Chapter 6

Din's ship loomed before them. It was angular and narrow with ion cannon turrets, twin blaster cannons, and a proton-torpedo launcher. The ship was impressive and intimidating. Anara wasn't experienced with flying but had researched many Mandalorian made ships during her teachings. Seeing as it had so much gunpower, it had to be an enforcement ship. A perfect ship for a bounty hunter.

"Does it have a name?" Anara asked Din.

"Slave II," Din responded.

Din had acquired his new ship from Boba Fett after Grogu had been sent off with the Jedi and the mission had been completed. His beloved Razor Crest had been obliterated by Moff Gideon on the planet, Tython. The Slave II was a Mandalorian Pursuer-class enforcement ship. Boba had acquired it and made some major upgrades to use it to collect his bounties. The ship had been discarded since Boba now used Slave I. He was grateful to Boba Fett, but the ship took some time to get used to. He also wasn't doing any bounty runs these days, so the ship was always empty. The cargo bay could hold a multitude of prisoners at one time.

Anara stood aside as Din opened the airlock. Once the ramp was down, Anara hesitantly walked into the ship. She followed Din into the lift. From what she could tell, the bottom level of the ship contained prison cells and a cargo bay. Stopping at the second level of the ship, Anara surveyed her surroundings. She followed Din through a narrow hallway leading past a kitchen area. Din motioned her to keep going. The door at the end of the hallway entered the living quarters. There was a bed, vac tube, shower, storage area, and a table with several chairs.

"This is where you will stay," Din informed Anara. "I will be staying in the bridge up above."

Anara stayed silent taking everything in. She was pleasantly surprised by Din's sleeping quarters. Guilt began to nip at her thoughts as she realized she was taking over the place that provided him the most comfort. She didn't argue however and proceeded to examine her new living arrangements.

"Thank you," she managed to say.

Din nodded. "I will let you get settled. I am going to do last minute preparations and then we will head out. If you need anything there is a call button on the wall." He motioned toward a red button near the door. Anara nodded. She had been oddly quiet since they had left her home. Din turned heading back toward the lift.

Anara closed the door sealing the living quarters off from the rest of the second level. She let out a long breath that she didn't realize she had been holding in. She was exhausted. She needed to sleep. Anara moved toward Din's bed. She let her fingers brush along the wrinkled blankets that had clearly been slept in not long ago. Anara sat on the edge of the bed pulling off her shoes. She felt like she was invading Din's private space. She laid down and pulled the blankets around her body. Her nose picked up the scent of sweat, leather, and the faint smell of smoke. She closed her eyes and drifted into a most welcome sleep.

XXX

Din watched as the planet of Takodana became a tiny marble in the sky. He guided his ship away easily heading out of orbit. His next target was the planet of Jakku in the Outer Rim. Din decided that a Mandalorian with no means of transport and few credits would likely end up on a planet closer to their own. He needed to narrow his search and retrace his steps. Jakku was a desert planet littered with the skeletal remains of abandoned and destroyed ships. It was a great place for someone to disappear. Many avoided the planet and considered it a junkyard. The trip would take some time even when travelling in hyperspace. He knew that most of the inhabitants of Jakku were poor and lived life as scavengers. He would offer up a hefty reward for information leading to the woman. If no one came forth, he was on to the next planet. He planned to use Anara to gain the trust of the locals by claiming she was trying to find her sister. She needed to make them sympathetic to her search. No one cared to come forth with information to a bounty hunter.

A piercing scream pulled Din from his thoughts. Anara. Jumping from his seat, he entered the lift and quickly pressed the buttons to get to the second level. As soon as the lift opened, he ran down the dim hallway and entered his living quarters. His eyes darted toward his bed. Anara's body was curled in the fetal position. She whimpered with her eyes still closed. Her hands gripped at the blanket tucked around her. Din realized she was trapped in a nightmare. He pulled his gloves off his hands and kneeled beside the bed. He gently placed his hand on Anara's shoulder trying to still her shaking body.

"Anara it's not real. You're dreaming. Open your eyes." Din spoke in a quiet but stern voice. He continued to repeat himself. He trailed his hand down her shoulder to her elbow and back again trying to wake her from sleep.

Anara was falling. A knife stuck into her lower abdomen. Scorching pain ripped through her body. The fall was slow and intentional. She continued to look up at the hooded assailant. She screamed as her descent quickened. Then she heard a voice calling out to her. It was soothing, comforting, and firm. It drew her back to reality.

Anara jolted awake, eyes still closed, pulling her body into a sitting position. Her breathing was erratic, and she could feel her body shaking, not from a chill but from the memories. She noticed a warm sensation on her upper arm and sensed a presence in front of her.

"Anara open your eyes," Din instructed.

Anara looked up to find the familiar T-visor staring back at her. She could feel his concern.

"I'm so sorry," she stuttered. "I have nightmares often. I should have told you so you wouldn't be alarmed."

"It's okay. I have them too," Din said letting his grasp on her upper arm fall to her wrist.

Anara swallowed as she focused her attention on Din and the placement of his bare hands. "Thank you," she whispered.

"Take a few deep breaths. Remember its not real," Din said softly.

Anara attempted to focus on her breathing, but Din's warm hands were making it difficult. No one had come close to touching her in a long time.

"I'm okay," she said through shaky breaths.

Din, realizing he was still holding Anara's wrists in his hands, let go like a fire had scorched him. He straightened his body and turned to walk out of the room. This gave Anara a chance to compose herself. She ran her fingers through her messy hair and took another deep breath in. She had nightmares quite often and they had seemed to become worse after she had fled the Clan. They were always different scenarios but frequently included her being wounded in some way. She wished for once she could sleep in peace.

Din returned holding a glass of water. "Here." He leaned forward placing it in her hands. He watched as she took a few sips.

"Thank you." Anara smiled up at him wearily. "This happens almost every time I fall into a deep sleep. You don't need to worry about it. I am used to it. I lived far out in the middle of the Takodana forest for a reason."

"I can't say I'm used to people screaming on my ship so I can't make any promises that I won't come to at least check on you. Do you ever, he paused, hurt yourself without realizing it?"

"Not that I know of," Anara replied. She was touched by his concern. She recalled that he had stated he had nightmares as well earlier. "Are yours the same?" she questioned.

Din shook his head. "I don't usually wake up screaming but they are troublesome."

Anara looked down at the glass in her hand. "Please don't let me keep you from sleeping in your own bed. I can sleep anywhere if necessary. We can take shifts. I feel rude taking over your private space." Anara felt herself beginning to ramble. She was sleep-deprived which wasn't helping her control her speech at the moment.

"Stop. I am fine up in the bridge," Din cut her off.

Anara didn't try to make any more conversation on the issue. "I am going to try to sleep a bit longer if you don't mind. If I wake up screaming again, just try to ignore it."

Din nodded. "I'll be upstairs if you need anything." He turned, leaving Anara to herself again.

Anara laid back down on the bed pulling the blankets over her. She stared up at the metal ceiling. What had she done? This was a bad idea. She was going to get too comfortable around him. He was going to find out her secrets, secrets no one needed to know. She had to keep her distance. Keep her walls high. She tried to convince herself that the last thing she needed was a friend. Maz's final words drifted through her head as she closed her eyes. "Just remember it is only within the heart that one can see rightly."

XXX

Author's Note: I want to note that I am not knowledgeable in Star Wars spacecraft so I have to thank these two YouTube channels (MetaNerdz Lore and EckhartsLadder) for helping me learn more about the Razor Crest and Slave II history. EckharsLadder compares the Razor Crest to a mini-van which I find hilarious. However, the Slave II isn't a looker either. His theory is that the Slave II will be Din's ship in the next season of The Mandalorian.