Mando attended to the child so his daughter could rest, he put the child down to sleep as it quickly drifted away. Mando wrapped it tightly in a blanket and heard the sound of soft snores, the child should sleep through the night, he hoped.
Knowing one child of his was at ease, he went in search of the other in order to inspect the injuries she had sustained. He peered around the corner, not wanting to startle her plus not wanting to bombard her either, but he could see her struggle.
The only mirror young Mando had was a 4x4, not enough to view the damage to her neck, but she still tried. Rolling down her tunic she could see the developing bruise marking her skin from ear to ear.
She stretched upwards trying to inspect the worse of her injury but the mirror was to small and to dirty. Getting frustrated young Mando reached for a healing ointment that could be used for cuts, bites, and burns. She stuck her gloved finger into the cream and saw the mess she was creating, feeling defeated she slammed her foot against the wall sending the mirror to the floor, but was caught mid-air by her father.
Realizing her neck was exposed, young Mando quickly tried to roll her tunic back up when her father stopped her. He sat opposite and reached for her, but she kept her head down hiding her exposed skin, this interaction was seen as violating the code, even if it was an injury but Mando didn't care, he had to lesson her pain.
"It's okay," he tried to reassure her as she kept her head still down.
"But," she said not knowing what to say.
"I don't care," Mando intently looked at her while he acquired the cream and removed his glove.
Snapping her head up faster than she would have liked, she stared up at him in shock that he was breaking the code, but when it came to the safety of his daughter he would break them all.
"Come here," Mando waved her forward as she slide over gently, "Head up," he guided her with his other hand and inspected the injury for himself.
The wound was red, most likely from rubbing on the wire when she struggled, and yet was starting to turn purple because the deep bruising began to manifest. He dipped his finger into the cream, so he could spread it evenly across her wound, gently he held the back of her head with one hand when he made contact with the other. Taken aback, young Mando tensed sending a groan through her raspy voice box.
"Did I hurt you?" Mando stopped.
"No, it's just…" she couldn't say any more and Mando knew why, the last time the two had skin-to-skin contact was almost a year ago.
His touch felt alienated to her, unrecognizable, and it shouldn't, she hated that whenever her father caressed her cheek she couldn't feel his touch, instead her helmet absorbed his gesture and it wasn't fair.
She tried to stay strong but he knew why she was reacting in this manner. It was hard for him also, everything Omera said to him came to fruition, he had missed out on watching his daughter grow up. All the small details he couldn't witness over the years since she donned the helmet at age ten, all the tiny quarks she had developed since swearing into the Creed, but he knew nothing else.
Mando didn't want to upset her but was about to place his hand underneath her helmet to finally stroke her cheek, when he noticed something escape from the back of her helmet. Slowly he finished applying the cream when he moved his exposed hand behind her shoulder and pulled out a handful of brown hair. He let the strands comb through his fingers as they fell over her armor. The ends of her hair slightly curled while reaching the middle of her chest where he couldn't believe how long it had grown from the previous year.
"I didn't know how long your hair had become," he said in awe.
"Yeah, I was restyling it when that jerk ambushed me," she informed while tucking it back into her helmet.
"It looks nice."
"Thank you."
"Don't raise your tunic until the cream soaks in fully," he instructed.
"Okay."
"You're a fast healer," when he put his glove back on and placed his index finger on the bottom edge of her helmet, showcasing for her to keep her chin up. Young Mando nodded her head in agreement when her father made his way to the cockpit unknowing the start of his daughter's tears.
The Razor Crest made its way to a free floating space station where it landed with clearance. Taking precaution, Mando lowered the hatch and told his daughter to stay close to him as they went in search for the man who was in charge. Naturally following her father's orders, they left the ship and were met by several stares, this young Mando was use to, even somewhat welcomed, but the fear came with the name.
"Mando," a large man with white hair and a beard approached them, "Is that you under that bucket?"
He extended his hand as Mando accepted and greeted him by name, "Ran."
The two shook hands when Ran's attention fell on young Mando, "Whoa, never thought I'd see two of you, and who might you be?" Ran addressed young Mando when her father answered for her.
"This is my daughter."
"Daughter? Didn't think your kind were allowed to procreate, but here I stand corrected," Ran pointed at young Mando glaring at her like she was some kind of miracle, "Daughter, huh, never thought you'd be the type," when Ran began to think, recollecting something from the past when he continued.
"Well I didn't really know if I'd ever see you in these parts again. Good to see you, you know, to be honest I was a little surprised when you reached out to me. You know, cause I….hear things," Ran insinuated but then came forth, "Like, maybe things between you and the Guild aren't working out."
"I'll be fine," Mando kept brief.
"Okay. Well, you know the policy. No questions. And you, you're welcome back here anytime, and his kin," Ran put his arms around the both of them and guided them to another location of the facility.
The three of them walked while Mando got straight to business, "So what's the job?"
"Yeah, one of our associates ran afoul of some competitors and got himself caught. So, I'm putting together a crew to spring him. It's a five person job. I got four. All I need is the ride, and you brought it."
"The ship wasn't part of the deal," Mando informed.
"Well, the Crest is the only reason I let you back in here."
Both Mando and his daughter glared at Ran in frustration.
"What's the look? Is that gratitude? Uh-huh. I think it is," Ran began to laugh, "Plus the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, she gets her looks from you," Ran belted out a hardy laugh while walking off.
The both of them just gazed at one another where Mando could sense his daughter's unlikeness for Ran, and by what was unraveling before them, technically Mando couldn't help and agree.
Ran lead Mando and young Mando to an area where a bald man with some red stubble on his face resided as he polished a few of his weapons. He turned when Ran addressed his as Mayfeld.
"Yeah," he said in a Boston accent.
"This is Mando and his daughter, you know the guy I was telling you about. We use to do jobs way back when," Ran informed Mayfeld as he drew near.
"This is the guy," Mayfeld didn't seem impressed, "Hey and they come pint sized," Mayfeld pointed at young Mando.
In reaction she took one step forward, Vibroblade already in hand, but her father blocked her with his arm, sparing Mayfeld.
"Whoa, no disrespect there sweetheart," Mayfeld put his hands up appalled by her actions, "Didn't know your type were so sensitive."
Young Mando despised whenever someone called her sweetie, sweetheart, honey, or anything else that was demeaning of her title. She just needed the okay from her father to end this degenerate, but knew she wouldn't get his approval, she would just have to put up with this loud mouth.
She stepped back, slamming her blade into her gauntlet while never unlocking her glare from the idiot. Sensing the tension, Ran gave a little back story on how he knew Mando.
"Yeah, we were all young trying to make a name for ourselves, but running with a Mandalorian, that was…that brought us some reputation."
"Oh yeah? What did he get out of it?" Mayfeld questioned staring Mando down.
Ran just laughed and reminisced in the memory, "I asked him that one time. You remember what you said, Mando?" Ran paused and turned to Mayfeld answering for Mando, "Target practice," Ran belted out a belly laugh," Target practice," he repeated, "Let me tell you kiddo your old man sure lived up to his name, those are some tough boots to fill," Ran stated to young Mando and turned back to her father, "We did some crazy stuff, didn't we?"
"That was a long time ago," Mando said to both Ran and his daughter.
"Well, unfortunately I don't go out anymore. You understand? So, uh, Mayfeld, he's gonna run point on this job," Ran informed while Mayfeld waved in a sarcastic manner getting Mando's attention, "If he says it, it's like it's coming from me. You good with that?" Ran said to Mando instead of actually asking him.
"You tell me," Mando replied staring down Mayfeld.
Ran couldn't help and laugh at Mando's response, "You haven't changed one bit."
"Yeah, well, things have changed around here," Mayfeld chimed in with irritation.
"Well, if it's any conciliation, Mayfeld here, he's…he's one of the best triggermen I've ever seen. Former Imperial sharpshooter," Ran stated.
"That's not saying much," young Mando said loudly for Mayfeld to hear when he turned in anger.
"I wasn't a Stormtrooper, sweetheart," Mayfeld left when Ran let out a chuckle and turned to Mando.
"Don't take long, does it," already sensing the distain among the crew.
Everyone met by Mando's ship as Mayfeld inspected it from the outside.
"Razor Crest? I can't believe that thing can fly. Looks like a Canto Bight slot machine," Mayfeld joked but seemed to be completely serious.
As everyone drew closer Mayfeld began to introduce the others who would be joining their team.
"The good-looking fellow there with the horns, that's Burg."
A massive Devaronian, with red skin and large devil like horns situated on top of his head, carried a large container and dropped it upon sight of the two Mandalorians.
"This may surprise you, but he's our muscle," Mayfeld included.
Burg approached in a menacing way, sizing both up while sniffing and grunting, establishing his supremacy, "So, these are Mandalorians," Burg circled them like a shark, "I thought they'd be bigger."
Mayfeld just chuckled keeping his distance and knew the outcome to insulting their stature. Mayfeld moved on and introduced a droid that had an appearance like a bug, "Droid's name is Zero."
The machine drew near with no greeting when Mando noticed someone was missing, "I thought you said you had four?" Mando questioned Ran when a woman's voice came from behind.
"He does."
Mando turned around to see a purple Twi'lek approach with a hint of hostility inflicted in her voice, "Hello Mando."
"Xi'an," Mando replied in distain.
"Tell me why I shouldn't cut you down where you stand," Xi'an twirled a small dagger in her hand when she hissed and made her move, putting the dagger to Mando's throat but he never flinched.
Young Mando didn't know how to react or if she should even react because her father seemed calm and stood his ground.
"Nice to see you, too," Mando blatantly said not at all pleased to see her.
Realizing she wasn't getting a rile out of him, Xi'an laughed wickedly and removed her blade, "I've missed you."
Everyone sort of stared in confusion wondering the two's history but Xi'an was pre-occupied by Mando's armor.
"This is shiny. You wear it well," she stayed close to Mando really drinking him in.
"Do we need to leave the room or something," Mayfeld could feel the tension emitting from the two, but it was the wrong kind.
"Well, Xi'an's been a little heartbroken since Mando left the group," Ran chimed in.
"Aw. You gonna be okay, honey?" Mayfeld sarcastically said but Xi'an's attention quickly moved from Mando to his daughter.
"And who's this?" Xi'an pointed her dagger at young Mando in a threatening way.
"That's Mando's daughter," Ran answered when past events started to clear up for him.
"Daughter?" Xi'an spat.
"Uh-oh is this a family reunion we should be worried about," Mayfeld stated.
"More like a punch in the gut," Ran pointed out, "Let me take a wild guess on how old you are," Ran said to young Mando, "Would you be eighteen?"
"Almost," young Mando said confused on where Ran was taking this.
"Mando you sly dog you," Ran smiled gleefully but Xi'an pressed her lips together and bit her tongue.
"What?" Mayfeld was intrigued and so was young Mando, but knew she couldn't instigate the conversation and was glad Mayfeld could.
"Enough of this already," Mando demanded but the damage was done.
"Anara," was all Ran said.
"Anara? Should I know who that is?" Mayfeld questioned looking around for another member.
"Don't you dare speak her treacherous name," Xi'an shouted feeling scolded.
"Who is she?" young Mando couldn't hold back and spoke directly to her father.
Hesitating for as long as he could Mando finally spoke, "You're mother," he could see the torment emitting from his daughter by the reveal, and upset she had to find out this way from strangers.
Throughout his daughter's life he kept the stories about her mother extremely vague, not even telling young Mando her mother's real name, in fear she would discover who she really was. Mando couldn't have that and now regretted ever coming here, but he needed the money in order to support his now two children.
"Whoa, that seemed like a big reveal for you sweetheart," Mayfeld went to pat young Mando on the head when she couldn't hold back any more and power drove Mayfeld to the floor.
"Easy everyone," Ran put his hands out hoping no one else would spring into action, trying to calm the tension in the room, "Please let him up," Ran asked of young Mando when she gave Mayfeld one last push hard in the chest before she rose forcefully.
"Geez, hope you're not holding a grudge like she is Xi'an," Mayfeld said while slowly getting to his feet and rubbing his body from the impact.
"Oh, I'm all business now. Learned from the best," Xi'an pointed her dagger at Mando when Ran had enough.
"All right. Everyone cool it until you get on the ship. Right now we don't have much time," Ran finished as the crew walked forward.
Mando sighed in distress and looked at his daughter who ignored his glare when the Devoronian came from behind and grunted, sizing Mando and young Mando again. Burg spoke in a deep groggily voice and said only one word 'tiny' and laughed all the way to the ship.
The droid, Zero, sat in the Razor Crest's cockpit going over a necessary checklist the ship had to provide for the mission.
"Fuel, navigation, hyperdrive, landing gear, comms," Zero plugged into the ship's communications when a previous message from Greef Karga played.
"Mando…I received…I received wonderful news," the message came in and out, skipping as if being disrupted, "Upon your…upon your…deliver the quarry, deliver the," and then the message quickly shut down.
Perplexed on why he couldn't fully obtain the message Zero was about to try again when a voice broke his concentration.
"Why are you snooping?" young Mando released a button shutting off the comms.
"Snooping, I am unaware of that term," Zero stated.
"Pry, meddle, poke your nose into, take your pick, but stay out of our transmissions otherwise my dad will have no problem turning you into scrap metal, comply?"
"Yes, I comply," Zero responded.
"Good, wouldn't want us to get off on the wrong foot," young Mando patted the wall and exited the cockpit.
"So, the package is being moved on a fortified transport ship," Mayfeld illuminated the plans to an elongated ship, "Now, we got a limited window to board, find our friend, get him out of there before they make their jump."
"That's a New Republic prison ship," Mando pointed out with a hint of panic, "Your man wasn't taken by a rival syndicate. He was arrested."
"So what," Mayfeld said nonchalant while Burg grunted in approval.
"A job is a job," Ran stated.
"That's a max security transport and I'm not looking for that kind of heat," Mando informed.
"Well neither are we. So just don't mess up," Ran demanded.
"The good news for you is the ship is manned by droids. Still hate the machines, Mando?" Xi'an asked playfully when Zero appeared.
"Despite recent modifications, the ship is still quite a mess. The power lines are leaking, the navigation is intermittent, and the hyperdrive is only operating at 67.3% efficiency. We have much better ships. Why are we using this one?" Zero informed as he walked his way towards Ran.
"Cause the Razor Crest is off the old Imperial and the New Republic grid. It's a ghost," Ran clarified.
"Yeah, and we need a ship that can get close enough to jam New Republic code," Mayfeld said while putting up a new hologram, "So, when we drop out of hyperspace here, if we immediately bank into this kind of altitude, we should be right in their blind spot, which will give us just enough time for your ship to scramble our signal," Mayfeld ended almost in a smile.
"It's not possible. Even for the Crest," Mando said.
"That's why he's flying," Ran tilted his head at Zero, which did not sit well with Mando but made Mayfeld laugh hysterically, "Mando, I know you're a pretty good pilot, but we need you on the trigger. Not on the wheel," Ran stated.
"Don't worry Mandalorian. My response time is quicker than organics. And I'm smarter too," Zero said in utter confidence, but a loud laugh emitted from the entrance of the Crest as young Mando stood leaning on the wall with her arms crossed.
"All right, yeah. That's good," Ran pushed off Zero making him join the others as they boarded the ship when Ran turned to talk with Mando one on one, "Forgive the programming. He's a little rough around the edges. But he is the best."
"How can you trust it?" Mando questioned.
"You know me Mando. I don't trust anybody," Ran put his arm around Mando when he brought up something he knew Mando would be stubborn about, "Now I don't want to ruffle any feathers, but I think the kid should stay here. This job is really only made for five and with her there I don't want any complications. I need a done deal job, you understand Mando," Ran tried to sound confident but Mando just turned and gazed declaring a no deal.
"She's coming with," Mando confirmed when he walked on board the Crest as young Mando playfully saluted Ran and followed her father.
"Just like the good old days," Ran shouted at Mando but there was no response.
Ran stood on the bridge watching the Razor Crest roar to life, rise into the air, and make its way for departure.
The entire team was kept in the lower deck when young Mando hide all of her art supplies before the mission, she hoped none of them would snoop around because she also hide the child from view.
Mando and his daughter hoped the child wouldn't make much noise where she gave him some of her old stuff to play with. Just in case Mando told her to stay in the lower deck to keep an eye on them as he monitored the droid.
Burg continued pacing back and forth restlessly while Mayfeld sat and Xi'an occupied herself by balancing a dagger on her finger. She kept seeing Burg out of the corner of her eye and it was starting to annoy her.
"Will you sit down?" she exclaimed but Burg just grunted at her when she hissed back, young Mando kept to the shadows but close enough to view as her presence didn't go unnoticed.
"Hey guys behave yourselves otherwise our babysitter will give us a time out," Mayfeld joked showcasing where young Mando stood, "We can see you, sweetheart," he laughed obnoxiously and waved at her but quickly stopped with her reply.
"Good."
Zero piloted the Crest in ease, punching in his coordinates as Mando observed from his daughter's usual seat. He despised being taken out of the pilots seat especially since this was his ship.
"Calculations complete. Jumping to hyperspace now," Zero pulled a lever and the ship speed off smoothly making its way to the mission, "Feel free to join the others. I will handle it from here," Zero suggested.
Uneasy with the situation Mando complied because he disliked worse leaving his daughter alone with the three cretins below.
Not taking Xi'an's advice, Burg continued his pacing when he began to get curious. He started to go through drawers that were only filled with extra parts for the Crest, unable to find anything he liked, Burg went to press some buttons on a keypad trying to open a hatch when young Mando stepped in.
"Hey, over exposed sun tan, stop going into things that aren't yours," she put her hand on the panel and pushed her body in front cutting off his attempt.
"Come on sweetheart, haven't you ever heard of 'Mi casa es su casa,'" Mayfeld chuckled hoping to see her get pummeled when Mando intervened.
He pushed her behind his body, situating himself between her and Burg, where Mayfeld could smell an unnecessary fight and tried to settle everyone down.
"Okay, okay, I get it. I'm a little particular about my personal space, too. So let's just do this job. We get in, we get out, and you don't have to see our faces anymore," Mayfeld said.
"Someone tell me why we even need a Mandalorian?" Burg questioned in a threatening way.
"Well apparently they're the greatest warriors in the galaxy. So they say," Mayfeld stated but a bit skeptic himself, even though young Mando had already demonstrated some moves on him.
"Then why are they all dead?" Burg insulted but Mando kept his arm across his daughter to prevent her impulse.
In disrespect Mayfeld and Xi'an both laughed at Burg's comment when Mayfeld's curiosity peaked.
"Well, we know nothing about the kid," Mayfeld pointed to young Mando, "But Xi'an, you flew with Mando. Is he as good as they say?"
"Ask him about the job on Alzoc III," Xi'an said while still balancing her dagger on the tip of her finger.
Mando despised how they were prying into his past, especially revealing it around his daughter who knew very little about his previous life.
"I did what I had to," Mando declared in discrete.
"Oh but you liked it. See I know who you really are, or at least I use to, before you got tamed," Xi'an glared at young Mando declaring her responsible for her father's tranquility.
"And they never take off the helmet?" Mayfeld asked Xi'an when she nodded 'no.'
"This is the way," she mocked their motto and placed a hand over her heart while chuckling.
"Huh, I wonder what you both look like under there," Mayfeld pondered envisioning all sorts of ideas as Mando and his daughter continued glaring in silence, "Maybe they're Gungans," Mayfeld chuckled, "Is that why yousa don't wanna show your face?"
"Maybe you should spare us from yours, I have a Stormtrooper helmet in the back," young Mando spat unable to handle the ridicule any more.
In surprise Burg and Xi'an laughed at her insult but Mayfeld just scrunched up his face and shouted, reminding everyone that he was never a Stormtrooper, but no one was listening because they were still too busy laughing.
Once the roars settled down Mayfeld continued putting the heat back on the Mandalorians, "You ever seen his face," he asked Xi'an.
"A lady never tells," Xi'an twirled one of her purple lekku's when young Mando snorted.
"Aw. Come on, Mando. We all gotta trust each other here. You gotta show us something, if not you, then how about the kid. I'm sure she adopted some of your features. Come one. Just lift the helmets up. Come on. Let's all see your eyes," Mayfeld told more then requested of them.
Mando continued standing his ground, keeping his arm between them and his daughter when Mayfeld nudged his head signaling for Burg to step in.
"I'll do it," without hesitation Burg leaped for young Mando but Mando wouldn't have it.
He acquired Burg's arm and swung him to the floor but on his way down Burg hit the panel young Mando was trying to protect from before. The door slide up instantly revealing the child who was busy playing with the items young Mando gave him. Everyone became enthralled upon sight especially Mayfeld.
"Whoa! What is that?" Mayfeld and Xi'an got up from their seats to inspect, "You get lonely up here, buddy? Wait a minute, did you two make that?" Mayfeld looked between Mando and Xi'an, "Oh wait no because you got dumped," Mayfeld glared at Xi'an who's face was turning red like Burg's skin, "What is it, like a pet or something?"
"Yeah, it's my pet," young Mando hoped the lie was bought.
"Didn't take you for the type, for a lot of things," Xi'an said to Mando while peering at his daughter, "Maybe that code of yours has made you soft."
Mayfeld wasn't listening to the others and spoke to young Mando, "Me, I was never really into pets. Yeah, I didn't have the temperament. Patience, you know. I mean, I tried, but never worked out. But I'm thinking, maybe I'll try again with this little fella," Mayfeld went to pick up the child but young Mando was done with his antics.
Her Vibroblade stuck in the side of Mayfeld's neck, the blade slightly shimmied back and forth causing little cuts that dug into his skin. Mayfeld grunted with some discomfort and rose, Burg and Xi'an was about to act but Mayfeld signaled them down, young Mando had the drop on him and one wrong move he would lose his head.
"Now my father hates when I get paint on the Crest's floor, imagine if I spilled your blood, my guess I would be grounded for a week, isn't that right Papi," young Mando explained.
"It is true, but I would let you off for this one circumstance," Mando joked when Zero announced that they were dropping out of hyperspace.
The droid pushed a button sending the ship into a sudden halt causing everyone to stumble and lose their balance.
"Commencing final approach now," Zero was going through the protocol without warning and no one was ready, "Cloaking signal, now," Zero punched the Crest as everyone went flying about when young Mando caught the child, who also stammered, and safely put him back in his quarters closing the hatch.
"Engaging coupling now," Zero continued when he locked the Crest to the prison transport ship, "Coupling confirmed. We are down. And relax. Commence extraction now."
"That useless droid didn't even give us a proper countdown," Xi'an spat.
"Z, are you sure they can't see us?" Mayfeld radioed over his individual comm trying to forget his embarrassing moment.
"The Razor Crest is scrambling our signature. It's impressive that this gunship had survived the Empire without being impounded."
"I need you to stay here, watch the droid," Mando instructed his daughter without the others hearing.
"Of course," young Mando agreed without argue and left the room.
"All right, we got a job to do. Mando, you're up," Mayfeld ordered.
Realizing he had to go through with this Mando opened the Crest's port hatch with his gauntlet, he grabbed a device and hooked it up to the prison transport while Mayfeld and Xi'an whispered in the distance. Not taking interest with their conversation, Mando continued hacking the transports portal hatch when his device light up green giving them access. Burg looked on and smiled devilishly at his crewmembers somehow knowing what they secretly discussed. Mando finished up when Burg and Xi'an glared at Mayfeld signaling that he was up.
"It's me?" Mayfeld actually questioned.
"Always you," Burg clarified.
Mayfeld lowered himself head first into the transport in order to take a gander, he pointed his blaster seeing two droids making their rounds. After the machines passed Mayfeld lowered himself into the New Republic transport as Xi'an followed, taking some cover Mayfeld radioed Zero.
"Get us to the control room."
Burg lurked at Mando in a menacing way before he jumped and landed with a loud thud below.
"Sub level three, now remember in order for me to have access to the transport I need you to upload the schematics to the Crest, immediately once you get to the control room," Zero reminded Mayfeld.
Before Mando made his departure he glanced over to see young Mando peering around the corner, he nodded his head and tapped the side of his helmet so she could listen closely in case he had to comm her on their frequency. Understanding his unspoken gesture she nodded back in compliance and headed to the cockpit.
Mando leaped down hearing Mayfeld finish up his conversation with Zero, "Yeah, I get it. Control room priority number one, over. All right, we're on the clock," he addressed the team, "When we engage those droids, they're gonna be all over us."
"I know the drill," Mando stated.
"Bio trackers activated. I've got eyes," Zero said where four dots appeared on his monitor.
"All right, let's go," Mayfeld lead the charge followed by the others.
The four ran down a main corridor when they came upon a main lane with prisoners on both sides. Each cell was filled with one prisoner of a different species and crime.
"I don't like this," Mando came right out and said.
"You were always paranoid," Xi'an informed.
"Is that true, Mando? Were you always paranoid? Or did your kid instill that in you?" Mayfeld spoke through gritted teeth when a prisoner banged against its cell diverting their attention.
"Approaching control room. Make a left at the next juncture," Zero informed tracking their whereabouts.
All four followed Zero's instructions when they heard something approach and took their battle stances. They waited in anticipation, believing a fight would manifest when a mouse droid wheeled ahead. Relieved and yet disappointed everyone's guard went down but Burg wanted to feel inferior.
"It's just a little mousey," Burg took out his blaster and encouraged the droid to come hither, "Come here, little mousey. Come here," but the droid could sense the danger and backed away.
Not liking its response, Burg shot it causing a ruckus and putting Mayfeld back on edge, "No Burg, what are you doing?" he said upset with his crewmember.
"What?" Burg thought nothing of it but his actions drew unwanted attention.
"Intruder alert. Open fire," a team of security droids pinned them when Mando blasted the droids first.
The team followed but everyone took cover when the droids rapidly fired back.
"We're to exposed here," Xi'an informed.
"If they get a signal out, it's not gonna matter," Mayfeld shouted while he shot at the droids with the blaster in his hand and a blaster he operated by a mechanical arm on his back, "Mando let's go! You're suppose to be something special," Mayfeld yelled as everyone looked back to find Mando missing, "I knew it. I knew it," Mayfeld said to the others when appearing from behind the security droids Mando stood, blaster in one hand, Vibroblade in the other.
Without further ado, Mando slide on the floor taking out a droid's leg while he shot at the others, once he stood a droid grabbed him pinning him to a cell door while trying to disarm Mando. With his quick reflexes, Mando dodged the droids maneuvers while plummeting his Vibroblade in another droids skull.
Burg and Xi'an were about to join in on the fight but Mayfeld stopped them. The droids opened fire on Mando knocking him off his feet but his Beskar took the hits. Not getting discouraged Mando released his grappling hook around one of the droids head knocking it into its comrade while severing it in the end. Three more droids approached, releasing blaster fire when Mando released his own, Mando ignited his flame thrower torching two of them and then blasting the last one point blank in the side of the head, leaving a huge smoking hole.
The prisoners yelled in approval as Burg, Xi'an, and Mayfeld scoffed in distain. Mando caught his breath when the crew walked past him and Mayfeld stated a snarky comment, "Make sure you clean up your mess," Mayfeld glared, Xi'an just smirked, while Burg rammed into Mando's shoulder leaving him behind.
Mando grabbed his blade, shook his head and unwillingly followed.
"It seems your presence has been detected, it's best you divert it," Zero radioed.
"Yeah, no kidding, all right Xi'an you're up," Mayfeld instructed as they came upon the control room.
Xi'an approached the door panel and began tinkering with the controls. Finding her methods not working, she pulled the panel clean off and jabbed the device with her blade, opening the doors with ease. Upon entering the room, a panicked New Republic guard stood and drew his weapon ordering the intruders to halt.
"Just stop right there," he instructed the hoodlums, "You put down the blasters right now," the guard stuttered still pointing his weapon nervously, realizing how out numbered he was.
Mayfeld gandered over the pathetic guard noticing his shiny white shoes and complimented on them. The gang started to encircle the guard when he repeated his orders.
"Put down your blasters."
"Matches his belt," Mayfeld pointed out on how the soldier's uniform coincided.
Burg and Xi'an laughed while pointing their weapons at him when Mando spoke, "There were only suppose to be droids on this ship."
"Hang on, hang on, starting the upload now Zero," Mayfeld pressed a few buttons while inserting a chip so the prison transports controls would be downloaded by Zero in the Crests cockpit, "Okie dokie that's all good, lets see here, cell two-two-one," Mayfeld informed, "All right, now for our well-dressed friend."
Suddenly the guard pulled out a small white device sending Mayfeld on alarm, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, hey, easy egghead. Put that down. Come on. Put it down," Mayfeld lost his patience and also drew his weapon when Mando attempted to get control of the stand off.
"Easy. Nobody has to get hurt here. Just calm down," Mando said in a calm tone.
"What is that thing?" Burg questioned.
"It's a tracking beacon," Mando clarified.
"He presses that thing, we're all done," Mayfeld began, "A New Republic attack team will hone in on that signal and blow us all to hell. Put it down!"
"Are you serious," Xi'an said while sitting in a chair getting a little frantic.
"Yes, I'm serious."
"You didn't think we needed to know that tiny little detail."
"I didn't think we'd get to this point."
"Yet here we are," she said through a sarcastic smile.
"Are you questioning my managerial style, Xi'an?" Mayfeld with drew his blaster and turned to face the Twi'lek.
"No, sir," she chuckled while saluting and winking.
"Hey listen to me," Mando tried to wave the guard's attention onto him, "Hey, hey, hey, listen to me, okay? Look," Mando put his blaster back in his holster and put his arms up signaling for everyone to follow, "Hey put it down," Mando instructed the others.
"Are you crazy?" Mayfeld said.
"Put it down," Mando repeated, "What's your name?" he spoke to the guard in a civilized tone.
In fear the guard replied in a stutter, "It's Davan."
"Davan, we're not here for you. We're here for a prisoner. If you let us go about our job, you can walk away with your life."
"No, he wont," Mayfeld took out his blaster again and pointed it at Davan.
With his panic escalating Davan redirected his blaster at Mayfeld when Mando pulled his also on Mayfeld. Not taking any risks Mayfeld pulled a second blaster and pointed it on Mando.
"You realize what you're gonna bring down on us," Mando said sternly.
"You think I care about that?" Mayfeld stated honestly.
"We're not killing anybody, you understand?" Mando assured.
"Get that blaster out of my face, Mando."
"I can't do that."
"Get that blaster out of my face, Mando!" Mayfeld shouted while activating his mechanical arm that held a third blaster.
Burg grunted in anger and redirected his weapon onto Mando as well when he pointed his gauntlet equipped with his flamethrower at Burg. Everyone had someone in their scope except for Xi'an who threw a dagger directly into Davan, sending him to the floor dead.
"Would you both just shut up," she said while rolling her eyes.
"Crazy Twi," Mayfeld said as he put his guns away, "I had it under control."
"Yeah, looked like it," she chuckled while pulling the dagger out from Davan's body.
Mando felt ashamed that he couldn't save the guards life when Mayfeld noticed something beeping.
"Was that thing blinking before?" Mayfeld questioned as everyone watched the hand held device illuminate, "Was it?"
"Zero to Mayfeld. Zero to Mayfeld."
"What!"
"The upload was a success but I have also detected a New Republic distress signal homing in on your location. You have approximately twenty minutes," Zero informed.
"We only need five," Xi'an playfully said when Mayfeld ordered everyone to move out.
The crew left the control room and made their way towards cell two-two-one when they came upon two large security droids that Burg took out easily, swinging one into the other. They continued their quest without hassle and finally made it to their destination.
Mayfeld radioed Zero to open the cell when the droid informed them that they had fifteen minutes remaining.
"Okay come on, come on, open it up," Mayfeld shouted when Zero complied and the prison door opened revealing a male Twi'lek.
Immediately seeing the prisoner Mando knew exactly who he was, "Quin."
"Funny, the man who left me behind is now my savior, Mando," Quin rose from his seat and exited his cell while staring down Mando.
With this distraction Burg rammed Mando into the cell and Mayfeld told Zero to shut the door imprisoning Mando inside. In a desperate attempt Mando fired his blaster believing this would hit someone before the door closed, but it only ricocheted around the cell eventually hitting Mando in the armor.
"Brother," Xi'an exclaimed.
"Sister," Quin picked her up in a loving embrace.
"Attack's on the way. He's already dead meat. Let's go," Mayfeld stated.
"Come on, it's better this way," Quin added.
"You deserve this," Xi'an yelled at Mando when everyone ran for the Crest.
Back in the cockpit Zero began to investigate the curious message he tried to intercept from before, but had been shut down by the younger Mandalorian. Zero tried to break through the encryption but received a transmission from Ran.
"Zero, I assume the mission for rescuing Quin is almost complete, unfortunately Mando will have to suffer for his past consequences and be left behind. I don't want any witnesses so eliminate the kid quickly," Ran commanded.
"It shall be done," Zero replied as Mayfeld radioed.
"Zero, we got Quin, Now get us off the ship."
"I must attain to my own assignment of eliminating the other Mandalorian, but you have ten minutes remaining, continue on your path and make a right," Zero informed before he got up from the pilot's seat and drew his blaster.
Zero made his way to the lower deck stealth-like, restraining some of his motor functions so he would be able to create a sneak attack, but upon his arrival on where he believed the young Mandalorian resided she was nowhere in sight.
Looming around the prison transport blinded, young Mando had no clue on where she was headed and made some educated guessing on which corridor to go down. Not wanting to tap into her instincts, afraid of an unexpected episode, young Mando found a pile of destroyed security droids and recognized the damage as they were clearly taken out by her father.
Knowing she was on the right track, young Mando excavated a small chip from the lead droid's membrane realizing how lucky she was that her father didn't destroy it during his fight. Quickly she inserted the chip into her gauntlet and pulled up a hologram on the whereabouts of all the droids. She saw an alert flashing due to cell two-two-one being opened as a small fleet was making their route in order to search. Understanding this was where she had to go, young Mando heard clamor in the distance and made haste in the opposite direction.
Frustrated beyond belief Mando tried to signal through his comms a distress call to his daughter but it appeared she didn't have it on, now what was he suppose to do. He analyzed the cell looking for any ways to escape, but it seemed foul proof when a patrolling security droid approached his cell.
"Do you wish to be freed?" the droid questioned.
Confused, Mando tilted his head and replied, "Yes."
"What's the password?" the droid teased.
"What?"
"Nope, guess again."
Mando became very perplexed on how this droid was acting when out popped his daughter from around the corner.
"I thought I told you to stay on the Crest," Mando reminded.
"Well it's a good thing I don't listen."
"Come on, we have to hurry, they can't reach the ship," Mando said while waiting for his daughter to release him but noticed her hesitation.
"No," she nervously said.
"No, what do you mean no?"
"I'm not sure when I'll ever have this opportunity again."
"Let me out," Mando tried to stay calm.
"Not until you tell me everything," young Mando demanded but her father lost his patience.
He went to reach for the droid through the slits in the cell door, but with the wave of her gauntlet the droid maneuvered by her motion and out of Mando's reach.
"We don't have time for this," Mando said through clenched teeth.
"Yes we do. I sent a platoon of droids their way, they'll be occupied for a bit. Now tell me the truth about my mother," young Mando commanded.
Not wanting to be in this situation, Mando released his grappling hook catching the droid and young Mando by surprise. Quickly he reeled the struggling machine towards the door and reached through the slits. Mando ripped clean off the droid's arm because this was where the Scump link would be to set him free from his cell. Mando twisted a joint in the droid's arm but the key wasn't there, he threw the arm aside and approached the door seeing his daughter holding the key to his freedom.
"Do you really think I've learned nothing from you?"
Mando tilted his head up coming to terms he was at his daughter's mercy, "What do you want to know?"
"Everything. Why would you never tell me anything about her and don't say it was for my protection."
"But it was."
"Why? Who was she? You always said she was a nobody, practically a random citizen who got caught in the crossfire. Was she something worse, a thief, a spy, a droid mechanic?" young Mando guessed not even realizing her sarcastic statement.
Mando couldn't help and half smile at her last guess but knew he had to give her something, "Your mother's name was Anara Xcee, she was a Foundling like me, but didn't agree with the Mandalorian ways. In retaliation she deserted our clan when we were teenagers. She tried to get me to leave with her but I couldn't, I knew nothing else," Mando revealed.
"It would be years until I saw her again when she was brought on a mission with Ran's crew. The job seemed routine but had gone sour splitting everyone apart, your mother and I found shelter and were held up for the night, awaiting for our opportunity to begin again. The following morning we were in the clear but your mother was gone. I rejoined the crew, solo, and we continued the mission without her, but once resumed we came to find out she had double-crossed us. We were the pawns, she just needed our assistance in order to get close to her target because she was the Empire's assassin."
"So she set you up?"
"Not me in particular because once we were captured by the Empire, I was the only one who escaped."
"From her help?"
Mando just nodded his head 'yes.'
"And that's why Ran is now double-crossing you," young Mando didn't know what to think when something occurred to her, "You kept using past tense when describing her, is she really…" young Mando stopped herself.
"Yes," was all Mando could say.
"Why keep this from me, why didn't you tell me she use to be apart of the clan? Is it because you thought I might do the same, abandon the Tribe and become an assassin?"
"No, I just wanted you to envision, at least, one parent of normalcy, so you wouldn't believe you came from two bad seeds."
"Papi, you're not a bad seed. I am. So many things I've said or done that I'm not proud of, but you know the one thing I am most proud of is being your daughter," young Mando said when she inserted the Scomp link and opened the cell door.
Mando stood there swelling with pride, he placed his hand on the side of her helmet and caressed it as if it was her cheek. Young Mando knew her father always had a hard time opening up but his gesture said it all.
"Let's move," Mando said where the two made their way to the control room so they could gain an advantage.
Since his mission failed and he couldn't leave the ship, Zero returned to the cockpit and noticed he was losing schematics over the prison transport. Quickly Zero radioed to Mayfeld about his situation.
"We have a potential problem, the young Mandalorian is missing and Mando has escaped," Zero informed.
Back on the transport Mayfeld blasted the last security droid and tried to get composure of his crew, but with this news set Xi'an off, "I told you we should've ended him and the brat," she exclaimed.
"I know," Mayfeld addressed.
"This is your fault," she blamed when Mayfeld attacked her as Burg and Quin tried to break them apart.
Suddenly, while in their scuffle, the lights went out and the doors around them began to shut. The emergency power kicked in shrouding everything in red while the doors continued closing, cutting off specific routes. Burg commanded for everyone to go as Mayfeld took lead, but the doors were closing faster than they expected separating Burg and Xi'an from Mayfeld and Quin.
On the Crest, Zero monitored for as long as he could on the crew's whereabouts but then his screen went to static. In a desperate attempt Zero tried to radio Mayfeld but he couldn't get through to them and declared to himself that they were on their own. Zero was about to try another tactic but his attention was brought to the child who stood in the cockpit's doorway.
Xi'an and Burg banged on the door, which separated them from Quin and Mayfeld when they heard Quin through the barrier, "It's all right. You and the Devaronian, split up. Find Mando and kill him. Then find a way back to the ship," he commanded of his sister.
"Zero! We need a path," Xi'an radioed over her comm but she only received static, in frustration Xi'an screamed and Burg grunted as the two went on their way blinded.
Becoming curious with this strange child, Zero turned to grab his blaster just in case the young Mandalorian was using this creature as a decoy and trying to take him out. But once he returned his attention back on the child it disappeared, so he went in search for it instead.
Frustrations were settling in as Quin paced back and forth formulating a plan, "Do you have a name?"
"Mayfeld."
"Well Mr. Mayfeld, you're gonna get me the hell off this ship," Quin told.
"Hey wait. What about your sister?"
"What about her," when Quin took hold of Mayfeld's blaster and walked off.
"Nice family," Mayfeld mentioned to himself and ran after Quin.
From the control room Mando continued sealing off doors, tracking the four's every move when a beeping caught young Mando's attention. She went up to the deceased guard and picked up the device, analyzing it before showing her father.
Quin and Mayfeld trekked lightly, blasters drawn and hoping they were making their way towards the Crest when they stumbled upon the security droids Mando destroyed when they first arrived. Letting out a chuckle, Quin inspected the damage and stated the obvious.
"Mando always did hate droids."
"Z, hey Z," Mayfeld radioed but only static came through.
"Whatever Ran promised, I'll see to it you get triple share. Just get him," Quin said.
"You better be good for it," Mayfeld stated but Quin just laughed as the two went their separate ways to kill Mando.
Everyone appeared to be going solo, in search for either Mando, his daughter, or in Zero's case the child. The two began a game of hide and seek, Zero opened several doors and cargo holds with no such luck, but he continued his search always on guard.
Burg left Xi'an so he could get to the control room in order to clear the transmissions, he surveillanced the area and put his blaster away able to sense a fight. He stood on guard and whispered to himself, "Where are you, little mouse," when from above- hidden in the ventilation shaft – Mando's grappling hook ignited and wrapped around Burg's neck.
Springing from underneath the consoles, young Mando released her grappling hook and wrapped it around Burg's body trying to prevent him from unhooking the one around his neck, but Burg used all his strength and pulled Mando down making him crash through the rafters.
As Mando's hold on Burg loosened, Burg flexed his upper torso stretching out the wire young Mando had a grip on when Burg grabbed hold and flung her across the room.
Burg turned his attention onto Mando when he disbursed the last of his Whistling Birds but they had no effect on the Devaronian. Burg picked Mando up as he tried to hit the Devaronian with his blaster but was stripped of his weapon. Burg flung Mando onto the control panels and quickly engulfed Burg in flames but again had no effect.
Burg smiled devilishly and continued throwing Mando around like a rag doll. Young Mando seized her opportunity and jumped onto Burg's back wrapping her grappling wire around his neck, hoping to ease him into unconsciousness, but Burg backed up into a wall several times knocking her off.
The Devaronian didn't need much time to regroup when he went for young Mando, "Let's see your face, Mandalorian."
Burg grabbed hold of her tender neck, placing his hand underneath her helmet when Mando came down hard on Burg's arm making him release his daughter. She fell to the ground as Burg put all of his attention back on Mando. The two became engaged in a close brawl when Mando found his window and put a foot on Burg's chest, flipping him over himself. The two of them rose to their feet sizing each other up again, but Mando saw his opportunity to end this.
With quick reflexes Mando flung his Vibroblade into the doors panel making it plummet straight onto Burg, but to his surprise the Devaronian caught the door on his shoulders. Burg smiled wickedly, practically envisioning the color drain from Mando's face, but his smile dropped instantly once young Mando pressed a large red button on the console initiating the second set of doors.
Sliding from both sides, the doors closed simultaneously while Burg continued holding the one from above. Unable to move Burg couldn't do anything and the doors came crashing on him.
In the distance Xi'an heard the commotion erupting from the control room and made haste in its direction, but kept getting lost because the sound that was directing her seized. Xi'an continued her journey in as much patience as she had but then felt a presence behind her. In a smile, she turned and began releasing daggers in Mando's direction, knocking his blaster free from his hand and getting one lucky blow as a dagger inserted itself below his pauldron.
Xi'an approached with force continuing her rain of daggers when Mando acquired a few and threw some her way. She dodged her own blades and came one on one with a close range battle between her and Mando. Each one displaying their combat skills but eventually Mando won in the end.
On the opposite side of the transport Mayfeld loomed with guns a blazing. He had both blasters in each hand and his mechanical arm aiming in all directions with the third. Hearing loud clanking, Mayfeld hide around a corner when three security droids became decoys. Unknowing to Mayfeld he stepped out of hiding and began blasting the droids to bites, becoming distracted he never noticed young Mando sneak up behind him and cut off the device harnessed to his back.
Gaining his attention, Mayfeld turned but young Mando lowered and performed a spinning sweep kick knocking him off his feet and instantly on his back. The wind escaped his lungs but he started to open fire, immediately taking cover young Mando used her gauntlets as shields deflecting the blaster fire back at him.
Trying to divert his own fire, Mayfeld lost sight of his target when young Mando flung her Vibroblade directly into the barrel of Mayfeld's weapon. Blocking the blaster's firepower, Mayfeld was unaware and pulled the trigger creating the weapon to back kick the blast onto him. The explosion sent Mayfeld flying backwards, unconscious and with a scorched face.
Seeing the mission become every man for himself, Quin found the ladder that lead up into the Crest, but upon his ascend was stopped by hearing his name being called out by Mando. From around the corner Mando and his daughter appeared ready for anything. Seeing his defeat, Quin hung his head asking the obvious, "You killed the others?"
"They got what they deserved," Mando replied.
Quin couldn't help and snarl when he turned to draw his blaster but Mando and his daughter already had theirs up on him.
"You kill me, you don't get your money," Quin pointed out," Whatever Ran promised, I'll make sure you get it, and more. Come on Mando. Be reasonable. Huh?"
Quin tossed his weapon but Mando and his daughter held theirs high, "You were hired to do a job, right? So do it," Quin held out his arms in order to be binded, "Isn't that your code? Aren't you a man honor?" Quin ended with a chuckle while young Mando looked at her father unsure of what he was going to do.
Back on the Crest, Zero continued his search for the unusual child unable to understand the reason for its antics, but this was the child's favorite game to play back on Sorgan. He remembered the group of children each taking a turn to be the one to hide and the one who would seek.
The child sort of knew he wasn't the best at the game and since Mando's daughter hardly played with him he decided to play with the strange droid, but realized once he was found the droid had different intentions.
The child could sense the malicious decision the droid computed once it raised its blaster. Relying on its instincts, the child raised his tiny hand and closed his eyes believing he could perform the same action he did with the Mudhorn, but nothing was happening.
Zero raised his blaster, finger on the trigger, but never got off his shot, instead Zero was hit from behind by Mando's blast and fell to the side, sparking.
"I warned him you would turn him into scrap metal," young Mando informed as Mando put his blaster away and they both looked over the child who appeared to be more baffled then scared.
Mando released the Razor Crest from the prison transport and sped off into lightspeed. It wasn't long until the Crest landed back at Ran's station as he awaited for their arrival. The platform lowered revealing only Quin, Mando, and his daughter, a confused look washed over Ran but quickly turned to a smile once he embraced Quin.
Mando and his daughter approached Ran when he tried to mask his disappointment with an obvious question, "Where are the others?"
"No questions asked. That's the policy, right?" Mando stated bluntly.
"Yeah. That is the policy," Ran's words were starting to become a tad hostile.
"I did the job," Mando declared.
"Yeah, you did," Ran shook his head and vigorously tossed Mando a small sack filled with credits.
"Just like the good old days," Mando reminded.
"Yeah, just like the good old days," Ran repeated when the smile dropped from his face.
Mando and his daughter boarded the Crest, he closed the hatch on the much emitting tension coming from Ran and Quin, when Mando fired up the engines and pulled out of the station.
Ran gradually waved them off while making his way to a podium and pressed a button on an intercom.
"Kill them," were the only two words Ran spoke.
Upon request the floor behind Ran and Quin opened, a small gun ship rose from the ground ready to go into battle. Quin laughed at the sight and for Mando's demise when he suddenly heard a rapid beeping.
Quin dug deep into his pocket and pulled out the tracking beacon Davan, the New Republic guard activated. Quin raised it high trying to analyze it when he showed it to Ran asking him what the thing was.
Walking over and taking the fully illuminated device in hand, Ran knew exactly what it was, "That bastard," he cursed watching the Razor Crest soar past the three X-wings who just dropped out of hyperspace.
"I got a clear signal on the tracking beacon," the leader X-wing pilot radioed to the others.
"Copy that," the second pilot said as the three moved into formation.
Fearing for the worst Ran slammed the beacon into Quin's hand and tried to leave the area as Quin squinted in order to recognize the ships approaching.
"Are those X-wings?" Quin questioned but Ran was not by his side any more.
"Yep. That's definitely a tracking beacon," the second pilot acknowledged.
"Looks like they're launching a gunship," the leader pointed out.
"Copy, I'm going in," the third pilot stated when all three X-Wings moved into attack position and opened their wings to fire.
They wasted no time and shot down the gunship which didn't even have the chance to leave the station's hangar. With the rapid fire the gunship exploded and the X-Wings made a final pass blowing up Ran's station, leaving nothing but debris.
Mando wasted no time and sent the Crest into lightspeed, he sighed with a hint of relief when he spoke sarcastically, "I told you that was a bad idea."
Young Mando couldn't help herself and belted out a laugh, "Remind me never to get on your bad side Papi, that sure was sneaky."
Mando just nodded his head when he heard the child giggle from its seat. Mando turned and unscrewed the shiny ball from the accelerator and gave it to the child to play with, because it was going to be a long flight to the middle of nowhere for his family.
