You looked down at the kid, a mix of wonder and protectiveness washing over you, causing your heart to swell with a warmth that felt foreign yet exhilarating. Just as the moment crystallized, a sudden jolt shattered the silence—the heavily reinforced door sprang open with an ominous clang. Instinctively, you yelped, adrenaline coursing through your veins as you drew your blaster, its metallic coldness grounding you in the moment. You pointed it cautiously towards the entrance, ready to defend the fragile life that had captured your heart.

But relief flooded over you as two familiar figures entered: Mando, resolute and unwavering, and the IG-11 droid, its mechanical form glinting under the dim lights. "Y/N," Mando called out, his voice steady yet tinged with concern. The tension in your muscles ebbed away as you let out a breath you hadn't realized you were holding. "Don't scare me like that!" you barked, your heart still racing from the surge of fear; the weight of the moment bore down on you like a heavy mantle. "Stars," you added, your voice softening as you glanced back at the kid, whose innocent eyes were wide with curiosity. The chaos of the world outside felt distant, but for a heartbeat, you realized that you were ready to face it all, as long as you had them by your side.

As you lifted the pod's lid, your heart raced in anticipation. The moment you peered inside, you were met with the unexpected sight of a child. Mando's helmet tilted slightly as he stepped closer, his voice a mix of surprise and urgency. "It's a kid," he remarked, disbelief crawling into the edges of his tone. You nodded slowly, the reality of it sinking in. "It seems so," you replied softly, the weight of the revelation sinking heavily in the air between you.

"They told us it was 50 years," Mando continued, shaking his head as though struggling to comprehend the disparity between the information you had received and the living being before you. "Why would they lie?"

You felt a moment of tension as the implications of his words swirled in your mind. "Species age differently," you said, your voice steady but laced with an underlying tension. A wave of recollection washed over you, jolting you into the memory of the droid stating orders that demanded the child's demise. In an instinctual response, you flicked your finger, activating a hidden command within IG-11. The droid's programming took hold, and its metallic chassis folded in on itself, awaiting your directives.

Mando snapped his gaze downward to where the droid had abruptly shifted, then turned to you, concern etching his features as he noticed your intense focus on the child. The innocence reflected in the kid's eyes sparked memories and urgency within you, compelling you to take action. Without allowing the moment to linger, you pivoted on your heel and gently placed the child back in the protective confines of the pod. "Let's go," you urged, an unspoken determination settling in your chest, preparing you for the impending chaos outside, bolstered by your steadfast companions. You were ready to face whatever awaited you, as long as the three of you remained together.

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The Razor Crest glided smoothly across the vast expanse of space, its engines humming gently as it navigated towards Nevarro once again. You found yourself seated next to the Child, who watched the stars unfold beyond the cockpit windows with wide, curious eyes. Mando—a man of few words—steered the ship with a concentration that only deepened the aura of mystery surrounding him. Occasionally, he glanced your way, his dark helmet obscuring any hint of emotion, yet you could sense the unspoken bond forming between the three of you.

"You realize," you ventured, breaking the heavy silence, "that you could have told me you don't want to give this kid to the Guild. You know they'd hand him over to your client, and he's not a man you can trust." The weight of your words hung in the air, heavy with implications that seemed to echo in the cockpit.

Mando's response was immediate and sharp, "What do you know of him?" The words echoed with a defensive edge, as if he were ready to dismiss your concerns outright.

A gentle, sad smile crept across your face. "He's been hunting me for a long time now. I suppose I had no choice but to leave my old life behind." The revelation rolled off your tongue with a bittersweet finality, the shared burdens of the past hanging between you like a lingering shadow. You could see the frown deepen on Mando's features as he turned fully to face you, his body language tense and confrontational.

"You told me you didn't know how you ended up here," he pressed, skepticism lacing his tone. You nodded, your heart thudding quietly in your chest as you met his gaze.

"That much is true," you conceded. "I may not know the how, but I do understand that I can't allow you to hand this child over to an Imperial. Not after everything he's been through."

The significance of your stance lingered in the air, the unspoken alliance forming amidst the chaos of the galaxy. You hoped, perhaps against hope, that your past experiences with danger would help steer both Mando and the Child toward a safer future. The journey ahead was fraught with peril, but together, you would confront whatever challenges lay in your path.

Mando sighed, turning the controls thoughtfully, a flicker of resignation in his eyes. "A job's a job, Y/N, no matter if you're attached to it or not," he murmured, his voice barely breaking the silence that enveloped the cockpit. The words hung heavy, a poignant reminder of the burdens he carried—each mission a thread woven into the intricate tapestry of his life. He grappled with the weight of duty and attachment, knowing that this journey was not just a means to an end, but a pivotal moment that could reshape their destinies. As the ship glided through the vastness of space, the hum of the engines echoing around them, there was a profound understanding that every choice he made resonated beyond the immediate risks, impacting not just their survival, but also the bond they were forging in the depths of uncertainty.

◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥

As you lay the child back into its pod, a wave of uncertainty washes over you. The tiny figure stirs softly, a fragile reminder of innocence in a galaxy fraught with chaos. You stand up slowly, casting a lingering glance at the cherubic face of the youngling, knowing the paths that lie ahead are fraught with peril.

Following Mando, you maintain a hooded gaze, determined yet reluctant. The thought of delivering the child to the Imperials sends a chill down your spine, visions of what they might do flooding your mind. You can hardly bear to recall the tales of horror—how they corrupted pure spirits for their own gain. You've been trained to live through the shadows, but this was a gray area you never anticipated. There's a flicker of defiance in your gut, but as a Jedi in training, you've also learned that loyalty runs deep.

In your heart, a void remains where Anakin and Obi-Wan once stood, guiding you through the storm of war. Those simplistic days, filled with ongoing battles yet blended with camaraderie, feel so distant now. You miss the pulse of excitement that came with each challenge, the teamwork among friends battling for the light. Now, cities lay quiet, remnants of skirmishes marked only by painful memories.

As you tread behind Mando, you realize you can't risk revealing your unease. Suspicion could unravel everything you've worked hard to maintain, and if he finds out you possess the knowledge and skills of a Jedi—well, those lives are forfeit to the eyes of the Empire. Keeping your own feelings hidden becomes paramount. You suppress the bittersweet memories of peace won by bloodshed—the price seemingly too high as you feel the weight of the future on your shoulders.

Your friends are scattered like stardust in the cosmos—each gone with echoes of laughter and warmth that used to fill your heart. The path ahead is uncertain; the galaxy may have shifted from war to peace, yet it still pulses with danger veiled in patrol ships and cold, blue blasters. But amidst turbulence, perhaps in protecting this innocent child, you can rediscover the heart of the employ that brought you warmth... Before everything changed.

The child coos softly at you, and a smile spreads across your face. But the moment is interrupted as you abruptly freeze, mimicking Mando's sudden halt. The expression in your eyes reveals the shock of being so unceremoniously confronted; your demeanor shifts as you feel something unsettling crawl up your spine. You instinctively try to speak, forming words in Huttese, but then, with a rustling sound, the door slides open.

Two grim-faced Stormtroopers step in, their presence authoritative and intimidating. They take a quick glance at the child and exchange knowing nods before beckoning you both to enter. One of the troopers, peering at you with an arched brow, smirks slightly as he quips, "Got a new toy, Mando?"

Mando tilted his head, his voice flat. "What I do with my friends isn't your business. Now, you got the asset?" He stepped aside, revealing the kid, who was standing quietly. The child's wide eyes met mine, and I couldn't help but reach out, my hand gently brushing against its soft, wrinkled skin.

"It'll be alright, little one," I whispered, my voice full of a promise I wasn't sure I could keep. "We'll come back."

The kid cooed softly, leaning into my touch before being taken away by a scientist. Perching, the man from the lab, held him gently as they disappeared into the cold, sterile facility. The Client smiled, satisfaction dripping from his tone. "Well done."

His gaze turned to me, curiosity alight in his eyes. "What is your name?"

I stared at him, hard, my jaw clenching. "You don't get to know that, sleemo," I spat, the weight of what he was planning for the kid gnawing at me. "I know what you'll do with him."

I flexed my fingers, trying to contain the tension surging through me. "Don't do anything too bad to him, alright?"

Without waiting for a response, I turned on my heel, walking away beside Mando. He carried the camtono of beskar, but my mind lingered on the child, knowing this wasn't over.