A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

Chapter 12: The Injury

I'm left stunned and reeling after my interaction with Trudgen, and my subsequent reveal. If I'm not more careful, the whole ship will find out one by one. And I'll be exposed. They may or may not tell the Supreme Leader, who's resources know no bounds. He could do anything he wanted with the information of my identity. But my more pressing concern is that of my own self control.

Just seeing my hand seems to have affected Kuruk and I both very strongly. I have absolutely no doubt that he wants me now. And I don't know if I have the strength, or the want, to deny him. Any of them. Everything they do is so sexually charged. Their friendly treatment of me is strictly for Mando, I know that. But I can't deny the warm bubble in my chest when they treat me like a friend.

The Buzzard barrels through hyperspace, following the Jedi ship to their next destination. At first, the Knights scatter, changing bits of armor, using the refresher, getting something to eat. But after a short while, we all sit in the hull together, mostly silently. Even Ushar and Ap'lek keep their bickering to a minimum.

After what feels like all day, but is really just a few hours, the ship alerts us that our quarry has dropped out of hyperspace. And in fifteen minutes, so do we. I stand with the knights at the top of the ramp, waiting. They breathe loudly and grunt with anticipation.

"This is it, Knights. No more fucking up! Or we may just find ourselves a stint in the torture room when we get back to the Steadfast."

There's groans of agreement. My stomach twists a little. They get tortured?! As a punishment, sounds like. Who the fuck is powerful enough to torture the Knights of Ren?!

"Mando, can you engage the scavenger on your own?" Vicrul looks over his shoulder at me.

"Yes." It comes out automatically, but not entirely sure I believe it. I know I can hold her off, keep her busy. But take her down? I'm not so confident.

"Okay the rest of us take Skywalker. Didn't look like they had anyone else with them- but keep an eye out for the giant, walking carpet."

The Knights confirm. I flip through the list of companions in my mind, not recalling someone who looks like a carpet... then it occurs to me. None of this makes any sense! The Knights said the men they killed were storm troopers. No, actually, they were just in First Order clothes. They could have been anyone! And the list shows known Resistance members...

"They know we're following them. They're leading us on a goose chase." I say it to myself, forgetting I'm connected to comms.

"What." Vicrul whips around.

"Did you recognize the men you slain? The storm troopers?"

"No. We don't hang out with bucketheads." He snaps.

"They weren't troopers. They must have infiltrated a First Order base. Possibly the Steadfast."

"What? There's no way!" Ushar yells.

"They were the Resistance members from our list. Where did the Supreme Leader get that list?" I'm trying to piece everything together. It seems like I'm missing something obvious. Would they really sacrifice twenty of their own people like that?

"I don't know," Vicrul says eventually.

"They gave it to us?!" Ap'lek shouts.

"Buzzard landing in three... two... one-" Kuruk interrupts.

I don't like going out there not knowing what their motives are. Skywalker is in possession of an artifact of power. I'm supposed to retrieve it. That's all I know. But why are they traveling around, and why are they leaving a bread crumb trail? Is there some end destination?