hey everyone! thank you so much to those who have showed interest in this story :) I'm so excited for what I have planned for you guys!
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The Mandalorian's grunts were nearly soundless in the night air as he tried to cauterize his wound. The fight from back in the rocky valley hadn't left him unmarked.
His cut was just above his elbow, the skin around the damaged flesh barely visible to my eyes. He held a curious device and I watched warily as little zaps of electricity made connection with his arm. A slightly louder hiss of pain brought my gaze up from the strange mechanism to his helmet.
"That seems like it's doing more damage," I noted.
We had stopped on a boulder ledge for the night, our view overlooking the dirt valley below. The Mandalorian had lit a single lantern in the dusky air and I found myself close to the green child.
"It's fine."
I frowned a little, my stare now focusing on the kid. It too was staring at the Mandalorian, but something about its intensity caught my attention. It began to rustle around silently, trying to get out of the floating orb.
Hesitantly, I turned my attention back to the Mandalorian, keeping an eye on the little one.
"Is there anything I can do?" I asked. My voice sounded light on the wind.
Mando turned to me. "No." He seemed to think for a moment before quietly adding, "But thank you."
More rustling from the orb caused me to turn back to the child. Curious, I picked up the little one, setting it down near my side. It looked up at me, big eyes reflecting the night sky.
Slowly, it turned and began to make its way toward the Mandalorian. I continued to observe in fascination as it raised its hand above Mando's wound once it got within reach.
Mando's head snapped to the child just as it appeared to show signs of struggle on its face.
The man sighed, looking to me before lifting the little one and walking back over to set it in its orb. He said nothing but I sensed annoyance radiating off him.
I looked down to play with my fingers, chewing the inside of my lip. I was grateful for the Mandalorian, but so far, he had been so quiet. I found myself wondering if all Mandalorians were like this.
He returned to his original position with the device just as the little one started to move around again. This time, it climbed out of the orb on its own. It tumbled silently into the dirt before rising and making its way back to Mando.
The Mandalorian had been busy working on a piece of his armor, zapping it with what appeared to be the same device he had used on his arm. As the child once again raised its hand above Mando's cut, the man sighed heavily, quickly scooping the child back up and setting it once more into the sphere. Large eyes looked up at the Mandalorian as mine looked at the child.
"I-I think it wants to help," I said.
Mando turned to me, clicking a button and shutting the sphere's lid.
"Wait, don't," I said, standing to meet the Mandalorian. He tilted his head towards me, unmoving. "I'll watch it," I insisted. "You…" My voice trailed off as I watched the flickering light from his lantern bounce off his armor. "You don't need to lock it up like that."
After a moment, he let out a breath. "Fine," he said softly.
I smiled slightly at him, relieved when he opened the lid to reveal the kid. I walked over to it, picking it up and cocooning it snuggly within its own cloth. Resting it against me in the crook of my arm, I noticed its big eyes starting to blink more slowly.
I looked back to the armored man across from me, already sitting back in his previous spot.
"Are you here to bring it back to its family?" I whispered. I had been trying to figure out his plans for the little one ever since the discovery of the tracking fobs set on the child.
His covered face turned to me, his uninjured arm dangling off his knee.
"I'm not sure," he said. He paused, gesturing with his hand towards what I held. "Someone obviously wants it."
That answer did not comfort me. I had grown fond of the little one, even in the short span of knowing it.
"The ones who were holding it back there- the mercenaries," I began. "They found me months ago." I looked down to the fuzzy head of the baby, smiling when I saw its eyes closed. "This one wasn't with them long, but once they decided it was better to keep it alive…" I sighed. "They weren't the smartest in the galaxy, but they saw me fit to care for it."
When I looked back up to the Mandalorian, he was still facing my direction, his form motionless.
"I just have this feeling that I'm partly responsible for it now," I finished.
Mando drew his attention back to the armor he had been working on, bringing it back into his hands.
"You should get some rest." He began zapping his armor once more and I frowned, wondering what he was keeping from me.
Laying on the cool ground, I curled myself around the little one, smiling when it cooed gently in its sleep.
"Goodnight," I murmured to them both.
Closing my eyes, I feel asleep to the sound of zapping voltage.
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The bright sun felt nice on my face when I awoke. I took a deep breath of the cool air into my lungs, stretching my arms above the rocks.
Memories from last night came flooding back to me and I sat up, panicked. Turning left and right, I looked for the child who had fallen asleep in my arms.
Cooing from behind me alerted me to its presence and I relaxed upon seeing the child back in the orb.
Confused, I searched for the Mandalorian.
"It was pestering me."
He was sitting in almost the same spot I had left him. Raising an eyebrow, I gave a small smile.
"You're not one for kids, are you, Mando?" I teased. I stood up, brushing off some of the red dirt my pants had attracted.
He sighed. "No." He nodded towards the rising sun. "We should get moving. We still have a way to go."
Nodding, I waited for Mando to gather his few belongings. The sun danced off his armor and I couldn't help but admire him as I watched his movements. Then without a word, he looked to me and began to walk with the orb, not bothering to check if I was following.
As the day turned into noon, the sun intensified. We hadn't spoken since leaving our campsite, but as we approached a steep ledge, I heard him curse beneath his breath. Curious, I watched as he pulled his weapon from his back, unsheathing a small telescope which he used to look at something below.
"What is it?" I asked. I crouched down next to him and felt my eyes widen. A huge tank-like structure composed of large metal panels was stationed next to a much smaller ship. The ship was looking worse for wear, large portions of its exterior missing. Tiny little things in dark robes surrounded the area, their garbled language echoing off the rocks.
"What are those?" I asked.
"Jawas," he growled.
I turned to him. "Is that… Is that your ship?" I cringed as I noticed them dragging parts up a large ramp leading into the large tank structure.
He quickly put away his scoping device and aimed his weapon. Shrinking down further into the sand and closer to the baby, I watched as he shot at one of the Jawas. As soon as his shot fired, the Jawas began to panic, dropping the rest of the parts and making a run for the ramp.
He quickly reloaded, vaporizing a Jawa that had been attempting to shoot a blaster.
"Whoa," I said in awe. "Remind me to never get on your bad side." Both the child and I were looking at him as he began to race down the slope. Standing, I tried to keep up with him just as the tank began to move.
"Mando, where are you going?" I yelled.
He dropped to one knee, aiming with his weapon and shooting at the back of the tank.
I stopped at his side, my breath wild before he took off again.
"Mando?" I called.
He paused for a second, appearing to have some internal debate. After a moment, he pressed a button on his arm.
"Watch after it," he called before turning back to run after the Jawas.
Standing there with the kid floating beside me, I could only observe in wonder as he jumped onto the moving device and began to climb. They turned a corner and I looked to the ship before gazing down at the little green creature beside me. As we met each other's stare, I knew we weren't staying here.
"Come on," I said and quickly leaned over to push a button on its orb. I began to run, smiling when I saw the sphere keeping up with me. As we rounded the same corner the tank had turned, I watched in impressed horror when I spotted the Mandalorian reaching the top of the craft and throwing a Jawa over.
However, something must have gone wrong because he was suddenly falling backwards into the open air.
"Mando!" I screamed.
He fell to the ground hard, his back creating a cloud of dust on impact. Rushing over to him, I fell to my knees at his side, shocked to see tiny flickers of electricity rushing throughout his armor.
Afraid to make contact, I held my hands above him. "Mando?" I asked. "Mandalorian, are you okay?"
The baby's ears were drooping low, its small face in a state of distress.
"Hey," I whispered to it. "It'll be okay, you'll see." I tried to smile before looking back at the Mandalorian. I could just make out the rise and fall of his chest, so I knew he was still alive. Scowling, I watched as the Jawas faded from view.
"Well, Mando, at least the cauterizing has been done for you this time," I joked softly.
Sitting back next to the kid, I trailed one of my fingers along its cheek in an attempt to soothe it. It felt like hours before the Mandalorian finally came to.
Groaning and breathing loudly through his helmet, he looked in the direction of the Jawas before turning our way.
I frowned as he continued to breathe deeply. "You alright? That fall was pretty impressive."
He gave a single nod. "They took my parts," he grumbled.
Standing, he began to walk in the opposite direction, back towards the ship. I scrambled to my feet to follow.
As we approached his ship, I felt pity fill my insides at the devastation. I stood outside the ship, taking it in as he continued inside. Large panels were missing and wires that should have been concealed were strung everywhere. I looked to the green creature.
"If you're thinking what I'm thinking, we might be here awhile."
The baby just tilted its head and blinked at me. I found it a little alluring that it reminded me a lot of the Mandalorian's mannerism.
Sounds of the ship's jet engines had me tilting my head in nearly the same fashion before I noticed the child walking on its own towards the ship's entrance. Following, we found the Mandalorian sitting on a crate within his ship. Sighing, he looked at the child and then at me.
Observing him gently, I asked, "What are you thinking, Mando?"
He continued to stare in my direction for a few moments more before slowly rising. Stooping to pick up the child, he turned to me. "I know someone who might be able to help."
"Okay." I nodded. "I'm all for a Jawa ass kicking."
Making our way back outside the ship, it made me feel better to think he was smiling too.