Broken Soul | Din Djarin

chapter seventeen: the preparation

"You can't live here anymore."

You smack Din's arm, stepping up to him as the village breaks out into commotion at his news.

"What?"

You shoot him a glare as Cara turns to him.

"Nice bedside manner." Her brows raise as she speaks, but Din is only watching you. He hasn't seen you angry at him since you'd first met him. He's not really sure how to handle the situation.

"Well, you think you can do better?" His head is angled to gaze down at you as you cast a glare in his direction.

"Can't do much worse," Cara grumbles as she steps forward to speak to the murmuring crowd. She tries to calm them and explain their options. The entire village grumbles and yells at the three of you as you stand before them.

"I still think we can help them," you whisper to Din, who's moved close to your side.

"I realize that, but it's not worth the risk. There are too many scenarios where it could end badly, with you either injured or dead. I won't allow that," he mutters down to you, keeping his voice low as Cara continues speaking to the village.

"Believe it or not, Buckets, but I don't need your permission to do anything. Especially when it comes to helping others."

Omera's voice in the crowd snaps your gaze back to the villagers.

"Please... we have nowhere to go."

A frown covers your face as you gaze over at Omera. Her daughter is hugging the Child to her chest and she's looking sadly down at him. Your heart tugs at the sight and your hands clench into fists at your sides.

Another voice breaks out from the crowd. "My grandparents seeded these ponds. It took generations."

"I understand. I do. But there are only three of us," Cara gestures to the two of you as you stand behind her.

"No, there's not. There are at least twenty here." You recognize one of the men that had brought you to the village as he speaks. His words spark an idea and your head raises as your mind racks the possibilities to save this village.

"I mean fighters. Be realistic," Cara sighs tiredly as she shakes her head at the crowd.

"We can learn." "We can."

"I've seen those things wipe out armies. Entire companies of soldiers!" Cara's voice becomes desperate, practically begging for the villagers to leave for their safety.

"We're not leaving!"

More farmers pipe up, offering to help fight, and your confidence in completing this job is rising. You step forward and set your hand on Cara's arm, asking permission to speak. She nods and you step away from Din to speak to the village. The crowd becomes silent as you move towards them.

"What Cara says is true. I've seen them take out armies of soldiers and wipe out the population of many planets through the Empire's crusade of the galaxy. Trust me, I know. My own people were destroyed under Emperor Palpatine's direct orders of genocide. If you want to fight for your village, then I applaud you. But you must understand that we need to warn you of the potential risks of this fight."

You glance back at Din, who's standing with his arms crossed. He gives you a small nod of encouragement and you turn back to the farmers confidently.

"If you're willing to learn, we will show you. We have all been trained in varying ways to fight, whether it be infantry or hand-to-hand combat. It won't be easy, but if you are able to take care of the raiders themselves then we can focus on the AT-ST."