.

.

Thanks to all who played my "name that bounty hunter" game. For those of you who guessed correctly, I hope you enjoyed your sneak preview of today's chapter.

.

.

Chapter 30

~X~

"Bounty hunting is a complicated profession."

~The Client~

Din had just uncovered information he thought might be of use when he heard the sound of a blaster going off somewhere within the compound. Leaping to his feet he raced for the door, nearly tripping over Zax as he came racing inside the room carrying the kid. Without giving it a second thought, Din hit the panel that would shut the door, sealing the two of them inside as he ran in search of Ravana. He could only imagine that she had stayed to take on the danger, sending the zaktan off with the kid for safety.

Din cursed himself for being complacent, for imagining that this place had been deserted, when for all he knew anything could have taken up residence here. It took him very little time to find Ravana, for her second series of shots led him right to her…as well as who it was she'd been shooting at.

Din rounded the corner to find her firing several blasts at a tall opponent, one who was able to leap this way and that with amazing speed, avoiding each shot or deflecting them by lowering his head so they bounced off his metal hat. Something that Din had experienced before…firsthand.

"Ravana! Stop!" Din shouted, seeing that she had her blaster raised for yet another round. He quickly stepped in front of her, lifting his own weapon and leveling it on the figure he recognized, though wasn't quite sure if he could trust. "Embo? What are you doing here?" He demanded.

"Mando?" a shocked voice filtered through the universal translator, which was visibly seen attached to his upper armor, allowing his words to be understood in basic. "Long time no see. I was starting to think you'd retired…or were dead." At this, the Kyuzo bounty hunter lowered his bow-caster and stepped forward, tipping his large-rimmed circular hat back just a bit so that he could better see the Mandalorian.

"And I'd heard you'd settled down on Felucia, hanging up your hat, so to speak, and becoming a farmer," Din replied, his tone one of ease, but he still hadn't lowered his blaster.

"Turns out I'm not the farming type," he said with a snort of humor. "Bounty hunting's the only thing I've ever been good at. So, I'm back on the job." Here he leaned a bit to the left, attempting to see Ravana who was mostly hidden behind the Mandalorian. "A job that led me here…to her."

"She's not going anywhere, and especially not with you," Din growled, his one free hand reaching back to gently take hold of her arm, whether it be for protection or just to assure him that she was safe.

"Oh? Have you already claimed the bounty?" Embo tipped his head a little in confusion. "She didn't look to be in your custody when I found her."

"It doesn't matter…the woman's mine," he insisted, his tone more of a snarl.

"Normally I would choose to argue the point, preferably with my weapon," the tall hunter told him, causing Din to stiffen up, prepared for whatever might come next. "But since it's you, Mando, and I still owe you for helping me out of that little scrape a ways back, I'll step aside and allow you keep the bounty…this time."

"That's big of you," Din said sarcastically. "As if you ever had a chance of taking her anyway…but I'll see it as a kindness that you don't make any futile attempts." Here he relaxed his stance, re-holstering his weapon. "I see you're still wearing that shield-hat of yours."

"Works as well as your beskar," the Kyuzo laughed. "Sometimes better. But very few can pull off a look like this." He seemed to think for a moment, then added. "Perhaps Cad Bane could…but no others."

"So, tell me, Embo…where'd you pick up the bounty puck on her?" Here Din gestured to Ravana, who was remaining blessedly silent behind him. Embo might owe him a favor, and viewed such things as a debt of honor, but getting him all riled up would not have been the wisest thing to do.

"Picked it up on Tornad Prime through the Guild, along with a few others I've got simmering on the back burner," he answered, pulling out the puck in question and tossing it to Din, along with the accompanying fob, the little device now steadily beeping as it came into close proximity to its target. "She wasn't the highest bounty around, but I figured it was a quick score. It was pure chance that our paths crossed close enough to set off the fob. Thought it was my lucky day. Still, if I must turn her over to anyone, I suppose it might as well be you. There's always plenty more runners in the galaxy."

"And see that you stick to them," Din warned, switching off the tracking fob and pocketing it along with the puck.

"I'm not one to step on another hunter's toes," Embo stated, holding up his hands in a sign of surrender. "Well…unless they don't deserve the bounty, or I could take them out easily enough. But you I will let live, Mando. You I respect."

"Good to know," Din nodded. He actually admired this bounty hunter a bit as well, knowing his species were known for their strong sense of honor…an odd contrast to the profession Embo had chosen, but it worked. "So, what say we leave it at that and part friends? You go your way, and I'll go mine."

"Sounds fair," the alien agreed. He then leaned over once more, catching Ravana's eye as he reached up and tipped his hat. "Been a pleasure hunting you, Miss." And with a salute to Din, the Kyuzo turned and strode out of the compound, not even bothering to look back – trusting the Mandalorian to let him go in peace.

Once he was out of sight, presumably heading for his own ship, wherever that might be, Din released a sigh of relief. He was never quite sure what to expect from one as unpredictable as Embo. He then turned around, enveloping Ravana in his arms.

"Are you all right?" he asked, panic ripe in his voice. "Did he hurt you?"

"No…I'm fine," she assured him, at last able to speak now that her racing heart was no longer lodged in her throat. "Who was that?"

"An old acquaintance," Din informed her. "And perhaps one of the best bounty hunters left alive in the galaxy."

"But not better than you, right?" she questioned, sounding somewhat sure of her statement. Yet when Din failed to give a response, she looked up at him in panic. "Right?"

"Let's just say he'd give me a run for my money," the Mandalorian conceded, knowing it would be nip and tuck to see which one came out on top. That metal hat of his was a formidable weapon, as well as a shield, and he was an expert at using it as both. "But I did him a favor once, saving him and a few of his comrades…so he owed me one. And it appears I just collected on that debt." Here he leaned down and let his helmet rest gently against her own head, only slightly comforted by the fact that he could feel that she was safe in his arms. "I was terrified when I heard your blaster going off," he confessed. "This is why I didn't want you to come! I don't know what I'd do if I lost you, Ravana."

"But you didn't lose me," she insisted, knowing just how much she'd worried him. "And you won't. Besides, I was holding my own, thank you very much."

"Had he even fired a round before I arrived?" Din asked, knowing the answer before he spoke.

"Well…no," Ravana admitted. "He was too busy avoiding my blasts to do any shooting of his own."

"He was toying with you, Ana," he informed her with a touch of censure in his tone. "Like a Loth-cat with a mouse."

"Hey, now your back to being Mr. Meanie again, did you know that?" she huffed, pulling away a bit as she looked up at his visor. "I'm still alive, aren't I? Can't you give me credit for that?"

"Yes…you are, and under the circumstances, you did well," he conceded, bringing the smile back to her lips that he so dearly loved.

"Just well…or very well?" she probed.

"Don't push it," Din warned, reaching around and giving her a playful swat on her backside, making her jump just a bit as she let out a squeak of surprise.

"Now who needs to be taught a lesson for striking the wife of a Mandalorian?" she asked, trying her best to be serious, but failing miserably.

"That will have to wait till later," he told her, sounding a bit disappointed over this. "It's best we return to the Razor Crest and put some distance between us and this compound. If Embo was able to track you here, there could be others heading our way as well."

"Does this mean bounty hunters are going to keep coming for me, no matter where I go?" Ravana moaned, resting her head on his beskar clad chest in misery. "I've got to find a way to convince Tannor's brother that I didn't kill him."

"We will, I promise," Din swore. "But first, we need to find the man who is to blame for all this."

"Gideon!" Ravana growled, even the sound of his name leaving a bad taste in her mouth. "Yes…he's gunna pay! For what he's done to the kid, to you, and for making me a fugitive."

"I'll help you see it done," Din nodded, loving it when Ravana turned feisty. "Now, come with me. I think I found the information we need in order to figure out how to find Gideon…or at least something to clue us into what he's up to." At this he took hold of her hand and led her back through the compound, unlocking the control room door to find Zax attempting to hold the kid back by tugging on the end of his little robe, with the String-bean fighting to get loose.

"Stand down, mutt," Din told the zaktan affectionally. "You did good."

At his words, Zax let go, nearly causing the child to topple over at the sudden loss of resistance. He then sat on his haunches and wagged his tail, his ears perking up at the approving words from the Mandalorian.

"Keep up the sweet talk and he's going to like you more than me," Ravana huffed, reaching down and picking up the perturbed looking kid, not at all happy with his friend for holding him back from going to help. "Don't worry, Daddy Mando had it all under control. No one was in any danger."

Din shook his head and rolled his eyes, finding her endless stream of odd pet names for him and the kid puzzling. Was this something all women did? Or was it just specific to her? Either way, he was willing to put up with it, and any other quirk she might have, just for the chance to be with her.

He also knew that Ravana was only telling a half truth, for had it been any other hunter besides Embo, she would have been in great danger. Something Din was not about to let continue for long. Dealing with Gideon and getting that price off her head were now his two main goals. He'd worked as a hunter long enough to know of several ways to take care of the situation…but this time he might have another solution. One he only hoped would work.

"So, what did you say you found?" Ravana asked, breaking Din out of his thoughts.

"Here," he answered, pointing to an old scratched up screen that flickered haphazardly. "Look at this."

"I'm looking…but what am I seeing?" she questioned, not at all sure what had him so excited.

"Coordinates to a planet in the outer rim called Sadar," he explained. "And I might be going out on a limb here, but I'm willing to bet that's where the Nikto were supposed to deliver their quarry."

"Oh! So…maybe if we go here, we might find Gideon?" Ravana deduced, catching on at last.

"Yes," Din nodded, though after the scare he just had with Embo, he was starting to rethink taking her along again. Apparently his tone and the long pause after his words clued her into this line of thinking.

"Oh no you don't!" came her unhappy protest. "I can hear your mind spinning and I won't be left behind, Din Djarin! So, don't you even entertain such ideas, you hear!"

He couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head…maybe she was part Jedi too, able to read minds.

"Fine," he huffed, tapping a few buttons and pulling a chip out of the control panel and pocketing what he'd found. "Then let's get going. Even if there's no more bounty hunters out there looking for you, I really don't want to run into any Jawas."

"What do you have against Jawas?" Ravana questioned. "I've only seen a few of them, but they look rather cute to me…a lot like children."

"Children who strip ships, steal parts, and then attempt to kill you!" Din growled. "Trust me, you don't want to have to deal with them!"

"If you say so," she muttered, looking at the kid in her arms. "You ready to get off this planet, String-bean? I think we've worn out our welcome."

To this the child gurgled and cooed, telling Ravana that he wholeheartedly agreed. She wondered if anything looked familiar to him, if it brought back any bad memories…or if he only recalled it as the place he'd met the Mandalorian?

.

.

Back on the Razor Crest, Din fired up the engines and took off, piloting the ship over the cracked and dry ground. However, instead of heading directly back into space, Ravana found it rather odd that he chose to stay within the atmosphere, as if heading somewhere specifically.

"You're not looking for Jawas, are you?" she asked suspiciously. She knew he had a beef with them, but she didn't see him as the type to go out of his way to hunt the little buggers down.

"No," Din said, again she could almost hear him rolling his eyes at her from under his helmet. "I…I just wanted to see something."

Ravana was about to ask what that might be, but something in his tone told her to let it go. She could almost guess the answer though, figuring it had something to do with that Ugnaught he'd known named Kuiil. It was a sore subject for Din, this she knew, so she didn't say another word, simply finding her seat and watching out the window in silence.

It wasn't long before the terrain changed, from rocky, parched ground to flat plains, void of everything except sand. However, in the distance, she could just make out what looked to be a domed dwelling, as well as several towers made of metal. Moisture-vaporators, or so she assumed, having only read about the devices that pulled water from the air. This must be where Kuiil had lived before he'd left to assist Din with the mission that took his life.

Ravana assumed Din would make a quick fly-over and that would be it, but just when they were directly overhead, the Mandalorian jerked forward in his seat and barked out something in Mando'an…something Ravana was sure would have burnt her ears, if she'd understood what he'd said.

"What?" she pressed, reaching out and grabbing hold of anything she could find for support as he banked the ship so quickly it nearly sent her flying. Ravana looked over at the kid, who was thankfully safe in his little activity box, checking to make sure that Mando's acrobatics hadn't dislodged him as well. "What did you see?"

"I…I'm not sure, but I'm going in for a closer look," he told her, his tone one of astonishment and confusion.

Ravana held her tongue, figuring he would explain more when he could, but it seemed to her that he was just as perplexed as she was.

It didn't take long for Din to set the Razor Crest down near the dwelling she'd seen, leaping out of his chair the moment he'd finished the landing cycle. Ravana was quick to follow, grabbing the kid and hurrying down the ladder after him. Her feet had just touched the deck when she heard the door opening, watching as Din hardly waited for it to fully extend before he was racing off the ship.

"Din!" she called after him, worried that he might be heading into danger. "Wait!"

But he was not listening, instead striding towards the domed house at a pace that made it difficult for her to keep up, especially while carrying the kid and trying not to trip over Zax, who was scampering around her feet. Yet, when a diminutive figure emerged from the dwelling and stood there with his hands on his hips and a leather hat with goggles on his head, Ravana was even more confused. Who was this? And what exactly had her Mandalorian so riled? However, all her questions were answered when she saw Din stop in his tracks, one word coming from under his helmet in a gasp of shock.

"Kuiil?"

Dun, dun, duuuuun!

Soooo, I hope you have strong fingers, seeing as how I left you on a very large cliff hanger there. But I'm sure you'll survive...I hope.

Well, looks like Embo was a decent type and let Din keep his 'bounty'. Not as if he was ever going to let anyone take her, though.

And now they have another destination...one that might lead them to Gideon. Yikes.

Now, what's this new development all about? Is that really Kuiil? Or someone who looks just like him? Only the next chapter will tell.

Guest Reviews:

Phantom Guest: Oh yes, Din now likes to cuddle. And they are quite the pair, totally made for one another, to be sure. With them there is ALWAYS trouble ahead...even if its of their own making from time to time. Thanks. T.O.W.G.

Lilais: Yep, that little kid is not going anywhere without his Daddy Mando and Momma Ravana. ha ha. And Zax. Everyone is wanting the Mandalorian wedding, but really, we can't have that until all the trouble is solved. And I think we all know THAT is not coming any time soon. ha ha. I think the kid's powers will just keep growing...and growing...and GROWING. ha ha. I promise not to stop writing it...until I reach THE END. Then I must stop. Sorry. ha ha. Thanks