Chapter 8: The Test

"Three. Two. One. Ready or not, here I come!"

I swirled sharply upon my heel, immediately focused and alert. This was going to be akin to a hunt, I thought, so it would be prudent to embody a ravenous wolf, eagerly stalking its prey…

…Yet Grogu, my little playmate that morning, simply remained at my feet, entirely nonplussed.

He slowly pointed a tiny finger up at me.

"No, no, you are supposed to hide, and I am the one who is supposed to find you!" I gestured towards the lush surroundings near the front of Din's home and the picturesque background of our lighthearted game. Verdant trees and various types of multicoloured shrubbery speckled the melange of flatlands and winding hills, conquering the threat of the semi-desert environment beneath their roots. "You need to find anywhere around these parts to hide."

With a slight chirp of understanding, and a renewed air of confidence, the green tyke waddled on his own time behind a boulder and stilled.

His ears, however, jutted out from either side, still entirely visible.

My head rolled back with a laugh. "Okay, I think that's enough playtime for one day!"

He peeked out from behind the boulder, grinning with pride, a sense of accomplishment unmatched. The large ears in question then began to twitch and flatten as he turned towards Din's home, as though hearing a silent call. Without a moment's hesitation, Grogu began to shuffle up the hill, seeming to be guided by instinct. As he reached the top, he chittered and pointed to somewhere in the horizon.

In the distance, a blue and silver ship, similar to that which we had taken on the trip to Krownest - slowed and began its expert landing sequence. Its large wings whirred and rotated into an upright position in unison, light smoke hissing from its exhausts throughout the controlled descent. Swirls of sand kicked up from beneath it, hiding the triumph of glass and metal in a brief smokescreen. The vessel touched down smoothly, with barely a shake, as the engines powered down to an easy slumber. Shortly after its rear ramp extended, several Mandalorians disembarked in a single file, unloading their belongings and cargo.

Din, flanked by Bo Katan and a dark-skinned Mandalorian female in blue, battle-scarred armour, stood expectantly at the end of the ramp. I met his stare as Grogu and I approached.

Memories of the night of the oath taking flooded me automatically, succeeding to evoke a light skip in my chest. I had somehow managed to exit Din's room relatively unscathed, mind and body mostly intact. There was no denying what had occurred between Din and me, ale or no ale. Something had changed between us, as much as I desperately attempted to hide from it. As much as I attempted not to think about the sensation of his taut arms around my body, the curious caress of his fingertips upon my face, my lips…

I managed to retain my composure as Din stepped forward. His stare remained fixed upon me for a few moments. "Hey."

To the curious looks of the two Mandalorian women at his sides, I gave him a small smile, lifting my chin ever so slightly to provide a semblance of a formal greeting. "Good day, Mandalore."

Light footfalls sounded upon the ramp behind us, garnering our attentions. With long, confident strides, the cloaked female who was immediately recognizable as Ahsoka approached. Even more beautiful in person, her spine-straight poise marked her strength and wisdom; the designation of an experienced warrior. She eyed us fondly with a sweeping glance, a genuine smile forming on her light orange face. After she greeted the others in turn, we stood eye to eye as she reached out a hand. Her voice had a markedly soothing quality. "Aurora. It is nice to finally meet you in person."

I nodded sincerely and grasped her firm hand. "Likewise, Ahsoka. I'm glad you're back safe and sound."

An inquisitive glimmer surfaced in Ahsoka's orbs as her gaze surveyed me and Din alternately. It seemed as though she already knew the answer before she asked the question. It made me wonder what other talents she possessed. "What'd I miss?"

"Bo Katan and I have some updates." The air of nobility that Din previously exuded then began to fade, replaced by what seemed like tenderness. "There is also the matter of Aurora's predicament that I'd like to investigate further now that you're here."

"Of course." Ahsoka nodded, gesturing with an open palm to her side. "Lead the way."

After Ahsoka had the opportunity to settle in and be briefed by Din and the other Mandalorians, we gathered at the gardens at the rear of Din's home. The private, rather secluded space was lined with stone walkways and multicoloured rows of flowers and intricately-trimmed hedges, grown and cut to perfection. A stone, circular fountain was the centerpiece, towering several meters above us as though it were the watcher of the living things that surrounded it. As I reveled in the scent of spring, Ahsoka moved to my side, closely followed by Din and Grogu.

It was still a wonder that a being such as herself was standing beside me. Though my rational mind kept repeating that she was another species, she still seemed so human. I met her glance with a smile. "I don't mean to be too forward, Ahsoka, but what brought you to Kalevala?"

Her jaw tightened. "A common enemy." The flash of tension upon her countenance quickly dissipated, and a more lighthearted expression returned. She finally returned the smile as she peered down at Grogu, who was now busily climbing up the fountain's base. "But mainly him."

It was clear that Din was now the one who was tense. Confused, I searched through his t-visor for any indication of what was the matter. He took an almost calculated step forward towards me, his tone and demeanour uneasy. He remained quiet for a few more moments before finally divulging, "Grogu. He...he has powers. Ahsoka has been helping me to train him."

The reason for his reactions became perfectly clear. I placed an appeasing hand on his forearm. "Don't worry, Din. I know about Grogu's powers. To be honest, he's actually been helping me out with my duties."

"You knew?"

"Yes. I don't think I ever told you, but the first night that I was here, I heard voices. I thought it was a dream, but it was almost like Grogu was speaking with me." I faced Ahsoka. "Whatever it is you're doing to help Grogu, it seems to be working!"

Though she nodded in response, a flash of concern appeared on her face. "At first, I was hesitant to train Grogu. Given his attachment to Din, and the fear in him, I thought it would lead him to the dark side."

"The dark side?" I repeated.

"Of the Force," she qualified. "You see, the Force is what gives Grogu his powers. It is an energy field created by all living things. It has both light and dark. Those who can wield the Force can be tempted to wield either kind." Lines of a frown marked her face as her gaze became distant. "I had seen that Grogu had been tempted by the dark side. He was giving into his fear. His anger. It reminded me of someone I had known a long time ago."

My eyes narrowed in inquisition. "And what changed your mind?"

She smiled. "Hope." She placed her hands within her grey robe, her eyes, a gateway to stories untold, flitting to the clear sky. "I was holding on to the ghosts of the past. Disappointed in the Jedi Order. In my own failures. But I couldn't let my own past affect Grogu's future, especially if he was a strong wielder of the Force who needed guidance. Training. I couldn't just turn my back on him. I needed to have faith that the past would not be repeated."

I smiled. "He's lucky to have you."

Din's hand brushed the small of my back as he approached. "Ahsoka, is it possible that Aurora wields the Force?"

"We shall see." With a curious expression, Ahsoka gestured for me to step directly in front of her. I eyed Din for support, and he nodded in silent encouragement.

Ahsoka's piercing eyes gazed into mine for a few moments, as though looking further into my being, my soul. A slight tremor rushed through me as she continued her assessment, as though reaching out into my thoughts. Suddenly, my mind became entirely clear, with tiny sparks of light piercing through. With a nod of satisfaction, she took a tiny pebble in her hand, laying it upon her flat palm. Then, just as Grogu had done with the canister, she used telekinesis to push the tiny pebble in a straight, gradual line towards me.

I reverently grasped the object in my hand with an exhale. Despite having accepted everything that I've been seeing and experiencing in this galaxy, this world, this exhibition of power was still breathtaking.

Ahsoka slanted her head and extended her hand towards me. "Lift the stone, Aurora."

I palmed the smooth stone once more, suddenly nervous, and grimaced. "I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing."

"Focus your thoughts. Become one with the Force. Let it move through you."

I attempted to focus as she had asked, even closing my eyes in order to block any and all distractions. And yet, instead of unlocking whatever this awakened power was, the only thing that I could see clearly in my mind was Din. The moment that he had walked into the infirmary, ever so calm through my utter panic. The morning that he had outstretched his hand during my most urgent and dire moment of need, offering salvation. The night in his room, when I learned that, beneath it all, he was just a man, a father, attempting to find a peaceful place for his people in a galaxy that had treated them so harshly. I then couldn't help but to open my eyes and just look at him, wondering how I could see this man through the armoured surface.

Through all of that introspection, the stone in my hand didn't move.

Not one inch.

I closed my fingers into a fist, trapping it inside. "I just failed this test, didn't I?"

Amusement shone on Ahsoka's comely face. "You did."

"Osik," I cursed, shaking my head in dismay. "I mean, if I really did have powers, I'd know, wouldn't I?"

"Well, not necessarily. For some, the connection with the Force is not very strong. To wield it takes much training and practice. For those who don't exercise their abilities, they could fade away." She eyed me pensively. "Have you always been able to feel others' thoughts?"

"No. It only started happening since I found myself in this galaxy."

"And when you came to this galaxy, what were you thinking? Feeling?"

The dark memories of that day came flooding back, hitting me like a tsunami. The ghosts of screams and shouts echoed in my thoughts. I fought the tremble of my hand, succeeding at finding some semblance of stability. "I was scared. The enemy was closing in on us, and I needed to get my soldiers to safety, to get away from the firefight. I just wanted to be safe. Home."

"And you just appeared in Krownest?"

"Yes. There was a cave. When Din and I went back to search for it, it was gone."

The gears were visibly turning in Ahsoka's head. "Then perhaps you weren't born with abilities. There must have been an anomaly at that cave, and it triggered Force sensitivity within you…"

"...and I somehow managed to go through a portal or something?" I finished.

"Perhaps." Ahsoka seemed to accept the idea. "It is not in the realm of the impossible. I have been to the world between worlds. It is called 'Vergence Scatter'. It's a mystical plane within the Force with pathways between time and space, linking all moments in time together. Perhaps what we didn't know was that there is a realm that links multiple galaxies."

"Like a multiverse?" I offered, thinking of all of the science fiction books and movies that I'd been exposed to in my lifetime. "Parallel worlds, or alternate realities?"

"The Force works in mysterious ways."

"So if that's the case, how do I get back to this mystical plane? This realm?"

Ahsoka pursed her lips, shaking her head. "I do not know…yet," she placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "But I know others who might."

(V)(V)(V)

My failure of Ahsoka's test lingered in my psyche as the days passed. The prolonged disappointment was not because I desired to be some magical, powerful being; I had thought that, if anything, passing that test would've at least been a lead. Some form of an explanation. Perhaps it could've told me just how I had passed through a veil of sorts, and maybe that would have meant that I had my destiny in my own hands. Yet, if what had happened to me was such an anomaly in this galaxy, could Ahsoka's friends really know how to bring me back home?

I languidly wandered towards the waterfall by the main settlement on my own, lost in thought. The simultaneous warmth of the afternoon sun on my skin and the cool breeze from the dancing mist brought some semblance of comfort as I sat on the damp riverbank. Bo-Katan's words then ran through my mind once more. She thinks that I am the one in the prophecy. Out of the 7.6 billion people on Earth - and the billions more across this galaxy - I was the one fated to liberate Mandalore?

No way. It was preposterous.

Then, the other theory was that I had powers. And yet, I had failed Ahsoka's simple test.

If I truly am this chosen one, and I apparently developed some sort of power…

…Mandalore is fucked.

"Haven't seen you in a while. Thought you might have run away."

Pulling me from my reverie, I twisted my head towards the sound of Din's voice. I gave him a half smile. "Still here."

He took a seat at my side, resting an arm on a bent knee. "Are you alright?"

Frustration bubbled within as the current reality of my situation became clear once more. "Yes. It's just that…I know everyone is trying their best to help me out, but I just need to get home. I never expected to be here for this long. I shouldn't have been here this long. Everyone on Earth probably thinks I'm dead now. And to have some sort of prophecy or the possibility of having developed some sort of powers looming over me…" I trailed off momentarily, brows knitting. "I should never have been here in the first place."

And feeling lost when I was already lost was not a good feeling.

Din slightly shifted at my side through the vocal rumination, though ultimately said nothing.

My heart skipped at the sudden realization of what I had done. I closed my eyes and cursed inwardly. "Din, I didn't mean…look, you have been so kind to me. I'd probably be dead or dying if it wasn't for your help. I owe you so much."

Before he could reply, a gleeful cry, followed by a nearby splash, garnered our attentions.

"Kid?" Din shot up, spine straight, worry lining his tone.

Giggles of delight mixed with the steady roar of the waterfall behind us. It wasn't difficult to spot the source of the ruckus. Grogu had jumped into the water, entirely clothed. Now a few meters away, he was surprisingly paddling his way through the plunge pool rather easily, living his absolute best life.

Din sighed.

My mood lifted, and I couldn't help but laugh at the scene. Din stood at the edge of the water and continued to call out to Grogu to return to shore in the most stern, fatherly-like manner that I'd witnessed to date; however, the little one did as he pleased, as he usually did, and continued paddling farther away as though he were running on a motor. For such a tiny being, it was a wonder to see him moving that fast in water.

I couldn't help but wear a cheeky smirk. "I think the solution is for you to get in there and get him."

Din turned his head back towards me, visibly unimpressed even beneath the helmet. He uttered a curse, then began to remove his armour. It was taking him a while to do so, given all of the pieces and layers.

The giggles that erupted from me then were uncontrollable. "Hey, serious question. How long does it take for you to get ready every morning?"

Another groan from Din. "Now you're being as big of a pain as Grogu!"

That only succeeded in making me giggle even more. After what seemed like forever and a day, he stood in front of me, donning only his helmet and trousers.

My laughter abruptly subsided, realizing rather quickly that I wasn't prepared for the sight before me. As much as I resisted the urge to do so, my eyes began to wander down his torso, curious and unbridled. Though his form didn't resemble that of enormous bodybuilders, practicing their aesthetic craft daily at the gym, his build clearly exhibited that he was a warrior. The bare, tan skin bore tense, defined muscles, emanating strength and experience through every inch. Marks and scars lined several areas of his back and torso, each in different stages of healing, though all a testament of the brutal life he'd lived - and still continued to live. My only thought then was whether the wounds that had marked him still brought him any pain.

Our stares met briefly, though Din remained silent. He waded into the pool, then began to swim expertly towards his son.

It was then that a tingling sensation coursed through my body. My head instantly felt light. Weightless. I suddenly felt the desire to jump into the water as well.

Come in, Aurora. This is fun!

Confused, my head snapped up, immediately perceiving Grogu waving to me with a toothy grin.

I curtly shook my head in an attempt to be rid of the feeling. Though it wasn't uncomfortable, it was rather strange.

Din lightly splashed some water in my direction as Grogu climbed upon his shoulders, preparing for a massive cannonball jump. "You coming in or what?"

Sensing their delight, and seeing no real reason not to do so, I threw my hands up in the air. "Fuck it!" With a laugh, I unclothed down to my bra and underwear and promptly dove in.

I submerged myself in the frigid waters, willing my body to adapt to the conditions. My teeth only chattered for a few moments as I swam to where Din and Grogu waded. Confused as to why Din still didn't entirely unclothe myself, I gestured towards his helmet. "You wouldn't want that to rust. Why don't you just take it off?"

He stilled, almost as though he were uncomfortable. "No."

The curt response took me aback. Though I knew that he had to wear it all of the time, I didn't understand why he had to do so while bathing. Perhaps he really hasn't shown his face to anyone if he was this strict about it… With a nod of understanding, I didn't press the matter further and instead took in the sights around us. "You know, you're all really lucky to have this place. This planet. Despite everything that's happening elsewhere, it's so peaceful."

"Things haven't always been like this. Not for me and Grogu."

I moved closer to him. "You haven't really told me much about your history. Grogu's history. I think I know more about the Mandalorian people more than about the two of you."

Din didn't reply.

I winced. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to pry. I'm just curious, that's all."

"It's just…" he now stood directly in front of me, water reaching the middle of his chest, his head slightly bowed, "...it's a long story."

Throughout Din's recounting of how he and Grogu had met, to how exactly they had come to this moment, a maelstrom of emotions raged within me. I was angered that there were those in this galaxy who hunted an innocent child just because of his abilities. Relieved that, through the danger, and the fights, and the near-death experiences, they had managed to come out relatively unscathed. But most of all, I was proud that the man before me had evolved from a lone bounty hunter, simply making his way through this galaxy, to a father who loved his son deeply.

"He's a special kid," Din finished, the whole world's worth of sincerity lining his voice.

I nodded in agreement. "And I just…heard…him again. He said that he was having fun."

"Aurora, are you sure you can't wield the Force?"

"Even if I did, I wouldn't know how. I failed the test, remember?" Worry engulfed me as I met his gaze. There was yet another potential explanation. "Maybe I am going crazy. Maybe you were right, and the blast somehow affected my brain…"

Din crossed his arms, clearly not buying it. "Or, maybe Bo-Katan is right, and you are the one in the prophecy."

"Did you just hear how that sounded?" My head shook vehemently. "I'm sorry, but I don't think that's the case. Besides, I'm just one person. Liberating a whole planet? That doesn't even make sense…"

"True or not, it brought you here." Din lifted a hand, gingerly brushing aside a wet tendril of hair from my face. "With me."

I inhaled deeply as my vision quickly became misty, evoked by simultaneous elation and confusion. No words fell from my quivering lips. All I could do at that moment was wrap my arms around Din's neck and bury my head upon his solid chest. I wanted to hold him - that part was true. But there was another part of me that wanted to hide. I didn't want him to see the pain on my face; perhaps it would betray the aching, the longing within.

I missed home. Desperately. I couldn't even remember the last time that I had seen my family and friends. How many months has it been now? And my home, the life that I had built. I knew I had to start over after Hunter left me, but I was ready to face the world on my own once more, to find a new direction. To somehow find something to fight for, to believe in…

Din pulled back slightly, his hand warm against my cool neck. "Is something wrong?"

No.

Yes.

I don't know.

The soft touch of his calloused hand spanned the small of my back, then urged for my form to shift even closer to him. His other hand cupped the side of my face as his head dipped. My gaze was now in line with the t-visor, searching for something, anything that resembled the human face that rested beneath. But all that stared back was my own reflection, somewhat distorted, yet clear.

Though I released Din from my embrace, I rested a hand on his chest while the other, ever curious, began to trace the line of his collarbone, then languidly up the side of his neck. There was a noticeable shift in his body. Without hesitation, he locked his arm around my waist and pressed his hips upon mine with an exhale. In our closeness, my lips brushed the tip of his helmet, and in that millisecond of contact, I knew that they wanted - needed - more.

The pads of my fingers landed upon the contours of the helmet's cheek, simultaneously admiring the craftsmanship of the piece and curious to see what lay beneath. "I wonder what you look like under there," I mused out loud. Not that it mattered, I thought. But would I ever get to see the face of the man before me?

There was a slight twist of Din's head to the side. Noting his prolonged silence, I pulled my fingers from his helmet and instead rested my hand on his chest.

"We should probably head back," I cleared my throat, then gestured to our belongings. "I know you have to prepare for the gathering."

(V)(V)(V)

The small gathering in Din's home that night was intended to be a celebration of Ahsoka's and the others' returns. Yet, there was a palpable tension in the air, as much as they attempted to keep the mood light and jovial. Though I wanted to know what was happening - and, even more, wanted to know if there was anything I could do to help - it wasn't my place to pry and ask what news Ahsoka brought from the front.

As the feasting and drinking continued in the main dining area, I decided to take in some fresh air on the adjacent balcony. Though the air was frigid, the stillness of the night and the ambiance of the moonlight was beautiful and soothing.

Hushed voices sounded in the distance as I leaned my forearms upon the thick, metal railing. A pair of shadows moved just below. From my vantage point, I was able to clearly see two individuals, despite remaining hidden beneath the shadow of the balcony door. At first, adrenaline began to rush through me, somehow thinking these were a couple of intruders. Having encountered threatening and suspicious individuals during nighttime patrols in the middle of the desert, my body shifted to high alert, senses now keen and entirely focused on what exactly was happening.

The moonlight hit a lock of blonde hair, then illuminated one of the shadow's faces. Vera. I inched closer to the railing. Another flash. This time, the light had hit metal, revealing the helmet of the second person. "Din…?" I whispered under my breath.

As I said his name, he pulled Vera into an embrace, back to me. Vera returned the gesture without hesitation and rested her cheek on the crook of his neck. They remained this way for several moments - for how long, I wasn't sure.

I gripped the railing before me with both hands, my knuckles becoming sore at the effort.

As I turned, resolve firm in returning inside, far away from what I had just witnessed, a voice called out:

"It seems like you have another problem."

I was met with Ahsoka's knowing stare.

"What?" I replied.

"Even if I couldn't feel your thoughts, I'd know what you were thinking just by looking at you." She crossed her arms and took a few steps towards me. Her ever-knowing gaze didn't leave mine. It seemed impossible to hide anything from her. "You've formed an attachment to him."

"It's...it's nothing."

Wasn't it?

In any case, why did it matter, anyway? On the grand scheme of things, it probably didn't. It wasn't like I came to this galaxy on my own volition, intent on making friends, or even finding…

…finding what, exactly?

The one thing that I needed to repeatedly remind myself was that I needed to get home. That was what's most important. That was the only thing that mattered.

Ahsoka eyed me curiously, patient in her assessment. "He does care about you, you know." She placed a conciliatory hand on my shoulder. "And I don't need to feel his thoughts to know that, either."

(V)(V)(V)

Osik - shit

(V)(V)(V)

A/N: Hello, my lovely readers! Sincere apologies for the super late update. I've been extremely busy at work and haven't had the chance to get into the writing mojo to produce satisfactory material. I definitely do not want to rush this story, because there is so much more to come, and I want to get it right! I'm also finding that this particular story has longer chapters, so it takes me more time to draft each one. Hopefully, you all liked this update, though. Let me know what you think! I love hearing from all of you. Thank you for the support. xx IFHD