"So It is a child." The girl's face was as inscrutable as carbonite, except for the slight narrowing of her eyes. Unlike her sister, she seemed extremely competent at her job, and he wasn't thrilled to be at the other end of his own weapon in her hands. She looked ready to pull the trigger at any slight provocation.
A quick flickering of the mechanic's gaze clued him into the arrival of Tia, who was trying to stifle her labored breaths behind him.
He slowly moved his arms so they were up in a gesture of surrender. "I suppose you and your sister weren't actually planning to hire me to bring in Krrsantan."
"Tia told you the truth." The girl bit out. "We want him."
"Alive." Tia inserted.
"Alive." She agreed, although her tone suggested otherwise.
"No offense, but it's difficult for me to discuss business when my own blaster is pointed at my head."
"You'll have to forgive me for being cautious. I didn't believe you'd be open to negotiations after you discovered me trying to break into your ship."
Well, she wasn't wrong he supposed.
"What's your name?" He asked.
"Ghia."
"Well Ghia, as I told your sister, I don't think you can afford me."
"Whatever you want, we will pay you on receipt of the prisoner."
"I don't take Imperial credits."
"We would never offer you dirty money." She spat, and Din felt comforted in the fact that they were no friend of the old Empire.
"I also don't take kindly to people who try to take my stuff without permission."
"The Asset isn't yours Mandalorian."
"I beg to differ. Without me, It would have been taken by the Empire and no one would have known of Its existence. It is mine by all rights."
"Nevertheless, news of The Asset has gone out far and wide and is of great interest to many."
"Our superiors included." Tia slid into Din's field of vision. She had acquired a weapon, although it was thankfully still snug in its holster.
So they were not thieves, but spies. An odd choice of career considering their youth and obvious inexperience with subterfuge. "Who exactly are your superiors?"
The girls looked at each other in silence and Din sighed. "If you aren't Imperial or Guild, then you simply could have asked to see It. As you mentioned, it's no secret that I carry It aboard my ship."
"Past mistakes have taught us not to trust in the cooperation of strangers. We've been taken for fools before."
"I understand."
"Do you?" Ghia's face darkened as she took a step towards him. "Do you know what it is to be taken in by a lie, then have your whole world stripped away? To lose your innocence and dignity as a slave, in constant fear not just for one's own life but for the life of a sister?"
Silence hung heavy after this pronouncement. Tia looked stricken, but her sister's eyes bored into Din's very soul.
The facts were beginning to fit together. The two sisters were former slaves, here on official business but on a personal vendetta against Krrsantan, a mercenary who was well known for the acquisition and peddling of human cargo.
Disgust burned deep in his gut. "I'm sorry."
His words were heavy, and as he said them he watched Ghia's angry facade falter for an instant, then fall immediately back in place. "It's in the past, and we do what we must to forget, do we not Mandalorian?"
"Yes."
World weariness hung heavy on the planes of her face, frown lines permanently etched between her eyes and the corners of her mouth. She seemed infinitely older than her twin, who's idealism and youth had somehow survived their imprisonment. He felt a sort of kinship with the girl in front of him. He knew what it was like to have childhood cut short by circumstances beyond his control.
"Who do you work for?"
There was a long pause.
"Resistance fighters," Tia offered at last, "friends of the Old Republic."
He had never been a fan of the Republic. They hadn't done much to stop the spread of chaos throughout the galaxy, chaos that led to his parents' deaths. However, the Resistance had single-handedly brought down the Empire and he supposed he owed them something for that. At the very least he felt duty bound to offer these girls his services, since it was within his power to give them some measure of freedom their past.
"I'm prepared to make a deal. You want to examine The Asset, and I want to get paid. As I no longer work for the Guild I'll have no problems bringing in Krrsantan, and I'm willing to bring him in for only double my usual fee."
"In exchange for what?" Ghia asked suspiciously.
As if in response to this question, the closet opened with a gentle whoosh, and there The Child stood, grinning up at them.
Tia gasped.
Din sighed. "A few days free from baby-sitting."
Ghia watched as her sister picked up The Asset with a small smile. "I believe those terms will be acceptable. However I have one more request."
She held his blaster out towards him, grip first. He reached for it but she didn't let go.
"I wish to come with you."
He gave her a hard look. It probably wasn't a good idea, but then again he rarely had good ideas these days. Besides, who was he to deprive her of this opportunity to bring justice to Krrsantan? He might never get revenge on those who killed his parents, but he could help the twins get their revenge on that undeserving piece of shabuir.
He tugged his blaster free and holstered it. "Deal."
"There it is. Dathomir."
Din prepared for the descent. He was not unaware of the dangers native to this planet. Witches they called Nightsisters were said to roam the bleak landscape that was tormented with all sorts of unforgiving creatures. He knew from first hand experience exactly what an enraged rancor could do to a man, and he had no plans of taking leave of his limbs today.
"I'm going to set her down near the ruins. It should keep us from prying eyes and mask our approach."
Every meter closer to the surface seemed to add a heaviness to Din's shoulders. He hoped the plan they concocted would go off without a hitch, however unrealistic that hope might be.
"There."
Ghia pointed out the landing spot as soon as the Razorcrest cut through the layer of dust in the atmosphere. They landed on the edge of a village that had clearly been abandoned long ago.
"According to the database, The temple shouldn't be too far from here. If your contact was telling the truth, Krrsantan will most likely be there."
"Why do you sound doubtful?"
"Because I don't know what will be waiting for us when we open the doors. It's been said that the witches who live here have the ability to raise the dead to fight again." He gave her a sideways glance. "Are you sure-"
"I'm going." She raised her hood and slipped on her gloves. "I have the coordinates. I lead, you watch our backs."
He raised his brow but didn't comment as he opened the bay doors and they descended into the heat of the red planet. The air felt smothering, dulling even the echo of their footsteps as they tramped through the ruins, though it was the silence that bothered him the most. There were no signs of life anywhere, not even the creatures he'd been warned to guard against. It seemed to Din as if they were the only two living creatures left on the planet.
While his misgivings grew, it appeared that Ghia had none. She seemed dead set on reaching the temple as soon as possible, and nothing would turn her away. They climbed decaying walls and passed through half rusted doors until they were at the door of the temple.
Ghia put away her scanner and knelt down. "The sand looks disturbed here."
"Then we can at least be sure that someone is waiting for us inside, Krrsantan or otherwise."
"You suspect the Nightsisters?"
"Or worse." He pulled out his blaster. "Just be ready. I go in first, and you cover me."
"Fine."
Din paused to listen, and upon hearing only the slight whistling of the wind in the open air, he pushed open the door. Ghia was hard at his heels, but the two stopped dead at the cacophony of sound that met their ears. Curses and shouts, blaster bolts and the roar of a very angry Wookiee.
"Damn." Ghia hissed, and was off like a flash.
He took off after her.
In the center of a large antechamber was the Wookiee against five armed mercenaries, but before he could come up with any sort of plan Ghia was already charging in, eyes blazing.
"He's mine scum!" She snarled, and a knife went whizzing from her hand towards the nearest man. As he fell with a scream her pistol appeared in her outstretched palm, and she began firing indiscriminately at the two men who had turned to meet the newcomer with their weapons at the ready.
Krrsantan roared as the remaining mercenaries grappled on his back. He'd somehow lost his bowcaster in the struggle, and Din spotted it across the chamber. Unfortunately the only way to it was through the fray. He punched the closest assailant that had turned to shoot Ghia, then sent a shot over his shoulder towards one of the men on Krrsantan's back. The other quickly slid behind the Wookiee for cover. A bad idea, as it turned out. The Wookiee's arm swung back and the man went flying across the hall and into a nearby statue with a sickening thud.
Din heard Krrsantan making quick work of one of the mercenaries as he made it to the bowcaster, and all at once there were no more mercenaries standing, and every available weapon were in the hands if Din and Ghia. Each one was pointed squarely at the Wookiee's chest.
Krrsantan looked at them both, head held high. "If you're going to kill me, then I suggest you make it quick. More men will be here soon."
"We aren't going to kill you." Ghia hissed. "We're here to make you pay for the crimes of abduction you committed for Jabba the Hutt."
The Wookiee looked shocked, then a little confused as he tilted his head at her. "The Mandalorian I know but you... You must be one of the whelps I've wronged during my career."
Ghia glared at him.
Krrsantan coughed until blood dribbled out of his mouth. His teeth were stained red as he grimaced. "You'll have to forgive me for not recognizing you, I rarely make a habit of remembering the names or faces of those I've taken, for the list is long. Unless I was paid much to take them, in which case I made a habit of remembering. They were the ones more likely to try and kill me afterward, if they survived long enough to attempt it. You, however, I do not remember. I must not have gotten paid much for taking you. Strange how it's always the ones you least expect. The ones who are nothing."
The Wookiee roared as a bolt from his own bowcaster blasted him in the leg.
"I think it would be best if you keep your mouth shut." Din said calmly before handing the weapon off to Ghia, who was quivering with either rage or pain he could not tell. "If he makes any kind of move, aim for an arm. I don't want to have to carry him to the ship."
Din couldn't see any wounds on Krrsantan, but the Wookiee was laboring to breathe and put up very little resistance while being cuffed. The procession back to the ship was again silent, except for the huffing of the Wookiee as he limped on his injured leg over the rugged terrain. He didn't open his mouth until they were back on the ship.
"I don't suppose The Guild sent you Mandalorian."
"No."
He looked contemplative. "And I'm to be in carbonite."
"Yes."
"I don't suppose there's any use in asking you to reconsider."
"No."
A pause. "Very well."
Din positioned the Wookiee, and with nary a second thought froze him. It was over in a matter of seconds.
Steam filled the cargo hold, and when it cleared, Ghia's face appeared. For the first time since they'd met, she appeared at a loss.
"That's it?"
"Yes."
"I can't believe it."
Din grunted. He didn't have the heart to tell her that the operation went too smoothly, that there must have been a reason that the Wookiee came willingly. Other forces were at work. It was possible that Din and Ghia had inadvertently saved him from a fate worse than death. At least with the Republic he'd have access to a fair trial, good living conditions, and possibly a way to live out the rest of his days without the constant threat of a knife in his back.
Or maybe they'd given him access to an inside job. It was hard to tell with someone as wily as Krrsantan.
In a perfect world he'd be dead at the hands of fate, but life was unfair sometimes, even for the damned.
"Let's get going to the rendezvous point. I want that Wookiee off my ship as soon as possible."
Din strapped in, and Ghia soon followed suit. Less than twelve hours later they called in the code, and met on the surface of a small green planetoid as planned.
Ghia led the carbonite off the ship and onto the transport shuttle just as Tia emerged holding The Child. She took her sister's arm in a kind of salute, then looked after the slab thoughtfully as it disappeared into the bowels of the ship.
"I see you did what you set out to do."
"Yes."
She nodded. "He doesn't look like I remember him. He seems so... calm. It's hard to imagine it's the same Wookiee. His face has been etched into my mind with a sneer and a roar. I suppose time has a way of changing faces until they look like terrible masks."
"Krrsantan was a terrible Wookiee."
She smiled at him. "Perhaps. Thank you for letting me keep The Asset while you were away. He's a very gentle child."
"Troublesome you mean." Din said, but he couldn't deny the relief flooding through him at the sight of It, safe and happy in her arms. "Did your superiors get all the information they needed?"
"Yes, and you're report was most... instructive. General Organa wanted me to personally thank you on her behalf."
He nodded. He had heard the name before, and though it inspired great respect he knew very little of it's owner. "I think your sister is itching to leave. You'd best get on board before she flies off without you."
She stepped forward, but instead of giving him The Child put her free arm around him in a awkward hug. Din could only stand there, uncomfortable, until she released him and thrust the baby into his arms. "Goodbye Mandalorian, and thank you."
She rushed away, past Ghia, who was standing at the door hatch. She tossed him his money, which he deftly caught.
"We're in your debt Mandalorian."
"There is no debt."
The two regarded each other silently for a moment before she released a short nod, one he returned before the cargo doors began to close and she disappeared from sight.
He watched the transport until it was lost to the opalescent sky.
The Child cooed and reached out a hand to pat his helmet.
"You're right, it's about time we get going ourselves."
It laughed, and Din smiled. "It's good to see you too little one."
