The Mandalorians

Season 3 Chapter 1 The Apostates

The N1 starship exited out of hyperspace and began to make a descent into an unknown planet.

"So this is where the covert made camp?" Osa asked, "How did you find them Papi?"

"I've been in contact," Din replied not revealing the mission he knew him and his daughter would have to achieve; go to the mines of Mandalore and bathe in the waters in order to be redeemed back into the Creed.

Din wasn't convinced if Osa would want to rejoin the covert, but she did return to him fully dressed in her armor, maybe she did want to walk in the ways of the Mandalore?

Yazel began to stir and make gurgling noises when the ship entered the atmosphere.

"Papi, do you see that on your scope?" Osa pointed out. There seemed to be a large target that was causing havoc in the distance.

Din quickly switched views on his hologram and noticed the Creed was under attack. Din immediately shot off his twin canons and noticed the blast made no impact, he flew the N1 into attack position and fired the proton torpedo.

On immediate impact, the crocodile like creature fell to its demise when Din landed the ship and opened the canopy. The Creed looked on when Yazel waved and Osa whispered to her father, "Doesn't feel like a warm welcome."

Din, Osa, and Yazel cautiously walked passed their former Creed, feeling the intense glares. Upon entering the Armorer's forge she immediately reminded Din and Osa of their betrayal.

"You have removed your helmet, Din. What's worse, you did so of your own free will."

"Papi, you told her you removed your helmet? She would have never known," Osa whispered, "At least she doesn't know that my entire armor was fully removed," Osa mumbled down to Yazel.

"And you, Osa, completely exposed, also breaking the code," the Armorer stated.

"If I may," Osa stepped forward, "I literally had no control over that. You see I was kidnapped…"

"SILENCE!" the Armorer exclaimed, "Free will or not, you both are no longer Mandalorians."

"That's a bit harsh. Papi you don't seemed surprised by this," Osa said.

"I've known for sometime," Din replied.

"And you kept this from me," Osa didn't know what to make of her father keeping this serious accusation a secret from her, but then she realized ever since she joined the Creed at the age of ten Osa had always fought her father on how to escape it. She realized he most likely feared she wouldn't rejoin.

"The Creed teaches us of redemption," Din tried to convince.

"Redemption is no longer possible since the destruction of our home world," The Armorer declared.

"But what if the mines of Mandalore still exist?"

"All was destroyed in the Purge."

"Is this inscription not Mandalorian?" Din pulled out a crystalized plate. He placed it on a table when everyone sat on a side.

"Where did you come upon this?" the Armorer questioned.

"Jawas. They came upon it by trade from a traveler who claimed to have visited the surface of Mandalore."

The Armorer picked up the inscription with belief, "Then this relic only proves that Mandalore's entire surface has been crystalized by fusion rays."

"But a traveler was able to retrieve this, so perhaps, its not poisoned. If we visit the planet and bring you proof that we have bathed in the living waters beneath the mines of Mandalore, then by Creed, the decree of exile will be lifted and we would be redeemed."

"This is the way," the Armorer's way of agreeing, getting up and returning to her work.

Din and Osa also stood when Din declared he would see the Creed again.

Din, Osa, and Yazel boarded the ship and took off. The ride stayed quiet until Osa radioed her father, "So when were you going to tell me we had been kicked out of the Creed?"

"Eventually."

"Really, because it seemed like you just allowed the Armorer to explain everything instead."

Din just sighed unable to express his words.

"Papi, you know my abilities have enhanced. I could sense you across the galaxy. I know what you are feeling now, talk to me."

"If you can sense my feelings than you know my concerns," Din forced himself to say.

"That I won't rejoin the Creed."

Din stayed silent.

"Technically I never 'intentionally' broke the Creed, I was forced, but I know how much it means to you to be apart of something that is bigger than our little clan. And the amount of time I spent outside my armor, I did feel naked, like I was breaking an oath. I want to go with you on this journey Papi and reclaim our Mandalorian rights. This is the way," Osa ended.

Din's heart swelled with pride and joy because his intentions were never to talk her into rejoining the Creed. She had to come to that conclusion on her own. If Osa choose to walk a different path he would support her decision, but for her to choose the way of the Mandalore, he couldn't be more proud when all he responded was with, "This is the way."

The N1 had been traveling through hyperspace for quite sometime, giving Din, Osa, and Yazel a chance to get some sleep. Osa kept squirming, unable to fully immerse herself within slumber, because in the back of her mind she felt Yazel cooing, wanting to get her attention. Osa tilted her draggy head frustrated on the reason why he wasn't allowing her to sleep.

"What Yazel?" Osa said in a groggy voice, swinging her head to the side Yazel was drawn to.

He gently reached out and touched the glass sensing the mysterious figures traveling with them through hyperspace. "Son of a bantha," Osa also pressed her hand against the glass, it was as if she could feel and hear these creatures.

Their hypnotic calls seemed to almost put Yazel and Osa in a trance when the two quickly removed their hands and stared a head.

"I think that's enough hyperspace travel for now," Osa convinced herself hoping they were almost to their destination.

Luckily it wasn't long before the N1 reached Nevarro and they began their decent. Over the comms a droid welcomed them to an independent trade anchor and Outer Rim Hyperlane port. The droid continued asking for them to state the purpose for their visit.

"Here to meet an old friend," Din informed when they landed in a well established port.

The three ventured into town seeing how much the city had grown and flourished over time.

"Wow, I guess planets can turn around with the right leadership, hey Papi," Osa hinted because she knew her dad was a natural born leader and could easily lead the Mandalorians to greatness.

Din stayed silent knowing all to well what his daughter was implying, but wouldn't acknowledge because he couldn't envision himself leading an entire Creed, only his clan.

A droid was walking through the streets encouraging the citizens to visit the shops, eat the local delicacies, and intake the black lava canyon sights while soaking in the geothermal springs.

"Papi, what should we do first?" Osa said with enthusiasm when the three walked into the main square.

Directly in the middle stood a statue of the IG-11 droid, which at first was their foe, but with Kuill's ability to reprogram, IG-11 became their confident. Din, Osa, and Yazel gazed up at the droid, each remembering their friend in their own way when a familiar voice broke their remembrance.

"Mando and Kiddo!" Greef Karga exclaimed in happiness, especially seeing Osa.

In instinct Osa ran to him as he waited for her embrace with open arms, when she stopped herself afraid to wrinkle his exquisite clothing.

"What's wrong Kiddo, don't want to be seen giving this old man a hug," Greef said a little disappointed.

"No, its just I think I'll be arrested if I put a single wrinkle in your glorious wardrobe," Osa joked but went in for the hug anyways when Greef chuckled with delight.

"I heard you were back, but I didn't believe it," he turned to Din.

"Magistrate Karga," Din addressed.

"That's High Magistrate Karga to you," Greef said letting go of Osa and approaching Din. The two greeted each other with a forearm Roman handshake and laughter, "Come, let's catch up on old times," he placed a hand on Osa and Din leading them into his headquarters while declaring how good it was seeing them again.

"We are an official trade spur of the Hydian Way," Greef began to explain while leading Din to his balcony over looking the city.

"Congratulations," Din stated with sincerity.

"Come on give me a turn," Osa pestered Yazel having all the fun in Karga's swivel chair.

"We've got a construction boom going on in the city," Greef started painting a picture for Din, "The belters are mining the asteroid fields at the edge of the system. There's a lot of money to be made on Nevarro."

"I can see," Din stated.

"I can set you up with a prime tract right over by the hot springs. You, Kiddo, and the little one," Greef pointed towards the kids who were enthusiastically using the Force to spin within the chair together. Normally this behavior would freak others out, but Greef became use to their abilities, "You three can settle down, hang up your blaster. Live off the fat of the land."

"I've tried it before, and now we have other priorities," Din declared.

"Come, I wanna show you something. Now as I was saying," Greef pulled up a holo map, "There's a beautiful parcel available right down here by the flats."

"I appreciate the offer, but we have matters to look after."

"I'm confused, I thought you completed your mission, but you're still running around here with the same little critter," Greef pointed towards Yazel who sat in Osa's lap as they giggled in glee while spinning.

Din placed a hand on the chair gently stopping their motion, "It's complicated. We completed the quest, but they returned to me. My daughter's armor was removed and I removed my helmet, now we both are apostates to our Creed," Din revealed.

"Which is all the more reason for the three of you to stay here with us. Where you are from, you may be an apostate, but here, you'd be landed gentry," Greef informed but was interrupted by his droid.

"Magistrate!"

"High Magistrate," he corrected.

"Yes, High Magistrate. Apologies."

"Your timing couldn't be any worse."

"But its just that, there's someone here to see you," the droid expressed.

"It can wait," Greef became impatient.

"But it's pirates. Pirates in the courtyard!"

Without thought everyone went down to the courtyard to see what the commotion was about, a band of five pirates stood in the entrance of Nevarro's school arguing to get in. Greef approached them without fear and addressed the leader Vane.

"That'll be enough of that."

"Greef Karga, my old friend. I knew you wouldn't insult us. Come join us for a drink," Vane insisted when Din leaned up against a tree acting as Karga's back up while Din situated Yazel and Osa behind him.

Greef keeping his cool tried to steer Vane and his bandits back to his office, but Vane wasn't having it, reminding Karga how it was a cut from Vane's bosses treasure that built the saloon in the first place.

"Pirate King Gorian Shard's name is familiar to all in this sector. Come, join me for a drink back at my office. We'll toast to your captain," Greef directed Vane and his men but they weren't budging.

"We drink here," Vane declared.

"Do your ears need to be cleaned out? That's a school," Osa stepped out behind her father.

"Well, well, well, little girl. I say it's still a bar."

"Is there a problem here, Magistrate?" Din took a stance.

"Is there a problem here?" What do you think?" Greef questioned Vane.

"Not if you serve me a drink," Vane was persistent.

"Not in my school," Greef declared.

"You here that boys," Vane and his men got in position, "His school. You paid us for murder and mayhem inside these doors," Vane reveled his blaster, "Sounds like you went soft."

"You think so," Greef revealed his own, "Try me."

The tension was high but with a quick draw Greef shot first blasting Vane's weapon out of his hand, "Tell Captain Gorian Shard that Nevarro is no longer friendly to pirates. Now get outta here," Greef demanded but Vane's bandits had other intentions.

Immediately they drew their weapons but Din was already a step ahead, shielding his children first and blasting simultaneously. Greef joined in as Din and Karga took out all the pirates except for Vane.

"Get out of here," Greef demanded as Vane ran away.

"You sure you want to let him go?" Din questioned blaster still at the ready.

"He'll let it be known that Nevarro is respectable now and not to be trifled with."

"I would say Magistrate Greef Karga is definitely someone not to be trifled with," Osa expressed while mimicking his quick draw with her hands.

"Thanks Kiddo."

Everyone left the scene while Greef told his droid to clean up the mess, "I gotta level with you, Mando. I need a marshal."

"What about Marshal Dune?" Din asked.

"After she brought in Moff Gideon, she was recruited by Special Forces."

"And what became of Gideon?" Osa asked with a ping of fear, remembering what Gideon did to her.

"He was sent off to a New Republic War Tribunal. So what do you say? You ready to put on the stripes and collect a healthy stipend? You'd make a very fine lawman and in a few years Kiddo here could be deputy," Greef pointed out.

"Please if Papi won't even lead his own people," Osa stated when Din looked back at her, only she knowing the glare he was giving her.

"Why not request a marshal from the New Republic?" Din moved the conversation forward.

"The last thing we intend is to bow down to yet another far-off bureaucracy. No. Under my watch Nevarro will become the first truly independent trade anchor in this entire sector," Greef stated.

"I can't serve as your marshal. I have something pressing to attend to," Din informed.

"Yah, taking a sacred bath," Osa snarked.

"Apologies, I didn't know you were here on business. What can we provide," Greef said.

"I need him back," Din pointed to IG-11.

"IG-11 was destroyed on the lava river. This is just a statue."

"These are his parts, are they not?"

"I mean, what's left of them. We were lucky to recover any of his parts after he self-destructed."

"I need a droid I can trust to help me explore Mandalore, and he's that droid."

"Mando, we've got plenty of droids around here, we'll find you one. I guarantee it."

"Let me give it a shot," Din said with persistence.

Everyone headed back to Greef's office when Din began working on the upper half of IG-11, because that was all that was recovered. Din was in tuned, mindset he was going to be able to resurrect the droid. Sparks flew, wires were being pulled and twisted together, as Din stayed focused everyone else looked on with doubt.

"First Papi hated droids, then he befriended droids, and now he's building droids. Papi always keeps us on our toes," Osa said to Yazel.

"There, he's hooked up to power. Let's see if we can wake him up," Din held his breath while sparking the last two wires, but the droid stayed immobile.

Osa approached her father, putting her hand on his shoulder, "Whelp, you gave it your best shot," but then IG-11's hand started to move, "He's powering up, instead of destroying a droid you're actually bringing one back. I'm so proud of you Papi. You're showing real growth."

Din just shook his head, but with a smirk on his face.

"Subparagraph sixteen-teen-teen of the Bondman Guild protocol waiver. Immediately produce said…the bounty is mine. Asset to be terminated," IG-11 stuttered.

"Um that doesn't sound good," Osa brought to her father's attention when she pointed to IG-11's sensors turning from white to red.

The droid's only working arm snapped at Yazel, but with Din's quick reflexes picked up his son. Drawing his weapon, Din shot at IG-11 as it leapt off the table and menacing crawled towards Yazel repeatedly stating to terminate the asset.

Din's blaster wasn't doing any damage when IG-11 gripped Din's leg ready to kill, with quick thinking Din shouted for Osa as Din pitched Yazel to her. She caught him with ease but was defenseless as IG-11 turned its attention to her.

"Shoot it Papi!"

"I'm trying, nothings working!" Din said in a panic.

IG-11 was closing in when Osa felt a calling. Just like on Gideon's ship when the Dark Troopers were closing in, Osa felt it, the calling of the Darksaber.

Immediately she extended her hand and pulled the saber off of her father's belt. Without thought she ignited the blade and performed one fatal sweep, decapitating IG-11.

"That's one way to lose your head," Greef said bewildered at the type of weapon Osa used.

She retracted the blade and handed it back to her father.

"I think he defaulted to his old programming," Din informed.

"What tipped you off," Osa sarcastically replied.

Din and Osa gathered IG-11 and placed the droid in a cart. Greef insisted that Nevarro attracted the best droid smiths out of the entire Outer Rim. He led them to the side of a building, which appeared to have no entry.

"They'll have IG back to his old self in no time," Greef promised.

"Who exactly," Osa asked, baffled on where this shop was.

"Are you sure they're up for it? I don't think I can handle him with all his limbs if things go scud," Din stated.

"Or just leave it to Kiddo here," Greef smiled, "No worries, why don't you ask'em for yourself."

"Again, who and where?" Osa peered around when a tiny door opened on the side of the wall and an Anzellan stepped out.

"What do you want?" the tiny creature asked when everyone peered down in skeptic.

"Aww it's so cute," Osa squealed.

Din, Osa, and Yazel crawled inside the Anzellan's shop and waited while they worked on IG-11. The four little creatures looked at each other, waved their instruments around, and declared they couldn't fix the droid.

The Anzellan's dialect came out broken, almost gibberish, as Din and Osa couldn't comprehend.

"Uh okay, I think they're trying to tell us something," Osa whispered to her father because she didn't want to come off rude on not understanding their dialect.

"I don't understand. Do you speak Huttese?" Din tried to reach a common ground when Greef stepped in.

"Mando, he said he can't fix it," Greef peered through the doorway.

"That's no good, I need this one. This one is my friend," Din specified.

"It not friend anymore. Memory circuit broken," the main Anzellan tech said as Greef repeated so Din could understand.

"Can't you just put in a new one?" Osa questioned.

"Don't make new one. Very hard to find," the Anzellan declared as Greef also repeated when Din assured Greef he understood.

"Buy new droid. This one poodoo."

"Papi buying a droid, that's as likely as the Empire returning," Osa joked.

"Can you fix it without the memory circuit?" Din asked.

"Yes, but IG no think," the Anzellan informed.

"What if I find you the part?"

"Okay, now. Then no problem. We fix," but then mass hysteria broke out when Yazel embraced the main Anzellan tech.

Din reached over to make Yazel release the creature and declared they are not pets.

"No squeeze. Bad baby."

"Sorry about that. He's young," Din stated.

"Can I hold one?" Osa asked but her father gave her his usual side eye of 'no,' "Yazel got to hold one," she pouted and folded her arms.

Din, Osa, and Yazel boarded their ship as Greef wished them off.

"Keep IG-11 safe until we get back with the part," Din said.

"You have my word, safe travels," Greef declared.

Din took the N1 to the sky and headed into space. He left it on autopilot and began teaching Yazel about navigation.

"Being a Mandalorian is not just learning about how to fight, you also have to know how to navigate the galaxy, because you never know where you might be headed next."

"Have fun Yazel with all of Papi's boring, oops, I mean insightful lessons," Osa teased, "Luckily I've heard them all."

"So you think you're done with my teachings?" Din questioned.

"You said so yourself," Osa reminded, "Did you not state that your teachings as a Mandalorian have come to an end? Your words not mine," Osa chuckled.

"In the ways of a Mandalorian this is true, but the teachings as a father to his daughter is infinite."

Osa could do nothing but smile under her helmet and cherish her father's love. Din returned his focus back on Yazel and began showing him the controls of the ships.

"This here is your hyperspace map. You determine your range by looking at your fuel gauge. And this," when Din was cut off by alarms.

"Means we're in trouble!" Osa shouted while the screen screeched and turned red notifying about enemy ships.

Coming over the comms was the pirate they let go back on Nevarro, "Avast, Mandalorian you can't just sneak away after cutting down four of my brothers in cold blood," Vane spate, "We're Pirate King Gorian Shard's men, now you'll answer to him."

"Pirating doesn't seem like a good fit for Gorian Shard. He should stick to hijacking and ransoming," Din stated.

"Burn Papi!"

"After him," Van shouted as they began closing in on the N1.

Din blasted off and headed straight into an asteroid field. He maneuvered the N1 gracefully but yet did several aerial spins in a row to divert their attackers blasts. Yazel giggled with delight, but Osa put her hand to her helmet believing this would help her press down the bile that was rushing to her mouth.

Din righted the ship while Osa radioed, "Can you not do that again. I think my lunch is going to end up in my helmet."

"Sorry Mi Pequeno, you're going to have to hang in there," when suddenly the console blared signaling three more ships approaching.

One by one Din creatively used the asteroids to his advantage to pick off Vane's fleet. Din eliminated everyone as Vane's ship was the last. Eagerly Din followed when he was lead to open space as a large Star cruiser awaited them. Another alarm began blaring warning them of the danger.

"Dank Farrik. They have a target lock on us," Din said with a hint of wary.

"If we're taken out at least my nausea will be gone," Osa rested her helmet against the dome hoping to get her equilibrium back.

"Stop where you are, Mandalorian. You're outgunned," Gorian Shard demanded.

"I have no quarrel with you," Din replied.

"What a kind sentiment from a man who just destroyed four of my fighters. Surrender your ship and I will spare your life."

"Kids, never trust a pirate," Din stated when he pressed his booster and blasted straight past Shard's ship.

The N1 approached a planet called Kalevala and began its decent.

"We've never been here before," Osa said in taking the sights.

"It's another planet in the Mandalorian system, and that is a Mandalorian castle," Din pointed to a huge steel looking structure situated on the edge of a cliff.

The N1 landed as the three were greeted by a droid and escorted to the throne room. Din, Osa, and Yazel ventured down the long corridor seeing someone leisurely sitting on her throne.

"Bo Katan. It is Din Djarin."

"We're telling others our names now?" Osa questioned because of how discreet they have been for practically her whole life apart from their own clan. Din just nodded signally the OK for his daughter to announce herself, "And Osa Djarin," Osa then leaned towards her father and started to whisper, "I didn't know she was royalty. Do we need to bow?" Osa asked in seriousness when Din shook his head 'no.'

He turned back to Bo and declared that the three were there to join her.

"There's nothing left to join," Bo said in defeat.

"What are your plans to retake Mandalore?' Din questioned.

"When I returned without the Darksaber, my forces melted away," Bo informed.

"Where is the stolen fleet?"

"Making their way through the galaxy as mercenaries. Do you still have the saber?"

"I do."

"Then you lead them. Wave that thing around and they'll do whatever you say."

Osa wanted to jump in on the conversation, but knew her father would scold her.

"So you gave up your desires to retake Mandalore?" Din asked.

"Your cult gave up on Mandalore long before the Purge. Where were you then? The Children of the Watch and all the factions that came before fractured and shattered our people. Go home. There's nothing left," Bo ended.

"We're going to Mandalore. So that we may bathe in the living waters and be forgiven for our transgressions," Din informed.

"You are a fool. There's nothing magic about the mines of Mandalore. They supplied Beskar ore to our ancestors and the rest is superstition. That planet has been ravaged, plundered, and poisoned."

"You said the curse was a lie. Make up your mind," Osa pointed out.

"If you want to go to the mines, be my guest. They're beneath the civic center in the city of Sundari," Bo said.

"Thank you and I will find out if the planet is really poisoned," Din promised when he walked off.

Yazel soon followed in his pod but Osa remained staring at a once great warrior, "What happened to your fire? Did it burn out?" Osa seriously asked.

"With everything I've been through kid, it's easy for the fire to be smothered."

"Then ignite it. You say for my father to lead, and yes he could, because when I look at him I see nothing but loyalty and determination, something I strive to achieve. He could easily be the ruler of Mandalore, our clan looks to him, but he is content with only leading his children, he doesn't want it. The Mandalorians need someone who wants it, so want it, or just sulk. We always have a choice," Osa didn't candy coat things because she could sense Bo needed a boost in the right direction.

"You don't hold back, kid," Bo said.

"You can't because if you hold yourself back, you'll never see how far you can push yourself. Please push yourself," Osa bowed her head and left hoping her pep talk would jump start Bo's return to glory.