Star Crossed

Unmasked

I sat in Galen's office, meditating, opening that channel I was now mastering to communicate with the Kyber. I conveyed how sorry I was for doing this. Waves of reassurance reached me, like tendrils of a mother's love; the crystal was happy to meet its end and free its chains. Ever since Vader has submitted it, the Kyber bled, its light crimson. If, by exploding, it could prevent its brethren from serving the Siths, it would gladly level the base.

I gasped; the explosion was supposed to damage the lab and our research facility, but not the entire base. If I wasn't totally crazy, the Kyber had just warned me to get the hell out of dodge. I darted away from Galen's office, sparing one last glance to the place I had just decided to destroy. That lab, where I'd worked my ass off for years, was about to disappear. A strange wave of nostalgia grabbed my guts; this is where I'd dreamt about meeting Dr Erso. Where I had, with clumsiness, first held his hand. Fallen in love with him.

A strange prison, with wonderful and horrible memories alike. A wave of urgency washed through me and I shook myself out of those reminiscences. Galen wasn't too far off, and I dropped the ploy as I strode past Sahali.

"Perhaps we should ... er, get personnel further away, just in case something goes wrong," I whispered.

Galen gave me a speculative look, calculating the odds of our scientists getting seriously hurt in the overload process. The safe room was three levels down in the mountain, opposite living quarters. Would it be enough? Unfortunately, I couldn't voice my concerns, especially when Sahali snorted by my side.

"You have so little faith in your own calculation, Elya? I thought they'd been double-checked."

The dripping sarcasm raised my hackles, and I was thankful for Galen's hand upon my forearm when he shut Shahali up.

"I double checked them. But I know how to differentiate arrogance from stupidity."

The stress of what we were about to do returned full force; my knees felt like rubber. Would my genius understand why I was so shifty? So eager to change plans? Would he trust me, or dismiss my concerns? I caught his gaze, pleading, and thought he understood me...

But then, the door banged open and Krennic strode in like a King in conquered territory. I stifled a gasp with clammy hands; not NOW!

HUTT'S POO! DAMN THE FORCE!

I felt like screaming like a banshee, but managed to exhale through my nose instead. The Kyber needed three more hours to fully load, we weren't ready. Of every surprise visit he'd ever planned, the Director choose today! Damn it! Fate was working against us!

I chanced a quick glance at Galen; his jaw was set tight, but his face remained expressionless. It was little wonder he could level the pilots at cards. How could he be so stoic when such a complication arose? Orson would, for sure, find something amiss in our plans for the emperor's demonstration. Or in my demeanour; he knew me too well. We couldn't afford to see him, face to face.

The mask returned upon my features as I switched position, mindful not to show my profile. I prayed to the Force that the neutral expression would hide my internal screaming; when did things go according to plan, really? Krennic's gaze froze me, his icy irises scanning me before they settled upon Galen.

Behind him, the slimy tentacles of Dr Gubacher slid into the room. A cold shiver ran up my spine when I eventually understood that the spy had never been Sahali; he wasn't cunning enough, nor discrete enough. The spy was Gubacher, the creature I had trusted the most in this lab. Cursing myself, I straightened, pulling my hips inwards with as much strength as I could muster.

"Erso, a word in my office please."

Galen paled two notches, turning the machine on with a scowl. That expression would have warned any other away ... even me. Would it be enough to save our asses?