CHAPTER THREE

❝ FIRST ENCOUNTERS ❞

            Manda sat beside Mando inside the Ugnaughts home. The trail over to his home was a bit painful for Mando given the previous attack from the Blurgg. His wrist gauntlet had been severely damaged from the jaws of the blurrgs, no telling what other critical injuries he could also possess. Manda wanted to help him but his stubbornness overpowered his need and want for her. Once upon reaching the Ugnaughts land, which Manda found to be quite quaint, all three huddled into his hut where they currently reside.

            "Many have passed though. They seek the same one as you." The Ugnaught spoke. So the man has heard of the bounty before, interesting. "Did you help them?" Manda asked. Mando leaned back into his seat still in recovery mode. "Yes. They died." He deadpanned. "Well, then we don't know if we want your help." Manda retorted. Mando elbowed her side as a warning to take it easy. "You do. I can show you to the encampment." He said.

            Before Manda could get a word out Mando cut in, "what's your cut?" He knew if he didn't stop her, her mouth would've gotten them no where and probably into some trouble. "Half." The Ugnaught replied. "Half the bounty to guide? Seems steep." Manda spoke up. Mando elbowed her side again, giving her another heads up to watch her words. Manda turned her head and glared at him for the uncalled her actions, to her point of view. "No. Half of the Blurrg you helped capture." Manda was confused at the little mans reply. The blurrg weren't as much of value to the bounty hunters and there was no need to negotiate for them. "The blurrg? You can keep them both." Mando said. "No, you will need them to ride. The way is impossible to pass without a blurrg mount." He explained. By the looks of the terrain he was right. A speeder bike, cruiser, or anything else couldn't make it. Using the ship would only waste fuel and give up our position. The blurrgs would have to do.

            "I don't know how to ride blurrg." Mando admitted. The Ugnaught looked up to Mando, "I have spoken". Mando's body language and neck movements signaled a taken back expression. Looks like he wasn't expecting that kind of response.

           Manda just chuckled from beside him, "time to saddle up Mando."

            Mando's body landed on the muddy ground with a loud grunt. The blurrg did not take to kindly from his attempt to tame the creature. "Perhaps if you removed your helmet." Kuiil called out to Mando still sitting on the ground. Manda learned his name after formal introductions to the stables of blurrgs. "That's not going to happen." She mumbled next to Kuiil. "Perhaps he remembers I tried to roast him." Mando called back to the pair watching. "This is a female. The males are eaten during mating." Kuiil explained.

           Manda's head quipped to the side, "oh that's... nice?"

            Mando rose to his feet and stood face to face with the growling blurrg. He hesitantly approached the creature and jumped on her back. The blurrg still wasn't liking the bounty hunter's attempts. She thrashed and spun till Mando front rolled off her back again, landing on his back once again.

            "He's not building a connection or trust with her." Manda thought to herself.

            Mando frustrated, paced himself over to where the two were still watching. "We don't have time for this. Do you have a Landspeeder or Speeder bike that we could hire?" "You are a Mandalorian!" Kuiil exclaimed, "your ancestors rode the great Mythosaur. Surely you can ride this young foal. Mandalarian, you try." It was now Manda's turn to ride. "I'll made this quick." She smirked then stepped through the wired fencing to approach the blurrg.

           Calm and steady steps were key into winning the trust of a blurrg. Ease the tension, leave all doubt behind. Manda carefully stuck out her left hand and made small slow advances towards the creature. "Easy girl, easy. That's it, now." She softly spoke, a very faint high pitch ringing could be heard to Manda's ears only. The blurrg was set at ease. Her hand reached the nose of the blurrg and it's growls subsided to a soft coo. "Atta girl." Manda grabbed the rope around the blurrg and mounted its back with grace.

As Manda successfully tamed the blurrg, Mando watched in astonishment. She glanced over at their direction and saw all eyes on her. Manda opened and held her arms out in triumph and confidence. She then motioned her right hand to the other blurrg in the stable for Mando's turn. "She's all yours!" Manda called out to Mando.

Mando mimicked Manda's previous actions to win over the animal. He made small and slower paced advances with cautious hands. "Easy. Easy." He softly spoke. The blurrg, still on defense, let out a guttural growl. "Now, all right. Settle down." Manda watched from her perch on her own blurrg. "He's getting there." She thought to herself.

The blurrg moved forward and snapped it jaw. Mando dodged her mouth, "woah! Settle. Settle." He spoke calmer and softer, "that's good. That's good." His hands shakily inch closer and closer to the head of the creature. She lets his hands closer, then making contact. "That's good. That's good." Mando reassures himself and the blurrg. Mando mutters an "all right", gaining confidence he takes the leap of faith and mounts the blurrg. She lets out a guttural growl but Mando still doesn't let go. He grabs the ropes and gains trust of the creature. Mando and his blurrg trot over to Manda as she looks on from her own. He pulls up right next to Manda. She nods at him in approval to which he nods back. Now that both of the bounty hunters are able to continue it's now time to claim the bounty.

            After crossing the crackled terrain and the sandy surface, the trio come to a stop at a cliff side looking over. Kuiil looks beyond and points down the land, "that is where you'll find your quarry." Mando pulls out credits wrapped in cloths and offers it Kuiil, the gesture was agreed by the two bounty hunters. But Kuiil sticks his hand out to deny the offer. "Please, you deserve this." Mando begged. "Since these ones arrived, this territory has been an endless stream of mercenaries seeking reward and bringing destruction." Kuiil spoke to them. "Then why did you guide us?" Manda asked her eyes still train on the land. "They do not belong here. Those that live here come to seek peace. There will be no peace until they're gone." Kuill explained. "Then why do you help?" Mando said.

            "I have never met a Mandalorian or a Mandalarian. I've only read the stories. If they are true you both will make quick work of it. Then there will again be peace." Kuill then regains his grip on the ropes and steers the blurrg to turn. The hunters heads both turn to see him begin his exit, "I have spoken", Kuill says before leaving the pair to once again obtain peace to the lands.

            Din and Arista both dismount the blurrgs and cautiously approach the cliff's edge. They both sprawl on their stomachs, capes behind catching some wind, as they peer over to the quarry. Din and Arista pull out their telescopes and survey the area. "I'm counting at least six on the outside." Arista said. "Yeah, I see them. No telling how many more are hidden." Din responded. Din was surveying the top while Arista searched the bottom. Her eyes were fixated on two guys that seemed something caught their attention. "Might have something." She announced. Moving downward, following their eye-lines, she spotted something that would mess up their whole mission. "Oh, no." She sighed. Din followed to where she was looking, "bounty droid." "Let's go before that droid kills the asset." Arista sighed, getting up and making her down the quarry, Din following her lead.

            She slide down the side of the sand dune then running towards the quarry. Din hot on her heels. Faint sounds of the IG unit speaking, then blast fire, followed by heavy metal shifting could be heard as the other two bounty hunters approached the scene. Manda and Mando both hid shoulder-to-shoulder behind a pillar close to the entrance of where the asset was located. They could both hear the droid walking forward and Manda can feel it. She also felt a strong presence behind the big metal door, it confirmed the accuracy of the tracking fob. The asset is, in fact, behind that door.

            "Subparagraph 16 of the Bondsman Guild protocol waiver compels you to immediately produce said asset." The droid announced.

            Mando suddenly turned the corner of the pillar, "IG Unit! Stand down." His attempt at reprimanding the droid failed at he was greeted by a blast that sent him into a group of barrels. Manda quickly revealed herself, "hey, hey, hey tin can! Take it easy." She whipped out her tracking fob from her back pocket, "we're in the guild." She looked to her left and saw Mando holding his tracking fob as well, still groaning in pain. Manda reached down to Mando and helped him up, "you ok?" "Yes." He groaned. "You both are guild members? I thought I was the only one on assignment." The droid spoke. "That makes three of us." Manda commented. Mando reached out for her bicep and pulled her back against another pillar, shielding the two of them away from any sudden blasters. His body leaned against hers thus igniting the small pink burn in her cheeks. "So much for the element of surprise." Mando mumbled, making her let out an irritated groan at both her positioning and the situation.

            "Sadly, I must ask for the fobs. I have already issued the writ of seizure. The bounty is mine." The droid said. Manda peeked back around Mando and the pillar seeing the IG unit still out in the open, "unless we are mistaken, you are, as of yet, empty-handed." "This is true." Responded the droid. Mando then spoke up, "I have a suggestion." Mando was now pressed against Manda's chest looking over toward the IG unit. "Proceed." It spoke. "We split the reward." Mando's words made Manda's head whip back at him. If he could only see the "what the hell are you doing" look that she was giving him. "This is acceptable." IG said. "Great. Now let's regroup out of harm's way, and form a plan." Mando negotiated. "Din." Manda sharply whispered to him. He knew she didn't like where this was going but he knew what would ultimately be the end result.

            "I will of course receive the reputations merits associated with the mission." IG-11 stated then making way towards the other bounty hunters.

            "Can we talk about this later?" Manda yelled growing more irritated.

            The droid stopped in its tracks and stood there, "I require an answer if I am to proceed-." It's words were cut off from a sudden blast coming from behind. "Oh, no. Alert! Alert! Alert!" It announced then began to run for cover with Manda and Mando.

            Mando quickly whipped out his blaster, aimed and shot at the man who ensued the second shoot out. The given room between Mando and Manda allowed her to reach for her own blaster. With blaster in hand she peered around the pillar and caught a view of multiple targets exiting the side buildings and onto the new sudden battlefield. Manda then entered the gun fire flanking the left side as IG-11 took down the center and Mando took the right.

            "Let's go!" Mando shouted over the blasts. Manda nodded at him and began advancing towards the door where the asset was. IG-11 still in front advanced as well.

            Dodging blasts and switching cover was more easier said than done. More and more locals kept emerging out from hidden places, putting more pressure on the three bounty hunters. Mando was ahead of Manda when she passed a large metal door that suddenly opened revealing another local. "Keep moving!" She yelled at Mando. Manda swiftly performed a spinning heel kick to the gun in the attackers hand. It's open hand free for the taking, she grabbed it with a tight grip and used the momentum to flip it the ground and blast it in the head.

            Manda caught up with Mando who was crouching down behind a big piece of metal. He had his tracking fob out pointed to the main door. Manda reached out to his hand and lowered the fob, "it's in there." Mando nodded at her and moved to the main door covering behind another pillar, Manda following suit. IG-11 swiveled a full 360 taking out as many locals as the droid could. "Up top!" Manda warned IG. The droid automatically raised its arms and killed the local above him, the body then falling down. Manda shot down four more locals but for only more and more ganging up on the three. The bounty hunters were now pinned down.

            "It appears we are trapped." IG-11 stated the obvious. "I will initiate self-destruct sequencing." The droid went stiff and a small metal sphere popped out and began blinking red. "Whoa, you're what?" Manda yelled. "Manufacturers Protocol dictated I cannot be captured. I must self-destruct." "Do not self-destruct." Manda demanded. Her head peered around but only to be met with rounds of blast fire aiming towards her head. Her arm was then grabbed and pulled back, her back flat against the pillar. "I need you with your head on." Mando said to Manda over the blasts. "Cover us." Mando yelled to IG-11. He pushed Manda in front of him and then followed behind dodging the crossfire.

           Manda posted behind the pillar and entered the shoot out with IG-11 as Mando began to try to hot wire the main door. She only managed to kill a few more before the onslaught became unbearable. Mando took a few hits to the beskar before retreating as well. "There's too many." Manda yelled over the thundering sounds of the blasts. "They got us pinned." Mando added. Manda tried her best to continue firing back but her eyes were able to catch the sight of a larger firearm being set up. "Hey guys?" She said but the blasts drowned out her voice.

            "I will initiate self-destruct." IG-11 stated. "Do not self-destruct! We're shooting our way out." Mando ordered. Both Mando and IG stood out with their blasters ready but stopped at the sight of the gun. "Okay." Mando said taken aback. The gun fired an array of scarlet blasts at the two bounty hunters. Both retreated back. "I tried to warn you!" Manda loudly exasperated.

            "New plan!" Mando yelled. The blasts from the gun began the eat away their only source of cover and protection. "Beginning self-destruction countdown." IG-11 announced. "No! Stop it!" Mando snapped. "Draw their fire, I'll take it out." He told both the droid and Manda. "Acceptable." Manda stood still looking at Mando. He could tell that she held a look of worry. "Go. I'll be fine." He said to her. They both complied and ran out to move the line of fire away from Mando. IG-11 got shot down but was still functioning and Manda was pinned down behind a barrel that wasn't holding up.

            Mando quickly shot a grappling hook around a steer of the gun and pulled it towards him. The man behind the gun flung off the stand and Mando shot him down. Mando ran toward the controls and fired at all ranges of the quarry.

            Manda then heard the gunfire stop. All sounds had stopped and there was nothing but silence except the alarms from the droid and the whistling of the wind. She looked up and saw a sea of still bodies. It had to be done.

            She stood up from behind the barrel to meet up with Mando. "Not so bad a plan." Manda said, "could've been worse." "You're okay?" He asked. "Always." She replied. He was going to reach out for her hand when a sudden whirring sounded from beside them. "Well done." IG commented, "I will disengage self-destruct initiative." IG-11 was still on the floor slightly sparking. Mando walked over to IG and lended a helping hand. He pulled the droid up, "you know, you're not so bad. For a droid." "Agreed." IG spoke. "That blaster hit looks nasty. You okay?" Mando asked. His attention was drawn to Manda walking up to the main door. He followed. "Running a quick diagnostic. It has missed my central wiring harness." IG-11 stated. "Is that good?" Mando called. "Yes." The droid answered. Mando looked at Manda messing with the control panel and wires. "Well, now we just need to get the door open."

            A sudden small yelp moved the two's attention to the other bounty hunter that had shocked herself from the wires. "Shit." She grumbled. Manda walked back over to the two, "it's no use. The panel is fried, it must've gotten more damage from the blasts."

            All three were shoulder to shoulder staring at the door. Mando turned over a shoulder and glanced back. Manda and IG glanced back as well seeing the gun Mando used earlier. Manda spoke up, "that could work."

            The familiar red beams fired through the door at the hands of Mando all around the perimeter of the rusted door. Once the doors perimeter was detached and the door had fallen. Manda got a sudden strong feeling pulsate throughout her body. It was strong and all to recognizable.

            Mando took notice at her sudden tensity but choose to not comment.

            A loud growl sounded from around the corner and another local appeared gun drawn. Two red beams were shot and killed the man. Manda and Mando both looked at each other with steam radiating off of the barrel of their blasters. Both hunters put their blasters back into their holsters. "Anyone else?" Mando called out. When there was no reply all three hunters walked into the building.

            Mando pulled out his tracking fob that began gradually beeping louder. Manda didn't need to pull out her's, she felt a strong presence.

            IG-11 spoke up, "the tracking fob is still active. My sensors indicate that there is a life form present." "Your sensors are proven correct." Manda quipped. Mando moved the tracking fob over the large pile in the room and the fob beeped rapidly. "It's that." Manda spoke softly pointing to the white incubator. Mando took the lead and made his way toward the incubator, the fob now beeping intensely. Manda and IG-11 moved forward to see the uncovered chamber.

            Mando pressed a button on the chamber and it hissed open. Inside was a... child. A small green child. This is what Manda had been detecting this whole time?

            "Wait. They said 50 years old." Mando said confused. "Species age differently." IG-11 informed.

            Manda hadn't said a word. She was analyzing the creature before her eyes. It moved it's arm to lower the cloth it was wrapped in. She titled her head and it cooed. The small green creature with big eyes and floppy ears, she was quite fond of the creature.

            IG-11 continued, "perhaps it could live many centuries. Sadly, we'll never know." IG-11 went to raise its arm but was stopped by Mando. "No. We'll bring it in alive." "The commission was quite specific. The asset was to be terminated." IG-11 raised it's arm again with blaster in hand.

            A blast then rang out. Mando looked down and saw IG-11's body on the floor with a shot straight through the head, still smoking. He turned to see Arista placing her blaster back in her side holster.

            The child cooed back at Arista and Din. Arista reached out with her finger, the child reciprocated her actions reaching out with it's small arm and three-fingered hand. When the child reached out, Arista felt a strong wave of energy. Nothing bad, but innocent. But for a small young child, it's strong.

Very strong.

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