Chapter I: The Woman
The sound of an old gunship entering Arvala-7's atmosphere drew the attention of everyone in the valley below. Lately, the backwater planet had been a bounty hunter hotspot with a seemingly unending stream of hunters passing through. This was unusual for the land as it had once been peaceful, but a band of Niktoian mercenaries setting up shop in an abandoned compound on the far side of the valley had changed everything.
"My lady, my sensors indicate another ship has arrived." A custom-made companion droid informed a cloaked figure perched on the dome of a small hovel.
The figure did not acknowledge the bot as deft hands tinkered with the wiring of the small moisture vaporator attached to the roof of the small home. Instead, the person in question continued on with their work for a few more moments.
"Well, let's hope this one gets the job done." A feminine voice rose above the sound of her wrench and metal clanking, "I'm tired of all these bounty hunters hanging around."
The droid stared, vacantly up at its mistress before announcing, "The success rate is highly unlikely, according to my calculations."
It's audio sensors picked up a snort that came from the woman as she continued on with her work. The sound was followed by a successful hiss emerging from the vaporator unit. Finally, having fixed whatever problem the woman had been working on, she fastened shut the control panel and straighten her body up to its full height.
"What are the odds, G-5?" The woman inquired, wiping her hands off on an old rag she'd had nearby before dipping down to collect her tool box.
The droid processed the command, efficiently before announcing, "Chances of success are 1 in 5,000."
"Thank you, G-5." The woman nodded and began to shuffle her way over to the transmission tower that was attached to the side of her home.
"Shall I put on a kettle of tea for you, my lady?" The droid inquired.
The woman began to climb down the tower, "That would be greatly appreciated."
"Would you prefer tarine or deychin today?" G-5 prompted, its opticals remained fixed upon the woman until she was safely on the ground.
The woman stretched her arms above her head and yawned, "Whichever is fresher."
The droid bowed to the woman and stated, "I'll start the kettle right away."
G-5 turned to make its way inside the tiny hovel, but was halted by it's mistress's voice, "Oh, G-5?"
"Yes, my lady?" The droid responded, turning around to face the woman once more.
"Could you draw some water for abath? I'm especially dirty after fighting with those worn out parts all morning." The woman's nose crinkled in disgust as she ducked her head down towards her underarm.
"I will get your bath ready for you as well." G-5 informed the woman.
The woman bowed to the droid, "Thank you, old friend."
"Certainly," G-5 replied before disappearing inside the hovel.
The woman smiled after the bot and shook her head as she turned to face the barren valley in the direction, which the ship had cut through the sky. She paused, breathing deeply and evenly as she appeared to scan the horizon as if she were searching for some sort of sign. But only the typically eerie silence of the planet was all she could pick up on. Taking a hesitant step forward, the woman was half tempted to go out in search of the stranger piloting the ship. But a crisp, mechanical voice interrupted her thoughts just as she was about to set out,
"My lady, your tea and bath are ready."
Turning back towards her meager home, the woman began to make her way across the yard towards her front door. Instead of following G-5 inside, she stopped and turned her head back over her shoulder as if waiting for something. Yet there was nothing. Sighing, she crossed over the threshold and allowed the warmth of her home to envelop her.
Late in the afternoon of the following day, the woman and her droid sat out on the front porch playing Shah-tzeh on an old demsne board. The pair was locked in an intense match. Each move easily countered by the other opponent. Although, it truly made no difference, which competitor emerged victorious.
"Your move, my lady." G-5 informed the woman after setting one of its figures down on the empty tile to claim it.
But no response came from the woman, her head was turned in the direction of the Niktoian compound.
"My lady?" The droid inquired, attempting to regain it's mistress's attention.
Once again the woman did not acknowledge the droids inquiry as she rose from her stool. Her attention focused on something far beyond the horizon.
"Do you hear that?" The woman asked her companion after several long moments of silence.
G-5 strained it's audio sensors, but they only picked up the natural sounds of the planet, "No, my lady, I cannot pick up anything out of the ordinary."
The woman swiveled around to face the bot, "G-5, can your scanners reach the old compound those Niktoians took over? I sense there is something going on over in that direction."
The droid did as requested, reaching out with it's scanners in an attempt to confirm it's mistress's senses.
"Yes, there does appear to be some sort of skirmish going on about twenty clicks away." It informed her.
"The bounty hunter made it, then." The woman concluded, her pleased tone did not take the droid by surprise. It was aware of the strain the presence of the bounty hunters and the Niktoians had placed on it's mistress.
G-5's audio box was about to offer a reply when the woman twirled around to face the droid completely and bounded back over to her abandoned seat. She plopped herself back down and rubbed her hands together, eagerly.
"Get ready, G-5, I'm going to beat you this time for sure." Her voice was filled with mirth as she picked up one of her pieces to take over the droid's position on the board.
The bot's gears chirped, approvingly as it's mechanical hand plucked it's own figure up in response, "I am afraid you have miscalculated, my lady."
The musical laugh that followed was carried away by the wind as the pair resumed their match. Change was in the air and it only meant good things for the valley they called 'home'. Both individuals were more than ready for\ routines to return to normal.
Soft afternoon light filtered through the drapes that covered the small window on the far side of the woman's private quarters. The room was sparse save for a cot, the stand next to it, some old worn-out clothes, and some old holo books. As bare as the quarters were the woman felt content as she sat in the middle of the floor, brow furrowed in deep meditation.
Life on Arvala-7 had offered the woman refuge from those who wished to use her. It allowed her mind to find the peace it had long since craved. Although, it wasn't the most ideal setting the orange, desolate planet had become precious to her in a way she hadn't thought possible when she first arrived several years ago.
Suddenly, she sensed a presence emerge in the force. It's brightness took her breath away. It had been a long time since she'd felt another being's presence so strongly. It caught her completely off guard, jolting her out of her meditation. Gasping, the woman reached out towards the presence. But just as brightly as it had sparked to life, it ebbed away. The woman bit her lip as she pondered over this new development.
"My lady, are you alright?" G-5's monotone voice inquired from the other side of the metal door separating her quarters and the main living space.
Running a hand through unruly curls, the woman recentered herself and called back, "Yes, G-5, I'm fine."
"Very well," The droid seemed appeased with her response, "Do you require anything at this time?"
"No, if I need something I'll come out and get it." The woman stated as she folded her legs back into the meditation pose she'd been taught so very long ago. Her mind was still racing at the possibility of a fellow force user present on the planet.
The woman was back on top of her hovel tinkering on the old vaporator. But if the woman was being honest with herself, working on the vaporator was just an excuse to get her mind off the previous day's development. She had attempted to connect with the other force user several times since she'd initially felt it's presence, but she'd had no luck making contact.
Instead, she decided to busy herself with some routine maintenance around her property while she waited to see if the other being would respond. She was so wrapped up in rewrapping the coils for one of the fans, she'd only faintly noticed the group of visitors just beyond her home.
"G-5, tell the Jawas I don't have anything to trade with them today." She commanded the droid, absently.
"My lady, your visitors are not Jawas. It's Master Kuiil. He's brought a strange man covered in armor with him." The companion droid informed it's mistress.
The woman reached out with the force to confirm the droid's statement and straightened once she deemed the bot correct. Her mind swept over Kuiil's steady, yet gentle presence before it fell upon a figure that was dark and somewhat threatening.
"Well met, Master Kuiil. I apologize for mistaking you for a Jawa." The woman remarked as she scampered down the transmission tower in order to greet her elderly neighbor, "It seems you've brought a guest with you."
"Guests, actually," The Ugnaught corrected her as he got down off his blerg mount, "This is Mando. He has something that might be of your interest."
"What would a Mandalorian have that might be of interest to me?" She inquired, tilting her head to one side and folding her arms over her chest.
The Mandalorian in question gestured to the pram floating behind him, but the woman failed to acknowledge his gesture. So the man cleared his throat and spoke in a gruff voice, "There is a child in the pram."
The woman appeared unfazed by his words and continued to stare, blankly at him from underneath her hood, "And why should I care about a child?"
The warrior stiffened at the woman's disinterest, but the growl died in his throat as his Ugnaught companion stepped in,
"My friend is the one who took down the Niktoians. They were guarding this child from something. It appears to have the ability to levitate objects with its mind."
The woman gasped at the Ugnaught's words and walked over to the pram. The Mandalorian bristled beneath his armor, his actions drawing the woman's attention back to him.
"Peace, Mando, I shall not cause harm to the Child." Her words while outwardly soft carried much weight behind them. Something about her voice soothed the Mandalorian and he allowed her to step closer to look inside the pram.
The woman, tentatively, reached down to lay her hand flat against the Child's chest. The Mandalorian, the Ugnaught, and the droid all watched in suspense as the woman observed the sleeping child. She carefully traced the Child's face with her fingers as if she were wished to imprint the image of him within her mind. After a few moments, she withdrew her hand and turned back to face her audience.
"I take it you seek some form of advice from me." She deduced.
A gust of wind kicked up and blew the woman's hood back to reveal her face. The Mandalorian was quick to take account of her appearance. The woman's skin was almond colored, freckles littered her cheeks like stars. Her hair was full and curly forming a large dark cloud atop her head. But what drew his attention the most was the aged scar that streaked across her face through her blank, grey eyes. She offered him a kind smile and gestured towards the hovel.
"Come inside, we have much to discuss. G-5 will start a fresh pot of tea for you."
The Mandalorian's gaze shifted away from the strange woman towards the companion droid behind her as it ducked into the hovel. A small hand fell upon his vambrace, drawing his attention away from the droid and back down to the woman standing now next to him. Her brow was furrowed as if she picked up on the hatred swirling in his gut.
"My droid will not bring harm to you or the Child." She informed him before removing her hand from his armor, turning on her heel and striding across field towards her home.
The Ugnaught moved to follow after her, but paused midway when he noticed the Mandalorian remained unmoving, "Come, Mando, the Child is safer here than anywhere else in the galaxy."
The Mandalorian wasn't so sure about that and when he was just about to argue with the older being the Ugnaught's trademark statement met his ears.
"I have spoken."
Sparring a glance down at the slumbering child, he followed his companion into the woman's tiny hovel. At this point, he knew better than to argue with the Ugnaught. He only hoped this wouldn't take too long. He was eager to return to Nevarro to collect his reward.
Once inside the warrior glanced around the inner dwellings of the woman's home. It was certainly meager, just about as meager as his ship. There was a small kitchen unit that was similar to Kuiil's. Not far from the kitchen was a small table where the woman and the Ugnaught were sipping on mugs of tea.
"Glad you decided to join us." The Ugnaught declared as he set his mug down on the table.
Mando grunted in response, checking over his shoulder to make sure the pram was still floating along behind him as the door sealed shut. He made his way over the table and sat down to join the pair.
"Mando," The Ugnaught spoke up once more and gestured to the woman seated across from him, "This is Kreya Rushbeck. She's the one I spoke of earlier."
"Well met, Mando." Kreya raised her mug in his general direction.
The man only nodded in return, but the woman appeared content with his lack of response.
"So why did you drag this poor man all the way out here, Kuiil?" The woman turned to address the Ugnaught.
"The Mandalorian requires assistance returning the Child to his client." The older being informed her as he began to sip on his tea after G-5 had refilled it.
"His client?" Kreya inquired, tilting her head to the side as she brought her mug to her lips, "You're a bounty hunter."
"I do not require assistance." Mando snapped at Kuiil.
"I have spoken." Kuiil declared, resolutely.
Kreya frowned at the exchange, "What do I get in exchange if I help this bounty hunter?"
"A ride off this planet." The Ugnaught offered in Mando's place.
The woman shook her head and pondered for a moment before her face lit up, "I want optical implants."
"Optical implants, that's all?" Mando failed to hide his surprise, even behind his beskar helmet.
Kreya tilted her chin, rebelliously, "Not everyone in this galaxy seeks riches. I, merely, wish to restore something that was taken from me."
Mando pondered over her offer. It would be an easy enough deal to uphold. Glancing at the woman, then to the Ugnaught, before his eye flickered towards the droid and the man nodded,
"Alright, but the droid stays here."