Chapter 7 – The Stranger
A shout rendered the air followed by a crash, and Sinead's eyes flew open, her hand curling around the blaster hidden under the bunk. She could hear raised voices from outside of the ship.
It was that time of the night where the desert had had time to cool down, until it almost felt like she was back on Toola. She'd left the ramp down, in case the Mandalorian came back, but as her bare feet hit the metal floor she sorely regretted it.
Sinead crept towards the open cargo door, where eerie pale light streamed in, making the shadows in the ship seem unfathomably deep. Rubbing sleep from her eyes, she peered over the ramp. The hangar was bathed in moonlight, turning the sand grey and making it seem like she'd been transported to a desolate moonscape while she slept.
The only light came from Peli's workshop, it flickered as someone passed it. There was another crash and a male voice she didn't recognize.
"Where is it? I know you have it!"
Peli's voice rose, sharp and angry. "It's not here! Now get the hell out of my workshop, you slimy little-"
"I know you have the child! Give it here!"
Something touched Sinead's ankle, and she whirled around, blaster raised.
The kid looked back at her, his big dark eyes looking unfathomably deep in the darkness and seeming much more alert that he should have been so late in the night. He cooed softly.
Sinead shushed him and glanced at the workshop, where the two shadows seemed to be moving closer. Grabbing him, she snuck down the ramp and ducked down behind a stack of crates just before Peli and a human man appeared from the workshop.
The man was young, and he glanced nervously back at the door as they moved towards the ship. If he hadn't been pointing a blaster at Peli's back, he would've been handsome.
"That's his ship?" He made a face. "What a dump."
"Well, you're welcome to pick up a wrench and start workin'. I'll even hold your blaster for ya." Peli glared over her shoulder, earning herself a shove with the blaster.
The child clung to her side, and Sinead pressed a clammy hand to his head, trying to soothe without making any noise.
Peli slowed down the closer they got to the ship. "Look, if it's credits you want, I can give you-"
"You really have no idea how valuable it is, do you? When I bring this in I'll have enough credits to buy this shithole of a port." He shot a disdainful look at the surrounding walls. "Now walk."
They disappeared into the ship, and Sinead could hear them move around, loud thumps whenever something was thrown across the ship. Sinead bit her lips, hoping that they wouldn't check her belongings to see if the child was hiding there.
"Where is it?"
"I told you numbnuts, it isn't here. Do I look like a babysitter to you? I gave it to someone to look after so I could finish the ship. Honestly."
There was a small pocket between two crates, half covered by an old tarp, and Sinead left the child, pulling the tarp over him. "Stay here," she whispered, hoping beyond hope that he could somehow understand her. She waited a second to make sure he stayed put, and then circled around the ship, scurrying from cover to cover.
There was one final thump from inside the ship, and Peli came out, the stranger right behind her, his eyes wide. He ran a hand through his hair.
"You know, for some strange reason I just don't believe you. I've only been here for, what, a week? And I've never met more dishonest folks in my life."
"Should put that on a sign," Peli hissed, shooting a hateful look over her shoulder.
The stranger whirled her around and pushed her to the ground.
"Okay, here's how we're gonna do it." He shook his blaster at her. "You're gonna tell me where you hid the kid and I won't feed you to a sarlacc. Got it?"
Peli fought into a sitting position. "C'mon, kid, you ain't gonna kill me." She wet her lips. "I've seen puffer pigs more ferocious than you. You don't have it in you."
"Wanna bet your life on that?"
Sinead swore under her breath as the stranger lifted his blaster, looking Peli dead in the eyes. Her legs moved before her brain had even finished processing what was happening.
Holding her blaster in a tight grip, she stepped into view.
"Wait-"
She ducked as a blaster bolt whizzed over her head and made a crater in the wall behind her. The smell of plasma filled her nose.
The stranger didn't lower his blaster. "Who the hell are you?" His eyes were wide, and he moved to the side to keep both Peli and Sinead in his sight at the same time.
"An idiot, that's who," Peli mumbled.
"I really wouldn't do that if I were you," Sinead said, taking a small step toward them.
"Stay back!" The stranger commanded. "And drop your blaster! Drop it, or I'll blow her head off." He gestured angrily at Peli with his blaster.
"Don't do anything stupid, alright? Calm down." Sinead threw her blaster in the sand. "There. You happy now?"
He snatched the blaster from the ground and threw it out of reach. "Who are you?"
Sinead kept her eyes on the stranger, scared that if she didn't, she would end up looking at where the child was hidden away. "I'm an apprentice."
"You don't look like an apprentice." He looked her up and down, and Sinead had to fight the impulse to cross her arms in front of her chest. She felt very exposed in her thin shirt; at least she was wearing pants to ward off the cold.
"I don't make it a habit of sleeping in my overalls. You can always come back tomorrow, I'm sure I'll look more the part then."
"I don't think so. You see, I know you aren't an apprentice. There're two beds in there, and one of them has been slept in recently."
Well, that was that, then. Sinead bit the inside of her cheek. "So what's the plan, then? Hm? You take the child and then what? You honestly believe the Mandalorian would let you leave this planet alive?"
At the sound of that name the stranger eyes flickered to the entrance to the hangar. "He'll still be stuck out in the desert by the time I reach Navarro."
So, he was scared of the Mandalorian. Understandable.
"I'm guessing this is the first Mandalorian you've worked with."
"And why would you think that?"
"Mandalorians have a habit of always coming out on top, no matter the odds."
"I'm Corellian. I don't believe in odds."
Cocky bastard.
"That's a shame because the odds of you never leaving the planet are getting pretty high. Unless, of course, you just turn and walk away. The galaxy is a big place, I doubt we'll ever see each other again."
"Less talking," he said, obnoxiously waving his blaster, "and more finding the child."
"You still don't get it, do you? If you try to take the child, the Mandalorian will find you. He's a bounty hunter, you think there's anywhere in the galaxy you can hide where he won't follow?"
"I'm a bounty hunter too, sweetheart."
She bit her tongue to hold back her scathing reply. Antagonizing him further would only end in death, probably her own.
A soft cooing sound froze her to the ground, her eyes going wide. For one second, her brain reeled, trying to find a way out of it.
The stranger heard it too. "Don't move," he said, looking from Sinead to Peli, before moving towards the origin of the sound, towards the kid.
Sinead and Peli's eyes met.
It was now or never.
Time slowed.
Sinead launched herself at the stranger, shoulder colliding with his back, sending them both sprawling on the sand. She vaguely registered that Peli had gotten up and was sprinting toward the child.
The stranger threw her off him and got to his knees.
She kicked out and caught him in the side, pushing him back to the ground. Sand slid under her hands and knees as she crawled towards the blaster he'd dropped.
A hand closed around her ankle and she looked back.
"You bitch!"
Sinead threw herself back, fingertips brushing the blaster.
The stranger grabbed her other leg and pinned her down, pulling her away from the weapon.
She gasped sharply, her mouth and nose filling with sand. Grabbling around for something, anything, she flung a handful of sand into his face, making him loosen his grip enough so she could roll around.
He threw himself on top of her, bearing down with all his weight. He smelled like sweat and the desert.
A growl tore from her throat, vision flashing red. She struck out with her hand, and it connected with his face with a loud thump.
She fought to her feet and staggered toward the blaster. Her hand closed around it, and she looked up.
The last thing she saw was a wrench swinging for her head.
… … … … …
The first thought that came to Sinead's head when she came to, was that she'd rather still be unconscious.
Her mouth tasted like blood and sand. It felt like her brain had expanded while she was out cold, pressing on her eyes and trickling out of her ears, pain emanating from the side of her head in waves.
First thing first, she had to find out where she was, preferably without opening her eyes in case her brain really did leak out.
She was lying on something hard and cold, and she tried feeling around with her hands only to discover that they had been bound in front of her. She choked back a panicked sound. This wasn't the same as the Trandoshian. At least here she'd probably end up dying instead of taken captive.
Taking a chance, she opened her eyes and they nearly rolled back into her head as pain shot through her head.
It was still dark, soft moonlight streamed through the open ramp. An outline of the stranger paced around in front of the ship. He stopped when he saw her moving. "You're not dead." He came up the ramp to peer down at her.
She opened her mouth to say something snippy, but her brain refused to cooperate, the only clear though she seemed able to produce was that she had to get out of there.
"Nng," she managed.
He went back to pacing in front of the ship.
Sinead took a deep breath and tried to sit up, only making it a couple of centimeters before falling back on the hard metal. It felt like her head was exploding. She took a deep breath.
"Didn't find the kid?" Her words slurred, she could barely get them out.
"Shut up."
Closing her eyes, she willed the world to stop turning nauseatingly. It felt like the floor was rolling underneath her.
She didn't know how long she lay on the cold floor before the stranger grabbed her arm, pulling her to her feet.
"Don't say a word," he said putting his blaster to her temple, "or I'll fry your brain."
Even if she wanted to, opening her mouth would undoubtedly end up with her being sick.
Sinead watched as the Mandalorian stepped out into the moonlight, his blaster raised. He scanned the surroundings as he carefully made his way towards the ship, walking quietly over the sand.
The stranger's grip on her arm tightened as he pushed her towards the ramp. "Took you long enough, Mando. Was starting to think the Tusken Raider's got you."
The Mandalorian stopped in his tracks, his blaster raised.
The stranger was still pushing her down the ramp. The closer they got, the more his grip tightened, and Sinead felt his quick breaths on the back of her head. He was nervous or scared.
"Drop your blaster and raise 'em."
Mando looked at Sinead, whose head felt like it was splitting in two. Surprisingly, he let his blaster thump to the ground and put his hands behind his head.
"Where is the child?" Mando's voice shook with oppressed rage.
"Aw, don't you worry, he's fine, and he'll stay that way if you do what I say." Sinead could hear the smug grin. "Partner."
She tried signaling Mando, to show him that the child was gone, but there was little she could do except blink furiously and mouth the word 'no' over and over.
"You're a Guild traitor, Mando. Fennec was right. Bringing you in won't just make me a member of the Guild, it'll make me legendary."
The stranger let her go long enough to throw a pair of blinders, which landed in the sand in front of Mando. "Put 'em on."
Mando bent down slowly, looking directly at Sinead.
Through the fog of pain, she noticed something in his hands.
"I said-" the stranger pressed his blaster harder to her head- "put it on."
A bright light exploded from Mando's hand, filling the world with white and purple spots.
The stranger screamed and his hand fell away. Sinead flung herself to the side, landing on the hard sand.
Blasters fired, and something heavy landed on her, driving the last bit of breath from her lungs.
The world spun and she couldn't move, couldn't breathe. Her mouth filled with sand.
Someone called her name.
The weight on top of her was rolled off, and strong hands grabbed her and hoisted her to her feet like she weighed nothing. As the Mandalorian let her go the world tilted and he grabbed her before she hit the sand.
"Where is he?" His voice sounded hollow and far away. She couldn't focus.
"Sinead?" He moved closer.
"Peli has him," she croaked out. "She got away."
"Are you-"
"I'll be fine," she said automatically, even as her stomach rolled. "Just go. Find them."
"Sinead-"
She placed both hands on his chest and pushed. It was like trying to move a boulder. "Go."
After he left, she grabbed the rim of the ramp and pulled herself up, collapsing on the floor when she reached the ship. Her eyes were watering, and everything was hazy. With a grunt of effort, she sat up and leaned her head against the cool side of the ship. Her hands were still bound.
She breathed hard through her mouth, pressing her knees to her chest. Looking into the dim light from Peli's workshop hurt her eyes.
The next thing she knew, Peli's face was swimming in front of her. Sinead could just make out the deep frown.
"Chela! Are you okay?"
Chela? Who's- oh.
"Yeah," Sinead croaked out, pushing off from the wall she was slumped against. "Did the child get hurt?"
"Nah, we got away." Peli carefully prodded her head, withdrawing her hand when Sinead winced. "He got you good, huh?"
"Is fine. Didn't break the skin."
"You're gonna have a helluva bump, though." She looked down at Sinead's still bound hands. "Let's get these off ya."
Peli guided Sinead down the ramp and made her sit on a crate, while Peli cut the bindings away with a small circular saw. Sinead closed her eyes against the sparks that sprang from the metal bindings.
Not opening her eyes, she said in the approximate direction of Mando, "What happened to Shand?"
"Dead."
"Good."
The binders thunked to the sand, and Sinead rubbed her aching wrists, opening her eyes. A dark shape in Mando's arms waved at her.
Peli looked down at the stranger. "Knew I didn't like him." She poked the corpse with her foot. "I take it you didn't get paid," she said over her shoulder.
Mando wordlessly pulled out a pouch and upended it in her hands, the credits clinking as they fell.
"That cover it?"
Peli looked spellbound at the credits overflowing in her hands. "Yeah, yeah, that about covers it." She carefully put the credits away in a little pouch that swung from her belt.
"Can you travel?" Mando asked, his head turned towards the ship. It took Sinead a second before realizing he was talking to her.
"Yeah, I can. Let's get out of here."
"Oh, wait a second!" Peli hurried into her workshop and came out a few seconds later holding a small jar. "Here," she said and pressed it into Sinead's hand. "Consider this a thanks for saving my life, or at least saving me from a concussion."
Sinead peered at the jar, but even in daylight and with undamaged eyes she wouldn't be able to read what it said. "What is it?"
"T'pala paste. Got it when some Twi'leks came through some time ago. It's ain't bacta but it'll do in a pinch."
She closed her hand around the little jar. "Thank you, Peli. Really."
"Don't mention it."
Sinead gritted her teeth and got up, willing the ground to stop rolling under her feet, and walked slowly up the ramp.
"All right, pit droids!" Peli called behind them. "Let's drag this outta here!"
As the Razor Crest at long last left Tatooine, Sinead sat at the edge of her bunk bed applying the thick paste to her head. As soon as the greyish goop hit her scalp, a sort of cold numbness spread across her head. It still hurt, but her head no longer felt like it had been squished in a trash compactor. She decided against pouring it in her eyes, hoping that her eyesight would return to normal by itself.
She'd told the Mandalorian to plot a course towards Celvalara and that she would tell him all about it after she'd slept.
Sleep! She didn't remember the last time she'd been this tired.
The child sat on her lap, reaching up towards her head as she applied the paste, cooing gently as she patted his head.
"You as tired as me?" She asked him, replacing the lid on the jar and putting it away. "You've had an eventful day."
He squeaked and blinked slowly.
She placed the child beside her, letting him curl into her side. Her eyes drooped as the healing paste enveloped her head in cotton. She was out before her head hit the pillow.
AN: Fight scenes are a new territory for me, so I'd love to hear what you guys think. Is it too short? Long? Detailed?