The Mandalorian

Chapter 7: The Reckoning

They had spent the past week contemplating which planet they could hide out at. Mando had flown them around in deep space, making sure to keep them on the move while looking for the perfect planet to go to. The little one was sleep in his box behind Mando, Estella sat in her chair, cleaning her blaster. The cockpit was silent, save for the various clicks of buttons and the sound of an incoming transmission. Din accepted it, absentmindedly. Neither expected the sound of Greef Karga's voice. 

"My friends, if you are receiving this transmission, that means you are alive." Both their heads snapped up to the little hologram of Greef. "You might be surprised to hear this, but I am alive too. I guess we can call it even. A lot has happened since we last saw each other. The man who hired you is still here, and his ranks of ex-Imperial guards have grown." El leaned forward, her elbows resting on her knees as she frowned, still shocked that he was still alive after taking a blaster hit to the chest. 

The hologram of Greef had its arms crossed, his tone of voice clearly stating his distaste towards the ex-Imperial guards. "They have imposed despotic rule over my city, which has impeded the livelihood of the Guild. We consider him an enemy, but we cannot get close enough to take him out. If you would consider one last commission, I will very much make it worth your while." 

Both bounty hunters were thinking, neither saying a word as they listened to Greef's proposition. They didn't trust him at all, not after what happened on Nevarro. "You have been successful so far in staving off their hunters, but they will not stop until they have their prize. So, here is my proposition. Return to Nevarro. Bring the child as bait. I will arrange an exchange, and provide loyal Guild members as protection. Once we get near the client, you kill him, and we all get what we want. If you succeed, you keep the child and I will have your names cleared with the Guild, for a man and woman, of honour should not be forced to live in exile. I await your arrival with optimism." 

The hologram faded away, both stared at where it was. El broke the thick silence, Din swivelled his chair round to face her. "It's obviously a trap." He hummed, now looking at the sleeping child.

"But it would be his best chance." She nodded, agreeing with him but not fond of the idea, however she knew that this would be the best option in clearing their names and stopping the little one from being hunted. She too, looked at his tiny sleeping form. 

"We should get Cara, see if she would help." With that he spun back round, flicking switches and pushing buttons, entering the co-ordinates for Sorgan. The Razor Crest drifted round, honing in on the direction of Sorgan, the engines whirred before the stars whipped by them as they entered hyperspace.

*-*-*

The entire journey to Sorgan, Estella sat overthinking the entire situation. Every scenario crossed her mind, the negative ones standing out and causing her to worry more than she should. Estella had rarely worried about any job that she had accepted, but this kid changed everything. 

The beautiful greenery of the forest below did little to comfort her, the previous admiration of the planet now forgotten as she worried for the little one and the Mandalorian, she so desperately wanted this to work. Her thoughts were interrupted by the thud of the Razor Crest touching down on the ground. 

Din took the child in his arms, the little one was now awake. Estella descended the ladder first, opening up the side ramp of the Crest. He eyed her as she quickly walked down the ramp, noticing her what her body language was saying. She held her head down, her shoulders slumped and how quiet she had become told him all he needed to know. He placed the kid at his feet, the pair of them following her into the forest and towards the village.