"Mayfeld, stay here with Grogu. Set up on the roof with the cycler and pick off anything that moves and isn't us." Din turned to Grogu, and knelt down before him. "You stay hidden. Stay safe. But if you need to fight, you fight, Son. Okay?"

Grogu's little face grew frightened and sullen as he looked anxiously back and forth between his parents. "Safe. Please. Safe."

Din bent to kiss Grogu's head with so much love and care, Aldor was sure nothing could touch the boy again, but she added her own kiss to complete the spell and gave him an encouraging smile. "We'll be fine, dear One. You watch out for yourself and Mr. Mayfeld. You can do it." She stood and gave Mayfeld an emphatic look. "Please, Mr. Mayfeld…"

Mayfeld nodded her off before she could say more. "Don't worry. I'll watch out for him. You two just… be careful… let me know when you need me."

"We need you to protect the Kid, Mayfeld," Din protested. "We're begging you. Don't let anything happen to our boy."

Again, Mayfeld nodded him off. "But if you need me to cover…"

"Let's hope we don't, but keep your comm on." Din nodded at Aldor. "I'm with you, my Lady."

"And I'm with you."

Din and Aldor covered ground quickly, communicating in impulses as they stealthily rushed toward the eastern corner. Before long, they began to smell the smoke and ozone from the crash, and saw the jettisoned crew-sized escape pod through the trees. They knew the survivors had to be near, and crept silently behind boulders and the widest conifers, until at last they heard voices, and peeked around a boulder to see five hunters, all with their blasters drawn as they advanced inland toward the settlement.

There were two male Twi-leks who looked to be twins, an enormous Dathomiri Zabrak with orange skin, a human female, and a surly Trandoshan. All of them were battle scarred and seasoned, but none seemed especially stable or intelligent as they argued with each other about which direction they should be going, grunting and snapping and jumpy. They wanted to fire at every leaf that rustled in the breeze, and none of them was at all happy about losing their ship. "Where did that come from anyway," the Zabrak grunted in a deep bass voice. "Just saw a tiny settlement that way. Where'd they get a cannon from?"

"Whoever they are, they're gonna pay," the Trandoshan hissed.

Aldor looked back at Din when she felt him pull at her attention. Dumb, but dangerous. Should get up behind them. We can take 'em out from the back to the front. You're faster with your blades, so you go first. I'll cover you and come out when I need to. Try to be quiet, but… be ready, my Lady… with both your sabers…

His thoughts went suddenly silent as his eyes fell apart. He hated this. He didn't want to fight anymore. He wished he could just bargain them out of this, but these hunters were after blood and credits, and they wouldn't be satisfied without at least one of the two. Aldor felt him swallowing plea after plea to let him handle this alone because he knew better. She would die defending their family just as he would, and he'd never convince her to stay out of the fight anyway.

Please, my Lady. Please be careful. And remember…

Nothing will take it from us.

Never.

Don't worry, my Love. We've got this. But… you be careful. Remember what I told you about your own sake.

Din drew her to him and kissed her deeply, but briefly. I love you, Aldor.

I love you, Din.

This is what we fight for.

The thought was as much a reminder to himself as a promise to her, and at last he gave her a determined nod when they sensed the hunters coming closer. They would have to act quickly, and the moment she looked around the boulder, Aldor saw her chance. The human woman was a few paces behind the rest of them, so Aldor darted to a tree nearby. The woman was at least a head taller and more muscular than her, but Aldor had managed much larger, much smarter, and much meaner. This mercenary was hardened and heartless nevertheless, and it showed in her dark, insipid eyes. A mind made of little more than malice and greed. The only thought in her head was how she would steal the parked starfighter she'd seen from above as they went down. None of her companions had noticed it, and she never mentioned it. Her plan was to sneak away and get off-world before the others knew she was gone. She didn't care what happened to them.

Aldor growled to herself, furious at this bitch who wanted to take her Mandalorian's ship and cared nothing for anyone but herself. Aldor decided she wouldn't mind killing this woman, and she let her disgust drive her as she leapt from behind the tree without a sound, and had the cunt locked against a boulder with her blades crossed at her throat before she knew what was happening. Aldor studied the woman's eyes a moment, reading what she would do. She wanted to reach for a vibroblade, but Aldor arrested the thought as she brought her blades closer to the woman's throat, and purple plasma hummed a warning as Aldor stared her down. "Are you sure you want to do that?" she asked in a menacing whisper.

"Jedi!" The woman's scream drew the others' attention, and they responded with poorly fired blasters that went in every direction. The woman tried to draw her blade, but Aldor had her head parting from her shoulders before she could reach for it. Then Aldor was caught deflecting fire with her sabers, ordering Din to hang back until she could separate them.

Din's thoughts were strained and desperate, but he did as she asked, watching anxiously while Aldor flipped over three of their heads. It confused them long enough for him to pick off one of the Twi-leks with a surgical head shot before he sprang out with his saber drawn, and advanced on the Trandoshan and the remaining Twi-lek while Aldor danced around the Zabrak.

The Dathomiri Zabrak was huge and quick and strong, grunting insults and growing angrier by the second while she darted every which way around him and deflected every shot. He finally holstered his blaster and tried to get at her with a vibroblade. Aldor hoped she could tire him out with quick hits, sporadic leaps, and debilitating cuts with her blades while she dodged his furious stabs and slashes. She managed to take a couple of his fingers and gave him several nasty plasma burns, and it seemed for a moment that she had the upper hand. She went in for the kill, but he was quicker and had better stamina than she expected. He got in a deep slash along her arm that surprised her, yet she managed to break away. But then the Zabrak drew and fired his blaster so quickly, she couldn't deflect it, and the bolt just barely struck her side as she yelped in pain.

"No!" Din saw her take the nothing hit, but he clearly didn't care that it was nothing. Rage poured out of him like an explosion of raw magma, and those Vapaad skills he didn't know yet took over his instinct. A roar tore out of his throat as he savagely beat back the Trandoshan and Twi'lek, who'd teamed up on him and gotten nowhere. Din punched the Twi'lek hard in the nose then savagely took off the Trandoshan's hand and the other arm before he sliced through their neck, and the body fell to the dirt in four pieces. He threw back the Twi-lick with the Force when he tried to get back up, and ran toward her like a madman. He was focused until he saw the Zabrak strike her with a hard backhanded slap that had her stumbling backward.

"Aldor!"

The Twi-lek suddenly shot up from the moss where Din had tossed him back, and fired his blaster before either of them could sense it. Din let loose a heavy grunt as he jerked back and threw his vibroblade into the shooter's brain, then fell to the ground with a thud that shook the entire planet.

"Din!" Her voice was pitched high, screaming, terrified, and furious. All she could think of was her lover on the ground as every cell of her being ignited in rage and blood filled her vision. She ferociously beat back the Zabrak, screaming and hitting him hard and fast, thinking only of making him suffer while she sliced through his arm, then took out his ear and three of his horns with one sweep of her blades before she swung around to take his head. But the Zabrak was enraged and howling insults at her as if he barely noticed he'd lost an arm. He got in another hard blow with the butt of his blaster in his remaining hand, and she hit the dirt. She was rattled and bruised, and didn't have time to stand before the Zabrak aimed his blaster straight at her head.


The wound in his shoulder slowed him down, and he frantically struggled to reach for his blaster when he saw the Zabrak draw his. Din just managed to lay a hand on the grip when a shot rang though the woods. At first, his heart froze in his chest, and he was ready to kill everything in his path. Then the enormous Zabrak mercenary fell hard to the ground right at Aldor's feet, and she looked questioningly at the body just as Migs Mayfeld bounded into the clearing from the trees.

For the first time since he'd known him, Din was actually grateful for the existence of Migs Mayfeld.

"Shit, Mando," he muttered apologetically at seeing Din's shoulder. "You okay?"

"Where'd you come from, Mayfeld? I thought I told you…"

"The Kid was freaking out," Migs explained. "He was about to run out here… had to hold him back. Finally told him I'd come out to help if he promised to stay put. Good thing, I guess."

Din grunted and nodded. "Yeah," he admitted as he finally managed to get back on his feet. He was about to run to Aldor when she suddenly materialized in front of him, and ripped his tunic without a word to get at the wound in his shoulder. She immediately lay her hand over the still-smoking lesion to heal it, but Din stopped her. "Wait," he protested urgently, and lifted her shirt. Acid filled his veins when he saw the bleeding blaster wound in her side, and he wished he could kill them again. "Aldor…"

"You just fucking watch me, Din Djarin," she spat before he could voice his protest. "It's just a graze anyway…"

"That's more than a graze, Aldor…"

"Don't start with me right now," she said in a strained voice as tears misted her eyes. "Just let me heal you, my Love... please…"

"No," he murmured. He hated that fucking wound and he wanted it gone now. He lay his hand over it, and looked significantly into her eyes. "We've done this before, my Lady... many times… may've been different circumstances, but... we've done it before."

Aldor's eyes lit up in surprise and realization as she processed a connection she hadn't made before. After the first time they made love with the Force, Din realized it was exactly the same process she'd used to heal him all those months ago. She'd only applied it differently. By that logic, they both knew how to heal without losing or taking anything. But she still wouldn't relent until he begged her without words to let him try. Finally, she sighed deeply and nodded. "But if you feel weak… if…"

"I won't," he promised, and closed his eyes to focus.

Now that he knew what it was and how to command it, Din was able to summon all his power, and collect it into a concentrated form. He willed it into the wound in her side, and ordered the blanket of energy to wrap around it. It was strange and horrific and holy, but he could actually feel the torn flesh and nerves. Could almost see the bleeding veins in microscopic detail as he bit back the nausea that always accompanied the faintest glimpse of her blood. Once he had his feelings under control, he used them to mend the wound from the inside out, thinking of how much he loved her and everything he'd do to protect and heal her, focused entirely on giving her back everything that fucking Zabrak took.

At the same time, her ribbons flowed around and through the wound in his shoulder. Around and through all of him as he gathered her closer. Her soul flowed in while his flowed out, and all that existed was the feeling of his lover's heart beating next to his. Her essence and his circulating through both of them, twisting together until the bond was unbreakable. Silken ribbons weaved into the fibers of his golden blanket to create a breathtaking tapestry that enveloped them. A tapestry that would forever be a part of them both.

He didn't feel the wound anymore, but he couldn't let go of her. He pulled her tighter against him while her arms encircled his waist, and she buried her face in his chest, stifling soft sobs. Don't let go yet. Please, my Love… need to be like this… a little longer…

Can't let go, my Lady. Part of you now like you're part of me.

You always have been, my Love. Always will be.

Din squeezed his eyes shut as he embraced her tighter and buried his nose in her hair, swearing to the Force and everything in it that he wouldn't fail her again. Nothing will take you from me.

They remembered they weren't alone when a flash of actual emotion shot out of Migs Mayfeld. Their expressions triggered something inside him that he'd forgotten until just now. It was a mixture of fear and love and anger that Migs realized he was all too familiar with, and he was even more terrified of Clan Djarin now that he remembered it. Purpose had created a fiercely devoted father and husband from a hard-nosed bounty hunter, and Migs knew from experience that a man protecting his family was more deadly than a hundred hired guns. Combined with his Mandalorian upbringing and Jedi powers, Migs was convinced this change in Mando had fashioned him into the most dangerous man in the Galaxy.

Migs would never vocalize any of his ruminations of course, but he would have to say something. Sure enough, he just couldn't help himself after he ran his eyes over both of them and realized what they'd done. "Wait… did you just… did you actually… heal each other?"

Din lifted his hand from her side to see it unmarred and beautiful, then craned his neck downward to check his shoulder. "Looks like it," he answered.

For a moment, Migs simply stared in awe at Din's shoulder. But he quickly got over the jolt to his logic, and lightly chuckled while he shook his head. "You know, I wasn't sure I believed any of this until…"

Mayfeld's comment was cut short when another hunter flew into the clearing. Din and Aldor already had their sabers drawn, but quickly realized the gasping human male was under some kind of duress, as if he'd been choked and was trying to recover. But he wasn't given much of a chance as Grogu sauntered into the clearing, and pushed the hunter back against a boulder to hold him there with the Force, his little face hard and authoritative. "Bad!" he yelled, then looked up at his father. "In tree… aimed Mayfeld. Sensed and pulled down." Grogu glared back at the hunter and spoke to him in a huge, powerful voice that belied its pitch and the tiny body it came from. "Talk now?!"

"Okay… what… what do you want to know…" the hunter stuttered, watching Grogu carefully before his dull eyes flashed over the three humans who all had weapons intent on his head.

Din strode over to the hunter and flipped his saber into a reverse grip to settle the blade under the scughole's chin, casting an orange-yellow light over his ugly face. "You tell me straight and you tell me true, and I'll make it quick," Din whispered menacingly. "Lie to me, and I'll make it hurt."

"S…sure… sure…" the hunter said, wincing and whimpering as the plasma blade singed his scraggly black beard.

"Trust me. We'll know if you're lying."

"Okay… okay…"

"Are there more of you?"

"N…no… you took 'em all out… swear… swear it…"

"How many were there?"

"Six… six counting me…"

"Who do you work for?"

"Guy named Hux… Imp… high up…"

"What was your directive?"

"Keep ships away from Ilum… track anybody who bolts… kill 'em…"

"What are they doing there?" Aldor asked.

"Don't know… wouldn't tell us…"

"Fuckin' liar," Mayfeld spat.

"No," Din countered. "He's telling the truth. He can't even picture this Hux. Fucker hides like a coward from his own mercenaries."

"Yeah! Yeah! Never seen him… just get audio waves…"

"Does anybody know where you are?"

"No… no… just lit off after the freighter… like always… after we got the tracker on him and found the signal…"

"Where'd you get cloaked trackers from anyway?" Mayfeld asked.

"Imps gave 'em to us… really don't want anybody to know they're there."

"Will somebody come after you?" Din asked.

Mayfeld huffed. "Imps don't give a shit about their own people. Sure don't care about one crew of mercenaries."

"Well?" Din prompted the hunter roughly.

"He's right… don't care… they just hire more…"

"How many Imps are at Ilum?" Din asked.

"Not… not sure… really… promise… not sure… usually one or two light cruisers… don't know about on the planet… keep us away from their base and make us dock at a station on one of the moons."

"Well, Mando… is that the truth?" Mayfeld asked.

"It is," Din answered as he searched the hunter's wily green eyes to find his depraved thoughts. He'd planned to raid the YT. Kill all of them and settle in until he could get a ride off-world. A cold-blooded scughole who didn't give a shit about anything real. But he was a coward, and now that he'd been exposed, he would try to talk or duck his way out of this. He was smart enough to surmise that Din wasn't a typical Jedi, so he was terrified of him. Petrified of the little green monster that choked him out with an invisible hand. So far he'd been playing it safe, but this Jedi hadn't killed him yet, so maybe he had a shot. The bastard thought he was clever when a half-assed plan formed in his mind. If he could distract the Jedi with some bullshit plea, maybe he could wiggle out of this invisible hold and manage a sucker punch to the Jedi's gut with a hidden blade. Maybe a shot to the head to make sure the Jedi was dead. Then he'd kill the kid and fuck the pretty one. Of course, he'd have to kill her too if she wouldn't obey, but maybe he could have some fun with her while he waited for a passing ship.

Fire and blood boiled through Din's veins as he glared into the man's eyes. "You think I won't kill you?" he growled.

"Didn't kill you. Maybe we could…"

"Tried," Grogu piped. "Saw. Try kill Mayfeld. Try kill Grogu. Wouldn't let."

"You mean to kill my boy and rape my wife, and you think I'll let you live?" Din rasped. His temper was high as the raider trembled and panicked at having his mind read by the man in front of him whose eyes had gone black with rage. Din was ready to disembowel him in the most painful way he could devise, but then he remembered what Aldor told him only a few days ago. Don't kill them with hatred.

A gentle swell of soft steam puffed up his golden blanket, and it made him realize he was all hatred right now. This miserable life form was quivering and shaking and too fucking dumb and arrogant to realize he was hopelessly outgunned. Din almost felt sorry for him, and rage instantly cooled into something like pity. This man was nothing to him. He wasn't worth it. He'd told the truth, and Din would keep his word. Give him a quick death. But first he stepped back and decided to offer the hunter a chance even though he knew the scughole wouldn't take it. "Let him go, Grogu. Let's see how wise he is when he's given a choice. He can make an excuse for himself or he can find out how Clan Djarin deals with Imp puppets who like to kill children and rape women."

As soon as Grogu released the hunter, he chose the latter, and reached for a blade on his belt loop. In the same instant, Din struck out with his saber and watched the hunter's body fall to the sand as his head flew off his shoulders. Din lingered a moment over the corpse when he realized he didn't give two shits that his face was the last thing that hunter saw. He might feel differently if he'd succumbed to his rage.

But Din Djarin wasn't a killer anymore. Rage had no power compared to his love for his family, and he wouldn't let anything take it from him. Not even his own darkness.

He looked up at Aldor, and he saw in her face that she knew where his thoughts were. She bent a small smile at him and gave him a nod. This is the Way. Aloud, she suggested they leave the bodies where they lay for the vultures. They would come back in a few days to salvage what they could from what was left of the hunters and their pod. Take the T-16 to the northern mountains, and make a few passes over the wreckage of the gunship to check for lingering signals and salvageable parts. Then Din sensed her beside him, and he finally looked up again from the dead human hunter. "You were right, my Lady," he murmured. "I'm glad I didn't give in to hatred. If I had, I'd be no better than him."

She only nodded and pulled him down to kiss him softly. "Let's go home, my Love," she whispered. "I'll show you how I proud I am later on."

On their way back through the forest to the YT, Din and Aldor remained mostly silent except for effusions of pride at how Grogu handled the hunter. Outside of these statements and compliments, and a few answers to Mayfeld's random questions, they remained preoccupied. They were happy to have survived this skirmish. Proud of Grogu. And they were both grateful they'd resisted darkness. But mostly they concentrated on what happened when they healed each other. It was something Din didn't know how to describe, but it felt like there was a new connection between them. It was more than a single unyielding bond. They'd always been able to loop themselves together with the Force, but something was different now. Din cast his eyes over to her and tightened his fingers around her hand. Do you know, my Lady?

I'm not sure, my Love. But you're right… something happened. I feel like… maybe we left more of ourselves behind… but kept more too… like we are more a part of each other.

Didn't know that was possible.

Neither did I.

What I do know is that shit terrified me, Aldor… didn't handle that as well as I should have.

Remember what I told you about your own sake, my Mandalorian. You can't let yourself get distracted for mine. We will find our way back to each other no matter what happens to either of us. Knowing that will give us focus when blood is spilled.

"I know, my Lady, but... it's a reflex," he said aloud. "I can't stop it. When I see your... your blood... I can't see anything else. I know I have to overcome it, but I don't think I can yet."

"I certainly can't, my Love," she sighed. "Because that shit terrified me too."

They all agreed it was too late in the day to continue work on Mayfeld's ship, but when they got closer to the YT, he announced he would check on it just in case. Assess what work was left to be done and grab a few things. He was well over the fight already, and focused again on getting his ship in good enough repair to make it through hyperspace. Grogu told them he wanted to meditate, and after many nose bumps and kisses and hugs and expressions of pride, he disappeared into his room the moment the hatch closed behind them.

Left alone with his mate at last, Din took Aldor's hand to lead her to their bed. He glanced down at the singed hole in her tunic, and his blood boiled with rage. He shook his head as he tugged at the hem. "Should change out of this, my Lady." He grabbed one of his old tunics from the storage cube by their bunk, and handed it to her. "Please… can't look at it anymore…"

Aldor nodded at the ripped yoke of his shirt and softly replied, "Me neither."

Din pulled his tunic off over his head without a second thought while Aldor changed into the shirt he'd offered her. Without first deciding it was what they wanted to do, they lay down together and simply held on. Din tucked her head under his chin and cradled her close, closing his eyes as he sighed in deep relief. A wave of softly venting steam rolled from his chest and radially outward. It embraced her as it breathed from his limbs, and a gentle rumble answered from her. A soothing hug from themselves and each other that had buzzed through both their skins since they left the hunters' corpses. At last he could relax enough to realize how good it felt. How safe.

They lay there in silence for a long time, almost in a state of shared meditation. All either of them could feel was the shift that happened when they healed each other, and the catastrophe that could have been. Both were profoundly reminded of how quickly everything could change. Neither wanted that, but knew they couldn't stop it. They could endure it as long as they had each other, but they almost lost that today. When they healed each other, it became some sort of insurance against just such a possibility. Maybe both of them were so frightened they did it instinctively… injecting part of their own Force into the other's. No matter how it happened, the bond between them tightened, and Din found himself considering Mayfeld's very good question more seriously.

After a while, Din began to sense a cloud of static and words headed their way. He sighed and nuzzled into her hair, coaxing her to look at him. He kissed her slowly when she answered his request, savoring the warmth and sweetness of her mouth as he licked against her tongue, murmuring in pleasure and not caring that Mayfeld would be walking up the ramp any second.

Din held on to her tighter when he heard Mayfeld's boots stomping through the door on the other side of the turret. Stay a minute more, my Lady... don't care if he sees... and don't worry about dinner... I'll take care of it.

Don't care what he sees either... just need my Mandalorian right now. We'll both take care of dinner when we're good and ready, my Love… don't worry about me.

Can't help it, my Lady… feel like I have to redeem myself… for letting your blood spill… should never let it… you'll say it's not possible, but… I always have to try…

Honestly, my Love, I can't help it either… you forget you were wounded too… when I saw you fall, I fell to pieces… flew into a rage and let that Zabrak get the upper hand… I didn't need to take his arm… I was just so furious… so scared… we have to work on that, my Mandalorian… it could have us becoming part of the Force before we're meant to be…

Yes, my Lady… you're right of course… just… have to work on it… good thing Mayfeld came along when he did… hate to admit it, but that fucking Zabrak would've had you… would've had both of us… maybe Migs is a decent man after all…

I think he is, my Love… just too easily led like most Imps… at least he's got enough of a brain to realize when he's being led in the wrong direction… just took him a while…

Mayfeld didn't notice them on the bed right away, but just as Aldor's mind shared her assessment, Din sensed a jolt of surprise and a flush of embarrassment from him. All he'd seen was Aldor's fingers caressing Din's bare back, and immediately looked away for fear he'd seen more than he actually did. "Oh shit... sorry Mando..."

"Don't worry, Migs," Din said quietly without turning over. "We're not fucking. Just needed a minute." He took another kiss from his lover and let her distract him a moment longer with a languid brush of her fingers through his hair. It felt amazing, and he decided Mayfeld could wait another second or two. He allowed a deep murmur to escape him unchecked as his eyes fluttered closed under his Lady's caress. She gave him a soft kiss, then he sighed deeply as he shifted to get out of bed. "I'm getting up," he concluded.

"We both are," Aldor added, and let Din help her out of the bunk.

Din stretched indulgently and tugged on a fresh tunic, then shrugged into his duster. He let her know he would get the tubers if she wanted to start the steaks. He needed a minute to himself anyway. Aldor nodded and stood on her toes to cherish him with another brief kiss before he turned and nodded at Migs on his way out the door.


"Forgive us, Mr. Mayfeld," Aldor said wearily as she strode to cold storage and took out four buck steaks to get started on dinner. "It's been a long day."

"Yeah," Mayfeld said thoughtfully. "Hey... uh... Lady Aldor..."

Aldor laughed at the title he'd assigned her. "Please, Mr. Mayfeld... I'm not sure I'm worthy of that rank."

"Well... he calls you his Lady... and... you seem like a lady..."

"Thank you, Mr. Mayfeld," she said, reaching for a jar of herbs to season their steaks. "But please... just call me Aldor."

"Okay..." Migs began uncomfortably. "Hey uh... Aldor... I'm sorry about... ya know... everything. Sorry you took a hit... sorry he did. Mando's a good guy. And… and you've been… ya know… really nice. So… I'm sorry about those hunters. Cloaked tracker, you know."

"It made sense, didn't it?" Aldor asked. Mayfeld looked at her quizzically for a moment until she continued, not in the mood to hear an apology. "The face you saw on Morak. I sense it didn't surprise you to see the character in his eyes."

"No," Mayfeld agreed. "Something about his voice maybe. And… you know… how he is about the Kid."

"He looks how he feels, I always say. It's the only way I know to describe him."

"I don't know about how he feels, but… you're right… it made sense."

"His heart rules his eyes. Same way yours does." Aldor smiled knowingly back at him when Mayfeld perked up at this observation, ready to dispute it. But Aldor knew he wouldn't know how, and allowed him a moment to decide not to try. "Surely you've noticed, Mr. Mayfeld, that Din is not so different from you. Even he admits that. It is unfortunate you're an ex-Imperial scughole." She flashed him a teasing glance. "But everyone does things they regret, so don't worry, my Friend. We know it wasn't really your choice."

"Y'know... I see... I see why he feels like he does... about you. So now it's not exactly shocking to see him like this. Shacked up on some backwater planet in the middle of nowhere with... well... you... doing... I dunno... Jedi shit, I guess."

Aldor laughed. "I guess."

"At first, it was hard to believe that's the same guy that cut through a squad of security droids like a fuckin' demon." Migs shook his head and looked down at the floor. "But I get it now. Kinda… kinda knew he wasn't… y'know… typical. Knew we shouldn't be fuckin' with that guy when we went to spring Qin. Ran was a real bastard, and half the shit we pulled never set right with me anyways..." He looked up again apologetically, and continued, "For what it's worth, y'know. I wasn't exactly thrilled about it… what we did to him. Let Xi'an talk me into it. Guess he told you about that. Believe it or not, I didn't mind sweatin' in the chop fields for it. Maybe I deserved it."

"Time with one's thoughts can be a powerful thing, Mr. Mayfeld," Aldor mused. "Sometimes you need quite a lot of it. I'm rather an expert on that, you know."

Migs shook with a short laugh, then looked down at his feet before he glanced back toward the door. "Just do me a favor, will ya, and remind me never to piss him off again."

"So long as you remind yourself, Mr. Mayfeld," Aldor answered. "And remember..."

"Oh, you scare the shit out of me too."

Aldor laughed. "Don't worry, Migs. You've behaved so far. You saved my life, you know, so now there's no denying you're a decent man at heart. But if I may offer a bit of advice, I would reassure you that it's possible to wear your decent heart on your sleeve and still be fearsome. My Mandalorian does it beautifully. Perhaps you have your own way."

Mayfeld remained uncharacteristically quiet and deep in thought after Din returned from the gardens. Aldor knew she'd struck a nerve with her bit of advice, and she sensed a long string of memories and considerations throughout the evening that kept Migs largely engrossed. He got chatty again after dinner, when the three of them discussed plans for the next day. Mayfeld agreed to help them scout what was left of the hunters' ship before they started work on his freighter. He ran down the list of what needed to be done, and after a moment of calculation, Din determined it'd probably be another day before Mayfeld could be on his way again. Migs didn't protest, and all were more congenial about the delay than they had been. All agreed it was necessary to investigate the wreckage, because each was all too aware of sinister Imperial tactics. Din and Aldor were positive the hunter told them the truth, but none were willing to leave it at that.

Plans agreed to and all sufficiently tired, Mayfeld and Grogu went to their respective chambers a few hours after dinner, leaving Aldor and Din alone at the table. Wordlessly, Din took her hand and pressed it to his cheek, closing his eyes as he sighed in deep relief at the silence, and a sweet wave of rumbling misty blankets spread through them both. Aldor smiled and softly chuckled at her Mandalorian, giddy with the sensation as she curled her fingers into his sideburns. She let her fingertips trail over his ear as he rolled his face into her hand to kiss her palm, shuddering and murmuring that seductive, "Mmmm." When he looked into her eyes again, the shattered brown irises sparked and caught fire, and Aldor knew he wouldn't make her wait tonight.

Din stood with her hand still in his, and guided her to sit on the edge of the bunk. He kicked out of his boots and peeled off his tunic, then let his trousers drop to floor before he knelt between her knees. She'd barely had a chance to admire all his gorgeous planes and angles when he took her in a deep, demanding kiss, flooding her mouth with his delicious flavor as everything else blinked out of existence. His fingers curled over the waistband of her trousers and yanked them down over her hips, peeling them all the way off before he lifted her feet out of them and batted them aside. He ran his hands from her knees up her thighs, dragging his thumbs through the creases to tease her with soft nudges against her mound. His fingers advanced over her belly and under the faded tunic that engulfed her, and her breath picked up as the heat of his hands closed around her breasts. He bent his lips to her body to trail soft kisses across her waist and over her stomach, around her hips and against her thighs, teasing her everywhere but where she wanted him as she whimpered his name, aching to feel him inside her.

He gently squeezed her breasts, and rolled her nipples between his fingers and thumbs. The wicked sensation burned a trail through her veins and nerves, and settled in her womb where it pulsed like a neutron star. Moisture pooled between her legs as she trembled under his ceaseless kisses, dipping lower until he brushed his lips into the soft curls between her legs while little golden sparks popped across her skin. She swelled to think of his tongue on her clit. Thinking of how he loved to lick and taste her like she was the most delicious thing in the galaxy. She looked down at him, leaning back on her elbow as she gripped his hair in her free hand, begging him.

He pressed a hard kiss to the crease of her thigh, holding her eyes. "Your pleasure is mine, my Lady," he whispered. He dipped his shoulders under her knees and forced her legs wider with one big hand, then firmly stroked the strong fingers over her mound as she groaned and closed her eyes. Two thick digits forced her open, and filled her with heat and need. "Mmm…" His murmur was music as a delicious jet of steam caressed her clit while he spread her wider, watching how her body reacted to him, obsessed with the pulse of her hungry lips around his fingers while all those golden sparks sank into her womb. "So sweet…" he whispered as he gently prodded that spot, and she broke apart in a beautiful cascade of pleasure as her hips swayed into his hand, urging him deeper. Urging him to take whatever he wanted.

"Mmmm…" he murmured again. Aldor nearly lost all control when she felt the slick point of his tongue against her clit. He simultaneously pumped deep into her with his fingers, curling them upward as he withdrew, drawing every fraction of pleasure he could from her body as she arced against him, destroyed and scattered across the universe as pleasure burst so deep within her, it was almost painful. Heightened and deeper than ever now as imbedded strands of gilded dark matter reached for their maker through her blood. Her body filled with waves of electricity and heat, until all her molecules burst and dissolved into nothing. The remnant atoms rushed into themselves and exploded in a supernova of dark matter and plasma that brought her back into existence, reborn as release poured out of her and she lost command of her limbs, twitching and bucking and shaking, until at last she went limp, and forgot who and what she was until her lover reminded her.

"Aldor," he murmured. "So beautiful… so beautiful. My Lady…" Then his lips were everywhere, his hands everywhere else as he peppered kisses across her hips and belly. He pushed her tunic up her body, and yanked it off over her head as he ran his tongue between her breasts and over her nipples. Pressed deep open-mouthed kisses to the soft flesh, then trailed up her chest to her neck and under her jaw. She was suddenly consumed. Devoured in a deep, passionate kiss as he licked hard against her tongue, and with a shift of his body above her, that beautiful, thick heat split her open, and filled her with fire.

"Ahh!" She couldn't hold it in. He felt so good. His eyes full of smoke, his lips warm and so tender against hers. The beautiful face staring down at her and wondering again if he was dreaming.

She hugged the golden heat between her legs and watched him close his eyes in bliss as she took his face in her hands, determined to show him how real she was. She pulled him down to kiss him, meeting his slowing pace with her hips, then pulled her lips from his too quickly because she couldn't stop another whimper of pleasure from bursting through her throat, thinking she'd give anything to keep him inside her. She looked down to watch, because she just felt she needed to. To see all that hard flesh slide out of her, glistening with the pleasure he created. He sank back in, stretching her with all his gorgeous length and girth as he hit that spot in the back of her pussy that had her throwing her head back, arcing against him as static popped all around and inside her. She presented her breasts to him, ecstatic when he licked her nipples again, galvanized and clinging to his strong body as her body claimed his for his own, pulsing and coming so close to the eye of the storm.

She trembled when his hot mouth closed around the peak of her breast. The brush of facial hair across her skin and the thick, wavy locks between her fingers. The strong back she clung to. The broad shoulders that gathered powerfully as he groaned and plunged harder and faster into the flood inside her. Gales of smoke brought both of them closer with every labored breath as the friction of engorged veins through swollen slick flesh became all she could feel. All that mattered as her womb opened to him, and one short "Unngh!" burst through his lips as his release fed the storm that raged inside her, and she was on every star in every system at once, crying with the ecstasy of a thousand planets as that beautiful feeling of completion sank into her decimated body.

He collapsed on top of her, panting and trembling, looking down at their joined bodies as he dragged his hand over her shape. He lifted his eyes to hers, still bleary in the aftermath of his orgasm, not entirely in command of himself as his hand brushed over the cut on her arm from the Zabrak's vibroblade. She softly grunted at the shot of pain, but didn't care while her pussy throbbed around his buried cock.

But Din was too quick, and immediately realized what he'd done. "My Lady… you're still wounded…" he whispered. "Here." He shifted on top of her, and propped himself up by one hand as he lay the other over the cut on her arm, and shifted to keep himself inside her as he closed his eyes.

She didn't even have time to protest, because the moment he focused and straightened his back above her, she felt his beautiful golden blanket wrapping around and infusing the cut, knitting it back together with his gentle strands of dark matter while his release trickled out of her in a beautiful, soft tickle around his cock. The closed circuit between his body and his Force within her produced a dual sensation unlike any she'd experienced before. Euphoria that gave her a broader view of all the amazing things Din was made up of. His compassion and his honor. His goodness and his grace. In this sensual mediation, she could see his mind and heart more clearly than she ever had. Even his darkness and his pain, buried deep in the beskar furnace. All of it sinking into her flesh as he focused on his golden weave of power, skillfully feeling and almost seeing it at work on the wound in her arm while his heart thumped softly next to hers.

When he opened his eyes, he looked under his hand to see the cut gone, and sighed in relief. "Glad I can do that for you."

"So many things you do for me," she whispered. She softly whimpered when his flaccid cock slowly slipped out when he shifted. He gave her a placating kiss, and she melted into the bunk under his tender influence. She wrapped her arms around his golden shoulders and brought his head down to her breast as she buried her fingers in his hair and gathered him close. She loved how he felt in her arms. How he felt in every way. Warm and solid and true. Strong and so tender. "Love you so much," she whispered into his hair. "How you feel, Din. Your body and your Force. Can't imagine… can't fathom… life without you anymore. That's why your blood is all I can see just like mine is to you. So you must forgive me if I never listen to you when we've both suffered a wound."

"There won't be any more wounds if I can help it," Din murmured against her breast, pressing soft kisses into the flesh as he massaged the other in his hand. "Don't care if that's impossible, my Lady. I'll try anyway. Fuck, what would I do… what would I do without you? Where would my thoughts go? I don't like to ask those questions. But you were right… before… need to learn how to get past that. Both of us. You would've been fine probably and so would I…. if we hadn't reacted like that. We just have to remember today. How… there's more of you in me… more of me in you. I think we did it on purpose when we healed each other, Aldor. Instinct, maybe… but purposefully. So we can stay together… no matter what."

"Sounds like something we'd do," she said quietly and hugged him tighter as he nuzzled into her throat. Then a brush of his mustache over her jaw before his lips settled behind her ear and kissed her there firmly, knowing what it did to her. "Mmmm… my sweet Mandalorian," she whispered dreamily as she closed her eyes against the sensual feel of her lover's warm lips nipping her earlobe. Then the soft, hot tongue sweeping through the shell of her ear before he pressed gentle lips to that spot that always made her tremble. "I think we would go to incredible lengths to stay together," she whispered, her breath coming heavier as she felt his fingers creeping up the inside of her thigh, sliding along the damp flesh so softly and slowly, she'd barely noticed it until she was already aching.

"I think we would," Din whispered deeply as his fingertip nudged between her folds, and he sucked in a breath at how wet and warm she was. "Mmm… Fuck… came all the way out to the edge of the galaxy for this…" He plunged his finger deep into her on the word, taking her by surprise as fire burst through her womb. "Unghm… came so far… would go farther…" He withdrew and plunged into her again more forcefully, and crooked his finger up to press into a pleasure point that sent a chain reaction from her womb through her entire body. Stars exploding and being born in the same instant inside her. Everything destroyed and burning joyfully. Shockwaves rumbled through her as she went limp underneath him. "Would go all the way to Peridia," he murmured brokenly. "Across the universe… anywhere…"

He rubbed a come hither inside her while she lay there helplessly, stroking the length of her as she fell apart, lost in a pleasure so intense, it approached the boundaries of pain. Her womb seized and shook with the orgasm he patiently milked out of her, until at last she went flat and boneless over the bed while her lover shifted to gather her release on his tongue, murmuring and savoring it, sweeping long, firm licks through her drenched pussy and licking her thighs clean. He sighed indulgently and buried his face in her belly, raking kisses across the soft skin, claiming every inch of her through labored breaths. He licked his way up her ribcage, and gently closed his teeth around her nipple in a delightful pinch. "Ahh!" Aldor was almost near the edge already, and he wasn't even inside her yet. His conflagration of kisses had her lit up like Light Day, and suddenly she needed his dick in her. Now, my Mandalorian. Now.

Din growled and grabbed her wrists, and pinned them over her head as his eyes went up in smoke, wild and out of control. Gonna fuck you hard, Aldor. That okay with you?

"Fuck yes, it is," she breathed.

"Good."

Then everything blinked out of existence except her lover inside her, and his pledge to make her cum harder than she ever had before, just to celebrate being alive and together.


By morning, Din was in a brighter mood than he had been, and more comfortable with yesterday's events now that he had discussed it with Aldor. Of course it helped that a good two hours of fucking followed.

Even the noisome task of scouting the wreckage went more smoothly than Din anticipated. He was concerned because the northern mountains were tall and treacherous and jagged, and a wild, bitter wind constantly howled through the peaks. Plus, there were no plateaus wide enough to land on. Luckily, Mayfeld had a few cylinders of fuel that was compatible with the Rising Phoenix, and offered one to him when Din commented that his jet pack would make the search a little quicker.

Because she was worried over how he would manage the wind with his jets, Aldor insisted she fly the T-16 when Mayfeld offered, and told him to be ready in the hold if Din needed him to hoist something up. With some help from Grogu in the co-pilot seat, she kept the Skyhopper surgically steady despite the strong winds. Din found a number of usable parts and not a single functioning comm component. While he was at it, he grabbed the data core, which appeared to be mostly intact. Maybe R5 could get some more information about the Imps from it. If nothing else, they could gather some intel on the Remnant's movements.

Once Din picked the decimated hull clean and gathered all the information he could from the wreckage, he was satisfied there was nothing left on this ship that could give away its position. But for good measure, he set a couple of his remaining charges among the ruins before he jetted back up to the Skyhopper. He heaved a deep sigh of relief as Aldor turned the ship back toward the Eye, and the rest of the hunters' gunship went up in an explosion that left nothing but dust.

Now that task was completed, he was more at ease, and ready to get back to work on Mayfeld's ship. On their way home, they discussed the work that remained, and as soon as they walked up the ramp into the YT, Din shed his armor and the four of them gathered their gear to head back to the ailing freighter on foot, bringing along a sledge full of new parts that might come in handy.

It'd been a while since Din had undertaken any heavy mechanical work, and it was nice to experience something so familiar with new instincts. He realized he had been as annoyed as he was anxious when the hunters came, and much of that aggravation lay in suspending this enjoyable work. Today, even his irritation with Mayfeld was diminished as the noisy old convict worked alongside them, quieter than usual and deeply focused. He almost managed to fall into Clan Djarin's wordless flow of efficiency, and the work progressed quickly until the suns hinted to him to check the hour, and he looked up to see them sliding down the horizon.

Aldor saw it at the same time, and nodded as she went to pull Grogu from the wiring panels where he'd been resoldering damaged connections in tight quarters. The boy pouted when Aldor told him to wrap it up for the night. It seemed he was enjoying the work as much as his father was, and Din flashed him a smile that lifted the frown from their son's face when he assured him they still had plenty to do tomorrow. "But I think we'll finish by midday," Din concluded when he turned to Aldor. "If nothing else holds us up."

"Hey Mando." Mayfeld had said uncharacteristically little all day, and Din saw now in his eyes that he'd spent much of it deep in thought. So he was inclined to listen as Mayfeld cleared his throat and fidgeted uncomfortably. "Just wanna… ya know… say thanks… for… y'know… everything. Would'a been fucked if you guys weren't here. So… thanks… and… I think I'm gonna throw in the rest of that jet fuel for your pack… I just keep it for trade anyway… seems like you could get some use out of it."

"Well, I hope I don't need it, Mayfeld, but thank you. I appreciate it. It's hard to come by, even in the known Galaxy. I know you could get a lot of credits for it, so if it's going to mean you don't eat for a while…"

"Nah, nah, Mando, it's fine. I do all right. I mean… shit… you got shot because of me… your Lady too… least I can do. And I… I kinda feel like I want you guys to be all right. Just so you can keep being whatever the fuck you are."

"Whatever the fuck we are," Din chuckled. "Do we even know, my Lady?"

"I'm really not sure how to classify us, my Love. I think we are simply what we are."

"Which means you don't know," Mayfeld suggested.

"You're right, Mr. Mayfeld," she agreed. "I'm afraid I don't. So I suppose for now we will remain Clan Djarin."

"As it should be," Din agreed, and kissed her forehead before he nodded toward the suns. "Let's lock it down and head home. The suns are setting."

On the way home, Grogu was in a playful mood, and Din watched with a smile set in place as Aldor and their son played Force games that Din couldn't participate in given his increasingly troublesome block. But Aldor and their boy refused to leave him out, and he found himself set upon in a game of Leaps. Aldor and Grogu descended on him at once from opposite directions, but he'd sensed it and got a running start. A deep bend at his knees launched him out of the line of fire, leaping backward over Mayfeld's head to land just in time to watch Aldor and Grogu collide in a hysterically laughing heap.

"See," Din called playfully as he jogged around Mayfeld to stand over them, simultaneously getting his dig in while he made sure neither of them was any worse for wear. "That's what you get. Thinking you can get one over on a Mandalorian."

Din stood up straight and strolled on in satisfaction, but sensed a plot at revenge. Before he had a chance to prepare for the onslaught, Aldor ran up behind him with Grogu on her shoulders and leapt up onto his back. She stopped him in his tracks with a perfectly executed choke hold that Din taught her himself. "Who can't get one over?" she asked in an exaggeratedly sweet voice as Din dropped to his knees under their unexpected weight.

Slightly limited airflow to his lungs brought him all the way down underneath them, but he was still chuckling, and felt his face burn when the weight lifted and he got two kisses at once. One on his forehead from Grogu, and another on his cheek from Aldor.

Aldor released him from her hold and slid off his back to lay a sweeter kiss on his temple before she helped him up. But Din held on to her and scooped her up to throw her over his shoulder as soon as he was upright. He gave her rear a playful smack, and softly warned, "You just wait, my Lady."

"Mmm… I can't, my Love," she purred in a voice only he could hear, and he smiled in satisfaction as he continued on his way with his Lady over his shoulder while Grogu laughed hysterically.

Din had carried her a few dozen meters when he remembered Mayfeld, who was trailing behind. He set Aldor back down on her feet and gave her a smile and a brief kiss before he looked back at their guest, who had been silent all this time. He didn't know where to be while Clan Djarin enjoyed their familial rough-housing. He also seemed confused. As if he wasn't sure why some part of him wished he could have joined in.

Din set his stance and put his arm around Aldor's waist, waiting for the bewildered mercenary to catch up. When he was within a few meters, Din asked almost compassionately, "What is it, Mayfeld? You're quiet today."

"Oh… sorry Mando, I'm just… still not sure any of this is real…" He laughed and shook his head. "Fuckin nuts. Never expected to see anything like this."

"Like what?" Aldor asked.

"Mando out of his armor. Smiling," Mayfeld answered. "A family of Force-sensitives… just… any of it." Another confused laugh escaped him, and again he muttered, "Fuckin nuts," as he continued down the track, shaking his head.

That evening over dinner and the hour or two before bed, Mayfeld seemed more at ease with the relative quiet of the YT while Aldor stitched a new tunic for Grogu, and Din focused on one of his carvings. Grogu was engrossed in a datapad, reading through the accounts of ancient Mandalorians. Mayfeld was attempting to focus on cleaning his blaster, but his eyes kept flashing up to Din's carving and finally he asked, "What are you making, Mando?"

"Ummm…" He wasn't entirely sure, but the pale purple stone was starting to resemble one of the lovely little flowers that had been blooming near the tributaries since spring began. "Yeah… I guess it's a flower."

Aldor looked up from her stitching to inspect Din's work. "Oh, that's beautiful, my Love," she commented. "I love the character of the stone and how you've enhanced it. You're getting very good."

"I can carve a loop in it… make it into a pendant for you if you like it, my Lady."

"I'm not sure when I'd wear it when I have my signet…"

"We can cut the necklace shorter… maybe you could wear both when you feel like it. If you like it, of course." But he didn't wait for her to respond, and went ahead and began to carve a thin loop into the stone at the bottom of what would become a stalk, thinking she would enjoy the aesthetic of a flower that appeared to be hanging upside down like it was drying. He was just happy to provide her with anything that made her smile like that, and focused more intently on his work now that he knew where it would end up.

Mayfeld watched this exchange closely, and they sensed his continued amazement at seeing this side of Mando. "He's quite good with a carving blade, don't you think, Mr. Mayfeld?" Aldor asked in an attempt to settle him. "I suppose it makes sense given how well my Mandalorian handles a vibroblade."

"Different techniques, though," Din supplied.

"Vastly," Aldor agreed. "But the same basic set of skills, I think. A hobby that suits you, my Love."

Din chuckled. "It did keep me busy through the winter. Didn't mind the company either."

Mayfeld nodded at her signet, hung around her neck where it had remained since Din and Grogu gave it to her. "You made that one too, Mando?"

Din nodded. "It's her signet."

"Well... if you don't mind me sayin' it, Mando... you've got her there… looks right... for her."

"I'm going to say thank you, Mr. Mayfeld, and assume that was a compliment," Aldor replied. "I'm quite fond of it. I think it may be my favorite thing."

"Yeah, it was a compliment," Mayfeld answered. "To both of ya."

Din gave him a respectful nod. "Thanks, Migs."

"You know, Mando... I think maybe... maybe this suits you," Migs said. "You're not a scughole to your lady…and you appreciate everything you got. Maybe you're right about all of it. Dig in and be ready for anything. It's… it's a good way of doin' things, I think… for guys like us. Ya know… too old and tired to keep runnin' and chasin'."

"Feels right," Din agreed. "Only thing that matters to me these days. What feels right. For most of my life I ignored my instincts and it got me nowhere. It's where anybody ends up when they ignore their nature. But since I started waking up, I've been everywhere. So seems like I should pay attention to it from here on out. Do what I can for my family. And for any strays that might want a shot at peace."

Mayfeld nodded soberly. "Yeah. Think people are gonna need that in the next few years."

Din nodded back. "They will. We've seen it. Whatever was supposed to die in the Rebellion… it didn't… it's still out there trying to take what we love."

"But nothing will, my Mandalorian."

"Nothing will," he answered.

Mayfeld snorted a soft laugh. "Yeah. I think I actually believe that."

After another blissfully quiet night, Clan Djarin set out again with Migs Mayfeld to finish work on his ship, and had it ready for hyperspace before midday. They offered to let him stay another night, but he was anxious to be on his way. He did accept lunch before he left, and followed them back to the YT for some leftover stew. With his belly full and amply supplied with buck and ray jerky and a few of Aldor's dried winter fruits, Mayfeld gathered his few effects and nodded at Aldor before he followed Din out the hatch. But she stopped him, and darted to the engine room and back again carrying two bolts of her lightest-weight fabric. "Here, Mr. Mayfeld. In case you need something to trade. I'm told my fabrics have become quite popular in the Outer Rim. Just don't tell anyone where it came from. Otherwise, it'll lose all its value."

Mayfeld chuckled and graciously accepted the fabric. "Thanks, Lady Aldor." Then he gave her a nod and turned to walk down the ramp.

Din stopped on his way to the ramp to brush his fingers across her cheek, and gave her a soft kiss. "I'll be back soon, my Lady."

Mayfeld will be here again. I sense it, my Love.

Din nodded. So do I. But…

…one thing at a time.

"One thing at a time," he whispered, and gave her another parting kiss before he turned to follow Migs back to his ship.

Din summoned R5 to follow with the sledge, loaded with two canisters of fuel. Din didn't mind giving it up as much as he expected to because he knew Migs would keep his end of the bargain. And maybe Din was a little bit fonder of him now that he'd saved Aldor's life. It was clear Mayfeld had undergone something of an attitude shift in the few days he'd been here, and his mind was much quieter and easier to get into now. Din sensed him trying to figure out what exactly had shifted and why. He was certainly wise enough to recognize it in himself, and Din had to give him credit for that, so he felt he owed the asshole a bit of insight. "You won't know until you have to, Migs," he assured him. "Force sensitive or not, shit happens for a reason. Trust me on that."

"Readin' minds again, Mando?" Migs asked with a tone of the usual snark. But it immediately softened when he sighed and begrudgingly admitted, "Maybe you're right."

Both men remained quiet until they came to Mayfeld's ship, and exchanged Clan Djarin's fuel for Mayfeld's power core and shield generator. Both looked to be brand new, and good quality. Sturdy and powerful. Pleased with the goods, Din gave him an approving nod. "Let your clients know why you're short some gear," he suggested. "Let them know we're out here, but don't tell them where. Remind them we didn't ask where they are. And thank them on our behalf. Maybe a bolt of Aldor's fabric will help smooth things over. I know it's not a shield generator, but it won't hurt to give them something in exchange for what you leave with us."

"They'll respect that, Mando. Trust me. I don't work for scugholes anymore. I've gotten a little more selective since the last time you saw me."

Din nodded. "Good thing. You were keeping poor company for a while."

"So were you."

"Won't argue with you there."

"But everything happens for a reason…" He said it in his typical mocking tone, but then sighed deeply and shook his head. "Bantha shit maybe, but I see why you believe it. Hell, Mando, I almost believe it now. I'm just glad you know what a lucky bastard you are."

"I am deeply aware of that fact," Din assured him.

"Good thing," Migs replied. "Because poor company can fucking kill you."

"And good company can save your life." Din glanced down at his feet for a moment, not believing what he was about to say. But everything did happen for a reason, and Din sensed Mayfeld's time here wasn't a waste for any of them. He shook his head at himself and released a short huff before he looked back up at the asshole he now considered a friend. "Thank you again, Migs," he said quietly. "For saving her. Not sure you realize how important she is to me… but… you saved me too, you know. I owe you for that."

"The Kid would'a killed me if I hadn't, so… ya know… you're welcome. And really Mando… you don't owe me shit. Wouldn't've needed saving if I caught that fucking tracker."

"You couldn't have helped that. Even Aldor didn't sense it until the hunters locked on to the signal. But I installed a protocol in your array that'll magnetize your hull for maybe half a minute. It's a weak field, but it'll be enough to detect any trackers latched on. Cloaked or otherwise. You can reverse the polarity for a few seconds… long enough to shake anything that tagged you. Figure you'll end up in the sector again and you want to be ready. The protocol will run automatically when you reinforce your shields in a fight. You can run it independently, but only when you're sub-light. So keep that in mind. You'll see it in your displays when you power on. Pretty self-explanatory."

"Well that's… nice."

"I just don't want you bringing any more hunters here," Din said with a slight smile tilting his mouth. "But so long as you're not being tracked, you're welcome on the Eye, Migs. Just remember we want to keep our planet peaceful. And we will fight for it."

Mayfeld snorted a laugh and shook his head. "None of those fuckers got a chance with you and your wife and kid here, Mando... wouldn't know what hit 'em. Don't ever let me cross the Kid, by the way. That little guy scares the shit out of me. Almost as much as your Lady does."

"I consider that a compliment, Migs," Din said proudly. "They're both tougher than I am, so I suppose the next time you're out this way, we'll still be here."

"I... ya know... I actually hope so." Mayfeld dipped his head humbly. "I really do hope so, Mando. You're… you're a good guy. Glad you're doing all right for yourself. And… ya know… I'll keep you in mind if I hear anything's coming your way… could give you a heads up."

Din nodded. "I'd appreciate that. But all our signals are encrypted and scrambled, so I left you a data fob in there that'll give you the key. Just remember all our names to run it. And you know… don't abuse it… and don't let it fall into the wrong hands."

"You got my word, Mando. Really. I know you wouldn't give that to just anybody."

Din shook his head. "I wouldn't. Maybe keep that in mind too."

"I will," Mayfeld promised, and offered a forearm handshake, a sign of trust that Din was always honored to receive and bestow. "Til our paths cross, Mayfeld," he said sincerely. "Take care of yourself."

"Yeah. You too, Mando. And take care of your Lady… and the Kid. And… ya know… thanks again… Din."

Din watched Mayfeld board his ship and power up, and saw an image set many years from now when Migs Mayfeld would land on the Eye again. Hopefully wiser. Certainly humbler. But at least for now, they had the planet to themselves again.