Metanoia | The Mandalorian ON HOLD

Chapter 12

When Mando got back, he went to the ship and directly to the sleeping quarters. He noticed the door was open and the kids gone. He quickly ran out, angry and scared for the kids. "Hey!" He yelled.

Peli gasped, waking up abruptly. "I'm awake! I'm awake!" She screamed and frightened the kids. The child started crying and Juno woke up, scared of the sudden noise. Peli tried shushing the child.

"Where are they?" Asked Mando.

"Quiet!" Said Peli, walking out and holding the child as Juno followed her. "Oh. It's okay. You woke them up. Do you have any idea how long it took me to get them to sleep, especially the little green one?"

"Give him to me. Juno, come here." He said.

"Not so fast! You can't just leave children all alone like that. You know, you have an awful lot to learn about raising young ones." She told him. The child cooed and Juno tried hard to cover her smile, enjoying how uncomfortable he must feel. He looked at her, noticing her expression and shook his head at her slightly. "Anyway." Peli continued. "I started the repair on the fuel leak. I had a couple setbacks I want to talk to you about. You know, I didn't use any droids, as requested, so it took me a lot longer than I expected." She said while pressing harshly some buttons. "But I figured you were good for the money since you got two extra mouths to feed."

"Thank you ." He said and started walking away.

"Oh, I guess I was right. You got a job, didn't you?" Peli asked, walking after him, Juno doing the same. "You know, it's costing me a lot of money to keep these droids even powered up."

"Hey, Mando, what do you think? Not too shabby, huh?" Asked a man, leaning against a speeder. Mando looked at the speeders, not really impressed. "What'd you expect? This ain't Corellia. Ma'am." He nodded at Peli and the child chuckled.

"Can I come with you?" Asked Juno, looking at Mando.

"No." He looked at her. "I want you to stay here."

"Please." She said as she walked closer to him. "I have a really bad feeling about him." She whispered so that the other man couldn't hear her.

"All the more reason for you to stay." He said, getting on the speeder. "I'll come for you later." And with that they sped away.

"I don't like this." She mumbled, looking at the place Mando just stood at with her eyebrows pulled together.

"He'll be fine." Peli tried to reassure her, putting her hand on her shoulder. "Come on. I'll teach you some card games." She said and pulled her inside.

~

It's been a long time, the suns went down and the sky became dark and Mando and the man still haven't returned. Juno was getting quite antsy, scared that something happened to Mando. She had another small vision and saw someone getting hurt. It was quite blurry so she didn't know who got hurt and how bad.

The child was sleeping in her lap, cooing softly as she caressed his head, looking in front of her, waiting for something to happen.

"He'll be back soon, I feel it." Said Peli as she sat down on a chair in front of her.

"It's been the whole day and he's still not here." She replied. "What if something went wrong."

"He's a Mandalorian, kid. I'm sure he can take care of himself."

"Yeah." She mumbled and closed her eyes, taking a nap.

~

Juno woke up to someone shaking her and calling to her. "Get up, girl."

When she opened her eyes, she saw the man, Toro, standing in front of her, pointing a blaster as her and the child in her arms as Peli stood next to him, being held by her hair.

Juno slowly stood up, taking the child with her, holding up her other hand, showing she wouldn't do anything. The child was now awake and he cooed nervously. Juno tried calming him down but she was nervous too. She knew she didn't like the man the first time she saw him.

"Where's Mando?" She asked.

"I'm sure he's on his way." He answered and grabbed her hand harshly, pulling her to him and holding the blaster to her back. "Why don't we wait for him?"

Mando came a while later, angry at Toro.

"Took you long enough, Mando." Said Toro as he stepped to the light, pushing Juno, who was holding the child, with his blaster pointed at her head. On his other side was Peli who was held tightly by her upper arm.

When Mando saw this, he became scared and angry beyond reason. He tightened his hold on his blaster as he waited for the right moment to use it.

"Looks like I'm calling the shots now. Huh, partner? Drop your blaster and raise 'em." He said. Mando threw the blaster on the ground and raised his hands as Toro pushed Peli forward. "Cuff him." He ordered and she walked to Mando as he readjusted his hands. "You're a Guild traitor, Mando. And I'm willing to bet that these two are the targets you helped escape." He said, pushing Juno with the head of his blaster. "Fennec was right. Bringing you in won't just make me a member of the Guild, it'll make me legendary."

Suddenly, there was a bright light flashing in their eyes from where Mando and Peli were standing, blinding Toro and the kids. Toro fired at the place where he last saw the Mandalorian as his vision was slowly returning.

Mando moved to the side of the ship and aimed at Toro, both of them firing at the other. Juno screamed, letting go of the child as she and Toro fell down, the child running to hide.

"Juno?" Mando called, worried for her. He saw her slowly sitting up and rushed to her as Peli went to look for the child. He kneeled in front of her and gently grabbed her face, turning it around and checking over her body. "Are you okay? Hurt anywhere?"

"No, I think I'm fine. Just a little shaken up." She said and then hugged him tightly. "I was scared when he came here and you didn't." She whispered as he held her closer. "Where's the baby?" She asked as she let go of him and he turned to look at Toro' body.

They could then hear the child cooing and babbling as Peli took him in her arms and talked to him. Mando took a pouch from Toro as Juno went to Peli and the child, grabbing his little hand. "Be careful with them." Said Peli as she passed the child to Mando. "So, I take it you didn't get paid?" She asked, sighing.

Mando then took out the pouch and poured the coins in Peli's hands. "That cover me?" He asked.

"Yeah, yes, this is gonna cover you."

Mando then turned around, walking up the ramp to his ship. Juno went to follow him before she turned around and rushed to Peli, hugging her. "Thank you." She mumbled and turned back around, running inside the Razor Crest, the ramp closing behind her. When she got to her seat, Mando started the ship, flying away from Tatooine.