Chapter 3 in the Bounty Fiction
I wouldn’t have considered myself a dangerous person, there certainly wasn’t a need for the handcuff that held my wrists together. I couldn’t fight on a good day let alone after passing out. They bit at the soft flesh, chaffing a bright red ring that itched like hell.
I had woken slung over a shoulder, the metal of their pauldron digging into my hip bone as my torso swayed against a back. They had become aware of my lucidity and reached up to grab my waist, bringing me down so ferociously my feet thudded to the floor. I was groggy and groaned a complaint as my body leant against theirs unable to stand on my own. I had to blink a few times as I tried to recollect the events that led up to this… nothing. I crashed to the ground as the person moved away, my knees hitting dried compact red mud in a way so clumsy it should have hurt but my whole body already ached so it was nothing new. Despite my head that pounded I managed to glance up towards the dark sky and steal a glimpse at the person who had carried me, my satchel across the shoulder where I had been. Everything flooded back, the catina, the fight, the market place, all of it as clear as the man in front of me whose hand hovered over his thigh holster in anticipation of me running. After it was clear I was in no way going anywhere he moved closer, reached down and grabbed my cuffed hands. One sharp upward jerk so violent I was forced to stand to stop my shoulders leaving their sockets. I was told to turn around with a push to my left shoulder and to start walking with a shove between the shoulder blades. The pace was slow and tedious but it beat being carried uncomfortably.
That’s how I’d gotten here, standing on the other side of the barriers in the port once again, looking out at the shipping yard. It feels like only a few minutes ago I was trying to leave this place, might as well not have bothered. In all this time I hadn’t heard a word from the Mandalorian, if it wasn’t for the one liner in the cantina I would have said he was mute. My feet were firmly planted on the metal not wanting to move, knowing full well I was about to leave this planet behind ultimately leaving Kai behind. It was silly he was probably long gone or hidden so well I’d never find him anyway, but my body still wouldn’t move. The bounty hunter behind me moved to my side and took a few steps forward before he stopped dead in his tracks to turn his attention back acknowledging my unmoving stance. He walks right back towards me with that powerful stride of his and that’s all it takes to make me move again not having the desire to be carried or have any kind of force used against me.
“Alright, alright I’m moving. No need to get testy” I mutter under my breath, so quiet its more for my own benefit than anyone else but his helmet watches me as I walk past before he turns to follow giving the impression he had also heard. Despite not being able to see his face I could tell his eyes were boring through my back. Maybe he’d never had a quarry this compliant before and was just waiting for something to go down. It put me on edge.
We head down one of the metal gang ways, the ship I’d come into port on in sights at the end of platform. A hand pushed me to the side from behind, steering me in the direction of the Razor Crest I’d spotted only a few hours ago. The Mandalorian stood to my side a pace behind, from my peripherals I could see him jam a button on his wrist and the ramp of the ship started opening. I soon realised why he was stood further back than me and decided I would join him to avoid being squished by the descending metal.
He’s nearly at the top of the ramp before I can blink, only once at the top he glances back at me, not to check I haven’t run for it but more a waning glance: get your arse up this ramp before I make you. As much as I don’t want to enter the lair of the Mandalorian, it’s probably for the best that I do. The inside is cold, nothing but grey metal the only colour breaking it up that of the Mandalorian’s garb of brown battered armour which has disappeared up the ladder to the left. The natural light vanishes as there’s the click and hiss of the ramp shutting and the air lock sealing. Over head fluorescents kick in casting the hull in a blue-ish white hue as I stand just inside the door. I’ve been ignoring the hideous machinery I recognise only from books, that’s been staring at me since I entered, not wanting to acknowledge the idea that I’ll become well acquainted with it soon. I had little desire to be frozen but my interest was piqued, always having a curious mind over technology had gotten me into many more situations than out. My hands skimmed over the metal frame as best they could while cuffed, before coming down to the control panel fingers gently brushing over the surface of buttons. An immense sense of sorrow fell over me for those that had entered the machine and left as slabs of carbonite. Shudders flew down my spine at the thought of people unable to prevent such a future.
A tear falls free of my eye, hands raising to my face collecting the tear on the end of my index finger. I’ve cried too many times today but this time it’s at the thought that I’d never be able to say goodbye to my family before entering a state worse than death. I was alone in the world and that hit home. I’d been dragged involuntarily from my home and abandoned on a distant planet, captured by a notorious bounty hunter and now stand on the brink of suffering. I should feel angry at Kai for leaving, at the events that led to this all those months ago but instead there’s nothing but emptiness now. I brace my bound hands on the carbonite chamber and take a deep shaky inhale, tears all dried up. I can’t help the chuckle that bursts from my lips, quickly turning into hysterical laughter at the thoughts I was having. Or was it due to the state my body and mind where both in? Exhausted. Starving. Injuries left right and centre, not to mention the explosive headaches. Perhaps I’ve finally snapped and lost it. The laughing is so strong my chest hurts.
I take a step away from the chamber, my back making contact with something that wasn’t there before. I let out a startled yelp as my body swings round to face….
He backs me up until my thighs bump into the metal frame of the carbonite chamber, his body stopping inches in front of mine. His helmet is angled down looking me dead in the face as I try to hide the panic while staring up at where I can only assume his eyes are. I don’t want this, I should do something, but what? I’m not powerful, I don’t fight and I doubt this merciless killer would listen to anything i have to say. For the millionth time this day his hand grabs my shoulder and pushes me in the direction of the chamber opening, my body putting up as much of a fight as possible.
“No, stop! Please…” I dig my heels into the ground trying to root myself there. “Please…” my hands grab onto the frame as another anchor point. “…I don’t wanna die”. Carbonite doesn’t mean death, but it would be as good as for as long as I’m frozen. More to the point, I didn’t think my pleas would work.
The force I was pushing against relented, my body tumbling a few steps until I gained control again. The Mandalorian stood there as if waiting for something, helmet at a slight tilt.
“I… I…” I grasp for words, but what do I say? Should I even say anything? He reaches out for my shoulder again, using his broad body to usher me back. “No! Please, I’ll do anything” I’m desperate, anything to get out of this… Automatically I drop to me knees and roll to the side past the Mandalorian’s legs in attempt to get out of reach, putting his body between myself and the carbonite chamber. I stay crouched, head tucked in to my chest with my hands raised above to show I’m not looking for trouble. I wait for the retaliation, to be yanked to my feet shoved in the chamber and frozen. With every thud of his boots on the razor crest floor my heart jumps.
Instead of my thoughts coming to life, something round and slightly weighted drops into my hand. Its cool to the touch, as I wrap my hand around the metal and bring it down in my hands to have a look at it. My head unfurls from my chest allowing me to see the object. I can’t properly inspect the small cylindrical disk with my bound hands but my thumb just about reaches the small button on the side. A blue hologram flickers on displaying an all too familiar face. I turn from the face of my brother, not wanting the emotions that come with seeing it, to look at the Mandalorian.
“Why have you given me this?” I demand, not understanding the choice he has given me. “I don’t understand…” my voice trails off as I look back at the portrait, looking into those eyes that seem so cold now. I’d never seen this side to him. I click the hologram off and flip the disk over in my hand.
Realisation sets in at what the bounty hunter is asking of me. Its the deepest betrayal to blood and despite being left behind I can’t bring myself to do it.
“You could at least ask, if you’re gonna make me betray my own family!” I yell with conviction. “Won’t you say something?”
“Won’t make you” he glances behind at the chamber and then back to me, emphasising the options.
How can I possibly make that choice? Self preservation is a hard bargainer but my own brother, who’s looked out for me all my life… What’s to stop this bounty hunter giving us both up once I help him find Kai? Better he only gets one of us than both.
He closes the distance, hand coming to the collar of my shirt. I duck down lower to avoid being grabbed. “Wait!” I swat his hand away, barely moving it a few centimetres off course. If I work with him, I can help Kai by leading the bounty hunter astray. “What’s in it for me?” I blurt out standing up abruptly to look more confident. “What do I get?”
“I won’t use the carbonite on you” his voice always sounds flat and monotonous but this time it also has an underlying hint of something else. Amusement? Surely not.
He sighs, not in the mood to negotiate. “I won’t turn you in; say you’re dead or something”
“Dead or something!?” Hah. Like that would work.
“It’s that or…” His voice trails off as I get the meaning behind the words.
I nod my compliance with the arrangement. “Alright then.”
At the sound of my acceptance he takes the disk from my hand, I go to grab it back, wanting to keep the image of my brother but it’s pocketed before I can. With the push of a few buttons on his arm the cuffs on my wrist click and open. I stare at the open restraints. confused.
“I’d pay good credits to watch you try to kill me.” he snatches the item from my wrist and returns them to his utility belt.
Was that a fucking joke? This man, seemingly the most desensitised being in creation, just attempted a joke…
I watch, stunned as he ascends the ladder leaving me alone in the hull. After a few seconds I hear the engines fire up, we’re leaving the planet already. I smile to myself thinking of the scarf kai left me, perhaps he knew I’d be needing it to keep warm in space-
“Hey!” I jog towards the ladder, shouting as I climb “Where’s my stuff?”
