The Mandalorian: Beskar and Bone

Chapter 19: The Convert

Mando coughed, his lungs fighting for air. He looked around and realized he was still in the mines. Grogu and Elaine were sitting by him, and Bo-Katan was as well, though she seemed lost in thought.

Mando grunted as he sat up, everything came rushing back. "I am redeemed."

Bo's helmeted head nodded. "I witnessed it. You bathed in the Living Waters. You are Mandalorian again." She stood. "Can we leave now?"

Mando took a vial from his pouch and filled it with the water. He needed proof in order to return. He turned back to the kids, running a hand over Elaine's hair before picking up Grogu.

"Can I ask you something?" Bo asked.

"What is it?" Mando grunted as he stood.

"You see anything down there?"

Mando set Grogu in his pram. "I saw the chasm passing me as I fell. I didn't realize it was so deep."

"It wasn't." Bo said. "The bombings from the Purge must have triggered seismic activities." She paused. "Did you see anything... alive?"

Mando looked at her. "Alive? Like what?"

"Nothing." She shrugged it off. "Let's get out of here."

~~~~~

In Bo-Katan's ship, they flew back to Kalevala. Grogu was wide awake, but Elaine was beat. All the running, hiding, and emotional rollercoasters had exhausted her. She sat with Mando, her head lolled against his chest plate.

"Bring me to my ship and I'll be on my way." Mando told Bo. "You forever have my gratitude."

"I would invite you in for a feast, but I'm guessing that helmet isn't coming off again." Bo joked.

"This is the Way."

"This is the Way." Bo was almost surprised she said that, but after seeing what looked like a Mythosaur in the mines, she wasn't sure what she believed anymore.

Grogu babbled randomly, and the ship jolted. TIE fighters roared overhead.

"We took a hit." Mando said as Elaine started to stir.

"Something's coming up on us fast." Bo said. "It looks like a squadron of TIE interceptors."

"How close are we to Kalevala?" Mando asked as he set Elaine on the seat and stood.

"Not far."

"Get us back there and I'll reinforce from the N-1. Can you evade them?" Mando asked.

"Our shields aren't gonna hold. I need you to back them off." Bo ordered.

Mando ran to the back of the ship, taking the gunner's mouth. "Where'd they come from?" He asked as he fired.

"I've scugged off a lot of Imperial warlords." Bo admitted.

"They tend to get mad when you hijack their ships."

"Now you tell me."

Bo flew the ship into the atmosphere, flying through the Kalevala sky. "Get ready, we're coming in hot. I won't be able to slow down for the drop."

Grogu pressed a button on his pram, closing it. Elaine, now fully awake, gripped the edge of her seat, her eyes wide with shock.

"Interceptors are a lot tougher than TIE fighters." Mando remarked as he shot at them.

"Are you still up for the transfer?" Bo asked.

Mando stood and walked over to the bay doors. "I don't see any other choice." He opened the doors and jumped out, letting the wind carry him past the TIEs.