Star Crossed

Alcohol cures all ailments

I was well into my cups when Elya found me. Her features were set in a frown, and she slapped my hands away when I tried to drag her down in my lap. The pilots laughed, especially Bodhi – who I now knew. My little assistant was pissed... Yet, she circled my shoulders with her arms, and the ache that resided within my chest dulled. "Don't make a fuss, Galen. You know it is forbidden to get drunk on the base, I don't want the guards to drag you away to sober up."

Right.

I wasn't such a fun companion right now anyway, so I swayed on my chair, and allowed Elya to drag me up. Unfortunately, my legs had turned to jelly. The lithe woman pushed me back with a hoof as she staggered, and Bodhi's quick reflex was our only saving grace. "Come," he laughed.

And, dragged between them both, I let them lead me away. I wasn't a drinker, not even close. Never had been. Needless to say, that the smallest amount of alcohol got to my brain really, really fast. Anything but to think of Jyn again, anything but that image of my ten-year-old, clinging to a Rebel terrorist for protection. That image was about to destroy me.

Elya and Bodhi's hushed voices barely reached my conscience as I allowed my mind to wander in the stars. But when they dropped me upon her mattress, rolling me to the side, I couldn't help but overhear the short exchange of information. "What happened?" "You can stop looking," she responded grimly. "They found her."

I buried my head in my hands in an attempt to chase that information away; it was useless. Jyn. My beloved stardust. How stupid had I been to think her safe? Stupid booze, my head was pounding as if the Kybers had taken residence inside my skull.

A blissful breeze suddenly drew me from those depressive thoughts, as is someone had just blown upon my nape. My head snapped up, but Elya and Bodhi had not moved from across the fresher. I blinked, taking in the low lights, ready to spiral out of control again.

This time, I heard Lyra's voice shout in my head: 'Not now, you idiot !'. That's it, I was going completely crazy. But as I pondered, I saw that Bodhi was getting ready to leave. And suddenly, a peculiar though popped up, and I pinned the pilot in place with an intense stare. He was from Jedha !

Bodhi Rook froze, like an animal caught, hoping that danger would pass.

"Do you know where those crystals are from, Bodhi, son of Jedha ?"

The lean man blinked his surprise. "Wha... ?"

"The jedha temple. This is where they are from. Vader ordered the Jedha temple destroyed, and we experiment on the Kybers gathered from its ruins."

I couldn't tell him more; it would be too dangerous to risk mentioning a weapon. Any rumour, and the whole base was done for. Beside him, Elya watched me, eyesbrows scrunched in confusion, wondering if I had lost it altogether. The pilot stiffly nodded, then swore under his breath before he left us.

The seed was planted, and I thanked my brain for being able to multitask, even drunk. Would it come to fruition ? I had no idea... only time would tell. Exhausted, I sagged into the mattress, not even bothering to undress. I felt Elya pull those damn shoes off, and loosen my uniform. I was too heavy to even help her. Despite my pitiful state, it took me forever to fall asleep. Elya's caress in my hair was the only thing that kept me from going mad.

All night long, I slumbered, started awake, cried and asked forgiveness to Lyra. I yelled at her in my dreams for abandoning Jyn, for returning to me when she should have been a mother before all ! So much anger, much anguish to dispel. But when morning came, I knew the only, true responsible was Krennic. Orson Krennic, former friend of mine who had just nailed his superiority in my face and thrown my child to the wolves.