The journey began with them taking a route to Jakku and trading their ship for a different one. Leyna had never seen a desert planet before, though she had heard of them. Sand stretched as far as the eye could see passed the settlement at the spaceport, strange aliens and their beasts or beaten-up vehicles.
"Why is Jakku not a name I have heard before?"
"This is the true middle of nowhere as far as the galaxy is concerned. You are either a slaver, a native beduine, or one of the many bounty hunters looking for a place outside any laws to find work besides the Outer Rim." Paru led them into a building with beings sitting at a bar counter and tables scattered throughout it.
"Our contact should be here."
"Not for another few minutes, Atun."
"Perhaps I am just on edge."
Paru took a seat at the bar and they followed her lead. "Spiced Pantoran wine all around, please."
The bartender droid beeped in acknowledgment, pouring a red substance into four glasses for them. "Not often we get Pantorans out here on Jakku. You all seem nicely paired off."
"Indeed." Paru slid the owed money across the counter.
Leyna hoped the skin paint to match her friends' tone was thick enough to hide her blush as she took a sip, trying not to glance at Atun who was sitting next to her.
Atun's hand brushed hers and smiled just visibly when her eyes met his.
"Ah, here is our friend."
Leyna's jaw almost dropped as she laid eyes on a fully armored being, even their face covered by a helm she had only heard of. "A Mandalorian?"
"Yes. Cousin, this is White Krayt. White Krayt, our cousin Ynae."
"The pleasure is all mine, Ynae." Drawled an accented male voice from behind the mask. "You came here at an exciting time."
"You found what we seek?"
"Aye, though I will hand it to you, Gaur, you sure know how to pick hard targets." A cube was slid across the table. "I got as close as I could without drawing attention. It's nothing good. Your instincts were dead on, Atun."
"Not surprising."
Paru slid a bag to the Mandalorian. "You will find extra there, for the risks you took on our behalf."
"It's not just for you guys, I still hold out hope my sister is alive too."
"Your sister?"
"You will have to excuse Ynae, we have yet to bring her up to speed."
"I can do that." White Krayt pulled out a comm and pressed a button to show the smiling face of a girl around Leyna's age, red curls framing her face. "This the last message she left me while vacationing on Felucia with her new husband."
"Hi bro, I hope everything is well with you. You must be busy with a job since you are not answering. Caden and I are having the best time and we wanted you to be the first we told this- you're going to be an uncle!" She grinned. "I know you won't be surprised at all-"
"Naiya, we have to take cover now!" A man called as he ran over and grabbed her in a way that said it was her husband Caden.
"What is going on?!"
"I don't know, some kind of raid the local Imperial troops are trying to drive back! Come on!"
Leyna swallowed hard as the message blacked out after an explosion. "Last message, you said?"
"Aye. They are both missing according to local authorities."
"It was the Vagaari, yes?"
White Krayt inclined his head. "I see you're familiar with them at least."
"Unfortunately. They tore most of my family apart as well."
"Seems to be a common story out on the outskirts of the forest, as we Mandos call the edges of planets in the protection of the Empire. Anyone not a part of it is on their own."
"Pardon the ignorance of my question, nevertheless, I cannot help but wonder why you wear armor and your sister doesn't."
"She never took the vows of the Mandalorian clan, I did. I was fostered by a mentor who decided what my animal mark was, as well as the color of my armor. Those granted white beskar are very rare and she was very proud of me. We still keep our ties outside the group when allowed to, which my mentor encouraged. Of course, his motivations for such permission was driven by a desire to pursue my sister."
"Caden is your mentor?" Leyna was surprised at first, then remembered the gray hairs barely noticeable in the video on the other man.
"You catch on fast, Ynae." He chuckled. "I hooked them up, you might say. He never did take the rules as seriously, so I knew she'd be in good hands. They should have never gone to Felucia."
"You cannot blame yourself for their misfortune, my friend." Gaur patted his armored shoulder. "After all, Felucia is not far from Mandalore for consideration of places to go be a couple in private. Besides, that is a planet covered in jungles and swamps. For all we know, your family is merely lost in one of them."
"Always the optimist. You guys set for departure?"
"Very much so."
White Krayt followed them to their new ship and boarded last. "If you need me, I'll be napping."
Paru sat down in the pilot seat, plotting in their next course. "Of course."
Leyna watched the Mandalorian disappear into one of the spare rooms, looking up at Atun when he put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm fine."
"That is rather hard to believe when you look a million miles away."
"I guess it never occurred to me how far-reaching the effects of the Vagaari were. It's terrible."
"No one is immune. That is why we fight so hard, so our families and allies have hope."
She managed a nod, unable to think of anything else to say as her heart beat faster at how close he was.
"It will be a few days until our next stop, I recommend getting comfortable."
"Thanks."
