Din could feel his body start to burn up. The pain in his chest getting more intense. He knew he was in trouble and in that moment he found himself wishing that moment the child would come and heal him. Cara had gone to check on the baby leaving him alone with his thoughts. He felt sick, scared and alone. Something he hadn't felt since he was a child. He wanted to survive, not just for himself but for the child and he knew that Cara was right. Without medicine, this really was the next thing that would kill him. They needed to get some and fast. Sweat started to trickle down his neck onto his exposed chest. He hadn't really realised how exposed he was till now. He knew that Cara had removed his armour but now as he lay there he realised just how open to the world he was. The door swooshed open and revealed the rebel trooper standing there.

'The kids asleep.' she stated as she stepped through the doorway.

'Good.' he replied, his voice shaky.

Cara placed her fingers on his chest, wincing at the heat that radiated from this bare flesh. She could see his muscles twitching as the fever started to spread.

'God.' she breathed 'You're burning up buddy.'

'Yes.'

'This is bad.' She stated in a panicked tone 'I'm going to have to go into town and get medicine.'

'Thats a two-day round trip on foot.' stated Din.

'I know.' she replied as she ran her hand through her hair 'but if I don't go you're going to die right here in this bed and the kid is going to be all alone.'

Din shuddered at the thought. The kid had been through enough and after what the Armourer had said to him, he was all the child had.

'Take the kid with you.'

'Really?' she said, as she pushed herself away from the wall.

'I can't protect him right now.' he said, his voice strained 'If anything happens when you're gone at least I know the kid will be safe.'

'Whats going to happen?'

'I don't know.' he paused 'I just have this feeling in my gut. Take him with you… please.'

Cara didn't argue any further, just nodded and walked back through the door again. Din watched as she left, the door closing behind her. Taking off his helmet again he let his head fall back onto the pillow. This bad feeling gnawed away at his stomach. He had noticed lately that he was getting them more often. He never knew what was going to happen, only that something bad was coming his way and he was always right. Since finding the kid he had felt a connection with him that he'd never had before. Knowing that something was coming and that the child wouldn't be here gave him comfort. Cara would keep the baby safe.

§

She made it into Nevarro in the early hours the next day. People were starting to stir and merchants were putting out their wares ahead of the market. Evidence of the battle that took place still littered the streets. The child cooed in her arms as she walked in the direction of the Cantina, hoping she would find Greef Karga there. The black ground outside the Cantina was still covered with debris from the fight, from the E-WEB Gideon had blown. Images of Din laying there motionless flashed in front on her eyes, reminding her why he was in the state he was.

'Cara!' said a familiar voice as Greef came into view 'Come to join our ranks?'

'No… I need your help.' she replied as she turned to face him.

Greef noticed the child in her arms and his heart quickened.

'Where's Mando?' he questioned as his eyes flitted between the child and her.

'Back at the ship.' She replied 'Greef he's sick… really sick.'

'I thought you'd healed him?'

'He's developed a fever.' she said, her voice shaking 'I need medicine or he's going to die.'

'Yes, of course.' he replied 'Follow me.'

§

The hairs on the back of Din's neck pricked, waking him with a start. That bad feeling he was having… the cause was here. He gingerly pushed himself to his feet, a wave of dizziness hit him as he straightened himself. Opening the door he grabbed his blaster that was sat beside his armour. He didn't know what was coming but he knew it was bad. The bay door of his ship started to lower and he felt his heart in his stomach. The door lowered slowly, troopers flanked the entrance but someone stood just behind them, someone he'd never expected to see.

'Moff Gideon.' he said, his voice betrayed his fear.

'Din Djarin.'

§

'Thank you for your help Greef.' said Cara as she gave him a nod.

'You're welcome.' he said with a smile 'here take my speeder. Better you get that medicine back to him sooner rather than later.

'Thank you.' she breathed as she hopped on the bike and fired it up.

Holding the child closer to her she sped off. Karga watched as she disappeared into the distance, his only hope was that she wasn't too late. A journey that would have taken her hours took her mere minutes on the bike. The razor crest came into view, its metal panels glittering in the early morning sun. She smiled at the sight but her smile soon disappeared as she noticed that the ramp was down. She stopped the bike at its based and leapt off the bike. There were signs of a fight, blood splatters on the floor leading down from the ship.

'No.'

She sprinted up the door and into the ship. Din's armour was still there but his blaster was nowhere to be seen. Her eyes scanned around the lower deck, more blood became visible and her heart stopped when her eyes settled on his blaster laying on the ground at the other end of the bay. She darted to the door of his quarters and opened it, she knew he wasn't going to be there but she had to see for herself. His cot was empty.

'He's gone.' she sobbed as she stood there with the child, unsure what to do.

§

He woke up in a cold, darkroom. His shoulder hurt and his head was ringing. He noticed his helmet was still in place which surprised him but also brought him relief.

'Ah he's awake.' came a familiar voice, its owner hiding in the shadows 'where is the asset?'

The Mandarin said nothing but he was glad of his helmet, he didn't want Gideon to see his fear.

'My men tell me that you're sick with Fever.' started Gideon as he emerged from the dark corner he'd concealed himself in 'I can supply you with medicine. All you have to do is tell me where the child is. Otherwise, my troopers here will make you wish for death' he finished as he motioned at one of the death troopers beside him.

Din remained silent, he would rather die of fever than tell the Imp where the baby was. The trooper placed a hard kick in his gut which took the air from his lungs, his already broken ribs erupting in agony. Din couldn't help but let out a yell, a sound that made Moff Gideon smile. The trooper stepped back and the Mandalorian lay there gasping for breath, he was going to die here and he knew it, he just hoped the fever would take him quickly. Still, though he remained silent, something that took the smile off of Gideon's face as quickly as it appeared.

'Fine.' said Gideon as he turned to the trooper, giving it a nod before leaving and turning back simply to say 'don't touch the helmet.'

The trooper grabbed Din by the scruff of his shirt and punched him hard on the gut, once again taking the Mandalorian's breath away. Dropping him to the floor the trooper kicked Din in the head causing stars to dance in front of his eyes. The second kick threw him into darkness.

§

Cara did not have the first clue who had taken Mando. She placed the child in his cot and decided to search the lower deck and around the ship's surroundings for clues. The sight of blood made her stomach turn. Was it his or the assailants? Clearly, they'd overpowered him as he was nowhere to be seen and there was no body, but clearly, they wanted him for something. Finding nothing in the ship she scouted the surrounding area, something white caught her eyes. It was a part of a Stormtrooper's armour. That's when it hit her.

'It couldn't be.' she said to herself as she tossed what she found on the ground again 'he's dead.'

Then she thought about it. They never checked the wreckage. In the wake of the crash, they were so focused on Mando that they had not thought to see whether he had died of perished. Perhaps he's survived. The child squealed from behind her causing the woman to jump.

'How did you get out?' she asked as she turned and looked at the small creature in confusion.

'Where's your dad hmmm?' she questioned as she picked the child up.

The child didn't answer, just let out a noise and pointed. Cara looked at him then looked at where his small-clawed finger was pointed. In the distances, she could see a cave formation.

'He's there?' she asked as she pointed at the caves and looked back at the kid.

The child's ears twitched up and down as it stared at Cara with its big brown eyes. Even though he'd not said it she felt like he was answering her.

'We're going to need back up.' she said as she shut the bay door of the Razor Crest and hopped on the speeder 'lets hope Greef can help us.'

§

Din woke to pain. Unbearable pain. He sucked air through his teeth as he tried to sit up, grabbing a jagged piece of rock that jutted from the wall to help him. He was alone now. The walls were rough, wet and uneven.

Must be some sort of cave he thought to himself as he searched for any sort of natural light.

There was nothing. He was alone in this dark, damp cave. He just prayed that Cara would keep the child safe.