Odd Bounty

Paths

Din was the first to exit the ship, shoulders squared and back straight even though his shoulder and side stung. He had questions and the old man was damn well going to answer them.

She was a droid.

A noise to his right had him reaching for his blaster but he dropped his hand when he saw the woman...droid step into his line of sight.

Her eyes were wide as she surveyed their surroundings.

Boba was shaking his head, stopping beside her. "What? Never been to a bounty hunter haunt?"

She tilted her gaze up at him and shook her head. "Bounty hunter? What is that?"

Fett furrowed his brows, "Both Din and I are bounty hunters. Have you never been someplace else? Traveled on a ship to a new planet?"

She shook her head again. "No. First time on ship...well, first time awake, I think. They usually make me sleep until they want to see me fight."

Din grit his teeth, "Of course they would. You're a droid."

Telana nodded. "I didn't want to fight. I don't want to hurt people. I didn't want to hurt them."

Her hand settled over her open wounds, "I want to be normal."

Mando snorted, "Kind of difficult for a droid to be normal."

She stomped her foot, "I am not droid! I am Telana Veile! I am me!"

"I think you should stop making her upset."

"Her? She's a droid. A thing."

Boba gripped his arm and Din struggled for a minute before his other hand settled on his blaster. Boba arched a brow at him.

"I don't know what it is you have against droids, kid, but give the girl the benefit of the doubt here. I don't think she had any say in what she is now."

"Well, we'll see, won't we?"

"Ahh, Mando! I trust things went as well as they could."

They both turned to look at Karga as he approached, stopping when the girl circled around him, poking at his arm and back.

"You must be Telana."

"You were on the screen and now here...how?"

He looked at her oddly, "What?"

"She means the communicator screen. I don't think she's been awake for such a long period of time."

"You would be correct in that assumption." Their client stated as he came to stand behind Karga.

Telana cried out, rushing the man and falling into his arms. "Father!"

He pillowed his head on top of hers and sighed, "My dearest girl. It is good to see you once again. Now come, I must repair your damage."

"Yes, father."

"So what exactly is she, old man?"

"I told you...she is my daughter."

"She's a droid."

He leveled a steady gaze at Djarin. "Not completely. Follow us. I will explain."

/ - / - / - /

When they entered the small room, he patted the medical cot and Telana, without skipping a beat, removed the blanket and laid back.

"Now, my dear, I will have to shut off autonomous function for a short while. You will still be able to see."