𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐘 - DIN DJARIN

Chapter 60: The Briefing

chapter 60: the briefing •••

The light of the fire's flames flickers around the cave as you sit and watch them with an anxious knot tied within your armored chest. Your desire to help the people of Nevarro only grows more and more with each moment that passes, and the longer you have to wait to reach them, the worse it becomes. The uncertainty of having the covert's aid doesn't help, leaving you to wring your gloved hands together as you watch the Armorer stand in front of the gathered group.

Din sets one of his hands over yours to ease your anxious actions. You look over at him and your gaze meets his visor. He gives you a firm nod as his gloved fingers thread through yours and offer a reassuring squeeze. Din doesn't have to say a word for you to understand. It's gonna be okay.

"Din Djarin has requested this meeting," the Armorer announces, calling the attention of the Mandalorians who have been murmuring amongst themselves. She lifts the tool in her hand and goes on. "He will speak to you about Greef Karga and the crisis on Nevarro." The Armorer's visor sets itself on Din. "Come forward."

You give Din's hand a quick squeeze before he stands and makes his way over to the Armorer. She offers him the tool in her hand and takes her place amidst the collected group. Din glances at the tool and directs his attention towards the Armorer. "Thank you." He gestures to the rest of the covert. "The rest of you have my gratitude for accepting an audience with me."

Warmth starts to blaze within the depths of your chest already as you watch and listen to Din. He's come a long way from being the man who was almost too shy to speak to the people of Freetown about the Tuskens. The confident strides he starts to take on the sand prove that even more.

"Now, many of you don't know Greef Karga," Din goes on, "and those that do fought against him when you rescued me from his ambush many cycles ago on the streets of Nevarro."

You glance at your hands in your lap for a moment and let a small smile tug at the corners of your lips. It was the night you and Din first met, the beginning of your forever—but for others, it was a night of devastation and loss. Your smile starts to fade as you look up at Din again.

Din stops walking and faces the group with severity. "Since then, he's had a change of heart and has risked his life to save mine as well as the foundling in my charge."

You glance at Grogu, who sits alongside Zora in their pod that floats at the Armorer's side. He coos as if he's agreeing with Din's words.

"I stand before you to petition an intervention." Din's visor scans the group, but when it finds your gaze, he stops for a moment to seek your comfort. "To help rescue Nevarro before it's too late."

You resist the urge to stand and run to his side. As hard as it is for you to wait to rescue Nevarro, it's even more difficult for Din. He's known Greef for a long time and the planet itself was once a home to him. He's been strong ever since he received the news from Captain Teva and watched Greef's message for help, but you aren't ignorant of the deep desperation that festers underneath his beskar.

"I am in no position to ask any more of you," Din continues, peeling his visor away from you to focus on the group again. "However..."

Din's forced to pause as the Mandalorians start to murmur amongst themselves. You look at them with a furrow in your brow, your armored shoulders rising as you prepare to demand silence for your husband. It's only Bo-Katan's gloved hand on your pauldron that stops you, the Mandalorian at your side offering a reassuring tilt of her helmet. "He'll handle it," Bo whispers to you. You nod at her and force yourself to take a deep breath.

"However." Din's voice becomes more firm as he lifts the tool in his hand. The group falls silent. Your lips curl up in sly satisfaction as he lets the tool fall back to his side. "The enemy that decimated this very covert were Imperials, not Greef Karga's bounty hunters." He pauses to let the realization fall upon the Mandalorians. "Greef Karga is now a High Magistrate and has offered me a tract of land on his independent world."