A/N: Hello, dear readers! I apologize for my long absence. It's been so wild at work lately and I ended up finishing this chapter fresh from fever. I love how this relaxes me. I think we can all agree that reading and writing can provide us some temporary reprieve, a chance to break away from this world into somewhere much more entertaining. I hope I can make things up to you with this chapter. Enjoy!


'Jyn, my Stardust, I can't imagine what you think of me.'

'If this message still finds you, you make me no less proud. If you found a place in the galaxy untouched by war —a quiet life, maybe with a family—if you're happy, Jyn, then that's more than enough.'

Jyn cries over her father's body, burnt, charred, and twisted from the impact of Alliance bombs. The strong rain of Eadu drums on the remains of the steel platform, and she barely notices that her surroundings are lit up like hellfire.

If you're happy, Jyn…

But she could not possibly be. She hears Stormtroopers coming, boots clattering on metal, shouts and commands competing against the roar of the storm, but she could care less, so much less, if they killed her now. She thinks about all the things she should have done from the point that her mother tied the kyber crystal around her little neck. Young Jyn Erso should have never let her leave. She thinks about the day that Saw Gerrera abandoned her. Young Jyn Erso should have refused orders and followed his ship back. She thinks about the moment Kessel said she would wait to kill her until they arrived at the next labor site. Jyn Erso should have picked a fight in that cell to finish it. She thinks about the moment Mon Mothma imposed on her the mission on Jedha and the task to seek out her long lost father. Jyn Erso should have asked to be returned to Wobani.

Jyn almost wants to feel blaster fire on her weak muscles, to reopen old wounds and burn holes through her hollowed soul. When the blasts actually come, she notices they are shot past her, from a shadowy figure hurrying in her direction from uphill of the research facility.

She feels his arms on hers, gentle but urgent, and she hears his voice.

'Let's go, Jyn. Leave him.'

'I can't…I can't leave him,' she desperately looks up at Cassian for any sign of understanding. 'Help me.'

Cassian grips her shoulders, 'Look at me,' he says, voice firm but not harsh, 'He's gone. There's nothing you can do.'

Jyn finds it in herself to allow him to uncurl her fingers from her father's body and urge her to get on her feet. The rain continues to beat their bodies, cold and wet biting through their fatigues and into their skin, plastering dark hair on their faces until one can't make out the urgency in his look, and the other the tears in her eyes.

'Let's go!'

And she's up and she's running again almost blindly; frustration urges her body forward, knowing that all her life that was all she ever did.


Jyn wakes with a jolt and jumps to her feet, even taking a few purposeful strides forward, old militia training driving her senses. Sleep with half your mind awake, and for whatever reason you are suddenly woken, run.

"Papa?" she hears herself whisper with an unfamiliar sense of urgency, eyes wide and darting, heart pounding in her chest. She looks for the rain, searches for fire, smells for burning steel, and she starts breathing heavily as she remembers where she is.

"A dream…" she tells herself, her voice low. "It was just a dream." Her mind runs with foggy memories from hours ago. Cassian had fallen asleep in the middle of conversation and she had settled into a chair next to him intending to stay only a few more minutes. So perhaps exhaustion had overtaken her too quickly and she could not even recall who turned out the lights in the ward and left a blanket around her shoulders.

"Jyn?"

Cassian's voice is croaky and Jyn forces herself out of her own head. As her eyes adjust to the dimness of the ward, she manages to make out Cassian shifting his weight trying to find her. She slowly recounts her steps and sits on the edge of the bed, "Hey."

"What time is it?"

"I don't know. The chrono's outside." Jyn watches as Cassian props himself on his elbows and adjusts his position to sit. "How are you feeling?" she asks.

"Just get me out of here," he grumbles with a hint of his characteristic uneven smile. "Did you stay here all night?"

Jyn tries to see the details of his face and she wonders if he disapproved that she did not return to her quarters. "I doubt it's been very long," she offers.

There was a pause between them and the silence was accompanied only by the rhythmic beep of Cassian's vitals monitor.

"Did I wake you?" Jyn asks.

"I heard something move next to me," Cassian replies quietly. "I sleep light."

All soldiers do. "Strange, isn't it?" she says. "We're so used to running."

Cassian responds with a dark chuckle. "At least here, maybe we can get a few hours of real sleep."

Jyn smiles, and another long but comfortable pause between them follows.

"I haven't been awake long enough to thank you properly," Cassian says.

It would not have surprised Jyn if Cassian weren't the type to say 'thank you'. Coming from experience, he was hardly the type to apologize. "Saved you more than once," she dares to tease.

"We evened out on Eadu," Cassian responds before he could catch himself. Jyn does not take offense, or at least she makes no sign that she does, and Cassian is almost relieved that the dim ward spares him from having to look into her eyes. His mind races back to the moment in hyperspace en route to Eadu, when he watched as Jyn stared so intently at the hull of his U-Wing that she could have borne a hole in it. On Jedha, he knew that Jyn was a good fighter. But on Eadu, he realized that Jyn was dangerous.

Which is why Cassian was stunned when she had nearly lost her mind on that platform, breaking down over Galen's lifeless body. Even as her eyes were illuminated under the light of fire, he had never seen a more empty soul. For a moment, he had lost the outlaw he met on Yavin 4 and the fighter he discovered on Jedha.

And when the same had accused him of being no better than a Stormtrooper, he learned that war had made him no more than a killer at the core.

Galen was dead not on his orders, but on his judgment. At least, he would be accountable for that.

"I am sorry about your father."

When he receives no response, Cassian slides the back of his hand on the sheets and offers an open palm. To his surprise, his gesture is accepted, and he is grateful. Perhaps, after all his sins as a rebel dog, he could live with being forgiven at least by Jyn Erso.

Jyn feels a sad smile on her face and searches for Cassian's eyes. "I'm glad you came with me on that mission," she says quietly, remembering that it was something she wanted to tell him while they were still on Scarif. She would not have trusted anyone else to lead her through a mission, much less expected anyone else to claw his way up a data tower with broken bones and a blaster hit to the ribs just to secure a transmission.

But she could trust Cassian Andor.

I have been in this fight since I was six years old! She knew that they were no different. Anyone who could be deemed to this day nowhere in allegiance with the Galactic Empire could be assumed to have been fighting a battle of their own at a tender age. The only difference, indeed, was what they chose to do about their circumstances.

Perhaps this is why she decided to see the mission through, despite the odds—against the odds.

Jyn watches Cassian lean his head back on the pillow and close his eyes. His breathing is heavy when he finally replies, "All the way."

As his grip loosens around her hand, Jyn suddenly hears the muffled noise of crashing instruments and yelling from outside the ward.

"Humans are so clumsy!" she hears the 2-1B cry out.

"Din't ask yor opinion, ya pile of scraps!" a slurry masculine voice snaps back.

"What did you call me?"

Drunk smugglers. Jyn looks back and sees Cassian already watching the door with an amused look on his face.

"You'll hit your head if you don't stop doing that." Emdee calls out matter-of-factly.

"Watch out!"

Another crash. More yelling.

Jyn gets on her feet and smoothens her shirt and fatigues, turning to Cassian with a smirk, "Let me see if I can't give those droids a hand."

Suddenly the ward door bursts open and Em-six hovers quickly inside, servos whirring high-pitched, muttering to herself as irritably as a droid could be programmed to, "Peace and quiet, I said, peace and quiet because this door leads to the recovery room!" The droid switches on ambient lights and halts when she sees Jyn and Cassian regarding her curiously. "Oh dear," she says, "I should have knocked."

"It's alright. We were awake," Jyn says.

"Well, good morning!" Em-six hovers to Cassian's side and checks his monitor. "You probably want to know that it's well past dawn. Both of you should have your breakfasts soon."

Cassian straightens up. "I can get out of here?"

Em-six gives the man a onceover with her visual sensors and nods. "Your monitor has been sending us readings throughout the night. However, you'll do well to take it very easy: no running, no heavy lifting, and since you're a pilot I will not hear of any flying—"

Another crash sounds from outside the ward. Cassian and Jyn keep their eyes on Em-six, who really could have torn her hair if she had any, "—and absolutely NO drinking," she says with finality. "You are also due two more bacta sessions, the sooner the better, the faster you heal."

Jyn suppresses a laugh as the droid went on without pause. Cassian's eyebrows are raised.

"Your prescription also includes painkillers," the droid retrieves a small bottle from her carrying port and hands it over to Jyn. "You'll do well to take one once a day for the coming week. You don't feel pain now, but you will otherwise. Keep standard time if later on you find yourself outside Takodana."

Jyn raises her eyebrows at Cassian and pockets the bottle. "We'll make sure," she assures Em-six.

"Right," the droid hovers a few paces away and turns to face the pair again. "Let's see you stand on your own."

Jyn resists the urge to help Cassian when she moves out of the way and watches as the man pushes the blankets off his legs. If he is in pain, he does not show it. Cassian gets on his feet and steadies himself against the bed rail. When he finally straightens up, Jyn lets out a breath.

"How's that?" Em-six asks, visual sensors fixed on his body.

"Nothing like I could take on a Stormtrooper, but I'd punch one anyway."

"That will do," Em-six turns to Jyn. "Please make sure that he returns to the infirmary soonest possible after breakfast. His body is on a good healing streak. We must take advantage of it."

Jyn nods and walks over to Cassian. "Want help with your boots?"

"No, I've got it," comes the quick reply. As Jyn waits, she starts to debate whether she should already inform him of the price that came with his medical treatment. Cassian was the first step to finding Maz's mercenaries. The sooner he could share what he knew, the faster they could return to Yavin 4. Cassian finishes lacing his boots and when he straightens up again he meets Jyn's eyes almost expectantly.

He knows. Jyn approaches him and wraps a supporting arm around his back and waist. He offers her a sheepish laugh in return. She lets on another small smile and starts to lead him out the door, thanking Em-six along the way.


Bodhi is hunched over his meal, deep in thought and thankful to be alone at his small table. He had not seen Jyn all morning and he doubted she would run any sort of errands without at least notifying him first. Nothing bad could have happened, he reassures himself. This is a safe haven for even the galaxy's most wanted criminals. He looks around. The mess hall is bustling with activity. Most of the castle's inhabitants, those not nursing a hangover at least, were holding loose conversations at their tables. Protocol droids weaved their way through the crowd providing assistance and ensuring that the mistress' basic house rules were observed. As far as Bodhi could remember, as long as guests refrained from any violence of any sort, as well as passionate or dispassionate talk of politics, they could remain as guests. The first night was free, but the succeeding nights would have to be paid for handsomely. The latter made him nervous. Finding Saponza was clearly the only way their small team was going to repay Maz Kanata for her hospitality. He muses over how important the mercenary group could possibly be that finding them would be enough to cover everything they asked for, including Cassian's treatment. On top of this, there was the arrival of the Death Star plans to secure on Yavin 4.

Bodhi was about to allow himself the 'leisure' of deeper brooding when he spotted Jyn making her way around the tables. His face lights up when he realizes who she is leading. He jumps up and waves his hands over the crowd and smiles widely when Jyn sees him and begins to make for his direction, Cassian in tow.

"Good to see you, friend!" Bodhi grabs Cassian's arm and pulls him into an amiable hug. The gesture is returned with enthusiasm.

"You, too, Bodhi." Cassian laughs despite himself, "I owe you and Jyn my life."

"Nothing like that, really," Bodhi takes a step back and is beside himself with giddiness as he takes in the joy of the moment. "You must be starving! I'll get you some food."

Before Jyn could protest his offer, the cargo pilot is off almost skipping. She smiles and seats herself next to Cassian. "You wouldn't recognize him."

Cassian nods, eyes glistening in the morning sun streaming through the large windows of the mess hall, "He is a far cry from the imperial pilot we found on Jedha."

"The imperial pilot you rescued," she corrected. Cassian shakes his head, and although he is still smiling, the glint in his eyes dull slightly. "I asked Baze to make sure he came out alive."

Jyn set her jaw and brought her eyes down to look at her hands folded on the table. It would be a while before any of them came to terms with the aftermath of Scarif. She wonders again if Admiral Raddus was able to take the plans all the way to the base, or if imperial fleet, god forbid, had intercepted his if the plans did make it to the base, why then were they unable to set the course to Yavin 4 in hyperspace? Did passing meteorites and asteroids coincidentally block the route? Or were returning rebel forces causing an influx of traffic on the hyperlane? Jyn feared the worst; that imperial fighters were sent on a mad hunt throughout the galaxy to retrieve the Death Star plans and destroy one of the Rebel Alliance's largest and most important bases.

Before Jyn could drive herself mad with theories, Cassian rests a hand on hers and she feels his eyes watching her carefully. "Don't go there, Jyn," he says gently. "All is as the Force wills it."

She turns her head to look at him and she recognizes where she first heard his statement. "You're right," she says, barely above a whisper. "There's still hope."

At that moment, Bodhi sets two plates of food on the table and takes his seat, "I ran into Emmie. She'll bring over some Bantha milk."

"Thanks, Bodhi," Jyn says and starts on a piece of bread. Cassian follows and she barely hears him sigh in relief.

Bodhi clears his throat as he glances around him, careful to note that none of Maz's protocol droids were within hearing, "There's been a lot of talk this morning, mind you," he says quietly.

Jyn and Cassian exchange glances and lean in. Bodhi keeps himself from stammering, "A number of bounty hunters here have been offered a handsome sum if they provide assistance in retrieving the lost Death Star plans—well they're now called 'construction blueprints' apparently," Bodhi wrinkles his nose. "Likely to fan off the scent from a superweapon. The hunters are here on a stopover, but they'll be off by tomorrow."

"So they still haven't found it," Cassian grins. Next to him, Jyn seems to both relax and tense at the same time. "It still doesn't explain the traffic on the hyperlane," she says. "And we still have to make sure those plans haven't lost their way. If the Death Star was finally destroyed, we'd know about that by now."

Bodhi suddenly sits up straight and his companions take it as a warning. Emmie appears with a tray of large glasses filled with fresh blue Bantha milk.

"Good morning, fighters," she says casually, setting the glasses down in front of each guest. "Mistress Kanata has ordered services for your shuttle. You may examine it during the day at your own time. Tomorrow, she expects you to be ready for flight."

Jyn steals a glance at Cassian, who seems unfazed by the latter part of the droid's greeting. She looks back at Emmie and thanks her. As the droid walks off, Bodhi takes a sip of milk. "Does Cassian know?"

"Jyn mentioned your mission. You're looking for a group of mercenaries that we need to convince to become a rebel cell." Cassian takes another bite of bread, waiting for someone else to speak up. Jyn takes the cue. "It was too sensitive to discuss in detail on the way here, but we're looking for a man named Saponza," she supplies. "Does that name sound familiar to you?"

Cassian chews carefully, dark eyes fixed intently on a spot on the table. His brow furrowed and his jaw stiffened as he sifted again through information in his head. Saponza…mercenary…rebel cell…militia…Saw Gerrera…almost there…Jedha? No, desert…Tatooine—"Mos Eisley." Cassian takes a gulp of milk from his glass.

Jyn tilted her head to one side, "The spaceport on Tatooine?"

"That's the place," Cassian nodded. "Like the Rebellion tried with Saw, we attempted to reach out to Saponza and his group of mercenaries, but they, too were not exactly sure what they were fighting for. They only knew that they did not agree with the Empire, so they pillaged where they could, saved who needed saving, and got by doing odd jobs for ring leaders like the Hutts." Cassian pauses and looks over his shoulder. He lowers his voice, "The Alliance could not wait for them to decide themselves. It's been a while, but back then, General Draven figured they were not yet a worthy investment. Why does your Pirate Queen want to catch his attention now?"

Jyn's gray eyes are almost playful when she replies, "When you wanted a tie-up with Saw Gerrera, you needed a way in. Maz is your way to Saponza. She intends to offer him a base here on Takodana and eventually affiliate them with the Rebellion."

Cassian raises his eyebrows, "Why?"

"She wants to help the Rebellion. She was friends with the Jedi."

"There are no Jedi anymore," Cassian says quickly, but unsure what to make of the constant resurfacing of the old fairytale warriors. "You can't put your trust in just stories."

"I put my trust in her stories," Jyn says without hesitation and she chooses the words that follow carefully. "Helping her is our only way off this planet right now. I have a debt to pay and this is simple enough."

When Cassian doesn't answer she tries to look at Bodhi for support. His eyes are wide and alert and he seems to urge her on. "You said so yourself," she says, turning back to Cassian. "You wanted to get them into the Alliance. It's been long enough. I'm sure they're just waiting for another opportunity. Maz intends to set course for destination tomorrow morning. When Bodhi and I return—"

Cassian's glare is enough to cut her off. Jyn swallows.

"Alright, listen. I gave you the lead and I'm coming with you," he says.

"Cassian…"

"I'm not taking any chances. This is a militant group we haven't engaged in years."

Jyn does not recognize the urgency in his voice, but she knows enough that it was not a voice of someone who was in the mood to argue.

"Your bacta treatment," she finally says stupidly.

"I'll finish them," comes the simple response.

Jyn watches Cassian take another bite from his meal and he glances at Bodhi. "What are we doing today?"

"I was going to take the chance to check on the cargo shuttle. Imperial ships rarely have pain points, but when they're fresh off the experimental phase you can never be too careful. We especially don't want the drives overcharged."

"After that, we should go look for Maz; see what she needs to be done before the mission tomorrow," Jyn does a quick scan of the mess hall, searching for the ex-smuggler to no avail.

Cassian finishes the milk in his glass and nods at Bodhi. "Let's get started on your ship."


"Any idea whose services Maz Kanata patronized for this?" Cassian asked, slightly out of breath as he kept his pace with his two companions. The way out of the mess hall and through the main entrance of the castle was winding, and now the trio found themselves walking the familiar grassy path to where they left their cargo shuttle.

"Possibly some guests who don't have enough credits to pay for their stay here, or some astromech and maintenance droids," Jyn replies. Cassian gives her a strange look, "How is this castle so well-equipped?"

Jyn shrugs, "No one knows exactly how this castle was built, nor how Maz came to be its mistress. Her statue at the entryway, though," Jyn makes a gesture to look over her shoulder, "That one is from her former husband."

"She had family?"

"None that anyone knows."

"You're posing a challenge for our Intelligence officer here," Bodhi grins and sees Cassian respond with a small laugh and shake of his head. "The castle is easily almost a millennia old, isn't? I'm sure all those flags hanging outside may have something to do with how it was built."

"Maybe." Jyn nods.

The cargo shuttle soon comes into view and the small group squints their eyes against the sunlight as they approach. Near the open cargo hold outside were two large containers.

"What are those?" Jyn asks a little too quickly for her own liking.

"Containers like that can keep all sorts of starship equipment and parts," Cassian offers. "Those are probably holding power cells for the drives."

Bodhi looks at Jyn with an amused expression, "You've really never flown before?"

"Not legally."

Cassian smirks. Figures.

Bodhi is first to reach the ramp of the shuttle. Just as he starts for the interior, an astromech wheels in front of him and bleeps persistently. The unsuspecting pilot throws his hands in the air, "Hey, easy!" Bodhi looks at over his shoulders towards the containers. "This is our shuttle. It runs on E-16x engines and I just wanted to make sure that your power cells are compatible."

The droid bleeps again but makes no motion to move aside. Cassian steps in. "You're a D3-S5, aren't you?"

The droid turns to look up at the rebel with its visual sensors. It lets out a low and prolonged beep, almost like a whistle. Cassian kneels in front of it. "I know. You're doing really well for your age," he says genuinely. "Let us inspect our ship and we can help you get your work done faster."

The D3 then turns to Jyn.

"She's with us. Consider her ground crew," Cassian supplies.

Apparently satisfied, D3 lets out another string of beeps and wheels out of the way.

"Thank you," Bodhi says, relieved. "Shall we have a look at those ion drives?"

As the pilot and astromech make their way out of the cargo hold to inspect the exterior, Jyn looks expectantly at Cassian. He responds with a glance towards the upper deck, "Might as well look upstairs, see what we should replenish for the journey home."

Jyn nods back and follows Cassian to the upper deck. They find no one in the cockpit and the silence comes accompanied by a wave of unwelcome memories.

'Everyone stay down! Inspection team is on their way.' Jyn and Cassian had squeezed against each other under the main console of the upper deck. Neither of them had dared to breathe as they strained their ears and listened to Bodhi casually talk up the approaching inspection team.

'Hey!' They heard him say. 'You're probably looking for a manifest.'

'That would be helpful.' The imperial officer replied, polite but officious. When they heard Bodhi lift a hatch below, Jyn and Cassian locked gazes, apprehensive of everything that could go wrong if this part of the plan were to screw itself over. 'It's just down here.'

Barely 10 counts had passed when Kay-Tu's head emerged from the step ladder from the lower deck. He found Jyn and Cassian and he nodded customarily. 'Time to go!' He'd said, perhaps too cheerily for a droid.

Presently, Jyn steps over to the co-pilot seat where Kay, and later Cassian, had stayed during flight. She runs her hands over the control panel and barely notices Cassian make his way to the back of the ship towards the supplies storage. "Jyn?"

Jyn tears her eyes away from the viewport and follows Cassian to the back. He was already rummaging through the remaining cases. "Help me take inventory of this, will you?"

"Sure," Jyn says, shaking her head to clear her mind. She stands still and watches as Cassian rests his hands on a case and bows his head. "You alright?"

"Only yesterday…" Cassian murmurs, eyes steady as he found Jyn's, "We were on this ship on a mission to save the galaxy. Now, we're in a momentary rut. We'll get out of it."

Jyn furrows her brow, unsure of what Cassian was trying to say. Almost as if he senses her thoughts, he continues, "I owe this much to you," he said. "Mon Mothma said to never forget what we did to you. She won't. I won't."

"What are you—"

"I joined the Rebellion by choice," he cuts again. "Perhaps not completely, but somehow I did by choice. You on the other hand, were forced into it. But it looks like you've chosen it anyway."

"I have," Jyn replies quickly. "No pain that might have come with that choice can ever amount to the pain that came with the empire. I've been fighting my whole life and I've wasted so much effort on denying the inevitable." She stops and she can see worry creeping in to Cassian's eyes. He does not doubt her. She knows also that he does not doubt her strength. But she sees that he worries. "I'm not looking to be a hero," she continues. "But I want nothing more than to die fighting for a reason now."

"And I'll be with you," Cassian said quietly. "If you'll have me."

Jyn smiles and lifts her chin slightly, "It would be an honor, captain."

Cassian smiles back.


The team had regrouped outside the cargo shuttle and were joined by a BLX maintenance droid named Bollux, who was just finishing a detailed run-down of the shuttle's condition to Bodhi when Jyn and Cassian came into hearing.

"Otherwise, your shuttle will be within flying condition within the next 48 hours. You may already want to stock up on provisions for your journey."

"Thank you, Bollux," Bodhi nods and regards his friends. "We're good here. We can stock up tomorrow at our first port."

"D3 and I will be working your shuttle all night. You do not need to worry," Bollux chimes again, raising an arm slowly in the air in an imitation of a triumphant fist. Just then D3 bleeps excitedly, bouncing on his servos.

"Looks like we're being summoned," Bodhi offers.

Jyn nods at the droids, "Thank you again for your help. We'll try to come by tomorrow."

As the party separated, Bodhi led the way across the field seemingly to the back of the castle.

"D3 mentioned a hangar?" Cassian clarifies, looking curiously at the other pilot.

"Well…a makeshift hangar," comes the response.

"Nothing is as simple as a makeshift here in Maz Kanata's castle," Jyn speaks up, looking at her companions with a glit in her eye. "The hangar will blow you away."

"You've seen it?" Cassian asks.

Jyn doesn't respond and she moves ahead to lead the group faster. When they turn to follow the castle's perimeter, she hears both men behind her stifle gasps of awe.

Before them was a massive stone archway, reminiscent of the launch bay on Yavin 4, only much grander and even much more demanding of reverence. Ancient patterns were embossed on the stone, some images and others words in the most ancient languages of the galaxy. On a large protruding stone at the center of the arch was old Corellian. From here, good men fly. Beneath their wings, the Force will guide. Cassian and Bodhi turn their heads as they follow Jyn into the hangar, the wind was creating a low roar from inside, and it found harmony in the bustling sounds of droids and aliens attending to their ships.

"This is incredible!" Bodhi breathed, "I've never seen a more magnificent space station."

"Glad you like it."

The team's attention was brought to a smiling Maz walking briskly in their direction. She adjusted her large glasses before pointing to Cassian, "My Em-six is worried about you, Cassian Andor," she says.

Cassian shifts his weight, "She's already done a wonderful job putting me back together. Thank you for allowing me to heal in your sanctuary."

"If you are important to this girl," Maz juts a thumb towards Jyn, "You might be important to me."

Jyn's eyes widened slightly and she decided not to see if Cassian was looking at her. What was she supposed to make of that statement anyway?

"I need two pilots, and you two will do," the mistress continues, her tone suddenly snappy. "Follow me."

Jyn watches the two men walk ahead and she follows, looking around again to see if she will find any familiar faces.

"I only need a quick inspection done on this ship. If you're coming with me, you'll do well to know her in-and-outs anyway." Maz was practically calling over her shoulder.

Bodhi looks at Cassian, "Ready for your next mission?"

"More than you know," Cassian replies determinedly.

After the trio make their way past several large containers blocking their view of whatever lay ahead, they stop short at the sight of the ship before them. The large metal structure looked heavily built but streamlined, perfect for carrying cargo and making quick getaways and cutting through space at high speed travel. It was a dull gray ship, but it wasn't shy of its age. It looked even proud with streaks of cosmic blue and purple lining the hull and canons. Cassian surprises himself by speaking up first.

"That's a beautiful ship."

Maz laughs. "I like you already," she says. "This ship is my favorite, and I take her on all my adventures. The Stranger's Fortune." The sentient turns to face her guests, a playful smile on her lips, "Others know her as the Tua-Lu."

Cassian looks back at Maz and his mind is buzzing with amusement. He does not say anything aloud, but he could at least entertain himself with thoughts of the ship that was on the same level of notoriety as a certain Millennium Falcon; just with a lot more elegance credited to its owner.


A/N: Sprinkling some not-so-obvious to really-obvious Easter Eggs. Think you can name all of them so far? Till next chapter, where I'm sure you all can see the adventure starting ;)