0BBY: Planet Yavin IV

4.5 Days before Battle of Yavin

Jyn's eyes fluttered open to see a bright light shining brightly above her. She winced as the glow pierced her eyes. Groaning, Jyn tried to remember what had happened. They had arrived on Yavin IV to be met by a large group of personnel. Cassian had been whisked away by the medics before she had a chance to speak. Another team of medics had approached her with a stretcher. After a quick, sharp prick to her arm, that was all she remembered.

Jyn turned her head to the left seeing a shelf of assorted medical equipment not far away. It appeared she had been placed in a private room. Turning to the right there was an empty chair by her bed with the door not far behind it. She tried to sit up but her muscles felt weak. Falling back onto the pillow, Jyn observed the cannula in the back of her left hand; she flexed her fingers.

The door to her room whooshed open and a medical droid whirled in carrying a tray of supplies.

"Sergeant Erso," its mechanical voice said, placing the tray on the bench at the end of her bed. "We have stopped sedation and have been expecting you to wake up."

Jyn tried to sit up again; the droid whirled over to her left side and pushed a button. The front of the bed started to lift up. "Resist moving as much as possible. You have been asleep for fourteen hours."

"What happened?" Jyn croaked. Her throat was dry. "Where is everyone? Cassian..."

"I am unable to provide information on your mission. I have alerted Mon Mothma and General Dravin that you are awake. You sustained a laceration to your right hand, below your thumb. We have it bandaged with bacta to improve healing. You have a second bacta seal on your left femur from shrapnel."

Jyn lifted her right hand which was bandaged heavily. She wriggled her fingers, but found her hand was mostly numb from the healing agent.

The medical droid continued. "Your injuries were minimal. Bed rest for a further seventy-two hours is required to allow your body to heal on its own." The droid handed Jyn a cup of cool water. "Please sip the water."

Jyn obliged, relishing in the cool liquid trickling down her throat. "Cassian, Bodhi and the others?"

"Captain Andor is currently submerged in a bacta tank. His injuries were far more severe. Bodhi Rook is in excellent physical health..."

"What happened to Cassian?"

The droid injected a colourless fluid into Jyn's cannula line. "Captain Andor was admitted with four broken ribs, two fractured ribs, bruising on his spinal cord and a fractured right ankle. Full recovery expected after a further eighteen hours in the bactatank and a further ninety-six hours of bed rest with further bacta treatment."

Jyn held the cup in both of her shaky hands as she processed the list of injuries. "He's going to be okay?"

"Full recovery is expected." The droid whirled away towards the door as it opened to reveal Mothma and Draven. Jyn tensed, seeing them. Mothma offered a warm smile while Dravin merely grimaced.

"Jyn," Mothma began, stepping up to the end of the bed. "I congratulate you and your time on a successful extraction of the plans."

"You received them?" Jyn asked, feeling her muscles begin to relax.

Mothma and Dravin exchanged looks of unease.

"Admiral Raddus received your transmission," Mothma began, "and had the plans sent to Princess Leia Organa. Unfortunately, her transport ship was boarded by Darth Vader. We are unsure of what has happened to the Death Star plans."

Jyn felt everything around her become quiet as ringing began to fill her ears. Surely this could not be happening. How could they lose the plans after everything she and rogue one had sacrificed?

"Why did you not take the plans when you evacuated?" Dravin walked up to her bedside and stood by the chair.

Jyn blinked. "I... we had a setback and couldn't leave the data vault. Cassian... Cassian and I had to climb the tower to transmit the plans."

"And you chose not to take the hardcopy with you?" Dravin had crossed his arms.

Jyn looked at Mothma. "I... it all happened so fast. Krennic found me, and then I saw the Death Star... when Bodhi arrived I just had to get Cassian... all of us to safety. I sent the plans via transmission of the antenna dish."

Jyn could feel a lump beginning to shape in her throat as she suppressed tears from forming. She wasn't sure if they were tears of anger, despair or if she was just too tired.

"No one is blaming you for the loss of the plans," Mothma assured her. "We just need an understanding on what went on in the Citadel. As Captain Andor is medically unavailable, we must ask you these questions."

Jyn swallowed hard. "I did the mission. And it was you people who lost the plans. Not me."

"In all honesty," Dravin began, unfolding his arms. "We do not know if the plans have fallen back into the hands of the empire."

"Princess Leia Organa has been known for her resourcefulness in the past," Mothma added. "I no doubt believe she would have taken measures to secure the plans into safekeeping. Unfortunately, the princess has been taken as a political prisoner. If she had managed to place the plans in safety, we do not know where."

Everything was rushing through Jyn's mind. She found it hard to grasp at one thought. "What happens now?"

"An agent of mine on Tatooine has reported of trooper presence on the planet," Draven said. "As Tatooine is a neighbouring planet to Scarif, and the closest planetoid body to Organa's ship before it was boarded, we can presume the plans may have been sent there."

"Tatooine," Jyn said, remembering her time on the planet. It had been a long time ago, and she had only been to the spaceport briefly.

"General Draven's agent will keep us informed of any updates," Mothma said. "But for now, you need to rest and recuperate."

Jyn nodded. She wanted to fly out of the bed and commandeer a shuttle to Tatooine to fix this mess the alliance had caused. She should have known that getting the plans would not be as easy as that. Not that it was easy to begin with.

"How many others made it off Scarif?" It was a question that had been burning in the back of her mind since she woke up.

Draven answered. "Aside from you and Captain Andor, a third of rogue one survived, including those who evacuated in the shuttle you arrived on."

"What about Chirrut and Baze?"

"I am sorry," Mothma replied. "They were not on any of the shuttles that made it back."

Jyn's heart dropped and she felt tears forming again. How many had died for her plan? "What about Bodhi? Where is he?"

"Bodhi Rook is in the hanger helping with repairs," Draven replied. "His work getting you past the shield-gate on Scarif has impressed many – myself included. We have offered him a formal position within the rebellion with the rank of lieutenant."

Jyn raised her eyebrows. "He accepted?"

"He did," Draven said. "He has also proven valuable with information regarding imperial cargo routes."

Mothma caught Draven's eye, prompting him to continue. Draven hesitated. "We would also like to offer you the position of lieutenant in the rebellion." Again, Draven hesitated. "We would like you to join alliance intelligence."

Jyn didn't think it was possible for her eyebrows to be raised any higher. "Alliance intelligence?"

"Your infiltration skills on Scarif and ability to get the job done are what we look for in intelligence officers," Draven said. "If you don't wish to join intelligence we can place you with the pathfinders. The choice is yours."

Jyn was speechless. Welcome Home. That is what Cassian had said to her before they left Yavin IV. His words had meant more to her than he probably realised. But was she prepared to take this offer and ground herself?

"I... I need to think," she stammered.

"Of course," Mothma replied gently. "We have given you a great deal to think about just now. We shall leave you to rest. Let us know of your decision in the coming days."

Draven gave Jyn a quick nod before following Mothma out of the room. Jyn flopped her head back against the pillow. Had they really said all that? Losing the plans, offering her a formal rank and a home in the rebellion? Mothma had promised her that after she served her purpose to the alliance that they would let her go. At the time she could not wait for that moment to arise. Deep down part of her still wanted it. To just be free from everything. She thought of Bodhi, Cassian, the Guardians and all those who had accompanied her to Scarif. She couldn't let them down, not now.

The medical droid returned with a tray of food for Jyn. She hadn't realised how hungry she was until the tray was placed across her. She ate eagerly, not caring how she looked. The droid didn't seem to care anyway.

...

4ABY: Planet Hosnian Prime

Jyn had returned home from her latest medical scan. Cassian was supposed to have gone with her, but he had left early that morning after receiving a call to come in. She took it as an assumption that he had completely forgotten about her appointment. Not that she particularly cared. She was kind of glad to be going alone. Cassian was so fussy around her nowadays that it felt nice to go talk to a medical professional without his constant questioning.

Jyn had gone shopping after the scan, having discovered the gender of the baby. She was excited at the revelation and decided it was long due time to start buying clothing and toys. She was never fond of shopping to begin with, especially in a megatropolis such as Hosnian Prime. She stuck to the few stores she found, purchasing a handful of items before calling it quits. She wished she had company, having become lost on her way out of the shopping district. The heavy weight of her growing belly caused her back to ache. Her mood was turning foul at citizens who passed her by, staring. Next time she would ask Leia to accompany her.

Folding away the baby clothes into the cupboard of the nursery, Jyn was starting to feel good. Her appointment assured her that her blood pressure was finally backed into the normal readings, and her baby's heart rate fine. In six weeks time her child would make an appearance, and then her life would be starting over again. How many times had that happened already? Starting over. On Lah'mu with her parents; with Saw Gerrera, with Kenna, and then with the rebellion. It had taken time, but then she was starting over with Cassian. Now it was happening all over again - starting over on Hosnian Prime – imperial free, safe and a baby. She hoped this would be the last time.

Jyn placed the blanket gifted by Mothma into the crib along with the stuffed toy wookie Han had bought over a few days ago. She never realised how much stuff babies needed. A house droid was due to become an addition to the household to act as a nanny. She remembered the one her parents had on Coruscant – McVee. Jyn had loved that droid. The baby stirred, kicking. Jyn winced, sitting in the only chair present in the nursery. Every week that went by had her child become more and more active. At first it had been an unusual and surreal sensation she enjoyed feeling, but now it was starting to annoy her. It was getting to the point where she wanted her body back to herself.

Later in the evening Jyn was sitting at her desk writing up a new recruit-training regime. She wanted it all done and approved before she went back to work. When Cassian returned home Jyn could see the exhaust in his eyes. She smiled up at him as he leant down to kiss her. Was this what domestic life felt like?

"You forgot," she stated, standing up to hug him.

It took Cassian a moment to realise what she had meant. His eyes widened. "Jyn, why didn't you contact me? I would have made arrangements to come!"

Jyn shook her head. "It's fine, honestly. Everything went well. I am healthy and so is the baby."

Cassian embraced her again. "Good. That's good."

Jyn smiled as she rested her head on his shoulder. "I am hoping you will be pleased to know we are having a girl."

She felt Cassian tense momentarily before relaxing, pulling away to face her. "A girl?" He was grinning.

Jyn matched his smile. "Yes. It's a girl."

Cassian placed his hand over her belly. "A girl. Jyn, that's wonderful!"

Jyn placed her hand over his. "I secretly wanted a girl."

Cassian chuckled. "Me too."

Jyn sighed contently. "I suppose we have to think of name now."

Cassian hummed, leading her over to the sofa. "Do you have any in mind?"

Jyn shook her head. "No."

"Your mother?"

Jyn sighed. "Lyra is a sad story. I don't know if I want to name our daughter after anyone. We could think of a new name for her."

Cassian smiled. He pulled her in for a kiss. "I like the sound of that."

"Well we still have six weeks to decide on a name. So we are in no hurry."

"Six weeks will go by fast."

Jyn nestled into his side. "Please, I hope so."

...

0BBY: Planet Yavin IV

1.5 Days before Battle of Yavin

Bodhi was present as Jyn was finally allowed to get out of bed. He hovered close by in case she needed someone to lean on. The bacta bandage around her leg had been removed, leaving a thin line of healing skin. Her right hand had also been cleared of bacta; instead she had a thin cotton bandage. Her hand had stung in the cool air and continued to do so whenever she flexed it.

The first thing Jyn did was stretch all her muscles. It felt good to finally be standing. A requisition officer entered holding a bundle of clothes. Her original clothing had been discarded; her pants being cut up to access her shrapnel wounds.

"We found some clothing in your size as well as boots." The young woman placed them at the end of the bed. "If you have any problems or require anything else come find me or another requisition officer. We are located in the back of the hanger passed storage room 2AB."

"I'll be fine," Jyn said to Bodhi. "I'll get dressed and meet you outside."

Bodhi nodded before exiting.

The clothing was not a uniform; blue-grey pants, a long sleeved dusty-brown shirt that came with elbow long black leather gloves. The boots were also black leather and appeared to be standard issue for the rebellion. Lastly, she had been given a dark scarf similar to the one she had worn on Jedha. Simple clothing, just what she liked.

After dressing, she found Bodhi pacing outside. He was still wearing his old imperial flight suit. "Aren't they going to make you change?"

Bodhi shrugged. "Nobody has said anything yet." He assessed her up and down. "You look much better."

Jyn smiled, smoothing her shirt. "Thanks. Feels good to finally be out of that room."

Bodhi jerked his thumb down the corridor. "Cassian is out of the bactatank, though still sedated. Want to go see him?"

Jyn nodded, already making her way down the poorly lit passageway. "Which room?"

"Err... 107 I think."

Cassian's room turned out to be only four doors down from hers. She entered without hesitation to see two medical droids hovering around Cassian's bed. He was dressed in medical garb as she had been.

"Sergeant Erso," one droid spoke. "Captain Andor will be awakening in seven hours."

Jyn slowly walked over to the bed, sitting on the edge. Bodhi took the seat. She tilted her head as she examined the man lying unconscious. He looked so peaceful with the steady rise and fall of his chest. His hair was thick and matte – probably from the bacta – and the hard lines on his spy-master face had smoothed away. Carefully, Jyn held his hand which was by her knee.

"Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you for coming back for me." She was referring the Citadel tower where Krennic had her cornered. She was sure her end had come before she could transmit the plans. Then there he was – there Cassian was. He had been the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. Never had she been so glad to see someone.

Jyn turned to Bodhi. "Did they tell you about the plans being lost?"

"Yeah," he replied sadly. "Everyone who survived are asking questions as to how it happened. People are frustrated."

Jyn didn't blame them. "We did our part."

A droid came over to them. "I must ask you both to leave. You can return in seven hours."

Jyn sighed, reluctantly letting go of Cassian's hand. "Come on."

Jyn and Bodhi made a leisurely pace towards the hanger. People were bustling past them in a hurried manner. "What's going on?"

Bodhi shrugged. "No sure. We can find out. Follow me."

Jyn followed Bodhi quickly into the hanger where an uproar of voices filled the area. People were clearly panicked. She followed Bodhi over to the outside area of the hanger where a small squadron of x-wing fighters were under maintenance.

"General Merrick," Bodhi called out to a cluster of pilots in blue.

Jyn scanned the area and saw Merrick conversing with his squadron. She smiled; relieved to see he and a good number of his comrades had survived.

Merrick turned at the sound of Bodhi's voice. His eyebrows rose at the sight of Jyn. Smiling, he walked over to her, clasping her hand. "Jyn! Good to see you looking much better! Last I saw you a medical droid was fussing over you as they escorted you through the hanger."

"I am much better, yes," she replied. "But what's going on?"

Merrick's face contorted with grief. "We just received word – Alderaan has been destroyed by the Death Star."

Jyn's eyes widened as her knees started to buckle. Merrick held her up and Bodhi grabbed hold of her arm for support.

"Easy," Merrick said, leading her over to a crate to sit on. "There's nothing more you could have done."

Jyn wasn't listening. She stared blankly at her feet. Bodhi sat beside her, hesitating before placing a hand on her shoulder for comfort. She failed; she let everyone down.

"Why Alderaan?" she breathed.

Merrick shook his head. "Not entirely sure. It is... was the home planet of Princess Leia Organa. Perhaps it has to do with her imprisonment? Scouts report it happened many hours ago."

Jyn had never been to Alderaan. She knew it was a planet that resisted the imperial hold over the galaxy, but that was it. The realisation of the true potential of what her father created was finally apparent. She always knew, yes, but now it was different. A whole planet was gone. This was never supposed to happen. They should have had the plans on Yavin IV by now, making their next move. What would the council think? Would they blame her?

"W-what... what happens now?" she strangled out. She felt Bodhi attempting to soothe her by rubbing circles on her back.

Merrick stood up. "Nothing. An emergency council session is to be held, but it will take hours, days perhaps to gather everyone. Unless a miracle happens in the meantime, we do nothing."

Jyn finally looked up. "I can't do 'nothing'." She stood up, letting Bodhi's hand fall. "What about Tatooine?"

Merrick frowned. "You'll have to ask Dravin about that. I don't think anything has come from it."

Jyn left without another word, heading for the command centre. There, she found Draven hovering over a datapad. "I'm in."

Dravin lowered the datapad.

"I'm in," Jyn repeated. "I accept your offer."

Dravin turned to a small, elderly man. "Find Erso a jacket and a lieutenant insignia." He turned back to Jyn, momentarily staring at her. He held out his hand. "Welcome to Alliance Intelligence."

Jyn swallowed, shaking his hand. This was her starting over.