Serena & Din

Chapter 5: Dinner to disaster

 It was nearly sunset by the time Din was ready. With his armor polished and hair neatly pomaded, he walks across to knock on Serena's door. After hearing no answer,  he was surprised to find the door locked when trying to turn the knob. "Coming! I'm almost done." Serena said, as she hurried putting on last touches. Din  said with a chuckle, "You've said that for the past half hour. Come on Serena, Dune will be here any minute."

"Well, alright then." Serena said reluctantly and opened the door. Biting his tongue was the only thing Din could do to stop his mouth from dropping all the way to the floor. . Serena was wearing a  dining gown made of a soft red and gold fabric that she bought at the market earlier that day,the silk flowing like a river over her moderatly fair figure. Her hair was made into a low bun touching the nape of her neck, a single ruby pendant hung from her, and small earrings to boot. After a minute of gaping, Din recollected himself and said straightening up, "You look great." She blushed slightly, nervousness heating up her blood to nearly a boil, then said to Din,     "So do you.  You look, well, handsome!" Din could help but smile softly. They stood a while, Serena looking at the floor. She couldn't help but ponder the past events. Where would have been if Din hadn't found her, or worse left her their for carrion birds! But no, instead he saved her, and what reason she won't know. Could it be just because of her looks and abilities that he's being so generous, or is it something else? 

"Really?" she asked meekly, mostly to herself.

"Really what?" he asked with a quirked brow. Serena forgot that he was there, then said hastily "D-Do I really look, um pretty? I don't really get that a lot."

Din took her hand gently and looked into her deep ocean eyes and said softly "I mean it."    

 After a moment of silence and staring at another, a droid came to announce that the Nite Owls and Ms. Dune had arrived. Both walked together to meet their guests and all complimented Serena, making her feel more treasured than ever. Cara narrowed her eyes at Bo-Katan who stared with mutual effect then said, "I thought we were going to speak in private."

Din then explained that Bo-Katan wished to help also "We'll need backup if things get hairy." After introductions were made, everyone sat down to homemade dishes Serena cooked herself. The food was delicious. Starting with an herbal soup, then freshly grilled krayt dragon meat as the main, and to finishing off with traditional Alderaan cakes with Kaff. Everyone was enjoying themselves, telling each other about their past adventures, or latest involvements with the New Republic. After everybody finished, all went to the living area where Din began retelling the events of the past week, after which he said, "We must do whatever it takes to bring Serena and her family justice." He looked back at Serena who gave a small smile of thanks. "So, I believe Serena should start things off first," and soon all eyes turned to her. Serena took a deep breath, and began, "A few months ago, a messenger droid came to my dad while out on the moisture dunes, it came from Juba the Hutt himself, a distant cousin of the late Jabba. My foster father didn't give much about it, saying it was just a reminder of when to pay off the loan. We did that very month, and Juba gave us many gifts as a thank you. He was very generous to us and was quite easy-going. So I don't believe he would kill my family. These guys were different. They spoke in a language that sure wasn't huttese." Once she finished, Din then said "Well, I guess  there goes our lead. So, if they weren't from the Hutts, then who do they work for?"

That was the question everyone meditated on, until a sudden crash came from outside. Din immediately went out, Serena following, grabbing her pistol and saber from the mantlepiece. They came out to and all out showdown, filled with the sounds of bullets hitting metal. A man in brown has hidden behind some scrap metal, shooting two small pistols but they could tell the fight was coming downhill. It was after noticing of the attackers that made Serena's blood go cold, one of them had an eyepatch. She grabbed Din who didn't know she was there and yelled over the gunfire "It's them! They killed my father!"

Serena couldn't take it. She needed to do this; it was for her family. Within thirty seconds, Serena then charged the assassins with her saber and pistol at her side. She took them completely by surprise and all of them ran as she fired and ran after them,  anger fueling her progress as she managed to trap and gave one fatal punch in the stomach, then managed to blow a deep cut on another's abdomen with her saber. Her fury spread like wildfire to all who came through her way, and it would be impossible to put her out.  Dune yelled from the doorway to Din; "Well don't just stand there, grab her before she blows up!" Din managed to dodge the gunfire coming from the escaping bandits and grabbed Serena from behind. As the remaining  group got on their speed bikes and left, Serena was screaming curses at them, things of which could not be replicated. At this Mando just held her waist from behind, her whole body trembling like an earthquake as anguish overtook her. Din just looked the three bodies, one writhing, the others dead. Din had seen death before, sometimes being the client in some cases, but to see its work come through Serena sent him fear for her that he never felt before. 

Author's Bit

Well, thanks to all of whom have been reading this far. I'll be sure to post again as soon as possible! Who do you guys think sent men? Let me know in the comments below, don't be afraid to reach out! 

May the Force be with you, until we meet again.

Lady Amidala_2025