Hi all! So...it took a while to write this. Eventually I figured out it was because I didn't like the pacing of the last chapter so I rewrote a bunch of Chapter 17. It's all up and fixed the way I wanted it (re-published 1/21 so I recommend a quick re-read for anyone who read it before that).

This next chapter is going to be an original adventure for Mando and Yara. It will span over several chapters before we get into the events of one of my favorites, Episode 6 The Prisoner. If you guys enjoy the original adventures let me know and I may work a few more in! I hope you enjoy it!

Happy Reading!

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"What's the job?" Mando's voice was a low rasp through the modulator of his helmet.

Yara and Mando were sitting side by side in the back room of a dimly lit cantina. They had gotten wind of the job at the last space port they had stopped to refuel. One of the techs there had spotted Mando and motioned him over. It didn't sound like a normal job, but they were low on credits and had few options.

Yara had been surprised when the coordinates were for Naboo. The planet wasn't what she normally thought of when it came to criminal activity. The bar however was on the outer edge of the city, far from the beauty and circumstance of the palace. They had landed in one of the bays on the edge of the city where the scanners weren't as reliable, and those watching them even less so and could be easily bought off with a handful of credits.

The contact was a nervous young man who didn't look like he belonged in this part of town. He glanced back and forth between the two of them as though they were not what he expected either. He was dressed in simple clothes, but the fabrics were high quality and clean. Not a normal job at all.

"You are a Mandalorian, yes?" He asked. His eyes, which were glued to Mando, were just a bit too wide.

Yara couldn't blame him. She found it difficult not to stare as well, although it was for an all together different reason. In the dim light of the bar the beskar armor reflected the light as well as the shadows. It made Mando look even more formidable than usual. Though he sat perfectly still power and confidence radiated from his frame. Even the other patrons slipped away and headed for the door just from his presence alone. It said a lot given the nature and appearance of the crowd.

Mando nodded his helmet once imperiously in silent confirmation.

The man swallowed and his eyes flickered to Yara. "And you?" He asked, but his eyes locked back onto Mando, as though he were afraid if he took his eyes off of him for too long Mando would leap up and attack him.

"His partner," Yara said simply. She kept her face perfectly neutral as she responded to his question. She wasn't great at being intimidating, she was too small for that, but hundreds of underworld negotiations had taught her to appear both confident and competent. Which was often more useful and could be intimidating in its own way. So much of these negotiations were about posturing and bluster. There was something to be said for being the calmest person in the room.

"The stories I have heard about the Mandalorian bounty hunter have said he always works alone, and there's never any survivors of his attacks."

Yara arched an impish brow and a smirk twisted her lips. "Where do the stories come from then?" She challenged.

The man looked confused for a moment but quickly recovered and turned to look behind him.

Mando turned his helmet to face Yara.  He didn't say or do anything but she seemed to know exactly what he was thinking. She just smiled up at him innocently and shrugged. Sometimes she just couldn't help herself. He grunted and the two of them turned back to face the contact, serious once more.

The man was still looking over his shoulder. Luckily he had missed their silent exchange which would have sabotaged their badass image. He gestured to someone hiding in the shadows.

Mando's blaster was in his hand in the blink of an eye. He leveled it at the new man's chest as soon as he stepped into view. This man looked even more out of place in this cantina than the first. He looked like a wealthy merchant or certainly an Aristo. He was wearing ornate robes over a soft body that was draped with jewelry.

Yara hadn't drawn her blaster. Instead, she was watching the man with her head cocked to the side as she evaluated him. She didn't get the feeling that he meant them ill, but it was easier to remain calm and critical with Mando already pointing a blaster at the man's chest. The Aristo wouldn't be able to take a single step towards her with malicious intent before Mando would kill him. She remembered the contacts she would meet for her family's business and the fear, the danger and buzz of adrenaline that often accompanied those meetings. She never felt that when she had Mando beside her. Although what they did was dangerous, she knew she was safe with him.

The servant quickly took a step in front of his master so Mando's blaster was pointing at his chest instead. Despite his fear his eyes shown with determination to protect him.

"It's okay," the Aristo said, gesturing for the servant to step aside. "I have heard tales of your people," he said staring into the Mandalorian's helmet. "I require the services of one such as you. My son has been kidnapped."

"A kidnapping?" Mando asked. His disgust was evident even through the modulator. "Call the New Republic. Protecting Aristos is what they do, isn't it?"

The wealthy man blanched a little. "Not an option. I'm afraid my son has made some mistakes in his past and has a warrant out for his arrest. If the New Republic were to rescue him I would only be able to see him from the inside of a jail cell." 

Mando slid his blaster back into his holster and cocked his head to the side as he considered the job. It wasn't like most of his normal work. It had the potential to get complicated and his life was already complicated enough.

Yara cleared her throat, drawing the Aristos gaze. "And would these mistakes of his past be the reason he was kidnapped?"

Mando was impressed she had thought to ask. He had been too busy thinking through the logistics. He knew Yara didn't think so, but he valued having her along on something like this. Dealing with wealthy Aristos wasn't his forte, and she seemed in her element.

The Aristo bristled and shifted his robes, smoothing his hands down the front of them. Yara's guess had been exactly right. "My son is young, his life should not be forfeit because of a few youthful indiscretions," he sputtered.

"Have they contacted you for a ransom?" Mando asked.

"Yes," the Aristo said.

"Why don't you pay it?" Yara asked looking the man over. It was fairly clear he had plenty of money. "It can't be that much more expensive than what we would charge for his retrieval."

"It isn't," the man assured them, crossing his hands in front of himself shrewdly. "But I can't be seen negotiating with these types," he sniffed. "In my business it would be a sign of weakness."

"Right," Yara dragged out the word. It was hard for her to imagine a man unwilling to do whatever was necessary to get his son back. Yes, her family had valued their business but never at the expense of one another.

"This isn't the type of work I normally do," Mando hedged. He didn't like the the Aristo seemed to think his acceptance of the job was a foregone conclusion.

The Aristo snorted. "You hunt bounties. This is no different."

"Typically a bounty isn't being held captive," Yara added sarcastically.

"Typically, but not always I would imagine," the man said. "Often I would assume they resist. In this case the resistance will come from those holding him, but he will come willingly. Not so different at all, is it?" He pushed.

"What details do you have?" Mando asked wearily. He didn't like it, but there wasn't a good reason not to take the job and they needed the credits.

"He has been taken by the Pyke family," the Aristo said. He snapped his fingers and his servant slid a tablet across the table to Mando.

"The-" Yara started to say and pulled back. The Pyke syndicate was a powerful spice cartel in the outer rim. They were nearly as powerful as the Hutts.

"Pass," Mando said, sliding the tablet right back across the table to him. "Crossing the Pykes isn't worth-"

"I'll make it worth your while," the man said quickly and he reached into his robes and pulled out a large bag of credits. The bag made a heavy thud when it hit the table and credits spilled out. "A downpayment. Twice that will be waiting for you when you return my son to me safely."

Mando cocked his head and glanced at Yara. Her eyes were locked on the credits. As much as he knew this was a bad idea, they needed the credits too badly to pass it up. To keep her and the kid safe they needed to keep moving and he couldn't do that with no fuel.

"Give us all the information you have," Mando said emotionlessly. He was a little surprised when  Yara simply slid the pouch of credits off the table and into her satchel instead of arguing with him. It had been clear by her tone and the way her body tightened like a whip that she knew who the Pykes were. Which meant she also knew this was a bad idea. But she was choosing to trust him. The weight of that hung heavy on his shoulders.

"We'll be in contact," Yara said, her tone was clipped and businesslike.

The Aristo stood and bowed his head to them politely. He turned to go but paused. "Know this Mandalorian," he said. "When I do business, a man's word is his bond. If you do not return with my son, I will use my considerable resources to find you and your little partner here," he assured them. "No one disappoints the Crimson Dawn," and lives, hung heavily in the air. He turned and he and his servant left.

Yara blew out a sigh. "The Crimson Dawn?" She asked with an exasperated sigh. "Well, this just keeps getting better and better," she said sarcastically.

Mando glanced towards her but didn't say anything. Only the tension in his shoulders and hands revealed how unhappy he was to find themselves stuck between two rival crime syndicates.

Mando picked up the tablet and stood, gesturing for Yara to move ahead of him. He didn't want to stay here any longer than was necessary and he wanted to keep his eye on her while they made their way out of the cantina. They both stepped out into the street and Yara pulled up her hood against the chill afternoon air.

Yara and Mando split the credits and went to purchase supplies, splitting up so they would make it back to the Razer Crest before nightfall. Now that they had some credit, this was as good a place as any to restock their supplies. Credits had a bad habit of disappearing on them.

Yara ordered a couple flats of drinking water, another couple crates of nutrition packs, and fuel. Mando had gone off to look into some munitions that needed to be restocked. Once the orders were placed she allowed herself to browse through the market stalls.

She felt a gentle pressure against her back and her thoughts went to Mando. Without even realizing it was her gift that had given her the insight she turned towards the feeling. When she looked back she was unsurprised to see Mando standing across the market, watching her browse. She smiled and moved towards him. He held himself impossibly still as he waited for her. It was like life moved faster around him and he was the calm eye in the center of the storm. She admired the way the setting sun reflected in his armor, painting it shades of red, orange and purple. She wondered what he would say if she told him she thought it was beautiful.

"Get everything?" she asked with a smile.

Mando nodded imperceptibly. There was laughter in Yara's eyes and he wanted to ask what made her smile so brightly, but he wasn't sure how.

"The droids will be delivering our supplies soon," she told him.

"You head back. I don't want them on board the ship with the kid without one of us there. I have a few more things to get," Mando told her and he handed her the tablet of information.

Yara took the tablet and slid it into her leather satchel along with the rest of their credits. They would have to go over the information and decide on a first step, but it would feel good to have supplies and a full tank of fuel.

"Okay, see you back at the ship," Yara said and she turned.

Mando took a step towards her and she stopped, sensing his movement and responding without a word spoken between them. Often it was her gift that gave them warning, but she trusted his instincts. His helmet turned as though he were scanning the crowd. She turned to try and see whatever was making him tense, but she didn't see or feel anything out of place.

"Mando?" She asked uncertainly after a moment.

His head snapped down to look at her and the moment passed. "Let's finish up and get out of here," he said grimly. He wasn't quite sure what had him so on edge, but he trusted his instincts even when he didn't fully understand them. "Be safe," he let himself say and he watched as she moved away from him through the crowd.

Yara nodded and moved through the market back towards the bay. She could feel Mando's eyes on her like a warm weight against her skin.

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Yara was reading over the tablet as the droids carried in the supplies. She showed them where to stack everything and then sat on one of the crates and began reading over the information of their next target. It seemed the Aristos son, Maram Haids, had gotten himself into all sorts of trouble. The Pykes weren't to be messed with, but the good news was they were professionals. Chances were very good he was simply being held imprisoned in one of their many locations awaiting payment. The problem was going to be figuring out which one.

She told Mando as much when he returned. She didn't miss the tension running through his body as long as the droids were on the ship. She would have to ask him about it some day, but it felt incredibly private. He didn't seem able to focus until they had left. Once he turned back to her he exhaled a small sigh. She held out the tablet to him, showing him the list of lieutenants in their organization.

"These are possible weak points," she said.

Mando read over the list and the corresponding planets. "This one," he said pointing to a line halfway down the list. "I think that's our best chance at finding out where they are keeping him."

Yara had to push herself up on her toes to look over his arm at the list. "This one?" Yara asked with a frown. "Why her?"

"She has a weakness for the steambaths on Ryloth," Mando said. "We can use that. Would you mind running pre-flight? I have a few things to stow," Mando said.

Yara nodded. "Sure," she said and she climbed up the ladder into the cockpit. She dropped into the pilots seat and began to run scans. Below she saw on the readout when Mando closed the ramp, sealing the hull.

She pulled up the coordinates for Ryloth. It would be a full day journey to Ryloth from Naboo. Which was good. It would give her and Mando some time to come up with a plan.

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"This is a terrible plan," Yara whisper yelled to Mando. The two of them were moving down the main street in the upperclass section of Lessu, the capitol city.

"Why? You look like an Aristo. This bathhouse is frequented by an Aristos that we need to get close to. This is the perfect plan," Mando replied.

"I don't understand why I have to do this," Yara grumped, shifting uncomfortably in the expensive clothes they had purchased to help her blend in with the wealthy clientele.

"I think I would stand out in the women's section of the bathhouse," Mando said wryly behind her.

It was always hard to tell with him, but Yara was pretty sure Mando had just told a joke. He was following behind her like a silent, imposing shadow. While she was going to pose as the daughter of a wealthy aristocrat he would be her loyal bodyguard. What better to convince them she had credits to burn than a bratty girl paying frivolously for a Mandalorian bodyguard.

Yara glanced nervously up at the ornate doors of the bath house. "Here we go," she muttered.

Mando stepped up beside her, into her space and reached for the door as though he would hold it for her. He could see how nervous she was about their charade. He had never seen her nervous like this before. Conscious that they were likely being monitored he let his shoulder lightly touched hers as he reached around her to hold the door. 

She jerked and looked up at him in surprise as though she hadn't expected the contact. "I'm here," he promised her, his tone through his modulator so low she barely heard it. 

Yara let out a sigh and nodded as she composed herself. She lifted her chin an inch and put on the air of a wealthy brat and swept into the door. Yara stepped into the lush entrance hall and a female Twi'lek came forward. She bowed. "My Lady," she greeted. "Welcome to the Jixuan baths, your patronage is most appreciated. Can I get you a beverage while you wait?"

"No, thank you," Yara said imperiously.

The Twi'lek bowed. "If you and your bodyguard would wait here just a moment my lady, I will make sure a receiving chamber is prepared for you."

Yara stood in the entrance hall, forcing a look of boredom on her face. The bath house was grander than she had anticipated, decorated in shining golds and silvers it looked like an expensive brothel. So much of Ryloth was poor, the opulence of this place was over the top. She saw several other patrons milling around, but the only Twi'leks she saw were working. It was clearly a destination for wealthy off-worlders. 

The twi'lek returned and quietly led them down a lavish hall and held the door open for them to enter. Mando stepped past Yara and made a show of clearing the room before he nodded to her that it was safe. He took a position against the far wall with his hands clasped behind him. The room was small but designed for optimum relaxation. There was a large lounging couch, several tables and a single straight backed chair against the wall beside a second door on the far wall. 

The twi-lek glanced at Mando nervously. "I'm very sorry my lady. Your bodyguard is permitted in the receiving rooms, but won't be permitted to follow you into the baths," she said.

Yara giggled as though the thought of it was ridiculous. "Of course I wouldn't have him follow me into the baths, he might rust. I'll leave him here with the rest of my belongings."

Though he appeared stoic as ever, behind his helmet Mando was secretly pleased to watch Yara pretending to be an Aristo. Now that they were here she was behaving as though she had done this every day of her life and was used to people waiting on her hand and foot. She flipped her long hair over her shoulder and moved to the ornate couch and dropped down to lounge as they waited.

Another Twi'lek came into the room a few moments later. She bowed low and laid a white garment down on the end of the couch that matched what the workers had been wearing. "I believe this is your first trip to the baths my lady. You may access the general baths through the back door. There is a schedule of treatments listed here," she said gesturing to a small booklet sitting on the table beside the door. "Please enjoy yourself my lady. We will bring refreshments to the room so you may take food and drink between treatments. Can I get you anything else my lady?" she asked, bowing.

Yara flipped her fingers dismissively. "That will be all," she said in a bored tone. 

Once they were alone Yara stood. She took the white garment in her hands nervously.  Yara glanced over her shoulder at Mando. She hadn't considered the fact that she would have to change with him in the same room. Her heart was thundering in her chest and she gripped the dress tightly. 

Mando swallowed and turned his back to Yara so he was facing the wall. "I ah, I won't look," Mando promised her. 

Yara drew in a shaky breath and turned her back to him as well. She quickly stripped out of her clothes, leaving them piled up together. She knew enough about the healing baths to know that she wasn't supposed to wear anything under the white garment they provided, but when she lifted it up she swore.

"Everything okay?" Mando asked, his deep baritone rumbled through the small room, reminding her there were only a few feet between them.

"Don't turn around, I'm not dressed," Yara said quickly. 

Mando's hands tightened into fists, but he kept himself firmly rooted in place. 

The garment itself was almost totally see through when it was spread flat. She soon realized it was little more than two long strips of white gauzy fabric. She rested one over each shoulder as she had seen. Each panel came down and covered her breast and then they gathered together at the waist in the front and back of her body to cover her lower half. It was all precariously held together by a simple belt. 

Yara stepped in front of the mirror and tried to adjust the fabric and belt to cover as much as possible, but the more she spread out the fabric the more sheer it became. She would never have considered herself very conservative before, heck the clothes she chose to wear every day showed a fair amount of skin, but this could hardly be considered a dress. Deciding to prioritize which parts of her she wanted to keep a mystery, she bunched the fabric over her breasts and resigned herself to her mortification. 

She cleared her throat, suddenly feeling more nervous than she thought possible to face Mando dressed like this. "Okay...I guess," she stammered.

Mando turned around slowly just in case Yara told him to stop. When she didn't, he lifted his gaze to look at her. Suddenly, it felt like he couldn't get enough air. The Twi'leks had always been comfortable with their bodies and public nudity was fairly common, but seeing Yara wearing what they would consider a dress took his breath away. The slim swaths of fabric barely covered her ample breasts and lower half, leaving more skin exposed than covered and left hardly anything to the imagination. 

Mando swallowed thickly. "I-" he started to say and stopped, he quickly tore his eyes away from her and looked at the floor.

"I told you this was a terrible plan. This better be worth it," she warned him. It was much easier to be mad than embarrassed. "This is humiliating," she turned and stomped towards the door that led to the baths.

"Yara," he called after her.

She turned back to face him. Her eyes were snapping with temper and she crossed her arms over her chest, trying to cover as much of herself as possible. 

"Do you have any weapons?" he asked gently. 

She made a noise of disbelief in the back of her throat and shot him a glare. "Where exactly do you expect me to hide any weapons in this?" she asked gesturing to her body.

Mando forced his chin to stay up. As badly as he wanted to rake his eyes over her once more, he wouldn't let himself. He couldn't. He respected her and he had to stay focused. He drew in a breath and moved towards her, locking his eyes on hers even though he knew she wouldn't be able to tell where he was looking. He pulled a knife and held it out to her. "I don't want you in there unarmed."

Mando's voice was surprisingly gentle and it made Yara feel badly for being a jerk about this. She very much doubted Mando could have known the attire of the bathhouse. Yara sighed and took the blade. She turned her back to him and slid it beneath the dress in the front of her body, where the tension from her belt held the blade against her skin. She shivered as the cool beskar touched her. 

"It's cold," she said turning back to him. Mando's helmet was slightly lifted, as though he were trying to not stare at her, but she could feel his gaze like a warm caress against her skin. She swallowed thickly as something other than embarrassment flooded her stomach. 

"Ah, let's get this over with," she stammered and she headed towards the door before she said or did something embarrassing. 

Mando fought to swallow as images of cold beskar against her bare skin went over him. When she disappeared out the door into the steam baths he dropped into a chair with a sigh. He wondered if there was cold shower around here somewhere. 

Yara was right. This was a terrible plan.

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I hope you enjoyed the update!