A few hours after departing Xravon Maleena felt uncertain about the events that had just unfolded. She felt unease at the shift in their friendship, their bond. She just wanted them both to be safe, away from her troubles, but admitting it to Din seemed to make something switch in him.
She knew where she stood with him even more now.
She had sat in her room, lying on her bed as she stared up at the ceiling. Her frazzled mind kept her awake. She should have been long asleep by now, both her and Din had decided to go go bed instead of piloting the ship. They didn't have a clear course in mind... Only knowing they needed fuel and information on the Child. She wasn't sure how they would even begin to find out more about the adorable creature. Her sense of responsibility made her sit up, not bothering to put her boots on as she padded her way up into the cockpit.
She hoped that she hadn't woke Din up in her panic. She had to know more about potential planets, places to look. It didn't help that neither her or Din knew what they were actually looking for, just that the Child would tell them when they found it. This in turn created it's own problems - they would have to put the Child in potential danger in order to help understand him. Her fingers danced across the console infront of her, studying various star charts and planets which they might be able to start looking on.
It was something, right?
She hadn't even been aware of the time that had passed since she had began her mission, only coming to her senses when she felt a hand lightly touch her shoulder. She jumped at the contact, surprised with the lack of gloves as Din peered over her shoulder.
"Star charts, huh? Never took you for the type."
She rolled her eyes as she looked out of the window. "I wanted to know more about where the Child might have come from. To find out more about Cralderon. "
"And? Anything?"
She breathed deeply, rubbing her face tiredly. "Nothing. We are going to have to get lucky one day. Someone somewhere must know about him."
"We will find his people."
Maleena looked up at his helmet, her reflection making a frown dance across her face. Her hair looked dull as it fell around her tired face. Her eyes were bloodshot, ringed by purple circles. Her voice was small as she closed her eyes. "You think so?"
She missed his nod. "I know so," She watched him as he tilted his head. "But we have to get you safe first. It's not a good idea to troop around the galaxy with Gideon one step behind us."
"What do we do now?" Maleena's voice wavered as she stood and sat in the co pilot seat, Din sat down and flicked levers and switches around the console. The Razor Crest sped up at his actions. He spun to her.
"Fuel is running low. Refuel at the nearest planet and get some jobs when we are there. Then make our way to Cralderon. "
"Guild jobs?"
His head shook. "No. Too unpredictable. Will be off the radar."
She twisted in her seat. "I knew you missed the good old days just as much as me."
His modulator crackled with his light scoff. "We were underpaid."
"Being a cargo runner doesn't pay well?" Her eyes rolled. "Who would have thought it!" Her voice was laced with mock sarcasm as she laughed. A crash further down in the ship silenced her, hearing the soft coos coming from the Child. She sighed as she stood, making her way out of the cockpit.
"Ill check on him." She stepped down and into the main section of the ship, watching as the Child sat on the floor, banging his tiny hand against the cold metal floor. Maleena knelt down to sit with the Child, his curious gaze filled her with happiness. His ears shifted as she put her fingers on the floor. She began to move her fingers, her hand moving closer to him as if her hand had become a spider. The Child shrieked in glee, his hands reached out to grab hers. Her free hand swept him up from behind as she used her other hand to tap him on the nose. His hands waved up at her as she shifted, sitting him on her knee as she sat cross legged. His hands rested on her knee as he tried to stand, her hands hovered at his side just incase he lost his balance.
She knew the kid had control over the force and could do incredible things, but she still felt a baseline need to help him. She couldn't pinpoint what it was exactly but she always tried her best to keep him safe. The Child seemed to notice a shift in her mood as he stopped moving, lifting his hands up as if to ask her to hold him again. She brought him closer to her, placing him in the crook of her neck as his hand rested against her neck. Calm and serenity filled her system, gasping at the rush of emotion she felt. She pulled the Child from her and looked at him as the Mandalorian came down the stairs. He seemed to be walking with a purpose, his shoulders tensed, but stopped once he saw the pair sitting a short distance away on the floor.
A distorted sigh broke the silence. "You good?"
Maleena didn't break eye contact with the Child. "I don't understand him. How can something so small be so powerful?"
The Mandalorian walked forward and crouched next to the pair, his right knee coming to rest on the floor. "What do you mean?"
She dragged her eyes to look at the beskar helmet that was tilted in her direction. "He made me feel better."
"Better how?"
"I felt nervous and once he was touching my skin he made me feel calm. Like there was something in my head. A presence."
"Really?" The Child blinked as the Mandalorian's hand extended towards him. The Child once again made grabbing motions with his hand as she passed him over to Din. He sat the Child on his right knee as they watched the Child, who peered back over to Maleena with sad eyes. The Child seemed fascinated with her, as if expecting her to react.
"What's happening?" Maleena whispered.
"I don't know. Maybe he just wants to help. He can heal wounds after all."
"But that?" Maleena gestured to the Child. "That's something else."
The Mandalorian clasped the Child in his hands as he stood, Maleena's hand extended outwards before she even processed what she was doing and grabbed Din's hand, keeping him in place. Maleena jumped at the contact of his hand, hoping she hadn't overstepped her bounds.
"Im sorry!" She attempted to withdraw her hand as she leant back, his grip unfaltering.
"It's ok." He pulled her up gently.
Even the Child went silent as awkwardness filled the ship. Maleena had never been so pleased to hear a beeping coming from the cockpit, all three moving up the ladder to see what the commotion was. A giant green planet greeted the trio as it filled the entire window.
"Guess we are here." Maleena seemed more confident as she strapped herself and the Child in their seats as the ship began to descend.
"Permission to land at position CA234HT, over." The Mandalorian's voice spoke as they could see the ground below them even clearer as they began flying through the thick yellow clouds. A second later a crackle filled the cockpit as a strange voice breaks through.
"Permission granted, over." The Mandalorian flipped a switch and began to steer the ship down. The Child clapped as they lowered, Maleena wringing her hands. She might have been a warrior, one of the strongest bounty hunters around, but she still hated the unknown. It triggered her every time they landed on a new planet. What awaited them? Would there be someone looking for them? Would they get what they needed?
Even as they lowered onto a metal ramp that sat above murky grey water, droplets splashed up the window as they touched down, she knew she would have to brave the planet in order to get her answers. It should be simple enough. The Razor Crest only needed fuel after all...
They didn't grab too many weapons on their way out of the ship. Maleena had sat the Child in his carrier, not liking the idea of leaving him alone on a strange planet. She had thrown her robes on, comforted by the disguise they gave her. They hadn't even got two steps down the ramp before a short greying man dressed in ragged overalls ran over, his face covered in sweat as he waved his arms around.
"Hey! You two!" Not sensing a threat neither her nor the Mandalorian grabbed their weapons. To the untrained eye it looked as though they were completely trusting of the stranger, but the Mandalorian's hand hovered over his blaster proved to her that he wouldn't take any chances.
The man shouted again as his feet grazed the bottom of the ramp. "I'm talking to you!" He hunched over and took a deep breath as his hands rested on his knees. "Name's Link. I've been looking for someone like you..."
Link composed himself, his face red. "You are a Mandalorian aren't you?" Din bristled at Link's questioning stare as he took in the trio standing in front of him. Din didn't answer.
Link waved his hand. "Irrelevant," He pointed at Maleena. "And a Vlaxxon! Exactly what I needed!" The Mandalorian's helmet tilted menacingly as Maleena took a long look at Link.
"What's it to you?" Maleena's voice left little room for negotiation as they stood unwavering.
"Well you see," Link cleared his throat. "A group of Gamorrean hunters walked through our town like they owned the place. Took our land, crops, supplies and everything in between." A flash of anger crossed his face as Maleena tilted her head.
"And you expect us to do what exactly?"
Link scratched his head. "I need you to kill them all. My people deserve peace."
"What's in it for us?" Maleena questioned.
"I can't offer you more than the credits me and my people hid from those crooks."
The Mandalorian shifted, his head titled to the left as he spoke for the first time. "We need more."
Link barked a laugh. "Like what exactly?"
"Fuel. Food. Credits."
Link seemed to ponder the Mandalorian's request as Din looked down at Maleena. With her face hidden he wasn't sure if the subtle nod back to the ship was understood until she turned and began walking up the ramp. The Mandalorian followed her, knowing their act would make the man panic.
Sure enough, it worked.
"Wait... Wait!" When they didn't turn Link threw his hands up in the air in defeat. "You've got a deal!"
Both the Mandalorian and Maleena stopped before turning and walking back down the ramp.
"Show us to your camp." Maleena's request made Link's head nod nervously as he gestured to the moshland around him.
"Follow me."