Taking away the high-value bounty target meant that every bounty hunter in the guild would swarm out, scouring the entire galaxy to reclaim the little green creature. The Mandalorian had likely never imagined that, while on the run, he would also have to shoulder the responsibility of being a father. He placed the child on his lap to prevent him from fiddling with the buttons on the control panel. During their journey through the stars, they finally found a planet suitable for hiding—Sorgan.
The surface of Sorgan was largely covered by vast forests. It had no spaceports, industrial centers, and was sparsely populated—a backward and barren place. With a bit of luck, they could rest there for a month or two. After landing in a clearing, the Mandalorian intended to find a place to stay first before coming back for the child. But the little one simply wouldn’t listen, toddling unsteadily behind him. The Mandalorian shook his head helplessly and brought the child along as they made their way out of the forest to a local town.
Every place has a tavern. When the Mandalorian entered, he immediately noticed a female shock trooper sitting at the very back. Whether she was a bounty hunter or not, he wasn’t sure. He found an empty table, ordered a bowl of bone broth for the child, and asked the tavern keeper about the shock trooper. Learning that she had arrived only a week ago, the Mandalorian grew even more suspicious.
When the tavern keeper turned away to fetch the broth, the Mandalorian noticed that the shock trooper had disappeared. Leaving the child to enjoy his warm soup, the Mandalorian went outside to investigate. Using his helmet’s surveillance gear, he spotted a trail of footprints leading behind the tavern. Just as he reached the back door, the shock trooper dropped from above, landing a punch squarely on his helmet.
The shock trooper was not to be underestimated. The Mandalorian gave it his all but could only manage a draw. As the two were locked in combat, the child stood nearby, sipping his soup as if watching a show. Back inside the tavern, the shock trooper finally shared her story. Her name was Cara. After the Battle of Endor, the primary mission of shock troopers was to clear out former Imperial warlords. With the Empire dissolved, they became a peacekeeping force, tasked with protecting representatives and suppressing riots. Growing weary of this, Cara deserted. When she saw the Mandalorian, she assumed he was there on a guild bounty, leading to the misunderstanding.
That evening, while repairing the Razor Crest, the Mandalorian was visited by two unexpected guests. They were local natives whose farm was built on a wetland in the forest, where they farmed scaled shrimp. For years, they had been plagued by raiders, suffering losses to both life and property. They had traveled for a day to hire the Mandalorian to eliminate the raiders.
If it were just about getting paid to kill, the Mandalorian had no interest. But considering the farm’s remote location, which might offer refuge from bounty hunters, he was tempted. However, taking on the raiders alone would be impossible. With the natives’ payment in hand, the Mandalorian sought out Cara, who was camping in the forest. Hiding at a secluded farm would benefit everyone.
The natives’ landspeeder carried all of the Mandalorian’s equipment on the long journey back to the farm. Both he and Cara were struck by the idyllic scenery—people working without a care, children playing in the fields—a perfect paradise. The children, curious about the little green creature on the landspeeder, gathered around. The adults helped unload the equipment and arrange accommodations.
A widow named Omera cleared out a barn for the Mandalorian and the child, complete with bedding. The Mandalorian wasn’t particular about material comforts, but safety was his main concern. His overly sensitive nerves caused him to startle Winta, who had quietly approached the child. Omera, holding her daughter, apologized, which in turn made the Mandalorian feel somewhat embarrassed. Omera brought over a crib that Winta had used as a baby, finally eliminating worries about the child crawling around.
Once settled, the Mandalorian and Cara ventured deep into the forest to scout the raiders. On the path to their camp, they found fallen trees and massive footprints on the ground. To their alarm, they recognized them as belonging to an AT-ST, an All-Terrain Scout Transport from the former Empire. Armed with twin cannons, it possessed formidable firepower and could level the village in minutes. The Mandalorian didn’t hide the truth from the villagers and suggested they relocate. But the farm was an inheritance passed down through generations, and the villagers were unwilling to abandon it.
Inspired by Omera’s determination, the Mandalorian agreed to train the villagers in combat. Women learned shooting to provide long-range support, while men practiced close-quarters combat to fend off raiders if necessary. Around the farm, they built tall defensive barriers using trees, leaving only one gap. Behind the gap, they dug a deep pit in the pond and filled it with water. If the walker stepped into it, it would fall into the trap and be neutralized.
After several days of intensive training, everything was ready. The children and the little green creature were hidden indoors, while the adults took their positions at the gap according to plan. When night fell, the Mandalorian and Cara infiltrated the raiders’ camp, taking out several men and planting bombs to destroy the barracks. Once the walker was activated, they lured the raiders toward the gap.
The villagers engaged the dozens of raiders on the ground, while the Mandalorian and Cara focused on the walker, which had stopped by the pond and was firing into the village. Thinking quickly, Cara borrowed the Mandalorian’s pulse rifle and jumped into the pond. She swam beneath the walker, pressed against the pond’s edge, and took aim at the cockpit viewport. The pilot inside tried to retaliate but was hindered by the low angle, forcing the walker to step into the pond. Losing its balance, the walker toppled into the water. The Mandalorian leaped onto the cockpit and tossed a thermal detonator through the viewport. After a loud explosion, flames shot out from the viewport. The remaining raiders, seeing the situation turn against them, fled in panic.
With the farm safe, the Mandalorian considered leaving the child in this peaceful place. But fate had other plans. After a few weeks of tranquility, gunshots echoed from the forest. The Mandalorian rushed to investigate and found Cara holding her blaster, standing over the body of a bounty hunter lying face down. A tracker still flickered with a red light—the guild’s reach had extended to Sorgan. The Mandalorian had no choice but to take the child and set off on the run once again.