Mandalorian's eyes scanned the room, his helmet's visor glowing with a faint blue light as he took in the scene before him. The doctor was nowhere to be found, but the contraption holding the child lay in pieces, its metal limbs twisted and broken. The small, spherical robot that had been administering sedatives to the child now lay nearby, its casing cracked and sparking.

"Dank farrik," Mandalorian cursed under his breath, his voice low and urgent. He spun on his heel, knowing that the compound was now on high alert. The stormtroopers would be closing in on him fast.

As he turned to make his way back to you and the child, a squad of stormtroopers burst into the hallway, their blasters at the ready. Mandalorian didn't hesitate, taking down the troopers with swift precision shots from his own blaster. He had to get to you and ensure that you didn't harm the child.

With a final glance around to make sure he wasn't being flanked, Mandalorian sprinted down the corridor, his armor's servos whining as he moved with deadly purpose. He could only hope that he reached you before things escalated further out of control.

As Mandalorian approached the archway leading out to Nevarro, he was greeted by the sweet sound of the child's cooing. But before he could take another step, a group of bounty hunters blocked his path, their blasters at the ready. Greef Karga stepped forward, his hands resting on his hips, his dark cloak folded back to reveal the blaster holstered at his side.

Mandalorian came to a stop, his eyes locked on Karga. "Let me go," he said, his voice firm but controlled.

Karga sniffed, a hint of disdain in his tone. "I would have if you hadn't gone around breaking the code. You betrayed us, Mando. And now you have to pay the price."

Mandalorian felt a surge of anger rise up within him, but he kept it in check. He knew that if the Bounty Hunters' Guild didn't know about you yet, it was best to keep it that way. The Empire was already aware of your existence, and that was bad enough. He couldn't risk exposing you further.

Despite not knowing you for long, Mandalorian had developed a strong bond with you. He sensed that you would become more valuable to him than anything else in his life - even more than his creed. He wouldn't betray that trust, not even for his former boss.

"I won't betray my client," Mandalorian said firmly, standing tall despite being outnumbered.

Karga raised an eyebrow. "Your client? You mean that... thing? You're willing to risk everything for it?"

Mandalorian's helmet remained impassive, but inside, he knew exactly what he was fighting for. "I'm willing to do what's necessary to protect it."

The sudden appearance of a deep, sweet voice echoed across the courtyard, and the bounty hunters instinctively stiffened. Mandalorian drew his blaster, ready for a fight, but instead of attacking, he watched in awe as one by one, the bounty hunters were picked off by an unseen force.

As the last of them fell, a massive shape emerged from the shadows. It was you, transformed into a being unlike anything Mandalorian had ever seen. Your gray-white scales glistened in the dim light, and your red eyes burned with an inner fire. Your teeth glinted with sharp points, and your talons extended like katanas.

"I can take very good care of myself," you said with a mischievous smirk, directing it at Mandalorian before turning to Greef Karga.

Karga's blaster was still pointed at you, but his hand was shaking badly. He seemed frozen in terror, unsure of what to do next. Mandalorian couldn't blame him; even he felt a shiver run down his spine as he gazed upon your fearsome form.

"You... you're not supposed to be able to do that," Karga stammered.

You chuckled low in your throat, a sound that sent ripples through the air. "I'm full of surprises," you said with a sly smile.

Mandalorian holstered his blaster, feeling a mix of relief and trepidation. He knew that this new development changed everything. You were no longer just a vulnerable asset; you were a force to be reckoned with.

"What now?" he asked cautiously, unsure what to expect from this new version of you.

Your gaze flickered back to him, and for an instant, Mandalorian saw something almost human in those red eyes - something almost like amusement. Then it vanished, replaced by an unreadable mask.

"Now," you said with a slow smile spreading across your face, "we get out of here."

◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥

As the dust settled, it didn't take long for the Mandalorian to obey your order. You had killed off the hunters, leaving only Greef Karga alive. You brushed past him, knowing that Mando followed closely behind you. You stomped towards the ship, the Child still clutched in your teeth, its tiny form stirring as it began to awaken. It was imperative to get it to safety before it fully came to, or all would be lost.

Just as you were about to ensure that the hunters were truly vanquished, a shot whizzed past you, and the roar of a jetpack made you look up. A horde of warriors descended upon the town, taking out no doubt the rest of the hunters who had skulked about in hiding. You laughed, your tail swishing behind you as you gazed over your shoulder to see Mando staring at the mayhem unfolding below.

"Come," you called out, your voice muffled by the little one in your jaws. The urgency in your tone was palpable as you beckoned Mando to follow you into the fray. The fate of the Child and their mission hung precariously in the balance, and every moment counted.

As you both made it into the Crest, you gently set the little one down on a crate, its tiny chest rising and falling with each peaceful breath. You curled your massive body around it, a protective cocoon of scales and muscle. Mando took his position towards the cockpit, but paused halfway up the ladder, his gaze fixed on you.

"Indy," he called out, his voice low and gravelly.

You looked up, your piercing red eyes meeting the black of his T-shaped visor. "Yes," you hummed, a low rumble that vibrated through your chest.

Mando's helmet nodded slightly. "Thank you," he said, his voice laced with gratitude.

You smiled, showing off your razor-sharp teeth. "Anytime, my friend, anytime," you growled, the words dripping with sincerity. You came up the ladder, your movements fluid and deliberate.

As you curled around the child once more, it slept deeply but didn't fully wake. You gazed at its innocent face, marveling at how this little being had entangled you with the Mandalorian bounty hunter. Your fate was now sealed; you knew that you would remain by their side for the rest of your life.

A sense of purpose settled within you. You would protect them no matter what happened, no matter what dangers lay ahead. The bond between you was forged in blood and loyalty, unbreakable and strong. You would stand watch over them always, a fierce guardian against any threat that dared to arise.

In that moment, as the engines roared to life and the Crest lifted off into the sky, you knew that your path was clear: to defend this young one and its protector at all costs.