The Mandalorians
Chapter 3 – The Convert
Everything was silent, Bo sat at the edge of the Living Waters going over what she believed, no knew, what she had just saw. The Mythasour, the actual legend of her clan wasn't a legend, it was reality, but what did this mean going forward?
Suddenly Din and Osa's coughing interrupted her thoughts. Bo made sure the two were all right before burying herself into thought. Din rose first, weak while glancing over to Osa, helping her sit up.
"We are redeemed," Din said relieved.
Osa glanced over at her father, tilting her head in disbelief, "That's the first words you say, instead of we're alive," Osa stated.
"She's got a point, but I witnessed it. You both bathed in the Living Waters. You both are Mandalorian again."
"Yippy," Osa dryly said while raising her arms.
"Can we leave now?" Bo questioned while making her way out.
"Yes, please," Osa followed when Din walked back to fill an empty vile with the Living Waters, "Taking a souvenir Papi to remember our joyous trip?" Osa sarcastically said, "Because those near death experiences can be forgotten."
Din went to pick up Yazel when Bo interjected, "Can I ask you something Din?"
"What is it?"
"You see anything down there?"
"I saw the chasm passing me as we fell. I didn't realize it was so deep."
"It wasn't. The bombings from the Purge must have triggered seismic activities. Did you see anything alive?"
"Alive, like what?" Osa was curious.
"Nothing, let's get out of here," Bo said.
Everyone made their way back to the Gauntlet as Bo took off, heading back to Kalevala. The cockpit remained quiet until Din spoke, "Bring us to my ship and we'll be on our way. You will forever have my gratitude."
"I would invite you both in for a feast, but I'm guessing those helmets aren't coming off again," Bo said.
"A feast! There has to be a loophole," Osa enthusiastically stated.
"This is the way," Din replied.
"This is the way," Bo agreed.
"Ugh I can't be the only one not saying it, this is the way," Osa dragged out her words when Yazel gurgled some noises practically miming their speech pattern.
Everyone turned in awe but then were immediately thrown off balance by the ship being blasted at.
"We took a hit," Din said while getting a diagnostic of the damage.
"Something's coming upon us fast," Bo said while maneuvering the ship.
"Looks like a squadron of TIE interceptors," Osa informed.
"How close are we to Kalevala?" Din asked.
"Not far," Bo said.
"Get us back there and I'll reinforce from the N1. Can you evade them?"
"Our shields aren't gonna hold. I need you to back them off. Or possibly some other assistance," Bo insinuated for Osa to use her Force abilities.
"What level of training do you think I achieved?" Osa seriously questioned, "Besides I can't see them, I'm sorry I'm not that powerful."
"It's okay kid, just a thought," Bo reassured while Din took a seat in the gunship.
"Where did they come from?" Din asked while blasting.
"I've scugged off a lot of Imperial warlords," Bo revealed.
"Or they tend to get mad when you hijack their ships."
"Now you tell me," Bo flew her way towards her castle in order to airdrop Din to the N1, "Get ready we're coming in hot. I won't be able to slow down."
"Interceptors are a lot tougher than TIE fighters," Din said when he finally took out one.
"Are you still up for the transfer?"
"I don't see any other choice."
"Papi be careful," Osa said when she took over the guns.
Din made his way to the drop shoot as Bo led the fighters away from him. Din used his jet pack to slow his fall when he eagerly rushed to the N1 before the fighters got a lock on him. The TIE fighters began to shoot but Din was quicker and got the N1 into the air. He wasted no time and took out an approaching fighter with ease when he radioed to the Gauntlet.
"I made it to the N1. Heading to you."
"Thank goodness because we are in a real bind here," Osa said while blasting frantically as R5 whimpered while spinning his head in turmoil.
"Don't worry. I grew up flying these cliffs," Bo reassured.
"That's supposed to give us comfort?"
"Aren't you supposed to trust in the Force?"
"Yes and it's giving me mixed signals right now," Osa honestly said.
"Thanks for the confidence booster kid, but you're not wrong, it's been a while since I've flown through these cliffs," Bo stated.
"We're dead."
"Maybe you could hit one of the targets."
"My position has always been navigator. I'm out of my element," when a fighter exploded but not from Osa's blast, "Whoo-hoo Papi to the rescue."
"Thanks for the backup," Bo radioed.
"Yeah Osa isn't the strongest gun fighter," Din stated.
"Hey I heard that," Osa said.
"Sorry Mi Pequeno, there's two more to go," he addressed to Bo.
"Go right. I'll meet you on the other side."
"I really hope you mean the other side of the cliff and not the version where we become one with the Force," Osa pointed out but Din and Bo were to focused to comment back.
Bo led the fighters down a passage when Din emerged blasting another fighter to smithereens.
"One down, one more to go," Din said.
"On it," Bo stated when she powered down and reversed her thrusters, mid air maneuvering the Gauntlet into attack position. Without hesitation she blasted the fighter as the Gauntlet free fell when Bo ignited the engines before crashing into the water below.
"Wowzers, that was wicked," Osa said bewildered.
"Not bad for an antique," Bo said while her and Din flew side by side.
"You take any damage," Din asked in concern.
"Just shields. You?"
"Not a scratch."
"Is anyone going to ask how we're doing in the back? We're good by the way," Osa stated.
Bo chuckled when she suggested checking the ships just in case. Suddenly Din's alarms began to blare, "Hang on. I'm seeing something on the scope."
In the distance a large fireball could be seen as Bo knew immediately what the bombers were targeting. Din and Bo flew over the wreckage of her castle, fire blazing, and rubble below.
"Those mudscuffers bombed my home!" Bo exclaimed in rage.
Out of anger Bo followed and sent off torpedoes, taking out one. Din followed close behind when his alarms went off again showcasing more fighters entering the system.
"Bo, we've got company," Din warned, "Bo listen to me. You have to get out of there. There's too many of them, please you have my children on board."
Finally listening, Bo maneuvered with Din as they made their way towards space.
"That's a lot of ships for an Imperial warlord," Bo pointed out in skeptic.
"I'm sending jump coordinates," Din said.
"To where?"
"Some place they won't find us," as both ships jumped to hyperspace leaving the threat behind.
The ride wasn't long as they approached the planet with the hidden Mandalorian covert. Din lead the way as Bo followed while he explained over the comms.
"Our covert has stayed secluded for a reason. This is how we survived in exile," Din stated.
"I'm familiar," Bo responded.
"It's a secret location and you are our guest."
"They still go by the old ways?"
"Yes. It will go smoother if you keep your helmet on. Trust me."
"Of course, wouldn't want to offend anyone," Bo slightly mocked.
"A scolding from the Armorer can be a real downer. I went through it, avoid at all cost," Osa added.
"Duly noted," Bo chuckled.
The two ships landed when the three approached the mouth to the Mandalorian covert, but Paz Vizla and other Mandalorians heavily guarded it.
"Come no further." Paz enforced while proceeding forward, "You both are apostates, Din Djarin and Osa Djarin."
"Stop with the name calling," Osa scoffed.
"We are no longer. We have been to the Mines of Mandalore," Din revealed.
"Impossible. The mines were collapsed in the Purge. The planet is cursed," Paz stated.
"These are lies meant to keep us in exile."
"How do we know that it is not you who is lying?"
"Now you're calling us liars, we can't win with this guy," Osa exclaimed.
"He speaks the truth. I was witness," Bo stepped in.
"And who are you, Nite Owl," Paz spat.
"I am Bo-Katan of Clan Kryze."
"Your house has fallen from the way. All three of you are apostates."
"We have been to the Living Waters," once Din revealed this bit of info chatter grew among the others, "I bring proof," Din displayed the vile.
"We shall see," Paz disbelieved when he stepped aside for them to go inside. Once in, they stood in the Armorer's forge as Paz explained, "Din Djarin claims him and his daughter have bathed in the Living Waters."
"Is this true?" the Armorer asked.
"It is. I have proof," Din handed over the vile.
"I was witness," Bo said, "They fell into the depths and I pulled them out."
The Armorer said nothing until she released the contents into the forge, where the water briefly glowed a turquoise hue before becoming one with the water.
"He speaks the truth. These are indeed the Living Waters. Din and Osa Djarin, you both are redeemed. This is the way," the Armorer said when the covert repeated, "And Bo-Katan Kryze by Creed, you too are redeemed."
"But I do not walk the way," Bo stated truthfully.
"Did you bathe in the waters?"
"I did."
"Then you may join our covert and live as your ancestors once did. You may leave anytime you wish. Until then, you are one of us. Welcome, Bo-Katan of Clan Kryze. This is the way."
"This is the way," the covert repeated while embracing Din and Osa back into the Creed while welcoming Bo in as well.
The Mandalorian covert stepped outside to participate in daily military training consisting of firearms, flight with their jetpacks, and combat.
Bo walked through monitoring the activity when she found Din watching over Osa in a close combat challenge. The Mandalorian judge watched with precision giving points to the opponent who made contact.
"How's she doing?" Bo asked Din.
"Up by one."
"Point," the judge shouted by awarding Osa's opponent.
"Now they're tied," Din corrected.
"And is she fighting with," Bo hesitated wondering how many knew about Osa's force abilities.
"No, she needs to learn not to depend on them and trust her physical abilities."
"Point," the judge yelled awarding another one to the opponent.
Osa looked to her father for advice when he signaled to keep her arms closer and tucked to her sides.
"She always leaves her right side so open when she attacks. I've told her multiple times to strike hard and fast, and then get right back to protecting herself. No matter how many times I train her she proceeds to fall right back into her old habits," Din stressed.
"Point," the judge yelled raising the opponent's hand in the air while Osa kicked the sand in defeat.
She walked towards Bo and her father with her hands out confused on why she lost, "What have you forgot to teach me Papi?"
"You're blaming me for your loss," Din stated.
"Clearly the covert has been teaching some new techniques."
"Or you deliberately keep ignoring my advice."
"I always absorb what you have to say," Osa looked at Bo unable to fathom her father's disbelief of her.
"Then why do you continuously leave your right side exposed?" he asked.
"Huh, what did you say?"
"This is what I have to deal with," Din glanced over to Bo.
"And this is why I don't do well with kids," Bo said keeping out of the father and daughter scuffle.
"Maybe my other child will take his father's teachings seriously," Din walked over to Yazel who was sitting in the sand playing with hermit crabs, "It's time that you learn with the other foundlings. Play times over. I'm gonna need you to focus unlike your sister," Din picked up Yazel and placed him down by two young foundlings already battling, "Next challenger."
Bo stood next to Din stressing her concerns, "Are you sure this is a good idea?"
"If he is ever to rise from foundling to apprentice, he must learn. Judge, he challenges."
"He is too small," the judge scaled.
"I am his father. Proceed."
"What weapon?"
"Let the challenged decide,"
"Darts," the boy chose.
"Bring the training darts," the judge yelled for.
"Why doesn't he wear a helmet?" the boy asked.
"He is too young to speak the Creed, and so, too young to wear a helmet," Din explained.
"And there would be no room for his little ears, they would be all jammed up in there," Osa turned to Bo, "Kids today so insensitive."
"Then he's too young to fight," the boy declared.
"Wowzers, this kid got some confidence," Osa snapped.
"One does not speak unless one knows," Din reprimanded, "Is that not the Creed?"
"Well I know," the boy said cocky.
"Perhaps this lesson is for you then," Din said.
The judge brought out the training darts as the boy and Yazel were armed.
Bo took the wristlet and strapped it on Yazel, "Don't worry, my dad was the same way. He's just proud of you. You take it easy on him, kid."
"Each has three darts," the judge began explaining the terms, "You may fire the darts in any order. Each direct hit scores one point. A mark must be visible to score. One round. Highest score wins."
Yazel turned to his father looking for advice, "Squeeze your fist to launch the darts. You'll be fine," Din reassured.
You got this Yazel," Osa cheered her brother on.
"He doesn't know how to fire darts?" Bo whispered to Din.
"He's got this. Trust me," Din stated.
"Ready, begin," the judge yelled when the boy wasted not time and fired.
Immediately Yazel's tunic was splattered with paint. Yazel peered up at his father cooing.
"Don't look at me. Look at him," Din was giving tough love.
"Remember the training remote exercise with Master Skywalker, you have to react quickly," Osa tried to remind Yazel but she could sense he was holding back.
"Ready, begin," the judge yelled while the boy shot again hitting Yazel a second time, "Point."
Yazel began stressing his anger when Osa turned to her father, "Papi, Yazel is getting murdered out there."
Din bent down to his son's level to give advice, "They know what you can do. Use it."
"Ready, begin," as soon as the judge yelled Yazel used the training remote exercise to his advantage and force leaped out of the boy's line of fire. He continued leaping until Yazel fired all three shots, hitting the boy, and winning the match.
"Winner," the judge appointed.
"There you go," Din happily cheered.
"Oh so Yazel can use his abilities in a match, but I can't," Osa tried to deliver sarcastically.
"We all must learn different lessons," Din replied.
"Sure," Osa said while helping Yazel take off his dart wristlet as the defeated boy pouted towards the water.
He stood there defeated when a winged creature swooped down from the sky, scooping the boy into its talons, and was carried off.
The covert immediately pulled out their weapons, but Paz refused declaring they could easily kill the child.
"Follow it to its lair," Paz eagerly demanded when he took off with his jetpack.
Din and two other Mandalorians followed, but after sometime their jetpacks began to sputter out, because they were not made for long distances. Paz and Din landed in the same area.
"I'm out of fuel," Paz stated, "It always gets away," he said saddened, but then the Gauntlet blazed past.
Everyone made their way back to the covert when Bo landed.
"I kept a high altitude and followed it to its lair. I know how to get there. We should muster up a hunting party and go after the child," Bo escorted Din, Osa, Paz, and the Armorer onto her ship to show the map, "I scouted where it lives and mapped the location. There," she pointed to the hologram that appeared, "The nest," Bo highlighted green.
"It flew a long way," Din said.
"I will go get him," Bo volunteered.
"The mountains are too high. If we use jetpacks, the beast will hear," Paz stated.
"It would kill the child," the Armorer declared.
"These are no higher than the peaks of Kyrimorut. I use to climb them in basic training, I'll fly to the foothills, scale the rest of the way on foot," Bo said.
"I'll join you," Din volunteered.
"As will I," Osa didn't even hesitate.
"Paz Vizla, enjoin the Shrick-hawk training team to accompany you. I will pack extended lariats for your launchers. We must avoid explosives and blasters for the safety of the foundling," the Armorer declared.
The Gauntlet landed a far distance as the participating Mandalorians disembarked the ship. Bo Katan lead them towards the nest while she explained her plan, "We'll continue on foot from here. Any closer, and the creature will hear the ship."
The group came upon a large peak as Bo pointed upwards stating that's where the creature was, "If we tuck in under this outcropping, we sleep out of line of sight, and climb at first light."
"We will make camp," Paz stated.
The Mandalorians wasted no time and gathered necessary materials to make a fire. They congregated around the flames staying warm when one Mandalorian served their meal. Bo turned to Osa wondering the obvious.
"How do you eat when other people are around?' Bo questioned.
"You don't, this is how I keep my great figure," Osa signaled towards her body while smirking under her helmet.
Din quickly interjected, "If that's true then why are all the snacks gone from our ship?' he questioned his sassy daughter.
"Yazel has a huge appetite."
"Uh-huh," when Din told Bo the correct protocol, "When you get your food, you go off to find a place where you can take off your helmet."
Everyone began to find their spots when Paz stopped Bo, "You are the leader of the war party. You have the honor of staying by the fire. This is the way."
"Can I be her lieutenant so I can be near the fire?" Osa yelled when her father scolded her, "All right just a question."
Bo shook her head and smiled through her chuckle.
Morning approached when the Mandalorians cleared the area as if they were never there. They all kneeled in a circle when Bo briefed them on the plan of rescue, "The raptor's lair is atop the highest peak. Now our hope is that the child is still alive so we have to make sure not to fire on the raptor."
"It will kill the foundling if attacked," Paz informed, "It has happened before when it has taken others."
"Yikes, it's taken others," Osa whispered to her father worried for Yazel's safety.
"Our best bet is stealth. Our jetpacks will alert it to our presence. Let's move," Bo lead the charge as they headed towards the peak.
Bo, Din, Osa, and Paz released their grappling hooks, hoisting themselves and scaling up the mountain side. The second unit followed as the journey was difficult.
Din stopped and signaled upwards, signifying to Bo and the rest that the nest was in sight. They continued, finally reaching the top and climbing in the clumped up branches when Osa stopped them.
"Wait," she put her hand out preventing their movement.
"The raptor isn't here. Let's find the kid," Bo urged.
"Something's not right, it's like we are being stalked," Osa pointed out.
Din turned on his heat visor seeing something in the nest hiding beneath the branches, "I see something over there."
Paz wasted no time entering the nest when Bo insisted they clear the area first.
"He's my son," Paz revealed running in the direction Din pointed towards.
"Then don't jeopardize him or yourself," Osa said hoping to prevent Paz from doing exactly what he was doing, bull rushing into the unknown, "Papi stop him, it's a trap, and we're the prey," Osa revealed to late as Paz yelled for his son.
"Ragnar!"
Suddenly three baby raptor's emerged from underneath the branches, snapping away at Paz like he was their next meal.
"Ragnar!" Paz yelled again when everyone heard the boy's voice in the distance.
"Osa where is he," Din asked in a panic knowing she could find him.
Osa closed her eyes and searched through the Force, extending her arm when she sensed Ragnar on the opposite side of the nest, clinging on the edge for dear life.
"He's over there, hiding, but," she pointed trying to get the last part of her sentence out, when Paz quickly discovered the mother raptor swooshing down from the sky snapping at Paz, and noticing the meal she had captured from before was escaping.
The raptor gripped Ragnar in her talon while clasping Paz in her jaws and took to the sky. The Mandalorians ignited their jetpacks to follow.
"I'll just stay here," Osa yelled as the babies licked their beaks, "Oh no."
Everyone wasted no time, attacking from all angles ensuring everyone's safety. Bo attempted to reach the boy but the raptor flung her out of the way as Bo lost a pauldron. Paz used his flamethrower to escape the creature's jaws as it spit him out and he fell onto the mountains below.
Din went in while the others attacked from the sides, constricting the raptor's wings by releasing nets. The ropes entangled the creature sending it to its demise, but in order to save itself, it threw Ragnar while Din dove and caught the boy mid-air. Din piloted his way towards Paz and handed the boy over.
"Dad," Ragnar wasted no time and jumped into his father's arms. Paz embraced his son tightly thanking Din profusely.
Naturally Din understood the love for a child when suddenly he remembered his own. Din blasted off towards the nest a bit worried on the scene he was going to encounter.
"Osa," his voice went an octave higher when she was nowhere to be found, "Osa where are you," when she popped out of the branches and began belly rubbing one of the chicks.
"Aren't you just the sweetest," the other chicks nudged her for their turn, "Oh yes, all three of you are."
"Osa."
"Papi, can I keep them, please," Osa said while still petting them.
Din just shook his head and pointed in the distance hearing the mother raptor roars.
"I guess that's a no," Osa said disappointed walking over to her father.
"You didn't ask how the mission went," Din said.
"I don't have to, because I know you will do everything in your power to reunite a child with their parent, but when it comes to your own," Osa was cut off.
"I know they can handle themselves," Din reminded.
Osa smiled under her helmet and walked into her father's embrace when they jet packed their way towards the Gauntlet.
Upon their arrival, all the Mandalorians were cheering as they saw Ragnar exit the ship along with Paz, Bo, Din, Osa, and the others. The Armorer stood front and center when she addressed Bo.
"You have honored your house and all of Mand'alore. You have done the highest honor of the Creed. Saving a foundling," the Armorer stated.
"This is the way," Bo said.
"This is the way," when the Armorer noticed Bo's missing pauldron, "You're in need of a repair, come with me."
Bo glanced over to Din, who had Yazel in his arms, and Osa who nodded in her direction. It almost seemed like Osa knew what was going on in Bo's mind, her questioning herself, her leadership, and the enigma of what she saw beneath the Living Waters.
Osa looked over at the Armorer as if telling Bo she would have some of the answers Bo was looking for, and so she followed. The Armorer sat Bo down while she worked on constructing a new pauldron.
"I can replace what's missing, but not with it's modern refinements," the Armorer began, "Shall I inlay the signet of the Nite Owl?"
Bo hesitated, staring at the silver Mythosaur signet hanging in the cave, "Would it be acceptable to wear one pauldron of the Nite Owl and another with the Mythosaur?"
"The Mythosaur belongs to all Mandalorians. It is always acceptable to wear."
"I would like that," The Armorer began her craft while Bo continued, "What would you say if I told you I saw one?"
"That you saw what?"
"A Mythosaur."
"I would say you're very lucky. It is a noble vision. One that comes to a rightful ruler."
"No I mean a real one. Beneath the Living Waters on Mand'alore."
"When you choose to walk the way of the Mand'alore, you will see many things," the Armorer placed the pauldron on Bo.
"But it was real," Bo confirmed.
"As this is the way," the Armorer confirmed.
