Captain Cassian Andor

Cassian sipped at his lukewarm caf and stretched his shoulders, this was the third day of waiting for a contact to show up and nothing. The atmosphere on Thalassia was tense, he’d been getting suspicious looks all day and there seemed to be more random patrols on the streets than other times he’d been on planet. When the holonet broadcast Trayvis’ speech about insurgents again, he heard one pointed curse that was quickly stifled. Perhaps Trayvis was behind the problems, it might be time to rethink his plan if the Empire had got to his contacts first.

In the ‘fresher which had that unlovely smell that bad cantinas had, he put some water on his face and was starting to open the door when heard someone say, “He was just here. I think he’s waiting for someone and I think he’s a rebel.”

The next voice had the crispness of an officer, “We’ll find him.”

From the ‘fresher, his options for escape were limited but not impossible, there was a window that provided access to an alley. Before he’d come in the first time, he’d cracked it open from the outside and by hoisting himself up he was able to wriggle through. In the alley, he waited, a shift change was due soon and he could use that to sneak away. Boots clomped by and he found a shadow to hide in hearing the voices say, “He went into the ‘fresher. He can’t have got far.”

Escape would have to be quick, he started climbing a building when a blaster bolt skimmed his pant leg, the next one was near his arm as he ducked down onto the roof, crawling across as bolts went over. On the other side, he shimmied down, using a balcony to go into a room he knew was abandoned. His injuries weren’t deep just new holes that would have to be repaired. Outside he could hear the boots of troopers going by then knocking at the building’s doors which meant he couldn’t stay. In the hall, he ducked out another open window and used the building to hide him before jumping with a wince into another alley.

As he sprinted, a trooper spotted him and he felt a bolt on his arm before he had cover, now he was in an area with more ruined buildings that he could use to his advantage. Inside a room on a higher floor where he had a view from a destroyed wall, he waited and watched when the evening fog rolled in from the ocean offering him safety for a time. He started listening to various comm frequencies, most of it was what he expected, searches though pulling off as they weren’t sure of his face or what ship he’d come in on.

Then he stopped as he heard a boy speaking, “We have been called criminals, but we are not. We are rebels, fighting for the people, fighting for you. I'm not that old, but I remember a time when things were better on Lothal. Maybe not great, but never like this. See what the Empire has done to your lives, your families, and your freedom? It's only gonna get worse…unless we stand up and fight back. It won't be easy. There will be loss and sacrifice. But we can't back down just because we're afraid. That's when we need to stand the tallest. That's what my parents taught me. That's what my new family helped me remember. Stand up together. Because that's when we're strongest—as one.”

Cassian closed his eyes, because he’d never expected to hear a message about the Rebellion so openly. Whoever was talking was young and still had hope, perhaps it could make a difference. That’s what he wanted, for the fight to grow until the Empire burned and justice, something better could return to the galaxy.