Chapter V: The Village

Mando and the woman joined Kreya and the Child at their previous table. Both seemed in much better spirits after their brief tussle. Kreya hid her amused smile behind her tea.

"Greetings," Kreya bowed her head in the woman's direction and touched a hand to the center of her chest, "I'm Kreya Rushbeck."

"Cara Dune." The gruff voice of the other woman replied as the pair of warriors claimed their seats.

Mando sat next to Kreya and Cara sat opposite of him. The child sat in between Kreya and Cara. The former kept part of her mind focused on the youngling to make sure he didn't attempt to wander off again.

"That's a nifty trick you've got there." Cara noted, referring to Kreya's use of the force, "I've never been disarmed so quickly in my life."

Kreya shrugged and swirled the dregs of her tea around in the mug, "It's just a simple party trick."

"Party trick or not. I heard Luke Skywalker could do similar things. His abilities saved the rebellion more than I care to admit." Cara informed the pair as she sipped on her bowl of soup.

A strangled noise escaped Kreya's throat causing the Mandalorian to glance over at his companion with a questioning tilt of his helmet. He was quick to note the strained expression on her face. So he filed that information away for later and changed the subject.

"You were part of the Rebel Alliance then?" He inquired, noting Cara's various tattoos.

Cara nodded, "I was a shock trooper. Saw most of my action after Endor. Mostly Ex-Imperial warlords. If they wanted it fast and quiet. They'd send us in on the drop ships. No support, just us." She paused for a moment and glanced around the room before continuing, "Then when the Imps were gone, the politics started. We were peacekeepers. Protecting delegates, suppressing riots. Not what I signed up for."

"How'd you end up here?" Mando inquired, turning his own gaze to survey the tavern.

"Let's just call it an early retirement." She replied, bringing the wooden bowl up to her lips once more and then changed the subject on him, "Look I knew you were Guild. I figured you had a fob on me. That's why I came at you so hard."

Mando nodded, "Yeah, that's what I figured."

Kreya felt the woman's presence rise from the table. But didn't acknowledge it.

"Well, this has been a real treat, but unless you wanna go another round, one of us is gonna have to move on and I was here first." She informed them, as she took one final sip of the brothy-soup, sat it down on the table, and strode off.

Mando watched the former shock trooper depart, his hands clenching in frustration. He was more than half-tempted to spar with the military woman again just so they could stay here a little longer. But a gentle touch drew his thoughts back towards his companions.

Kreya withdrew her hand and offered him a small smile, "It's alright, Mando. I'm sure there's another planet close by we can crash on."

Insects buzzed around them as the adults loaded up the ship. The Child played in the grass not too far away from where they were working. Kreya kept watch over him as he occupied himself while they finished up what needed to be done prior to take off.

A spike in the force alerted her, as her ears picked up the sound of a transport vehicle headed their way. Kreya could feel the presence of two passengers on board. The woman shuffled closer to the Child so that her body was between the newcomers and the youngling.

"Mando?" She called out in the direction she'd last heard him tinkering around.

"What is it?" He called back over the soft whirling of the ship's power system.

Kreya nudged her head in the direction of the transport, the passengers now making their way towards the ship.

"Excuse me?" A soft voice broke through the nighttime sounds.

Another voice echoed the first as the newcomers drew closer, "Excuse me, sir?"

Kreya stood her ground, despite the meekness their life signatures emitted. She wasn't one to let her guard down around strangers.

"Is there something I can help you with?" Mando inquired, annoyance evident even through his modulator.

The Mandalorian kept his back to the men as he continued to work on his ship.

"Uh yeah." One of the men answered, nervously as they stepped into the light coming from the ship, "Raiders."

Raiders? Kreya's brows shot up at the word. She hadn't heard anyone speaking of raiders back in the outpost. If there was such a big problem, why hadn't it been brought up before now. Something wasn't right here…

"We have money." The other man interjected.

"So you think I'm some kind of mercenary?" Mando threw back at the pair, clearly taunting them.

Kreya had to hold back the snort that bubbled up in her nose. Even a blind being would've been able to tell her companion was a bounty hunter.

"You're a Mandalorian, right?" The first one began, "Or at least, you're wearing Mandalorian armor. That is Mandalorian armor, right?"

"It is." Mando allowed, walking away from them. The man nodded in Kreya direction in hopes she'd pick up something from him and take the Child inside the ship.

To her credit, the woman knelt down and swept the youngling into her arms, wrapping her cloak around his tiny body to conceal his presence from the unknown men.

"See? I told him." One of the men addressed the other as they followed after Mando, "Sir, I've read a lot about you people- tribe… If half of what I read is true-"

"We have money." The second man cut in, making sure to reiterate the fact once more.

Mando kept tinkering on the ship, "How much?"

"Everything we have, sir." The first one began, glancing at Kreya, "Our whole harvest was stolen."

"Krill. We're krill farmers." The other one clarified.

The first one spoke up again, "We brew spotchka. Our whole village chipped in."

Mando took one glance at the coin purse the young man held out to him and declared, "It's not enough."

The Mandalorian glanced over at his companion and noticed a hint of disapproval shadowing her calm features.

"Are you sure? You don't even know what the job is." The first man, the one with the long hair, pressed on they continued following him.

Mando motioned for Kreya to head up the ramp and she complied, brushing past him without so much as a glance in his direction.

"I know it's not enough. Good luck." He remained firm as he followed his companion up into the ship.

The farmers noticed the frustrated look the cloaked woman shot in the Mandalorian's direction and pleaded once more, "We'll give you more after the next harvest."

But Mando offered no reply as he shifted his body between them and the woman.

"What?" The armored man shot down at her as she pushed to stand beside him.

"You couldn't have at least given them the decency of checking it out for them?" Her voice was calm and soothing to the farmers ears as she spoke to the Mandalorian.

"We can't afford to get injured over something that's not our problem." The man grumbled, glancing down at her curly head.

The woman shook her head at him and placed a hand on her hip, "They came to you because you're probably their last hope. I know you don't owe them anything, but maybe they might have something more to offer than money."

"Like what?"

Kreya didn't answer the bounty hunter, instead she stepped past him and called out to the retreating forms of the farmers, "Excuse me? You said, you're farmers, right?"

The men turned around, "Yeah."

"Do you have any extra lodging by chance?" She inquired and gestured to the Mandalorian behind her, "You see, we've been traveling for quite some time which is why he is so cantankerous. What we need more than money right now is a place to rest."

The men glanced at one another and then back to the cloaked woman, "Yeah, absolutely."

"Good!" The woman flashed a brilliant smile at them. It was slightly unsettling when one considered her glassy, grey eyes offered no form of emotion. This fc was a stark contrast to the brightness of her smile. She nodded back towards the ship, "Come and help!"

Spinning on her heel, the woman floated up the loading ramp, triumphantly, despite the irritation and anger she felt from her armored companion. She, simply, flashed him that same grin and brushed past him, disappearing into the bowels of the ship.

The farmers slacked-jawed expressions changed when their gaze fell back upon the Mandalorian, who folded his arms over his breastplate but said,

"You heard the woman. Get up here."

The trio of men were quick to load up the farmers' transport. Kreya held onto the Child as she watched them work. She might've offered to help, but she could tell from the strain in their breathing that many of Mando's crates would've been too heavy for her to carry without the force.

"Can't you use those powers of yours to give us a hand?" Mando's voice rumbled in her direction as he brushed by her to lift the crate next to the one she was perched on.

Kreya shook her head, "One does not use the force for such frivolous tasks."

"Seriously?" She imagined he'd quirked an eyebrow at her behind his helmet.

"It is the way of my people." She insisted, knowing her statement would resonate with him.

Sighing, Mando shook his head and lugged the crate over to the transport. The Child cooed, reaching out for the man, but Mando didn't acknowledge the youngling.

"I'm gonna need one more thing." He informed their hosts as he sat the box down, "Give me those credits."

"Any idea what the Mandalorian's doing with that money?" The younger of the two men inquired as they waited for Mando in the speeder.

Kreya didn't answer the farmer right away. Her hand stroked the Child's head, soothingly as she attempted to will him to sleep with the force. But the Child was proving to be resilient to her suggestions. Several moments of silence passed before she spoke, "I wouldn't worry about the money. Mando doesn't seem like the type to waste credits, does he?"

"No, I guess not." The man replied, "I'm Caben, by the way, and this is Stoke."

Kreya dipped her head in acknowledgement, "Well met, Caben and Stoke. I'm Kreya."

"Nice to meet you, Kreya." Caben offered a polite smile in her direction, "How long have you been traveling with the Mandalorian? Are you… Were you one of them since you don't have a helmet or armor?"

"No, I'm not Mandalorian. I'm from the Core." She informed them, her blank gaze stared off into the distance as she continued, "I haven't been traveling with him for very long. Our partnership only began after he and the Child were brought to me."

"What is it?" Stoke inquired as he eyed the youngling nestled in Kreya's cloak.

"I'm not certain." The woman informed them, honestly.

Silence fell over the trio allowing Kreya to listen to the soft sounds of the forest. Not too far off in the distance she felt Mando's presence making its way back to them with a presence she recognized as Cara's in tow.

It wasn't much longer when the pair of warriors stepped out of the shadows and hoisted themselves into the back of the transport. Brief introductions were made and they were off once more. Traveling slowly through the dense forest towards Caben and Stoke's village.

"Good to see you again, Cara." Kreya smiled over at the battle hardened woman as she scooted over to make room for Cara's larger frame.

"Likewise, Curly."

Kreya shook her head at the former shock trooper and leaned back against the side of the machine.

Cara turned to address Mando, "So we're basically running off a band of raiders for lunch money?"

"They're quartering us in the middle of nowhere," Mando informed her, his voice sounded tired as he leaned back as well, "Last I checked, that's a pretty good deal for someone in your position. Worst case scenario, you tune up your blaster. Best case, we're a deterrent. I can't imagine there's anything living in these trees that an ex-shock trooper couldn't handle."

Kreya felt a pang of alarm flash through both Caben and Stoke. She felt their presence turn to each other and noticed the stiffness in the air around them.

"Something you want to share, boys?" She called out to them, hoping they might come clean and tell them what they weren't sharing.

Mando and Cara turned their attention towards the farmers as well, waiting for their response.

"N-no, not at all. Just hoping another raid hasn't happened. That's all." Caben informed them, although Kreya could sense his nerves bleeding out through his words.

"You're certain?" She pressed, she knew he was lying.

Stoke answered this time, "Yes, we've got nothing to hide."

Kreya was unconvinced and kept her attention on them for a few moments longer before she shuffled against the sides of the transport in an effort to find a little more comfort.

"What was that about?" Cara whispered across the transport.

"Just a feeling." Kreya informed the other woman, setting the Child on the floor so she could have a little personal space.

Before she drifted off to sleep, she heard the child coo softly so she stretched her hand out to hold the youngling close through the night.

After traveling for the rest of the night and past the dawn of the next day, the bustling of many beings awoke Kreya through the force. Nuzzling her head against the coolness of the metal propping her head up, she froze when she noticed it wasn't the side of the transport but Mando's pauldron as his presence was entirely too close to her to be anything else. Had she moved? Had he? Kreya wasn't sure. But it had old warnings of the past ringing in her ears.

Shifting away from the man, she shook her head to rattle away the last tendrils of sleep from her mind before she sat up. The mid-morning sun warmed the exposed skin of her shoulders. It had been awhile since she'd felt a morning so pleasant.

Not too far away she could feel Caben and Stoke's village. She could hear the children laughing and playing, adults working, and overall it felt peaceful upon a first reading.

The transport jerked to a halt, altering them of their arrival. Mando and Cara woke next. The Child was practically standing on the edge of the vehicle watching the village children as they swarmed around them.

"They're here!" One of them cheered, excitedly.

"Well, looks like they're happy to see us." Mando observed from behind Kreya as he shifted his body so that his shoulder brushed against hers as he looked past her towards the small village.

"Looks like it." Cara and Kreya both agreed, watching on as several younglings gushed over the Child as he babbled back at them.

Kreya, however, wasn't prepared for the shift in the force she felt when she stepped out of the transport and onto the lush grass of the clearing.

Peace gave way to anguish and grief. Image of a raid flashed through Kreya's mind. These people were plagued by these events more so than they'd let on. She could feel the hope and desperation that bubbled beneath the surface of every being.

The flashes of the present gave way to images from her past. Images that were more like nightmares. Things she fought to keep locked away.

Night blanketed Coruscant in darkness. The sounds of blaster fire and strangled shouts bombarded the younglings' ears as they huddled behind the chairs in the council chamber. Kreya felt her friends tremble in fear as they waited for help to arrive.

Being one of the oldest in the group, the young girl was more in tune with the force than her peers. And despite her age, she could tell something was wrong. The force felt like a gaping wound, painful and mourning. It created a physical ache in her chest. Kreya clutched at her robes near her heart and grimaced.

"Kree, are you alright?" Mila, one of her close friends, inquired, reaching out to touch her shoulder.

The darker skinned girl shook her head and held a finger to her lips. She motioned for her peers to huddle down when she heard footsteps approaching. Just then, the doors to the chamber hissed open and a young boy, Jacen, peaked out to see who had entered.

"Master Skywalker?"

Kreya's heart fluttered in relief. Master Skywalker's presence meant they would be saved. After all, he was one of the best in the Order. One by one, the younglings around her slipped out from their hiding places. But something held Kreya back, instead she peeked around from behind the chair and saw a cloaked figure standing just inside the entryway. Despite his hood, she could tell it was indeed Master Skywalker. But the yellow gleam in his eyes unnerved her.

Jacen, the boy who had announced the older Jedi's arrival continued, "There are too many of them. What are we going to do?"

Master Skywalker's face darkened as his blue lightsaber blazed to life. Kreya gasped and shuddered in fright as she felt rage bleed into the force. She wished she could've closed her eyes, but she couldn't look away as the master rose his saber and brought it down on Jacen. Cutting down the unarmed youngling in a single, swift slash.

"Kreya," Mando's voice called from somewhere above her, "Kreya?"

The woman groaned and clutched her head, using one arm to push herself off the ground in order to sit up. When had she fallen? Was it during her vision?

Anxious murmurs hummed in the background as concerned villagers flocked to see what all the commotion was about. It wasn't every day the village had such strange visitors and it wasn't common for one of them to faint suddenly, either.

"You alright, Curly?" Cara inquired, laying a firm hand on the other woman's shoulder.

Kreya nodded, "Yes. But I can feel everything that's happened here. I felt their pain, their anguish, their worry, their hope. It took me back to that day…"

"What day?" It was Mando who spoke, his voice much closer than before.

Kreya shook her head, "It doesn't matter. It was a long time ago."

Reaching a hand out, Kreya summoned her staff to her and rose to her feet. Brushing off the grass and dirt, she straightened her cloak and satchel. She could tell Mando wasn't going to accept her non-answer, so she stepped away from their small group to collect her thoughts.

Mando, Kreya, Cara, and the Child were shown the huts they'd be using during their stay in the village. Cara opted for one of the smaller shelters, preferring to have her personal space over sharing with Kreya. Not that Kreya minded. She wasn't really used to sleeping with someone else in the room either. But she was going to have to share a hut with Mando since there were no other available spaces. The pair followed their hosts towards their lodging.

Kreya felt a presence milling about inside the building as they stepped closer. She allowed her companion to enter first. Figuring Mando would have common sense enough to be polite towards whomever was inside.

"Please, come in." A feminine voice invited the Mandalorian inside the hut.

He did as the voice asked and gestured for Kreya to follow.

"I hope this is comfortable for the three of you. Sorry that all we have left is the barn." The woman continued, straightening up as Mando set his things down.

"This'll do fine." He informed the older woman, but his eyes remained on Kreya, who hadn't crossed the threshold yet.

The woman turned to Kreya gesturing behind her, "I've stacked some blankets over here. I hope they'll be enough."

Kreya smiled, but her mind was focused on the presence sneaking up behind her, "That's very kind of you."

Suddenly, she heard the clanging of metal armor clashing together and the snap of a blaster as it was withdrawn from its holster.

"Mando!" Kreya hissed at her companion when she heard a soft, shocked gasp come from someone behind her.

The woman moved past Kreya and pulled a young girl into the hut with them. The woman gestured to the girl and then to the visitors, "This is my daughter, Winta. We don't get a lot of visitors around here. She's not used to strangers."

Kreya offered Winta a friendly wave as Mando remained silent behind her.

The older woman, then, informed her daughter, "These nice people are going to protect us from the bad ones."

"Thank you." Winta's voice was snow as fresh snow when she addressed them.

Mando tilted his helmet in acknowledgement. Kreya offered the girl a warm smile, "You're welcome."

The woman offered the strangers a kind smile before placing her hand on the girl's shoulder to shepherd her out of the hut, "Come on, Winta. Let's give our guests some room."

Once their footsteps faded into the rest of the village's sounds, Mando turned to Kreya who lingered near the entrance. Judging by her shift in demeanor, he could the woman was still affected by the visions she'd succumbed to earlier.

"Are you alright?" He drawled, stepping towards her cautiously.

Kreya nodded and hugged her arms around herself, "I will be."

"Does this place remind you of what happened to your people?" He inquired, barely stopping himself from reaching out to trace the scar that slashed across her eyes.

"No." Kreya shook her head and set her satchel down on one of the cots, "I was on Coruscant when it happened. It's just how some of the villagers feel that sparked those memories."

"Coruscant? You're from the Core?" Mando seemed genuinely surprised by her revelation.

"Well, not really. I'm not sure what planet I was actually born on. The Order collected me when I was very young. They raised me in the Temple there." She informed him as her hands clutched at the fabric of her cloak.

Mando stepped closer, close enough Kreya could hear him breathing, "How old were you?"

"When it happened?" She prompted, but decided to continue anyway as the force pushed her to reveal more of herself to this man whom she barely knew, "I was probably not much older than most of the younglings here."

She attempted to turn away from him. She didn't want his pity. She didn't really want anything from him that he could provide. But Mando wasn't finished as he grabbed her arm and turned her back to face him.

"I was around their age too. During the Clone Wars, my home world was attacked by Separatists. Droids killed my parents. Mandalorians saved me and took me in as a foundling." He told her.

Kreya's expression was a mixture of softness and mourning as she reached out to touch the side of his helmet. It was an intimate gesture for both of their cultures. But it spoke more than simple words ever could. If there wasn't a beskar barrier between them, she might've been able to see his thoughts because of how open his mind felt to her. She might've been able to see the memories conjured up by his words. She might've been able to share in his pain.

"Why are you telling me this?" Was all she managed to say, but she didn't withdraw her hand from the cold steel.

Mando's hand covered hers, "Because we need to trust each other if we are going to keep the Child safe."

Kreya saw no flaws in his logic. She knew they would learn more about each other the longer their unlikely partnership lasted. But she also trusted that he wouldn't share her secrets since he trusted her with his.

She nodded and stepped backwards towards her satchel and with a heavy breath as she reached back for it, "Then let me show you what scarred me."