Mandalorian Revived

Chapter 8

I didn't know that reaching the Mines of Mandalore would require walking through what was once the streets of Sundari City. When we first break through the tunnels and back into the city, it all feels familiar. The skeletons of streets I used to live on remain, though now they're covered in ash and decay. The only sounds are our footsteps as we walk.

When Bo leads us in a shortcut through a side alley, recognition stirs in me. This isn't just memories of Sundari burning before my eyes. This is different. The buildings on either side of our narrow alleyway feel haunted and coldness seeps into my bones in an unmistakable way. My body locks up again.

This is where the Grand Inquisitor found me.

I pull in a shaky breath but it does nothing to calm the trembling in my limbs. Bo Katan notices first. Din follows her gaze when he realizes no one else is moving, but he immediately closes the distance between us and runs his hands up and down my arms in an attempt to awaken me.

Grogu's pram floats up to my side and the child coos as he reaches for me. I can't hold him. All I can do is let my eyes rake over the scarred buildings and listen to the Grand Inquisitor's voice over and over again.

"Tara, just breathe," Din says softly. I didn't know I wasn't breathing. He dips down enough to make our faces level. His voice isn't loud enough for Bo Katan, who stands waiting further down the alley. His hands come up to the sides of my face as he whispers, "Come back to me, please."

His voice slowly pulls me back from the spiraling, darkened tunnel, at least enough to make me breathe again. But I can't bring myself to move.

"We really shouldn't stay here too long," Bo says, taking a few hesitant steps toward us.

"She's scared," Din snaps, probably harsher than he meant to. "This is where she grew up. She needs time."

"No," Bo replies with no indication that his tone deterred her. She sighs, pulling her helmet off as she comes to stand in front of me. She nudges Din to make him move aside as her eyes find mine with a startling level of patience behind them. "What is this place to you, Vizsla?"

It's the one question Din hasn't thought to ask. I can feel him tensing from it through the force. I take a deep, steadying breath and meet her gaze. "This is...is..." I shake my head to bring my thoughts into focus. "This is where they took me."

Grogu lets out a sad whine. Bo Katan nods, still as calm as ever. "The Inquisitors."

I nod.

Bo's eyes narrow as her lips turn up in a halfhearted grin. "You're not a little girl anymore, and memories can't hurt you." She gives my shoulder a firm slap, but not enough to sting. "It's just like when we got off the ship. One step at a time."

I take another breath and steel myself. "One step at a time."

She keeps the helmet in the crook of her arm as she starts forward again. Grogu follows and I start to do the same. This time, though, Din slips his hand around mine and holds it tightly as we walk. I give his hand a slight squeeze and he squeezes back harder.

We walk through the alley and break into a larger, more central road of the fallen city. It all feels familiar, but nothing makes me freeze up again as I look around. I keep Bo's words in the front of my mind. The memories can't hurt me. I have to remember that I'm in control.

"It's hard to believe that this all was once filled with our kind," Din says, his voice full of cautious wonder as we walk.

Bo huffs out a breath just a few steps ahead of us. "It wasn't that long ago."

"You'd never know it looking at all this," I mutter, scanning the decay around us.

Din squeezes my hand again. "It looks like it's been centuries."