Chapter Eleven
Jyn wanted to run towards them, but she forced herself to walk instead. Still, her body couldn't help itself, moving her forward with a quicker stride. They too, seemed equally excited; they met her and Cassian halfway across the stretch of sand. The four of them stood there in front of each other, almost not believing the other party was alive. Baze gave Cassian a nod, then turned to Jyn and Cassian. His mouth curved upwards in a rare smile.
"It's good to see you again, little sister."
Jyn wasn't a person that showed a lot of emotion. She hadn't felt thankful for anything the world had thrown at her, until now.
"You too, Baze." She didn't expect him to step forward and wrap his arms around her in a brief hug that was fleeting, lasting only for milliseconds.
Cassian addressed both Chirrut and Baze. "I'm glad you're here." He too, was astonished by the appearance of the two men. The tension and shock upon seeing them for the first time began to unwind. Even his voice had lost its commanding tone, replaced by disbelief.
He stepped forward, stood closer to Jyn. She felt Cassian's shoulder brush hers and tried to disregard it.
Don't get distracted.
"It's really been a rough few days," he said.
Looking at Baze and Chirrut, Jyn thought in her mind, I'm happy to see them, but how did they survive?
Chirrut smiled, said in answer to her unspoken question, "You must be wondering how we ALL survived." He paused, glancing at Baze, and an understanding passed between the two men.
"I will tell you all I know. For now, let's find a place to stay the night."
Jyn realized how tired she actually was. After the initial excitement, her legs felt like they were about to drop off if she wasn't given a chance to rest. Cassian saw her exhausted expression, and leaned in towards her with an abnormally gentle voice, saying, "Come on."
He was acting too soft.
Jyn met his gaze for a second, then broke it, faintly aware of Chirrut, who might have just noticed the way Cassian was treating her. Then Cassian looked up at the sky, dark spreading across the clouds and bringing out the night. Authoritative once more, he drew himself up to full height, and he was taking charge.
"We should find shelter. There's a lot of things we have to tell you as well."
___________________◇__________
The embers leaped from the center of the flames, landing with a sizzle onto the ground where the four now sat.
They were seated in a circular formation in another cave-like dwelling, enjoying a simple meal of animal meat and fruit.
The discussion started with the golden light. Jyn recounted the events from a few days before, informing the group about the successfully transmitted plans. It was like she was just telling a story, and Baze & Chirrut were the audience members, reacting in all the right places - feeling somewhat forlorn when they heard about K2, murmuring in anger when they heard about Krennic, and inquiring about Cassian's injury. Baze let out a good natured guffaw when Cassian interjected, emphasizing how he had to bandage all his injuries himself. The captain shot Jyn a sneaky grin, and Jyn's eyes narrowed she as leaned in towards him, her voice low with warning.
Though the atmosphere would have been pleasant if this was a regular day, right now it was anything but. She reminded herself there was no room for childish antics. The situation in the galaxy was always getting worse.
~~~~~
The movements of Chirrut seemed to be unconscious as he walked within the space, his staff tracing indecipherable images on the ground. He began to speak after a moment.
"The war... we seemed to be losing. The stormtrooper number too great. The only HOPE, for us was getting to the master switch. I DID hit it. But then, there was an explosion." Chirrut motioned to Jyn and Cassian.
You two saw a golden light?"
Jyn and Cassian nodded.
"I, somehow, formed this force field. It protected all of you. Chirrut's voice turned distant as he recalled the battle.
"There was a great light, and it was peaceful. While I don't know HOW I produced it, there is a reason we are still here. We must leave Scarif."
Jyn's head reeled. CHIRRUT was the one who created the light? The same light that had deflected the blast from even the Death Star??
Cassian couldn't find the words to reply either. He looked just as bewildered as Jyn felt. There wasn't a rational explanation for what happened. Did Chirrut really have a special power, or had that been a one time miracle?
"Thank you." Cassian spoke to Chirrut. "You saved us. When the Death Star came, I was injured. There was no escape. But I felt the light, and when I woke up, Jyn was next to me .....We were alive."
Chirrut modestly bowed his head in acknowledgement of the gratitude. "I merely prayed for you. And the Force listened."
The thought made Jyn wonder. Was it also the Force that allowed Chirrut to reach her through her kyber crystal from such a great distance?
If the light was that powerful..
The last member of their team would have survived too.
"Bodhi must be alive..." A part of Jyn wanted, dared that thought to be true. But miracles like that couldn't possibly happen. Yet she wanted to believe. A small possibility was better than none.
"We need to find him, if that's the case."
"The other day, Cassian and I went to look for a ship to escape in. We went to a base and spotted one... but couldn't board it. It was too risky." Jyn admitted. "I heard some stormtroopers saying the shield gate was destroyed. Even though the Alliance has the plans, we still have to return. We can't leave until the Death Star has been completely destroyed." She saw Cassian give her an encouraging nod, but noticed Baze had done the opposite.
"There is no reason for me to go back. Chirrut as well." Baze objected. He looked to his friend, as though seeking the blind man's agreement, but there was none.
"Our home is gone, Baze. There's nowhere else we can go." His voice was comforting, gentle to his friend. "What Jyn says makes sense - We've seen what this weapon has done." Chirrut rested his hands on the cloth of his black robe. Baze made no other comment apart from a resigned sigh. Chirrut spoke for the two of them.
"We will be with you."
"We need to find Bodhi, and travel again. To find a new ship." Cassian pitched in, summarizing their plan. "Anyone have anything else to add?"
No one said a word.
"Alright then. Tomorrow we head out."
The meeting between the four ended, a plan formed through the discussion.
Chirrut and Baze said goodnight and retreated further inside the cave to rest.
~~~~~
Cassian stood just outside of the cave entrance. The world was dark, but the sky was lit with stars, moon overhead. He looked up at the celestial bodies, their radiance drawing his attention upwards for the first time.
I never noticed how the stars looked at night. I only kept my head down this whole time.
Lost in his own thoughts, Cassian didn't hear someone approaching him from behind.
"Out here to look at the stars too?"
Cassian turned to see Jyn standing next to him.
"Yeah." He gestured to the sky.
Jyn sighed, then pointed upwards, her voice wistful. "My father always told me to not forget about them. That's where I would always find him."
Cassian nodded. A moment later, Jyn heard him take a breath, and from the silence came, "I'm sorry."
Her eyes flashed with surprise. He was apologizing?
"It's good to see you again, little sister."
Jyn wasn't a person that showed a lot of emotion. She hadn't felt thankful for anything the world had thrown at her, until now.
"You too, Baze." She didn't expect him to step forward and wrap his arms around her in a brief hug that was fleeting, lasting only for milliseconds.
Cassian addressed both Chirrut and Baze. "I'm glad you're here." He too, was astonished by the appearance of the two men. The tension and shock upon seeing them for the first time began to unwind. Even his voice had lost its commanding tone, replaced by disbelief.
He stepped forward, stood closer to Jyn. She felt Cassian's shoulder brush hers and tried to disregard it.
Don't get distracted.
"It's really been a rough few days," he said.
Looking at Baze and Chirrut, Jyn thought in her mind, I'm happy to see them, but how did they survive?
Chirrut smiled, said in answer to her unspoken question, "You must be wondering how we ALL survived." He paused, glancing at Baze, and an understanding passed between the two men.
"I will tell you all I know. For now, let's find a place to stay the night."
Jyn realized how tired she actually was. After the initial excitement, her legs felt like they were about to drop off if she wasn't given a chance to rest. Cassian saw her exhausted expression, and leaned in towards her with an abnormally gentle voice, saying, "Come on."
He was acting too soft.
Jyn met his gaze for a second, then broke it, faintly aware of Chirrut, who might have just noticed the way Cassian was treating her. Then Cassian looked up at the sky, dark spreading across the clouds and bringing out the night. Authoritative once more, he drew himself up to full height, and he was taking charge.
"We should find shelter. There's a lot of things we have to tell you as well."
___________________◇__________
The embers leaped from the center of the flames, landing with a sizzle onto the ground where the four now sat.
They were seated in a circular formation in another cave-like dwelling, enjoying a simple meal of animal meat and fruit.
The discussion started with the golden light. Jyn recounted the events from a few days before, informing the group about the successfully transmitted plans. It was like she was just telling a story, and Baze & Chirrut were the audience members, reacting in all the right places - feeling somewhat forlorn when they heard about K2, murmuring in anger when they heard about Krennic, and inquiring about Cassian's injury. Baze let out a good natured guffaw when Cassian interjected, emphasizing how he had to bandage all his injuries himself. The captain shot Jyn a sneaky grin, and Jyn's eyes narrowed she as leaned in towards him, her voice low with warning.
"Say that again and you'll be sorry," she growled.
"Okay, alright!" He held up his hands in mock surrender.
Score one for Jyn.
"Okay, alright!" He held up his hands in mock surrender.
Score one for Jyn.
Though the atmosphere would have been pleasant if this was a regular day, right now it was anything but. She reminded herself there was no room for childish antics. The situation in the galaxy was always getting worse.
Regaining her composure, Jyn resumed, mentioning how she and Cassian saw the Death Star arriving before them. The jovial fun the group shared before evaporated, as everyone fell silent upon hearing the name of one of the most dangerous weapons in the galaxy. The threat was there. It was imminent, and it had to be stopped. She described the green laser that had shot through Citadel Tower, and caused her and Cassian to wait for Death. But it had never came. Jyn didn't know anymore after that.
Chirrut felt everyone look at him - waiting, expectant.
"The answers you seek," he stated as he stood up on two feet, "I have them."
~~~~~
"The war... we seemed to be losing. The stormtrooper number too great. The only HOPE, for us was getting to the master switch. I DID hit it. But then, there was an explosion." Chirrut motioned to Jyn and Cassian.
You two saw a golden light?"
Jyn and Cassian nodded.
"I, somehow, formed this force field. It protected all of you. Chirrut's voice turned distant as he recalled the battle.
"There was a great light, and it was peaceful. While I don't know HOW I produced it, there is a reason we are still here. We must leave Scarif."
Jyn's head reeled. CHIRRUT was the one who created the light? The same light that had deflected the blast from even the Death Star??
Cassian couldn't find the words to reply either. He looked just as bewildered as Jyn felt. There wasn't a rational explanation for what happened. Did Chirrut really have a special power, or had that been a one time miracle?
"Thank you." Cassian spoke to Chirrut. "You saved us. When the Death Star came, I was injured. There was no escape. But I felt the light, and when I woke up, Jyn was next to me .....We were alive."
Chirrut modestly bowed his head in acknowledgement of the gratitude. "I merely prayed for you. And the Force listened."
The thought made Jyn wonder. Was it also the Force that allowed Chirrut to reach her through her kyber crystal from such a great distance?
If the light was that powerful..
The last member of their team would have survived too.
"Bodhi must be alive..." A part of Jyn wanted, dared that thought to be true. But miracles like that couldn't possibly happen. Yet she wanted to believe. A small possibility was better than none.
"We need to find him, if that's the case."
"The other day, Cassian and I went to look for a ship to escape in. We went to a base and spotted one... but couldn't board it. It was too risky." Jyn admitted. "I heard some stormtroopers saying the shield gate was destroyed. Even though the Alliance has the plans, we still have to return. We can't leave until the Death Star has been completely destroyed." She saw Cassian give her an encouraging nod, but noticed Baze had done the opposite.
"There is no reason for me to go back. Chirrut as well." Baze objected. He looked to his friend, as though seeking the blind man's agreement, but there was none.
"Our home is gone, Baze. There's nowhere else we can go." His voice was comforting, gentle to his friend. "What Jyn says makes sense - We've seen what this weapon has done." Chirrut rested his hands on the cloth of his black robe. Baze made no other comment apart from a resigned sigh. Chirrut spoke for the two of them.
"We will be with you."
"We need to find Bodhi, and travel again. To find a new ship." Cassian pitched in, summarizing their plan. "Anyone have anything else to add?"
No one said a word.
"Alright then. Tomorrow we head out."
The meeting between the four ended, a plan formed through the discussion.
Chirrut and Baze said goodnight and retreated further inside the cave to rest.
~~~~~
Cassian stood just outside of the cave entrance. The world was dark, but the sky was lit with stars, moon overhead. He looked up at the celestial bodies, their radiance drawing his attention upwards for the first time.
I never noticed how the stars looked at night. I only kept my head down this whole time.
Lost in his own thoughts, Cassian didn't hear someone approaching him from behind.
"Out here to look at the stars too?"
Cassian turned to see Jyn standing next to him.
"Yeah." He gestured to the sky.
Jyn sighed, then pointed upwards, her voice wistful. "My father always told me to not forget about them. That's where I would always find him."
Cassian nodded. A moment later, Jyn heard him take a breath, and from the silence came, "I'm sorry."
Her eyes flashed with surprise. He was apologizing?
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