Auhor's Notes:

Hahahaha I'm not even trying to excuse myself for how this isn't even really ever getting updated. At all. What are words. I'm flying out to do an internship somewhere far far away tomorrow, will probably be busy but hey- office ours make for great creativity sessions.

The plot might be moving?

Chapter 9: The Naked Time

Jyn eyed the man before her curiously, stretching her muscles in preparation for the abuse she would surely put them through in the coming hour. Cassian's gaze wandered around the room like a caged animal, not once meeting her own despite them standing opposite each other. She couldn't deny that it made her insides wilt, a powerful and inexplicable sense of disappointment growing by the minute. It bothered her, she realised, that he'd left without her in the morning and his current distancing was only making her feel more isolated. Had she done something wrong? Had they not grown to support each other during their time in the medbay, the lone survivors, the aliens in an alien world?

Jyn swallowed the feeling and closed her eyes. Anger. It was anger that was beginning to brush at the edges of her consciousness. She was a soldier and she had dealt with every situation on her own in the past. She had seen comrades die before her eyes a hundred times over and never had she even blinked, not since she was a little girl and her mother's body hit the ground. She had become soft during the last few weeks, allowing something like a sense of closeness to her comrades on Scarif. This was why Baze and Chirrut and Bodhi's empty eyes haunted her dreams where no others ever had. This was why she felt the need to have Cassian around, to share with him her thoughts and fears, to have someone to lean on. She'd never needed anyone to lean on before. This is a mistake. He was just another pawn in the game of shadow and death, he'd abandon her as soon as it was convenient and she was a fool to have thought differently.

I'm not used to people sticking around when things go bad.

Welcome home.

"Well," she said coolly, bending her knees in anticipation. "Shall we?"

Cassian's eyes finally snapped up to meet hers. She saw the mounting confusion at her sudden change of tone and something in her fiery wall of anger flickered.

"Oh hell, looks like you're in for a proper thrashing." Baze's whistle echoed from the next sparring pad. He and Bodhi had paused to have a warm up and were currently grinning at Cassian, who suddenly looked like he'd rather be back on the beach with the approaching wall of death rather than facing Jyn. It wasn't fear though. She couldn't quite read his emotions.

"Yes." Cassian said to her and then lunged.

To his credit, she hadn't expected him to be so forward in the attack, but she didn't have much time to think about it, her instincts reacting faster than her mind. She dodged and spun on her heel, recognising the familiar Echani sparring form. Her retaliation was swift as she aimed a punch at the side of his stomach but was stopped just as effectively.

Their dance of nimble attacks and parries continued for a few moments and Jyn realised she was well-matched, despite the other man's tiredness after fighting Baze. She also realised she didn't feel angry anymore. There was an old excitement building in the back of her mind, the joy of the dance, of being on equal footing with someone. (And something else.)

She caught Cassian's forearm in her grasp and grinned, using his weight to bring him down on his back with her knee on his chest. He hit the floor with a thump and a gasp and she almost winced in sympathy- almost.

"Well played." He rasped, evidently out of breath. His eyes found hers and she realised that she hadn't moved in far too long, her knee still resting comfortably against his scarred chest, her fingers hanging onto the pulse in his arm. Her body flared, every surface suddenly hyper aware, every action intensified- blood rushing, breath hitching and her entire being still as a deer in headlights. The entire experience lasted less than the blink of an eye- less than the time she had to register it before suddenly she was being flung upwards.

Cassian had used his strength to throw her sideways, using her lack of balance to free his arm and to capture hers instead, pinning her firmly to the ground.

"Don't lose focus." He said seriously, but there was a glint of something else in his eyes. While the momentary explosion of Force-only-knows what had disappeared as soon as it appeared, she now found herself very consciously aware of his battle-worn form leaning over her. Oh. Well, he was an attractive man, she could never fault herself for noticing. But she was always good at overcoming such things when the situation called for it.

Jyn hooked her leg around his and brought him tumbling down again as she quickly slipped out from his loosened grasp and rolled back up to her feet. Cassian caught himself mid-fall and suddenly they were back in the dance.

Jim had been right- all of her negativity flew straight out the window, even the anger she'd worked up just minutes ago. There was nothing like sweat to clear the mind and she was burning with it, a strange kind of ecstasy, her breaths coming quick and sharp as she barely managed to avoid a kick. Her next move was too slow- far too slow, it was clear that her days in the medbay had done her training no service. Cassian kicked her leg and then she was on the ground, breathing heavily. She felt his hand on her shoulder and it was accompanied by goose bumps which she quickly drove away with sheer willpower.

"I think that might be enough for me today." Cassian gasped out and she nodded, turning around to lean on her hands as she tried to catch her breath. She noticed how quickly he jumped away, choosing to plop down a small distance further from her. She felt her unease about his behaviour begin to creep up again.

"Already done, princess?" Baze chided, pausing his own assault, though Bodhi's face spoke of a million answered prayers. Jyn was about to open her mouth in protest when Cassian gave her a meaningful look. "He means me, not you."

She stared for a moment then stifled a sudden hysterical giggle, more due to shock than anything else. The sheer bizarreness of the entire situation suddenly hit her like a blaster bolt. They were alive, with strangers that were copies of their dead companions, having a sparring session in a gym on a ship that could never have existed in the universe she had been born into. It was almost too much.

"Yeah we're done." Cassian sighed out and finally, finally looked her straight in the eyes and there was a warmth there that Jyn had been looking for, had secretly been craving. The warmth of a companion, of someone she could turn to when it got as overwhelming as it currently had.

"Well then let's get ourselves a well-deserved shower." Baze nodded. Jyn managed to tear her eyes away from Cassian only to catch Bodhi's wink which- well, there was something to think about, right there. She pushed herself up to her feet.

"Why did you say you deserved it?" she asked and Cassian paused mid-step "Why did you say you deserved every punch?"

There was a breathless, uncomfortable silence before he replied and it was quiet, almost too quiet for her to hear.

"I've pulled the trigger without question. I'm very good at washing blood out of my clothes. I saw your father through my gun sight, Jyn, and I held you in my arms knowing that I had led to your death, regardless of whether it happened or not. I don't think punches are going to be enough."

Cassian didn't wait for her reply before walking away and she wasn't sure she would have known what to say.

\\\

"Attention all crew, we have received news of the disappearance of the USS Salcombe shortly after they sent out a distress signal. We have been given orders to investigate and, if required, assist them. As of now we are setting course for Quadrant 448 and we should arrive at the location within 3.68 hours. All rescue crew must be at their stations at this time. More information will follow."

Cassian's eyes met Bodhi's as they exchanged a worried glance. They'd been on their way to leave the changing rooms as the announcement rang out through the ship and he felt his stomach twist. This was the first hint of real danger that he'd sensed in this new universe and his lack of familiarity with it only served to heighten the sense of foreboding.

"The Salcombe…" Baze's voice trailed off.

"That's the ship Chirrut was stationed on." Bodhi's eyes widened. "We were meant to rendezvous with them next month to pick up our crewmembers."

Cassian felt worry shake his core, like a steely weight rolling through his insides to the bottom of his feet, planting him in place. He had become too complacent, too sure in this world's peacefulness to predict that war and bloodshed could follow him even here. And now the empty eyes of his companions looked up to meet him again from the sands of Scarif, Chirrut prominent amongst them.

"What's going to happen?" he asked, keeping his voice level as he considered his options. Should he fight, as he'd promised Kirk, to save people from a universe that held nothing for him? What use was it, to lose a life so insanely spared?

To save another, his mind answered, to wash the blood off my hands, to help someone in need as I would have for the Resistance. No life is better or worse, not even that of a Stormtrooper. I've always known that but I've always killed regardless. Maybe it's time to atone.

"Well there's no way of knowing 'til we get there." Bodhi answered, frowning. "Best case scenario it's just some technical difficulties they needed another ship for, but the most likely thing is it's something hostile and weird. The Enterprise is kind of famous for attracting trouble like that."

"I need to go."

Both Baze and Bodhi's heads shot up in unison at Cassian's sudden statement.

"Wha—where?" Baze asked, his brow furrowing with suspicion.

"To help."

Before either of his companions could respond, Cassian turned to the door and strode through it, intent on confronting Ji—

Smack

His forehead slammed into an unspecified object with a deafening sound. As he staggered back he heard an exclamation in a voice that sounded vaguely familiar:

"Kriffing hell, watch where you're going you lumbering Nerf Herder!"

He saw Jyn pause, her eyes widening as she realised who she'd smashed into before glazing over with familiar coolness.

"Cassian," she gave him an almost-glare. "Just because it's you, don't expect me to suddenly start forgiving the lump on my forehead."

Cassian's heart jumped at the word 'you' but he steadied himself, already too focused on the task at hand. Their sparring session had done little to tame the growing simmer in the pit of his stomach centering around Jyn Erso, but it had subdued it enough for him to be able to think straight. He was, after all, hopefully, beyond just his sex-drive although the rest of his emotions were a different issue.

"I'm going to talk to Jim."

The words tumbled out of his mouth before he could think them through and he winced as Jyn's frown deepened.

"I was about to ask you about that." She said. "What in the Galaxy's name is going on here and what are we going to do about it?"

"We are going to do as the Captain commands."

Cassian almost jumped because why did people keep appearing out of nowhere? His eyes met the stone-cold brown ones of the Enterprise's resident Vulcan, who had apparently just rounded the corner in order to give him a heart attack. Spock nodded in greeting.

"And what does the Captain command?" Jyn asked wearily.

"As of this time, we do not have sufficient information on the condition or the circumstances of the Salcombe or its crew. Per Jim's orders, we are to wait until we have reached our destination before we decide what is to be done next. All rescue crew as well as defensive measures are to be readied in the case of a swift retaliation." Spock said methodically and Cassian felt the Vulcan's eyes boring all the way through to the back of his skull. "I can sense your restlessness, Captain Andor, but you do not have the training or the experience or the trust of the crew, which in this case makes you more of a liability than any potential assistance in the matter."

"I won't sit back and watch people get killed or injured when I can help!"

"If we are lucky," at this the Vulcan's mouth twitched upwards ever so slightly, as though he were enjoying an inside joke. "Then there will be no need to worry about injury or death in this entire matter. I would recommend that both yourself and Ms Erso stay out of the way of any operations that we may undertake throughout the episode, preferably in your quarters. While I do not doubt the sincerity of your will, having seen your mind, I agree with the Captain that there is very little you can do to aid us."

Cassian swallowed down a response, his emotions raw with disappointment. Of course, everything Spock said made sense. Despite that, the excitement, the need for redemption, was crumbling around him. He hadn't realised how much it had given him sudden purpose, to think of saving people, of proving himself to be a better man to himself (and to Jyn).

"Well I for one don't plan to get in your way, unless whatever's out there decides to come to me." Jyn said, folding her arms. "And I don't plan to die just yet, not this soon after Scarif."

"A commendable goal." Spock nodded, his eyes twinkling in his stoic expression. "And now that the issue is settled, I was rather hoping you would both join me for lunch as I have not yet had the pleasure of discussing the universe you've originated from in nearly as much detail as I would have liked to. I find the entire concept fascinating. I also believe that Dr. McCoy was inquiring after yourselves later, so perhaps it might serve as a good distraction from the impending mission and your lack of participation in its outcome."

Cassian sighed, suddenly feeling incredibly tired. Perhaps entertaining Spock's curiosity would be the best decision for now. Perhaps the Salcombe would be perfectly alright regardless of his involvement. He could not remember the last time he had felt quite so.. out of place. He was about to reply when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

Cassian looked up, surprised, meeting Jyn's eyes as she gave him a reassuring squeeze and there was understanding there. She felt it too, he knew- the lack of purpose, the utter helplessness of it all. She knew and she understood and she was there with him. And he realised that he was so lucky, so wholly dependent on this soldier, this woman who had miraculously changed his life in the span of a few days, that he did not understand how he'd done without her in the past. It would be fine, it would have to be. Because she depended on him and he'd follow her to another universe still and then the next. Because Jyn Erso had wormed her way into the soft underbelly of his hardened heart and Cassian knew he wasn't strong enough to rip her out of it.

So instead he smiled at her, delighted at the surprised look on her face and excused himself to say goodbye to Baze and Bodhi. Then, as he re-joined Spock and Jyn in the corridor, he found himself falling in-step with her stride. It's going to hurt, he thought to himself, when she finally pushes me away. But for now… I can have this.

\\\

"There she is Captain, the Salcombe."

Jim eyed the screen with undisguised curiosity. "Is it just… floating there?"

"Most of the ship's functionality appears to be deactivated, although some areas still retain life support. We sense about 50 life forms scattered throughout those parts of the ship. Didn't the Salcombe have a crew of about 200?" Sulu replied, frowning.

"It did." Jim lowered his head. This was not looking promising. All he could hope for was that whatever happened to the crew was not coming back for the rest of them, or the Enterprise. "Have you attempted to engage in communications? There must be some way of contacting the people left aboard."

"They are not responding to any of our attempts." Nyota reported. "It appears as though our only option is to retrieve the survivors."

"I wouldn't trust beaming them aboard, in case they turn out to be something other than our crew." Jim muttered darkly, years of past mistakes soaking every syllable. "Get the rescue ops ready, make sure they're wearing the hazmats. Myself and McCoy will be joining them in case there's something to investigate."

"Wait, Captain." Nyota looked up, squeezing her earpiece as close to her ear as physically possible. "I think I hear some sort of transmission from the ship. It's really quiet, like it's somewhere far from the mike."

"What? What is it?"

"It… it sounds like country music."

"What?"