The Mandalorian: Beskar and Bone

Chapter 18: The Mines of Mandalore

"Whoo-whoo!" Peli cheered as the N-1 landed in her hangar. "You hear that? She's purring like a nuzzle shrew."

"No complaints." Mando told her. "Still faster than I know what to do with."

"Well, I tune her up just the same. So, uh, where are my buddies?" She opened her arms up expectantly.

Elaine and Grogu peeked their heads out of the cockpit from where they sat with Mando, smiles on their faces.

"There they are!" Peli said happily. Grogu leaped out of the cockpit with his Jedi skills. "Now who taught you how to leap like a Lurmen, huh?"

Mando hopped out of the cockpit, carrying Elaine with him.

Grogu babbled nonsense at Peli and she gasped with excitement. "Was that his first word? I think he's talking to me. Did you hear that? He said 'Peli'."

"I'm here on business." Mando said, cutting the levity.

"Oh, are the Hutts back?" The mechanic asked nonchalantly. "Are you takin' out Boba Fett?"

"No, we like Boba." Elaine said laughing. Mando set her down and she wandered and played with the pit droids. She really was coming of her shell, now very comfortable with people she knew instead of shrinking away.

"I need a droid part." Mando said.

Peli groaned. "Ugh. Boring! Hey," She turned to her pit droids. "Get the Jawas back in here before they hit the cantina."

One of the little droids dropped the part he was showing Elaine and ran off. The girl walked back over to them as Peli continued.

"You know how Mos Eisley gets during Boonta week." She made a drinking gesture.

"I'm looking for a replacement IG memory circuit." Mando told her.

Peli stifled a laugh. "Oh. Hey, grandpa. They haven't made those for a while."

Just then, the pit droid returned with a few Jawas. Peli and them spoke in the squeaky language before saying, "Memory circuit." aloud. The Jawas shook their heads before leaving.

"Sorry, pal, no chance cubes." Peli told Mando.

"They can't find the part?" He asked.

"Nope."

"I need my droid fixed now."

Peli walked ahead of them towards an R5 astromech droid. "Which is why I think you should buy this beauty here." She slapped her hand on it for emphasis, but the droid made a crackling noise and a panel fell off.

"I can't use an astromech." Mando told her. "I need a droid that's rated for spelunking."

"Spelunking?" Peli asked. "What are you spelunking?"

"I'm going to Mandalore. I need a droid that can explore ahead of me and test the atmosphere, make sure it's safe to breath."

Peli was taken aback slightly by his words. "Okay, well..." She trailed off when she noticed R5 backing up, trilling nervously. "Uh-uh-uh-uh. Hey! Get back here. Right back here, scaredy droid. Come on now, you gotta shine." She turned back to Mando. "This R5 astromech is built for adventure."

R5 beeped in denial.

"What?" Peli sighed. "Of course you are. You're supposed to be piloting starfighters across the galaxy and fighting tyranny."

More worried beeps.

"It's falling apart," Mando said. "And besides, I got no room for it on the N-1."