Chapter 2
After the shuttle had been disguised against aerial searches, they gathered in the hold area. Despite arguments, Jyn had insisted that Cassian let others handle the camouflage while he rested. Even so, it had taken the support of everyone else before he gave in. Now, she kept shooting worried looks at him while wrapping her own knee and ankle.
"First order of business, we need to check on everyone's injuries and see that they are tended." Cassian glanced over the group, then fixed his eyes on Tonc. "Unless someone is better suited, probably Tonc should oversee that, since he's had field training for emergency medicine." The corporal nodded and no one argued.
"Next…next…" Cassian stopped, seeming to lose his train of thought.
"Okay, that's it." Jyn stood and spread out some blankets Bodhi had located, and pointed to them. "Lie down, Cassian. Now. You'll be no good to us if we don't see to your injuries. That fall has to have done more damage than you're letting on."
He looked ready to argue, but Baze and Bodhi took up a position on each side of her with arms crossed – none of them were going to allow him to balk. "Yeah, okay." He tried to push himself off the bench but wasn't moving much. Baze glanced at Jyn who gave him a nod and he went over to collect the captain in his arms. Tonc rushed to catch his feet while Jyn held his head. Together the three of them eased him down on the bedding. That he didn't put up a fuss over the coddling told them all they needed to know about how bad he was feeling.
As soon as he was down, Tonc began to examine him and they slowly worked to treat each injury found. He had already drifted to sleep when Tonc finished. The corporal looked up at the others. "I know he has some broken ribs, but I didn't find anything else broken. Still, considering all the bruising, he's definitely done some bleeding – maybe from damage to muscles. I'm almost certain he's got a concussion, considering what Sergeant Erso says happened and his confusion just now. We need to keep a close eye on him, wake him every few hours to check him again." The others nodded their understanding.
Baze and Bodhi had already tended Melshi and Chirrut, and had them resting comfortably nearby. The other four slid onto benches and looked wearily at one another. After a couple of minutes, Bodhi fished out ration bars and water and passed them around, and they ate in tired silence.
"I'm probably in the best shape of anyone. I'll..I'll take first watch while the rest of you get some sleep. I think we'll all feel better when we aren't so tired," Bodhi suggested.
He wasn't sure they accepted that he was in the best shape, but maybe they were just too worn out to argue the point.
"I'll go second. Wake me in four hours, Bodhi," Tonc volunteered.
"Then me," Baze joined in. "That'll get us to tomorrow. We can regroup then and decide what to do."
"Whoever is on watch, wake Cassian a couple of times. Or wake me and I'll do it," Jyn instructed.
"And give him another shot of painkiller if he's in discomfort," Tonc added. "The captain is pretty beat up. He'll be hurting for quite some time. He needs rest more than anything and the pain might interfere with that."
"Of course." Bodhi stood and handed around more blankets and bedding until it was all taken, and everyone stretched out in their chosen spot. He went to take a walk around the ship before closing the ramp. Easier to keep out surprises that way.
xx Day 2
To everyone's relief, the night passed quietly. No visitors, no alarms, no disruptions. With their various injuries, sleep wasn't as restful as it might have been, but it was enough. Even so, they were all stiff and sore. After or while they ate, each took to stretching or walking around to ease the tightness that had beset them while they slept.
Checking wounds, then reapplying medication and bandages was undertaken while they got the bedding put away and cleared a space in the hold. Cassian and Chirrut were the only two still stretched out, though Chirrut was awake and in good spirits.
Melshi had awakened earlier and was sitting up, watching, but not yet participating in the discussion. The blaster wound in his shoulder had bled quite a bit; no doubt he was still feeling weak.
Everyone looked for Jyn to act as leader; it was not her preference. Being in charge of a single mission or skirmish was one thing, but long-term planning wasn't one of her strengths. She hadn't had to do much of it in her life. She really wished Melshi, or even Cassian, could take charge, but she was not about to wake Cassian for it and Melshi wasn't up to it yet. She'd just have to manage until either was recovered enough to take over.
"Does the radio work?"
Bodhi nodded. "We can send a signal on an Alliance channel without any problem, now that the shield gate is down. Trouble is, there isn't likely to be anyone out there close enough to hear it. At least, not any rebels. They'll have left after the Death Star."
"They won't expect survivors." Baze made the comment matter-of-factly, but that didn't make it any less true.
"Didn't you say this ship could fly between planets?" Jyn asked.
"It can," Bodhi acknowledged, "but without hyperdrive, it will be a very slow trip. And that will mean we are easy targets for anyone bigger and faster."
"Like the Empire," Tonc said.
"Or pirates," Jyn added. "What would be the nearest safe planet? Do we know?" She looked around, but no one offered an answer.
"We can check the computer," Tonc noted. "It should give us some information, though it probably won't say if the Empire has a foothold or not. Just what's out there."
"Anyone familiar with this system at all?" She looked around but the only response was a few shakes of heads. "Okay, then, Tonc, what would be standard procedure on a mission for a situation like this? Can we do that for now?"
"Mostly just dig in, secure your position, treat the wounded, find food and water, and try to contact the Alliance. All the stuff we've already discussed."
"We could look around outside, and see what's out there – maybe more food and fresh water, if we are stuck here for very long. And maybe the computer knows if there are settlements on the planet anywhere else."
Jyn raised an eyebrow when Baze spoke. That might be more than she had ever heard the big man say.
"Okay, then. Let's get started." Tasks were doled out and each set to work.
xx
After the noon meal, and a little extra sleep, Melshi was more alert and able to offer guidance from his experience. They discussed the nearby planets as possibilities for relocation, quickly ruling out several for various reasons.
"Geonosis is out. It has too many Imperial ties to be safe. Tatooine is the largest and nearest, but has its problems," Melshi advised. "Mostly desert, hot, and you have to avoid the Hutts. One thing it does have going for it is a large spaceport, with a lot of pilots not too interested in sticking to the law. That might be our best bet for distance and resources."
"Isn't Ryloth where the Twi'leks are from?" Tonc asked.
"Yeah," Melshi acknowledged, "but the terrain isn't great, and it's dangerous. I'm not sure we could find the help we need there, and even if we could, we might have difficulty landing and getting to it. And Tatooine is closer."
"Most of the others look either too small or too far to consider, unless we have to," Jyn observed.
"The problem would be credits," Melshi continued. "We might be able to sell this ship for something, but paying passage for seven people could get expensive. And there might be questions about how we all got injured."
"Are there any rebels there that would help us? That would maybe contact the base and let them know where we are so they could send someone to get us?" It might be grabbing at straws, but Jyn would gladly take some good news right now.
"There was a small group," Melshi acknowledged. "If we can find them, there's a chance that would work. With the Hutts in control, they have to keep a low profile. Most likely they'd try to stay fairly close to Mos Eisley. That's the biggest spaceport. That's where they would pick up any news or gossip being handed around. Trouble is, I don't know anyone there. The captain might, if he wakens. Otherwise, we'll have to try to find them."
Jyn shrugged. "I can probably manage that. I've never found it hard to spot an Imperial or a rebel." She grinned at him, even though he scowled slightly in return. "You're not still mad about the shovel are you? I didn't know why you would be rescuing me – I couldn't take chances."
Melshi's mouth twitched, but he didn't reply. Instead, he refocused on their discussion. "Anyway, is that what we want to try? Or should we wait here for a little while to see if anyone comes to check for survivors."
"Except that it could be either side doing the checking," Baze commented, again joining the conversation.
"It could be, but it probably won't be the Empire," Bodhi said. "They only targeted the base. They won't waste time trying to find out if anyone survived – they wouldn't have blown it up if they cared who died. They'll be more interested in pursuing and destroying the Rebel fleet."
No one argued that point. Jyn glanced over at Cassian. He had been lucid whenever they woke him, but she was still worried about his injuries and how severe they might be. When Tonc was checking him, she had seen the extensive bruising from the fall. That can't have done good things to his insides and the longer he went without proper medical care, the greater the chance of the problems cascading. On the other hand, on Tatooine they'd be walking into an unknown situation. Carrying an injured man wasn't the best way to enter such an environment. It would slow them down if they needed to fight or retreat.
"Maybe we wait a few more days for everyone to have more time to mend, and then we try for Tatooine and making contact?"
The others glanced among themselves and then everyone nodded their approval of her suggestion.
Though still a little wobbly, Melshi wanted to get some fresh air, so Tonc accompanied him out for a walk around the ship, both for the exercise and to allow the sergeant a chance to have a look at their position.
Once they were out of earshot, Tonc asked, "Do you think we have any chance, sir?" For all the planning and brave talk inside, their predicament felt pretty precarious.
Melshi had stopped and was gazing off toward the horizon. In other circumstances, this planet would almost be considered a paradise. After a couple of minutes, he drew a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I've known Captain Andor quite a few years, Tonc. He's a survivor. That he's still alive after the years of service he's put in says a lot about the man. I first met Erso when we pulled her off an Imperial transport on Wobani. She clobbered all three of us and would have escaped if K-2SO hadn't been with us and snagged her. Anybody who can take down me and two of my men is someone to keep an eye on. You know how you can have two strong things, but when you blend them together they're even stronger? That's what I see in Captain Andor and Sergeant Erso." He turned to smile at the corporal. "I would never bet against that pair, and you'd be wise not to do it either. So, yeah, we have a chance. It won't be easy, but we have them. Don't bet against us."
"But he's…"
"Injured?" Melshi supplied, when Tonc hesitated. He laughed softly. "Yeah, he is, but with him that sometimes makes him more dangerous. And considering how much his health concerns Erso, I pity anyone who gets in the way of her finding help for him."
xx
Jyn took a seat on the floor next to where Cassian still slept. She felt his forehead – there was no sign of a fever, that was good. And so far his breathing was steady. She leaned back against the bench, leaving her hand resting on his shoulder. Bodhi nervously came to sit on the bench beside her. "What happened to K-2?" he asked softly. Baze glanced over, and Jyn felt Cassian tense beneath her hand though there was no visible motion from him. Apparently he wasn't asleep after all.
Still, she might as well tell them now so they wouldn't ask later. Let him have the chance to conceal his reaction. "He…he died protecting us. He was at the vault controls and helped locate the file we needed, while trying to hold off attacking stormtroopers. Eventually they overwhelmed him and his damage was too severe. Before he went down, though, he sealed the vault so the troopers couldn't get to us. That's why we had to climb the data tower. It was the only way out."
Everyone fell silent for several minutes, until finally Bodhi murmured, "I'm going to miss him."
"Yeah," Jyn agreed. "He could be a nuisance, but…yeah." Bodhi gave her shoulder a squeeze and then moved away, and she did the same to Cassian. When she looked down, he was gazing up at her.
"Welcome back, Captain," she said with a smile. "How are you feeling?" The question was mostly rhetorical – she wanted to deflect anyone noticing his expression, the pain in his eyes. Part of it might have been physical pain, but she knew that mostly it had to do with the loss of a dear friend. It was the same expression he'd had in the vault when K sacrificed himself with one final, selfless act.
He attempted a smile. At least it was an effort. "What is going on? Where are we?"
"Still on Scarif. Still hidden. Melshi thinks Tatooine might be our best option once everyone is a little more recovered."
He nodded. "You can trust him, Jyn."
She chuckled. "I think you need to tell him that about me, not the other way around. He hasn't forgiven me for reacting poorly to my rescue on Wobani."
Cassian did smile this time. "He's forgiven you, but he learns from his mistakes. He's just being more careful now." His eyes blinked open again. "He trusts you or he wouldn't have come with us."
"Or maybe he came because he trusts you and you trust me?"
"Maybe," Cassian conceded. "But I do trust both of you."
"Good. Does that mean that I can trust you, then?"
He frowned, scowling up at her. "What?"
She grinned. "Specifically, can I trust you to tell me how hurt you are and how recovered you are, or are you going to keep saying you're fine and pushing through the pain until you collapse in an unconscious heap? This time, I need you to be honest. We'll need to know where we stand at any given moment, and need to know where our weak links might be so we can plan for them. I need you not to be a hero, Cassian." She had started out teasing, but now she was completely serious. Having him succumb to his injuries while they were in the middle of fleeing for their lives was not ideal. And she wouldn't even contemplate leaving him behind if it should happen. She wanted to be prepared for that possibility, as much as she could be, anyway.
He met her gaze for several seconds and then nodded. "You can trust me."
xxxxx Days 3-4
It didn't take long to settle into a routine. Melshi was stronger, Tonc's burns were improved and Chirrut was sitting up, dispensing his usual perplexing wisdom since he wasn't able to provide much other help. At least his positive attitude buoyed the spirits of everyone.
Bodhi spent a good portion of his days monitoring the radio for news, signals or anything that might prove useful. Tonc and Baze had ventured farther from the ship and managed to find fresh water. There were tropical fruits to be found, but they were hesitant to risk eating anything unknown, so they reluctantly stuck to the rations. At least with Tonc and Bodhi's supply hoard, they were still okay in that respect. Same with the medical supplies. Bodhi had been right that the medpac on the shuttle wouldn't have gone far, and with the numerous injuries they needed every supply they could get their hands on.
The one person not improving as they might have liked was Cassian. That he wasn't even able to pretend that he felt better spoke volumes as to his condition, and Jyn now wore a perpetual scowl of worry. At least she did when he wasn't awake to see it. Bodhi was impressed at how well she managed to conceal her concern when he was alert. He could still see the tension in her shoulders, and thought that if Cassian were in better shape he would have noticed also.
On the fifth day since the battle, they were to reconvene to decide if they were ready to risk heading to Tatooine. They had chosen to have the discussion over the noon meal since most mornings were spent with handling any tasks that needed doing.
"Jyn, may we speak?"
She looked over at Chirrut, stepping away from where Cassian was already drifting back to sleep after their brief conversation – he was becoming less coherent over time. She took a seat on the bench next to Chirrut. "Hey. Is something wrong?"
"Jyn, we must not leave here – not yet."
Her brow knit. "Why not? We might be able to get medical care for Cassian on—"
"Yes, yes, I know what you would say. But the Force tells me this is where I must stay for now. Where we all must stay."
Baze had come to join them and his eyes met hers.
She hesitated. While she trusted Chirrut's judgement, she still wasn't certain about the Force and that it could do all that he believed it could. Cassian's life might be at risk here, and she wasn't sure she wanted to trust that the Force would protect him. "The others—"
"The others will listen to you, little sister," Baze said. "If you say stay longer, they will agree to it."
She noticed he didn't say whether or not she should take that stance. He was right, though, that the others would follow her lead. They had so far. She had expected Melshi would take charge when he felt better, but instead he still acted as though she led this mission. Even if she didn't particularly want to.
With a sigh, she nodded. "Okay. But what do I tell them? And delay for how long, Chirrut?"
"Tell them it is as the Force wills it. It will not be long."
She didn't find that answer satisfying; she would have to hope the others would accept it anyway.
xxx
"Hey, kid, why the serious face? We won, remember?" Han sprawled in his chair, eyeing Luke crossing the mess hall toward him.
Leia's brow wrinkled with concern. "Luke, what's wrong?"
The young man sighed, then looked up and met the gaze of each of them. "I need to go to Scarif. Maybe Han and Chewie can take me. And I need to take medical support."
"Why?" Han was always blunt and to the point.
"Luke, what is it? What's this about?" Leia took a more careful approach.
"I just…have this feeling that I need to go. And soon. I can't explain it Leia, but I have to do it." His eyes implored her to understand and agree.
After a moment, she nodded. "Han can take you. And I'll see that you have the med support also. When do you want to leave?"
"Hey, wait a minute! Isn't anybody gonna ask my opinion, seeing as how it's my ship?"
Luke met his eyes. "Please, Han."
The smuggler rubbed the back of his neck, uncomfortable with the kid's steady determination. "Yeah, okay. I guess. It isn't all that far. But I don't know what you think you'll find. If the Death Star hit it, there can't be much left."
Leia looked pensive, then murmured, "They didn't destroy the entire planet, just the base at Scarif. Like Jedha City." Her eyes met Luke's again. "You think there might be survivors?"
Luke shrugged. "I don't know. But there's one way to find out."
Han sighed and rose to his feet. With a quick movement, he swallowed down the last of his caf and picked up the bread roll on his breakfast plate. "Guess I better go tell Chewie, and get the Falcon fueled and ready. In an hour, kid?"
Luke and Leia looked at one another, and then both nodded up at him.
xxx
Tonc eyed Jyn. "You're right, his temperature is climbing. There must be more damage internally than we can determine."
Jyn wanted to punch something. Repeatedly. She would be angry with Chirrut suggesting they not leave, and getting her to make that decision in the meeting, but she suspected that simply going to Tatooine wasn't going to resolve all their problems. Wasn't necessarily going to save Cassian. Who was to say they even had sufficient medical facilities there to treat him? And how would they pay for it?
A heavy hand dropped on her shoulder and she startled at the touch. She blinked and turned to see Baze's sympathetic gaze. "Be strong, little sister. I know what Chirrut says can be irritatingly uninformative, but his proclamations usually do have a reason."
"Of course they do," Chirrut said, coming to join them. His hand found Jyn's and he gave it a squeeze. "Soon."
She tried to derive reassurance from their words, but her experiences in life made that difficult. Tonc had finished tending to Cassian and moved away, and the Guardians went to resume their seats as Jyn dropped to the deck beside the Captain. She caught hold of his hand and drew it into her lap. "Don't you dare die on me now, Cassian." It was meant as a threat, but the murmur came out sounding more like a plea. If he heeded either version, she'd settle for it.
xx
"Cutting in sublight engines." As normal space reappeared out the front viewscreen, Han turned to Luke where he was seated behind Chewie. "Okay, kid, we're here. Now what?"
Luke's face had taken on a strange expression, and he answered as if from a great distance. "Head for where the base was, and then I will guide you."
Chewie gave a quiet howl and Han glanced at his friend, then shrugged, steering the course as Luke requested.
xx
"Bodhi."
The pilot jumped slightly in his chair. It was unnerving how inobtrusively the blind man could move around. With his focus on the radio, he had been completely unaware the Guardian was approaching.
"Chirrut. Did you want something?"
"Is the emergency beacon turned on to an Alliance frequency?"
"What? No, why would it be?"
"So we can be found." Chirrut said it matter-of-factly.
Bodhi hesitated, unsure what to do. Luckily, Melshi came to join them just then and with great relief he told the sergeant of Chirrut's request. After a moment of consideration, Melshi nodded. "Do it."
xx
"Turn southwest, ten degrees."
Han had given up bothering to ask questions. He figured it was easiest to just go along with this mumbo jumbo for a while. If nothing came of it, well, he could always say he told Luke so and have the last laugh.
Chewie let out a growl, drawing Han's attention to a flashing light on the panel.
"What is it?" Luke asked.
"Huh. An emergency beacon." He glanced back at Luke. "You think that's whoever you're looking for?"
Luke's eyes closed briefly and then he replied, "Follow it."
xx
"Melshi!" Tonc came running in from outside. "There's a ship overhead. I've got a visual, but I don't recognize it. Doesn't look Imperial, though. Kind of beat up. Pirates maybe?"
"Seal the ship," Melshi instructed and Tonc ran back to raise the ramp. Looking at Bodhi, he instructed, "Give them a call and see who answers."
Bodhi let out a shaky breath and opened a line. "Incoming ship, please identify. Repeat, incoming ship, please identify yourself."
There was silence while the three men held their breath. Jyn came up at the back and asked quietly, "What's happening?"
"Incoming ship, please—"
"This is the Millenium Falcon responding to a distress beacon. You guys require assistance?"
They looked at one another. "Anyone heard of that ship?" Bodhi asked.
"Identify us, Bodhi. They are friends." Chirrut sounded serenely certain.
Jyn and Melshi locked gazes. "Do it," they said simultaneously.
To be continued…
invented characters:
Sergeant Daster – head of the tech shop on the tech frigate
Dr Lesorid – kind doctor caring for Cassian
All other characters actually are taken from the existing Star Wars universe.