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PROLOGUE

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JYN ERSO HAD NEVER expected to live this long. When she was young living in Coruscant, Jyn thought that her life would be as normal and uneventful as it could get. When her mother died and Saw took her in, Jyn knew that her life would be short. As more and more time passed, she realized that she would most likely die during one of Saw's escapades. Ever since he abandoned her, Jyn saw every day she spent alive as punishment.

But what for?

Was it for her father's sins or her own? Was all the things she had done for Saw finally caught up to her?

Oh, but she tried before. She just couldn't seem to die.

But here on Scarif, Jyn knows that she is going to die here. She can hear the whispers of the other side as the world shakes.

Cassian's breaths come in quick gasps, her carrying much of his weight. She mostly keeps her eyes on the light in the distance, swallowing back a gasp when she sees the bodies and the smoke rising from the beaches. She leads him away from the carnage and towards the shore.

Scarif is beautiful. If Jyn made it out of this alive, she would want to live on a planet like this.

The water in the distance looks like it's on fire, and it's calming. The soft crash of waves fills her ears and they stop, looking at the light with wonder, but not with fear.

Cassian's legs give out and he slides to the ground, Jyn following him.

His brown eyes, those eyes that she has been drowning in since they first met are watching looking at her. She sees all the words in them, and she's sure he can see them in hers too. The words that hang in the air, unspoken, but still there.

He opens her mouth and she almost braces herself. There isn't time for dwelling on what could have been. He must recognise it, because his next words catch her completely by surprise.

"Your father would have been proud of you, Jyn."

Would he? Would Galen be proud of all the things she has done as Jyn Erso, as Liana Hallik, as Tanith Ponta, as Kestrel Dawn, as Lyra Hallik, as Nari McVee?

No, Galen wouldn't be proud of Liana or Tanith or Kestrel or Lyra or even Nari. He would be proud of Jyn.

A smile tugs on her lips and she reaches over to hold Cassian hand. It's calloused from years of fighting and rough, but it is still warm and it is still home.

They look back out at the horizon.

She knows they won't die in vain. The rebels are going to destroy the Death Star.

The light keeps getting closer and closer. Jyn watches it.

She is ready.

She turns to Cassin, trying to memorise his face and take it with her to whatever's next. She wants to kiss him. She wants to say something. Instead she leans forward to wrap her arms around his neck. She feels him relax as he wraps his arms around her shoulder.

The light engulfs them and Jyn closes her eyes.