I fifteen I

.

Cassian Andor had little left to surprise him in this life. At least, at one point, he was absolutely sure of it. Then Luthen Rael came into his life. He was sent to an Imperial prison where he incited a prison riot. Meanwhile, the woman who raised him died. Maarva died. And he joined the rebellion. A rebellion he was learning more and more about, and suspected he did not yet know anything about. That was Luthen's method.

Yet now he was sitting in the co-pilot's seat with the face of a surprised child.

When the imperial ship which, he had learned, was to take him to Coruscant, was attacked, he continued to sit in his cell with complete peace of mind.

He wondered how much chance he would have of leaving a trail after he landed, that might inform the rebellion that his mission had been a complete failure. It was the best he could do at the moment.

Then the corridor of the prison block burst open and the stormtroopers flew past his door at head height. Lasers zigzagged, and suddenly, everything went deadly silent. Only the muffled sound of sirens cut through the air.

'Are you planning to move?' was all Kleya shouted from the doorway, before she shot the shield and threw a beam gun at him. She didn't have to say twice.

It seemed like only moments have passed, before they were aboard the shuttle and out of hyperspace. It was only when he finally put the weapon down beside him, that he noticed his hands were bloody and his whole arm was in spasm. He must have fired hundreds of shots. Kleya gasped.

Cassian leaned back in his chair. Finally he could think. He couldn't understand how Kleya could have freed him without a larger group of rebels.

'Feran' she said, without looking at him. 'Our spy. He signaled us when you came aboard and was kind enough to download the necessary clearance codes from the central terminal. They didn't even notice when I arrived. Our departure... that's another matter" she shrugged, then gasped again.

Cassian's eyes glimpsed at her dress. It was ripped at her shoulder as a laser burnt it. Underneath, her skin was scorched.

'Clean and bandage it' he said. Kleya looked at him angrily. 'Clean it' he repeated on a serious tone. She stared at him for a long moment, but stood up in surrender and walked backwards.

A moment later, Cassian found himself face to face with Luthen Rael. He was inscrutable. His hood was pushed back slightly on his head as he sat down in the pilot's seat and began to input the destination coordinates.

Cassian did not tell, how he failed to save Mon Mothma. He didn't have to. Luthen figured it out a long time ago.

'What do you know about her?' Luthen chose to ask what he hadn't known yet. Cassian hesitated for a moment.

'The first and last time I saw the senator, she was being led away in the prison block on level C. Her cell must be in the second block. That was a few rotations ago. When I saw her' he looked up at Luthen 'I think she was already dead'

'She sent a signal' the man turned back. 'Yesterday'

Cassian's chest heaved as a sigh of relief escaped his lips. He stepped to his side and glanced at the display.

'But that's... A73322...' he read the numbers, then his eyes narrowed. 'These are new coordinates. We were supposed to approach the base from the South'

'We were. But Eriq Serosa is not a fool. And it looks like, he's not afraid to get his hands dirty. Think about it. Mon has been in his prison for over a week. I'd say there's a good chance he either killed her or figured out how to get out of her what he wants. And unless my deduction is wrong... she's still alive.

'None of us would betray the rebellion' Cassian snapped.

'No' Luthen stroked along his chin, 'I suppose not. But the empire has ways of doing it against her will. She may not even realize it. Perhaps she doesn't even remember. That's why it's so dangerous.

A flood of memories ran through Cassian's mind. Ferrix was not so long ago. Then Luthen continued.

'Maybe it's better if she confessed. At least we know where this Admiral Serosa is waiting for us'

'And the sign? Can we go back for her?

Luthen shook his head.

'She could not send a sign without Serosa noticing it. Which implies that he did, but he let her doing it. Which means that's exactly what he wanted. We can't go back. Maybe... if all goes according to plan - and pray it does – after Corellia we'll have a better chance.

He stood up and activated the hyperdrive. Cassian watched as the stars stretched into sharp streaks and they disappeared into the darkness of space.

Little did he know at that moment that Luthen had very specific plans, not only for Corellia, but also for Senator Mothma.

.

Fleet Admiral Eriq Serosa sat exhausted in his office after a very long day. After a day, he had finally fought the rebels in Corellia. After a day when, for the first time in his life, he had failed.

He hasn't said this out loud yet, and very quietly even to himself. For the moment he savoured the expression, as it had never happened to him before. He tasted it, and he didn't like it very much. He was caught in a wave of anger again and again, when remembered that the wretched rebels had done nothing according to plan, and when he remembered what he would have to endure from Tarkin after all of this. That stupid, smug grin of his. Until the end of time.

He wanted to go down to the prison block immediately to tear her apart with his bare hands. How could she lie to him? It's impossible! She couldn't lie! Not by words nor... actions. He shook his head as started down the corridor.

He took such big steps, he was already only a few steps away from block C. If anybody got in his way, he'd shoot them before thinking twice. No one approached him fortunately. The display almost cracked when he pressed the inactivation button on the shield blocking the cell entrance.

It was the usual half-light, with only the night light of the corridor filtering in. The Senator was lying on her bed. Her hands by her sides, her face as peaceful as ever. Exactly as he'd left her last night.

He rushed to her side. He was literally fuming with rage. He just wanted to pull her up from there with a rough jerk. And actually why not?

'Faking sleep won't save you!' he thundered. Eriq grabbed her roughly by the shoulders and shook her.

Mon's head lolled to the side.

Serosa leaned back slightly. There was something unnatural about the movement. He shivered.

'Wake up!' he shouted in her face. But she did not respond. Her mouth seemed to have no colour. Eriq's eyes widened.

After a moment's hesitation, he reaches for her neck, as he did last time. Her skin felt cold. As if burned, he jumped away from her.

'But... it can't be' he said unconsciously to the dark walls of the cell, but he knew very well by now, that it could be. He knew what the use of serum entailed. He knew that there could be serious consequences. Strange dreams, visions, madness. And he knew she could die aswell. And yet he gave it to her.

He gave it to her.

'When I left you, you were fine! You were absolutely fine' he said voice shaking.

He shook her once more in panic, but it did nothing.

She was dead.

.

Serosa woke up in his room suddenly as if he had been chased. His lungs wanted to burst out of his chest. Fleet Admiral Eriq Serosa was shaking all over. He tried to take deep breaths, but it didn't help.

He could not get out of this nightmare. His heart was still beating hurtfully.

He immediately reached for his uniform clumsily and began to put it on. If he didn't go down and see if this annoying, cynical, insufferable, arrogant woman was alive... this one who had just ruined his career... then... he would go mad by the next morning for sure.