Unknown P.O.V

I landed on Lothal 2 hours ago with the cargo scheduled to arrive through this pass 15 minutes ago. What the fuck is going on? Those damn Imperials are not known for being late on a shipment delivery, especially one of such importance as this. Well thanks to that I have to actually go out and scan the horizon for them. What a pain. The boss said this was suppose to be an easy mission for someone of my skill and yet I seem to have to be putting in some damn effort.

I grab my best range spear blaster and my energy-revolver 23 and began walking south of my position. This planet isnt very special, bunch of grass, grass, and more fucking grass. My fucking goodness would it kill them to have any dunes around here. I swear every step it just feels so primitive and full of life.

I come up on a hill and when I reached the top I finally spotted the transport. However I also spotted someone else. Down the hill about a quarter of a mile away there was a boy, looked to be maybe a bit younger than me. Of course I can't tell from this distance.

I grab my spear and lie on the top of the hill adjusting the scope to zoom in onto the boy. As much as I distaste all this grass at least it provides good cover just in case I need to take the boy out. The boy seemed 5 ft 11, not too buff, and he seemed to be around 15 maybe 16 years old.

Something about him set me off though, his clothes, they were filled with blood. Either I was dealing with a mad man or this was just some professional killer. Either way that meant he would be better to me dead.

I zoomed in my scope so my shot would be as best as accurately possible. I realigned the shoulder stabilizer and took a slow deep breathe to calm my nerves.

Right as I was about to pull the trigger the person stood. I looked in the general direction where he was looking and noticed the transport approaching. So that's why he was there, he must have been given the same job. My contact always liked giving me stupid competition.

The transport ended up coming to a screeching halt which kicked up a cloud of dust. I lost sight of the figure. I waited to see if anyone would come out of the dust. The transport door opened up and out came a trooper.

I was ready to gun him down before another shot beat me to it. I didn't expect it to be but it was him. That boy somehow wasn't road kill, and when I got a good look at him in the dust my heart stopped for a moment.

His face was so intense that I could feel the chilling vibes he was putting out. Facing him would definitely prove to be a valuable test for me. And he did seem kinda cute. Don't tell anyone.

The other trooper came out and did the strangest thing ever. He bowed down to the figure. This intrigued me more as the figure made the trooper get up and lead him into the transport. I know I should have sniped him right then and there, but I kinda wanted to face him up and personal. You don't see respectful killers like this everyday and I just want to remember his face.

Seconds later a red flash dispersed in the transport. I readied my scope for whomever would come out.

Back At The Transport
Third Person P.O.V

The four civilians stared up at Stahl their hearts beating slowly in fear. The little girl hid her face and began sobbing wanting it all to just be a bad dream and she would wake up in the end.

Stahl put his gun away and entered the room with the three adults pushing their bodies as far back against the wall as they possibly could.

Stahl kneeled down beside the girl who kept her face hidden. Stahl brushed the girls hair causing her to flinch at his gentle touch. "Hey little one it's ok. I'm not here to hurt you. Those bad men won't be hurting you anymore" stahl said trying to have the same soothing voice that Hera had when they had first meet. However due to his dry throat and blood loss his voice came out scratchy, rough, and demonic.

The little girl only cried harder and shivered in fear begging for her mom and dad to save her. Stahls heart only sank from this. Once again reminded of the reality he lived in. He stood up and faced the male who stared back and asked "Are you four the only ones aboard this transport?". The human male nodded whimpering "Y-yes L-lord...".

Stahl signed softly and waved his hand using the force to unlock the wrist cuffs. The four fell a bit limp from their limbs being free from their shackles. They all kept looking at Stahl shocked expressions on their faces.

Stahl ignored their looks expecting them to make a run for it and faced the containers. Before he could open them he heard a soft voice ask "S-sir?".

Stahl shifted his view to the source of the voice. The little girl stood on her feet attentively looking at the ground twiddling her thumbs. "Why did you release us? The adults look at you with fear a-and the bad men were scared too. Aren't you gonna hurt us?".

Stahl looked down at the girl, a long moment of silence passing between them before Stahl turned back towards the crates. Having not saying anything was all the girl needed to hear. Which was better than having to hear his scratchy voice again.

The female Twi'lek slowly walked over to the girl keeping her eyes on Stahl as she took her hand and began pulling her back towards them.

Stahl opened the only crate in the transport. A hissing noise was made followed by a slight chill before the lid came off. The container had a package load of packed blood. Stahl used the force to sperate the packs finding every single blood type except the one he needed.

As stahl came to the last one he leaned against the crate letting some of his anger build up before releasing it all out in a loud yell which shook all four passengers.

Feeling hopeless Stahl sat on one of the benches groaning heavily as he placed his hands on his head. He felt like a failure, he had done all of this just to come up empty handed. It almost broke him to tears if a voice hadn't asked him "What's wrong?".

He looked up to the person who spoke seeing the female Twi'lek looking back at. "I....I need blood. Twi'lek C positive" Stahl softly said holding his side. The Twi'lek looked at him holding his side figuring that all that blood wasn't just the enemies. She then looked back at him seeing his desperation.

Out of some pity and as a way to thank him for saving them the Twi'lek said "I'm C positive. Take some of my blood". Stahls eyes widened at the woman's suggestion, he was super desperate for that blood, but with what they all had just been freed from it made him feel like he would be no better.

"No no I..I can't do that. I mean you all-" Stahl said before the male human interrupted kneeling before him saying "Lord, you have given us a chance for our lives to be free. We owe you a trumendous debt".

His actions would invoke the female togruta and the child to kneel to him. It was here that Stahl realized that he didn't have much of a choice. If they wanted to offer their assistance especially if it was crucial then Stahl had to accept.

He held up his right hand in surrender saying "Alright. I accept, but will not take more than a pint of blood. Do I make myself perfectly clear". They all nodded. The female Twi'lek, male human, and female togruta walked down to the blood extraction table. The Twi'lek lied down on the table while the male began making preparations.

During that time the little girl walked over to Stahl holding her shirt a bit over her face as if it offered some protection. She looked up at him while he focused on the operation and squeaked out "Um S-sir".

Stahl tilted his head down towards the little girl. Their eyes came into contact igniting a moment of a stare contest before stahls mouth formed a warm weird smile as he asked the girl "Yes?". The smile set the girl back a bit, Stahl had been practicing in front of a mirror for a while to try and seem more friendly with the crew.

"U-um I was wondering, why does the mean people scared of you?" the little girl asked, she hadn't been in this universe long enough to come to know about stahls stories of why the empire is scared of them. Stahl briefly lost his eye contact with the girl. He spoke in a soft voice saying "I've.....had something bad happen to me....it was something that the mean people didn't like so they don't wanna be near me". The girls curiosity spiked as she climbed up next to Stahl asking "What happened?".

Stahl looked at the little girl in awe, she was so innocent, so precious, it was hard for him to think of a lie to tell her. As if his mouth was working against him he was about to speak when the transfer vehicle shook from the force of a few laser shots hitting the windows. The glass gave in and shattered giving the four a scare as shards flew at them.

In an instant Stahl jumped up and held out his hands gritting his teeth to concentrate on stopping the shards in their tracks. When they fell to the ground the adults stared in awe at what they had just witnessed. Stahl however didn't share the moment and fell to a knee holding his side even more. The immense pain he was feeling had begun taking its toll and with 39 percent still losed his body continued to grow ever weaker.

The little girl ran up to Stahl saying "Mister what's wrong?" followed by the male kneeling next to Stahl asking "Lord". He looked down at stahls side noticing the huge gash that was basically a fountain. His early medical years helped him analyse the severity of it. He placed a hand on stahls shoulder saying "Lord you shouldn't strain yourself. Your body can't handle much more of this".

Being too stubborn and too alert to listen to reason Stahl pushed the male aside while being gentler to the child. He took out his last vile of adrenaline and injected himself causing a jolt of energy to rush through him.

"My lord no. That'll kill you" the male said as he watched Stahl take out his blaster walking towards the exit. He looked back at the male and said "And if I let that person get here we all die. Keep the process going. I'll buy you as much time as I can" closing the cargo doors and blasting the controls.

The right side door opened up with Stahl leaning back against the edge of the door frame aiming his blaster out scanning the area. Once cleared Stahl hopped down and walked over to the front of the transport keeping his body close against it for shielding. He hadn't been able to see where the bolt came from and he couldn't afford to take another shot to his body. He took out his clean hidden blade and used it's reflection to peak out the horizon. All that he could see from it was just the grass and the hill which would have to have been where that sniper had shot. Unable to see if there was anyone nearby Stahl sheathed his blade taking a quick breathe before aiming his blaster up and walking out from his cover.

The second he did however a huge swing from a metal spear came crashing down onto stahls blaster. The force knocked it out of his hand and destroyed the upper half of it.

Quickly Stahl unsheathed his blades and embarked into a duel with the attack. The woman used her spear to keep stahls knives away from her body using both ends of the spear rifle to take attacks at Stahl. While at the same time stahls quick movements prevented her from landed a critical shot.

The woman spun her spear around quickly swinging it first lower level then above Stahl both of which he was able to block and redirect, but that was when the woman took her foot and front kicked him in the chest sending him rolling back a few feet.

"I must say I'm impressed. From how sloppy your fighting I can tell your badly injured. Yet your still able to put up a good fight" the woman said through her helmet taking in some air. Stahl rolled back onto his feet keeping a low crouch. He held his side while using the other hand to keep himself balanced as he looked at the woman.

She stood a good tall 5ft and 9 inches. Her outfit was a typical pilot outfit with a helmet connected to a breather for the event of battling in space. Her weapon was a hybrid of a spear and a blaster, something Stahl hadn't seen before.

"What...do....you want?" Stahl huffed out, his breathing being shaky and rough. The woman chuckled softly keeping her spear pointed to him saying "I'm here on a job for the black sun's. My mission requires me to take the containers of blood that are in that ship, but from who I'm looking at I may take you along with me. What's your say to a proposal. Travel with me and work for the black sun's, we could do a lot together. And I mean a lot" having some flirtiness to that last part.

Stahl scolded the woman, she was nothing more than a common hunter, and her offering him the same fate made him wanna commit suicide. He stood up still holding his side saying "I will never...I'd rather die than join you and your filthy band of slavers...Mando".

The woman was caught by surprise at that last word. The look in his eyes let her know that he had a distinct dislike for her. She smiled under the helmet and shook her head saying "That's a shame. We could have made a good duo".

She then began swiping for stahls head forcing him to not only block and parry, but to stretch his muscles causing more strain and more blood to flow. She kept on barraging him with furious attacks soon forcing him to use only one hand to protect himself. She very quickly smacked his hand away with the spear part of her spear and swing his head with the back end of it knocking him out cold.

Stahl finally fell to the ground defeated and wounded. The woman panted heavily as she took a moment to compose herself. She admitted that she was mildly impressed that Stahl was able to not only fight her wounded but also make her winded.

She looked down at the boy feeling a bit saddened that she had to kill him. However, in her line of work people died and she was fine with that. She put her staff up walking onto the transport. She took a look around noticing the dead body on the floor. She turned her attention to the door and activated a code to open it.

When it came back as an error she typed it in again getting the same results. Her fists clenched a bit as she kneeled down beside the panel and attempted to hack into the door.

After five minutes of no success the bounty hunter grew too frustrated that she gave up on hacking and hit her spear against the door hard enough to startle anyone in there. "Listen up whoever's in there you have three seconds to open this door before I use my explosives" the woman bluffed knowing anyone inside wouldn't be able to tell.

She loaded her staff charging it up and began counting "Solus....T'ad....". She didn't reach her final number before the door opened revealing a man holding his arms up in surrender begging "Please don't. We are only prisoners and there's a child".

Keeping her staffed aimed at the man she looked over seeing a child held between the two females. Further behind them was her prize. She pushed the man out of the way keeping her blaster aimed as she opened the crates finding packages of blood. She smelled her sweet payment in these crates facing towards the prisoners saying "Unload these packages and I'll let you go".

The man nodded at the hunters command and slowly walked towards the crates. The two women holding the child moved aside to allow him to move the crate with little effort. They all were aware that since the woman was here instead of Stahl that he wouldn't be able to offer anymore help. The man pushed the crate past the hunter and exited the vehicle.

As his feet hit the dirt his eyes landed on the sight of Stahl on the ground motionless. He stood still unable to take his eyes off of the body. He felt so scared about what was gonna happen to him and the others since he had no trust in people keeping their word.

He was brought back to reality with the hunter smacking his head with her staff saying "Keep staring at that body and you'll be the next one to join it". The man nodded pushing the crate out to the side of the vehicle before heading back and unloading another crate.

It didn't take long before all the crates were unloaded and lined up single file. The four were also lined up with the hunter inspecting each and every cargos manifest to make sure she didn't come back with missing products.

When everything checked out she put her weapons away looking at them saying "Today's your lucky day. Everything I needs in here so your all free to go". This brought a wave of relief to the Togruta woman, child, and human, but the Twi'lek wasn't convinced as she had been a slave her entire life and had gone through this kind of false hope.

She stepped forward getting the hunters attention saying "And how do we know that you're keeping your word and not just giving us a false sense of hope?". The hunter stood in front of the Twi'lek saying "I simply don't need dead weight on my ship, but if your looking to continue your people's tradition I could gladly sell you". The Twi'lek stared at the hunter after her words not wanting to show weakness.

During that time Stahl had slowly regained conciousness as his eyes adjusted to the scene. His body was in trumendous pain with parts of it feeling limp from so little blood flow going to it. He was vaguely able to see the hunter staring down the Twi'lek.

In an instinct Stahl very slowly went for his blaster. His weapon felt much heavier than it usually did with it being harder to aim. With his vision foggy and his muscles almost about to give Stahl took aim at the mandos head and used all his might to pull the trigger.

The blast hit the back of the Hunters helmet but it didn't puncher it. The hunter looked back very quickly surprised to see that Stahl was moving. Seeing him still aiming at her she quickly took the Twi'lek hostage putting her between Stahl and the hunter.

This made Stahl hesitate from shooting. Normally his aim was sharp enough hostage situations wouldn't make him stutter to kill, being woozy and off balance made him show restraint from being reckless which the hunter noticed.

"Well this certainly is a tough situation you seem to be in. Now here's the deal kid: you drop your blaster and let me walk out of here with these crates and I'll look the other way this once" the hunter said holding her revolver under the Twi'leks chin.

Stahl looked at the hunter knowing through that mask that she was willing to kill him and everyone else for her prize. With little options left for Stahl he gave an annoyed sign as his hand fell limp on the ground. The hunter walked over to stahl keeping the Twi'lek close to her as she kicked stahls blaster away.

After she inspected Stahl for any other blasters she shoved the Twi'lek back to the vehicle and kneeled down over Stahl. "You know it's ashame that you didn't take my proposal kid. With that gaping wound and this thing..." The hunter said grabbing stahls blood meter reading a 41% loss of blood. "...indicating that you've lost too much blood your gonna die, I could have saved you. Think about that while you have your last moments of life" the hunter finished and walked back to the crates.

After activating each of the crates anti-gravity and magnetic functions she made her way across the horizon. When she was far beyond sight the male quickly rushed over to stahl pulling his shirt up to see the bandages over the gashing wound painted in dark red. He quickly took his own shirt off and began apply pressure on the wound making Stahl groan in slight pain. The male began looking around frantically terrified as he didn't have the proper tools or recourses that he was gonna need to help Stahl.

Being able to sense the man's fear Stahl put a hand on the mans arm saying "It's ok doctor....I'm ok with...how this is gonna end". The man looked at Stahl with tears forming in his eyes. Even though this man shouldn't be feeling anything for Stahl he still felt like he had a responsibility in what was currently happening. Unable to find the words however Stahl moved his hand to the man's should gripping it as tight as he could saying "It'll be alright, but I have one final mission".

"No you can't child. You need rest, blood, treatment" the man said about to make an entire list of things he didn't have only to be stopped. "It's over for me, but if I can get that..." Stahl said pointing to the woman who had the child who had the blood vile container in her arms "...to the person who needs it, if I can save her life, then I'm more than happy with dying".

It took a moment for the man to understand, but he came to terms with what Stahl wanted. Patting his arm the man said "Yes sir". Giving the togruta woman a look of sadness the lady put the child down and walked over to stahl handing him the vile.

After Stahl took it the two women took the child back inside the vehicle closing the door behind them not wanting the child to witness any more of what was happening.

With the door shut the man and Stahl exchange one final look with Stahl saying "Keep them safe". The man nodded letting tears fall onto Stahl as he said "I will sir".

With that the man helped Stahl onto his feet before he entered the speeder. The sound of the engines roared through stahls ears as he and the speeder went their separate directions. With the long journey ahead Stahl limped his way back to the Ghost.

Hours had passed by with stahls body growing weaker and weaker by the step. During the walk stahls blood meter grew to 42% which Stahl felt in his body. His mind also had started playing tricks on him making him think that the ghost was a few hundred feet away only to move farther and farther away.

It grew to dusk by the time Stahl had managed to make it to the ghost. Standing on top of a small hill Stahl panted heavily feeling sweat roll down his brow. He was unable to move himself another step when everything he had been fighting for was within his reach.

He tried to call for chopper but his voice didn't grow beyond a simple mutter. Having little hope Stahl used what remaining strength he had left to grab onto his blaster and holst it up aiming at the ghost. Feeling his strength rapidly degrading from his arm Stahl let out a small breathe before pulling the trigger. The backlash caused the gun to jank itself out of stahls hand as the energy bolt hit the cargo hull of the ghost.

Standing there for a good moment Stahl took a deep breathe and yelled out from the top of his lungs "CHOPPERRRRRRRRRR". With that his body finally gave out.

Everything seemed a blur to stahl as he fell to the ground slamming hard onto the dirt and grass. Luckily the vile hadn't broke in the fall which meant everything was up to chopper if he would make it out in time.