JEDHA CITY wasn’t exactly what Jyn had expected. She supposed that once, long before, it had been a beautiful city that glowed with the power of the Force, but it had fallen on hard times. It sat on a high plateau in the middle of a deep valley, surrounded by an ancient wall that had protected it from ground invasion for countless centuries.

Many of the proud spires that once stabbed into the sky, though, had been shattered, and much of the rest of the city lay under a thick layer of dust and smoke generated by years of conflict. To top it all off, almost the entire city was under the shadow of an Imperial Star Destroyer that hovered over it.

Jyn had rarely seen such a raw display of power, and she could only imagine what it must have been like for the residents to wake up one day to find themselves living under it.

“What’s with the Destroyer?” she asked Cassian as they surveyed the city from a distance.

“The Empire’s been sending those since Saw Gerrera started attacking their cargo shipments.”

Jyn noticed several such ships running back and forth from the Star Destroyer to various points within the city.

“What are they bringing in?”

“It’s what they’re bringing out. Kyber crystal. All they can get. We believe the Empire is using it as fuel for the weapon.”

“The weapon your father is building,” K-2SO observed.

Jyn looked askance at the droid. “Maybe we should leave Target Practice behind.”

The droid took half a step back, as if shocked. “Are you talking about me?”

Jyn wondered if the machine might get angry with her, but Cassian intervened. “She’s right. We need to blend in. Stay with the ship.”

“I can blend in,” the droid protested. “I’m an Imperial droid. The city is under Imperial occupation.”

Jyn could hardly believe it, but the Imperial security droid seemed offended. “Half the people here want to reprogram you. The other half want to put a hole in your head.”

“I’m surprised you’re so concerned with my safety.”

“I’m not. I’m just worried they might miss you and hit me.”

Jyn walked away, intending to end the conversation at that point, but the droid couldn’t resist one last dig as she and Cassian began their hike to Jedha City.

“Doesn’t sound so bad to me.”