Star Crossed

Blown to bits

Elya has been a good little soldier. She's done what I told her to do, nothing more.

Krennic's words should have crushed my hopes, planted a seed of doubt in my mind. Nary a year ago, I might have considered I had been played. Had Elya purposefully allowed this pregnancy to trap me? But I knew her better than that. Her eyes never lied.

"I know," I just answered, hoping she would understand what I meant. My emotionless answer took my former friend aback, and he felt the need to nail it without subtlety.

"And you still let her steal your heart, mmm? You are pretty helpless, Galen. You get this project going, or she'll suffer the consequences."

My worst fears were taking shape; Elya was about to be used against me. Our child, at the mercy of a manipulative bastard. By the time that damn Kyber exploded – 2 hours from now at the best – she would be in Krennic's hands. I slightly shifted, stealing a glance at the young woman who stood, stoic, beside me. Her face was pale, her eyes slightly unfocused. Strange...

Her absence of reaction spooked Orson, who turned to her with a saccharine sweet smile.

"Sorry, Elya, you'll have to be guarded now. I could use your mind on another brilliant project, though."

The idea of separation dug a hole in my heart, and I glared daggers at Orson. For months, now, we'd been gravitating around each other without the comfort of intimacy. Seeing her, every single day, without being able to talk to her, to touch her had been torture. But at least, I'd been able to keep an eye on her and our child.

The very thought that I might never see her again, that our baby could be taken away from us send cold dread pooling in my stomach. Would I remain here, without Lyra, without Jyn, without Elya? Never to greet my new babe in our life?

Would all the people I cared for be torn from my grasp? The Idea of the Death Star, of that mighty weapon on a battle station was less scary than this uprooting. No. Impossible. I wouldn't survive it. Straightening, I spoke with conviction.

"You can't take her away from Celestial Power. I won't be able to make it without her help."

The predatory smile spread upon my nemesis' lips, and I felt hot rage boil in my veins. I wanted to smack that expression right off his face.

"Bullshit, Galen. You know it as much as I do."

"I swear to you..."

Krennic walked around his desk, unbothered by my rising temper. Then, he pulled a pistoblaster from a drawer and pointed it to Elya. I froze as if thunder had fallen at my feet. She didn't make a sound, her eyes fixed upon the device. My breath itched, dread shaking my foundations. It was Lyra all over again, sweet Lyra whose lifeless body still felt warm in my arms.

"Don't... Orson, I beg you. Don't"

My voice broke; I was defeated. Krennic didn't move an inch, his eyes fixed upon his protégée. Would he dare shooting her, really? Had he nurtured her, taught her, only to kill her at his convenience? Impossible; he needed her alive to keep me in check, didn't he?

And why wasn't she reacting? Elya seemed ... almost in a trance. So absent that instinct took over, and her hand shot to her belly in a characteristic move. Bantha shit!

Terrified, I dragged Elya behind me, ready to take that shot if need be. Today, I would be the one to die for my family. If it could protect mother and child, then so was my fate. Orson's eyes widened at the sight, understanding dawning upon him. Our last card had been dealt, and we had lamentably lost.

"I can't believe it!" Orson yelled, waving his blaster around. "That stupid octopus was right!"

I saw red, rage building up in my shaking frame. So Gubacher had sold us. If he didn't die in the explosion, I would cut off his tentacles one by one myself! Krennic lifted his other hand – probably to call the death troopers with his wrist device. Blood rushing through my veins, I decided to stop him, even if it was the last thing I did. I was about to spring forward when the world turned upside down.