A/N: Hello, welcome, and continued thanks for those of you following along. :) All your reviews and "follows" really put a smile on my face. I hope y'all had a safe New Years. I'm pouting at the moment knowing that season 3 has been pushed back until 2022. HOW will I go that long? Anyway, I see at least six or seven more chapters here. Of course there's always the possibility inspiration will strike and I'll add to that. Anyway ... on we go!

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Love: Thank you!

8ball3: Thank you so much! Its not easy to work a new character into something established. I'm glad what I've done is working.

Multy: I'm trying to let it evolve naturally. Considering their personalities "love at first sight" just wouldn't happen. :)

Mariah: Stick around and see! :)

divine: Thank you so much for your review! I'm glad Ales and Mando are reading well and working.

Luna: Thanks! More is coming!

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I don't own Star Wars or The Mandalorian. All credit goes to George Lucas, Dave Filoni, and Jon Faverau for creating this amazing galaxy.

The white lines of hyperspace streaked by the cockpit windows but the Mandalorian sitting in the pilot's chair didn't see them. His mind was somewhere else completely.

Din was leery of landing on yet another unknown planet and not just because of the knowledge that Gideon was still alive and would be after the kid. No, he was now feeling even more cautious because of Alés. He'd had an unsettling revelation while they'd been on Tatooine. Vanth had flirted constantly with her and it had made him realize that other men would find her attractive. That fact was slammed home while they'd been on Trask. He'd seen the looks she'd gotten in the inn, seen the way many sets of eyes had followed her every move, and he recognized what he saw in all of them. She hadn't noticed anything out of the ordinary but considering she'd spent her entire life in hiding that didn't surprise him. While he was quite sure she could take care of herself should anyone be foolish enough to try anything the thought of someone considering it or making such an attempt made his blood boil. It had been a struggle to keep from attacking Axe when the other Mandalorian had flown her from the pirates' ship; he had not liked seeing her in another man's arms. That reaction worried him as well. He had begun to accept that he cared about the kid but now … now he was sure that extended to Alés as well and in a completely different manner. He had always been very, very careful to not form any relationships – it just wasn't wise to become overly attached to anyone in his line of work – but it seemed like he had broken that rule and he wasn't sure what to do about it. The quick kiss she had given him – even though it had been on his helmet – had shook him more than he would ever have expected.

"How close are we?"

Alés's appearance at the top of the ladder just as he'd been thinking about her flustered him for a moment and he could feel her eyes boring into the back of head the longer it took him to answer. What was it about her that seemed to keep him tied in knots?

"We should be dropping from hyperspace any moment."

As if on cue an alert began flashing and the star lines outside the window faded revealing their destination.

"Corvus, this is the place," he said needlessly but her nearness had his nerves tingling and it made him ramble.

"Not very hospitable looking," she said as they took in the darkness below and what appeared to be veins of fire snaking across the landscape. "I thought this was supposed to be a forest planet."

"That's what Bo-Katan said. I've detected a beacon. The two of you better get in your seats." Alés picked the child up and settled into the seat with him in her lap. She saw him eying the controller knob but didn't say anything; Din's never ending struggle with him over that little ball amused her.

Once they'd landed and exited the ship they took a moment to survey their surroundings.

"What has happened here?" She had never seen anything like it. Everything around them was dead. Soot and dust filled the air giving the air a sickly hue. There wasn't a hint of life: no grass, no water, no green anywhere. Everything had been stripped bare.

"Not much to see out here." He glanced at her. "I have a favor to ask."

"Which is?"

"I'd like it if you stayed here with the kid until I can see what's what, see if I can pick up a lead. A lone bounty hunter shouldn't draw too much attention."

"No. I agreed to stay behind on Trask because it kind of made sense … and I wasn't keen on zipping through the air via jet pack but not again."

"Alés, please."

"No."

"We have no way of knowing what's behind those town walls, how the citizens will react to us -"

"All the more reason to have a Jedi with you. I will be able to easily sense if there is danger."

"There is obviously something not right on this planet and -"

"I am not staying behind again."

"Alés -"

"No, Din."

"I do not want you going in there!" His voice was harder now.

"Why not? Because it's dangerous? Then it's dangerous for you as well."

"Because I've seen the way men look at you and I don't want any more getting ideas!"

Her next words of argument died on her lips. She could feel his hard gaze on her even through his visor and for a moment they simply stood watching each other.

"What do you mean?"

There was an annoyed sigh and he spun on his heel, pacing a bit before answering.

"I know you aren't aware of any of it. You grew up in exile, isolated. How often were you among other people?"

"Maybe once a year with Master Barsi then, after he was gone, perhaps once every few months when I'd go to the village for supplies. What does that have to do with anything?"

He stepped in front of her and took her hand. "Every where we've gone I've seen the way men look at you, their thoughts are clear in their eyes, and I do not trust any of them. The places we've traveled are not frequented by the most honorable men."

It didn't take her long to grasp his meaning and while her cheeks flushed a little at his implication the fact that he was angered by what these other men might be thinking said quite a bit. It was endearing that he cared so much to worry about her like that.

"Din, I am not ignorant when it comes to things like that."

His hand tensed in hers. "Then you – you have – you've been with - "

"No," she said with a shake of her head. "I've never been with a man if that's what you were trying to ask but Master Barsi included discussion of such things in my lessons. I would've received that education at the Temple as well. He knew eventually my exile would end and he didn't want me completely lost if such a situation were ever to arise."

"I still do not want you going into town."

"And how are you going to stop me?"

"I just want you to be safe."

"I will be, with you by my side, and I can watch your back as well. You said a lone bounty hunter wouldn't attract much attention. A family would excite even less suspicion."

A long drawn out sigh told her the discussion was settled.

"I've never had dealings with a Jedi except you. Is there anything else I should know if we come across this one?"

"I do not know this Ahsoka Tano so I cannot say what to expect. If he or she has been hiding from the Empire as I have all these years I would suggest using some caution."

He locked up the Crest and she was glad to see he didn't activate the security system he'd rigged on Arvala-5. Apparently there weren't Jawas on this planet. As they turned to go he finally noticed that the little one once again had the controller ball in his little hand.

"What have I told you about this?" he said with an exasperated sigh as he tucked it in a belt pouch. His helmet tilted a bit in her direction and she gave him an innocent smile that she knew looked anything but innocent. Placing the little one in the bag he had slung over his shoulder he motioned for her to follow him towards the town. As they approached the gate he slowed their pace a fraction.

"Is it normal for a town in such a desolate place to have a defensive wall like this?"

"Depends on what they want to keep out … or what they're trying to keep in."

"That doesn't sound ominous at all." He glanced down at her and she knew he was rolling his eyes. It was amazing how expressive he was even with a mask covering his face.

"Keep your head down and let me do the talking," he muttered.

"State your business," a man called when they stopped in front of the main gate.

"Been tracking for a few days. Looking for a layover."

The man stared down at them. "You a hunter, then?"

"That's right."

"Guild?"

"Last I checked."

"What about her?"

"She belongs to me."

Alés was glad she was staring at her boots as she was sure the momentary surprise she felt at Din's statement had shown on her face. She supposed such a story worked just as well as saying they were a family. They were observed silently for another tense minute. One of the aliens standing next to him said something and the guard smirked just a bit.

"Open the gate."

No one looked at them as they strolled down the street. There were a few vendor tables set up along the sides but the town itself did not appear to be prosperous. She noticed a couple of guards standing on top of some of the buildings, blasters in hand. It was eerily quiet.

"Pardon me, vendor, have you heard - " Din didn't get to finish his question as the woman he had tried to speak to ducked her head and scurried back into the building behind her.

"Don't talk to them," Alés whispered

"Why not? How else will we get information?"

"They are afraid."

"I haven't done anything."

"Not of you." She dared a quick glance around from under her hood. "This place feels sad, dark. Something is not right here."

As they stood there glancing around a droid approached them. "The magistrate wants to see you."

Din tensed beside her but they had no choice. They were there in the hopes of finding information and starting a fight with the guards would not help them with that. They were led to a shorter, inner wall. Their path took them between two rows of prisoners standing in some kind of elevated electrocages. To her horror if they moved even the slightest bit they were electrocuted.

"Just you, hunter," one of the guards ordered when they had stepped forward to go through the now open inner gate.

She could feel Din was about to argue but she reached out and touched his hand, giving him a slight nod. Despite the unwillingness she felt coming from him he strode through the door and she could see the little one's head turn back to look at her. She leaned against the wall as the gate closed behind her. Backing herself into the corner she felt relatively hidden in the shadows though the remaining guards didn't seem to pay her a bit of attention. Her hood afforded her the ability to observe the workings of the town without being noticed. Knowing what kind of firepower they had might come in useful especially if they needed to make a quick escape. The prisoners worried her more than anything. They would easily be caught in any crossfire if things went bad.

"Where did the hunter pick you up?" She glanced over at the older man as he approached her. "Name's Lang." He looked at her a bit expectantly but she chose to remain silent. Let him think she couldn't speak. That wasn't the reaction he was hoping for and with a frown he reached out and yanked the hood from her head. Annoyance flared but she schooled her face to remain as calm as possible. Din had explained her presence as if he owned her and any kind of reaction on her part would blow that story and put them in danger.

"Well, well, well. I can see why the Mandalorian took you in the first place. Don't see something like you around these parts."

She could sense that the conversation going on inside the Magistrate's inner domain was coming to a close and she fervently hoped the doors would reopen any minute. If she had to deal with this man much longer there would be no hope of keeping their cover in tact.

"Not much of a talker, are you?" He stepped closer. "If you would like a new situation I can get you away from the Mandalorian. My time here is about up and my pay will be considerable."

The door slid open and Din came right to her side. When he put a hand on the small of her back she knew he had heard at least some of what Lang had said to her.

"Give him the coordinates," the dark haired woman that came out with him said. "He is going to take care of our problem for us."

"Good." Giving her a last look he passed along what he was asked then escorted them back to the main gate. As they stepped through the little one began chattering in his bag at Din's side and Lang glanced down at it.

"What is that thing?"

"I keep it around for luck."

"You're going to need it where you're headed." She felt his eyes land on her. "Sure you don't want to leave the woman here? It would free you up for the task ahead."

To her disbelief the man actually put a hand on her shoulder.

"She goes wherever I go," Din practically growled and taking her hand they strode back towards the tree line.

He didn't speak until they were well out of sight of the town.

"Did he hurt you?"

"No, I'm fine."

"I heard what he said."

"I know."

"That is what I warned you about. He touched you." He gripped her hand tighter. "To hear him saying - "

"I'm alright, Din. He was annoying, nothing more." She let him simmer for a few more minutes. "So where are we going?"

"The Magistrate hired me to kill the Jedi."

"Excuse me?"

"It got me the coordinates to where they believe the Jedi to be."

"I suppose. At least it didn't involve blaster fire."

"Do you doubt my ability to negotiate without a fight?" There was a hint of amusement in his voice.

She paused and looked up at him as if to contemplate what he'd asked.

"Perhaps. You are a man of few words," she replied with a wink. He just shook his head and continued walking.

"So what's the plan?" she asked as she caught up to him.

"We'll go to these coordinates and hopefully either this Ahsoka will be there or there will be a clue as to where to find them."

"How did they get the coordinates?"

"I didn't ask."

"What if they don't lead us anywhere?"

"Let's hope that's not the case."

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They walked for a while ... a long while. The scenery did not change. Everything as far as the eye could see was gray, dusty, and dead. It made her wonder again what had happened here. When Din finally came to a stop she couldn't see anything out of the ordinary around them. Certainly nothing that would indicate anyone else was nearby.

"Well, these are the coordinates. Keep your eyes open. We must be close."

"But to what?"

A slight rustling had her looking over her shoulder and she turned fully at what she saw on the branch of a nearby tree.

"What is it? Do you see something?"

"A Morai," she replied in an awed whisper.

"A what?"

"A Morai. I never thought they were real. They were always considered a myth but … " She took a few steps closer.

"Well, while you look at that I'm going to see if I can find any clues to what we're actually looking for." As he sat the child down she refocused on the Morai. When Master Barsi had taught her some of the ancient Jedi lore the Morai had been mentioned as a companion for The Daughter but she had always thought it – and the stories it was found in – were just that, stories. What could it mean that she was actually looking at one? Unless it was some kind of vision? A message from the Force? It shifted on the branch and she could hear the rustle of its wings, seeming to want to prove to her that it was indeed real. Taking another step towards it she heard a grunt of surprise and the unmistakable sound of lightsabers igniting. Whipping around she saw Din blocking the swift hard hits of the two sabers a Togruta swung at him. Another swing had him stumbling backwards and he ignited the flamethrower on his vambrace. The Jedi executed a perfect backflip, avoiding the flames, and positioned herself to go at him again.

Not wanting either of them injured Alés leapt and landed between them, her white blade meeting that of the Togruta facing her. There was momentary surprise on her face and it halted her attack just long enough for Din to get a word in.

"Ahsoka Tano? Bo-Katan sent us." Her eyes darted between the two of them but she stepped back a bit. "We need to talk."

"I hope it's about him," Ahsoka replied, her attention now focused behind them where the little one sat watching.

"Yes. We need your help."