Chapter Text
“Mama, what did Papa mean?”
Lyra Erso stays focused on the bag in her hands, neatly tucking in the last of her clothes, hoping the movement hides her shaking hands. “What did he say?” she asks.
“Whatever I do, I do it to protect you,” the young girl recites.
Lyra freezes.
Her eyes slowly lift from the bag to meet the warily curious green eyes of her daughter; she opens her mouth to speak, but no words come.
(the empire won’t kill me, krennic won’t kill me. they’ll keep me alive and working until my mind grows feeble and dim of old age)
“What does he mean, Mama?” Jyn asks again.
Galen will live, regardless of what she does. And, oh , it feels like a betrayal to leave him here, to stay with the plan and run, but Galen will live and Jyn--
What would Jyn become, left alone?
No matter what Saw Gerrera has done for them, she cannot trust him to raise Jyn.
“Mama?”
Lyra takes a deep breath and makes her decision. “It means that we need to run,” she says, and picks up the blaster from the table beside her.
They will follow the plan, and maybe one day she will be able to tell her husband how sorry she feels. Maybe one day she’ll forgive herself.
May the Force be with you, Galen Erso.
They run.