Chapter 2 – The Child

Mando and his daughter knew their trek back was going to be difficult due to Mando's daughter's ankle being injured, but the two had no choice as they slowly walked back to the Razor Crest.

She used the pulse rifle as a walking stick not wanting to slow down their mission. They continued their journey down in a ravine trying to keep a low profile, away from any prying eyes from the child who sat, exposed, in its hovering pod.

Mando had programmed the pods controls into his gauntlet making it follow close to the both of them. She knew she shouldn't but in a way she felt uneasy around the child, like it was drawn to her for no particular reason.

"It's staring at me again," she said in wariness, but her father ignored her complaint because the tiny lizards that had been following them suddenly sought refuge.

Clearly seeing this as a warning Mando silenced his daughter and unclasped his blaster but the ambush began. From a top, a group of orange reptile Trandoshans rained down on them hoping to end their lives with their scepters, with quick thinking Mando tried to draw all of them away from his daughter and the child.

He quickly pressed a button and sent the pod a safe distance away but a Trandoshan was already battling his daughter. Luckily she was holding her ground while Mando took on four others. With ease he eradicated one, obtaining the creatures scepter and then using it against his attackers since he had no time to draw his blaster.

Each opponent was eager to end his life when he wasted no effort to end theirs first, but one Trandoshan, realizing their lose, split from the group and headed towards the child, scepter raised for the kill. Trying to react quickly, Mando was about to throw his scepter, but his distance was to far, it wouldn't reach the assailant. The creature inched closer when his daughter had everything under control.

In success she had defeated her attacker and got off one shot to disintegrate the determined assassin. In relief she slumped to the ground exhausted while the remnants of the Trandoshan settled and revealed an active tracking fob.

Since the both of them were pretty beat up, Mando decided to make camp so he could attend to their wounds. He was relieved that his daughter was not injured further where he was not so lucky. On Mando's upper right arm he sustained a deep gash, he applied his medical laser to stitch his wound but it was much more difficult than he predicted.

"Let me help," she reached for the device but he declined.

He continued his procedure in distress when no one noticed the child climb out of its pod and reach towards Mando's wound as if it wanted to somehow heal it. In shock Mando quickly instructed his daughter to put the child back in its confinement while he continued his work. With no argument she complied and gathered the child placing it back in the pod.

She went back to sit next to her father when he popped off his armor chest plate to reconfigure some schematics. He found this as a good enough time to show his daughter how to reconstruct the wiring, but her attention was brought back to the child who was by her father's side again, reaching for his wound willingly.

Intrigued she watched the child with extreme intent somehow able to read its objective, she was just about to tell her father but he had lost his patience, scooping up the child and placing it back in its pod. The two glared at one another as if the child was also trying to communicate with him when Mando pressed a button and closed the containers lid.

The next morning the three finally reached the Razor Crest but a loud sound of chatter filtered through the air. In horror a clan of Jawas were taking apart the Razor Crest and claiming them as their own in order to sell, in disbelief young Mando stared on wondering how the Jawas over rode the Razor Crest's security system and then she realized she never set it.

Mando quickly dropped into position signaling for his pulse rifle and scanned the area to see which Jawa had the most pivotal part of his ship. Finding it hard, as all of them had a piece, he pulled the trigger disintegrating any Jawa that came in his scope. Immediately the Jawas started to clamor, making haste for their Sandcrawler, while others fired their weapons any which way.

Mando took out a few more before the vehicle began to speed off, he rose to his feet disarming the pod and screaming at his daughter to stay put. He took one last aim and shot at the Crawler's engine but it didn't slow it down. In haste he ran after the Sandcrawler climbing onto the machine trying to find a way to the top.

With quick reflexes the Jawa driver attempted to ram the Crawler into a rocky wall, hoping their assailant would get knocked off but no such luck. Mando found a landing awaiting his opportunity to ascend to the top, a few seconds passed by and his moment came.

He deployed his grappling hook catching a canon gun harnessed on top. He began his difficult assent as the Jawas threw anything and everything his way. Not giving up, Mando threw overboard whatever Jawa got in his way as he finally reached the summit, but awaiting him was a whole clan of Jawas, each with a stun gun.

Several blasts fired his way, sending electro shocks through his entire body, paralyzing him in an instant. With no ability to move, Mando fell backwards, falling several feet before making contact with the hard ground. Stunned, he couldn't move or speak when he felt the veil of unconsciousness slip over him.

"Papi!" Mando heard in the distance a small voice call his name, a name he never thought he would acquire, "Papi," the voice began to break through his subconscious as his real first happy memory, from his younger days, played before his eyes.

She was so young, her tiny frame use to fit in the crook of his side when he cradled her in his chest. So small, so fragile, he would give his life for her, a promise he made to protect her until his dying day, but that word always swelled his heart, because it was her first.

"Papi, can you hear me, please wake up. Oh man I can't carry him," she said to herself defeated.

With a disgruntled moan Mando finally came to, assuring his daughter she would not have to.

"You're alright," she was about to hug him but knew better in this instance, instead she kept her distance believing this was a safe beat for now, "Do you need help getting up. I can help you, whatever you need," she pestered unintentionally while Mando knew her intentions were in the right place, but he was beyond frustrated.

One simple task she had to complete and this one simple task she never fulfilled, why couldn't she remember to initiate the Razor Crest's security system? Granted the situation they were put in from being attacked by the Nexu and Blurrgs didn't help matters but she should have known, her one task.

"Here let me fix your pauldron," she continued when Mando put up a hand to silence her and so he could catch his breath.

"It's okay, I'm fine," Mando stood applying pressure to some sore muscles while gaining his composure.

With patience his daughter waited next to the child anticipating her father's next command. Once he was ready he programmed the pod back to follow him when they made their way back to the dismantled ship.

The destruction to the Razor Crest was severe, stripped clean of all essential parts, and with no power, Mando sat in the cockpit defeated - for once - when he heard no movement coming from his daughter. Believing it was a start to an episode for her, Mando immediately went to the lower deck to check on her, but instead he was met by her faint sobs.

He knew all to well what his daughter was upset about, all of her works of art were destroyed while her art supplies were missing.

She sat on the floor in sadness upset with herself for not setting the security system. All of this was her fault, she deserved for her passion to be destroyed and stolen; especially the paints she was most excited to create with that Karga just gave her.

Mando could see the weight his daughter was placing on her shoulders and didn't want that kind of responsibility or stress on her. He sat in an exposed cargo hold behind her and put a hand on her shoulder, in relief he didn't feel the unusual vibration that could overrun her unexpectedly, actually she seemed depleted of energy, he had to make things right.

"This is not your fault," Mando began.

"Don't patronize me, instead scold me, let me have it, freeze me in carbonite as punishment! I really messed up and I deserve this outcome," she said while her voice broke.

Mando knew all to well his daughter hardly ever cried, no matter how bad she hurt herself physically the emotion barely manifested, but this instance was different because her actions affected him, it affected their mission, and it affected her passion of creativity.

Mando got up from his seat and knelt in front of her but her head was bent down not wanting to envision the scolding he would bestow on her.

"Look at me," he knew she wouldn't so he placed his index finger beneath the tip of her helmet, "Please look at me." Finally she did but her shoulders slumped in depression, "We all make mistakes," he declared.

"But…" she tried to explain further when he silenced her in a gentle manner.

"Let me repeat myself. We all make mistakes. As long as we learn from them then we won't repeat them," Mando moved his hand to the side of her helmet acting as if he was stroking her cheek.

She vaguely nodded her head in agreement as the both of them saw the child place its hand on her knee, showcasing her comfort as well. A hint of relief washed over her when she envisioned an outcome that would work out for them in the end.

The journey was long but she knew better than to say anything, complain she was tired, hot, or that her ankle still ached, no she knew better; especially with all that had happened she would walk forever to make up her mistake. Mile after mile they walked when finally she saw where they were headed, back to the Ugnaught's homestead.

He was busy fixing a transmitter, his back turned away from his approaching guests when he seemed to sense their return, "I thought you were dead."

Mando just shook his head while his daughter shrugged her shoulders and whispered, "Almost."

The Ugnaught continued with his work while Mando and his daughter sat attaining to their armor, obtaining some freedom the child was allowed to walk about as it chased after a small frog like creature.

"This is what was causing all the fuss?" the Ugnaught questioned.

"I think it's a child," Mando said.

"It is better to deliver it alive then."

"My ship has been destroyed. We're trapped here."

"Stripped. Not destroyed. The Jawas steal. They don't destroy," the Ugnaught declared.

"Stolen or destroyed makes no difference to me," Mando said a bit hostel.

"Doesn't your ship have a defense mechanism? Surely this wouldn't have happened it you had set it."

Young Mando just put her head down and made her way towards the child that was chasing the frog in the distance. Mando watched where she was headed when the Ugnaught gave Mando a tool to help fix his gauntlet that he was attempting to fix himself.

"That is not the issue at hand. My concern is how to get my parts back," Mando said.

"You can trade," the Ugnaught suggested.

"With Jawas? Are you out of your mind?"

"I will take you to them. I have spoken."

While the two were in discussion young Mando watched the child finally catch the frog it so longingly craved. She believed it was only going to play with it but then it took a nasty turn. The child put the frog in its mouth and started to swallow.

"No…no…no…" she squealed as her father turned in their direction to witness the consumption.

"Hey spit that out," Mando commanded.

"Eww…to late," she said dry heaving when the child burped and giggled happily.

The Ugnaught saddled up his Blurrg and harnessed a small hovering wagon behind. Mando and his daughter sat in the back as the child floated near, they had to trek in the rain during the night while the hot sun dried them off during the scorching day. Finally the Sandcrawler was spotted and they made their way towards it.

"Greetings," the Ugnaught shouted to the furious and on guard Jawas, "They really don't like you for some reason."

"Well, I did disintegrate a few of them," Mando pointed out.

"You need to drop your rifle."

"We're Mandalorians. Weapons are part of our religion."

"Then you are not getting your parts back."

"Fine," Mando put the rifle aside as everyone got out ready to approach where the Jawas set up shop.

The Ugnaught could hear the Jawas clamor and rectified one last thing, "And both of your blasters," he addressed to Mando and his daughter.

Mando glared at the Ugnaught as if he had just insulted him when young Mando put her hand on her father's arm pleading to comply, "Please," when she pulled her blaster out and put it in the wagon, unhappy Mando did the same while the Ugnaught approached the Jawas in good spirits.

"Good day," the Ugnaught started.

The Jawas responded well and allowed the Ugnaught to wave over the two Mandalorians, everyone took a seat on the ground when the Jawas began to negotiate in their language.

"They will trade all the parts for both of your Beskar armor," the Ugnaught translated.

"I'm not gonna trade anything. These are my parts. They stole from me," Mando said angrily. The Jawa in charge started to ramble again when Mando attempted to speak broken Jawa, "They…they…belong…to me!"

Immediately the Jawas laughed at his dialect while the leader stated the obvious, "You speak terrible Jawa. You sound like a Wookie."

"You understand this?" frustrated Mando blasted them with fire as the Ugnaught and Mando's daughter grabbed him in order to help settle him down.

"Whoa. Easy, easy there," the Ugnaught waved his hands. The Jawa spoke again making other demands when the Ugnaught spoke back, "They are Mandalorians. They cannot give you their Beskar armor. What else may he trade?"

The Jawa stood and pointed to the child when both Mando and his daughter shouted to get away from it.

"There must be something else," the Ugnaught was running out of ideas.

The Jawas encircled together what seemed like a deep discussion.

"What are they saying?" young Mando felt she could finally speak.

"They speak about an egg," the Ugnaught grunted and hung his head in his hand.

"The egg? What egg?" Mando questioned, but all the Jawas did was chant "the egg" over and over again as if it was a sacred relic.

Everyone climbed a board the Sandcrawler and stood in the bridge as they made their way towards wherever this egg resided. The Jawas continued their chant of the egg when Mando sighed in annoyance, in a bit of retaliation the Jawa driver hit a bump sending Mando upwards hitting his head since he was the tallest. All the Jawas laughed in unison while Mando didn't find it funny but noticed his daughter unable to hold in her chuckle.

Finally the Crawler came to a halt as everyone made their way to exit. At the foot of the hatch Mando began transferring the pod's controls over to his daughter's gauntlet when she put her hand over his controls.

"I'm coming with you," she informed.

"No you're not," he confirmed.

"Yes I am, I must learn from my mistake," she glared up into her father's helmet determined.

Realizing she was stubborn like him, plus they were losing daylight, he didn't want to argue and signaled for her to follow. They made their way to a cavern and along one side was a large hole, what resided inside was unknown to them. They stood at the mouth of the cave readying themselves for battle, Mando unclasped his pulse rifle handing it over to his daughter.

"Wait, I didn't prove myself with your weapon, so I shouldn't be trusted with it," she declared.

"You did your part back at the ravine, you will do it here also. So this is the plan. I'm going to flush out whatever is in there, once it emerges you blast it in the head, alright?" Mando instructed.

"Okay."

"Take your position to the side so once it follows me you can kill it."

Quickly following her father's orders she took her position, knelt down on one knee, rifle in hand, and her eye in the scope. The child's pod floated near her as this was also her responsibility to protect it.

Apprehensively Mando walked into the cave with his blaster at the ready. He was hoping to take care of the creature himself but it was entirely too hard to see. He clicked on his helmet light to get a better view when he noticed bones sprawled about the floor and a gigantic eye staring back at him.

Young Mando sat perfectly still awaiting for her moment when she heard rapid gunfire. Concerned she knew not to move from position but the choice was clear once she witnessed her father being tossed like a rag doll from the cave. Mando landed harshly on his back, stunned, possibly injured and stuck in the mud.

"Papi!" she exclaimed viewing the damage to her father's armor.

In reaction she ran to him concerned for his health and safety. In a bit of a daze Mando slowly rose noticing his daughter was attempting to fix his damaged chest plate. It hung on like a loose tooth when from the cave echoed an angry roar as the Mudhorn emerged from the darkness in rage.

Locking in on its targets the Mudhorn dug its foot into the mud getting ready to charge like a bull.

"Oh no you don't!" young Mando assured as she rose to her feet ready to protect her father at all costs.

The creature roared its final warning before charging but young Mando took first initiative. She fired multiple shots at its head, with this she walked closer towards her prey believing the rifle was penetrating the hide. In reflex the Mudhorn used its elongated horn to deflect most of her shots but she continued hoping to kill it.

Realizing before she did, Mando screamed for her to dive out of the way but it was to late, with its massive horn it smacked young Mando to the side, sending her ten feet from where she once stood. Not pleased with her outcome, the Mudhorn kept focus on her and charged again smashing its horn on her body.

"NO!" Mando shouted and ran with all his strength to get to her aid. Mando blasted the furry creature with fire, hoping to set it ablaze and turn its focus on him. With one last swing the Mudhorn sent her sliding across the way and making contact with the surrounding rocky walls. Mando received the creature's attention but continued blasting it with fire until the flammable gave out, this allowed the Mudhorn to swing its mighty horn and make contact with its new target.

This blow sent Mando a few feet back, splattering him back in the mud, once the Mudhorn got closer he released his grappling hook in order to hog tie it but instead the Mudhorn took him for a ride.

Realizing this as a failed attempt he released the wire allowing the Mudhorn to be free when it circled around to make another crucial blow. This one made the world stop for Mando, absolute silence filtered through his ears, nothing registered to his brain until he was brought forth by a small tremor trembling around him.

With all his strength he slowly rose to a knee, Vibroblade in hand, ready to make a last stand, when he noticed the Mudhorn awaiting its opportunity and make its final strike. In apprehension Mando could hear his daughter in distress, below him two lines manifested in the terrain but cracked around him and instead headed straight for the Mudhorn.

Sensing the impeding danger the Mudhorn charged, Mando bowed his head, Vibroblade extended, he would go out like a warrior. The Mudhorn ran with a roar and went to end its target, but the closer it got the harder it ran because something was forcing it back and then lifted it off the crumbling ground beneath it.

Mando glared up in awe unaware of what was happening, the creature was floating in mid-air, it had to weight at least a ton, how could this be? From the corner of his eye Mando noticed the child had its arm extended, eyes closed, and concentrated with all its strength. Giving everything it had the child collapsed backwards and went unconscious releasing the exhausted Mudhorn into the manifested hole below. Trapped, the Mudhorn thrashed and wielded its horn but this just caused it to fall further into the sinkhole, allowing Mando to perform a safe kill.

Exhausted, Mando stepped back analyzing what had just happened before him, but realized the danger wasn't over yet. The ground beneath him continued vibrating creating other sinkholes unexpectedly as if an earthquake was beginning. He looked around and noticed the surrounding rocks were being shaken free from the walls, almost creating an avalanche and trapping them inside.

In haste he ran towards his daughter who had propped herself up on the wall while her hands were placed on the ground. Her whole body shook without freedom, she didn't have control, he had to get her to get control.

Mando knelt in front of his daughter hearing her battle through clenched teeth and low moans as if she was ready to bellow out a scream.

"Hear me," Mando began as she tried to constrain herself but found it difficult, he knew how bad an episode could get, he had to help her prevent it from fully releasing, "Focus on my voice, only my voice, breathe, relax, focus, hear me," Mando kept repeating while witnessing his surroundings crack vigorously, raining loose debris around them.

Her legs moved up and down anxiously, her chest rose rapidly, while her back arched and froze in anguish. It was as if she was fighting something off internally, preventing it from escaping and reeking havoc on the outside world.

As a last resort Mando would sedate her if need be but he knew she wasn't that far along, he could bring her back. Without hesitation Mando clutched onto her hand and placed his forehead onto hers.

"Hear me, breathe, focus, relax, breathe, hear me, please hear me," his voice almost cracked wishing he could take this torment from his daughter, "Hear my voice, only my voice, come back to me Mi Pequeno," with this the world began to seize, the ground opened no more while the walls stopped crumbling.

The tension from her body slowly vanished, her hand started to loosen around his, when her breath returned to normalcy.

"Papi, you're alive," she spoke out of breath.

"Can't get rid of me that easily," he tried to make her laugh as he heard a small chuckle escape.

He kept their hands interlocked and pulled her to his chest, holding her for as long as he could.

"I need to check on the child and collect the egg, will you be alright?" Mando finally released his hold to over look the damage to her and armor. Nothing appeared to be broken physically, the armor did its job, but was destroyed in the process.

"Yes," was the only word she could speak. This episode really took a lot out of her but it was never the end. A continuous battle always struggled inside her and it was only getting stronger, unfortunately she kept this to herself not wanting to worry her father because he had enough on his plate.

In a loving gesture he stroked this side of her helmet as if caressing her cheek, he got up with sore muscles and checked on another exhausted child. Sleeping soundly the child looked alright, no physical injuries he could see, so he went to the cave to find the egg which, with success, was rewarded to him.

The Jawas began to pack up believing they wouldn't come back as the Ugnaught encouraged them to stay a little while longer. Restless the Jawas started to leave while the Ugnaught sighed in distain but on the horizon three figures approached.

"Mando!" the Ugnaught shouted as the Jawas returned.

"We have it, we got the egg," Mando stated tiredly.

Eagerly the Jawas collected the egg, sliced the top half open and consumed the yellow sticky yolk inside. Shaking their heads Mando, his daughter, and the Ugnaught returned to their transportation as did the Jawas, everyone going their separate ways.

"I'm surprised you waited," Mando said.

"I'm surprised you took so long," the Ugnaught replied.

Piled high in the wagon was the Razor Crest's parts as the Ugnaught steered them back to his homestead by Blurrg. Mando and his daughter sat in the front of the wagon where the child followed in its pod still asleep as young Mando rested on her father's shoulder.

"Is it still sleeping?" the Ugnaught asked.

"Yes," Mando rocked the pod gently noticing its breathing.

"Was it injured?"

"Not physically," Mando stayed vague.

"Explain it to me again. I still don't understand what happened."

"Neither do I," as Mando glanced at the child and then to his own.

By nightfall they had returned to Mando's ship.

"There's no way we're gonna get this to work without a full maintenance facility. This is gonna take days to fix," Mando said honestly.

"If you care to help, it might go faster. There is much work to do," the Ugnaught handed Mando some tools so he could fix his and his daughter's armor.

"Let me help," she said in a heavy tone pushing her body up to exit the wagon.

"No, rest," Mando laid a hand on her shoulder preventing her from getting up.

For once, without argument, she laid back down and fell asleep just like the child.

Mando and the Ugnaught worked all night and into the morning getting the Razor Crest back together and online. Easily enough the two managed and the ship was fully refurbished.

"I can't thank you enough," Mando sincerely said, "Please allow me to give you a portion of the reward."

"I can not accept," the Ugnaught said, "You are my guest and I am therefore in your service."

"I could use a crew member of your ability, and I can pay handsomely," Mando proposed.

"I am honored but I have worked a lifetime to finally be free of servitude. Besides you have your kin, she makes a great asset, am I right?" the Ugnaught said as she helped maneuver the pod onto the Razor Crest.

"You are correct, then I guess all I can offer is my thanks," Mando ended.

"And I offer mine, thank you for bringing peace to my valley," the Ugnaught started to leave when he was reminded of something, "I believe these were also taken from your ship," the Ugnaught dug deep into his satchel to reveal young Mando's art supplies.

Ecstatic himself, Mando collected the items in his possession overlooking and accounting that everything had been returned, except he didn't recognize these new sets of paints. At the moment he wasn't concerned and was just happy his daughter would be able to create again.

"Truly thank you. You don't know how dear these items are to my daughter."

"I don't have to imagine," the Ugnaught said in honesty while mounting his Blurrg, "And good luck with the child. May it survive and bring you a handsome reward. I have spoken.

Mando nodded and closed up the ship, he checked on his daughter and found her sleeping, finally, soundly. Happy he placed her supplies beside her so when she awoke those would be the first thing she would see.

He took the other sleeping child up with him to the cockpit and fired up the Razor Crest. The Ugnaught watched as they took off and signaled them for a safe journey. The Razor Crest left the planet with ease as Mando set his coordinates for Nevarro. He glared over at the still child rocking the pod reminiscing on when his daughter use to be young, how quickly the years had passed. She would only be in his care for a month or so and then she would reach the age of independence. Would he be ready for her absence? Now was not the time to think of personal matters, he had to finish the mission first and foremost.