4ABY: Planet Hosnian Prime

"I never dream of Scarif anymore," Jyn declared. It was early morning and Jyn lay with her head resting on Cassian's shoulder as she stared up at the ceiling watching the morning light drift across. Cassian was awake, but kept his eyes closed, enjoying the quiet.

"My dreams of Scarif have become fewer," Cassian replied.

Jyn smoothed a hand over her belly absentmindedly. "I can no longer remember all their faces."

Cassian sighed, finally opening his eyes. He glanced in her direction. "You cannot be expected to remember them all. We were a team, yes. But so much has happened in four years."

Jyn hummed. "The annual anniversary of the Battle on Scarif will be happening soon. Are they going to have it here?"

"No," Cassian replied. "Now that the empire is scattered, Senator Mothma and Organa have decided to hold the service over Scarif onboard Home One."

"What?" she whispered. "They are going back?"

"I believe the plan has been in motion for a while now. They do not expect you to come, though."

Jyn sat up slowly, keeping one hand over her belly. She looked down at her husband. "Are you going?"

"Of course," he replied softly. "Everyone who survived was sent an invitation. Mothma wants me to give a speech along with Organa."

Jyn frowned. "I never got an invite." This hurt her.

Cassian sighed again. "You did, but I kept it from you."

"How could you?" she accused, hurt pouring from her eyes. "How could you do that?"

Cassian sat up to reach his wife's eye level. He placed his hand over Jyn's – the one that lay on her belly. "Because you have not been well. After Endor you were explicitly told not to undertake any long durations of travel." At the memory of Jyn's recent trip to Corellia, Cassian facial expression darkened.

Jyn rolled her eyes. "I am fine, Cassian. I want to go! I have to go. Especially if they are going back to Scarif. I need to be there, Cassian. Please."

Cassian lowered his eyes, watching his fingers entwined with hers. Right now all he wanted to do was ensure Jyn's health was at its best. She had already ended up in hospital three times before. He feared for her and the baby.

"Cassian," she said. "I need to do this. Going back there all these years later might finally give me – all of us closure."

Those eyes, Cassian thought, staring at his wife. How could he ever deny those beautiful eyes anything? Jyn was reckless, that may very well be an understatement, but she knew her limits these days.

"Very well," he relented, pleased to see a grin in return. "But we are not going down to the planet; we will be staying onboard. Once the memorial is over we will return home at once."

Jyn nodded, wondering exactly how Cassian's mind must be faring right now. He had always worried for her during the war, and now towards the end of her pregnancy, he had essentially become a mother hen.

"Fine," she replied, rewarding her husband with a deep kiss. "I promise to follow your lead, husband."

Cassian grasped the back of Jyn's head, pulling her closer. He moved his lips lower along her collarbone and groaned softly. "I cannot wait for this child to be born."

Jyn chuckled. "Speak for yourself." She pulled him back up for another kiss. "When do we leave?"

Cassian leaned his forehead against her, breathing deeply. "Six days."

Jyn smiled. "Good. Gives me time to come up with a speech."

Cassian pulled away. "You don't have to do that. I can speak for both of us."

"I know," she replied, understanding completely. "But I want to. I owe it to... I owe to them."

Cassian nodded. "I'll be by your side the entire time."

With one last kiss before getting up, Jyn replied, "Thank you."

...

0BBY: Scarif

Six Days before Battle of Yavin

Everything was happening too fast for Jyn that at times she had trouble keeping up. Admiral Raddus had taken off from Yavin IV immediately to assembly the rebel fleet as best he could. Rendezvous coordinates had been set and Jyn with the newly formed team 'Rogue One' had set off from Yavin IV not long after. Blue squadron, under the command of General Merrick, were the last to leave Yavin IV, loading up all remaining supplies in preparation for their ground assault on Scarif. Red, Green and Gold squadron had left with the fleet.

"Why did you say 'rogue one'? Jyn asked Bodhi as she stood behind the pilot's seat watching the blue streams of hyperspace.

Bodhi gave a half shrug. "I didn't know what to say – they put me on the spot. I guess I was thinking of me in a sense. I went rogue from the empire." Bodhi turned to look her at. "In a way – their way – we all went rogue from them, the empire."

Jyn smiled. "Let me know when we are getting close." She walked over to the tech station where Cassian was sitting. He was reassembling his weapon, cleaning it as he went along. He stole a glance her way as she approached but continued with his work. Jyn leaned against the wall to his side, fiddling with her gloves. She wasn't good at deep conversations.

"I wanted to thank you again for..." she spread her hands around her, "all of this. All of you."

Cassian briefly smiled but didn't look her way. "I wasn't going to let you go to Scarif on your own. Not after everything we've been through, especially after what we saw the Death Star do on Jedha."

Jyn folded her arms. "An image I will never forget. I think my father had hoped his message would have been received and acted upon before the Death Star was tested."

"I think we were all a little too late to stop it," Cassian replied. Finally he looked up at her. Jyn had begun to see his spy persona edge away as they prepared for their mission on Yavin IV. He was becoming more readable; clearer to see. It was as if a shadow had been covering him for a long time and it only now was beginning to lift.

"About my father," Jyn began. Despite their new found camaraderie, Eadu was a topic they had yet to discuss. A very sore spot between them. "I want to apologise for... well for referring you to a stormtrooper. That was unjust of me."

Cassian drifted his eyes to the floor, seemingly in thought for a moment. "And I am sorry for not being completely honest with you about my intentions. Dravin had informed me before we left for Jedha that I was to ignore the council's intentions..."

"Hang on," Jyn interrupted. "Was that when Dravin called you away from the U-Wing?"

Cassian looked sheepish. "Yes."

Jyn felt her anger boiling, reliving the memory. Had she known what that conversation had really been about she would have marched over and thrown them to the ground. She honestly thought Dravin was warning Cassian about her temperament. Well, she supposed she did have a temper.

Jyn unfolded her arms and leaned down to touch her knees, stretching. "A hell of a few days." She straightened. "I forgive you."

Cassian stared blankly at her. He blinked, trying to comprehend her sudden words. "You forgive me?"

"Yes," she replied. "I forgive you for lying to me. The manner in which my father died though, that will take time for me to get over. I get it, but... it was wrong."

"I know," he replied gently. "I knew all along it was immoral, but like I said back then – I had orders."

"Don't you get tired of taking orders you know are wrong?"

Cassian placed his weapon on the ground beside him and stood up. "All the time."

"Do you think what we are doing now is wrong?" Jyn began to fiddle with her gloves again. A nervous trait she had begun to pick up.

"No," Cassian replied, stepping towards her. "I believe in this mission – I believe you. I believe in you. This is our best chance to put an end to the Death Star."

"Just as my father wanted."

Cassian nodded. "Just as your father wanted."

Jyn looked over at Bodhi and K-2 down in the cockpit. "Has K-2 made a calculation on our odds yet?"

Cassian smirked. "If he has, he is yet to voice them, which he probably will do once we land."

Jyn didn't want to admit she was nervous, scared even. This was her first mission that would be a direct assault against the empire. She had never done this before, and worse, she was being accompanied by a group of soldiers she knew next to nothing about. For a brief second Jyn wished Kenna was here. Kenna wouldn't be scared – she'd be excited. How different they were.

"What do you think?" she asked Cassian.

"With the fleet ready to take down the shield-gate at our word, I think we have a decent chance of making it out. I am more worried about infiltrating the Citadel. We do not know the layout, or how many troopers will actually leave to come out and fight. That puts us at a disadvantage."

Jyn grimaced. "We will take it one step at a time. So long as we are quiet and invisible in out disguises, we will have a chance."

...

The imperial inspection of the cargo went as well and Jyn and Cassian could have hoped. Now all they needed to do was to get everyone is position. They had devised a plan of attack back on Yavin IV with General Dravin, Dodonna and Merrick. She left Cassian to give the orders.

"Bodhi," he began as he straightened his stolen imperial uniform. "Keep the shuttle running. Corporal Tonc and Lieutenant Sefla will stay with you." Cassian turned to Tonc. "When the fighting starts, keep to the comm. And try to provide false intel to imperial defenders. Bodhi, help him if necessary."

Cassian walked over to where Jyn stood with her helmet tucked under her arm before he continued. "Corporal Mefran, work with Sergeant Melshi to make a clear path through the trees. Corporal Rostok, you and Private Basteren take up position in the high ground and keep a look out on any incoming troopers heading this way. We must keep this shuttle defended without raising suspicion."

Rostok was a qualified sharpshooter – a sniper. "No one will get past me."

Cassian nodded. "Take down as many as you can from a distance, but stay camouflaged. Remember, you will be Bodhi and Tonc's eyes. The rest of you will exit the shuttle via the floor hatch and make your way out. Place the detonators, find cover and wait for our signal."

They had their orders; Jyn surveyed them and gave Lieutenant Sefla a brief nod. Earlier on the journey to Scarif, Sefla had given her the official rank of sergeant, making her an official rebel soldier. At first it felt strange to have a title before her name. She never had one in Saw's militia.

Jyn, Cassian and K-2 were ready to advance. The warm air of Scarif tasted of salt as an ocean breeze rustled through the trees. A beautiful planet Scarif was, one could almost say it was a paradise.

Cassian had taken the disguise of Lieutenant Colin Hakelia, while Jyn walked behind him under the disguise of the technician Kent Deezling. K-2 stayed close to Jyn, his moving gears the only sound that came from their small group. As they reached the terminal, a guard came to attention. "Sir." He opened the doors to the car, and the trio stepped in.

"I have a bad feeling about..." K-2 began

"Kay!" Cassian hissed.

"Quiet!" Jyn added.

"What?" K-2 asked innocently.

The cart doors slid shut and they lost sight of their rogue team.

Jyn shifted restlessly putting her weight from one foot to the next, nervous.

"What is it?" Cassian asked in a low voice.

Jyn didn't want to speak of her feelings, not now. She was only just holding it together. "It's nothing."

"What is it?" he asked more sternly.

Jyn sighed, turning to peer out the slit of the window at the looming Citadel. "Just, what I told them all back there. About what Saw Gerrera said."

"What about it?"

Jyn was fiddling with her glove. "We never fought like this with him. I never did. With Saw, missions were usually about hitting the empire hard – hitting back for revenge, slowly bleeding them to death."

"And what we're doing now is different," Cassian replied, careful not to show any of his thoughts.

"Yes. If we don't win this, people out there... they don't just ignore it. We have to get those plans. I'm not sure I know how to fight to accomplish something."

This was all truth to Jyn.

"You're going to do fine," Cassian said, trying to speak with gentleness and compassion Jyn had barely seen echoes of. It wasn't the answer she needed to hear. Determination would get her to those plans. She trusted Cassian and all the others who had joined them on Scarif. She even had faith in Admiral Raddus to pull through with his side of the mission. But part of her kept wondering if the mission went wrong, what then? She had fought all her life, and with Saw and Kenna she had fought more than anything for vengeance and for her own survival. What would happen if she started to fall back into her old instincts? She could risk herself for something but if she found herself alone again, she didn't know if she could risk herself for the cause.

"We're slowing down," Cassian said, making Jyn focus again.

As they stepped out of the cart, Cassian took in their surroundings. "We need a map."

K-2 swivelled his head. "I'm sure there's one just lying around."

"You know what you have to do," Cassian answered. Jyn frowned at their conversation, not understanding what Cassian had meant. They walked into the Citadel, where corridors branched off from the rail station and officers, guards and the occasional stormtrooper moved at an unhurried pace. All was calm, and so far no one had noticed the trio's intent. As they walked along, Jyn knew Cassian was right. Without a map, they would get lost and end up wandering around different levels for hours.

A security droid identical for K-2 waked past them and Cassian nodded toward K-2. They slowly retraced their steps and began a leisurely pursuit. Eventually, Jyn found herself watching in bizarre awe as K-2 reached out to the identical droid and ejected a retractable data spike from his wrist joint, plunging it into its metal head.

"Do it fast," Cassian urged as he and Jyn took point on either side of the door.

K-2 extracted his data spike after a minute, his eyes flickering. "Our optimal route to the data vault places only eighty-nine stormtroopers in our path. We will make it one-third of the way before we are killed."

Jyn and Cassian exchanged looks. "How long until the fleet arrives?"

Cassian grabbed his comm. "Bodhi – ETA for fleet arrival?"

"Seven minutes," came Bodhi's reply. Cassian kept his gaze on Jyn, waiting for her to say what their next move was.

Jyn looked at K-2. "How long will it take for us to get a third of the way?"

"Four minutes."

"Then let's go."

Cassian nodded, taking the lead. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest and was sure Jyn could hear it. He had infiltrated before, but nothing like this. With each step he kept telling himself was a victory. Jyn's heavy footfalls from the boots she was wearing helped keep his calm demeanour. He was glad she was with him. As much as he trusted K-2, having another person with him made him feel hopefully at the odds of their success. They took the elevator up several floors, heading down another identical corridor. This one was fewer populated, only some stormtroopers standing guard as several imperial officers walked by.

As they passed another guarded door, K-2 spoke as quietly as he could. "We are coming up on four minutes."

Cassian led them into a small alcove tucked behind a wall. It was not well covered, but it would serve. He grabbed his comm as Jyn nodded.

"Bodhi, ETA?"

"Just under three minutes," Bodhi replied.

"It's time," Jyn said.

"Sergeant Melshi, status?" Cassian waited a moment.

"Ready, ready. Standing by."

Cassian lifted his comm closer to his mouth. "Light it up."

...

Bodhi watched as half a dozen landing pads went up in flames. He watched imperial figures race around in attempt to extinguish the flames as black smoke rose up.

"Troopers!" Tonc declared from outside the ship. "Troopers to the left!" Tonc scrambled up the ladder taking position next to Bodhi. "How are we doing up here?"

Bodhi looked out the shuttle window. "Looks like they've grounded noncombat vessels, but overall they're ignoring the shuttles. I can't really tell what's going on..." He gestured at the thick, black smoke.

The comlink on the control panels beeped. "Who's that?" Tonc asked.

Bodhi ignored him. "This is Rogue One," he spoke into the comm.

"Rogue One, this is Admiral Raddus," came the reply. "We have arrived above Scarif. Engaging imperial ships."

"What about the shield-gate," Bodhi asked, feeling desperation. "They are closing it!"

"Leave it to me," Raddus replied. "We have a portion of the fleet working on it."

"Affirmative," Bodhi replied. He sat back in his chair, breathing heavily. Cassian, Jyn and K-2 were inside the Citadel by now. If everything went well, even if it went perfectly well, he began to realise not everyone would make it back.

...

The trio had to slow down in a subcorridor as thirty stormtroopers rushed passed them in formation.

"Guess our distraction is working," Cassian murmured.

Jyn looked at him with approval. "It was a good plan."

"Cassian, Jyn, can you hear me?" Bodhi's voice echoed through the now – thankfully – empty corridor.

"Bodhi, what is it?" Cassian answered, making eye contact with Jyn.

"The rebel fleet has arrived and are engaging imperial ships over Scarif." Cassian shared a grin with Jyn. "The shield-gate is closed, but they are working on bringing it down."

"Keep us updated," Cassian replied, placing his comm back in his shirt pocket. "Come on. We don't have much time."

"This is the way to the data vault," K-2 said, pointing down corridor.

The trio moved as quickly as they could without drawing attention. The further they went, the less people they saw. Officers were running to their stations, and troopers made their way down to the lower levels. Finally, they reached a large, heavy blast door.

"Inside," K-2 said, opening the door without code access.

They entered the antechamber to the vault and met with a lieutenant at the control station. "Can I help you?"

K-2 continued to walk over to the imperial officer. "That won't be necessary." K-2 bought a metal fist down on the man's head, knocking him out, shoving him aside and plugging into the dataport.

Jyn stood at the vault door. "How does it open?"

"Biometric identification," K-2 answered. "Lieutenant Putna should do. I must remain here."

"What for?" Cassian asked as he and Jyn re-positioned the unconscious man.

"No date tape can be removed from the vault without authorization and assistance from this console. In this way, any single would-be thief is denied access. In the event of a security breach, the screening tunnel can be energized to wipe all data storage. I prefer to keep my memory intact."

Cassian slapped the man's hand over the scanner at the vault door. Nothing happened. The scan buzzed, rejecting the scan. "It's not working!"

"Right hand," K-2 called.

"You're a terrible spy," Jyn hissed, surprised by her own intensity and frustration.

Cassian ignored her, slapping the man's right hand on the sensor. The vault door chimed with the sounds of metal locks disengaging. The vault door began to open slowly.

Inside the vault, Jyn kept close to Cassian, smelling the cleaning chemicals on his imperial uniform. She gazed up at the tall, broad beam of the data vault. In the centre stood multiple towers of stacked data banks, each with a dim red light indicating the storage stats. There had to be tens of thousands of them. Cassian had suppressed his awe faster than Jyn and was already at the main console.

"Schematics banks," K-2 said through the console. "Data tower two."

"How do I find that?" Cassian retorted.

"Searching... I can locate the tape, but you'll need the handles for extraction."

Jyn and Cassian looked at the set of mechanical manipulators. Cassian grabbed them gingerly. "What are we supposed to with these?" Cassian quickly removed his officer's cap, running a hand through his hair. He tugged off his gloves and began fumbling with the handles.

Behind them, the sound of a metal creaking as the vault door roared shut. Cassian and Jyn glanced at each other, unsure on what to do next. Cassian let go on the handles and reached for him comm. "Kay? What's going on out there?"

The comm returned nothing but static and Jyn saw fear flash across Cassian's face. He was afraid for K-2. Jyn touched his arm to bring him back. "We have to keep going. You fly, I'll navigate."

Cassian returned to the handles, his grip tense as he heard blaster shots coming from outside.

"Hyperspace tracking," Jyn read through the list on the screen. "Navigational systems, Deep Core Cartography..."

"Two screens down," they heard K-2 finally say. "Structural Engineering – open that!"

"Kay!" Cassian snapped. "Tell me what's happening!"

"The situation is well in hand."

Jyn spoke, causing Cassian to tear his thoughts back to her. "Project code names: Stellarsphere, Mark Omega, Pax Aurora, War-Mantle, Cluster-Prism, Black-Saber..."

Jyn paused, staring at the screen.

"What?" Cassian asked, looking down at the point of interest.

"Stardust. It's that one."

They eyes met and Jyn smiled as Cassian's face washed over with realisation. "Your father called you that."

Jyn kept smiling. "Yes. It's me."

Cassian shared her smile before turning his attention to the console. "Kay, we need the file for stardust!"

The comm fed back a mixture of noises – blaster shots and metal banging.

"Stardust," K-2 said.

A green light flickered above them in the vault, and Cassian manoeuvred the handles up to reach it. The lights in the control room went out, leaving a red glow around them. The comm gave a static shriek filling the room.

"Kay!" Jyn had never heard Cassian scream like that.

"Climb," K-2 strained to say. "Climb the tower! You can still send the plans up to the fleet via the communication tower. Exiting the vault this way is no longer an option."

"Kay!" Cassian moved towards the vault door exit and Jyn grabbed hold of his upper arm, trying to keep him steady.

"Locking vault door. Goodbye."

Cassian hands were trembling as he lowered the comlink. Jyn was breathing hard, the realisation of casualties because of her plan becoming more aware.

"Give me the comm," she said. Cassian handed it over without thought or hesitation. He was still staring at the vault door.

"Bodhi, are you there?"

"I'm here," Bodhi replied. "Where are you guys?"

"In the vault. We are stuck though," Jyn answered, stealing a glance in Cassian's direction. "We have to climb the vault to the communication tower up the top."

"Are you guys okay?" Bodhi asked.

Jyn paused, looking at the vault door. "We're fine. Listen, I need to you to come get us from the top of the tower. Bring the shuttle up on my signal."

"Yes," Bodhi answered. "I can do that."

"Is the shield-gate still up?"

"Admiral Raddus is about to bring it down, I think," Bodhi said. "He mentioned something about a hammerhead attack."

Jyn looked at Cassian for clarification, but he gave none.

"I'll contact you again when we're ready to be picked up." Jyn handed the comlink back to Cassian and pulled out her blaster. She turned to the glass window. "Step back."

The glass shattered, a gush of cool air rushed in. Jyn stripped away her imperial disguise and Cassian removed his imperial jacket. Jyn scrambled onto the console, keeping herself steady as she looked ahead at the gap before her.

"Come on," she said and then leapt over to the data tower. She looked down to see Cassian leap out of the control room, catching hold beneath her. She turned back and started her ascend to the data cartridge that was glowing green. As she reached her location, she reached her hand up and tugged the cartridge out of its casing. "I've got it!" She felt herself slip and she forced herself to regain her hold.

"Careful!" Cassian shouted from below her. "You okay?"

"Fine," she replied, clipping the plans to her belt and beginning her climb to the top. A sudden flash of crimson caused Jyn to drop her hand and twist away from the blaster shot.

"Jyn!" Cassian shouted, grabbing for his pistol.

Jyn turned her gaze to see three figures, one in white – Krennic. She wanted to scream and lunge towards him. She wanted to tackle him to the ground and beat him. She made herself tear away from the sight of him and continued her climb. More blast shots tore around her as the death troopers attempted to prevent their climb. She could hear Cassian firing back, causing him to lag behind her. She shifted her position and rotated around the data tower out of view. This caused the troopers to shoot only at Cassian now.

"Cassian!" she shouted, wanting to signal him to follow her round the side.

Cassian shot two blasts. "Keep going! Keep going!"

She saw one of Cassian's shots penetrate a trooper. The black figure fell into the data vault below them. Another shot, and the second trooper fell. She didn't see Krennic aim his weapon at Cassian, she didn't even know if he had been hit or not. But she did see Cassian lose his grip, hitting a beam, then another before falling onto a metal platform below, unmoving.

"Cassian!" she shouted, staring down at him. She wanted to let go, follow him down. Hours ago she would have felt a sense of satisfaction of seeing him get hurt, but not anymore. The spy continued to lay deathly still and Jyn knew she could only do one thing – climb.

Reaching the top with the Death Star's schematics still attached to her waist, Jyn prevented herself from stopping and taking a breath. There was no time. She looked up at the sky and saw debris falling along with flames. The shield-gate had been destroyed. X-wing fights flew around the Citadel engaging imperial forces. Everything looked like a nightmare.

"Bodhi," she said into her comlink that she had kept hidden under her imperial disguise.

"Jyn!" came his reply. "I was beginning to worry. The shield is down!"

"I see it," she replied, looking back up at the sky. "I'm at the top of the Citadel tower; I'm going to transmit the plans to the fleet. Tell Admiral Raddus."

There was a brief pause before Bodhi spoke again. "He said he is awaiting your transmission."

Jyn breathed heavily as she made her way over to the control panel under the antenna dish. "Bodhi, sound the evacuation and come get me!"

"Done. We're coming to get you."

Jyn found the slot for the data cartridge and placed it in firmly. The screen before her flashed. "Reset antenna alignment."

Jyn turned around and saw a second control panel at the end of the catwalk. She grabbed her blaster and made her way along the catwalk where she found a dial. After turning it the voice announce: "Dish aligning."

She watched the massive antenna dish adjust itself until it was pointing straight overhead. "Dish aligned. Ready to transmit."

Jyn smiled with relief and started her way back. A TIE shrieked into her view, descending toward her on the narrow footbridge. She began to run, hoping she could make it at least off the catwalk. The TIE blasted its green shots at her, hitting the catwalk causing it to crumble and fall away. She suppressed a scream as she felt shrapnel hit her body. She held on tightly to the remnants of the guardrail and hauled herself up with great difficulty. Her body screamed in agony as if every muscle in her body was on fire. She scrambled on.

Jyn stopped short as a man in white stood before her, blaster raised in her direction. Krennic.

"Who are you?" he shouted at her.

Jyn smirked as the wind blew through her hair. "You know who I am. I'm, Jyn Erso. Daughter of Galen and Lyra."

"The child." He sounded surprised.

"You've lost," Jyn declared, attempting to keep her body straight. She was in so much pain.

"Oh, I have, have I?" he replied.

"My father's revenge. He built a flaw in the Death Star. He put a fuse in the middle of your machine and I've just told the entire galaxy how to light it."

Krennic scowled. "The shield is up..."

"Look around you," Jyn interrupted. "The rebel fleet destroyed the shield-gate. Can't you see its remains falling?"

Krennic had been deep within the Citadel when the shield-gate had gone down. He had been away from the command centre and no one had been bothered to tell him. He deepened his scowl and was beginning to see the damage this girl had caused him.

"I've lost nothing but time. You, on the other hand, will die with the rebellion."

Jyn ducked as a blast came from her left. Krennic fell forward as a black scorch mark sizzled from his shoulder. Jyn saw Cassian leaning against the pillar, his blaster raised. He looked terrible, exhausted and clearly in pain from his fall. She also noticed he hadn't been shot earlier. How he had managed to make the climb, Jyn could not understand. She shared a smile with him before running over to the control panel, ignoring the pain. She pulled the broadcast lever.

"Transmitting."

Jyn turned to Cassian, grinning. He kept his blaster raised at Krennic. Jyn turned to the man who had taken her family; her youthful innocence. She went to lunge at him but Cassian grabbed her.

"Leave it, leave it," he said, pulling her close to his chest. "That's it. Let's go."

A large whirl of air blew over them as the roar of an engine sounded. Jyn and Cassian turned to see Bodhi flying the shuttle, hovering it above the broken catwalk. The ramp had been lowered to show Corporal Tonc, Lieutenant Sefla, Corporal Rostok and Private Basteren waving their hands for them to jump. Jyn slung Cassian's arm around her shoulder and huddled over to them. To her left she felt a shadow appear. She stopped, staring at a large sphere on the horizon.

The Death Star had come to Scarif.

"Come on!" Sefla shouted.

Jyn un-slung Cassian's arm, pushing him forward. "Go!"

Sefla and Tonc caught Cassian by the arms as he lunged over to the ramp. He cried out in pain, causing Jyn to wince. She followed, her knees giving way as she hit the ramp. Rostok grabbed her roughly be the upper arm, dragging her deeper into the shuttle.

"Let's go!" Tonc shouted at Bodhi. "Go, go, go!"

Jyn tried to focus as Rostok sat her down. Cassian was in front of her on the other side of the shuttle bay being tended to by Tonc and Sefla.

"Everyone else?" she breathed, coughing.

"Don't know," Rostok replied, grabbing the med kit Basteren held. "They may have evacuated on another shuttle. Maybe not. All I know is that the fleet it being engaged by a larger imperial fleet and most have already left for the rendezvous."

"We can't go there," Jyn said. "We have to go straight to Yavin IV." She nodded towards Cassian. "He fell pretty badly."

Rostok glanced behind him at the captain who was slumped over, his arm gripping his ribs. "Basteren, go tell Bodhi to make for Yavin IV and tell him to make sure a med team is on standby for our arrival."

"On it."

"Did you do it?" Rostok asked, ripping part of Jyn's pants to get at a piece of shrapnel.

"Yes," Jyn breathed. "I transmitted the plans to the fleet."

"Then it was all worth it," he replied. "Rest easy."

"Cassian," Jyn said, trying to get up.

"Hey, hey, hey," Rostok said, keeping her down. "We'll keep the captain alive. He is made of hard stuff. Just take it easy. We'll be back on Yavin IV in no time."

Jyn leaned her head back against the wall. She sighed heavily allowing her body to finally relax. Rostok was attempting to be gentle in cleaning her wounds, but a hiss escaped her every now and then.

"Jyn." She opened her eyes to see Cassian was watching her.

"Hey." She smiled.

"You're father would have been proud of you, Jyn."

Jyn felt tears coming to her eyes and for the first instance in a long time she allowed them to spill freely. These were tears of happiness.

...

4ABY: Home One, Scarif Orbit

Jyn stood at the podium with a data pad displaying the speech she had written. Cassian stood behind her to her right and Leia stood to her left. Both had said their speeches, and now it was her turn. She glanced at the audience and smiled at Bodhi, Tonc, Rostok and all the others who had survived. Some of them she had ended up going on more missions with, while others parted ways not long after Yavin IV was evacuated. It was good to see everyone in the same room after all these years.

"Today is the anniversary of a defining moment for the former Rebel Alliance." She paused, looking over the audience once more. "This day, four years ago we committed an act against the Empire that would result in a crippling blow to their regime. Had I known just how far our actions would have taken us, four years ago, I would not have believed it."

As Jyn spoke she began to realise how much she had changed over the years. Sure, she was an adult back then, but now she truly felt like one. She felt more mature, stronger and at ease with the galaxy. Life was good. Her time with the alliance – with Cassian – had brought her out of her cave. She had finally become the woman she was meant to be. If her parents could see her now, they would be proud.

"On Scarif we lost many comrades; brothers and sisters. At the time it was hard to comprehend their sacrifice as anything other than casualties of war. But today we can truly see that their deaths were and always will be symbolic. Casualties of war eventually lose their names and memories in the years that follow, but those who gave their lives for the cause on Scarif; they will be remembered for time without end. It has given me great satisfaction to know that our actions did not leave them in vain in this life and the next." Jyn took a deep breath.

"Scarif has become a symbol to all those who once worried to defy the Empire. Now it is a place of remembrance and reflection. May we never forget why we fought." Jyn looked at Bodhi, a small smile forming. "May the Force with You all."