Author's Note: Greetings from a Galaxy Far, Far, Away. This is my character's story in the Star Wars universe. Star Wars is owned by Disney and LucasArts. I claim no rights to the characters of Star Wars and simply wrote this for fun. Fun illustrated images will be showing up on Deviant Art under Diana Hart Voices. Feel free to check it out when they come out. Thanks for reading. (Some words are in Mando'a, the Mandalorian Language, there is a translator available on google.)

Chapter 10

After a fair amount of traveling on the beasts the Imperials allowed them to use, Meric and Trisk arrived at the location where Trokl had last been seen. Meric jumped off the Tawn Tawn and walked around the area, looking for any clues. He let out a frustrated groan before turning to his friend.

"The blizzard covered any signs of tracks that could have been found." He explained. "What do you think he would have done."

She thought for a bit. "If he knew a storm like that was coming, he would have gone for shelter. Probably one of the closest caves around."

Meric nodded and brought up his map. Observing the area around him and accounting for the map, he found a likely location for a cave. He indicated for Trisk to follow. She jumped off the Tawn Tawn and followed him. Luckily the snow had compacted some in the area they were in, and a layer of ice helped preventing her from sinking into the ground.

They found the area that Meric assumed was a cave, and did find a small opening. It was large enough for a Wampa to go through, but one of the smaller caves of Hoth. They entered, Meric pulling one of his blasters just in case any hostile animals were there. They trudged through the area as silently as possible.

The cavern opened up to a larger area and it became apparent to the two that this was a den for a creature. Remaining piles of bones and cloth littered several areas. It didn't seem as though the animal was there at the time, so Meric moved forward to see if their target had left a trace.

As luck would have it, they found Trokl hanging unconscious in the ice above them in a further cavern. Meric scanned him quickly and found that he was alive. They needed to get him down and out of there fast before the Wampa would return.

"Trisk," he called out. "Could you?"

He pointed at the ice holding her father. She looked at it and nodded. Pulling out one of her sabers, she lifted it to the ice and began cutting him out. The heat from the saber melted the ice and soon enough he fell to the ground, Meric holding his upper body from being hurt.

Trisk returned her saber to her belt and began watching for any sign of danger while Meric tended to his target. He sustained a few minor injuries, nothing some Kolto could cure. He would possibly need some time in a Baca tank, but he would live.

"Hey," Meric slapped his hand across Trokl's face, waking him. "We need to leave. Now."

The Chiss man blinked for a moment, gaining focus on the situation. "How did you? This is a Wampa cave."

"The Wampa is out right now." Meric explained. "But that won't last long if we don't leave."

Meric forced him to his feet as he continue to ask questions. "Why?"

"I was paid to find you." He stated bluntly.

"Meric!" Trisk's voice pulled his attention to her.

A Wampa had entered the cave and was charging at her. Instinctively, he pushed Trokl to the side, out of sight of the beast, and pulled his blaster to fire. He fired several shots, each hitting a part of the beast, but it wasn't enough to stop it.

The Wampa slashed at Trisk, causing her to have to jump out of the way. It's clawed hands caught her scarf and ripped it away from her face. Jumping over it with the help of the Force she maneuvered to an ideal spot to attack. Raising her hand, she Force Pushed the creature into one of the ice walls. This allowed Meric to take several more shots above the beast, collapsing the ice above. The solid material fell onto the beast, incapacitating it.

Trisk wasted no time to run over and grab her father, guiding him out of the cave. They ran out of the cave, making a straight line to the Tawn Tawn they had left at a safer location. Once the animals were in sight, they slowed down. The distance was far enough that they could relax a little.

Trisk offered her Tawn Tawn to Trokl while Meric mounted his. She grabbed the reigns of her mount and began to guide it back to the base. For a while they rode in silence. The former Jedi was certain her father recognized her. But he didn't say anything. As she promised Meric, she said nothing as well. That part of her life had been far behind her. Her curiosity on him had been satisfied.

He looked older than she remembered, as she got a better look at him. There were a few wrinkles on his face, but they were minimal. He looked mostly the same. Though she didn't admit it to herself, deep down she had hoped he would at least acknowledge her. Even just say her name once more, but he didn't. She was no longer his daughter.

"You were paid to retrieve me." Trokle broke the silence. "What for, specifically?"

Meric called back. "There's a Commander that wishes to speak to you. They didn't give me any details as to what for."

"What now?" He asked.

Meric stopped his Tawn Tawn and looked back at the man. "I'm taking you to the Imperial Base. There they will arrange for transport to take you to this Commander's ship. After that, I don't know. My contract is complete. My partner and I will move on to our next job."

He was trying to direct his target's attention towards Trisk, hoping he would talk to her. He wanted her to have some resolution in this whole ordeal with her family. He wanted her to be happy. But Trokl didn't even try to look at her. His pride was stopping him from acknowledging his own daughter.

The Chiss man was infuriating the Mandalorian. Meric called to his friend. "Trisk."

She handed the reigns to her father before walking up to Meric. He had stepped off of his Tawn Tawn and stood in front of her. She held a confused look as he handed her the reigns of his mount.

"Use mine," he commanded. "Snow's softer up ahead. I'll follow with my pack."

She nodded and mounted the beast. Silence followed the rest of the ride as they returned to the base. Trisk lifted up her hood as they got closer to the base and ducked her head down. She didn't know what her father would do. He could expose her as a Force User, or he could not mention anything. It was an unknown in the whole situation.

They dismounted the Tawn Tawns, and Meric guided his target to the officers. "He has a few injuries. The cave he took shelter in was a Wampa den."

"We will be sure he is cared for." One of the officers reassured. "We are working on transferring the credits to your system now."

Meric nodded.

"Mandalorian." Trokl called to him. "Thank you, for saving me."

Meric nodded and noticed how Trokl's eyes made a glance at his daughter, as if to say thank you to her as well. Meric turned to leave, but stopped short. He was ticked off at this man. Trokl had done nothing with Trisk. He didn't even speak to her. And in the end, all she gets is a glance?

Turning around, he slammed his fist into the jaw of the man. Trokl stumbled back into several Officers preventing him from falling over.

Meric shook his fist, "Be grateful that's the only injury you're getting from me."

The Mandalorian turned around and grabbed Trisk's arm and guided her back to the Vanguard. They walked onto the ship, and Meric pulled her to the cockpit. He had her sit down in the co-pilots seat while he began the take off process. She could tell he was angry, and so she didn't fight against him.

Pip crawled up Meric's chair. Before he could get too close to the angered Mandalorian, Trisk reached over and grabbed him. She held him close while Meric took off and they made their way to space. This side of Meric scared her.

After a period in space, Meric slowed the ship to a float in the darkness. Meric leaned back in his chair and let out a sigh. Pulling off his helmet, he placed it down on the console. Staring out to the stars, he let out a growl and threw the closest item at the window.

Trisk had slowly curled into a ball on the chair, holding her droid close to her. The whole thing had frightened her. She had never seen Meric like this before.

Meric glanced over at her and noticed her fright. His face softened, and his fists relaxed. Standing up, he reached over to her, causing her to flinch away. His hand retracted quickly. His lips pinched together, and without saying anything else, he left the cockpit and went to his room on the ship. He needed to be alone, and he didn't want to scare her anymore.

Time passed, and Trisk was able to calm herself. She wanted to check on her friend. Though she didn't want to intrude on him. She walked up to the door and lifted her hand.

Lightly knocking, she called to him. "Meric?"

Silence.

"Meric, do you want to talk?"

Again, only silence.

She sighed. "Meric, I'm sorry. I don't know what happened, but I want to help in any way I can."

The door opened, and Meric looked down at her with a solemn face. With one arm, he pulled her against him and hugged her. Her heart leaped to her throat. He held her there for a while while he pulled together his thoughts.

"You shouldn't be the one apologizing." He explained. "I am to blame. Seeing your father treat you as he did caused me to loose my temper. You did nothing wrong, but it angered me to see that he didn't even acknowledge you."

"I had a feeling that was going to happen." She answered. "I prepared myself for it."

"It's still not right."

"That's true." She said while placed a hand on his back. "But it's part of life."

"He didn't even talk to you."

She pulled away. "I'm an estranged person to him now. He doesn't see a purpose to talk to me."

Meric stared into her eyes. He had a lot still going on his head. She could see that as well.

"There's more going on, isn't there?" She reached up and touched his cheek.

His arm dropped and he walked away from her. He stopped in the middle of the corridor and looked out at the stars again. Scratching the back of his head, he debated whether to tell her or not.

"Is it the same stuff you were going though on Hoth?" She asked.

He stopped and dropped his arm. "You sure you can't use the Force on me? Because I can't hide anything from you."

"I just can read my friends well." She smiled.

He let out a chuckle. "That sounds like you."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

He looked back at her. "I guess you could say I'm conflicted with myself. All the prejudice you encountered through all your life, I use to have those prejudices. I had them when I first met you. I hated Jedi and saw them only as the killers of my people during a massacre many years ago. I looked down on Jedi because all I saw as an outdated grudge on Jedi who had already died. And I hate that I was so close minded."

Trisk listened carefully and took a moment to think things over. "But you changed." She confirmed. "You don't have those ideals anymore. And you've done a lot for me since then. I think you need to look past this and see that you have changed for the better. I don't see anything wrong with you. For one, you were willing to see past those prejudices and change, when my own father couldn't even do that. You've surpassed the majority of the people in the know galaxy."

He watched her as she explained and didn't say anything when she finished. Her sudden confidence dropped as she registered more of what she said ducked her head slightly.

"Does that help?" She asked.

He smiled. "Yeah. It does. Thanks."

"Glad to help." She returned his smile.