Before leaving the frigate, Cin had juggled the idea of packing a few portable rations in her kit. Literally inches from the barracks door, she threw them down in the last second, a choice she deeply regretted now. Her armor's malfunctioning thermostat system left her under the entire weight of the Beskar in the hot sun of Concord Dawn for hours. Drenched in sweat all day, the night's bitter chill was a cruel topping to an already disastrous day. Her one and only comfort was being huddled in the arms of her husband Dreznor. As bad as her situation though, these were only mere annoyances for the Mandalorian. The four of them had reached the large rolling hills within an hour of deciding to head in their direction. They had found a shallow saddle between the hills suitable for the night. From above, they were still exposed but this was the best they had. Wade Cadera stood watch just around the bend of the hill while Cin, Dreznor and Ar'jae rested in the cold dark, not daring to strike even a sparker. Ar'jae was restless, nearly pacing back and forth in the confinement of the saddle. The Mandalorian in orange and green colored armor plates rubbed the top of his bald head anxiously. Even in the dark, Cin spotted the twitching of his eye.
"Ar'jae, sit your sheb down or I'll break your legs," Dreznor grumbled.
"This is bantha poodoo," the Mandalorian in orange said, completely ignoring Dreznor's threat.
"What now?" Cin said with annoyance.
"We've got no food, no shelter, barely any weapons and not even a clear plan in mind, we're as good as bantha fodder!"
"You know for a Mando, you sure do complain a lot," Dreznor said.
"Well this is our only option," Cin said. "So make the best of it and shut down for a few hours." Ar'jae stopped in his tracks and inched closer to the two sitting on the ground against the hill side. His voice was suddenly very quiet.
"We do have another option. Its Mereel they want," he said in a very serious tone. "Its not too late to go back."
"And join them?" Cin exclaimed. Dreznor lept to his feet, forcing Ar'jae back.
"You dare turn on Mand'alor?" he growled. The menacing silhouette of the Zabrak seemed to dwarf Ar'jae. Dreznor's red skin toned face was contorted with anger, creasing the sharp, jagged, black tattoos matching the design recreated on his armor.
"Its clear who the winning side is," Ar'jae said hotly from under the Zabrak's shadow.
"You treacherous piece of chizk!" Dreznor roared as he briskly drew his Dissuader KD-30 slugthrower from its holster, holding it inches from Ar'jae's forehead.
"Drez, wait!" Cin called out. "They'll hear you! The both of you, quiet down," she hissed. Dreznor didn't back down an inch, still glaring down at Ar'jae with pale yellow eyes. From around the bend of the hill, they heard the faint clanking of armor and dull footfalls. The three turned to face the sound, Ar'jae and Cin both hovering their hands over their own blasters as Dreznor drew a second Dissuader. Wade froze in his tracks with Gax following just behind him.
"Put that slugthrower away," Wade whispered sharply. "What is going on here, you'll attract every Death Watch on this rock!"
"Seems that's what Ar'jae wants," Cin said. Wade looked from Ar'jae's to the face of Cin Tenau.
"What?" he exclaimed.
"Ar'jae wants to go back and join them," Dreznor added with a snarl, still holding his Dissuader at the Mandalorian's head. Wade shoved the blaster away, stepping up into Ar'jae's face. His black Mandalorian 'T' was only an inch from his nose.
"Bad call, Vod. Think about it."
"Really? How's our plan coming along?" Ar'jae refuted snidely. All eyes except Dreznor's turned to Gax, lingering quietly off to the side.
"City's being used as a command post. The ships are gone," the Umbaran reported flatly with a dry, grating voice.
"Feirfek, there goes that idea," Dreznor growled.
"That's it then, we run. Find a settlement somewhere and hunker down."
"And wait to be rescued?" Ar'jae blurted.
"And follow orders!" Wade growled stepping closer.
"Farkle Mereel and his orders! I aint dying for a doomed regime!" The camp went silent as all glowered at him. Ar'jae pivoted on his back foot. Cin wondered whether the bold Mandalorian in orange was backing down or preparing to take a swing at Cadera. "Viszla has Mand'alor on the run. It's clear who is stronger here," he said snidely. "And he's not wrong about most of what he's said."
"What, butchering innocents?" Cin blurted. He shot her a sharp look.
"It's the way of our people. Mereel has forgotten that." Wade shook his head as he turned away. Dreznor's attention was stolen away for a brief moment to the passing Mandalorian in brown. Cin didn't fail to notice the brisk nods both he and Wade Cadera exchanged.
"Shut down for another hour. Cin you have watch, no one leaves."