Moral Dilemma pt.1

The N-1 cut calmly through hyperspace, the stars outside stretched into endless trails of light that swept past the cockpit window like electric currents. Din’s hands rested calmly on the controls as he piloted his ship through the infinite expanse, his gaze was tense and focused, yet his mind was bathed in a pleasant calm, the calm before the storm he would soon face. As they emerged from hyperspace, the blackness of space burst into bright splashes of color. For Grogu, it was a silent harmony, the cosmos, the ship, the Mandalorian at the controls. Nothing seemed rushed, not even the evasive maneuvers around drifting debris. It was this peace they rarely got to share, moments of togetherness that a father consumed by his work could seldom experience with his child, and Grogu stirred paternal feelings in him, even if he’d likely never openly admit it. 

“It’s just a job. A man who goes on raids and threatens people… apparently ruthless and barbaric by nature. There’s a bounty on him, high enough that we won’t have to worry for a while.”

Mando’s gaze fell on his little companion,  Grogu tilted his head slightly to the side, as if sensing that Din was saying more than he meant, and as if Din were trying to justify something he himself couldn’t quite grasp yet.

“I know you don’t understand this, but… the bounty is the only way we can get through space. Without it… we have no fuel, no food, and no safety. It’s…”

Sighing with relief, he gripped the controls tighter, as if he were desperately trying to find further evasions, excuses, or justifications. He didn’t recognize himself like this, usually, he didn’t ask questions, carried out his missions, and left everything behind, but ever since this small, likable creature had been accompanying him, he’d increasingly felt that what he was doing wasn’t always the right thing. 

“It’s my code, little one, it’s what someone like me does…”

Grogu narrowed his eyes, then he reached out a small hand and placed it on Din’s arm, right over the armor. Only a short sound could be heard, a sort of friendly growl while his pointed ears twitched back and forth. He certainly didn’t doubt Din, but rather the harshness with which the Mandalorian was trying to justify himself.

“I’ll explain it better to you someday, but for now you have to trust me.. we’ll catch that guy and then we’ll see.” 

His voice still sounded metallic, filtered through the helmet he almost never took off, the Code… something important to Din and something he lived by with discipline, yet beneath the resonance lay something only Grogu could pick up on, an almost gentle tone, a hint of warmth when he spoke to his little friend.

Before them, a planet rose from the darkness, shrouded in a pale, gray-green glow. As they drew closer, tiny lights twinkled in the shadows of the mountains. Din pulled the Hunter deeper into the atmosphere, the ship shook slightly as it broke through the layers. At the end of a ravine lay an abandoned landing pad, likely the remains of a long abandoned outpost, where he finally landed the ship and considered whether he should hide Grogu or take him along instead. Torn between the two options, he sighed, but the little one stretched out his arms and made it clear that he wanted to come along. 

“You want to join.. I understand.”

With a deep hiss, the ramp opened, and cool air poured into the ship. Din stepped forward, familiarizing himself with the surroundings, assessing the planet’s terrain while Grogu jumped into a sort of shoulder bag. Din paused briefly, letting his gaze wander over the ravine, and somewhere deep in the shadows further ahead lay the entrance that must lead to Veyr’s hideout. This place seemed deserted, and yet the bounty hunter felt as though he were being watched. Unconsciously, his hand slid to his blaster, Din was aware of the danger, but Grogu let out a soft sound reminiscent of babbling, which sounded damn loud in this damn silence. 

“I feel it too,”

Din replied calmly. He moved forward slowly, on the rocky ground, he had the feeling that somewhere among the rocks, someone was counting every single step, but then his feeling was confirmed, he heard a soft crack, which was definitely not just debris being blown off the rocks by the wind. The first blaster shot rang out through the gorge almost simultaneously. Din reacted instinctively, pulling Grogu closer to him and throwing himself sideways behind a shattered concrete barrier, glowing shards exploded against the rock behind him.

“That’s quite the welcome.”

He growled. More shots followed immediately afterward, there were at least two shooters. Din drew his blaster and fired back without a second thought, a brief flash of light on a hilltop, then a scream. Grogu ducked deep into his pocket and let out an indignant growl.

“Stay down.”

Another shot struck his shoulder plate with such force that even the beskar let out a howl. Din clenched his teeth and listened, they were trying to flank him.....bad idea, very bad idea... that was his specialty. He waited just a fraction of a second before darting out from cover, the vibroblade flashed briefly in the pale light of the ravine, and the attacker crashed against the wall with a thud. The fight lasted barely more than a few breaths, and then it grew quiet again. He remained crouched motionless behind the concrete barrier for a few seconds while the dust slowly settled and the smell of burnt energy hung in the air. These people had been waiting for someone, probably even him. Grogu slowly poked his head out of the bag and gave him a look that was strikingly reminiscent of disappointed parents.

“Yes... I know… things are going great so far.”

Din grumbled dryly. The dead attacker lay a few meters away among the rubble and old metal plates. Black clothing, barely any armor, and scars on his face that looked as if someone had tried to patch him up, a small metal badge hung from his belt, barely legible, Din memorized every single line of it.. you never knew when something like that might come in handy. Grogu suddenly stretched his hand toward the entrance of the facility, impatient and insistent.

“You really always want to go exactly where the shooting is, huuh?”

The little creature let out a short babble, either agreement, or criticism, maybe even concern.. with Grogu, you never knew for sure. Din let his gaze wander over the ravine once more. Actually, now would have been the sensible time to turn back, to disappear with the N-1 and return later, better prepared. That’s exactly what every other Mandalorian would probably have advised him to do, but reason didn’t pay for fuel... and if Veyr was actually down here, he’d be long gone as soon as Din began his retreat.

“We’re moving on.”

he finally muttered. Grogu immediately seemed more content, as if he’d never seriously believed Din would abandon the mission.

“Don’t get your hopes up too soon.”

Din slowly started moving again. Slowly, he raised his head., somewhere directly above him, another sound, something mechanical and certainly not human.

“…I don’t like this at all.”

he said quietly, raising his blaster again as Grogu automatically ducked deeper into his pocket. He crept forward slowly, passing through a large steel gate… no guards were waiting for them here, it seemed once again as though this area was deserted and abandoned. He felt every muscle beneath his Beskar armor tense, his instincts, shaped by years of hunts, ambushes, and near-fatal mistakes, screamed at him that they weren’t alone here. Grogu let out a soft, nervous sound, and his tiny claws dug deeper into the fabric of the bag. Something was crawling across the rocks above the ravine. Maybe it wasn’t a machine after all… for a split second, a pale light reflected off a metallic surface before the creature vanished back into the darkness. Only the sound remained, creating an echo that made it difficult to pinpoint their current location. 

“What the hell have you hidden down here…”

Before Grogu could react, the entire ground beneath them suddenly shook. From deep within the darkness of the facility, a drawn-out mechanical howl rang out, distorted, like the wail of a dying animal, and then, inside, the lights slowly came on, one after another... like mechanical eyes coming to life and staring at the uninvited guests.

“A normal bounty… sure, I guess they’ve been keeping some information from us…”