pThe Mandalorian's ship was a classic. She wasn't by any means five star rated, but she was reliable and well loved, as well as surprisingly clean. She had expected a lot more mess from a lone man. Said man had returned to greet her with a bran new pauldron, crafted from the initial payment he had been gifted. Looking away from the craftsmanship and beauty of the piece, she sighed, leaning back into the co pilot chair as she watched her apparent partner set course for Arvala-7. She knew that like most Mandalorian's, he preferred the silence over her inquiries and so forth, but the closer the pair got to the planet, the closer the words got to being spoken./p
pAs the ship entered the planet's atmosphere, she finally broke. "What happened back there, it wasn't what..." She stuttered out a response, the words eventually dying when his helmet turned to settle on her as the Razor Crest landed./p
p"I don't need the details."He provided coldly, pushing past her to gather himself and prepare to collect the bounty. Shocked at the sudden coldness of the Mandalorian, Nadika clenched her fists, turning on her heel to climb down to the hull, muttering obscenities as she went. By the time she had set down and secured her blaster and vibroblades to her thighs, the Mandalorian had opened the Crest and ambled out to scope the terrain, leaving Nadika to curse the man lightly, squinting as the sun reflected from his armor. "Stupid tin can."/p
pAs she approached Mando, her boots sinking lightly into the dusty ground as she observed where the crest sat, turning her back to him as she did. A startled yell caught her attention, wide eyes snapping around to find Mando pinned by some stunted creature, a creature who appeared to have taken to grasping the Mandalorian's arm tightly in its jaw, only shaking it's domed head when he attempted to free himself./p
p"Dank Farrik." Nadika swore, drawing no weapons as she watched the creature, edging carefully, before finally drawing a blade and getting ready to distract the creature. At the way things were going she was more concerned about hurting the animal than her partner. Seemingly too close, the animal knocked her back with a spin of its tail, distressed as all of a sudden, it fell. A companion that had entered a charge followed course, falling short with a dart jutting from it's thick skin./p
pLooking up, she found their savior to be an Ugnuaght, mounted atop the same variant that had attacked them beforehand. "Thank you." Mando sighed, tugging his arm free and looking too the newcomer, casting a small look to Nadika who also stood, the sand coating her contrasting greatly with her skin and also mixing into her beaded hair. He winced, thinking of how long it would take before all grains were gone./p
p"You are bounty hunters." The Ugnuaght stated rather than asking, fiddling shortly with his reigns as he observed the unusual pairing./p
p"Yes."/p
p"I will help you." As though sensing an impending disagreement, the Ugnuaght lifted a hand to silence the pair. "I have spoken."/p
pBaffled into silence, Nadita swept a hand over her cheek, grimacing at the rough sand on her skin before looking to her metal companion with a short smile. "You heard him Mando."/p
p-/p
pThe Ugnuaght resided in a small Blurrg farm, a few hours from where the razor crest had been landed, after hauling the tranquilized blurrgs back to his residence as a thanks for his quick protection, the pair settled to talk, tucked inside a small yet cozy hut, lined with tapestries and comforts, yet practical. "Many have passed through." Their host began, looking between the two as he served cups of tea, knowing despite the hospitality that Mando would not drink it. Nadita however could not resist, lifting the steaming cup to nurse gently. "They seek the same one as you."/p
p"Did you help them?" Mando asked curiously, tilting his head as he analysed the Ugnaught./p
p" died." At the blunt statement, Nadita lurched over, spluttering part of her drink out, being careful to avoid Mando and the beautiful carpet they sat on, wiping her mouth clean as she returned to the conversation, blushing when she found herself to be the source of staring. /p
p"Well, then I don't know if I want your help." Mando deadpanned, sparing Nadita a lingering glance before snapping back to her when her boot collided with his own, as if to reprimand him. Glaring lightly at him, he could easily convey the warning in her eyes. 'Quit being rude'. He was sure however, based on what he knew of her, she had many more curse words mixed into the sentence./p
p"You do. I can show you to the encampment." The Ugnuaght bargained, aware that truly, he was Mando and Nadita's only hope at obtaining the asset quickly and efficiently./p
p"What's your cut?"/p
p"Half." Both Bounty Hunters startled slightly at that./p
p"Half the bounty to guide? Seems steep." Mando stated, Nadita agreeing for once with a nod of her head./p
p"No," Their host clarified, easing the pair as he continued, however urging more questions from the stoic Mandalorian. "Half of the blurrg you helped capture."/p
p"The blurrg? You can keep them both." The statement was sure and final, however when faced with stubbornness by stubbornness, you earn, well for Nadita, entertainment./p
p"No, you will need one. To ride." Nadita smirked at this, turning to her partner and twirling a strand of hair lightly as she mused over the news. "The way is impossible to pass without a blurrg mount."/p
p"I don't know how to ride blurrg." Mando continued, remaining ignored as the Ugnaught set out to ready his Blurrg./p
p"He has spoken Mando." The dark skinned beauty teased, finishing her tea as the beskar helmet tilted her way, taking no notice as his gaze burned into her, forcing her to rise and follow their host into the hot sun, leaving beyond the Mandalorian who debated throwing the woman of the canyons 'accidentally'./p
p-/p
pThings were going wonderful, well for Nadita. Stood beside the Ugnuaght she'd learnt to be Kuill, the pair watched repeatedly as the mighty Mandalorian was thrown from the Blurrg with each attempt at riding. "Perhaps if you removed your helmet." Kuill stated, teasing when for the countless time the beskar covered man landed face down in the dust, urging Nadita to hide the laugh behind her hand./p
p"Perhaps he remembers I tried to roast him." Mando theorised, pointing threateningly at the black haired woman on the other side of the fence./p
p"This is a female. The males are all eaten during mating." Kuill offers, and by then Nadita is unable to contain her laughter tilting her head back and letting out the sound, twinkling eyes settling on Mando, wincing as he tries once more only to be thrown again, even harder this time./p
p"I don't have time for this." He complained, striding towards the pair as he ignored the woman's shaking head and smile. "Do you have a Landspeeder or Speeder bike that we could hire?"/p
p"You are Mandalorian! Your ancestors rode the great Mythosaur. Surely you can ride this young foal." Kuill goaded, a low blow but true, the statement even earning a wince and sobering for Nadita watched carefully as the Mandalorian approached the Blurrg, gently talking to her as he eased as his hand, only mounting when she calmed to his /
The woman allows a cheer to escape her, clapping lightly as Mando turns to her. /p
p"If only more men had that tact Mando." She stated, her statement serious despite the smile she displayed, watching as Kuill himself mounted his own Bllurg. Approaching the Mandalorian, she looked up to him, sucking in deep brief as she swung herself up to sit behind him, remaining stiff due to the close proximity. She had sworn to herself she would never be this close to a man again, but when the trekk began, the woman's only option was to wrap her arms around his armored waist, drawing them closer. /p
pBy the time they'd crossed the landscape, Mando had relaxes, Nadita however, had resorted to counting rocks in a desperate way to distract herself. Now within their own space and back on solid ground, the three peered over to view a simple sandstone encampment, guarded by several Nikto's. "That is where you'll find your quarry." Rather than paying much attention to the goings on of the Mandalorian and Ugnaught, the woman observed the buildings, noticing each rotation, each exit, each weak spot./p
pWith Kuill gone alongside his mounts, the Bounty Hunters situated themselves on a small ledge, shoulders brushing as they watched the encampment for any sign of the bounty. It didn't take long before the pair halted, Nadita groaning at the new presence. "Oh, no. Bounty Droid." Mando uttered, motioning for them both to jump into action./p
p"God I hate Bounty Droids." She groaned, drawing her blaster as the pair made their way towards the encampment. Listening as the droid spoke up all it's programmed dialogue "Subparagraph 16 of the Bondsman Guild protocol waiver compels you to immediately produce said asset." As the droid did so, it shot whatever moved, urging the rest to take cover. Nadita looked to the Mandalorian, who simply glance back in exasperation, approaching a set of pillars to hide behind./p
p"Stay covered!" He told his partner, who for once made little attempt to argue. Weapons drawn, he pulled from behind the pillar. "IG Unit! Stand down." A loud shot rang out, sending the Mandalorian backwards to his annoyance, gesturing to Nadita who inched to check that he was unharmed. "I'm in the Guild!"/p
p"You are a Guild member? I thought I was the only one on assignment." The droid states, optics rotating as Nadita peered into view, swallowing thickly as she eyes the Units blasters carefully./p
p"That makes three of us. So much for the element of surprise." He aimed the second part to Nadita who snorted and tilted her head back, revising how exactly they'd figure this one out with a bounty droid added to the equation./p
p"Sadly, I must ask for your fob. I have already issued the writ of seizure. The bounty is mine."/p
pAt this Nadita finally fully stepped forward, scowling at the IG unit who looked her over slowly. "You haven't even breached the camp, you have no claim on this bounty." She responded, waving her blaster with her words, uncaring should it go off./p
p"This is true."/p
p"I have a suggestion." Mando called out, urging the droid to listen and surprisingly gaining his partners attention as well. "We split the reward."/p
pNadita opened her mouth, most likely to protest before the droid intercepted. "This is acceptable."/p
p"Great. Now let's regroup, out of harm's way, and form a plan." Mando urged, getting himself and Nadita behind the pillars for cover, simply tilting his head at her when she scowled up at him, brown eyes blazing./p
p"I will of course receive the reputation merits associated with the mission."/p
p"Oh for..." The woman began, reaching out her blaster to shoot the droid only to be stopped by Mando, who simply shook his head and lowered her arm./p
p" I require an answer if I am to proceed..." It was then that blasterfire came down on them, hitting the IG unit mid rant and effectively stopping one monologue for another. "Oh, no. Alert. Alert. Alert."/p
pPulling the fob from Mando's pocket without much care over her actions, Nadita let out a yell of confirmation. "He's in there, cover me and I can wire the doors!" She ordered, ducking and sliding to a wiring panel, pulling the cover from it to entangle herself with the wires, smiling when the shadow of the Mandalorian fell over her shoulder, communicating to the droid to ensure all areas were covered./p
pSoon enough however the enemy drew in, and as the woman fiddled with the mess of wiring the droid behind her began his monologue to the surprise of herself and Mando. "It appears we are trapped. I will initiate self-destruct sequencing."/p
p"Whoa! You're what?" Mando demanded, sliding over to shield Nadita from a varied shot, glaring up at the droid ./p
p"Manufacturers Protocol dictates I cannot be captured. I must self-destruct."/p
p"Do not self-destruct." Mando yelled, fully shielding his partner as she began disabling the doors. "Cover Nadita!"/p
pA sudden spark surged from the wiring, burning her fingers and jolting her back into the heavy beskar that guarded her. "Okay, someone shot something important!"She reasoned, cradling her burnt finger tips as the trio huddled for cover./p
p"I will initiate self-destruct."/p
p"Do not self-destruct! We're shooting our way out." Mando assures, turning to face a heavy gun the Nikto had set up, urging them all to take cover again. "New plan!"/p
p"Beginning self-destruct countdown."/p
p"Shut up, blow up later away from me!"Nadita hissed, peering out to take the odd shot despite her singed fingers/p
p"Draw their fire, I'll take it out." With that, Mando ran for the heavy, both woman and droid shooting a clear path for him and ducking away when the Mandalorian set the heavy fire on the remaining guards/p
pSmiling, she approached the Mandalorian, clasping him gently on the shoulder and laughing. "Well that went well." By the time the three had shot open the blaster doors, only one Nikto remained, Mando having quickly apprehended him easily without a hitch, to Nadita's impressed satisfaction. He certainly lived up to the Way. Shaking away her thought, she turned to the droid as he spoke. "The tracking fob is still active. My sensors indicate that there is a life form present."/p
pEveryone scanned the room, looking for this older man they'd been expecting, huffing, Nadita took Mando's fob, patting his arm awkwardly when we stared at her actions, following her movements as she swept a loud of clutter from an egg shaped container. Curiously, She swept a hand over the object, startling when it slide open. Her mouth gaped wide, looking to Mando to ensure her sanity. "What is..."/p
p"Wait. They said 50 years old." Mando stated, seemingly just as confused as large green airs poke from the cradle./p
p"Species age differently." IG informed slowly from their side. "Perhaps it could live many centuries."/p
pSlowly, the bounty pulled back his nest of blankets with a three clawed, green little hand. Displaying a toothy smile that melted her heart, and focusing wide black eyes on the pair of bounty hunters, cooing in wonder. "Sadly, we'll never know." Startled as the droid made to life it's blaster, Nadita blocked the path to the Child, unable to hid her smile as he took to grabbing as the ends of her braids./p
p"No. We'll bring it in alive." Mando ordered, not turning from Nadita and the Child to formerly address the droid./p
p"The commission was quite specific. The asset was to be terminated." A loud shot rang out, the IG dropping to the floor. Meanwhile the two Bounty Hunters glanced at their apparent bounty, one offering a braid to be fiddled, the other a gloved finger to be grasped./p