empire's many labor camps. This one was neither, and quite intimidating.

At the Wookiee's side was a human of average height who looked about thirty years old and walked with a swagger. Going by the blood stripes on his pants he must have been Corellian. His clothing was otherwise utilitarian, but he wore confidence like a second skin. Jyn made a note to keep an eye on him. He didn't look like someone that could be trusted.

Behind the mismatched pair walked a very young man- no more than a boy, really -who stared at everything in gape-mouthed, wide-eyed awe. Dressed like a farmer in sand colored clothing, this must have been the one to find the droids. He couldn't have been more than eighteen, though the shaggy mop of blond and the wide blue eyes made him look even younger. He had the short, slim build of a teenager. Trailing behind him were the droids in question; a barreled blue R2 unit and a tall golden protocol droid, both of which were extremely dirty. It was anyone's guess which one carried the plans.

At the head of the group was a tiny figure in white whose posture belied her stature and young age. She walked with authority and confidence, though her quick pace and strained expression told of urgency...perhaps impatience. This must have been the Princess Leia Organa.

Jyn blinked with surprise in seeing this ragtag crew approach and felt obliged to stand at attention with Cassian and the others. A glance at Bodhi told her that the former Imperial pilot had heard of the Princess and stood in awe of her. Only a nudge from Cassian made his gaping mouth snap shut.

General Dodonna was the first to greet the newcomers. "Princess Leia, I cannot tell you my relief at seeing you alive and well. Let me express my deepest condolences on the loss of your father...of your world. It was terrible. Just terrible. I promise you that their deaths will not be in vain."

Princess Leia's expression flickered to one of pain, but it lasted only a moment. She nodded gravely and accepted the General's outstretched hands. "I surely hope so, General."

Dodonna looked over the group with unmasked surprise. "And are these your rescuers, Princess?"

Leia nodded and stepped aside, waving the young boy forward with a welcoming smile. "Yes. General Dodonna, I'd like you to meet Luke Skywalker. He was the one to discover these two droids and work on returning them to the Alliance. Luke, this is General Dodonna."

Skywalker blushed as the General shook his hand in greeting, and stuttered when asked about his rescue plan. The boy was quick to admit most of it had been improvised and shared full credit with Han Solo and Chewbacca, the mismatched pair who stood behind, by then somewhat impatient. Solo was about to break in and say something when Leia sternly interrupted him and suggest all of them head inside, as there was little time to waste.

As Solo, Skywalker, Chewbacca, and the two droids all climbed aboard a transport under armed guard, Leia hung back for a moment to regard what was left of Rogue One. "General, are these the members of that infiltration team you spoke of?"

Dodonna nodded. "They are, Your Highness. Allow me to introduce Captain Cassian Andor, Jyn Erso, and Bodhi Rook. These and the other members of their team were instrumental in finding and transmitting the Death Star plans. Rogue One, Princess Leia Organa."

Jyn felt her cheeks burning. Only hours before they'd been under arrest. She was caught by surprise when Cassian and Bodhi gave semiformal bows. At the last minute Jyn bowed, too.

Leia met each of their eyes in turn and took their hands in greeting. "Captain...Miss Erso...Mr. Rook...I cannot say what an honor it is to meet you. Without your courage in finding and securing these plans, there would have been no hope for us. On behalf of the Rebel Alliance, thank you all."

Cassian, Jyn, and Bodhi all squirmed uncomfortably. None of them felt deserving of either honor or praise, but it wouldn't feel right to tell the Princess she was mistaken. Cassian simply stood at attention. Bodhi almost said 'you're welcome', but stopped himself at the last minute. As for Jyn, she felt her throat catch. This was her father's idea, not hers.

Before anyone had a chance to say anything further, Leia threw a furtive glance over her shoulder before turning back to Jyn, Cassian, and Bodhi. "I'm sorry to make this so brief, but there is much to be done. Again, thank you all. I'll speak with each of you as soon as I have a chance. In the meantime, may the Force be with you." And so with a final smile, Leia met their eyes again before turning away and following her escort to the transport. In moments she and her entourage were gone.

Bodhi, though his mouth was still hanging open, was the first to regain his gift of speech. "Wow. Uh, that is...excuse me sir," he sputtered, snapping back to attention.

General Dodonna nodded. "At ease. I understand, Rook. You're excused. All of you, again, thank you for being here. I appreciate your cooperation as much as the Princess does. That's all for now. Dismissed."

All three of them blinked, disoriented. Cassian was the first to step forward. "Excuse me, General, but isn't there going to be an assault on the Death Star?"

Dodonna pressed his mustached lips together. "That remains to be seen. It all depends upon what we find upon examination of the plans."

"Well, sir, if there is an attack on the Death Star, I request permission to join a fighter squadron and help." Cassian stood at attention once more.

"Request denied, Captain Andor. You are on flight restriction until further notice." Dodonna began heading back toward the ziggurat. "Now, if you'll excuse me..."

"But sir! No matter what sort of weakness Galen Erso engineered, you're going to need all the help you can get. Afterward you can administer whatever disciplinary actions you want so long as I can fly." Cassian moistened his lips. He wasn't used to begging, but if that was what it took to get his revenge on the Imperials, so be it.

"Negative." Dodonna's shoulders fell and he shook his head. "It's not the charges against you and your teammates, Andor. You're still recovering from your injuries. Medical has not cleared you for active duty. Until they do, you're grounded. I'm sorry."

Cassian pushed an angry breath through his nose as he watched the General leave. Nothing more was said until Bodhi tentatively spoke up.

"Maybe he's right, Cassian. That burn was awfully deep, and you're not-"

"I'm fine and he knows it," spat Cassian, crossing his arms. Slowly he shook his head. "I'm going to talk to the medic." And he stalked off.

"Wait a minute. Why can't Cassian fly?" Jyn wanted to know. "He said it wasn't serious."

Bodhi cringed. "It was and I knew it was the minute I saw the burn. It was deep."

Jyn froze, brows knit. "How deep, exactly?"

The pilot frowned. "I'm no medic, but it went past his stomach wall and into his intestine. That's why he was in the medical bay for so long. He could have died."

Blood drained from Jyn's face. She was simultaneously angry and worried. "Should he be walking?"

Bodhi shrugged. "Technically, no. He's just too stubborn."

Jyn shook her head and growled, turning toward the ancient temple. "Excuse me." And she marched off at a stiff pace, intending to talk- or knock -some sense into Captain Andor.

"The Death Star has cleared the planet," announced a filtered, monotone voice over the loudspeaker. "The Death Star has cleared the planet."

Jyn felt her stomach clench. Again the feeling of defeat threatened to overtake her. Again she sensed an impending doom and turned to Cassian. After all that, were they going to die anyway?

Cassian, whose vehement protests had earned him another day of bed rest in the medical bay, lay on his side with eyes narrowed and fist clenched. "Come on, Skywalker," he whispered. "Come on. Just a little bit longer." He hated being laid up, and listening to a battle he'd wanted to participate in was torture. A glance at Jyn made his scowl fade. He reached for her hand.

Gratefully Jyn took it and gave him a nod. If he's not giving up, then neither am I. With her free hand she clutched the kyber crystal that hung around her neck and closed her eyes, pleading with the Force.

She could have watched the battle from the situation room. Princess Leia had given her full leave to do so. But Jyn couldn't do anything there but stand and pace with everyone else, listening to the fighter pilots' reports...and hearing them die. After all they'd been through Jyn wanted to be with her friends. Bodhi, without the skills to fly a one-person fighter and without the time to train, had remained in the hangar to help the fuel and repair crews.

In the medical bay, every other patient lay in the same suspense...waiting for either the cry of victory or the blast of heat that would vaporize them all. Some muttered prayers to whatever deity they followed, while others just sat and chewed nails to the quick. Medics kept busy tending to their patients whether they needed it or not.

Time seemed to stand still. Silence had overtaken them but for the base commander announcing which pilots had been lost and what the status of the Death Star was. It wouldn't be long now.

The wide-eyed farmboy from Tatooine, Luke Skywalker, was the last Red Squadron pilot remaining in the trench. His wingmen, Red 2 and Red 3, were both out of commission. He was alone now. Not even his droid could help him.

"The lead TIE has a lock on Skywalker- no, wait...the lead fighter's wingman just went up." The commander's voice took on an excited tone. "A light freighter just came in out of nowhere. He's covering Skywalker!"

Excited and yet confused chatter broke the former silence as everyone was asking each other who this mystery pilot was.

Jyn flinched. "What the...?"

"Solo?" guessed Cassian with pleasant surprise.

"It couldn't be," protested Jyn with an incredulous shake of her head. "That smuggler left the system."

"But he was the only one near enough-"

Another announcement rang out across the base. "The lead TIE is out of commission now. His last wingman crashed into the trench, and the lead ricocheted off the side. Skywalker's firing...let's hope those torpedoes hit their target. All right, they're getting clear...any minute now..."

Tension increased to a fever pitch. Jyn felt her stomach twist with anticipation.

The lights overhead flickered, making everyone momentarily uneasy. What was that?

"Objective complete," gushed the base commander with a sigh of relief. "Target destroyed."

A series of deafening cheers broke out all across the base. Those in the medical bay cheered, wept, or embraced out of sheer relief. Those who were mobile jumped up and down or raised triumphant fists.

As for Jyn Erso, she could hardly believe it. All those days of fighting, of hoping, losing hope and finding it again...it hardly seemed real that the nightmare was finally over. She turned to Cassian with wide eyes. Releasing his hand with an apologetic look, she made for the door. "Hold on. I'll be back."

"Jyn!" called Cassian, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. He tried to rise and follow, but a medic prevented him. "Where are you going?"

"I need to see it!" she called over her shoulder. Once out of the medical bay she broke into a run. So many times, she had thought the Death Star was impenetrable. While there was no reason to doubt now, she still could not find it in her heart to believe what she couldn't see.

Jyn ran faster as the halls opened into the hangar. She passed Bodhi, who was celebrating with everyone else, but didn't yet acknowledge him. She ran all the way to the giant doors and out into the humid air of the jungle to search the sky.

What had been a blinding flash of white was fading back into the orange of twilight. In the center was an explosion so brilliant that few could look at it for the first minute. Bright pieces of debris rained down and burned harmlessly in the atmosphere.

The shock of seeing the truth made Jyn's knees wobble. At long last her father's wishes had been fulfilled. The planet-killer was gone. Jyn closed her eyes against the coming tears and clutched the kyber crystal again. "We did it, Papa. It's gone." When she opened them she found both Bodhi and Cassian hurrying up to her, following her gaze.

"Thank you, Galen," murmured Bodhi with a distant smile.

Cassian slung an arm around Jyn's shoulders. "What did I tell you? Never give up hope. Never."

Jyn let out a heavy breath and exchanged smiles of relief with her comrades. The trio remained outside for quite some time, and were there to see the two X-wings, single Y-wing, and the battered YT-1300 model freighter come in for a landing. Jyn felt a jolt of surprise upon seeing the latter. "That's not Solo, is it? He left!"

Cassian was grinning as he shrugged. "Looks like he came back. Come on. Let's go inside."