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Din walked through the bustling marketplace on Lothal, his eyes glancing over the local goods for sale in the sprawling rows of open stalls. He had left Grogu sleeping in his hammock on the Razor Crest after the ad’ika had been in a cranky mood all day. Din was anxious to get back, always worrying whenever he left Grogu alone even with all the security installed on the ship. Used to traveling solus [alone], his habit used to be to quickly pick up the essentials and be on his way, but now his mind was weighed with the buirkan [responsibility] of caring for his adopted son properly. He never thought there would be a day when he would call himself a parent.
Bantov… bajur kotyc bal jahaala adiik ner evaar'la be'sol sa buir. Buir… [Yet… To raise a strong and healthy child is my new priority as a parent. Parent…] Din still paused when he thought of the word. He let out a quiet sigh as he continued walking. He noticed two small children sitting on the ground playing with toys that looked like small beskar’ade [droids]. He walked over and leaned down.
“Excuse me, where did you get those?”
The children looked up and their eyes grew huge at the sight of the sight of the Mandalorian’s shiny silver beskar’gam [beskar armor].
One child pointed down the aisle towards a cluster of stalls in a corner. “Over there by the pie.”
“Thank you.”
The children nodded and scampered off between the stalls. For reasons unknown even to himself, Din always found the urge to stop and pick up a new toy or snack for Grogu. Parenting had certainly changed his view on many things, least of all his shopping habits. Din turned and headed in the direction the children had pointed. Scrutinizing the food as he passed without turning his head, thoughts went through his mind as he strolled down a row of food vendors.
Vegetables, big tubers, and various mushrooms? The kid wasn’t good about eating vorpan’oy [vegetation].
Bright purple fruits that looked fresh and juicy? Maybe, but he'd be cleaning stained robes for days.
Some kind of insect that looked fried and crispy? Didn't seem nutritious enough for a growing child.
Then a tantalizing smell made Din's head turn, reminding him it had been too long since his last meal. He walked up to a stall tucked at the end of the aisle where an Ugnaught was putting out a tray of fresh baked pies. On the table nearby was a row of jugs filled with an orange liquid and a row of toys made from machine parts that looked like the ones the children had been playing with.
“Pardon me, may I ask what is in these pies that smells so good?”
“These are the best loth-rat pies in the Capital City! My wife and I bake them fresh every day! Can I interest you in one or three?”
“And may I ask what's in the jugs?”
“Jogan juice! Fresh pressed this morning!”
“I thought Ugnaughts were mechanics, not cooks?”
“Why do you say that? Who do you think built the oven and juicer?”
“I had a good friend who was an Ugnaught and did excellent repair work on my ship.”
“I had a cousin who told me he met a Mandalorian once.”
A scuffling sound came from under the table and three furry heads poked out, staring up at Din curiously. He tilted his helmeted head down as they circled his boots.
“Are these your… employees?”
The Ugnaught laughed. “So, are you here to buy something or pet my loth-cats?”
Din straightened up. “I'll take two pies and a jug… and is that one for sale?” He pointed at a small figure lying behind the row of toys that looked like a droid with articulated arms and legs. It brought back a brief memory that made Din feel a sad thump in his heart.
“Oh, that toy’s broken, I haven't been able to fix it yet.”
“Perfect. Name your price.”
“I'll give you everything for… 70 credits.” came the reply.
“50.” Din countered.
“65.”
“55. Toy's broken.”
“60 or leave. I have spoken.” The Ugnaught huffed and turned to go back to his business.
“Fine.” Din handed over the money in exchange for a carefully wrapped bundle and jug.
“Enjoy. I hope you can fix it. It should be played with.” The small man said with a smile.
“I will.” Din said with a small nod.
Din made his way back through the aisles and out of the marketplace, back to the shipyard where the Crest sat like a bantha resting on its haunches. He pressed a button on his vambrace to open the side ramp and quietly walked inside, shutting the door behind himself. Din went straight to the sleeping rack and lowered the door to see Grogu still sleeping peacefully in his hammock. Putting the food away in the alcove, he pulled out the small toy droid. It looked like it had been wired to move, but the connections were worn and damaged. Din grabbed a few things from his toolbox and sat down on a crate. Working diligently, he cleaned the robot’s parts and replaced the wires. After he was done, he pressed the button on its chest and the limbs moved and walked across the crate with a beep boop beep sound.
“Ooooo?”
Din looked down to see Grogu standing there hugging one of his boots, staring up with curiosity in his big brown eyes. They looked at each other quietly for a moment.
“How did you…?” Din started to say as Grogu held up his little hands. Din sighed and put down his tools. “Alright, you little womprat.“
He picked up his little son and settled him in his lap. Din held up the repaired toy so Grogu could see it.
“What do you think?” he pressed the button to make it move and Grogu giggled and reached out to take it. Din thought for a moment.
“Okay, go ahead and take it.” he said holding it out of Grogu's reach.
Grogu looked at Din, perplexed. His mouth forming a little O. “Ahhh?”
“Come on.” Din coaxed him. “Just like we've been practicing.”
The child narrowed his eyes and held up his hands. Din could feel the toy being tugged slightly. Grogu held his hand higher and concentrated harder. The toy flew out of Din's hand and Grogu caught it in his little claws and let out a happy squeal.
“Jate bora, ad'ika!” [Good job, little one!] Din praised him. He put Grogu down next to him and watched him play with his new toy. Leaning against the metal wall, he took a deep breath and let himself relax just a little. After a few minutes, Grogu let out a little whine and Din looked down.
“What's wrong, Grogu?” he asked.
Grogu pouted and stuck his fingers in his mouth, making little smacking noises.
“Copa'eparla?” [Hungry?] Din questioned the child.
Grogu nodded and cooed in response. Din went to the alcove and brought out a pie, two forks, and two cups of juice. Arranging them on the crate between them, he sat down facing Grogu, who eagerly sniffed at the pie and started to reach out a hand.
“Uh uh. Ne gaane. Ke’pirummu ibic. [No hands. Use this.]” Din held out a fork and Grogu looked at it curiously before taking it.
Din lifted off his helmet and put it down by his feet. The pie smelled good as he held up his fork and showed Grogu how to scoop out a bite and eat it. The savory filling tasted wonderfully flavorful with a pleasant crust, much more enjoyable than the food rations Din usually kept around.
“Haa’tayli? Jii, gar kebbu.” [See? Now, you try.] he told his son gently.
Grogu copied what he observed and ate a mouthful of pie off his fork. He squeaked in delight and continued eating with vigor. Din smiled at the childlike enjoyment and joined in. Buir bal ad (Father and son) ate and drank juice until the meal was gone.
“Aala yaiyai’yc?” [Feel satisfied?] Din asked putting down his fork. Grogu let out a little burp and smiled.
“You need to learn not to make a such a mess when you eat, kid.” Din laughed, noting that Grogu had crumbs on his collar and minced meat on his face. He picked the child up and walked over to the sink in the fresher, washing his little face clean even though he wiggled and protested, seemingly determined to splash water all over Din. Din sighed and dried himself off while Grogu sat on the edge of the sleeping rack playing with his toy.
“Ready for our next adventure, Grogu?“ Din asked, and little hands were raised and accompanied by enthusiastic squawks.
Din grabbed his helmet and dropped it over his head before scooping up his little son and climbing up to the cockpit. He put Grogu in a jump seat and sat down in the pilot's chair. Checking the ship’s status screens, Din started the ships engines.
“We're gonna have a long trip ahead of us. Mandalorians are few and far between, but we can't give up, right, buddy?” Din called over his shoulder. He smiled to himself when he heard happy babbling and pushed the levers forward, opening up the engines. The Crest rose up and pulled in its landing gears as Din maneuvered it full throttle into the dark of space.
Floating among the stars, Din leaned forward and looked at the galactic map on the screen.
“We’ve been so many places, I wonder where we should search next.” he said, turning his chair to face his little son. “Want to be my co-pilot?”
Grogu clapped his hands and reached out towards his buir excitedly. Din picked him up and turned to face the front windows with the ad’ika in his lap. The tiny being closed his eyes and held up his hands, focusing on something.
“Grogu?” Din said softly.
Grogu appeared to concentrate very hard as he reached out towards the stars. Everything seemed to glow brighter for a second before dimming again and Grogu drooped against Din’s chest plate, looking tired. Suddenly, a dot blinked on the map screen in front of them. Din looked at the screen, then back at his son.
“Is this where you want us to go?” Din asked and the child squeaked in response. “Alright, I trust you. Ready for your favorite show?”
Grogu smiled and babbled happily.
“Hold onto something, ad’ika.” Din said and Grogu clutched Din’s arm with a tiny claw.
Flipping a few strategic switches and setting their destination, Din grabbed a large lever in each hand and pulled back slowly. All the stars turned into streaks as they jumped forward into hyperspace. The acceleration sucked them backwards for a few seconds, then the ship settled to a comfortable speed. Grogu looked around, his glassy eyes like saucers as he took in the beautiful rainbow of lights swirling into a tunnel around them. Every color in the visible spectrum danced and swirled in an endless symphony of time and space. The cockpit was quiet as the pair took in their surroundings.
“Mesh’la’shya anay ca’nara, ‘lek?” [More beautiful every time, yeah?] Din asked, looking down at Grogu who tilted his head up and smiled back. “Maybe this is where you and I find our shereshoy. Riding the hyperspace lanes, searching for the next chapter of our gehat’ik [story]. What do you think?”
Grogu cooed agreeably and settled in Din’s lap as they watched the stars together quietly for a while. Din checked their course and leaned back in the chair. He peaked down and saw Grogu had fallen asleep cradled in his arm. Relaxed, he closed his eyes and allowed himself to drift off to a light sleep.
Suddenly Din heard a high pitched crying that made his heart thump so hard it jolted him into consciousness. Din opened his eyes and sat up to see Grogu sitting on the dashboard, his big dark eyes looking back with tiny, furrowed brows.
“Me’bana?” [What happened?] Din asked worriedly. “Ke’rejorhaa’i, ad’ika.” [Tell me, little one.]
Grogu looked out the window and gestured towards the stars, chirring restlessly.
“You’re searching for something, aren’t you?” Din wondered aloud, not knowing why the thought came to him. Grogu nodded and sighed sadly.
Din took one of his son’s little hands and said gently, “We’ll figure it out tome [together]. See those stars? We’ll search every last one until we find what you’re looking for.”
The child jumped into Din’s arms and clung to his neck, squealing happily. Din could not help but laugh to himself when Grogu showed such contentment.
Din hugged his son and whispered, “Ni ratiin ven’ja’haili gar. Haat’miiti.” [I will always watch over you. I promise.]