Chapter Text
Aiden confessed that a broken ship had been stored in the barn of one of the nearest houses for the last three years. They say he tried to fix it, but his education wouldn't let him. Pelli spent a long time tinkering with a small but roomy vehicle. She said that the problem was more with rust and some worn parts than something really serious. The most unpleasant thing was that one of the trace elements was missing. That's what the droid pointed out.
It was decided to postpone it all for tomorrow. It was dark outside, and there were clicks and roars from afar. The helmet was on the dresser. Dean rocked his son, walking around the room. Cobb was sitting on the bed, staring out the window thoughtfully.
-So we go to this university?The Mandalorian whispered.- Just where are the guarantees that nothing was looted there?
-We have no guarantees at all, nothing,-the child in his arms stirred and screamed. Djarin sighed.
-Hush, hush, hush, buddy,-the man muttered, lifting his head higher and nuzzling the top of someone else's head.- What are you afraid of..?
-Partner?
-H-m?
-Give it to me,-the sheriff stood up and held out his hands.-You wanted to go wash your hair, didn't you? Go. I'll try to calm him down.
-Thanks,-Din said, relieved. Cobb looked down at the child in his arms. The Mandalorian put on his helmet, took clean clothes and left the room.-What is it, kid? Don't be afraid, everything is fine.
When the mercenary returned, there was no one in the room. Only the window is slightly ajar. Looking out onto the roof, he found the missing item as quickly as he had discovered it. Vanth was sitting with Grogu in his arms and pointing at the stars, telling him something in a monotone. They both turned to follow the sound. The baby's face looked like he was about to fall asleep.
-Oh, you already are,-Din sat down next to him and took off his helmet. Her wet curls stuck to her neck, temples, and partially to her forehead.
-Where are you going? Cold. If you catch a cold, we won't treat you,-the interlocutor was outraged. The child looked at him with displeasure.-Phah, don't get mad, kid.
The clouds did not hide the stars and the two moons of Morbus. Din looked at his friend out of the corner of his eye. There was a faint smile on the sheriff's lips. His dark brown hair was streaked with gray. Don't even touch it, just crack it. The child in the man's arms was relaxed and wrapped in a blanket. Then he looked up at the stars. From the sudden movement of the person sitting next to him, he flinched. A large purple handkerchief was tied over his wet head like a bandana.
-If you catch a cold, I won't treat it,-Din grinned. Her slender, fair neck was now perfectly visible. There was a star-shaped scar on the side of his spine. Cobb is no longer a slave. But this trace will forever remain a bitter memory of a hard life. The Mandalorian gently touched the scar with his fingertips. Vanth lowered his eyes. Then he felt a warm palm cover the trail.-What are you...?-both were distracted by the noise from afar. The wrecked ship was flying down. The roar, the fire. Din swallowed. The ship didn't look familiar to him, but still… Is this Howard's doing? Or is there someone else here? The child was wary and snuggled up to them.-I’m here for you, baby, don't be afraid, don't be afraid…
-Whatever you think.. Whose was it-Djarin asked tensely, taking his son's hand.
-I have no idea. But I think that the infected will run there now.
-The main thing is not to come here.
-I can imagine how many of them there will be at that university.…
-Not a fact, Cobb. Aiden said it's all fenced off.
-Yeah, and abandoned? It sounds like nonsense.
-I couldn't agree more,-he rubbed his eyes.-But we don't have a choice, you know? And why would he lie, it's not profitable,-thick smoke was starting to appear in the distance.-Well, we're all through...-he looked at the Grogu.-Through one place.
-Ha-ha, partner, are you sure that's what you wanted to say?-Djarin rolled his eyes.
Grogu was left with Sarah. Miller promised to take care of him. Aiden took the trio to the university. He was on the outskirts of the city, where everything was overflowing with infected people. The star was starting to approach the horizon when they reached it. Fortunately, Aiden warned his daughter that they could leave for a few days. There was a cloth bag slung over the Mandalorian's shoulder. Medicines were dangling at the bottom. The remains of his bandages and Cobb's bacta ointment. Climbing over the fence, Jarin listened. The local dogs were barking. Excellent alarm system.
-Are you stuck there?-his partner called out to him.
-No. It seemed so.. infected, probably,-he replied, looking at the roads and houses. The university grounds were fenced with a high fence. And the patients couldn't get in here. Unless they died in the buildings themselves…
It was decided to go to the part with warehouses. There was a separate entrance. Moreover, it is here that the workshops are located. The windows are broken, everything is in the trash, and nature has begun to take the building under its care. Lots of greenery. The only thing that bothered me was that I would have to spend the night here. Or to return in the morning in the dark, which is also such a pleasure. There was nothing special on the ground floor: something like a cafeteria and classrooms. Is there an office interspersed with a warehouse on the second floor? Lots of shelves and desks. Maybe there were some practices?
-Partner, look here.
Cobb pointed to the window. The building itself looked like a square. There was a courtyard inside, where a large tree grew. There were also a lot of old and broken benches, with stripped paint. The railings were made of glass. No one would risk leaning on them. It was just not enough to fly from the second floor… And there was a lot of junk downstairs.
-Yes, this is my paradise!
It's obvious.. Pelli found the tools, Din grinned, trying to capture this picture in his memory as accurately as possible. The men moved on. Classrooms, classrooms, restrooms, classrooms… Was it really that good to hear from the third floor? Yes, it is quite likely. After all, there was deathly silence here. Aiden was standing in the hallway. The Mandalorian looked into the warehouse. The technician was hastily splitting the necessary tools into a bag. And several battery chargers. Where does all this come from? It's old, but it looks reliable. Really.. No one came for this? But if the ships are shot down, it means they won't let you leave so easily.… And where will they get the fuel? Okay, that's not what I need to think about right now. By the time the woman sorted through the remaining supplies, it was already dark outside. Djarin glanced out the window again.
-Denk Ferrick,-he hissed. The barking and noise of the speedbikes could be heard from here.-Get down!-the window shattered into fragments from the shot. Aiden peered out cautiously.
-Holy shit.. This is Howard's...-he slung the tool bag over his shoulder.
-How do you know them all..?-Vant put on his helmet and took out his blaster.
-You'll talk later. Let's go,-Djarin went out into the corridor. In the end, it was decided to go in this order: Din, followed by Aiden, then Pelly, and Cobb closed the whole chain. Also, the distance between them was small. Miller took out a grenade and threw it into the next corridor. It filled with smoke. Curses were heard. Djarin took out his rifle.-Cobb, cover me!
-Got it!
If Vant's blaster required a replaceable energy battery, then the rifle was single-shot. Alas, the mixture for the flamethrower was not in the largest quantity. Therefore, the man tried to limit himself to a sniper rifle, a knife and a pistol. After clearing the way to the stairs, I had to run over the same balcony. One of Howard's men pushed Cobb against the railing and grabbed him by the throat, intending to strangle him. The sound of a vibrating knife was heard. Blood splattered on the blue helmet. That's just it.. This freak managed to give him a good push. The rusty railing and broken glass couldn't stand it. The sheriff fell down safely. There was a scream and a crash.
-Cobb!-the old armor couldn't stand it. But there was a bloody armature sticking out of the body.-Go down the stairs,-Pelly and Aiden ran down the hallway ahead. Jarin descended with the help of a jetpack.-Cobb?-Din carefully removed his helmet, revealing large cracks on its back. There's nothing to say about the breastplate. The sheriff grimaced.
-Dean, behind you!-the man was moving with a rope. He probably wanted to strangle him. The Mandalorian violently burned him with a flamethrower. Motto and Miller came down to them. The corpse stank of frying and burning.
-Okay, come on, I'll help you up, on the count of three,-Djarin firmly took his arm and shoulder.-One,-I felt a return grip on my hand.-Two,-without counting further, the man gently pulled him up. The more he counted, the more Vant would be afraid of repeating this feeling.
-You bastard..! You promised...
-I know,-Din offered him his shoulder. Another piece broke off from the armor and fell to the trash with an echo.
-Take off your breastplate,-Pelli said.
-What...?
-Take off your breastplate. We need to move quietly,-Din explained.
-Maybe this time you will take off my armor yourself..?-Cobb raised his eyebrows, remembering their first meeting. He did just that.
Fortunately, there are few people left. However, they were quite persistent. As if they didn't realize that they were going to certain death. Or did Howard Anderson seem scarier to them? After going around the building and the courtyards inside and outside, the company settled into one of the offices on the second floor. Desks and chairs were dragged to the sides. Only a couple of tables were left by the door. It was already completely dark outside the window. Only two satellites gave any light. Pelli set up a small campfire place under the window. Din recalled Sarah's words again: "Sir, we have cold nights here." Miller proved to be prudent. He took the sterile instruments. The wound was cauterized. It was a good thing that a small flashlight could be attached to the helmet. Jarin took out the ointment from his bag.
-There's almost none left,-the Mandalorian protested. Cobb didn't react at all. His dark lashes stared blearily at the ceiling. The fact that he was conscious was indicated by his tightly clenched hands. The man was clinging to the fabric on which he was lying so tightly that the knuckles of his thin fingers were white.
-Give it to me,-Aiden carefully covered up the wound. Then I sewed it up.
-Are we going to go right away or...?-Pelly asked, looking around at her comrades.
-It's dangerous to walk like this. And if he doesn't make it to morning, then.. so he wouldn't have survived the journey.
-Aiden.
-Mando, exhale! You're cold-blooded murderers,-Miller exclaimed.-Just accept his possible death as a fact.
-You're terrible at being supportive,-Motto rolled her eyes.
-I'm a doctor. I've had people like him over the years…
-Aiden, that's enough. Did the doctor shit on you when your loved one died?-the technician continued. He sat down next to her.
Standing in the opposite corner of the room, the Mandalorian wasn't listening to their conversation. He won't live to see the morning… Everything promised exactly that. My heart started pounding. Cobb seemed to be right now.. so vulnerable and weak. A purple spot formed under his back. He let go of the poor fabric. Her hair was disheveled. A couple of gray strands carelessly escaped to his forehead. Sighing and mentally telling everything to go to hell, Din pulled off his gloves and threw them on a nearby table. With a gentle stroke, he brushed the hair off someone else's face.
-Mando, are you going to eat?-Miller asked as he opened
the stew. Give me a couple of spoonfuls.
-Are you going to feed him?
-We haven't eaten since almost morning. Moreover, his body needs strength to recover.
-Go get it.