Fragments of the Dark

Prologue

"I work alone."

The three words stretched heavy between them, hovering in the thick, smoky air of the cantina.

Greef Karga's forehead wrinkled. "It's a two person job, Mando. Specific request by the employer.  I'm sorry." He raised his hands in apology.

Din's Beskar shone faintly in the dim light. "And you have absolutely nothing else?"

"I'm low on jobs right now." He shook his head slowly. "Guild rates are pricy. People are finding other ways to settle their disputes."

Din held back the sigh from escaping through his mouth. He'd been counting on a job to help get him out of this rut. The cost of fuel was through the roof right now and he was low on food as well. He clenched his fist briefly. "Alright. Do you have a second in mind?"

Greef's dark skin shone in the hazy light. "Yes. The best pilot this side of the Outer Rim."

Din's eyebrows raised inside his helmet. "That's a hefty claim to make."

Greef leaned back, the chair creaking. "It's no claim." He crooked his fingers in a "come here" motion.

Light footsteps thudded on the ground as a hooded finger approached, sliding into the third chair with easy grace. Her hood fell back revealing an angular face with dark bronzed skin. Onyx eyes glinted in the light, raven hair pulled tightly away from her face. A deep scar etched itself into her skin, splitting the flesh from her forehead to jaw. She nodded once to Din, seemingly not surprised to see a fully-Beskar clad Mandalorian. "Celene Avyanna." Her voice was low and steady, a brush of midnight and darkness.

Din tilted his head to the side. "I've heard of you."

Greef slapped the table. "I told you, she was the best pilot this side of the galaxy. She made the Kessel Run in 12 parsecs."

"You'd need a hell of a ship to do that." Din let the skepticism lace his voice.

If Celene noticed, she didn't let on. "My uncle's ship. He made the run in 13 parsecs. I made it in 12. Before him, my grandfather was one of the best fighter pilots the galaxy has seen. Flying runs in the family." She shifted away from Din, addressing Greef. "Where's the puck?"

Greef withdrew the grey object from his jacket pocket and slid it across the table. "Good luck. May your bounty be plentiful."

Celene wrapped her slender fingers around the puck before Din could object. She tugged her hood over her head and retreated to the door. Din began to follow but stopped as Greef called out to him.

"Mando," Greef nodded his head to Celene. "Be careful with that one."

Din didn't deign to respond and followed Celene through the doors of the cantina and into the night.