Ladders, farmers and Rebels

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Bang. The noise of metal echoed around the ship. I groaned in pain, straining myself to use my good arm to grab onto the next step of the ladder. Climbing up a ladder with one arm in a sling is no easy feat.

I threw my left arm upwards, clasping heavily onto the ladder. When my hand grabbed the rigging it let out another loud bang. I stepped up onto the next step and prepared myself for grabbing hold of the last one.

"What are you doing?" Mando's modulated voice called out from above me. I glanced up sheepishly at him as he stared down at me with his hands on his hips.

"Climbing?" I said, trying to act nonchalant.

Mando crouched down over the hole that held the ladder and reached out his hand towards me.

I huffed and stared at his outstretched hand for a moment, trying to think about the best way to grab it. I then threw caution to the wind and quickly released the ladder, latching onto his hand instead. He pulled me up and I climbed the last few steps of the ladder. He quickly wrapped his free arm around my waist to keep me from falling.

"Thanks." I said. Mando let go of me gently, making sure that I was steady on my feet.

"You should be resting." Mando said as I made my way towards the cockpit.

"I'm fine. It's just...inconvenient to not be able to use my right hand at the moment." I said, carefully sitting down in one of the passenger seats.

Mando sighed and walked into the room after me, taking a seat in the pilot's chair. "You just...need to be more careful." Mando said quietly.

"I will be." I uttered, eying the side of his helmet with a kind look in my eyes. I appreciated his concern for my well-being.

The child was sitting next to Mando near the control panel. He lifted his hand and pressed a switch on the control panel. He then leaned over and pressed another button.

"Stop touching things." Mando Said to him.

The child stared at him, and while maintaining eye contact, he lent over and pressed another button, causing the ship to rattle around. Mando lent over and pressed the same switch to stop the rattling.

He then picked up the child and placed him on his knee. I smiled gently as I watched the interaction.

"Let's see. Sorgan. Looks like there's no star port, no industrial centers. No population density. Real backwater skug hole. Which means it's perfect for us. You ready to lay low and stretch your legs for a couple of months. You little womp rat?" Mando said to the child. "Nobody's gonna find us here."

Mando set a course for the planet and the ship fell into its usual silence apart from the occasional coo from the child. I sat down on my passenger seat as I stared out the window. I absentmindedly ran my finger along the white sling that hung around my neck. I hope that I heal before our next fight.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The ship descended into the atmosphere of Sorgan. The planet was mostly green forests with a couple of lakes and bodies of water. It was a nice enough planet. And it was quiet enough to keep them safe for now. It almost reminded me of my home planet.

The crest touched down in a clearing in the middle of the woods. They were far away enough from any small towns but close enough that it wouldn't take forever to walk to one.

Mando powered the ship down and turned to me, he still had the child on his lap. "Listen. I'm gonna go out there and I'm gonna look around. It shouldn't take to long." He stood up from his seat and placed the child on the seat. "Will you stay here and watch the kid?"

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