Sera leaned back in her seat as the ship continued its way through hyperspace. She could feel her eyes grow heavy as she watched the stream of star-lines blur past the cockpit window, but she didn't dare close them. Even with K-2SO in the co-pilot seat, Sera had learned her lesson about letting her guard down. Their guest had remained quiet through most of the trip, but that hadn't stopped Sera from having her blaster set to stun and within easy reach.
Hopefully, when they got back to base, she'd be able to close her eyes for a few minutes. She hadn't slept since she was first given her assignment.
Cassian Andor had finally come back from his mission, chasing smoke trails of a secret Imperial weapons project nobody in the alliance was even certain existed. The only people who seemed to believe the rumors were Mon Mothma and General Draven. Other low ranking officers, such as herself, had their own beliefs, but those in the high command were the only voices that mattered.
But, Cassian had done it. He had found the first real lead they had in months pointing to one devastating conclusion.
The Empire was building a weapon; a planet killer.
The moment the words had left his lips, the air had left the room.
It didn't feel real, but when Cassian continued to explain all scraps of data sewn together over the course of several months from sources throughout the galaxy, there was no doubt left in her mind.
The planet killer was real, and they had to stop it. One way or another.
She took a breath and ran the facts over in her mind.
Galen Erso.
Imperial weapons designer. The supposed leader of the project and possible ally.
A pilot.
Galen Erso had sent an Imperial cargo pilot with a message to Jedha in hopes of getting it to the Rebel Alliance.
Saw Gerrera.
Rebel extremist, labeled terrorist by the Empire, and by all accounts paranoid to the point of insanity. The pilot had been sent to find Saw Gerrera.
Jyn Erso.
Daughter of Galen Erso; smuggler, saboteur, rebel and possibly the key to all of it.
Sera's mission was a simple extraction. Jyn Erso, otherwise known as Liana Hallick, had been imprisoned in the Wobani Labor Camp. All Sera had to do was get her out without revealing the rebellion's hand. If the Empire dug too deep into who had escaped, they could discover what the rebellion was up to before they were ready.
Cassian had been against the mission from the start. He was adamant they could get to Saw by other means that didn't involve breaking the daughter of a known Imperial out of prison, but Mon Mothma herself stepped in to support it. Jyn Erso was the best way to get to Saw's men without bloodshed. In addition, if the pilot had been sent by her father, it would be the easiest way to get him to cooperate. They could then locate Galen Erso and bring him to the senate for trial.
Sera wasn't exactly certain which part of the plan Cassian took issue with, but he had seemed to grow even more frustrated when her name had been added to the conversation.
A beep came from the consul pulled her out of her thoughts and she eased the ship out of hyperspace, coming to stop in view of the giant red gas planet of Yavin, and the small jungle moon floating beside it.
Home.
She smiled at the sight before guiding to ship down towards the atmosphere.
"Base One, this is Lieutenant Sera Darros," she said over the comm. "Sending you confirmation code now."
She typed in the code and soon a familiar buzz came over the radio.
"You're approved for landing Lieutenant. Report to dock seven and escort the prisoner to HQ."
Sera grimaced slightly at the word "prisoner". She didn't much like the idea of treating Jyn Erso as if she were a criminal. From what she had read in the report, Jyn was a rebel just like the rest of them. It didn't seem right locking up their one of their own. Of course, as Cassian constantly liked to remind her, just because you're on the same side, doesn't make you friends.
She reached her hand tentatively to her cheek and prodded the skin, making herself wince.
"That's going to bruise," K-2 said off handedly. "Cassian isn't going to like it."
Sera shot a glare at the droid, but it didn't last. He was right on both counts. She decided to ignore the comment all the same.
"It'd probably be best you report to maintenance after we check in," she said. "I'll take her in."
"That is a bad idea," he said bluntly. "The chance of her overpowering you and escaping is approximately 81.4%. You'd better let me do it."
Sera rolled her eyes. Yes, she was aware of the risks. The state of her face was testament enough, but she also knew that Jyn would be more likely to attack Kay than her. Besides, it was more than just getting her from point A to point B, it was about getting Jyn to trust them. If Draven got his way than she, Kay, Cassian, and Jyn would be on the same mission together. They would have to trust each other and that meant not treating her like an enemy.
"I'll be fine," she assured. "But if something does happen, you can give me a big "I told you so" speech later."
"Fine," he said indignantly. "It's not like I am a security droid or anything."
Sera fought down a smile as they landed the ship. He might have been complaining, but over the years, she had found it was his own roundabout way of showing that he cared.
Sera unstrapped herself from her seat and slid down the ladder to the cargo bay while Kay did the last few checks.
Jyn sat in one of the seats, finally glancing up when Sera landed on the ground.
She offered Jyn a small smile, which was only met with a hardened gaze. Sera knew she shouldn't had been surprised, but she had hoped leaving Jyn unshackled would have lightened her mood a little.
She let out a sigh and turned to her pack. It was then she noticed that somebody had already shuffled through it.
She shook her head. She wondered how disappointed Jyn had been when she had discovered there was no weapon to be found. She did a quick check to make sure nothing was missing before zipping it up and swinging it over her shoulder.
"Alright, let's go," she said, turning to Jyn.
To her slight surprise, she finally got a reaction as Jyn raised an eyebrow.
"You really aren't going to restrain me," she asked.
Sera shrugged.
"I'll have my blaster on you the whole time, if that makes you feel better."
Jyn watched her a moment and Sera could see the plan starting to form in the woman's mind. She knew well enough that, if she wanted, Jyn could easily over power her. She could trip her on the tarmac when she wasn't paying attention, wrestle the blaster away from her, use her as a human shield and make her way into the jungle.
Jyn could do it, but then what would be the plan afterwards? Dump Sera somewhere deep within the trees? Wait for dark in hopes of stealing a ship? Or more likely, try to survive off of unknown plants on an unknown moon until she found an outpost she wasn't even certain was there.
Apparently, Jyn had reached the same conclusion. Her eyes narrowed, and she rose from her seat.
Sera offered a small smile and pressed one of the buttons along the side of the ship, opening the cargo doors. She lifted the blaster lazily and pointed to the exit.
"After you."
They were met by the familiar humidity of the jungle air, perfectly mixed with smell of local flora and the damp musk of rotting of leaves. Sera could already feel the sweat starting to form on her brow, but she paid it no mind. Over the years she had lived on several rebellion bases, but Yavin Four was the first one which felt like a proper home. Something about the ancient ziggurat rising out of the forest, as if it belonged to the landscape itself, made it feel real compared to the tents and ships of past settlements. It was immovable, solid, and she loved it.
"How's the face?" Jyn asked casually.
Sera looked at the woman and felt a wry smile spread across her face. She knew Jyn meant it as a jab but decided not to take the bait. She didn't begrudge her for the hit. She probably would had done the same, given the circumstances. It was her own mistake for turning her back. But, in her own defense, she had had other things on her mind.
"Definitely stings," she said honestly. "I feel like I should thank you for not getting my nose."
Jyn shrugged.
"Bad aim."
Sera raised an eyebrow before letting out a small laugh and shaking her head.
"Guess I'm just lucky."
She wasn't sure if she was seeing things, but she thought she caught a small smile on the corner of Jyn's lips.
"Could be."
They kept silent the rest of the way as Sera guided them through the hangers and down to one of the bunkers.
If Jyn was surprised as to where Sera was taking her, she didn't show it.
The door to the war room slid open, and they each walked inside.
Sera recognized General Draven standing at attention in the center of the room, as well as several other high-ranking officers scattered around the space. All of them were watching them both closely as they entered.
Draven paid her little mind as his eyes focused in on Jyn. He glanced down to her wrist and quickly took notice at the lack of binders. His jaw tightened slightly, but he kept his face neutral and made no comment.
Sera took it as a good thing. She knew Draven wasn't overly fond of her, but he had seen she'd gotten the job done. At the end of the day, that was all that mattered to him.
Her eyes, then went to the side of the room where Cassian Andor stood casually in the shadows.
He too kept his eyes on Jyn and gave an odd look when he saw she wasn't restrained. He then turned his gaze to Sera, but, instead of militant neutrality, she was met with surprised amusement. It only lasted a second before he gave her a quick once over, scanning for injuries. For a brief moment, she thought she was in the clear, until his eyes settled briefly on her face, specifically her cheek. He frowned slightly, his expression shifting to concern.
Sera winced. She was in for it now. She could practically hear the lecture already forming in his mind as Jyn took a seat across the table. At the very least she had time to think of a good lie before they spoke. Something that didn't involve losing her nerve or turning her back. More importantly, something that didn't put Jyn on Cassian's bad side.
"Lieutenant Darros," Draven said, cutting into her thoughts, "you are dismissed. Report to your station and wait for further orders."
"Sir," she said with a salute.
She gave Jyn once last glance, offering a small smile before meeting Cassian's eyes once more.
His expression had shifted again, this time into the unreadable mask of Captain Andor, intelligence officer for the rebel alliance.
He gave her a small nod, which she returned before turning on her heel and leaving.
There was no doubt in her mind. She was definitely in for a lecture.
Jyn kept her eyes forward as she made her way across the tarmac with Captain Andor. She was trying her best not to think about what she had just signed up for. The names and faces of people she had told herself to forget came streaming back into her memory. She pushed them down.
She just needed to focus on the end result. Once it was all over, she could go back to her old life. She could disappear and pretend she had never heard of the Rebel Alliance or Saw Gerrera or Galen Erso.
Galen Erso.
She clenched her teeth as the name and the face fifteen years out of date echoed in her mind.
Just don't think about it.
"Captain Andor!" a voice called.
Both she and Cassian stopped mid-stride to find the source of the call.
Jyn immediately spotted the red haired general from the bunker, and felt her lip tighten.
"General Draven," Cassian said. "Give me a moment."
Jyn simply nodded before Cassian dashed ahead to the boarding ramp of a battered U-Wing, unslung the duffel he carried over his shoulder, and hurried back in Draven's direction.
Jyn continued onward towards the ship. It certainly wasn't a looker, but then again, no U-Wing she had ever encountered was. She liked to think they just came out of the factory that way; dented hull, worn seats, odd smell and all.
She looked up the boarding ramp to the main cabin as she dropped her things.
Towering above the communications console stood the security droid that had captured her on Wobani. She couldn't be bothered to remember what the lieutenant had called him.
"I'm Kay-tuesso," he said, in a polite tone that only made her feel threatened.
Jyn didn't respond, instead busying herself with her bag for no other reason than to give her mind and hands something to do.
"I'm a reprogrammed Imperial droid."
"I remember you," she said.
"I see the counsel is sending you with us to Jedha."
"Apparently so."
"That is a bad idea. I think so, and so does Cassian."
Jyn's brow furrowed as she looked back to Cassian speaking with Draven. They were huddled together close, making sure to go unheard by stray pilots and technicians. She felt her back stiffen in unease, but turned away all the same. She would have to keep her eye on Captain Andor, even more than she was planning to.
"What do I know?" the droid continued sardonically. "My specialty is just strategic analysis."
"C'mon Kay, don't be rude," a voice said from beside her.
Jyn spun around, surprised to see Sera Darros had joined them with a sack slung over her shoulder. Her surprised quickly turned into a frown as Jyn took a moment to properly examine the girl.
Her red hair was done up in a ponytail now, making her look significantly closer to the seventeen Jyn had finally settled as her age. Her nose was small and sharp with whispers of freckles hidden under weather and sun worn skin. The bruise Jyn had given her stood more prominently on her face, but it did little to deter the girl's easy smile from reaching her wide eyes.
Jyn was left with the impression of a battered doll which had accidentally been left in the dirt years ago, and whose owner still mourned its loss. She might had let her guard down, if it weren't certain the girl had a compact blaster tucked neatly behind her back.
"You're joining us," Jyn asked suspiciously.
The girl's expression fell as if hurt by her statement, but it only lasted a moment before she was once again all smiles.
"Well, I hope so, otherwise I brought this along for nothing."
Sera brushed past her and started to move around the cabin, putting away her things, and making last minute checks on supplies.
Jyn watched the girl carefully as she made her way through the ship and took satisfaction in seeing the outline of a blaster hidden in the girl's pants. Sera moved with the fluidity of habit and Jyn caught herself wondering just how many times the teenager had done this.
She had had time to run through the plan Lieutenant Darros had concocted a few times over in her mind on the way from Wobani.
It wasn't a bad plan, but it had all the hallmarks of a rebellion operation; quick, blunt, and meant to confuse rather than destroy. The death of Stormtroopers at the hands of inmates was a side effect, not a feature. Add the fact she clearly hadn't been prepared for the troopers in the hallway and defector from the Imperial academy was no longer an option.
The more likely scenario was she was like Jyn, lost at a young age and saved by the rebellion only to be used as another tool in their war.
Jyn felt a sudden stab of pity for the girl as she saw her whole past in front of her. A dead parent, maybe a sibling. Spending more than one night huddled in an alleyway as Stormtroopers marched past. Hiding in the dark.
Hiding in a cave.
Letting the tears stream down her face as she clung to a light in a small hatch until it opened and—.
Jyn snapped herself out of the memory before it could go any further.
Sera Darros was by no means the first to be used. She wouldn't be the last.
Jyn shook her head, deciding to take a moment to examine the contents of Cassian's bag. Nothing but gear; weapons, portable medpacs, signal boosters and the like. No holos of loved ones. No trinkets or lucky charms. It was light, efficient and impersonal.
She pulled out a blaster pistol, weighing it in her hand, before strapping it on her hip. Unfortunately, her movements did not go unseen.
"He'll notice it's missing," Sera said.
Jyn looked up to see the girl standing over her.
She didn't say anything waiting for the girl to try and take the blaster away from her, or yell to Cassian, but she did neither. Instead, she went to her own bag, riffled through, and pulled out her own blaster. She turned back to Jyn and held it out to her.
"Here."
Jyn didn't say anything, glancing between the weapon and the girl holding it in confusion.
How the hell had this girl lasted so long? She was starting to doubt her theory of the child soldier if she trusted this easily. But, just like when she had offered her a hand, Sera kept steady.
After a moment, Jyn put away Cassian's weapon and took the blaster. She wasn't going to turn down having a weapon, but there was more to it. To her surprise, she found she was starting to trust Sera. She certainly still had a lot to learn, but all her actions came from an earnest place. Jyn wondered just how much longer it would last.
Sera gave her a small nod and continued with her tasks. Not a moment later, Cassian came back to the U-Wing.
"You met Kay-Tu?" he asked.
"Charming," Jyn said.
Cassian gave an innocent "what are you going to do" shrug.
"He tends to say whatever comes into his circuits. It's a by-product on the reprogram."
"Why does she get a blaster and I don't," the droid interjected.
Cassian paused, and the easy-going nature of his expression faded as he turned to Jyn.
"What?"
"I know how to use it," Jyn said casually.
"That's what I'm afraid of," he countered.
All warmth was now gone and only the soldier Jyn had met in the bunker remained.
"Give it to me," he said.
Jyn shifted into a defensive stance and opened her mouth to speak but was quickly cut off.
"I gave it to her," Sera said.
Cassian turned to her with a look of disbelief.
To her credit, Sera stood firm, straightening her stance as she met Cassian's gaze.
It all felt rather familiar to Jyn as her eyes darted between the two of them. She had noticed a similar exchange of looks in the bunker, but had given it little thought at the time, being more preoccupied by General Draven staring her down. As she saw it now, she recognized it as a one between a father and daughter or an older brother to a younger sister. One all naïve trust and the other trying desperately to make them to understand.
Cassian's expression shifted once more, his eyes hardening and his back straightening to attention.
"That's not your call," he said sternly.
Sera looked like she wanted to argue, but quickly realized there was no point. She would only be talking back to her superior officer. Her shoulders slumped, and a detected look took over her features.
Jyn watched the whole thing and felt a sudden swell protectiveness towards the girl.
"We're going to Jedha," Jyn said sharply, "that's a war zone."
Cassian turned his attention back to her, his jaw tightening, but Jyn's resolve only grew.
"Trust goes both ways."
His look didn't soften, but she could tell she had won the argument.
He once again, turned his eyes to Sera.
Jyn could catch the girl trying to hide a smile as she gave him a small shrug. Some of the tension in Cassian's shoulders deflated, before giving Sera a pointed look which telegraphed very simply the discussion wasn't over.
Jyn fought the urge to laugh.
Brother and sister, she settled. Definitely brother and sister.
"You're letting her keep it?" K-2 asked.
Cassian didn't answer as he slipped into the pilot's seat. He kept his attention on the consul, refamiliarizing himself with the controls. It had been a while since he been behind the controls of a U-Wing.
"Would you like to know the probability of her using it against you?"
From his own experience he knew there was little he could do to silence the droid, but he shot Kay a glare all the same. It didn't work.
"It's high," Kay warned.
"Let's go."
"It's very high."
Cassian tried to ignore the truth behind the droid's words as he guided the ship over the canopy and up through the atmosphere. It wasn't until the view from the cockpit turned to star lines did he finally allowed himself a moment to think.
His conversation with Draven on the tarmac came back to him, as well as the final orders which were now etched into his mind.
Galen Erso is vital to the Empire's weapons program. There will be no extraction. You find him, you kill him. Then and there.
The order did not bother Cassian. It wouldn't be the first time he had been asked to kill for the sake of the rebellion and he knew it wouldn't be the last.
Draven was not wrong in wanting Galen Erso dead. After years living under the Empire's influence, Galen's efforts had cost countless lives and if he continued, would cost countless more. Killing him was not only the practical thing to do, it was the right thing to do.
Cassian was certain of this, but, all the same, he felt troubled. His mind then went to the woman sitting in the cabin behind him.
Jyn Erso.
There was something about her, something in her eyes which frightened Cassian. A fiery need he was certain would burn him if he stared too long.
Had he imagined it? A part of him thought he had, given Sera's willingness to put a blaster in the woman's hands. Then again, he was fairly certain Sera would trust a rancor not to bite her if it asked her nicely enough.
He let out a small sigh and pulled off his headset before slipping out of the pilot seat.
Sera was sitting across from the communications console with her head against the wall, and her eyes drooping with sleep. She straightened a little as he stepped down and offered him a soft smile.
Despite the circumstances, Cassian felt himself return the look.
"I'm pretty sure she's knocked out," she commented, nodding to the cabin. "Can't really blame her."
Cassian turned his attention in that direction.
Jyn was in one of the seats against the wall. Her eyes closed, and her head rolled to the side. A part of him was grateful. He wasn't sure if he was up to having to meet that need again so soon.
"I suppose not," he said, before looking back to Sera. "Are you going to tell me what happened to your face?"
"Depends, are you going to tell me what Draven said to you?"
Cassian stiffened slightly, but he let it go. It wasn't a challenge on her part. He knew she trusted him more than anybody. She understood if it was important for her to know, he would tell her, and, in this instance, she didn't.
"It's nothing you need to worry about," he said easily.
Sera watched him a moment but seemed satisfied with his answer and nodded her head.
"Now what happened?" he continued.
She shrugged.
"Nothing bad. Bucket-head just got a lucky shot."
"That's a lie," K-2 chimed in. "Jyn hit her across the face with a helmet after Sera turned her back."
She shot the droid a betrayed look, but Cassian ignored it.
"Damn it Sera," he cursed. "What have I told you about being careful?"
"I was," she defended. "I just…I got distracted."
"Distracted?"
"Checking on the Stormtroopers," Kay offered. "I don't see why though. They were assuredly dead before they hit the ground."
Sera didn't say anything. She turned away, looking straight forward trying to cover the sudden distant look in her eyes.
The initial frustration Cassian had felt slowly dissipated, only to be replaced by guilt.
She still wasn't used to killing. A part of him was grateful for that and hoped she never would, but another part of him, the rebel, the spy, the solider, needed her to grow up.
He breathed out a sigh.
"You never turn your back on a prisoner," he said calmly. "Do you understand? She could have shot you."
"But she didn't," Sera countered. "Give me some credit, I wouldn't have turned my back if I thought she was going to kill me."
"So, what? You trust her?"
"Enough to get us to Saw."
Cassian stared at her a moment and shook his head.
He wondered if Sera would feel the same way if he told her what he had been ordered to do. But, he pushed the thought away, deciding instead to focus on the immediate present.
"When's the last time you slept?" he asked off handedly.
Sera gave the moment a brief thought, before shrugging.
"Before I left."
Cassian nodded his head and made his way to the cabin. As quietly as he could, he pulled out one of the spare blankets from one of the survival packs and walked back over to Sera, handing it to her.
She took it gratefully and wrapped herself into a tight cocoon before laying her head against the wall.
"Wake me when we get to Jedha?" she asked gently.
Cassian felt the urge to laugh, but instead settled on a small smile.
"Just close your eyes."
She must had been more exhausted than he thought as all she did was nod her head before drifting off.
Cassian stood there a moment, his heart tightening at the sight.
His mind took him far away, back when he was just a teenager himself.
Sera was sitting in the co-pilot seat of a stolen freighter. Only eight years old, wrapped in a blanket, her small head resting on Cassian's rolled up jacket.
He snapped himself back into the present and tucked the memory away.
She didn't need to know about his mission to kill Galen Erso. He might not be able to protect her from most things in the universe, but he could spare her that.
His eyes then turned to the other woman asleep in the cabin and he could feel his jaw tighten.
He'd also spare her the wrath of Jyn Erso for a little while longer. He knew what was coming for him if Jyn ever learned the truth. Sera didn't need to get caught in the crossfire.
Turning his heel, he made his way back to the cockpit and settled himself into his seat.
It was a long way to Jedha
