Warning: Andor spoilers ahead!
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As Din shut the door, the old man sat on the bunk. He looked like he was about to speak, but saw Grogu for the first time and frowned.
"It's all right," said Din impatiently. Grogu stared unblinkingly at the stranger. "He's with me."
That wasn't much of an explanation, but it was the only one Din was going to give. Kino Loy nodded slowly. "I took a chance coming here," he said. "I don't know much about Mandalorians. But you don't seem like the Merrix type. I just had a feeling."
"Tell me what you know," said Din.
"You know about the prison factories on Narkina 5?"
"Everyone does," said Din. The outrage at Narkina 5 had set the Rebellion on fire. The Empire had tried to suppress the stories, but even Din's covert heard rumors, just another reason to despise the Empire.
"I was arrested selling counterfeit goods on Corellia—another life. I can barely remember it. Or my family." His eyes grew distant. "I became a unit manager, doing the Empire's dirty work for it, watching my time roll down. A brave man convinced me escape was not only possible, but necessary, because no one of were going to be freed. He figured out how to disable the tungsten floor, and we overpowered the guards. My comrades escaped into the sea. But I couldn't leave with the rest—I couldn't swim. So the few of us remaining seized weapons and tried to shoot our way out. But in the end I was taken prisoner again."
Din was silent.
"They didn't kill me. They wouldn't let me kill myself. They used me as an…example. For a long time." His face twisted. "And then they put me back to work. I was good at my job and thoroughly broken in. The Empire needed all the workers they could get. But then, you remember, the Rebels attacked Narkina 5 about two years later, destroyed the prisons and set us free. For all the good it did me. I was set loose a ruined man. I tried to find my family. They were gone."
By his side, Din could feel Grogu lean against him drowsily. When the stranger came in, he had been alert, but his busy day was catching up to him. He yawned. Loy stared at him again.
"I haven't seen a child for a long time. He reminds me of…well." He cast down his dark gray eyes. "I wandered. I worked, some. And then a few years ago I heard a rumor that the factories had been restarted."
Din felt a sinking feeling, but he wasn't surprised. Wasn't this what he had suspected all along? "But not by the New Republic," he said.
"No. But a few officials turn their backs in return for prisoners being funneled away, no questions asked. Bribes, or threats. So, I got a job at Merrix. I'm a good worker. I keep my eyes down, obey. Merrix doesn't like droids."
"I noticed."
"They're expensive. And he has this thing about humans. We may be the superior race, but at the same time we make the best servants and workers. Especially certain humans. We can be broken in very, very well." A bark of bitter laughter. "I should know."
"What about the…entertainment complex on Riello 6?"
Loy shrugged. "It's Merrix's dream. He's got his arena stocked with his pick of the most dangerous prisoners. But his real money comes from the factory labor."
"Who runs the factories?"
"I don't know. But I have a feeling."
Din exhaled. "What do you want from me?" He found his hand resting on his son's shoulders.
"You've got to help me stop this," said the man in his deep, urgent voice. "Expose it."
"How do I know I can trust you?"
"You don't, I suppose. But look at me. What kind of a threat am I? See what they've done to me." Loy bent and rolled up his uniform pants—he wore no boots, only slippers. He pulled them off to reveal scarred, nightmarish bulbs of flesh augmented with cheap cybernetic implants that were barely enough to keep the man upright. Grogu woke up at this and looked down at Loy's feet, then up at his face with concern. His ears drooped in sorrow and pity.
"All I know is I can't see it happen again. More men ruined like me."
Din glanced down at his son. Their eyes met and Grogu blinked once, slowly. He was relaxed, calm. Unafraid. Din remembered how tense he seemed around Gallo, unlike now. Grogu was beginning to be a good judge of people. And in his gut, Din agreed with him about Loy, this strange old man with a sad story. He looked back at Loy.
"I'm here because I've been tasked to find the prisoners. I'm sworn to find one in particular. I have contacts who can help us. But you need to give me more information. How are these factories set up? Are they on Riello 6? How did you actually escape?"
"They're on Riello 6, but that's all I have time to tell you." He began to put on the slippers. "I need to go, now. It's about time for the dinner service. I wait on Merrix and Gallo. I'll come again tomorrow."
Din shook his head fractionally. "Tomorrow I'm going to play along with this hunting…thing Merrix wants me to do, get more information on that end."
Loy stood. "You have to take me with you."
"No."
"No? I'm not safe here."
"I know that, but I don't want to make anyone suspicious. You need to stay here for now. I'll come back and get you to safety, I promise." A gentle snore rose up from Grogu.
"Please. I still want to live, you know, despite it all. I can help you."
"I'm sorry, but you'd slow us down."
"Us?" The old man looked at him incredulously. "You mean, you won't take me but you're taking that infant to a planet with an Imperial prison and a combat zone full of violent criminals?"
"Where I go, he goes," Din said.
"I don't understand Mandalorians at all," said Loy.
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They were getting close to Riello 6, the ship buzzing with preparation for transferring the prisoners. Shortly after Din's shift in front of the suite started, Merrix came out again. He had exchanged his luxurious robes for an equally expensive hunting outfit.
"I hope you've given my offer some thought," he said.
"You never did tell me the pay."
Merrix gave him a figure that could finance ten coverts full of foundlings. "And bonuses too. Your own luxury suite on this ship. The finest accommodation once I build my hotel. But we'll keep this a handshake-only deal," said Merrix with an ingratiating smile. "I think you know I can't really put this kind of thing in writing. It'll have to be a matter of trust. My word of honor."
Din knew how much that was worth. "When do I start?"
"Well, I don't have my visitors—yet! But I do have a little something planned for this stop at Riello 6 today, when we transfer the non-human prisoners. I hope you can accompany me on a bit of a personal hunting expedition. Like a bodyguard. My field skills are a little rusty. Like I said, I already have a nice selection of combatants in my arena. But first, you need to help with the transfer of the prisoners to the arena."
"What about the other prisoners? The humans?"
Merrix smiled. "Oh, we'll drop them off next. Just a little detour first, that's all." Din wondered if Varro knew about this little "detour."
Back at their room, Din fastened the cloth sling carefully so Grogu could ride securely, without swinging around or getting in the way of his jetpack. "Good?"
"Aaaah."
"Hang on and stick close." He paused. "I don't know what's going to happen. But when the time comes, you'll know what to do. Like always. Ready?"
Grogu's eyes were clear, bright, and very determined. "Aah wah."
Soon they were at Riello 6 and the transfer began. The ship itself was not capable of planetside landing. Instead, a smaller landing craft waiting for them in orbit had docked with the large ship. Guards moved the non-humans and shackled them by the legs and arms (or other appropriate appendages) within the bare hold of the craft.
Even though this was a hard bunch, the prisoners were by this point subdued, even frightened. Rumors passed in whispers between cells, and these prisoners knew that no ordinary prison or work farm awaited them. The human prisoners back on the main ship were probably feeling the same terror. Din stood guard by the door, watching as the last of the prisoners were loaded and secured. Fazzakkaar came last. The Wookie gave Din a short, sidelong glance, but even he looked defeated.
Soon Merrix himself entered the landing craft, absurd in his new, clean, neatly pressed hunting gear, a new rifle slung over his shoulder. No sign of Varro. Behind him another guard escorted a short, hooded figure, a cloak covering everything from head to foot.
Grogu squirmed.
Din had a bad feeling about this but there was no turning back now.
"This is great!" said Merrix with happy enthusiasm. "I haven't been out in the action for a long time." Then he looked closely at Din, frowning. "Are you actually taking that with us?"
Concealed behind Din's ragged cloak, Grogu looked at Merrix with glittering, suspicious eyes.
"Yes," said Din.
Merrix opened his mouth, possibly to object, but seemed to think better of it. Even he was not immune to the blank stare. Then he shrugged and smiled. "Your stuff is your own business."
Din waited with Merrix in the cockpit, a secure door separating them from the main hold and the prisoners. There were no guards in the hold. The hooded figure was huddled miserably in a corner.
Soon they approached the ruins of an old town, the low mud brick buildings that reminded Din of settlements on Tatooine. A huge metal wall surrounded the site, only about 30 meters high but probably electrified. The flat, barren landscape around the town stretched out for miles, an expanse of reddish sand, with a range of mountains looming snow-capped in the distance. As they came closer, Din could see a faint flickering—a shield of some kind that was disabled so the ship could land.
Immediately upon landing, the gangplank fell. The manacles and shackles fell away from the bewildered prisoners. The reddish sunlight streamed into the hold, making them blink. Merrix pressed the intercom button.
"Welcome to your new home," he said. "The supply drop is about five kilometers north of here. Food, weapons, gear."
"You didn't say they've be armed," said Din. Merrix turned off the intercom.
"Well, just a few. We have to keep things interesting. There's not enough for them all. Part of the fun is watching them fight each other!" He turned the intercom back on. "What are you waiting for? Get moving!" He flicked a switch, and a buzzing sound began. The prisoners writhed and howled and began to run out of the ship. And Din realized that they were all barefoot…including the cloaked prisoner, whose mangled feet were only now visible under the heavy cloak.
Oh no, Din thought, his worst suspicion confirmed.
Kino Loy cast off the cloak and staggered down the gangplank behind the others, stopping when he hit the sandy street. The others had already darted off, vanishing into the maze of brick ruins. Loy stood by himself in the sandy square, looking back at the lander in utter terror.
"Oh, Loy," Merrix called. "You're fired." He grinned at Din. "Let the hunt begin."