Chapter 3 – The Sin

The cockpit stayed silent while Mando flew, his daughter slept in the lower deck as the child watched on from its pod. Suddenly a transmission beeped when Greef Karga appeared in a hologram.

"Mando. I've received your transmission. Wonderful news. Upon your return, deliver the quarry directly to the client. I have no idea if he wants to eat it or hang it on his wall but he's very antsy. Safe passage. You know where to find me."

Mando shut off the holo, turned and noticed the child right beside him with the nob to the Razor Crests accelerator, unscrewed and in its mouth. The little creature gnawed on the metal ball as if it was teething, but Mando quickly seized it declaring it wasn't a toy. Sad the child hung its head low as it was placed back in it pod.

The Razor Crest finally landed on Nevarro making port outside of the city, Mando lowered the platform preparing for departure when he was met by his daughter.

"Thank you. I can't believe all of my supplies are back," she said knowing she didn't deserve them.

"I'm happy that you're happy," Mando said.

"Why are we back on Nevarro?" she questioned.

Mando stared at his daughter a bit bewildered but answered vaguely, "You know why we're here."

"Wait, we're actually going to hand over a defenseless child to a client we know nothing about, his intentions, his morals."

"That is not our concern. We track, we obtain, we deliver…"

"Criminals, scum of the galaxy, not an innocent child. We can't hand it over its not morally right."

"Morals is not apart of the job, you must set yourself apart."

"Why is this so easy for you, is it because the baby is a creature and not human? If this were a human child would you feel different? What if this was me, would you just hand me over to a complete stranger whom you didn't know their intentions?" she was getting worked up, something Mando couldn't afford.

"You have to separate yourself form your bounties. From all of our years of missions you have witnessed a plethora of encounters, even ones you didn't agree upon but we still had to fulfill our task. That is our job, our only job, a bond can not be formed with the asset, you must learn that quickly," Mando made his way down the ramp and programmed the pod to follow, he waited on his daughter who activated the security system and stood behind her father.

"You have no heart," she said softly with her head down as the hatch closed behind them.

All Mando could do was look down upon his daughter and say nothing, he knew this wasn't easy, he didn't like the situation any better than she, but once a task had been accepted through the Guild the mission had to be completed.

Like some of their past assets, Mando knew in time she would forgive him eventually, somehow this child had really made an impact on her when he noticed it might have made one on him too.

He couldn't allow his emotions to interfere, it had happened once before, a decision he never regretted, but would he become a repeat offender?

The three made their way through the town, silent, young Mando walked a few paces behind hoping her protest would register with her father but he didn't seem to be bothered. Before they reached the end of the market, Mando turned to his daughter handing her some credits to purchase a few supplies and an item, he knew, she had her heart set on.

"You gave me to many credits," she said in a dull tone.

"Use what's left so you can buy that bind of paper you were wanting."

"You're trying to buy my affection? Divert my attention from what's clearly wrong. You can't…"

"Enough!" Mando shouted and grabbed her upper arm pulling his daughter close. He never yelled at her, he always tried to keep calm but she was questioning his judgment, "You will go to the covert and wait for me, do you understand?"

Her whole life she had never feared her father, she had tested him many times but he never lost his temper like this, she clearly crossed a line. All she could do was nod her head in agreement and put her head down in shame.

Mando sighed in disappointment with himself and wanted to apologize, but instead let her go as she made her way directly towards the Mandalorian covert.

Wanting to forget the whole ordeal, Mando pushed the incident from his mind and continued with his mission. He made his way back to the client's quarters and knocked on the door. The same droid from before emerged from the wall and scanned his chit card allowing him access. Waiting for him this time were two Stormtroopers who escorted him and the child in. They walked down the corridor when one of the Troopers grabbed hold of the pod violently upsetting the child inside.

"Take it easy," Mando unintentionally said.

"You take it easy," the Trooper replied appalled that someone was telling him what to do.

They entered the room when the client approached the pod with a fob beeping wildly.

"Yes," the client said relieved as the doctor scanned the child with a device.

"Very healthy. Yes," the doctor informed the client in pleasure.

"Your reputation was not unwarranted," the client said.

"How many fobs did you give out?" Mando asked.

"This asset was of extreme importance to me. I had to ensure its delivery. But to the winner go the spoils," the client placed a camtono container on the table pressing a few buttons and revealing stacks of Beskar bars inside. Mando approached pulling a few to inspect when the client continued, "Such a large bounty for such a small package."

Suddenly Mando's attention was brought to the child one last time, he watched it softly cry as the pod followed the doctor in another room. Again the repetitive memory crashed through his mind, acting like an instinct, trying to remind him of the previous scenario, but he couldn't act, not this time. Maybe he could get some information so when he saw his daughter he could give her some ease.

"What are your plans for it?"

"How uncharacteristic of one of your reputation," the client appeared annoyed, "You have taken both commission and payment. Is it not the Code of the Guild that these events are now forgotten?"

A door opened as several Stormtroopers circled the room, Mando could tell he was pushing limits.

"That Beskar is enough to make a handsome replacement for your armor. Unfortunately, finding a Mandalorian in these trying times is more difficult than finding the steal," the client reminded Mando of his creeds practical extinction.

Mando collected his reward and left, not wasting time he made his way towards the covert to find his daughter and hand over the Beskar. Meandering his way down Mando knew he would always find his child entertaining the little ones, but not in this case instead she sat alone.

He approached her slowly, unable to read her body language, but her slumped shoulders and bowed head said it all. In a caring attempt Mando out stretched his hand for her to take, symbolizing that their argument was water under the bridge.

She still didn't know how to feel, especially seeing the camtono in her father's other hand, she was an accomplice in his crime, she felt ashamed in wanting to know how much was in the camtono, so she took her father's hand as he lead them to the Armorer.

The two walked side-by-side catching the glimpses of admiring Mandalorians, they continued their journey and sat in front of the Armorer who awaited their spoils. Mando opened the camtono revealing the stacks of Beskar as Mando's daughter gasped in surprise.

"This amount can be shaped many ways," the Armorer stated.

"My armor and my daughter's have lost its integrity. We may need to begin again," Mando said as his daughter turned to him in silence, surprised he was giving her all new armor as well.

"Indeed. I can form two full cuirasses. This would be in order for both of your stations," the Armorer continued counting bricks.

"That would be a great honor," young Mando said to both her father and the Armorer.

"I must warn the both of you. It will draw many eyes," the Armorer stated as one overly sized Mandalorian picked up a Beskar and scoffed.

"These were cast in an Imperial smelter. These are the spoils of the Great Purge," the male Mandalorian began drawing a crowd in the Armory, "The reason that we live hidden like sand rats," he threw the brick on the table, furious.

"Our secrecy is our survival. Our survival is our strength," the Armorer reminded.

"Our strength was once in our numbers. Now we live in the shadows and only come above ground two at a time. Our world was shattered by the Empire, with whom these cowards shared tables," when the Mandalorian grabbed Mando by his helmet and the two began to fight, Vibroblade to Vibroblade.

Young Mando quickly sprung to her feet ready to fight and defend her father when she unclasped his pulse rifle from his back, mid-fight, and pointed it over his shoulder directly at his attacker. The fight had come to a draw when Mando and his assailant held their positions with Vibroblades at each other's throats.

"No fair," the Mandalorian said when he was looking down the barrel of the rifle.

"The Empire is no longer," the Armorer began, "And the Beskar has returned. When one chooses to walk the way of the Mandalore, you are both hunter and prey. How can one be a coward if one chooses this way of life?" She turned to Mando, "After your reinstate, have you ever removed your helmet?"

"No," he replied.

"Has it ever been removed around others, excluding your kin," she included.

"Never."

"This is the way," she ended.

"This is the way," all the Mandalorians repeated while the three in battle stood down.

"What caused this damage?" she overlooked Mando and his daughter's armor.

"A Mudhorn," young Mando informed.

"Then your father has earned the Mudhorn as his signet. Yours will be revealed in time when you reach your age of independence young one. Now I will craft one for your father," the Armorer said.

"I can't accept," Mando stopped her, "It wasn't a noble kill. I was helped by an enemy," Mando vaguely explained.

"Why would an enemy help you in battle?" the Armorer was baffled.

"It did not know it was my enemy."

"Since you forgo a signet, I shall use the excess to forge Whistling Birds."

"Whistling Birds will do well. Reserve some for the Foundlings," Mando pointed out.

"As it should always be. Our kin and the Foundlings are the future," the Armorer glared at young Mando as she felt a chill go down her spine.

Mando could sense his daughter's unease and placed his hand on hers hoping to bring her comfort.

"This is the way," the Armorer ended as the group repeated after her.

"This is the way," they shouted.

"This is the way," when Mando and his daughter followed suit and repeated the motto, but his daughter had a hard time speaking the words because was this way of life the way?

Was what they did morally right by handing over the child? This Beskar she was about to wear was forged out of a dishonest bounty, what was she to do?

"Whistling Birds are a powerful defense against multiple enemies. Use them sparingly for they are rare," the Armorer informed when she went to work.

The two sat quietly basking in their own reflections of life, one haunted by the past, where the other haunted by the present. At last their new armor was placed upon them when they made their way out of the Armory and ventured towards the surface, but his daughter lagged behind.

Concerned he closed the gap between them hoping she would confide in him, "What's wrong?"

"This armor is to heavy," she said metaphorically.

"You will get use to it."

"No, I mean this armor is dirty, not a noble reward," she stated.

"Are you still upset?"

"How is this not riding on your conscious, on any ones? How is this the way, when did our creed lose sight on what's right instead of what's owed to us?"

"We must be grateful, they took me in and then they took us in," Mando reminded.

"No, we were forced back in. Our lives were perfectly fine before they came into the picture."

"We both knew the day would come where you would get sworn into the creed," Mando reassured.

"A day I'm starting to regret more and more," she said in honesty.

"Don't speak such words. We owe the Mandalorians our lives."

"Why did they have to rescue you as a child," she blurted out not realizing the underlining context she was implying.

"What did you say?" Mando couldn't believe what he just heard, his own daughter wished for his non-survival.

Finally realizing how she spoke her sentence she tried to rectify her words but the damage was done, "No, no, no, Papi," she reached for his hand when he retracted, for the first time ever, "Please I didn't mean it in that way."

"Regrettably I think you did," Mando said broken.

She knew the damage was done, once again she wasn't learning from her mistakes, and she was paying the ultimate price.

"I think its best you stay at the covert for awhile," Mando said a bit heartbroken.

"No, no, please, I'm sorry, Papi, I'm sorry," she blubbered trying to keep control of herself.

Mando could see her suffering and didn't want that, no matter how bad her statement hurt him, he couldn't leave her in turmoil, "I know you are. I'll come for you after my next job," he was about to turn away but couldn't leave her in this state. She would be a danger to others and herself. Showing a sign of his affection he placed his hand on the side of her helmet acting as if he was caressing her cheek.

Young Mando raised her head in hopes because her father always did this as his sign of love, she stood there with a hint of relief but with continued guilt in her belly.

"Look, I told you. I'm not interested in your excuses!" Greef Karga laid into one of his bounty hunters, "You had your shot, dust breather, but you failed. No pucks for you. Now get outta here," Karga ended when the door to the cantina opened as everyone watched the upgraded Mandalorian approach Karga.

"Ah! Mando!" Karga greeted while laughing, "They all hate you, Mando. Because you're a legend!"

"How many of them had tracking fobs?" Mando asked annoyed.

"All of them. All of them! But not one of them closed the deal. Only you Mando. Only you and I assume your daughter. Where is the kiddo these days?" Karga peered around Mando wondering if she was close behind.

"Watching the ship," was all Mando cared to revel.

"Well I'm sure she is as shiny as you because this has to be the richest reward this parsec has ever seen. Please sit, my friend," Karga waved his hand for Mando to take a seat opposite of him.

Accepting his gesture Mando sat and wanted to get straight to business.

"They're all weighting the Beskar in their minds, but not me. No, I for one, I celebrate your success. Because it is my success as well. Hell! Even I am rich," Karga pulled out two bars of Beskar he kept hidden in his chest pocket, "Now how can I show my gratitude to my most valuable partner?" Karga said loud and eager for the other failed hunters to hear.

"First I don't appreciate secretive gifts given to my daughter," Mando pointed out.

"Come on, I knew how you would react, think of it as an early Date of Existence present for her," Karga tried to explain himself but Mando's head tilted wondering how Karga knew her day was approaching.

"Don't give me that look Mando, she revealed nothing, the conversation was vague enough for me to guess that's all. Come on, the kid has to be one sometimes," but all Mando did was glare at Karga in silence, "Alright you have my word. No presents unless I get your approval first, message received. Anything else?"

"I want my next job."

"Next job? Take some time off. Enjoy some quality time with your daughter or I can take you to the Twi'lek healing baths," Karga suggested believing it had been years since Mando had any other type of affection from another.

"I want my next job," Mando stated not wanting to repeat himself again.

"Sure. Fine. You hunters like to keep busy, right? Well these are all far away."

"The further, the better but not…" Mando was cut off as Karga knew Mando's one stipulation.

"Yes, I remembered, no bounties in the Tolarian system," which always made Karga curious on why Mando wouldn't step foot on that planet.

It had become desolate where only the scum now made their secret dealings, but Karga wouldn't push the matter. He laid out three pucks for Mando to inspect.

"Take your pick. You've earned it," as Mando ignited one, "Ah. That's the best one of the lot. A nobleman's son skipped bail. Looks like you're headed to the ocean dunes of Karnac, I'm sure the kiddo will love the scenery there. Inspire her creatively," Karga envisioned young Mando taking in the view and replicating it in her own interpretation with his paints, but Mando stopped in his tracks as he got up to leave.

His daughter's words echoed through his mind, What if the child was me, would you hand me over? The answer was simple, he would die protecting her, so why did this feel similar, he had to see if Karga knew anything.

"Any idea what they're gonna do with it?" Mando asked.

"With what?" Karga played dumb as Mando faced him.

"The kid."

"I didn't ask. It's against the Guild Code. Is that why the kiddo didn't show, is she upset?"

But Mando diverted the question stating the obvious, " They work for the Empire. What are they doing here?" he couldn't have them meddling.

"The Empire is gone, Mando. All that are left are mercenaries and warlords. But if it bothers you, just go back to the Core and report them to the New Republic."

"That's a joke," he knew to well.

"Mando, enjoy your rewards. Buy a camtono of spice. By the time you come out of hyperdrive, you will have forgotten all about it."

Understanding he would get know where, Mando left the cantina pondering over many issues inside his mind.

Mando made his way to the Razor Crest, sadden that he was leaving his daughter behind but knew it would be the best. She believed he didn't have a heart by allowing the child to be obtained, if only she knew.

Mando powered up the ship, igniting the engines to life when he reached for the accelerator noticing the top knob was missing. The child had been intrigued with the shiny object. The child. No, he couldn't allow it, but his decision was already made. He powered down the ship and ventured his way to the client's quarters.

With ease Mando found his way but knew he needed a plan, he went around back when he noticed the child's pod vacant in a dumpster. Immediately this angered him, he knew what must be done.

Mando climbed a top the opposite building and pointed his pulse rifle at the client's occupancy. He was able – through comms - to intercept the client and doctor's brief conversation.

"I don't care," the client could be heard, "I order you to extract the necessary material and be done with it."

"He has explicitly ordered us to bring it back alive, to Tolarian," the doctor added.

"No, we will finish the business here, but quickly, as I no longer can guarantee your safety," when Mando shut off his comms, they confirmed it for him, it was happening again.

Mando knocked on the client's door forcefully, the door droid popped out but lost its head in the process from Mando's grip. Walking off, two Stormtroopers emerged declaring to check the perimeter.

Mando made his way around back creating his own entrance by blasting a hole in the wall. He was met by several Stormtroopers, but nothing he couldn't handle, one by one he took them out as he made his way through the facility and then came across a locked room. With one shot of his blaster to the controls the door opened revealing an armed guard and Dr. Pershing. The Trooper got off one lucky shot but it hit Mando in the Beskar, he quickly reacted blasting the Trooper back when he pointed his weapon at the frantic doctor.

"No, no, no, please, please, no, no, no," the doctor pleaded while an interrogational droid flew towards the unconscious child.

Instantly Mando became furious shooting the droid happily while buried emotions surfaced, again he turned his weapon at the doctor as he continued pleading.

"Please, no, please, don't hurt him, he's just a child," the doctor shielded the little one with his own body but Mando shoved him aside as he fell to the floor.

Mando overlooked the device the child was strapped into and questioned the doctor, "What did you do to it?"

"I protected him. If it wasn't for me, he would already be dead. Please," the doctor painted a picture, but once he looked up the Mandalorian and the child were gone.

Mando began his journey back but it wasn't easy, he had to take out several Troopers in the process by either blaster, electric shock, or flame thrower. Silently he found his way back to the very room the negotiations took place but was met by four Troopers who wasted no time and encircled him.

"Freeze. Don't move!" one of the Stormtroopers commanded.

"Hands up! Drop the blaster," another shouted.

"Wait," Mando said with his gun upright to surrender, "What I'm holding is very valuable. Here," Mando kneeled, placing his blaster and the child on the ground when a Trooper demanded for Mando to face him, but instead the Troopers were met by Whistling Birds.

One by one each Trooper was taken out by a missile and sent to the ground, Mando gathered his blaster and scooped up the child when he stood and exited the premises.

The Guild cantina was lively, everyone busy with chatter and enjoying their drinks when suddenly one fob began beeping, then another, then another, suddenly everyone's fobs started blinking red as Karga stared at the one Mando turned in with distain.

Mando attempted to make his way to the covert so he could obtain his daughter, but yet the heat on him would be too great, should he put her through that exposure? He was conflicted when he began to notice a tail on him, he quickly dodged the covert's entrance and instead beeped a secret code through his comms. Their range should be close enough for her to hear when he requested her to meet him on the Razor Crest.

With out hesitation she beeped back but could tell by her father's distress call something went array. Deep down her inner voice commanded her to inform the Mandalorians of her father's situation and the fact that they needed the Tribes help.

Mando walked cautiously, he had the child in one arm and his blaster in another. One by one, hunter after hunter encased Mando in the street as Greef Karga blocked his way of exit.

"Welcome back, Mando!" Karga greeted sarcastically, "Now put the package down," his hand went to his gun.

"Step aside. I'm going to my ship," Mando demanded.

"You put the bounty down and perhaps I'll let you pass."

"The kid's coming with me," Mando declared.

"What kind of example are you setting for your own child, think of her Mando. Now if you truly care about the kid, then you'll put it on the speeder and we'll discuss terms," Karga hoped he would get through to him if he spoke about Mando's own flesh and blood.

"How do I know I can trust you?"

"Because I'm your only hope."

Truly thinking about the outcome Mando felt torn, he had his own kin to protect, but all his daughter wanted was for the child to be safe as she was. Mando made his way towards the speeder and glared down at the child. It's tiny frame cradled in his arm reminded him of when he use to hold his own, so trusting she was of him, still with him and she trusted her father to make the right decision.

Without hesitation Mando flipped into the speeder blasting a few hunters, he set the child down and declared for the R2 unit to drive. Fearful the droid beeped "no" when Mando threated to blast it himself, not wanting to be destroyed the R2 unit followed orders and drove off. Along the way Mando continued shooting and taking out anyone in his path.

Finding his window of opportunity, Karga followed the droids path with his blaster and took the shot, the droid ignited in sparks and immediately powered down.

Trapped Mando pulled out his pulse rifle and began disintegrating anyone in his scope. Quickly taking cover, the bounty hunters took refuge behind anything that would shield them from the others fate.

"That's one impressive weapon!" Karga shouted.

"Here's what I'm going to do," Mando started, "I'm gonna walk to my ship with the kid and you're gonna let it happen."

"No. How about this? We take the kid, and if you try to stop us, we kill you and we strip your body for parts," Karga said cynically.

Unable to answer, Mando got ambushed from behind but took them out by electrocution, seeing the hunters circle closer Mando fired his flame thrower sending them back a few feet but the flames didn't last long. Realizing all hope was lost, Mando glared down at the sleeping child apologizing to it internally, he then apologized to his daughter for the inability to save this one.

The firing of guns continued all around him, seeing no window of opportunity to escape Mando would go down fighting but then, from above, blaster fire rained down. A dozen Mandalorians – on jet packs – maneuvered their way through the sky taking out their targets below.

The bounty hunters realized they were fish in a barrel when Karga strategized a new plan and left the scene to take matters into his own hands.

"Dad!" a voice called for Mando, "Dad!" she repeated in worry looking anywhere and everywhere on where her father could be.

"Here!" Mando exclaimed while covering her as she made her way towards him.

"Papi you're alright, you're alright," she wanted to hug him but definitely knew this was not the time, "What I said, I meant none of it. Honestly, I am blessed that the Mandalorians found you and no one else, because otherwise I wouldn't be one. I realize that now. This is the way. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, plus you have the biggest heart of anyone I know."

"I appreciate this moment we're having but now is not that time, here," Mando scooped up the child and handed it for his daughter to safe keep.

"Get out of here! We'll hold them off," the male Mandalorian, whom Mando had gotten into a scuffle with in the Armory, said.

"You're going to have to relocate the covert," Mando informed.

"This is the way," the Mandalorian replied.

"This is the way," Mando said back as him and his daughter ran for the Crest while the battle continued behind them.

Young Mando ran ahead to unlock the ship and open the hatch, quickly she made her way to the cockpit to fire up the engines as her father followed. Going unnoticed another climbed on board and made his presence known.

"Hold it, Mando," Karga pointed his blaster at Mando ready to fire, "I didn't want it to come to this, but then you broke the Code."

Mando had enough, with the release of his grappling hook it triggered the carbonite device filling the ship with blinding smoke. Taking no chances, Karga shot rapidly hoping to hit his target. Mando waited patiently and took his only shot, hitting Karga in the chest and out of his ship.

The Razor Crest wasted no time and took flight, the impeding battle below started to break apart while a disgruntled Karga awoke to examine his wound, but to his surprise he pulled out the bars of Beskar which took the blow.

The cockpit door opened when young Mando moved so her father could pilot, the Razor Crest was his ship, she wouldn't be surprised if he loved it more than her, but she knew that wasn't true. Maybe someday she would get her own form of transportation, but for the mean time she was content co-piloting whenever he needed her assistance.

She took her usual seat as the child was placed in the other, the Razor Crest flew high in the sky when they caught a glimpse of the Mandalorian, who lead the charge, soaring with his jetpack outside their window.

The Mandalorian saluted the two and then flanked out of sight, Mando spoke unknowingly out loud, "I gotta get one of those," when his daughter heard him and added.

"With a rocket, no jetpack is complete without a rocket."

He turned towards her able to envision her smile; his smile. Her attention was quickly turned to the little hand that was reaching up for something, knowing exactly what the child wanted Mando unscrewed the tiny metal ball and dropped it into the child's hand. Not understanding the context, young Mando shrugged off the interaction as she watched her father take them into orbit and then directly into lightspeed.