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Remember, words in italics are spoken in Mando'a...but I put the translation right after it in these. { }

My thanks to OliviaAdel for supplying me with the great Mandalorian words and phrases I've been using in the story. I know it's a lot of hard work and I appreciate it very much!

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Chapter 36

~X~

"A Mandalorian with a jet pack is a weapon."

~Bo Katan Kryze~

"Never heard of you," Paz stated in a rather snide tone, causing Cara to elbow him in the side rather hard for his disrespect.

"Well, you can be certain that I've heard of you, Mandalorian," the woman named Ahsoka said with a touch of humor, returning to a standing position. "I am very familiar with House Vizsla, as well as Death Watch. And I was sorely grieved to hear of what became of your clans during the Great Purge by the former Empire."

"How do you know what House I am from?" Paz demanded, rather shocked that she had pegged him so accurately.

"I have worked with Mandalorians quite often in the past, thus it is not difficult to distinguish one clan from the next, if you know what to look for," she responded. She then turned her eyes on Din. "Yours, however, I am unfamiliar with. I do not recognize the symbol of your clan. A Mudhorn, is it not?"

"Listen," Cara cut in, not liking how much this woman seemed to know. "We could stand here all-night debating genealogy and who belongs to what clan, but we're kind of in a hurry here."

"As am I," Ahsoka agreed, her face turning stern. "I was drawn here by the Force, for I feel that a great wrong is being done within that compound beyond." Here she gestured to the facility on the hill, the very same one that Din had just recently broken into…and then was forced to escape from.

"And we have friends who are being held against their will inside as well," Din informed her. "Thus, it appears we share a common goal."

"Might I then suggest we join forces?" the Togruta proposed.

"Ni sirbu nayc," {I say no} Paz interrupted, instantly switching to Mando'a so the newcomer wouldn't understand their words. "Tion'meg mhi kar'tayli be kaysh?" {What do we really know about her?}

"Zax guuro kaysh," {Zax likes her} Din pointed out, gesturing to where the little zaktan sat contentedly by her feet. "Bal Ibac cuyi jate luubid par ni." {And that's good enough for me.}

"Gar urmankala mirshoya'kare be ulik jate'shay ner?" {You'd trust the instincts of an animal over mine?} Paz balked.

"Elek," {Yes} Din answered without hesitation. "Bal jii, Ni guuro kaysh ori'shya gar." {And right now, I also like him a lot more than I do you.}

This caused the large Mandalorian to grumble under his breath, not at all pleased about this. He was even less pleased, however when the Togruta woman spoke up…in perfect Mando'a, no less!

"Ni suvari ankebise gar sirbur, tayli'bac," {I can understand everything you are saying, you know} she informed them, a little grin tugging at her lips as she watched two Mandalorian's stiffen up.

"WHAT? How did you…where did you…" Paz couldn't seem to form enough words to finish his sentence.

"I see you do know more about our people than most," Din nodded, actually quite impressed with her mastery of the language. He then turned to the other female in their group, wanting her thoughts on the matter. "What's your opinion, Cara?"

"I'll follow your lead, Mando," she conceded. "This is your mission, I'm only here for support."

"It would seem that we are to become one team then," Ahsoka nodded, pleased by this new development. "Might you know what we are up against, or what is going on up there?"

"It's a laboratory of some sort, as far as I was able to determine," Din answered, holstering his blaster in a show of good faith. Cara did the same, but Paz was a bit reluctant and had to be coaxed into doing so by a hand gesture from Din. "It is run by a man named Moff Gideon, a former ISB officer for the former Empire. The place is also lousy with Imps, and Zax and I were fortunate to get out with our lives…though two of our companions were captured and are still inside."

"You say companions, though I sense they are far more dear to you than you are letting on," Ahsoka deduced. "Am I correct?"

When Din failed to answer right away, not sure how much information to give out, Paz, who was apparently also growing impatient with all this talk spoke up.

"It's his wife and kid, alright?" he groused. "And if you're here to help, like you claim, then I say enough of this chatter and let's get on with it! That place is still a long way off and it'll be daylight before we get there."

"Why do you journey on foot if you both possess jet packs?" the newcomer asked, pointing to the machines on their backs.

"Mine was damaged when I was shot down, and Paz can't carry us all," Din informed her.

"Perhaps I could assist with that," Ahsoka took a few steps towards the three, but her sudden movement caused the larger Mandalorian to once more reach for his weapon. "You have nothing to fear, I intend no harm," she insisted, holding up her hands in a sign of peace. "I only wish to help."

"How? Are you some kind of mechanic?" Paz scoffed. "And for the record, I'm not afraid of you. And why should I be, you don't even carry a weapon." Here he gestured to her lack of a blaster.

"That is where you're wrong," she told him with a placating smile, her hands reaching for the two cylinders at her sides. The moment they were in her grasp, they sprang to life, with white beams of light extending from the grips, remaining steady and constant and accompanied by a low hum.

"SHE'S ONE OF THOSE BLASTED JEDI!" Paz shouted, taking a step back and bringing his weapon into position to fire. Thankfully, Din stopped him, placing his hand on the barrel as he forced him to lower it towards the ground.

"I know our people have had issues with them in the past," Din acknowledged. "But this is a new era…one where we fight a common enemy, thus making us allies," Once he was relatively sure Paz wouldn't actually shoot, he turned back to Ahsoka. "I have met one of your kind recently, and though I too at first did not trust him and his mysterious ways, he earned my respect. Will you earn it as well?"

"I would like to be given the opportunity to try," she responded, disengaging her weapons and placing them back at her side. "And perhaps we can begin by you allowing me to inspect your jet pack?"

Din agreed, removing the device and holding it in his hands as the woman came near. He could see that Cara and Paz were poised to defend him if necessary, yet, the Togruta never gave them a second glance. After confirming that the damage to the jet pack had been to the igniter, they all stared as she laid her hand over the machine. Closing her eyes, they watched in amazement as the wires and circuits slowly moved to reconnect themselves, until the device was whole once more.

"She has the same powers as the kid!" Cara whispered in awe. "She is a Jedi."

"No, actually I'm not," the woman confessed. "Though I once studied in the Jedi temple, I left the order before my training was complete. Not long after this, the Jedi were all betrayed and killed through treachery by the Emperor, and I was forced into hiding. For any who possessed abilities like mine, were systematically hunted down as traitors." She then cocked her head to the side and gestured to Cara, while still addressing Din. "Is what she says true? Your child is able to use the Force?"

"Yes…but he's not exactly my child," Din confessed. "He is a foundling, recently orphaned and placed under my care by the code of the Mandalorians. Ravana, my wife, and I have been attempting to protect him from this Moff Gideon who's set on abducting him for some unknown reason." Here he paused, turning his head slightly in shame. "A mission I fear I have failed at, for he is currently being held within the facility…as is Ravana."

"Then we best see they are rescued," Ahsoka reasoned. "And now that your jet pack is repaired, we can get there all the sooner."

"I'll take Cara," Paz spoke up quickly, eagerly moving a step closer to her.

At first it looked as though she might protest, eying the larger armored man with suspicion. However, in the next breath, she relented.

"Fine," Cara muttered, reaching down to scoop up Zax as well. "But I'm bringing him along for protection."

"Protection? From what?" Paz demanded.

"From shooting you during the flight if you tick me off!" she explained. "If he's along, I'll think twice before ending you…and me by extension. Now, pick me up and let's get this over with."

Paz did as directed, though his enthusiasm was squelched a bit due to her reticence.

"I guess that leaves the two of us," Ahsoka smiled. "And you don't have to worry, I promise to keep my hands to myself."

"As do I," he confirmed, following Paz's example and lifting the Togruta into his arms as one would a sleeping child, and pressing the button on his vambrace to engage his jet pack. Thankfully, her mystical repairs had been sound, and soon they were airborne, all five of them heading directly towards the large stone facility in the distance.

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"Are those two always at each other's throats like that?" Ahsoka asked, gesturing to Cara and Paz who flew a distance in front of them.

"They only recently met, but thus far all they seem to do is argue," Din replied. "They'll either kill one another soon or become best of friends."

"Or perhaps more than friends," she said with a sly smile. "I've often found that sparks of anger seem to ignite the brightest fires…of love."

"Well, don't let Cara hear you saying that," Din warned, though he couldn't help but secretly agree with her. Watching the two of them interact could prove very entertaining…if they all lived that long.

They were silent for a few minutes, the wind and cool night air almost making the flight chilly, but the temperature was the last thing on Din's mind.

"I can sense that you are very worried about your wife and foundling," his passenger commented, breaking the silence.

"Is that one of your Force abilities? Being able to read minds?" he questioned, not liking the idea of anyone rooting around in his brain.

"No, yet what husband wouldn't be? I can tell you are a man of honor and one dedicated to duty, as all Mandalorians are trained to be," she continued. "Yet it's easy to feel the fear you carry for your loved ones. May I enquire about this man, Moff Gideon? What are we up against?"

"He has some agenda that involves the kid and his powers, though we aren't sure what that might be," Din informed her. "He has some fascination with the Jedi and their old ways, he has even acquired a weapon similar to those used by them. An ancient Mandalorian blade known as the Dark Saber."

"He is in possession of the lightsaber once wielded by Tarre Vizsla?" this seemed to shock Ahsoka. "My friend told me that it had gone missing during the Great Purge of Mandalor…but I had no idea it was now in the possession of the enemy. We will need to be even more cautious if he has learned to wield it." When she heard a low growl of frustration come from beneath the man's helmet she realized that was something he already knew. Raising her hand that wasn't slung around his neck for support, Ahsoka laid it on his opposite shoulder in a comforting gesture. "We will find your family…and we will get them out. The Force would not have brought me here if this was a hopeless cause. We simply need to have faith."

"I have faith that Ravana will be doing everything in her power to see that the kid is kept safe," he replied. "And knowing her, she's also giving them a cargo load of trouble to boot."

"She sounds like a woman I would very much like to meet," Ahsoka laughed. "I look forward to making her acquaintance."

"You said you've worked with my people before. When?" Din questioned, eager to change the subject, for all thoughts of Ravana only seemed to escalate his fear and worry.

"At the very end of the Clone Wars, and on into the Rebellion," she told him. "Many of your kind were my close friends…some still are. And after this mission is over, I hope I may consider two more Mandalorians, and perhaps a Rebel Shock trooper, as my friends as well."

"If you help me save Ravana and the kid, you can count me as such," he assured her. "As for Paz and Cara…that'll have to be up to them."

"Then I'll simply have to work twice as hard to earn their trust," she smiled. "Now look sharp, we're coming up on the facility."

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Sure enough, they soon found themselves hovering in the darkness not far from the stone building on top of the hill, though this time, everywhere they looked there were guards.

"We apparently set the place on high alert when Zax and I escaped," Din said, a grumble in his voice.

"We simply need to be more cautious then," Ahsoka stated optimistically, pointing to a corner of the facility. "Over there…it would appear there are fewer troopers stationed at that point. Take me in slowly."

Din wasn't sure what she had planned, but he was willing to trust her if it meant getting Ravana and the kid back. So, doing as she said, he maneuvered them in closer. He then watched as she raised her hand and shut her eyes, much like she'd done when fixing his jet pack, seemingly deep in concentration. It was then that he heard the Storm Troopers speak to each other.

"What was that?" one questioned, gesturing in a direction opposite of where they hovered.

"I don't know…we should check it out," the second one replied, moving off from their post as if in some sort of daze.

"Did you do that?" Din asked his passenger in surprise.

"Weak minds are easier to manipulate, but it's a simple trick I picked up from my master early on," she grinned. "I think it's safe to take us down now."

And it was, with Paz following closely behind carrying Cara and Zax. Once they were back on solid stone, they began to sneak their way around the building, looking for an entrance. Two more times they relied on Ahsoka and her use of the Force to avoid being detected, until they at last found a door they could utilize.

"I don't suppose you can open that thing as well," Paz questioned, both irritated and amazed by what the Togruta woman could do.

"No need," Cara broke in, stepping over to the panel. She made quick work of it, pulling out wires and touching a few of them together with skill she'd obviously learned during her time with the Rebels. Within moments, the doors swished open, revealing one of the many long white hallways Din had encountered on his first trip inside.

"Nice work," Paz complimented her, thoroughly impressed by her abilities.

Without another word, they all entered, allowing Din and Ahsoka to take the lead, with Paz and Cara bringing up the rear - always checking behind to make sure they wouldn't be ambushed.

"Which way?" Cara hissed, not liking the feel of the place at all.

Once more Ahsoka stood still with her eyes shut, as if listening for something no one else could hear. When she opened them again, she brought her hand up, pointing down a particular offshoot.

"This way…I can sense it," she told them, the certainty in her voice causing all to follow her without question.

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It took quite a while to maneuver the compound without being seen by any of the patrolling guards, but in the end, they managed to find the room that had been drawing Ahsoka forward. The Storm Troopers who were guarding the door were quickly, and silently, dealt with - thanks to Cara and Paz - allowing all of them to enter undetected.

However, what they found caused no small amount of anger and fear to wash over them, seeing the five children laying there as if in a trance. Zax, who had been padding along at his master's feet the whole time, raced forward, leaping onto the bed where his little friend lay, yipping and licking his face in hopes of waking him.

Din followed and was at the kid's side in seconds, lifting him up and inspecting him for damage. When he found none, he gave a sigh of relief…yet his inactivity, and the odd-looking collar he wore, had Din's rage spiking once more.

"What have they done to them?" Cara asked, also walking over and examining another child, this one a human female who looked to be about eight or nine years of age. She had dark hair and a most adorable button nose, but the rest of her face just appeared blank…no smile, no expression, no life.

"Whatever it is, it seems to be affecting them all," Paz agreed, leaning over and giving the green child with the tentacles on his head a bit of a shake. When he got no response, he moved to the next two; a second female and a much younger male.

The first one appeared to be a Voss, her bright orange skin causing her to stand out in the stark white room. The swirls of red, blue, and white covering her bald head, not to mention her solid blue eyes, distinguishing her as a female of her species. She also looked to be the oldest of the group…perhaps in her early teens. Yet like the others, she neither moved nor spoke.

The second motionless child was from the Ugnaught species, his flattened, upturned nose and slight jowls showing movement from breathing, but nothing more.

"Perhaps these have something to do with their unresponsive state," Ahsoka suggested, standing beside Din as she touched the collar the child was wearing. "They look to be a form of neural inhibitors…possibly placed here to stop them from utilizing their powers in order to escape. For I can sense that these children are all Force sensitive in one way or another." Here she reached up and rubbed the ears of the kid in Din's arms. "Yet, this one…he is the strongest. I can feel it."

"Can we get them off?" Cara asked, also touching the small band around the little girl's neck, her apparent disgust for the object written all over her face.

"I will try," Ahsoka said, placing her hand on the collar and reaching out with her mind in order to summon the strength to accomplish her task. It took a while, with each of the other adults holding their breath, but at last, all of the bands encircling the young ones' necks simultaneously shut off and snapped open.

Within seconds, the children began to blink their eyes, and move their heads this way and that…the adorable little Ugnaught even yawned, his short stubby arms stretching up over his head as if waking from a deep sleep.

However, Din only had eyes for the kid he was holding, giving a relieved sigh when his eyes became bright once more and his little ears perked up at the sight of his foster father. The Mandalorian's heart melted when he threw his tiny arms around his neck as far as they would go and he let out a series of soft happy coos, letting all know just how delighted he was to see Din again.

"What has happened?" the young Voss girl asked, her voice somewhat synthesized, as was the trait of her race. "Who are you?"

"We're here to get you out and take you home," Cara revealed, assisting the other girl into a sitting position. "Do you think you can each walk?"

"I can," the Nautolan male with the tentacles stated, jumping off the bed and standing straight and tall. "I am Genji Dai," he said, bowing slightly in introduction.

"And my name is Makil-Rel." the Voss female, who was now sitting up as well, informed them.

"I'm Shay," the human girl spoke up next. "That over there is Merpetol…but he prefers to be called Merp," she stated, pointing to the little Ugnaught, who had apparently decided to curl up and go back to sleep. "We were brought here at the same time, so I got to know him pretty well."

"Are you really here to take us back home?" the young Genji Dai asked hopefully.

"Yes, and the sooner we get going the better," Ahsoka assured them, stepping over and picking up the little one known as Merp.

"But where's Ravana?" Din demanded, looking around. "She's not here!"

"Would this Ravana you speak of be a woman with brown hair?" Genji asked, rubbing his head as if trying to remember something. "It's all kind of foggy, but I recall seeing a woman standing over me…as if in a dream. But then the bad man dressed in black came and they took her away."

"Yes! I remember her too," Shay nodded. "When the men in white armor grabbed her, she screamed a lot of words that my mother would wash my mouth out with soap if I'd have said."

"Sounds like Ravana," Din agreed, somewhat proud of how his little spitfire had fought back. "But where is she now? We can't leave without her."

"Yet how will we find her?" Cara asked. "This place is a kriffing maze!"

It was then that Din had a brilliant idea. Reaching into one of the pouches on his utility belt, he pulled out the tracking fob that Embo had given him back on Arvalla-7.

"We can find her with this," he announced, switching it on and giving a sigh of relief when it began to emit a slow but steady pulse. Ravana was still alive!

"You put a tracker on your wife?" Paz asked in shock and disgust.

"NO! Of course not!" Din protested. "I got this from a bounty hunter who was after Ravana. I meant to dispose of it, but now I'm glad I didn't…for it will lead us directly to her."

"It is a good plan," Ahsoka nodded. "But we can't take the kids with us into a potential battle."

Din turned and looked at Cara and Paz, whereupon the Shock Trooper held up her hands and took a step back.

"I don't do the kid thing," she protested.

"No, but Paz does," Din informed her, knowing that the tough Mandalorian had a soft spot for foundlings. "He can watch over the kids, while you provide cover. I'm counting on you both to get them out of here and back to the ships."

"What about you?" Paz questioned. "You planning to take on Gideon all by yourself? I thought you promised I could cut off his head with the Dark Saber."

"Plans change," Din protested sternly, silencing the man except for a few grumbles. He honestly wasn't sure how Paz would take the idea of leaving their enemy alive, when and if the time came. Yet, if he could get that price off Ravana's head by turning Gideon over to the authorities…it would be worth it.

"I will accompany you," Ahsoka informed Din, stepping over and handing the sleeping Ugnaught to Paz. "The younglings are in your care. Now go, before we are discovered."

Din moved to pass off the String-bean to Cara, but he began to put up a fuss, clinging to the Mandalorian for all he was worth. Zax too was leaping around, whining and placing his front paws on Din's leg, as if supporting his friend's demands.

"It would seem he wishes to come with us," Ahsoka chuckled, the child now looking more like a clinging vine than one from her former Master Yoda's species. "In fact, they both do," she added, gesturing to the zaktan.

"I won't risk his safety again," Din argued, still trying to pry the green foundling loose, but it was impossible.

"Well, unless you plan on removing your beskar and all your clothes in order to dislodge him, I believe you are stuck with him," Cara pointed out. "And it would be just like him to try and Force-choke me again if I attempted to take him away from you."

"He tried that on you too?" Paz asked in surprise. "We've got more in common than I thought."

"Fine! He can stay, but you two need to get going!" Din huffed, finally giving up and cradling the now happy child against him once more.

Paz and Cara nodded, handing off the still sleeping Merp to the oldest child in the group, Makil-Rel. Then corralling them all safely between them, they headed towards the door. Once it was open, Cara leapt out with her blaster drawn, making sure the coast was clear. When she waved for Paz to follow, he ushered them out, giving Din one final look and a salute for good luck.

"Are you ready?" Ahsoka asked.

Looking around, Din spotted the discarded bag they'd used to carry the kid , sitting on a nearby desk. Grabbing it and slinging it over his shoulder, he settled the String-bean inside once more, patting his head affectionately as he did. He then turned to Zax, giving the zaktan a nod of approval.

"Yes," he stated firmly. "We're ready. Let's go save Ravana."

CHARGE! Time to save the day, 'Nick-of-time Din!'

Sorry there was no Ravana in this one...but she's kind of 'tied up' at the moment. She will be back in the next chapter though. I promise.

So, looks like Ahsoka is being helpful. They also did find the kids and are on the way to saving them.

Good thing Embo gave Din that tracking fob...right? And pretty smart that he didn't throw it out either.

Let's see what the next chapter will bring. (probably another cliffie. ha ha)

Thanks.

Guest Reviews:

Guest: I really hope that was a good 'WHAT'...as in you were shocked to see Ahsoka, but in a happy way. ha ha. Thanks for the review.