At Lincoln's feet, Sprinkles sniffs the ground, then Jyn's hip, circling her master, pacing in a way he's not sure he's ever seen the little dog dog before. Something about this is still stressing her out and he has a feeling the dog somehow knows Cassian is gone. Some kind of canine sense he suddenly wishes they shared, because he has absolutely no idea how to break this sort of news to Jyn.

She's his best friend. His family. If their positions were reversed, she would tell him and she would do it plainly rather than trying to beat around the bush in order to hurt him less. No matter how he says it, it's going to hurt.

Crossing his legs, Lincoln sits down beside her and looks into the hole where he'd found her. The ground is wet from the rain and the cold water seeps into his jeans, but he ignores it and stares down into the dark. If she goes back down there once he's delivered this news, he'll go down with her. He'll stay with her for as long as he needs to. Victra will understand.

"He's gone, Jyn," he says, his voice soft. "I called him when I couldn't reach you and the phone went to the recorded message that says his number is no longer in service."