Across the Universe | D. Djarin

Nevarro

Once they had landed, the large hatch in the hull slowly lowered down onto the ground.
Mando and I exited the ship first while Cara and Kuiil followed after us.

I glanced around at the barren landscape that we had landed on. The dark coloured sand below was exactly how I remembered it to be. Just ahead of us was a group of people. Three bounty hunters who I vaguely recognised and Greef Karga, who I never wanted to have to see again. But unfortunately, life doesn't always work out the way I wanted it to. In fact, it almost never did.

"Sorry for the remote rendezvous, Mando, but things have gotten complicated since you were last here." Greef Karga said. There was a brief moment of silence as everyone looked around at each other.

"It appears that introductions are in order. It seems we've both provided a security detail. I recommend the shock trooper guard's the ship. These lava fields are lousy with Jawas." Greef Karga said

"She's coming with me." Mando said

"But the town is now run by ex-Empire. If a rebel dropped is with us, they'll all get their hackles up." Karga said

"She's coming." Mando stayed again

"Fine. Fine. At least cover your tattoo. No need to flaunt it." Greef Karga said, shrugging his shoulders in defeat.

"Perhaps it would be beneficial for Celeste to stay with the ship instead then." Greef Karga said

"Not happing." Mando stated

"I only suggested it because the ex-Empire are also after her, but it's your call." Greef Karga decided to not argue too much this time, knowing that Mando wouldn't back down. I clenched my jaw at his wording. It almost made it sound like he was putting the blame on Mando for anything that might happen to me.

"Now, where is the little one?" Greef Karga asked

Mando raised his left arm and pressed a button on his vambrace that controls the child's pram. The small egg shaped pram moved forward towards Greef Karga and then the doors hissed open. Revealing the child to the bounty hunters.

"So, this little bogwing is what all the fuss was about." Greef Karga said as he examined the child. Mando reached for his blaster on his thigh just in case.

Greef Karga reached into the pram and carefully lifted the child up to get a better look at him.

"What a precious little creature. I can see why you two didn't want to harm a hair on its wrinkled little head." Greef Karga Said. He then placed the child back into the pram, causing Mando to relax and withdraw his hand from his blaster.

"Well, I'm glad this matter will be put to rest once and for all." Greef Karga said. Mando raised his wrist once again and closed the door to the pram, he then called it back so the child would be near them again.

"The sun drops fast on Nevarro. We can walk for a spell, camp out at the riverbank, then make our way into town at first light." Greef Karga said

Mando nodded slightly, and the group of bounty hunters began the long walk to the empire controlled town. I really hope that this was the right call to make.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The group had finally come to rest after a long day of walking across the lava flats. I sat beside Mando, I was so close to him that our shoulders were almost touching,  I didn't trust any of the other hunters who were here. On my other side, the child sat in his floating pram.

Silence had fallen over their camp, the only noise was the fire slowly crackling in the center of their circle, the bright orange flames illuminating the space around them.