CHAPTER TWO

❝  THE JOB  ❞

The bounty hunters stride through Navarro. Flustered is what the lingering feeling had been between them after the whole first reencounter. Regaining their composure was the task at hand, yet the two were failing miserably. Din was leading the way, face still steaming. Small trails of steam could have been emitting from underneath his Mandalorian helmet. If not for him maintaining his intimidating and brooding image.

Arista, trailing behind Din, was in a more calmer and relaxed state then the bounty hunter in front of her. But she couldn't deny that she too had felt like she was holding her breath the entire time. Chest still tight as ever and cheeks glowed a soft magenta. But they would never know the effect the encounter lasted on them due to the armored helmets that covered their raw expressions. After all, this was the way.

Treading to the entrance of the grey stone building, Din knocked heavily on the door. A droid extended out from the building speaking Huttese. It spoke and asked for the chit. Din turned back to Arista since he was never able to obtain the chit from her. She reached behind her back and pulled out the chit from her black belt. She held it up to what looked like the "eyeball" of the droid. It beeped and scanned the chit. Its successful beep granted the hunter's access and retreated back into its slot. The gate clanked and hissed before sliding open. The mood instantly hardened and became eerie. It's time for business, no blushing and acting like giggly children. This is the occasion where business comes before pleasure.

Arista's and Din's heated cheeks were extinguished by the tone shift. The level of discreetness that only obtaining light information made it aware that this is a high level target. Arista's eye narrowed as Din took the lead once again. Another droid appeared on the other side of the door. Bigger and shaped like a big black box. Arista rolled her eyes at the mere sight of the droid. Her hatred for droids is shared with Din. She could notice the tensity he exudes every time one comes across.

Nonetheless, both hunters followed the noisy droid. Arista quickened her pace and walked along side Din. Not to only put herself at ease but him as well. Din turned his head to see her Mandalarian helmet facing back at him. A simple nod she gave him. She reached out a little and wrapped her fingers into his own. She felt the warmness of his hand in hers and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Arista noticed the tension in his shoulders diminish gradually but some still remained. He wanted to relax fully under her touch but he had to focus on the mission. Arista engaging in contact wasn't helping at all in Din's case.

The suspiciousness of the whole situation threw both hunter's overboard as the second door hissed and slid open. Arista drew her hand back, closer to her blaster. Din also retracting back his hand to his side holster. Multiple stormtroopers were about the room. Six were mentally counted from Arista. Their suits and signature helmets were dirty. These must've been some washed up troopers looking for work after the Empire had fallen. Which only means that the person that they're working for must be ex-imperial.

Mando and Manda entered timidly into the room, the door hissing shut behind them. A table in the center with an older white man sitting on the opposite side was in sight. Manda scanned the man with the tech in her helmet, no weapons. He was pretty confident about the exchange for not being armed. The golden imperial crest that dawned around his neck proved Arista's suspicion right. Imperial.

"Greef Karga said you were coming." The Client spoke.

Mando and Manda, side-by-side, advanced towards the man, eyeing each trooper. "What else did he say?" Mando said. Manda's gaze danced between all the troopers. She doesn't trust any of this. "I've got a bad feeling about this." She thought, her gaze was torn as she heard the client speak again. "He said that you both were the best in the parsec." He commented.

Suddenly a door to their right hissed open. The sound triggered the swift draw of blasters and rifles of Manda and Mando to the surrounding stormtroopers. "Freeze!" A trooper called out. "No!" The new man walking through flinched. "Drop your weapons!" Another trooper ordered. The troopers order only made the hunters tighten the grip on their weapons, still aiming at potential targets. "No, no, no, no. Pardon. Uh, sorry. I didn't mean to alarm." He frantically spoke. Manda stared daggers at everyone in the room. Everyone is now a target, except for Mando, who was in the same stance as her.

Mando's priorities instantly changed when the weapons came out to play. He knew Manda could make quick work of everyone in this room but the natural reaction to protect her came over him. He stepped forward, Manda catching this she also advanced. Both hunters were close, back to back, ready to pull the trigger.

The client got up and put his hand out as a warning to everyone. "This is Doctor Pershing. Please excuse his lack of decorum," the client was now cautiously moving towards the hunters, "his enthusiasm outweighs his discretion. Please lower the blasters." He motioned towards the four blasters between the two bounty hunters. "Have them lower theirs first." Manda spat. "We have you six to two." The stormtrooper to Manda's right spoke. Mando turned his head to the voice, "I like those odds." His words made a smirk grow on her lips.

The Imp stalked closer to the hunters in attempt to cut the tension, "he also said you both were expensive", he turned to Manda, "very expensive. Please sit." He retreated away to his original sitting position and motion toward the troopers in the room to lower their weapons. The troopers hesitantly put their blasters down. Once the troopers weapons were away both Manda and Mando placed their blasters in their holsters and Mando setting down his rifle against the table. Doctor Pershing let out a sigh, all of this was to much for him.

Manda and Mando sat down at the table across from imperial imp. He reached down and placed a black cloth on the table, pushed it forward, uncovered the item that was wrapped in the cloth. Manda's breath hitched in her throat.

Beskar. Two bricks of Beskar. The resource that was stolen from the Mandalorian's home planet and then tainted with the mark of the Empire. Manda was disgusted by what the imp had done to the metal.

"Beskar?" Mando questioned looking down at the sacred metal bricks. "Go ahead. It's real." The client assured. Manda scoffed, "of course it's real. You imps would be the ones to engrave and damage the stolen Beskar with your lost cause's emblem." The client didn't take much kind to her words and chose to dismiss it, "this is only a down payment. I have two camtono's of Beskar waiting for you upon delivery of the asset." "Alive." Doctor Pershing interrupted. "Yes. Alive. Although, I acknowledge that bounty hunting is a complicated profession. This being the case, proof of termination is also acceptable for a lower fee." "That is not what we agreed upon." Pershing said worriedly. What ever this asset was, it sure was important to him. "I'm simply being pragmatic." The imp stated.

"The asset will be delivered alive," Manda reassured, "let's see the puck." "I'm afraid discretion dictates a less traditional agreement. We can only offer you a tracking fob." The client spoke and Pershing handed over two tracking fobs to Manda and Mando. "What's the chain code?" Mando asked. "We can only provide the last four digits." Manda and Mando were already synching the fob to their own technology in their wrist gauntlets and tucking away the Beskar when their heads snapped up. "Their age? That's all you can give us?" Manda questioned. "Yes. They're 50 years old. We can also give you the last reported positional data. Between that and the fob, a woman and man of your skill should make short work of this."

Manda having heard enough from the imp, rose from her seat and began to exit the room. Mando following after her. The client spoke up again making Manda and Mando pause, "the Beskar belongs back into the hands of a Mandalorian and Mandalarian. It is good to restore the natural order of things after a period of such disarray, don't you agree?" His words angered both Manda and Mando. The shear audacity of this imp. Manda turned her head slightly not wanting to look the imp's way, "if you hadn't stolen the Beskar along with many other things in the galaxy, maybe things would've remained in their natural order, wouldn't you agree?"

The door hissed opened once again, allowing the hunters to exit and return to the streets of Navarro. "I thought you were going to kill him." Din admitted to Arista as they walked the Navarro paths back to the hidden base. "I was close too, possibly after we get paid." She confessed. They both trailed the busy streets, ignoring the clatter and made it down the alleyway where their next destination was. "Haven't been down here in a while. Anything change?" Arista spoke up following Din down the stairways. "No, not really. More children and Foundlings now than before you left." Din answered. "That's good to hear." Her voice was quieter than before. The thought of more Foundlings warmed Arista's heart but made her feel a sadness. The thought of more Foundlings means that only more kids had their families killed and that they were living in a chaotic environment. She didn't want children growing up at a time like this, everything in such disorder and chaos. Din stopped when he heard the softer register in her voice. She didn't think that he would care or notice but he did.

            "They're safe, you know." He said softly to her. Din knew how much Arista cared for the Foundlings since they both used to be ones. "You've been around, so I know they're safe and in good hands." She commented. Her voice held truth because she knew that Din would protect the ones that needed to be protected. She will soon knows how far Din is truly willing to go to protect her because she knows what she's willing to do to protect him.

            A smile formed on his lips. He knew that he would always protect the innocent, it's what was right. Yet, values will soon be tested in time.

            They reached the bottom of the stair case. Din still leading Arista through the hall. Multiple other Mandalorians stopped what they were doing and stared at the hunters. Manda kept her head forward not giving the others her attention. Her attention was on the man in front of her. Kids running past her with their own Mandalorian helmets on their heads.

            Manda's eyes caught the glistening statue of the skull above the foyer. The skull of the great Mythosaur. Inside the room was the Armourer banging on her more pieces of armor for other hunters. Mando and Manda walked in and sat down at the table. The Armourer placed the piece down and joined the hunters. Manda and Mando both nodded out of respect and the Armourer reciprocated the nod and took a seat across of them.

            Mando pulled out the Kalamari Flan currency he had earned from Greef earlier. Manda matched his amount and placed her half on the table. He then reached back and pulled out the two bricks of Beskar.

            The Armourer's body language had changed when the bricks were laid before her. Almost astounded by what her eyes fell upon, "this was gathered in the Great Purge. It is good that it is back with the tribe." She examined the two bricks in her hands. "Yes." Mando said. "A pauldron would be in order", she turned her head in Manda's way, "a cuirass as well. Has your signet been revealed?" "Not yet." "No." The hunters both answered her question. "Soon." She spoke. The Armourer rose from her seat and began working on the new pieces of armor for the hunters.

            She pulls out all the tools that she needs and begins the process of melting the Beskar. The final melted Beskar was poured into molds for the pouldron and cuirass. "This is extremely generous. The excess will sponsor many Foundlings." The armourer flipped the switch and a hologram of the pauldron and cuirass beamed a blue outline. "That's good. We were once Foundling." Manda said. Faint memories of that day sounded in her consciousness. "I know", the Armourer then pulled a lever that then the machine pressed and molded the Beskar into the pauldron. She then repeated the process for the making of the cuirass.

            During the whole process Manda sensed that something was wrong with him. His strong stature seemed more stone than usual. His mind was somewhere else. What Manda didn't know was that he was being reminded of that day. The sounds and aura must've triggered and his mind was lost in the memory that continues to follow him to this day. The Armourer raised the new pauldron and made her way over to Mando. She took the pauldron and placed it where the previous old pauldron was before. The pauldron easily clicked into place.

           The Armourer went back to retrieve the cuirass for Manda. She came back and placed the new deep blue chest piece in place. Manda let out a small grunt as the cuirass clicked into place tightly. "Thank you." Manda nodded to her in appreciation. She simple nodded back and went back to work on other pieces.

            The Razor Crest soared through space and reached closer to their next destination, Arvala-7. Arista was in the seated in the passengers behind Din's pilot seat. Arista's boredom lead her gaze to wander about the cabin. The twinkling stars and planets passing her bright brown eyes were all too familiar, the same brown eyes have seen almost everything space had to offer. Her eyes moved to the shiny new pauldron on Din's right shoulder. The craftsmanship was absolutely stunning. The Armourer skills are unmatched. "She did a good job on the pauldron", Arista got up from her seat and went to where Din was steering the ship. "It looks nice, you wear it well." She complimented dancing her fingers over the Beskar with a devilish smirk and knowing intentions.

            Din's face instantly flushed of all color. His breath caught in his throat. He felt her fingers through the Beskar and cloth on his shoulder and his mind ran wild. He knows what she's doing and two can play at that game. "Yours ain't too bad either. The blue looks good." His impulsiveness took over as he turned in his seat and rested his hand on the side of her upper body and fingers grazing over the side of the cuirass. Arista's eyebrows shot up at his movements and her head tilted. "Getting brave?" She said upon Din's sudden actions.

            As if snapped out of his trance he retracted his hand away and focused back onto descending into the atmosphere. "Sorry." He let out. "I'm messing with you dummy." She shoved his shoulder and went back to her seat. "But I never said that I didn't like it." Arista's slick tongue burned a bright red tint on Din's cheeks. He was caught speechless, "I-uh-um..." "I'm just fucking with you," Arista leaned back in her seat in slouched position with her lap laid out, "or am I?" she teased. If only Din could see the sinful smirk that exuded trouble on Arista's lips to send him over the edge. But alas, their commitment to the creed kept their feelings shielded away from the world and each other from truly knowing.

            The Razor Crest's gears shifted and readied for landing. Arista descended the ladder to the exit deck. Din joined her side when he smoothly landed the ship, "that's how you land a ship without wrecking it." Arista snapped her head in his direction, "so it's going to be like that?" she snapped. "Oh, it's going to be like that." He teased back. She chuckled back and shoved him, "you're an ass." Din laughed at her actions, "only for you." Her laugh was one of the things he missed most about her. He missed seeing her smile from when they were younger and he still remembers faintly the details in her smile.

            Din pressed the button and the gate hissed and lowered down to the sandy landscape. The hunters both proceeded onward and outward. Din unclipped his rifle from behind his back and lead the way. Arista unclipped her own and paced beside him. Vast mountains and sand dunes were all the eyes could see. Beeping from her left, drew her attention to Din having his tracking fob out. Arista pulled her own and both fobs began to beep in sync. "Good thing to know he didn't lie to us." She commented and tucked away the fob.

            Din took a few stepped forward then pulled his rifle up. The scope aligned with his eye line  and surveying the land around. Arista searched through her own scope on the opposite side of Din. Her scope picked up a couple of Blurrgs. She took steps closer to where she had seen the group. Raising her scope yet again, she saw that some Blurrgs had saddles attached to their backs. Some one else should be close by. Unexpectedly, her ears began to catch the thundering sound of large footsteps.

            Arista caught sight of a Blurrg with most of Din's arm chomped down and his fire gauntlet ignited. Arista acted quickly by retracting a blade from her boot and throwing it at the Blurrg's neck. Her aim was perfect but had no effect on the creature. Din on the other hand was left to try to punch his way out. Arista quickly loaded an electric taser bullet in her rifle and steadied her aim. Din's punches were able to allow the Blurrg to release his arm but yet again running forward and tackling Din to the ground again. Arista given the clear shot fired at the Blurrg and blue electricity cascaded over the animal. It had fallen to its side, unconscious.  Another Blurrg came stampeding towards Arista but before she could fire another shot, a taser dart made home into the side of its neck. It's body landed in front of her.

            Arista checked her rifle out of confusion, she didn't pull the trigger.  Din to her left freed his arm, groaning, and noticed the grunting coming from his right. Arista also heard the grunt and saw an Ugnaught riding one of the creatures that tried to kill them. He had his own weapon in hand. So this was the one to give Arista the assist. "Thank you." Mando panted. "You both are bounty hunters." He asked with his lower and grainy registered voice. "Yes." Manda answered lowering her weapon seeing that he is no threat.

            "I will help you. I have spoken."

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FINALLY!!
i'm able to update!!

we got tension building...
and yes this is a slow burn sorry in advance for the torture

and y'all pedro was looking mighty fine at the sag awards. and he presented with sophie turner, my bisexuality has peaked!

next chapter will not take that long to upload. this one just toke a little more time since i started up my college classes again along with my high school classes and i did get stumped a bit writing this so i need a little bit more time to finalize somethings but it still turned out to be this :/

next chapter out this coming week!

enjoy !