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 check out 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.
3: This chapter gave me writer's block.
PADAWAN
CHAPTER 33
CUSTODY
Previously on Chapter 30:
"If I help you," Hands on hips the Mandalorian expressed a deep sigh, "you have to give me something."
Oh, at last. Maybe all is not lost. "Alright." The witch gave Din a slow smile. The perk is back in her voice. "What do you want?"
"Answers."
"Oh." The perk fell again. "What kind of answers do you want?"
"Let's start by explaining how that 'thing' knows my son?"
-o-0-o-
The D5 Mantis bridge
"What a story." It was the Togruta who reacted first. Her words broke the oppressive fog of silence. A raised brow punctuated Ahsoka's words.
"It's all a lie."
"It's the truth." She looks at Din and Kalon imagines his expression right now. Will I see his face again? She stopped at where her thoughts were taking her, making her feel warm inside when the Togruta turned to her.
"More lies."
"No, Din."
"Since I met you you've been spinning lie after lie."
"I'm not lying."
"The zabrak? Was that true? You're looking for him?"
"Yes."
"As told by you."
"Din, I'm taking Grogu back."
"No."
"It's time to go back to his home."
"You can't."
"Can't?"
"I won't let you."
"I lost everything for him."
"And so have I and I would do it all over again!"
"Din, you cannot stop me." Damn it, she pursed her lips when the man tightened his hold on the boy.
"Witch, you will not be allowed to take the foundling." The Mandalorian woman is livid when all she got was a dismissing glance from the other woman. "The clans are behind our Mand'alor."
"Oh? Behind him?" Kalon gave a short laugh, her long hair sways as she shakes her head "Now that's a lie." It was a good thing that Aylith has learned how to control her reaction when Din and Ahsoka turned to her. "Not what I saw earlier." The witch smirks at her.
"What was that she said?" Ahsoka narrows her eyes at the councilwoman.
"They were all watching from the sides as your friend put his life in danger." She shrugs at Ahsoka, "and there was a situation because of that."
"Mand'alor, she's trying to drive a wedge…"
"What was the situation?"
Aylith glared at the witch before turning to Din. "Alrich Wren is under confinement."
"What did he do?"
"He had a confrontation with the Calodan."
"What kind of confrontation?"
"The Calodan were defending you while the Mandalorians were just standing by on the side while…."
Din clenches his fist. "Are the Calodan alright?"
"Yes, do not worry, my lord."
"Yuno," Din laid a hand on the boy's shoulder. "relay the message to Governor Wing that if he's available I'd like to talk to him later on." Din nodded to the teen. "You and Jem are dismissed for the day. Good job." He and the boys exchanged nods before the two kids ran out to go back in the walled city and get some rest.
"They saw you in action. Now that you survived they will follow you." Kalon smirks at the female warrior. 'They said."
"It's the way of the Mandalore." Aylith faces the Dathormirian defiantly.
"You people are unbelievable…." Kalon shakes her head, leisurely striding to the other side of the bridge.
Ahsoka steps beside Din, "I thought it was Din you're after." She gave Din a slight playful nudge with her shoulder.
"Well, him also…" Kalon shrugs. "because I…"
"…because you want him." The Togruta gave her friend an impish smile and a wink, thoroughly enjoying Din's discomfort.
Kalon gave the Togruta a lopsided smile. "But…" she shrugs in defeat. "He doesn't want me so I go back to my original plan-to get Grogu back."
"If he's your son…or if that's true, why doesn't he know you?" Aylith nods towards Grogu while looking intently at the pale haired woman.
The witch turns to the boy in Din's arm, she eyes the child with such longing. "I don't know, but I can find out."
"I will not let you near him!" Din backs away, the torch vambrace focused on Kalon.
"Din…hey, calm down." Ahsoka pats Din's shoulder. "Grogu's getting scared."
"Calm down?!" Din placed Grogu higher up in his arms. "What if she takes him away?"
"I'm his mother, Din,"
"And I'm his father."
"I will take him with or without you." Kalon sweeps the tears from her eyes.
"You have to kill me first."
"Hold on…" Ahsoka steps between the combatants. "No need to resort to violence. We can talk things out."
"Jedi, don't come between me and my child."
"And he's also my padawan…"
"He doesn't need you."
"He needs training."
"Train him in your Jedi code where the individual is stripped off of emotional connection? I think not. You should know by now that that had disastrous repercussions."
"'Disastrous repercussions'? What do you mean?"
"Ah, they didn't tell you? Blame the Jedi for creating Darth Vader."
Kalon smirks as Din face Ahsoka and Luke."What?!"
"Yes." The witch grins wide when the two Jedi trade looks. "Ask him." A slim finger points to...
Luke's deep sigh come from a heavy chest. "Anakin Skywalker, my father, was a gifted force sensitive child…" It seems that the burden of being the son of the mass murderer of the galaxy will follow him everywhere he goes, he muses, as he sits in one of the command chairs.
"Just like Grogu…" The boy in Din's arm cooed gently at hearing his name, his little hand reaches up Din's helmet.
"Yes. The Jedi council didn't want him in the school because he was too old."
"Too old?" Din shook his head.
"Nine is too old for training."
"I was the same age when the Mandalorians rescued and trained me. How old should a foundling…"
"Youngling, my lord." Luke corrected.
"…a youngling be to train? Five?" Din looks at the two Jedi again. "Younger than five?"
"Around four or five."
"Foundlings were trained around the same age too."
"But, like Anakin, you were also quite old when the Mandalorians trained you."
"True, but they didn't make a fuss about my age, only if I have fighting abilities."
"I want to point out that Jedi younglings were taken from their families." Kalon raised a brow on the two quiet Jedi.
"Why do they do that?"
"Jedi believe younglings would train better if they were not emotionally attached to their families." Ahsoka shrugs.
"That is wrong and cruel. My clan trained me. My buir taught me all that I know. It was because of the support and his belief in me that gave me determination to bring honor to my clan in the tournaments."
"I didn't know that you had tournaments." Ahsoka smiles at her former student.
"We do. It's divided by age division." People turned to the armorer when she acknowledged.
"And you always win?" There's pride in Luke's smile at his padawan.
"Yes."
"Din Djarin was supposed to take leadership when his buir and the Alor died…" Din and the armorer exchanged nods in respect.
"Let me guess, you turned it down." Ahsoka smirks when Din gave her a shrug.
"I became a bounty hunter so my creed could survive." Din whispers as he looks away.
"And he has done so very well." The armorer's voice couldn't hide the pride in her voice.
"I am proud of you. I hope your creed realizes that, cyar'ika, but let's not digress." Kalon caught their attention. "Why did Anakin Skywalker become a Sith?"
Luke sighed. "They distrust him…"
"His abilities?"
"No, his emotional state. They said he was far too emotionally attached to his mother. And…against the Jedi code he fell in love and married my mother."
"Anakin wears his heart to his sleeve, so to speak. You'll like him if you had met him." Ahsoka nods to her friend.
"I…I think I have…" Din whispers.
"What?" Ahsoka follows where Din is looking at.
"So do you still want Grogu to be taught in that stringent and strait-laced discipline?"
"The Jedi teaching is not perfect but there are a lot merits…"
"Like what?"
"There is no ignorance; there is knowledge. There is no passion; there is serenity…"
"Oh? No passion is no life! Why pursue all of that without any form of passion burning inside of you?"
"It would be filled with serenity…"
"No, Jedi fear that any form of true passion and emotion would lead you all to the dark side."
"This is what the Jedi…"
"So where is the Jedi now, Skywalker?" Kalon walks slowly across the room, head held high, hands clasped behind her.
"Gone. Scattered…." Ahsoka's words, softly spoken, brought goosebumps to everyone.
"The Night Sisters use both magic and the Force." Kalon sought the Mandalorian. "I trained Grogu to be trained to harness the Force and how to avoid falling into the Dark side."
"Your Night Sisters enslave men, using them as reproductive donors. I will not let you and your sisters use my son that way in the future…"
"But he will not…I will not allow it to happen. Believe me, Din!" The woman looked hurt when Din stepped further away from her.
"My creed is not perfect but loyalty and solidarity is important to us. The creed is our family. Kalon, you seem to forget- your Night Sisters are extinct."
"And the Mandalorians are killing one another to extinction as well." Jedi, Mandalorian and the witch all went quiet with that retort.
-o-0-o-
The tension at the bridge of Din's newly acquired ship made people shift on their feet. Eyes all lowered to avoid the awkwardness; the truth reflected in another- the judgment and haunted memories. The tense mood blankets every inch of the spacious bridge making the air feel thick and heavy.
The mood turned awkward and marginally tense up at the command area of the bounty ship. Some people almost heaved a sigh of relief at the echo of hurried steps on the metal stairs.
"Ka'ara dala* Hyru? Are you here?" A helmet came into view.
"Yes soldier, what is it?"
The man stops and bows. "Permission to come aboard, Mand'alor!"
"Granted. What is the problem?"
"We have been trying to contact the councilwoman but she didn't reply."
"My apologies. My helmet is malfunctioning." She gestures to her head gear on a console.
"Go with him, councilwoman. There are also things I need to take care of here." Din returned their bow. The councilwoman and the other Mandalorian left immediately.
"Permission to leave as well, Mand'alor. The Calodan security needs training." She stops before Din. "May you find a prudent solution for this dilemma," With a bow the armorer exited quickly.
The witch looks on at their interaction with a sad mien. With a big sigh Kalon turned away from the rest of them and followed the wake of the three Mandalorians.
No one stops her.
-o-0-o-
"Lady Kalon."
With a frown the witch turns to see who's following her. She glared at him. "What do you want, Jedi?"
"May I join you?"
"Why?"
"You look like you need someone to talk to." The man clasps his hands in front of him. "I also have some questions."
"Questions." The pale woman sniffs. "Is that a euphemism for 'interrogation' now?" She frowns at him.
Luke was surprised when the woman stops. He took it as permission and quickly fell in step with her. "I just want to keep you company as well." The young man glances at the Mandalorians surrounding the rancor; most of them are from different clans bearing heavy artillery.
The woman smirks at the Jedi, "You are uncomfortable at the way they look at me, as a woman."
"Perhaps you have something with…with…"
"With what?"
"More coverage."
"How quaint," She shrugs. "Is that what you want, Jedi?"
"It would lessen the tense situation."
"Ah…" she glances at the people around her and back at the uncomfortable-looking sorcerer. "This better?" She pulled the dark cloak to cover her fully.
"Thank you, Lady Kalon…"
"You should know, we go to battle almost naked."
"Wh-why?"
"It is less cumbersome." Kalon shrugs as she checks her animal. She looks around but couldn't find any kind of herb or plant in the burnt surroundings.
"I see. Are you on battle footing right now?"
The woman gave the Jedi a sideways glance. "If need be."
"May I be so blunt? How did you lose Grogu?" Luke observes the woman.
"I was betrayed."
"By whom?"
"By a sister," The woman turns angry eyes at him. "She wanted to use him so the empire would leave us alone. I killed her and took him away."
"So you are not living on Dathomir?"
"No. We have moved too often and too fast to avoid being followed, but the empire is always there."
"Lady Kalon," the Jedi took a deep breath, hands clasped. "Why haven't you taken Grogu?"
-o-0-o-
Din looks relieved when the witch left and the bridge is empty but for him, Ashoka and Grogu. "We need to talk."
"Okay." Ahsoka whispers back. "Lead the way." Din goes to the left to a door which hissed open. The proximity lights came on illuminating a path of a short flight of stairs which led further into the Mantis. As they navigate down the metal stairs their boots echo in the narrow space. Grogu peeks at her from Din's shoulder making soft cooing sounds. The adorable little boy playfully did a finger fight with Ahsoka, cooing and chortling at the game. After a few seconds Grogu lost interest and yawned. He found a soft area on Din's shoulder and before long soft snores came from the sleeping boy.
"Ever since I got the ship I couldn't get the time to explore much of it."
"Good of the Calodans to bequeath it to you."
"It's to sweeten the deal on my employment. I don't think they want to keep it as a reminder about Sumal or Lang."
As they reached the lower area Ahsoka peeks at some of the open cabins filled with lots of boxes. "Munitions and weapons?" she muses. "With this much space there has to be a living area somewhere."
"Yes, it has. I checked the specs."
"So do you plan to live here or the cottage?"
"I don't know yet. It depends on what the main cabin looks like." Din points. "This is it." The door slid open to a fairly large living area. "Hmm, looks okay. Yuno is amazing."
"Why?"
"He and the kids cleaned the whole ship."
"Oh, no wonder the blood's all gone here." Ahsoka shrugs when Din looks back as if in amusement. "What? I didn't use my sabers here. Too narrow. Say, did they clean while you were out cold?" Din puts Grogu down on a smaller bed beside the bigger one. He's scared, Ahsoka sighs. Ever since Kalon confessed she's Grogu's foster mother he'd almost never put the kid down.
"Yeah…" Din rushed back to the door, closing it, "about that day," Ahsoka's brow flicks up when he activated the lock as well. Were it another man she would have been on guard and the guy would be dead. She sits on the desk while he paces the width of the room.
"By the Force, your thought's so all over the…"
"Anakin Skywalker's in my head."
-o-0-o-
"What do you mean?" Kalon turns to the Jedi.
"You are powerful. You could take Grogu and disappear where no one could find you. No one can stop you."
"Maybe I like it here."
The Jedi looks back at the Mantis, a ghost of a smile on his lips. "Is it because of…"
"Fine! Yes, him. I have never met anyone like Din Djarin. I want him."
"He also has the freedom of will."
"That is why I linger. I do not want to force him."
"He will not let you near the boy unless you talk to him."
"Jedi, I say things to him that I regret later on."
"Then perhaps the next time you do please think of Grogu. Din is not a selfish man but he dislikes dissembling."
"Why are you doing this?"
"Lady Kalon, I do believe that you are telling the truth about Grogu…."
"If you do then help me."
The Jedi look at the still sedated rancor, "I just want what is best for my padawan."
"What you want is your padawan to keep my child."
"And do you want to wage a war for his custody?"
"He is mine!"
"He has no memory of you."
"I do not lie, Jedi."
"Then how do you explain his memory loss?"
"I can't! I don't know what happened to him before Din found him."
"How long has Grogu been missing?"
"Almost two years."
"And where were you during that time?"
"I was a fugitive, hiding from my sisters but I never stopped looking for Grogu." The young man went quiet after hearing that. "I finally found him but someone got there before me. I didn't know who that was."
"What will you do if you find that person?"
"I'm gonna kill him."
-o-0-o-
"What…?" Ahsoka whispers. They're not the combination of words she thought she would hear most especially from Din. No, he's not…
"I'm not kidding." Din Djarin stands tense; leather gloved hands curling and uncurling.
"When? How?"
"That night I fell from the sky." Din turned around and sat on his bed. "I think a Jedi came to me in a dream. He said he's Mace Windu."
"He was presumed dead during Order 66…" Ahsoka slowly moved down from the desk.
"He said something is happening in the Force."
"He said that?"
"Then on the day my people came another Jedi appeared in my dream."
"Anakin."
"I kept wondering why Luke seemed familiar. Now I get it! They have the same eyes!"
"What does he want from you?" Ahsoka looks at Din as if trying to see if anything has been changed with her friend.
"To be my mentor."
"Has he talked to you again?"
"No." Din looks on when Ahsoka herself begin pacing.
"Does Luke know?"
"No. I just realized it now. Ahsoka, am I to be worried?"
Her uncertainty showed in the shrug she gave him. "I don't know…"
"How well do you know Mace Windu?"
"He was one of the reasons why I left the Jedi."
"I see. Tell me more about Anakin."
"Well, if you were in dire straits you would want Anakin to be on your side. He'll fight and defend you to his last breath."
"Sounds like a great guy."
"He was. He and the Jedi council had not seen eye to eye on many things." The Jedi stopped in front of Din, arms crossed. "Din, if you're worried we can do a mind meld."
"Yeah, right," Din huffs, he dishes back the teasing he got earlier. "To see Anakin again."
"No. Okay, fine, yes." The Jedi averts her eyes with a smile, "But more than that I want to make sure what's going on in there." She laid her forefinger gently on Din's beskar covered chest, where his heart is.
Din looks at his friend and nods. "I understand."
"Well, you know the drill, padawan." Ahsoka sounds upbeat but Din could feel she's kinda shaken. She sat down in front of the table she just vacated.
"Can I be honest?" Din sighs loudly as he sits cross legged in front of Ahsoka. "I hate mind melds."
Ahsoka grins. "I know you do. Close your eyes."
-o-0-o-
Ahsoka opens her eyes and for a moment is surprised; she's standing on the same bridge, the one that looks like an imperial cruiser. At that time it was the one where many monitors were playing on her first mind meld with Din. The monitors were playing but the bridge is quiet. She looks out at the stars. She had almost forgotten how beautiful they were.
'This is where Din Djarin and Grogu parted ways.'
Ahsoka closes her eyes; she hasn't heard that voice for many years. The woman took her time to turn around. The Force ghost of Anakin Skywalker stands by a wrecked-looking blast door, arms folded in his robes. He looked the same as when he was alive except he is a glowing apparition now.
'What a sad day it was. Are you here because of your former padawan?'
'Let's just say I'm very protective.' Ahsoka places her hands on her hips.
'Same old Snips.'
The Force ghost grins and for a moment Ahsoka's eyes mists. 'No one's called me that in a long while.'
'I'm not gonna hurt your friend.' Serious now, Anakin left the door and stood in the middle of the bridge.
'Really?'
'Don't you trust me?'
The younger Ahsoka would have made a snappy retort but all is in the past. 'What's your involvement in this?'
'The man needs help.'
'Who says Din needs help?'
'Master Windu says there is a disturbance in the Force and being a Force sensitive Din Djarin must be prepared or it.'
'Was that how Master Windu convinced you?' Ahsoka looks on as Anakin looks down. 'I knew it.'
'The man might fall into the dark side.'
'No, he wouldn't.'
'You sound sure.'
'You tell me, you're in his head. What kind of 'help' are you supposed to give him?'
'How to use the Force.'
'Really?" She steps back crossing her arms "Why you?'
'He wanted the Mandalorian to…'
'Why not Master Windu?'
'He's not here anymore."
'Where is he?'
'He has given his life force to your friend.'
'What?'
'Din Djarin would have died had Master Windu not….'
'Why him and not you?'
'Because I don't want him to….'
'Do not use Din.' Ahsoka stopped in front of Anakin. 'I'm warning you.'
'Ahsoka…'
'Mace Windu never trusted the two of us, do you remember?'
'I remember."
"So why do you help him?"
"Master Windu is concerned for Grogu.'
'I don't trust him.'
'Ahsoka, Din will not come to harm.'
'This is not right. Anakin. Din will be okay. He doesn't need anyone in his head. The man is capable. What is it?' she stops when the man looks away with a sigh.
'I'm not the only one here.'
-o-0-o-
Note:
Ka'ra -council
dala -woman