Metanoia | The Mandalorian ON HOLD

Chapter 21

IG-11 jumped off the speeder and started shooting down every stormtrooper while keeping the child safe strapped to his chest.

"Cover me." Said Mando and Cara jumped onto a table, firing at the troopers outside while Mando went to move to the door before quickly stopping and turning around. "You stay here and stay low. Take out your blaster and shoot any stormtrooper you see." He told Juno. She nodded and pulled out the blaster.

"Be careful." She told him and quickly hugged him. He held the back of her head cas he hugged her back and closed his eyes under his helmet for a moment before letting go.

He went to the door and opened it. Immediately, he shot the first two troopers and kicked the one in front of him down as he went to the middle of the fight and noticed IG-11 with the child. A few moments later, he spotted the E-Web and went to it. He ripped it off it's stand and started firing at the troopers.

Inside the room, Cara continued shooting as Juno nervously did the same. She wasn't great, but she managed to shoot some down. "You're quite good, kid. Just stay down." Praised Cara. What they didn't notice was that some troopers managed to get close and destroyed the door with a large boom. That made both Cara and Juno fall down. Juno screamed and started breathing heavily. Cara quickly pulled her to her side as she, too, tried to catch her breath.

Hearing the explosion and the scream, Mando got distracted as he continued shooting. He didn't notice Moff Gideon behind him before he got shot to the head and stumbled with a grunt. He turned around but the man was quicker and fired at the explosives before him. This sent Mando flying and being unable to stand.

"No!" Yelled Juno when she saw it. She went to run outside but Cara quickly stopped her.

"Stay here." She told her.

"But..."

"I'll get him. You stay here." She said as she ran out and grabbed Mando, pulling him inside with Karga and IG-11 with the child following. She kept pulling him further in the room while the others closed the door. "Stay with me, buddy. We're gonna get you out of here." She said. She leaned him on the flipped table as Juno came rushing to his side and grabbed his hand.

"This is our only path out. Can you clear it." Karga asked IG-11, gesturing to the sewer vent. The droid put the child down and turned to Karga.

"If you go near this child, I will have no choice but to kill you." He said.

"I understand. Can you do anything to move the grate?" He asked.

"Yes, of course." Replied the droid and kneeled in front of it.

"Oh I love IG units."  Said Karga as IG began lasering the vent.

Mando tilted his head to Juno and Cara. "I'm not gonna make it. Go." He said. Juno shook her head, tears welling in her eyes again.

"No." Mumbled Juno.

"Shut up. You just got your bell rung. You'll be fine." Said Cara.

"Leave me." He repeated. Cara pulled out her hand that was holding his head and noticed the blood.

"I'm gonna need to take this thing off." She said and went to pull his helmet off.

"No. You leave me." Denied Mando.

"No, we won't leave you." Said Juno. "I can't leave you, I need you." She whispered and he looked at her and squeezed her hand. "Din, you promised to protect us, so you have to get up and let us help you." She finished as she cried. He moved their hands over his heart before turning to Cara.

"You make sure the kids are safe. Here." He started and ripped off a pendant from his neck, holding it up to her. "When you get to the Mandalorian covert, you show them that. You tell them it's from Din Djarin.  You tell them the foundlings were in my protection, and they'll help you."

"We can make it." She protested. "Come on! Let's go!"

"I'm not gonna make it and you know it." He said. Suddenly, flames shot in the room and Juno yelped, throwing herself over Din. "You protect the children. I can hold them back long enough for you to escape. Let me have a warrior's death."

"We won't leave you." Said Juno.

"This is the Way." Was his response.

More flames got to the room as a trooper came in and aimed the flamethrower at them. They looked away, expecting the flames to hit them but they never did. They looked up and saw the child protecting them. He managed to throw the trooper out before collapsing while IG-11 opened the vent.

"Come on! It's open, let's go!" Yelled Karga.

"Go." Din nudged Juno but she just shook her head, not moving. "What did we agree? You do whatever I say, when I say it. Go." He said more firmly.

"We have to move! Now!" Said Karga.

"Go." Din said again and Cara stood up. She went to pull Juno up with her but she shook her off. "Juno, you have to go." She reluctantly stood up.

"Escape and protect these children." Said IG-11 and handed the child to Cara's arms. "I will stay with the Mandalorian."

"Promise me you'll bring him." She told him.

"You have my word." Replied the droid. Cara looked back at Din before she grabbed Juno's hand and lead her out.