Chapter 28 - Errion

Fayra awoke the next day feeling slightly better. Omera's tea worked wonders. She smiled at the memories of the villagers. She hoped one day she could return. She made herself another cup and made her way to the flight deck. The door slid open, she was still very weary of this door, but she hopped through quickly. She stopped before sitting down to take in the sights. Mando sat in his seat as usual. Ahead of him the stars were shining beautifully. A planet was off to the left. It was a turquoise color with a small ring around it.

"We'll be landing." Mando announced.

"There?" She asked, stepping beside him.

"Yes." He replied.

"It's beautiful. What's it called?"

"Errion."

She watched as the darkness of space faded into an orange and pink sky. They flew over several small cities that were all connected by roads. Fayra wanted to get a better look, so she unbuckled and stood just behind the front control panel. She stood on her tiptoes peering down. The bridges twisted and turned around each other. They were beautiful. She smiled and looked over to Mando. He was watching her. When he didn't look away, she realized why.

"Well, you never wear your belt." She replied, looking back to the sight before her. Mando set the Razor Crest down in a small clearing next to one of the roads. She turned back to Mando eager to see a new place. He stood from his chair, she tilted her head back to keep his line of sight. Mando could see the excitement buzzing over her.

"You can go." He said plainly.

She smiled from ear to ear. She ran to her room to change. She grabbed a brightly colored skirt that flowed just above her ankles. She paired it with a black laced shirt with long sleeves with a tie that criss crossed just below her breasts and tied at the back. She left her feet bare and her hair flowed down and all around like always.

Mando took a while readying the ship for their absence. It was midday before he called Fayra to leave. As she climbed down the ladder Mando was waiting for her, guns and weapons displayed on him as usual. Her expression changed to sadness when she saw him standing next to Blue's frozen body.

"Of course." She said. Mando punched in a code, there was a loud hissing sound as steam blew from the machine. Fayra watched as the material around Blue dissipated. After a moment a single light blinked on his little round body. Then several little lights came alive. His head rolled from side to side. Fayra knelt before him. When the little droid saw Fayra he rolled out and sounded out several long melodies of beeps, dings and dongs.

"Good to see you too." She laughed. "Come on." Fayra joined Mando at his side and the trio began walking. After a while of walking on the side of the road a cargo speeder came along. Mando flagged the driver down.

"Transport for two and a droid?" He asked.

"Well, I never." The wrinkled, white haired man said. "You're a Mandalorian."

"Transport?" Mando nodded.

"Oh yeah sure!" The man said smiling. "My wife is a big fan, reads everything about you guys, she's never going to believe this."

Mando unhooked his pulse rifle and climbed the speeder, then extended his hand for Fayra. She examined his gloved hand, then his visor before accepting his offer. He pulled her up and they took a seat at the side. Suddenly, Blue's bottom panel popped out and the droid jumped up to take his own seat.

Fayra laughed at the little droid's cleverness. But her laugh stopped abruptly when she looked at Mando. Who, as usual, wasn't amused. It didn't take very long to reach the outskirts of the city. As they approached, Fayra was amazed. She's never seen buildings like these. They were tall and made of glass that shimmered in the sun. The speeder stopped.

"Alright, this is where we part." The older man said.

Blue jumped down. And Fayra followed. Mando jumped from the side, swinging around.

"Thank you for the ride." He said. "You interested in purchasing a droid?"

"What?!" Fayra exclaimed. Mando's gaze turned to her. Her eyes fell to Blue.

"Well… I dunno." The man said, scratching his neck. "My wife was looking for one."

"Fifty credits."

"Fifty? There something wrong with it?"

"No, just looking to unload some cargo." Mando explained.

"Well... I've heard Mandoalorians are men of their word." He took another moment to decide. "Aright, you've got a deal."

Fayra's heart dropped to her stomach. That was the deal, Blue would have to stay the next time they made a stop. She picked him up and gave him a small hug, then sat him back inside the speeder. She turned to see Mando pocketing the money. He gave the man a nod, turned to the city and began walking. Fayra fell instep behind him, wishing she would have stayed with the ship.

Soon they were surrounded by the city. It's inhabitants buzzed around with various activities. Fayra was amazed, she'd never seen so many different looking people in all her life. All different races, colors, and sizes. She got distracted at the different booths selling wonders she never seen before. She had to reach out and touch most of everything. The peddlers would shove various items at her to try. She got so distracted that when she looked she could no longer see Mando ahead of her. Panic rushed into her chest. Would he leave her, she thought. She pushed the panic down, and decided she didn't care. Better than being sold, she decided, like Blue She was angry with him, she didn't care what she agreed to, she wanted Blue back.

Out of the corner of her eye she spotted a small child looking at her. Fayra smiled. "Are you okay?" she asked.

The little girl shook her head and looked at some food items displayed at a booth next to them.

"You hungry?" She asked.

The little girl's cracked lips formed a smile. Fayra grabbed a shiny, red apple and handed it to her. The girl grabbed it and ran off.

"Well…" Fayra replied. She stood and began leaving when a hand snatched her wrist and pulled it roughly. Fayra yelped at the jolt.

"You better have money to pay for that." A tall robed man said holding her arm so high it sent her to her tiptoes. Fayra looked up at him and shook her head. No, she didn't have money. She never has, never needed it… until now. The peddler's face contorted to anger.

"Then I'll take payment another way."

He began dragging Fayra to the other side of his booth. He pulled a long handled blade from his satchel. Fayra's fright boiled over as he placed her hand across a wooden slat. Dust blew up in a gust of wind and the wooden slat split in two. But it didn't stop the man, Fayra realized she was still too weak to conjure up much power to help her. He raised the blade and Fayra struggled against his iron grasp. Suddenly a glint of light blinded her, she had to turn away. When she looked back Mando stood before her holding the man's hand, keeping it from swinging.

"How much for the apple?" Mando asked.

The man just stood there, more anger written across his face. "You let go of my hand." He demanded.

"Her's first."

"The girl stole from me, I have the right to specify punishment."

The man squeezed Fayra's hand tighter, crushing her frail bone, causing her to cry out.

Mando removed his blaster and placed it against the peddler's temple.

"Understand that you have two choices," he began. "One, allow me to compensate you for your trouble. Two, I kill you. Either way you will release her."

The peddler was visibly shaken. But he wasn't the only one. Fayra's eyes widen at Mando's proposition. Violence came so easy to him. After a moment the man nodded and released Fayra. She jerked her hand to her chest, rubbing it. Mando released the peddler. Never taking his eyes off the man that was a head taller than him, Mando retrieved his payment and tossed it to him.

The man's face twisted with rage. He raised his blade and swung down hard toward Mando's arm. He blocked the move, knocking the blade away. Then, jumped, leaping backward off the stump, grabbed the back of the man's head and slammed it down against his booth's table.

Fayra gasped in horror at the sight of the man's crushed face, blood sprayed everywhere. Mando wasted no time, he grabbed Fayra by her elbow and dragged her away from the scene. People clambered all around. Trying to see what the 'Mandalorian' did. How 'amazing' it was. How 'heroic'. The marketplace disappeared behind them as they walked. Mando said nothing as he pulled her along. Before long they stood in front of an older building. It was made of glass like the others, but this one was dirty, dust and crud grew up along the corners. Mando pulled her ahead of him then twisted her around to face him. She took a quick glance at him then at the ground.

"Next time mind your choices." He warned. She took another quick look at him. "Stay close."