CHAPTER 28

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MISSION OF DECEIT!

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"Razor Crest? I can't believe that thing can fly. Looks like a Canto Bight slot machine," Mayfeld reflects, once flanked by Mando, Gaia and Ranzar. They're roaming the hangar at the moment, calmly and slowly. After a while, Mayfeld gestures to the rest of the team which Ranzar has managed to put together with some solid effort. "The good-lookin' fellow there with the horns — that's Burg."

A robust, red-skinned Devaronian is pointed at in question, whose face is covered in serrated scars — scars that are surely bigger and making a tremendous statement unlike Gaia's more tame ones. He can be seen hauling crates along the way. He drops the box that's in his hands all of sudden as if struck by fascination, although he still attains a hint of intimidation as he glares at Mando. Mayfeld proceeds with the introduction, anyway. "This may surprise you, but he's our muscle." Burg approaches them; Mando in particular, as he assesses him with a snarl before wandering around the Mandalorian like a predator observing their wary prey.

"So, this is a Mandalorian," Burg drawls nonchalantly. "I thought they'd be bigger."

Mayfeld aims at a droid next, its design almost bug-like in appearance. It's holding a blaster in its hands. "Droid's name is Zero."

Upon summoning, Zero follows in Burg's footsteps and approaches them, though his monotone gaze merely darts up and down instead of circling them. Gaia is nervous with the numerous observations that are thrown their way and glances at Mando, who starkly reminds, "I thought you said you had four?"

"He does."

A new voice breaks through the mold. It's distinctly female in nature and the whole group turns around in order to regard a purple-skinned Twi'lek clad in a rather simple outfit, making her way closer, twirling a throwing knife between her nimble fingers. "Hello, Mando~" she purrs, a noticeable accent embedded within her beguiling tone.

"Xi'an," Mando states, causing Gaia to falter.

"Tell me why I shouldn't cut you down where you stand?" Xi'an then jolts forward, keeping the blade of her throwing knife dangerously close to the opening beneath Mando's helmet as she remains most keenly in front of him.

"Nice to see you, too."

Xi'an cackles, sharp teeth sticking forward. She lowers her weapon. "I missed you," she claims — almost in a rascally manner. She points to Mando's armor with the tip of her throwing knife as she taps it lightly; metal resounding. "This is shiny. You wear it well~"

"As I do with my sword?" Gaia drones right after, sauntering up close to plant her glare in Xi'an's face however timid and slow her steps may be. The rude interruption has caught — not only Xi'an and Gaia herself off-guard, but Mando as well who cannot help but feel relieved and intrigued at the same time while watching them banter. "It's just as shiny. You might want to take a good look at it if you're so interested in gandering at other people."

Xi'an glimpses Mando. "New girl, huh? What nasty dark hole did she crawl out of exactly?"

"The gap that's been between you and Mando ever since he left your little group," Gaia retorts with a staunched attitude, frowning. "And I'm right here: if you have any questions then direct them to me and I might just give you an answer. Are you fine with that, or do you have something else to say?"

The two women lock eyes with one another, standing chest to chest. Mayfeld is the one to break the tension. "Alright, calm down! . . . Wait until we're done with the mission and then you can tear each other's throats out."

"Mayfeld is right," Ranzar adds in rather quickly. "We don't have much time. . ."

Xi'an is the first to break away. She swoops around Gaia with a low albeit displeased scoff, looking back to eye Mando for a moment and sending him a daring wink while the group is headed for the sidelines. The gesture reminds him of Gaia, plain and simple, when she had assured him and watched up at him with her gentle eyes. The wink she had shown him at the time made him feel warm and safe — like drinking hot soup after a long day — wanting more from her than he thought he would at first. Xi'an's, on the other hand, is making his skin crawl.

"Gaia," Mando breathes, a reluctant shift to his voice to which she flinches, "about Xi'an-"

"No, that's. . .that's not what I need to hear right now, Djarin." A sigh slither past Gaia's lips as she combs an anxious hand through her dark side-swept hair, facing him. "All I need from you. . .is to know if I can trust you as I have and if I'm safe making that choice."

"You are," Mando reassures, an urgency to his voice as if eager to show her where his loyalties lie. His mind and longing stutters uncontrollably as Gaia's hand is laid flat against the top of his armor's chestpiece, and even though he's well-aware of the fact that it's impossible, it's almost as if he can feel the warmth from her poised hand flow through the cold steel and straight into his body, his heart. "I have no guaranteed way of showing it to you right now so all I can give you is my word, but I promise you, it will be enough."

Gaia nods in affirmation, a torn depth to her heartfelt eyes, like a scuttling river. The surface of Mando's armor is numbing. "Okay," she breathes quietly, "I believe you." She draws a breath in, tapping his armor once with her hand as she withdraws from him. "Let's go. I honestly wouldn't mind keeping the others waiting, but we're on the clock."

Mando is quiet for a moment, and somewhere deep within herself, Gaia would wish that she could take in his expression. "Together," he declares softly, strengthening their alliance.

"Together," she smiles.

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Gaia cannot tear her eyes away from Mayfeld. She's certain that he's noticed her staring for some time now, yet the measly voice in the back of her head speaking of him jumping over the table sitting off to the side and contacting any remaining Imperial stragglers, continues to whisper alarming things in her ear. It doesn't help the matter that Zero, the droid, has gained access to the Razor Crest and is currently getting himself familiar with the mechanics in the cockpit of the ship. If The Child were to emerge from hiding, or Zero decided to snoop around, it might get eminently more complicated than it has to be.

"So," Mayfeld begins, "the package is being moved on a fortified transport ship." The sharpshooter activates a device which is situated in the very middle of the table, a holographic display of a starship's exterior layout flickering to life. "Now, we got a limited window to board, find our friend, and get him out before they make their jump."

Mando shifts from beside Gaia; a streak of panic in his voice. "That's a New Republic prison ship," he points out. "Your man wasn't taken by a rival syndicate. He was arrested!"

Gaia nearly stills in realization as her crossed arms become more tangled. She feels out of place and has been so for quite a while now, feeling as though she doesn't belong in this type of situation. The more this mission is unraveled, the more Ranzar's lies appear to pull back and permit deception: he lied to them about everything, or so it would seem. It has caused Gaia to become more sceptical because of it, more paranoid, and to stand closer to Mando. She's unable to know if he's beginning to doubt their decision on taking this mission in, same as her, yet they most likely won't get a better offer anywhere else.

Mayfeld leans toward Mando. "So what?"

"A job is a job," Ranzar deduces, although Gaia clicks her tongue in clear disapproval.

"Only on certain occasions," she reasons in objection. "There's a fine line between work and illegitimate business. Not to mention, you're wishing for the near-impossible with this rescue mission you've got going on here."

Mando nods in solid agreement, confidently adding, "That's a max security transport, and neither of us are looking for that kinda heat."

"Well, neither are we — so just don't mess up." Ranzar gazes sternly back at Mando.

Xi'an then joins in. "The good news for you is the ship is manned by droids," she drawls while strolling closer to the duo. "Still hate the machines, Mando?" Gaia frowns lightly in response, canting her head up at him. Xi'an manages to catch a glimpse of the confusion, and a smirk grazes her lips. "He never told you about that, new girl? And after you made such a big deal about the rare partnership that's supposedly between the two of you. . ."

"No, I knew," Gaia lies, her head held high despite the puzzled stare she receives from Mando. "Just as I knew about what truly happened to his parents." The smirk on Xi'an's lips stagger. Gaia feigns an innocent look, mouth twitching as she quietly mocks, "But I guess he never told you about that?"

Gaia and Xi'an's staring reaches a new high, and Zero treks down the Razor Crest's ramp in the same moment, noting, "Despite recent modifications, the ship is still quite a mess. The power lines are leaking, the navigation is intermittent, and the hyperdrive is only operating at 67.3% efficiency. We have much better ships. Why are we using this one?. . ."

"Cause the Razor Crest is off the old Imperial and the New Republic grid," Ranzar informs, eyeing Zero with a steady look. "It's a ghost."

Mayfeld jumps swiftly back into the conversation again, and addresses, "Yeah, and we need a ship that can get close enough to jam New Republic code." The holographic display of the prison ship is tweaked and altered, showcasing the gritted blueprint of elevation to the transport. "So, when we drop out of hyperspace, if we immediately bank into this kinda altitude, we should be right in their blind spot which will give us just enough time for your ship to scramble our signal—"

"It's not possible," Mando demurs in spite of the demonstration, "even for the Crest. . ."

Ranzar side-eyes Zero alongside a laid-back gesture, revealing, "That's why he's flyin'."

Mayfeld can't help but chuckle in triumph and mockery as Zero looks to Mando. Ranzar shifts, his amusement gone as the group is dispersed in decisiveness. "Mando, I know you're a pretty good pilot, but we need you on the trigger," he asserts. "Not on the wheel."

"Don't worry, Mandalorian," Zero starts in his monotone voice, tapping his metallic head with an inelastic finger. "My response time is quicker than organics. And I'm smarter, too."

Ranzar directs Zero awkwardly away afterwards, mumbling, "All right. I. . .yeah. That's good." Zero is dismissed, and Ranzar faces Mando with a somewhat apologetic look. "Forgive the programming. He's a little rough around the edges, but he is the best."

"How can you trust it?"

Ranzar pats Mando assuredly on the back, guiding him and Gaia closer to the Razor Crest. "You know me, Mando. I don't trust anybody." Gaia hums in slight approval as she and Mando ascend the ramp, eventually reaching the top just as Ranzar comments, "Just like the good old days, Mando. Huh?"

"I hope not," Gaia scoffs under her breath.

— Author's Note —

Double update!!🦋

I felt like this chapter wasn't exciting enough and decided to do a double update ✨ Though, I do want to take the time to also say that I greatly appreciate all of the support I've been given: enthusiasm, comments, votes — the whole shebang! You guys are so incredible and genuine, and that's what I love about all of you! Thank you so much and have a wonderful day; stay safe 🤍