Cara's stomach dropped when she saw the Mandalorian laying motionless on the ground, the remnants of the E-Web littered around him. She quickly sprinted to his side, grabbing his chest plate she pulled him up and putting her arms underneath him, dragging his limp form into the cantina.

'Stay with me buddy, we're going to get you out of here' she pleaded as she dragged him to a collapsed stone table, leaning him against it.

She could hear Greef Karga shouting to the IG unit about their path but her attention was fixed on the armoured man that lay in front on her.

'Stay with me.' she begged again as she placed her hand behind his head, to try and keep him steady.

The Mandalorian became more aware of his surroundings, the pain bringing him back to consciousness with a crash. He became painfully aware that he wasn't walking out of this place with his life. Breathing was getting harder and more painful which was evident in the raspy sounds that came through his modulator.

'I'm not gonna make it. Go!' he said as he turned his head to look at Cara.

'Shut up! You just got your bell rung, you'll be fine' she said as she smiled at him, her voice shaking.

'Leave me.'

Cara pulled her hand away from his head and found her hand to be covered in blood. Her heart quickened as she realised that he was in really bad shape.

'I'm gonna need to take this thing off.' she said as she grabbed his helmet but his gloved hands stopped her.

'No, you leave me!' he said weakly as started to push her hands away 'you make sure the child is safe. Here…' he said as he grabbed something from around his neck and using what was left of his strength, pulled it off and handed it to Cara 'when you get to the Mandalorian covert you show them that. You tell them it's from Din…Djarin. You tell them the foundling was in my protection… and they'll help you' he finished, each word getting harder as he struggled for breath.

'We can make it.' Argued Cara, not willing to accept that her friend was dying in her arms 'Come on, let's go.' she said as she grabbed him and tried to pull him up.

'I'm not gonna make it… and you know it.' he said in a pained tone, a touch of fear in his tone.

Fire erupted from the entrance of the cantina, Cara threw herself onto the dying hunter in an attempt to protect him from the flames. The Mandalorian's pained gasp pulling Cara's attention back to the man in her arms.

'You protect the child.' he said as he looked at her, he could feel the darkness clawing at his mind and he knew he didn't have much longer 'I can hold them off long enough for you to escape. Let me have a warrior's death.'

'I won't leave you.' Replied the woman, her eyes wide as she fought back the tears that had started to form in them.

'This is the way.' he said quietly, his tone sad.

He didn't want to die, he wanted to protect the baby, ensure his safety but he knew that his time was up. He could taste blood in his mouth and he figured that he had a multitude of injuries that would probably kill him in time but the head wound would be the winner. Cara looked at him sadly before throwing herself back onto him as more flames filled the room, this time through the now open doorway. As the flames stopped she pulled herself away from him, looking to the doorway as the Cantina around them burned. The heat was unbearable, the smoke stinging their eyes and their lungs. The clanging of armour filled the air and an incinerator trooper came into view, aiming his flame thrower at them, he readied himself to finish the job. Time seemed to slow as the orange flames leaked out in front of them, squeezing their eyes shut they braced from the unbearable pain that was to come but it never did. With his remaining strength, Din lifted his head to see the child stood with his arms up in front of him and the flames stopped in their tracks. They all couldn't believe what they were seeing, this tiny child with unimaginable power. With a flick of its tiny wrist, the child sent the flames sizzling backwards, the force throwing the stormtrooper backwards along with the others and momentarily knocking the Mandalorian unconscious. Cara watched as the tiny child wobbled on its small legs before falling backwards and also losing consciousness. Cara looked again at her wounded friend who had started to stir, his breathing hitching as the pain started to become unbearable.

'Go.' he choked 'Go!'

'We have to move, now!' Shouted Greef but Cara clutched to Din's hand, desperate to hold onto him just a little longer.

'Go.' he said as he pushed her away.

With that, she stood and was handed the baby by the droid.

'Escape and protect this child. I will stay with the Mandalorian.' it stated matter of factly.

Cara looked down at the sleeping bundle in her arms, remembering the silent promise she had made their dying comrade some minutes before. She turned and grabbed her weapon before stalking up to the droid.

'Promise me you'll bring him.' she stated, her eyes fixed on it.

'You have my word.'

With that she left, knowing that if it could, the droid would keep its word. The IG then walked to the fallen hunter, his breathing now coming in short gasps as he watched the machine come to kneel beside him.

'Do it.' spat the Mandalorian, his eyes fixed on the fire raging in front if him.

'Do what' replied the droid, his tone almost sounded confused.

'Just get it over with… I'd rather you kill me than some Imp.'

'I told you, I am no longer a hunter! I am a nurse droid.' He replied, the lights on its head moving from side to side as it spoke.

'IG's are all hunter.'

'Not this one! I was reprogrammed.' is said, its eyes fixed on the Mandalorian 'I need to remove your helmet if I am to save you.' it finished as its metal hand went to grab Din's helmet.

'Try it and I'll kill you.' stated the hunter as he pointed his blaster in the IG's face, its eyes flitting up and down between the gun and his patient 'It is forbidden. No living thing has seen me without my helmet since I s… swore the creed.' he choked.

'I am not a living thing.' stated the Droid and with that, the Mandalorian did not fight him.

There was a slight hiss as the IG lifted his helmet revealing an array of cuts that littered the man's face

'This is a Bacta spray. It will heal you in a matter of hours.' Said the IG as he sprayed the man's head wound.

IG-11 Knew that the Mandalorian was in a bad way. The Bacta spray would heal his wounds in time but only if he didn't overdo it but unfortunately that wasn't an option for them right now.

'You have suffered damage to your central processing unit.' he said as he retracted the spray.

'You mean my brain?'

'That was a joke. It was meant to put you at ease.'

Din gave the IG a bewildered look before chuckling to himself.

'Come we need to get out of here.' stated the droid as he helped the man to his feet.

Din winced as his abused body protested at the sudden movement. Breathing was still a struggle, but he was not sure if that was due to his injuries or the thick smoke that filled the air. With the droids help he managed to slip through the whole the IG had cut but landed awkwardly on the ground below, just managing to catch himself with his hands as he fell. The droid then helped him to his feet and he weakly limped in the direction his comrades had gone.

'They can't have gotten far' stated the droid 'I hope the child is alright.'

'So do I.' Whispered Din to himself, using all the strength he had to keep himself standing.

They came to the end of the tunnel and turned left, their eyes greeted by a shocked Cara and Greef. Din could see Cara's smile despite the dimly lit walkways, she walked speedily towards him, checking him over before handing the child to the droid and putting his arm around her shoulder.

'I got you.' she said as she managed to take the brunt of his weight.

As they walked through the dark tunnels, the Mandalorian felt his head was starting to clear and his strength return a little but breathing was still a task. Perhaps that would get better also? They traipsed around desperately trying to find the covert despite Karga's suggestion to head straight to the river. Din pointed out however that they would need the Mandalorian's to help them if they were to make it to the river and back to his ship alive.

'Ugh this place is a maze.' growled Cara as she shone her torch around looking for any clue that might help them.

'Stop!.' said Din, his voice still shaky 'I can stand.'

'The bacta infusion is working' stated the droid.

'I'll try to find tracks.' said Din as he scanned the ground 'We're close.'

The Mandalorian led them down that dim corridor, he was walking unaided but Cara could still see he was still struggling. He led them past some stone stairs and into a room that was littered with blankets, tables, chairs and weapons but no a soul was in sight. Then there, in the centre of the room was a pile of armour. The familiar t-shaped visor confirming what they feared. Din dropped to his knees, sending a jolt of pain through his chest as he sucked in a breath. Holding a helmet in his hands he felt Cara walk up beside him.

'We should go.' she said softly.

'You go, take the ship. I can't leave it like this.' he replied, his gaze fixed on the helmet in his hands 'Did you know about this? Is this the work of your bounty hunters?'

'No!' Replied Karga 'When you left the system and took the prize, the fighting ended and the hunters just melted away. You know how it is! They're mercenaries. They're not zealots.'

'Did you do this?' Spat Din as he put down the helmet and dashed to the man's side 'did you?' He continued as he jabbed an accusing finger in the man's chest.

'No!'

Din felt a wave of dizziness hit him and he stumbled, Greef grabbing his arms before the fighter fell.

'It was not his fault.' came a different voice attracting all their attention towards it 'We revealed ourselves. We knew what could happen if we left the covert. The imperials arrived shortly thereafter. This is what resulted.'

'Did any survive?' Questioned Din, his hand grabbing hold of Cara's arm as he attempted to steady himself.

'I hope so.' She replied as she continued to collect armour 'Some may have escaped off-world.'

'Come with us.'

'No' she replied shortly 'I will not abandon this place until I have salvaged what remains.'

Pushing her cart into the forge the rest of the group followed. The heat made it harder for Din to breath but he couldn't afford to be weak now, not when the child was still in danger. They came to stand around the smelter, which the armourer was placing the helmets and armour she had salvaged and placing them in the centre of it.

'Show me the one whose safety deemed such destruction.' Demanded the armourer, her gaze wandering to the bag that hung around the IG's front, the baby's head poking its head out the top.

'This is the one you hunted, then saved?' Quizzed the armourer, her head tilting in curiosity.

Din couldn't answer, breathing was becoming to difficult now, and he wavered on his feet, Cara catching him as he began to fall.

'What's wrong with him?'

'Moff Gideon blew the E-Web he was firing.' stated Cara as she cradled the top half of his body.

'I treated him with a Bacta spray, he was mending.' stated the IG.

'Well clearly he's still not well.' replied the Armourer, noticing his laboured breathing.

'I am healing I just overdid it.' said Din Djarin as he tried to push himself up.

Cara was unconvinced but she helped him up into a sitting position. The child cooed as it reached out for its protector.

'It looks helpless.'

'It's injured but it is not helpless.' replied Din, wincing as he spoke which did not go unnoticed 'Its species can move objects with its mind.'

'I know of such things' she replied as she stood and walked to her station. 'The songs of Eons past tells of battles between Mandalore the Great, and an order of sorcerers called Jedi that fought with such powers.'

Cara helped Din to his feet, feeling him waver slightly before pushing her hands away.

'It is an enemy?'

'No.'

'We need to go.' Interjected Cara 'These tunnels will be lousy with Imps in a matter of minutes. And you are in no state to fight them.' she finished as she pointed at the Mandalorian.

'I'm fine.'

'No, you're not!' she growled 'You can barely stand. We need some sort of escape plan.'

'If you follow the descending tunnel, it will lead you to the underground river. It flows downstream towards the Lava flats.' Replied the armourer and she continued on what she was working on.

'Great we should get going then!' she said, grabbing Din by the arm and causing him to groan in pain.

'I need to help her and I need to heal' he said as he shrugged his arm out of her grasp 'as you said I am in no fit state to fight.'

'You must go, a foundling is in your care' stated the armourer as she finished her work. 'By Creed, until it is of age or reunited with its own kind, you are as its father.'

Din looked down at the child who looked back at him with his big brown eyes, cooing softly as it smiled at him. Cara's eyes were flitting between the two Mandalorian soldiers with an amused expression on her face, Mando a father?

'This is the way.' She stated as she turned to face him 'You have earned your signet.'

Walking to Din Djarin's side she welded the symbol in place.

'You are a clan of two.'

'Thank you. I will wear this with honour.'

Explosions sounded in the distance causing everyone to jump at the sudden sound.

'IG, please guard the outer hallway. A scouting party draws near.'

Handing Cara the child it marched into the hallway, ready to protect everyone at all costs. Din watched as Cara awkwardly held the child, smiling beneath his helmet. The pressure in his chest was starting to build, the pain getting worse. Stars danced in front of this eyes but he shook his head in an attempt to send them away. He didn't have time for this. He could hear the armourer speaking to him again but it was muffled, he tried to tune his ears to what he was saying but they would not comply.

No not now he thought to himself as he felt darkness tugging at his mind again.

'Din Djarin can you hear me?' questioned the Armourer when he failed to respond.

'Mando?' said Cara as she stepped towards him, the Child's ears dipping.

Din Djarin looked at them all, everything was still muffled and the air felt more like water as he tried to take another breath.

'I can't… b…breath' he said as he collapsed, this time no one was fast enough to catch him.

'No. Mando...' Pleaded Cara as she dropped to his side 'Whats wrong?.'

His breathing was wheezy and strained. He grabbed hold of her hand and squeezed it tight as he tried to suck in another breath.

'Can't… Breathe.' he stuttered, clawing at his neck with his free hand.

'Oh god, IG!' Shouted Cara, the droid then returned to the forge.

'You are protected.' it stated as it walked closer to them 'What happened?'

'He collapsed, he can't breathe can you help him?' pleaded Cara as she looked at Din as he writhed on the floor.

'I am used the last on my Bacta spray healing his head wound.'

'Damn.' said Karga as he looked at them and then back at the empty hallway.

'Its okay. It's passed.' he said, as he managed a few shaky breaths.

'You sure?'

'Yes.' he replied as he pushed himself up.

'What the hell was that?' asked Cara, her eyes wide and her panic etched into her features.

'I don't know.' was his reply as he shifted himself so that he was sat, leaning on his arm for support.

'You need to leave, but before you do. Have you ever trained in the rising Pheonix?'

'When I was a boy. Yes.' he replied as he allowed Cara to help him to his feet.

'Then this will complete you. IG carry this until Din Djarin is well enough to wear it.'

'I will'

The armourer finished rattling off her instructions before pressing them to go. The hunter restocked his munitions and they made their way to the river as the armourer instructed. They came to a boat which after several attempts they finally freed away from the shore. They could see the light at the end of the tunnel, literally but when the Mandalorian scanned the mouth of the tunnel he found there to be stormtroopers waiting for them. IG-11 offered himself up as a sacrifice but the Mandalorian would not accept that.

'Grab a blaster and help us shoot our way out.' he ordered, holding the child close to him.

'Victory through combat is impossible. We will be captured and the child will be lost. Sadly, there is no scenario where the child is saved, in which I survive.'

The Mandalorian started to argue but he was interrupted by the droid 'Please tell me the child will be safe in your care. If you do so I can default to my secondary command.'

'But you'll be destroyed.' said Din sadly, realising that the droid was right but still not wanting to accept it.

'And you will live and I will have served my purpose' he replied plainly, his small round eyes never wavering.

'No. We need you.'

'There is nothing to be sad about. I have never been alive.'

'I'm not sad.' stated the Mandalorian but even he didn't believe his statement.

'Yes, you are. I am a nurse droid. I've analysed your voice.' finished the Droid, before stroking the Childs's ear and getting off the boat.

They all watched as he traipsed through the lava, his legs glowing orange as they got hotter and hotter. As he got closer to the mouth of the cave he started to talk the troopers. They could not hear what he said, all they could do was watch as he burst into flames, taking out every trooper that had been waiting for them. Sailing into the daylight their eyes scanned over the white bodies that lay scattered everywhere. A part of the Mandalorian sank when he saw part of IG's arm just laying there. He was really gone this time. The Mandalorian was pulled out of his thoughts by the familiar hum of a TIE-Fighter coming towards them.

'Moff Gideon.' shouted Cara as she ducked for cover as he opened fire.

The hunter tried to think of a plan, knowing that he could not accept the child being captured now, not after all they had been through.

'He missed' stated Greef as they watched the fighter disappear behind a ridge.

'He won't next time.' Replied Din as he grabbed his jetpack and fixed it to his back as Greef and Cara quarrelled over the plan.

'I'm out of ideas.' said Karga, throwing his hand in the air in exasperation.

'I'm not' he stated as he readied himself.

He knew that plan would probably kill him, his body would not survive the toils it would take to take down Gideon. As the Imp fighter got closer he thrust himself in the air above Gideon, before latching himself to the aircraft, pulling him violently in the direction it was flying. He reeled himself in and landed heavily on top of the fighter before attempting to shoot his way into the cockpit. Gideon steered the fighter sharply in an attempt to shake him off which caused The Mandalorian to slam hard against the wing of aircraft and elicit a grunt of pain from him as he fumbled about for a charge. The first one flew from his hand but the second he successfully stuck to the wing, before letting go and watching as the TIE-Fighter's blew and dove into the ground. The Mandalorian tried to slow his descent, his jetpack starting and stopping which did indeed slow him down but as Din felt his consciousness slipping, he could not stop himself slamming on the ground.

'MANDO!' shouted Greef as he and Cara ran to their friend's side.

Placing the baby beside him Cara pulled him into her arms, the movement causing Din to yell out in pain.

'I'm sorry.' Said Cara as her voice shook.

Din coughed, blood-splattered inside his visor and dripped down from his helmet onto the cape around his neck. His breathing came in short rapid bursts. He took Cara's hand in his as he fought for each intake of air.

'It's done.' he said, his tone pained.

'Yeah buddy, you did it.' she said with a smile as she squeezed his hand.

'He's safe.'

'I think so, but you should stick around just to be sure.' she said, tears falling freely now.

'I don't think... I can.' he choked, more blood spilling down his chin.

Cara sobbed openly at that, rocking him gently as her body shook. Greef sat there, his expression was blank but his eyes told another story. The child cooed as he snatched at Din's arm. The hunter let his head shift so that the baby was in his sights and he wept, glad that his helmet hid his tears. He didn't want to leave him but he knew that he was dying, his body had taken too much punishment now.

'Hey you little womp rat.' he said, his emotions flooded his voice 'these two are going to take care of you.' he finished as he lovingly pinched the tip of the Childs's ear.

It closed its eyes and rested its hands on his arm. The Mandalorian knew what he was doing and pushed the child away.

'No, you've spent enough of your power already saving us once, I won't let you do this for me.'

The child growled in protest but did not try again, he just lowered his arms and looked at the hunter sadly. Din looked at Cara once more, his laboured breathing echoed in her ears. He didn't need to say anything, they just looked at each other a while, but he could feel himself losing the battle to stay awake. He looked at the child one more time, smiling at him as he squeezed Cara's hand. She looked at his hand and then at him, willing for him to keep fighting. Then he went limp, his hand falling from her hand to his side.

'Mando?' she said as she shook him 'Come on wake up.'

He didn't.