Fragments of the Dark

Chapter Seventeen

Celene was shocked.

Not because Grogu could wield the Force, something she'd already been certain of, but with how she could sense his thoughts.  For a split second she wondered if he could sense hers but then she realized no, his skills were too under-developed and her shields far too strong.  

"Grogu," the Mandalorian leaned back in his chair and let out a chuckle.  The child turned to face him with a giggle.  "Grogu," her partner repeated again and shook his head.  "So this is why they want your blood?  Because you can move objects with your mind and read people's thoughts?"

He knew nothing, she realized.  Absolutely nothing.   She would have to tread carefully here.  "There are a race of people like me," she said.  "We are all but extinct now.  The key to our power lays in our blood.  If the Imperials can harvest it... they will do unspeakable things." 

He leaned forward now.  "So in the lab... when you told me to close my eyes and then you... killed everyone?"

"Yes.  The power we use is called the Force.  It lives in our blood, in cells called midi-chlorians.  It takes much training and skill to wield the Force.  Grogu is just a child so his abilities are under-developed.  Mine are more advanced."  She didn't want to talk about this anymore, already suppressing the wave of memories threatening to slam into her.  The scar across her face gave a fierce twinge of pain. 

Celene looked at Grogu again and against her better judgment she turned the little creature to face her.   Her curiosity got the better of her, her suspicions growing.  "Grogu."  His attention turned on her.  "Grogu... where did you come from?"

She stifled her breathing as the seconds ticked by.  She began to think it was a dead end but then the scenery around her shifted.

Great towering walls rose beside her, piercing the sky above.  All around her a city thrummed with life.  Air traffic buzzed in the air and countless ships flew over head.  People of every species and every size and every color milled about, talking in a hundred different languages.  A smooth, endless walkway stretched beneath her feet leading into the cavernous opening of a great temple.  Towers rose from it, the tallest she had ever seen.  Banners flapped in the wind. 

The Jedi Temple.

The scene shifted and Celene felt fear emanate from him.  Terror.  The sky was dark, smoke seeping into it.  The smell of ash and fire was strong.  The pounding of hundreds of booted feet thudded through.  She glimpsed white armor, the flash of blaster fire.  A blue lightsaber in a swinging downward arc.

Then she was moving, racing away, the edges of brown cloak fluttering in her vision as she faced the sight of the great Jedi temple burning.

Order 66.    

Celene's eyes flew open.  Grogu had not only witnessed the execution of the Jedi order... he had survived it.  She stared at the small child before her in shock.  Who had saved him?

"What?"  The Mandalorian demanded, drawing her from her thoughts.  "What did he say?"

She shook her head.  She couldn't tell him this... it would reveal too much.  Too much she wasn't ready to admit.  To tell.  "He was born on a planet called Coruscant.  He's been alive long enough to see the Empire seize control of the Republic capital.  After that... his memories are dark.  Hazy."

On the table Grogu's eyes began to flutter closed, his small head drooping.  Celene stood, and gathered him up in her arms.  "I'll put him in my bed for now." 

"Where will you sleep?"

"I don't need to sleep."

She placed Grogu on her bunk, his breathing already steady.  Her hand trembled slightly as she tucked a blanket around him and left him to sleep.  She found the Mandalorian already in the cockpit and she checked the navigation system, making sure they were still on course. 

With a heavy sigh she sank down into the pilot's chair, a headache already starting.  She rubbed her eyes. 

"I can leave if you want... to be alone."  He said.

She closed her eyes and suddenly the idea of being by herself in the void of space seemed overwhelming.  Uncertain.  "No.  It's okay, you can stay." 

The silence between them was heavy and Celene remembered the last words she'd spoken to him.  You are nothing to me.

And still he'd come back.  He'd risked his life to save her.  Defied the Code of the Guild.  For her.  And she'd told him to get the hell out of her cockpit. 

She should apologize but she couldn't force the words out.  Besides, everything she had said was what she meant.  Everything she had said was true. 

Was it?

"You bargained your life for my safety."   His said quietly. 

Her head snapped up.  "What are you talking about?"

"With the Imperial.  You said you would go if they let me out, unharmed.  Part of the deal.  So I just wanted to say, thank you."

Celene pinched the bridge of her nose between her fingers before spinning to face him.  "For fuck's sake, you should not be thanking me."

"Why not?  You saved my life-"

"Because I told you that our partnership means nothing!  I snapped in your face when you tried to help me!  I told you that you mean.. that you mean..." she trailed off.  That you mean nothing to me. "Look- I'm sorry, okay?"

The Mandalorian nodded but she sensed the unspoken question hanging in the air.  Did you mean what you said?  Does this mean nothing to you?

She took in a breath.  "I... I don't regret this partnership."

"Neither do I."

She wished she could see through the visor of his helmet, to read his eyes, just this once.  To know what he was thinking, how he felt.  "And I consider you more than just my business partner."

He leaned forward, hands braced on his legs and she plowed on.  "I see you as a friend."  She hated the slight waver in her voice but her heart was hammering in her chest. 

For a second he didn't answer and leaned back, almost deflating.  Her heart sank.  Had she said too much?

"I see you as a friend too, Celene.  Not just a partner." 

Something eased inside her and she nodded. 

"And my name..." he hesitated.  "My name is Din."