Chapter Seven
His feet ached by the end of the journey. He wasn't even sure he could walk much longer. Cassian had managed to fill his other pocket with another type of fruit, sea grape. Sea grape was salt tolerant, wind resistant, and grew well in this type of environment that had a lot of sun. In addition, it had a good source of iodine in it, could get rid of hoarseness, and its juice extract could heal and clean external wounds. Satisfied with his work, Cassian was well on his way back. Would Jyn appreciate his effort or scorn it?
A buzz of radio crackled near his ears, disturbing the empty silence on the planet. An emotionless, robotic noise chilled what was supposed to be warm air--- 3 to 5 menacing soldiers emerged from the foliage, scanning the area for intruders, and Cassian was only a few feet away from them. He put the pieces together quickly in his mind. Shoretroopers! Did he have anywhere he could hide?
A tall metal structure loomed over Jyn. She had found a seemingly empty base, and within the shadows she could make out the silhouette of a plane. A plane that was likely to be gone soon. But there could be more inside. Sneak in, and she'd be able to find out for herself.
Jyn crept around the dark base. All was silent, until a voice stopped her in her tracks.
"Hey you! What do you think you're doing here?"
Jyn, caught off guard, fumbled for her blaster. Her recovery was swift - on instinct, she spun around, and pulled out her weapon.
The stormtrooper in the white uniform was down as quick as lightning. Jyn's guard was up. The island wasn't as isolated and empty as she thought it was. She'd have to be more careful. Glancing around quickly, her eyes caught two more stormtrooper outfits, white against the backdrop of gray. She couldn't risk getting herself into any more trouble. Cassian wasn't exactly in good shape.
At least she had found a base. That was good enough for now. Jyn snuck over behind a few densely clustered plants, and pulled out her communicator. She firmly spoke into it. "Cassian. Where are you?"
The communicator buzzed with life as she got a reply.
<Shoretroopers in the vicinity. Meet me back at the shelter. Almost there>
"Cassian!"
No reply. She would hurry back. There was no time left.
~~~
Cassian tried his hardest not to step on any branches that would give away his location. The shoretroopers hadn't moved since he whispered to Jyn through the comm. He had the sense they were about to find out where he was, being five feet away. Cassian had been a spy before. He had been a threat to others.
Now he was the one not trying to be killed right now. Two could play this game. This was like trying to assassinate someone - not drawing attention to oneself. He hardly dared to breathe. With a fortunate turn of events, Cassian managed to slip away when the shoretroopers walked to their left. Close call. He breathed a sigh of relief.
With the berries secured in his pockets and commlink in hand, Cassian hurried back to the shelter.
He nearly crashed into Jyn, stopping right in front of her. She had just arrived as well. Acutely aware of personal space, Cassian quickly stepped back. Worry caused Jyn's forehead to crease as she looked him up and down. Noting that he seemed to be okay, Jyn motioned to him to join her inside. She briefed him on what occurred during the base; similarly he shared the news of what he saw as well.
Jyn didn't think they could stay at their current area any longer. They'd have to find another place. Despite the rocky cave's good cover, there were too many shoretroopers about. They couldn't risk getting detected. Before they left, the two decided to wait until nightfall to make their escape.
__________________◇___________
Baze thought they were walking aimlessly without a direction. How could Chirrut be so sure of where they were going?
Chirrut stopped in the middle of the dirt path.
"Enemies." He raised his staff and pointed in the direction the troopers were. Baze had already seen them and ducked behind a few pointed rocks.
"I know that already Chirrut. Come over here!" Baze beckoned him.
It was a good thing I prepared my weapon last night, Baze mused. Hands clicked the the cannon blaster into place and a beam of energy charged up, ready to fire.
~~~
The shoretroopers heard rustling noises coming from the bushes. They suspected it was animals or one of their own. In this part of Scarif, the enemy rebels were already vaporized, but some bodies still lay on the beach, caked with dried blood.
"3Z079, do you copy?"
"Yes sir."
"The Rebel Alliance should all be dead. But I still hear some noise. Check the area. You know what to do if you run into any of them."
"Copy that. Understood."
__________________◇___________
The sky was partly pale blue, the color blending into a navy hue - the evening sun was a brilliant red orange, its rays slicing through the sky as they played hide and seek with wisps of purple gray and white clouds.
His hand, in the shade of the cavern, extended towards her face - it was filled with an assortment of colorful berries.
Jyn took a sea grape and popped it into her mouth. She savored the sweet juice that came from it, licking her lips afterwards.
Cassian watched her with amusement.
"Want some more?" He offered. Using his other hand, he pointed at a red one. "Try the Acerola cherries. I liked those. They're supposed to be good. Healthy for the body, especially if it's injured," he stated, referring to his rebandaged side and her leg.
"How did you find these?" Her voice wasn't wary, only tinged with curiosity.
"While you were out, I thought I'd be useful and go out to search for food." He smirked. "I figured you wouldn't have time to search for anything while you were trying to find a base." Cassian had expected her to retort with a curt reply, but she turned to face him, stating, "You did well."
Jyn looked right at him while saying it, then reached for another berry. Cassian felt a warmth spread through him as she acknowledged his work. It had taken him a long time for him to find the food. It hadn't been easy, but nonetheless, anything helped. What little food that existed before grew larger after he had collected the berries.
Her fingers brushed his and she felt a tingle in her hand.
He must have sensed her hand lingering on his, because Cassian stiffened, but didn't move his hand. But then her fingers danced away after helping herself to a few more berries, and the sensation disappeared, although it seemed they both could still feel it physically on their own hands.
Had she meant to keep her fingers there or not? Cassian didn't dare overthink it.
Jyn glanced at him and noticed his face was red. Perhaps not just red from the glow of the fire.....
Years of reading others' expressions should have told her something was different, but her mind could only recognize hostility, fear, cruelty. Always questioning others' motives to try and protect her from being shattered again. It prevented her from recognizing what she had felt moments before was warmth.
"Have a goodnight." He mumbled to her. He seemed to be talking to the air, his words barely audible.
"What?"
"Goodnight-! .. Jyn." He repeated, a little louder this time.
"Same to you." This, she wasn't used to. And her voice came out a slightly higher pitch, thankfully, only noticeable to her.
While finishing up the berries, she heard him turn away from her in the other direction, and she sat down on the other side of fire, knees up against her chin. Jyn felt slightly different regarding her attitude towards Cassian.
But there were no such thing as friends yet in her world - just strangers, acquaintances, people she had to use in order to gain something else. Jyn couldn't let herself get close to him, no matter how nice he seemed.
Sighing, she closed her eyes and let her body rest, soon falling asleep in minutes.
Cassian, on the other hand, lay awake, missing K2 and the others, thinking about the plan of escape from Scarif, and what happened with Jyn a few moments before. Buried below, the thought pestered him that although she was acting slightly more cordial towards him, he had never explicitly asked for Jyn's forgiveness about her father. Guilt gnawed at him, but he hadn't wanted to bring up the unspoken subject, for it might cause old wounds to open. Wounds that could spill forth worse reprecussions for him if they weren't treated with care.
He lay his head in his hands, tired with all of the thoughts whirling in his mind. He cast a glance back to see Jyn curled up into a ball, asleep with some of her hair settled across her forehead. Cassian settled down for the night. Whatever was coming tomorrow, he would be ready.
A buzz of radio crackled near his ears, disturbing the empty silence on the planet. An emotionless, robotic noise chilled what was supposed to be warm air--- 3 to 5 menacing soldiers emerged from the foliage, scanning the area for intruders, and Cassian was only a few feet away from them. He put the pieces together quickly in his mind. Shoretroopers! Did he have anywhere he could hide?
A tall metal structure loomed over Jyn. She had found a seemingly empty base, and within the shadows she could make out the silhouette of a plane. A plane that was likely to be gone soon. But there could be more inside. Sneak in, and she'd be able to find out for herself.
Jyn crept around the dark base. All was silent, until a voice stopped her in her tracks.
"Hey you! What do you think you're doing here?"
Jyn, caught off guard, fumbled for her blaster. Her recovery was swift - on instinct, she spun around, and pulled out her weapon.
The stormtrooper in the white uniform was down as quick as lightning. Jyn's guard was up. The island wasn't as isolated and empty as she thought it was. She'd have to be more careful. Glancing around quickly, her eyes caught two more stormtrooper outfits, white against the backdrop of gray. She couldn't risk getting herself into any more trouble. Cassian wasn't exactly in good shape.
At least she had found a base. That was good enough for now. Jyn snuck over behind a few densely clustered plants, and pulled out her communicator. She firmly spoke into it. "Cassian. Where are you?"
The communicator buzzed with life as she got a reply.
<Shoretroopers in the vicinity. Meet me back at the shelter. Almost there>
"Cassian!"
No reply. She would hurry back. There was no time left.
~~~
Cassian tried his hardest not to step on any branches that would give away his location. The shoretroopers hadn't moved since he whispered to Jyn through the comm. He had the sense they were about to find out where he was, being five feet away. Cassian had been a spy before. He had been a threat to others.
Now he was the one not trying to be killed right now. Two could play this game. This was like trying to assassinate someone - not drawing attention to oneself. He hardly dared to breathe. With a fortunate turn of events, Cassian managed to slip away when the shoretroopers walked to their left. Close call. He breathed a sigh of relief.
With the berries secured in his pockets and commlink in hand, Cassian hurried back to the shelter.
He nearly crashed into Jyn, stopping right in front of her. She had just arrived as well. Acutely aware of personal space, Cassian quickly stepped back. Worry caused Jyn's forehead to crease as she looked him up and down. Noting that he seemed to be okay, Jyn motioned to him to join her inside. She briefed him on what occurred during the base; similarly he shared the news of what he saw as well.
Jyn didn't think they could stay at their current area any longer. They'd have to find another place. Despite the rocky cave's good cover, there were too many shoretroopers about. They couldn't risk getting detected. Before they left, the two decided to wait until nightfall to make their escape.
__________________◇___________
Baze thought they were walking aimlessly without a direction. How could Chirrut be so sure of where they were going?
Chirrut stopped in the middle of the dirt path.
"Enemies." He raised his staff and pointed in the direction the troopers were. Baze had already seen them and ducked behind a few pointed rocks.
"I know that already Chirrut. Come over here!" Baze beckoned him.
It was a good thing I prepared my weapon last night, Baze mused. Hands clicked the the cannon blaster into place and a beam of energy charged up, ready to fire.
~~~
The shoretroopers heard rustling noises coming from the bushes. They suspected it was animals or one of their own. In this part of Scarif, the enemy rebels were already vaporized, but some bodies still lay on the beach, caked with dried blood.
"3Z079, do you copy?"
"Yes sir."
"The Rebel Alliance should all be dead. But I still hear some noise. Check the area. You know what to do if you run into any of them."
"Copy that. Understood."
__________________◇___________
The sky was partly pale blue, the color blending into a navy hue - the evening sun was a brilliant red orange, its rays slicing through the sky as they played hide and seek with wisps of purple gray and white clouds.
His hand, in the shade of the cavern, extended towards her face - it was filled with an assortment of colorful berries.
Jyn took a sea grape and popped it into her mouth. She savored the sweet juice that came from it, licking her lips afterwards.
Cassian watched her with amusement.
"Want some more?" He offered. Using his other hand, he pointed at a red one. "Try the Acerola cherries. I liked those. They're supposed to be good. Healthy for the body, especially if it's injured," he stated, referring to his rebandaged side and her leg.
"How did you find these?" Her voice wasn't wary, only tinged with curiosity.
"While you were out, I thought I'd be useful and go out to search for food." He smirked. "I figured you wouldn't have time to search for anything while you were trying to find a base." Cassian had expected her to retort with a curt reply, but she turned to face him, stating, "You did well."
Jyn looked right at him while saying it, then reached for another berry. Cassian felt a warmth spread through him as she acknowledged his work. It had taken him a long time for him to find the food. It hadn't been easy, but nonetheless, anything helped. What little food that existed before grew larger after he had collected the berries.
Her fingers brushed his and she felt a tingle in her hand.
He must have sensed her hand lingering on his, because Cassian stiffened, but didn't move his hand. But then her fingers danced away after helping herself to a few more berries, and the sensation disappeared, although it seemed they both could still feel it physically on their own hands.
Had she meant to keep her fingers there or not? Cassian didn't dare overthink it.
Jyn glanced at him and noticed his face was red. Perhaps not just red from the glow of the fire.....
Years of reading others' expressions should have told her something was different, but her mind could only recognize hostility, fear, cruelty. Always questioning others' motives to try and protect her from being shattered again. It prevented her from recognizing what she had felt moments before was warmth.
"Have a goodnight." He mumbled to her. He seemed to be talking to the air, his words barely audible.
"What?"
"Goodnight-! .. Jyn." He repeated, a little louder this time.
"Same to you." This, she wasn't used to. And her voice came out a slightly higher pitch, thankfully, only noticeable to her.
While finishing up the berries, she heard him turn away from her in the other direction, and she sat down on the other side of fire, knees up against her chin. Jyn felt slightly different regarding her attitude towards Cassian.
But there were no such thing as friends yet in her world - just strangers, acquaintances, people she had to use in order to gain something else. Jyn couldn't let herself get close to him, no matter how nice he seemed.
Sighing, she closed her eyes and let her body rest, soon falling asleep in minutes.
Cassian, on the other hand, lay awake, missing K2 and the others, thinking about the plan of escape from Scarif, and what happened with Jyn a few moments before. Buried below, the thought pestered him that although she was acting slightly more cordial towards him, he had never explicitly asked for Jyn's forgiveness about her father. Guilt gnawed at him, but he hadn't wanted to bring up the unspoken subject, for it might cause old wounds to open. Wounds that could spill forth worse reprecussions for him if they weren't treated with care.
He lay his head in his hands, tired with all of the thoughts whirling in his mind. He cast a glance back to see Jyn curled up into a ball, asleep with some of her hair settled across her forehead. Cassian settled down for the night. Whatever was coming tomorrow, he would be ready.
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