DIN'S POV

The second she disappeared into the back door of the hanger, he instantly felt empty. He is entirely grateful that Nia paid for his fuel, just another reason why he likes her. He resists the urge to run after her, but he quickly retires back into his ship and brings up the ramp. He didn't want to be a savior. Last time he did, it ended up in heartache and grief, along with the slaughtering of his covert! He is a ruthless killer and a merciless hunter! Being alone is best. Attachments are dangerous and stupid, he keeps telling himself over and over.

In the meantime, Nevarro is only a few days away. If he's lucky, Karga will have a new high-yield bounty for him. However, he has to make up an excuse for not turning Nia in. He goes to punch in the coordinates when he sees the blinking green light on the control panel, indicating a new holomessage. Of course she left him something! She must've done this while he was in the bathroom. He clicks the button and her beautiful image appears in front him.

"Hello cabuor (protector). Thank you for flying me and helping to get rid of those raiders. I know you asked me to come with you. I probably would have if I never had that vision, which are usually correct. I can never ask you to join me or to rearrange your life for me, but I could really use your help. I know you want to return to bounty hunting. However, if you change your mind, I'll be at the Spaceport Hotel. You may be a dangerous man, but you are not cruel. I know you will do the right thing."

As her image disappears from sight, thoughts and memories are rushing through Din's mind.

"Dank ferrik! What the hell am I doing?! I can't leave! Once again, another innocent child needs help. She's right, like always!" He says to himself as he punches in a few buttons on the control panel. Then Karga's face is displayed on the holoprojector.

"Mando! It looks like you're back on your ship again!"

"Yes, Karga. I'm on Tatooine. Something came up. I may have to be here awhile."

"Speaking of Tatooine, I have news for you. The new marshal here has just informed me that our old friend escaped custody, Moff Gideon. Apparently he's after a new child, a young girl there on Tatooine. The New Republic is offering a large bounty for either his capture or his assassination, proof of termination will be required of course. The reward is 50,000 credits. I'm offering this to you, since I know you have a history with him and you are my best hunter. What do you say?"

"I'm in."

"Excellent! I'll inform the marshal. By the way, whatever happened with that other bounty?"

"Uh, well...she was killed by someone else. I was too late."

"Oh, is that so? Well it doesn't matter anymore. This is more urgent! The New Republic will forgive all crimes after the completion of this mission, for you and me. I'll look forward to hearing back from you. Good luck out there!" Karga says as his image disappears.

"Damn it! Here I go again!" He says softly to himself as he stands up and heads down the ladder. He stomps over to his weapons cabinet and arms himself with his ambian-pulse sniper rifle before lowering the ramp, then storms out into the hot and sandy climate of Tatooine.

——————

"Mando, what's gotten you all worked up?" The mechanic, Peli Moto says. A petite, greasy and frizzy-haired woman with various tools strapped to her waist.

"Peli, I'm looking for a young girl. She may be in trouble."

"Oh. Saving another child, huh? Well I'm not sure how to help you. You know slavery is still very prominent here, even though the New Republic outlawed it. Mos Espa is notorious for such scum."

With a heavy sigh, Din knows it's going to be a mission trying to locate a child among this lawless planet.

——————

NIA'S POV

The moment she exits the ship, the two suns are brutal against her skin and the sand gets into every crevice. This reminded her why she hates deserts planets! However, for some reason, Tatooine always felt like home to her. She quickly pays for fuel to the short and outspoken mechanic, one last gift for Din before he leaves. She's hoping he would come to his senses, but either way she is here to do a job.

Upon entering through the back door of the docking bay and into a long narrow hallway, she eventually exits out into the famous hot, dusty, and crowded streets of Mos Eisley. This city is not a place of good samaritans. Slavery is rampant and illegal activities control this planet. The New Republic is still in it's infancy and have not been very successful with controlling the many seedy and foul businesses here in this remote Outer Rim planet.

Traveling through the streets, she goes unnoticed as she puts her hood up over her head. With a backpack full of valuables and rare artifacts, she must be very careful. The path she's taking is familiar, each alley and street she has seen before. It's been a few years, but she still remembers this town. Droids moving about running errands, various species of individuals bartering with shop owners, and Jawas scampering throughout as they collect anything shiny laying around.

She turns a corner onto Spacers Row, a very busy street that contains a large open marketplace and the Spaceport Express Shipping Company. Across the street is the Spaceport Hotel, which is slightly better than the Mos Eisley Inn. She knows the hotel has air conditioning and sonic showers, can't go wrong with that! She walks inside and is met by a Sullustan man in a dark green jumper behind a tall counter.

"One room, please," she tells the innkeeper.

"Name?" He asks in a Sullustese accent.

"Mina Dillbra," she replied as he punched a few buttons on a datapad before handling her a keycard.

"If a Mandalorian in shiny silver armor walks in looking for me, please tell him what room I'm in," she says as she pays him 15 credits, enough for at least one night.

"Sure, miss. Enjoy your stay."

She's stayed in worse hotels than this. This place is dusty and dirty, like most on Tatooine, and the people are shady and suspicious looking. Some are sitting at the bar drinking by themselves, others are gathered around tables and betting on card games. She heads up the stairs, past several grease stained doors to room 23. She swipes her keycard across the locking mechanism as the door immediately opens with a loud whoosh.

Once inside she is greeted with a grimy windowless room and a remarkably large queen size bed. She closes and locks the door behind her as she removes her backpack, spear and poncho, allowing the items to fall on the floor. She steps towards the bed and collapses on her back onto the soft mattress.

"Ok, master. I'm here. Now what?" She says softly as she closes her eyes. It must've only been a few minutes before she is awoken by a soft knock on the door. She dashes to open it and standing in the doorway is the familiar man in beskar.

———————

"So, what's your plan for finding this kid?" He asked immediately as the door opened.

Without saying anything, Nia throws her arms around him and says, "I knew you would come."

Din returns the hug and says, "Of course. You were right. I'm sorry."

"Shh. Don't worry about it. Thank you for being here," she says as she releases him and steps aside to let him inside. "Please, come in."

The moment he walks inside, she shuts the door and locks it, "I have no idea where to begin."

"I have news. It's not good."

"Of course it's not. What do you know?"

"I spoke with Greef Karga. He told me Moff Gideon escaped custody. Apparently he's after this girl. There's a high price for his capture, dead or alive."

"The Empire?! I should've known! Dank ferrik! Probably are going to use her for another one of their diabolical experiments."

"Yea. My foundling was being used for the same purpose before I rescued him. I helped to put Gideon behind bars. Now he's at large again!"

"Well. I'm really glad you're here, however I have no idea what to do next. My master sent me here to this city for a reason. So I say we go out knocking on doors and start asking questions. Do you have any objections to that?"

"Whenever I'm on the hunt, the local cantinas are usually a good place to start. Do you have any idea what the child looks like?"

"Not at all, but I'll know her once I see her. I have a strong feeling that this girl may be Force-sensitive."

"I don't know anything about this Force stuff, but I trust you."

"Good. So do you want something to drink or anything before we head out? You must be boiling under there!"

"No. I'm used to it. Let's go."

"Okay, but I can't go anywhere without my stuff. Valuable artifacts, ya know..."

"Of course. You still have the darksaber?"

"I do. Want it back?"

"No. You can hang onto it for now."

"Alright captain," she says as she tosses her brown poncho over her shoulders, she makes sure the backpack has her pouch of credits, datapad, the darksaber, the holocron and healing crystal, portable moisture vaporator and water canteen, a couple of ration bars and fruit, her comlink and lock pick, then holsters her pistol and lightsaber to her hip before grabbing her beskar spear. "Lead the way."

NIA'S POV

Upon exiting out into the bright sunny streets, Nia had to admit to herself that she missed the high energy of a major city. Even though Mos Eisley is a low-class area, everyone appeared happy and were usually friendly. It's been roughly three years since she's been here, yet she still puts her hood up over her head to hide her appearance, in case anyone might recognize her. A person like her can never be too careful.

On the other hand, Din seemed to be more on high alert. Nia could tell since he is constantly scanning the area with his helmet. Although most people may not be able to tell with his confident strides, Nia knew Din was a bit nervous. No need for any Force use. She saw his body was stiff and his hands were clenched into fists.

DIN'S POV

Anything related to the Empire is never a good sign. They can be anywhere and you may not know it. This entire situation has him on edge. Especially if Gideon is aware that he has a high bounty for his head, Din knows the man would not risk being out in the open and so exposed. It's possible Gideon may hire mercenaries or hunters to seek out this child, instead of using the more recognizable stormtrooper in white armor. Yet, it's only an assumption.

This feels awfully familiar, saving yet another Force-sensitive child from the Empire. He never thought this would happen to him again. At no time did he expect to be participating in another rescue mission. As much as he tried to run away from his emotions, the harder it got for him to resist. Nia is right. You can't hide who you are for long.

——————

As they walk through the busy streets, Nia reached out through the Force to sense anything that may offer them a clue or guidance. They rounded a corner and down a road that didn't feel familiar and it wasn't very inhabited.

"Let's turn around. There's nothing here," Din says, but just when they were about to go back the other direction, Nia sensed a weak presence inside one of the crumbling homes.

"Hold on, someone is inside here," she whispered.

Din stopped but said nothing. Nia followed her sense into a small door to a partially damaged condominium.

"Whoever it is, the vital signs are very weak," Din says softly.

Nia knocked on the door, but got no answer. When she pushed the door open, she immediately felt the faint sign of an older non-human woman. It was dark inside and the place was destroyed, most likely from a raid or a fight. Furniture is tossed around and there are some holes in the ceiling. Sensing that it was safe, she unsheathed her lightsaber and ignites the blade. The turquoise blue lit up the room. Two dead bodies are seen on the ground. They look like mercenaries with thick leather armor and blaster rifles. One was a Rodian and the other was a Nikto. It looks like this was a recent incident, probably only a day ago. This was probably the home of an innocent woman. She knew the Imperials were responsible for hiring these men. All of this destruction just to regain control of the galaxy.

"Hello, who is here?" Nia calls out.

"Child....put that away...before they...catch you," a soft trembling female voice is heard from behind some furniture.

Nia puts her saber away and says, "Who are you?"

"Easy...we've...met before....But you were...so little," her soft voice is heard in the corner of the room. "I am...Hela Ecrin."

As Nia and Din got closer and, to their surprise, they see an older Cosian woman lying on some blankets on the floor. She looked hurt and her clothes were torn and ripped as she clenches her stomach. Nia could see she is bleeding from a blaster wound.

"Ha...never thought...one of us....would team up...with a Mandalorian," she says weakly with a smile as she saw Din standing behind Nia. "I knew...you would come...Nia Senn."

"How do you know my name?"

"My dear....I may be...183...but I still have...my memory...and my gifts...I remember...all the children...I enlisted."

"You were a Jedi recruiter for the Order?!" Nia blurted out with surprise.

"That's right...I did...a lot of...investigative missions...for nearly...100 years," she continues to say in a weak voice.

"Did you recruit me?" Nia asked as she got to her knees.

"Yes."

"Where did I come from? Who are my parents?"

"Should have...told you...long ago.....That was...a mistake...we've made.....Your parents...were slaves....that's why they...gave you up," she says as her eyes began to close.

"Slaves! Where?"

"Oh...my dear...here on...Tatooine...The Force...brought you...back home."

"Master Ecrin, I can heal you!" Nia yelped.

"My child...I was...never a master...I've lived...long enough....Save your strength," she says as she pulls out a blue holocron from her pocket. "This is what...they were after...it's a...memory crystal...I've kept it...safe for...many years....Now it's...your turn."

"A memory crystal?!"

"It contains....names of...Force-sensitive children...I'm here...searching for a...young girl...Now it'll be...your mission."

"That's why we're here too!" Nia says as she takes the holocron and packs it away in her backpack.

"She's in...Mos Espa....I was...attacked by...those scum..."

"How did you survive Order 66?"

"I'm sure...you have...many questions...But right now...you need...to hurry...Here...I will...no longer be...needing it," she says as she gives Nia an item that looked like a cane. "Keep them...safe...Now go...More are...coming."

"I can save your life!"

"No...my time...has come...go with...the Mandalorian...you two are...bonded...promise me...be happy...do not...seek...revenge...May the...Force...be with you..." Mrs. Ecrin's last words fell from her mouth in breathless whispers as her whole body disappears, while her clothes and blanket falls onto the floor.

Finally she found out where she came from. A deep sorrow filled her mind, but the woman's advice rang in her ear as she looks down at the cane she was given. She pulls out the curved, rounded end of the walking stick to reveal the tilt of a lightsaber. As she ignites the weapon, a bright yellow blade lit up the room.

"Nia, my helmet is picking up several life forms approaching our location. We must leave, now!" Din whispers.

She deactivates the yellow blade and tucks the saber and the memory crystal into her pocket and says, "To Mos Espa, then?"

"Yes. Now hold onto me," Din says. Nia wraps her arms around his shoulders as he activated his jet pack, then they take off through a hole in the roof.