Ask Butting Heads

[Song Wren]

Song wondered what Kanan would think at the offer of the reward, knowing a majority of Sector Rangers weren’t in it for the money, but the responsibility. For justice and law, and above all else, honor. Much like any Mandalorian. At his refusal of payment, and yet acceptance of the deal, made her think that much highly of him.

Even if she could still feel his punches below her chest, Song was starting to like this man.

“Duermo will pay,” said Song, smirking underneath her helm. “I’ll make sure of it.”

With another deferential handshake, more sincere than the last, she glanced between Kanan and down the outpost road, towards the scrapyard she was originally headed to before confronting the Ranger. “Not sure if you heard, but the bartender told me a scavenger mechanic, Tera, would know. Said I’d find her at the outpost junkyard.”

Song looked over to him again. She wasn’t sure if he was planning to go along with her too, though personally, she wouldn’t mind the company. Wherever Duermo was, she doubted he was alone.

“You coming with?” she said, curiously. “Having someone like you around… it wouldn’t hurt.”

Did she just pay him a compliment? Yeah, probably.

@llamallove

 

[Kanan Marek]

Duermo will pay. Three words Kanan had heard the Mandalorian say before, but this time Kanan believed him when he said them. That Duermo pay, by whoever’s hand necessary—that was what mattered, and Kanan reminded himself of that.

A scavenger? It sounded like a good, solid lead. The open offer to join River on his quest for Duermo took Kanan by surprise, but he couldn’t have been more delighted by the offer. Strangely, he found himself not wanting to part ways with this intriguing Mandalorian quite yet, and he wasn’t one to pass up the chance of a good fight involving criminals.​

He had agreed to leave Duermo to River, and he fully intended to stick to that agreement, but seeing this matter out to the conclusion would be profitable to the both of them.​

“Nothing would bring me more pleasure,” Kanan replied, stepping aside to allow River to lead the way.​

@Feng Mian​

​

 

[Song Wren]

“Glad to hear it,” said Song, and with a hidden smile and a clear nod, she led them towards the open scrapyard in the distance and the crashed Imperial ship at its border.

The old outpost must have been the site of quite the battle. No doubt between rebelling natives and a weak Imperial occupation. The Mandalorian imagined hundreds of people, each in different walks of life, coming together in common cause against a common enemy. The thought was inspiring, because she too hoped to see the Clans of Mandalore united too, one day.

For now, she’d settle for tracking and catching Duermo.

Upon entering the junkyard, Song was met with several rusted droids, all watching her with hungry, mechanical eyes. Starved for parts. They followed her toward where she suspected the mechanic was, and though she felt bad for them, scared them off with the wave of her blaster. Two was a party, but any more than that was just a crowd.

She didn’t like crowds.

Eventually, she found a pair of human legs poking out from under a gutted speeder. Someone was busy working on its underbelly, adjusting cogs and wires inside of it. She stood there a second, expecting the mechanic to notice, but they were too wrapped up in their own little world.

She hoped this would be easy.

@llamalove

 

[Kanan Marek]

The sight of the Imperial Ship stirred many memories in Kanan’s mind. He never had the opportunity to meet his great-grandfather, unfortunately, but he had heard plenty of stories about him from his father and grandfather and how he had fought, playing a modest but admirable role in the war against the Galactic Empire. The memory of the stories brought a small smile to Kanan’s face, but he soon redirected his thoughts to the problem at hand. It wouldn’t do to get distracted at this stage.

Several droids were following them now; or rather, they were following River. Apparently Mandalorians and their armor attracted droids as well as life forms. River eventually scared them off with a wave of her blaster.


Kanan had begun to wonder if this mechanic, Tera, was around, or if the bartender had given a false lead, and then he spotted the legs sticking out from under a speeder. River was already making her way over to the mechanic, and Kanan followed. When the mechanic made no move to greet them, and River made no move to interrupt the mechanic’s work, Kanan did. “Hey,” he said gruffly, giving the mechanic’s feet a soft kick with his boot to get their attention.

@Feng Mian

 

[Song Wren]

Song nodded gratefully to Kanan. She had been patient enough to wait for the mechanic to finish, though she appreciated the fact her partner was keen to get the show on the road. They both were. Every minute which passed was another minute Duermo was out there, doing something he shouldn’t be doing.

A loud smack reverberated off metal and the figure stooped under the vehicle groaned. Song stopped herself from chuckling as she realized the mechanic had been surprised by Kanan’s gruff voice and slapped her head into the stripped speeder.

They slipped out from underneath and Song was just as surprised to find a much younger woman, barely an adult, with messy orange hair, a pair of tight goggles and a deep scowl, pointed particularly towards Kanan.

“What in the blazes!” said the girl, Tera, before recognizing the Ranger and the Mandalorian. “Oh, damn. Um. Hi there! What can I do you for you?”

She lifted herself off the ground and tried to dust off the smudges of oil and grease smeared over her apron and shirt. Naturally, nothing came off.

Though neither of them could see it, Song had raised a brow, unsure of what more to say. She figured Kanan, who had already initiated contact, would get the ball rolling. After all, it was just a matter of finding out where Duermo was hiding.

@llamallove

 

[Kanan Marek]

Kanan had not expected the mechanic to be so young, and at the sight of her he almost felt bad about startling her and causing her to hit her head against the speeder. The deep scowl she cast his way, however, told him that she could take care of herself,
​

With the mechanic to her feet, Kanan looked over to River, unsure if she wanted to question the mechanic or if she wanted him to. He had made an agreement with her, after all, and would follow her lead. When she didn’t say anything to the contrary, he assumed he had permission to continue.​

“We’re sorry to interrupt your work,” he began, the apology more of a formality than anything. He extended a hand to the mechanic, indifferent to a little grease and oil and then continued. “We’re looking for someone, and we were told you might know where he is. His name is Duermo. We would appreciate any help you could give us.”​

​

@Feng Mian​

 

[Song Wren]

“Oh, nah, you’re fine!” said Tera, who happily accepted the handshake in spite of the grease and lubricant slopped over her hand. “Always up to helpin’ a customer.”

The girl’s accent was a wild mess and Song could tell she had been living out on the outpost for a long time, her dialect mingling with a dozen others from wayward travelers. She also could tell the girl was smitten by Kanan. Head over heels by the first glance. Song rolled her eyes, and a part of her almost wished the Ranger could see.

Not because she was jealous, of course. That was just ridiculous.

However, a shadow passed over Tera’s face at the mention of Duermo. She looked over at the Mandalorian, half-uncertain and half-afraid.

“Duermo?” the girl said, clearly searching for the right words. “I know he stopped into town last night for some quick repairs. I.. uh, that was all I really saw of him. Sorry.”

Song could tell Tera was withholding information. Keen to get an answer, she was about ready to shake it out of her, even intimidate her, but the Mandalorian glanced over to Kanan again. She’d give him a chance to work his magic before she worked hers. He was a Sector Ranger. No doubt he knew how to handle this.

@llamallove

 

[Kanan Marek]

The mechanic’s eagerness to shake hands was a good sign; perhaps she would be just as eager to give them Duermo’s location. Naturally, some of the grease from Tera’s hand rubbed onto his, but Kanan would worry about cleaning that off later.​

Unfortunately, as soon as Duermo’s name left Kanan’s lips, Tera’s entire demeanor changed. She went from being a bright-eyed, welcoming girl to a girl who had something to hide. Kanan believed it was safe to assume that Tera had lived out here, alone, for years. She probably had no family close by, and no one to look out for or take care of her but herself.​

Perhaps Duermo had threatened her to keep silent and not tell anyone. Perhaps he didn’t have to verbalize a threat and his mere presence was threat enough. It was also possible that Tera was in league with Duermo; personally, Kanan doubted that very much.​

Taking a step closer to Tera, he placed an assuring, surprisingly gentle hand upon her shoulder, completely oblivious to any effect he had on the mechanic. “Tera, if Duermo has been threatening you in any way... or if you don’t feel safe here, I can assure you that we will do everything we can to offer you protection. We don’t want harm to come to anyone else by Duermo’s hand, especially to you. We merely want to see to it that he pays for his crimes,” he told the young mechanic sincerely, glancing over at River for some kind of additional confirmation of his words.​

@Feng Mian​

 

[Song Wren]

Tera flinched as Kanan placed a hand on her shoulder. Song wasn’t sure if that was the right move to make, but the girl seemed to welcome his physical reassurance and comforting words. The Mandalorian might have asked briskly, without care or conscience, or thrown out a few credits to get an answer, but the Ranger knew better than that.

Unlike the bartender, it seemed money didn’t always buy answers. Just an ounce of kindness.

Although Tera was still a tough nut to crack, her nervousness began to slip through. If it wasn’t obvious she was hiding something then, it was now.

“Can you, though?” the girl said. “Can you really protect me from someone like him?”

Song was starting to get the picture. Tera’s initial reaction to Kanan’s touch, the shivers she had at the mere mention of Duermo’s name. As a woman too, she understood what the girl was truly afraid of, and the implications infuriated her. Duermo had been coming to the scrapyard for more than just repairs. The disgusting sleaze.

“Tera,” Song interrupted with a step forward. “This man, Duermo. He’s been asking for more than just repairs, hasn’t he?”

Tera blinked, slightly surprised.

“You can tell me,” said Song, sincere even through the gruffness of her voice.

After a tense and sullen quiet, the girl slowly nodded.

Song rested a hand on her holstered blaster. “We can make it stop if you let us. My friend here? He’s a Sector Ranger, and we’re here to take Duermo in. Like he said, we can protect you, and we can make sure whatever Duermo’s been doing ends now. All you have to do is tell us.”

Tera glanced shyly between Kanan and the Mandalorian.

Half a minute later, Song walked out of the junkyard with the same expressionless look smeared across her helmet. Wrapped tightly in her hand were the exact coordinates of Duermo’s location. Thanks to the Ranger’s generous words, and her quick catch, Tera told them everything, and with a few words to add:

“Make him pay.”

@llamallove

 

[Kanan Marek]

This Mandalorian had proven once again that he wasn’t all braun and no brains. Behind that helmet lie an intelligence, resilient wit. The implications of the mechanic’s sudden behavior had been lost on Kanan until River had drawn his attention to it; previously, he had picked up on only part of her fear. It was obvious now though, and he wondered how he could have missed that before. The Mandalorian had arrived at that fact as if it was the easiest, most natural thing in the world. No matter the reason, he was glad this information had come to light. Duermo was sicker than Kanan had thought.

Kanan had no intention of pressing Tera into revealing any information regarding Duermo now, as it was not worth putting her through any more fear. They would have to find another lead to Duermo, and another there would be. There were always others.

But always full of surprises, River presently held the exact coordinates to Duermo in his hands. Tera had given River this information willingly, and Kanan was unable to stop the impressed stare in River’s direction that crossed his face momentarily.

At Tera’s final words, Kanan replied solemnly, “He will.” He offered a small smile after that and added, “And thank you.” Following River from the junkyard, Kanan was more determined than ever to see this pathetic excuse of a life form pay. All that was left now was to find a couple of speeders and reach his location.

@Feng Mian

 

[Song Wren]

The Mandalorian didn’t think herself a psychic. Just a woman in disguise. In a world this remote, for a young, female mechanic to be that pretty and with a sleazy spice runner around, it hadn’t taken her too long to connect the dots. Though she figured Kanan would have caught on sooner or later. It was simply life in the Outer-Rim for anyone without a dick or a gun below their waist.
Song might have lacked one, but she was never without the other.

Eventually, rather than head to a nearby shop, she led the Ranger back to her personal freighter. Not often did she let just anyone into her ship, but Song had a deep, growing respect for Kanan, enough to forgo that fact. Besides, they needed speeders, and she had precisely what they were looking for.

She stabbed at a control on her wrist and smoke hissed and burst out of from her ship’s hull. A small platform, holding the polished beauty which was her speeder, descended from the freighter’s underbelly and touched down to the ground. The vehicle, though spacious, possessed no real offensive properties. Just space and speed.

Song mounted the speeder, then looked over to Kanan.

“What, did you think I’d have a speeder for you too?” she said, and it was hard to stop herself from laughing.

She revved the engine as it coughed out black smoke from behind. Behind the Mandalorian was another open seat. Song figured Kanan would catch onto her implications pretty quickly.

But for good measure, she said, “Well, you getting on or what?”

@llamallove

 

[Kanan Marek]

A shop that had speeders for rent seemed to be the next logical destination. They would need transportation if they hopes to reach Duermo soon. Kanan had passed just such a shop earlier on his way to the cantina, so he was surprised when the Mandalorian’s path diverted and he headed in the opposite direction. Perhaps the Mandalorian knew something Kanan did not. It wouldn’t be the first time, he thought to himself with a private smile.​

Eventually a freighter came into view, and​

Kanan came to realize that this was River’s personal freighter. Kanan had not expected to be paid this compliment nor allowed this privilege. Or at least, he took this as a compliment and privilege. He did not imagine the Mandalorian took many people back to his freighter; he knew he himself would not in most cases.​

The freighter was impressive, as was the speeder that descended from it. Kanan was content to stand back and observe the Mandalorian climb atop the speeder swiftly and with proficiency, as if he had done it a thousand times. He probably had.​

At the invitation, Kanan did not hesitate to seat himself behind River. “I certainly hope this isn’t your way of getting rid of me,” he grinned, “By throwing me off.”​

​

@Feng Mian​

 

[Song Wren]

“Abandoning you in the middle of this wasteland?” said Song, sharing his grin as she revved the engine a second time. “If I wanted to get rid of you, I’d already have done it.”

With that, the speeder lurched forward. Dust kicked up behind them, sands sent flying against the roar of the engine. They rocketed away from her ship, through the road which ran through the outpost, and past the makeshift entrance at its border. Gone in a matter of seconds, with only a trail of smoke and soot left in their wake.

It was funny to Song how, only half an hour ago, she had arrived on the planet with nothing but her blaster at her side and a sense of constant distrust. In half that time, she had already made a friend out of an enemy.

Although Song despised Duermo, she had to thank him. The spice runner had done what galactic governments could not: joining a Sector Ranger and a Mandalorian together into common cause. She had a feeling her newfound relationship with Kanan was only the beginning, the start of something new.

Or the beginning of her end. A partnership doomed to fail.

She hoped she was wrong on that front.

//end, next thread here!