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Chapter 14

~X~

"Keep your wits sharp and your blade sharper."

~Mandalore the Destroyer~

Holstering his weapon, Din hurried to Ravana's side, unlocking the cuffs that held her prisoner. The moment she was free, her arms were flung around his neck, clinging to him for all she was worth, as tears of fear and relief coursed down her cheeks. He'd found the hunter's ship and managed to slip on board just as things had escalated from bad to worse. Din had heard her trying to stall for time, something that had been key in allowing him the opportunity to locate her. Yet, even a thick-headed Trandoshan could only be fooled for so long, and Din had arrived just in time for that to happen.

"Oh, Mando," she sobbed, her voice muffled from her face being pressed against his chest. "I…I was sure he was going to…to…kill me!"

"It would seem that you've managed to get yourself in that situation more than once since making my acquaintance," he muttered, doing his best to sound calm, though to be honest, he was anything but. He'd almost been too late, and that did not sit well with him at all. "But he wasn't going to kill you. He wouldn't have received his bounty if he had."

"But…but the knife," she stammered, pulling back with a look of disbelief.

"It's a cauterizing blade, not one used to kill," he explained, giving the vile weapon a kick with his boot, sending it skittering across the floor and away from her.

"Cauterizing? I don't understand." Ravana was even more confused now.

Here Din pulled out of her embrace, feeling oddly bereft of her warmth when he did. Looking around, he spotted what he'd been searching for and walking over to a large metal box, he unlatched it and opened the lid.

"Just what I thought," he muttered in disgust. "He either likes to take trophies…or enjoys a snack or two while traveling."

Ravana crept closer, at last able to see what he'd uncovered. Upon catching sight of the half-frozen, rancid body parts stacked in the freezer unit, she let out a strangled cry, turning away at lightning speed.

Din had just let the lid drop, intending on comforting his companion when he heard the gut-wrenching sound of Ravana vomiting up everything that she had eaten that day. Rushing to her side, he placed a steadying hand on her shoulder, pulling back her hair that had come loose as she emptied her stomach all over the floor of the Trandoshan's ship. He found it a fitting tribute to the vile creature, but he still felt bad for causing her to lose her lunch.

When she had no more left to throw up, he allowed her a moment to compose herself, knowing that being seen in such a condition had to have been a bit embarrassing. Still…he didn't blame her one bit.

"He was going to…eat me?" she asked, attempting to wrap her mind around the idea.

"Not all of you," he clarified. "Just maybe your arm…or a leg." And while it was true, this news didn't exactly seem to make the notion any better in her eyes. "But you did a fine job of distracting him, and from keeping him from taking off. Your stall tactics gave me just the time I needed to get on board."

"I…I didn't know what else to do," she confessed, suddenly looking so very tired that he instinctively pulled her to his side, allowing her to rest her head on his shoulder. "I told him I had a treasure hidden on this planet, hoping he wouldn't leave without finding it. It was the only thing I could think of."

"And it worked," Din told her proudly. "Though I didn't care much for that part where you called me an untrustworthy mercenary and vicious killer." This he said with a snort of laughter, having found her description of his kind both unflattering and somewhat correct.

"I didn't mean a word of that and you know it," she huffed, reaching up to half-heartedly slap him on his beskar chest plate.

"And what did I say about the wisdom of striking a Mandalorian?" Din reminded her, pleased that she seemed to be returning to her feisty self so quickly after her ordeal.

"That I should do it every time it's warranted?" she managed to say with a small laugh.

"Close enough," Din said with a hidden smile. "Now, let's see what we can find out about why this Trandoshan was hunting you."

"Is that what he was?" she questioned, not even turning to look at the prone body on the floor as he led her out of the hold and towards the cockpit. "I've never seen one of his kind before."

"And let's hope you never do again," he mumbled, his eyes scanning his surroundings, before his gaze fell upon what he'd been looking for. Sitting to the side of the control panel was a bounty puck. Picking it up, he stuffed it in the bag he still carried, positive that it would tell them everything they needed to know.

After looking around for anything of value, Din powered down the engines and took Ravana by the hand, wishing to be off the filthy ship. Sealing it up tightly as they went, he hoped that no one would discover the hunter's dead body for a good long time, preferably after they had left orbit. For the last thing they needed was to be linked to anything that had happened here.

Ravana had clung to him the whole way back, but Din didn't mind. He knew she was shaken up, and even if she was attempting to act tough, he could feel the way her hand was quivering within his own. He supposed being captured and nearly cut up for a snack was not something one simply got over…it would take time.

When they arrived back at the Razor Crest, Ravana stopped him before he could lower the hatch.

"Wait," she requested, pulling away from him as she reached up and smoothed down her hair, attempting to compose herself. "I don't want the kid or Zax to worry over me. At least no more than they already are, since you leaving the ship could only have meant something had gone wrong."

"I'm sure they figured something was up," he nodded.

"Well, let's try and not add to it, all right?" she begged, pasting on a fake smile as she signaled that he could proceed.

Just as Din had figured, both the kid and the zaktan were waiting for them at the top of the ramp, and he wondered why he even bothered locking the door on the little cubical. Ravana went directly to them and scooped them both up in her arms, giving each one a kiss on the top of their heads.

"And what are you two doing?" she asked, her tone happy and trouble free. "Waiting for us to come back? That's very sweet of you."

Din could tell that her words and voice had gone a long way in soothing any worries either one might have had, the kid's toothy grin evidence of that. Zax was a bit harder to fool, but at least its tail began to wag back and forth, telling him she'd been somewhat successful.

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Din let her remain down below, playing with them both as he headed for the cockpit, once more leaving a planet in a hurry, eager to not be around when the dead Trandoshan was discovered. When they were once again safely headed out of the star system, he returned to the hold of the ship. There he found Ravana just putting the kid down for a nap, with Zax content to snuggle up beside him as he slept.

When it was just the two of them, Din retrieved the bounty puck from the bag and placed it on the table between where they sat, the hologram shooting up from the device, displaying the image of Ravana's face. Above it was written her full name, Ravana F. Searan, and below it listed the crime she'd supposedly committed.

"Wanted for murder?" she gasped is disbelief. "I've never killed anyone! Ever!"

"Someone seems to think you have," Din muttered, filing away this new information for later reflection…especially the fact that he now knew Ravana's family name. Searan. However, he couldn't help wondering if this trumped up charge was some elaborate plan of Gideon's to track down him and the kid. Yet, there was no denying that it was Ravana's image staring back at him, with the accusation of murder circling just below her likeness. "And until we get this figured out, I don't see any way you can return to Pessue, for that would be the first place a bounty hunter would look for you."

Ravana folded her arms on the table and leaned down, burying her head between them as she let out a long moan of misery. Din could tell that she was reaching her breaking point, and he certainly didn't blame her. Since meeting them, she'd been shot, choked, left for dead, threatened, kidnapped, and almost turned into Trandoshan chow. There was only so much a girl could take.

"How am I expected to clear my name when I don't even know who I'm supposed to have killed and who's put the bounty on my head?" she asked in a muffled voice that sounded as if she was crying.

"I think I know someone who could offer us some answers," he informed her, eager to give her a bit of hope. "He's my former contact in the Bounty Hunter's Guild, and if anyone could discover where this puck originated…he can." He wasn't exactly sure Karga could do as he'd just promised, but right now Din would say just about anything to stop Ravana from feeling so helpless in this matter.

"And…and you think he'd be willing to help me?" she questioned, raising her head as she did indeed wipe away several tears from her cheeks. "What if he locks me up instead? Isn't it his job to see that people like me are brought to justice?"

"There is no justice in a false accusation," he stated firmly. "And he owes me, so you won't have to worry about him turning you in."

"And where does he live? Is it far?" she questioned.

Din could tell that she was starting to warm up to this idea, the look of hope returning to her moist eyes.

"No, it's not far, and we can find him on the planet Navarro," Din revealed.

"Navarro? The place you keep setting the automatic pilot to send the ship if anything bad happened?" Ravana recalled.

"Yes. Greef Karga was once the magistrate of the place, until there was an incident between him and some official. I never heard what had started the whole thing, but a woman and a lot of alcohol was involved…and a blaster. After that he stepped down and turned to organizing Guild work. I honestly think he's happier now."

"And you once mentioned a woman too," Ravana reminded him. "Cara Dune? Who is she?"

"Former Rebel shock-trooper, who chose to go out on her own when she became disillusioned by what working for the New Republic required," he revealed. "I met her a while back, and then she agreed to join me, Kuiil and IG-11, in confronting the client who hired me to find the kid. Little did any of us know how deep this whole thing went, and that's where we met up with Moff Gideon."

"But you came out of it all right, didn't you?" Ravana guessed, seeing as how he was still alive to tell the tale.

"Some of us did," he told her, turning his helmet away in both grief and shame.

"But some didn't?" she asked in a sad voice.

"Kuiil…and IG-11," Din confessed. "Kuill was an Ugnaught I met on Arvala-7 where I found the kid. He helped me in more ways than one. All he ever wanted was to live free and be at peace. He agreed to come with us, him and that repurposed hunter droid of his, to help protect the kid during the mission. He gave his life doing just that."

"And this IG-11?" was her next question.

"Kuiil had reprogramed him from a killer to serve as the kid's nurse droid, something I was against from the start. But that Ugnaught knew his stuff and IG-11 did a fine job of it. When we were trapped with no way out, that suborn hunk of spare parts chose to self-destruct, taking out the enemy, so the rest of us could escape."

"Sounds like they were both very good friends," Ravana said quietly. "You were very fortunate to have such loyal people, and droids, in your life."

"I'm not sure they would say the same," Din replied bitterly. "They lost their lives in an effort to help me fight those kriffing Imps!"

"You can't blame yourself for their deaths," Ravana insisted. "It's honorable that you do, but I doubt that's what they would have wanted. If it was their choice to come, and you didn't force them, then respect their decisions and their sacrifices. Don't cheapen it by taking the blame on yourself. Place it where it truly belongs…on this Gideon fellow and his remnant of Imperials." Here she stopped and was lost in thought for a moment. "I guess I never really worried about such things way out there on Pessue. My biggest concern was making sure my storehouse was full and I had enough supplies to last the cold season. Imperials and Rebels, as well as their struggle for power, was not a daily concern."

"Well, out here it is," Din informed with a tone of bitterness. "Though up until I found the kid, I'd tried to avoid getting caught up in their mess. Mandalorians have a long and muddled past with the Old Republic, as well as the Empire. So, suffice it to say, we prefer to keep to ourselves and let those around us battle things out between themselves."

"Still, you are part of the galaxy, and as such, one day you will be expected to take sides," Ravana reasoned. "And now that you have the kid to look after, which side would be best for him?"

"I won't have to make that choice if I can find his home planet and his family," Din replied logically. "And that's exactly what I plan to do. But first, we head to Navarro and find a way to clear your name."

When Ravana's hand snaked out and covered his own gloved one that was resting on the table, Din froze. He was not comfortable with close contact like this, having spent the majority of his life keeping people at a distance. His helmet and beskar armor had always been a deterrent against most forms of physical contact, and yet, Ravana continued to find new ways to circumvent his protective barriers.

"Thank you, Mando," she said sincerely. "And not just for taking me to Navarro, but for everything. Especially for coming to my rescue today, I honestly don't know what would have happened to me if you hadn't. Yet, for some reason I just knew if I could stall long enough, you would find me…and you did." Her eyes were once more tearing up, something that he felt the need to put a stop to immediately.

"Well…" Din began, having to halt and clear his throat a bit over the lump that had unexpectedly formed there. "I couldn't exactly let some fool-hunter make off with the kid's babysitter, could I? Besides, how would it have looked if I was unable keep hold of one little murderer? I would have been laughed out of the Guild over such a failure."

"True," Ravana chuckled, his words causing her to react just as he'd hoped she would. "That would have been an unforgiveable sin, to be sure. But I still want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. You saved my life…again."

"Let's say we don't make a habit of it," he suggested. "All right?"

"Whatever you say, Mando," she smiled. "Whatever you say."

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That night, Ravana's dreams were filled with frightening visions of Trandoshans, Quarren warriors, and Rodians, all seeking to harm her in one way or another. She must have tossed and turned fitfully for quite a while, before waking herself with a loud scream. Sitting up in bed she did her best to calm her breathing, attempting to convince herself that it had all been in her mind and no one was truly trying to harm her.

"Ravana?" came the familiar voice of the Mandalorian from outside her little room. "Are you all right?"

Oh, great, now she'd disturbed everyone with her foolishness, she thought to herself. Still, she couldn't deny that seeing a friendly face…er, helmet, right about now would not go amiss. So, swinging her feet over the side of her small bed, she slipped into a long pair of stockings, attempting to stave off the chill. She'd continued using the shirt he'd loaned her for sleeping in, having only picked up a second set of clothes the previous day. Once she felt as covered as she could manage, she went to the door, sliding it open to find a concerned Mando.

"I'm sorry I woke you," she apologized, feeling as if she'd been doing that a lot lately. "I just had a bad dream. I'm fine…really."

"Most who went through what you have wouldn't be," he reasoned. "Nightmares are nothing to be ashamed of."

"Thank you for saying so," Ravana smiled. She knew she should go back inside and allow him to return to his own rest, but for some reason she didn't want to be alone right then.

"Would you like some company for a while?" he offered, apparently reading her mind, or perhaps the nervous way she'd been acting. Either way, she was grateful for the offer.

"If you don't mind," she said in a hopeful tone. "I could make some tea and we could talk for a bit."

"I'll pass on the tea, but I'll sit with you while you have some," he suggested, turning to head for the mess area.

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Ravana took a moment to check on Zax and the kid, the two of them having apparently been oblivious of her nightmare and were both still sleeping peacefully in their little cubical. Once the tea was ready and they were both seated in the kitchen area, the steaming cup of soothing liquid cradled in her hands, Ravana began to feel a little better.

"So, what would you like to talk about?" she asked, looking over at the man across from her. He had removed his beskar armor, opting for a more comfortable outfit, but of course the helmet had stayed in place…at least once he left his private chambers. "You've never told me much about yourself…or your parents. Would you mind?"

He was quiet for a bit, but then he spoke.

"I was born on Haruun Kal, one of the smaller planets in the mid-rim. My parents were killed by Separatist Battle Droids when I was young and I was taken in by the Mandalorians," he stated matter of factly, with very little emotion in his voice.

"What were their names?" Ravana pressed, anxious to know more about her mysterious companion.

"Bernard and Natalia," he revealed, this time a bit of feeling creeping in. "We were happy. It was a good life, until…" Here he stopped speaking, looking away.

"I'm sorry you lost them, Mando," she offered sympathetically.

"I could say the same for you," he replied, acting as if he was anxious to divert the conversation from himself. "Tell me about your family. You said they died when you were young as well." He then stiffened just a bit. "Unless it is too painful for you to talk about."

"No, fair is fair," she assured him, sitting back on the bench and leaning against the wall, tucking her legs up under the long shirt for warmth. "My parents and I moved to a planet called Dermos, near the outer rim, when I was only a baby. I don't remember having lived anywhere else. My father, Ptar, was a fisherman, sailing the waters in search of fish, and my mother, Lemma, would go with him to help clean the catch. It was hard work and not very lucrative, but I remember we were happy and always had enough to eat, even if it was only the catch of the day."

"I bet you were a good swimmer," Mando remarked, making her smile.

"The best!" she grinned proudly. "My father often said if I stayed in the water any more than I already did, I would soon grow gills. I missed the water a great deal when I moved to Pessue, for while they have plenty of rivers, lakes are in short supply…at least where we lived."

"And what forced you to leave your aquatic home?" the Mandalorian questioned.

"There was an accident on my father's boat," she revealed. "One day while he and my mother were out at sea, there was a fuel leak, the entire thing blew up. There were no survivors. I was in school that day, thus I was left alone. After the funeral, I was sent to live with my uncle on Pessue."

"There was no one else who could take you in?" Mando asked, sounding sympathetic to her plight.

"None. My father had no living family, and while my mother once had two brothers, only my Uncle Rexl was still living, so I was sent to him. He was already old and grey when I arrived, but he was strong and robust for his age, and took good care of me until his death."

"You said he once worked for the Old Republic? What did he do?" Mando asked.

"He flew a transport ship, or at least that's what he told me," she mused. "He was always rather vague about his time with the Republic. One day he would spin me a wild story about some battle he'd been in, or something as equally exciting, and then the next day he'd say it never happened. Claiming he'd made it all up and he'd only been a lowly pilot who never saw any action. I honestly never knew what to think, but I lived for those times when he'd forget himself and weave the most fascinating adventures."

"Did he ever say why he left and took up residence on Pessue? Seems a rather out of the way planet for someone who'd once been in the thick of things…even if he was only the pilot of a transport ship," her masked friend reasoned.

"I asked him that once, but I never did understand his answer," she mused, thinking back to his exact words. "He said it bothered him too much to continually watch his brother die over and over again," When Mando cocked his head to the side questioningly, she just shrugged her shoulders. "I have no idea what he meant, and he refused to speak of it again."

"He sounds like a very mysterious man," Mando remarked.

"Says the enigma hiding behind a shiny helmet himself," Ravana laughed. "I actually think the two of you would have gotten along very well. You could have both sat together for hours and happily never said a word."

"I converse!" the Mandalorian insisted, attempting to sound offended by her comment – but she wasn't fooled. "Just only when I find a companion I deem worthy."

"You're talking to me," she pointed out. "Does that mean I'm worthy of the great Mandalorian's time and attention?"

Ravana held her breath, oddly excited by this strange turn of events. She'd woke from a nightmare, now to find herself hanging on Mando's next words as if they were the most important in the world.

"You'll do," was his quip reply. He then rose from his seat and headed for his room, stopping briefly and turning his head ever so slightly. "Good night, Ravana. Pleasant dreams." Then with the shutting of the door, he was gone.

Ravana sat there for a few more moments, her heart once again pounding uncontrollably, yet this time it was not from fear.

Oddly though…she wasn't exactly sure what had caused it to race like that.

Sooooo, Ravana is wanted for murder! Who in the world do you think she has supposedly killed?

And looks like they're heading for Navaro! Wonder if Cara is still working with Greef?

Now we know a little bit more about Din's background, as well as Ravana's - and her full name! Wonder what her uncle's been hiding...hmmmm.

Soooo, I think someone's getting the ootsy feelings. I'm no doctor, but I think they're coming down with a bad case of the LOVES!

Thanks to all who are reading. Please feel free to review...I do love hearing from my readers!

T.O.W.G.

Guest Reviews:

Phantom Guest: Of course Mando came to her rescue! It's not like he has any other job taking up his time. ha ha. And really, WHO in their right mind would WANT to leave Mando and the kid? Yep, too bad, she has a price on her head, guess she can't go home, oh well, total bummer. ha ha. Thanks!