Arani Jakal was not ready to be stranded on an unfamiliar planet, causing her whole life to change. But in the chaos, a friend or two popped up - seemingly from nowhere - wishing to help. Ari gladly accepted and quickly became part of a small town...
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IT TOOK A WHILE for the small group to leave Nevarro. Haro refused to leave his ship behind, but Bo-Katan argued that it would be easier if they all traveled together. Surprisingly Din was all right with keeping the N-1 with the Mandalorians. At least one of the men made things simple.
Eventually, the four took off into the void of space. Haro sulked the entire time, ensuring no one forgot about his plight.
Arani was thankful for Bo-Katan, without her she wouldn't know where to look. And even with Haro's complaining, the ginger kept a level head, tuning him out to pilot her ship as smoothly as possible through hyperspace.
Suddenly, they slowed, a planet of blue waters and lush green grass appearing before them. When they breached the atmosphere, they were met by a large dome. According to Bo, the city was housed underneath the protective structure.
A forest surrounded the glass dome and they came upon a clearing. A large Imperial ship had been docked in the centre, and smaller ships scattered about it. Ari noticed that the ship had been the one they rescued Grogu from, and she smirked knowing who resided inside its walls.
"That's quite a fleet," said Din.
"It took me a long time to assemble it," Bo-Katan told them proudly. "Most of it was captured from the Empire."
"I knew they looked familiar," mumbled Din. "Could come in real handy taking back Mandalore."
Bo-Katan shook her head. "Aze Woves is their leader now. It's going to take some convincing to get them to join us."
"I wonder what they're here for?"
"This planet isn't on the New Republic Registry, so I'd guess it's an independent world that hired them for protection."
"This Woves guy seems like a real work of art. Can't imagine he'll be happy to see you," grumbled Haro.
"Yeah . . . You can say that. Good thing we've got you." She glanced over her shoulder at Ari, smirking. "He took a liking to you last time."
Ari flushed and looked at her lap, feeling Din's gaze. The last time they saw Woves, she and Din weren't a couple. But shortly after that had changed. Arani couldn't deny that something almost magnetic pulled her to Axe, but she hadn't thought of him for years. The only person she envisioned herself with was Din.
Din couldn't help the jealousy that stirred in his chest. He never got the chance to put the feeling to bed, and now that Ari was flustered at the mention of Woves, those old feelings resurfaced. He chastised himself, there was no reason to be jealous. In the time they'd known each other, Ari had only been with him - even when they had been separated and Haro saved her life. Once more, the ring in his pocket grew heavy and he refrained from taking it out and using Ari to marry him right there.
