Osa's "Date of Existence" should have been special, celebrated until the night's end, but instead other matters had to be addressed and questions would be finally answered.
Din entered the coordinates into the Crest while Osa navigated the route making sure their jump to lightspeed would have no interferences, plus she was always on the look out for any possible tails.
Osa gave the clear as the Crest made the jump heading to the planet Din believed he would never return to, let alone bring Osa back to; Tolarian.
Their journey didn't take long and as they came out of hyperspace right directly in front of them was a large, grey planet that seemed dormant and vacant of all life. There was no operator coming over the Crest's comms in order to guide them to a hanger. Actually there was no spaceport to harbor arriving ships because the planet had been owned by the Empire who kept the planet off astrological charts. Only certain scum and villainy knew about the planet and what it was truly meant for, Tolarian was used for something more as Din found that out years ago.
He let the Crest hover for a moment glaring back at Osa waiting for her approval. With a nervous breath Osa nodded her head giving her father the go ahead. Causally Din flew the ship to the approximate coordinates he could remember Anara giving him fifteen years prior, but the journey wasn't smooth like before.
The atmosphere had gotten thicker, creating no clear visual with their decent while the ship's consoles (which would guide them) began malfunctioning.
"My screen went black Papi," Osa informed in a panic.
Din hoped he could somehow reboot the Crests system, but nothing seemed to be working because of so much interference, "Hold on, we're flying in blind."
Din kept his hands firmly on the wheel focusing with all his might when the child started making gibberish noises trying to get anyone's attention. Osa realized her father needed full concentration so she picked the little one up when the two telepathically connected.
Instantly Osa understood what the child was trying to say, since he couldn't convey words himself, as she became his voice. Like a shock to her system Osa could see what he saw and immediately yelled at her father, "Pull up, now!"
Never doubting her judgment Din complied and diverted from colliding into a mountain.
"Fly straight," Osa instructed as the thick smog wasn't clearing up the further they descended, "Veer to the left and make a hard dive downwards," it was as if Osa could see where the Crest was heading, she just had to guide her father, "There," she pointed when a dismal city was finally in view.
Memories from the past crept their way forward within Din's mind but nothing appeared the same. Din put the Crest down just on the outskirts of what was left of the city. Buildings had been demolished, there was no sign of any life forms while an eerie sound of stillness filtered through the air.
Din attempted to get the controls working again but something was preventing the function. Giving up he powered down the Crest and instructed Osa to gear up. The three made their way to the lower deck where Din checked his weapons because a Mandalorian always anticipated a battle, when Osa strapped the child onto her back in the new harness she constructed.
Satisfied with all the artillery he was packing, Din lowered the platform but his daughter wasn't by his side. He glared back seeing the stunned little girl he thought he helped break through. Without thought Din ran to her hoping she wasn't about to have an episode but she was more frozen by terror.
"I don't know if I can do this," Osa honestly said.
"You don't have to, I can go and find out what I can," he encouraged.
"I'm not living up to the Mandalorian title very well," she said lowering her head.
"Osa, everyone embodies the role in their own way, there is no set path because you mold it on how it fits you," Din declared, "Fear only exists if we allow it, but you have every right to be frightened. I tried to take those nightmares away, envelop you with compassion, but I can only do so much Osa, it is up to you to conquer those fears," Din placed his hands on her shoulders when she peered up and the two glared at one another through their visors.
"Thank you Papi, you are my strength," Osa said in honesty.
"And you are my everything, Mi Pequeno," he replied grazing the side of her helmet with his thumb, "Ready to tackle this together?" Din held out his hand and without hesitation Osa took it.
"With you, we can achieve anything," when the three made their way out of the Crest to uncover more then what they bargained for.
The air felt thick, while the grey fog kept visibility hindered. Din and Osa stayed close attempting to use their heat sensor setting within their helmet to help lead the way, but everything had gone cold on the planet.
"Where do we even start?" Osa questioned.
"At the building where you were given to me," Din informed trying to remember his exact route from before but nothing was the same, "Can you sense anything?" Din looked to Osa for guidance.
"I'm trying not to," she honestly said.
"Fair enough," he ventured deep into his subconscious trying to resurface any familiar surroundings.
Din decided to head inwards hoping for anything to jump out at him when something finally did. The insignia of the Rebels was painted on a crumbled wall, if the Rebels were here then they would have focused on taking down the laboratory Osa had been kept in.
In hope Din followed the debris and low and behold he was back in the same alley he had waited down fifteen years ago, but it was more of an open walkway now due to the surrounding buildings being destroyed.
"Stay close," Din said out of habit.
"Wasn't planning on venturing off," Osa stated with a shaky voice.
The hole Anara blew open seemed to have been repaired because new destruction carved itself into the bricks. They walked through the newly developed entrance and carefully walked over uneven terrain due to debris covering the actual surface.
Upon entry the room was dark, only the dim natural lighting filtered through the cracks of the structure, painting unique streaks on the cold surfaces. Din and Osa ventured further when suddenly Din heard a soft whimper come from his daughter. He turned and saw her hunched over, hands on her knees, concentrating not to give in. The child cooed in sorrow like it was experiencing his own nightmares.
"Hey," Din rushed to them, "Look at me, hear me Mi Pequeno," he hoped he was reaching her while he stroked the child's quivering ear.
"I'm okay Papi, we're okay, it's just the way the energy given off from this place, how I can see past events play out in this very room," she tried to explain.
"You don't have to put yourself through this, you have nothing to prove," Din reassured her, "I took you away before."
"No, there are answers here," Osa glared past her father and pointed, "There."
They walked over to a circular console with a hologram viewer directly in the center so any viewer could have a gander.
"Let's hope this still functions," Din said noticing the partial destruction to the unit.
He began flicking and pushing buttons, performing the standard protocol with any computer unit, the tricky part would be how to navigate the system and hope it wasn't encrypted or erased, but to his surprise there appeared to be no tampering with. It seemed everyone associated with this building just abandoned it when the Rebels arrived.
Unsure on where to start Din began opening any file and following the bread crumbs of clues, in the mits of his search he opened a folder when several images of all different species of children came up on the screen, but over the image (typed in bold red letters) was one word: Failed. A sudden wave of emotion inflicted Osa knowing these children's outcomes.
"Why? Why did they have to die and I didn't?" Osa questioned.
"Don't do this, you are entitled to your life, you cannot have survivors guilt. I could be doing the exact same by the loss of members from our covert, instead we must honor the fallen, live on so then they live on as well. These children's stories will be eternal because of your survival because of his survival," Din pointed to the child, "You have every right to be alive Osa."
All she could do was nod her head in agreement while staying quiet, memorizing her fellow captives faces. Quickly Din began searching in other files when he stumbled upon one titled "Priority" but had only vague information. A headshot came up of a green creature while a list displayed itself of speculated facts accompanied by video clips of the individual in action.
"Papi that looks like," Osa started.
"I know," Din replied looking at the child.
"But older, who is this Yoda?" Osa questioned when she began reading, out loud, the file's contents, "Name: Yoda, could be a first or last name. Gender: Male. Status: Jedi Master. Is Jedi another term for the ancient sorcerers the older Mandalorians compared me to?" Osa asked her father.
"I assume so," Din replied remembering the Armorer using this terminology.
"Species: Unknown. Ya da ya da ya da, ugh this information is useless," Osa was becoming frustrated believing all of her answers would be awaiting her in a nice package, "Why is there hardly anything on this Yoda?" Osa clicked on some of the footage showcasing the Jedi Master's skills with a lightsaber when the child became excited.
"Do you think the little one recognizes him?" Din questioned.
"No, he thinks that's him on the screen, wait," Osa pondered, "Could it be?"
"What?"
"This footage was taken during the Clone Wars, could he be Yoda?" Osa pointed to the child who seemed to be mesmerized by the green figure who looked just like him but older.
"How?" Din asked hoping his daughter would indulge him.
"Wasn't that the whole reason of the Clone Wars, was for cloning, what if he is a clone of Yoda? We have been to all areas of the galaxy and this is the second time in my life where I have seen his kind. What if his species was going extinct, why lose that kind of power?"
"Or someone else wanted that power," Din began searching through other files when one called "Yaddle" surfaced but there was nothing in the file except for the word "Deceased." Din continued on when he came across one about life expectancy, "It seems this little one can live for a very long time, about 800 years give or take," Din read, "And has the highest midichlorian count among any Jedi, but most important can live on through the Force."
"The Force? What's that?"
"I can only assume it is a reference for your abilities," Din speculated when he clicked on another file showcasing a dozen children with Osa in the mix.
"Hey that's me, where are you?" she asked.
"In a file called Midichlorian Infusion," Din clicked on Osa's image when her file appeared.
"Name: Test Subject 25. Parents: Donors – Anara Xcee (part Changeling) partnered with Silent D (warrior)," Osa stopped reading due to a small chuckle she heard escape from her father, "What's so funny, that you were put down as a warrior?" Osa laughed to herself.
"No, the silent D, Anara always goofed with me when we were teenagers about my last name. She said 'what is the purpose of the D being there if it isn't going to get pronounced in Djarin?' Hence forth she would call me silent D," Din reminisced.
"Oh you crazy teenagers," Osa loved making her father squeamish and he only displayed it when talking about her mother.
Din quickly went back to over looking his daughter's file when nothing appeared to be helping.
"Inquisitorius Program, what do you think that meant?" Osa pointed out on her file for future occupation, but Din kept quiet only hearing rumors about a select group who were governed to Lord Vader, "We're getting no where," Osa complained when Din looked closer.
"Not entirely," he hovered over Subject 25 infused by Test subject "Y." Hesitant Din clicked and was brought to several videos and a very small file about the child. Osa's focus was so intent she didn't even see her father delete the footage.
"Hey, what are you doing there could be valuable information," Osa shrieked hungry for any intel.
"No there wouldn't be, those videos only showcase torture, something I can't bare to witness because I saw the repercussions," Din referred to the terrifying night Osa fell ill and if not for Wildaldro's father Din would have lost Osa.
"Papi," her voice almost broke when she placed her helmet on his pauldron.
"Alright let's see what the Empire has on this little guy," Din stated when Osa straightened and the child's ears pricked up.
"Do you hear that clinging?" Osa asked half turning around when suddenly a wire lassoed around her body, constraining her and the child, and then finally whipping them backwards.
An escaped scream exited Osa's mouth as she fought to get free while being dragged across the floor like an untamed beast. Din immediately pulled out his Vibroblade and ran after the two but got slowed down by blaster fire. His beskar armor held up with each blow, but Din was propelled backwards inching him farther and farther away from his children.
Trying to take matters into her own hands, Osa attempted to use her abilities and propel anything loose towards the perpetrator, but the assailant was one step ahead and sent a huge electro shock down the wire and into her and the child's bodies. Immediate pain surged through their frames instantly knocking them unconscious.
Now that the captives became dead weight this gave Din an opportunity to make his move. Din wished he had his jetpack on so he could reach them easier when instead he ran full force towards the enemy who (to his surprise) was another Mandalorian, but one he was not familiar with nor whom was apart of his clan. Mandalorian or not Din would protect his kin with his life and leapt into battle.
The two were well matched as Din could tell his foe had been in plenty of fights before due to the wear on the green and white armor. Din would add more scraps to the enemies Beskar but had, somehow, become bested.
The assailant threw, what appeared to be an orb filled with a liquid, when Din dodged the item but it bounced off the ground, ricocheted and magnetized itself to Din's thigh guard. Instantly the orb erupted releasing a deadly toxin when the acid ate straight through Din's Beskar.
In fear of losing his leg, Din drastically attempted to unclasp his thigh guard but the straps had become soldered together, practically sealing his fate. Din could smell and feel the acid eat its way towards his skin as there was only one venom he knew of that could penetrate Beskar and it came from the Sarlacc, but the erosion would take days where this was happening in seconds.
Somehow this Mandalorian collected Sarlacc venom and advanced it. Din had to think quickly in order to save his appendage and his abducted children when suddenly a female Mandalorian, in blue and white armor, entered the scuffle. She hovered in midair by jetpack while sending blaster fire towards the rouge Mandalorian.
In haste he threw another Sarlacc bomb her way, but she seemed to be prepared and released a hand full of powder dissolving the hazards orb. Hearing Din's flustered cries, she landed by Din and threw a hand full of the powder on his leg to seize the acids chemical reaction. She pulled out a small laser and burned through the singed straps releasing Din.
Once he had become freed, Din immediately detached the Beskar but upon removal ripped a huge hole in his pants exposing redden skin. Luckily he only suffered minor burns instead of losing his leg.
"Damn, he got away," the woman exclaimed in anger, running towards the entrance Din and Osa used earlier, pointing her blaster ready to end the rouge Mandalorian's life.
Without thought Din went to Osa and the child identifying their status of injury, "Mi Pequeno can you hear me?" Din cut through the wire, releasing them from the bond.
No immediate response, he lowered his helmet hearing his daughter's breath while he rubbed his hand gently over the child's head. In unison Din received a groggy groan from the both of them. A sigh of relief washed over him knowing they were alive.
"Who are you, friend or foe, who was the other Mandalorian, and why have I never seen either of you before?" Din questioned almost in anger.
"I could ask you the same questions except I am aware of who the imposter is. No one steals Mandalorian armor and wears it without being sworn in to a Creed," she spat, "And which clan have you sworn your allegiance to?"
"Which clan? There is only one, Clan Saxon," Din informed.
"So the rumors are true, huh and he still believes he is the leader of the Mandalorians," she said with acid on her tongue.
"If you're talking about Tiber Saxon his leadership was short lived. The clan was inherited by his kin," Din stated.
"I presume Starling Saxon took control?"
"She did, but in the efforts of keeping us safe and hidden she lost her life as did so many others," Din lowered his head out of respect.
"And now?"
"Hard to tell, the leadership was between Ivee Saxon and Paz Vizla, but since she donned the role of Armorer Ivee out ranked Paz."
"I have searched across the entire galaxy hoping to find any remaining Mandalorians but none were ever found until now, until a bounty was placed on both your helmets," she pulled her blaster.
"Hey we're not the enemy," Din spoke with his hands up in defense.
"No, then why did the Creed vanish? Mandalorians aren't frightened children who hide from the enemy, we are fighters until our end," she spoke in pride.
"Starling wanted the Creed to live on so we took to the sewers on Nevarro where she only allowed two above at a time. We would live in secrecy so our numbers could grow once again instead of being hunted down and being eradicated, but even she couldn't prevent that," Din said saddened remembering the pile of armor back at the covert.
"How many are even left?" her voice almost sounded shaky.
"Hard to tell, we have become scattered again."
"And is this the reason why you both are out here, trying to escape from the bounty placed on both of your helmets?" she questioned.
"No, a scuffle broke out between the Guild and I, resulting in the bounty but has now been resolved," Din informed.
"It's not the Guild who placed the bounty, a new order issued it, someone under the command of Moff Gideon," she corrected.
"So is this your true intentions on why you helped us, in order to obtain us and collect your reward?" Din slowly reached for his blaster ready to battle again.
"If I was looking for a quick score I wouldn't turn in someone from my own Creed."
"But you were willing to end that other Mandalorians life?"
"Do not declare him as a Mandalorian, Boba Fett brings dishonor to our heritage, he is not apart of the Creed and shall not wear our armor. One way or another I will end him."
"Then what do you want with us?"
"It is time for the Mandalorians to come out of hiding, you will help me find my people as we will unite once again," she commanded.
"Who are you?"
Din was shocked and surprised by the woman removing her helmet as she revealed soft angular features, yellow greenish eyes, and red hair, "My name is Bo Katan, rightful ruler of Mandalore."
Wasn't sure if I was going to continue this story but this came to mind. If I receive plenty of interest I will continue the story so please leave me a review, even if it is a "Yes, please continue the story" then I will. Thank you for taking the time to read my fanfiction!