Star Wars - Series Fan Fiction ❯ Odd Bounty ❯ Epilogue: A New Path ( Chapter 15 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

The farmstead was green and overflowing with life. Telana stepped onto the porch at the sound of engines filling the air.

Beler looked up from the device he was fixing and chuckled. "So he has returned."

At the sight of the Slave-1 landing she smiled brightly.

He was home.

From where she stood she could hear the landing ramp hiss as it lowered, revealing the shining beskar armor that she had come to love.

He was steady in his gait as he approached her, stepping up onto the porch in front of her. She reached up to trace his visor and he leaned down to press it against her forehead.

"Hello, mesh'la."

"Hello, cyar'ika."

"Din."

He nodded to the doctor. "Beler."

Running footsteps could be heard fast approaching the door from inside and he shook his head, laughing. 

"Buir! Buir's back! "

The door flung open and a small blur collided with his legs, nearly knocking him over.

"Whoa there, Rhya! I've only been gone a week." He lifted the little girl into his arms and she pressed her forehead against his.

"I missed you daddy!"

"I missed you too, ad'ika."

"Grandpa, buir's back!"

Beler snorted in amusement, "Yes, he is, little one."

A throat cleared behind him and they all turned to face the sound. 

"Boba! You came too!"

"Grampa!" Rhya squealed, holding her arms out to him and he laughed, plucking her from Din's arms to hug her tight before swinging her up onto his shoulders.

"Hello, kid."

"I thought no one could call you gramps?"

"You try telling her no."

Din laughed.

"Umm, hello?"

Telana's gaze fell on the black clad man behind Boba and was struck with a sense of familiarity...like she knew him from somewhere but then her eyes landed on the small green person held in his arms and she stilled.

She reached her hand out to him. "Hello."

He shook her hand gently, dipping into a swift bow. "Hello, is this the home of Telana Djarin? I am Jedi master Luke Skywalker and this is Grogu. My newest student. We were told to visit."

She gasped, a hand flying to her mouth as tears flooding her eyes. Her eyes turned to Din and he nodded.

She looked back at Grogu, taking a step forward and he tilted his head at her, seemingly confused and then he started babbling wildly, wiggling and waving his arms out to her, making a grabby motion with his little hands.

"Patu...patu!"

She gently lifted him up, bringing him close to place a kiss on his forehead before settling him on her hip. "It's nice to meet you, Grogu. Welcome home."

Luke was touched and had to swallow hard at the emotion rolling from the woman. The force swirled around her, wrapping her in a cocoon of light and warmth. Whoever this Telana Djarin was, the force flowed from her like a steady stream. It had chosen her, but for what? He didn't know yet.

Grogu leaned over and his little hand drifted over the swollen curve of her stomach and cooed.

She laughed, "Yes, there is a baby in there, little one. Hopefully a boy this time."

Din's hand settled over Grogu's hand and pressed his visor into her temple. "As long as the baby is healthy...I could care less if its a boy or girl."

She tapped Boba on the shoulder, "Who is Grogu?"

He smiled, placing her down on the ground. "Well, you see, Grogu was your father's foundling...you remember what a foundling is right?"

She nodded.

"Well it was from before you were born. So in a way Grogu is your brother."

"Why is he staying with him and not us?"

Din answered this time. "That's why I had Master Luke come here. I need to show him what you did last week."

"But buir, you said not to do it again. That it was dangerous."

Din nodded, "I did ad'ika, but its okay to show him. He's a...friend."

Luke knelt down and gently touched the girl's shoulder, "You need not fear me, little one. Come with me. I would like to show you something."

He stood and held out his hand.

Rhya looked to her mama and buir and they both nodded, so she took his hand.

He led her out into the field to where the broken down speeder still sat and pointed her to a spot just a little bit away from the speeder.

"Now stand right there and watch, okay?"

Rhya bounced in her excitement, clapping her hands. "Okay!"

Luke turned to the speeder, closed his eyes as he held up his hand. 

Rhya watched in amazement as the speeder shook and lifted from the ground a few inches before settling back down.

"You can do it too?"

He smiled and nodded. "Yes, little one. But it takes years of practice and focus to get to my level of control."

Din cleared his throat, "Well, not really."

Rhya giggled, "It's fun lifting things." 

Luke watched in awe as she wiggled her hand and the speeder shook, lifting high into the air and spinning before gently returning to its spot. He eyed Din  and noticed his shoulders were shaking. The Mandalorian was laughing.

"You knew she could already lift the speeder?"

"And more than than. She nearly knocked the Slave-1 over...with Fett inside."

Boba huffed, "The kid's strong. I thought the ship was going to fall apart."

"It should have already fallen apart. That thing's an antique."

"Watch it, kid."

Luke looked down at the little girl, "How old are you, Rhya?"

"I'm six."

"You already show incredible control and power for one your age. Much like Grogu."

Her eyes widened with happiness, "Really?"

"If you want...I could teach you more. You would become a Jedi."

Her face fell, "But I would have to leave mama and buir, wouldn't I?"

Luke laid a gentle hand on her shoulder, "This is your choice, little one. You would have to leave yes, but you would still be able to come back and visit from time to time. I will not push you to do something you are frightened to do but you do need training as your powers will only continue to grow in strength. Grogu will be there too as well as a few other students...all your same age or near in age. So you wouldn't be alone."

She turned to her parents and Telana smiled, giving a small nod, kneeling down. Rhya rushed into her mother's arms, snuggling into her neck.

"I don't want to leave you, mama."

Telana took her daughter's shoulders, "You won't ever leave me, ad'ika."

She pressed Rhya's hand against her heart. "You feel that, right?"

At the little girl's nod, she continued, "As long as my heart beats...you will never leave me and I will never leave you, okay?"

"I love you mama."

"I love you too, sweetling."

She turned to her father and he removed his helmet before lifting her up into his arms. She pressed a kiss to his cheek and he chuckled, tucking her against him and hugging her tightly.

"You're squeezing me buir!"

"Sorry, ad'ika. Lets go for a walk, okay?"

"Okay."

He handed his helmet to Telana and kissed her gently. "We'll be back in half an hour."

"Don't be too long. Dinner will get cold."

"Yes, ma'am."

/  -  /  -   /  -   /

"So, you want to learn more about the force?"

Rhya nodded her head excitedly, "Yes! It sounds fun."

"Its going to be hard work, you know right? It won't be all fun and games. You are going to have to listen to what Master Luke says and do as he tell you to do. Like with me and your mother."

"I know, buir."

"It seems like so long ago that I handed Grogu over to him and now...I have to hand you over too."

"Buir, you're crying. Why are you crying?"

He chuckled, ruffling her hair and leaning over to place a kiss to her forehead. "Its because I will miss you."

She giggled, "Silly buir! I won't be gone forever. Luke...Master Luke said I can come visit. And like mama said..."

She pressed her little hand against his chest, "As long as your heart beats, you will never leave me and I will never leave you."

He shook his head with a laugh, "You are too much like your mother."

"You tell me that all the time."

He set her down "Let's get you packed and ready to go, okay?"

Din clutched her hand gently in his.

Where the metal of her hand would have once filled him with anger now it comforted him, bringing a smile to his face.

/  -  /  -  /  -  / 

"I wish I could persuade you to stay the night, Master Luke. You must have traveled far to get here."

He bowed, "Thank you for the meal, ma'am but I must decline your generous offer. I have students to return to. My...wife will be waiting."

"Your married?"

He smiled softly, "Yes. Her name is Mara."

Fett snorted, "Mara Jade? Well, that I didn't see coming. Wasn't she supposed to kill you?"

Luke laughed, "Yes, she nearly did...several times, but I'm glad she didn't follow through."

Telana giggled, looking over at Din, "Seems a rather familiar situation, doesn't it?"

At the arched brow Din sent her way, she threw her head back and laughed. "If you hadn't of taken that bounty and rescued me..."

He cupped her cheeks and kissed her lightly. "I'm glad I did."

"Mama! Buir! No mushiness, please?"

Everyone laughed at that.

Din gave her a mock-scowl and lifted her quickly into the air, spinning her around before hugging her again. He laid a kiss to her dark hair.

"You be good for Master Luke. Listen to him. Follow his directions and you'll do fine."

"I will daddy."

"Come, Rhya. Lets get your things loaded up, okay?"

She jerked in surprise, "Oh wait! I almost forgot! Hold on a moment."

The little girl turned and ran up the stairs and after some shuffling and scraping from upstairs she made her way back down holding a small ball.

Luke looked at it oddly, "What is that?"

She giggled, tapping on the box twice and setting it down on the floor. "Alright D-6, lets go."

The ball shifted and a small head popped up from it. It trilled and beeped.

"This is D-6, my friend. Granpa Bel helped me build her."

Luke patted the bot on the head, "Then you are welcome too, D-6."

/  -  /  -  /  -  / 

Rhya was quick to give hugs to everyone. Even to a rather distraught Boba Fett.

"Hey, if you ever need a rescue, kid...you get a hold of me, okay?"

She kissed his cheek. "Silly granpa, I'll be fine. You be safe. No craziness."

He laughed, kissing the top of her head. "Alright, no craziness. I got it. See ya around, princess."

Din was the last one she hugged and he didn't want to let her go, but he knew she needed the training.

"Patu."

He looked down and saw Grogu patting his leg. "Buir."

That shocked him, "Kid?"

Grogu patted him again. "Buir."

Tears flowed down his cheeks and he nods, understanding him.

'She won't forget you. I haven't.'

"Alright kid. Time to go."

"Daddy?"

He cups her face and presses a kiss to her head. "Don't be afraid, okay? You're a tough kid."

"I love you daddy."

"I love you too, little bit."

 He watched as Luke lifted her up and set her in the backseat of his x-wing, handing Grogu to her. They both waved at him and he lifted a hand back.

'I'll see you two around.'

An arm linked with his and he looked down as Telana leaned against him, sniffling and wiping tears from her cheeks.

"They'll be fine, Din. He's a good man. He'll protect them both. I know it."

His hand rubbed over her stomach and she smiled softly, laying her hand over the top of his and gently squeezing.

They both watch the x-wing lift into the air, continuing to watch the sky even after it broke orbit and faded from sight.

"Have yourself an adventure, ad'ika."

/  -  /  -  /  -  /

When the x-wing touched down, Mara was waiting with a small smile on her face. He had called ahead and informed her of their newest student.

A young boy stood at her side and fidgeted, "So another new student? Doesn't uncle Luke have enough already?"

Mara ruffled the boy's hair, "You know a person with untrained powers can be quite dangerous, Ben. Now come on, help us make the new kid feel at home, okay?"

"If I have to."

"She just might surprise you."

"Great, another girl."

Mara stuck her tongue out at him before laughing. He shook his head, sticking his tongue out back at her.

Luke jumped down and quickly laid a kiss to Mara's lips before reaching over and lifting out both Rhya and Grogu.

Rhya giggled, snuggling Grogu closer. He cooed and patted her face.

"I see you two have gotten acquainted. Good."

"He's my brother."

"I don't think it works like that, sweetie."

"Mara, Grogu was her father's foundling. You remember, the Mandalorian I found him with on that Imperial light cruiser? That's her father."

"Oh, well that explains things. What's your name, sweetie?"

"I'm Rhya Djarin. You have pretty hair."

Luke chuckled, pressing a kiss to Mara's temple. "I agree, Rhya. Very pretty."

She swatted his arm, "Not in front of the kid, Luke."

Ben studied the little girl immediately eying the metal arm.

"What happened to your arm?"

Luke opened his mouth to speak but Mara shook her head with a soft smile.

Rhya looked up at him, then down at her arm and smiled brightly.

"I lost it...in a bad accident, so my granpa fixed me. Gave me a new one. I like it."

"Its cool. Uncle Luke lost his hand too. He's got a metal hand now also."

She giggled and Ben smiled.

"I'm Ben Solo."

"Rhya Djarin."

A sudden shrill whistle caught their attention and they looked down at the small round bot bumping into his foot.

Rhya patted the bot, "This is D-6. My droid friend."

He motioned to her to follow him. "Come on. I'll show you around. You can come too, D-6."

She took his hand with a smile and he grinned wider.

She had the prettiest blue eyes.