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It hurt. Oh god, did it hurt. Probably more than any other wound on the long list of injuries you had sustained over the years. But you couldn’t let him know that. If he knew, it was over. He would waste valuable time making sure you were okay, and everything that had been sacrificed up to this point would be for nothing. So, you just pulled your mask back up over the bottom of your face to cover the blood that had begun to drip from the corner of your mouth and the grimaces of pain you were unable to contain. Because you had to keep going. Just a little further. Then you could rest. Then the pain wouldn’t matter anymore. Then all of this would be over. Once the kid was back in Din’s arms.
You and Din had crossed paths a few times over the years. However, back then you had only known him as “The Mandalorian” or “Mando”. He was just a fellow bounty hunter working under Karga and the two of you had even teamed up once or twice on particularly difficult bounties. But neither one of you were particularly fond of working with others so, after your brief partnerships, you were each happy to go off on your separate ways.
However, all of that changed when you received an urgent distress call from the Mandalorian a few months ago. Just about every bounty hunter in the system was after the Child he now had in his care and for some unknown reason, he seemed to trust you enough to ask for your help. Admittedly, the thought of betraying him and taking the bounty for yourself had crossed your mind when you first met up with the pair. However, the second you laid eyes on Mando’s small charge, all thoughts of turning him over fled from your mind. No matter how many credits were at stake, you couldn’t let anyone hurt such an innocent, helpless creature. So, from that moment on, you and Mando had been working together to do whatever it took to protect the Child. And soon, Mando and the Child just became Din and the kid. A weird kind of family hurtling through space trying to find where they belonged.
But then, everything went spectacularly wrong. The three of you were ambushed outside of Mos Eisley when you stopped for supplies. As hard as you tried, you and Din were greatly outnumbered by a gang of other bounty hunters who were after the kid. You had both fought valiantly, but in the end, they managed to nab him and escape.
It had taken three days, but you had managed to track them down and sneak onto their ship. But there were two problems: One, you had no idea where they were keeping the kid. And two, there was a force field around the large carrier ship that allowed other vessels to enter but not exit. So, while Din went to find the control room to learn where they might be keeping the kid, you snuck into the engine room to find the shield generator.
Finding the generator was easy enough. Turning it off was another story. The controls on this ship were unlike any you had ever seen before, and you couldn’t tell an off button from a red alert button. So, you opted for plan B. While Mando had specialized in bounties of people, you had a knack for bounties of objects. In order words, breaking into places and stealing whatever you were after. And in that line of work, you had become very familiar with explosives. So, you quickly placed enough charges to take out the generator while avoiding blowing up the whole ship. Setting the timer to give yourself enough time to get safely away, you started the countdown.
Grabbing your stuff, you began heading to the rendezvous spot with Din when suddenly three bounty hunters appeared from behind one of the side doors. You dove behind a pillar as the three newcomers drew their weapons. Blasts lit up the surfaces around you, but you were safely protected at the moment. Drawing your own weapon, you looked up at the shiny metal all around you and smiled. Each of the bounty hunters were perfectly reflected in these surfaces, giving you their exact locations. Taking a deep breath, you tucked and rolled from behind the pillar. You fired three shots in quick succession and three bodies hit the floor. You smiled widely as you reholstered your blaster. Chuckling softly, you stopped to admire your perfect aim. That was until you heard the distant beeping and remembered.
Your smile was wiped from your face instantaneously as you took off running but it was too late. The bombs you set exploded while you were still far too close. Several large chunks of hot metal hurtled towards you and impaled themselves in your torso. Gasping, you collapsed to the floor as pain radiated throughout your body. You looked down to see three large pieces of shrapnel jutting out of your side and stomach. Just lightly poking one in an exploratory fashion sent red hot agony through you. At that moment, you wanted nothing more than to just lay perfectly still and hope that lessened the burning sensation, but you knew sooner or later someone was going to come investigate the explosion and you couldn’t still be there when that happened. But standing up or moving was impossible with the metal still in you. Which only left one option….
Taking several quick breaths to ready yourself, you yanked out the first piece. The pain instantly intensified tenfold, and you couldn’t stop yourself from shrieking. After a few moments the pain lessened some, but you were left feeling light-headed and nauseous. However, there were still two pieces that needed to be removed, so steeling yourself once more you ripped out the second piece. Another loud cry burst forth as pain flooded your system. Your whole body was shaking with it, but you knew you had to keep going.
Grasping the final piece, you pulled it out as forcefully as your weakened body would allow. This time, only a whimper escaped your lips as you were too exhausted to actually scream. Sobbing quietly as you curled into a ball on the floor, you could feel the blood pooling beneath you. Almost everything in you told you to just lay here and accept your fate. Except….. in the very back of your mind, a voice called out. The kid, you need to save the kid. For a moment, you considered ignoring it, but the voice cried out stronger. He needs you. Din needs you. You have to help them both. And you knew the voice was right.
Ever so slowly, you unfolded yourself from your curled position. Every movement sent a fresh wave of pain through your body, but you did your best to ignore it. Panting furiously as you used the wall to help you to your feet, you took a moment to steady yourself. It wasn’t going to be impossible to walk, but it was going to be excruciating. Just a little further. Then you could rest. Then the pain wouldn’t matter anymore. Then all of this would be over. Once the kid was back in Din’s arms. You repeated this mantra over and over in your head as step after step you trudged towards your friends. Just a little further. Then you could rest. Then the pain wouldn’t matter anymore. Then all of this would be over. Once the kid was back in Din’s arms……
Turning a corner, you almost ran face first into the back of Din’s armor. With a groan that you hoped was muffled by the mask now pulled over your mouth, you managed to say through clenched teeth, “Shield’s down. We’re good.”
If Din noticed your distress or unnecessary face covering, he didn’t comment on it. Instead, he just nodded, pointed to the hallway on the left, and said, “Let’s go. He should be this way.”
As he took off, you trailed behind him, trying your best to maintain the appearance that everything was alright as you struggled to keep up with the Mandalorian’s long strides. Luckily, your dark cloak hid the bloodstain that was steadily growing on your side. As long as Din didn’t brush up against you, there was little chance he would ever notice. Under normal circumstances, the observant Mandalorian would have probably picked up on the fact that something was wrong by now, but you hoped he was too focused on the kid to notice anything else at the moment.
However, as you continued walking through the long corridors, it was becoming harder and harder to hold your blaster up at a ready position, so you eventually had to just let your arm dangle by your side. Even through the helmet, you could tell Din was curious why you weren’t on guard, but he remained silent.
Finally, the two of you got to a split in the hall. There were two different directions you could head. Glancing around quickly, you muttered, “Which way do you think?”
“The schematics showed a lab to the left or a holding cell to the right. He could be in either.”
You considered for a moment. “I’ll go left, you go right.”
Din nodded, but as you started down the hallway, he lightly grabbed your arm. “Are you good?”
You stared at the floor, not able to face the piercing gaze of his helmet. “Yeah, I’m fine. Let’s just grab the kid and get out of here.”
Din reluctantly released your arm and brushed past you down that hall. You flinched as he bumped your injured side, but you managed to hold it together for the moment. However, as soon as you were around the corner and out of Din’s sight, you paused to lean heavily against the wall. Tearing your mask away from your face, you took a few shaky deep breaths. Your mouth tasted like iron, you were getting lightheaded, and the pain in your side was getting worse. You were running out of time, and you knew it. Got to get the kid. All that matters is the kid.
Struggling to an upright position, you stumbled down the hallway. When you reached the end, you found an empty laboratory with no sign that the kid had ever been there. You just hoped that meant that Din had found him in the holding cell because if not, you weren’t sure where to look next.
As you began heading back towards the corridor Din had disappeared down, his voice suddenly crackled over your communicator. “Where are you?”
“Do you have the kid?” You mumbled weakly as you stumbled to a stop.
Of course, he noticed immediately something was amiss. “What’s wrong? Are yo–”
“Din! Do you have the kid?”
“Yes. He’s fine.”
You let out a long sigh of relief as you let yourself slide down the wall to the floor. “Good. Now get back to the Crest and get out of here.”
“What about you?”
You paused before answering. “I’m not gonna make it this time.”
“What happened? Where are you?”
“Doesn’t matter. Kid’s safe. That’s all that’s important.” You pulled your hand from your side, and it came away dark red and sticky. Your eyes were getting heavier, and it was getting harder to keep them open. Plus, you could feel your breathing was getting shallower as the pressure in your chest grew tighter. You knew even if Din found you, it would be too late to do anything.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Even through the modulator, you could hear an edge in Din’s voice that you had never heard before.
“Had to save the kid. Didn’t want to distract you from that.” You broke into a ragged fit of coughing that sprayed blood all over your chest. You could dimly hear Din calling your name, but he seemed far away as if in a tunnel. Once you stopped coughing and managed to regain some of the air in your lungs, you whispered, “Pro-promise me…you’ll protect him. Do-on’t let this happen…again…. Promise me….Din.”
There was silence for a moment before, “I promise.”
You nodded even though you knew he couldn’t see you. It was all you still had the strength left to do. But as your eyes flickered closed, you smiled at the knowledge that Din and the kid were going to be safe.
Din tore down the corridor as quickly as he could with the Child safely in his care once again. He had felt that something was off with you, but he had been so focused on saving the little guy in his arms that he had ignored the signs. And now….
He rounded the corner and saw you sitting on the floor, propped against the wall. Dropping to his knees beside you, he tore off one of his gloves and laid his bare fingers against your throat. As he searched desperately for a pulse, he realized this was the first time he had ever touched you skin to skin with no barrier between the two of you and he wondered why he had waited this long to do so. He gently let his fingers trail up your neck, across your jaw, and over your cheek until he brushed a few strands of hair off of your face. But you didn’t stir beneath his touch.
The Child climbed into your lap, pressing his small hand to the wound on your side. He closed his eyes and concentrated….but nothing happened. He tried again with the same results. Looking up at Din, there was confusion etched on his tiny face. Yet Din understood. Not even the Child could save what was already gone.