PADAWAN
While helping Grogu find a Jedi, an accident on Tython turned Din Djarin to a Force sensitive. Caught at a crossroads, he went back to Calodan to become the padawan of Ahsoka Tano but…Din's other life has caught up with him.
~(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!
1 : Yuno, Din's attendant would look like kid on the side of the road from Season 2 Episode 15-The Believer.
2: On Pinterest see Din Djarin's cute cottage in Calodan under the name Acer Wolfe at Silver Moon Inuyoukai board. You can also see the picture of the Mantis, Din's new vehicle.
Kindly leave a review to bolster my confidence and muse and tell me what you think. Thank you!
CHAPTER 24
HOW TO TRAIN A MAND'ALOR
BUIR-ALIIT
"What the hell is a Sith?" That word got a reaction from the quiet Din Djarin.
From his spot near the window of his cottage Din could supervise Grogu seated at one of the low tables at the veranda. While they were all outside the fort Din had gotten the 'feeling'. That was a new sensation for him. After scanning the people nearby the 'feeling' got stronger when he looks at Grogu. In the helmet he mouthed a 'whoa' when the boy confirmed his question: he is hungry.
Okay. No doubt about it; Din blew out a breath. This is his true confirmation that, yes, he is, not perhaps, a force sensitive.
On the positive side of this development it was a relief to be able to have some form of understanding on what the boy wishes even if it's just to know how to decipher mundane needs on whether he's tired or hungry or thirsty…or that he wants to go. Like any other child Grogu doesn't care whether Din's in a shootout, tackling a bounty, piloting the ship or even sleeping. When he wants to go, he will go. Din got to appreciate the nappies Cara insisted he should never run out of. Those things save a lot of stinky clean ups, believe me.
At his request his young attendant ran ahead to prepare some food for Grogu. So now his foundling is being looked after by Yuno and another much younger boy who are both looking fascinated at the kid.
When he returned in the fort the townspeople were agog at the number of people following him and Gov. Wing towards the guest houses as Din directed everyone inside the walled city after the Mandalorians have secured Bo Katan. For now, Din doesn't want to see or talk to Bo Katan yet. He wanted to put some distance between him and that woman or he might do something he would regret. Her actions were hard to comprehend.
Councilwoman Hyru informed Din that an interrogation is being done right now. The Mandalorians move fast. They need to clear their house as suspects on the assassination attempt on the foundling of their Mand'alor. Also, a squad of Mandalorian is doing two shifts in guarding her in the hold of the Mantis.
There is a bright spot in this dark scenario; it was a relief that the Calodan council was not interested in keeping any of the aircrafts so Din appropriated the Mantis as his new transport. It thrilled Din to no end. How Cara Dune would react at his overpowered ride, well, that's another matter.
Din's cottage, which at first looked so spacious to him, seemed to shrink all of a sudden with the twenty people gathered at the living room. No one seemed to want to sit down except Gov. Wing.
"They're force users who turned to the dark side, my lord." From his side of the room people turned to Luke, a little surprised that he seemed to blend in.
"Uh, no. No. No. Not 'my lord'."
"Uh… my apologies." Luke stops, his posture reflecting worry that he made a faux pas in front of the Mand'alor. "How about 'master'?"
"No…" Din wearily shook his head. "I don't want to hear…."
"He hates titles." Ahsoka shrugs. "Din, better get used to it. It's inevitable."
"Damn it…." Din realized that even if he whispers Grogu's big ears is still going to catch it. Double damn it! "So. My question is, if I turn to the dark side will I become a sith as well?" Din could tell he stumped the two Jedi with his question but one of them reacted first.
"Not…exactly. " Ahsoka slid a meaningful glance at Luke.
"You need to be trained by a dark lord to become one."
"You might not become a sith but if you are an individual with strong force sensitive abilities," the Togruta inclined her head to Din. "you might use that power to harm not protect."
"Like if I lose everything and turn over my foundling to another to raise?"
"Pardon this question, Manda'lor," the female Mandalorian in gold Beskar stood. Ahsoka noted that even through the fabric of the woman's clothing she could see the definition of muscles when she crossed her arms. "May I know why you are so captivated in 'turning to the dark side'?"
"I am not." Din is itching to scratch his head under the armor, feeling tense all of a sudden. "But now that I'm a force wielder the pull of the dark side might become a problem when and if I'm psychologically pushed to the extreme."
The two Jedi exchanged knowing glances; their first true contact without any hint of distrust. Luke unconsciously straightened up, like he needed to brace himself for the surprising revelations about his new padawan. This is a student who will become a different mold for the other padawan he would have in the future. The Jedi couldn't wait to begin training his new apprentice. Or perhaps the student has many things to teach the teacher.
"Please excuse my question,' Aylith Hyru's bearing is of confusion "if we are faced with a sith how do we defeat and kill one?"
"It is not easy…" The two Jedi almost said in unison. Their answer stirred the gathered Mandalorians. Instantly the mood in the room was charged with excitement. Ahsoka wanted to smirk. They said the two magic words: Not Easy. Nothing energizes a race of warriors like the Mandalorians than pointing them to a challenge.
"If it is alive, it is killable." Retorts the woman in the red vambrace, Aylith, and the rest of the Mandalorians clan leaders agreed.
"What do we do to take down one?" There was a tight constriction in Din's chest as he asked the question.
"To kill a Sith, you will need a light saber, brute strength, rage, and a strong ability in the Force."
"Has it been done?" Aylith was surprised where as one Mand'alor and the Togruta turned to the black robed Jedi. "Has someone killed a sith?" she repeated.
"Yes. Someone has." Luke turned to Ahsoka, 'You are correct. Lightsabers, power, rage and….vast bottomless pits are the key…." Then he broke off, eyes going deep in his memory.
"But…?" the Mandalorians nodded to the armorer's question.
The blue-eyed Jedi skimmed over them until it landed on the Mand'alor, "To kill a Sith, you need nothing other than sacrificial love…."
-o-0-o-
Are you okay, kid? Din removed his spear before he took a seat beside Grogu. The Beskar weapon leans on the wall well within his reach.
It's good. Taste!
Din chuckled after closing his lips at the slice of fruit Grogu slipped under his helmet. Are you going to feed me instead?
Yes. Buir is hungry. Grogu's wide ears flap slowly up and down. Eat buir.
Din sucked in a breath, touched. H-how did you…?
I hear. Sifting in the bowl, Grogu discards the thick slices for thinner ones grunting loud when he couldn't find the right one.
The Mandalorians? Smiling, Din took a knife from his boot and sliced the fruits in the fineness Grogu wanted.
They talk. They think. Buir. Father. You. The boy hums in happiness, steadily feeding him slices of fruits under his helmet; his small hand easily slipping under the narrow space. Buir…
"Master?"
"Yes…" Din had almost forgotten about Yuno and the other boy.
"What are you…" Yuno gestures to the two of them.
"We were talking."
"Talking?"
"He talks to me. In my mind."
"He…he can do that?"
Din points at the boys. "Grogu, this is Yuno. He takes care of me. And what's your name?"
Surprised the Mandalorian speaks to him, Jem points to himself, "Me?"
"Uh-huh."
"I'm Jem, master."
"Would you like to play with my son when I'm not here?"
"Your son!?" The boys chorused; faces incredulous, eyes wide as saucers. It made Din laugh.
"Yes."
"How…?"
"Mandalorians take care of any youngling they find. They become our children."
"Ohh...!" The boys chorused again, nodding.
"Jem, can you take care of Grogu while I'm busy?"
"Yes! Yes, master!"
"Good." Din looks up when Ahsoka and Luke comes out of the house and stops several feet away. After a few seconds Din nods to Ahsoka.
Yuno and Jem look at each other when Din turned to the strange boy once more doing that wordless talking again. Does the master read thoughts too? Were the purrs the little boy's words? Can he talk? Yuno and Jem were startled when Grogu turned his big eyes on them.
The master began chuckling. "Behave. Don't scare them." Din laid his hand on Grogu's head.
What? Scare us? The boys shrug at each other.
"Jem…he likes eggs. Maybe you can get some for him? He doesn't like it cooked. Don't let him out of the house. If you see something floating, he's doing it. Just be cool. He likes to play." Din smiled when Jem mouthed 'floating.' At Jem's unsure but slow nod Din stood and slid the long spear behind him between the harness of his armor. The boys had wide smiles; they love the slightly scratchy high-pitched sound it makes when it rubs against the metal of the jet pack. "Yuno, can you find me a crib for my son or someone who knows who can make one? I will pay for the work."
"Yes, master."
"I will be at the Mantis. It's the big ship near the wall."
"I know it, master. Do not worry." Yuno got a short nod from the warrior.
"Let's go." The boys look on as the blond man and mistress Ahsoka follow their master out of the compound.
-o-0-o-
"Excuse me. Master Djarin." The governor and some Calodans hurried to catch up to the fast walking Mandalorian. "May we talk?"
"We may talk now, governor."
"I will be direct as I see you're busy. The council and I are concerned about…about…"
"About our agreement…"
"Yes….uh," The governor looks behind Din and seemed to shrink in his coat, eyes filed with trepidation.
Din followed his gaze and his lips pursed in irritation. Din motioned the Mandalorians to back away. "Once I finish with this interrogation I can give you an answer."
"In…interrogation?" The old man grabbed his coat, shaken at the words.
"Someone tried to hurt my foundling…"
"The creature you used to carry around?"
The Calodans and a few of the Mandalorians tensed. One Mandalorian even lifted a blaster halfway out its holster. Din quickly signaled them to stand down. "The 'creature' is my foundling. He is like my son."
The apothecary slapped the coms officer. "Hush! Nothing good comes from that mouth of yours!"
"We apologize." The governor angrily waved the people away from them. "We did not mean to insult you or your son. I am sorry that he was in danger…"
"It is not your fault, governor." Din sighed, a little exhausted after the things that happened today. All he wanted is to go back to the cottage and get some rest. He suspects he still needs some rest from almost draining his energy the other day. "We will talk after I am done with this task but I will not renege on my word."
The governor closed his eyes in relief. "Thank you. Take the time you need today. I can see that you have a lot on your plate, master Djarin. Just send word."
"Thank you, governor. I appreciate your understanding." Din waited until the Calodan left. "These are decent people. I helped liberate them from a tyrant. No one is to intimidate, scare or hurt the Calodans. We are guests here. Agree?" Din didn't turn around until he got a nod from the Mandalorians. "Good."
-o-0-o-
"Din, I will be right behind you. "Ahsoka stepped aside to the let the Mandalorians pass. Din gave her a parting nod after glancing at Luke.
"No nonsense." The young male Jedi kept his eyes on the Mand'alor followed by the ten leaders of the top strong houses of Mandalore.
"That's who he is."
"I like his style."
"You have a question."
"I have." They slowly resumed their steps to follow the Mandalorians at a distance. "Actually, I have lot of them."
"Yes. Of course." Ahsoka took a deep calming breath, "About your father, Anakin." That name did not come out easily from the Togruta.
"I would be in your debt if you could help me fill in the …."
"The gaps…"
"I almost killed him."
"What?"
"We had a confrontation. He was Vader." Luke held up his right hand, palm up, flexing it. "He gave me a souvenir."
"Did he…." Ahsoka inclined her head, hearing some gears moving. Shocked and in disbelief Ahsoka gasped. "He didn't…"
"He knew."
"Anakin…" Ahsoka looks up, tears flowing on her montrals. A dark feeling spread in her. She's angry at herself for hoping against hope. She swiped the tears away savagely.
"Do not grieve. In the end he got back his humanity."
"Did he?"
"He turned back to the Light Side. That is why I live."
Ahsoka closed her eyes in gratitude to the Force and murmured a Togrutan prayer for the soul of her former master and friend. Luke joined her in the short prayer thankful that his father had someone who really cared for him as a person.
"Mistress Ahsoka, I do not know how long a time we have or how intense I need to teach my student." The crumble of the Calodan soil sounds crisp and dry under their boots as they near the open rear hatch of the Mantis.
"All I can say is your new padawan is a quick study. He will surprise you, but you already can see that."
"Yes. He is what you say low key but his aura is…." Luke turned to Ahsoka to find the right word.
"Intense."
"Yes." Luke paused weighing his words carefully. "I understand if you distrust me…"
"No. I do not distrust you. You just bring back memories that…." Ahsoka schooled her features into calmness by taking deep breaths. "I can see much of him in you. But you are not as extreme as he is."
Luke turned to her, a curve of a smile on his lips. "Is that good or bad?"
"You are more even tempered than he is."
"I will take that as a compliment. I think." The young Jedi looked towards his crippled spacecraft. "I believe I took after my mother in temperament while my sister took after my father."
Ahsoka smiled. "You have a sister!"
"You must meet her and my mother. We do not know anything about his life before he became a…." the male Jedi shrugs. "Where can we train?"
"Here." Ahsoka tilts her head toward the valley. "Din won't go anywhere."
"Why?"
"The Calodan has contracted his services. He is their military commander."
"That is impressive."
Ahsoka snorted. "No. Not yet. These people have no idea about security, warfare or battle. This is important for him and he has a soft spot for them. He likes it here. You …" Ahsoka turned sharply around.
"Mistress…?" Then Skywalker looked worriedly at the Mantis as well.
-o-0-o-
"Din…!" The thick atmosphere flowing out of the Mantis slowed the rush of the two Jedi. It's almost next to overwhelming as soon as they step down in the brig of the ship. There were two doors at the end of the short narrow corridor and the door on the right is nearly packed with people. The mood is dark and cold.
Ahsoka and Luke followed Din's voice. They were barely able to squeeze into the aisle of wall to wall Mandalorians.
"Who did this?!" Din had one of the guards in a force choke.
The two Jedi froze, eyes on the floor. The Mandalorian guard slammed on the wall landing by the feet of a body sprawled on the cell floor.
Bo Katan Kryze is dead.
~(o.o)~