PADAWAN
Din Djarin: bounty hunter, father, Mand'alor and...Force wielder? This man needs help and who better to help him but Ahsoka Tano.
~(o.o)~
A/N: I love the story of Din Djarin and Grogu. Also I am writing this because of the force/my inspiration Pedro Pascal and not for monetary gain. I have spoken.
Note 1 : If you want to imagine what Yuno, Din's attendant would look like I might have gotten the idea from Season 2 Episode 15-The Believer. There was a kid on the side of the road.
Note 2: I created a file on Pinterest about Din Djarin's cute cottage in Calodan under the name Acer Wolfe. Just so if you're curious, look for it at Silver Moon Inuyoukai board.
Please leave a review and tell me what you think. Thank you!
CHAPTER 16
HOW TO TRAIN A MAND'ALOR
Part 10
THE FINAL VICTIM
From Chapter 15:
"Tell me why you want me to train and surpass you?"
"Because if you want to leave a safe future for your child then you need to make sure you can die without worry."
"What kind of danger are we talking about?" Then Din held out a hand. "One more thing: who the hell are you?"
-o-0-o-
The question made the dark man chuckle loud, "I like that, kid. Blunt. Straight to the point." The male Jedi reached over to Din Djarin. "Let's just say I have known your son for a long time."
Din grabbed the hand in return but didn't let go. "I gather that, but I still need your name."
"Mace Windu." The former Jedi master eyed the man who let his hand go. 'By the Force! Netherworld or not,' the Jedi flexed his fingers giving the other man a gruff huff of admiration, 'That grip …The damn kid wasn't even making an effort.'
"Why did you choose me?" Din frowned suspiciously at the sudden appearance of two mugs of steaming drink on the center table.
"I didn't choose you." The Jedi took his, nodding to the younger man to do the same.
"What?" Din hesitated in picking the mug for a moment. His hand even went up to his chin then he remembered his lack of headgear and for some reason he didn't really care about not having it. Besides, he's sure there's no precedence in Mando'a culture about meeting the dead without your buy'ce.
"The Force did." Mace held up a hand at the coming barrage of questions. "The Force senses a disturbance and it 'tells' us, the Jedi."
Din slowly picked the steaming mug, sniffing, there seemed to be some kind of fragrant tea in it. "'Tells you?' You mean it talks to you…in a voice?" He's not much of a tea drinker but, it's good.
"You will know when the Force is telling you something." The man shook his head. "You will need to meditate to get more attuned to its 'push,' so to speak." As Din took another sip of tea Mace studied the man before him. "You don't have a lot of time."
"How much time…." Din slurred. The Mandalorian shook his head and looked at his cup in wonderment as it fell to the floor and shattered at his feet. He leaned over, hands braced on the low table.
-o-0-o-
'Skywalker…that name! That name again!' the legs of the metal chair screeched loudly against the floor.
"Mistress…?" the officer manning the coms bureau looked up, quickly closing his ledger with a small bang. The man stood up with a smile and tried to make his uniform neat for Ahsoka.
'Skywalker…'
"Uh…uh…hi! Should I turn off the transmitter now?," the officer hesitantly tried to follow the Togruta but his call fell on deaf ears. Oh, face turned down a little at being forgotten. All he could do was follow her retreating back with longing in his eyes. "Uh…mistress?"
'Skywalker!'
"What did she say?" he murmured. Downcast, the officer turned off the communications transmitter and went back to his desk. He flipped open his notebook and sighed in relief. Thank goodness she didn't see what's in it. The officer sat back down at his table, picking up a pencil he continued to carefully sketch the montrals of the most beautiful creature he had ever seen in his life…
-o-0-o-
"Kid," Mace got up and gently pushed the bleary-eyed warrior to the couch. Din's head lolled back, "we're gonna have to push the boundaries of learning for you and let's hope you don't die on us." The Jedi shook his other hand free of his sleeves, "You ready?" he looked up as another joined him.
"This feels wrong, master Windu." The blond man looked at the glowing hand of the older Jedi with apprehension.
Mace raised a brow that the other man bristled from. "You? Don't feel right about this? Really?" The older man glared at the other force ghost. "Kind of late at this point, isn't it?"
"I've taken so many wrong steps in my life." He turned tortured eyes to the older Jedi. "I don't want this man to be my last victim!" He clenches his fists.
"Look, you are not going to be inside his soul, if that's what you're afraid of. You'll just be sharing your skills just like I would. Nothing else."
"And if he turns to the dark side….?" The younger Force ghost paced in worry.
"I will be honest to you; it's going to be his choice. It would not be your fault. We were there when this man lost everything. After the Force had chosen him but he did not turn. He is strong. You know he is." Mace looked down at the Mandalorian, "the disturbance is about to grow strong. This was the Jedi's error a long time ago; we felt it but we were late in taking action. And this one has no time to master the skills he needed. Commune with the Force, let it guide you."
-o-0-o-
'Skywalker…'
Ahsoka's brisk steps took her back to the guest cottages but halfway there she stopped, gasping in the middle of the path overcome with emotion.
Anakin…she looked up at the partially starlit sky but her eyes seemed to be swimming….
Her fingers came away wet from her face. By the mother…five years ago she heard about his death. She couldn't recall where she was when the news reached her but she vividly remembered the numbness that poured over her.
He's gone. He's dead.
No, they're wrong! He's not dead! Anakin…. my master is dead.
Anakin died a long time ago…Vader died, that's who.
My friend is dead. My brother is dead…
A familiar sound made her look up and Ahsoka raised her arm just in time. "Morai…hi." She smiled at the familiar flapping of wings and the avian settled on her arm. "I didn't know you were around. No…do not worry about me. I…I was just…sad." Ahsoka smiled as the owl let out a muffled 'hoo'. "What did you say?" Ahsoka whispered.
See…. When its voice echoed in her head the Convor compelled Ahsoka to return the owl's intense stare.
Sumal… Lang... Elsbeth….dark man….rows of glass cylinders….dark droids…. blood…. cruisers.… ships…evil…dark side…evil…hunger… dark planet…evil…
The images went on and on. Sometimes it repeats and sometimes it freezes a scenery it wants her to see.
Ahsoka was the one who wrenched herself from the mind meld. The blast of images were too violent, too savage. Mind whirling, the Jedi staggered hard, aghast.
The owl let go and hovered as she sat heavily on a nearby bench. The images were so strong and it felt so real. Ahsoka bent over and retched quite a few times at the foul taste of corruption and abomination she smelled and even tasted.
The convor perched on the back of the bench, patiently waiting for the Togruta to recover.
See…
Ahsoka whirled towards Din's cottage. The whole house is glowing blue…
Go…. Go…. Go.
The avian repeated in Ahsoka's head. It shook its feathers then with a bound took to the air and Ahsoka broke into a run.
-o-0-o-
With a sigh of resignation, the other Force ghost closed his blue eyes, brows lightly furrowed in concentration. When his face relaxed in understanding Master Windu stood back as the younger Force ghost stepped behind the unconscious Din Djarin and placed his glowing palm over the warrior's upturned forehead. "I bless you with my skills, Din Djarin. May the Force be with you."
-o-0-o-
Dagobah
Dark droids…. blood…. cruisers.… ships…evil…dark side…evil…hunger… dark planet…evil…
Luke jerked awake with a gasp and was so confused at a droid peering down at him. "What are you doing?"
R2D2: Waiting for you to wake up. You fell and hit your head.
Luke had a fleeting moment of bewilderment at something warm and purring in the middle of his chest. The Jedi looked down where his padawan was curled peacefully asleep. The sight brought a small smile on his lips.
Wanting not to wake up the child he cradled the boy in his left arm and his mechanical right hand gave him the right purchase on a rock to heave himself and his small charge up from the yielding morass of mud. The rock crumbled into flakes and chips when he let go.
R2D2: Master Luke…
Dripping with swamp water the young Jedi gave a sigh of relief as he finally felt his feet standing on semi-stable ground. "Give me a moment, Artoo, okay?" The young man made sure Grogu is secure in the crook of his arm before he took a step towards dry ground.
R2D2: There is an urgent message…
"I know." He said as he used the Force to lift the droid on to a flattish surface. The man strode purposely at and around the swamp.
R2D2: How? The Force?
The droid rolled slowly on the uneven ground. The Jedi looked back with impatience and levitated the helpless robot like a floating balloon. "Quit dawdling, Artoo. We have to fly."
R2D2: Right now? Where?
-o-o-0-o-o-