Din was watching from his ledge, Pirpak with him as he watched Andora on her hunt. She had tracked the three horned creature down, the beast a bit older than he had been hoping for, but this was just an evaluation. He had made her select a different weapon, noticing she had also brought with her a spear she made. While he could admire her craftsmanship on the primitive weapon he needed to see her fight with modern equipment. She was laying on the tree branch, high up and taking careful aim with the weapon he had handed her. The first round of shots rang out, the plasma bolts scorching the animals thick hide but it didn't pierce the flesh. The beast charged the tree she was in, slamming into it hard, him watching the entire tree shake and her cling to the branch to hang on. He was aiming his own rifle, setting up his shot in case she failed. The beast was pushing the tree, the creak of the wood splitting at the base of the trunk. He was taking a deep breath and readied his trigger finger, cursing as she let out a wild war yell and dropped onto the beast from above, the spear using the gravity and her weight to push into beast, blood running down it's side. The beast echoed her war cry and started to try and buck her off it. Her hands holding firm as she pushed the spear deeper and deeper into the animal's flesh. With her on it he couldn't take the shot. His weapon was still on its strap on her body, and she had to jump off as the rhino like animal to avoid being scraped off on the tree trunk. She rolled and righted herself, and he wondered if that magic of hers was helping her. The animal was yelling in rage, and she was yelling back, the animal charging her as she jumped over the animal, using her spear handle as a leverage point to remount the beast and blast the animal in the neck with the weapon he gave her. He wanted to get up and help her to make sure she would survive, but he had to let her fight.

The blasts to the neck did not slow the animal down, but he noticed that as she put her hands on the animal that it seemed to weaken. It could be the blood loss. The creature rammed into the cliff face, tumbling to the ground and she yanked the spear out, stepping back before letting out an unearthly yell, it filled with a wave of power it seemed and she charged the animal, driving the spear deep into its neck. The beast stopped moving, and he watched her come to kneel near the beast, leaning her head on it. Turning on his jet-pack Din went down to meet her, trying to hold his flight steady and glad she was distracted as he knew his flight had been less than graceful. She seemed to be thanking the beast for its fight, looking up and him with an embarrassed smile at being caught in the tender moment. Standing to her feet he saw the blood spattered on her clothes and skin.

"You used your magic." He didn't mean to accuse her.

"Yes. It's a skill I have." She was defensive, not liking that he was going to discount her accomplishment. "Just because you can't do it doesn't mean I shouldn't. Tarre Vizsla used the Force and is considered a great warrior. No one discounted his skills just because he could use it."

"You rely on them too much." She had been helpless in the ruins. If he hadn't come to her, she might have lost her hands from her injuries. He did not like how this force pushed her to such extremes. He wouldn't let the kid use it as an excuse for practice in a skill.

"That's like me saying you rely on your right hand too much. It's unreasonable to ask me to separate it from my fighting." She was huffing in annoyance, turning back to the animal, using her right hand to pull open the wound and taking the blade in her left hand to start cutting away the connective tissue, her right hand tugging the skin further away and her knife skinning the leathery hide from the meat. With a large enough pocket of skin pulled away she switched back to the spear to start cutting the hide, not wanting to dull the blade on the resistant flesh. The view of her at work brought back memories of him and Xi'an. The view of blood and flesh being exposed by a blade sent both a thrill and a shock through him. He had hoped he wasn't still the kind of man he had been when he and the Twi'lek had been together. It did help that Andora wasn't taking any joy in the death, seeing it as a necessity and praying for the creature. Din did think she looked appealing with the small spray of blood on her skin, but not in the same way. Her look of meditative focus as she worked a lovely contrast to the manic excitement of the twi'lek.

Andora was taking healthy chunks of meat to carry back to the ship to cook, wrapping it in pieces of hide she freed from the animal's body. He came to help her, Pirpak just hanging out in the bag that was converted into his carrier since Andora never protested to him being carried in it.

"You can't fight when it's exhausted. It's a vulnerability." She needed to be trained in Mandalorian fighting, she was using a style that must be based off her time with Barabels. It was effective for hunting, but against an actual opponent she would be too helpless.

"Oh, so I am guessing you never get exhausted." He rolled his eyes at her childish retort. Glad his helmet hid his own expression of exasperation.

"I do, but I can last longer than you. We'll start sparing tomorrow." They tied the meat to her spear staff to help carry the weight and bring more of her kill back.

"Mando...that's not...I mean…" She was looking down at the ground instead of him as they started to trek back to base camp. "I am only going with you until we find a home you think is safe enough, and to hide the helm. Is it really worth your time?" Din slowed his steps at her words. Andora was surprised at his offer, wishing she could be excited about it. He was going to train her? Surely that was unnecessary. She just needed to be able to hunt, not fight.

"I don't know how long it will take to find his kind, or how dangerous it will be. You asked to be useful, having another trained Mandalorian till then is useful."

"I have to go back when we finish...I promised Senator Ordot I would turn myself in for review after I finished my task of keeping the Helm safe." Andora was trying to match his pace since he was the lead. He could respect her for keeping that bond.

"For stealing the helm?"

"The government has a strict antiquities law about anything leaving the planet without paperwork. But I didn't exactly have time to file the request." She was trying to keep it humorous and upbeat.

"What happens when you go back?" His voice was even but he had a bad feeling about it.

"It's a crime punishable by up to 10 years based on review." She sighed, not able to deny herself she was likely to be seeing the full ten. The pacifist government was not her biggest fan, they would probably enjoy being able to diminish the importance of her position and the history she preserved. Maybe Senator Ordot would advocate for her to only get 5 years. He understood how important it was to keep their warrior history alive. Mando could feel her steps slowing as she let her mind wander too far into the future. If she obsessed over it she would have more visions.

"Do you want to learn how to fight?" His voice snapped her out of her thoughts about her future. "Don't debate, just an answer."

"Yes." Andora could hear the hopefulness in her own voice, hating that she sounded so needy. She wanted this chance so badly. "But Mando I-"

"I need another Mandalorian, you said you want to fight. We train tomorrow. What happens after we finish our mission is after. Focus on what we are doing now." His tone left her no room to argue. Andora blushed behind him as he led them back to camp, glad he couldn't see the grateful smile on her lips.

This was harder than he had predicted. She was a fast learner, but she was holding back too much, and when he tried to push her, the kid would get upset. Thinking back to his arm wrestling match with Cara and the attempted strangulation, he wondered if that was holding Andora back. She could feel this magic, maybe she could feel that the kid would hurt her if she tried to fight back?

He tossed her to the ground again as she failed to counter his grapple, and he almost felt bad at the grunt of pain she let out. He followed her down in the grapple, putting his weight on her in a pinning motion as he got ready to go in for the 'killing' blow. Then his son started crying again so he released her before she had a chance to try and counter him. He couldn't teach her like this.

"It's fine, we're training. She has to learn kiddo. This is how we train, it's part of this. You gotta relax." It was frustrating. The kid just wasn't understanding. "Can't you use your magic to help him understand?" He asked Andora in a genuine moment of parental need. He turned to find her still on the floor in the grasses where he had pinned her, groaning a bit. Endurance training would need to be added if she was winded already. "It's been four days since we started ad'ika, please just understand." (little one) Andora rose up and came over to them. Taking the child from Mando so the man could rest.

"It's hard for him. He is used to you only fighting people that meant him harm, he doesn't know why you are fighting with me. Maybe we should hold off till he is asleep?" The child was babbling as he patted his clawed hands on Andora's left arm, a childlike way to check that both caregivers were safe.

"Then we will get nowhere. He has been adverse to sleeping recently." Mando was frustrated, tired, and just wanted to get this training done.

"Maybe you should take a break and rest yourself. You are getting frustrated and my back is feeling it." She offered playfully, putting Pirpak down so he could waddle in their campsite.

"Did I push your limits?" He had been focused on the form, he hadn't thought about the fact he was in full armor and was slamming her down without any protection. She looked away, avoiding his gaze, and he finally noticed her favoring her left arm. Thinking back he had grabbed her and tossed her on her left shoulder over and over again. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"I want to learn." She was trusting him to make the best choices in her training. "Fighting isn't pain free. Besides, even though it's been a while, the beatings at the camps were worse. At least you want me to fight back." He hadn't been taught like this. He had been taught slower, with consideration to his own wellbeing, instead he had been taking out his aggression on her. His stomach sank. The kid had been trying to stop him from hurting her, the kid had seen his anger, and had been trying to help.

"We're done for today." He needed to put some space between them. Why was he angry with her? Why was he trying to hurt her instead of train her? Was he really that threatened by her magic?

"I'll go get some fish for dinner. The fruit trees on my way might have some more ripe ones too." She moved to grab her bag to go off, him letting her go because she usually came back healed. Picking up Pirpak he walked into the ship, thinking to take her up on the chance to rest. Locking up the ship he secured the cockpit hatch, letting the kid have free reign of the cargo hold.

Din had installed the divider wall for the refresher that he had in storage because it was just too big a hassle for him and Andora to be constantly waiting in the cockpit while the other handled their needs. He went inside, taking his helmet off and washing his face. He looked at his face, staring into his reflection as he thought about what he had done. He dried his face and hair before slipping back into his helmet, exiting the refresher and meeting his son's big eyes, looking up at him. The big brown eyes stared up, gurgling sounds mixed with Sayr. It sounded almost scolding like when he had scolded the kid over Cara.

"I know." Din would make amends with her when she returned. "Thanks for speaking up kid." Din sat on the floor, letting his muscles relax as he worked with Pirpak with some more words. He was picking up on food words the fastest. Andora used the comm link and he opened the side of the ship for her, seeing that the fish was already cooking with a bunch of washed fruits and what he guessed was vegetables. "I'll peel them." He said softly as she came up to join them inside the ship, glad to see she wasn't favoring her arm anymore. Andora excitedly came to pick up Pirpak, sitting beside him at a respectful distance. "It won't happen again." Her eyes looked up to him, tilting her head a bit as she tried to meet his gaze under the helmet. "I'll teach you properly. It never should have come to injury at this stage."

"Do you want me to stop holding back my magic?" She asked him softly, and he sighed, realizing she had been holding back her magic and her training was suffering just as much from that as his own lack luster instruction. The guns she was fair enough with, it was the close quarters combat she needed most.

"You really can't fight without it huh?" He needed to train her as she was, not as he wanted her to be.

"Based on how many times you pinned me down...no, I can't." She said goodnaturedly, taking Pripak with her to go tend to the fish cooking. He rose slowly after her to keep his promise to prepare the rest of the meal.

"I just figured you liked it." Her teasing dragged the flirty response from him. He hoped he hadn't crossed a line with her.

"Before you dislocated my shoulder it was pretty nice." She was blushing brightly as she turned her back towards him to try and keep some composure. It really wasn't fair he could hide his face behind the mask when making those kinds of statements.

The glossy finish of the black armor was an impressive sight, and Karga was not happy to be seeing it in his establishment again. The squadron of Death Troopers walked in calmly, two standing guard at the door, the others putting themselves in positions that gave them all great shots at mowing down any dissenters. The bounty hunters all froze up around the room, hands at the ready, but they were all sweating. The apparent leader walked over to the table Karga was sitting at, the hunter that had been trying to take a job clumsily sliding out of the way as the trooper pointed his weapon and made a simple motion to get up.

"I thought your lot left after Gideon Died."

"Moff Gideon pulled us off the planet since the asset was taken." The black visor was reflecting back the hard glare Karga was giving him. "But let's talk about the present. Andora Vizsla was seen in the marketplace here a few weeks ago. She was leaving with the same Bounty Hunter that caused problems for the Moff last time we were here. Give me the transmission code you use to reach him, and we won't level the place." Karga was assessing the room and was looking for the flash of Cara's armor. The Death trooper raised his fingers and made a quick motion. Another Death trooper dragging Cara through the door being bound in cuffs, gagged, and judging from the black eye it had not been easy. "She's good. We're better. Now, give us the code and we leave." Karga didn't want to give up Mando's code, but he was also a fan of not being dead.

"How do I know you won't shoot me once I give you the code?" Greef needed assurances. The beskar brick was still in his pocket, but the blaster was pointed at his head. The Death Trooper put down his blaster, looking at the bar and ordering a strong drink for himself. The droid sending it over as the cantiana waited for the next move. The Death trooper leader removed his helmet, taking a drink without any fear. Warm tan skin with dirty blond hair in a short buzz cut and green eyes. The man finished his drink, and smirked in what would have been a charming manner if not for the situation.

"Because you are buying me and the boys here our drinks, it's been a rough week." He tossed his head back and laughed, saying something in a language Greef didn't recognize to another trooper, the armed men starting to place drink orders. "Everyone else, Clear out! This place is closed for a private party." He let loose a warning shot into the ceiling. The bounty hunters all quickly scrambled to leave, Cara being brought over to be sat in the booth. A black bag was placed over Cara's face, the woman screaming in outrage into the gag at now being blinded. "Now that it's all settled, give me the code."

"Let her go." The trooper holding her was struggling to keep hold of her, the unmasked man in front of him pointing his blaster at her head.

"Code. Then I'll turn her loose." His gloved finger was teasingly tapping against the trigger as he drank, unphased by the prospect of pulling it.

"Fine you win. Just put it down." Greef felt sick to his stomach but he pulled out the chip with the Razor Crest's transmission code. The man across from him handed it to another Death trooper that put it into a data pad, ripping the code from the chip before putting it back on the table. As promised the trooper holding Cara let go, the woman's struggles sending her onto the table where she grunted in pain. There was a sick little crunch sound, and as Cara sat back up, Greef saw that the chip had been smashed.

"That's a spot of bad luck right there, I was letting you keep it. Oh well, guess fate's just not on your side tonight." Another bag was swiftly placed over Greef's head, the man being cuffed much like Cara with his ankles and wrists unable to get leverage. "Thanks for the drinks though." The man laughed in a jovial way, joining the other troopers at the bar as they started to drink their fill. They could report to the Moff tomorrow.

They started to sing tavern songs, the sound of Mando'a echoing down in the tunnels below. The Armorer had been finishing up the necessary steps for transporting her suppies off this world, ready to go meet up with the remnants of her tribe at their secured location. She sat and listened all night as the dar'manda troops talked, thinking themselves safe from unwanted ears. Seems the girl Din had brought was right about having enemies, but she had misjudged who was to be feared. When the troopers left the Armorer came up through the grates into the cantina, freeing Cara and Greef from their predicament.

Step, step, twist, charge.

He picked her up by her side and pinned her arms, his hold firm but lighter. He let her go to reset her approach.

Step, step, duck, leg sweep. He jumped her leg sweep, moving to grab her against since she was so close to the ground.

Jump, step, step, step back, offhand grab, twist and follow with her weight to push. Andora was panting heavily as she managed to get Mando to the ground finally. It had been a week since he had changed his approach to teaching her, and even with her powers she was struggling. Her acrobatics were more impressive, but she had no armor to weigh her down. He let her win the pin as she brought her hand down in what should have been the kill shot. She was straddling him since it had taken her full effort to pin him, panting heavily and flushed from the heat. Her hair was disheveled and he tried to keep his thoughts professional. She was trusting him as her commanding officer, she was still compliant to a fault with him, it wouldn't be right to pursue anything. She might feel obligated due to his position over her. His hands clenched into fists to prevent himself from making an unwanted advance on her. He relaxed as she pulled from his body, letting himself up and congratulating her. She was getting the rhythm of combat better now. Pirpak was watching them fight, not protesting anymore, watching curiously at their movements.

"I think we're ready to head out after our first lead on the list." Din was satisfied with her progress, and he was getting restless, like something was coming and he needed to move. "Pack up camp." Andora was smiling with her victory, moving to obey his orders as he marched off towards the perimeter lines, collecting them. She was singing from near the ship as she washed the dishes and put them back in the cargo crate, moving it back into ship and making sure to kill the fire pit. He finished his task first, watching her as she secured the crate in place.

"Don't suppose we could stop anywhere with a proper bath and wash station?" She asked hopefully as he pulled up the ship ramp. He didn't answer her, moving up to the cockpit and taking his seat, getting the engines warmed up. Andora and Pirpak joined him in the passenger seats at his left and right sides. He had spent his nights up here with the list, looking for his next lead. He pulled up his first stop, taking the ship off world before calculating out his hyperspace route.

"We'll be there in two days. We have enough water in the tanks if you want a longer shower."

"It's not the same as a good long soak in a hot tub Mando." She sighed dreamily.

Chapter end