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Chapter 3 – Sorgan

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"So you chose to become a Mandalorian, you weren't forced to?"

"Yes, once foundlings come of age, they may choose which path they take." Mando's attention was half on her and half on the ship's controls. He fiddled with what looked like the navigation system.

Atohra put her feet up on her seat, her boots discarded on the floor. "Yes, but why?"

"I owe my life to the Mandalorians, it is only right."

"Technically, I owe my parents my life, but if given a choice, I'd never become a Sulvarian Daughter."

"They are two very different things."

He was sure stubborn in his ways. Yes he was very different than her, but at the same time, he wasn't that different at all.

"I mean fundamentally. They both take away freedoms that we could have otherwise. Surely never taking off your armor gets tiresome after a while."

He flipped a couple of switches, swiveling in his chair. "I do take it off, just not around people."

"Oh." So she was the reason he slept in full armor. Not because he was afraid of what she might do, but because it was against his code.

There wasn't much she could do, though. The ship was all once space, the only privacy being the refresher.

"What if I promised to not crawl up to the top bunk?"

"Unfortunately, your word doesn't mean much to me."

"Oh," she repeated. Well Alright then. There wasn't much else she could do in that case.

"Hold on, we're about to enter hyperdrive," he said. His helmet glanced back at her. "And don't worry about it, doesn't bother me."

Her body sucked back into the chair as the ship surged forward. The stars blurred and the black empty space around turned a radiant blue, forming a tunnel made of energy.

The ship settled back down after a minute. Gravity returned to normal and she could scoot forward to better look out the windows. Learning about Hyperdrive theory in school had nothing on actually experiencing it.

She placed a hand on the window, leaning closer. "I never thought I'd get to see the galaxy."

"This is just the outer rim, and I don't plan on leaving it." He stood up. "We'll reach Sorgan in a few hours. Time to get some rest."

Her eyes followed him out of the cockpit. A second later the refresher door clicked shut.

With no sense of time, following the Mandalorian's lead was a logical course of action. She took her boots to her bunk. The hum of the sonic meant he was going to be occupied for at least a minute. She threw her clothes off and pulled her nightgown over her head.

She laid her robe and Mando's cape over the blanket for extra warmth. The pillow was a little chunky, but comfortable enough.

Soon they would arrive at Sorgan. Mando had said it was a fertile planet, with huge trees and water. It sounded nice enough, but what would the people be like?

Mando opened the door in his full armor. Not even a bit of skin showed, even the tips of his fingers and the nape of his neck. Like it was forbidden to have an individual identity.

He disappeared into the darkness when he turned off the light. Only the feint glow of hyperspace surrounded his silhouette as he walked over to the bunk bed and up the ladder.

No matter what he claimed, it couldn't be comfortable sleeping in armor like that.

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They landed in a small clearing. The sun was still low in the early hours of the morning, peeking from between the tree trunks .

Atohra walked up to one of the trees. It, like many of them, were huge compared to the few that dotted Canto Bight. They were wild, growing however they pleased. Wherever they pleased.

She ran to catch up to Mando. It didn't look like he was following any kind of path, just navigating the brush as he went.

What kind of village didn't have a path, or even a ship hangar? Sorgan must have been one of those places people went that didn't want to be found.

A couple of buildings came into view. They looked withered, made of thin slabs of wood and tree trunks. Smoke billowed up from stone chimneys.

She followed Mando inside, greeted by warmth and the smell of food. Only a couple of others sat at various tables, mostly human and one twi'lek who sat alone in the corner.

Mando spent an extra moment scanning the small building, letting his line of vision rest on the male twi'lek for only a moment longer than anyone else.

They sat down at one of the tables closer to the door.

"Well look who it is," greeted a woman approaching the table. "I see you brought a new guest this time."

Atohra glanced between the woman and Mando, but he made no reply.

The woman shifted. "So, uh, what can I get for you?"

"Nothing for me."

She turned to Atohra. "Anything for you?"

"Whatever the special is, please."

After the waitress left, Atohra's gaze dropped to the table. It made sense Mando didn't order anything, since that would require taking his helmet off, but wasn't he hungry? When did he even eat? Maybe he wasn't even human, but a species like one, that didn't have to eat as often. Or maybe—

"You're doing it again."

Oh. Was she?

"Why don't you get food and take it back to the ship to eat?"

"I ate this morning before you woke up."

Everything he said was a statement, not leaving any room for negotiation. Like he was set in his ways and there was nothing anyone could say to change that.

After she finished her food in relative silence, Mando got up. Something about his body language said he didn't want to stick around.

They walked around the settlement. Morning business was in full swing. People hung clothing from lines between their homes. Down the main street various vendors opened, selling what looked like handcrafted wares. A group of amphibious aliens hammered away at a half built house.

Everyone greeted everyone. Their smiles, genuine and their postures, relaxed.

This place was the complete opposite of Canto Bight. Even the air smelled fresh and clean. Mando made a good choice coming here. It was…perfect.

Mando stopped near a shop with a couple of dilapidated speeder bikes parked out front. "You up for a ride?"

"On one of those? No." The thing looked like it could barely run. And even if it could, she'd probably go flying off the back.

It was too late, Mando had already put credits in the shopkeeper's hand. He went around and sat on the bike, starting it up.

The thing rumbled loudly as the Mandalorian waited for her. As per usual, she had little choice in the matter.

She walked up to the bike, there was some space behind Mando which was probably where she was supposed to sit. A little close for comfort though.

Using the seat for leverage, she hoisted herself up. It wasn't terribly uncomfortable despite the warmth that radiated from it.

Mando's helmet turned back to her. "You might want to hold on."

There wasn't much to hold on to. He had the handles and other than that, there was nothing.

The speeder took off. Before her butt left the seat, her arms shot out and around the Mandalorian's waist. Her hands clasped tightly together over the hard metal of his armor and her chest pressed into his back.

The bike only went faster. There wasn't a chance in hell that she'd let go.

They weaved through trees and around marshes. Was there another settlement he was going to? They long passed the ship, but there was no indication of which way they went.

As time went on, her arms grew tired and her grip loosened. Mando's input was smooth and his speed was steady. Slowly she peeled her torso away from his. Refreshing wind blew against her face and neck. Mando sat on his cape, but the one she wore billowed behind her.

The speeder wasn't so bad. In fact, it was actually kind of fun. She unclasped her hands, resting them instead on Mando's sides.

Everything was visible from the bike, from the bushes to the tops of the trees. The wind brushed her eyelashes and caressed her skin. Her mouth ached, but she couldn't stop smiling.

Her eyes met Mando's T-visor in the mirror. His helmet tilted back to face ahead. He twisted the handle and the speeder went faster, darting between the trees.

A laugh escaped her throat. How could something as simple as a speeder be so much fun?

She let go of Mando completely and put her arms out, catching the wind in the palms of her hands.

The sun shone above, the forest was lush and green, the water glistened.

Mando had quite the life, travelling from planet to planet as he pleased. How many more like this one had he been to? He could go anywhere he wanted, do a job, go somewhere else.

The speeder slowed down when a tiny village came into view.

It was bigger than the previous settlement, arranged in a circle inside man made ponds. Bit of fence surrounded parts of the water, deep gouges on the other side of it. People dotted the area inside.

Mando got off the speeder a ways away. The villagers caught sight, many of the kids running over.

"Mando, Mando!" they called.

The Mandalorian said nothing, even when the kids reached him.

None of the children acknowledged her, instead they hovered around Mando and the speeder as if they were looking for something.

"Mando, where's the baby?" A little girl asked.

"Yeah, Mando!"

What was this talk about a baby, and why would Mando have one? Didn't seem like his job or way of life was suited to having a kid. Wait, was it the same kid Cara had mentioned?

The kids continued to ask as they walked to the village.

A woman with long dark hair waited at the edge. A gentle smile decorated her face, her eyes set on Mando. She closed the distance, suddenly embracing him.

He didn't return the embrace, instead just standing awkwardly while it happened.

A strange relationship.

"I didn't think you'd return," she said, letting him go. "Is the child well?" Her eyes scanned his figure as if looking for it.

"He's gone. I returned him to his kind." His voice was quieter than usual.

The kids gathered around voiced their sadness at the news. The woman looked like she was about to reply, but Mando spoke first.

"This is Atohra, she's considering Sorgan as her new home planet."

"Welcome, Atohra. I'm Omera, the matriarch of the village." Her eyes travelled between Atohra and Mando. "Will you be staying for a few days?"

"Just for the night."

When Mando didn't give further explanation, Omera nodded and led them to the settlement.

Mando didn't like to stay in one place for long, at least that was what it seemed like. Was he in a rush to find someone? Or running away from someone? Did it have something to do with the child?

Omera stopped in front of a round building. "You can have the barn again, Mandalorian, if you'd like." She faced Atohra. "And you may stay with me and my daughter."

Both her and Mando thanked Omera for her hospitality. She then took them on a tour of the rest of the village, introducing Atohra to various people and talking about the battle that occurred a few months before when Mando had first come.

The day grew late by the time Atohra was settled. Mando had retreated to the barn to eat in privacy. From her spot on the steps up to Omera's home, she watched said woman linger near the barn.

Omera obviously had feelings for Mando, she did little to hide it. Mando was harder to read due to his helmet. All she could guess was that he wasn't oblivious to her feelings, merely indifferent. But who knew with that guy.

Over to the right was a group of people currently piling up wood in the center of the village. A womN berated one of the men for slacking. It was an odd sight, seeing a woman talking down to a man. Maybe there was something to what Mando had said about the rest of the women in the galaxy. Maybe it was more equal.

Women didn't fear speaking their minds here. Omera was even the head of the village. Everyone listened to her, and she was a widow.

The sky darkened as the bonfire flared to life. The towering flames were bigger than in any fire place on Cantonica. It was bright enough to light up the whole village in a vale of orange that danced and flickered with the breeze.

Villagers flocked to it, sitting on logs and stones arranged around it, talking loudly. The smell of stew filled the air making her stomach growl.

"You going to sit here or come eat?"

She flinched at Mando's voice. Where had he come from?

When he turned away, she got up and followed him to the fire.

Almost as soon as she took the spot next to Mando, Winta, Omera's daughter, handed her a bowl of blue stew.

"Thank you, Winta," she said, accepting it.

Winta tilted her head. "Why don't you ever smile?"

Atohra blinked. "I…"

Mando leaned forward, resting his arms on his thighs. "She does, but only when she thinks no one is looking."

Her head snapped towards Mando. "No. That's not true!"

It didn't matter if anyone saw, in fact it was encouraged. Her mother's grin popped into her mind. Always, always smile. That's what men like. A quiet girl with a pretty smile. No matter how uncomfortable.

"I don't like lying."

Winta's brows furrowed and a frown formed on her lips. "So…you're not happy?"

Atohra shook her head. "No. But I'm not sad either."

"Wintra," Omera called. "Other people need their soup too."

Wintra perked and hurried away. "Yes mama."

Music started up. A few of the villagers played wooden flutes and one tapped on a small drum. The sound was lively and melodic, each of the flutes harmonizing perfectly along to the beat.

Kids rushed to finish their soup, stacking the bowls and jumping up to dance. Adults joined shortly after, if what they were doing could be called dancing.

They waved their arms and tapped their feet without care, barely keeping in time. Men danced with women, kids danced with adults. An odd sight.

Atohra leaned over to Mando who sat back with his arms crossed. "You say my skill is lacking, look at theirs. Just making it up on the spot."

"Yes, their having fun." As Mando's helmet turned to her, the firelight flashed against it.

"That's a thing?" Dancing was a display, not an activity. This wasn't dancing, it was something else entirely.

Or was it the other way around?

Mando turned back to the joyous people. "You should try."

"Yeah sure, as soon as you do."

The Mandalorian's chest rose and fell with a sigh.

As the night went on, more and more people danced. Spotchka spilled from glasses as they clanked together. They laughed and sung along to many of the songs.

In a way, it did look kind of fun.

Omera wandered over to Mando, her eyes were alight with their own fire, perhaps something to do with the blue liquid they all drank. She held out her hand for him to take.

"Dance with me," she said.

Mando's posture stiffened. His helmet jerked between Atohra and Omera. Despite his unseen face, his mortification was palpable.

And he made fun of her for not wanting to dance? She shook her head, refusing his silent plea.

Omera grabbed his hand. "I insist."

A groan escaped the Mandalorian as he peeled himself off his seat. Omera beamed up at him, immediately pulling him over where the others were dancing. She took both his hands in hers and moved to the music.

Mando more or less stood still, only his arms moved with Omera's. Occasionally, he took a step forward or back, but lacked any sort of rhythm.

Omera finally acknowledged his awkwardness, taking a step closer and guiding him better with her arms. Finally, he found the timing of the song and moved to it, despite the lack of enthusiasm.

The song ended and Omera spoke something to him. After a pause he shook his head. She slowly released his hands. Her smile lingered, but her shoulders dropped. She gave a short nod and turned away to occupy herself with collecting empty dishes.

As another song began, Mando navigated through the crowd back to Atohra. Instead of sitting down, he repeated the same gesture Omera had done to him, holding out his hand.

"If I had to do it, so do you."

There was something about the song, something about the way he spoke. "Alright."

She took his hand and joined him with the others. With their hands clasped, she swayed to the drums. Mando followed her direction. His fingers were stiff between hers and his motions were a bit forced.

The gaze of his helmet traveled between her and the others around that moved and swung.

The song picked up, whimsical and flowing. Freeform wasn't something she knew, every song was an intentional set of movements, stop and start, stop and start until she got it.

But this wasn't that. Here she was free like the rest of the women.

She closed her eyes and just…moved.

Mando followed, his grip loosened and his steps lost their rigidity. He let go of one hand as she spun, then took it again, immediately falling back into the rhythm.

When the song ended, they danced to another.

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The village was slow to get up the next morning. Even Omera sat at her table with a cloth on her head when Atohra entered after a morning walk through the trees.

"I didn't think I had that much to drink." Omera looked up at her.

Atohra sat across from her at the table. "I would have had more, but I'm not sure I like the taste."

Omera smiled. "So what do you think of the planet? We'd love to have you if you'd like to stay. Being a krill farmer isn't the worst job in the galaxy."

"I like it a lot, but I do want to see a few others first. I've lived my whole life on Cantonica, I want to see as much as the galaxy as Mando will let me before I settle again."

"The Mandalorian does have a soft spot for those in need." She turned her head to the window. "He's done so much for us. I only wish I knew his name."

Wait, did she miss something? "I thought his name was Mando."

"Mando? I thought that was a nickname."

A nickname for what? Mando—Mandalorian. "Oh wow. Forget I said anything."

Omera let out a peal of laughter.

Someone knocked on the door. "Atohra, it's time to go." A pause. "Unless you decided to stay," the Mandalorian continued more unsure sounding.

Atohra got up and grabbed her bag while Omera opened the door, greeting Mando—or the Mandalorian, was it?

How did she not catch that?

After breakfast, Omera stood among the villagers waving goodbye. Atohra got on the speeder behind Mando, placing her hands on his sides.

With a nod, Mando sped into the forest. The man apparently wasn't fond of long goodbyes.

The wind had a nip to it, so she kept her body close to his. Trees past by faster than her eyes could follow.

Mando jerked the handles to the side. Her hands lost their grip. The speeder disappeared from under her.

She slammed into the ground, rolling a few times before coming to a stop. Mando landed near her, jumping back up onto his feet.

Wha—what just happened? One second everything was fine, the next she was here. The speeder laid on its side, next to a metal plate. A magnet?

White flashed from the boarders of the clearing they landed in. Men in suits. Stormtroopers. Dozens of them. What were they doing on Sorgan?

"Surrender!" one called. All of their blasters were pointed at Mando.

Atohra sat up. Her arm throbbed, and her back. One of the troopers directed his aim at her.

Mando didn't move. His blaster was in his hand, pointed at one of them. Ever so slowly he lowered his arms, crouching as if putting his weapon down.

The stormtrooper stepped closer. "Nice and easy, now."

In a split second, Mando sprung back up, shot the trooper and dove in her direction. Blaster bolts ricocheted off his armor as he grabbed her. His body shielded her on their way behind a huge tree trunk.

Her back hit the tree. Shots continued to ring out, some hitting the tree and others flying past. Mando stood next to her, shooting at the troopers from the cover of the tree trunk.

"We have to get to the speeder," Mando yelled over the blasts.

The speeder wasn't far, but it wasn't close either. And there was no way she was leaving the cover of the tree.

A vast shadow covered the clearing. Above, a massive starship materialized through the clouds. The ship landed in the middle of the clearing, the stormtroopers never letting up.

"Ceasefire," A woman's voice commanded over the noise.

The clearing went quiet.

"Come out Mandalorian. I wish to speak to you."

"Tell your men to lower their weapons and I'll consider it." Mando replied, not leaving the protection of the tree.

"You heard him. Lower your blasters."

Mando peeked out. They must have complied, because he fully stepped out.

Well if he thought it was okay to leave cover, then she could surely peek. What did the Empire want with him? They weren't even supposed to exist anymore!

In front of the ship stood a girl, about the same age, if not younger. She wore maroon robes and her curly black hair was tied in twin buns on top of her head. Her eyes stood out the most though, dark and predatorial. A woman who got exactly what she wanted.

"I suppose I should start by thanking you." Her sharp gaze rested on Mando. "Because of you, I'm the new Moff of this sector. My father's failures will become my victories. But In order to do that, I need you to give me the child."

This was about the child? What made one kid so special? And if it was, why didn't Mando have it anymore?

"He's out of your reach."

The Moff shook her head. "I'll be the judge of that. Now, please enlighten me to its whereabouts. I would hate for things…" She waved her hand. "to get messy."

Five troopers walked down the ramp and behind her. Unlike the others, these ones were black and moved like droids. Unless they were droids.

"I believe you met my father's dark troopers. I'm afraid my fleet isn't as extensive yet, but I'm working on it."

This woman was terrifying. How did she convey so much power? Even Mando froze on the spot.

"I'm not telling you anything," he finally said.

"Well you can't judge me for trying it the easy way." She looked at her nails. "Kill them."

The troopers raised their blasters. Mando jumped back behind the tree just as they fired.

"What are we going to do?" She looked up at him.

He didn't answer, instead looking between the troopers and the speeder.

There was no way they could get to it, get on, and escape without being shot up.

"We have to run."

"What, why?"

Mando shot at a few of the troopers. "The dark troopers are closing in. Once they get to us, we're dead."

Was that what was causing the ground to rumble? There was no way she was going to look though.

"I'll cover you," he said. "Stay behind me."

A bolt hit the tree, bark splintered off, cutting at her skin. "No. I can't!"

Mando shot at another. "We don't have time to argue!"

"We'll die if we leave!"

He grabbed her arm and hoisted her up. "We'll die if we stay."

Leaves and branches fell around them. Bark flew past them with each shot. Her ears rung from the barrage of noise.

"Now," Mando shouted.

Her back was forced off the tree and out into the open. Bolts clanked off Mando's armor, just missing her. The speeder was in sight. Behind Mando's body were the forms of the dark troopers only a few meters away, a sea of white behind them.

One of the dark troopers had a larger gun than the rest. It raised it up, aiming it straight at them.

Time slowed as it lit up with red light, it's bang louder than the rest.

She reached out, past the Madalorian's chest, like she would catch the bolt in the palm of her hand.

Everything froze. Mando. The troopers. Even the red bolt mid air. The last moments of life. An eternity in a moment.

Then a wave. Pain. Everything went flying.

Atohra landed on the ground. Troopers hit the side of the imperial ship. Mando crumpled under a tree that bent backward.

Her vision faded in and out. Movement caught her eye.

"Moff Ahila, are you alright?" A stormtrooper helped lift the woman off the ground.

The woman, Ahila, coughed. Her eyes met Atohra's. "I'll be back for you," she wheezed out.

She limped away in the stormtrooper's arm, boarding the ship. Many of the troopers followed, leaving the rest that remained motionless on the grass.

Was Mando okay?

She rolled onto her side. Mando chest rose and fell, but was otherwise still.

She forced herself up. Everything hurt. Her arms and legs felt more like led than limb. Still, Mando needed help. They needed to go.

"Are you hurt?" she asked once she crawled over to him.

His helmet fell to the side, facing her. "You're—" he groaned. "You're one of them."

What was he talking about? He must have hit his head. "One of what? That doesn't answer my question."

"A sorcerer. A Jedi."

"I've read about Jedi, and I'm definitely not one. Now come on, let's just get off this planet before they send reinforcements."

Mando grunted as she helped him up. Hopefully the ship wasn't far.

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Well I hope you like my antagonist. I didn't want to use any that could possibly be in the next season. Plus it's fun making characters!