PADAWAN
Din Djarin is not himself and the man is terrified.
A/N: I love the story of Din Djarin and Grogu. I don't need anything else. Also I am writing this because of the force/my inspiration Pedro Pascal and not for monetary gain. I have spoken.
Additional Characters: Cara Dune, Fennec Shand, Bobba Fett, Bo Katan Kryze, Koska Reeves
Note: This event happened after Season 2 Episode 16. The chapters ran long this time but I'm happy with it. I hope you all like it.
Please don't be shy to review and tell me what you think. Thank you!
CHAPTER 5
RIDE
Moff Gideon's cruiser-
The lift door closed the sight of fallen storm troopers and crew of the cruiser. Din Djarin leaned his back to the wall with a sigh, eyes closed. He could feel exhaustion washing over him. It felt like he had been riding on pure adrenaline the whole time since Grogu got snatched from Tython.
"I'm sorry, Din." Cara Dune said softly, "I know you love the kid."
"Before we went to Tython I think I hurt Grogu's feelings." Din Djarin continued as Dune's eyes asked the question. "I said something harsh." He continued as the Marshall leaned back to the wall as well. "He was being stubborn as always, he's like that. I was…" it was suddenly hurt to talk. He looked up when Cara firmly grabbed his shoulder.
"Hey, he knows you love and care for him. I saw it." She had that soft look in her eyes which calmed him. Din reached up and grasped Cara's hand on his shoulder. Din nodded and Cara smiled back; a whole mile of understanding passed in that short moment between the two.
Then the lift door swung open.
Din and Cara cautiously exited the lift, weapons drawn. At the far end of the massive Tie Fighter launching bay they could hear angry voices. The shouting gets louder as they walk toward the two groups.
"We need to break that up before someone regrets something." Din Djarin muttered as he returned his blaster to its holster.
Cara Dune snorted. "Uh, I'm all for letting natural event take place, you know?"
The quip got a chuckle from the Mandalorian, "Yeah, you're right." The bounty hunter and the Marshall stopped far enough to figure out what the four people were arguing about. "It could be interesting."
-0-0-
"Mando is going with us!" Boba Fett spread his arms arrogantly with a snide grin; daring the two Mandalorian females.
"And he'll be what?" Bo Katan retorted snidely back, "Your new bounty hunter partner? Don't make me laugh!"
"Oh, so your plan is to turn him into this symbol of the new Mandalore and give him a grand new title?" The man sniggered.
"Let Mando decide what he wants." Fennec raised a brow at the armor clad females.
"I thought we bounty hunters are the lowest of the low in your eyes, princess?"
"The question is: would your high society accept and follow a former bounty hunter?" Fennec Shand asked.
"Mandalore needs a new leader…"
"Sidekicks do not speak!" The scarred man put a finger on his lips.
"Tell that to your sidekick…" Kozka jerked her head to Fennec.
"There's only one sidekick here, girl, and that's NOT me." Fennec raised her nose up at the Nite Owl.
"Care to continue that unfinished business at the cantina, huh?" Reeves advanced and Bo Katan reached out to block her way.
"What are you waiting for!" The older man slapped his chest armor with a sneer.
-0-0-
"Looks like your fan base." Cara Dune smirked.
"That's not funny." Din Djarin shook his head at the joke.
"Hey," Dune jerked her head towards the docked ships. "Let's not waste time. We got to find our ride."
The two friends jog toward where the bigger transport vehicles were stored.
"To avoid detection we just toss out anything that could…" Then Din stopped as something caught his attention. "By the old gods…." He choked as if he was spellbound. Like metal caught by a magnet the Mandalorian went off somewhere to the right.
"Din?" Cara Dune whirled around the cavernous area filled with transport of all sizes and configuration, then noticed a missing Mando. "Din! Where the hell are you?" she was about to let out another curse word…
"Dune!"
Cara stood still then followed the voice. She found Din Djarin standing under the hulking shadow of a personnel transport ship.
"I think I found my new ride." He said in awe as he runs his hand on the hull. "It's perfect."
-0-0-
Ten minutes later plus an entire console of the tracking system tossed over the window Din and Cara high fived and fired up the engines.
"That sounds great." Din Djarin smiled under the helmet. The DX-9 when remodeled and refitted for his needs, would give him a bigger living and sleeping room not to mention more space to stash his bounty, supplies and new weapons. "The right engine is a little off but it's fixable." Din looked around the cockpit. "The exterior and interior design and features should definitely be changed." The engine roared as he tested the maneuverability of the transport ship on the runway.
"Yep." Cara agreed; glad that the man has more life in his voice. "You'll be popular if you go to the wrong part of the town." Cara chuckled back.
-0-0-
While Din Djarin and Cara Dune were having a great time at Din's new ride the atmosphere went from tense to danger with the 'fan base.' That was when Kozka went on a full offensive and swung at Fett but the man lowered his head but Reeves gave him a roundhouse kick on the shoulder instead. The man stumbled back but caught his balance…
"Come on." Fennec Shand faced Bo Katan as the loading bay rang with beskar on beskar. "Let them fight."
"This is insane!" Bo Katan raised a brow when the assassin turned the high powered rifle on her. "Are you serious?!"
"I'm guessing this brawl happens all the time among your people, right?" The assassin continued when the Mandalorian royalty didn't answer. "Aren't you tired of all that fighting?"
"Let me pass," The wrist blade clicked out of the vambrace, "assassin."
"Aw," Shand pouted theatrically, "what about our chat?" she positioned the rifle properly, looking into the scope. "That area right there," she whispered as the barrel traced an imaginary circle on Bo's chest, "is the thinnest." the Mandalorian paled when the assassin's face turned beautifully evil.
Shand sharply turned her head when a hand grabbed her weapon and pushed it firmly down.
"Come on, ladies." Cara Dune used her best Marshall voice. "That," she nodded to the snoring Gideon, "is the target not one of us, okay?" She looked at both and was relieved when both women grudgingly gave their nods and put away their weapons.
"Fett!" Din Djarin found the older bounty hunter and the Nite Owl in a savage fight. Four parked ships have been damaged in their duel. He shoved Kozka against one ship and swiped Fett's legs under him with the Beskar spear. "Enough!" He kept the spear pointed towards Fett and readied a whistling bird on Kozka.
Din's jaw fell when Reeves dropped on one knee to him. "Wh..what…?"
"You fucking…" then Boba Fett noticed the other Mandalorian, "Oh…uh, I'm done." The man even raised a hand as if in surrender.
Din looked at Kozka on one knee, head down. "Get up…please." The woman stood, bowed and left, but not before giving Fett a threatening glare. "Okay…that's good. I guess."
-0-0-
"No."
One word stopped the clamoring voices instantly.
"You can't leave…" Bo gasped. She followed him as when he went to the DX-9.
"No." now a hand was raised to stress his point. "That's my final decision." Din walked toward Bo Katan. "You only need to take the saber but you refused it." He unclipped the weapon and held it out. Again.
The woman averted her eyes. "I can't." she whispered.
"So you need to kill me so you could wield it." Din saw the pain in her eyes at the non-question.
"No…" the red-head shook her head firmly. "I don't believe in that stupid rule." She spat. "Not anymore."
"I'm lucky then." Din shook his head when the woman remained serious. "If you don't take it from me right now…"
Bo Katan went closer to Din and gripped his arm. "You are now the rightful owner of it."
"As you say, but I don't like the precept that entails the ownership of this saber. What kind of people would hand the leadership of a race or a planet to one person just because he or she has more strength to defeat his opponent? What about the wisdom to rule?"
The words impressed Bo Katan and she was speechless.
Din didn't realize he and Bo Katan were now standing toe to toe. "If I were to rule Mandalore I would do it my own way. If you do not agree with it then challenge me right here, right now."
-0-0-
Boba Fett started to chuckle knowingly. "Uh-hooo! Look at that." Then he turned and winked at Dune and Fennec. "Looks like before this day ends our boy is not only gonna have a throne but a consort as well. Dank Farrik!"
-o-o-0-o-o-