Serena & Din

Chapter 4: The Journey

They left with swift speed, now that the Razor Crest was back in shape. In the cockpit sat Serena, Bo-Katan, and Din, with the other two Nite Owls still dozing in the cargohold. Serena started to like Bo-Katan, she was kind to her  and was always more than glad to tell her about Mandalorian culture and its history. Din was also likable for his kindness to her, but she sensed a strange feeling from him, resentment might be the word. 'Something horrible must've happened,' she pondered this as she gazed out the window, with Tatooine becoming smaller and smaller until it was nothing but a dot. Suddenly, Din turned to her, and said: "Hope you're strapped in, we're going to jump to hyperspace." Serena grinned, then suddenly felt her stomach do filps Bo- Katan noticed this, and told Din that maybe they'll go into hyperspace a little later. She then asked, "Is this your first time in space?" Serena nodded "The only other time I remember was when I turned four, leaving Alderaan and coming to Tatooine where I lived in the orphanage. I felt sick after learning not to eat during hyperspace." They all laughed, and then Serena said to Din "We can go in hyperspace, I'll just tell the guys down below." She then unbuckled and left, climbing down the ladder. Bo- Katan noticed at Din watching her leave and mused "You are smitten, aren't you?"

"What? No!"

"Oh, for the love of the maker Din, admit it!"

"Ok, first, I care for her deeply is what you mean. Smitten sounds like I'm in love with a fourteen-year-old!"

Bo- Katan rolled her eyebrows and said lazily with a grin, "Whatever, let's just get into hyperspace." Din then yelled in the back "Get ready guys!" Serena just got back in her seat when  he pulled the accelerator, and the cosmos suddenly blurred into nothing but a white tunnel.

Finally! They made it! Din and Bo-Katan steered the ship to the landing area safely, while Serena and the rest had gathered their things and were prepared to walk out. Din came down to see his things neatly packed already, with Serena waiting, dressed in yesterday's attire. Din looked at her through the visor of his helmet, 'Dank Ferrik that girl' he thought with a smirk. He never met someone like Serena, so  obliging and considerate. After coming back to reality, he askes as he offers his arm "Are you ready?"  She nodded and loops her hand on his elbow. The planet Nevarro was a lava dwarf, the soil making it a perfect spot for agriculture and trade, which had continued to become a hotspot in the outer rim .  So as Din and Serena walked down the platform, who should be waiting for them but Greef Karga and Cara Dune. Serena immediately hid behind Din as he shook hands with his old friends "It's been a long while since you've last visited! Hope the journey wasn't too tedious," said Greef cheerily. Serena glanced at him. He must have been a great deal older than Din, but the man seemed nice. She then caught the tall woman in military gear looking at her, who then smiled and gave a small wave to her. The woman then asked Din; "Who is this? Is she yours?" Din nodded and explained the situation. Cara then said to Serena "I was from Alderaan too, I'm sorry for your loss. We'll try and help you as best we can." Serena was glad to find another from her planet , and came to walk alongside Cara, who helped carry the small bag of her possessions. Din was glad Serena was coming out of her shell at last.

They found the Nite Owls at a small inn where they booked rooms for them all. They went in, found their suite, and began unpacking. Serena carefully withdrew her father's saber from the sack and placed it on the mantelpiece above the fireplace (apparently, the magma cools occasionally, making the weather cooler some days.) Cara was with Din and Serena, and happened to notice this blade and inquired "That's from Alderaan, isn't it? An army spear?"

"Yeah," Serena said surprised "how'd you know?"

"I was part of them before joining the shocktroopers."

"It belonged to my father."

"What branch?"

"Army,"

"Rank?"

"Second Lieutenant under General Lin Pande of Battalion 6,  Squad 4."

"Name?"

"Kyrizi Tennet,"

Cara's eyes lit up at the name, then said casually, "Ah, I knew him then."

"You did?! How?"

"We were companions in the same battalion and gave each a handcrafted saber. Think of it as a sort of tradition of comrades."

Serena gazed in amazement, so did Din who said, "You were in the siege?"

Cara nodded, then took the blade from Serena and looked at it with a smile, the past almost reflecting in its blade. Then she asked, "Do you know how to use these?" Serena told her of her battle with the bandits. "I'm sure with a bit of training you could be as badass as your dad, but first, let's get you settled." After they unloaded everything, they walked across the street to Cara's office, and Serena gave a description of the mystery goons "There were eight of them, all were tall and slim, but each had different features. Their leader looked younger than the rest, with some Imperial military ornaments on him and an eyepatch. I only managed to kill three of them,"

"Do you know how they might've been employed by? The Hutts perhaps?" Cara concluded. Din argued that the Hutts were defeated long ago knocking out that possiblity. "Looks like this is going to be harder than it I thought," Cara sighed

Serena then piped up  "Maybe we can discuss this in private? How about Ms. Dune comes to our suite tonight for dinner?" So, they agreed, and would meet that night.