AS LONG AS THE STARS ARE ABOVE YOU [A CASSIAN ANDOR x READER STORY]

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: A THOUSAND TEARS

When you came to, you were on your back on the floor, surrounded by dozens of dead bodies. The smell of death was so putrid; you wondered just how many days had passed with you lying among them. The stiff ache of your body and the emptiness of your stomach told you that it had been a long time. 

Your chest was heaving with gasps as you tried to swallow in clear air of the ash surrounding you. Miraculously, you had not been crushed. The slant of the roof protected you from a heap of ash and debris that rested above. You couldn't see a glimpse of outside. Your head raised weakly, a groan of pain bursting through your clenched teeth as the burns covering your arms and neck send waves of shocking pain through your nerves. 

Your work is not done, Kenobi. You've had your rest. Now rise.

"Did Cassian survive?" you spoke into the air. Your voice didn't sound like your own. The ash that coated the inside of your throat threatened to choke you as you rasped out the single most important question on your mind. 

And she was there, an image projected at the far end of the dark room, where the roof had slanted down and crashed to the floor. Behind her was a scene of dead trees and grey sky. You didn't recognize the setting but you recognized the woman. Ahsoka Tano.

"He's alive," she said. "He escaped." 

You let out a sigh of relief. "The Resistance lives." 

"For now," she said. "His mission isn't complete yet. He's escaped, but there's still more to be done. Tivik holds to him the very information the Rebellion needs on the building of the Death Star. He's on a mission to meet him on the Ring of Kafrene. Tivik will tell him of the Death Star and finally the Rebellion's eyes will be opened. A woman name Jyn Erso---" 

"Erso?" you interrupted. 

She smiled and nodded once. "She is the key to retrieving the information on the single fatal flaw that Galen placed in this weapon. You'll find Cassian on the planet of Scarif and meet him at the end of his mission. And only then your destiny will be complete, once the Rebellion has the plans in their grasp."

"How do you know all of this?" you asked. 

"Visions," she said simply. "Much like you, I am led by visions. They give me a chance to lead others to the path of victory, much like I am to you. The Force guided me to you long ago, Kenobi. I only had to wait to reach you at the right moment." 

"My father always said that my time would come before I was ready," you said. "Before he was ready." 

"Your father, as usual, was right." There was a thoughtful smile on her lips as she looked at the floor. 

"You knew my father?" you asked. 

"Your father was like a father to me at one time. Me and my Master, Anakin. They were my family and I loved them." There was a sadness to her voice as she spoke. "We were pulled apart far too soon. But you... you're so much like him."