In a dim, dry cell, these words echoed over and over again.
The cell was carved out of a natural cave, its walls marked with chaotic tool marks, indicating that this place might have once been part of a mining structure.
Now, it had been repurposed as a holding area for "special guests."
The speaker was Chirrut Îmwe.
The blind man sat cross-legged on the ground, his expression calm, his hands resting on his knees.
His voice was low and rhythmic, like a meditative chant, as if he were gathering some invisible force.
Baze Malbus, the disheveled man, stood with his arms crossed, leaning against the cave wall. He glanced at his friend with impatience, his brows furrowed, clearly annoyed by Chirrut's incessant muttering but unable to do anything about it.
The atmosphere inside the cell was tense and oppressive, but outside, it was filled with noise and laughter.
The rebel humans and aliens were engaged in gambling games, boasting, and teasing each other.
In the dim light, Leon sat in another corner of the cell.
He also leaned against the rough cave wall, one hand on his knee, the other silently tapping the ground, as if deep in thought.
Leon's equipment had been forcibly removed.
His holographic glasses, pulse pistol, and other advanced reconnaissance tools were now in the custody of the rebels.
But he showed no signs of panic. Instead, his gaze remained fixed on the man crouching by the cell door.
The man was deep in thought, his expression somber.
His dark flight jacket was wrinkled and stained, clearly having endured a long period of hardship and travel. Yet, despite this, the man's eyes still held a glimmer of determination, as he too pondered how to break the current stalemate.
The man Leon was silently observing was Cassian Andor, a captain in the Rebel Alliance.
Through earlier brief conversations and Chirrut's "accidental" revelations, Leon had learned the man's identity.
And the person they frequently discussed, who was not present, was a woman—
Jyn Erso.
Jyn was Cassian's mission objective and the "adopted daughter" of Saw Gerrera, the leader of the Jedha rebel group.
This made Jyn a special figure within the rebel organization, and her true identity was even more complex. Her father, Galen Erso, was the lead engineer behind the Galactic Empire's Death Star project.
Leon pieced together the information he had gathered, considering the relationship between Jyn Erso and Galen Erso, and the roles this father-daughter pair played in the current situation.
He knew well that Galen Erso was a double-edged sword for both the Galactic Empire and the Rebel Alliance.
From the Empire's perspective, Galen Erso was the core engineer of the Death Star project, his design talent unmatched.
Now, with the Death Star nearing completion, any disturbance at this critical stage could lead to unpredictable consequences.
If Galen showed any signs of colluding with the Rebel Alliance, the Empire would not hesitate to make an example of him.
After all, it was better to eliminate the threat before it could expose the Death Star's technical flaws.
For the Rebel Alliance, Galen Erso's significance was equally complex.
On one hand, he was a key figure in the Empire's military strength. Eliminating him would significantly weaken the Empire's technological advantage.
On the other hand, if Galen could be persuaded to defect and provide the Rebels with detailed schematics of the Death Star, their chances of defeating the Empire would greatly increase.
However, in the current tense situation, the Rebels could not fully trust Galen Erso.
He could be an ally, or he could be a potential threat.
In any case, Galen's existence was like a ticking time bomb, ready to explode at any moment.
Jyn Erso, as the daughter of Galen Erso, naturally became the focal point in the struggle between both sides.
She could serve as a bargaining chip for the Empire to coerce Galen or as a point of leverage for the Rebels to sway him to their cause.
This unique position made her situation extremely dangerous. Both Galen and Jyn were at risk of assassination by either the Empire or the Rebels to prevent any disruption to their respective plans.
Through Chirrut's conversations and Baze's barely concealed impatience, Leon gradually pieced together several clues. He was almost certain that Galen Erso was on the brink of being executed or assassinated by both factions.
After all, the destruction Jedha and Holy City were facing from the Death Star's devastating attack was largely connected to Bodhi Rook, a pilot held in another cell.
This pilot was no ordinary prisoner—he carried vital information regarding Galen Erso's fate and the Death Star's critical weaknesses.
This meant Galen Erso was about to be exposed and face execution by the Empire.
And Cassian, standing before them, might use Jyn's identity to get close to Galen Erso and carry out an assassination.
To be honest, after years as an investigator, Leon couldn't claim to have seen it all, but he could keenly "sense" the hidden struggles and unease beneath Cassian's calm exterior.
When the rebels had brought them here, Leon noticed Cassian's subtle attitude toward Jyn—
It wasn't the simple trust found between ordinary comrades but rather the restrained anxiety of someone burdened by a mission.
What could cause a spy to be torn between duty and emotion was the intimate connection between his assassination target and his companion.
At the same time, Leon recalled the droid that had accompanied Jyn and Cassian earlier.
Its designation was K-2SO.
Originally an Imperial security droid, it had been captured and "reprogrammed" by the Rebels, becoming a spy and ally for the Rebel Alliance.
From Cassian's interactions with K-2SO in Holy City, it was clear that the droid was not only a reliable combat partner but also a crucial assistant in Cassian's mission.
However, before they were captured by the rebels, Cassian had already sent K-2SO away.
Thus, only the four of them remained in the cell.
Without his communication equipment, Leon was cut off from the forward base, significantly weakening his control over the situation.
It also made him realize that if he had undergone extensive cybernetic enhancements like David Martinez or Lucy, he might not be in this predicament of isolation.
However, Leon had always been resistant to cybernetic modifications. He belonged to the more traditional faction, believing that the human body was a precious "original" that should not be altered carelessly.
While cybernetic technology was highly advanced, in his view, this artificial "evolution" might not truly enhance humanity's core abilities and could instead bring hidden risks and the potential for harmful mutations.
Despite the Biological Department's absolute assurances.
Leon remained an "old fossil."
However, he didn't consider this mission a failure. On the contrary, it had made preliminary progress.
First, he had encountered Chirrut Îmwe and Baze Malbus, who were closely related to the "Jedi" as Temple Guards.
This duo held a unique status and abilities in this universe, which could help the main universe's Empire better understand the so-called "Force."
Additionally, Cassian's identity as a Rebel captain allowed Leon to successfully establish contact with the Rebel Alliance.
Under Chirrut's guidance and advice, Leon quickly adapted to this universe's complex situation, laying the groundwork for future operations..
At this moment.
Leon was contemplating how to escape this cell, while also sketching out plans for the next steps in his mind.
He didn't know when the Death Star in low orbit would unleash its devastating strike on Holy City, so he needed to escape at the optimal moment, recover his communication equipment, and exchange intelligence with the forward base.
This would enable the joint reconnaissance team and the Thousand Sons to ensure the safety of Chirrut, Baze, Cassian, and Jyn, while obtaining more critical information and even technology from Universe 17.
As he watched Cassian assemble lock-picking tools, Leon dismissed the idea of using brute force to destroy the terminal controlling the cell door.
In truth, given Leon's physical capabilities, he could have easily chosen to forcefully break the terminal. However, there was no need to reveal his "special" nature prematurely.
Besides, Cassian, burdened with anxiety, hadn't questioned Leon's identity much. He likely assumed Leon was just another eccentric, lumped together with Chirrut and Baze.
Boom...!
At that moment, the ground suddenly shook violently, as if a thousand horses were galloping beneath them, throwing the entire cell into chaos.
Whoosh————!!
Following that, supersonic shockwaves swept through the rebel base.
The air currents stirred up a fierce wind in the narrow passages, lifting dust and debris into the air.
"What's happening?!"
"Get ready for combat!"
The previously relaxed rebels, who had been playing cards and chatting, were now in complete disarray.
Their expressions shifted from leisurely amusement to panicked chaos as they rushed to the weapon racks, grabbing their guns and scrambling to assume combat positions.
The corridors echoed with the sounds of hurried footsteps, frantic shouting, and the clatter of weapons as the rebels descended into disarray.
Amid the escalating confusion, Cassian acted swiftly, taking advantage of the moment. With precision, he efficiently unlocked the cell door using his assembled lock-picking tools.
He also notified K-2SO to come and assist.
Leon followed the group out, reclaiming their weapons and equipment, while Baze casually rescued the bewildered Bodhi.
With his holographic glasses back on, Leon quickly activated the AR function.
His vision was immediately flooded with streams of information, real-time data, and status updates. Then, an emergency notification popped up:
Primary Mission Objective: Obtain the critical information Galen Erso is transmitting.
Intelligence Department Reminder: Galen Erso is about to become a target of execution/assassination by both the Galactic Empire and the Rebel Alliance.
Galen Erso is a high-value researcher. If possible, Director Kennedy, ensure his safety.
The information Galen Erso is transmitting can prove that his actions are aimed at helping all resistance groups counter the Galactic Empire.
Additionally, during the mission, attempt to gain the trust of the Rebel Alliance to ensure the complete transmission of intelligence.
Leon glanced at the notification, his mind racing.
Leon quickly refocused on the situation at hand, glancing out the window to confirm the location and extent of the explosions.
Through the broken window frame, the scene before him was like the apocalypse—
The earth's crust had been torn apart, molten lava erupting violently from the depths. Flames illuminated the sky as thick clouds of smoke surged toward the heavens.
The entire ground shook and collapsed in places, vividly showcasing the terrifying power of the Death Star's attack.
Yet, faced with such a sight, Leon showed no signs of panic or distraction. Instead, he followed Cassian to find Jyn Erso while communicating with the forward base.
"Director Kennedy, this is the forward base," a female staff member from the Survey Department spoke rapidly but clearly over the comms:
"A U-wing fighter piloted by the K-2SO droid is rapidly approaching your location and the key targets. However, based on the current situation, you only have five minutes to evacuate."
"Additionally, if Director Kennedy and the key targets board the U-wing and engage in hyperspace travel, the forward base will lose contact with you again."
"However, the Intelligence Department states that the 1st Company of the Thousand Sons will arrive early on the planet Scarif to rendezvous with Director Kennedy, all key targets, and the Rebel Alliance fleet."
Hearing this, Leon simply replied, "Understood," before shifting his focus to assisting Cassian in locating Jyn.
Cassian, ahead of him, didn't notice Leon communicating with personnel from another universe.
The situation outside was already chaotic, and Cassian didn't have Leon's superhuman hearing.
Soon, the two arrived at the rebel leader's quarters, where they found a tearful Jyn Erso and Saw Gerrera, whose expression conveyed a sense of "relief" and acceptance.
"We need to leave now!"
Cassian hurriedly dragged Jyn along.
"Come with us!!"
Jyn was reluctant to leave her adoptive father.
"You must survive! I will no longer run."
Saw Gerrera, who was inherently distrustful and unable to cooperate with the Rebel Alliance, seemed ready to face his final fate.
Leon chose not to interfere in their emotional moment. Instead, he noticed a holographic projection device nearby.
Without hesitation, he stepped forward and extracted the built-in storage module.
?
Although Cassian was puzzled by Leon's actions, the situation was critical, so he dragged the reluctant Jyn away.
Leon followed closely behind.
With less than two minutes left on the evacuation timer displayed by his holographic glasses, the three of them successfully escaped the rebel base and quickly boarded the U-wing piloted by K-2SO.
Then, they took the risk of initiating hyperspace travel within the atmosphere, narrowly avoiding the catastrophic impact caused by the Death Star's destruction of Holy City...
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