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Another parsec, another trip to another planet to bring in a bounty. Din didn’t like having to put you two in harm’s way, but it would have been even more dangerous for the three of you to be separated. He needs the credits to keep the Razor Crest running and you refuse to be left behind when your skills are needed. It’s a half a standard day’s trip so you’re taking some respite down below while Din is navigating the ship.
You sit on the sleeping rack watching Grogu beside you. He is playing with the silver knob, levitating it in the air in front of him. You feel the air vibrating as he manipulates it to his will, so strong you can almost reach out and touch it with your fingers. From above, a loud beeping and buzzing emanates from the cockpit, followed by Din’s voice saying loudly, “Osik! Ne’tug’yc!” [Crap! Not again!]
Grogu loses focus and drops the knob on the bed, startled by the sound. The Razor Crest shudders and settles. He looks towards the ceiling and whimpers a little.
“Bic naas, ad’ika.” [It's nothing, little one.] You assure him. “Just your buir [father] doing what he does best.”
“Bal’ban?” [Indeed?] Din’s familiar voice resonates in your ear.
Your head snaps up to find him standing right next to you, making you jump back and bang the side of your head against the doorframe of the tiny room. “Haar’chak! Ke'ne’chaabi ni sa ibac!” [Damn it! Don’t scare me like that!]
“Tion gar copaani ni orjorer vaal olaro daab?” [Do you want me to shout as I come down?] Din says solemnly, but you know he’s smiling behind that visor.
“Ne’nuhunla. Gar kar’tayli ni paguu gar u’tabir rud shev’la.” [Not amusing. You know I dislike you creeping around silently.] You scold him, though your voice is not entirely serious.
“Tion gar kovid shupur’yc?” [Is your head injured?] Din asks you, sounding concerned. He reaches out and touches the side of your head. You pause when you feel his hand gently brush your hair back.
“Kih’hokan.” [Small cut.] He tells you, his fingers brushing your cheek and you feel your face warm up. Even after all this time together, his touch still gives you a rush.
“Shi aar’ika. Ven cuyani.” [Only a little sting. I’ll survive.] You tell him and try to smile, but the pain makes you wince instead. Grogu notices and reaches out his hand to you. You do the same, so your fingers are almost touching but not quite.
“Tion gar kebbu narir, ad’ika?” [What are you trying to do, little one?] You can see his little eyebrows are furrowed as he closes his eyes.
You can feel the air almost vibrating between your hands and he grabs on to your finger. An energy flows from his little body to yours. You close your eyes and feel how strong his energy is as it pushes through you, like a wind threatening to knock you over, which makes you let out a gasp. After a minute, he draws it back and you both open your eyes.
“Tion gar... aarayi?” [Are you… suffering?] Din asks, sounding perplexed.
“Nayc. Ner kovid dar shupur’yc.” [No. My head is no longer hurt.] You tell him.
“Ad’ika?” [Little one?] Din looks over at Grogu, who smiles and giggles.
“Elek, kaysh baar’ulu hokan o’r ner kovid. Kaysh gana ori’dral to at jetii’dral.” [He healed the cut on my head. He has a very strong connection to the Force] You say slowly, as you do not fully understand it either. “Ni lise aalar bic, bal ne’cuy kaysh sosol.” [I can sense it, but I am not his equal.]
“Tion gar t’ad... jorhaa’i adol Jetii’dral? Shi haat!” [Do you two… talk through the Force? Only truth!] Din jokes but sounds almost worried.
“Tion ni ven baati meh ni sirbu ‘elek’?” [Will you worry if I say ‘yes’?] You tease him.
“Sha ca’narase, Ni mirdi meg ad’ika mirdi par ni.” [At times, I wonder what the little one thinks about me.] Din says, as Grogu gets up and force hops into his arms. The two share a little hug.
“Ret solus tuur, kaysh ven rejorhaa’i gar.” [Perhaps one day, he will tell you.] You say, stroking one of Grogu’s long ears. “Ni kar’tayli meg kaysh cyari gar. Grogu nu’briikase meh gar nu’briikase. Ru’susulu gar oritsir shi jii.” [I know that he loves you. Grogu’s unhappy if you’re unhappy. He heard you swearing just now.]
“Ah, ibac ru naas. Shushaise shuk’yc tug’yc. Nu buruk.” [Ah, that was nothing. Sensors not working gain. No danger.] Din replies and looks down at the child who is staring at him with his big, inquisitive eyes.
“An jate, Grogu. Shi ibic ruug’la me’sen. Ke'ne’baati.” [All good, Grogu. Just this old ship. Don’t worry.]
Grogu smiles, soothed by Din’s voice, as usual. Very few things calmed him so quickly. You can sense this is clearly one of them. You tickle his little chin, and he laughs.
“Tion ad’ika copa’eparla?” [Is the little one hungry?] You ask Grogu, using a silly word you made up together. He sticks his fingers in his mouth and nods eagerly.
Din passes the child to you. “Ke’shebe ogir. Ni tsikado skraan.” [Sit there. I’ll prepare food.]
He gestures to the row of crates along one wall of the hull. This is your unofficial “dining area” on the Crest these days. You nod and take Grogu over. Reclining against the wall, you settle him down next to you. Din moves into an alcove in the corner, and you can hear the sounds of metal clinking and liquid pouring. The pleasant aroma of warm broth wafts out which makes you realize your stomach is very much empty. After a few minutes, Din appears carrying a tray with bread and two bowls. He places it on a box nearby and hands you a bowl and the other one to Grogu. As always, he remembers you even when you don’t ask, but never himself. The two of you slurp hungrily while Din sits beside you, quietly watching. Grogu sits in between you two, the bowl completely obscuring his face as he drinks noisily.
“Tion meg par gar? Gar ru n’epa o’r solus tuur.” [What about you? You haven’t eaten in a day.] You tilt your head and look at him questioningly.
“Ke'ne’baati ni. Ni epa ven’jii.” [Don’t worry about me. I’ll eat later.] Din says. He always says that, but you know you’ll worry anyway. You reach towards the tray and grab a piece of bread. Before taking a bite, you break it in half and pass one piece to Grogu who happily takes it and stuffs it in his mouth. The child definitely loves his food. Din looks down between you two and watches his tiny son swallow the bread before handing him another piece. You two eat until you’re both satiated and sleepy. Yawning, you lean back against the hull of the ship.
Din looks at you. “Haryc?” [Tired?]
You nod and look down and see Grogu is leaning against Din’s leg, his eyes half closed. Scooping him up, you slide closer to Din, cradling the sleepy child in your lap. You touch his metal cheek and look into his visor, silently searching for his eyes. Understanding, Din lifts off his helmet and places it on the floor next to him.
Reaching his arm around you, he pulls you against him and touches his forehead to yours, looking into your eyes. “Shi par gar.” [Only for you.]
Smiling, you reach up and your fingertips feel the course stubble on his cheek. “Ratiin baati gar.” [I always worry about you.] You whisper and your lips touch his for a brief moment.
“Ni kar’tayli. Ke'nuhoyi meh gar lise. Munit ca’nara akay mhi rusu.” [I know. Sleep if you can. Long time until we land.] He tells you quietly.
Leaning against his shoulder, you laugh inwardly. It never occurs to him that beskar is not the most comfortable pillow, but in a strange way, it comforts you. Your eyes close and you drift off to sleep, feeling their rhythmic breathing and the ship humming through hyperspace.
Your mind floats in a place without space or time. You feel the Force around you, pulling you forward and pushing you back, flowing through you like a ghost. You’ve always felt this connection with it, but never really understood why. You know it’s a blessing to have the gift, but often it feels like a burden. You drift into a dream and see a white field of smooth, unbroken snow as far as the horizon. There’s a cold wind swirling around you. Something glints in the distance, a shoulder pauldron. You see Din, standing with his back to you, snow swirling around him. His face is uncovered, and the wind ruffles his hair. You trudge through snow halfway up your shins to where he is and reach out, touching his shoulder. He turns, his eyes meeting yours and you sense his emotions.
“Tion dush, Din?” [What’s wrong, Din?] You ask, reaching your hand up to touch his face.
He covers your hand with his and holds it. “Tion ni luubid par gar?” [Am I enough for you?]
“Bal’ban, elek. Tion’jor gar tioni?” [Of course, yes. Why do you ask?] You reply.
“Jorcu be ibic. Cin vhetin.” [Because of this. White field.] He looks around at the swirling field then back at you. “Tion ni ru’vaabi ibic at gar?” [Did I do this to you?]
“Jorcu be gar, ni gana evaar’la oyar. Ni gana kotyc’shya to at jetii’dral.” [Because of you, I have a new life. I have a stronger connection to the Force.] You hold up your other hand, palm up, and focus. The ice crystals swirl around you and into your hand in a small cloud. You move your fingers, twisting and shaping it like clay. You lower your hand, and it disperses, floating to the ground.
“Jetii’dral tayli werde.” [The Force holds darkness.] Din says.
The ground beneath you rumbles and the snow swirls faster. You embrace him as it spirals around you and straight up into the void, enveloping you two in a blinding white cloud.
Your eyes snap open and you sit up with a gasp. A sensation makes you look down. Grogu is awake, holding your hand. Din bolts awake and his arm tightens around you.
“Me’ven? Me’bana?” [Huh? What’s happening?] He blurts out, reaching for his blaster and frantically looking around, then at you.
“Naas, naas.” [Nothing, nothing.] You sink against his shoulder, trying to calm yourself. Putting Grogu in his arm, you take a deep breath.
“Tion’meg bic? Ke'rejorhaa’i ni, ner cyare.” [What is it? Tell me, my love.] Din whispers, bringing a smile to your lips. It’s something you’re still not used to hearing, but it always reminds you of the vow you two made.
“Shi dush nuhoy’mird.” [Only a bad dream.] You look down at Grogu. “What are you trying to tell me?” He only twitches his long ears and coos.
“Tion kaysh ru'nari?” [What did he do?] Din asks.
“Jetii’dral an rud mhi, toi mhi bah kay’ni. Ner nuhoy’mird… teh kaysh. Ni mirdi kaysh ru’kebbu rejorhaa’i ni ash’keb par ni. Sa ven’naumiit.” [The Force is all around us, connecting us to each other. My dream... was from him. I think he tried to tell me something about you. Like an omen.] You say slowly.
“Kaysh mirdi ni ven aara gar?” [He thinks I will hurt you?] Din asks, sounding confused.
“Nayc, kaysh kebbu cabuor gar.” [No, he’s trying to protect you.] You assure Din.
Din looks at Grogu and smiles. “Ni urmankala ner alii’nar cabuor gar.” [I believe my duty is to protect you.]
Grogu pulls at your hand and babbles something neither of you understands. You feel the energy around the three of you, moving and flowing against the walls of the ship’s hull. He tugs more earnestly and reaches for Din with his other hand. You stare at him for a second, before realizing what he wants.
“Tion copaani, ad’ika?” [What do you want, little one?] Din asks Grogu.
“Kaysh copaani tengaanar mhi ash’keb.” [He wants to show us something.] You say to Din.
“Nu’suvari.” [I don’t understand.] Din replies, puzzled.
Grogu puts a tiny hand on Din’s cheek. You touch Din’s other cheek with your free hand. Din looks apprehensive, unsure what is happening.
“K’udesii.” [Relax.] You tell him softly.
Grogu closes his eyes, and the air vibrates just a little. You feel his Force energy flow through you, like a warm breeze. From the look on Din’s face, you see he feels it, too. Visions flash before your eyes. A mudhorn charging at Din. Then, a small, green lightsaber and a tiny chainmail shirt. Suddenly, Force jumping into Din’s arms. Finally, embraced by you and Din under a dark sky when you two took your vow of riduurok. Grogu pulls his Force energy back and you’re in the Crest once again.
“How? What...?” Din stares at Grogu, stunned.
You smile. “Kaysh to ti Jetii’dral bid kotyc meg lise me’dinuir ti mhi kisol kaysh tome’tayle. Kaysh copaani gar kar’taylir meg ru’gaanade gar. Urmankala gar jate'kara cabuor gar’kaysh.” [His connection with the Force is so strong that he can share with us a few of his memories. He wants you to know that he chose you. He believes your destiny is to protect each other.]
Grogu looks up at you two and chirrs cheerfully, pleased with what he was able to do.
Din takes Grogu’s tiny hand in his gloved one. “Vor’e, ad’ika.” [Thanks, little one.]
He turns to you. “Mhi enteyo ba’jurir ad’ika narir jate. Ni ven ne’haat’ayli kaysh slanar at dha eso.” [We must teach the little one to do good. I will not see him go to the dark side.]
“Ne’bana.” [Won’t happen.] You say firmly.
Grogu squawks and squirms, so Din puts him down beside him and the child climbs down to the floor. You watch Grogu wander around the ship’s hull, stopping in front of Din’s helmet which has slid across the floor. He picks up a bolt that has fallen off the pile of machine parts nearby and inspects it. Frowning, he drops it and makes a little whining sound.
“Tion bic, Grogu?” [What is it, Grogu?] Din asks him. Grogu looks up at the familiar sound of his name.
You lean close to Din and whisper, “Kaysh kebbu mar’eyir ibic.” [He’s trying to find this.] Pulling the silver knob out of your pocket, you subtly slip it into his hand.
“Grogu, are you looking for this?” Din holds up the small silver orb and it reflects the lights in the ceiling. The child’s eyes widen, and his little mouth opens in an “O”. Din continues, “You can take it. Just like we practiced. Go ahead.”
Grogu looks hesitant. “Don’t be afraid. You’re safe.” Din says gently.
Grogu holds up one hand and narrows his eyes, concentrating hard. After a couple seconds the knob flies out of Din’s hand and lands in Grogu’s little green fingers. He squeaks happily and looks up at Din.
“Ori’jate! Gar drashaa kotyc’shya anay tuur!” [Excellent! You grow stronger every day!] Din tells him.
You whisper to Din again, “Ke'tioni kaysh chaa’dinuir bic norac at gar.” [Ask him to send it back to you.]
Din looks at you. “Gar mirdi kaysh ven nari bic?” [You think he will do it?]
“Ke'kebbu.” [Try.] You smile and nod at Grogu.
Din runs his fingers through his messy hair and holds out his hand. “Grogu, send it back to me.” Grogu tilts his little head and looks at Din. “Come on, you can do it.” Din says encouragingly.
Grogu again narrows his eyes and holds out his hand. You feel the familiar change in the air again, but you are surprised to see the helmet rise up off the floor.
Din sits up, startled. “Pare – !” [Wait – !] He starts to get up, but you lay your hand on his chestplate to stop him.
“Ke'ja’haili.” [Watch.] You whisper.
You and Din watch quietly as the helmet floats across the room and hovers over Din’s head for a moment before covering his face and clicking into place.
“Tion haa’tayli? Kaysh shi kebbu cabuor gar.” [See? He’s just trying to protect you.] You say with a smile.
Din nods and reaches out to Grogu. “K’olar, ad’ika.” [Come here, little one.]
Grogu laughs happily and springs into Din’s lap with a Force hop.
“Ni aala to ti kaysh meg nu’suvari.” [I feel a connection with him that I don’t understand.] Din says and hugs Grogu. He looks at you. “Mhi cuyane.” [We are survivors.]
“Mhi cuyani jorcu ibac cuy nau.” [We survive because there is light.] You reply.
Something deep within your consciousness senses the balance of light and dark. You look into Grogu’s eyes and see it there, too. Din’s arm around you pulls you closer to him and you know he feels it just as strongly in his own way. You lean against his beskar chest and tell him one final thought before closing your eyes again.
"Jetii’dral toi mhi. Kaysh bah gar. Gar bah ni. Ni bah kaysh. Mhi cabuo gar’ni teh werde rud mhi. Bic cuun aranov.”
[The Force connects us. Him to you. You to me. Me to him. We protect each other from the darkness around us. It is our defense.]