Cassian was right, the planet was pretty from above but what seemed like swirling clouds turned out to be vicious thunderstorms as they descended through the clouds. Lian was sat next to Jyn. The two of them gripping the handles as the ship shook. Rain hammering on the metal and thunder crackling in the vibrations. Chirrut and Blaze were on the other side of the room. Blaze holding onto the side as Chirrut prayed. "I am one with the force and the force is with me". Lian muttered along to him under his breath as the ship gave another rocking shudder. Something hit the side and Jyn knocked into him.

"Sorry", she muttered. Lian shrugged in a 'what can you do' gesture. The visible nerves tightening his jaw as the ship made him shudder.

"Hold on tight!" Cassian called back. "We're coming down hard". Lian gritted his teeth as the ship skidded across the cliffs of a mountain. Skipping like a stone before finally coming to a jaw rattling stop in a cacophony of squealing metal. 

"Ouch", came a groan from up front. Lian smiled in faint shell shocked amusement under his scarf as Bodhi stumbled into view. The pilot huffed at him as he flopped in a heap on the floor with another long groan. Lian nudged him with the toe of his shoe. 

"Get up", Cassian muttered as he stepped over the downed pilot. "I'm going to go and check out the damage". He pulled a waterproof poncho from a compartment and shrugged it over his head. "Won't be long". The doors beeped open, letting in a gale of wet wind and he stepped out, the doors shutting behind him.

Bodhi groaned and rolled himself onto his feet. "Lian", Chirrut called. "Come and meditate with me". Lian staggered as he got up and crossed over to sit himself next to his elder, half falling into a seat and adjusting his robes before closing his eyes. The fear and lack of control in their lading had left him rattled and it was with a need for comfort that he let his mind drift into the force. 

 Meditating here was different than back in the temple. In the temple, the energy seemed old and slowly weakening as the kyber crystals were removed. The eons of history stored in them and in the temples fading as more and more was stripped back. It had been a familiar feeling. The force was as comforting as an old friend in Jedha. Here it was as wild as the storm outside and agitated, as if waiting for something. It clung to the life forms in the ship and he realised what Chirrut meant about Jyn. The force around her hummed with purpose. He wasn't sure if he liked it. 

The sound of the door opening and the cold air alerted them to Cassian's return. "Bodhi, where's the lab?" He demanded as he pulled off his wet jacket. The water falling of him in sheets. Already he seemed halfway soaked through. 

"The research facility?" Bodhi clarified. He, Jyn and K2 had been checking the ship systems. Their activity going ignored by the three other men. 

"Yeah, where is it?"

"It's just over that ridge". Lian still had his eyes closed but he could tell that Bodhi made a gesture with his thumb. The ripples of the movements resonating in the force distantly as he allowed his mind to float on the energy. Breathing slowing and the panic from the landing fading as he calmed.

"That's the shuttle depot straight ahead of us, you're sure of it?" Cassian was rummaging around the ship. Something quick in his tone. The words sounded like he was on a timeframe. 

"Yes".

"Let's just hope that there's an imperial shit left to steal", Cassian muttered, still loud enough for the ship to hear. "Here's what we're doing. Hopefully the storm will keep up and keep us hidden down here. Bodhi, you're coming with me. We'll go up the ridge and check it out".

"I'm coming with you", Jyn stood up.

"No, your father's message, we can't risk it. You're the messenger". There was a click as Cassian began checking his weapons. Barely a pause as he rebuffed her. The force was weird around him. Lian didn't like that either. It had calmed into something darker. He mentally recoiled from it and opened his eyes with a muted gasp. 

"That's ridiculous. We all got the message. Everyone here knows it". He watched as Jyn's face furrowed in frustration. 

"One blast to the reactor module and the whole system goes down", K2 supplied. "That how you said it, the whole system goes down".

"Get to work fixing the comms", Cassian growled at the droid. "All I want to do right now is get a handle on what we're up against. So we're going to go very small and very careful over the rise and see what's what", he stated sharply before opened the door. "Let's get out of here". He reached out to grab Bodhi by the neckline. The younger man had managed to grab a spare poncho and was struggling to get the hood over the goggles on his head. He grunted as Cassian yanked him out the door and into the dark rain. Their shadows rapidly disappearing into the storm. 

Lian watched them go as the door closed again. "Did you feel that?" He whispered softly. Chirrut nodded and turned his head to blaze.

"Did he look like a killer?" The blind man asked. Lian had not seen many killers up close so he didn't know how to answer. 

"No", Blaze stated, face grim. "He had the face of a friend".

Jyn looked away from the window. "Who are you talking about?"

"Captain Andor", Blaze replied.

"Why do you ask that? What do you mean does he look like a killer?"

"The force moves darkly near a creature who is about to kill", Chirrut informed. Jyn turned to Lian as if seeking a different answer. She did not receive one. The dark eyes over the red fabric were resigned. 

"His weapon was in the sniper configuration", K2 pointed out.

"I'm going after him", Jyn announced. Lian watched as she grabbed a hat and another poncho from one of the ship cabinets and slammed her hand on the button to the door. The metal skid open and she jumped out into the rain. Her form swiftly disappearing into the storm. She disappeared and the door shut again. There was a moment of silence. 

After a minute Chirrut stood up. He pushed the button and the door opened. Lian rose and watched as Chirrut used his staff to jump onto the ground. The younger turned and grabbed his own staff before jumping after him without a word or hesitation. The wind instantly began pulling at his robes and the rain stung his head. He pulled his scarf up so that it covered his short hair as best it could and picked up his pace to catch up to Chirrut. The rain already soaking through their robes. "Where are you going?" Blaze called behind them.

"I'm going after Jyn. Her path is clear", Chirrut shouted back.

"Just with the kid? Good luck!"

"I don't need luck. I have you". Lian grinned at Chirrut's words. There was a distinct silence as they walked slowly forwards. Then there was grunt and the running of footsteps approaching behind them.

"Nice of you to join us", Lian greeted as Blaze caught up.

"Stop looking so smug", Blaze grumbled. One of his hands reaching up to ruffle his soaked hair. Lian pushed him off with a laugh. The rain dripping down his face and his clothes uncomfortably sodden. He pulled the scarf from his mouth and stuck his tongue out at him. Blaze smiled and rolled his eyes. 

"We need to go up here", Chirrut waved a hand at the steep incline above them. Lian grimaced at wet rocks. With a sigh, he wordlessly held out his arm. Chirrut took it with a smile. "Thank you", he said, pleased as Lian began to help him up onto the ledge. Blaze clambered up behind him and they peered through the rain towards the light of a landing platform. The grey buildings of the imperial lab was merely a shape in the darkness. The entrance only visible. It appeared that the whole complex was built into the stone. Only the landing pad hanging over the crevice below was visible. Bright lights on as ship descended overhead. Lian could just about make out a man in white and several troopers through the rain. Recognising the grey of imperial uniforms but he was too far away to tell who was who.

"Can you see Jyn?" Chirrut called through the storm. They had been waiting a while now. Their clothes completely soaked through and Lian was shivering. The water dripping from his eyelashes and making it hard to see. 

"Not through this damned rain", Blaze grunted. He peered through the scope of his gun but it didn't seemed to make much of a difference. They watched as the little figures moved around the landing platform. Their small shapes blurred by the rain.

"Look above!" Chirrut waved his arm and Lian turned. Bright lights blinked him as five dark forms flew over their heads. The X-wings flying low, engines thundering in a high pitched wine that they were known for as they dropped down. Blasts hit the platform and suddenly it was alight with fire. Lian jerked up in shock at the sudden attack. His feet slipping on the rocks for a moment before Chirrut grabbed him by the shoulder and yanked him back up. 

"We need to get to that ship!" Blaze barked as an imperial cargo ship began to take off. He grabbed Chirrut by the arm and pulled him up, one arm gesturing as the ship turned their way. Lian slipped again, catching himself with his staff as he threw his body into a hurtling run after the two men. His eyes rapidly blinking the rain out of his face as he glanced up and caught a glimpse of Bodhi through the glass of the cockpit. 

Blaze practically threw Chirrut into the cargo bay of the ship before hauling himself in. "What about Jyn?" Lian panted as he lifted himself up onto the metal floor. The water made it slippery and Blaze reached out and half pulled him in. 

"The force is with her", Chirrut stated as they felt the ship move around to face their old one. K2 lumbering out of the dark and climbing as gracefully as a droid with steel joints could. The three men having to roll themselves out of the way in bundles of sodden fabric. 

A face peered down at them from the cockpit above. "Got them. Let's go and get the others", Bodhi shouted. K2 muttered something grouchy that Liam ignored and the ship lifted with a creaking groan towards the platform. Lian shuffled along to where Blaze and Chirrut were leaning against the wall. Chirrut turned as he came closer and wordlessly shifted to make space next to him. Blaze watched as Lian curled up and rested his head on Chirrut's shoulder. His shivers more prominent now they were out of the wind. Not helping the shudders of metal as the ship began to descend over the platform. The doors opened to the light of fire and the stinging rain. Two bodies came running and threw themselves inside with loud wet thumps. 

Caspian was immediately rolling onto his feet as the doors slammed shut. "Get us the hell out of here!" He called. Bodhi did not need to be told twice. There was the hum of engines firing up and a feeling of the ground dropping beneath them as they rapidly gained altitude. Then once there had met the clouds, there was a burst of speed as they hit hyperspace. The stormy planet left behind.