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"All right, suns are down, time to ride Mando. Come on, wake up," Toro called and he approached them. Yara felt Mando shift as he woke up, but he didn't move or give any indication he had heard Toro.

Toro dropped his chin to meet Yara's eyes. "Why the hell do you travel with that tin can anyway? You know you don't need him. Someone like me could keep you just as safe."

Yara scowled at him and feeling very conscious of the fact that Mando was awake and listening she lifted her chin defiantly. "I travel with him because he knows I can keep myself safe," she told him. "I'm part of his crew, we work together," she said resolutely.

Mando flexed his jaw. She was right of course, she could look out for herself, especially with that gift of hers. She had proved that time and time again. He had a bad habit of being overprotective and he needed to take her words to heart.

"Yeah well," Toro said dismissively. "I can keep you a whole lot warmer."

Unable to take much more of the kids attitude Mando lifted his chin. "You done?" Mando's voice growled through his vocoder, rough and lower than normal.

Toro flinched and spun away. "Yeah, yeah I'm done," Toro stammered as he tried to act casual. "I ah-"

Mando climbed to his feet and Yara followed. "Save it," he growled and he turned back to his pack of supplies.

"So what's the plan?" Toro asked, still obviously nervous about the interaction. Yara took a small amount of satisfaction from watching the young man squirm.

"Get on your bike. Ride as fast as you can towards those rocks," Mando told him, his back still turned.

"Charge her? That's your plan?" Toro scoffed. "She'll snipe us right off the bikes."

Mando turned around and tossed a gun to Toro. "It's a flash charge. We alternate shots, it'll blind any scope temporarily. Combine that with our speed and we got a chance."

"A chance?" Toro asked in disbelief. His eyes flashed to Yara as though she could someone talk some sense into him.

"Hey," Mando called, pulling Toro's eyes off of Yara. He shrugged casually. "You wanted this. Get ready."

Yara climbed on behind Mando. He reached down and touched her hands once more, just briefly. "Stay behind me, no matter what," he told her. "The beskar will protect us both. It should hold up until we get close."

"And then?" Yara prompted.

Instead of answering Mando fired up the bike.

They took off. Mando fired the first shot. Then Toro. Just before Mando fired his second their bike exploded beneath them. The two of them went flying off into the sand. Mando rolled with momentum and before he had stopped rolling he fired the flare again. Then he turned, the need to put himself between the sniper and Yara pounded in his ears. He took a step towards her prone form and was hit in the middle of his chest, sending him skidding back on top of her.

Yara had been momentarily stunned when she hit the ground. She had stirred just in time for Mando to suddenly fall on top of her. She groaned. "You weigh a ton," she complained as his weight covered her.

Mando climbed to his feet. Smoke rose from his beskar but there wasn't even a dent. Yara reached out like she would touch it but the sound of a blaster shot reached their ears. They both flinched and took off running towards the ridge. Fennec had managed to take down their bike, but it sounded like Toro had made it.

The two of them ran towards the sound of the fight. It seemed Toro was holding his own. Blaster fire came intermittently but it gave no indication who was winning. Mando went to the right and he motioned for Yara to go around to the left so they could flank the assassin. They both stepped into view at the same moment. Fennec had Toro on the ground and was reaching for a blaster. Mando pulled his blaster and pressed it against Fennec's head. She went very still and lifted her hands into the air.

"Nice distraction," Mando congratulated the younger man who had clearly been getting his ass handed to him by the small woman. It surprised him that Fennec was so tiny. He had not expected that given her reputation she would be almost as small as Yara.

Yara walked over and helped Toro to his feet. He groaned in pain. "Yeah, good work partner," he complained. He stretched his back and groaned as the muscles stretched. Then he reached out and leaned against Yara's shoulder. "Thanks sweetheart."

Mando turned towards the assassin at their feet. "Cuff yourself," he said tossing the binders he pulled off his belt to her.

Toro looked back and forth between Mando and Yara. "You carry those with you everywhere?" He asked, his tone a little suggestive.

Mando ignored him. "Why don't you go find your blaster," Mando suggested impatiently. He turned and stiffened when he saw Toro was still leaning on Yara's shoulder. He jerked his head meaningfully and Toro nodded. Shuffling off through the dark to kick through the sand. Yara gratefully stepped up beside Mando. There was something off about Toro.

"A Mandalorian," Fennec said rising to her feet. "It's been a long time since I've seen one of you," her eyes flickered to Yara. "Your kind don't normally work with partners..." she dragged off and her eyes flickered from Yara to Toro. "...or bring their life mates out of your little hidey holes..." she dragged off with interest.

Beside Yara Mando went ramrod stiff. She glanced up at him in confusion as Fennec incorrectly guessed the nature of their relationship. She wasn't sure why it would offend him so much. Maybe it was an insult for a Mandalorian to be accused of being mated to someone not Mandalorian. Someone like her. She shifted her weight uncomfortably, not liking the pit it opened up in her stomach.

"Ever been to Nevarro?" Fennec continued conversationally. "I hear things didn't go so well there, but it looks like you got off easy."

Toro picked up his blaster, completely oblivious to the hidden implications behind the tense conversation. "You don't have to worry about getting to Nevarro or anywhere else, once we turn you in," he said and he flashed Fennec a cocky grin as though he had done it all himself. "You know I really should thank you, you're my ticket into the guide."

"You're welcome," Fennec grumbled as Mando shoved her ahead of him towards the only remaining speeder bike.

Yara trailed behind, keeping her head on a swivel as she worked to feel if there was anything else out there. She didn't feel anything solid. There was something...some undertone of a buzzing, like an annoying insect in the back of her mind that prickled her senses and warned her to be wary.

When they got back to the speeder bike Fennec chuckled. "Uh oh, looks like two of us are walking."

Yara barely paid attention to the famous assassin. She trusted Mando to handle her. Instead she let her eyes flutter shut for a brief moment to see if she could get anything else. But there was nothing, just the unease growing in the pit of her stomach.

Mando shoved Fennec down to the ground. "Or we could drag you," he suggested.

Fennec huffed, but didn't say anything more. She seemed to realize she wasn't going to get anything more out of the stoic Mandalorian. Mando motioned Toro and Yara to step out of Fennec's hearing range so they could make a plan.

"All right so, what's the plan?" Toro asked eagerly. He was practically vibrating with excitement over them catching his first quarry.

"I need you to go find that Dewback we saw," Mando said.

"And leave you here with my bounty, my ride and the girl?" Toro asked, suddenly suspicious. "I don't think so, Mando."

Mando exhaled. He wanted to correct Toro about Yara, but he knew she would consider that him over stepping. He needed to let her handle it. He cracked his neck and turned to the horizon as though his words didn't matter. He activated his scanner and made a few small adjustments before he spotted the Dewback in the distance.

He turned back to face Toro. "Okay," he agreed, surprising Yara when he didn't argue with Toro. "I'll do it," he leveled a finger at Fennec's chest. "Watch her and don't let her near the bike. She's no good to us dead." Mando warned.

He glanced down at Yara and set his jaw. He didn't really like the prospect of splitting up, but they needed to finish this job and get paid. "Yara will stay here with you and help keep an eye on her. You listen to her if she warns you about anything. Clear?" Mando asked harshly.

Toro glanced from Mando to Yara a slightly bemused expression on his face. "Crystal," he said holding his hands up.

Mando turned to Yara and lowered his voice so it wasn't so harsh. "I'll be back as soon as I can," he promised her.

Yara nodded and worked to keep her expression impassive. She couldn't shake that strange feeling, but glancing at Fennec, and the death glares she was shooting their ways, it was a fairly obvious conclusion that the assassin was the source of her discomfort. She would have to keep a close eye on her.

Yara had been so focused on Fennec she flinched in surprise when Toro dropped his arm around her shoulders. "Don't worry Mando, I'll look after our girl," he promised, either not noticing or not caring that she had flinched.

Mando however did notice. His shoulders stiffened but when Yara slipped out from beneath Toro's arm with a warning glare he turned to go after the Dewback. He had to trust her to take care of herself. She wasn't wrong about that part, but that didn't make walking away from her any easier. She was part of his crew, and a fully capable member, he would trust her to do her part. She could handle a mouthy young hot shot, and she was smart enough to keep Fennec tied up and keep her distance.

"Mando," Yara called after him.

He turned, his helmet focused on her face in the darkness.

Her brow was pulled into a frown and she pressed her lips together. She wanted to tell him about the feeling she had, to warn him somehow, but she couldn't in front of Toro and Fennec. "Be safe," she settled on saying.

Mando stood frozen for a moment as though processing what she had said. Then nodded silently, turned and disappeared into the darkness silently.

Toro exhaled exhaustedly and just shook his head. "He is too much. Does he pull this silent warrior act all the time?" he asked.

Yara glanced towards him. "It's not an act," she said feeling a little defensive.

"Must be exhausting," Toro griped and he dropped down to sit on the speederbike. He patted his lap in invitation. "Gonna get cold tonight sweetheart," he said.

"I think I'll manage," Yara assured him and she zipped up her leather jacket.

Toro snorted. "I'm a lot more comfy than that tin pail," he said. "I see why you stay with him, but I gotta say, I got a better offer. What you see is what you get, not all that mysterious Mandalorian bantha fodder."

Behind them Fennec snorted.

"No one asked you," Toro shot defensively, his eyes glittering with temper. He clearly didn't like being laughed at.

Fennec held up her hands in surrender. "Trust me kid," she warned him glancing towards Yara. "I been around the block a lot longer than you. I've met a few Mandalorians in my time and I can tell you right now. Do not come between them and their mates. It's a bad life decision."

"She's his partner, not his mate," Toro argued.

Yara crossed her arms over her chest. She was not getting sucked into this discussion with the two of them. Instead she lifted her chin to watch the stars. This far from the star port she could see everyone in crystalline clarity. Even the serenity of a clear night however couldn't shake the feeling of unease.

"Huh," Fennec said thoughtfully, her gaze raking over Yara. "Could have fooled me," she said. "As I said, I've known a Mandalorian or two...they don't tend to let outsiders close to them."

"Might be a good idea to shut up and get some sleep," Yara snapped, the feeling made her more impatient than usual. It was becoming difficult to ignore now, and she shifted her weight. "It's going to be a long day tomorrow. What with being captured and encased in carbonite and all."

"Carbonite?" Toro asked looking back and forth between the two women in confusion.

Fennec snorted. "You got a lot to learn about the guild kid," then the assassin turned interested eyes onto Yara. "So if you aren't his mate you're his partner. A Mandalorian having a plain old human partner seems even less likely than having their mate outside one of their protective hidey holes."

"What do you know about Mandalorians?" Yara shot back impatiently. Her skin felt too tight and she ran her hands up and down her arms trying to calm it. She was starting to worry it might have had something to do with Mando. That was the problem with this kriffing gift. If she didn't block it out it could drive her crazy. None of it made sense or was ever easy or black and white. It was always just nagging feelings that never quite amounted to anything, or only made sense after the fact.

"I've known a few in my time," Fennec said and a sly smile crossed her face. "One very well," she added then she winked. "But a lady never kisses and tells, am I right Yara?"

Toro made an impatient sound in the back of his throat.

"Oh don't pretend," Fennec said with a scoff. "You're young and stupid, but you aren't that stupid. Trust me when I say, stay away from a Mandalorian's mate."

"She's not his mate," Toro said.

"I'm not his mate," Yara agreed, although she hated to say it in front of Toro.

"Sure," Fennec said and she looked away out to the horizon. "You know, I killed a Mandalorian's mate once..." she dragged off.

"Thought you said it was a bad idea to come between them," Toro challenged.

"Oh, it is," Fennec agreed. "Unless the price is right..." she dragged off with a smirk. "I wonder what happened to her after her mate died. She promised retribution, but I never heard from her again. I started to wonder if she died of a broken heart. I heard that can happen. Must have something to do with not letting anyone else near them otherwise."

"I'll take first watch," Yara told Toro interrupting Fennec's rant. "You get a little sleep then we'll switch."

Toro nodded and slid his blaster away without argument. "Wake me if you need anything sweetheart," he told her.

"Oh I will," Yara said sarcastically and Fennec actually laughed.

Toro looked pissed at being mocked by the two women, but he folded his arms across his chest and went to sleep.

"So the Mandalorian-" Fennec started.

"I don't chat," Yara told the other woman.

"Oh come on," Fennec said. "As one professional to another...I've always wondered if the endurance was something that was just Fett, or if all Mandalorians-"

"I'll grant you the courtesy of one last warning, and then I'm going to knock you unconscious and get a good night sleep myself," Yara warned.

There must have been something in her eyes because Fennec closed her mouth and shut her own eyes, at least pretending to sleep.

A few hours later Yara woke Toro and settled in to take her turn to get some sleep. Her eyes felt gritty and she was chilled. It had been over twenty four hours since she slept and it was getting to her. Despite having the chance to rest and being exhausted Yara still stayed awake for most of the night worrying about Mando and trying to shake the strange nagging feeling that just would't go away. Finally she drifted off into a fitful sleep.

The suns began to rise and Fennec glanced towards Toro. She was fairly certain Yara was asleep. She sighed dramatically. "It's been a while," she commented. "Oh look, the suns are coming up."

"Quiet," Toro snapped.

"There's still time to make my rendezvous in Mos Espa. Take me to it and I can pay you double the price on my head."

"I don't care about the money," Toro said with a chuckle and a shake of his head.

"Oh, so the Mandalorian keeps all the money for himself?" Fennec pressed. As she spoke she kept her tone soft and her eyes on the other woman. When she gave no indication she could hear them Fennec turned her entire focus onto the kid. He was her only hope. There was no way she was going to be able to convince the love sick fool if Yara was glaring down at her.

"Only because I let him," Toro said defensively, his ego not liking the insinuation that he didn't have control of the situation. Fennec might be going to her death or be imprisoned, but professional respect was a thing, and it was clear the assassin respected The Mandalorian. He wanted the level of respect, he had earned it. This was his hunt.

Fennec chuckled. "It doesn't seem that way. I mean, it seems like he's calling all the shots and leaving his mate behind to wipe your nose and keep you in line."

"Shows what you know. I hired Mando and the girl," he said pointing to his chest. "This is my job. Bringing you in will make me a full member of the Bounty Hunters Guild."

A sly smirk twisted Fennec's face. "You already have something the guild values far more than me. You just don't see it," Fennec said and she turned to look at Yara's sleeping form pointedly.

"What?" Toro asked in confusion. He was so thick he didn't take even the most obvious hint.

Fennec rolled her eyes. She was going to have to spell it out for the kid. He wasn't too smart, but he was ambitious. That was good. She could work with that. "The Mandalorian. His armor alone is worth more than my bounty"

"I already told you I don't care about the money," Toro said again.

"Then think about what it would do for your reputation..." Fennec let it hang in the air. Let him really consider her words before she pushed on. "A Mandalorian shot up the Guild on Nevarro..." she let that point sit. "They say he took two high valued targets and went rogue," she told him.

"That Mandalorian?" Toro asked with a scowl, pointing off towards the horizon where Mando had gone.

"Like I said, you don't see many," Fennec said with a shrug. "You bring the Guild that traitor, and they'll welcome you with open arms. Your name will be legendary."

Toro looked thoughtful and climbed to his feet pacing around the small clearing.

"How can we be sure he's the one?" Toro asked.

Fennec shrugged elegantly. "Word is the targets travel with him. A woman and some say a child. Mandalorians don't normally travel with outsiders," she waited a beat, let him really think about it before she pushed again. "Look, if you're afraid to take him and the woman on, fear not. I can help you with that," she offered. "Take some advice kid. You want to be a bounty hunter? Take the best deal for yourself and survive."

Toro pressed his lips together and shook his head as he climbed to his feet. Then he slid his blaster out of the  holster and silently walked up to where Yara was fast asleep. He stood over her, admiring the angle of her cheek bones and her full lips. He liked her purple eyes too but those were closed right now. She would be pissed, but she would get over it. Women always did.

"Sorry about this sweetheart," he muttered.

Yara's eyelids fluttered open with a confused frown a second before Toro smashed the butt of his blaster against her temple. Yara's head snapped painfully to the side and she collapsed into the sand, unconscious.

Fennec was grinning as Toro advanced towards her. "You won't regret this," she said, holding her hands out to him for him to release her.

Toro stopped three feet away from her, his eyes dead cold. He lifted the blaster and shot her in the chest. Fennec stared up at him in wide eyed confusion before she fell to the sand.

"That's good advice," Toro said crouching over Fennec's body. "But if I took those binders off of you I'd be a dead man. And if the Mandalorian's worth more than you are, well...who wouldn't want to be a legend? Thanks for the tip," he said.

He pulled the cuffs off of Fennec's body and put them on Yara, then tossed her unconscious body over the back of the speeder bike and raced off towards Mos Eisley.

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