Promises are made to be broken. Deals are made to be kept.
[The Mandalorian Season 1-2]
I do not own the Mandalorian or any of the Star Wars Universe characters/settings. I own Alora and her unique story.
Prequel to Promises and Deals --> Truth...
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Alora can't help the spark of warmth in her chest as she listens to Mando in his pilot's seat with Grogu in his lap as she maintains other aspects of the small ship. She isn't much use now, but she keeps her hands busy, trying not to listen in.
"Being a Mandalorian's not just learning about how to fight, you also have to know how to navigate the galaxy, because you never know where you might be headed next," Mando says.
Clearing her throat, Alora adds, "It's not just useful for Mandalorians. It's a good skill for everyone to know. Always know how to get back home, how to escape whatever might be chasing you. It's always something, and it is essential to be able to contextualize where you stand in the vastness of the galaxy."
Blinking twice, Alora glances up from the controls and out into space, though she knows Mando is looking back at her. She can feel his gaze on her face, but all she can think about is the last time she heard that speech: Lorn's speech.
Her thirteenth birthday. She had finally pushed back on Lorn's many randomized lessons that just dropped her on random planets, seemingly for his own amusement. This time, it had taken only a day for her to return to Alderaan just in time for a small birthday celebration, of course organized by Leia. His speech had a few more profanities and more anger. She never questioned him again. Not about this.
Alora finds her shoulders slumping forward as she turns further away from the pilot's seat. Rubbing her forehead, she heaves out a sigh and says, "Output looks good for now."
Silence fills the cramped space for a moment before Mando clears his throat. "This here is your hyperspace map. You determine your range by looking at the fuel gauge. And this..." Suddenly, a red light begins to beep across the controls. "Is your enemy proximity warning indicator. Hang on, kid, we got pirates."
Alora glances behind them to see three ships now following. "Three on our tail at four, six, and eight."
The attacking ships send a message to the communicators. Alora clicks her tongue at the sound of Vane's voice—the pirate from Nevarro. "Avast, Mandalorian. You can't just sneak away after cuttin' down four of my brothers in cold blood."
"You mean after we humiliated you?" Alora replies, despite herself. She should not feed into them, but riling them up could make them reckless.
Vane grumbles a curse."We're Pirate King Gorian Shard's men, now you'll answer to him!"
Mando shakes his head. "Gorian Shard should stick to hijacking and ransoming." He cuts off communication before the ship jerks forward.
She has to admit, Mando is an excellent pilot. She does her best with the weapons system to fire back, but Mando expertly flies the ship through the nearby asteroid belt. "Three more," she says as they appear on her screen. "Coming from your two." Mando shifts, narrowly avoiding them. "If you keep steady, I can get one of them. Ready? Now!" Alora waits just long enough to have the weapons system focus before she shoots. One ship's wing bursts into sparks before it goes flying into a large space rock. "One down."
