disclaimer: i do not own star wars or any of its associated characters; they all belong to their respective owners. i only own any characters or plotlines that you do not recognize. I also do not own any of the dialogue i may quote from the franchise.
Ahsoka Tano
The marketplace on Nevarro is a bustle of colors and noise. Families walk together hand in hand, women and men carry baskets full of supplies. Vendors stand behind their booths shouting out their wares, sellers weave through buyers with flat baskets piled with flat breads and delicacies.
Nova stands in the doorway of Greef Karga's office. Before her is the marketplace. She smiles at two young children chasing each other, they weave through the legs of shoppers and booths. Behind her, inside Greef's office, Greef is opening the secret compartment. Nova turns to watch as Din pulls out the duffle bag. He slings it over his shoulder, shakes Greefs hand, and walks to the door.
They walk together through the village, the villagers glance at them as they pass. They reach the shipyard where the cargo ship is parked. They board and close the ramp. Din places the bag on one of the crates.
"Is it still there?" Nova asks. She nods to the duffle bag.
Din reaches into the bag and pulls out the Darksaber, wrapped in cloth. He pulls the cloth loose, the hilt of the ancient weapon now free.
"I don't even know how to use it," Din whispers.
"You'll figure it out, I'm sure." Nova says. "We can spar, you with the Darksaber and me with the beskar staff. Good practice for both of us."
"You make it sound so easy." Din places the Darksaber on one of the crates. "Was choosing it even the right decision? I'm no leader."
"You are more of a leader than you think you are." Nova places a hand on his arm. "As for was it the right decision? I think it is a good decision, I think you do too."
"But what if I can't do it?"
Nova frowns. "Do you remember what I told you about the two Jedi ghosts that visited me?"
Din nods. "Though I'm not sure they were even there. You might have been on something."
"I've never taken spice in my life."
"I didn't say spice."
"What then?"
"Poison?"
"I was not poisoned." Nova laughs. "Anyway, the Jedi said that my family would be important. My family, meaning you. I think we have a role to play in something bigger."
"What if I wanted to live a quiet life?"
"As much as that idea appeals to me, we would both be bored after a year."
Din shakes his head and sighs. "We should head back to the Dandelion."
"Such a dumb name for a ship."
"Agreed." Din picks up the Darksaber again and hooks it to his belt. "Off to work?"
Nova inhales and sighs. "Off to work."
000
The Dandelion is a cruise ship made for traveling the galaxy in leisure. On top of the multitude of suites and one room cabins, there is a shopping promenade, no more than thirteen bars, two multilevel dining rooms, a casino, a gentlemen's club, and a climbing wall. Most of the rooms are useless, the bars, club, casino, and promenade, but one of the dining rooms has found a use. After clearing out the tables and chairs and laying down a few mats it has become a room made for fights, practice of course. The makeshift training room has collected their arsenal of extra weaponry, save for the explosives which are kept in the casino.
The bridge is, thankfully, a normal bridge made for piloting the ship. Nova and Din enter the bridge, observing the very stressed Bo-Katan and a giggling Grogu.
"While you two were collecting the Darksaber, I did some digging into this ship's computers." Bo-Katan says. Her hair has been trimmed, though it is currently mussed from where she has been running her fingers through it due to agitation. The source of her agitation is not hard to find.
Grogu, sitting on a chair next to Bo-Katan, is wearing her helmet. All that can be seen is his small feet sticking out from under it. His giggles are echoes as they escape from under the helmet.
Din sighs.
"Your foundling," Bo-Katan begins to say.
"Has apparently forgotten the manners I taught him." Din says. He crouches next to the chair Grogu sits on. "Give the lady her helmet back."
"Patu,"
"Grogu," Din holds up his pointer finger. "Now, please."
Grogu huffs. The helmet lifts from Grogu by way of the Force. His small hands raise as he controls the helmets actions. He sets it down on the control table next to Bo-Katan.
"Have you found anything on the computers?" Nova says. Bo-Katan nods.
"A set of coordinates that repeats. This planet, no name given, has been visited at least twice a month." Bo-Katan says.
"Then we should head there first," Nova says.
"We could, but I managed to tap into the feed that connects the Dandelion to the Dreamcatcher,"
"Meaning?"
"I have Torrins location, unless the Dreamcatcher jumps to hyperspace."
"We head there first." Din stands. "We should try and rescue Ahsoka while we have the chance."
Bo-Katan nods and goes to the ship's navicomputer and plugs in the coordinates. Din goes to the pilot's chair and Nova sits in the co-pilot's seat. The stars around them blur to streaks as the Dandelion jumps to lightspeed. The streaks swirl into a tunnel, a passageway made for traveling the stars.
"I also did some more studying of this ship's layout." Bo-Katan says. "Apparently there is a pool."
"Why would we even need a pool in space? Why would anyone?" Nova asks.
"Drown your enemies?" Bo-Katan suggests.
Din sighs. "We are not needlessly drowning anyone."
"What if there was a need?"
"Fair point," Din says. "But there are more efficient ways to kill someone."
"What, like crushing them with the Force?"
Nova places a hand over her heart in mock offense. "You wound me."
"Like I could." Bo-Katan grumbles.
0
The dining room they turned into a training room is large, but not as large as the other dining room. This dining room, the scarlet room, has a chandelier made of rubies. It is four levels, compared to the sapphire room's seven levels, all the levels are open in the center. The scarlet room is made for dancing, a hardwood floor in the center surrounded by carpet. The dance floor can be seen from each of the levels, all one would have to do is lean against the polished railing to get a good view.
"This level of finery is excessive." Nova says. She stands in the center of the dance now training floor with her head tilted back as she studies the floors above her.
"You've said that before." Din says.
"Why two dining rooms when one would be just fine? What about all those bars, surely not everyone on board would be drunk at the same time?"
"We could turn the gentlemen's club into our brig for holding prisoners."
"That's ironic."
Din shakes his head, humored. Nova grins. He hands her the beskar staff and draws the Darksaber for himself.
"Should we clarify that this is for practice? I don't want to inherit the rights to rule Mandalore by accident." Nova says.
"You mean like I did?" Din quips. Nova snorts. "Consider it clarified."
He ignites the Darksaber, the black blade singing. Nova grips the beskar staff at its center and holds it loosely to her side.
Din moves first, keeping the Darksaber low. He arcs it up, a move Nova blocks with the staff. She pushes the blade down and turns her body, ramming her shoulder into Dins chest. He stumbles back with an oof before recentering himself. Nova rubs her shoulder where it had struck beskar, probably not the wisest move.
Nova spins the beskar staff around her body then brings it down, swinging at Dins left side. He blocks with the Darksaber. He presses in closer, adding more pressure to the blade and staff. Nova moves a foot back to steady herself. Din uses his free hand to grab her wrist. He deactivates the Darksaber, Nova stumbles forward, and he flips her over his shoulder. Nova lands on her back. Din reactivates the Darksaber and holds it pointed at her neck, though at a ridiculous distance. If she were an enemy, Din would never hold the weapon that far from her neck.
"I was going easy on you," Nova wheezes.
"I'm sure you were," Din deactivates the Darksaber and helps Nova to her feet. "Why were you keeping your grip in the center of the staff?"
"When I build my lightsaber, I want it to be double bladed. I'm trying to get used to the feel."
Din nods.
"We are about to drop from hyperspace," Bo-Katan's voice comes out from over the comms. Din gestures for Nova to lead the way back to the bridge. She hands him the beskar staff then obliges him.
The Dandelion drops from hyperspace just as Nova and Din enter the bridge. Before them is a green planet, probably a swamp or a jungle. Above the planet, floating in its atmosphere, is the Dreamcatcher.
"Is that," Nova begins to say. But the Dreamcatcher has other plans, for in that moment it jumps to lightspeed, leaving them behind.
"It was." Din deadpans. Nova considers kicking him.
"According to the scanners, an escape pod was jettisoned from the Dreamcatcher just before it jumped." Bo-Katan says. "There is a lifeform onboard."
"Has it reached the planet's surface yet?" Nova goes to stand behind Bo-Katan, watching the screen.
"Just did, it dropped off the scanners."
"Do you have its location?" Din says. Bo-Katan nods. "It might hold a clue."
"Or a trap." Nova says.
"Or a trap."
"Either way, it's probably worth investigating." Bo-Katan says. "I assume we will be taking the cargo ship to the surface."
Din nods. "No other choice, we will have to lock the Dandelion up as tight as we can and hope no one tries to steal it."
"We are alone in this planet's atmosphere for now." Bo-Katan says.
They load into the cargo ship, Din in the pilots seat with Grogu in his lap. Bo-Katan sits at the ship's computer terminal and Nova takes the co-pilot's seat. They leave the Dandelion behind as they descend to the planet's surface.
"This planet is strong with the Force," Nova says when they land. Grogu agrees.
"So?" Bo-Katan says.
"Might explain why Torrin was here."
They disembark and stand among the low hanging trees and drooping vines. Something chatters in the distance, and water bubbles in a slow flowing stream. Din holds the beskar staff out to Nova but she declines.
"I don't need a weapon, at least not yet." she says, Din shakes his head and holsters the staff.
The energy of this planet is almost overwhelming. It makes one feel energized and exhausted, both at the same time. It holds memory, such a tangible thing. Voices can be heard, laughter and frustration. The voices get stronger as they pass a larger part of the river.
"We are almost there." Bo-Katan says.
A strange, faint feeling comes over Nova. Buzzing closes out all other sounds, till all she can hear is the buzzing. The ground echoes beneath her feet, then opens. She falls with a yelp, landing in a divot in the ground. Above her, Din and Bo-Katan call down to her, asking if she is okay. But their voices are distant, echoing things. A deep hum fills the air as a mysterious figure steps out of the shadows and approaches Nova. She scrambles backwards, but gets caught on a fallen branch.
The figure's eyes come into focus, it is her father.
You rat.
Breathing heavy, Nova tries to sit up, to summon her strength and fight back, but her father leans closer.
Do you really believe you are worth anything to them? He laughs. They are using you, tolerating you. Did you truly believe they cared?
Nova shuts her eyes and covers her ears, but it does nothing to block out his voice.
The woman would kill you if she could. The child is afraid of you, you frighten him, Nova. Nova starts to cry, softly. The man, your guardian, what are you to him? You are a nuisance. A bother. A meuling child clutching at his leg.
"No," Nova says, her voice shaking.
Yes,
"No," she says again. "This isn't real," she gasps for breath. "This is fear."
But no matter how many times she says that to herself, the ghost of her father, the figurehead of her fear, remains. It clutches at her hands and strangles her heart. It laughs at her weakness, pushing her down, drowning her.
"Fight it, Nova."
Nova shakes her head, it's all too much.
"You are stronger than this, fight."
Nova pulls the Force around her, feeling its threads. The way it moves, dances, burns. She grabs hold of the vision of her father, and casts it out. She pushes the Force out, throwing everything around her away from her. Rocks roll and the branch shatters. The only thing that remains is Din, whose hands clutch hers.
Nova opens her eyes, her gaze catching Dins. His helmet is propped on his knee. He is alone, Bo-Katan and Grogu still at the mouth of the opening.
"Are you okay?" he asks. She nods. "What was that?"
"Could you see him too?"
"See who?" Din asks. "I only see you."
"It was a vision," Nova realizes. "This place is rich with fear, I think I was attacked by it."
"Attacked?"
"Whatever this place is, it turned my fears against me."
Din nods. "Take your time, breathe. Tell me about it later?"
"Yes," Nova breathes. "Should we...?"
"Probably." Din pulls on his helmet and helps Nova to her feet. "Will you be okay?"
"I think so, just get me out of here."
Nova and Din emerge from the cave. He uses his jetpack to lift both of them out. They land beside Bo-Katan, who looks faintly concerned. At her feet, Grogu stands, his ears low as he stares at the cave.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you look worried." Nova says to Bo-Katan.
"The Darksaber was down there, plenty reason to be concerned." Nova doesn't need the Force to know Bo-Katan is lying.
Grogu coos and goes to Nova, he grabs her leg and stares up at her until she picks him up.
"I'm okay, I promise." she says to him. Bo-Katan slides on her helmet.
"We should keep going," she says. Nova nods.
"The further we get from this place, the better."
They continue their trek through the swampish jungle. Muddy water stains Novas boots and threatens to creep inside them. She continues to carry Grogu, who babbles and points at the trees around him.
Bo-Katan consults her vambrace again, scanning the information on the tiny screen embedded in the beskar, and stops. "We are in the area now, the escape pod should be close."
The trees here are dense and more close together than the rest of the forest. The two Mandalorians have to turn sideways to squeeze through the trees, they also remove their jetpacks to better fit. Nova, carrying nothing but the Child, finds an easier time in squeezing through the closed in forest.
"Up there," Din points to the tops of the trees. There is the escape pod, hanging in the branches. The compartment can be seen from the ground as the door is missing, no one is inside.
"Dank farrik." Bo-Katan mutters.
Grogu babbles something, he points towards the trees. Nova feels his intention, he senses someone in the trees.
"I sense it too," Nova says. "Is it familiar to you?"
Grogu says yes through his thoughts. The person, whoever is in the trees, is familiar.
There, a figure jumps down from the branches and rolls behind a fallen trunk. Bo-Katan starts forward but is thrown back by an unforeseen force.
The Force is shaking, vibrating. Nova begins forward but stops when she hits a barrier.
"Ahsoka?" she calls into the shadows. The barrier weakens. "We aren't here to hurt you."
"Is she?" Ahsoka calls back. Nova can see her outline now as the Togruta peeks out from behind the trunk.
"I'm guessing you've met a clone of Bo-Katan?" Nova asks. Ahsoka's outline nods. "Well, this is the real one, I promise."
Ahsoka slowly stands and makes her way through the trees. She is in torn hospital clothes and her feet are bare. A cloth is wrapped around her head where her forehead and montrals meet.
"Did Torrin let you go?" Din asks. Ahsoka's eyes dart to him, then to Grogu whose ears lift.
"No, I escaped." she says.
"Sounds about right," Bo-Katan says. She is standing again and straightening her armor. "How can we be sure that you are not a clone?"
"Ask me anything."
"How did we meet?"
"When i accompanied Lux on his suicide mission."
Bo-Katan snorts. "It's her."
"How did you escape?" Nova asks.
"I think Torrin forgets he's not the only one who can use the Force,"
"Did he make you listen to him talk about floral arrangements?" Din says. He sounds tired.
"No, it was fashion."
Din takes lead as they head back to the cargo ship. He carries Grogu so that Nova can help support Ahsoka, who sustained several injuries in the crash including a sprained ankle. Bo-Katan takes the rear of the procession, stopping to look behind them every few minutes.
"You seem spooked," Nova says.
"I don't like this place." Bo-Katan mutters.
They pass the cave again, the whispers calling to Nova again. But they call to Ahsoka as well. The Jedi stumbles and her eyes go wide at the sight of the cave.
"Master?" she whispers.
"It's not real." Nova says, pulling Ahsoka away from the cave.
The cargo ship comes into view and they board. Nova stays with Ahsoka in one of the cabins while Din pilots the ship back to the Dandelion. He lands in the hangar and they disembark.
"I'll take you to one of the rooms on board," Nova says. "I have a friend who taught me a few things about medicine so I will do my best to help you."
"Where will we go next?" Bo-Katan asks. "Please tell me its to those coordinates that we found, the repeating ones."
"Set the course, we will go there next." Din says. Bo-Katan nods and leaves the hangar.
Nova brings Ahsoka to one of the larger suites and settles her on the couch. She leaves and comes back with a fresh pair of clothes, a medpack, and Ahsoka's lightsabers.
"I believe these belong to you." Nova hands them to Ahsoka, whose eyes widen with relief.
"I thought I'd lost these." she says.
"Found them on board this ship when Torrin kidnapped my friend. Of course then we took this ship from him also."
Ahsoka smiles. "That must be quite a story, do tell."