Chapter Eighteen

She woke, not in darkness as she had been since the beginning, but with the bleak day falling on her cheek. Jyn wasn't used to the cushions that conformed to her back, when before her bed had been rigid cold floors and unforgiving benches she tossed and turned on inside the jail cell of Wobani.

There had been worse bedding, worse conditions, so she was willing to take this over anything. Jyn raised herself off the bed, blearily blinking away weariness. Gloves, worn and scuffed, lay on the wooden table, gray scarf a blanket that covered part of the table's surface. The room she had laid in that night mirrored the gloom of the rest of the base - sterile, bare, with few comforts. Not ideal, but good enough. Her first thought was not of the people she had arrived back with, rather, of the silent threat hanging over millions. Jyn wanted to know what had happened to the plans. Once she knew for certain they had been received, her role in this was done.

She splashed her face with cold water, dressed, and stepped out the door, greeted by an unfamilar hallway that branched out in two different directions. Gray doors lined the halls, broke the uniformity of the solid brown rock every few feet.
Jyn started down a hallway, hoping to run into someone or something that could help her navigate towards the mess hall.

"Excuse me, I'm trying to find where the dining hall is..."

The words, faint yet unmistakeable, belonged to Bodhi. Indeed it was him, shaking his head in confusion. She could spare a sentence or two for him.
"Trying to find your way?"
The relief on Bodhi's face was evident.
"Jyn!" He hurried towards her, a grin on his face. "These halls are hard to find your way through. I don't know which way to go."

She looked back the way she came. "I didn't see a path when I came down from my end. What about you?"
He pointed. "There was a corridor on the right, but I went this way instead. My room's on the other end of this hallway."

She started ahead, hunger and urgency driving her forward. "Come on. Let's go." The corridor led to a set of elevators, taking them down to the second level. Before them in the dining hall, was a multitude of people. The scent of food floated around, plates and dishware clattering, people vying for a spot to sit. Many were standing. Peering between and over people, Jyn recognized Chirrut and Baze, who had claimed a table.

Bodhi tapped Jyn on the shoulder. He had seen them too. "There's Chirrut and Baze," he said. "Want to join them?"

She had been scanning the room again, with a plan to look for a quiet corner to sit in. At Bodhi's question, she hesitated to answer. His gaze had been eager, she noticed, noting the gleam of excitement shining in Bodhi's eyes. Not wanting to disappoint him, at the same time wanting to be alone, Jyn made her voice polite yet firm. "I have another place in mind."

"Oh. Well, um, I guess I'll go ahead then." He motioned to the food bar. "Gotta grab something to eat first. But if you want to come over, we'll welcome you. Join us if you want!" Jyn watched as Bodhi's figure faded within the sea of people, making a beeline for one of the food areas.

Jyn took a step forward, as if to follow Bodhi. But turning on her heel, she went to a different line. Breathing the scent of food in, Jyn was tempted by the spread before her. Yet she resisted the urge to take anything except for bread and water. Spying an empty table nearby, Jyn took a seat and ate quickly, wiping her mouth with a napkin. Getting up, Jyn was about to leave, but not before she heard Bodhi's voice again, calling her name.

He rushed up to her, Baze and Chirrut at his side. "Don't go yet. Mon Mothma wants to see us."
Bodhi leaned in, his voice low, though his tone betrayed his excitement.
"I heard we'll be getting assignments. There's also news about the plans. The Alliance has received them. The Senator will be telling us more when we meet her." Bodhi was bouncing back and forth on the soles of his feet in anticipation. Baze turned to Bodhi, a puzzled look on his face. "How did you find out?" he questioned.
"Cassian told me," Bodhi replied matter-of-factly. "He came over to inform me when I was waiting in line for breakfast. Mon Mothma just finished a meeting. She's still in the room."
Cassian had been here? Jyn thought to herself.

"What are we waiting for?" Darting ahead, Bodhi led the way from the lunch hall deeper into the meeting room. His pace slowed as he approached. Jyn took the opportunity to take a closer look at what the meeting room contained. It was her third time in here. The first two times she had set foot within the space, the crowd of people rushing, shoving themselves past her to speak over clamoring voices in the center of the room, had barely given her time to process the environment. In the shadows, flashing computer monitors were scattered within and around the main center arena, technicians at work deciphering incoming foreign symbols. Uniformed men in tan colored outfits at their desks listened through headsets for radio transmissions containing coded information. To the right and left, holograms and lighted panels hovered overhead, displaying maps of planets and galaxies as well as information about missions.

The whole room breathed as one, seemingly alive, driven to work by purpose and lively activity.
Mon Mothma herself had been talking with one of the technicians, leaning over to view the information the man was showing her. Upon seeing Bodhi, Jyn, and the Guardians, she diverted her attention and excused herself from the screen and the technician.
Like a calm river over rocks, her voice floated towards them. "It's good to see you. I hope you have rested well upon your return," she said. "We did." Bodhi spoke for himself and the other three, dipping his head towards Mon Mothma respectfully. She smiled faintly, and her voice turned brisk. "Cassian must have told you some news?" she asked knowingly. They nodded. Silently, the senator strode over to the center of the room, where the Alliance's main map of the galaxy lay within a ringed structure. There, it revealed the position of the Death Star. The miniature model glowed brightly on the screen, a red dot against white. If one squinted, they would be able to see a tiny section in the red blinking bright yellow. Mon Mothma leaned over to tap the circle, and the miniature shape grew, evolving into a spherical projection that filled the area with a red and yellow glow.
She noticed the group staring at the projection in a hushed awe. "Previously, we were not able to know the location of the Death Star. Its barriers have been difficult to break through. However, our technology has received a timely upgrade for its systems, and satellites in the star system have been working to transmit the exact coordinates to us as the moon orbits, giving us an advantage in monitoring the location of the weapon."

"You did well in transmitting the plans to us," Mon Mothma continued. She pointed to the yellow glowing faintly in the center of the red. The hologram cast an ominous glow on Mothma's face as she spoke her next words. "But what has become of the plans, I'm afraid, is that the location of them is unknown. They very well may have ended up in the structure that we are trying to defeat."

Jyn's stomach lurched. The bread she had ate that morning was now a rock tumbling in her stomach. "What?" She heard herself say in shock. Bodhi, Baze, and Chirrut - their faces conveyed similar expressions. "The plans are in the Death Star?" Had she heard right?
Jyn didn't need to look twice at the Senator's expression to know that what she was just told was, quite possibly, the truth. Mon Mothma surveyed the four before her. Cassian hadn't told them the entire truth. She would have to elaborate.

"After your team had transmitted the plans, they were received by a woman by the name of Leia Organa. She is one of our Rebel leaders here, as well as sole heiress of the planet Alderaan, second to succeed the royalty. You've seen Bail Organa before," Mon Mothma said, referencing their first meeting. "He is Leia's father, and has returned to his homeworld. The plans were intended to be sent to one of Alderaan's main facilities for analysis. However, we were secretly informed by one of the rebels that the Princess's ship, Tantive IV, was pursued by the Empire, held captive and taken to the Death Star. To date, this is the most updated information we have. There has been rumour that the Princess secured the plans in an R-2 unit that has somehow escaped to the planet of Tatooine. However, since there has been no word of the plans since the last transmission, given the intelligence we have, we can only assume they are within the Death Star itself."

The onslaught of information settled in Jyn's mind, as the words Mothma gravely said entered it one by one. Jyn felt herself tense, chest tightening as if she were submerged underwater and struggling for breath. So soon after her effort, and the team's effort, the plans appeared to be in the clutches of the Empire. Her fists slowly curled into a tight ball. A Princess captured, the Alliance playing a waiting game and taking a gamble on a simple droid? If the plans were going to end up in the Death Star already, she figured, I could have taken the opportunity to leave the Alliance instead of fighting. She saw herself before the Empire, giving up all she had fought for. Come take the plans! They're free for you!

Mon Mothma's voice came back into focus as she felt a light touch on her shoulder. Chirrut had placed a hand on her shoulder as if to send a message of comfort. Don't give in, he seemed to be saying. Chirrut's touch evaporated the flood of panic she felt. Jyn forced herself to focus back on Mon Mothma.
"The Alliance will need additional minds, more hands to aid our effort."
Effort? Again, Jyn was hit by another wave of disdain. She had hardly seen any effort from the Alliance, only bickering that hadn't contributed to action. She wanted to see what else this woman had to say to attempt to recruit her to their side.
"Your actions on Scarif were admirable, despite the fact they violated the rules. Perhaps some rules were meant to be broken." She looked at them in turn. "You previously told us, you 'came to finish what was started.' If we are to restore peace and security for populations inhabiting vulnerable worlds, your assistance will lessen the burden considerably. I implore you to consider joining our ranks."

Jyn hadn't moved. But her feet had started to twitch, as if preparing to back up and sprint away. Yet her upper body told her to stay a few more moments longer. Were the others reacting the same way she was?

She shouldn't have looked. Heads were nodding, eyes gleaming. Even Chirrut had leaned forward towards Mon Mothma, awaiting for further instruction. All entranced by 'noble' speech. She would stand her ground, she would make her objection and case for escape heard, she would resist being drawn in and lumped together with this band that was now attached to the Alliance like bones supporting a weak skeleton --
Too late.
When had they all agreed to do this?

"Your duties as of now are to assist the Alliance in anyway you can. Bodhi," Mothma turned to the pilot. "We've had a recent shortage in pilots skilled enough to fly our planes and repair them. Most know how to do only one or the other, but Cassian has shown me that you are capable of both. We have a few X Wings and other similar aircraft in the hangar bay that need maintenance from their last attack run. The mechanics there could use a helping hand. Check in with the lead engineer first. He should be in a room upstairs."
"Chirrut, Baze, I would like you two to begin out in our Health department, in the medical bay and supply management sectors, respectively. As we understand your predicament regarding Jedha, it will take some time for you to get used to this environment. Assisting here can help you get acclimated to how our organization functions as a whole."
At last, she turned to Jyn. Where Jyn eyed the senator guardedly, Mon Mothma looked at her with clear blue eyes. "Jyn. I've considered your options, and I believe it would be apt for you to consider joining the special task force unit under the command of one our top generals, Crix Madine. His leadership for ground forces is unparalleled, and he has a division known as Urban Combat that makes full use of street skills." Mon Mothma paused briefly before continuing. "But similarly, like Chirrut and Baze, your background makes it essential that you get to understand the way we work first. Your relationship to Galen Erso has proved to make you a potential target for backlash, as I am sure you are fully aware. It would be wise to maintain a low profile for now until you are accustomed to the Alliance and know what it has to offer you. For now, you may choose to assist in any sector you wish, to learn new skills."

Mon Mothma looked at each person in turn. "New missions will come soon enough, once we hear of the plans." Mon Mothma appeared calm and composed, despite the note of worry that shook in her voice. "You may be needed very soon for what approaches us next. If you have questions, do not hesistate to come find me. Those who you will be working with have already been informed of your arrival. If there is nothing else, you are dismissed."

"Thank you." Three of them returned Mothma's gaze. One did not.
Jyn waved the others out, telling Chirrut, Baze, and Bodhi to go out without her and wait for her outside.
Once their figures had faded from view, Jyn lunged at Mon Mothma, wanting to protest. There was one thing left she hadn't addressed. The technicians wouldn't matter, engrossed in their work and already focused on listening to other noises apart from Jyn's voice. Here, where there was little room for interruption, she could throw out her complaint. "You told me I would be released!"
Her adversary stared at Jyn. Mothma's reply was curt. "This was not my decision to make, Jyn. I would have done exactly as promised. But there was a person here who convinced me to let you stay. Settle the matter out with that individual."
The Senator dipped her head once more and turned away, her figure disappearing out of Command Central. The robes covering her feet swept the dusty floor, giving her the appearance that she was gliding out of the room.

Jyn's fists had unclenched, hanging limply at her sides. She was not so much concerned about her job, as that part of Mon Mothma's long talk was clear. And whoever the identity of the person Mon Mothma had mentioned was, she was quickly narrowing down who. None of that seemed to really matter in the grand scope of the issue. What disturbed Jyn most was the the location of the plans. How would the Alliance retrieve them now? While her team's footsteps may have been light as they skipped and padded along softly out of the meeting room, Jyn's feet plodded, the tangled chain of words leaving behind a weight that only slowed her pace as she made her way out of the gloom.