Beth Revis - Star Wars Rebel Rising

& TM 2017 Lucasfilm Ltd.

Cover illustration by Brian Rood

Design by Leigh Zieske

All rights reserved. Published by Disney Lucasfilm Press, an imprint of Disney Book Group. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher. For information address Disney Lucasfilm Press, 1101 Flower Street, Glendale, California 91201.

ISBN 978-1-4847-8685-7

Visit the official Star Wars website at: www.starwars.com .

For Corwin

I know.

IMPERIAL DETENTION CENTER & LABOR CAMP LEG-817

LOCATION: Wobani

PRISONER: Liana Hallik, #6295A

CRIMES: Forgery of Imperial Documents, Resisting Arrest

The stormtrooper chuckled as Jyn Erso fell to her knees. She raised her shackled wrists. You can take these off now, she said. Where am I going to run?

She gestured to the long hallway and the dim glow from the illuminators above each cell door.

Its more fun this way, the stormtrooper said, lifting Jyn to her feet by the binders on her wrists. The metal bands cut into her skin and grated against the sensitive bones beneath, but Jyn barely flinched. She didnt want to give him the satisfaction.

Theyre always so The warden, a tall thin man dressed in black, waved his hand as if searching for the right word. Theyre always so noble when they first arrive, dont you think?

The stormtrooper made a noncommittal noise as he prodded Jyn, forcing her farther down the dark hallway toward her cell.

The warden chuckled at his own joke, then apologized. Im sorry, it just amuses me so. I can always spot a fresh one. They stand straighter. His strides lengthened, and he passed Jyn and the stormtrooper, then turned in front of them, halting their progress. The warden grabbed Jyns chin, forcing her to face him, but Jyn jerked away defiantly. He chuckled again. The fresh ones still have a little fight in them, he said, wrinkling his nose at the word little .

When Jyn didnt rise to the bait, his face soured. This way, prisoner. He turned on his heel and walked quickly down the hall. Jyn stared ahead, trying to keep her tired feet straight so she wouldnt stumble again and further prolong the ordeal.

They picked you upwhere? the warden asked casually.

Jyn didnt answer.

The warden spun around and slapped her across the face, hard. I asked you a question, Six-Two-Nine-Five-A.

I was captured on a ship in the Five Points system, she said through gritted teeth.

Capturedand arrested. The warden sounded proud of himself, even though hed had nothing to do with it. And now youre here. He swept his arm out but didnt move. One of the cells was dark and empty. The stormtrooper nudged Jyn forward, and she stumbled into the tiny room. When she raised her wrists this time, he deactivated the binders. The light on the band blinked from red to green, and Jyns wrists fell from the heavy metal with relief.

Im sure youll enjoy our little operation at L-E-G-Eight-One-Seven, the warden said. He pronounced the abbreviation of the prison system branch in a rush, turning the letters LEG into elegy . Jyn felt it was an appropriate title. Welcome to Wobani. He grinned at the words, well aware of the reputation the planet held.

Your crimes, though not the worst the Empire has encountered, are not to be tolerated. You have done a disservice to the galaxy, and to repay your debt to society, you will work. The warden punched in a code on the biometric datapad by Jyns door, and the metal bars slid into place, trapping her inside the cell. You will not like the work, the warden added, his tone still mild and pleasant. And you will not like your new home here. But thats what you get when you commit crimes against the Empire. Welcome to the worst days of your life.

The warden looked down his nose at Jyn through the bars. He smirked slightly. No doubt he was used to criminals breaking down at this practiced little speech, but Jyn just gaped at him.

The worst days of her life?

The warden could do no more than scowl as Jyn laughed in his face.

JYN ERSO, AGE 8

Jyn Erso hid in the dark.

She was not afraid of the dark. She used to be, yes, but not anymore. She knew this dark. She had been in it for hours.

Ever since she had seen her mother slaughtered.

The cave was cramped, but not as cramped as it was supposed to be. She and Mama and Papa had practiced these drills, and when they had pretended the Empire was coming and it was time to hide, they had hidden together.

Jyn was alone now.

She had a satchel with her, a few possessions shed crammed into the bag when her mama had told her it was time. Abommy the Gig wasnt there. Shed left him under her bed, where hed protected her from the monsters she was old enough to know didnt exist. She wished she had him now; she wished she could stroke his soft synthetic fur that smelled of Papas clove aftershave.

Jyn shook her head. No. A toy wouldnt bring her comfort now. It was a stupid thing to wish for. She couldnt be such a baby.

Jyn clutched the necklace her mother had given her moments before she died. She squeezed her eyes shut. She wondered if death hurt. She supposed it must.

It was so dark.

Jyn lit a lantern. The shadows danced along the rocky interior of the cave.

They reminded her of the troopers dressed in black.

Papa will come, she told herself, the sound of her voice tinny and fragile in the darkness.

Mama had said, Trust the Force. Jyn tried. She tried to believe. To hope.

The hatch above her rattled. Jyn sucked in a scream of fear as the door opened and a mans face peered down.

A sob escaped her. Saw! He had come to save her!

But not Mama. He was too late for Mama.

Come, my child, he said. We have a long ride ahead of us. He reached his hand down into the cave, helping her up.

Jyn looked into Saws face, hesitating for just a moment to take his hand. The last time shed seen him, hed brought her and her family to Lahmu, to make a fresh start after theyd left Coruscant. Mama and Papa had drilled into Jyn the different scenarios that might happen ifwhenthe Empire found them.

And this, Mama would say, showing her how to operate the comm tower. If the worst happens and you need help but Papa and I arent around, you press this button here, and Saw Gerrera will come.

And every time, Jyn would reach out for the button, eager to hit it right then. He never visits! shed say as Mama pulled her back, chiding her daughter that he was to be summoned in emergencies only.

Now Saws jaw was set in a grim line. There was no smile on his lips, no joviality in his eyes like the last time shed seen him. A long scar cut through his left eye, making the lid droopy. His eyes bulged slightly, his lips turned downward. The rain streaked his bald head. He looked angry.

Jyn reached up and slipped her small pale hand through his dark calloused one. He squeezed her fingers gently, and she gripped his back, holding on as if she were drowning and he was the rope pulling her back to shore.