Chapter 23 | The Spies (Part 1)

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"I hope these two groups get along. They've never met, and what little they know of each other, they hate." Bo says. Grogu sits on her lap as she steers the ship, Cordelia and Din sitting in their spots behind her.

"They will if they wanna survive." He replies.

"Yeah. The Rebellion was full of people who hated each other, but once they realized they had a common goal, they managed to set aside their feelings. Plus, these groups have two badass women as leaders, who may unite the groups in more ways than one." Cordelia tells her, smirking at her friend.

"What?" Din asks, confused at her last statement.

"Oh, come on. You don't feel the tension between our friends Bo and the Armorer?" She scoffs.

"Shut up." Bo snaps, landing the ship and quickly handing Grogu to Din as she passes. 

"Someone's got a crush!" Cordelia sings, adjusting Pandora in the birikad before standing and following her.

"Take the children inside." Paz orders his son as the group approaches the covert. Cordelia rolls her eyes, standing next to Din as the groups face each other. Woves removes his helmet, and the others follow, including Bo. The Armorer clangs her tools together, getting everyone's attention.

"Welcome, fellow Mandalorians. We invite you to make camp. Let us prepare a feast for our guests." She announces. Bo nods at her and she nods back.

"You were totally right." Din whispers to his wife as the groups disperse.

"Of course I was." She replies, leaning into his side as he wraps his arm around her.

"Mando! Cordelia!" Greef calls as they spot each other. He laughs as he and Din grasp forearms. "Welcome back, my friends. Welcome back." He hugs Cordelia, taking Pandora when she grabs onto his robes. "That's quite a fleet you've assembled." He points to the ships with the arm not holding his niece. He holds his hand out towards his droid, who sets a bottle in his palm. "A little welcome gift to celebrate our new neighbors. That's all the way from Coruscant, so you might wanna wait for a smaller gathering before you open it."

"Thank you." Din tells him.

"That's not the only gift I have for you." He replies, tapping Din's chest plate. "Someone's got a favorite." He jokes as Pandora lunges towards her father. He passes her over, tickling her side.

"She's a Daddy's girl." Din announces proudly, holding his daughter against his chest as she giggles. Greef chuckles and pats Cordelia's shoulder.

"Perhaps you should have another. Maybe the next one will cling to you like she does to him." He says.

"Have you two been scheming together?" She accuses, glaring at the two men.

"Of course not. I'd just like another niece or nephew to spoil." He defends. She rolls her eyes, hiding her smile at the thought of growing their family.

***

"What did you do to IG-11?" Din asks, staring at Babu Frik, who sits inside the droid's chest.

"No, that's IG-12 now. Do you like him?" Greef replies.

"Do I like him?" He repeats, turning to put himself between the droid and his daughter, sleeping against his chest. He rests one hand protectively on her back, the other grabbing Cordelia's, who stands protectively in front of Grogu.

"Don't worry. He's safe." He assures them.

"You're sure?" Cordelia asks, tightening her grip on Din's hand.

"Well, the Anzellans stripped IG down to his base motor functions. They removed his memory circuit. The pilot provides cognition." Greef explains. 

"Yes." IG-12 says as Babu hits a button. Grogu coos and laughs, standing. Babu quickly climbs out of the seat as Grogu starts walking across the table towards him.

"Think of it this way. It's more like a vehicle. Hmm? It's safer that way." He adds.

Babu climbs down IG-12's arm and lands on the table. Grogu laughs as they edge around each other.

"Bad baby. No squeezie!" He shouts, quickly rushing past.

"Well, he's too little to operate this thing." Din argues, moving to grab him.

"We won't know until we try." Cordelia scolds, lifting Grogu into her arms. Din sighs, not liking the fact that his children are growing up so quickly. Cordelia kisses Grogu's head before lifting him towards the pilot's seat. Greef chuckles as she helps him inside and steps back, wrapping her arm around Din.

"So, what do you think?" Greef asks. Grogu coos, looking at his parents.

"They do nice work, I'll give them that. But Grogu is too young to operate heavy machinery. Maybe when he's older." Din protests.

"No." IG-12 says. Cordelia gasps and turns towards the voice.

"What do you mean, 'No'?" He asks.

"No." Grogu presses the button again. Cordelia laughs as she bursts into tears, happy Grogu has a way to communicate with them in a way they understand.

"I think he's sayin' he's old enough to operate it." Greef says.

"Yes." Grogu presses another button.

"Mmm-mmm. Get him out of there." Din protests.

"No." Grogu tells him using IG.

"No, at least let him try it out in my office." Greef argues.

"Yes." Grogu agrees.

"No, this is not a good idea. Come on." Din says, tightening his arms around Cordelia, mistaking her happy tears for sad ones. He moves towards Grogu, who maneuvers IG away. "Hey."

Cordelia laughs as Grogu clumsily moves around the room, repeatedly pressing the 'Yes' button. He stops in front of her as he spots her tears, beginning to press the 'No' button.

"They're happy tears Ad'ika. I'm so proud of you." She tells him, kissing the top of his head.

***

"Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes." Grogu repeatedly presses the button as the family walks through the streets of Nevarro. He finally quiets as he spots a vendor selling food, stopping to grab some. He babbles happily, shoving food into his mouth as quickly as he can.

"What are you doing?" Din asks as they move back towards him, realizing he'd stopped. "Stop, Grogu. No. You have to pay for those." He takes the food and sets it back down, handing over some credits to the vendor. Grogu grabs a fruit and moves it closer to him.

"Grogu, no." Cordelia scolds.

"Yes." He argues, moving the fruit away as Din reaches for it.

"Hey. Grogu. Give it." He tells him, reaching for the fruit as Grogu lifts it farther away.

"No. No." He protests, accidentally squeezing the fruit so it explodes. The vendor groans and Din sighs.

"Here." He says, paying for the damaged fruit. "This isn't working for me."

"Grogu, you have to behave. We're fortunate enough to have IG, but if you can't be respectful, we're gonna  have to put him away until you can." Cordelia tells him as they continue through the city.

"No." He argues.

"I know you like this new freedom. Can you be respectful?" She asks.

"Yes." He tells her.

"All right, then you'll have to show us. Can you do that?" She continues.

"Yes." He assures.

Cordelia smiles at her son and he coos at her. Din looks at them, smiling behind his helmet, and rests his hand on Pandora's back as she sleeps on his chest, excited for when she's older and can talk with them too.




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