Part 1: Alysia

The next few days were uneventful. Then a week goes by. Alysia stares at the clock on the wall of her home as the time ticks away. Today, it officially marks the 7th day since the Mandalorian and his child departed. She imagines them freezing to death, trapped on an ice planet with no one around to help or find them. Even though she knows Din is more than capable of protecting himself and his kid, yet she can't help but worry. Her heart sinks at the thought of them never returning.

Based on her brief interactions with Din so far, he was caring and gentle towards Grogu, as well as respectful and courteous. Plus, she could tell that the child loved him in return. The Force swirled around them like a whirlwind of energy, which made her heart swell with affection. She's hoping to get to know the enigmatic man beneath the helmet. Gruff and short with his speech, the quiet loner type has created a mischievous spark in her.

As a woman, men were always easy for her to find anytime she needed a quick release. She's had plenty of opportunities in the past. Sometimes, she would use a subtle mind trick on guys sidling up to her in cantinas. Other times, she'd hook up with a man for only one night. So she's no stranger to capturing the attention of males throughout her lifetime.

Early on, it was all about survival. Plain and simple. Yet she hasn't been touched or touched a man for several years now. After years of avoiding any attachments, now she overcompensates when it comes to making friends. Right now, she truly misses the sensation of a warm body against hers.

The Great Jedi Purge did not leave anyone out. It even involved the children and anyone who was Force-sensitive. It also included any who had previously left the Order, like her mother. Constantly traveling from place to place to hide from the Empire's sinister Jedi hunters, it's been hard for her to develop a trusting relationship with another person. At times it seems as if the galaxy is working against her, taking away anything or anyone she cares about. She knows this is risky, to be waiting for a faceless man she hardly knows.

***

It's been a long day of baking, serving her customers, and aching knuckles from kneading dough, so she is relieved to have some time off for the next few days. There's a hidden pocket under the folds of her tunic that she hasn't reached for in a while, because she hasn't wanted to. But right now, on this particular morning, she needed to.

Thinking back to how Din was able to identify her weapon with his helmet, made her think if the other Mandalorians in town were able to see it. Perhaps they can but simply ignore it, since they don't see her as a threat? This was never something she has thought about before, since she doesn't always carry it with her. It's not like she has had daily run-ins with their kind in the past, it's only here on Nevarro that they walk freely.

Her mother would always say that a Jedi's lightsaber is an extension of themselves. Yet even though she has gotten used to the lack of sensation over the years, it still feels like a missing limb when she's not holding it. Sliding her fingers into her pocket, she grips onto the familiar handle and she immediately feels a soothing wholeness.

It is just the right amount of thickness and length in her palm. The saber is simple yet elegant, like how her mother was. The metal is never too cold or too hot, even with the heat of the blade. It is always the same temperature of her hands and it shares her body's pulsating heartbeats. She closes her eyes and presses the hilt to her forehead. It felt like being reunited with an old friend. This is her most cherished item. She's never had her own lightsaber. This is the only physical connection she has of her mother.

Alysia stands on her feet, allowing the Force to flow to the blade as she ignites it. She hears the soft distinct scrape as it lengthens, and the low frequency buzz that shoots up her spine and spreads through her body. The dazzling light cyan hue illuminated the entire room, which connects straight to her heart. She hears her mother's voice in her head as she remembers a past experience. A time when she was still a young girl...

"Your emotions can be your strength, my darling, but you must never allow them to control you."

"But mother, I'm afraid!"

"You must learn to accept death. One day, I will die. One day, you will die. Do not be afraid. There is freedom in life. There is purpose in death. A time will come when we will all be one with the Force."

"But I don't want you to die!"

"Sweetheart, please do not cry. I will always be with you. Do not fear loss, and you must never seek revenge. For it heals nothing."

"What if I lose control?"

"You must remember, always trust the Force. I love you, my daughter."

As she remembers her mother's teachings, a tear of joyful sorrow flows down her cheek and a small smile spreads across her face. She disengages the saber, tucks the saber back in her pocket, then sits down on her bed and prepares to meditate. She treasures the time she spends connecting to the Force, so she feels fortunate to finally have some time off.

Meditating is a trained skill. It takes years to perfect and master it. For that reason, one's surroundings is a crucial part of the process. The Force is energetic and alive. It needs to be controlled and tamed, like domesticating a wild animal. It flows through all living things, and it penetrates the soul of our existence.

After her mother ultimately decided to leave the Jedi Order during the Clone Wars, her parents moved to a quaint and peaceful town on Raydonia. Alysia recalls meditating with her mother on a daily basis. Even though she has been trained to use a lightsaber, yet she never had an opponent other than her mother and a training droid. Making friends came easy to her as a child, but once her parents were killed, she became quite hesitant to allow herself to give in to attachments.

She knows that emotions are never straight forward. Normally they're messy or all mixed together, and are generally impacted by one another. Sometimes, she would have to work a little harder, reaching out with her mind to get through toughest of barriers. Pain is often betrayal mixed with anger or fear, and it can also be jealousy coated with corrupted pleasure or hostility.

But every once in a while, pain takes on a lighter tone, a sadness swathed around a shining center of love or warmth. Yet there are some people who are nearly impossible to read, like Din. The man is definitely not an emotional fountain by any means. He seemed pretty steady and keeps himself in check, like any well-trained soldier would.

Yet, the child he has been caring for must have cracked him wide open. The bond they shared each other was stronger than anything she has felt before. She recognizes this feeling. It's the same type of connection she once shared with her parents. She wonders how that youngling survived all these years. Perhaps it was because of the protection of the Mandalorian, who might have kept him safe from the Imperial's clutches.

***

Part 2: Din

Being a contractor with the New Republic means that he can rent a larger ship to transport his bounties. Yet this one's got him nervous. The assignment that Carson Teva gave him is to capture an Imperial sympathizer. This particular quarry is wanted for putting an illegal assassination hit on his comrade, Bo-Katan. So if he succeeds in bringing him in warm, it'll earn him a good fortune, which should keep him and Grogu going for a while.

This bounty is high-risk, skilled, and clever. So there's a good chance his target might catch on to the pursuit and attack him first. So if that happens, it's going to take everything he's got not make any mistakes. All senses must be on high alert. He's going to have to adapt, play it safe, be quick, and try a few new tactics. He just might make it out in one piece.

But meeting that woman on Nevarro was...unexpected. Alysia had a courageous disposition, but it was swaddled with warmth and affection. So unlike him. Bounty hunters weren't normally good people, and he was no exception. He did awful things for awful people, but he also had his rules and code of honor. He was a lot more reckless in his youth, sleeping with random strangers before running off to capture some fool the next morning.

Women and dating aren't what he knows. They're usually too much effort for him, especially in recent years. Most women are typically too delicate or preoccupied with their own lives to deal with him. Bounty hunters, like himself, were often too harsh or cruel for most girls. And as he got older, he has preferred to concentrate more on his work than his own selfish desires. Lately anytime he's had the urge, he would take take care of it himself—alone.

Based on his contact with Jedi so far, he felt that they are rational and have a steady core. Alysia came across as brave, but in a way that was earned rather than inherent. Yet she was soft but covering it with a tough front. She had an assertive warmth and tenderness, which she could use as weapons that has the potential to get under his skin.

Despite the fact that Alysia revealed very little about herself, it did not feel foreign to him. He too had hidden his name from others all his life, and has shut himself off from any type of intimate relationship for many, many years. Alysia could wreck him from the inside, but at the same time it doesn't feel like it would be unpleasant at all.

His whole life revolved around the oath he took. His armor is his identity and it's rear that anyone touches him without violence. But if they do, it's a light tap or a simple handshake. Never anything gentle or soft. His beskar typically gives off a "do not touch" signal. Apparently this doesn't work on her.

He's aware of how foolish he is, but Alysia has made him feel a gentle warmth that begun to unfold in his chest. She is a temptation that he is having a hard time ignoring. He immediately sidestepped this unknown feeling, even though it lingered, attempting to make itself comfortable in his mind. But she's not on his mind every second. He does know how to focus and puts her away while he's working.

Yet he is looking forward to seeing her again, and the expression on her face when she sees him. Her smile was like sunshine on a rainy day, warming her way into the coldest part of his heart. Similar to what the kid had done to him, but this time it felt different. A jolt of excitement shot up his spine, spreading throughout his body as his heart pounded in his chest.

Alysia is entirely unlike those barmaids or sex workers he has encountered in his youth. She is cordial and warmhearted, who's brave and can take care of herself but also wants him. Heat spread throughout his body, and then a thought occurred to him. He has discovered that there's something deep within him that craves to be wanted — but not with anyone — but by her.

He can't have any distractions on this one. He checks and rechecks every piece of beskar and weapon to make sure they are secure and in place. He's fortunate that the spaceport he has landed on is quite busy tonight. This gives him more opportunities to quietly slip out of his ship and move through the crowds, then back into the shadows once again, keeping his head down and his guard up.

He hits the remote on his vambrace. He listens as the ramp descends. He counts to ten as he steps off the ship. He hits the remote again and waits for the ramp to go back up.

It's time to go.