A clash made us all flinch. We spun to where the noise was coming from and it was clear, we'd have company soon. Carl looked to Mando, who gave his head a small nod. "We should go," Greef announced. "IG, please guard the outer hallway. The scouting party draws near," the Mandalorian lady said. Then she turned to Mando. "I have one more gift for your journey. Have you trained in the rising phoenix?" "When I was a boy, yes." "Then this will make you complete," she presented Mando with this weird, jetpack thing. The Mandalorian seemed very happy to get it, judging by the way he gasped "thank you". "When you have healed, you will begin your drills. Until you know it, it will not listen to your commands." "I understand."
Before Mando could take the jetpack, the bright, red light from firing blasters lit up one exit. Carl yanked out his gun very, very quickly, only for moments later for the droid to reappear. "You are protected," it stated in a flat tone. While Carl and Greef seemed mildly relieved, the Mandalorian lady spoke with a worry I'd never heard from her before. "More will come; you must go." "Come with us," Mando told her, but she declined. "My place is here. Restock your ammunition." She then made her way over to the robot. "IG, carry this for Djarin until he well enough to wear it. Now go, down to the river and across the plains." Mando approached her warmly; I watched the two Mandalorian with sympathy. I wished she was coming with us; she'd be safe with Mando and Carl. But alas, I respect her wishes as well. She and Mando stared at each other for a brief yet intense moment. "Be safe on your journey," she said. "Thank you," Mando told her. To my surprise, he came over to where I was standing next. My eyes widened in astonishment as his hand protectively took mine. While I glanced down from our clasped hands up to Mando's helmet, he simply took out his blaster and proceeded to guide me out of there. "Thanks for everything!" I hollered back at the Mandalorian lady. She said nothing, only watching us as we escaped down the tunnel.
"Will she be ok?" I asked no one in particular, though I'm sure Mando would know. "She'll be fine; she's a Mandalorian," Greef replied. He led the way into this hot, scary-looking room at the end of the tunnel. "This is the lava room," he explained to us. I took a moment to notice that Mando was still holding onto my hand, refusing to release it the whole time. Our hands were still locked together as he approached another, smaller robot- this one with a round head.
"The ferry droid is fried." "Yeah but we push the boat out; we can get it to float downstream. Come on," Greef proclaimed like this was a solid proof plan; Carl and Mando didn't act so sure. "Looks old. Will it take the heat?" The Mandalorian inquired. "You got a better idea?" Greef annoyedly shot back. "Guess not," Mando finally released my hand to help him push the vessel out. It sure looked and sounded like they were struggling. "Push!" Greef gasped. Mando, done with using his hands, tried kicking it with his foot- no luck. When that failed, he went off to the side. "Come on! What are you doing?! Push!" Greef was not happy. "Let's try this," the Mandalorian returned with a metal bar. Again, nothing.
I think Carl had had enough by this point. He grabbed this very heavy appearing gun and backed me up with his free arm. "You guys mind getting out of the way?" He asked before aiming it at the ship's side. They got back just in time before Carl shot the boat away from the dock. "Good job," Greef congratulated impressed. "Watch your feet. It's molten lava," the robot decreed. "Yeah, no kidding," Carl rolled his eyes and hopped onboard. Mando waited until he was securely on before grabbing me by my waist. "Carl," he said while hoisting me safely over the lava. I didn't ask or really need him to do that but wasn't going to complain. Carl also took me by the waist and made sure I was safe inside before offering a hand to Mando. Once we were all in the boat slowly, slowly started drifting down the lava river.
Things were uneventful at first but the moment the supposedly busted droid behind us started making noise, all three men had their blasters pointed at it. The robot, who was much taller than originally imagined, powered on and straightened up; it had a metal bar in its hands. It looked right at us. "I don't suppose anyone here speaks droid," Mando stated. "I believe he is asking where we would like to go," my droid responded. "Down river, to the lava flats," Greed tried. It beeped and began to paddle; they all put their guns away. Mando can to stand beside me and I sat down for the duration of the ride.
It wasn't a fun time. The heat radiating off the lava was intense. There were these strange, scary rodent creatures with glowing red eyes trailing us along the edge. I leaned up against the side of Mando's knee for comfort. He gazed down at me and didn't move, letting me stay like that. It took a while for Greef to say: that's it, we're free!
I straightened up and the Mandalorian took a few steps forward; I knew something was wrong by his body language. "No…. no, we're not. Stormtroopers; they're flanking the mouth of the tunnel. It looks like an entire platoon. They must know we're coming." Carl walked up to stand beside Mando; again, he gazed back to me nervously. "Stop the boat," he commanded. But the robot did not stop paddling. "Hey, droid. I said stop the boat." Still no response from our ferrying bot. Carl was getting angry now; I stood up just in time for him to march over to the droid. "Hey, I'm talking to you! I said stop!" My eyes grew wide as Carl pulled out his gun and aimed for the robot's neck. A single shot was fired effectively blasting off its head. Then he looked back my way with a concerned expression.
"We're still moving," Greef examined the situation. "Looks like we fight," Carl let out a defeated sigh. "There are too many," Mando retorted. "Well then what do you suggest? We're not going to surrender with her," Carl pointed in my direction. "They will not be satisfied with anything less than the woman. This is unexpectable. I will eliminate the enemy and you will escape." "You don't have that kind of firepower, pal. You wouldn't even get to daylight," Mando shot him down. But the robot said something surprising. "That is not my objective," it declared, and I blinked to it.
"We're getting close," my eyes then grew at the sensation of Carl taking me by the shoulders and practically shoving me into the droid. He then shot it a harsh glare. "Take her and keep her safe. We'll do the fighting," Carl growled, growing more impatient with the situation. "I still have the security protocols from my manufacture." "Your manufacture?" I asked it. "If my designs are compromised, I must self-destruct." "What are you talking about?" Mando came towards us; I don't think he liked me being so close to the droid anymore. "I am not permitted to be captured. I must be destroyed."
"Are we gonna keep talking or are we gonna get outta here?!" Greef cried. The robot ignored him, presenting Mando with his jetpack thingy. "I can no longer carry this for you, nor can I watch over the woman," we both stiffened as I was gently pushed into Mando by the droid. My cheeks blushed ever so slightly- cause this was the perfect time for that- as I was pressed right into Mando's side. But the Mandalorian was having none of the robot's nonsense. "Wait, you can't self-destruct. Your base command is to watch Saoirse. That supersedes your manufacture's protocol, right? Right?"
A tense moment of silence. "This is correct." "Good. Now grab a blaster and help us shoot our way out," Mando started to turn around until… "Victory through combat is impossible. We will be captured, and Saoirse will be lost. Sadly, there is no scenario where the woman is saved in which I survive." "Listen, you're not going anywhere. We need you; let's just come up with a….." "I must do this. Saoirse sacrificed herself for Kuiil in the desert. It is my turn to sacrifice myself for her." "You saw that?" I asked wide-eyed while all eyes turned to me surprised; though not too surprised.
The droid addressed Mando seriously now. "Please tell me the woman will be safe in your care. If you do so, I can default to my secondary command." The Mandalorian hesitated. "But you'll be destroyed….." "And you will live, and I will have served my purpose." "No, we need you," Mando sounded a bit shook up. This time I reached down to grab his hand; his fingers immediately wrapped around mine, giving my hand a squeeze.
"There's nothing to be sad about. I've never been alive." "I'm not….. sad," he sure sounded sad to me. I leaned my head in to rest on his shoulder in a comforting fashion. "Yes, you are. After all, I saved Saoirse from the stormtroopers and brought her to you. I am valuable to you- you who desires so much for her safety." It said this and despite the sad situation right now, my heart did a leap for joy. The droid turned to face me, and I smiled gently at it. My free hand reached over to caress its steel cheek in a tender manner. "Thank you," I whispered ever so graciously. With one last look my way, it turned its red eyes back to Mando and said its last words to us. "Do not grieve me, for I was never alive. I have never loved or felt regret. But I imagine the proof of love is the obsession to protect."
And with that it dove into the lava, going forward to protect us. We all watched, and I shut my eyes, now waiting for the inevitable; Mando hand was still reassuring wrapped around mine.