𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐘 - DIN DJARIN

Chapter 38: Coercion

chapter 38: coercion •••

You haven't stopped fighting since the moment you told Din to let you go. You never will.

You've tried so hard to wrestle your way out of the dark trooper's grasp that their grip around you has become like a vice, making your chest ache as you stop solely in concern for the child you're still carrying within you. They bring you towards the shadow of an Imperial cruiser that looms in the sky above Tython, the thinning of the air not helping your chest as you try your best to take steady breaths. Constantly you look over to where Grogu is to make sure he's all right, and thankfully, he's still steady in the arms of the trooper. Still, you can hear his faint whimpers, which grew stronger once he saw his father's image fading from the sky.

"It's okay, Grogu!" you exclaim to him over the rushing wind, catching his attention as his large eyes widened in fear look at you. "He'll be okay!"

Grogu coos, but the sound's drowned out by that of an entrance sliding open on the cruiser. Your jaw tightens as you look up, preparing yourself to fight like hell as soon as you're placed on board. The first thing you intend on doing is getting Grogu back in your arms. That's what you focus on as the troopers fly through the entrance, engaging the reverse thrusters on their feet as they ease you to the floor.

Once you think their grip's loosened enough, you try to fight again, kicking one of their feet out from under them and forcing your arms to the sides in order to break free of their grasp. You start to run forward towards the trooper who has Grogu, but before you can even get two steps in that direction, the dark trooper reaches from behind you and turns their wrist to take a firm grip around your neck. Instantly, you release a gasp for air, something that's only made worse when the dark trooper pulls you back against them. Your back hits their hard armor and you lose all your breath, causing you to wordlessly plead for mercy as your hands grip their metallic wrist.

Eventually, with one of their arms wrapped securely around you again, they let your throat go. You would double over if they didn't have you held so tightly against them, your chest heaving as you cough a few times. Your gaze that's fallen to the floor looks up when you hear Grogu coo and you can see him looking at you with his chin tucked into his chest, as if he's pleading for you not to fight them anymore. You nod, knowing that your son is right—for now.

Staying as still as possible, you let the dark troopers take you and Grogu further into the cruiser. They march with you until you've reached what must be the brig, where armed guards already wait outside of a cell. You grit your teeth, only complying with the dark troopers around you. Once they leave you and Grogu on the bench inside, they turn and leave, letting the stormtroopers come inside instead.

The door to the cell closes and immediately you launch into action. You rush forward and slide on the floor, using your legs to take one of the stormtroopers to the ground. They fall as you make it onto one knee, taking the blaster from their hands to shoot them dead. Before you have the chance to turn and get the other, they kick you over, making you land on your side as the blaster falls from your hands. Quickly, you rebound and reach into your boot to seize your knife, throwing it and landing it in the space between the stormtrooper's helmet and chest. They fall to the floor in a heap.

You can hear Grogu coo happily as you start to get up, making you chuckle as you step forward to take your knife and the stormtrooper's weapon. Before you have the chance to do so, the cell door opens, and you're hit hard in the head with the barrel of a large blaster. You're sent sprawling to the floor as the cell spins around you, a low groan of pain escaping your lips as you lay on your side.

Grogu watches the scene unfold with anger that nearly blinds his large eyes. His tiny fists ball up at his sides when he sees you lying in pain on the floor of the cell, the two new stormtroopers standing over you with their weapons drawn. My mother, that is! Grogu seethes, though he knows it's nothing but an angry coo to their ears. Hurt her, you cannot!