Chapter 7
-The Meeting-
"What?"
Aula was hovering behind where Lore sat in the pilot's seat.
"Well, I was wondering if you would teach me how to fly this thing? Cause I'm sure there'll be a time when I've got to fly myself. I mean, we live in a galaxy, for goodness sake! It seems like a pretty essential skill."
He sat silently for a moment before saying, "Sit." He moved out of the seat so she could sit down. "Okay-" He began pointing out all the controls to her, all the switches and toggles.
An image suddenly blinked up
"Whoa, what's that?"
"A transmission."
"Who's that? Do you know that guy?"
"That's Greef Karga, he's head of the Guild."
They listened to Karga's transmission:
"My friend, if you are receiving this transmission, that means you are alive. You might be surprised to hear this, but I am alive too. I guess we can call it even. A lot has happened since we last saw each other. The man who hired you is still here, and his ranks of ex-Imperial guards have grown. They have imposed despotic rule over my city, which has impeded the livelihood of the Guild. We consider him an enemy but we cannot get close enough to take him out. If you would consider one last commission, I will very much make it worth your while. You have been successful so far in staving off their hunters, but they will not stop until they have their prize. So here is my proposition: Return to Nevarro. Bring the child as bait. I will arrange an exchange and provide loyal Guild members as protection. Once we get near the client, you kill him and we both get what we want. If you succeed, you keep the child and I will have your name cleared with the Guild, for a man of honour should not be forced to live in exile. I await your arrival with optimism."
The image blinked away.
"It sounds sketchy." Aula spoke first.
"Agreed."
"It sounds like a trap," she said with no hesitation.
"Probably."
Cara heard clapping and turned to see Mando standing with the child and Aula - the red-haired woman the source of the applause.
"That was awesome!"
Cara mock-bowed. "Thank you."
"That looks like fun," she said, nodding to the fighting ring. "How's it work?"
"No," stepped in Lore right away.
"Why? You're no fun."
Cara was chuckling at them. "I see you two are still sticking together - I'm glad. Hey little one." She leaned down and waved to the child.
Lore recruited her and they headed back to the Crest. They were chatting about the mission when they were suddenly thrown off balance by the ship moving. Racing to the cockpit, they found Leo using one of the levers.
"Was he trying to fly the ship?" cried Aula.
"We really need someone who can watch that thing," sighed Cara. "Is there anyone you trust?"
An ally of Lore's on Arvala-7, Kuiil, agreed to help them.
"These guys are pretty cute," Aula said, patting the blurrgs sides through the cage.
"Those are females. The males are eaten during mating," Kuiil explained.
"Oh, pardon me, ladies. Do they have names?"
Kuiil chuckled and turned to Lore. "She is full of heart and spirit. She is a good person to keep around. I have spoken."
A droid entered the hut then, baring a tray of cups. "Would anyone care for some tea?" Mando raised his blaster, as did Cara.
"Please, lower your blasters, he will not harm you," said Kuiil.
"That thing is programed to kill the baby."
"Not anymore."
"Is it still a hunter?"
"No, but it will protect. This is IG-11. I have rewired and reprogrammed his function."
"On the note about the tea," piped-up Aula. "I'd like some."
With the ship on autopilot, Lore and Cara were engaged in an intense arm wrestling competition.
"I got you Mando."
"Care to double the bet?"
Both grunted, neither of their arms moving much. Aula was watching closely.
"Can I get in on this?" she asked.
"Take a seat," Cara offered, gesturing for Mando to get up.
Aula took his place sitting before Cara and the two women took hands.
"And - go!" It didn't take too long for Cara to take down Aula's arm.
"Ow!" the redhead chuckled, shaking her arm out. "I guess I'd better practice. Okay, you and me now, Lore."
"'Lore'?" chuckled Cara.
"Yeah, it's my new nickname for him. 'Lore' as in 'Manda-lor'-"
"Yeah," said Lore, holding up his gloved hand.
Cara got up so Mando could take her place. He set his elbow on the table and she reached out and clasped his hand. They locked gazes - or at least she stared right at his visor where she guessed his eyeline was - before gripping hands tightly.
They held gazes, arms barely moving, until they broke apart.
She stood, Cara taking her place, she and Mando going again.
When it looked like Cara was gaining the upper hand, she suddenly dropped Mando's hand and reached up to her throat, choking - she couldn't breathe.
It was Leo.
"No, no, no - stop! We're friends! Cara's my friend!" Lore scooped up the baby and instantly the air returned to Cara's lungs.
"You okay?" Aula asked her.
"No! That is not okay!"
"Very curious," said Kuiil.
"Curious? It tried to kill me!"
"Can you really blame him though? I mean most of the people he's come into contact with have tried to kill him, usually on the spot," Aula reminded.
"The story of the Mudhorn now makes more sense."
"What happened with a Mudhorn?" asked Aula.
"What is it?" asked Mando.
"What it is, I don't know. But what it does - this, this I've heard rumours of."
IG-11 appeared. "I have prepared second meal. Would you care to be served here or below?"
"We're not hungry," said Lore.
"Maybe some of us are," spoke-up Aula.
"You've got a real thing for droids, don't you," said Cara.
"I've got a real thing for that droid."
"The Ugnaught said he rewired it."
"That droid was designed to kill things. I don't care how much wiring he replaced. It goes against its nature. "
"Well it shouldn't be a long job anyway. We take out the head Imp, the rest will run like rats."
Upon reaching Nevarro, the group descended from the ship on the backs of their blurrgs.
"Sorry for the remote rendezvous, Mando," Karga said. "But things have gotten complicated since you were last here. It appears that introductions are in order."
"Hi, I'm Aula." All three of her companions turned to face her. "What? He said introductions."
But Karga didn't seem to care. "Seems we both provided a security detail. Now, where's the little one?"
Mando pressed a button on his gauntlet and the pram floated over towards Karga, opening to reveal Leo.
"So, this little bogwing is what all the fuss was about. What a precious little creature."
"Don't touch him," Aula jumped in.
"It's okay," said Mando, holding up a hand, but she noticed he had his other hand resting above his blaster just in case.
Karga picked up Leo. "I can see why you wouldn't want to harm a hair on its wrinkled little head." Thankfully he returned the baby to his pram. "Well, I'm glad this matter will be put to rest once and for all."
"Let's hope so," muttered Aula.
They decided to make camp while it was dark and head into town with the next daylight.
"Let's go over the plan," said Lore.
Karga agreed, but they didn't get far in planning before winged creatures swooped in suddenly, attacking the group.
One grabbed the blurrgs. "Drop her!" cried Kuiil.
Aula lunged at the creature with both batons, but as she tried to rescue the blurrg, the winged creature went after her instead.
"How many of these things are there?!" she cried, flailing in its grasp.
Mando blasted the beast with his flame thrower. This made it drop her, with a thud - she hurriedly patting out the flames from her clothes.
Karga was groaning - he had been scratched by one of the creatures.
"The poison's spreading," said Cara, addressing his wound.
"So this is how it happens-"
"Oh don't be so dramatic." While Cara tried to stop the spread, the child waddled up to Karga.
"He's trying to eat me!"
"No, he's not," said Aula.
The child touched his little hand to Karga's arm, and in moments the wound faded then disappeared completely. The child stumbled back, exhausted.
"H-he saved me," cried Karga.
"Yes he did."
They continued towards town at first light.
"Why have we stopped?" asked Aula when the group drew to a halt.
"I guess this is it-" Karga suddenly whirled around, whipping both blasters from his belt and shooting down the two other bounty hunters, shocking the others. "There's something you should know."
As always, thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed! :)
