Chapter 5: The Sin
"Come now."
A young red-haired girl, no older than ten, looked to her new stepmother. The woman was waiting by an open door in front of the girl's new home. However, she felt uneasy about the atmosphere of the situation. This wouldn't be a warm welcome. But she had nowhere else to go. Seeing no alternative, the girl walked up the steps.
It was awfully hard to keep up with the older woman, as the young girl was walking with a limp in her right leg. She lived in an small orphanage before coming to Atlas, and the host-parents couldn't afford extensive and essential medicine. So, the girl was forced to walk with a limp through the empty hotel lobby.
The Madame stopped in a room where her daughters were waiting for their newest servant to arrive. The loss of Cinder wasn't an unpleasant one to any of them. In fact, they were relived that when she left, her dangerous 'friend' left as well. Their fear of the Mandalorian was replaced with humor as they saw the new servant limp inside.
"Wow, would you look at that?" the blonde whispered to her sister.
"Maybe this one can cook," the brunette said, causing the sisters to share a quick laugh.
The Madame cleared her throat so the young girl would pay attention. Once she turned around, the woman spoke to her again. "You're to make sure the laundry is folded, the dishes are spotless, and the floors are clean enough to-"
*BAM*
The Mandalorian appeared in the middle of the room, his eyes fixing on the Madame. After re-collecting her thoughts from the shock of the intruder who appeared out of nowhere, she looked cross at him. She was specifically clear about banning the bounty hunter from the hotel, and she would be damned before letting him get away with returning. She knew exactly what to say.
"I told you not to-!"
She unfortunately didn't get the chance to speak her mind as the Mandalorian grabbed her by the throat and threw her across the room. She flew into the drywall and slightly cracked it.
Her daughters and the young girl screamed at the top of their lungs, the random act of violence horrifying them. Their hearts were beating faster as the bounty hunter walked closer to the girls. They all expected him to treat them in the same manner as he did with the Madame.
Instead, he looked to the younger girl and shifted his head to the door. She quickly got the message and moved as fast as she could to the main door. The siblings followed her, but stopped in their tracks as the Mandalorian put his arm in their way. "Not you," he said calmly.
The girls slowly backed away towards the wall. The blonde grabbed her sister's hand for security, who took it without a second thought. But as they felt the other's hand shaking and sweating, they knew they would find no comfort in each other.
"Please don't hurt us," the blonde begged, tears starting to form in her eyes.
The brunette reached inside her pocket and pulled out a few Lien and handed it to the Mandalorian. "Take it," she offered. "It's all I-" Djarin smacked the money out of her hand and watched it hit the floor.
The Madame started to get off the floor and saw the Mandalorian close to her daughters. She scrambled to pull her Scroll out of her pocket to call the police. It roughly takes three seconds to dial emergency services. The Mandalorian had wrapped his wire around her hand in two.
As she dropped her Scroll, the Madame looked at her attacker. "What do you want?" she asked. She tried to assert herself in this situation, she was supposed to always be the dominant one in conversation. But the fear in her voice showed that she wasn't the one in control.
The Mandalorian answered her question, regardless of her emotional state. "I want to talk with a guest here, Arthur Watts. Where is he?"
"A... Arthur Watts is dead," she replied.
"We both know that's not true."
"I... I don't know where he-Gah!" She suddenly grabbed her arm in pain as the wire quickly found its way back into Djarin's gauntlet.
"We both know that's not true, either." Djarin took out his pistol and aimed at her.
"No!" the girls screamed.
"You knew he would be taking Cinder. I'm sure you know where." The gun made a clicking noise and the girls lowered their heads in fear. "Now where is he?"
The Madame finally showed a sign of vulnerability as she begged for mercy. "Please... stop..."
"Where is he?"
"Mantle!"
The Mandalorian turned back to the girls. The blonde began to stand up and explain herself. "W... We were serving him lunch while you were gone. I heard him talking to someone, saying he would ta... take her to Mantle."
The Mandalorian didn't believe her at first. It was possible she was leading him on a wild goose chase just so they could get rid of him. So, he decided to test her. "Why would he go there?" he asked calmly.
The brunette spoke up. "He has an office, a lab down there."
The Mandalorian began to lower his weapon. The sisters felt relieved. Their hearts were staring to slow down and their tears were drying. They looked to their mother, who was starting to walk closer to them.
"Girls... it's going to be fine," she said, a small smile forming on her face. She was starting to feel relieved too, and slightly grateful that the Mandalorian chose not to hurt the only family she had. "You both should-"
"What's the address?"
"..."
The girls froze in place as their fear began to build up in their bodies again. They were telling the truth about Watts' lab, but they had no idea where in Mantle it was. And the Mandalorian would think they were lying.
"What's the address?!" Djarin yelled.
The girls turned away again, but it wouldn't help.
They were as good as dead.
"87 Holmes Avenue."
The Mandalorian turned to see a new person in the doorframe. The person who was looking down the barrel of Djarin's pistol was a man with a ponytail on the back of his head. He had a blue and bronze outfit with a pauldron on his left shoulder. He had his hands up, but it could be an act so he could reach the dual maces on his back or the two short swords on his side.
"I'm not here to fight you, Mandalorian," the man said as he moved closer. "Lower your weapon and let's talk."
"This doesn't involve you, Huntsman," Djarin replied.
"I think it does," he argued. "You're looking for that kid, aren't you?"
"...Will you try to stop me?"
"No."
The Mandalorian tilted his head.
"I've seen her around here, and I think it's safe to say she wasn't getting the most... fair treatment." The Huntsman looked at the frightened family, who had come together while the Mandalorian had his back turned. "Yeah?"
They didn't answer him. So he looked back to the bounty hunter. "Look, my point is that I might know where she is and I want to help."
Djarin didn't lower the pistol. "You've seen what she went through and now you want to help her?"
"I could ask you the same thing," he answered calmly.
"..."
Djarin lowered the pistol as the Huntsman lowered his hands. "How do you know where Watts is?" he asked.
The Huntsman pointed to his leg. "He helped me recover from an injury after a mission. For the right price," he said with a scowl. "Now are you going to waste more time asking questions or are we leaving?"
"...Lead the way," Djarin ordered.
They walked out together. The traumatized family held each other tighter as they continued to cry.
Djarin and the Huntsman were standing outside a small brick building in Mantle. They couldn't see any lights inside the window, nobody seemed to be home.
The Mandalorian knew if he didn't find Cinder in there, he might find some clues. So he decided to check for a back door while the Huntsman knocked on the front door. As he did, a small probe exited from the wall and an automated message played.
"The doctor is not in at the moment. Please come back at your earliest convenience."
The probe went back inside its hole. The Huntsman turned back to see Djarin return. "Doesn't look like anyone's here," he said. "There should be something inside, though. Maybe-"
"She's here," Djarin confirmed, his words laced with anger.
"How can you-?"
He didn't get a chance to finish asking as the Mandalorian pushed him against a wall and knocked on the door again.
The probe popped out again. "The doctor is not-"
Djarin ripped the probe off the door and teleported away with his partner. The door opened and two Atlesian Knights walked out to see what happened. "CHECK THE PERIMETER," one robot ordered.
The Mandalorian and the Huntsman reappeared at the back wall of the building. Djarin placed a small explosive on the wall. "What are you doing?" the Huntsman asked. "We should be sneaking in rather than-"
"We don't have time," Djarin replied. He then pointed to a garbage can to the side. The Huntsman looked inside to see a torn white shirt. Cinder's torn white shirt.
The Huntsman looked back to the Mandalorian. "Do it."
The wall exploded.
"Are... Are you sure about this?"
"Of course. It's the only way I can get what we need."
Arthur Watts was looking over a set tools in front of him while talking to his assistant, a Faunus with brown hair, a goatee, and a lion's tail. His name was Leonardo Lionheart, the Headmaster of Mistral Academy. His true intention of being in Atlas was a meeting with the Headmaster of Atlas Academy, but now he was stuck helping Watts.
"Don't tell me you doubt my methods," Watts wondered out loud.
"It's not your methods I'm questioning," the Faunus assured him. "It's your belief that they're necessary. She's just a child!"
Watts rolled his eyes and turned to his doubtful assistant. "And we have our orders." The Faunus whimpered as Watts pushed him aside. "So don't forget what happens when you step out of line, Lionheart."
The doctor took a look at his specimen as he moved his tool closer.
Only to stop as soon as he heard a beep coming from his computer.
"See what that is, will you?"
The Faunus looked at the computer and saw what caused the noise. "You seem to have some knights offline." he said.
"What?" Watts moved to the computer and pushed his companion aside again. "Where?"
Two knights had entered the storage area of the building and saw the large hole in the wall. Their visors gave off a red light as they began to search for intruders. The sparks and flashes lit the area as well, but there were no signs of anyone inside.
*BANG*
*BANG*
They fell to the ground as the Mandalorian lowered his pistol. The door opened behind him to reveal another knight with its weapons locked on to him. As it fired, the Huntsman stepped in the way, the bullets bouncing off various parts his body. He ran up to the robot and smashed its head with his mace. After giving the 'all clear' sign when he looked out in the hallway, the Huntsman took the lead with the Mandalorian watching his back. Who also had a good look at his metal skin, no doubt caused by the Huntsman's Semblance.
"Beskar?" Djarin asked.
"Just steel," the Huntsman confirmed. "I need to use it sparingly, I used most of my Aura on my mission today."
"Then let me take point," the Mandalorian offered, which the Huntsman obliged. In the nick of time as well, with both of them seeing another droid walk by. Djarin fired his wire around its throat and pulled, then stepped out of the way for the knight to make contact with one of the Huntsman's swords.
Before they advanced any further, Djarin fired at a security camera in the corner of the wall.
"Fire Dust?" the Huntsman asked, referring to the ammunition that the gun was holding.
"Modified Fire Dust," he replied as he put a new clip into his weapon. "A design passed down by Mandalorians for years."
"Let's hope nobody was looking through that camera."
The wish was in vain, a certain someone saw them at the right time.
"You've got to be joking," Watts said to himself as he watched the Mandalorian destroy his camera.
"What is it?" Lionheart asked. "Has someone found us?"
"I'm afraid so," Watts said as he pressed a few keys into his computer.
"No, no, no!" the Faunus began to pace around the room. "They're after me, aren't they? I told you this would happen, that he would find out! Now we're both-!"
"Stop whining, Leonardo," Watts ordered. "No, this is someone I know. And he's brought a friend."
The screen changed from security cameras to a black screen with a vertical straight line through the center. The line moved up and down as a modulated voice came out of the speakers. "What is it, Doctor?" the voice asked.
"A bounty hunter has broken into my lab," Watts replied. "He came with a Huntsman a few minutes ago."
"Were you able to eliminate him?"
"No, he's still here. And he's coming closer."
"Is this the same bounty hunter we hired earlier?"
"Yes. The Mandalorian."
"...This is unexpected. How far has he gotten?"
"He just left the storage area and he's on his way here. More than half of my knights have fallen, I need your help."
"I'm afraid I'm in a position where I cannot help you. It seems you have no choice but to escape."
"I'll need time to send my initial research to you and hide my specimen before I leave."
"I will return once the situation is under control. Hide her where no one can find her."
"I understand."
The screen changed back to the security cameras. Watts began to press more keys as files began to be sent over to another person. Before he could grab his 'specimen', he remembered he had forgotten something. "Leo, where are my blood tests?!" he yelled.
"Y... You left them in your office!" Lionheart replied.
"Watch her, I'll be back."
Watts activated another knight to help Lionheart and began to walk out of the room. He quickly lowered his head as a red bolt nearly missed him.
"There he is!"
Djarin fired a blast from his pistol as he saw Watts leave a room, but Watts was able to dodge quickly.
He began to run away, but not before pulling out an exquisite weapon, a silver and gold pistol with a large chamber. It seemed it could fire a lot of Dust rounds.
"Nineteen... eighteen..." Watts counted his shots as he fired.
The Huntsman pointed to the door their target had come out of. "Check that room, I'll go after the doctor!"
The Mandalorian watched his partner chase Watts into another room. When they went out of view, Djarin opened the door to see another robot and a Faunus lower his head and raise his arm. "No, no, no, no, please!" he cried out.
Djarin simply fired a blast in the center of the droid's visor and watched it fall to the ground. He pushed the Faunus to the ground and aimed his blaster at him, where he continued to beg. "No, please! She's just a child!"
Djarin swiped his head to the corner of the room and felt his jaw drop. In the corner was a scared and shaking Cinder, wearing nothing but a green hospital robe. She slightly peaked her head out to see her savior.
The Mandalorian's eyes landed on bruises and small marks on her arms and legs, which sent a wave of anger through his body. And unfortunately for Lionheart, Djarin now had the perfect opportunity to vent his anger. "What did you do to her?" he asked as he readied his pistol.
The Faunus whimpered and held onto a barrel. "I-"
"What did you do to her?!"
"I protected her! Please, if it wasn't for me, Watts would have done much worse! Please don't hurt me!"
Lionheart waited for what felt like an eternity before looking back up. The Mandalorian and the child were gone. He looked out to see the bounty hunter carrying something wrapped in a blanket. Rather than following or stopping him, Lionheart closed the door and let the Mandalorian check the child.
"Cinder... can you hear me?" Djarin asked.
The young girl lifted her hand... and caressed it on his Beskar helmet. "You... came back," she said with a weak smile.
Djarin sighed in relief. "I'm getting you-"
*BOOM*
The Mandalorian heard an explosion from where the Huntsman had followed Watts. He ran into the room to see a large dent in the wall and his partner on the ground. Five knights surrounded him, one armed with a rocket launcher. "DROP YOUR WEAPONS AND THE CHILD," one of the droids said.
Not wanting to end up like the Huntsman, Djarin dropped his pistol and lowered Cinder. "Get behind me," he whispered.
"KNEEL."
Djarin complied again, but not before making sure Cinder was behind him. The droids began to advance to the intruder, one disarming his arm turrets and preparing to take Cinder.
Tiny missiles launched from the Mandalorian's gauntlet and flew in various directions. "Cinder, get down!" he yelled.
Cinder dropped to the ground and saw each robot get hit with a whistling bird and sparks erupt from their bodies. It was like watching a fireworks show, and Cinder was able to enjoy it, regardless of the fact that her life was in danger.
The Mandalorian stood up as the last droid hit the floor. He rushed to the Huntsman and picked his head up off the ground. But as he tried to help, Djarin felt that his hand was wet. He removed it and saw it was coated in blood. This was bad.
The Huntsman looked at Cinder. "The... The kid..."
"Save your strength," Djarin ordered. "I'll get you out of here."
"No time..." the Huntsman said. The life in his eyes was starting to fade. They both knew he was going to die. "Don't... Don't let her go. Give her... what she... deserves."
He closed his eyes and left this world.
All Djarin could do was make sure he didn't die in vain.
"Let's get you out of here," Djarin said as he picked Cinder up and made his way back to the hole he made in the wall.
Watts had seen it all, and knew trying to catch her now would get him nowhere. Fortunately, he had contingencies. One that went into motion with the press of a button.
"-So I ask 'Are you Earl's widow?' She said 'I'm not a widow.' Then I ask 'You wanna bet a hundred Lien on that?!'"
The people at the table erupted in laughter at their friend's dark joke as they took more drinks out of their glasses. All except one, who was looking sadly at a tracking fob.
"Aw come on, Lake. Lookin' at it all night isn't going to change anythin'."
"I was just about to take the job," the bounty hunter known as 'Lake' said, not taking his eyes off the fob. "Then all of a sudden, some hotshot Mandalorian takes the goods."
"Yeah, well... you're not alone," his friend said, referring to the fact that most of the patrons in the bar wanted to have Djarin's job and reward.
"But I really needed it, Jesse."
"So did I, man. But it could be worse."
"How?"
"You could have died out there."
"Now I'll never know."
"Come on guys," the comedian said. "I'm trying to lighten the mood here. Now how about this one; a priest named 'Pastor Thighs' walks into a bar, hoping to-"
A soft beeping cut him off. Lake turned to his tracking fob and saw that it had activated. "The hell?" he said.
"What's goin' on?" Jesse asked.
Lake turned his fob to his friends, showing it flash and beep. "Wires must be crossed," Jesse said. "Just put it down and-"
"Uh, guys?"
Lake turned to see more people holding fobs that were flashing and beeping. They were also looking around the bar to see if they were the only ones.
"What's going on here?"
"What's happening?"
"Is the job still open?"
Jesse looked at the bar to see a TV screen showing a live news broadcast. "Barkeep! Turn that up!"
The bartender did as he was told, and everyone got a look at the report.
"We're seeing what looks like a robbery in the east end of Mantle. Reports of what looks like someone wearing Mandalorian armor roaming the streets with an unknown object in a blanket. Local authorities had been notified and have advised citizens-"
"That's the guy who got that Beskar!"
"This isn't a coincidence. He's become a target of the Guild."
"The reward might be the same. And the east end of Mantle is five minutes away..."
Every bounty hunter in the bar immediately ran to the door, leaving a few people sitting alone at a now empty table.
Except for a group of three women, who didn't take their eyes of the screen.
"He doesn't seem to know what's about to hit him."
"What do we do?"
"...Get the others."
The Mandalorian was walking down the streets, hurrying to the nearest transport to Atlas. He needed to get Cinder to the Razor Crest. Djarin would normally take his Semblance there, but when Atlas hears about a Mandalorian in the city, they would do anything in their power to prevent him from leaving. So Djarin would need to conserve his Aura for the upcoming fight.
He looked down at the exhausted girl in his arms. "You okay?" he asked.
"I'm a little cold... but I'm fine," she replied.
"What happened?"
"He... wouldn't stop. He kept poking me, stabbing me. It hurt... and he wouldn't stop."
"It's over, now."
"Why did you come? What do you want to do?"
"Something I should have done a long time ago. I'm taking you far from Atlas, from anyone. We'll find you a new home, a better one."
"But I want to stay with you."
Djarin stopped walking. "I was expecting you to say that." This was true, given all the questions Cinder had asked him in Vale. While a new Foundling to the tribe would always be welcome, Djarin wasn't quite sure if she should come with him.
"...Look, it's not that I don't want to take you with me," Djarin began. "But being like me isn't easy. Or great as you think it is."
"If I go anywhere else, I can't help myself if someone wants to hurt me again," Cinder calmly argued. ""I want to be like you. You're strong. You're free. You're... everything I'm not. Everything I've always wanted to be. Being like you will change everything."
"..."
Djarin understood Cinder's argument, and he had a few more reasons as to why he thought it was a bad idea. But she seemed to have her mind set on the idea, and she might try to sneak away with him again.
On a lighter note, maybe she would like it back in his village. It took Djarin a while to adjust to his life, but Cinder had determination and a resolve to go with him no matter what.
"...Alright. Looks like you're coming with me." Djarin began to walk again.
Cinder's spirits began to lift once she heard this. However, she couldn't ignore a possibility that might happen. "But... what if your people don't... accept me?" she asked.
"You're a Foundling, Cinder. Like me. They'll welcome you as one of their own."
Cinder smiled when she heard this. Finally, she would have a place were she belonged, free from suffering and pain.
"Let's get you home."
Her smile widened as she heard that word. "Home..."
Djarin had found a lone transport that took him to Atlas in two minutes. He began to make his way to the hanger where his ship would be. But as he did, people from the shadows started to appear. Behind buildings, alleys, and even in front of the Mandalorian, each one pointing rifles and pistols at him.
"Wait a minute," one said as he walked in front of the duo. He took out his Scroll and held it in front of the Mandalorian. It was showing a video call from Greef Karga. Who was clearly upset when he heard his top hunter had gone rogue.
"Hello again, Mando," he said.
Djarin didn't respond.
"Now... put the package down."
"Tell them to step aside, Greef," Djarin requested. "I'm going to my ship."
"You put the bounty down and perhaps I'll let you pass."
"How do I know I can trust you?"
"...Because I'm your only hope."
"..."
Cinder looked up to the Mandalorian. "Let me talk to him."
Djarin looked at the Foundling. "Cinder, he won't-"
"I have to try. Let me help."
"..."
The bounty hunter put down the girl and Karga began to talk again.
"Now drop your-"
"Wait."
All eyes landed on Cinder. "There's something I'd like to say," she requested.
"And who might you be, little one?"
"I'm not a bounty, that's for sure. My name's Cinder, and as of this day... I'm a Mandalorian."
Karga laughed when he heard this. The hunters laughed as well. "Aren't you a little short to be a Mandalorian?" he asked sarcastically.
"Maybe. But if there's one thing I've learned while traveling with one...Mandalorians are survivors. And from what he told me, they look out for each other." She turned to Djarin. "Isn't that right?"
"This is the Way," Djarin replied.
Karga sighed, annoyed at the time she was wasting. "That's great, kid. But do you have a point?"
"Well, have you ever heard the phrase 'an attack on one is an attack on all?'"
The hunters began to look at each other, starting to understand what the girl was saying.
"You fire one shot at us... the others will come after you with everything they have. So let me ask you all something. Do you honestly believe you can survive the vengeance of the Mandalorians?"
Cinder and Djarin were amazed when the hunters began to lower their weapons. Djarin was beyond impressed with what Cinder had said. He would have shot everyone he could, but a ten year old girl had saved him the effort. Truly, he was proud of her.
Cinder had found a new feeling whenever she was near the Mandalorian. Whenever he was close by, she felt extraordinarily brave. She was always afraid of the Madame and her daughters, she was powerless to stand up to them. And worst of all, she was alone. Nobody would help her when she stepped out of line.
But now, she felt safe whenever she was with him. It was almost as if no harm would come to her in his presence. She decided to test this idea and her bravery, and was happy with the results.
"Oh, you gotta be kidding!"
All eyes fell on the Scroll with Karga.
"Let's not forget why we're here! Mando broke the code, and we can't let him walk away with-!"
A searchlight cast upon everyone. They looked up to see an Atlesian airship and a few Mantas above them.
Bolas came flying at everyone holding a gun. Soldiers in metal armor with blue paint on their necks and arms began walking up to the group. Karga hung up, fearing involvement with the Atlesian military.
Cinder rushed to the Mandalorian and tried to free him from the bolas. They wouldn't come loose, and the soldiers were coming closer.
"Cinder, your Semblance!" Djarin reminded her. Cinder grabbed the piece were the bolas met and activated her Semblance. The metal began to melt at her touch, and they broke apart. "Come on, let's go," the Mandalorian said as he picked up his blaster. Two Atlesian soldiers pointed their weapons at him.
"Drop your weapon and let the girl go," one ordered.
"She's coming with me," he said.
More soldiers approached from behind. "Let her go," another one demanded. "She's coming with us."
This time, Cinder spoke. "I'm not going anywhere with you."
The soldiers looked at each other in confusion. "Kid, this guy's dangerous. Come here, slowly," a woman in armor ordered.
Djarin quickly grabbed Cinder and teleported away. They reappeared near the hanger and began to run as bullets whizzed past them. The Mandalorian blindly fired his pistol at the soldiers as he ran.
A Manta landed in front of the two, unleashing more soldiers prepared to face their enemy head on.
Djarin grabbed Cinder and was about to teleport away.
*BOOM*
Everything went silent and everyone froze in place as they looked at the destroyed Manta.
"Attack!"
Everyone turned to the right as a group of Mandalorians ran and flew towards the dumbfounded Atlas soldiers.
"Open fire!"
Dust bullets and red bolts fired at each other. Some fighters were locked in hand-to-hand combat while the ships were trying to handle the flying Mandalorians.
Djarin and Cinder watched the battle in awe, amazed at how Cinder seemed to have predicted these events.
"Those powers involve seeing into the future?" Djarin asked with slight sarcasm.
"Not that I know of," Cinder replied, unaware of the sarcasm.
A female Mandalorian in various colors landed next to them. She took off her helmet to reveal a tan woman win short purple hair.
"Are you alright?" she asked.
"Yes," Djarin said as he stood up.
"Thank you," Cinder said.
"Where are you taking her?" the Mandalorian asked.
"I'm taking this Foundling back to my clan. I am Din Djarin, a Child of the Watch."
"I'm Sabine of Clan Wren."
"Different clans?" Cinder asked. "Why are you helping us?"
"We may not see eye-to-eye, but you said it yourself, kid. An attack on one is an attack on all."
"But your clan will have to relocate," Djarin pointed out.
"Eh, Atlas was getting a little boring." Sabine put her helmet back on. Just as she did, more Atlesians fired towards them. "Now get outta here!"
"Thank you," Djarin said.
The duo ran back to the Razor Crest, and Djarin immediately got the ship's engines on. Cinder sat in a seat next to him, getting a good look at the ongoing battle as the ship flew higher and higher. The last thing she saw was Sabine throw a small device as the soldiers. Just as it exploded, it created a soft blue glow in the air, as if the explosive was painting the sky. Cinder stated at the art as the view grew smaller and smaller.
When Atlas disappeared from her sight, the Mandalorian could feel another set of eyes staring at him. He looked to his right to see a smiling Cinder, who had a small tear line on her cheek. Djarin moved his thumb on her cheek, drying the tear. "You're free," he said.
One hour later
A black haired man in a white uniform with two pistols on his side was looking out his window. An Atlesian soldier was standing behind him. "General Ironwood... we were unable to apprehend the bounty hunter and his allies," he said nervously. His hands began to twitch as he continued his report. "They escaped capture... aboard a stolen airship."
Ironwood's hands turned into fists as he slowly turned his head to the soldier who gave this report. "The Mandalorians... stole an airship?" he asked.
"Other than the bounty hunter, who took what appeared to be a personalized Manta, that is correct. Sir."
General Ironwood turned his whole body to the soldier and placed his hands on his desks. "We had dozens of soldiers on the ground, almost a hundred more in each airship, and you still failed?"
The soldier shifted his position. "We... We were severely outmatched by just one Mandalorian sir. Chances of surviving an army of those soldiers would be-"
"The Mandalorians are not soldiers!" Ironwood yelled as he slammed his fist in the face. "They're just men and women with scrap for armor!"
"..."
Ironwood turned to his window again. "Dismissed."
The soldier left without another word.
It took a lot for General Ironwood's blood to boil. He had faced numerous challenges and hostilities, all of which had been dealt with swiftly. But tonight was his greatest humiliation. Atlas had known the Mandalorians as mere savages with a bloodlust that clouded their vision.
And yet... Ironwood had lost more than he could afford to them. And he wouldn't take this defeat lying down. He needed to fight back. But more importantly... he needed help.
A knock was heard on his door. "Enter," he ordered as he turned back to his window.
"Good evening, General," a male voice said.
"Good evening, Captain. I trust you heard about what happened tonight?"
"Yes, sir. I was on the ground when I heard about the attack. When I learned their intent to escape... there was nothing I could do."
"Well, there's something you can do now. I need you to find them."
"All of them?"
"All of them."
"I will happily carry out my orders, General. But I require two things."
"Name them."
"I want to find the bounty hunter first. The rest came to help him. They could do it again, and I'll be waiting for them."
"And the second?"
"You already know."
Ironwood turned to face the Captain. He was right; Ironwood knew what he needed. Or rather... what he wanted. "You realize I'll be expecting exceptional results," he said.
"If I may be blunt James... when have I ever given you less?"
Ironwood smiled at his old friend. He had actually enlisted in the Atlesian army with him, so he had known him for a long time. Long enough to know that he was right.
"Then it's yours," the General said. "As of this moment, you are promoted to the rank of Major. You'll have all the resources you need. Pick up your new uniform on the way out. Dismissed."
The newly appointed Major of the Atlesian military began to leave the room, wearing his new title with a smile. Ironwood decided to test his new title, see how good it sounded. "Report to me at the first sign of progress... Major Gideon."
Author's notes: hope you enjoyed this chapter, let me know what you think.
To Marc Ello-Re Yes, that's the relationship I want them to have.
To GojiraFan455515, hope your hype paid off.
To MasterPrince713, oh I see. Don't worry, the first butterfly will come soon.
To Delta prime2, very funny, I laughed seeing this! As for your question, I don't have a length planned, but it won't go into canon timeframe (RWBY Volumes 1-8)
To ARC-5597, glad you liked it. And yes, that's where I got my inspiration for the scene from.
To D.N Works, hope you liked this chapter, even though it didn't go as you expected.
To 23debal01, thank you!
To Afterlife XD, glad you like it. And you'll get more!
To Mandalorian00, hope it was worth the wait!
To The Avenging Titan, I'm so glad you're interested! You're absolutely right about the Mandalorian, I liked what you said. And the inspiration for your name is amazing!
Thank you for reading and reviewing! See you next time!