AS JYN soon found out, the soldiers who’d “rescued” her were working for the Rebel Alliance. It seemed, however, that they hadn’t come to free her but to imprison her someplace else. Not even a day later, they delivered her to the headquarters of the Rebel Alliance on a green moon orbiting a gas giant called Yavin. There they hauled her in front of what she guessed must have been their version of a court-martial.
A man who identified himself as General Draven oversaw the proceedings, along with another rebel leader, the gravelly voiced General Dodonna. A third man stood nearby. Dark-haired and slim with a mustache and a stubbled chin, he had the hard eyes of a man who stood ready to do whatever it took for the Alliance to win.
Draven rattled off the list of offenses the Imperials had arrested Jyn for, which impressed her not at all. She knew the crimes she’d committed.
When that was done, though, he continued. “Imagine if the Imperial authorities had found out who you really were. Jyn Erso?”
Jyn tried not to flinch at the use of her real name. If they knew that, there was no telling what else they might have on her.
“That’s your given name, is it not? Jyn Erso? Daughter of Galen Erso? A known Imperial collaborator in weapons development.”
That shocked her. She’d spent most of her life trying to run away from her father’s reputation, and she feared what the Alliance might want from her now that they’d learned her secret.
“What is this?” she asked.
Mon Mothma—a human woman with short red hair, the one-time senator from Chandrila—stepped from the shadows to answer. “It’s a chance for you to make a fresh start. We think you might be able to help us.”
She turned toward the mysterious man. “This is Captain Cassian Andor, Rebel Intelligence.”
Cassian stepped forward and sized Jyn up with flinty eyes. “When was the last time you were in contact with your father?”
The question surprised Jyn, and she had lost track after a lifetime on the run. “Fifteen years ago,” she estimated.
“Any idea where he’s been all that time?”
Jyn didn’t care for where this was heading. “I like to think he’s dead. Makes things easier.”
“Easier than what? That he’s a tool of the Imperial war machine?”
She refused to let the man rattle her. “I’ve never had the luxury of political opinions.”
Cassian grunted at that. “Really? When was your last contact with Saw Gerrera?”
Jyn stiffened as she wondered how large their file on her was. “It’s been a long time.”
“He might remember you, though, wouldn’t he? He might agree to meet you if you came as a friend.”
Jyn decided that she was better off keeping her mouth shut. No sense in giving them more reasons to hang her.
General Draven stepped forward though and said, “We’re up against the clock here, girl. So if there’s nothing to talk about, we’ll just put you back where we found you….”
That prodded Jyn’s lips open. “I was a child. Saw Gerrera saved my life. He raised me. But I’ve no idea where he is. I haven’t seen him in years.”
“We know where to find him,” said Cassian. “That’s not our problem. What we need is someone who gets us through the door without being killed.”
Jyn gave him a hard look, confused. “You’re all rebels, aren’t you?”
“Saw Gerrera’s been fighting his own war for quite some time,” said Mon Mothma. “He’s created a great many problems for the Rebellion. We have no choice now but to try and mend that broken trust.”
“What does this have to do with my father?”
The ever dignified Mon Mothma gave Cassian a go-ahead nod.
“There’s an Imperial defector on Jedha, a pilot. He’s been held by Saw Gerrera. He’s claiming the Emperor is creating a weapon with the power to destroy planets.”
Cassian hesitated for a moment before driving home his final point. “The pilot says he was sent by your father.”
Try as she might, Jyn could not conjure up any response to that. She didn’t even hear what the rest of them said. The next thing she knew, Mon Mothma was addressing her directly.
“It would appear your father is critical to the development of this superweapon. Given the gravity of the situation and your history with Saw, we’re hoping that he’ll help us locate your father and return him to the Senate for testimony.”
As she spoke, Mon Mothma glanced at another person Jyn recognized from the news: Bail Organa, the senator from Alderaan. Jyn had heard rumors that Organa was secretly working with the Alliance, and she supposed his presence confirmed it.
“And if I do it?” Jyn asked.
“We’ll make sure you go free.”
Jyn didn’t have any loyalty to the Empire or the Alliance, but she liked the idea of being able to leave them both behind. If helping the rebels find Saw and perhaps her father was what it took, then that was what she would do.