When Lili opened her eyes, she was staring up at a metal ceiling. The light overhead felt blinding and she groaned softly as she turned away, curling onto her side with her eyes screwed shut. As she moved, she felt a shooting pain up her side and flinched.

She slowly pushed herself up on weak arms, her vision settling after a few moments.

"Be careful." Fear coursed through her veins and her heartrate accelerated. She pushed herself back with shaky breaths. Her back hit a cold metal surface and she realized she was in a small nook on a yellow and red cot, with a thin blanket over her. "It's just me."

Her gaze flicked up and a few feet away, she saw Lorian standing patiently. He had his arms at his sides and was looking at her. For a few seconds, Lili caught her breath and tried to calm down.

". . . You came back."

"We're on Nevarro." She realized she was holding tight to the blanket and released it.

"Where?" He turned on his heel and walked, and Lili realized they were back on his ship. He was going back to the lockers. She was quiet as she pushed herself to the edge of the cot. ". . . Thank you."

He glanced over as she looked down at her hands.

"You saved my life from Rinnrivin." She still looked shaken and pale. He walked back over and held out a hand. She looked at it, then to his visor. He pushed up her arm sleeve and she saw a line of dark bruises. She heard him sigh through his visor.

"What did you take from him?" he asked, applying a small amount of salve along the bruises. She flinched and noticed him apply less pressure.

"I thought you weren't supposed to ask questions. That's the new Mandalorian thing, right?" she replied. He looked up at her and she shrugged. ". . . He was my boss, and I stole something valuable to him. I sold it to a lady that gave me sanctuary in return for it."

She shook her head and they both watched as the bruises began to fade. He pulled her sleeve back down and moved to her other arm.

"I should've never left. But I did. I thought . . ." She looked older than she was in that moment, as her eyes looked away and her face looked troubled. "It doesn't matter anymore."

Lorian could see there was something deep in her eyes that he recognized. She had been broken by the galaxy, just like so many children before her. Something had stolen the childhood she once had.

But, as quickly as the look came, it vanished into a little smile.

"So, you really can't take off your helmet?" He didn't respond. "So you could be a fish and I'd never know?"

"I'm not a fish."

"Are you a lizard?" He looked up at her and the smile slowly grew. "I'm just trying to figure out who stopped Rinnrivin."

"Don't take it personally." He stood up and she moved her sleeve down.

"Then why did you save me?" Lorian looked down at where she sat, and even if she couldn't see his face, he felt exposed. She didn't say anything, opting to wait for him to speak instead.

"Mandalorians don't let bad things happen to children." She tilted her head.

"I'm not a child."

"You aren't of age." She shrugged and slowly stood up. She took a moment to work through the pain before she noticed her guns still on his hip.

"Do I get my guns back?"

"If you give me my flare back." A smile spread across her face.

"I told you I would take something." She reached into her boot and pulled out the flare, holding it out to him. He replaced it on his belt in the same loop she had stolen it from. He gave her back the guns and she took them gently.

"You're good at sneaking." He opened the hatch of the ship and Lili saw they were on the outskirts of a small town. The ground was black sand and cloudy skies blocked the sun from view.

"Girls are unsuspecting. I use that to my advantage." She walked over to the hatch and peeked out, taking in her surroundings.

"I could use a mechanic on the Razor Crest." She looked up at him with a little smile. "Someone who's good at repairs. I'd pay you."

"Did you save me because you're bad at repairs?" She could feel his glare and it only made her smile brighter.

"It's up to you. Either that, or I can take you to some friends of mine. They'll make sure you don't get in trouble." She didn't even take the time to really think.

"If you can keep me away from spice runners, I'll do it for free." She extended a hand and waited patiently. They shook hands quickly and Lili's smile looked brighter than he'd seen before.

"So, does this mean I get to help you catch bounties?"

"No."