The Mandalorian's Slave

Yet Another Mission

The sun has set on Trask. The city we're staying in is surprisingly beautiful at night. The moon reflects off of the open water, bathing everything in its cool light.

Din and I wander around the half-rotting town. I don't say anything. Neither does he. He was just told that he was raised in a cult. And how am I supposed to explain that I've seen Bo-Katan before, in my dreams?

"Hey!" A Quarren barks from the darkness. "You!" The Mandalorian and I slow to a stop. "You killed my brother."

More Quarren slink out from the shadows, gripping makeshift weapons. I reach down toward my blaster. I won't let myself be useless this time.

"Let me pass," Din says wearily.

"I don't think you understand," the alien says with a chuckle. "You killed my brother, and now, I'm gonna kill your pet and fuck your wife."

The roar of jet packs fill the air again. The three Mandalorians land beside us, blasters drawn.

"He didn't kill your brother," Bo-Katan says. "I did."

In unison, the three Mandalorians begin firing. I follow suit, not wanting to get captured again. The Quarren land heavily, their bodies somehow seeming heavier dead.

"Can we at least but you a drink?" Bo offers.

XXXX
We're crowded around a small table again, this time, thankfully, at a different inn.

"Trask is a black market port," Bo explains. I the dim light of the restaurant, she looks like some sort of warrior goddess. "They're staging weapons that have been bought and sold with the plunders of our planet. We're seizing those weapons and using them to retake our home world. Once we've done that, we'll seat a new Mandalore on the throne."

"That planet is cursed," Din says sharply. We wasted no time with introductions, no time with greetings and pleasantries. "Anyone who goes there dies. Once the Empire knew they couldn't control it, they made sure no one else could either."

"Don't believe everything you hear," Bo says quietly. "Our enemies want to separate us. But Mandalorians are stronger together."

"That's not part of my plan. I've been quested with retuning this Child to the Jedi."

"And her?" Katan asks, eying me.

"I'm a slave," I murmur. "He killed my former owner. Now I'm helping return the Child to his rightful place." I don't bother mentioning that I, too, may be a Jedi.

"What do you know of Jedi?" The female Mandalorian asks us.

"Nothing," Din admits. "I was hoping you would help me by Creed.

The three Mandalorians exchange a strange look. Even without their masks on, their expressions are hard to read.

"I can lead you to one of their kind," Bo finally says. "But first, we need your help on our mission."

"Mission?" My Master asks.

Katan flashes us a fox-like smile as I pick at my barely edible stew.

XXXX

"You see that Imperial Gozanti freighter?"

It's impossible to miss. The ship is a mammoth in the little harbor. Its hull gleams in the faded light, promising newness and power.

"It's being loaded with weapons as we speak," Bo continues. "According to the port's manifest, it's scheduled to depart at first light."

"So we stow away?" I ask.

"We've been hitting 'em pretty hard," the pretty Mandalorian with black braids admits. I still don't know her name, or anything really about the group of warriors surrounding us. "They scan for life forms as a precaution before pushing back."

"If you want to do this with four, you're gonna need the element of surprise." Din speaks calmly, as if we're not about to attempt the impossible.

Wait a minute. Four. Not five. My heart sinks as his words settle in. He's leaving me behind. No doubt I'd be a hindrance and some form of embarrassment in front of his people.

"Exactly," Bo agrees. "The freighter will maintain trawling speed while inside the shipping lanes and then ascend in orbit. We'll jet up when they're cruising in atmosphere. The tower won't allow them to climb until they've left the port's airspace."

"Troopers?" Din asks, my presence entirely forgotten.

"A squad at most," Katan says calmly.

"And they couldn't hit the side of a bantha," mutters the other male Mandalorian, yet another one that I don't know the name of.

"I'll do it," Din says, as if there was any real doubt or choice. "I just need to make arrangements for my companions."

I notice the way he hesitates before saying companions. I feel the urge to correct him, to tell the other Mandalorians that the Child and I were named part of his clan. But I remain silent. Din has given up so much for me. I can't take his religion, his culture, away.

"This seems dangerous," I say as we wind down the narrow streets. "Bo-Katan presented the problem as if it were easy, which is usually a sign you're about to get screwed over."

"They're my people."

"They don't hold the same beliefs you do," I argue.

"Yet their armor doesn't lie." The Mandalorian sighs. "They are my people. There's so few of us that I can't afford to push them away. Besides, they have information about the Jedi."

I scowl silently to myself. At least this will provide me with the chance to sleep.

"Where are we going?" I ask finally to break the silence.

"To our esteemed passenger's house. I thought you might be safe there."

"Glad to know I'm safe while you're off risking your life again," I grumble.

"Stop taking back," Din growls. I feel his annoyance flickering within him. "It's my job to protect you and provide for you. That's what I'm doing."

"Yes, sir," I reply dutifully.

I feel his stare, but I refuse to meet his eyes. I am being difficult, I know that. But sometimes the man can be so infuriating I can't help it.

My Master bangs on the door to a small hovel. The frog lady answers it.

"Something's come up," the Mandalorian explains hastily. "Can they stay with you for a bit?"

The frog last beacons us inside. Her house is small, but clean. I can't help but envy the way it makes me feel safe.

"Be safe," I call out to the Mandalorian as he turns to leave.

"I can't promise you that."