The Razor Crest flies smoothly through space, the child sleeps soundly in Kasari's arms, and the Mandalorian works on navigating. He presses a few switches and a projection of the man from Nevarro appears.
"My friend, if you are receiving this transmission," Kasari and the Mandalorian look at the transmission closely, giving it all their attention, "that means you are alive. You might be surprised to hear this, but I am alive too. I guess we can call it even." Kasari snorts. "A lot has happened since we last saw each other. The man who hired you is still here, and his ranks of ex-Imperial guards have grown. They have imposed despotic rule over my city, which has impeded the livelihood of the Guild. We consider him an enemy, but we cannot get close enough to take him out." The man continues, If you would consider one last commission, I will very much make it worth your while." Kasari's eyes widen, "You have been successful so far in staving off their hunters, but they will not stop until they have their prize." Kasari's hold tightens on the child, "So here is my proposition. Return to Nevarro. Bring the child and the girl as bait. I will arrange an exchange, and provide loyal Guild members as protection. Once we get near the client, you kill him, and we both get what we want. If you succeed, you keep the child child and the girl, and I will have your name cleared with the Guild. For a man of honor should not be forced to live in exile. I await your arrival with optimism." The man finishes and the projection fades.
Kasari takes a shuddering breath before speaking, "What are we going to do?" She asks.
The Mandalorian sighs, looks at her and the child sleeping in her arms, "You two will never be safe with the client alive." He states.
Kasari squirms, "So we're going to trust that man?"
"We can't trust him, Greef Karga is a man that follows the code of the Guild, but we don't have another option." He says as he toggles a new path for the Razor Crest.
Kasari's eyes widen, "We aren't going there right now, are we?" She panics.
He shakes his head, "We need help. I can't protect you both alone."
"Din." Kasari sighs, "We can't let them take the child."
"They won't." Din says with conviction.
"We can't bring him anywhere near them." She says.
His grip tightens on the controls, "I know."
Kasari leans forward and presses a hand on Din's shoulder, "I trust you."
The Mandalorian sighs and they take off.
They land on Sorgan in not too long and Kasari smiles, "Cara Dune. Do you think she'll help us?"
Din nods, "I do."
Kasari smiles as she climbs out of her seat with the child, "Then let's go find her."
They make their way into town with the child toddling beside them. They're silent on the walk, but Kasari's heart is pounding in her chest. She's scared. They're about to confront the people that want her and the child. They could get taken, Din could die, and Kasari would be tortured until she complied, or worse, they could threaten the child to make her work.
She sighs as they make their way into a structure filled with people. They find Cara fighting some kind of match. Cara eventually wins, choking the man with the tie connecting them.
"Pay up, mudscuffers!" She calls, "Come on. That's mine, thank you."
Kasari smiles as Cara collects their money. Her, Din, and the child make their way to Cara once the crowd disperses.
"Looking for some work?" Din asks Cara.
Cara chuckles and walks towards the bar in the room. The others follow. They make their way to a table and sit for drinks.
Din explains the situation to Cara while Kasari feeds the child, "It seems like a straightforward operation." Din says, "They're providing the plan and firepower. I'm the snare."
"With them?" Cara asks, pointing to Kasari and the kid.
"That's why I'm coming to you." Din says.
"I don't know. I've been advised to lay low." Cara responds, "If anybody runs my chain code, I'll rot in a cell for the rest of my life."
"I thought you were a veteran." Din says.
The man Cara beat in the fight early places credits on their table.
"Come back soon," Cara says, she looks back at them, "I've been a lot of things since. Most of them carry a life sentence. If I so much as book passage on a ship registered to the New Republic, I'm…"
"I have a ship." Din interrupts, "I can bring you there and back with a handsome reward. You can live free of worry."
"I'm already free of worry, and I'm not in the mood to play soldier anymore. Especially fighting some local warlord."
"He's not a local warlord." Din says.
"He's Imperial." Kasari finishes.
Cara looks at them for a moment, nodding her head and lifting her cup to them, "I'm in."
Kasari sighs in relief, "Thank you."
Cara smiles at her.
The Mandalorian sighs, "Before we go, Kasari needs some protective clothing"
Cara looks at them for a moment and chuckles, "It won't be as good as beskar, but I know where we can get her some armorweave."
Din nods. "Let's get going." Din says, and they make their way out.
They make it back to the Razor Crest, Kasari wearing some armorweeve bought by Din. The stuff is durable, meant to help dissipate blaster shots, but it won't fully protect her. Apparently Din wears the same stuff under his armor as an extra layer of protection.
Kasari thanks him after changing and sits in her seat with the child. Cara sits in their third, usually empty, seat.
"Where to now?" Kasari asks Din.
"We have one more stop before we go." Din says.
"Another blaster on our side doesn't hurt." Kasari says with a smile.
"We're stopping for a different kind of help." Din says.
Kasari shrugs, "Whatever you say, D-" She hesitates, looks at Cara and corrects, "Mando."
She's not sure how Din would feel about her accidentally sharing his name. He clearly trusts Cara, but he took a long time to give Kasari his name, and she wouldn't betray him by giving it away to others.
"Does your contact need to vet me?" Cara asks.
"Doesn't know you're coming." Din responds.
"Really? That could be a problem." She says.
"It won't." Din says, turning around, "But if it is, that's his problem." With that said, Din stands and leads Cara and Kasari to the hangar, leaving the child in the cockpit.
Din opens his weapons locker. Cara's eyes zero in on the weapons with a predatory gleam.
"Pick one." Din says to her.
Cara hurries to explore, tossing up charges and looking over blasters.
"You trust the contact?" She asks him.
"Not particularly." Din responds, "He and I had a run-in last time I was there on some Guild business."
Cara looks at him skeptically, "So then why are we going?"
"I don't have a choice." He says, "You saw what happened on Sorgan. They'll keep sending hunters." He looks at Kasari, "They'll never be safe until the Imp is dead."
Cara cocks a gun then looks at Mando and Kasari, "And you're okay with bringing him back there?" She looks at Din, "Bringing Kasari with you?" She looks back at Kasari, "No offense."
Kasari shrugs her head, "None taken, I know I'm not going to be much help, but…" She pauses and looks at din before continuing, "They won't accept just the kid."
Cara looks at her confused for a moment, "They're after you, too?"
Kasari nods and Cara looks back at Din, "And you're bringing them both back there?"
"That's why we're bringing you." Din says simply.
Cara looks at him a moment before the ship starts shaking. Kasari's eyes widen as her, Din, and Cara hurry back into the cockpit.
They find the child messing with the controls. Din grabs him, hands him to Cara, and hurries to settle the ship. Kasari and Cara sit in their seats, Kasari holding the child close, and they collectively sigh once the Razor Crest settles.
Kasari looks at the kid, worried for him, "Hey, it's okay." She says, "Nothing is going to get you."
Din sighs, "We're stopping to retrieve someone to watch the kid."
Kasari looks at him confused, "I can watch him."
Din shakes his head, "Someone else. You need your hands free to shoot if it comes down to it."
Kasari looks at him a moment before nodding her head in agreement, "Okay. Yeah. You're right."
Cara looks between them before addressing Din, "You got anyone you can trust?"
Din sighs, "Yeah." Then they take off.
It doesn't take long for them to make it to their destination. They remained silent on the ride, Cara messing with the blasters, Din piloting, and Kasari playing softly with the child.
They land on a small farm in the middle of no where. They leave the ship together, the kid floating in a makeshift pram Din made with Kasari's help. They meet an Ugnaught that Din says helped him when he first retrieved the kid. Back when the child was his target.
The Ugnaught looks at the child once inside, "It hasn't grown much." He says.
"I think it might be a Strand-Cast." Din says.
Kasari and the Ugnaught shake their heads, "I don't think it was engineered." The Ugnaught says, "I've worked in the gene farms. This one looks evolved. Too ugly." Kasari chuckles as he continues, looking at Cara and Kasari now, "These two, on the other hand, look like they were farmed in the Cytocaves of Nora."
Cara and Kasari smile as Din introduces them, "This is Kasari Feskin and Cara Dune. Kasari is a scientist and Cara was a shock trooper."
"A scientist?" He asks Kasari, "What did you study?"
"Theoretical genetics." Kasari responds with a smile, "Primarily with cloning."
The Ugnaught nods and looks at Cara, "You were a dropper?"
"Did you serve?" Cara asks.
"On the other side, I'm afraid." He sits, "But I'm proud to say that I paid out my clan's debt, and now I serve no one but myself."
He finishes as an IG-11 unit comes in carrying drinks. Din and Cara instantly stand and pull out their blasters.
Kasari hesitates with hers, but pulls it out as well, hiding the child behind her.
The IG-11 walks inside slowly, "Would anyone care for some tea?" It asks.
Kasari smiles and puts down her blaster, but the other two stay vigilant.
"Please lower your blasters. He will not harm you." The Ugnaught states.
"That thing is programmed to kill the baby." Din says, and Kasari holds the child that much closer.
"Not anymore." The Ugnaught assures.
IG-11 places the drinks on the table as the Ugnaught explains what happened with it.
"It was left behind in the wake of your destruction. I found it laying where it fell. Devoid of all life." The Ugnaught says.
Kasari watches as the droid begins to pour drinks. She stands and lowers Din's arm.
"It's okay." She whispers to him. He hesitates, but lowers his blaster, still keeping it close, and Cara does the same.
"Please, continue your story." Kasari says to The Ugnaught.
He complies, "I recovered the flotsam and staked it as my own in accordance with the Charter of the New Republic. Little remained of its neural harness." He pauses, "Reconstruction was quite difficult but not impossible. It had to learn everything from scratch." He looks at them for a moment, "This is something that cannot be taught with the twist of a spanner. It requires patience and repetition. I spent day after day reinforcing its development with patience and affirmation. It developed a personality as its experiences grew." He finishes as the droid continues to poor drinks.
"Is it still a hunter?" Din asks.
"No. But it will protect." The Ugnaught says.
There's a few tense moments as Din stares the IG unit down, but eventually it speaks, "Tea?" It asks.
Cara grabs the cup from its hand and Kasari smiles at it, "Yes, thank you."
The Mandalorian sighs as Cara and Kasari drink their tea. After a while, the Ugnaught stands to go outside to feed his blurrg. Kasari offers to help and goes with him.
As they're feeding one, Din comes up behind them to speak with the Ugnaught.
"I've run into some problems." He says.
"I figured as much. Why else would you return?" The Ugnaught responds.
"I wanna hire your services." Din says.
"I'm retired from service." The Ugnaught states.
"I can pay you handsomely, Ugnaught." Din replies.
"I have a name. It is Kuiil." He says.
"I need someone to protect the little one, Kuiil." Din says.
"I'm not suited for such work. I can reprogram IG-11 for nursing and protocol." Kuiil suggests.
"No." Din says vehemently, "I don't want that droid anywhere near him."
Kasari places her hand on his arm in comfort.
"Why're you so distrustful of droids?" Kuiil asks.
"It tried to kill him." Din responds.
"It was programmed to do so." Kuiil explains, "Droids are not good or bad. They are neutral reflections of those who imprint them."
"I've seen otherwise." Din says.
"Do you trust me?" Kuiil asks.
"From what I can tell, yes." Din replies.
"Then you will trust my work." He looks at Din, "IG-11 will join me. And we do it not for payment, but to protect the child from Imperial slavery. None will be free until the old ways are gone forever." Ugnaught finishes.
Kasari and Din look at each other for a moment, she gives him a nod, and he sighs, "Okay."
"And the blurrgs will join me as well." Kuiil adds.
"The blurrgs?" Din asks.
"I have spoken." Kuiil says as he walks away.
Kasari snorts, "I think I could learn a thing or two from him, he gets you to do what he wants so easily."
Din gives her a look behind his helmet, she smiles at him, he sighs, "Let's get some sleep. We leave first thing in the morning."
Kasari sighs and they make their way to the barn Kuiil offered to them for sleep. Cara and the child are already asleep when they arrive. They check on the child in his pram before laying their bedrolls on the ground, not far from Cara, but close to one another. Kasari sighs as she lays down and turns her head to Din.
"How do you think it will go?" She whispers.
Din turns his head towards her, "It'll be fine." He answers.
She sighs, "Do you think they'll stop coming for us when the client is dead?"
"Yes." Din replies.
Kasari shakes her head, "I wish I believed that."
"You don't think they will?" He asks.
She shakes her head, "I think it'll slow down. That we'll be safe for a while, but no, I don't think they'll give him up that easily."
Din hums, "Then we'll continue to keep him safe, but if there's a chance this will stop them from coming after the two of you, then we're taking it."
Kasari nods and scoots closer to Din, laying her head on his shoulder. He freezes momentarily before relaxing and moving his arm around her.
"I'm scared." Kasari admits.
Din tightens his hold, "They won't get you or the kid, Kas."
"You can't promise that." She says.
Din hesitates, "If they somehow do." He pulls her close and places his helmeted head against hers, "Then I will do whatever it takes to get you both back."
Kasari takes a shuttering breath, "Thank you."
The Mandalorian sighs, laying his head back down, but keeping his arm wrapped around her. Kasari closes her eyes and relaxes against his hold as she falls asleep.
The next morning they load up the blurrgs in the ship with Kuiil and leave to head to Nevarro.
Kasari watches with amusement as Din and Cara arm wrestle. The child standing in his pram watching the competition as well.
"I got you, Mando." Cara says as they grunt.
"Care to double the bet?" Din responds.
Kasari rolls her eyes at their competition, but suddenly, Cara starts to gasp. Her hands move to her throat and she starts to choke. Kasari and Din look around confused before they realize. Kasari stands and runs to the child, stopping him.
"No! Stop." Kasari says to him as Din hurries to them.
"We're friends, we're friends." Din says hurriedly as Cara finally gulps for air, "Cara is our friend."
Kasari looks at the child closely, "You can't do that, kid."
"That is not okay." Cara says.
The child squirms, confused.
"Hmm. Very curious." Kuiil says.
"Curious? It almost killed me!" Cara yells.
"He thought you were fighting Mando." Kasari explains, "He was worried."
"The story you told me of the mudhorn now makes more sense." The Ugnaught says to Din, "I've heard rumors of what it does."
Kasari nods, "The empire was careful to wipe all records of the force. They didn't want anyone to know about it. They killed anyone that did."
Cara looks at her suspicious, "Then how do you know about it?"
Kasari sighs, "I ran and didn't look back. I kept my mouth shut until I met the kid." She looks at the child with awe, "I've never seen it be used in person before him. I've studied it, looked at the science behind it, studied the blood of force users, but I never saw it for myself." She chuckles, "I'm considered an expert on this, but this child is my first real experience with it. It's amazing."
Cara scoffs, "Yeah. Real amazing." She says sarcastically.
Kasari sighs, "I'm sorry he did that, Cara." She looks at the kid, "You won't do that again, right? Cara's our friend."
The child coos and Kasari smiles, "Nothing to worry about."
The Mandalorian sighs and looks at Kuiil, "Tell you what. I could really use your craftwork right now." He takes to child from Kasari and places him in his pram, "Can you pad this container so the child can sleep better?"
"I shall fabricate a better one." He responds and gets to work.
Kasari, Cara, and Din leave him to his work as they head up to the cockpit.
"So, we're going to Nevarro?" Cara asks.
"Have you ever been?" Din responds.
"No. We lost a lot of our forces there." She says, "The city's dug in pretty deep. No cover when you drop in." She sits, "It stayed in Empire control 'till the end of the war."
"The warlord we're taking out was an Imperial officer." Din explains.
"What station?" Cara asks.
"Hard to tell. No insignia anymore." Din says.
Kasari sighs, "He never even gave me his name when I was there."
Din sighs, "I took out the safe house when I got Kasari and the kid. More Imps have reinforced since."
"There's something more going on." Cara says.
Kasari sighs, "I feel like we're walking into a trap."
"Maybe. We'll find out more when we land." Din responds.
The door to the cockpit opens and IG-11 walks in, "I have prepared second meal. Would you care to be served here or below?"
Din looks at it, "I'm not hungry."
Kasari sighs and shakes her head as the droid leaves.
"Under no circumstances does that thing leave the ship." Din says.
"You got a real thing for droids, don't you?" Cara chuckles.
Din turns to look at her, "I got a real thing for that droid." He says angrily.
"The Ugnaught said he rewired it." Cara says, cleaning her blaster.
"That droid was designed to kill things. I don't care how much wiring he replaced. It goes against its nature." Din says.
Kasari sighs and looks at Cara, "There's no changing his mind on this, Cara. He's not going to trust that droid."
"Well, it shouldn't be a long job anyway." Cara says, "We take out the head Imp, the rest will run like rats." She stands and leaves them in the cockpit.
"Din?" Kasari calls as soon as Cara is gone, he turns his head to her, "Please be careful on Nevarro."
"Always am." He says.
Kasari sighs, "I know you're covered head to two in beskar, but please, don't sacrifice yourself for me and the kid."
Din flips a switch as they get closer to Nevarro, not responding to her.
"Din. I need you to promise me you won't do anything stupid. You aren't invulnerable." Kasari says.
He sighs, "I won't let them take you or the kid."
Kasari groans, frustrated, "You will not die for us either, Din Djarin." She stands and paces the cargo hold, "I don't want them to take us either, but if it comes down to you dying or them taking me and the kid…" She groans, "I can keep the kid safe, Din. I'll be the one studying his blood and doing the tests. I won't let them hurt him and I will do whatever I can to keep him safe and healthy. I won't let them have the research they want. I'll play the part and sabotage it until you find a way back to us. We won't die if they take us."
Din grunts as he continues to fly, pressing buttons and switches more forcefully than needed.
"Please, Din." Kasari begs, placing a hand on his shoulder.
Din tenses, "They will not take the kid. They will not take you. There's no guarantee they'll keep you both alive. That they won't torture you or him for their messed up experiments." He sighs and turns his head to look at her, "I will do whatever is needed to keep you both out of their hands."
Kasari's eyes water, "Din.."
"No." He interrupts, "They. Will. Not. Take. Either. Of. You." He stresses every word. "I don't care what it takes. I will keep you safe." He sighs, "And I'll do my best to stay alive too."
Kasari nods, knowing there's no argument she can make to change his mind, she hangs her head as she sits back in her seat. They land on Nevarro mere moments later.
Kasari stands to leave the cockpit, but stops as Din grabs her arm. He pulls her to him and places his helmeted forehead against her helmetless one.
He sighs, "Stay close to me."
Kasari sighs and wraps her arms around him, hugging hm close. He returns the gesture and places his arms carefully around her back.
The door to the cockpit opens and Kasari jumps at the sound as Cara comes in with a knowing smirk on her face.
"You two ready to go?" She asks with an eyebrow raised.
Kasari's face flushes, but she nods as she follows Din to leave the cockpit. Once in the hangar, they place the child in his new pram and climb onto the blurrgs. Kasari and din share one as Kuiil and Cara each get their own.
Kasari wraps her arms around Din as they make their way to Greef Karga and the bounty hunters.
"Sorry for the remote rendezvous, Mando." Karga says, "But things have gotten complicated since you were last here."
Din eyes the three bounty hunters with Karga carefully, keeping calm as they walk closer to them.
"It appears that introductions are in order." Karga says, "It seems we've both provided a security detail."
He points to Cara, "I recommend the shock trooper guards the ship. These lava fields are lousy with Jawas."
"She's coming with me." Din says simply.
"But the town's now run by ex-Empire." Karga retorts, "If a Rebel Dropper is with us, they'll all get their hackles up."
"She's coming." Din says, leaving no room for argument.
"Fine." Karga concedes, "Fine." He points at Cara again, "At least cover your tattoo. No need to flaunt it." Cara looks at the tattoo on her arm as Karga continues to speak, "Now, I see the woman behind you, but where is the little one?"
Din uses his vambrace to have the child's pram move forward and stop by Greef Karga. It opens and the child looks around as Karga moves to look at him.
Din and the others move to hover their hands over their blasters as they watch the interaction.
"So, this little bowing is what all the fuss was about." He picks up the child carefully, "What a precious little creature." He looks up at Mando, "I can see why you didn't want to harm a hair on its wrinkled little head." He places the child back down and everyone relaxes slightly.
Karga then looks at Kasari, "And the woman, they put out a bounty on her not long after you left." Kasari tightens her hold on the Mandalorian in front of her, taking comfort in his closeness.
Karga looks at Din, "Two priority targets and one Mandalorian." He sighs, "Well, I'm glad this matter will be put to rest once and for all."
Din uses his vambrace to close the child's pram and have him hover between their blurrgs again.
"The sun drops fast on Nevarro," Karga says, "We can walk for a spell, camp out at the riverbank, then make our way into town at first light."
They agree and begin their walk across the lava fields in silence with Karga leading the way. Eventually they set up camp for the night. The bounty hunters set up a fire and find food.
Everyone but Din eats, Kasari and Kuiil take turns feeding the child pieces of their own food as Karga watches.
"I guess the little bugger's a carnivore." Karga says, "I've never seen anything like it. They were ready to pay a king's ransom for that thing." He chuckles, "Must be for some kind if highfalutin menagerie. Though I'm not sure why they were willing to pay a similar amount for the girl."
Kasari rolls her eyes, "I have a name you know?"
Karga looks at her, "Ah, and what's that? They only gave out tracking fobs for the kid. Said that the girl closest to him was the other target. I guess they assumed you wouldn't leave his side."
Kasari sighs, "Kasari, and they were right. I don't plan to ever be far from the kid."
"Let's go over the plan again." Din says. Ending their conversation.
"We both enter the common house." He points at the kid and Kasari, "We show the client the bait. We join him at the table. And you kill him." Karga says.
"Tell me about his reinforcements." Din orders.
"They're all ex-Empire. As soon as they lose their paycheck, poof, they'll all scatter." Karga explains.
"And what if they don't?" Mando asks.
"They will." Karga assures.
"That's not good enough." Din says.
"If, for argument's sake, a few of them don't realize that I'm their best path to alternate employment and they elect to react impulsively, then these three fine Guild Hunters," He points at his men, "along with that battle-hardened shock trooper, will cut down anyone who bucks." Karga finishes.
"How many will there be?" Din asks.
Karga sighs, "No more than four. He travels with, at most, a Fire Team." He stands, "Trust me. Nothing can go wrong."
At that moment a giant creature with wings swoops down and knocks Karga to the ground. Pandemonium begins and everyone starts shooting at the flying creatures. Kasari pulls out her own blasters and shoots out at them as well, but it's impossible to see them with the low light of the fire. Din closes the child's pram and pushes Kasari to stand behind him. She shifts positions and stands close to him, but continues to shoot, now standing back to back with the Mandalorian.
One of the creatures swoops down and catches a blurrg in its claws, "No! Let go of her!" Kuiil called, shooting at it, "Drop her now!"
Another flies down and scoops up one of the bounty hunters. They try to shoot it down, but the man's carried away. Another aims for a second blurrg, but they are able to shoot it down and it lands with a thud on top of the poor blurrg. Din and Kasari keep shooting at them until one sweeps toward them, hitting Din in the front and causing Kasari to fall to the side as the creature attacks the Mandalorian. Kasari hurries to her feet and shoots at the creature with Cara. Din fights it off and uses his flamethrower against it as it flies away screeching.
The last of the creatures finally fly away, and they all hurry to surround the kid. They eventually breathe a sigh of relief and lower their blasters. Din opens the child's pram and Kasari checks him for any issues. They relax when the child coos at them.
Karga groans from his spot around the fire, clearly injured. Kasari sighs, and her and Kuiil run to check the mans injuries.
"He's hurt badly." Kuiil announces.
"I'm fine, I'm fine. Ow!" Karga says.
Kasari sighs and looks at his wound. She grabs the medpac offered by Cara and hurries to give Karga a shot to slow the poisons spread.
"How bad is it?" Din asks as he approaches them.
Kasari sighs as she examines the wound, "It's bad. The poison's spreading fast. We don't have the supplies or the time to stop it."
Karga groans, "So this… This is how it happens."
Karsari hurries to tourniquet his arm, doing what she can to stave off the poison.
"Don't be so dramatic." Cara says to him.
"Do we have any other medpacs?" Kasari asks, looking around, "Anyone?"
They all shake their heads and she sighs, securing the tourniquet on Karga's arm.
"I'm guessing that's a 'no'." Karga says.
Kasari sighs as she scans his arm, "It's still spreading." She says, "It's not working."
The child comes up beside her, looking at Karga's wound. Kasari looks at him for a moment and Din moves to grab him, but she stops him.
"Wait." She says.
Din listens and the child slowly places his hand on Karga's wound.
"He's trying to eat me." Karga complains.
Kasari rolls her eyes, "He's trying to help you." She says as the child closes his eyes and focuses.
She smiles as the wound begins to heal, the poison slowing and disappearing as Karga begins to relax and his wound closes. Kasari catches the child as he falls, exhausted from healing Karga. She carefully picks him up and catches the looks of awe on everyone's face.
She smiles down at the child and carefully places him in his pram to sleep while the others collect their jaws from the floor. Din follows her, lightly tracing a finger on the child's head as he sleeps. He closes the pram and turns to look at Kasari.
"Did you know he could do that?" He asks.
Kasari sighs, "I knew it was possible, but I didn't know if he could. It clearly takes a lot out of him."
Din looks at her for a moment longer, "When you were injured on Sorgan, you wouldn't let him touch your wound."
Kasari nods, "I was fine, healing, and it wasn't so bad." She shrugs, "I wasn't sure if he was trying to heal me, but I didn't want him to try. There was no need."
Din sighs and they make their way to their packs, laying out their bedrolls side by side and settling down, ignoring the stares from the others. Unwilling to talk about what happened with anyone else yet.
Kasari watches as the others move about and set up their own places to sleep. Kuiil checking on the only blurrg that survived before settling himself.
"Once this is over." Din begins, "I want you to tell me what you know about his powers."
Kasari turns to him and nods, "I'm sorry I haven't done that already." She hesitates, "I've spent so long hiding from the Empire. Keeping my mouth closed and avoiding the topic." She sighs, "When I was younger, my parents would remind me to keep the knowledge to myself. Keep it in the lab and forget about it the moment you leave." She laughs self depreciating, "I didn't question why the empire never came for us. Why we were safe to research it. I was willfully ignorant of who our company was through. I never questioned it." She pulls her knees to her chest and places her head on them.
Din places his arm around her back and pulls her close, "Hey, you didn't know. You were just doing what you were taught; working for a company you thought you could trust, and doing research you believed would help people."
Kasari sighs, "Once this is over and we are back safe on the Razor Crest, I will tell you everything I know about the kid and his powers. I promise."
Din nods and holds her close, "I appreciate it."
They sit there for a few long moments before Din releases his hold on her, "Get some sleep, Kasari."
She nods and lays down. She's out like a light the moment her head hits her bedroll.
They leave early the next morning, Kuiil rides on the only surviving blurrg while the rest of them move on foot. The child floats closely between Din and Kasari with Cara beside Din. Karga and the two remaining bounty hunters take the lead.
"You think they're having second thoughts?" Cara asks, referring to Karga and his hunters.
"Could be." Din responds, "I need your eyes."
"I'm watching." Cara says.
They eventually make their way to the town, stopping on a hill overseeing it, Karga stands between Din and Cara while Kasari and the child remain on Din's other side. The two bounty hunters trail behind them.
They stop and Karga speaks, "I guess this is it." He quickly pulls his blasters and turns, shooting the two bounty hunters dead as Cara and Din pull out their own blasters and aim at Karga.
Karga holds up his blasters, "There's something you should know." He says as he walks between them and heads to the bounty hunters. He rolls them over and kicks their blasters away, "They plan was to kill you and take Kasari and the kid." Din, Kasari, and Cara keep their guns trained on him as Kuiil examines the bodies, "But after what happened last night, I couldn't go through with it." He looks at them, "Go on. You can gun me down here and now and it wouldn't violate the code. But if you do," he points at Kasari and the child, "they will never be safe."
"We'll take our chances." Cara says.
"The Imperial client is obsessed with obtaining these assets." He points at Kasari and the kid again, "You tried to run, but where did it get you?"
"This is ridiculous." Cara says.
"Perhaps you should let him speak." Kuiil says.
"He's right." Kasari agrees, but she keeps her blaster trained.
"Listen, we both need the client to be eliminated. Let me take Kasari and the child to him and then you two-"
"No." Din says succinctly.
"Just kill him and get outta here." Cara says.
Din lowers his blaster and Kasari follows his lead, "He's right." Din says.
He puts away his blaster, Kasari follows suit, trusting his judgement.
"What are you doing?" Cara asks.
"As long as the Imp lives, he'll send hunters after them." Din explains.
"It's a trap." Cara argues.
Din looks at Karga, "Bring me." He says.
"Bring you?" Karga questions.
"Tell him you captured me. Get me close to him and I'll kill him." Din says.
Karga nods, "That's a good idea. Give me your blaster."
Din is quick to listen and Kasari hands over her blaster as well, but keeps the one hidden in her boot.
"This is insane." Cara complains.
"It's the only way." Din says.
"Well, I'm coming with you." Cara declares.
"No, no, no." Karga declines, "That would make them suspicious."
"I don't care. I'm coming." Cara states.
"Tell them she caught us." Kasari suggests.
Din nods, agreeing.
"Fine. Then she can bring the child." Karga submits.
"No." Din disagrees, "The kid goes back in the ship."
"But without the child, none of this works!" Karga complains.
"I have a plan." He turns to Kuiil, "Kuiil, ride back to the Razor Crest with the child and seal yourself in. When you're inside, engage ground security protocols. Nothing on this planet will breach those doors." He turns to Kasari, "I want you to go with them."
Kasari shakes her head, "No. I'm staying with you." She stops Din from arguing, "No, Mando, they know I won't leave the kids side, if you plan to trick them into believing the kid is in his pram, then I have to be there too."
Din sighs but concedes.
"Here's a comlink." Kuiil says, handing it to Din, "I will keep the child safe." He turns to Cara, "Don't forget to cover your stripes."
"Let's go." Din says, pulling out his cuffs and handing them to Karga.
He secures them on Din before grabbing another set from one of the dead hunters and securing them on Kasari's wrists. She looks at Din for a moment and steels her nerves, preparing to follow his plan.
Kuiil grabs the child, Cara covers her stripes, and Karga takes out a blaster. They turn to leave walking with confident steps as they make their way to the town. Kasari stays close to Din, with Karga on her right. The pram follows between Cara and Din and they walk.
They make it to the town and find it full of stormtroopers. One addresses them as they approach.
"Chain code?" He asks.
"I have a gift for the boss." Karga says.
"Chain code?" The trooper repeats.
Karga sighs and hands it over. The trooper scans it then looks back at them.
"I'll give you 20 credits for the helmet." He says.
Karga laughs, "Ha-ha! Not a chance. That's going on my wall."
Din softly speaks to him, "On your wall?"
"Go with it." Karga mutters.
"Go ahead." The trooper says, handing back Karga's chain code.
Karga pushes Din in front of them, Cara does the same to Kasari, and they walk forward. The town is swarming through the town as they walk through.
"You said four." Cara whispers. "There are more than four troopers."
"Four guarding the client. Many more are here in town." Karga says, "Things got really heated once Mando crashed the safehouse."
"Slip them their blasters," Cara orders.
"Not yet." He responds.
Kasari and Din look at one another as they continue to walk. They finally make it to their destination and Din walks in the door first. Followed by Kasari, Karga, the pram, and Cara.
"You see? Four." Karga says as they look around the room.
He guides Din into the room and they stop in front of the client. Kasari stays behind with Cara and the pram.
"Look what I brought you. As promised." Karga says.
"What exquisite craftsmanship." The client says as he studies Din's armor, lightly touching his helmet, "It is amazing how beautiful beskar can be when forged by its ancestral artisans." He eyes Kasari behind him, "I see we were right to assume you would remain with the child and Mandalorian, Dr. Feskin." Kasari glares at him and the client turns to Karga, "Can I offer you a libation to celebrate the closing of our shared narrative?"
"I would be obliged." Karga responds.
The client gestures to a dorid behind the bar and then they take their seats, Kasari sits in a chair on the side of the table and Din shares a bench with Karga while the client sits across from them. Cara remains standing with the pram.
"It is a shame that your people suffered so." The client says as more stormtroopers enter the room. "Just as in this situation, it was all avoidable. Why did Mandalore resist our expansion?" He asks, "The Empire improves every system it touches. Judge by any metric. Safety, prosperity, trade, opportunity, peace." Kasari has to bite her tongue to not retort, "Compare Imperial rule to what is happening now." His eyes shift, "Look outside. Is the world more peaceful since the revolution? I see nothing but death and chaos." He looks at the pram. "I would like to see the baby."
Karga smacks his lips, "Uh… It is asleep."
"We all will be quiet." The client says. "Open the pram."
Kasari's heart beats out of her cheat, but she hides any outward signs of her panic as a stormtrooper speaks to the client softly.
"Don't think me to be rude. I must take this call." The client says as he and Karga stand.
Karga nods and Din quietly releases his cuffed wrists.
"Give me the blaster." Din whispers to Karga.
"You get one shot." He whispers back as he hands it over.
"This is bad. You said four." Cara whispers.
"Well, there are more. What can I tell you?" Karga responds.
Kasari and the others watch as the client speaks over the call. They're too far to hear any of what's said. Suddenly, shots fly into the building and the client falls dead. They hurry to flip the table and hide behind it as more shots fly, hitting and killing the stormtroopers and droid inside.
Din releases Kasari's cuffs and Karga hands her back her blaster as Cara changes cover and peaks outside. Din hurries and does the same on the opposite side. Kasari and Karga remain behind them, but also find better cover to hide behind.
They peak outside and find a line of dark troopers ready and aiming at them. More stormtroopers join them and trap them in the building.
"Four stormtroopers?" Cara asks sarcastically.
Kasari stares wide eyed as the stormtroopers continue to fill the space in front of the building.
"This is bad." Cara says.
"Kuiil? Are you back to the ship yet?" Din says over the comm, "Are you there? Do you copy?"
"Yes!" Kuiil responds.
"Are you back to the ship yet?" Din asks.
"Not yet." He responds.
"Get back to the ship and bail. Get the kid out of here." Din orders, "We're pinned down!"
Kasari moves to hide behind the wall with Din as a TIE fighter lands behind the stormtroopers. They all remain silent as they watch the man exit the fighter.
"You have something I want." The man begins.
"Who's this guy?" Cara asks.
"The Moff." Kasari whispers, recognizing the voice from when Dr. Pershing talked to him.
"You may think you have some idea of what you are in possession of, but you do not." The Moff continues.
"Kuiil, are you back to the ship yet? They're onto us!" Din says into the comm. "Kuiil, come in!" There's no response.
"In a few moments, it and Dr. Feskin will be mine." The Moff says.
Kasari swallows down the lump in her throat as her hands begin the shake.
"Kuiil! Do you copy?" Din says over the comm frantically, "Kuiil!"
"They mean more to me than you will ever know." The Moff says and Kasari gags as her hands shake.
"Kuiil! Are you there?" Din tries again. "Come in, Kuiil. Kuiil, come in." Kasari starts to panic. Her blaster falls from her hand and she falls to the floor as Din continues, "Kuiil! Are you there? Do you copy? Kuiil? Kuiil!"
Din finally stops trying, putting away the comlink and looking at Kasari.
"Kas." He says, "You have to stand up. Get your blaster."
Kasari shakes, tears falling down her face, "They have him. They have the kid."
"We don't know that." Din argues, "You have to get it together Kas. I'm sorry. You have to push through it and stay focused."
Kasari swallows ad shakily grabs her blaster.
"That's it." Din encourages. "We will make sure the kid is safe, but you have to keep yourself safe too."
Kasari nods and stands back up slowly.
"That's it, Kas." Din praises.
"I'm okay." She says with a small wobble in her voice.
"I know." Din says before returning his full attention to the others in the room.
"Is there another way out?" Cara asks.
"No, that's it." Karga says.
"What about the sewers?" Din asks.
"Sewers?" Karga questions.
"The Mandalorians have a covert down in the sewers." Din explains. "If we can get down there, they can help us escape."
"Yeah, sewers are good." Cara says.
"Checking for access points." Din says, tapping on his vambrace and using visor to look around.
"What the hell are they waiting for?" Cara asks, "Hold up." She sighs, "They're setting up an E-Web."
"It's over." Karga says.
"I found the sewer vent." Din says.
"Let's get the hell out of here." Cara says as they all make their way to the vent.
Din moves a booth out of the way with Cara's help while Kasari and Karga remain behind cover. They try to pull it open, but it's stuck.
"It's assembled!" Karga calls, "How long until that thing's cleared?"
"Blow it." Cara says.
"I'm out of charges." Din admits.
"Get out of the way!" Cara says as she grabs her heavy infantry blaster and starts shooting it.
It still doesn't budge.
"Your astute panic suggests that you understand your situation." The Moff says, "I would prefer to avoid any further violence, and encourage a moment of consideration. Members of my escort have completed assembly of an E-Web heavy repeating blaster." He states, "If you are unfamiliar with this weapon, I am sure that Republican Shock Trooper Carasynthia Dune of Alderaan will advise you that she has witnessed many of her ranks vaporize mid-descent facing the predecessor of this particular model." He gestures to the weapon, "Or perhaps the decommissioned Mandalorian hunter, Din Djarin," Kasari gasps at the casual drop of Din's name, "has heard the songs of the Siege of Mandalore, when gunships outfitted with similar ordinance laid waste to fields of Mandalorian recruits in The Night of a Thousand Tears." The Moff says easily, "Perhaps Theoretical Geneticist, Kasari Feskin, realizes the folly in attempting to hide from the Empire. After all, she's been in our sights since she was a child. It would be a shame for her research to die with her." Kasari steels herself, not allowing him to get to her again. "I advise disgraced Magistrate Greef Karga to search the wisdom of his years and urge you to lay down your arms and come outside. The structure you are trapped in will be razed in short order and your storied lives will come to an unceremonious end." He finishes.
"What do you propose?" Karga yells.
"Reasonable negotiation." The Moff responds.
Karga scoffs, "What assurances do you offer?"
"If you're asking if you can trust me, you cannot." The Moff assures, "Just as you betrayed our business arrangement, I will gladly break any promise and watch you die at my hand." He continues, "The assurance I give is this: I will act in my own self-interest, which at this time involves your cooperation and benefit." He pauses, "I will give you until nightfall, and then I will have the E-Web cannon open fire."
Karga turns to them, "I say we hear him out."
"The minute we open that door, we're dead." Cara says.
"We're dead if we don't" Karga argues, "At least out there, we've got a shot."
"That's easy for you to say. I'm a Rebel Shock Trooper." Cara says, "They'll upload me to a Mind Flayer."
"Those aren't real. That was just wartime propaganda." Karga says.
"Well, I don't care to find out. I'm shooting my way out of here." Cara says.
"Din?" Kasari says.
Din sighs, "I know who he is." They all look at him, "It's Moff Gideon."
"No." Cara denies, "Moff Gideon was executed for war crimes."
"It's him. He knew my name." Din says confidently.
"So? What does that prove?" Karga asks.
"I only told Kas my name a week ago. Before that, I hadn't heard it spoken since I was a child." Din explains.
Kas gasps as he speaks. She knew it was special that he shared his name with her, but she had no clue just how special it was.
"On Mandalore?" Karga asks.
"I was not born on Mandalore." Din corrects.
"But you're Mandalorian." Karga says, confused.
"Mandalorian isn't a race." Kasari says.
"It's a Creed." Din finishes and Kasari places a hand on his arm, "I was a foundling. They raised me in the Fighting Corps. I was treated as one of their own." He places his hand over Kasari's, "When I came of age, I was sworn to the Creed. The only record of my family name was in the registers of Mandalore. Moff Gideon was an ISB Officer during the purge." Din explains, "That's how I know it's him."
"That's how he knows who we all are." Cara says.
"He says he needs us, which means the child got away safely, and they don't want to kill Kasari." Din says, "I was worried when the Ugnaught didn't respond, but if they'd captured the kid, we'd already be dead and Kasari would already be in their hands."
Kasari breathes a sigh of relief as she listens to Din. She watches Karga take out a drink and chuckles a little.
"Hail them again." Cara says.
Din listens, "Come in, Kuiil." He says into the comlink, "Kuiil?" No response, "Nothing."
"They may have jammed the link" Cara says.
Kasari smiles as she hears the child coo over the comm.
"Kuiil has been terminated." IG-11 says over the comm.
"What did you do?" Din asks.
"I am fulfilling my base function." IG-11 says.
"Which is?" Din questions.
"To nurse and protect." The droid responds.
Kasari looks at Din in a panic as they hear blaster shots from outside.
"You don't think that's…" She begins.
"Look!" Cara says and Din runs to look out the window behind the bar.
Kasari sees as the troopers adjust their positions and turn to their sides. Suddenly a speeder crashes into them and the IG unit starts shooting out at them, the child strapped to its center.
"Cover me!" Din calls, "Stay here." He tells Kasari
Cara jumps on the bar and starts shooting out the window, Kasari adds a few shots of her own as Din and Karga exit the building.
Kasari watches through the window, shooting the stormtroopers she can while catching bits of Din's fight with dark troopers. Him and Karga expertly take down trooper after trooper while Cara and Kasari provide support.
As the IG unit begins to struggle, Din grabs the E-Web and starts shooting the Imps.
"Yes!" Kasari says with a smile as they make a large dent in the stormtroopers, but her excitement falls quick when the door to the building suddenly bursts open, sending her and Cara flying back.
Kasari gasps as she hits the ground hard. She groans but carefully hides behind the bar with Cara.
"Stay here." Cara tells her as blaster shots fly at them.
Kasari nods and Cara turns and shoots down the dark troopers in the room. She breathes heavily, but they quickly fix their positions back to the window to cover for Din and Karga.
Kasari watches as Gideon aims his blaster and shoots the E-Web base, sending Din flying back from the explosion.
"No!" She shouts and moves to run to the door, but Cara stops her.
"You can't go out there." Cara says.
Kasari struggles against her hold, "I have to get to him! He's hurt!"
Cara shakes her head, "He won't want you to get yourself killed."
Kasari struggles, bites Cara's arm, causing her to release her, and runs out the door to Din. Cara grits and follows her out, shooting her blaster to cover Kasari.
Kasari runs to Din, her hands shake, but she places her arms under his shoulders and drags him back to the room. She grunts at the weight, but doesn't lose her hold. The others follow her inside and the door shuts.
Tears fall down Kasari's face as she situations Din and checks him over.
"Din." She sobs, "It's going to be okay. I'm going to check you over and we'll get out of here."
"This is the only path out. Can you clear it?" Karga asks Cara.
Cara nods and heads to help. The IG unit sets the child down to help.
"If you go near this child, I will no choice but to kill you." It says.
Kasari ignores their chatter as she checks over Din, he's awake, but he's hurt bad.
"Stay with me." She cries as she feels around the parts of his chest not protected by armor.
"I'm not gonna make it. Go." He says.
She shakes her head, "I'm not leaving you. I just.." She cries, "I just need to find where you're hurt. I'll make it better. You'll be okay."
He grabs her arm as she feels behind his neck, stopping her search, "Leave me."
She pulls her hand away and chokes as it comes away bloody, she shakes her head, "I'm not leaving you. We're stuck together, remember?"
She moves to his helmet, feeling behind is head and finding no wound to his neck. Her breathing stutters as she looks at him, knowing the wound is under the helmet.
"Din." She breathes, "I..I can help you… But your helmet…"
"No. You leave me." He gasps.
Her tears fall on his armor in fat drops, "Din, please. Please don't do this. I can help you." She sobs.
Din breathes heavily, "You make sure the child is safe. You get out of here." He gasps, "Here." He pulls a mythosaur pendant from his neck, "When you get to the Mandalorian covert, you show them that." He places it in her hand, "You tell them it's from Din Djarin," He breathes shakily, "You tell them the foundling and you were in my protection, and they'll help you."
Kasari shakes her head, holding the pendant in her hand and places her forehead against his, "We can make it together." She sobs, "Please, Din. You can't leave me." She pulls away and calls out, "Cara! Help me carry him. Please!"
"I'm not gonna make it and you know it." Din says.
Suddenly, a burst of flames flies into the room, Kasari covers din with her body, trying to keep him safe for once. She looks around and finds the room in flames. Din grabs her arm, getting her attention back.
"You protect the child. I can hold them back long enough for you to escape." He says.
"Stop sacrificing yourself!" Kas sobs.
"Let me have a warrior's death." Din responds.
Kasari sobs, "Please. I won't leave you, Din."
He pulls her down and places her forehead back on his, "Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum."
Kasari sobs, "I don't know what that means. Please…"
"This is the Way." He says before another burst of flames comes inside.
Kasari lays herself against him again, holding him close, she watches as the child lifts his hands into the air and stops the flames from reaching them and sending them back to the flame trooper.
Kasari gasps as the child passes out, trapped between wanting to help the kid, and wanting to stay near Din. Thankfully, Cara picks up the child for her and Kasari continues to hold Din, trying to get him to move with them.
The IG unit finally gets the crate out of the way, "Come on! It's open, let's go!" Karga yells.
"Go. Go." Din tells her, gasping.
"We have to move! Now!" Cara yells, showing her worry for Din on her face, but knowing there's not much hope.
"Go, Kas. Please." Din begs.
IG-11 come to her after grabbing the child from Cara and placing him inside the bag he had used.
"Escape and protect this child." He says, handing the kid to her, "I will stay with the Mandalorian."
Kasari watches as Karga and Cara start to enter the sewers and turns to the droid. She stares him down before saying, with tears in her eyes, "Promise me you'll bring him. Don't let him die here."
"You have my word." The droid responds.
Kasari looks back at Din one more time before following the others into the sewers. He's not going to die. He can't.
She ignores Cara's worried look as she follows them through the sewers below Nevarro. The child fusses in her arms as they move, but she soothes him with soft words and places the pendant around him securely.
They only make it down a small ways before they hear an explosion behind them and footsteps approaching. Kasari watches with bated breath as the IG unit rounds the corner with Din.
She smiles wide at the sight of the man walking on his feet again, leaning on the droid, but still moving. She carefully hurries to him, carefully hands the child to the droid, and helps Din stand.
"I got you, Din." She whispers.
He holds onto her tightly as they make their way around the sewers, he limps, but he gets lighter with every step.
"Do you know which way to go?" Karga asks.
"No. I don't know these tunnels." Din responds, "I've only entered from the bazaar."
He grunts as they move.
"Well, if we get the smell of sulfur and we follow it, it'll lead us up to the plains where the river flows." Karga says.
"And the Imps will catch us before we make it to the ship." Din adds, "We need the Mandalorians to escort us to safety."
"Ugh, this place is a maze." Cara complains.
"A maze is better than what we were in before." Kasari supplies.
"Stop," Din says looking at the ground, "I can stand," he tells Kasari, but instead of letting her go completely, he slides his hand into hers. She's grateful for the contact, still unwilling to let him out of her reach.
"The bacta infusion is working." The droid says.
"I'll try to find tracks." Din says, looking around. "We're close." He says walking down the sewers and pulling Kasari with him, "Turn here." He says.
They make it through the corridors and eventually find a room with a large pile of Mandalorian armor inside. Kasari gasps as Din turns off his light. He squeezes her hand before releasing it to look at the helmets. He bends down and picks one up to look at it. Kasari kneels next to him, placing a hand on his back in silent support.
Cara comes up beside them, "We should go." She says.
Din shakes his head, "You go. Take the ship. I can't leave it this way."
"I'll stay too," Kasari whispers.
Din doesn't respond, but turns to Karga, "Did you know about this?" He asks accusingly, "Is this the work of your bounty hunters?"
"No." Karga defends, "When you left the system and took the prize, the fighting ended and the hunters just melted away. You know how it is. They're mercenaries. They're not zealots."
The Mandalorian stands abruptly, "Did you do this?" He accuses Karga, "Did you?" He yells.
"No!" Karga yells back.
"It was not his fault." A woman in Gold Mandalorian armor with horns says as she comes into the room, "We revealed ourselves. We knew what could happen if we left the covert." She picks up some armor, "The Imperials arrived shortly thereafter. This is what resulted."
"Did any survive?" Din asks softly.
"I hope so. Some may have escaped off-world." She responds, still picking up armor.
"Come with us." Din says.
"No." She responds, "I will not abandon this place until I have salvaged what remains." She says as she pushes a cart of armor out of the room.
They follow with Din in the lead. The room they enter is a large forge.
"Show me the one whose safety deemed such destruction." She says.
The IG unit steps forward and Din grabs Kasari by the hand, pulling her with him.
"This is the one." He says, referring to the child.
"This is the one that you hunted, then saved?" She asks, looking at the kid.
"Yes. The one that saved me as well." Din replies.
"From the mudhorn?" She asks.
"Yes." He confirms.
"It looks helpless." She observes and the kid coos.
"It's injured, but it is not helpless." Din says, "Its species can move objects with its mind."
Kasari nods, adding timidly, "He can use the force."
"I know of such things." The woman says, "The songs of eons past tell of battles between Mandalore The Great, and an order of sorcerers called Jedi that fought with such powers."
"It is an enemy?" Din asks.
Kasari squeezes his hand and shakes her head, she regrets not explaining any of this before now.
"No. It's kind were enemies, but this individual is not." She states.
"What is it?" Din asks.
"It is a foundling." She replies, "By Creed, it is in your care."
"You wish me to train this thing?" Din asks.
"It is too weak. It would die." She responds, "You have no choice. You must reunite it with its own kind."
"Where?" Din asks.
"This, you must determine." She says.
"You expect me to search the galaxy for the home of this creature and deliver it to a race of enemy sorcerers?" Din clarifies.
"The Jedi are all but extinct." Kasari adds.
The woman turns to them, "This is the Way."
Din doesn't respond and they watch as the woman works with her tools, creating something out of the beskar.
"Hey." Cara says, "These tunnels will be lousy with Imps in a matter of minutes. We should at least discuss an escape plan."
"If you follow the descending tunnel, it will lead you to the underground river." The woman supplies, "It flows downstream toward the lava flats."
"I think we should go." Karga says.
"I'm staying." Din states and Kasari tightens her hold on his hand, showing she's staying too, "I need to help her and I need to heal." Din looks at Kasari and sighs, "Please go with them. Stay with the kid."
She opens her mouth to argue, but the Mandalorian in gold armor speaks first, "You must go. A foundling is in your care." She says to Din, "By Creed, until it is of age or reunited with its own kind, you are as its father." The kid coos as Din looks at him, squeezing Kasari's hand once again, "This is the Way." The woman turns to look at Din, "You have earned your Signet."
She makes her way to Din and solders a Mudhorn on his armor, once finished she says, "You are a clan of two."
"Three." Din corrects, squeezing Kasari's hand.
The gold Mandalorian looks at Kasari then back at Din, "Did you complete the riduurok?" She asks.
Din shakes his head, "No," he pauses, "but she is the foundlings mother as much as I am his father."
The woman hums, "And do you intend to complete the riduurok?"
Din looks at Kasari for a moment, then nods, but doesn't speak.
The woman turns to Kasari, "Aliit ori'shya tal'din. Family is more than blood." She translates for Kasari, "You are a clan of three."
"Thank you." Din says, "I will wear this with honor."
The woman nods as they hear explosions come from somewhere in the sewers.
"We should go." Karga says.
The Mandalorian in gold speaks, "IG, please guard the outer hallway. A scouting party draws near."
IG listens and hands the child to Cara, "Hang on. I don't do the baby thing." She says.
"I have one more gift for your journey." The woman says as the IG leaves the room, "Have you trained in the Rising Phoenix?"
"When I was a boy. Yes." Din responds.
"Then this will make you complete." She says, showing him a beskar jet pack.
"Thank you." He says.
"When you have healed, you will begin your drills." She tells him, "Until you know it, it will not listen to your commands."
"I understand." Din says.
Blasters sound from the hallway, Cara pulls out her blaster, and they wait as the shots disappear and the IG unit returns.
"You are protected." It says.
"More will come. You must go." The woman says hurriedly.
"Come with us." Din says.
"My place is here." She declines, "Restock your munitions." She orders and Din listens, finally letting go of Kasari's hand.
"IG, carry this for Din Djarin until he is well enough to wear it." The woman orders, handing the jetpack to the droid. "Now go, Down to the river and across the plains."
Cara, IG, and Karga leave the room. Din returns to Kasari's side and grasps her hand once again in his.
"Be safe on your journey." The woman tells them.
"Thank you." Din and Kasari say before leaving.
Din pulls out his blaster on the way out and they hurry to catch up with the others. They move through the sewers and finally hit the river.
"This is the lava river." Karga says.
They walk towards it and find a ferry.
"The ferry droid is fried." Din says.
"Yeah, but if we push the boat out, we can get it to float downstream." Karga says, "Come on."
"Looks old. Will it take the heat?" Din asks.
"You got a better idea?" Karga asks.
"Guess not." Din concedes, he releases Kasari and they start pushing.
"Push!" Karga yells and Din kicks it, frustrated, "Come on! What're you doing?"
"Let's try this." Din says, picking up a pole and leveraging the boat.
"Do you guys mind getting out of the way?" Cara asks, handing the baby to Kasari and pulling out her gun.
"Oh!" Karga says as he and Din back away right before Cara starts shooting, "Good job." He says as the boat moves into the river.
They carefully climb in, Din helping Kasari as she holds the child.
"Watch your feet. It's molten lava." IG says helpfully.
"No kidding." Cara responds.
The ferry droid starts beeping once they're all onboard and everyone aims their blaster at it as it stands.
"I don't suppose anybody here speaks droid?" Din asks.
"I believe he is asking where we would like to go." IG says.
"Down river. To the lava flat." Karga says.
The droid chirps in response and starts slowly moving them downstream. They relax and put their blasters back away.
As they float, Kasari speaks quietly to Din, "I'm glad you're okay."
Din title his head towards her and the child, "Me too."
Kasari smiles at him, "Will you tell me what you said to me back there?"
Din hums, "I don't remember."
Kasari rolls her eyes, "Sure you don't." He stays quiet, she huffs, "Fine. What about what the other Mandalorian said? Ri-rid r-riduurok?" She says, fumbling with the pronunciation.
Din stills beside her, "It's not important." He says quietly.
Kasari sighs, "I'll remember this Din. Next time I see a Mandalorian, I'll ask them."
Din chuckles, "I'm sure you will."
"That's it." Karga calls from behind them, "We're free!"
"No." Din says, using his visor, "No, we're not. Stormtroopers. They're flanking the mouth of the tunnel." He explains, "It looks like an entire platoon. They must know we're coming."
"Stop the boat." Cara says, but the droid keeps moving., "Hey, droid, I said stop the boat." It continues not to listen, "Hey! I'm talking to you." She moves towards the droid, "I said stop!" She shoots it and it stops.
"We're still moving." Karga says.
"Looks like we fight." Cara sighs.
"There are too many." Din says.
"Then what do we do?" Kasari asks him.
"I can't surrender." Cara adds.
"They will not be satisfied with anything less than the child and Kasari Feskin." IG says, "This is unacceptable. I will eliminate the enemy and you will escape."
"You don't have that kind of firepower, pal." Din says, "You wouldn't even get to daylight."
"That is not my objective." It responds.
"We're getting close." Cara says, "Saddle up."
"I still have the security protocols from my manufacturer." IG says. "If my designs are compromised, I must self-destruct."
"What are you talking about?" Kasari asks.
"I am not permitted to be captured. I must be destroyed." It answers.
"Are we gonna keep talking, or get out of here?" Karga asks.
"I can no longer carry this for you." IG says, setting down Din's jetpack, "Nor can I watch over the child," It says checking on the kid in Kasari's arms.
"Wait. You can't self-destruct." Din says. "Your base command is to watch the child. That supersedes your manufacturer's protocol, right?"
"This is correct." IG responds.
"Good. Now, grab a blaster and help us shoot our way out." Din says.
"Victory through combat is impossible." It says. "We will be captured. The child will be lost. Sadly, there is no scenario where the child is saved, in which I survive."
"Listen, you're not going anywhere." Din says.
"There has to be another way." Kasari agrees.
"We need you. Let's just come up with a…" Din begins.
"Please tell me the child will be safe in your care." IG interrupts. "If you do so, I can default to my secondary command."
"But you'll be destroyed." Din argues.
"And you will live, and I will have served my purpose." It states.
Din shakes his head, "No. We need you."
"You don't have to do this, IG. We can figure this out." Kasari says worriedly.
"There is nothing to be sad about. I have never been alive." It says.
"I'm not sad." Din says uncomfortable.
"Yes, you are. I'm a nurse droid. I've analyzed your voice." IG responds.
The child food at it as it carefully touches on of his ears.
"IG?" Karga calls to it as it lowers itself into the river, "What are you doing?"
They watch as it slowly makes its way down the river and explodes at the exit. They're quiet as the boat finally makes it to the end of the river.
"Moff Gideon!" Cara yells as a TIE fighter flies by.
They pull their blasters and start shooting at it as it gets close. It shoots down at them, but misses the boat entirely.
"He missed!" Karga yells.
"He won't next time." Din says.
"Our blasters are useless against him." Cara says.
"Hey, let's make the baby do the magic hand thing." Karga suggests.
Kasari shakes her head, "He's still worn out from the fire before and pulling a TIE Fighter out of the sky may be a bit beyond his capabilities at the moment.
"Come on, baby! Do the magic hand thing." Karga tries anyway.
The child just waves at him and Kasari sighs, "He doesn't understand what you mean, Karga, and like I said, he needs to recover from earlier."
Karga groans, "I'm out of ideas."
"I'm not." Din says, putting his jetpack on.
"Here he comes!" Cara yells.
"Be careful, Din." Kasari says. "Make sure you come back."
He nods, "I'm not dying today."
He flies into the sky just as the TIE Fighter comes flying over them. He uses his grappling wire to attach to the TIE and is pulled along with it. Kasari and the others watch as Din is swung around, before shooting forward and landing on top of the Fighter. Her and the others climb out of the boat and continue to watch Din and the Fighter. Kasari holds her breath as the fighter spins, causing Din to slide and barely hold onto it.
"C'mon Din. You've got this." She says.
Din finally lets go of the fighter and they watch as the fighter explodes and finally crashes while Din falls from the sky. She sighs with relief as Din clumsily uses his jet pack and lands not far ahead of them.
She smiles wide and runs towards him with the child still cradled in her arms, "You did it!" She exclaims, pulling him into a partial hug with the child between them.
Din chuckles and hugs her and the kid back. They release each other as Karga and Cara catch up to them.
"That was impressive, Mando." Karga says. "Very impressive. Looks like your Guild rates have just gone up." He chuckles.
"Any more stormtroopers?" Din asks.
"I think we cleaned up the town." Cara answers, "I'm thinking of staying around just to be sure."
"You're staying here?" Din asks.
"Well, why not?" Karga asks, "Nevarro is a very fine planet. And now that the scum and villainy have been washed away, it's very respectable again."
"As a bounty hunter hive?" Din asks dryly.
Kasari chuckles, "What's so wrong with that? You're a bounty hunter, aren't you? She teases."
"Some of my favorite people are bounty hunters." Karga says. Replaces a hand on Cara's shoulder, "And perhaps, this specimen of soldier might consider joining our ranks."
"Yeah." Cara says, "I've got some clerical concerns regarding my chain code."
"And if you would agree to become my enforcer," Karga begins, "clerical concerns would be the least of your worries." He turns back to Din, "But you, my friend, you will be welcome back into the Guild with open arms. So, go off, enjoy yourself. And when you're ready to return, you will have the pick of all quarries."
Din turns and collects the child from Kasari's arms, "I'm afraid we have more pressing matters at hand." He looks down at the child.
Cara rubs the kids ear softly and looks at Din and Kasari, "Take care of this little one."
Karga does the same, he smiles at the three of them, "Or maybe, it'll take care of the two of you."
"Thank you both so much." Kasari says to them.
Cara pulls her into a quick hug and pats her back, "You stay out of trouble, okay?"
Kasari chuckles, "Try telling that to him." She points at Din with her thumb.
Cara scoffs, "He's not the one that bit me."
Kasari flushes and Din tilts his head at her, "You bit Cara?" He asks.
Kasari sighs, "She wouldn't let me go to you when Gideon sent you flying back. It was the only way I could think of to get out of her hold. Honestly, I'm surprised it worked."
Cara shrugs, "It shocked me more than anything, but I was able to keep the Imps off her while she dragged you in, so it worked out."
Din sighs, turning to Kasari, "Alright, let's get going."
Kasari smiles at him, "Okay, which way to the Razor Crest?"
Din chuckles, "We're not walking."
Kasari looks at him confused, "You're the only one with a jetpack, Din."
He shakes his head and hands her the kid, "Hold him close and don't let him go." He says as he moves around her and places his arms around her.
Kasari freezes, her eyes widen, "No. Din! You are not carrying me!"
"Hold on to him." Din says as he lifts them into the air.
Kasari screams and screws her eyes shut, holding the child closely and trusting Din's hold on her. It takes much longer than Kasari likes for them to finally land. She feels him lower them and carefully place her on her feet. He knees go wobbly, but he steadies her.
"It's okay, Kas. We're on the ground." He assures her.
She shivers, "Please never do that again."
He chuckles, "Afraid of heights?"
She shakes her head, "No, but I don't think I know a single sane person that would like being carried by a Mandalorian without the capability of holding on to said Mandalorian."
"Next time we'll secure the kid so you can hold on." He says.
She shakes her head, "Nuh-uh. Nope. There won't be a next time."
"We'll see." He says, finally letting her go.
She takes a deep breath and looks around. Her heart shatters when she sees Kuiil's body not far from the Crest.
"He almost made it." She says quietly.
"Yeah," Din agrees solemnly. "Let's give him a proper burial" He says.
Kasari nods and they get started, digging a hole, collecting rocks, and laying Kuiil down to rest.
"I didn't know him for very long, but he was a good man." Kasari says as Din places Kuiil's hat on his grave, holding the child in his arms.
"He was." Din agrees.
They stay quiet for a moment, giving Kuiil the respect he deserved, before heading back into the Razor Crest together. Din places the child in his own seat as Kasari takes the other, and Din takes his own. He gets the ship started, but turns around to look at the kid before they take off.
"What do you got there?" He asks him, grabbing the pendant from the child's hands and looking at it for a moment, "I didn't think I'd see this again." He admits, giving it back to the child, "Why don't you hand onto that?" The child happily takes it back and Starks to play with it again.
Din turns around and brings them back into space.
Translations:
Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum - I love you
Riduurok - Marriage agreement