Jyn didn't stop until she reached the outskirts of town. Then she began searching for something - Anything - she could steal and pilot off Dorina. But first, clothes. She snatched a long cloak off a market stall as she pushed through.
Up ahead, a shuttle was being unloaded at what looked to be a public terminal. It was tiny, but space-worthy. Jyn moved stealthily towards it, waiting until the small number of passengers were completely disembarked, then she stole up the gangway.
It was easier than she could have hoped. The pilot was knocked out in one quick punch, his body tossed into the sand. She was piloting off Dorina before she even knew it. Her heart soared.
Only when she reached the blackness of space, Dorina completely behind her, did she realize that she had no idea where she was going. She was completely alone.
Did she risk returning to The Rebellion? She had no idea if they were still stationed on Hoth, but it was worth a shot...
Or was this her chance to turn away and start a new life?
She looked out at the stars, hand fluttering down to her rounded stomach. Her pregnancy would be unmistakable in only a matter of weeks. And then there was the matter of ensuring her child's safety... She'd been doing great on that so far.
To her surprise, tears began welling up in her eyes. It wasn't fair. This baby deserved to be raised by two people who weren't caught in the middle of a war, who could give it a life of happiness and security. Cassian couldn't give them anything close to that, nor would she even give him the opportunity.
But if she was going to start over, she had to get money. She wouldn't get far without anything to support herself.
She racked her brains, trying to think of anyone who owed her favors in this quadrant... Nothing. Most of her contacts had been rendered null and void when she publicly sided with The Resistance and became a war hero.
Then she remembered. In her Rebellion account, there was the remainder of the modest award she'd been given for damages sustained at Scariff. It would be enough to last for a short time, while she got her feet under her. But how to get it? She wasn't good enough at hacking to break into Rebellion accounts.
But she knew someone who was.
It was a long shot, but she had to try. She flipped open the communicator and began a coded transmission on one of the more obscure Rebellion frequencies.
K2
NEED SCARIFF REWARD
TRANSFER TO ACCT 3-345-32-97
NO QUESTIONS
J
To her surprise, it was only minutes until the communicator beeped in reply.
J
DONE
COME HOME SOON
YOUR FRIEND
Her eyes welled again, causing her to huff in anger at her betraying emotions. It had to be hormones. She'd never gotten emotional about a robot before.
Her credit pad beeped, signaling an incoming balance of several hundred credits. K-2 had her back. She set a course for a less inhabited system, trying hard to put the past behind her. She was done with the Alliance for good.
Han ducked into a deserted alleyway and flipped his communicator open.
J HEADED FOR OTHER SYSTEM
TOOK MONEY
WILL UPDATE
Han pursed his lips and frowned. This was getting more convoluted. He hadn't guessed Jyn would bolt first chance she got, seemingly leaving Bodhi out on his ass. It was out of character even for her.
But then... She probably was in flight mode. He didn't know Jyn very well, but she had never struck his as the type to turn out maternal. She didn't seem like the romantic type. But everyone makes mistakes.
He shot a glance out into the courtyard where Cassian was pacing around the portable medbot busy stitching up Bodhi's leg. He couldn't see it... He didn't have any particular love for Jyn Erso, she'd done her fair share of double dealing and he wasn't sure being a war hero erased all that history. But now that he'd seen right through Cassian's character, he felt sorry for her carrying around his kid. She didn't deserve to go through that alone.
So where did Han stand? Was he going to let Cassian go back to Jyn and keep pulling the same crap he'd been pulling? Did he deserve to father that kid? Did Jyn even want him back in her life after what had gone down between them?
And then there was another matter. One he had refrained from bringing up to Cassian, but was the main driving force behind his next move.
The Falcon was still somewhere on one of the destroyers. He had no way of knowing which one. They hadn't been able to find out anything about it during their escape. HIS SHIP was being held by the Empire and they knew he'd come back for her eventually. And that bothered him. It explained why he and Cassian had escaped so easily on the piece of junk shuttle they had.
He needed the falcon back before he stepped foot anywhere near The Princess and The Rebellion. If she found out he'd lost his ship on a failed rescue mission, he'd never hear the end of it. But without the Falcon, they were vulnerable. He needed an Alliance ship to get them on the track to finding HIS ship.
But if they returned to base, would they tell Cassian about Jyn's condition?
Han looked back at the communicator and made a decision. He coded another transmission to K-2.
SEND J MY FREQ
He waited, doubting Jyn would take the bait. He was surprised when the communicator made a beep.
LEAVING
DO NOT FOLLOW
He tapped out the reply.
TELL C?
The med bot was finishing on Bodhi, Cassian was calling his name.
NO
He was hardly surprised. The comm beeped once more.
WILL STAY IN CONTACT ON THIS FREQ
Han shut the comm with a grim smile. He would respect her authority on the matter. If she didn't want her status known, he'd do damn well to make sure The Rebellion didn't blow it for her. That was what smugglers did for fellow smugglers.
Cassian eyed the comm in Han's hand.
"News?"
Han shook his head.
"We're going to Hoth."
Jyn looked at the massive orange world looming ahead of her. She'd remembered someone who could help her. He owed her one last favor for transporting something of great importance for him a few years back... Han had been on that transport gig with her.
Cloud City loomed at the corner of her monitor. An escort sidled in on either side of her transport, guiding her to Lando's private dock. She rubbed her stomach as a thrill of excitement rolled through her. It was a relief to see stability on the horizon.
After a quick docking procedure, Jyn jogged out of her tiny shuttle. Lando was already striding towards her, white teeth glittering in his dark face.
"Jyn Erso. I thought the Empire had got you a long time ago." They grasped arms.
"Not yet. But maybe someday." She laughed, relief pouring over her. "I need a favor."
Hoth loomed in front of the crappy stolen shuttle, failing to bolster the mood of her crew. Bodhi had been sitting in absolute silence since they'd embarked, refusing to meet any of Cassian's advances at conversation. Han had been likewise quiet, not wanting to give anything up. When Cassian had gotten up to go into the hold and find them some rations, Han had pulled out his communicator and sent a quick code to Jyn.
ON H-H
BODHI SAFE
She hadn't replied. Han couldn't help but feel annoyance. He didn't like being in the middle of this. He shot a glance at Bodhi.
"Everyone knows about Jyn except Cassian. She doesn't want him to know." He growled. Bodhi heaved a huge sigh.
"Thank fucking god."
Han turned around to the pilot, just now noticing how thoroughly wrung out he looked.
"I can't believe she just left me. After all we'd been through. I'd pretended it was mine for so long, I thought I'd get to be there."
Cassian clattered back into the cockpit, handing out ration packets. Bodhi settled back into his chair and went back to moody silence.
The comm on the dashboard beeped, signaling incoming Rebellion communication.
"Go ahead Rebel Base." Han said into the comm. "Give the Princess my regards."
A second later, Leia's voice poured out of the comm, berating them all for the stupidity of their actions. Han couldn't help but smile.
"Good to see you too, Your Highness."
Jyn looked around her new quarters in Cloud City. Lando had furnished her rooms simply, not to excess.
"Anything you want, you get to have it." Lando said from behind her. "I take care of my friends."
"Thank you..." Jyn said, taking in her surroundings. She hadn't had something so stable in a long time.
"So, what's the deal?" Lando finally said. "Who are you running from? The Hutts? The Empire?"
Jyn debated with herself. Did she tell him? He'd find out eventually anyways. It was Lando. Charming, not stupid.
She pulled the cloak from around her shoulders, revealing the slight bump visible at her midsection. Lando frowned and pursed his lips.
"I'm not gonna ask. You're welcome to stay for as long as you need."
Jyn let a small smile of gratitude slide through her demeanor.
As soon as he was off the transport, Han went in search of Princess Leia. He didn't have to look far. She was practically running towards him, dressed in a little white vest and snowpants. The hangar was colder than he thought it'd be.
"I need to talk to you." He said in a low voice, taking her elbow and steering her back the way she came. "Now."
Leia barely protested, but once they were alone in a hallway, she let loose on him.
"Of all the stupid, unpredictable things-"
"We found Jyn." Han growled. Leia snapped her mouth shut. "I know about the baby."
"Is she with you?" Leia asked. Han shook his head.
"Cassian doesn't know. And she wants to keep it that way. She gave us the slip on Dorina and is headed somewhere else."
"Do you have contact with her?" Leia asked, eyeing the comm on his belt.
"Yes. But are you listening to me? Cassian can't know." He took Leia's shoulder.
"Look, Your Worship. I owed Jyn for some stuff we did back in the day. I consider this debt paid in full. Unless she says, no one is coming anywhere near her."
Leia blinked up at him, her brown eyes concerned.
"I need your help. You need to control the information. And there's something else."
"What is it?" Leia asked. They had moved closer together, he could feel the soft heat radiating off her small body. He couldn't help reaching out to her. She tilted her head up ever so slightly.
"I'm... glad to see you back safe." She whispered. Then she shook herself, the usual haughty mask falling back into place. She turned away from him, but Han grabbed her hand and pulled her to his chest, planting a hard kiss on her lips before she could protest. The icy corridor flamed with heat. After a moment, he pulled away. The Princess looked shell-shocked, verging on angry again.
"I need you to help me find my ship."