Chapter Text
“Where’s Cassian?”
Bodhi doesn’t need to look up from the holo to know that it’s Ruescott Melshi talking. He’d recognize the man’s accent a mile away and besides, it’s not the first time he’s asked that question. It wasn't even the first time that day .
“Where do you think?” Bodhi smirks knowingly.
Their near escape on Scarif was a combination of bravery and sheer dumb luck. Bodhi had dragged himself in a trail of blood to the ship with other survivors, narrowly spotting two figures embracing on the beach and grabbing them with seconds to spare. By all accounts, none of them should have made it out alive.
Yet here they are.
The rebel alliance council was willing to overlook their blatant disobedience of orders in the face of their overwhelming achievement. General Draven, well, he hasn’t quite embraced the defectors with open arms, he has a healthy dose of cynicism built up from years of oppression, but there’s a level of respect there. He recognizes a bonded team when he sees one.
“Yeah, he’s with Erso. I gathered that, but where ?” Melshi presses irritably. “Mess hall? War room? Private quarters?”
“Doubt it. That would mean they’d have to talk about their feelings,” Bodhi sniggers, shaking his head.
In the months of recovery after Scarif, it’s become common knowledge that where Jyn Erso is, Cassian Andor isn’t far behind. They’re more than friends, everyone can see it. Everyone except them.
Melshi lets out something akin to both a sigh and a grunt. “Mum and Dad need to get their kriffing act together, we can’t keep watching them dance around each other.”
“Nothing to do with me,” Bodhi warns. “I’m not getting involved in that Sarlacc pit!”
Melshi grunts again. They are involved because Rogue One is now an official crew. Given their bonding experience, General Draven put it to them to create a rebel intelligence team. Highly classified, using the Imperial stolen ship and its facade to sneak through enemy lines. Cassian leads the group. Jyn has her talent for slicing and forgery cracking codes while Bodhi has the experience of working within the Imperial machine. Chirrut, Baze and Melshi are flexible, doing anything that suits their particular talents, even if that’s just laying down cover fire while they make a hasty exit.
It’s an arrangement that suits everyone. Jyn doesn’t want to leave the rebellion after her experiences, but she’s made it clear she follows Cassian more than the council. It makes Draven wary, but they need everyone they can get and at least she shows loyalty to someone .
His words.
“Like it or not, we’re a crew. These interpersonal issues affect everyone,” Melshi points out, leaning against the ship's console. “We’re only as strong as the weakest link.”
“We don’t have any weak links. Certainly not those two. If anything, they’re stronger together.”
“How very poetic,” Melshi snorts. “Remind me to let you do the speech at their wedding.”
“Care to put credits on that?”
Melshi grins. Anything for a little entertainment around here. “Alright, 100 credits says Erso and Andor are married by the end of the year.”
“The year? You really think they’ll move that quickly?!”
“Listen, I know Cassian. Once he actually makes his mind up, he’s dead set. That’s it, and Jyn? This isn’t just some fling, he loves that girl…he just doesn’t know it.”
“You’re serious,” Bodhi exclaims. “Alright, fine. I’ll take that bet!”
The men shake hands, sealing the deal.
Melshi never did find Cassian, not until the crew was summoned to the war room by General Draven for a classified briefing. Mon Mothma stands at the head of the holotable, the rest of the crew scattered around the blue flickering glow of the hologram.
“We have an assignment for you. Highly classified and completely under the radar,” Mon says, pressing a few buttons.
The outline of a planet appears. “This is Bavva. It’s the location of what we believed was an imperial outpost but our information has uncovered something else.”
The holo changes, zooming in to show what looks like a refinery. “Our intelligence believes that the Empire has been researching biological weapons. As I’m sure you can all agree, that absolutely cannot happen.”
Cassian frowns, leaning on the console. “What’s the mission?”
“We want your team to confirm exactly what’s going on down there,” Draven says. “Those labs supposedly used to be a spice refinery, a number of the workers still reside at a settlement nearby. Start there, then go to this lab and come back with proof. Show us what we might be up against. If you can, cut it off at the source.”
“Do we know if this is the only source?” Jyn asks. “What if there are other labs?”
Draven shakes his head. “We can’t be sure until we have those files. With the destruction of the Death Star, the Empire will want to keep this as quiet as possible.”
“How did we even get this information?”
“The bothans. They’ve been our spies for months and now they’ve come through with some solid intel,” Mon replies. “It’ll be radio silence on this mission. Once you’re in the Anoat sector, no transmissions in or out. You’ll be on your own.”
“Shouldn’t be a problem for you, Sergeant Erso,” General Draven comments. “As I recall you enjoy working alone.”
“Certainly less complicated, General .”
“Anyway,” Mon cuts them off. “You’ll leave as soon as possible. Captain Andor is taking point as always. This is time critical. We cannot allow the Empire to harness any kind of biological weapon.”
The crew all share knowing looks, grave and serious. Any Imperial weapon on a mass scale is dangerous, but the idea of biological warfare and the harm it would cause to the galaxy is unthinkable.
Given their marching orders, the crew leaves the war room to head straight for the hangar.
“What are we thinking then?” Melshi asks. “Chemical?”
“Could be. We have respirators on board, right?” Jyn replies, Cassian nodding at her.
“We do, but its use is limited. They only filter out certain gasses,” he worries. “We don’t know what this is.”
“Then we go find out.” Jyn climbs into the craft behind Baze, checking her kit bag for weapons. Blaster and baton are there, her knife safely stored in a sheath by her boot.
“You’re awfully cheerful about this.”
She smiles brightly at Cassian, the normally serious Captain’s eyes soft. “Anything to get us off this base for a while!”
“Hardly shore leave,” Cassian smiles. “I tend to gravitate to something a little warmer and less life-threatening.”
“Clearly you’ve never been with me to Canto Bight,” Jyn teases.
Cassian laughs under his breath. “You’ll have to take me some time.”
Behind their backs, Melshi mouths to Bodhi.
“One year!”
It’s a long trip. At least 10 hours in hyperspace. Jyn doesn’t mind. It’s not only a chance for the crew to finalize a plan of action, but once everyone turns in, the peaceful vacuum of space gives her a chance to collect herself.
Feeling comfortable isn’t something Jyn is used to. She’s lived too long teaching herself that comfort is a weakness, staying in one place too long leaves you vulnerable to being left behind. Things are different now, she’s learning to trust that the people around won’t leave her, but it’s a slow process.
Then there’s Cassian. A man who had no reason to trust her, to constantly come to her aid, but he did. Jedha, Eadu, Scarif. Cassian was there. Even now, he’s by her side and it’s comfortable. It’s safe . A feeling Jyn is beginning to enjoy, against the cynical voice in her head.
“You’re awake.”
Cassian’s voice makes her jump, breaking her peaceful daze. “Couldn’t sleep. I thought you’d already turned in.”
“Not yet. I’ve left the controls with K2.” He sits on the floor next to her, both leaning back against the bulkhead. “You should try and sleep.”
“You know I can’t,” she shrugs, her shoulder pressed against his. “Too much anxious energy.”
“I know, you’re like me.”
“It’ll be fine though,” she says encouragingly, nudging his side and gazing through her lashes in the soft light of the ship.
“You sound confident.”
“We’re always fine,” Jyn nods firmly. “We’ve been through worse.”
Cassian doesn’t respond straight away. He’s studying her face with those dark eyes that, to Jyn, hide nothing. She’s used to it now, his scrutiny. He’s an intelligence officer, it’s in his nature to study and notice everything, but he isn’t the only one. There’s a way he looks at her like she’s something rare, Jyn sees that. She’s piecing together the puzzle of their relationship, trying to connect the dots, weigh the pros and cons of taking that leap of faith.
He feels something, she knows it, but they’re partners. It’s complicated.
“We’ve been through worse,” he agrees. “I’m not in a hurry to do it again.”
“Yeah, me too. How’s your back?”
“It’s felt worse.”
“It’s not going to feel great sitting on the floor with me,” she says. “Go on, there’s a bunk for you down in the hold.”
“There is, but then I wouldn’t be sitting on the floor with you,” he smiles. “Much more interesting.”
A comfortable beat of silence passes before Jyn speaks again. “How often do you think about it?”
Cassian doesn’t need to ask what it is. “I said before we’ve all done things we’re not proud of for the cause, things we’d rather forget. What we did made a real difference, it’s something I can actually be proud of.”
“Even though we almost died?” Jyn asks. “All the people we lost?”
“They died doing something that’s right, which is more than most. To answer your question, I think about it all the time.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” he shakes his head firmly, a lock of his dark hair flopping in front of his eyes. “I have no regrets.”
“You don’t?” Her voice is soft, almost like a plea.
“I met you, didn’t I?”
Jyn is grateful for the low lighting, hoping it hides how much her cheeks burn. It’s no use, she knows he sees it given the way his mild smirk grows into a genuine smile.
“You know, for a while, I used to wonder about you.”
“About what?”
“You’re a spy, Cass. You wear a lot of faces,” she explains carefully, wanting to express herself without causing him offense. That isn’t her intention in her honesty. “When we first met, I was just a job. Another mission.”
“I never thought of you that way…”
“Yes, you did,” she says candidly. “But that’s okay, doubt I’d have trusted me either!”
“Actually, I was impressed by you,” Cassian admits.
Jyn beams at him, surprised and delighted at once. “Seriously?”
“You sat in that war room and stared down every person without caring about who they were,” he chuckles. “Including me. Not to mention your crime sheet!”
“Now I know you’re making fun of me,” she groans, both laughing quietly in the dark. “What I mean is, it was hard to tell where Cassian the spy ends and the person starts.”
He’s leaning into her now, Jyn suddenly aware of just how close they’ve become. Her breath catches in her throat, strangling her next words.
“And what about now?” He asks, accent heavy with his lowered tone.
Jyn thinks she does. She knows about his past, about Kenari. They’ve had late night whispered conversations about upbringing, prisons, and lost friends. She’s seen him at his worst and best.
“I’m getting a handle on it,” Jyn whispers.
Cassian’s skin smells like soap and leather, a musky spice she’s become used to and seeks comfort in. His breath is warm on her face, nose almost grazing hers. Jyn’s eyes flutter shut, heart pounding against her ribs.
“Cassian, we’re going to be approaching the atmosphere in less than an hour. As captain, you should probably take the helm.”
Cassian and Jyn jump back, blinking at one another like they’re in a daze. Jyn is the first to smile bashfully but Cassian shoots a withering glare at K2.
“Fine,” Cassian snaps, shooting Jyn a shy glance. “Try and get some rest before we land.
He pushes himself to his feet, stretching his aching back and grumbling under his breath.
A bunk still free in the hold, Jyn decides to go and lie down. She can still scent him.
“What is this place?”
They land the ship at a distance, close enough to walk but far enough away that an imperial vessel isn’t going to attract attention from locals. Peering into the distance, Melshi frowns at the small collection of buildings.
“It’s marked as an outpost. Long time ago, before the refinery was used for spice, it used to be a mining settlement,” Cassian says, strapping his blaster to his leg.
“Doubt we’ll find any miners here now,” Jyn drawls, joining Melshi where he stands at the open hatch. “Looks like a ghost town.”
“Looks that way, but we can’t be too careful. Jyn and I will go to the cantina, see what we can find out about the refinery,” Cassian orders, the others paying attention. “The rest of you split up around the rest of the town. See what you can find.”
“Oh, so you and Jyn get to go on a nice little cocktail date and the rest of us go garbage raiding?” Melshi sniggers. “Very good, Captain.”
“Enough,” Cassian growls in warning. “Bodhi, K2, stay with the ship and get ready to move if we need to.”
It’s late in the day on this planet, the sun is hanging low in the sky casting an orange glow that swirls between gathering gray clouds. Jyn has never been fond of humidity, but Cassian doesn’t mind. Dressed inconspicuously, they set off in 3 groups so as not to draw attention and arrive at different times. A large mass of strangers at once is a surefire way to end up with a blaster in your face.
Jyn walks silently by Cassian’s side. It’s a fair assumption that he’d be concentrated on their mission, but every few steps she feels his eyes on her. That intelligent gaze studying her every move. Occasionally his fingers brush hers. The contact sends a jolt across her skin and she wonders if he’s thinking about their close encounter as much as she is.
But now isn’t the time.
“When we get into the cantina, you grab a table and I’ll go to the bar,” she begins but Cassian shakes his head.
“Not a chance. Alone at a bar in that kind of place?”
Jyn frowns indignantly. “First of all, I’m not alone. You’re there watching my back. Secondly, I’m certain I’ve been in similar places or worse by myself. So don’t start getting all…Jedi Knight on me, Captain .”
The barb has Cassian scowling, a familiar v shape forming between his brows. “This is a fact-finding mission. We’re not taking any unnecessary risks right now!”
“Standing at a bar isn’t taking a risk.”
“It is when you look the way you do!” The words leave his mouth before his brain has time to consider if it’s a wise statement.
“And just how is that exactly?!” She cries against the wind, stopping in her tracks to cross her arms tightly with a quizzical look.
Cassian is a few steps ahead, turning back to meet her gaze. He’s less at ease, mouth clamped shut now the realization of what he’s said sinks in. “Well, you…look like…you…”
A smile pulls the corner of her mouth. “Why, yes, Cass. I do look like me.”
“You know what I mean…”
“Is this your way of trying to say I’m attractive?” She smirks. “Not exactly stroking my ego.”
“Jyn,” he warns, taking a step back toward her. “You’re my partner. I know that you can take care of yourself but to the outside you’re an easy target.”
“Exactly. You do know I can handle myself, so end of discussion. You take a seat, I’ll go to the bar.”
Cassian stifles his frustrated growl into a curt sigh, Jyn sashaying past him with her chin raised in defiance. Just because she has complex feelings for the man, doesn’t mean she’ll allow him to coddle her on a mission. She’s like any other member of their crew, romantic feelings or otherwise.
He stomps after her. “Alright, and once we’re in position, then what?”
“You’re the Captain…”
“Jyn.”
“Order a drink, take in the scene,” she elaborates. “Ask about work in the area.”
“So we’re posing as mercenaries now?” He sniggers.
Jyn pats the baton at her hip. “It’s a little more believable than farmers, don’t you think?”
“I didn’t say we were farmers.”
“No, Melshi did and I worry about him as a spy,” Jyn smiles.
The outpost is only a few klicks ahead, but it seems just as empty as it was from a distance. The buildings are in disrepair, stone stained with grime and decay. What used to be market stalls lie in ruins.
“It’s very quiet here,” Jyn comments. “Is this place inhabited at all?”
“It should be,” Cassian replies, growing tense. “Our information is only months old. Unless something happened to clear the place out in a hurry?”
“Imperials?”
Cassian shrugs. “Maybe, but surely they’d leave stormtroopers behind to hold the area? Turn it into a checkpoint.”
She knows he’s right. It isn’t the Empire’s style to decimate an area without declaring themselves or at least leaving an obvious mark as a warning to others. This outpost is only on the other side of the ridge from the lab, the tallest parts of the building kissing the sky above. It would be a logical place to use as some kind of base or checkpoint as Cassian said.
“Something feels strange here, I don’t like it.” Jyn’s seen this tension from Cassian before on Jedha when he’d grabbed her arm and declared that the town was ready to blow. “Stick close to me.”
Jyn doesn’t need to be told twice.