"By the way, Master, I brought you something."
My protector droid handed me the weird green light handle thing I dropped on the ship that night. Odd; why would it bring me this? I still have no idea what it is or how to use it. But I didn't ask any questions. Instead, I put it in one of my pockets and the robot tied a blindfold over my eyes. I think we both knew things were about to get messy- the less death and destruction I saw, the better. With me in tow, the droid pressed a button on one of the white guy's sand bikes. In the blink of an eye we were off; the robot driving while I clung to its metallic form. At least my hands weren't tied this time.
It didn't take us long to get into the city actually. And it soon became very apparent why the droid gave me a blindfold- there was lots and lots of blasting going on. I think at some point we were getting shot at; I assume this because the bot lifted me up and spun me around. By now I had regained almost total control of my body again, so I held onto it with gusto.
In like a minute or two after we crossed the city's threshold, the droid stopped the bike. While carrying me in one arm, it gunned down anyone who got in our way. My arms tightened around its body; it sounded like we were in the middle of a warzone. Then, as if to be critically hit in the back, the bot's other arm wrapped around in such a way to shield me; it fell to his knees while protectively covering me with itself. There was this really, really loud gun blast and I had to cover my ears. The robot ran with me before this loud explosion echoed through the whole area.
A man suddenly yelled, and my heart sank. I knew that yell…. That voice was familiar and precious to me. This was followed by another very loud and hot explosion. I was brought inside this place where I flung off my blindfold. To my absolute horror, I found Carl dragging a motionless Mando's body across the floor. Greef was there, not that I acknowledged him. "Stay with me, buddy!" Carl pleaded to Mando. The robot set me down and as fast as my feet could carry me, I was at his side; he was now laying on the floor, still unmoving. "Saoirse?!" Carl and Greef gasped in unison. I guess Greef took one step too close to me because the droid stopped him. "If you go near this woman, I will have no choice but to kill you," it threatened. "I understand! Can you do anything to move the grate?" Greef fired back at him. Meanwhile, I was staring down at Mando with the widest of eyes.
"I have to heal him. Mando, I'm going to heal you now!" I did something I never thought I would do and reached for his helmet. But his hands stopped mine, making me blink at him alarmed. "N-no, Saoirse; it's too late. I'm not going to make it. Go…." "No! There's time; there's time! I can heal you," tears flew off my face as I cried down at him. I then stretched my hand out for his helmet once more, but this time another voice stopped me. A new, very authoritative and frightening voice. It called to me from outside beyond the door.
"Saoirse Jinn- at last, we meet." My hand froze mid-air as my blood ran cold. My eyes stared off into nowhere with my mouth agape in sudden and drastic terror. There was a sinister chuckle which rang through the air. "Yes, I know about you, Saoirse. You've done an exceptional job alluding me thus far. Of course, you weren't alone; I see you've had quite the array of help." "W-who….?" I very nervously asked no one in particular. Who was this man? Why is he talking to me directly? I had a sneaking suspicion that I already knew all the answers to my questions, save why he what he wants with me.
"But where are my manners? Allow me to introduce myself. I am Moff Gideon; officer in the Galactic Empire's intelligence agency- the Imperial Security Bureau." "What's that?" Again, I inquired to no one in particular. Why is he telling me all this? I can't be wasting time with him; I have to heal Mando! Another insidious chuckle reached our ears. "You probably don't understand a word of what I am talking about. I apologize for how severely my men have treated you; my orders were explicitly that you be delivered alive."
It's him, my hand unconsciously reached for the Mandalorian while gawking terrified at the door. He's the one who's sent all those hunters after me; he's the real Client, this Moff Gideon guy. "Now listen, Saoirse. Unless you come out of there- alone- I will be forced to burn you out, likely killing all of your companions in the process." Ok, now he had my full, undivided attention. All eyes were on me while I continued to stare straight at the closed door. "Saoirse, no! It's a trap!" Carl touched my arm desperately. "He's right. You can't trust Gideon; he'll lure you outside and roast the rest of us," Greef tacked on. I wasn't fully convinced however… not when their lives were suddenly on the line now.
A moment of silence passed, and I think Moff was losing his patience. It didn't take long to hear his voice again. "I suggest you don't consider my offer lightly, child. You have the chance to save your friends, and you yourself will not die. You hate death and violence, don't you? Heh, that would make sense, considering your background." "What does he mean? What's he talking about?" My own voice cracked a little. "Saoirse, don't listen!" Carl grabbed hold of my shoulder. But I began to stand up, confused and dumbfounded by this statement. As if he knew he had me hooked, Moff just kept on going.
"They taught you well, your masters; but they clearly did not teach you everything." "M-my masters?!" My hand rose up to my pounding chest. How does he know about them?! "Yes, they would want you to detest killing. After all, your great uncle, Obi-Gon Jinn, was struck down by the Sith Lord, Darth Maul." "N-no…." My lips quivered. Why is he telling me this? I didn't know that my beloved great uncle was murdered…. "And Obi-Wan Kenobi was forced to sacrifice himself to the Force before Dark Vader could strike him down." Who's Dark Vader and Darth Maul? "No! No, stop!" My hands rose up to cover my ears. No, I don't want to hear this; it's painful. I don't want to know this! "Yoda was the only one who became one with the Force on his own terms, but even that was after a lifetime of fighting- killing with his own two hands." "Did he just say Yoda?" A very confused Greef blinked to me. But I was currently in the middle of a meltdown. "Stop it!" I screamed out to Moff. "No, Saoirse! Don't listen to him!" Carl hand both his hands on my shoulders by now. "He's just trying to get inside your head," Greef exclaimed. I could practically feel Moff grin maliciously from behind the iron of the door.
"Everyone you have ever loved has died, and now it's the Mandalorian's turn. He and the others will be burned alive if you don't surrender yourself to me now." "Saoirse, no…. l-leave me," I flinched as I felt something take my hand. I gazed back to Mando to find his hand holding mine. His fingers wrapped around mine, giving them a squeeze. "You leave me… escape while you still can." "Mando, I can't…." "G-go… go, save yourself…." It sounded like it was a real struggle for him to talk. Tears were flowing down my cheeks and dripping onto his helmet. My free hand reached over to caress the side of his helmeted head. "Y-you need to go…. I-I can hold them off while you escape. Let me have a warrior's death and you live, Saoirse." "No…." More tears dripping off my face. "T-this is the way," he softly said. "Mando….." I then laid my upper half onto his body; my hands clung to him. No, I can't; I can't leave him like this. "I'm not going anywhere; not unless you're with me." I told him in a whisper. His hand tightened its grip on mine.
"This is your last warning, Saoirse Jinn." Man, this guy doesn't know when to quit. This only made me cling onto Mando's armour tighter, but of course, he continued. "If you wish to save Din Djarin's life, you'll relinquish yourself to me immediately." My eyes shot open the moment he uttered this. Din Djarin? Did he just call Mando "Din Djarin"? "I sense the balance between you both; you and Din Djarin." Master told me that…. back on Takodana. So, it's true then? Mando is Din Djarin? The "Din Djarin"?
When I didn't verbally respond or even move, I could sense Moff's grin start to fade. "Fine then," he hissed in his calm, cool, collected tone. What he said next utterly changed everything for me. "May the Force be with you," he said mockingly. The Force…. My lips parted a silver. "The Force is energy; the Force is life. You must feel the Force around you, around me; binding us together." "Sense the Force and act according to its will. When you quiet your mind, you will hear them speaking to you." "Follow the will of the Force. It will not lead you astray."
I see…. I think I'm beginning to understand for the very first time what all my masters were saying. The Force isn't good or bad, but it does have a will of its own. If I follow it, it will guide me to where I need to be. And where I needed to be all this time is by Mando's side…. and him by my side. The Force knew what it was doing when it brought me to Mando- we do balance each other, after all. I need to stop trying so hard to understand the Force and trust in it. For once, I need to simply let it guide me. It led me to Mando; that's all the proof I need that it knows what it is doing.
My eyes drifted from Mando's helmet over to Carl and then Greef. No, I can't let my fear overwhelm me- not now. I can't let myself drown in my fear of losing the Mandalorian. My eyes gently shut as I drew in a deep, deep breath. I must transform this fear I have into love- instead of being afraid to lose Mando, I must simply love him. Love him and let myself act on that love…. "You lack fear- it is true- and fear is a path to the dark side. But you have a great compacity for love. It is this kind of love- of self-sacrifice- that will make you a good healer." My eyes opened ever so softly and seriously. I have to heal him.
Everyone watched as I gave Mando's hand one last squeeze before releasing it. I stood up while looking right at the closed door. My hands rolled into firm fists. The Force is my ally, and a powerful ally it is. If it wants me to keep the balance in the universe by saving Mando and the others, so be it. I follow the will of the Force.