PADAWAN
Din Djarin was not only a bounty hunter, father, Mand'alor but he is now a Force wielder. Caught in a crossroad, he went back to Calodan where someone could help him: the Jedi Ahsoka Tano.
~(o.o)~
A/N: I love the story of Din Djarin and Grogu. Also I am writing this because of the force of my inspiration Pedro Pascal and not for monetary gain. I have spoken. This is the way!
Note 1 : Yuno, Din's attendant would look like kid on the side of the road from Season 2 Episode 15-The Believer.
Note 2: On Pinterest see Din Djarin's cute cottage in Calodan under the name Acer Wolfe at Silver Moon Inuyoukai board.
Kindly leave a review for it bolsters my confidence and muse and tell me what you think. Thank you!
CHAPTER 19
HOW TO TRAIN A MAND'ALOR
PART 13
THE ADVISOR
From Chapter 18:
"I do not know how to stop the Empire from coming after my son. Will he always be in danger all his life? Is there a way to…"
"There is."
"There is?" In surprise Din pushed away from the back of the pilot's seat, "How?"
"Would you like to learn the name of your 'advisor' first?"
"That would be a good start." Din sighed crossing his arms.
The Force ghost formally bowed, "Al'Ori'Ramikade, I am…."
-o-0-o-
Din jerked with a start in the pilot's seat. Who's that banging on the hull? Shaking his head, he felt a little groggy as he jolted up from the chair. It was a surprise to feel his face and scalp slick from sweat. Since he forgot to turn on the environmentals the mid-afternoon Calodan sun turned the inside the ship like a baker's oven.
"Master! Ba'vodu! Are you there?"
Cara was right, I'm an idiot,' he sighed as he wiped his face and head with his cloak. While at it he turned the wet part of the fabric away from his neck. That feels better. Blinking to clear up his eyes off of sleep he looked around expecting to see someone but there's no glowing apparition of a young Jedi behind him, nor mid-ship or near the ramp. Was that just a dream?
"Master? Masteeer!"
Breathing deep to bolster his energy, Din grabbed his helmet in passing at the navigation console and slowly lowered it. He had to make slight adjustments on placing it so the padded dome would sit level on his head. Sensing the raised ambient temperature, the helmet turned on its fan. Din sighed in blessed relief; what a good thing he changed the settings of his helmet after what happened way back on Gideon's ship.
"Master! Are you in here? The governor is looking for you! Mas…!" Yuno stepped back as the ramp lowered. The boy gave Din a big smile as he walks down. "Hi! Master, the governor is looking for you." Yuno craned his neck to look inside the ship but was disappointed to see there's nothing in it.
"Was I late?" Din clicked the chronometer from the side of his helmet. Shit, I fell asleep for more than thirty minutes?
"Uh, well...they were waiting at the hall but when you didn't show up…"
"Yes, let's go…" Din initiated the commands to close and lock the DX-9.
"He's already here, master." The boy hurried after Din.
"What?" he turned back to the boy.
"They're outside the gate."
"They?"
"Yes, master. All of them."
"All? Who's 'them'?"
-o-0-o-
Ahsoka pushed away her plate of barely eaten lunch. She tried but she stopped after a few bites. It's too bad she does not have much of an appetite even if it was her favorite dish on the menu today. Instead, she took her drink with her to her meditation garden behind the cottage. It was a small area under the eaves but with the addition of some plants, some candles and a cushion or two the nook became perfect for relaxing, reflection and for charging her aura.
Although feeling kind of restless Ahsoka settles herself on the cushion. She yawned and she realized she barely got five hours of sleep but when she tried to take a nap after her disastrous talk with Din this morning her eyes just stayed open.
A day ago after Din's condition stabilized and she went back to her cottage all she did was pace the floor. She couldn't get what happened out of her mind. What in the world did I see in the mind meld? Who were those voices? Where did that aura come from? One of them said 'I chose you, don't let me down.' Who was it?
She stood up with a snarl of frustration. The meditation isn't working a damn thing to help her! The vision from Morai had added to her problems. It was frustrating; it might happen in the near future or tomorrow for all she knew.
Morai, where are you? She had been calling the avian through the Force but she couldn't connect to the convor. Ahsoka was hoping the bird would come back so she could give her more insight or a clue. But the avian has a mind of its own and if she doesn't have any business or has nothing to share she doesn't linger around. Ahsoka could sometimes see a glimpse of the Daughter here and there and if she likes it she would make her presence known through the Force. Still, Ahsoka tried one more time but after the Daughter had delivered the message her part is finished.
Ahsoka looked up at the cloudy sky which ironically is an apt mirror of what she feels right at this moment. Her troubled eyes reflect the deeper torment she has been weighing and struggling.
She feels the emptiness.
Each time she meditates she would attempt to reach out in the Force for any trace of her kind but all she finds is the vast wasteland out there. She couldn't help but cry at the void left by her Jedi brothers and sisters. The strongest ones were almost extinct and running for their lives while the weaker ones would no doubt try to hide their abilities and their location to avoid being hunted even after all this time.
The Togruta reached for her lightsabers. As she closed her eyes the sound of her weapons coming alive in her hands formed a smile on her lips. She would always begin the first movement with slow and deliberate steps taking the time to feel her muscles. The unhurried and precise action flow into a more graceful move until the 'dance' evolved into the 'battle.'
Finally, she lost herself in the familiar flow of the exercise she favors above other fighting styles she has learned and used in combat.
Like Din, she herself was thankful for the succor Calodan had given her. It gave her the time to recuperate and plan carefully on her next steps. There is also a reason why the Force sent Din Djarin to her but the two of them need to establish trust. Right now it is good that they have camaraderie but the man is, as far as his deeper feelings and emotions are concerned, is closed tight.
Ahsoka almost wavered as she continued to practice. She herself, her trust, might also be 'closed off.' If she had been open and ready emotionally she should have accepted Grogu as her own padawan. The boy is in desperate need of help.
No, she told herself when she was observing the interaction of the Mandalorian and the child, they have bonded well and to sever that bond would begin another cycle of heartache and separation anxiety.
'Another cycle?'
Yes, another cycle, she reminded herself. She remembered someone who suffered this way.
'Why don't you say the name of the one who had suffered this way?'
No!
'Say his name.'
Anakin. His name is Anakin.
Ahsoka closed her eyes tightly to stop the tears but they escaped. She felt a cold drop of it land on her arm as she swung for the fourth movement of the exercise.
'You are afraid Grogu would turn into another Anakin.'
Yes.
'Where is the child now?'
He's with a Jedi called Skywalker…
With a gasp Ahsoka stopped the exercise and opened her eyes to the wide-eyed gaze of the convor perched on a tree in the garden. Breathing deeply Ahsoka turned off her weapons.
'Ahsoka, what do you think would Din Djarin do if he learns Grogu is under the care of the son of the Sith Lord and Supreme Commander of the Imperial Fleet?'
-o-0-o-
"Master Djarin!" From afar, the Elder waved to get his attention from where they stand by the cool shade of the wall. The Mandalorian observed that the official brought quite a large retinue of people with him.
As Din neared the wall he could, perhaps, see two groups of people there. There's Governor Wing's Council of Elders in their dark cloaks and the other, from their simple uniform were the security people he was supposed to train.
All eyes swiveled to his direction at the mention of his name. Din stopped about twenty meters away from the suddenly hushed crowd. They look at him and his armor with unabashed inquisitiveness. The security people were gawking at the Beskar spear on his back; they recognized it when it previously belonged to Morgan Elsbeth.
Governor Wing joined Din in front, "Citizens, this is Master Din Djarin, the Mandalorian. If you have not known who he is, he and mistress Ahsoka were responsible for our liberation."
Din acknowledged the introduction and applause with a simple nod.
"It was harsh realization for all of us. After we have been attacked for the second time a few days ago we cannot deny anymore that we need to improve our security so the events that happened with Morgan Elsbeth and Sumal would not be repeated."
"I myself have witnessed Master Din Djarin's skills and capability. He would help us learn how to properly defend our regions, cities and towns. I'm happy to tell everyone here that he has agreed to take the position of commander in chief of security." At the second applause the governor nodded to Din with a smile.
He endured the handshakes exchanged between him and the ten members of the Council. It was a huge relief that all the security personnel needed is a smart salute. It reminded Din of when he was training at the fighting corps.
"Since all of you are here," he looked over at the security detail, "this would be the best time to begin your first day of training. You will begin by properly dividing yourself into squads. Go!"
Nothing happened.
The security personnel stared at each other. Some turned this way and that not knowing where they'd place themselves.
Din looked down. Unbelievable…they don't even know what a squad is! "There are fifty of you here. Divide yourself into groups of ten." There they go, Din shook his head.
Still, Din and the elders waited an embarrassing ten minutes before the personnel had properly assembled themselves into five groups. Governor Wing kept shaking his head in dismay and the elders sport various looks of shock, disbelief and chagrin. One council member tried to help out by coaching the personnel using hand gestures.
"Good." Din nodded in approval when the teams have been formed at last. "This group you are in is now your team. Later, we need to assign an officer who would lead you. And so, for the next thirty minutes Din instructed them on the proper stance in formation and basic commands they must remember during training.
"Attention!" Din commanded and they stood with spine straight and hands behind their backs.
Okay, that looked better. Din walked towards the Elders. "Governor Wing…Elders, in the next few days we will be doing drills and exercises. During that time we will also select a leader who will lead them."
"Master Djarin, what do they need to make their training successful?"
"First of all, they need weaponry handling. I will give you the specifics of the kind of armament and ammunition they need."
"Hm? What is it, officer?" Gov. Wing turned his attention to the man waiting patiently by the side.
"Sir, this is for Master Mandalorian."
Hand held out, Din quickly strode to the coms officer and turned away as he unrolled the paper. He scanned the names and numbers printed on the report.
"Master Djarin? Is everything alright?" the governor was taken aback when the Mandalorian swore sharply. "Hm? Another message? For whom?" Another man approached holding out another strip of paper to the governor this time.
"What is this?" the Elder gasped and showed the paper to Din. "Master Djarin! There are six starships in orbit?!"
Din turned to the first coms officer, "Classification?" Looking up, he clicked an instrument on his headgear to scan the sky. There's this bad feeling in his chest that tells him he already knows the answer.
The bearded man looked pale, "Two are battle-ship class, uh, one like a Dreadnought class, maybe…Oh! A cruiser! Right!" he excitedly pointed up. "And, and… three battalion transport ships…?" the officer cleared his throat. "They're…they…"
"They are Mandalorians." Din sighed.
"Mandalorians?!" The governor gasped and craned his head up at the sky, squinting at the clouds. "Your people? They are here?"
"Yes." Din groaned in dismay. The coms officer was right; the information was impressively accurate for someone who seemed to have his head in the clouds, rather, in his ledger, drawing Ahsoka.
The three smaller shadowy forms in the upper atmosphere were moving. Shit. I'm not ready. Not today. Fuck.
"Master Djarin, what do they want?" The governor stepped closer. Din heard the worry in the man's voice.
"Me."
-o-o-0-o-o-