Heart Of Darkness (Star Wars)

Chapter 9: Betrayed

He fumbled over his words as we walked in, ignoring his warnings. The soldier continued his warnings. "You put down the blasters right now."

I kept a blaster pointed towards the soldier, but I refused to shoot him. I hoped we could spare him. Mayfeld walked towards the control panel where screens of the hallways were.

"Nice shoes." Mayfeld commented.

"Put down your blasters." The soldier urged.

"Matches his belt." Mayfeld stated.

Burg laughed at his comment. I exchanged a look with Mando. I couldn't see him face, but I knew he felt uneasy about this. And I'd be lying if I said I wasn't feeling the same.

"There were only supposed to be droids on this ship." Mando commented.

"Hang on, hang on. Let's see here. Uh Cell two-two-one." Mayfeld said as he released the prisoner we were here for. He then turned the face the soldier. "All right, now for our well-dressed friend."

At that moment, the soldier took out a tracking beacon. My eyes widened at once. If he presses that, we're all done for. Mayfeld immediately raised his blaster again. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Easy, easy, egghead. Put that down."

We watched as the soldier frantically looked around at us. He turned around, keeping an eye on us all as he his blaster pointed towards us.

"Easy, easy." Mando advised.

"Just calm down and put it down." I urged.

"Easy. Nobody has to get hurt here." Mando added.

"What is that thing?" Burg inquired.

"It's a tracking beacon." Mando informed them.

"He presses the beacon, and we're all kesseled." I added.

"A New Republic attack team will hone in on that signal and blow us all to hell." Mayfeld explained before yelling at the soldier. "Put it down!"

"Are you serious?" Xi'an inquired as she sat down in one of the control room chairs.

Mayfeld nodded. "Yes, I'm serious."

"You didn't think we needed to know that tiny little detail?" Xi'an retorted.

"I didn't think we'd get to this point." Mayfeld explained.

"Yet here we are." Xi'an shot back.

Mayfeld immediately whipped around to face her. "Are you questioning my managerial style, Xi'an?"

Xi'an chuckled, giving him a mock solute. "No, sir."

"Hey, listen to me. Hey, hey, hey.  Listen to me, okay?" Mando advised, getting the soldier's attention.

"We mean you no harm." I assured him.

At my words, Mando lowered his blaster. "Look."

Mando then turned towards Mayfeld, who still had his blasters pointed at the soldier. "Hey. Put it down."

"Are you crazy?" Mayfeld inquired.

"Put it down, Mayfeld." I urged before looking over at the soldier as I lowering my blaster. "You see? We won't hurt you."

"What's your name?" Mando asked, turning to face the soldier.

"I-It's Davan." The soldier said, stumbling over his words.

"Davan. We're not here for you. We're here for a prisoner. If you let us go about our job, you can walk away with your life." Mando informed him.

"No, he won't." Mayfeld retorted.