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CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE 

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          WHEN Artemis woke up, Din and Grogu were still fast asleep. She quietly grabbed her boots and belt before leaving the room. She quickly slipped into her boots and adjusted the belt around her waist before descending the stairs down to the cantina. The red head found Cobb sitting in the back, staring in his glass.

"Are you all right?" Artemis questioned, sitting down on the seat opposite of him.

He glanced up at her, apparently not have heard her coming. "Yeah. Just thinkin'."

Artemis hummed, but did not reply.

"If you don't mind me asking; what do you distribute to this whole mission?" Cobb questioned, though Artemis could tell he didn't mean it the wrong way.

She leaned back in her chair. "I always get underestimated," she told him, intertwining her fingers together. "And I always prove them wrong."

The end of his lips curled up. "I hope you prove me wrong. We can use every helping hand we can get."

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DIN found Artemis and Cobb standing on the porch, watching the townsfolk assemble explosions and munitions. He was carrying Grogu who cooed happily when he saw Artemis. Cobb turned his head to Din and greeted him with a nod.

"D'you think it'll work?" he questioned the Mandalorian.

"It better," Din replied. "Joining forces is their only hope."

Artemis glanced up as she felt the Sand People nearing. "They are here."

Everyone stopped what they had been doing and watched as the Sand People arrived on their banthas. Artemis glanced around, eying every one of them carefully. They needed to work together for this and she could only hope no one would break the alliance.

Once the Tuskens got off their banthas, everyone seemed to have found their on-switch again and continued what they had been doing.

"Here, grab this," a man told a Tusken, handing him an explosion. The Tusken gave it to his friend who loaded the explosion onto the bantha.

A bonk was heard and Din shoved her behind him almost instantly, before turning to assess what had happened.

"Hey!" the man who had handed a Tusken an explosion shouted to the latter. "What are you doin'? That's an explosive! Are you trying to blow the whole place up?"

The bantha grunted and the Tusken stepped closer to the man, as if challenging him.

"What?" the man continued, not feeling threatened at all. "Is that what you want?"

Cobb jumped into action and pulled the two of them apart. "Take it easy," he told the man. "It was an accident, okay?"

"What do you want to do?" the man questioned him.

"It was an accident," Cobb repeated, a bit more loudly this time.

"Let's go," one of the other men said, catching Artemis' attention.

"It's not going to work out," another one added.

Artemis glanced at Cobb as he joined them again.

"It's gonna be great," he reassured them. 

Of that, Artemis wasn't so sure.

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ONCE every weapon, munition and explosive was loaded, it was time to get back on the road. Artemis climbed onto the speeder behind Din and wrapped her arms around his waist. Grogu was in the bag onto her back. They traveled with their speeder alongside the Sand People and the townsfolk to the cave of the krayt dragon. Artemis didn't say much as she tried to come up with a good plan that wouldn't get anyone killed which seemed nearly impossible to do.

"I cannot convince you not to come?" Din said, as they arrived at the cave.

"You can't," Artemis said, sliding off the speeder. "We all know I'm a valuable asset here—and I don't mean to brag about it. You can use my help."

Din sighed, touched her cheek and said, "I know but it was worth a shot."

Artemis smiled and took his hand, squeezing it gently. "I'll be fine." She let go of his hand and removed the bag from her back and adjusted it to the speeder. "I'm afraid you'll have to stay here, Grogu," she told the kid. "Don't go anywhere, all right?"

The child whimpered and Artemis and Din moved to join the others who were all watching a lone Tusken approach the cave. She watched him kneel and place his hand on the sand. The Tusken stayed in that position for a couple of moments before rising again and turning around, alerting his fellow Tuskens.

"What'd he say?" Cobb asked Din.

"He says it's sleeping. If we listen carefully, we can hear it breathing."

The Tuskens offered Cobb a drink and this time, he didn't refuse it. Artemis watched him as he sighed and drink from it.

Din turned to him. "Let's get to work."

They started to unload the explosives, munitions and weapons. Artemis pulled off her cloak and threw it over the speeder. It would only get in the way of the fight to come. She blinding started braiding her hair, pulling it away from her face. Next to her, Grogu cooed as he watched her.

"The Tuskens say the belly is the only weak spot," Din said, as Artemis joined the small group that was talking about tactics, "so we have to hit it from below. First, we bury the charges at the opening of the cave. Then, we wake it up. We have to get it angry enough to charge."

Artemis glanced up and watched as townspeople and Tuskens worked together to plant the charges.

"Once it's far enough out and the belly is above the explosives, you hit the detonator," Din continued, just as a young woman handed Cobb the detonator.

"Careful, Marshall," she told him.

"Thank you, Jo," Cobb said. "And you stay safe, huh," he added, a bit more fondly.

She looked up at him, nodded and continued to move on. Artemis moved away from the two men and trailed after Jo.

"You nervous?" she questioned the young girl. 

"A bit," Jo confessed, as she took her position. "But we have to do this."

"That we do," Artemis hummed, her green eyes fixed on the three Tuskens that were approaching the entrance of the cave. They started yelling and she winced. Every little thing in her body told her to start running away from the cave, but she let go of her fear—something that was easier said than done and required a lot of practice.

The growl of the dragon was heard and the Tuskens start to run back to the others. From behind them, the dragon emerged, causing the ground to shake.

At the signal, the Tuskens fired their ballistae, which pierced through the kray dragon's hide.

"Artie!" a voice called and Artemis turned around to see Din waving at her.

"I got to go," she told Jo. "Good luck."

"You too!" the woman called after Artemis as she ran back to Din.

"What's wrong?" she questioned him, turning her head to look at the krayt dragon who was starting to withdraw into the cave.

"It's going back in," he said, before cursing under his breath.

The Sand People grabbed the robes and tried to pull the krayt dragon back out, but it was hopeless. The townspeople fired at the beast, but it didn't seem to do much damage.

"It's retreating," Din told Artemis and Cobb.

Cobb glanced down at the detonator in his hands. "I'm going to hit it."

"No, wait," Din said, stopping him. "We only have one shot. We've gotta get it out."

Artemis took a couple of steps forward and grabbed her blaster, joining the townsfolk and Sand People as they were firing blaster shots at the krayt dragon. She knew it wouldn't be much, but maybe she could irritated it so that it would come after them.

The dragon screeched and they succeeded in pulling it their way.

"Now?" Cobb asked from behind Artemis.

"Not yet," Din replied. "It's gotta come our further."

More robes and ballistae were used to pull the dragon further out and Artemis shoved her blaster back into its holster before positioning herself behind one of the Sand People to help him pull the rope.

The krayt dragon neared and Artemis was once again taken back by the gigantic beast as it roared. Next to her, the dragon pulled at the ropes, causing several Sand People to fly through the air, yelping as they went.

The dragon opened its mouth and advanced towards the group that stood in front of Artemis. People started yelling and were running back. And then, vomit came out of the dragon's mouth. It was like acid, Artemis realised, as she saw people fall once they were contaminated. Her lips parted at the sight.

Turning around, she glanced at Din and Cobb. Din was eying the dragon intently through his macrobinocular at the krayt dragon, while Cobb was watching him, ready for the signal.

"Almost, almost," Din muttered. "Now!"

Cobb pressed the button and Artemis looked back just as Din pulled her behind him, putting himself between her and the explosion that followed. Din covered her eyes with his hand as sand winded up flew towards them. There was so much dust that Artemis couldn't make out the krayt dragon. Something inside her told her it wasn't dead.

"I don't think it's dead," Cobb said, moving forwards so he was standing next to them.

"Me either," Din said.

"It's still alive," Artemis added, gazing at the cloud of dust.

Suddenly, the dragon re-emerged from the top of the hill, roaring as it went. It started to spew vomit on the people below and Artemis knew she had to do something before more people would die. Cobb seemed to share her idea.

"It's picking us off like womp rats," he cursed, striding back to his speeder to take his helmet. "Let's get after it!"

Din moved towards their speeder and took his rifle. Artemis followed him.

"Take me with you."

"Fury—"

"This is not up for discussion, Din!" Artemis said, glaring at him.

Din caressed her cheek. "I know." Then he grabbed her by the waist and pulled her closer to him. Artemis wrapped her arms around his neck before Din ignited his jet pack. He flied up as Artemis held onto him tightly. The three of them landed onto a hill close to the krayt dragon and Artemis let go of Din as soon as her feet hit solid ground. It wouldn't last long, though.

"Try not to shoot me while you're on it," she told the two men and before they could protest, she used the Force to jump onto the back of the krayt dragon. 

"Fury!" she could hear Din call after her.

"What is she going?" Cobb shouted.

Artemis ignored her and grabbed her lightsabers, igniting them. She didn't hesitate as she stuck them through the thick skin of the dragon. It screeched and turned its head to look at her. Artemis saw herself in its dark eyes, kneeled onto the back as she held onto her lightsabers tightly.

For a moment, neither of them moved, then, Artemis started running, dragging the sabers as she made her way closer to the dragon's head. She had seen her next target; its eyes. The dragon roared again, shaking as it tried to get her off its back. But Artemis did not fall off. Her years and years of practice with Obi-Wan took over as she pulled her lightsabers out and leaped from the back to the head.

Without warning, she slashed onto of its eyes before climbing back up to get to the other side. However, the dragon screeched and shook its head furiously. Artemis lost her balance and fell off the dragon and down the cliff.

Almost immediately, she turned her lightsabers off and hung them on her belt as she saw the ground nearing. Then, she outstretched her hands and used the Force for a soft landing, like she did so many times before.

Dusting her clothes off, she glanced up and saw that everyone had been watching her. Din hurried over her and pulled her in for a short hug, apparently not caring that everyone was watching.

Artemis hugged him back before glancing up. The dragon was gone.

"Where did it go?" she questioned Din as they headed back to Cobb.

"It disappeared back into the ground when you did—you know I actually have no idea what you did," Cobb replied, clearly impressed. "Nice work, lady."

Artemis wanted to smile and thank him, when the dragon reappeared once more. This time behind them.

"There he is," Din said, clutching his rifle. He looked around. "I've got an idea. Get its attention."

Cobb leaned forwards and fired off one of his big rockets that hung onto his back. It hit the dragon on its head, causing it to screech and advance towards them.

"I got its attention!" Cobb shouted. "Now what?"

"You still have that detonator?" Din questioned.

Cobb pulled it off his belt and handed it to him. "Take it! What's the plan?"

Artemis frowned as she glanced at Din. Yeah, what was the plan?

Din looked at her. "I love you."

Artemis lips parted, feeling that there was more to this then what he was letting on. Cobb seemed to feel it as well. "What are you gonna do?"

"I don't know, but wish me luck."

Then he pushed Artemis into Cobb's arms before hitting his jetpack. Artemis held onto Cobb for dear life as she cursed at Din for not telling her. She noticed Cobb had been surprised as well as he wrapped his arms awkwardly around her waist. The two of them landed clumsily at the edge of the battle and Artemis twirled around to see what Din was doing. Her eyes widened as she caught up with his plan.

"Din! NO!" she shouted, lunging forward, but she was stopped by Cobb who grabbed her arm. "DIN!"

Din ignored her, or simply didn't hear her, as he held onto the reins of the bantha that carried dozens of detonators. Then, right before he was swallowed by the dragon, Din glanced at her.

I'm sorry, Fury.

Word count: 2403

I JUST SAW THE KENOBI TRAILER AND I'M SO EXCITED CANT YOU TELL!!??? Like I can't wait to explore Obi-Wan's and Artemis' relationship more!

Anyway, here's another chapter from me to you :) sorry for the (kinda) cliffhanger hihihi

Also thank you for 100k reads!! I love that you guys love it!! :) tell me what you think of it and if you have any predictions for the next chapters (bo Katan is coming (and so is Ahsoka!!!!)) I'm so excited not gonna lie :)

Published: 10.03.2022