Metanoia | The Mandalorian ON HOLD

Chapter 41

"She has a small army of guards armed with A350 blaster rifles, two KK-87 assassin droids, and a hired gunfighter. He reads ex-military to me." Din explained as he, the kids and Ahsoka walked through the dry forest. "Combined, not even your laser swords would be able to protect you from all that firepower."

"True. But don't underestimate the Magistrate either." Replied Ahsoka.

"Who is she?" He asked and she turned to look at him. "She offered me a staff of pure beskar to kill you." Ahsoka came closer to Din as Juno and Grogu stopped a few feet from them and looked at them.

"Morgan Elsbeth. During the Clone Wars, her people were massacred. She survived and let her anger fuel an industry which helped build the Imperial Starfleet. She plundered worlds, destroying them in the process." She explained.

"Yeah, it looks like she's still in business." Commented Juno and the adults looked at her before Ahsoka turned back to Din.

"When you were in the city did you see any prisoners?" She asked.

"We saw three villagers strung up just outside the inner gate." He replied.

"We must find a way to free them." She said.

"A Mandalorian and a Jedi? They'll never see it coming." He said.

~

When Din and Ahsoka agreed on a plan, Din took the kids away, telling Ahsoka that once he was sure they were safe, he'd return. They walked back to the Razor Crest where Juno and Grogu were to wait for him.

"Okay." Sighed Din when they got inside the ship. "I want you two to stay here. Don't come outside until I come back for you. Understood?" He told them.

"Yeah." Replied Juno. "Just...be careful." She told him. Under his helmet, Din smiled at her and nodded.

"I'll be back soon." He told them and started walking away. "Stay in the ship." He called over his shoulder.

Once he was gone and the door of the Crest was sealed shut, Juno let Grogu down and went to her bed. Under her pillow was a piece of metal that she, with a bit of Grogu's help, was working on for some time.

"Come on, Grogu. Let's finish this." She said and Grogu looked up at her with a smile on his face.

She walked to Din's toolbox and pulled out some tools and got to work. She wanted to give Din something for everything he's done for her and Grogu, saving and protecting them since the first day. A few weeks ago, she had found some piece of metal in a shape that resembled a heart and thought of something. She knew that it wasn't much, but with Grogu's help with the force and his company, she tried shaping it and engraving words into it. They worked hard on it every time Din slept so it would be a surprise for him. She just hoped that he would like it.

~

It's been a long time since he's left the kids in the Razor Crest. He hoped that at least Juno had listened to him and they stayed in the ship. The fight was now over and the city and its people were free, celebrating the victory. Din and Ahsoka walked together outside the city gates and stopped as Ahsoka turned to him, holding the beskar spear.

"I believe this was your payment." She said.

"No. I can't accept." He said. "I didn't finish the job."

"No. But this belongs with a Mandalorian." She told him, holding out the spear to him and after a moment, he took it. "Where are your little friends?" She asked.

"Back at the ship. Wait here, I'll go get him." He said with a heavy heart and started his way back to his ship.

All the way, all he could think about was that he would have to say goodbye to the little green creature he cared about so much. And not just that. Juno, who had been with him through so much, who had loved and cared for him, would have to say goodbye. With these thoughts, he finally came to the ship, opening the door and walking in. He was greeted with silence, finding the kids sleeping on his bed, holding onto each other.

"Wake up, kids." He tried to gently wake them up. "It's time to say goodbye."

The kids slowly opened their eyes when they registered his words. He sat down next to them and they cuddled up to him, the small family holding each other, sad that their time together was nearly over. Juno suddenly looked up at Din, letting go and reaching on her bed, under her pillow.

"Umm, I...Uhh...We have something for you." She said quietly which made Din look at her and Grogu, surprised. "It's not much, but we found this and worked on it together for some time. It's for everything you did for us." She gave it to him. He looked at the small piece of metal shaped as a crooked heart on a piece of string long enough to fit as a necklace. On the heart was messily written You're our hero. "If don't like it, it's fine. It was just a thought." She said nervously as she watched him.

He ran his thumb over the writing. It warmed his heart, making his eyes sting with tears he didn't let fall. This just made it even more difficult for him. He loved them too much. He looked at them and pulled them close against his chest. "I love it." He whispered and pulled it over his head. Both kids smiled at him as he put it behind his chest plate, next to his Mandalorian pendant he always wore.

After a few minutes, when they said their goodbyes. They stood up, Din holding Grogu in one arm while his other was around Juno's shoulders. They walked down the ramp, not noticing Ahsoka standing there until she spoke.

"You're like a father to them." She said and they looked at her. "I cannot train him."

"You made me a promise, and I held up my end." He said. Ahsoka sighed and walked closer to them, grabbing Grogu's hand.

"There is one possibility. Go to the planet Tython. There, you will find the ancient ruins of a temple that has a strong connection to the Force. Place Grogu on the seeing stone at the top of the mountain." She explained.

"Then what?" He asked.

"Then Grogu may choose his path. If he reaches out through the Force, there's a chance a Jedi may sense his presence and come searching for him." She said. "Then again, there aren't many Jedi left."

"And Juno?" He asked.

"Last I heard, a bigger group of seers escaped and should be hiding on the planet Eldrys." Ahsoka said. "Once Grogu is on the seeing stone, you can try touching it, his connection with the Force may help you reach out and find them." Her last sentence was meant for Juno.

"Thank you." Said Din.

"May the Force be with you." Replied Ahsoka. Din turned and walked back up the ramp, taking the kids with him. With a last smile and nod their way, the ramp closed and the Razor Crest soon left the planet.