The Cold Heart of Space

Dragging his bounty back to the razor crest was tiring, plus shoving the large, unconscious body upright long enough to freeze him took a while. He would be glad to take a day off when he got back to the covert. But then, right back to work. This was his life, he had no reason to complain. And he didn't... out loud.

Din sat down heavily in his seat looking over his bounty pucks to make sure there was no one else he could get on this planet. When he found another bounty on the planet he was shocked at the face that floated above the device. It was a beautiful young girl! What could she have done? he wondered What does it matter? Just do the job and get the funds back to the culvert! he scolded himself, no questions. He pulled out the matching fob, and to his surprise, it was blinking rapidly. She was close, which was strange because he was in a hanger. He stood and looked around through the cockpit windows but didn't see her. He quickly jumped down from the cockpit and opened the bay door stepping out cautiously as to not frighten her away. He wasn't sure why he felt he needed to do that.

To his great surprise, she was standing right in front of the door!  Speaking to him, completely unaware of why he had just come out.

"Hello, Mando, I run this hanger. May I ask your ship's name for my logbook?" she asked kindly, but keeping direct.

"No" he answered, keeping his voice devoid of all emotion. He was observing her carefully. She had a solid build, coming to about 5'4" in height and capable hands, which looked like they had known a good many days of work.  He saw an odd formation in one of her sleeves discerning a small dagger. He noticed her hair was up in a tight bun making her look like she was all business, but her smile told him she was cheerful. Her hair was light brown. She had a natural blush that complemented her green eyes, which had flecks of orange if you looked carefully. He for one, couldn't stop looking at her enchanting eyes.

"Alright, I understand," she said looking down at her datapad, robbing the view of her eyes from him with the movement. "To hide the name will cost you one hundred credits," she said matter of factly.

"Or I could just leave," he stated plainly. He wasn't sure how to proceed with capturing her, his mind was a whirl with images of her smiling face. He could tell her body was mature despite the baggy clothes which hid most of her curves. His mind flashed an image of her in more feminine clothes and found her very attractive. Din! you have no place thinking that! Now shut up and just get her. But HOW? She was just a girl trying to make a living. Why would she put up a fight, justifying him knocking her out or putting her in any kind of bondage? Who had put the bounty on her head in the first place?

"Yes, but I would not appreciate that at all. I do have to make a living and my business partner insists upon this fee," she said gesturing to the door that was marked 'Office'. Having no knowledge of his thoughts, she thought he was just low on funds; since she could not see his eyes darting for an answer to his predicament. "It's not very much compared to some around here," she continued, just the old drill, they don't want to pay, make it seem fair. It truly was fair, one hundred credits were nothing really.

He could think of nothing else to do or say, so he brought out the puck and lit it up, showing her a rotating hologram of her own face. He didn't know what to expect from her but what she did was not even close to what he might have guessed.

Her face darkened. "Why do you have that?" she asked. Her mind was racing to remember anything she had done to warrant a bounty on her head. Suddenly it came to her. DERICK!!! "No, Please, I can explain!" she gasped as tears started in her eyes at the memory of the awful man's treatment of her. Her hand automatically went to her throat remembering his tight grip. There were dark bruises in the shape of a large hand but her hight collar hid them.

Derick Ecarious was a government official with great power, who had made advances towards her. He was a disgusting drunk with the manners and face of a hut. Apparently he had expected her to welcome his advances with open arms, for when she tried to politely decline, he had cornered her in an ally later in an attempt to overpower her and take what he wanted then and there. Had she known he was this enraged by her rejection, she would not have walked home alone. She had been able to escape thanks to the dagger she kept in her sleeve. He was also intoxicated at the time, allowing her to cut his leg and escape sporting only the severe bruising and a rattled mind.

"Please, just come peaceably and I will not harm you," he told her. He saw the tears in her eyes as she pleaded to be allowed to explain. The sight caused a strange tightness in his chest. What is the cause of that? Her next words explained it quickly.

"I have done nothing wrong! There is a government official who is angry with me because I would not give myself as his bed slave and he attacked me in an ally and I hurt him. Now he has set a bounty on my head!!" she was fighting back the tears trying to sound reasonable. "Please just..." her voice trailed off remembering Derick screaming after her that she would pay for what she did as she ran away. He had his small army out looking for her, forcing Polaris to go to the outskirts of the city to find work. Would it be so bad to get off the planet? Maybe she could go with this man and start a new life away from Derick. Very far away! Perhaps she could persuade him to simply let her go. "Actually sir, I will come with you. Just give me a moment," She was shocked at her own words as she rushed into the office to get some necessities. Polaris Farrier, what are you doing?! Getting away from Derick, do you see any other opportunities coming along to swoop you away?... didn't think so. This Mando is your best chance. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                  

oh, dear! Well, they are going to be with each other for a while! Let's see what transpires!!