Chapter Text
Three years have passed since that fateful day at the dunes. For my safety, as soon as I regained consciousness, New Republic Intelligence agents removed me from Solista. Their sources revealed the TIE fighters were there to finish what the stranger, Marc Risner, and Demetri Loken could not. Orders were given to level the entire eastern section of Veya, not just the compound and the academy but the entire thing; schools, market, homes, all of it. There was indeed a faction charged with killing former Alliance officers, especially pilots. Since we were no longer in active service, they hoped to snuff us out quietly before anyone connected the events. It remains unclear why they wanted me so badly they were willing to risk exposing their operations rather than move on to the next mark. I either killed someone important or they feared any news of a resurgence would draw me back into service.
Without being able to interview Din, everything regarding his involvement is theoretical. It’s believed the pilots were caught off guard by the Razor Crest coming back to Veya. It’s unknown why he was returning or if he survived. Theory continues he engaged the TIEs to keep them from the city and sent the distress signal in hopes the New Republic and Mandalorians would arrive before he fell. Certainly sounds like the man I know......or knew.
Apparently still on the top of the hit list, a permanent plan for my protection for formulated. At first, I refused but a few weeks later, after careful consideration, I agreed and the wheels were set in motion.
The New Republic issued notices throughout all spaceports. Captain Astrid “Bash” Lightner succumbed to injuries sustained during her battle against enemy combatants in the sand dunes of Solista. Yeah, I’m dead. My name was changed and I never returned to my home world. Bert maintains the compound in Veya to keep up appearances, going back occasionally to show his face. He ensured Rozier inherited the flight academy and the last time he was there, it’s thriving under the new name “The Astrid “Bash” Lightner Aeronautical Institute.” She’s such a sweetheart. I miss her dearly but at least she’s safe.
I had one request, the Republic had to hold a public service for me on Veya and put it in the spaceport death announcements. At the service, Republic officials were on hand looking for Din, who we hoped would surface, but he didn’t, putting one more checkmark in death column. I can’t say how many times I’ve cried thinking about him. After three years, I should have given up but I don’t. Someone out there knows what happened to him.
Even under my new name, it wasn’t safe to open a new flight school and I’m not good for much else so I rejoined the New Republic. I formed a special task force assigned with seeking out those faction members, thwarting attacks on former Alliance members, and squashing any potential uprising. I’m pleased to report, it’s gone well. We’ve managed to round up dozens of those assholes.
One thing we discovered is their primary means of operational funding is beskar. Bars and bars of it have been recovered. I convinced the higher ups that it should all come to the vault here for safe keeping and should be returned to the rightful owners as soon as they could be located but the Mandalorians are elusive. I sent word to everyone working for the New Republic if a Mandalorian is spotted, to give them our contact information; that the Republic was looking for a specific Mandalorian for a job; it would be lucrative and paid in beskar. I thought they were all interconnected but they’re not. After Mandalore was destroyed, they splintered off into groups and clans. Some who contacted us didn’t know Din Djarin at all. To say the least, it’s frustrating.
We were contacted two weeks ago and informed a Mandalorian, wearing a full suit of beskar, had been spotted in Mos Eisley. I’ve hit so many dead ends, I don’t allow myself to get hopeful. It could just be someone who has their own beskar armor or maybe inherited Din’s after his death, I just don’t know.
Our contacts in Mos Eisley found the Mandalorian and I am expecting his arrival today. If it’s not Din, maybe this is the end of the road and I have to accept that, after three years, he’s dead.
There is a tap on my office door. “Commander, the bounty hunter you requested is here.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant, please bring him up.” I feel a flustering nausea in my gut. This is the moment I find out. I’ve searched for so long but now I’m afraid to know and my hands tremble.
The door opens and there stands a Mandalorian. I don’t need to hear his voice. I don’t need to see his face. His body and posture alone, without a doubt, belong to Din Djarin. Trying to withholding the flood of emotions, I feel the blood leave my face. “Lieutenant, leave us and lock the door on your way out.”
The lieutenant takes notice. “Ma’am, are you feeling okay? You look as if you’ve seen a ghost.”
“I’m fine, please leave us now.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
He’s silent.
I walk to him. “Din.”
Looking down to my nametag reading “Maj. “Scorch” Borskey”. “Astrid…you’re…...I don’t…”
“Din.” The tears come uncontrolled. “I’ve searched for you all this time.”
He pulls off the helmet to reveal he’s also moved. “You were dead…... I went to Solista for your service.”
“I had people there looking for you.”
“Well, I went to Solista but couldn’t go through it. Instead, I went to the dunes and sat at the crash site for hours, grieving the loss of you.”
“They were still trying to kill me. I had no choice but to leave.”
He pulls out a tattered, dirty, and partially charred folded blue note. “I found this while there. Do you want it back?”
Taking it from his hand and pressing it to my chest, I sigh. “You’ve carried it all this time.”
“I have.”
I want to touch him but I’ve been dead all these years. “Did you find someone to be your constant?”
“No. I’ve been alone. You?”
“Of course not. I’ve been waiting for a dashing tin can to sweep me off my feet. Turns out, they are in short supply.”
“Astrid, may I touch you?”
“Please, my love, before I fall to pieces.”
He gently strokes my cheek, allowing my tears to absorb into his glove before placing his hands on my waist to pull me close. He looks at me just as lovingly as the day he left me. Moving a hand to my face, he leans in, kissing me softly and we fold into one another. Enjoying his strong arms, I remember there’s something I must do before we get carried away.
I reluctantly back away, giving him two swift kisses. “Hold that thought.” Opening the door, I call back out to the lieutenant and whisper to her.
I explain to Din, “She’s going to get Bert. You’re going to want to sit down.”
“Why? Did something happen to Bert?”
He continues to stand.
“No, Bert is fine. I had him wait down the hall until I could confirm we found you.”
We hear a commotion coming from the hallway. Bert comes in and I kneel down, smiling and opening my arms. “There he is!” The accompanying child wobbles on little, unsteady knees. Din stands still, quiet as I take the boy into my arms to carry him over.
“Din Djarin, love of my life, would you like to meet your son?”
Din’s knees give way and he falls to the floor. I kneel by his side as tears now stream down his face.
I set the boy down, place my hand on Dins’s shoulder and laugh, “I told you to sit down.”
“This is my son?” He stares at a boy with light brown skin, dark hair and deep brown eyes. “He’s mine?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Hey there, kiddo.” The boy reaches out to touch Din’s shiny chest plate. “Oh, you like that, huh?”
“Now you see why I had to be dead.”
“He…...he looks just like me.”
“I know. Isn’t it wonderful?”
“Can I hold him? What’s his name?”
“Arlo.”
“Arlo, you wanna come here? Can I pick you up?”
Din stands, removing his gloves and Arlo sweetly extends his arms upward. Din scoops him up and his head is almost immediately met with the hard strike of a wooden toy.
“Yeah, you’re going to hit me? You got that from your mom. What has she been teaching you?”
He sits in my desk chair with our beautiful child in his arms. It’s touching to watch Din’s gentleness as he examines the result of our love affair. Arlo yawns and rubs his eyes.
Bert steps in. “It’s good to see you again, my friend. I’m going to take the little one home for a nap. You’ll be able to see him later if you’d like.”
“Yes, please. Thank you, Bert.”
Still in shock, he follows them to the door and watches Bert and Arlo walk down the hallway.
“Astrid. I...I can’t believe this.”
“I know it’s a lot take in."
"I'm sorry I wasn't here to be with you, to help you with him."
"You didn't know. So look, we actually have a quarry for you. You won’t have any trouble with it but before we discuss it, there’s something else I’d like you to do for me.”
“Name it. Anything. I would walk through fire if you so wished it", he says kissing my neck.
I smile. “I want to request something from you. It’s one I’ve asked before, at the dunes, and it’s okay if you say no.”
He smirks as if he’s read my mind, his breath becomes heavy. “Go ahead, mesh’la, ask it....please ask it."
“I want another child.”
He reaches over, closing and locking the door. “I see. Well, Commander….ma’am, I think I can grant that request.”
“Din....here....?”
He issues no reply. I gasp as he unzips my flight suit down to my stomach and kisses my collarbone while unfastening his trousers. My body has starved for him.
“Oh my god, Din. I need you.”
I jump up, wrapping my legs around him as he carries me to the conference table, setting me on the edge, and removes my boots. We kiss passionately, discovering that lovers’ hearts once thought dead, burned with eternal flame. Tears stream as we are swept away in the moment. I run my fingers through his slightly longer, curlier locks of hair. In his eyes, I watch suffering dissolve into hope. No longer will he be alone.
I scoot from the table. He finishes unzipping my flight suit, pushing it from my shoulders, and allowing it to fall to the floor. Bending me over the table, I quickly reach over, grabbing my jacket from the chair to muffle myself as he hooks his index finger underneath the back of my thong, sliding it to the side, exposing me. My jacket can’t silence my vocalized pleasure as he lashes my pussy with an eager tongue.
He stands, grasping his cock and pushes it inside, holding it in, collecting and calming himself.
Beginning to pump himself into me, he breathes heavily. “You feel so good. I’m not going to last.”
His trusts become fast, intense, and hard. He grabs a handful of my hair, pulling me toward him so he can kiss and bite my neck as he continues making love to me. He doesn’t attempt to be discreet.
He tilts his head back and yells, “Fuck, give it to me! I want it all!”
The girthy friction stretches and pulls me. “Oh Din. Yes, please, harder. Daddy, fucking harder!”
He snorts and huffs like a bull while driving deep into me. Fucking him again in his armor is driving me crazy. I forget to be quiet and I’m screaming his name, moaning hard. I arch my back and begin moving in rhythm with him, pushing myself back on him.
He pulls me down to the floor and gets on top. Moving his large, strong hands to my face, he kisses me with all his passion, tears......everything. We’re eye to eye as his dick enters me again. He pushes my knees up to my head for full penetration. “Oh god Din!”, I cry out.
He moans loudly as he pushes deep inside and comes. “Oh yes ma’am! Fuck! I love you!”
Feeling the throbbing of his cock inside me as he grunts and strains. I pull him into a tight embrace, hoping this isn’t a dream. "Is this real? You're really here, right?"
"I am here, mesh'la. I made it back to you."
We're sweating and out of breath, lying on the short, rough carpet of my office. I touch my nose tip to his as I notice the time. “Oh my goodness, I’ve got to get you started so you can get this job done today.”
“Today? The information provided said this job would take about three days. Who is the point of contact?”
“Ah, yes. See, I’m the POC and we’re paying so much in beskar, it would be highly suspicious to the higher ups if you left with so much for only one day of work.”
I walk him over to the vault in my office, opening it to show him the many dozens of beskar bars.
“How? How did you find all of this?"
“It’s a long story but it’s all yours to take back to the Mandalorians. Distribute it how you see fit. When you’re done, I thought you could come back and stay......indefinitely. Din, I have a beautiful villa. It could be just the three of us.”
“Astrid, I’ll never let you disappear from life again.”
“Well, step one is not calling me Astrid. It’s Amiliana Borskey now.”
He chuckles, recognizing the name from the first night we met. “Ah, your Highness.”
“I hoped if you ever heard it, it would peak your curiosity enough to seek me. I go by Ana.” I look at the clock again, “We will go downstairs, I have a speeder bike and tracking fob waiting for you.”
I get dressed, my flight suit is wrinkled and my hair is disheveled. The front of his trousers is noticeably damp. We kiss once more before he puts on the helmet.
As we enter the hallway, junior officers scramble to act like they were in the hallway for any good reason, trying to look busy, or as if just passing by.
“Evening ma’am,” a female lieutenant says. Her head down but eyes looking up, trying not to smile.
“Good evening L.T.”
The others, with their backs against the wall, grant me passage. “Good evening ma’am.”
Din laughs at the sight.
I laugh and look at Din, “It’s funny to see me like this, huh? Man, they are going to gossip about this shit forrrrrrever.”
Passing by, I turn back to them and shout, “Hey!” They jump. “If I get one single call about anything you may or may not have heard in that office, your faces are all burned into my memory. Got it?”
They reply in unison, “Yes, ma’am!”
“And quit smiling. This is a respectable place. Get the hell outta here!”, I snap.
And with that, they giggle and disperse, tripping over themselves.
We get downstairs and I hand Din the tracking fob, already blinking fast.
He remarks, “Something’s wrong with this thing,” and holds it up trying to figure it out, banging it on the side of his hand.
“Hmm, weird. You know, Din, there is only one here but the sunset on this planet is breathtaking. No dunes, just beautiful grassy meadows.”
“Astr.....I’m sorry.....Ana, is there a bounty puck to go along with this?”
“No, my love, but you won’t need one.”
I take his hand, pulling it to my chest, and clasp it with both of my hands. The fob blinks so rapidly, it’s almost solid red. I giggle, playfully slapping the side of his helmet and start a full sprint to the front door toward the speeders yelling, “You’re it, tin can!”
He stands momentarily stunned.........then shouting, “NO! You’re not funny!”, he bursts into laughter as he starts after me.