Part 1- Intro

Anderit hoisted his bag over his shoulder. It contained his clothing and the personal effects that he could travel with. The Hammerhead class ship was docked on Carrick Station, its gaping entrance never leaving Anderit's gaze. He cautiously approached, scared out of his mind. From what he had heard, Mandalorians were savages. Cold hearted killers, and now he was working with some of their mercenaries. Out of all the republic soldiers the brass could've picked to fill their open slot, why did it have to be him?

He reached the ship's entrance, a small fragile link between the station and the ship that would lead Anderit into a new life. The smell of detergent sent his sinuses into a frenzy. He bent over slightly, sneezing into his hand. As he looked up he noticed a small figure, clad in orange armor. Anderit couldn't tell what it was made of, but it certainly wasn't republic. The figure quickly approached, the hallway echoing with its armored boots. Anderit looked around quickly, scared and not knowing what to do.

The figure got closer, and closer, Anderit not looking at it until it was right in front of him. The figure stopped, removing the helmet and placing it under its arm. It was not what Anderit had expected. The figure was a pretty woman, maybe twenty, with striking blue eyes and brown hair tied back in a short ponytail. She had her free hand cautiously placed next to the blaster pistol at her side.

"Your Parj's replacement?" She asked, sizing Anderit up. "I don't...Erm yes." He stood at attention. "Private Anderit Wade, is this the Ge'huutun?" He asked. The woman nodded, "Yep, thats us. Your a demo tech right? We really don't need anymore mixups, the republic already sent a medic by accident."

Anderit simply nodded. The woman turned back toward the ship, motioning for him to follow. She walked at a brisk pace, the durastel floors echoing behind her. The entered the main docking bay, men and women in Mandalorian armor looking up from their tasks to stare at Anderit as he passed by. One shook his head, "Shab'la aruetiise!" He called. A smaller Mando strode up behind, smacking him on the back of the head. The woman is the orange armor continued, seemingly not noticing her curious comrades.

They passed through the engine room, a young zabrak male with brown eyes and crimson red hair combed back behind his horns looked up from his datapad, "Oya! Rai'ika, bringing aruetiise aboard?" He called. The woman stopped and grinned at the man, "Parj's replacement, demo tech. Eparavur takisit ner'vod."

The zabrak incline his head to Anderit, "I am sorry for offending you and your osik way of life. Oh, and for being a disgusting beast that kills babies for fun." The zarbak grinned, trying to scare Anderit. "Oh..uhm..I don't think that, I'm glad to be..eh..working with you guys-..er Mandos." Anderit answered, still scared out of his wits.

The zabrak chuckled, "Your fresh off the meat rack, aren't you kiddo?"

"Meat rack? I uhh...yeah this is my first assignment since basic."

"Well then, my names A'den, and I'll be the one who'll slice into you credit account and leave you dirt poor."

The woman chuckled, the helmet's speaker making the sound seem unnatural, "Ad'ika, please stop scaring the aruetiise. He's just a baby. I was to when dad found me, remember?" The zabrak nodded again, "Yes you were Rawnie. Yes you were... You should probably go show buir your new blaster shield." He pointed at Anderit.

"Hey, I know how to fight!" Anderit argued. "Really? Ever been in combat besides simulations? Don't give me any osik about fighting for some goverment back on your home planet because that doesn't count."

Anderit held his tongue as the woman waved him along through another dimly lit corridor. His head was spinning. These people were going to kill him. What was an aruetiise? Was it an insult or- his thoughts were cut off as they made it to an elevator. The woman grabbed his arm yanking him in before pressing the button for the bridge. The elevator was small and painted black, the lighting very dim. Anderit ran a hand across his now shaven head, an old nervous habbit.

The woman looked him over again, shaking her head, "How old are you private?" Anderit snapped out of deep thought again, "Sixteen ma'am." The woman raised an eyebrow, "Don't call me ma'am. and I thought the recruitment age was eighteen?" Anderit just shrugged, "Guess it depends on where you sign up."

Their conversation was cut off as the elevator let out a sharp ding, coming to an abrupt stop and sending Anderit into the wall. "You have troubling walking private?" Anderit shook his head as the door slid open, the sound of holopads being tapped and dull conversation droned in Anderit's ears. He followed the woman across the bridge, reaching the captain's chair.

"Dad, I've got the new guy here." She said cheerfully, taking off the helmet and putting it under her arm. The man in the chair quickly got up, wearing what looked to be some kind of trench coat and a set of Beskar under it. He was helmetless and had a black visor over his eyes. His graying brown hair seemed out of place on his scarred head. Anderit looked over the man in awe. He wasn't very large, but his prescence commanded authority.

"Your Anderit right? Welcome to the Ge'huutun." The man even sounded like someone in charge. "In basic its the Bandit. Now, I'm afraid quite a few of the clan are a bit unhappy with you being here. Parj's death was...unexpected." He had a bit of sadness in his voice, "Parj was a good boy, an amazing son, but he's watching us from the dar'manda now. Either way, they'll get used to you soon son."

Anderit raised an eyebrow, trying to overcome his shyness and his stereotypical terror towards the Mandalorians. "Oh..yeah I hope so, your "The Fatalitis" right? Kinda famous back home for the fighting you did for the resistance." The man simply smiled, "Thats the title the imps gave me yes, but we're all allies here." He shook Anderit's hand giving a freindly smile. "Call me Joffe." He put a hand to his ear, seemingly talking into a comm, "Shi'ka, can you send Ral'in, Kharandras, and A'den to the bridge please?"

A few moments later the elevator dinged again, opening its doors. Three men walked out, all wary of Anderit except for A'den. They were all youthful, at least in Anderit's opinion. He recognized the zabrak, A'den, giving him a slight nod. One was a man, about Anderit's size but a bit older, with dark red hair and beady hazel eyes. A black tatoo ran acros his jawline, matching his armor, which was black with a gold trim.

The second man was much larger than Anderit, and had dark brown skin, a shaved head, and a distinctive cybernetic eye. His armor was identical in design as the other mandalorians, with a dark blue coloration. Anderit now noticed A'den's armor, the coloration identical with the man who had the jawline tatoo. He felt very out of place in his off duty fatigues, and knew he would feel it more so when he wore his white and olive plasteel plates into combat alongside the men.

"Now, in case you were wondering what the kark mando'ade are doing fighting for the republic." The man knew how to curse. "The empire is dishonorable and has Mandalore wrapped around its finger. We -are not- slaves, and we will restore the Mandalorians to their rightful place." Joffe said, pride in his voice. "These three will be your squaddies and your brothers in arms Anderit." He turned to the three men, "Show him where he'll be staying boys."

The three men nodded, as the woman, Rawnie, Anderit made a mental note of her name, put an arm around the man with the facial tatoo. Anderit assumed they were some sort of couple, if mandos did that kind of thing. The four mandos packed into the elevator, Anderit barely fitting himself in with them. The large one with the brown skin clicked a button on the side, sending the elevator at a disorienting speed down three levels.

The doors flew open, and the mandos walked ahead, only A'den turning his head to Anderit, "Hey, aruetii, you're sharing a room with me. Try not to clog the toilet, or Ral'in will eat you." Anderit just nodded. they walked past multiple rooms, all of their doors agape. Anderit sneaked a look in a few, all of them were filled with mandos. Some were armored, others were in the basic militairy fatigues, all looked dangerous and hostile to him.

The group walked into a much larger room. It was painted a comfortable tan color. In the corner there were two human women and a chiss playing pazaak. On the main wall there was a holonet screen, an old comedy program being shown. There were multiple couches, none actually had anyone sitting in them. Anderit plopped onto one, Ral'in sitting next to him. A'den found his own recliner chair and the mando couple sat on a couch together.

"Who are you soldier? Why did the republic send us an aruetii?" Ral'in pipped up, the man had a distinct imperial accent and commanded attention when he spoke. "I'm Private Anderit Wade." He felt a bit more comfortable now, but he was still wary of the strangers. "I was assigned to fill your open slot since your comrade was KIA...erhm..sorry...sir." Anderit answered, his voice trembling with fear.

"You smell, really really bad kiddo. Like strait up shit." The tatooed man- Anderit assumed it was Kharandras- mused.

"Khar'ika, stop talking you di'kut." Ral'in ordered, he was clearly the man in charge.

"Sure, sure, loosen up a bit man." Kharandras rebuked,

Rawnie laughed a bit, and shook her head, "You two are scaring him. Its okay Anderit, no one's going to eat you."

A'den smirked, "Is that what you aruetiise tell each other? That we eat people? Wayii! You aruetiise, ori'buyce kih'kovid." He looked to the others, seing only Kharandras give a slight laugh.

"Quite ner'vod, let the boy speak." Ral'in ordered, leaning back into the couch and crossing his arms. "Now, Anderit, you're a demo tech are you not?"

Anderit shook his head quickly, "Yes sir. I can wire just about anything you give me.

Rawnie shook her head, "No need for sirs, we don't have ranks here. We're all equal." Ral'in raised the eyebrow above the cybernetic eye, "I thought the sir was rather nice Ra'ika."

Kharandras spoke up again, pointing at each mando near them, "That's A'den. He'll be your getting into computers and stealing peoples shit guy. Thats Ral'in, our fearless squad leader and the master of making little kid feel like they're about to get eaten. Finally, thats Rawnie, she's just my girlfreind."

Rawnie crossed her arms, "Just your girlfreind?" She shook her head, "This is Kharandras, he's your close quarters and pyroteknics guy. Lots of fire, big mouth." Kharandras chuckled, "Big mouth? Really cyar'ika?"

Anderit nodded, making mental notes of everything they said. He'd have to ask what cyar'ika meant later. "Well, its nice meeting all of you...It'll be fun blowing things up with all of you."

"Likewise." Ral'in replied, the others all nodding in agreement. Ral'in was the only one not smiling.

"Sorry, you can't replace Parj. Aruetii." Ral'in stated, a bit of unconcious venom in his voice.

The mandos stayed silent, Anderit looked down at the floor guiltily. He was intruding on people who were like family here. An outsider. This was wrong. They'd find a way to get rid of him, no matter how many smiles they gave him. It was all a front to make him bring down his guard. Then they'd get him killed.

"What does arutii mean? Or aruetiise? Or whatever its called." He asked everyone.

"Outsider." The entire group answered.

There was another akward silence. Anderit twidled his thumbs until A'den spoke up, "Here kiddo, lets just get you to your room."

Anderit nodded as he and A'den left the large room. He followed A'den down the halls and into one of the smaller rooms. The smell of pine trees attacked Anderit's sinuses. For a moment he sneezed, then uknowinly smiled. The smell made him think of home. the flooring was the usual grey durasteel, but the walls had were the tan color from the other room. On one side there was a bunk bed and a dresser. On the other side there was a holovision screen displaying news from the ongoing war. It seemed so far away for Anderit now, like he wasn't involved in any way.

A'den pointed to the bunk bed on top. "Thats yours kiddo."

Anderit nodded again, placing his bag on the ground and climbing into the bed. The scent of the room made him feel at home. "You guys don't like aruetiise much do you?" He felt like using the mando'a word was some kind of insult to the culture, instantly regretting using it.

"Not really no, but you'll get along fine. Your only kind of discustingly ugly and only kind of smell like osik." A'den replied, watching the holovision from his bed. Apparently using the word wasn't a cultural offense.

Anderit didn't reply. He just stared at the tan colored ceiling until sleep overtook him. He dreamt of balmoraa and his mother's homemade sweet rolls.