Aria

"Damm. It." I muttered, kicking the bars in frustration. I couldn't believe Din had just left me. My heart felt like it was throbbing but I ignored it, climbing up the bars as far as I could before I slipped and fell on my butt in the dust.

"I would refrain from attempts to escape." IG-11 chided, sitting nearby and shoving a piece of bread through the hole. "The Mandalorian would not be pleased to return and find you hurt."

"I don't care what The Mandalorian thinks." I replied hotly, tears stinging my eyes as I rubbed dust out of my eyes. "Why did he leave me behind, IG?"

The droid was quiet, computing his answer carefully.
"He believed you would be safe here."
"Safe from what?" I pressured as I got up and pressed my face between the bars.
"From the Imperial who is after the child." The unit responded. I let my forehead hit the metal, all my frustration and emotion radiating off of me in waves.

"I knew there was something with him and the Guild." I muttered, remembering the time I'd asked him about it before he met with Ran. "I should have known."

"The Mandalorian is no longer recognized by the Guild." IG-11 informed me. "He was deemed a traitor after-"
"After he rescued the baby he was supposed to terminate." I realized, the pieces falling into place. I was filled with a sudden urgency to escape and I grabbed the bars with both hands again, "IG-11...you're supposed to protect the child, right?"

"Correct."
"Then you're failing your mission because you're here babysitting me." I pointed out and I could almost see the gears turning in it's head.

"Kuiil gave me strict instructions to attend to you."

"My friends are in danger, IG!" I was starting to get desperate, "Listen to me. Something about this whole mission doesn't sit right with me and it didn't sit well with Mando. That's why he wanted Cara and Kuiil with him! He needed another set of eyes." Just not my eyes. "Please, you've got to help me get out of here!"

IG-11 was motionless, red eyes blinking slowly before he stood jerkily and raised his blaster. I covered my face with my arms just as the sound of splintering metal reached my ears.

Smoke curled from the hole the droid just blasted in the barrier and I raced out,

"I need a transport." I ducked around some houses, following the sounds of battle as IG-11 led me through the streets of Nevarro. He had informed me that Greek Karga, one of Din's contacts, had offered him a deal that would settle the grudge for both of them.

"IG, wait!" I hissed as a man clad in dark armour raised a blaster. I couldn't see who he was aiming at but I recognized the Imperial garb. The Imperial fired and I heard a grunt on the front of the building, the heavy fire ceasing for a moment.

The Imperial aimed his blaster at a charge on the ground and the earth shook. I ran blindly, IG stomping after me as I rounded the corner, my eyes wildly searching for the target.

My eyes landed on The Mandalorian sprawled motionless on the dirt.

I think I screamed. I screamed so loudly that it could be heard over the sound of the blasters and canons.

The Imperial whipped around, his eyes wide as he raised his gun again but I was ready for him.

"You little shit!" I slammed into him, throwing him off balance as he staggered. Stormtroopers shifted around us but didn't shoot, probably afraid of accidentally firing upon their leader.

I landed one good punch before rolling away as IG called me and I looked up to see Cara dragging Din back into what looked like a bar with IG following close behind her. The Imperial was firing at me and I tried to dodge, landing hard on my side as I let out a gasp of pain at the feeling of a laser burn streaking down my bare arm. A man firing two guns saw me struggling and reached to help me, yanking me up and shoving me into the same shelter that Cara had disappeared into.

I took cover in the doorway, gunning down stormtroopers with the man whom I assumed was Greef Karga.

"Who are you?" He shouted back at me as he shot at the Imperial who was taking cover behind a transport.

"I'm Aria!" I yelled back, "I'm a friend!"

"Get inside before you get hurt!" He calls back at me and I obey, scrambling in before the door slides shut behind us.

Din's head was swimming. He was floating in and out of consciousness, vaguely aware that Cara Dune was dragging him back into the bar, firing her blaster over him.

"Stay with me, buddy!" She shouted at him, "We're going to get you out of here!"

"I'm not gonna make it." Din's voice sounded weak through the helmet, his body limp as he rested against an overturned table. "Go!"

"Shut up, you just got your bell rung. You'll be fine."

"Leave me." He could barely form the words and he followed Cara's gaze to her hand which was soaked in blood. She reached for his helmet,

"I'm gonna need to take this thing off-"

Din grabbed her hands before she could lift it, desperate for her to listen to him,
"No. You leave me!" He took a deep breath, feeling like his lungs were collapsing, "You make sure the child is safe." He reached into his shirt, yanking out his necklace and giving it to her. "When you get to the Mandalorian covert, you show them that. You tell them it's from Din Djarin." Cara was staring at him, tears in her eyes as she listened. "You tell them the foundling was in my protection and they'll help you."

"We can make it."

"There's no way out!" Greef Karga shouted, "We're sitting ducks!"

Kuiil was rummaging through the debris, trying to find another way out as the child squawked on his back.

Din's eyes were getting heavy and when he forced them open again, he thought he was dead because familiar green eyes and a concerned, beautiful face was bending over him.

He groped for her, startling her and he cursed when he found she wasn't a figment of his imagination.

"What are you-" He choked back a groan of pain as his quick movements made his head ring.

"Shush." Aria's voice sounded far away now. "God, Cara what do we do?"

"Get out of here!" Din tried to shout at her but he could feel his strength giving way.

"We have to move, now." Greef Karga said urgently and Din felt a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm not leaving without him." Aria replied stubbornly.

"Cara-" Din gasped out and his loyal friend entered his vision. "Get her out of here. Get. Aria. Out."

Cara nodded and wrapped her arms around Aria, pulling her away from him as she struggled,

"Cara, I can't!"

"He's going to be right behind us." Cara said firmly, glancing at Din who had turned his head to watch and make sure they went.

"Escape and protect this child." The voice of IG-11 sounded in the smoke. "I will stay with The Mandalorian."

"Promise me you'll bring him." Cara dropped her voice, throwing another concerned look at Din who was slumping now.

"You have my word."