Star Wars: Rebel Rising(58)

“I wasn’t able to bring back enough ore,” Akshaya continued. Her eyes were red-rimmed and tired. “And there were Imperial officers at the refinery when I came in with what little I had for delivery.”

Every nerve in Jyn was vibrating. She wanted nothing more than to run, right now, straight to a ship, straight to space. But she had Akshaya now, and Hadder.

She wasn’t going anywhere. Not without them.

“I know some places,” Jyn said in a small voice. “With your ship and my passes, we could…”

Akshaya was already shaking her head.

“Mum, we’re not children,” Hadder said. “We can fly. We’re not going to die like Tanith.”

“It’s not that,” Akshaya said. “We can’t let the Empire run us out of business. I talked with Dasa at the refinery. She’s not going to sell the operation. I’ll just need to find new trade routes, different mines to work with.”

Hadder was all nervous energy, stomping around the room. But Jyn was perfectly still. “The Empire doesn’t work like that,” she said.

Hadder kept pacing, but Akshaya’s attention shifted to Jyn.

“If the Empire wants the refinery, it will have it,” Jyn continued. “Not selling is not an option.”

“The Empire’s not the best,” Akshaya admitted, “but they have to follow their own laws.”

“No, they don’t,” Jyn said, but Akshaya ignored her.

“I’m going to the diner,” Hadder announced, turning on his heel. Akshaya looked surprised but let her son leave the house.

“They don’t,” Jyn told Akshaya again, forcing her attention back to her. “The Empire…you’re right. You were right all along. The Empire is the giant. And they’re about to stomp on our anthill. The best thing we can do is leave.”

Akshaya walked over, reaching for Jyn. She framed her face in her hands, her long cool fingers slipping into Jyn’s hair. “This is our home,” she said, as if that was reason enough. She pulled Jyn closer, kissing her forehead, and then she, too, left the room.

Jyn touched her face where Akshaya’s hand had been. She had not missed the subtle emphasis on the word our .

And it broke her heart.



Hadder didn’t come back in the next hour, or the hour after that. Jyn wandered into the night to find him. Skuhl was silent, the stars stretching out forever and forever over the blue-green grass wafting in the wind. The bells lining the street jingled, and the only other sounds in the dark came from the diner. When Jyn pushed the door open, the warmth, light, and noise spilled out into the peaceful street.

It took her a moment to locate Hadder. He sat at a table in the corner, talking with a Twi’lek whose back was turned to her.

Jyn sat down in the empty chair at the table. “Xosad,” she said, nodding to the Twi’lek, not letting on how surprised she was to see him again.

“Ah. The infamous Jyn.”

Hadder looked from Xosad to Jyn, a little startled, but he hid it well.

“Infamous?” Jyn laughed. “I don’t think so.”

“Never thought I’d see you away from Saw’s side.” Xosad’s voice was friendly, but Jyn knew that he was fishing for information. Saw was still out there, still doing missions, and she wasn’t. He wanted to know why.

She wasn’t going to tell him. “So you’re the one encouraging people to fight the Empire.” It wasn’t a question.

“Clearly you’ve met,” Hadder said somewhat nervously.

“Which group are you working for?” Jyn kept her voice cool, distant. A part of her wanted him to say that he worked for Saw. Another part of her feared that answer.

“The one Idryssa joined,” Xosad said. “It’s growing. A true alliance of fighters.”

“Do you want some time alone?” Hadder asked. He moved to get up, but Jyn dropped a hand to his knee. He stayed sitting.

“Why?” Jyn struggled to maintain her even tone. What she really wanted to know was if Saw had joined this alliance, too, if all her old contacts had. Had Saw found a new family under their banner?

Xosad leaned back, choosing his words carefully. “I joined the rebellion,” he said, “because I have seen the fulcrum upon which the fate of the galaxy is balanced. And the Empire weighed heavily on one side, and only the rebels really stood against it. I figured I could help restore that balance.” He searched Jyn’s eyes. “I have seen the fulcrum ,” he said again, stressing the last word, as if it had some deeper meaning. He waited, his lips barely parted, anticipation clearly painted on his face.

Jyn could tell that Xosad expected or at least hoped for some sort of specific response from her, but she had no idea what he wanted to hear. “Did Saw join as well?” she asked, not bothering to hide what she really wanted to know.

Xosad’s shoulders sagged; he was disappointed by her answer. “He did some work with us, but he’s still fighting his old battles, his way.” He narrowed his gaze. “But you’re no longer fighting Saw’s battles with him,” he said. “The rebellion is growing. There’s good, solid leadership there. And people eager to join…” His eyes flicked to Hadder.

“I can’t,” Hadder said slowly.

Jyn looked around. The diner was loud, but it felt…wrong. “You’re not very good at being subtle,” Jyn said. Too many people were watching them but pretending not to. She stood. “Come on,” she told Hadder.