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*:･ﾟ✧
Goodbyes are never easy, and mostly when one is not indulged with their own fate. The big eyes of The Child, so full of life, are imprinted underneath Gaia's eyelids like welded iron. She doesn't have to close them in order to memorize his wrinkled face, his small nose twitching. Vall selg, she had encouraged him, kissing his forehead prior to Kuiil carrying him away — mounted on a blurrg steered back towards the Razor Crest. *Stay strong,*
The pod drifting by her side now is empty.
"Chain code?"
One of the two Scout Troopers guarding the looming arch of Nevarro's town pushes lazily off his speeder bike. His helmet is directed knowingly toward Greef, while his partner's own slowly rears from one side to the other, scanning the whole group. Gaia's fingers contract together, the steel of her handcuffs resonating at the forefront of her mind as she peeks over at Thero, itching and burning. Dawnbringer is swung over his shoulder, one hand clamped down on the worn scabbard.
The blue alien beholds the withdrawn Scout Trooper carefully and locks gazes with him shortly. A jittery shiver wraps around her spine. Her nostrils flare and she clenches her eyes shut for a moment, blue-tinged skin becoming slightly damp with trepidation.
You're here for a reason. You're here for a reason, remember that — she repeats.
Greef gestures loosely toward Mando and Gaia, announcing, "I have a gift for the boss."
"Chain code?" the Scout Trooper presses, his modulated voice coming out as rehearsed.
Greef's intent on strolling right up to the Client has failed. Even though he has a means to pass safely through, he may have hoped to retain it in his pocket and not draw any attention. Fishing the necessary card out in order to confirm his identity, Greef watches the Scout Trooper survey the item, look up, and then back down again, bluntly offering him, "I'll give you 20 credits for the helmet."
Now it's Gaia's time to halt in place, her brows pinched together as it gradually sinks in that he's referring to Mando. A rebuke catches on the tip of her tongue, and she silently — angrily — bites the inside of her cheek. Distracting herself does her good, since speaking up to the reaper in white would've surely held them back from entering. Greef forces a chortle out. "Ha-ha! Not a chance! That's going on my wall."
With much restraint and so very faintly, Mando questions him, "On your wall?"
"Go with it. . ."
"Go ahead," the Scout Trooper affirms suddenly, sticking the card toward Greef.
Gaia spies the soldier out of the corner of her eye as they roam onward, the palm of Thero guiding her further down the dirt path framed with buildings. Just vaguely, she can feel the suspense from his hand connect with her clothed back. The Scout Trooper, however, is observing them long past the checkmark for the beginning of the town, and the flutters of white grazing Gaia's eyes goes completely unnoticed until Cara decides to chime in about it between the group. "You said four," she recounts with accusation at Greef, bitterly. "There are more than four troopers."
