NOTES: So, I really hope the last chapter was worth the wait. I worked forever on it. Wrote it and then rewrote it many times.

Now we're coming in for the home stretch!

Thanks for reading.

Chapter 41: The Transmission

Fayra awoke on her stomach, her hair sprawled out across the sheets. It took her a moment for her to realize she was in Mando's bed and naked. Her face heated. At least a blanket covered her lower half, she thought. She raised her head inspecting the room. Her blindfold, the scarf, was off and back around her wrist. Mando was gone, though the door was open. Then a hint of food filled her nostrils and her stomach growled. She was famished. Sitting on the bedside table was a cup of water and a few sandwiches. She sat up, reached for the cup and drank it down in a couple gulps. Then she grabbed the sandwiches and began shoving them in her mouth. Mando appeared in the doorway, blocking the only light source. She scrambled for the blanket and covered her bare breasts.

"Far late for that." He remarked. Her face heated again, her lower half throbbed at the sight of him.

"How long have I been asleep?" She asked, her words muffled because of the food stuffed in her cheeks. Blue rolled to a stop in the doorway. Giving her a few good morning beeps.

"Eighteen hours."

She rolled her eyes, swallowing her food. For a long while they remained silent. Mando watched as she finished her food.

He pulled his chair in front of her, straddling it. He propped his arms on the backside. Whatever he was about to say was serious. Fayra's first thought was about last night. She had touched his face, felt his lips. She must be in some kind of trouble.

"I've received a transmission." He said, Fayra's eyes searched the room. So far so good, she thought, at least it wasn't about what she had done.

"Greef Karga, he's head of the Bounty Hunter's Guild on Nevarro . He set me up with the Client that contracted me to find you."

Fayra's eyes fell to her hands as she nervously fidgeted. Her stomach gurgled.

"Apparently he's making life hell on the planet." Mando continued. "Karga wants to take him out, he's proposing a union, he'll provide the manpower. He wants to use you as bait so I can get close enough to take him out."

Fayra exploded off the bed. The overheard bulb, lamp and corridor lights burst and shattered to the floor. The Razor Crest roared and rumbled. Streams of electricity licked the ceilings reaching down. A gust of wind whirled around the room, whipping Fayra's hair and blowing papers and maps off his desk.

Mando responded quickly. He had expected a reaction from her. Just not one so suddenly strong. He pinned Fayra to the wall, he pulled her hands up to her chest trapping them between their bodies. He placed his hands on her face and tilted it up to him.

"Fayra. Calm down."

Her eyes shot to his visor. "I can't go back there!" She tried to push him away, but he held firm, her eyes filling with tears. The electric crackled, the scent of burnt wires filled the room.

Fayra sobbed. The thought of going back frightened her. She squeezed her eyes shut trying to push away the memories of the Client touching her and torturing her. The doctor's examination. The iron bars of her cage, the shackles that covered her hands. They all came flooding back at once. She began trembling.

"Fayra. Look at me."

Mando brushed his thumb across her lips. Through sobs and tears she opened her eyes. He ran his thumb across her lips again, gently. "That's Karga's plan. It's not mine." The wind died down and the electric and lights popped then went out. Mando released some of the pressure he applied as the back up lights kicked on. She looked at her hands on his chest and wondered, how did she do all that with her hands pinned.

"You're going to cost me a fortune in lights." Mando sighed.

She softly laughed and wiped the tears from her cheeks, "sorry." She frowned realizing he was being serious.

He moved back and grabbed the blanket and wrapped it around her shoulders.

"Sit down." He ordered, motioning her back to the bed. She obeyed. He took his seat across from her. "In my opinion it's a trap. But I'd like to use it and create my own."

Mando watched as Fayra struggled to keep her emotions from boiling over. "This fight has been coming, Fayra. The price he paid and the trouble he went through for you was a great deal. He's not going to stop."

She nodded. She knew that. She just didn't want to admit it, least of all face him again.

"I want to gather my own firepower, continue your training, and when the time is right, we accept the offer, lay out a trap and take him out." He extended his hand out to her chin, lifting it up. Her gaze fell on his dark visor. "If it goes south, we'll cut and run."

She nodded as another tear fell.

"I'm not going to let him take you."

Fayra frowned and her shoulders drooped. She knew what that meant, training.

"Get dressed, I want you below." Mando stood, turned and began to make his exit.

"Wait!" Fayra cried out, Mando turned. "Aren't we… gonna talk about… what happened?"

"We had sex, Fayra. Is there something else?"

She glanced around the dark room trying to think of how to respond. Yes there was, she had a million questions. Especially about touching him where he had forbidden it. And most importantly, would it happen again? She wanted more of him, but she wasn't brave enough to ask. At least, not yet. "Um, well." She paused. "No."