DIN'S POV

Caid was a sweet old man, and his nervousness caused Din to regret his previous violent outburst. Caid was particularly uneasy while he was assisting Din in the refresher, but eventually the old man calmed down over time. He even tried to strike up a conversation with Din by asking questions like:

"Where are you from?"

And....

"What do you do for a living?"

Din's usual response is to answer in single words or short phrases, like he would with anyone else. He hates small talk, but Caid has been quite respectful. Always asked for permission before doing anything, offered him as much privacy as he could, always had a smile on his face, and kept calling him Sir or Mr. Mandalorian, which he appreciated.

While Din sat on a chair inside the shower, allowing the hot water to drip down his face and chest, his brain began to wander. Unexpectedly, thoughts of Asra flooded his mind. He couldn't help but admire how she was able to lift him up so effortlessly off the floor, especially since he is much larger than her.

She's a total mystery and he underestimated her. The scars on her arms and hands, together with her strong will, tells him that she's no ordinary woman or healer. This only further deepened his intrigue. Moreover, the most confusing aspect of all this, is that he can't figure out if he enjoys her company or wants to leave and not come back. Yet she interests him. So much so that he has a deep desire to explore ways to pin her down to the nearest surface and show her what he's capable of. Suddenly his vulgar thoughts are got cut off by a gentle knock on the refresher door.

Once the old man helped him out of the shower, he was changed into a clean hospital gown, and his old bandages were replaced with new ones. To his surprise, he began to feel a bit anxious about seeing Asra again. His stomach fluttered and his heart was pounding with anticipation, but it wasn't a bad feeling. He felt like a kid who's about to receive a new toy. He wanted to see her. However, he knows she hates him. He remembers her saying that she doesn't want him here, which is probably a good thing. He should take a step back. He needs to start thinking of her only as a healer who's simply doing her job and nothing more.

Before he knows it, he's being placed into the bed with clean sheets and new bandages. As Caid says good night, he exits the room and Nia walks in as his heart suddenly skips a few beats.

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The might of the Empire once spread across the vast star systems; even the Outer Rim felt it's impact. Believe it or not, the Imperial army has sent a platoon of troopers to every small, most distant, or poverty-stricken planet in their grasp. It was their way to persecute civilians and display their power, as well as to discourage any uprising from forming. Yet after the destruction of the two Death Stars, and the assassination of the Emperor, it has proven to everyone that their scheme didn't work.

Today, the New Republic is still in it's infancy as they try to make their way into the farthest territories of the galaxy. Planets in the Outer Rim are notorious for harboring bandits and pirates, and it's no different here on Felucia. Many who live on remote planets feel that the New Republic has deserted them, and that life has not improved since the Empire fell. Most civilians feel forgotten as their homes continue to be terrorized by Imperial remnants and criminal gangs.

In recent years, the New Republic sent out veteran soldiers to the most desperate locations, supplying them with urgently needed provisions. To enforce their control and offer assistance, marshals were placed in cities and towns as peacekeepers and law enforcement officers. In addition, mercenaries were often hired as a way to provide much-needed security and support for faraway planets. A guild was also established to provide authorization and advocacy for bounty hunters.

Yet the profession is still unstable and often times innocent people are captured or killed, which was the case for Nia long ago. When she worked as a bounty hunter, prior to the formation of the guild, her target was a man framed for murder. Nia went to the extreme in order to help him and his family. Her actions sparked outrage within her clan. This is the reason she has now dedicated her life to helping the innocent, as well as healing the sick and the injured. The one thing she hates more than the Empire, is injustice.

Felucia was the location of several battles throughout the Clone Wars, and is the place where Jedi Master Aayla Secura was executed by her clone troopers during the purge. Today, the planet has been left abandoned by the newly formed government, therefore the townspeople must rely on each other for protection from any who threaten their way of life.

NIA'S POV

Nia stayed by the door just like she said she would. She felt a bit uneasy about leaving the old man in there with a hot-tempered Mandalorian. Yet something tells her that this armored warrior, although he's been fairly vexed by being stuck here, doesn't seem to have the cruelty to hurt anyone unnecessarily.

There is another part of her that calls to her. An inclination to learn more about this man and where he came from. He may have knowledge or information of the whereabouts of her old clan. Apart from her training in the Force, she has also studied Mandalorian history and has researched the various sects of the culture ever since she's been out on her own. Then, her thoughts get interrupted by her friend.

"Hey Asra. They've been in there for some time now. Why don't you go get yourself something to eat. I can wait here," Maya says. As the town's only licensed physician, she's perfectly capable of handling this situation. Yet a part of Nia doesn't want to leave until the Mandalorian is completely comfortable in his bed.

"Thank you Maya, but I feel it's best if I stay here until the man is ready for the night," Nia says with concern in her voice.

"You work too hard. Even someone like you needs to eat."

"I'll be alright. Besides, I should do another treatment before he falls asleep. Do we have any sleeping pills?"

"Yes. I'll grab one for you."

After a few minutes, the door to the lockdown door slides open as Caid walks out into the large back office area.

"So, how was he?" Nia asked.

"He's ready for bed," Caid says with a smile.

"Did he behave himself?"

"Oh yes. He's headstrong and easily irritable, but not quite as menacing as I originally thought."

"Well it looks like our friend has finally listened to me and has been cooperating," Nia says as she enters the room. "Thank you Caid. You are free for the night. See you tomorrow," Nia says as she closes the door behind her and locks it.

Nia stands by the door as the helmeted man stares at her from the bed across the room. Clean white sheets draped over his legs, and he's wearing a light blue hospital gown. Although his facial expression is hidden underneath his helmet, she knows he's had a rough day. His arms are crossed and he's as stiff as steel.

"I need to do one more treatment before we both call it a night," Nia says, as she holds the sleeping pill and a cup of water in her hands.

"What's that you have?"

"It's a sleeping pill. I'll place it by your bed in case you have trouble falling asleep. It's important that you rest," she says as she steps forward towards the Mandalorian's bed. He stares at her as she slowly approaches him. Wearing a white lab coat and black pants, her braided blonde hair now slightly messier than earlier in the day, yet he finds this to be appealing.

"I won't need that," he says firmly.

"I hope you won't need it either, but it's useful for emergencies," Nia explains as she places the cup of water and the pill on the nightstand, then goes to sit on a stool by the bed. As she sits there next to him, his helmet is fixed on her face. It seems like he's studying her every move, as if he's mesmerized.

"Just like I did the first time, I will need to touch you again," Nia says.

A gentle nod of his shiny helmet tells her it's okay to continue. So she takes out her golden crystal and grips it hard in her left hand. With her right hand, she folds over the bedsheet to reveal his injured leg. She gently placed her hand on his leg, while the puncture wound is almost completely healed, she can sense that the femur bone is still broken in two pieces.

"I'm hoping by tomorrow I can move you onto a hover chair. I can take you to your ship. The crash site is about 30 yards from a nysillin farm. Our mechanic was kind enough to gather up the pieces of the wreckage and store them in his junkyard."

The Mandalorian didn't respond. Not with words that is. He simply hummed in satisfaction as Nia continued the healing process. He watches her close her eyes as he felt his leg twitch and jerk slightly. Suddenly, he squeezed his eyes shut, sucks air into his lungs, and clenches his fists as he feels a sharp pain deep in his bone. He watches the golden crystal glow in her palm as her grip on his thigh tightens. With her eyes still closed, her hand gradually glides upwards towards his groin as he feels his leg jolt up and down once again. Another sharp pain shoots through his leg from his hip to his knee, he gasped as she slowly opens her eyes and ends the connection.

"Sorry if that hurt. Your leg is broken in two places. This was more extensive than the first treatment, which is why it was more painful."

How many more treatments will I need?" He asked as she removes her hand and covers his leg back up with the sheet.

"If I can do two of these a day, I say you could be out of here in three days. On the last day I can relocate you to a more comfortable room. Doesn't that sound good?"

"Does everyone here know your a Jedi?" He asked, once again striking up the same conversation as before. Curiosity has taken control of his actions and his mind.

"The term 'Jedi' implies that I've completed formal training," Nia says, clearly this man is going to continue asking her.

"And I'm assuming you didn't?"

Nia gulps visibly. Telling a bounty hunter that she is a survivor of Order 66 is like throwing fuel in a fire. So she decided to avoid the topic.

"What clan are you from?"

"Don't change the subject," he says sharply. Clearly her tactics aren't going to work on him, but she continues to dodge the topic.

"The Tribe on Navarro, are any of them still alive?" She asked a more direct question. Her words sparked an electric shock that shook his entire body. The jolt rattled his core and pierced the muscles along his limbs.

"What did you say?" He asked, his voice quivering like a frightened loth-cat.

"You are not the only Mandalorian I've met in my life, but you are the first I've seen in many years."

"How do you know the Tribe?"

"I'll make you a deal. I'll answer your question if you answer one of mine."

"Fine. You answer first."

"I broke the rules to save an innocent man's life. Today, I've dedicated my life to the Force, and to help people rather than capturing them for credits," she explained vaguely.

"So you were a bounty hunter?"

"That's two questions. My turn to ask you. Are any of them alive?"

"I, uh, I-I'm...not sure," he babbled insecurely.

"So I'm going to guess you haven't seen or heard from them in some time. I tried looking for them but, as you know, Mandalorians are very allusive and secretive."

"How do you know The Tribe?" He asked gently.

"Perhaps that's enough for tonight. You should get some sleep. This remote is connected to my comlink. If you need anything, please ask instead of getting up yourself. The door will be locked. You are safe here," Nia says as she stands up, hands him a small remote control, and quickly leaves the room before he can ask any more questions.