Metanoia | The Mandalorian ON HOLD

Chapter 49

Months went by. Din continued the bounty hunting while still training Juno, who was getting better every day. While Din stayed the same Mandalorian he was, Juno was growing into a beautiful young woman. Her long, dark brown hair was always in braids, swaying against her waist, her body was getting more feminine and her doe eyes were shining greener than emeralds. It was no surprise that the fifteen year old girl made young boys turn their heads to see her just a little longer. Din of course, as any father would, did not like the boys staring at his daughter and did anything to scare them off.

Currently, Juno was waiting for Din while he went to take care of a bounty. She was leaning against a wall, the hood of her cloak covering her face as she spun a blaster around her fingers, keeping her eyes on the people passing by in the street. When Din finally appeared, a bag in his hand, he was limping heavily. She rushed to him and pulled his arm around her shoulder to help him walk.

"What happened?" She asked him as he groaned in pain. "You used the Darksaber, didn't you?" She huffed. "I told you that you would hurt yourself and you never listen."

"Hey. I'm the adult here. I don't need you to lecture me." He said.

"Well, if you'd just listen to me when I tell you that something will happen, I wouldn't need to." She argued. "And if you'd let me help you with the bounties like I asked you, we wouldn't have this problem." She murmured.

"I already told you that I don't want you doing that. It's dangerous and I wouldn't be able to protect you." He told her.

"I'm not a little girl anymore, dad. You don't have to protect me all the time. I'm training and I can take care of myself." She said softly.

"I know." He mumbled.

They walked through the street, Din tried to hide the limp as he leaned against Juno. They reached an elevator as another person pressed the button to open it. They got in with him and the doors closed, the elevator moving up. The person looked Din up and down, eyeing him and Juno strangely. He quickly looked away when Juno turned to him with a frown.

The doors opened and Din and Juno walked out, looking for the person who hired him. When they noticed them, Din let go of Juno and walked to the table, while Juno stayed further away, letting him deal with the business.

"That was fast. You're a good hunter." They said in Huttese.

"I'd like my reward and the information you promised." He replied as he put down the bag on the table.

"Why are you rushing business Mando?" They asked.

"My business is my own. Where is it?" He said.

"Sit and enjoy a meal with us." They said. "And call your daughter along. She doesn't have to stand there by herself."

"Where is the closest access shaft to the substrata?" He asked, ignoring their request.

"Sit and feast with us or I will tell you nothing." They threatened.

"You can keep your reward. There's a bounty on this Klatooinian. If you won't give me the information, someone else will." He said and grabbed the bag, turning around to leave.

"It's down Kolzoc Alley by the heat vent towers." They said, stopping Din from walking away. He sighed and set down the bag, taking his reward. "Please sit. Both of you. I have another job for you."

"I'd put that on ice if I were you." He said and left, putting his arm on Juno's shoulder on the way as they walked back to the elevator.

"Your dry sense of humor never fails to amaze me." She chuckled as they got in. When the doors closed, Din let his guard down for a few seconds, grabbing the railing tightly as he grunted in pain. Juno crouched down to look at the wound.

"It looks really bad." She said quietly.

"It hurts really bad." He grunted.

She stood up and squeezed his forearm, smiling tightly at him. "We'll find them soon and they'll take care of you. Just hang on a little longer." She encouraged him, making him chuckle.

"When did you grow up? I'm supposed to be taking care of you, not the other way around." He mumbled while she just smiled at him. The doors hissed as they opened and the two walked out to the streets.

Din was, again, leaning on Juno while they searched for the access shaft. When they finally found it, they walked in, finding themselves in the Mandalorian covert. They stood on a platform, the only way down was to climb down a metal ladder. Din went to go first when Juno closed her eyes for a moment before she spoke.

"Careful on the sixth step." She warned him, but it was too late as Din slipped before he managed to catch himself. "Told you." She whispered to herself before she went down after him.

Once they were down, they walked the walkway, noticing the Armorer sat at edge. Juno was supporting Din, holding him up as his limp got worse. They walked down the stairs leading to the Armorer when Din suddenly slipped out of her hold, the pain in his leg too strong, making him fall to the ground. Juno rushed to his side.

"Tend to him." Spoke the Armorer without turning to them. Paz Vizsla, the only other Mandalorian there, grabbed a medical kit and moved to help Din.

"I didn't know if I would ever see you again." He said as he went to tend to the wound, while Juno sat on the ground at Din's other side.

"Thank you for saving us on Nevarro." Din said as he winced in pain. "I am sorry for your sacrifice."

"There are three of us now." He replied before he looked at Juno, noting the blaster attached to belt on her waist. "Maybe with fourth on the way." He added, making the girl look at him with a small smile. "We'll put you to work soon enough."

"What weapon caused such a wound?" Asked the Armorer. Din took the Darksaber off his belt and held it out.

"This." He answered.

"Paz Vizsla, bring it to me." She ordered. The Mandalorian took it from Din and brought the weapon to her. She stood up and turned to face him before she took the Darksaber. "All this talk of the Empire, and they lasted less than 30 years. Mandalorians have existed 10, 000." She said and activated the blade. "What do you know of this blade?"

"I am told it is the Darksaber." Din replied.

"Indeed. Do you understand its significance?" She asked.

"Whoever wields it can lead all of Mandalore." He answered.

"If it is won by Creed in battle. It is said, one warrior will defeat 20, and the multitudes will fall before it. If, however, it is not won in combat and falls into the hands of the undeserving, it will be a curse unto the nation." She explained and deactivated the blade. "Mandalore will be laid to waste and its people scattered to the four winds." She said as she moved to them while Din slowly stood up with Juno's help.

"The hilt is of a quality of beskar I have never seen before." Said Din.

"It was forged over 1,000 years ago by the Mandalore Tarre Vizsla. He was both Mandalorian and Jedi." She explained.

"I have met Jedi." He said, making Juno look down in sadness. She missed her little green friend dearly.

"And the girl?" She asked and Juno turned her eyes up at her. They were talking as if Juno wasn't even there.

"I have met the Seers, too. She returned to her people but then came back to me." He explained.

"Then you have completed your quest." Said the Armorer.

"I have." Replied Din.

"Then you, as well as your foundling, may join our covert as we rebuild." She told them.

"This is the way." Said Din.

"This is the way." Replied Paz.

"This is the way." Finished the Armorer and returned the Darksaber to Din. She then turned to Juno. "You should start training and learning our Way." She told her.

"I already am." She replied confidently.

"Then we'll see how much you know." The Armorer replied as Juno stood tall and proud, not letting her emotions show, just like Din taught her.