Finally, they'd found a planet where he knew no one. Or more specifically, where no one knew him. It was a small, unassuming little planet made primarily of towering gnarltrees and large oceans of fog that swam above shallow pools of water. Sprawling pockets of civilization built upon wooden stilts were dotted here and there above the clear pools nestled between forests. It wasn't exactly the kind of place Din imagined he'd find a good paying job, but his source had assured him otherwise.

"Is that your boy? He is so handsome, and smart! You can tell by looking into the eyes. So luminous."

The Mandalorian buried a sigh. He'd been forced to land his ship far outside the reaches of D'Thracc, one of the planet's largest cities, and a taxi barge had been waiting for him when he arrived. He wasn't in much of a hurry, which was good because the local he was paying to take him- a female, fish-like creature- had informed him that the fog would require them to be cautious.

Which apparently meant that they would be moving at the pace of a Hutt who'd just eaten a large meal.

One of the taxi-woman's large eyes stared out into the fog while the other stared at him. "You don't look like the father type to me, if you don't mind my saying."

He didn't mind, but he certainly had no comment to give. Luckily she didn't require a response. From the moment he'd stepped on board, it became clear that she wouldn't require him to participate in the conversation.

"I know about you Mandalorian types. So silent and mysterious. I would ask how you came to have such a child, but I'm afraid I wouldn't like the answer. Did you kill its parents? No that's not right, your kind likes to take in orphans, don't you? So is it an orphan? It must be, for you certainly don't appear to be its father. You don't have the ears for it. Hold on, we're making a turn here."

He swayed slightly as the woman guided them through a narrow straights and around a sharp corner that had suddenly emerged from the fog. The Asset was cooing, and Din gently but firmly pulled a glowing leaf stalk from its grasp. He wasn't sure where the baby had gotten it from, especially considering it was strapped securely to his chest. He'd tried keeping it on his back on several occasions, which was more convenient, but he'd learned very quickly that he needed to keep an eye on it for its safety and his own sanity. The Child had an incredible aptitude for getting into trouble.

As soon as the fish-woman finished her impressive display of navigation, she tsked. "Too many younglings without parents these days thanks to the Empire. What a terrible business that was. Death and destruction around the galaxy. We're lucky we had nothing the Empire wanted, or we'd have been in dire straights no doubt."

Her one unblinking eye that was facing him was roving around, watching the fog, until it landed on him. "It would be incredibly difficult to grow up without a mother's love to guide and support, I'm sure you'd agree."

"Yes." Din finally hazarded to answer, mostly because he was starting to sweat under the woman's unnerving gaze.

The fact of the matter was, Din was beginning to wonder whether it would be a good idea to get The Kid a babysitter. He was having a hard enough time finding jobs, let alone find the time to make sure it was properly fed and staying out of trouble. He certainly had enough problems of his own, as illustrated so poignantly by his latest botched job for Ranzar, but add in a toddler and now he was in for a lifetime of trouble.

Unfortunately for him, his trustworthy acquaintances were few and diminishing at an alarming rate. Cara wasn't exactly the baby-watching sort, and Kuiil had firmly denied his request to join him with a final "I have spoken". It was too bad Omera already had a child of her own. She would have been an ideal addition to his crew, for many reasons. However, he would never ask her to abandon the safety and security of her planet for the dangers of his lifestyle. She wouldn't agree to it anyway. Living on the run was no way to raise a child she'd say, as he would have to agree, as he was learning on an almost daily basis.

No, it was better with just him and The Asset. And since those fobs were still floating around in the hands of other guild members, it looked like it was going to be that way for a long time.

"Here, give him some of this, he looks hungry."

Din accepted the nondescript strip of brown bark as a welcome distraction from his busy thoughts. He analyzed the food slowly before handing it to the baby, who immediately stuck it into its mouth. Another reason he liked to keep an eye on it. Everything went into its mouth, dead, alive, or otherwise.

He squinted out into the swirling mist, fighting his ever present impulse to reach for his blaster. He knew this place was safe enough, but he was itching for something to take his mind off his sudden melancholy. Being a Mandalorian was an honor and a responsibility, and Din had never regretted swearing into the order. Although he could admit that in the beginning, loneliness was a constant companion. It had taken years of discipline but he eventually defeated it, or so he thought. When he found The Asset, it had snuck back in like an old enemy that knew him well, striking him between the breaks of his beskar armor.

"You must be very lonely, being out there all on your own Mandalorian."

If he didn't know better he'd say the old fish-woman had read the plaintive look that had crossed his face, but he knew it was most likely a well aimed shot in the dark. One of the greatest advantages to his accouterments was that it hid all of his emotion behind a mask of blank stoicism. But this wouldn't be the first time someone had assumed they knew what Din was thinking, and it wouldn't be the last time he chose not to answer.

"Well don't you worry about it. You came to D'Thracc at a perfect time! There's a custom we like to celebrate here every year, a little something called D'es Valen T'ni. The celebration is starting tonight, and I assure you that you won't be short a shortage of interested parties who will wish to join with you."

Din was glad she had finally removed her eye from him so she didn't see his involuntary shudder.

D'es Valen T'ni. The love festival. Valentine's Day.

He couldn't imagine how such a frivolous and humiliating tradition had infected every corner of the galaxy. He had spent countless years evading it, and now because of The Child he was walking right into the worst sort of misfortune. Yet, The Child would be most likely be his saving mercy. If his contact was correct, he should find his next client in D'Thracc and he could be on his way by first light.

Din felt a tug on his shoulder and realized The Child had finished eating the bark, and was now chewing on the bag. He distracted it with his finger, which is grasped and stared at with great interest.

"Thank you for the offer, but I'm here on business."

She clucked her tongue. "It is too bad, for you are a mighty specimen. But perhaps you will reconsider when your business is through. If you are to be here for the week then there will be many opportunities to partake."

"I plan on leaving in the morning."

She clucked her tongue again. "It is your loss."

The Child's chattering was the only sound to disrupt the heavy silence that descended upon the taxi's occupants until the far away strains of music and revelry began to whisper through the thick mist. Almost half an hour passed before she spoke again.

"We are almost to the outskirts of the city."

As if on cue, long spindly spires of wood began to emerge like specters out of the fog.

She navigated through a fairly wide channel that was overflowing with skiffs and taxis, the music and laughter getting louder as they started for the heart of the city. Din's nerves were already starting to fray. Perhaps it was the long night's he'd spent trying to figure out how to take care of The Child, but he just didn't have the patience he used to for these sorts of things. If only Cara were here, he'd at least have someone to exchange disgusted glances with while he conducted his business.

And why was everything red? Din chose to ignore the flirtations thrown at him as he wove through the colorful crowds, brushing heart shaped confetti from his shoulder with irritation. If he was lucky, he would find the contact and be back to his ship within the hour. Why wait till morning when it was clear he wouldn't be able to get sleep because of the noise? Besides, he wasn't so sure the Kid should be exposed to such a tradition. He was far too young for this sort of thing. It was all he could do not to cover its eyes.

When he finally found his contact, it was in the middle of a wild party. The creature was clearly having the time of its life drinking and playing some kind of game that clearly indicated that there was no such thing as monogamy on this planet.

He folded his arms and stared at the creature till it realized he was there, and it jumped to its many feet, clearly intoxicated. "Ah my friend! You have arrived at the perfect time! Join us for a game? F'la Sequent'a Utrem. There's no need to learn the rules, for there are none!"

The group behind him laughed uproariously.

"Let's just get this over with."

"Whatever you want Mandalorian." It shrugged, tentacles indicating a back room. It had to shoo several lovers from the dark corners before it could freely speak. As it started to talk, Din began to feel dread, and when it finished, borderline panic.

"You mean your target is here at the festival?"

"Exactly!" It passed over a puck, and Din opened it. It was a creature of the same race, although clearly another sex.

"Why not hire some local thugs to get rid of your problem? It would have cost you a lot less."

"And caused a lot more speculation." It bellowed, belaying its intent on secrecy. "I wouldn't want anyone to talk, and the people here love to talk. No I'd rather pay you the fee and have you get rid of my problem quietly."

Din was having a crisis. He desperately needed the money, but did he really want to hang around for an entire week, surrounded by lovelorn idiots, just to get rid of this things' jealous lover? Eventually, he settled upon a halfway decent idea. "I'll meet you here in three nights time on the south docks of the city. I'll also require more of that bark for the little one."

"Whatever you ask you shall have!" Many tentacles slapped Din across his shoulders and with a nod he swept out of the room.

As he watched some revelers dump a wriggling body over the side of the railing, cheering at the resounding splash, he looked down at the small child strapped to his chest. It looked up at him and smiled a toothy grin.

Din needed this job. They needed this job. He would handle two more nights in the this town even if it killed him. And who knows, maybe after a night or two in this godforsaken city, he'd be cured from his loneliness for good.

One could only hope.