Disclaimer: I own nothing except for my OC Marnie and any alterations to the original storyline plot her presence creates to various readers amusement everywhere across the globe.
Mandalorian: The 2nd Foundling Chapter 1
Mando has to continue telling himself over and over again in a repetitive frame of mind that the enormous amount of Beskar he's going to acquire once delivering the asset intact was worth it.
Din Dijarin, Mando is currently finishing off the last of a band of Nikto mercenary's guarding his bounty inside a heavily guarded compound on the Outer Rim planet Arvala-7. Not as if Mando could've refused anyhow. The Beskar being offered as payment needs to be returned to Mandalorians. It's been a long time coming for that. Also, this is basically the only high paying assignment Greef Kargo has offered in the Guild for a while since he joined as part of it years prior. Much to his dismay the Client is an Imperial forced underground after the demise of the Empire. Mando isn't big on the Client being an Imperial, but there isn't much room for refusal. Succeeding in a job where others have been constantly failing will increase his reputation and approval ratings in the Guild substantially so.
Initially Mando had it all planned out as soon as he arrived at the fortress where the Nikto mercenary's guarding the place are holding the assets in containment. The signs from the duo tracking fobs provided by the Client definitely revealed that he was in the right place.
Using a birds eye view on the high ground to evaluate the area and check things out Mando had a plan. To use the element of surprise to sneak in to apprehend his quarry without any of those damned Nikto's the wiser of his presence here and eliminate those who did actually get in his way. He'd be in and out in a snap with little to no repercussions to boot.
That plan was shot to hell when an IG Unit, a bounty droid as they are called, came onto the scene. The IG Unit had sauntered directly into the fortress out in the open where the Nikto mercenary's could clearly see him.
Instead of handling things quietly and neatly as he first intended the situation has rapidly turned into one big heap of a mess. It became a shootout from there on out making Mando's job far more challenging than necessary. Where before the doors inside the compounds were mostly wide open now they were shut on lockdown.
Mando had no alternative, but to join the fight and convince the IG Unit to team up with him.
Sure it's a downer that he'll now be required to split the reward with the droid. In fact it's downright annoying. Still the amount of Beskar will still be big enough where a lot can be forged from it.
Truth be told Mando and the IG Unit worked pretty well together in this team up. Yes, they were severely outnumbered, but their combined skillset levels results in them both emerging from this confrontation alive despite how many times the IG Unit came close to activating his self-destruct functioning sequence in order to avoid getting captured at the enemies hands.
Now that's left now is to break inside through the bolted shut doors leading into the bunker and kill the single remaining Nikto they know is hiding within.
Mando and the IG Unit then take full advantage of the heavy-duty cannon on the E-Web to carve a hole in the doors.
Less than a second following this the lone Nikto leapt out of hiding to strike only to get killed on sight by Mando who quickly disposes the threat of an ambush.
"Anyone else," said Mando, daring those that might be hiding somewhere to step into the light and meet the same fate.
"The tracking fobs are still active. My sensors indicate that there is more than one life form present," said the IG Unite.
Mando then uses the tracking fobs to pinpoint the location of their targets. It leads him over to a mobile bassinet lightly covered by a fishnet. Mando removes the netting material, pressing a button on the cradle that causes it to open wide.
Mando and the IG Unit are greeted by emptiness.
"This does not compute," said the IG Unit. "Two life forms are said to be here."
Mando quickly solves the mystery. Hidden behind the bassinet and some crates piled together around it is a partially open grating into a small ventilation system. The IG Unit then tears it open with Mando dropping to one knee to peer inside with a cautious hand on his blaster.
What he finds is not what he expected to be.
Staring back at him in defiance and terror is a little five year old girl clutching a swaddled bundle tightly in her arms close to the chest. The little girl attempts to appear brave, holding onto the bundle in a show of fierce protectiveness only for this to be proven futile judging by how she's trembling.
This isn't right.
Yes, Mando knew that one of the assets as a young child, but the other is supposed to be 50 years old. He assumed that the assets were possibly an adult accompanied by their young offspring. The bundle moves and a tiny face peeks out from the fabric. This here is a second child physically even younger than the first with large bat-like ears, green skin, and big round eyes blinking back at them in a combined mixture of curiosity and fear.
This doesn't make any sense.
Perplexed, Mando said "Wait. They said 50 years old."
"Species age differently. Perhaps it could live many century's. Sadly, we will never know," said the IG Unit, raising its weapon to fire at the two helpless children.
Instantly the little girl whimpers shrinking backwards and curling more into a ball around the toddler in her arms.
Putting a restraining hand on the droids arm, Mando said "No. We'll bring them in alive."
Disagreeing with the decision, IG Unit proclaimed "The commission was quite specific. Both assets are to be terminated."
Totally different instructions than what he'd been given. Although if memory serves him correctly the Client did mention something about offering proof of death or something similar along the lines of that. That probably would've been the case if that Dr. Pershing hadn't objected to it so vehemently.
IG Unit then lifts his gun to dispose of the two children and complete his prime directive.
The IG Unit never sees the killing shot coming a the same time Mando fires in pointblank range at his head. The IG Unit collapses dead with a smoking hole in its head where the shot went through.
Mando tilts his head at the children appearing to study them in fascination. The green skinned toddler mimics the gesture blinking cutely at Mando. The little girls trembling slows to a halt as her gaze travels back and forth between him and the now out of commissioned IG Unit. In his eyes the little girl is exhibiting an aura of tentativeness and extreme caution, but his choice to save them from the IG Unit has put her somewhat at ease with him as it did the toddler though not to the same extent.
"What's your name," said Mando.
The little girl doesn't make a sound.
"Don't be afraid. I'm not going to hurt you. What's your name," repeated Mando.
"Marnie," said the little girl, quietly.
Holding out a coaxing hand to her, Mando said "Come on then. Let's get out of here."
Authors Note:
Wow! I had no idea this story would get such a huge following so fast. It's put a very big smile on my face.
Hope you all like this one! I certainly did while writing it for your vast enjoyment! ;D
I recently put up some other works I've put out at titled Secret Of Bristol Cove, Predators Redemption, A Revolutionary Romance, Fantine Tezla: Hot Wheels Acceleracers, Magic And the Brave Little Toaster 1, Lavinia: Princess Of Edelweiss, Rorschach's Legend, Mandalorian: The 2nd Foundling, Eira Byrnison, Watchmen Meets Avengers: The Newest Defender, The 8th Loser, Naomi Poldark: Mistress Of Nampara, Serenity: End Guardian To The Moors, Dido Cruger: Power Rangers SPD, and Nuala: The White Lioness. I highly recommend them. ;D
By the way Rorschach's Legend, Mandalorian: The 2nd Foundling, Eira Byrnison, and Watchmen Meets Avengers: The Newest Defender are the newest additions to my profile. If you're a fan of the Golden Compass and Watchmen which are the new series on HBO then you will love these. Then if you haven't saw them yet then I recommend that you check it out. Since there are still just recently uploaded I really would enjoy hearing other peoples thoughts on the subject matter so far. So feel free to do so if you have the time.
I have other grand news! I was a patron at New York Comic Con! Ah! I'd been dying to go for years and now I had the opportunity. The Jokers from Impractical Jokers have been here along with Tom Hiddleston and so many others. Over those few days I actually got my picture taken with a couple of other actors/actresses and some really great panels. It really is so exciting there. This is an opportunity of a lifetime so there's no way in hell that I was going to waste a single second of it. No one ever should with something like this. Ever! ;D
For future preferences I highly recommend that you all keep an eye out for when tickets for New York Comic Con are available for purchase again for next year. This is a huge event and you should jump on it whenever you have the chance.