Chapter 2: The Search

"Nal Hutta," Din Djarin said absentmindedly as the wet green planet came into view from Slave One's cockpit. Din couldn't say he was pleased to be here. The planet reeked of scum and villainy as much as it did grime and swamp water.

"Perfect place for an ex-bounty hunter to hide," Fennec noted as she began to guide the ship into the foggy atmosphere. Although Din was an excellent pilot, Fennec had insisted on flying since she was taking point on the job. Besides, Din wasn't all too familiar with the firespray model's controls, so he acquiesced.

"Why would an ex-hunter want to live on the Hutt home world?" Din wondered aloud as the ship laid sideways for landing, causing him and Fennec to be on their backs in their seats.

Shand shrugged as she began shutting down the ship's engines. "It's easy to blend in. And if he ever got a bounty on his head, it wouldn't be popular."

Din had to agree. No one came to Nal Hutta if they didn't have to. He'd been once, and after fighting off muggers twice and nearly drowning in a swamp after disturbing a dragon snake, he'd sworn to never return.

So much for that.

Fennec unbuckled her safety belt and lowered the ramp, with Din not far behind as he got out of his supine position in the co-pilot's seat. Landing Slave One was always a bit disorienting.

Din joined Fennec at the bottom of the ramp, automatically feeling the humid, sticky heat of the planet. He dearly hoped that the job would be quick as his recently cleaned boots began sinking in the soggy ground.

There was a small town straight ahead, with a few civilians of various species roaming about. Din's concealed eyes caught rodians, aqualish, weequays, ithorians, and twi'leks, but none were the species they were seeking.

"Where do you suggest we start?" Din asked of Fennec, even though he already knew the answer. He only asked to respect her appointed leadership on the operation, knowing how frustrating it was for a hired comrade to call all of the shots.

Fennec smirked at him. "Where do you think?" she asked, and began walking in the direction of the town's cantina.

Of course, Din thought to himself as he made to follow her. If you're looking for a lowlife, you start at the saloon.

In this case, the old saying didn't prove true.

After standing at the bar for almost an hour, eavesdropping, Din had learned nothing. The drunks of Nal Hutta only swapped uninteresting stories (many of which Din doubted were true) and spoke of less...respectable topics. It was an uncomfortable atmosphere for an honorable man like himself.

Meanwhile, Fennec had seated herself at a table and inconspicuously sipped a drink, seeing as she could without a helmet to obstruct her. Din dearly hoped that Shand hadn't consumed too much alcohol in the past hour. They were bound to get jumped by some wandering muggers at some point thanks to his expensive hardware, so she needed to be in a clear state of mind. Beskar certainly had a knack for attracting attention, most of it unwanted.

Din checked the chrono on his wrist, indicating that it had officially been an hour since they entered the bar. His feet were starting to get sore inside his boots from standing in the same place for so long. Time to move on.

He made to leave and glanced his helmeted head towards Fennec, prompting her to get up and exit with him.

"Any luck?" Fennec asked once they were out of earshot of the patrons.

"None," Din answered with a sigh of frustration, dearly hoping she'd learned at least something that could be of use.

"Mean either," Fennec supplied emotionlessly, taking the last sip of her drink and tossing the cup onto the muddy ground.

Din fought the urge to sigh again. He would never take tracking fobs for granted ever again.

"So now what?"

Fennec hummed, turning her neck to look around at the town. "Well--"

An ear-splitting explosion cut her off.

Author's Note:

Wow. I sort of abandoned this for awhile XD but I do want to finish since I have the whole plot figured out. I know the chapter is very short but I wanted to get it out just so you all know I'm still with it. Can't guarantee when chapter 3 will come along, but it will eventually. Until then!