Chapter III: The Risk

Half way through the travel time back to Nevarro, the Mandalorian received a transmission from Guild agent, Greef Karga with instructions on how to deliver the target. This caused Mando's thoughts to turn towards the Child sleeping down in the cargo hold of his ship. For the first time in a long time, he began to question the Guild and even the Client's motives. Something churned in his stomach as he considered what they might to to the Child.

Reaching out with a gloved hand, Mando switched on the autopilot control and pushed away from the console. With a few easy strides, he made his way to the back of the cockpit and climbed down the ladder. Once there, he glanced around the room and found the woman sitting cross legged in front of the pram. Her back was turned to him so he could not see her face. But, he could practically feel the mindfulness and peacefulness she was projecting.

Part of him wondered what purpose meditating served her. He'd never been extremely in tune with his feelings or the inner depths of his mind. But this woman appeared to be familiar with her own consciousness. It almost felt like he was intruding on something extremely personal and private.

Clearing his throat, he made his presence known to the woman. Although he had a feeling she already knew he was behind her. The woman held out a steady hand to halt him, so he waited until she had completed her practices and repositioned her body sideways so he could see half of her face.

"He is still asleep." Kreya informed him before the question had even left his mouth. She paused for a moment as if to allow him an opportunity to respond before she added, "Though I believe he will wake soon."

Mando nodded and brushed past her to look at the Child. He, then, glanced back at the woman. She was watching him watch the Child. There was a strange softness in her expression he hadn't expected to find.

"What do you think they'll do to him?" He asked, suddenly and seemed taken aback as if he hadn't meant to voice his question aloud.

"Who is 'they'?" Kreya inquired in return, turning her attention towards him, fully.

The Mandalorian did not answer her right away, but when he did it cast a dark shadow over the cargo hold, "He's an imperial."

Something haunted flicked across the woman's face. Many beings remained weary of imperials even though nine years had passed since the Empire had fallen. But Mando had a feeling the look on her face was caused by something more than just general weariness.

Kreya inhaled, steadily and squared her shoulders, "Imperials will take what they want from him and then they will kill him. Imperials will not stop until every force sensitive being is erased from the galaxy."

"You've experienced this?" He questioned, choosing his words carefully.

"Yes," She nodded, "I have been hunted for the vast majority of my life."

"You are like me, then. Like my people." Mando admitted, unsure of how much she knew of Mandalorians and their culture.

Kreya offered him a kind smile, "I don't think there is a single group of people that hasn't been hunted or marginalized by the Empire."

Mando nodded and shifted, uncomfortably on his feet. The heaviness of their conversation was beginning to weigh on him. It forced him to recognize the mounting exhaustion this particular job had caused him.

"Would you mind going up to the cockpit?" He suggested, realizing it had been nearly a week since he'd showered or even slept properly, "Take the Child with you."

"If you wish to remove your helmet, Mando. You can do so in front of me for I am completely blind." The woman offered without hesitation.

Mando shook his head even if she could not see it, "Even if you are blind, you are still alive."

Kreya gave him a questioning look, "It shouldn't matter if I have no way of knowing if you've removed your helmet or not."

"This is the way."

That was the only response she seemed to need. She could respect his desire to follow his Creed. Finding her feet, she collected the child and it's pram and carried them both up to the cabin.

Once he was sure they were situated, Mando undid the classes of his armor and removed his helmet. He relished the cool, dry atmosphere within the ship after the mugginess he often felt within his helmet. It allowed his skin to breath as he made his way over to the fresher for a much needed shower.

A few hours later, Mando climbed into the cockpit freshly cleaned and fairly reinvigorated. Eyes surveyed the room as he took stock of his surroundings. The woman was meditating once again, seated on the floor off to the side of the pilot's seat. The pram was in the co-pilot's chair opposite of her. It took no more than a brief glance to see the Child was still asleep.

"Didn't you say he would be waking soon?" Mando inquired, turning his attention back to the woman.

Kreya hummed as if she hadn't noticed his return, a light flush coloring her cheeks before she corrected him, "I recall saying 'I believe' not 'he would be.'"

Mando fought the urge to roll his eyes at his odd companion. But said nothing in response as he moved to claim the pilot's chair.

A comfortable silence fell between the pair. Kreya resumed her meditations and Mando watched over the ship's control panel. Neither adult took notice of the Child beginning to rouse from his multi-day slumber. He cooed, softly as wide eyes blinked the remainders of sleep away, glancing around the strange room as he did so. For a long while his gaze was fixated on either the woman or the man. He watched them as if he were trying to decide if he could trust them. That was until something shiny on the dashboard caught his attention.

With minimal effort, the Child hoisted himself out of his pram and scuttled over towards the shiny knob of the accelerator. With ease his tiny hands unscrewed the sphere off the lever and in less than a second, he was attempting to put the ball in his mouth. Just like any youngling would do.

That was when the Mandalorian realized the Child was awake and he was quick to take the sphere, which was meant to be the lever's handle, away from the Child with a firm, "It's not a toy."

This earned a chuckle from the woman as she sensed Mando lift the Child up by the back of his tunic and place him back in his pram. She didn't miss the sigh that escaped from Mando's helmet. Briefly, she wondered if the man had ever taken a bounty job that involved a child before. It certainly seemed like he was uncomfortable dealing with the youngling. She considered asking him directly, but decided against it. She'd rather not know what kinds of jobs he'd actually taken.

"What is Nevarro like?" Kreya asked him, instead.

Mando glanced back at the woman before turning his attention back to the streaking lights of hyperspace, "It's a terrestrial planet, barren and rocky. There is some volcanic terrain."

"Sounds exactly like the kind of place I'd imagine bounty hunters would hang out." She quipped back in response.

Of course, she realized it wasn't only bounty hunters, who frequented such settlements. Likely other kinds of outlaws and smugglers would be attracted to a place such as the one Mando described. She'd chosen her words to see how the warrior might respond. While he seemed like an outwardly impatient and distrusting man, she wanted to see how he handled a little jesting.

To her surprise, he humored her or so it seemed, "It's not so bad once you get used to the sulfuric smell in the air. I don't hang around the bazaar too often."

Kreya chuckled, openly at his response. She hadn't expected him to play along. But from his tone of voice (regardless of his use of a voice modulator), he wasn't attempting to joke around with her. Apparently, he was too serious on the job to have a little fun. She'd only been attempting to lighten the mood.

Silence crept its way amongst them once more as Kreya decided not to push the conversation further. Instead, she waited quietly for their exit out of hyperspace and ultimate descent to Nevarro.

Once the trio landed safely in the shipyard in front of the entrance to the bazaar, Mando was quick to collect the Child and exit the cockpit. He was about to descend down the loading ramp when Kreya called out from behind him.

"Wait! Hold on just a second!"

Mando turned and watched her scamper down the ladder, slightly annoyed she was holding him up.

"You're not coming." He told her, sternly as he watched her wrap her tan cloak around her lithe body.

The look she cast his way could only be described as one of slight exasperation and she strode over to face him, squarely, "I wasn't planning on it. I just wanted to say 'goodbye' to the youngling."

Mando huffed, but stepped aside to allow the woman her chance to part with the Child. He watched as she knelt down to the pram and held her hand out to the tiny green being. The Child, in turn, reached out with its own small hand and wrapped it around her fingers.

"May the force be with you, little one." She whispered, softly as she gripped his digits and leaned forward to press her lips to the crown of his head. She lingered there for a few seconds before pulling away and straightening to her full height, so she was able to meet his gaze through the T-Visor of his helmet.

Kreya said nothing as she stepped back from the Mandalorian and the Child. She lingered there until they were both off the ramp and the ship's doors had sealed completely. Once the outside world was closed off from her, Kreya sank to her knees and let out a shuddering breath as she tried to calm her storming emotions. Parting with the Child was extremely distressing for the woman, but she had no claim over him and there was no way she could've smuggled him away from the bounty hunter.

Sighing, she tugged at her mountain of hair and closed her eyes, silently praying that the force would bring the Child back to her.

Mando returned to the ship several hours later to find Kreya had fallen asleep on an empty bench in the cargo hold. His eyes trailed over her figure. It was the first time he'd really looked over the woman since their initial introduction back on Arvala-7. She was dressed more plainly and conservatively compared to most women he'd associated with in the past.

Despite her modest attire, she almost seemed to glow even in the dim light of the cargo hold. He wondered if her glow was related to this 'force' thing she'd alluded to and her abilities or if it was just how her dark skin was naturally. Either way, it seemed she used her appearance in the same way he used his armor. She had her secrets just as he had his own.

Mando thought back to their brief conversation before they'd landed on Nevarro and actually considered just how similar they actually were even though they'd walked completely different paths up until the Child had brought them together. It brought his troubled mind some comfort at the fact that he wasn't completely alone after having handed over the Child to the Client. The process had unsettled him more than he had anticipated.

Quickly, he unloaded the sacks of supplies he'd purchased from the market of the bazaar and checked around the ship to make sure everything was ready for take off. Once he was satisfied with his assessment, he climbed up the ladder to the cockpit.

He settled himself easily into the pilot's chair. His hands moved on muscle memory to initiate the launch sequence, his mind was anywhere but the present. That was until his hand landed on the handle of the acceleration rod. The shiny knob perched on the top reminding him too much of the youngling he'd just given away.

Anger and frustration boiled within the man. Guild rules clearly stated no questions were to be asked about any clients' intentions with the quarry. Normally, he was fine with that rule. He didn't care what happened to the scum he captured. But this time it was different, a child was involved. A being who'd done no wrong. It was difficult for him to stomach that he was apart of a child's suffering and death. The protective feeling that had come over him as he'd walked through the bazaar with the child gripped his heart once more. He'd felt it even more strongly than when the Child had cried out to him when the scientist whisked the Child out of sight.

It was in that moment he knew he had to break guild code and go back for the child. It was the right thing to do and he was ready to raise hell to save the little wamprat. It was a risk he was willing to take.

He was the definition of a man on a mission as Mando shut down the launch sequence just as quickly as he'd started it. He flung himself down the ladder and stormed towards the ship's exit. His mind so singularly focused he nearly collided with Kreya, who was standing in front of the loading ramp waiting for him with a knowing look on her face. Her cloak fluttered around her, making it seem like she was floating.

"I'm going back to get him." He declared as if she wasn't already aware. But his words were more for himself than for her. He had needed to say those words aloud for his decision to solidify itself fully in his mind and his heart.

Mando, then, moved over to the weapons cabinet, opened it and withdrew a small blaster. Closing the metal doors afterwards, he locked them and walked back over to Kreya. He held out the blaster to her and instructed her.

"Take this. Guard the ship. Don't let anyone who isn't me on board."

Kreya nodded, but didn't accept the weapon. Frustrated because he knew he was running out of time, he shoved the blaster into her grasp and thundered away to rescue the Child.

A small smile spread across Kreya's face as she felt him stride away. His determination was contagious and she fed off it. But she forced herself to remain calm, they weren't out of the woods yet. She had to make sure the ship was ready for Mando because she had a feeling this wasn't going to go over as easily as the warrior made it seem.

Kreya could hear and feel the gunfight happening in the bazaar as twilight began blanket the settlement. The ship was close enough she felt the chaos of the battle, intensely. It was like being in a crowded room of people and every single one of them was shouting as loudly as they could. But amongst all the noise, she could easily pick up on the Mandalorian's presence in the force. He was just as steady and calm in the gunfight as he was in any other situation she'd been with him in thus far.

Even though, she hadn't known this man for very long she was proud of him. For fighting for what he believed was the right thing to do, for saving the Child, and facing great odds. He faced it all with the calmness and confidence necessary to see his self-imposed mission through to the end.

His presence, however, wasn't the only one she was drawn to. She felt someone much closer in proximity to the ship than Mando and from what she could tell he was approaching very quickly. The presence she felt was crafty and slippery, qualities which Kreya assumed meant the being wasn't an ally. So she readied herself for their arrival and waited.

From her position up in the cockpit, the intruder would have no way of knowing there was another being on board. But she would be able to know exactly where he is in relation to her. Her ears picked up on heavy footsteps rushing up the metal ramp and the winded breathing that accompanied such a task. She waited until the man had paused to catch his breath before she pounced.

Slipping quietly down the ladder, her feet landed on the floor without a sound. Instinctively, she maneuvered her limbs into a combative stance and waited for the man to turn around. But all he kept his eyes on the fighting off in the distance.

"Who are you?" She inquired in a strong, clear voice as her mind connected with the force in preparation for an attack.

Surprise jolted through the invader, clearly, he hadn't been expecting to be confronted in this manner. She could feel his gaze slide up and down her figure and heard him click the safety off on his blaster.

"I could ask you the same thing."

Kreya offered him an easy smile, but refrained from speaking further. She wanted the man to think he had the upper hand.

The man took the bait and continued speaking, "I didn't know Mando had a new girlfriend."

The way this man spoke reminded her of some of the senators she used to hear about when she was a youngling during the waning days of the Old Republic.

"I wouldn't say 'girlfriend'. Labels aren't really my thing." She replied, keeping her voice as even as possible as she played along. She, even, allowed the man to prowl around her like a predator.

The man chuckled at her response, "Labels can be rather restricting for a man like Mando. What's your name, little bird?"

Kreya wished she could roll her eyes and threw back, "Does it matter?"

"No," The man replied and raised a blaster to her head, "not particularly."

In a flash, Kreya summoned the force and wrapped it around the man. With ease, she lifted him off the floor and tightened her grasp until she was sure he could no longer move his arms. Darkness welled up within her mind as she did so. It sang a siren's song, tempting her to crush the man for nothing more than invading Mando's ship. But the light within her fought back, pushing the darkness into the depths of her consciousness. She wouldn't destroy this man over something so little. She wouldn't lose herself in that way.

Just then, Mando rushed up the ramp carrying the Child in his arms. He paused in shock at the scene before him. Shuffling the child into one arm, he withdrew his own blaster.

"Karga." He growled at the restrained man.

"Mando," The man grunted, clearly struggling within Kreya's grasp, "Tell this witch to put me down."

The Mandalorian turned his attention to the woman in question and noticed out her arm was stretched out in Karga's direction. Though he wasn't taken aback like the other man had hoped.

"I didn't want it to come to this but then you broke the code." Karga continued on, not waiting for Mando's response.

And still, the helmeted man offered no words. He did, however, send a subtle nod in the woman's direction. The woman couldn't hide the smirk that tugged at the corners of her mouth and nodded back. Without a second thought, she flung her arm away from her body in a throwing motion, sending Karga flying out of the ship.

Mando, then, handed the Child off to the woman and climbed up to the cockpit. Kreya pressed the code to seal the loading ramp before she followed after Mando. She was just about to step into the cabin when the ship lurched upward as it lifted off the ground. She nearly pitched over and dropped the Child in the process of steadying herself, but managed to grasp onto the collar of his tunic to keep him from taking a hard fall. Once she'd regained her footing, she hoisted herself into the cabin.

She placed the Child in the co-pilot seat, running a comforting hand over the Child's head and pressing a kiss to his brow. Once content the Child was settled, she approached Mando from behind and laid a gentle hand on his armor shoulder. The man jerked at her touch and glanced back at her.

"Well done." She nodded, approvingly, and offered the man a pleasant smile before she pulled away and stepped back towards the ladder.

"Wait!" The man called out to her. His command stopping her in her tracks.

Easily, she spun on her heel to face him with a raised eyebrow.

"Thank you." Was all Mando managed.

Kreya was sure there was more he wanted to say, but couldn't find the right words to express himself. So she dipped her head to save him from further inner turmoil, "No, thank you."

Quick Author's Note: I just wanted to give a send a quick 'thank you' to everyone who had read, reviewed, followed, and favorited this story so far. It really means a lot to as it has been so long since I've worked on fanfics. I can't wait to see what you guys think of this chapter as well as the forthcoming installments. I've gotten a lot of it written out already so it won't take too long to write the next chapter. However, I am in grad school now so my primary focus will be my classes. I will update as often as possible. Once again, thank you for taking the time to read this story!