Cassian had always been a singularly focused man. Raised amidst the rebellion as a child of war, he couldn't help but see only what lie directly before him. Looking behind offered only regret, ahead only confusion, but right in front of him was certainty.

A footstep

A blaster shot

A direct order

In them he found respite.

As the men around him lined the perimeter of the icy trench, strapping supplies to their backs and cradling weapons to their chests, he stood still, staring worriedly into the blinding snow. It was unbearably quiet. The freshly fallen snow was absorbing much of the sound, giving a false impression their enemy lie far off.

The ability to see what lie directly in front of him no longer offered the same comfort as before. The duty to protect his comrades no longer gave him consolation. His normally clear though processes betrayed him as his stood immobile in his apprehension.

It was rare his thoughts lingered on the prospect of failure or capture, but recent events had stirred something deep within him he didn't care to address. What if the cause they had fought for all this time wasn't worth the losses they suffered? Even if victory could be attained, who would remain to revel, to remember how to live in peace?

A loud hum of building energy caused his ears to ring. His chest began to tighten from his proximity to the large weapon. He turned as he heard a report echo across the comlink of the impending fire of the ion canon. He head snapped upward as a large transport flew out of sight, flanked by two fighters, quickly making its way out of atmosphere. The shield was being lowered to allow their escape, yet leaving all those on the planet below a vulnerability.

Successive shots rang out as the ion cannon fired, the concussive sound shaking the ground nearby. He watched as the beams trailed close behind the transport as it disappeared beyond his vision.

Hearing the com system crackle to life, a voice proclaimed its fate.

The first transport had made it safely out of atmosphere and past the waiting Imperials. The men around him cheered as he remained stoic, gun aiming expectantly above the trench, preparing for the inevitable fight that lay before them. He wanted nothing more than to sink to the ground in relief at the thought that those who mattered most to him were safely off planet, but he had no confirmation they'd even made it aboard, nor any hope that he would make it out to join them.

The ground trembled ever so slightly, going unnoticed by the rest of the men in the trench. Cassian strained his eyes in hope of revealing objects that lay beyond his sight. He put a hand to his chest, willing it to calm as he felt adrenaline course through his body.

They were relying so heavily on their vision, that they neglected to listen for the sounds being carried across the ice.

The pattern of the gait was familiar, the distant sound of metal slamming to the icy ground with each step.

Sergeant Major Callum adjusted his binoculars as he trained them at the white expanse. Pulling them hastily from his face, he lifted his arm to speak loudly into the com at his writs.

The crack of static started Cassian from his vigilance, the report that followed confirming his suspicions.

"Echo Station 3T8, we have spotted Imperial Walkers."

The men around him shuffled to take their places, bodies pressed flush against the ice. The trench became silent, save for the sound of heavy breathing as the men shook in nervousness.

Cassian realized this would probably be the first time most of them had ever seen an Imperial Walker, and perhaps, for man, the last. Having been part of the Alliance as long as he had, Cassian had known of their existence and had seen one up close for the first time during a recognizance mission a year prior to the Battle of Yavin.

But Scarif had been the first time he'd seen the destruction they were capable of up close. The Empire built weapons large enough to match their egos, and spared no expense in their mission to destroy the rebellion.

The AT-AT's were menacing in size and power, their armor impenetrable to most standard blaster or canon fire. The sound of metal grating in their joints paired with the hiss of hydraulic valves was moving closer as they waiting for the walkers to reach shooting distance.

As Cassian took aim behind his weapon he found himself temporarily blinded as a flash of white-hot blaster fire cut through the air over his shoulder. The blast caused ice and snow to rain upon the men around him. His hand flew to the damaged sin as he grimaced at the sharp pain. The collar of his thermal jacket had taken the brunt of the damage, but his cheek bore proof of his close encounter.

The trench erupted into chaos around him as the soldiers returned blaster fire. He knew before the shots had met their target, it would prove impossible to penetrate its armor. As the Imperials continued to rain down fire upon them, he watched with hope as the Rogue Squadron flew overhead, providing coverage for all those battling on the ground below.

Cassian realized that the force they fought against was too great to suppress. Their job was no longer about beating the enemy, it was now protecting the base long enough for their comrades to escape.

He began firing his weapon at the head of the giant walker, where he knew the operator controlled the great beast. He hoped the blaster fire might distract them long enough to hinder their search for the shield generator. It would only take a few calculated shots to destroy what they sought, but the damage would prove catastrophic. A blast of that magnitude would collapse even the strongest of ice caverns. Echo Base would be turned into an icy tomb, leaving any personnel not killed by the Empire, to die trapped in the ice below.

Several soldiers began leaping from the trenches, racing across the deep snow in hopes of rescuing pilots and their gunners who'd been injured and abandoned. Cassian watched in horror as one by one they were gunned down before reaching their men. Only a half-dozen men remained in the trench beside him, including Callum, who continued to bark orders to his men. The com shield directly behind them burst into flames as it was hit by heavy fire. Bits of metal and ice pelted them as they ducked deeper into the trench for cover. As Cassian lifted his blaster to return fire, an explosion rocked the ground, sending him airborne, before dropping his body back to icy ground below.

An unremitting ring echoed loudly in his ears. No longer could he hear blaster fire or voices yelling across the expanse. He held a hand to the side of his head to find it covered in blood. He continued to lie still, uncertain as to whether he could even stand. The blood dripped down his face and pooled beneath his cheek, staining the ground and freezing on contact.

His back was screaming in pain, eyes rolling back as he fought to remain conscious. Forcing them to open, he found himself in another place entirely. All he could make out were the cylindrical walls of the data bank in the Citadel Tower. He willed his limbs to move, but his efforts were met with blinding pain. A voice was screaming his name in terror, echoing off the walls and causing his head to pound. The desperation in her voice tore at his heart. It was a cry of one forsaken. She had confided in him not hours before that she wasn't used to people sticking around, and he had promised her a home with them. And here he was hours later, leaving her to fight another battle alone.

Whether for fear of Krennic hunting her down, or determination to send the transmission to the Alliance, he had managed to pull himself up and drag his broken body out of the tower.

Opening his eyes once more, he was blinded again by the bright white of Hoth.

He had no such motivation this time. He had no idea where Jyn was, or whether she'd made it off planet.

A shadow fell over him, blocking the brightness, and offering a brief respite to his sensitive eyes. As his vision cleared he stared back at a looming figure. His eyes widened as he found himself looking into the expressionless mask of an Imperial snowtrooper with a blaster pointed at his chest.

The cool metal of the door separating the cabin from the makeshift conference room was a welcome relief as Bodhi rest his head upon it. His palms lie flat against the door as he leaned his weight against it. Nearly 10 hours had passed since the Battle of Hoth began and the surviving members of the Alliance were spread across the universe like nocturnal creatures frightened by the light of the sun.

He caught sight of his face in the reflection of the glass and grimaced at the frightening display. His right eye was puffed up and swollen shut. Purple and black bruises lined the injury and the pressure building behind his eyelid was agonizing.

He banged on the door, willing the crew to let him in. He could only see a few feet into the room through the glass. He could hear shuffling as members of the crew fought to subdue a fellow passenger.

Jyn.

He winced at the sound of equipment being thrown against the wall. Metal instruments and furniture slammed to the ground. Gasps and grunts as a semblance of control was sought.

He continued to beat his fists against the door as he yelled, "Please, you don't understand. Let me in, I can explain!"

In resignation Bodhi slid to the floor, pulling his knees to his chest and resting his head against the door behind him. His eyes closed as the events of the past few hours played through his mind.

The evacuation siren continued to blare as Bodhi kept a tight grip on Jyn as they rushed through the corridors of Echo Base. The crowd was thick with rebels as they spilled into each corridor, racing to get to their positions. He cursed aloud as he heard the report that the first transport had just left dock. It wasn't that there weren't other transports available, it was the fact that Cassian had ordered him to get her out on the first. He knew part of Cassian's reasoning for fear Jyn would be caught in the middle of the battle with no way to protect herself. But Bodhi knew the bigger fear was missing the only transport that carried medical personnel and the bulk of supplies.

Jyn pushed Bodhi away, mumbling about not needing any help. He begrudgingly released his tightened hold and put a hesitant hand behind her back lest she fall.

Coming to the docking bay, Bodhi looked to the next closest transport as rebels hurriedly filled the ship. Allowing Jyn to lean against the ramp, Bodhi explained their predicament to the officer on duty and was shocked to see the man merely wave them in without question or documentation. Bodhi was in no position to argue and hurriedly ushered Jyn aboard.

The GR-75 transport was nothing to look at. Merely a hard-shell cargo ship with the ability to carry 50+ passengers with few amenities. This ship had little purpose other than to haul bodies and supplies off planet.

Bodhi pushed Jyn into the nearest vacant seat, placing them in the back of the hull, closest to the engineering room. The sound was deafening, and the engines weren't even at full tilt. He watched as she tried to secure the straps over her shoulders, each attempt to raise her arm resulting in a grimace of pain. Jyn rest her head on the seat behind her, attempting to catch her breath from the exertion of the failed attempt. Bodhi silently secured her as she failed to meet his gaze. He gently squeezed her shoulder before settling in himself.

As the cabin was secured, Bodhi felt a rush of fear as the transport lifted from the ground. Although he'd never admit it, his confidence in the air only presented itself when he was at the helm. Placing his life in the hands of another pilot was worrisome. He clenched his fists and resisted the urge to panic. The transport boasted no windows, save for the few at the front of the ship. He imagined a thousand ways the flight might end as it rocked and swayed in the unstable air. He thought about the battle they were flying over, wondering how many lay dead, and how many continued to fight as they escaped the planet. They were pressed back in their seats as the transport gained speed knowing it would be only a few seconds before they hit the atmosphere. The fear of being shot down planet-side would quickly be replaced by the fear of being blown up in deep space.

Icy fingers curled around his own, weakly squeezing them in comfort. Whether Jyn had reached out for her own fear or observance of his distress, he wasn't sure. But he watched with concern as the ships movement put added stress on her body. All color had left her skin as sweat poured down her face. She began to pull against her restraints, but Bodhi grasped the offered hand tightly, hoping to distract her from her attempts.

The hum of the engines lessened to a dull roar as they broke atmosphere. The whine of the hyperdrive grew louder as coordinates were set for their escape. They were pushed back into their seats as the jump to hyperspace was made, making them the second transport to escape unharmed.

As the ship leveled off and floated through space with relative ease, the passengers around them left their seats and began to mill about the ship, unpacking supplies and attempting to contact other transports leaving Hoth.

Bodhi watched as Jyn attempted to release herself from the seat, her weak arms straining to push the clasp. His hands brushed the restraint in an attempt to help her when she pushed against his chest in warning. He put his hands up to explain when she looked up at him. Her eyes had glazed over, a manic energy boiling under the surface. He wasn't sure where she was in her mind, but it certainly wasn't here. Pulling away from her he looked hurriedly for an officer that might have information on where he needed to take her, or who could help her. As he located a superior, the words were barely out of his mouth before he heard a commotion behind him.

He turned to find that Jyn was no longer strapped to her chair, but pushing past passengers in an attempt to reach the back of the ship. He hurriedly moved through the crowd, yelling to her to stop. Catching up he reached out and grabbed her shoulder, which would prove to be a costly mistake.

He never saw her fist coming until he found himself on the floor. He reached up to cover his eye, pain radiating from his cheek to his hairline.

He watched as officers quickly restrained her, receiving punches and kicks as she refused to go quietly. They were pulling her toward the front of the ship and Bodhi couldn't reach her fast enough. She started screaming in fear, startling the passengers on board, and sending them into momentary chaos.

Climbing to his feet, he yelled as the officers dragged her away. "Wait, you don't understand!"

The memory came to a halt as the door at his back slid open, causing him to fall to the floor in a heap.

The Captain who'd whisked Jyn away gave him a once over. Bodhi noticed angry scratches marred his face, skin broken in multiple places. He hid a smile at the knowledge that Jyn did not cower in fear.

"You the pilot?" he questioned.

Bodhi nodded depreciatingly and mumbled quietly, "Never going to live that down."

The man didn't find the comment particularly humorous and proceeded to force Bodhi into a standing position by gripping him tightly by the shirt collar.

"I don't know what kind of game you and Erso are playing at, but I won't have a defector and an Imperial sympathizer endangering the lives of the people aboard this transport, do you understand, pilot?"

Bodhi merely nodded, not trusting himself to speak for fear of making the situation worse.

The man moved to the side and gestured to a door at the end of the corridor, "Keep her quiet until we reach rendezvous, or I'll make sure to save the pair of you a seat on the next escape pod to jettison this ship. So stay out of my sight or take your chances with the Outer Rim."

As Bodhi made to open the door he timidly questioned the Captain, "She's not well. Are there medical supplies?

"This isn't a medical frigate. Any and all supplies aboard are stowed in cargo containers that cannot be accessed mid-flight. You'll have to make do."

As much support that Jyn and Bodhi had received in recent months from members of the Alliance, there were just as many that still held doubt as to their allegiance. He wondered what kind of action, if any, would convince the rest that they were not an enemy.

Bodhi's hand shook as he lifted it to press the door access. The room was cramped and dark, the air damp from a cooling system that had long gone unused. He could barely make out Jyn's form as she sat in the floor, leaning heavily against the bunk. Her head was bowed and he realized she was staring at her hands as they lay bound in her lap.

He bit back a curse as he kneeled in front of her, tearing with fumbling hands to rip the binds from her tender wrists.

Her wide eyes met his as she spoke with coherence for the first time since she'd returned from the mission. Her voice barely above a whisper,

"What happened to your eye?"

Bodhi smiled but saw no humor reflected in her eyes, only fear and concern.

"Just a run-in with one of the officers, nothing to worry about," he appeased with a wink.

"Where are we?" Jyn asked as she surveyed the small room.

"What's the last thing you remember?"

Jyn ran a shaky hand through her damp hair as she willed herself to recall.

"Shoes," she answered simply. Her feet rocked back and forth as she stared blankly ahead.

Bodhi sat beside her, leaning in to speak as she quieted.

"They sent a convoy, after we returned, to Derra IV. The Empire knew they were there. Wiped out half the fleet. We got reports of surveillance droids not long after. Not sure if they were tipped off at Derra IV, or if they'd been there longer. We made it out on the second transport. There hasn't been any word of other survivors."

"Cassian?"

"Ground troops. They'll be the last ones off planet."

Bodhi knew better than to assure her of Cassian's safety, or that of any remaining rebels currently unaccounted for. It was easier to accept harsh reality when it came than to cling to false hope.

The events of the day were weighing heavily upon him as he breathed a loud sigh.

"You should sleep," Jyn ordered, emotionless.

He reached his hand out, palm up, in offering to her. She continued to gaze into the dark room, ignoring his offer. The gentle hum of the ship washed over him as his breathing evened out. The last thing he remembered was a cold hand reaching for his own as he fell into a fitful sleep.

Bodhi was wakened by the sound of uneven breathing. The ship felt strangely calm, the engines having slowed to docking speed. His suspicions were confirmed as he felt the tremor of the transport as another vessel made contact.

His eyes burned with sleeplessness as he rubbed them vigorously, gasping in pain as he hit the sensitive skin that Jyn had pummeled not long before.

He turned to find her covered in a sheen of sweat. She had made no move to shed Cassian's thermal shirt in the warm cabin. He stared at her for a moment, noting the heavy eyes and slight tremor of her hands as she fought pain and restlessness. A mental war was waging that lie much deeper than the wounds on her skin.

His session with Bor Gullet had left him mentally distressed. The feeling of another creature looking at his inmost thoughts, traipsing and destroying all else in its path had left him feeling vulnerable and violated. He hadn't even remembered who he was until Cassian uttered the same words he'd heard not hours before, "Are you the pilot?"

How different each question had been. One filled with anticipatory hope, the other with disdain. He often wondered how it might have ended for him if Jyn and Cassian hadn't arrived on Jedha. Would he have succumbed to the madness of Bor Gullet, or would he have been turned to ash like the rest of the city in a show of Imperial power.

He knew the pain she was suffering was much worse than that of Bor Gullet, and he worried of the long-term affects her captivity might have on her mind.

Bodhi quietly moved to the door, leaving Jyn without a word. Bringing a hand to shield his eyes from the bright light of the corridor, Bodhi gazed out the nearest window to see if he could make out another ship. The narrow shape of the transport offered no view of docking ships, nor any other form of life.

The sound of men arguing moved closer to the door where he stood. One voice was low and gravelly, but it dominated the conversation. The exchange muted as Bodhi accessed the door panel that led to the central room of the transport.

The Captain and his second hand stared at him with looks akin to regret. More from embarrassment than repentance, but sorry nonetheless. They had no doubt been subject to a tongue lashing from whoever had walked up behind them.

Bodhi's chest tightened as Cassian pushed his way past the men. Before he could get a word out, Cassian had pulled him in to a brotherly embrace, trembling as the man reciprocated. It was so very unlike him to display affection so freely. It made him worry as to the outcome of the battle they had left behind.

Bodhi noticed Cassian flinch as he tightened the embrace, favoring his lower back in the same place he had injured it on Scarif.

Pulling away, Cassian stood straight before the two subordinates.

"Notify me as soon as any other transports check in. I would like to speak with any members of council as soon as they're located."

Without waiting for a reply, Cassian turned and shut the door, separated he and Bodhi from the other men. Dropping his pack to the floor, Cassian lowered to his haunches, head resting on the cool metal of the ship. Bodhi feared he was going to be sick.

"Alright?" he queried.

Cassian merely shook his head, warning Bodhi with a look not to press him for answers.

"Jyn?" Was his gruff reply.

Bodhi gestured with a nod of his head toward the room at the end of the corridor, "Doing about as well as you at the moment."

"That bad, huh?" Cassian offered a deprecating smile.

Grabbing his bag from the ground he motioned for Bodhi to lead the way down the corridor.

As Bodhi opened the door, Jyn came flying past him, barreling right into Cassian's chest. Her grip looked painfully tight around his torso, but he issued no complaint. Her heated face tucked into his neck as he twisted the fabric of her shirt in his fist.

After minutes of their silent embrace, Cassian pulled her away and ushered her to sit on the bunk behind her. His face was all business as he took in her ashen complexion.

"Has she had any medical attention?"

Bodhi hung his head. "No. We missed the first transport. I'm sorry, I didn't mean…"

His voice trailed off as the look on Cassian's face startled him.

"Don't apologize," he murmured, waving his hand in dismissal, "We were the last to leave. Transports were full, so we took what small fighters were left. By the time I configured coordinates to meet up with the first transport, a distress was issued across the com to change trajectory. The first transport along with several others that followed their course never made the jump to light speed. The Empire was tracking the trajectory of certain ships, then following them through hyperspace."

Cassian's red-rimmed eyes met both Jyn and Bodhi's as he continued, "I had no idea you were here," his mouth turned to a small smirk, "I've never been so happy to get a report about a passenger assaulting officers and inciting a riot."

Bodhi laughed in response, but Jyn remaining stoic through the conversation. Her eyes burning through Cassian.

"How many?" Jyn whispered.

"Jyn," he warned in a clipped response.

Her tired eyes met his own and begged once more, "How many, Cassian?"

As he began to speak he rifled through his pack, dumping its contents on the bunk between them. A meager stash of medical supplies, a few rations, and a change of clothes emptied from the bag. He picked up each item, inspecting them as he spoke. Anything to keep from making eye-contact.

"That I know of, at least 15 transports, maybe more. After the first few were destroyed, the remainder of the fleet disabled their com systems. Troops on the ground fared no better. A third of the ground troops were taken out by Imperial Walker fire, whoever was left was either hunted down by snow troopers or buried beneath the ice. We didn't stand a chance."

Jyn nodded silently as he watched them take in his words. Both she and Bodhi looked like they sought further explanation but knew better than to press him further.

He watched as her frame began to shake, realizing she'd taken in what supplies he'd dumped on the bunk. Bacta patches, numbing agents, and packaged syringes were strewn in front of her. He inwardly cursed himself for being so negligent.

Without seeking permission he pressed a palm to her head, then moved gently to her neck, careful not to irritate her wounds further. He knew it to be a rudimentary method of checking her temperature, but he didn't dare wave medical supplies in front of her.

He didn't need a thermometer to tell him her temperature was dangerously high, and had been for some time. His fear was not being able to determine its cause. If withdrawal from sedatives and hallucinogens were the cause, there was nothing he could do for her, no minimal dose he could provide to lessen the pain of the substances leaving her system. If it were infection, he could at least administer a level of pain relief.

Nodding to her arms, he asked a silent question. She neither refused nor acquiesced, so he proceeded. He noticed that she still wore the same clothing he'd provided for her before they left Hoth. Shoes still swallowing her tiny feet, and thermal shirt drenched in sweat. A part of his heart soared at the prospect that his shirt brought her a modicum of comfort, but the relief was short lived.

He rolled her sleeves up as gently as possible, baring her arms to both he and Bodhi. Her head was bowed, not wishing to watch his ministrations.

The needle marks were irritated far worse than we he last got a look at them. She had, no doubt, scratched at them, perhaps unconsciously as the burn and itch inflamed her arms. His thumb brushed over the skin as Jyn's breath blew out in a pained hiss.

"Do you know what they used?" he questioned as he rolled the sleeves back down. In her silence, he continued, "Do you remember how it made you feel? What side effects?"

Her silence worried him. He knew he was pushing her toward a subject she had no intention of broaching. She was that much like him, that she simply wished to move on.

He lifted her chin with his finger, his eyes softening as she at last gave him notice. He watched as Bodhi rest a gentle hand of comfort on her shoulder, reminding her she was safe.

"I can't help you if I don't know what happened."

He watched as she opened and closed her mouth several times, the words stuck somewhere between her head and her heart.

He thought back to all he knew concerning Imperial interrogation. He ran over names of drugs administered and droids used, anything to keep her from having to relive her entire experience.

"When they gave you the drug, did it feel hot? Like your blood was boiling?

Her head shook as she answered simply, "Cold".

He grimaced as her answer negated the most common side effect of interrogation drugs he was familiar with.

"Did the pain feel dull? Like you were given the ability to withstand higher amounts of pain?"

Jyn stared at his chest, her voice an even tone, never changing its inflection, "I felt everything." Her hand went to her chest to grab at the source of comfort that resided there. Her heart began to race as she was reminded of its loss. A warmth enveloped her skin as she realized Cassian put his calloused hand in its place. The coolness of the crystal replaced by the warmth of his skin.

The sensitivity of her nervous system was still screaming to rip her hand away from Cassian's. His touch proving almost overwhelming with the drugs still exiting her body.

"Jyn, I want to be honest with you," Cassian explained tentatively. His face apologetic, though no remorse fell from his lips.

"You're going to need something to treat the infection that's causing your fever, and reduce the pain long enough for you to get some rest."

As Cassian turned to rummage through his bag once more, he watched from the corner of his eye as she drew in upon herself and moved closer to Bodhi, who'd taken up residence on the bunk alongside them.

He knew better than to reach for a syringe and send her into another manic episode. He reached instead for a topical analgesic. He knew it had both painkilling and numbing properties. His hope was that he could get her calm enough for an injection to go unnoticed. The consequences could be dire otherwise.

Cassian tugged at the collar of thermal, folding it down to expose her neck. The skin was painfully raw, bleeding in places, weeping in others. He kept his face free of emotion though his heart was pounding furiously in his chest. Waving the pack of bacta gel within her vision he spoke unobtrusively, "This will take the sting out. It should heal up the skin in no time."

She lay back against the head of the bunk, resting her aching body with her eyes tightly closed. An almost imperceptible nod was all she offered him as permission. He kept his eyes on her responses as he first touched his hands to her slender neck. Her skin was pouring sweat, radiating heat to his own body. Each time his hand touched the wound she gave an involuntary shudder, eyes rapidly moving behind closed lids, her mind replaying events from her captivity. More than once, her hand came up and captured his wrist, stilling his movements.

He tightened his grip on her arm as he whispered her name, "Jyn? I need you to stay with us, okay?"

Chancing a glance at Bodhi he could see the same worry etched on his face.

"Talk to me, Jyn."

Her eyes opened enough to peer at him. Her eyes were squinted, the aversion to such dim lighting concerned him.

"About what?"

Cassian hadn't thought he'd get that far and was at a loss. He just needed to distract her long enough to patch her up. He didn't dare ask about her captivity. Memories of her father and Saw still too fresh in their pain to mention.

Jyn was scratching at her chest again. The resting place of her kyber crystal was teasing her with its residual memory. Cassian's cool hand pressed against her own as her eyes opened fully to meet his.

"Your mother. Tell me about her."

As the words spilled from his lips he began to worry that he'd made the wrong choice. She didn't speak of her mother often, and he didn't wish to stir up painful memories. He knew it was in case in his own life.

He relaxed when he saw Jyn's eyes close as a small smirk pulled at her pale lips.

She rest her head on the wall behind her, face turned to the right where Cassian kneeled at the side of the bunk. The touch of Cassian's hands on her neck faded as willed herself to think back to the earliest memories of her mother.

Galen may have been the parent she emulated, the one she sought out for comfort, but her mother was her protector.

As a child, her father had reiterated multiple times that the choices he made were only to protect her and her mother, but as she grew into an adult she began to realize that many of the choices he made had been out of passivity. While her father used his mind and technical skills, her mother used her heart and a blaster.

For as many who knew her only as the daughter of Galen Erso, she was first and foremost a mirror image of Lyra.

"There were times I hated her," she began softly. "She chided my father for letting me get so close to his work, for letting me interact with his associates on Coruscant. My father was a dreamer, but my mother was his touchstone."

She could feel a coolness on her skin as Cassian applied the gel, moving from her neck to her arms. Her body stiffened briefly, before relaxing as she continued.

"My father trusted everyone, even those who had previously betrayed him. He was blind to the workings of his colleagues until it was too late. His passion to design and create overshadowed his ability to discern the motivations of those who employed him. But my mother, she saw through it all, and it was a source of contention for them."

Jyn thought back to the days before Krennic arrived on Lah'mu, working in the kitchen with her mother.

Her eyes were fixed on the window that looked out onto the tall grass beyond their home. The wind blew with such ferocity that the blades seemed to change color from deep green to blue. It played a song as it danced through the hills, telling a story with its gusts and calm.

A cool splash of water startled her as she turned toward its origin. Her mother's exasperated face greeted her.

"At this rate your chores won't done before nightfall. You've got to get your head out of the stars, Jyn. One man's daydreaming is another man's day."

A dish was handed to her to put away as her mother motioned toward the cabinet with a nod. She begrudgingly put the remaining dishes away knowing the wash on the line would be next. Head hung low she walked toward the door. A gentle hand on her shoulder stopped her movements.

Kneeling in front of Jyn, her mother offered a sad smile as she brushed her hair behind her ears.

"Why do you think I ask these things of you, Jyn?"

Jyn looked up from the floor and shrugged her small shoulders, "I don't know, mama. To learn a lesson, I guess."

Lyra smiled at the simplistic answer that came from her daughters lips. She turned to face the door, her gaze following that of her child. Galen stood out in the fields, head facing the sky, staring into clouds as if they'd answer him.

"Jyn, you've had to grow up so fast, love," her voice breaking before clearing her throat to hide her emotion. "I teach you these things because I want you to learn how to take care of yourself, to take care of those around you."

Her mother ran her hand over her chest, pulling ever so softly at the jewelry that hid beneath, as she often did when she was worried.

She looked back out at Galen as she continued, "If anything ever happens, Jyn…if something ever happens to me or your papa, I want to know that you will be safe."

Kneeling in front of her once more, Lyra cupped Jyn's cheeks in her hands. "There may come a day when your dreams cease to comfort you. When the light is dim and you can't see hope for fear. Don't get lost searching for dreams, love."

Kissing her cheek, Lyra nudged Jyn's back toward the door, "Go on then, go see your papa."

Jyn pressed a wet kiss to her face and ran unabashed toward her father. Her mother's words floating away with the breeze.

Her eyes opened to find Cassian had risen from the floor to perch beside her on the bunk. Bodhi was by her other side, eyes closed, resting his hand on the bandage that had already been finished. Her neck and left arm were wrapped tightly with a binding, keeping her from irritating it further. Cassian was pressing his thumb against the crease where her forearm met her elbow. He looked startled to find her eyes upon him.

Cassian had listened as she mumbled half incoherently a story about her mother. Her words touched a place in his heart he didn't visit often. He tried to focus on arms as her voice slipped in and out of consciousness. His own thoughts began to stray to his own mother, a woman who had also been taken from her child much too soon.

He reached behind him to grab a syringe, confident Jyn would not feel its ministration when her eyes opened to meet his. Her voice mumbled a question to him as her eyes closed once more, "Everything okay?"

"Yeah," he croaked, "Almost finished."

He could tell much of the pain had subsided, the numbing agent was working, and her body was starting to relax.

"Cassian?" Jyn whispered, eyes capturing his under heavy lids.

"Hmm?" his deep voice rumbled, uncertainty tinging his reply.

"What do you remember about your mother?" Her eyes closing as she waited for him to answer.

Cassian swallowed hard against the lump in his throat, his emotion at the simple question surprising him. He had spoken to no one of his mother since his father died and he joined the rebellion so many years ago. It pained him that he knew so little about the woman who gave him life.

Cassian began to wrap Jyn's other arm as he weighed the words on his heart.

"I remember her voice."

He tied the binding on her arm, hoping against hope she'd fallen asleep, and he could remain silent. With eyes still shut Jyn reached a hand out to him, pulling him closer to her. Cassian obliged and moved to rest against the wall beside her, careful not to jostle her fragile body.

"Tell me," she pressed him.

Cassian looked closer at her as she leaned her weight into him. Her furrowed brow had softened, and her heartrate slowed, but the fever remained, just as he knew the dreams would. He ran his fingertips along the bindings of her arm, stopping at each place he knew her skin had been pierced. He had already counted them, traced each one, as he applied the dressing. He kept his eyes down as he recounted the memories he bore.

"My mama died when I was two years old. Most of my memories are passed to me from my papa. He didn't talk about her often. I think sometimes he would look at me and see her. I bore her olive skin and dark eyes. He would stare at me, then turn away as if it pained him to look at me."

His hand grasped Jyn's for support as he continued, "All I remember is her singing to me in the most beautiful language I'd ever heard. She was not from Fest, but from another system my parents never spoke of. I speak of it what I remember, which is less and less all the time."

"What were the words?" she whispered.

His eyes burned at the memory, the words running effortlessly through his mind, words he tried and tried to forget. He dare not sing them, his voice no match for the sound of his mother in his memory. His deep voice rumbled in his chest as he recited the words like a poem as quietly as he could manage.

Estrellita del lejano cielo,

que miras mi dolor,

que sabes mi sufrir.

Baja y dime

si me quiere un poco,

porque yo no puedo sin su amor vivir.

Jyn's grip on his hand loosened and her breathing began to even. He continued to speak as he pulled out the syringe. Positioning the sharp needle against her battered skin, his words shook as he broke the skin. A small whimper escaped her lips as he removed the needle, but her eyes remained shut. He covered the spot and squeezed her hand as he settled back against the wall beside her. Her fevered head rest its weight on his shoulder as he stroked her arm in reverence. He finished the sad song, barely audible, as he rest his head in return.

¡Tu eres estrella mi faro de amor!

Tu sabes que pronto he de morir.

Baja y dime

si me quiere un poco,

porque yo no puedo sin su amor vivir.

*The song that Cassian mentions is "Estrellita" by Manuel Ponce

Translated lyrics are:

Little star from the distant sky
That watches my pain
That knows my suffering
Come down and tell me if you like me a little
Because I can't live without your love

You are, Little star, my beacon of love
You know that I will soon die
Come down and tell me if you like me a little
Because I can't live without your love