𝖜𝖎𝖘𝖍𝖇𝖔𝖓𝖊, 𝔡𝔦𝔫 𝔡𝔧𝔞𝔯𝔦𝔫

𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐢𝐱

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾

STARS GLITTERED THROUGH the black skies as the Razor Crest soared through the galaxy. Lurching every which way, the ship dodged the oncoming blasts of their attacker as violent beams shot their way. With creased brows, Sevara's gaze followed Din's fingertips as they danced over the control panel. She glanced to the child who perched in his makeshift carrier that she and Din had put together, keeping a firm grip on the edge of it and ensuring he wouldn't fall.

Through the ship's comms, the rugged voice of their attacker spoke, "Hand over the child, Mando." Sevara's stomach flipped as the Razor Crest spun to the right, having been hit on it's wing. "I might let you live."

Glancing through the viewport, Sevara gnawed at her lip as she pulled her hand from the carrier and instead reached up to the controls stationed upon the roof of the cockpit. Din briefly glanced back, asking, "What're you doing?"

"Preparing," she said, "in case we need to crash somewhere."

"And how do you know how to do that?"

She turned to him with a coy smile, "How'd you think I got on Arvala-7?"

The ship rocked as a blast hit one of the engines, evoking a series of high-pitched 'beeps!' to echo through the cockpit. Beside her, the child whimpered as he stared around wide-eyed. Sevara looked to him and gripped the carrier once more as Din instructed, "Hold on!"

The Razor Crest sounds in a loop, sending Sevara's stomach dropping as they dodged a forthcoming blast. "Come on," mumbled Din.

Sevara kept an eye on the monitor before them, listening to the comm as their attacker said, "I can bring you in warm, or I can bring you in cold."

Another hit landed against them, this time reeling them forwards as both engines erupted into flames. Sevara cursed beneath her breath as the Razor Crest slowed to a stop, it's power fizzling out. The containments of the cockpit rattled as the ship overhead collided with theirs, sending the attacker's vessel skidding through the dark skies. Locking onto the ship, Don's thumb pressed down on the trigger as he mumbled, "That's my line."

A bright burst of orange laced with a burning yellow flared before them, eliminating the ship and their attacker along with it.

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾

ALARMS RUNG THROUGHOUT the cockpit as Din's fingers danced across the glowing controls before him. Leaning back into her seat, a sigh of relief escaped Sevara's lips, though the victory was short-lived as the bounty hunter glanced back and told her, "We're losing fuel. I'm gonna' have to power down."

"Okay," she said, gazing around the cockpit as darkness veiled over them and the rainbow glows from the control panel blinked out. "What're we gonna' do? Is there a space port nearby that we can pass through?"

Din glanced to his monitor, pausing a moment before he said, "Maybe. Give me a second."

He rose as the child giggled in his seat, clambering past Sevara as he powered up the engines once more, with red glows emitting from various switches, bathing them in a faint crimson. Settling back into the pilot-seat, Din set the ship on a path towards a brazened planet in the distance. Over the comms, a static voice spoke, "This is Mos Eisley Tower. We are tracking you. Head for bay three-five, over."

"Copy that," said Din, pressing down on a switch, "locked in for three-five."

The Razor Crest swooped low as it entered the planet's atmosphere. Upon meeting her gaze against the sandy dunes and dusty rocks, there was a tug at Sevara's heart, for it looked so much like her old home. Through the viewport, a small settlement came into view as Din prepared the ship for landing, burrowing itself in the high, beige walls of bay.

Sevara trailed Din as he gathered their child, who had fallen into a soft slumber, in his arms and hid him away inside a small compartment that the bounty hunter guaranteed would keep the child safe.

As Sevara made a start to the landing deck, Din reached out and gently caught her wrist. "Wait," he said.

She turned to him, tilting her bad as she asked, "Yeah?"

"It's just. . . Tatooine is bad news," his helmet dipped a fraction, "and I don't want you getting hurt."

Luminous fireflies fluttered through Sevara's chest as she laced their fingers together, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. "I know I'm safe as long as I'm with you. I promise, I'll be okay."

With a final nod from Din, the door to the landing deck lowered, forming a ramp as she and Din started towards it. Sevara halted, however, eyes wide as Din whipped out his blaster and shot towards one of the small, wiry droids that approached.

"Hey!" a muffled voice called towards them, "Hey! You damage one of my droids, you pay for it."

Wild curls greeted the two of them as they turned towards the frantic woman. Dipping the chin of his helmet a fraction, Din reasoned, "Just keep them away from my ship."

"Yeah? You think that's a good idea, do ya?" said the woman circling them as she closed in on the vessel, "Let's get a look at your ship." she raised her fist, banging against the metal of the Razor Crest and saying, "Oof, look at that!" pulling out a scanner, her brows drew close. "Ugh, you got a lot of carbon scorin' building up top. Yeah," she turned to Din and Sevara with raised brows. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you were in a shootout. Special tool for that one."

Sighing, the woman reached towards the ship, toying with something as she muttered, "I'm gonna have to rotate that. You got a fuel leak. Look at that," she gestured towards the ship, "this is a mess. How did you even land? That's gonna set you back."

As the woman whirled to face them, Din extended out a hand, telling her, "I've got 500 Imperial Credits."

"That's all you got? Well, what do you guys think?" she turned to the three droids who chattered among themselves, to which the woman glanced to Din, saying, "That should at least cover the hangar."

"We'll get you your money."

The woman hummed in response, "I've heard that before."

"Just remember—"

"— Yeah, no droids. I heard ya. You don't have to say it twice. Jeez."

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾

hey! so sorry for the wait, i've had a bit of writers block but i really wanted to get this chapter out so i hope you guys liked it!

please don't hesitate to let me know what you think and as always, thank you for reading!! <3