From The Ashes

Chapter 2

Gianna's POV

Three bounties down, seven to go.

It was four days after the cantina incident, and I'd hardly said anything. Using the Force for the first time in five years had left me shocked and near silent. I was paranoid, always looking over my shoulder, certain the Empire was hunting me.

Remi was sweet; he hardly said much, just gave me worried looks when he thought I wasn't watching.

I didn't take my helmet off at all if I was in front of him. On the rare occasion I looked in the mirror, I saw a face clammy and pale with fear because of the power I'd shut out and then used rashly. Eyes wide with terror, and hair that hadn't been washed in a few days, and was now gross. So I splashed my face with water, put my helmet back on and hid from my emotions, my fear, my face.

We found the beings on the pucks quickly and efficiently, with little time for rest before we moved to the next after collecting our bounty earned.

Very few souls put up a fight against us, knowing from stories the strength of a Mandalorian, and the Kel Dor with the mando added to that natural fear.

Although Kel Dors are typically calm and peaceful and kind, they are also quick and wise. And those who resisted against our duo were taken down and contained quickly.

I supposed Arnis was right about us, even though it truly pains me to admit that the Crolute was ever right about anything, when he said we were a strong bounty duo. Our combined strengths, both physical and mental, made us powerful.

Six bounties down, four to go.

Our seventh target put up the biggest fight. I'll give him credit. He was big and strong and clever and a Trandoshan. He took one look at us holding a puck and ran.

We often used this tactic of holding the puck out in plain sight for two reasons. First of all, it singles out the target, and second, it gets them out of the way of civilians. If there was one thing I'd learned as a Jedi, it was to protect innocent lives.

Anyway, he ran right past us out of the bar, apparently not even trying to be subtle. Remi and I looked at each other, most likely thinking the same thing. Here we go again.

We ran out of the bar after the Trandoshan.

He was fast, that much was for sure. It took a while for us to find him, and when we finally did, it was him who found us. Well, not "found" us per se. More like waited for and then ambushed us.

We'd paused at a tall boulder, looking around for him. Obviously, it was a good hiding spot. I heard a snarl and a hiss above me, and looked up right in time to see the mass of scales bear down on me.

I ducked and he landed full on me and we tumbled to the ground, him on top. Thank the Force for beskar breastplates, I thought as he unsuccessfully tried to gouge my chest with his overly long claws. Failing at that, he pinned my hands above my head and brought out a knife, raising it. No. I would not be killed today. I wriggled until I managed to get my knees between me and him, then kicked his heavy body off. In my efforts, he'd given me a shallow slice with the knife along the inside of my whole arm. It wasn't too bad, so I stood back up, ready to fight again.

Remi was now locked in hand-to-hand combat with our target. He'd managed to get the knife out of the Trandoshan's paw, hand, whatever and was now taking his own swipes. I admired the way his swinging attempts were smooth and even graceful, like he'd been fighting with daggers all his life. Maybe he had. We never really talked about our pasts.

I crept around to the back and prepared to jump in and help him if necessary. But my sleeve was warm and sticky with my blood, and I was getting a little dizzy.