DEFENDER • THE MANDALORIAN

FIFTEEN

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It had been at least five hours since Alya had taken residence of the cockpit and allowed the Mandalorian to go get rest. Most of the time was spent by using the Force to levitate the small ball for the Child as he cooed happily.

Currently the Child is leaning against the woman's waist as he sits in her lap. Her hand is pulled in front of her, open palm facing up and holding the small, silver ball.

"All you have to do is concentrate," Alya whispers softly to the Child, relishing this moment of rare peace. The ball slowly begins to float above her palm. "You may not know how to do it yet, but I will teach you, I promise."

The Child watches with fascination as the ball begins to orbit around the Jedi's hand. Keen eyes watch as the Child grabs the ball out of the air.

Light reflects off the ball as the Child clutches onto it. Alya lets the Child become immersed in his own world as she looks up from him.

Her dark eyes gaze out at the stars that always kept her company in her five years of searching. The little lights, merely suns that light call out to all, sending a message of hope.

Eventually the young Jedi's mind wanders, as one's mind often does in silence. The main topic running through Alya's mind being her next action with the Child.

After five years of effort and unrest, the Jedi finally found the Child that Yoda entrusted her with. Finding the Child was one adventure, but keeping and protecting the Child is another.

People are after the Child, after her, and that would prove a difficulty that she could not face alone. While she could fight to protect the Child, Alya knows that eventually, if alone, someone would catch her off guard.

But staying with the Mandalorian seems to be the best option as of now. Having someone to help her protect the Child would prove extremely useful. Alya had never felt any ill intent held against the Child come from the Mandalorian, nor for her.

They would be safe with the Mandalorian; that much Alya is certain of.

"Don't" Alya called softly from her seat to the Child. After climbing off her lap and climbing up the control panel, the Child's small hand began to reach for a button on the panel; however, the hand had stopped as soon as the Jedi's words reached his ears.

The Child turns, leaving its hand lifted in the air. Alya raises her eyebrow slightly as she looks at the Child; there is no anger or agitation in her face, only a soft look of expectancy.

"Come back." Alya gently orders the Child, who looks back over to the buttons. After a second of contemplation, the Child climbs down from panel.

Waddling over to the woman, the Child holds his arms up. Alya picks him up and gently places him back in her lap. Her hand opens as Alya uses the Force.

The ball, which had been left on the panel, slowly floats over and delivers itself into the Child's waiting hands. Alya drops her hand and allows the Child's soft coos and giggles accompany the low hum of the ship.

A small sigh comes out of her mouth as the Jedi looks down to the innocent child. He remains unknowing of the world around him, simply taking happiness from a small, metal ball.

The image of the Child being tested on instantly flashed in her mind, causing a small frown to grace her face. Yoda had entrusted her to care for the child, to help the Child, but a small part of her knows that she cares too much for the Child.

She cares too much. Her split moment of fear when the Child was taken, her worry when she and the Mandalorian finally found the Child being tested on. This all points to her caring too much.

Something a Jedi should not be doing.

Alya bites her lip in contemplation as she allows this to run through her mind. The Child coos and grabs onto her hand which had been laying next to him; perhaps it felt her unease.

"I'll protect you." The Jedi whispers to the Child, despite knowing that the Child wouldn't understand her words. Hearing her words, the Child turns to look up at the woman. "I swear I will."

In that moment of quiet, with only the Child to bare witness, Alya allows a small tear to roll down her cheek. She bows her head as she lets her thoughts consume her.

Ever since Yoda had died, Alya had to navigate her own path and struggle alone. Even as a child, the woman struggled with herself, with what the Force had in store for her, but back then she had others to guide her.

But here, alone, with only a small child that she is meant to protect, everything felt so unsure. The Force is meant to guide her but as of lately, it felt like she was stumbling blindly with no direction. How is she supposed to help others, to be a good Jedi, if she can't even do what she is supposed to?

Thoughts kept running, never ceasing in the Alya's mind. However the flood of thoughts are halted as a small, cool object touches her forehead. The woman's eyes open as she lifts her head.

Before her, standing on her lap, is the Child who holds his hand up and has its eyes closed in concentration. Floating in front of her eyes is the small, metal ball.

Gently lifting her hand, Alya takes the ball out of the air. The Jedi allows a smile to spread on her face as her eyes go down to the Child.

"That was amazing." Alya compliments the Child, feeling her happiness rush out her uneasy thoughts. The Child sits down on her lap, tired from his use of the Force. "I'm so proud of you."

Alya softly places her hand on top of the Child's head. He coos as he leans against her torso, letting her comforting embrace ease him to sleep. Eventually his breaths even out, informing the Jedi that the Child fell asleep in her lap.

Shifting her arms, Alya slowly adjusted the sleeping Child to lean against her chest. The Child's head rests in the crook of her neck as the woman feels her care swell even more.

"I will always be here to protect you."

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A/N: I did plan to actually advance the plot in this chapter, but that obviously didn't happen. Oops
I'm a sucker for Baby Yoda and I felt the need to shed some light on what's going on in Alya's head.
(this was also a little bit of a filler)
Also, I just got finished with exams so I'm expecting to update more frequently.
So, thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed!!!