Chapter 48: The Return
Fayra watched through the window as the Razor Crest touched down on the volcanic rocks of Nevarro. She felt the rumblings of what was underneath the surface already. She recalled not feeling that last time she was here. Her abilities have become stronger. She stepped next to the man in the pilot's seat. She tried to smile, but her stomach sank. The journey back had taken a while, she had plenty of time to think things over and she didn't like this plan.
"You're nervous." Mando said as he stood.
She looked up at him, "do Mandalorians ever get frightened?"
"We're trained to do what's necessary regardless."
Fayra wrapped her arms around his waist and squeezed. He tilted her chin up. His visor caught the sun as she looked up at him. Mando brushed his thumb across her lips as he always did. She closed her eyes and turned her cheek into his gloved palm, accepting the comforting gesture.
"It's time." He said.
The group mounted their Blurrgs and guided them down the ramp.
"Sorry for the remote rendezvous, Mando, but things have gotten complicated since you were last here." A man clad in brown leather led a group of men to meet them.
There was a moment of silent stare downs.
"It appears that introductions are in order. It seems we've both provided a security detail." He said with his hands on his hips.
Mando said nothing, another tense staredown.
"I recommend the shock trooper guards the ship. These lava fields are lousy with Jawas."
"She's coming with me." Mando plainly stated.
"But the town is now run by ex-Empire. If a Rebel Dropper is with us, they'll all get their hackles up."
"She's coming." Mando wasn't about to let someone else give commands.
"Fine. Fine." The man said yielding control. "At least cover your tattoo. No need to flaunt it. Now, this the girl?" He pointed to Fayra sitting high on her Blurrg. The tension among the groups intensified as the man walked up to her.
"So you are what the fuss is all about. You probably don't remember me. I'm Greef Karga."
Mando placed his hand on his blaster, ready to draw as Karga extended his hand to her. She hesitantly accepted his gesture, he was right, she didn't remember him.
"I can see why you didn't want to harm a hair on her head." He smiled at her, releasing her hand. "Well, I'm glad this matter will be put to rest once and for all. The sun drops fast on Nevarro. We can walk for a spell, camp out at the riverbank, then make our way into town at first light."
Mando stared at Karga for a long moment. Fayra wondered what the warrior could possibly be thinking. Finally, Mando nodded his agreement and they began their journey, Fayra looked back at the ship, wishing he had agreed to bring IG with them.
All three of them fought with Mando on the subject for days. He was unyielding. Kuiil gave it orders to stay put and out of sight.
As night took over, Fayra looked up at the sky. It had been so long since she stopped and listened to them sing. Holding the reins tight she closed her eyes. They were being so quiet, almost a whisper. She stretched her ears and they grew louder.
Cara watched as the lava river began bubbling. It was like something had aggravated it, she thought. Her eyes began searching the area, then settled on Fayra. She was humming with the head tilted back slightly toward the sky.
"I think we should camp here!" Cara shouted, effectively breaking Fayra's trance. -
The fire crackled as Fayra dropped the rib bone and picked up another. She began gnawing away when she noticed Cara looking at her pacularily. Fayra smiled with cheeks filled with barbecued roast. Then, she noticed Kuiil looking oddly at her. She scanned the rest of the group sitting around the fire. They were all staring at her. She wiped the juice from her face and smiled into Mando's visor.
"Don't you ever feed her, Mando?" Karga asked, and without waiting for an answer he continued. "They were ready to pay a king's ransom for you." He pointed to Fayra.
"Let's go over the plan again." Mando advised.
"We both enter the common house," Karga began. "We show the Client the bait. We join him at the table. And you kill him."
"Tell me about his reinforcements."
"They're all ex-empire -" Karga continued, but Fayra wasn't listening. Instead, something in the distance caught her attention. She turned and squinted her eyes, trying to see into the darkness. Something was humming at her and then beating, like a drum. The sound grew louder, then stopped. Suddenly the stars screamed at her, she jumped at the piercing in her ears
"Fayra what's wrong?" Cara whispered.
Then Fayra heard them. "They're hungry." She looked at the animal roasting over the fire. "Uh, oh." She muttered. "Look out!"
At that moment the large flying creature snatched the large piece of meat from Karga's hands. The creature screeched. Suddenly a hail of blaster fire began ringing out.
"No, don't shoot at them!" Fayra screamed but no one could hear her. Mando shoved her down to the ground.
Fayra felt another creature swooping in. She tried to push Mando's hand from her so she could stand.
"Manny! Let go!" Fayra needed to remake the connection between her and the creatures to get them to stop.
"No! Let go of her!" Kuill screamed out.
Fayra placed her hands on the ground, then screams filled her ears. One of the bounty hunters was snatched up. Another hail of gunfire. It was too late. The creatures were now defending themselves.
"Drop her!" Kuiil demanded as another Blurrg was attacked. Suddenly Mando was ripped from her. Fayra whirled around. He was being dragged into the air, firing his weapon against the underside of the creature.
"No!" She screamed. Fayra stretched out her hands toward the burning flames.
"Fire!" She commanded. Flames obeyed, hurtling toward her. As it reached her hand she pushed, sending it toward the creature holding Mando in its talons.
Mando followed suit and used his flame thrower to drive it away. Fayra extended both hands pulling the wind to her. The wind's power forced everyone toward the ground, but Fayra stood upright. When it grew strong enough she whipped it up pushing it to the sky. The creatures had no choice but to ride the wind away.
The group stood, forming a defensive circle.
"They're gone!" Fayra declared.
Mando grabbed her and spun her around to face him, looking her over. She tried to brush him off and glared at him.
"I'm not the one who got caught." She said. If they would have listened to her none of it would have happened. He released her.
Karga fell to the ground, groaning. Cara and Kuiil rushed over to help.
"He's hurt badly." Kuiil declared.
"I'm fine, I'm fine," Karga groaned. "I'm fine, I'm fine. Ow!"
"Hold still." Cara dropped to her knees inspecting the wound. "They got you good." She worked fast to help him.
"How bad?" Mando asked.
"Bad. The poison's spreading fast."
Fayra grabbed Mando in a panic. Had he been scratched too, she searched, eyeing him up and down. Her eyes found his visor and she let go of the breath she was holding. There were no wounds anywhere. His armor had done its job.
"So this… This is how it happens." Karga divulged. Mando turned back to the scene.
"Do be so dramatic." Cara smirked. "I need another medpac! Got any other medpacs? Anyone?" She looked around. "No one answered, sealing Karga's fate.
"I'm guessing that's a "no". Karga grunted.
"It's still spreading." Cara scanned his arm.
"This isn't working." Cara declared.
Fayra stepped forward. Mando caught her elbow pulling her back. When she looked up at him he was shaking his head.
"He'll die, then where will your plan be?" She said. "It's my choice."
Hesitantly he released her. Fayra knelt down next to Cara.
"What are you gonna do?" He asked, fear widening his eyes. "You gonna end it now? I got a little while left, right? Oh, go ahead. Kill me. Put me out of my misery."
Fayra smiled at Karga. The man talked too much and was so smooth about it, she thought. It was part of his charm. She decided she liked him a while ago, when she found something kind in his eyes.
Fayra clasped her hands together and formed a ball of light. Her skin and eyes lit up. Cara shot to her feet.
"What's happening?" Karga squirmed. Fayra placed her hands over the wound. Her light grew brighter and brighter, then disappeared. Karga opened his eyes, his pain was gone. He looked at his arm. There was no trace of the scratches or poison seeping into his veins.
Cara and Kuiil's heads snapped to Mando.
"Did you know she could do that?" Cara asked.
Mando remained silent.
Fayra stood as Karga sat up. "Incredible." He exclaimed. "It's gone, I'm healed." He jumped to his feet smiling. "Wow! Ha!" Karga squared his shoulders and puffed out his chest. "I feel… good."
Fayra turned, dizziness caused her to stumble. Mando reached out and steadied her. "I'm fine." She said. When she stepped again, she stumbled once more. Mando scooped her up.
"Hey, is she going to be okay?" Karga asked.
"She will be." Mando replied, taking her to the makeshift bed on the ground. The group eyed each other for a long moment before returning to their own designated spots.
Fayra awoke, the night sky still shimmering. Mando sat, leaning against a boulder next to her. With the bounty hunters so close she was willing to bet her life that he wasn't sleeping.
She jumped when his helmet swiveled her way. She was sure he did that on purpose. One hand was propped on his blaster, the other lay casually gripping his pulse rifle. She scooted closer to him and nuzzled herself underneath his arm. She lay her head on his chest listening for his heart. Through his armor she couldn't hear it, she began wishing they were somewhere far from here. She didn't want to deal with what was coming.
The group had been walking along the desolate surface for a couple hours. The lack of conversation was beginning to worry Fayra. Even Greef Karga hadn't said a word since they left their camp. From the moment she met him he wouldn't shut up, which she liked. It was nice to have someone in the group that actually liked to talk.
Mando and Cara flanked Karga as he came to a stop. Fayra was on the outside of Mando with the two bounty hunters behind them. Kuiil brought up the rear with his Blurrg.
Karga slowed to a stop. "I guess this is it."
Before Fayra could process what happened Karga swiftly turned and fired his blasters. Mando, with his weapon drawn, shielded her with his free arm. Fayra turned, behind her the other two bounty hunters lay dead on the ground. Both Mando and Cara were breathing hard at the sudden turn of events.
Karga threw up his blasters. "There's something you should know." He looked between them and moved to inspect the bodies and holstered his weapons. Mando and Cara kept their blasters on him. As Mando moved to follow Karga's movements he kept Fayra behind him.
"The plan was to kill you and take the girl." Karga explained. But after last night, I couldn't go through with it."
Cara and Mando said nothing. They glared at him down.
"Go on, You can gun me down here and now and it wouldn't violate the Code. But if you do. Fayra will never be safe." He turned to her, instinctively Mando pushed her farther behind him. She nudged him in protest. "I've never had anyone care enough to save my life."
"I think we should take our chances." Cara blurted.
"The Imperial client is obsessed with obtaining her. And after what I experienced last night, if that happens we all will regret it. You tried to run, but where did it get you?"
"This is ridiculous." Cara declared.
"Perhaps you should let him speak." Kuiil suggested.
Faya looked up at Mando. So far he has said nothing, she wondered what his decision would be, a part of her hoped they would leave and never come back.
"Listen," Karga began. "We both need the client to be eliminated. Let me take Fayra to him and then you two…"
Fayra's body tensed.
"No." Mando stated, even before Karga could finish his thought.
"Let's just kill him and get outta here." Cara suggested.
Mando took another moment and lowered his blaster to its holster. "He's right." Behind him Fayra's heart jumped, trying her best to keep control of her urge to let her powers loose.
"What are you doing?" Cara asked, keeping her gun on Karga.
"As long as the Imp lives, he'll send hunters after her." Mando explained.
"It's a trap." Cara protested.
"Bring me." Mando suggested. Fayra's heart stopped at his words.
"Bring you?" Karga questioned.
"Tell him you captured me. Tell him I stashed the girl somewhere, he'll have to interrogate me. It'll get me close to him and I'll kill him."
"That's a good idea. Give me your blaster." Karga agreed. Cara and Kuiil shared a look of concern.
"What? No." Fayra stepped in front of Mando as he handed Karga his blaster.
"This is insane." Cara stated.
"I agree. You can't do this." Fayra begged.
Mando looked at her. "It's the only way."
Fayra shook her head. "No." When her heart began beating again it sank to her stomach. She knew when Mando made up his mind it was no use.
"Well, I'm coming with you." Cara stated.
"No, no, no. That would make him suspicious." Karga protested.
"I don't care. I'm coming."
Fayra stood in shock, shaking her head. She could take her eyes from his dark visor.
"Tell them she caught me."
"Fine. Then she can bring Fayra."
Fayra's breathing intensified, growing heavier.
"No. Fayra goes back to the ship." Mando instructed.
"What?!" No way." She protested.
"But without her, none of this works!"
"I agree!" Fayra said facing Mando.
He grabbed her shoulders. "I have a plan. You and Kuiil ride back to the Razor Crest and seal yourself in. When you're inside engage ground security protocols. Nothing on this planet will breach those doors."
Fayra shook her head. "NO. This is crazy. You put me through all that training. I'm going." She was beginning to lose control. She wasn't going to let him leave her behind. It wasn't going to happen. Even though she didn't want to be here, she wasn't going to let him go without her. The wind began picking up and then her world began fading. The last thing she felt was his leather glove caressing her neck, just before everything black.
"You know" Cara began, "if we actually succeed and live through this… she's going to kill you. If you die, she's still going to kill you."
Mando scooped Fayra's unconscious body into his arms and carried her to the Blurrg.