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Chapter 8

~X~

"Life is a gift everyone cherishes...but has to eventually return."

~Mandalorian proverb~

Din had signaled the ship to open before he even touched the ground, allowing him to race up the ramp and into the Razor Crest without breaking stride. He was not in the least shocked to find both the kid and the zaktan waiting for him near the entrance, but he didn't spare a moment to even wonder how they had got out of the locked cubical. Both let out cries of distress upon seeing the lifeless body of Ravana in his arms, and quickly followed Din towards his private room where he gently laid her down.

Hitting a few buttons on his wrist, he activated the auto pilot, instructing the ship to follow the pre-programed evacuation plan. He would alter the coordinates before it actually took them to Navarro, but at least for now it would get them off the planet and as far away from there as possible without him actually having to leave Ravana's side. As he felt the ship's engines begin to engage, he turned to look at the kid, who's large dark eyes were wide with worry and concern.

"I know I told you not to use your powers in front of her to help heal my leg, but now I need you to do anything you can to save her," he instructed, lifting the child up onto the bed. "She's hurt bad, and while I don't know all you can do, just try and save her life if that's at all possible. All right?"

Din didn't know if he was asking the impossible, and the last thing he wanted was for the child to come to harm should he exert himself too much. The battle with the mudhorn had caused him to sleep for days yet healing Karga and deflecting the Stormtrooper with the flame thrower had seemed far less exhausting for him. Perhaps as he grew, so did his powers and endurance. Thus, Din could only hope the kid was able to save Ravana's life without risking his own.

Seeming to understand what Din was requesting, the child waddled closer to the prone woman, resting his small three-fingered hand on her shoulder. He closed his eyes and a look of utter concentration came over his face, making the Mandalorian to take a step back, wanting to give him all the room he needed to accomplish this daunting task. He recalled watching in amazement as the kid healed Greef Karga's arm wound, the ripped skin repairing itself right before his eyes. Yet not even that had prepared him for what was taking place in front of him now.

The first thing he noticed was the cut on Ravana's cheek disappearing, fading away as if it had never been there to begin with. Then the angry red and purple bruising on her neck returned to a normal healthy pink, and even the swelling melted away. Then, much to his utter relief, the blackened blaster wounds on her side and leg began to shrink, getting smaller and smaller until they were completely gone. However, it was then that he saw the kid begin to sway, having apparently reached the limit of his special healing powers. Fearing he might topple over and fall off the bed, Din took hold of him, easing the child down until he was laying on his back, his eyes closed and breathing deeply.

The kid was exhausted, and he could only guess how long he would need to rest after such a strenuous healing. Still, he looked to have done it, for Ravana was also now breathing deeply, no longer taking in shallow gasps of air. Activating the bio-scanner in his helmet again, he did a quick check, seeing that her major injuries were now completely healed…yet it would seem he'd run out of energy before he could repair her broken arm. That was fine, for his medical kit had a bone-knitter in it, and he was fully educated on how it worked, having had to use it several times on himself in the past.

Just then Zax jumped up on the bed as well, obviously anxious over his mistress as well as his new playmate. He gave several low whines, nudging Ravana's uninjured arm with his nose, yet much to its displeasure, there was no response. He then proceeded to inspect the area where the wounds had once been, perhaps realizing something out of the ordinary had just taken place. However, when he got a whiff of the blaster burns and smoke from the fire, he pulled back, letting out several violent sneezes.

It was then that Din himself noticed the heavy scent of sulfur in the air, realizing that her clothes had picked up much of the stench from the fire and destructions. He would need to remove them and toss them in the incinerator if he didn't want it to infiltrate the entire ship's recerc-system.

Din wasn't the least bit squeamish when it came to blood or guts, and his moral code had become a bit lax lately…yet, removing a woman's clothes without her knowledge did cause him to hesitate. Still, it had to be done, especially if he was going to fit the bone-knitter over her broken arm. So, reaching into one of his drawers nearby, he pulled out one of his shirts, quite certain it was long enough to cover her down to her knees. Then, carefully – and respectfully – as possible he removed the burned and soiled clothes, leaving her underthings in place. His shirt was quickly put over her, covering her modestly, which he followed with a blanket to keep her warm.

Next came the bone-knitter, a mechanical device that he slid over her arm securely. The device made a quiet hum as it began to realign the broken bones, and then send healing pulses to the affected area, aiding it in knitting itself back together. It would take several days at least, but that was far less time than it would have taken to mend on its own.

The kid was still sleeping soundly, but for safety sake, Din went and got an empty crate, padding it with blankets and placing him inside to continue recuperating. Placing him near the woman in the bed, so he could keep a close eye on both, he knew all he could do now was wait – fearing that the kid's abilities might not have been enough. Or, worrying that it had been, but taking too much out of his little green companion in the process.

Only time would tell.

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Din spent the next few hours alternating between his room and the cockpit, making sure they were heading out of the system and in any direction that was not likely to be well inhabited. He wanted to remain as far away from detection as possible, either from Gideon or anyone else who might be looking for them. Thus, the more remote and backwater the solar system was, the better. Once they were safely in hyperdrive, and the controls set to alert him to any approaching ship, he headed back down to check on Ravana and the kid.

He found them still resting comfortably, with Zax curled up and keeping vigil at the foot of the bed. With everyone either out cold or laying down, Din felt his own exhaustion take over, reminding him that it had been quite a while since he'd had anything to eat or drink. Usually he would retreat to his private room in order to take care of such needs, yet with it currently occupied by every other inhabitant on the ship, that was out of the question.

So, leaving them to rest, he slipped out and headed for the area he kept his supplies. Taking a few items up to the cockpit, he locked the door and took a seat. Once his helmet was removed, he took care of his most pressing needs, feeling his strength revive.

However, Din still carried the anger and guilt over what had happened, knowing that he alone was to blame for the condition of the woman below. He had been charged with protecting the foundling, yet in doing so, he had now put two lives in danger. Ravana hadn't deserved to have her life uprooted this way, and the last thing he'd wanted to do was reveal the kid's abilities to anyone. Their safety lay in secrecy, keeping a low profile until he could discover where the child's home might be. Still, finding the planet he sought, out of the billions out there, seemed a rather daunting task. One now made even more difficult with the addition of the two new passengers he'd just taken on.

Letting out a deep sigh, he wondered just how long he would be stuck with them. Taking Ravana back to the Razor Crest had been a knee-jerk decision, not having seen any other alternative with her life hanging in the balance as it was. No, the kid and his abilities had been her only chance, and he didn't regret taking it. Yet, what would happen once she was fully healed would depend mostly on her. Her house and homestead might be destroyed, but she still owned the land it had once stood on. Returning would be her best bet, yet not until Din was certain that Moff Gideon no longer saw her or her planet as a link to him and the kid.

Still, those decisions seemed light years away, and right now he was only concerned with both she and the kid pulling through.

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Ravana's eyes opened slowly, trying desperately to figure out where she was and what had happened. Different visions swirled within her mind, ones she wasn't sure were real or dreams. Her home was attacked. Imperial Stormtroopers had fired on her, and then there was a man…tall and dark, wearing black clothes and a cape. Tannor and his goons were there as well. And then…the Mandalorian? That part had to have been a dream…right?

Still, as she looked around, she knew she wasn't at home, nor was she any longer on Pessue. Ravana could tell she was on a ship, flying through space, if the hum of the engines and the slight swaying motion was any indication. The last time she'd been off planet had been a very long time ago, but the sensation had left a definite impression.

It was then that her gaze landed on a figure sitting in a chair beside the wall, only a few feet from where she lay. It was the Mandalorian! So, that part was not a dream.

"Mando?" she questioned; her throat dry and a bit rough.

She watched as his helmet turned quickly towards her, he either having been napping or deep in thought. He rose and stepped closer, though made no move to touch her.

"You're awake. That's good," he stated, his voice as monotoned as ever.

It was then that she heard the happy yips of Zax and looking down she saw him wiggling with excitement near her feet, apparently very happy as well to see her no longer asleep. Yet, when the zaktan moved to approach her, Mando held out his hand to stop him.

"No! Stay back," he ordered, causing the animal to sit on its haunches obediently.

Since when did Zax start taking orders from him, Ravana wondered. He was her pet, not his! Still, that was not the most pressing question on her mind.

"How…how am I even alive?" she asked, recalling how severe her wounds had been. Ravana never imagined she would have awakened again, and yet here she was, and in surprisingly little to no pain. "Am I…paralyzed?" For that was the only reason her mind could come up with for no longer being in agony.

"Can you move your arms and legs?" was his reply.

Ravana wiggled her toes, feeling the blanket brush up against them as she did, followed by her fingers as well, they too receiving the sensation of contact with the blanket covering her. So, not paralyzed.

Pulling the covers down, she noticed she wore a strange metal brace with flashing lights over her left arm. A bone-knitter she assumed, recalling the damage she had sustained when the strange man dressed in black had arrived at her homestead. Her next thought was of the blaster wounds she had received, using her right hand to flip back the blanket in order to inspect them. Yet, when her bare legs came into view, she was shocked to find no damage at all…nothing that even indicated that she had been shot. What was going on?

"What happened to me? Where are my wounds?" she demanded, starting to wonder if she was actually dead after all, or at the very least still dreaming. Then something else occurred to her, causing her to pull the blanket back over her as she turned her eyes to the masked Mandalorian. "And where are my clothes?"

"Your wounds are gone," Mando informed her, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "As are your clothes. They were ripped and smelled of laser burns. I destroyed them."

"So…you took them off of me and put me in this?" she continued, indicating the long shirt she now wore. "That's hardly fair. You won't show me your face, and yet you're allowed to see all of me in only my skin?" Ravana wasn't sure if she was upset or not, but at least this issue she felt she could wrap her mind around. The fact that she was no longer dying had her more than a bit confused.

"I…" here he seemed to hesitate, apparently not having expected her to call him out on this. "I switched my helmet to infrared. All I could see was your ultraviolet outline…nothing more."

"Oh," was all she could think to say. She would decide if she should be offended later, but for now she had bigger things to worry about. "And my wounds? I don't think any amount of bakta could have healed me. By all rights, I should be dead. So…how?"

Here the Mandalorian gave one of his signature sighs, reaching back and pulling the chair he'd been sitting in a bit closer. Once he was seated, he began to explain.

"It was the kid. He healed you," was his reply. "He…he has some kind of special powers that allow him do some rather interesting things."

"The kid?" Ravana repeated skeptically. "He was able to fix me up?" She shook her head in disbelief. "He can't even talk yet, and you expect me to believe he is some sort of amazing doctor?"

"He didn't repair your wounds," Mando argued. "He healed them. Using strange powers associated with some people called Jedi. I don't know how he does it…but that's what happened."

"If he had such abilities, then why didn't he heal your leg?" she challenged.

"I wouldn't let him," Mando informed her matter of factly. "I didn't want you knowing about his abilities, so I didn't allow him to."

"Let me get this straight," Ravana began, eyeing the masked man with both disbelief and offense. "Assuming what you're telling me is actually true, that would mean you willingly suffered through three days of pain - not allowing the kid to fix you up, simply because you were afraid I would learn about these healing powers he possessed, and what…try and steal him away from you?"

"Yes," Mando stated unrepentantly.

"You're really something else, you know that!" Ravana grumbled, attempting to sit up but having a bit of trouble, seeing that she only had one good arm to work with. "I don't know whether to slap you upside the head for being an idiot…or worry that someone else already has hit you, and you're suffering from brain damage."

"It is the truth," Mando grumbled, turning to indicate a crate next to him. "Look for yourself. He wore himself out healing you."

Ravana did indeed lean forward, able to see the sleeping child in the box, a look of concern crossing her face.

"Is he all right?" she asked, fear now showing in her voice. "He…he's not hurt, is he?"

"I don't think so," Mando assured her. "He just needs to rest and get his strength back. He's had to do this before, but I don't know how long it will take this time."

"You've seen him heal people before?" Suddenly, Ravana was starting to believe him. The fact that her wounds were now mostly gone being hard to ignore.

"Once, when a friend was attacked by some creatures, poisoning him in the process," Mando told her. "The kid healed him right in front of us. But he's done other things as well…powerful things."

"And he's only a baby," Ravana marveled, reaching up to touch her face and neck, taking note that they were healed as well. "I owe him my life." She then turned to Mando. "And you. I would be dead for sure if you hadn't come back. Thank you."

"You can thank the kid…but I deserve no gratitude," the Mandalorian stated, looking down as if ashamed. "You came to harm because of us."

"That's not true," Ravana argued. "It was that Hutt-spawn, Tannor, who brought the trouble, not you."

"And who did he bring? The very man hunting the kid and me," he reasoned. "Moff Gideon."

"Was that his name?" Ravana asked, a shiver going down her spine at the mention of her tormentor. "He was one evil guy, that's for sure. But I never told him anything."

"To your own detriment," Mando said, giving a heavy sigh. "Though, even if you had given him all the information he'd wanted, he still would not have let you go. You are correct, he's evil to the core. He's former Empire and had supposedly been executed for military crimes associated with, among other things, the Great Purge of Mandalor." Here he turned and looked over at the crate. "And whatever he wants the kid for…it can only be bad."

"He had the strangest weapon I'd ever seen too," Ravana recalled. "It was like a sword, but it wasn't solid. It lit up out of cylinder he held in his hand, and it hummed with energy. It was even black like his outfit, though it had a white glow around the edges. If it hadn't been pointed right at me, I might have actually thought it was kind of pretty…in a way."

"A black glowing sword, you say?" he questioned, sounding as if the description reminded him of something.

"Yes. One he could turn on, and then turn off, making the blade part just disappear into the hilt," she nodded. "Have you ever seen such a weapon?"

"No," Mando answered. "And never have I seen a person cut in half that way either, leaving no blood or mess. Yet…I may know of the weapon, but only from stories."

"Well, whatever it was, I'd be quite happy to never see it again," Ravana stated. "Nor do I want to be used for target practice with blasters either."

"Just be glad it was the Imps firing at you, and not Gideon. Troopers are notorious for being lousy shots," Mando informed her. "They had probably been aiming for your head."

"Thank the stars for small favors then," she chuckled. Then Ravana became serious. "And thank you for coming back. Why did you, by the way? Did you know there was trouble?"

"No," he replied, regret once again tinging his voice. "I came back to return your zaktan. The kid stole him and hid him on the ship. I didn't know about it until we were several parsecs away."

"He took Zax?" Ravana gasped. "How?"

"The same way the kid does everything," Mando reminded her, tilting his head towards the box where the sleeping child lay. "With his strange powers, and no one being the wiser." He then stood up, looking a bit unsettled. "You should rest some more. The kid did a good job healing most of your wounds, but that arm of yours will be in the bone-knitter for the next several days at least. You'll need to save your energy if you want to get better faster."

"And then what?" was her next question, unsure what her future held or what the Mandalorian had in mind.

"We'll talk about that later," he promised. "Now rest." And turning he made to leave, yet he was halted by her voice at the door.

"You may not think you deserve it, but I am grateful to you for what you did for me," Ravana told him firmly. "I wouldn't be alive now if not for you. So, you have my appreciation, whether you want it or not."

Mando only turned his head slightly, giving a brief nod before exiting the room, leaving Ravana with a whole lot of questions, and no one to provide her with answers.

Reaching out, she called Zax up to her side, cradling him in her good arm as she let the events of the past day wash over her. Her whole world had been turned upside down, leaving her without a home or a direction. She didn't even have a change of clothes! Everything she had known was gone, and along with it, the ability to hold it together. So snuggling her zaktan closer, she buried her face in his fur and let the tears flow freely.

"Oh, Zax," she managed to get out between quiet sobs. "What are we going to do now?"

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Outside the room, Din sat on a crate, his forearms resting on his knees as he leaned forward, listening to the weeping woman occupying his bunk. She had a valid question. What was she going to do? Her situation was his fault. Where he and the kid went, death and destruction – in the form of Moff Gideon – followed. He would need to find a way to make this right, for his oath to the creed wouldn't allow him to simply drop her off at the next star base and continue on as if nothing had happened. He would do right by her.

Yet, he wondered, what might that be?

Yippeee, the kid saved Ravana! Now...how many of you knew that Din was going to ask the kid to heal her?

And the sweet little guy did! He's got to sleep it off for a bit though, it tuckers him out.

Sadly, Din now feels responsible, for her troubles and for her future, since her farm is in smoldering ruins. Wonder what he will do to make it up to her?

Guess you will have to keep tuning in on Mondays and Fridays to find out.

Thanks

Guest Reviews:

Guest: Yep, the 'fan hitting' came a bit late for it to splatter all over Din and the kid, but it sure hit Ravana full force. Poor Din, he was thrown back into the past a bit when he saw the destruction, recalling his family and all. Glad you liked him touching the cheek of his helmet. Might I assume from the way you said "I almost said mask" that you are the guest reader who followed me from Phantom to Hobbit, and now to the Mandalorian? If so HI! You should give yourself a name, like Phantom Guest or something so I can recognize you. (and if it's not the same Guest, name yourself anyway so I will know you in the future.) Yes, you were right, she didn't die, but hey, gotta have that drama you know. More to come on Friday! Thanks again!