Chilled

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The sound of the door whoosing close called me back to reality; Galen might have left, but I still had to face Krennic. If Vader had been there ... well. I would be screwed. Calling upon my cold persona, I took a peek at my – former – mentor, finding his expression almost vulnerable. Then the cold mask replaced it, his eyes glinting like ice under the sunlight once more. "I'm sorry, Elya. You're going to have to work hard to get him in working condition."

"Did you have to show him, really?", I hissed. Krennic's affronted look was like a direct hit to the gut; I needed to tame my anger, fast. So I took a deep breath before my next sentence came out. "What did you expect ?". Orson walked behind his desk, fishing out a bottle of liquor which deep crimson colour reminded me of the Sith-Kyber. Orson sank in his chair with a sigh, gesturing for me to do the same. "I hoped he would see reason," he sighed, pouring two glasses of the liquor.

There was so much I didn't know in this game; how much of Orson's despair was actually true ? What had been his true aim ? To cripple Galen, a show of Force ? To uncover us ? I nodded thoughtfully, and took a sip of the liquid. Alcohol burnt my throat, but the sweet flavour that lingered behind felt rather good. My eyebrows rose in surprise; I had expected something "manlier" than that. Krennic sent me an amused glance before his face returned to his usual expression.

"I fear Galen is too far gone for reason, you'll have to keep him in line". The amused snort never passed my lips; Galen led me, not the other way around. But I could pretend being in control for the sake of Director Krennic. So I nodded, and took another sip, looking at him straight in the eyes. A good little soldier.

The lines around his mouth were more pronounced now than when we had met; had so much time passed already ? Almost seven years since the institute had shuffled me into a room where he waited for me. I had been ready to believe in legends, that day, for the great Orson Krennic had condescended to mentor me. Naïve girl, really.

"He likes women who can dominate and lead him. You are strong willed Elya. Put him on a leash. It is easier for him to work his science if you... well, you get what I mean." I lifted an amused eyebrow, all the while worrying about my companion. Where was he, right now? I wish Lyra had been here, she might have known how to handle such a crisis.

"I don't know if I'll be able to dig him out of the hole you just put him in," I mused. Krennic suddenly stood, and I left the unfinished glass on the table. I could feel the alcohol affect me already, better stay sober if I needed to handle the storm that was Galen Erso right now. "He dug it out for himself," Orson hissed, his eyes hard. "Give him your hand, he will claw out. Do whatever you need to do, I want him back on his feet in two days' time."

I nodded, jaw tight. Worried. And right before I could exit Krennic's office, he lay his hand upon my arm. "You are worried."

Damn! Was I that easily readable? I needed to be more careful. Perhaps I could use the same technique I had used on Vader to keep my emotions from displaying upon my face. For the moment, though, I couldn't possibly lie. Caught red handed, I tried to rationalise. "Yes. Jyn is unattainable now."

I left the rest unsaid, because I sure as hell didn't want to give more weapons to the master manipulator that faced me. His eyes slightly cringed at the corner, not unlike Galen did, and he gave me a crooked smile. "You're provided us with other means to keep him in line."

My blood ran cold as I realised what he meant.

Me.

I was the pressure point now. Suddenly, I felt the urge to punch him repeatedly in the face. Swallowing my anger, I nodded stiffly. "I think it is best l find him before he does something stupid". Krennic's smile widened, the earlier despair gone as he ordered the doors to open for me. "I'll tell the guards no to shoot him if he gets drunk".

I didn't respond, jogging up the corridor with a sense of renewed urgency. No shooting for sure, but he didn't say anything about letting security drag him in a cell. And if there was something I was sure about, it was that Galen would need my support before the end of the night.

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