****NOTES Sorry I totally messed up and forgot a chapter... if you want go back to The Lagoon and read it. Then it was suppose to be Home, then The Transmission. Sorry about that I had several chapters I was working on and when I posted I forgot to post the Lagoon. It might not have made sense to go from Found to Home.
But there's great news. I'm so excited that I've finished the story. There are officially 50 chapters.
So now all I have to do is proof read and post.
Hopefully you guys are still there reading! Thanks!
Chapter 42: The Fire
A couple days passed by, rather slowly, with no other mentions about sex. She spent most of her time in the cargo bay punching and kicking the training dummies. When he wasn't instructing her, Mando would leave and perform maintenance on the ship. Fayra began to grow frustrated with him. He seemed to pretend it never happened.
After completing the tasks Mando gave her, Fayra climbed the ladder for the tea she made earlier. She was sure she had some left some in the pot. As she entered the galley Blue sat charging in the corner. She unplugged him and he beeped to life. She gave him a head rubbed and offered a warm smile. She stood and the scent of her tea from earlier filled her senses. A hot cup of tea sounded wonderful, she thought. Her muscles were sore, Fayra wasn't all too sure it was because of the training. The day after Fayra and Mando had their moment she could barely walk. Her legs, arms, and abdomen were sore. Even between her legs. She giggled into the cup of tea at the thought.
"What's funny?" Mando said behind her.
Fayra gasped and spun around, a bit of tea slang from the rim of the cup. "Nothing!" She said in too high of a voice. "Nothing." She tried in her normal voice. She cleared her throat and put the cup in the sink. "If there isn't anything else, I'm going to bed."
"I noticed you haven't been sleeping well." He stated.
Fayra took a deep breath and held it "No." She tried to smile, but it didn't last long. Ever since Mando told her about the possibility of facing the Client she'd been having nightmares. She didn't want to talk about it either. They stood there in an awkward silence.
"Well? Is there anything else?" She asked again.
"No."
Fayra nodded and made her way to her room, Blue followed behind her.
It took a while before Fayra could fall asleep, she tossed and turned on her bed. Once she finally did, it wasn't long until she found herself strapped down on the cold metal table. She struggled against the restraints, another jolt rocked her body. She screamed so loudly her voice gave out. And then he was there, she couldn't see his face. He was hidden in the shadows. The Client reached his hand out and stroked her face. Her stomach flipped and she cringed at his touch. Then another jolt. Fayra's body riveted in pain. She screamed as the stench of her burning flesh filled her nostrils. As she lay dying her thoughts turned to Mando, where was he? Why wasn't he there? Why wasn't he saving her like all those times before. She screamed again as her body sank into the abyss.
"Fayra." A voice called. She screamed, her hands were restrained and she fought against it.
"Fayra." the voice called again. "Wake up."
"No, no." She fought him harder, but he was too strong.
"Fayra."
"Manny!" She breathlessly screamed. "Manny!"
"I'm here." Mando held her hands at her back. "Fayra, it's alright. You are safe."
Fayra's eyes flew open. The room shrank and then expanded, leaving her disoriented. Then she saw his dark visor glinting in the corridoor's light. Fayra realized she wasn't strapped to the table, the Client was nowhere to be seen, and no there was no pain or death.
However, she could still feel his touch on her skin, the straps holding her down and her skin quivered from the shocks running through her. She began sobbing, trying to reach for Mando. Mando released her hands, she threw them around him.
"Where were you?" She sobbed. "You weren't there!"
Mando didn't respond, he only returned the embrace.
"He was here, I can feel him. I can feel him touching me." Her body shuddered. She brought her hands to his chest, no armor. When she felt his gloveless hands on her back, she shuddered again. She wanted Mando's touch, not needed to forget how the Client's made her feel. She pulled at his tunic, moving it aside. Placing her hands on his bare chest. She moved on top of him.
"Fayra."
"Please don't leave. I can feel his hands on me." Tears streamed down her cheeks.
Mando pushed her hands away forcing Fayra to sit up, facing him.
She shook her head, "Please." She begged through tears.
Instead of leaving he slipped the scarf from her wrist. Fayra's fear and sorrow melted as he took her. She wrapped her arms around him and held on.
Fayra woke up, but her eyes wouldn't open. She recognized the familiar feeling of her scarf blindfold. Mando took a breath underneath her. His chest rose and fell in a slow rhythm. She was surprised he was still laying with her, though she didn't know how long she had been asleep. Perhaps it was only a few minutes. She smiled at the sound of his steady heartbeat below her ear. Fayra slowly ran her fingers up along his chest to the base of his neck. She paused there, contemplating whether she should continue upward. No, she decided and pulled her fingers back down to his abdomen. Fayra wanted to respect his wishes. Mando shifted and took a deep breath. He must be asleep, she thought, caressing the defined lines of his muscles.
His strong hand wrapped around her fingers stopping their motion. Fayra gasped lightly at the surprise.
"You're still here." She said in a soft whisper.
"You asked me not to leave." His voice, absent his helmet, sent goose bumps down her back.
"I did?" Fayra didn't remember it, but she was happy Mando granted her request. She tried to wiggle her fingers from Mando's grip.
"Go back to sleep, Fayra." He tightened his grip on her.
"Manny?"
A short raspy growl vibrated his chest. It made her smile. Fayra slept soundly for the rest of the night.
She awoke a few hours later, her scarf back around her wrist. How he could do that without waking her amazed Fayra. She was also in his room, she was sure they had been in her room. Fayra had no recollection of moving to his.
She stood wrapping his blanket around her and went to look for him. Blue glided along behind her. He had been waiting by the door for her to exit Mando's room. He still wasn't permitted to enter his room.
"Fayra." Mando called from the flight deck. She entered the room. Mando was in his usual spot, a planet just beyond him. "Sit down, we're landing."
"Really, where?"
"Arvala-5, then Arvala-7."
Fayra had no reaction to the name of the planet he had tracked her to.
"Do you not remember Arvala-7?" He asked.
She eyed him curiously, shrugging.
"It's where I found you."
The lights on Mando's control panel flickered gently. "We're going to visit the Ugnaught." Mando quickly explained. "And then to Sorgan."
Fayra lit up at the idea of visiting Sorgan. Her skin reflected the bright atmosphere surrounding the planet. Blue let out a whirl of beeps at her excitement.
"Really?!" She smiled.
"We need fuel, we're going to port first, then hop over to Arvala- 7 and seek out the Ugnaught."
"You mean Kuiil."
He examined her a moment. "Yes."
Her smile extended. She was excited to see some of the people she had come across after Mando had rescued her. The Razor Crest touched down in port four.
"I'll go get dressed." Fayra jumped from her seat.
"Fayra."
She halted, frowning and turned back to him. She knew that tone of his. She wasn't going to be allowed to go. Mando assessed her a moment. Fayra pouted at him.
"Fine." He muttered.
"What do you think?" She turned to Blue, who offered a whistle and shook his head from side to side. She pecked something to wear that offered more cover than usual. "It'll have to do. Manny said sand storms happen a lot on this planet." She and Blue met Mando below. He was standing at the door waiting for her. Fayra followed behind him and Blue hopped over the door as it began to close.
After Mando talked with the port attendant for a few minutes they made their way through the town. The people were scarce, but those that were around huddled together in small groups in alleyways and leaning against buildings. They didn't walk too far before they reached the tavern.
As they entered, the atmosphere was completely different from the outside. The open room was large, darkened from the lack of windows. A square shaped bar occupied the center. People were scattered about, many flowing through the room. Most of the tables were taken. Mando made his way to a small table at one corner. Fayra followed closely. She didn't want to repeat what had happened in the market the last time she went into a town with him. Of course she couldn't help herself to watch all the people around her. She wanted to reach out and touch all the wonderful colors, fabrics and textures she was seeing.
A glittering gold and silver figure dancing in the light caught her eye, she paused to watch. It's body swayed and pivoted to the music coming from the back. Fayra snapped out of her trance, she quickly turned to catch up to Mando. When she did she collided with hard steel. Mando had been standing directly behind her. Blue slammed into her ankles.
"Sorry." Fayra gasped as Blue groaned.
He turned and continued walking to the table. Mando sat with his back against the wall, Fayra took a seat at his side. A scraggly man approached.
"What can I get you?" He asked. Fayra looked at Mando. She had no idea what to order. She'd never done it before.
"Cup of Fruterra." Mando replied. The man stayed and nervously shifted. Mando shook his head. The man returned a few minutes later with a drink.
"Anything else?" He asked.
"No." Mando replied. The man turned on his heel and left.
Fayra eyed the cup of green goo, it didn't look appetizing in the least.
"What is this?" She asked.
"You'll like it." Mando replied.
Fayra sipped the goo. A burst of fruit flavors enveloped her tongue. She smiled at the sensation. Then grounding flavors of clove and cinnamon took over. Fayra had never tasted anything like it before.
"Wow!" She exclaimed. "It's good."
A tall leather clad man appeared in the crowd and approached their table.
"Name's Norway" He smiled. "I hear you have a ship being fueled up in the next hanger over."
Fayra shifted her gaze to Mando but kept her head fixed. Norway grabbed the chair, pulling it out.
"Mind if I sit?" He asked.
"Yes. I do." Mando replied. Fayra's gaze shifted back to Norway. Norway laughed nervously, releasing the chair from his hand.
"Um, sure." He replied. "Well, my comrades and I are looking for transportation-"
"Not interested." Mando flatly stated. Norway's eyes fell on Fayra.
"I have unlimited funds. Name a price." Norway suggested.
"Move on." Mando replied. The man's face fell, he nodded and walked away, disappearing in the crowd. Fayra continued sipping on her drink, but instead of watching the crowd, she kept her eyes on Mando.
"Why not?" She asked.
"Last time didn't go too well." He replied.
Fayra returned to watching the other people in the tavern. She finished her drink and sat the cup back down on the table.
Mando stood, catching her attention. He moved around the chair to her. Fayra looked up at him, but he kept his eyes on their surroundings. Exiting the tavern, they made their way back to the Razor Crest. As the door rumbled to the ground the port attendant approached them.
"Go ahead." Mando motioned for her to board the ship. "I'll be a moment." Fayra nodded and walked up the ramp.
"How much do I owe you?" Mando asked the attendant.
"Two thousand."
Mando handed him his payment as the port doors opened. Mando sighed as the man from the Tavern, Norway, stepped through. Flanking him were a group of men.
"Mando! We were really hoping you'd reconsider my offer." Norway called out. "Just name your price."
Fayra was in the galley putting away her tea dishes when Blue whirled through heading for the cargo bay.
"What is that all about?" She asked, following Blue. She peered down the ladder and saw no light coming in from the outside.
"Manny?" Fayra called out. All she heard was Blue, frantically beeping.
"Manny?" She called out, louder.
Again, no answer, but Blue's beeping. She ran to the flight deck for a view out the windows. Mando was surrounded by a large group of men. She recognized one of them from the Tavern as Norway. What were they doing, she wondered. Suddenly the broad man behind Mando lashed out swinging a leg up and around. Mando spun and caught it, shoving him to the ground. The others took the opportunity to jump on him. Fayra's heart jumped into her throat as the dust rose up around the men, she couldn't see him anymore.
All she could see was arms and legs flailing about. Then Blue rolled and disappeared into the cloud of dust at full speed.
"Blue!" She screamed.
She hopped down the ladder, glanced around for a weapon. Mando had been teaching her to only use her powers if she absolutely had to, so she grabbed the first weapon she could find. It was the weapon Mando had been practicing with earlier, he called it a club. When she asked if she could try it, he replied she could when she learned how to use her fists first.
The cargo bay door hit the ground and Fayra came running out. She went for the man closest to her and wacked the back of him at his shoulders. The man turned with his weapon drawn. Suddenly Blue jumped from the dust cloud chaos and slammed into the gun, knocking the man's aim from Fayra. She ran from him, hoping to catch him before he recovered. But instead of turning back to her, he aimed at Blue. Fayra ran toward him. But she was too late the blaster fired and metal exploded into the air as Blue's small round body shattered into pieces. Fayra screamed as her heart burst to flames.
Fayra lunged at the men, hitting the side of his head with the club as he laughed at the droid. His body went stiff then plummeted to the ground. She had no time for Blue as another man grabbed her arm pulling her toward him, her blood began boiling. She swung the club toward him, but he caught her wrist, stopping the blow before it hit the target. She did her best to remember what Mando had taught her, so she threw her legs together and up. She landed a kick to the man's stomach.
As she hit the ground she slipped his grip. She threw her hand out, pulling at the tree roots she felt pulling at her from underground. The roots burst from the ground wrapping themselves around him. She closed and tightened her fist. The man grunted as the tree roots squeezed the breath out of him.
She spun around looking for Blue. His metal body lay broken open. An oily liquid pouring out of him. Tears burst from her eyes and sizzled away as they fell down her cheeks. The scent of burning fabric singed her nose. Small ashes floating up to the sky caught her eye.
Fayra looked for Mando. He was on the ground fending off two men as another repeatedly kicked his ribs. She slammed her fist to the ground, pieces of her burning clothes fell to the ground, tree roots bursted up through the feet of the man kicking Mando. The man screamed in pain. Mando knocked another man off his feet, spun and took the other down. Seeing the man with the tree roots piercing through his feet. His visor settled on her. Mando made his way toward Norway, taking one man out after another.
Norway pulled a blade from his belt and swung it toward Mando. He blocked and pulled Norway toward him, then landed a kick to his abdomen. Another man appeared behind Mando jerking him back.
Fayra found herself on her feet and running toward them.
Norway grinned and laughed as two men from earlier recovered from the injuries and began attacking again. One grabbed Fayra by the waist lifting her off the ground. She screamed, clawing at his iron grip. Norway and the other man helped the third man restrain Mando.
"Take it easy there Lobo, we might need her later." Norway grinned at Fayra. She kicked and clawed at the man holding her. Lobo squeezed her so hard she was running out of breath, Fayra went still trying to reserve her oxygen, like Mando taught her. She looked at Mando, he was breathing hard.
Fayra looked around for anything that would help. A fire burned from a metal barrel in the corner of the port. Fayra's skin was still tingling from the heat on her anger. Her clothes had black, burn marks everywhere. She glanced over a Blue, hoping what she saw earlier was only an illusion. It wasn't, she felt the burning inside her, as her rage grew. These men came here thinking they could do what they wanted. Make Mando bend to their demands, take his ship. Hurt him, hurt her and to top it off they've killed Blue. A helpless droid. Her friend.
"Hey, Nor! Something's happening here." The man holding Fayra, released her as her skin singed the hair on his arms. Steam rose from her skin as the perspiration evaporated from the heat.
The fire whipped wildly in the barrel. She stretched out her arm, reaching for it. Her finger tips began burning. The fire jumped out toward her, consuming her hand. It spread up her arm. Fayra stood upright, letting the rage she felt burn hotter and hotter. The fire traveled across her shoulders and down her body.
Fayra thought the fire would be painful. On the contrary it felt euphoric and she grinned as she allowed it to completely consume her. The fire whipped Fayra's hair into burning strands that crackled and popped. She eyed the man that had been restraining her, he was backing away, eyes widened in fear. The burning rage whispered to her as she listened to its voice, her voice, she brought her hands together forming a fireball and hurled it toward him. He screamed as it burst in his face, setting parts of his body on fire. Fayra turned for the others, but Mando had taken one man out already, and was engaging in a knife fight with Norway. She scanned the area, the other men were running for the exit. She blasted flames toward them, creating a wall blocking them. As they turned, fear consumed them. She hesitated for a moment. She looked at Blue, then sent a river of flames, killing them.
Mando had Norway on the ground, his eyes widened in fear, "Alright, alright. We may have gotten a little excited. Took things too far." His eyes darted from Mando to Fayra. "I apologize." The fire consuming Fayra's body burst, and brightened. "I'll just leave." Fayra moved between the two men. Mando lowered his knife, he felt the intense heat radiating from her.
"What are you?" Norway asked, slowly backing away.
"You should have listened, when he told you to move on." Fayra extended her hands toward him.
"Hey...hey, listen now, that's no problem, no problem at all."
Mando watched as the fire shot from her hands, engulfing Norway. His screams of agony were piercing, but only lasted a few seconds. His body dropped to the ground, but Fayra didn't stop. She kept the streams of flames flowing, in her rage she wanted to burn him till there was nothing left.
"Fayra!" Mando called for the third time.
She turned rapidly, burning hotter ready for the next fight. Then the fire began melting from her, when she saw Mando standing before her. It only took seconds for her normal state to reappear. Fayra's clothes were gone, but her skin and hair were left unscathed. She stumbled forward, weakened by the power she used. Mando steadied her. Then she lost consciousness.
The smell of burnt flesh tinged Mando's nose. He peered down at the charred body and scooped Fayra up. Grunting through the pain at his side. He sat her down inside the ship. Surprisingly Fayra's eyes popped open and she screamed.
That's unusual, Mando thought. It usually took hours for her to wake after using her powers.
Fayra shot up to see Mando limping holding his side, he grabbed a blanket from the bench and tossed it to her.
He turned and closed the cargo bay doors. With the blanket wrapped around her, Fayra came up next to him and grabbed his arm. "Not without Blue." She demanded. He nodded, and pointed to the corner. She didn't look, she couldn't. She crumbled to the floor and sobbed.