celestial | cassian andor

03 | TESSELLATE.

Note: I realized that my time jumps were probably getting a little confusing, so I added time and location stamps to each chapter along with this one! Check back through the previous chapters if you haven't seen them already for the timeframe of the story :)

Rain pelted his body as he struggled to focus in on the sniper. The man of gray paced nervously across the platform, yelling at Orson Krennic, raising his arms in defense.

But it was too late. Cassian watched as the engineers behind Galen Erso fell one by one, shot down by soldiers.

The sight reminded him what he was here for, much to his chagrin. He rubbed his eyes again, trying to get hair and as much moisture as he could out of eyesight before returning to the crosshairs.

He finally settled his aim between the man's forehead; all he had to do now was pull the trigger.

These were his orders, and it wasn't the first time he had killed for the cause, but something in his bones told him that it wasn't right, that there had to be a different way.

"There's always another way," a voice rang. Cassian shook his head, trying to get it out. "If it feels wrong, don't do it, Cass. Don't just fight for the cause, fight for yourself."

Cassian couldn't focus, all he heard was her, and he adjusted the gun again, but she went on, "Don't let this war beat you."

He let out an exasperated sigh, pulling away from the gun, and dropped his head against the grip.

He had every chance to pull the trigger, but he didn't. He couldn't.

She wouldn't let him.

before.

Yavin four, 5 BBY

Cassian studied the board once more, hoping that maybe this time the pieces would finally fall into place. They'd been trying to solve this mystery for ages: an Imperial base randomly bombed by radicals, on an uninhabited planet, with no sign of Rebel involvement. It had been years since the event occurred, but because of the action's of one person inside the base, a chain reaction shook the galaxy. The war was alive and real, and this person's actions only spurred on the reaction.

"Lieutenant Andor," a familiarly stern voice called out to him. Cassian turned, and was greeted to General Draven, briskly making his way across the room to meet him.

"General," Cassian gave a slight nod, watching as Draven handed him a loaded folder.

"Looks like one of your sources finally struck gold. It's a long shot, but we think we've finally done it." He briefed the lower ranking officer as he looked through the files.

Cassian stopped when he found the photos. He picked one from the pile and examined it closely. He knew from the second his eyes landed on it that this was her. It had to be. She was in Cato Neimoidia, captured just as she was looking over her shoulder in the bustling city.

His heart leapt to his throat, and he could have smiled, but he noticed that her once flawless complexion was now marred, faint burn scars rippling from the edge of her cheek down to her neck. Cassian felt a familiar twinge of grief, instantly reliving his last moments with her before they took her away.

He remembered the blast that separated them, remembered how the flames reached her and not him as her body was flung into the debris. The day lived down in infamy for the young solider, and he swore, as the ship carried her away to captivity, that he would fight to see her safe again, and despite the scars on her face, Cassian knew this picture proved that she was alive, and that's all he would need to know.