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SURPRISE!

Here is a Wednesday Bonus chapter just for you!

Why? Because I truly appreciate each and every one of my readers...and I got several chapters written over the past few days, so I figured I could spare one as a treat for you.

Hope you enjoy!

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Chapter 26

~X~

"The songs of eons past tell of battles between Mandalore The Great, and an order of sorcerers called Jedi

that fought with such powers."

~The Armorer~

Din shut the door behind him and leaned back against it, closing his eyes as he allowed himself a small grin. Ravana couldn't remember what she'd said! However, he was now very much aware of her feelings for him, without her being the wiser. This could really work in his favor. At first, he'd been disappointed that she'd been unable to recall their short but very informative conversation, however now he saw that he could use that to his advantage. This way, he could express himself more freely, knowing that his feelings were reciprocated, and prove to her that he was not the stoic, non-emotional man she took him for.

Yes…this could work out very nicely indeed.

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Once Ravana had emerged from the bedroom, Din ushered her towards the small table, the kid already seated and more than ready to be fed. He'd slipped away earlier and acquired provisions, eating his fill in the privacy of the refresher, where he could take off his helmet and no one could see.

Setting a small plate down in front of her, along with a warm drink that would help with her hangover, he urged her to eat. The kid, however, didn't need to be told twice and dug into his meal with gusto.

"I was hoping the three of us, along with Paz, could meet with the Armorer again this morning," he told her, taking a seat beside her as she ate. "I wanted to discuss Gideon with them, specifically that glowing sword you said he had. I have a feeling they might know something about it."

"I already know enough," Ravana said, taking a sip of the warm liquid with a sigh of relief. "It's deadly and dangerous."

"I do not doubt it," he nodded. "Yet, I believe there's more to it than that."

Just then there came a loud pounding on the door, making the kid squeak as he jerked his head towards the noise. Ravana however, nearly dropped her cup, cringing as the sound reverberated through her head.

"You in there, Djarin?" came the unmistakable voice of Paz. "Time to go. The Armorer is waiting."

Din rose from his seat and reached down to scoop up the kid, before turning to Ravana.

"Shall we?" he asked, holding out his hand to her. The shocked look on Ravana's face was priceless, her eyes going from his hand to his helmet and then back again. He could tell he was baffling her with his small acts of affection, but that was the point. He'd been given a second chance to not be the idiot who didn't make the first move, and damned if he was going to let it pass him by.

"Din!" Paz shouted through the door. "Are you coming or what?"

"He won't wait forever," Din told Ravana softly, wiggling his fingers just a little bit in an effort to spur her into motion. It worked, and she did indeed reach out to take his offered hand, her eyes never leaving his visor as they walked to the door.

"It's about bloody time," Paz huffed when the three of them stepped out into the hall. "Thought I'd have to beat the door down and fetch you myself."

"Shut up, Paz," Din told him in a deadpan tone. "Or I'll sick the kid on you."

This silenced the large Mandalorian fast enough, though as they headed for the Armorer's room, they could hear Paz grumbling in a low voice behind them, something that made Din smile.

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"Come…sit," the woman Mandalorian invited once they had arrived. "You said you had questions, Din Djarin. Ask them and we will see if answers can be had."

Din, who had kept Ravana's hand in his the entire way, directed her to one of the chairs, placing the kid in her awaiting arms. He took the one beside her, with Paz on the opposite side.

"I wish to know more about the Jedi you spoke of," Din began respectfully. "Tell me of their powers, their weapons, and their history with the Mandalorians."

"You ask for a very long and destructive tale, Djarin," the woman stated sadly. "One that many have long forgotten…though not all, I believe." Here she looked over at Paz, the large man sitting ramrod straight at the mere mention of the ancient Order.

"The Jedi? Why would you wish to know of them?" Paz demanded, looking over at Din.

"The child is of their kind," The Armorer explained for him. "He displays the same powers these Jedi once had, though not yet with the same strength."

"His mastery of them is growing," Din explained. "He's been able to do even more amazing things since last we met."

"That little thing is a Jedi?" Paz demanded, standing up and taking a step back in either fear or disgust. "No wonder it tried to kill me!"

"He only did so because he thought you were going to attack me," Din insisted in a defensive tone.

"What? He attacked Paz? When?" Ravana asked, looking from one helmeted man to the next. "Where was I?"

"Sleeping it off," Din replied, reaching out and patting her leg in an effort to reassure her. "Nothing happened."

"Nothing happened?" Paz repeated in a shocked voice. "He almost chokes me to death, and you call that nothing?"

"The child is protective of his clan," the Armorer surmised. "Just as it should be. As for the Jedi, they were an Order of Force wielders, those able to utilize the powers that surround every living thing in a way that others cannot. Back in the day of Mandalor the Great, we warred with them, adjusting our techniques and armor to combat their weapon of choice…the lightsaber."

"Yes, that's what I want to know more about. This lightsaber," Din spoke up. "For I believe that I have seen the handy work of such a weapon. And Ravana here has experienced one in person."

"Oh?" here the Armorer turned to the other female in the room, giving her consideration for the first time. "Tell me, child…when and how did you come into contact with such a blade?"

"I told you before, I'm not a child!" Ravana insisted in an exasperated tone.

"When you have lived as long as I and seen as much as I have, everyone your age is as a child," she said, a tingle of humor in her tone. "Yet, you must forgive me if I have offended, it was not my intention. Now…how did you learn of this weapon?"

"It was carried by the man who destroyed my home," Ravana revealed. "It had a rectangular hilt with lines and buttons on it, and when he activated it, a blade appeared out of nowhere."

"And what did this blade look like?" was her next question.

"It was black, with veins of white energy rippling through it, and a white outline around the outside," Ravana described, using her hands to show size and length. "He used it to cut things, but not in a way I had ever seen a sword work before. Oh…and it had an eerie hum to it as well. Like it was made of energy."

"And it was," the Armorer affirmed. "Energy created by a kyber crystal, from what I've been told. Though, Paz here might know more about its design than most. Is that not correct?" Here she gestured to the large Mandalorian, the man practically shaking with rage over all he'd heard.

"The Dark Saber has been an heirloom of House Vizsla for more years than I can remember," he explained, his tone and stance telling all that this was a very sore and personal subject. "It was created by my ancestor, Tarre Vizsla. He was the first - and only as far as I'm aware - Mandalorian to be inducted into the Jedi Order. When he died, they stole it and kept it hidden away in their temple, but my clan liberated it, placing it back in the rightful hands of the Mandalorians. It was this saber that Pre Vizsla used to rally those true to our history and heritage, forming Death Watch, and bringing back the old ways."

"But if your clan had the saber…how did Gideon get it?" Ravana asked.

"It was lost to us during the Great Purge," Paz admitted, siting back down in his seat dejectedly. "And though it changed masters several times in the past, it was last in the possession of Bo-Katan Kryze, the final leader of the Mandalorians. After that…we do not know what became of it."

"Well, it isn't missing any longer," Din stated. "Moff Gideon has it and is putting it to use as he continues to hunt for the kid."

"Isn't that just damned ironic," the large man huffed, crossing his arms over his chest in disgust. "An Imperial officer using a Mandalorian weapon in a search for a miniature Jedi."

"He's no Jedi," Ravana protested, wrapping her arms around the kid protectively. "Or…at least he isn't one yet. And if there aren't any others out there to train him, then he might never become one."

"Yet, Cara said one of the leaders of the Rebels could be of that Order," Din reminded her. "The brother of this Princess Leia."

"So, you have found the Jedi?" the Armorer questioned.

"We've heard rumors, nothing more," Ravana corrected, not at all liking the idea of searching them out and handing over the kid. "And they might not even be true."

"I can hear from your tone that you are not keen on the idea of giving up the foundling," the woman surmised. "Do you feel qualified to give him the training and guidance his powers will require?"

"I can give him love and a happy upbringing!" Ravana snapped. "And Din has done a wonderful job protecting him as well. He would be safe and well cared for with us."

"Ah, I do not doubt it," she nodded. "But would it be the best thing for him?"

It appeared Ravana didn't have any answer for that, nor did anyone else it seemed. Din reached over and took hold of her hand and gave it a comforting squeeze, a gesture that was not lost on either Paz or the Armorer.

"We will continue to attempt to locate the Jedi," Din stated. "Though what becomes of the child after that is yet to be decided."

"As is your right, Din Djarin," the Armorer agreed.

"Well, I don't much care if you find these Jedi or not, my only concern now is locating the Dark Saber," Paz spoke up. "Thus, I fully expect you to notify me if you ever see it, or this Gideon fellow again, so I can take it back and personally cut his head off with it. Understand?"

"I would not deny you the right to avenge your clan's honor," Din agreed, his words seeming to satisfy the large Mandalorian. He then turned to the Armorer, still searching for answers. "If we do find these Jedi…are they still the enemy of the Mandalorians? If so, why would one of our kind have joined them, as Paz said?

"There has been a long history between our warrior ways and the so-called peace keeping Jedi," she related. "Enemies we may no longer be, for we both fought on the same side to see the Empire destroyed. What is the saying…an enemy of my enemy is my alley?" Here she paused and cocked her head slightly. "In fact, I too came into contact with several of their kind before the Jedi were all wiped out…and I can honestly say I even considered one of them a friend." She was quiet for a moment, as if lost in thought, but shook herself from it quickly. "However, we have also learned our lesson the hard way, to trust no one but our own kind. There are so few of us now, though with the Dark Saber back in Mandalorian hands, it could rally our clans and bring us together once more. We are a scattered race, Din Djarin, relying on the foundlings to rebuild our numbers. Yet we must continue to do so in secrecy, though the going is hard, and the provisions are few."

"I meant to ask about that," Din cut in. "Are you in need of supplies or credits?"

"There are always more mouths to feed than there are provisions," the Armorer said in a sad voice. "We've been forced to sell small amounts of the beskar to pay for food and medicine as of late."

"We have credits!" Ravana spoke up, looking over at Din urgently. "We can give them what we have, can't we?"

Din smiled under his helmet, having meant to ask her about this, but not found the time. And yet, here she was, willingly offering what they possessed…in essence her credits, since she was the one who had given them back to him. Ravana was indeed a selfless woman, and one he found he loved dearly.

"Yes, we can," he nodded, reaching into his pocket and pulling out the bag. "Take it for the foundlings, they come first."

"This is the way," the masked woman stated solemnly.

"This is the way," both Din and Paz reiterated.

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The next few hours were spent with Din getting reacquainted with some of the people in the covert that he once knew. All the children crowded around in hopes of getting a glimpse of the strange little child who was waddling around making gurgling noises. Ravana found it both touching, and sad, to see so many of them already wearing helmets. She tried to imagine Din at this young age, searching for an identity after his had been stolen from him at the death of his family. They seemed happy though, and well cared for, to be sure. It was obvious that the Mandalorians were fine protectors and good parents. Theirs's was a fierce love, like a mother protecting her young, and even if none of them had been born to the clan…they were each accepted as if they had. This was why Din had taken the oath, to repay the love he'd been shown, and to support the society that had raised him with such high morals.

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Din took a moment to speak to the Armorer alone while Ravana and the kid were distracted, wishing to ask her one final question.

"You wish to marry the woman, do you not?" she spoke up, not even allowing him to broach the subject. "In the Mandalorian way?"

"Yes…I do," he nodded, not quite sure if he liked the idea of anyone reading him so well. Yet, she'd known Din a long time. "Though I do worry about how she'll take to living the life of our clan. Ravana is not a Mandalorian. She is unused to our ways, thus it might be difficult for her."

"You do not give her enough credit if you believe that to be true," the Armorer scolded him gently. "Ravana is far more brave, resilient, and resourceful than you might imagine." Here she paused and tipped her head to the side just a bit as if in thought. "And as far as her not being a Mandalorian…I'm not altogether sure of that either."

"What? I don't understand," Din was really confused now.

"Nor do I, and yet I have a feeling about her," she muttered. "Though I can prove nothing at this point. Still, if she chooses to marry into the clan, she will become one of us for life. She will be accepted, just as you were when Paz's father brought you back to Mandalor."

"I thank you for your advice…and I will return once our mission is complete, to marry Ravana and to help support the covert," Din promised.

"Your assistance will be welcome…as will be your wife," she nodded.

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When it came time to leave, for they couldn't stay forever without putting even more strain on the covert's supplies - and Zax was still back at the Razor Crest - Ravana looked around for Din. He'd been nearby just a moment ago.

When she spotted him through the crowd that was still gathered around the kid, she was perplexed to see him talking privately with the Armorer in a shadowy corner. That little fire of jealousy once more took hold in her gut, and she couldn't help the angry glare that spread over her face.

"Don't go jumping to any conclusions," came Paz's voice directly beside her, startling Ravana just a bit. "I see how you're looking at them, and you need not be worried. Nothing's going on between them other than an exchange of information. She is our history keeper, among other things…but that's all she is to Din. Trust me."

"I have no idea what you mean," Ravana stated, clearing her throat, and trying to school her expression.

"Right…" he hummed knowingly. "I didn't buy it last night and I don't buy it today. I just hope you don't always have to be drunk in order to confess your true feelings for Din. Otherwise, he's bound to go broke supplying you with bottles of Pirate Brew."

"WHAT?" Ravana gasped. "What feelings? What are you talking about?"

Paz was silent for a moment, and then he began to chuckle softly.

"You honestly don't remember what happened last night?" he asked. "How you confessed you were in love with Din, and then he found us together in my chambers and shot me over the offense?"

"NO!" she shrieked, then quickly lowered her voice when several around them turned in their direction. "No, I don't remember any of that…and he shot you?" she gave him a skeptical look, not seeing any sign of such a thing. But then the rest of what he'd said finally made it to her brain. "Oh no! I didn't say any of this to Din…did I?"

"Not while I was around, or still conscious, but who knows what you spouted off after you left," he said with a shrug. "Still…Djarin seemed rather pleased when he came back to apologize, so you never know."

"Oh druk! No wonder he was acting so strange this morning!" she moaned, covering her face with her hands. "I must have done or said something completely embarrassing! What am I going to do? I can't ask him what I said without humiliating myself all over again."

"It's no humiliation to speak from your heart," Paz told her, placing his large, gloved hand on her shoulder. "You and Din deserve each other." Here he paused and gave a humorous snort. "And I mean that in a good way."

This had Ravana laughing as well, having begun to like the hulking Mandalorian a great deal. He was straightforward and gruff, but he too hide a kind heart under all that beskar.

"I'll keep that in mind," she promised, reaching up on her tiptoes and giving him a quick hug. He stiffened at the act, and if it was either from shock, or worry that Din might be watching, Ravana didn't know. Still, she was glad to have him as a friend, and she truly hoped they would meet again.

"Shall we go?" came Din's voice behind her, his tone telling her he'd seen the embrace they'd just shared.

Good, she thought to herself, it will give him something to stew on then.

"Yes, of course," she agreed, giving him an innocent smile. "I'll get the String-bean." And turning away, she hurried to where he was still playing with the other children.

"What was that all about?" Din questioned the larger Mandalorian in a terse tone.

"Don't tell me you're jealous again already?" Paz sighed. "You need to have more faith in her…and me! Besides, you started it all but sneaking off to talk to the Armorer. Something, by the way, that had Ravana looking a bit green-eyed over as well."

"She's jealous of me and the Armorer?" This idea shocked Din a great deal. "Whatever for?"

"She's a woman. Ravana's a woman. You do the math," Paz shrugged.

"You set her straight though…right?" Din asked hopefully.

"I tried, but I think hearing such things from your mouth would mean a lot more," the other man suggested. "Don't be so…how did she put it…emotionally constipated. Speak your mind, and tell her of your feelings, Din. And soon!"

"And since when did you become so knowledgeable about such things?" he asked, cocking his helmet to the side just a bit.

"Just another secret talent we Vizslas possess," he laughed, slapping Din on the back in a gesture of parting. "Be safe, Djarin. And take care of your own little clan."

"You can count on it," the Mandalorian promised, reaching out to place his hand on Ravana's lower back as she approached, steering her towards the tunnel that would lead them out of the covert and back onto the street.

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Once above ground again, Ravana shielded her eyes, as well as the kid's from the bright sun as she looked around.

"How do we get back to the docking bay?" she asked, turning one way and then the other. "Why didn't Paz offer to guide us?"

"It's this way," Din informed her, suddenly wanting nothing more than to return to the Razor Crest and speak with Ravana…alone. Paz was right, he needed to tell her exactly how he felt, especially after his final conversation with the Armorer. He'd at first been worried that she might have attempted to talk him out of the idea, saying that marring outside the clans would bring struggles and difficulties to the union…and perhaps it would. But instead, she's hinted to the fact that Ravana might have former ties with the Mandalorians. He would make a point to ask more about her family history.

Still, no matter where she came from, Din knew that his choice to marry her would stand. He loved Ravana. And she loved him – even if she'd only said it out loud when drunk – thus, he was determined to make it work between them.

Din had been walking steadily towards the hanger, it finally having come into view, and his mind had been solely on the words he would say when he had Ravana all to himself. So much so, in fact, that he failed to notice that his two companions had somehow fallen behind. Nor did he notice the small group that was gathered inside the hanger, until one of them gave a loud shout.

"YOU!" came the threatening voice, causing Din to whip around, his blaster automatically in his hand, ready to defend himself.

But it was too late.

Can't Din ever catch a break? All he wants to do is confess his love, and everyone in the galaxy seems dead set on stopping him!

So, did you enjoy the Jedi talk? What about Paz's connection to the Dark Saber? (again, all made up in my mind now that I know he's not from that clan...but it works for the story.

Hmmmm, what did the Armorer mean by that?

And yep, he WANTS to marry her, Mandalorian style! I sure hope he gets a chance to do that...what with this new problem that has just presented itself. Thankfully, you only have to wait till Friday now to find out what's going on.

See you then!