CHAPTER 9 FINSHED DEALS
Wraith opened his eyes to find himself in an empty white space of nothing. But then something began to come into focus. It was people just then a whole group of people began to come into focus and he recognized them it was all of Carnival.
"Wait if I am seeing you then that means I'm… dead?" Wraith asked more than stated
"Well you're in between right now you are near death but not dead yet." the Captain said as he walked out of the group and toward him
"So this is manda?" Wraith questioned
"This is the place just before manda." The Captain replies "we came to meet you and tell you good job for avenging us and protecting Mandalore, also for protecting our daughter."
"Wait what do you mean 'our'?" Wraith asked with a confused look just then the queen walked out from behind the rest of the squad
"Hi there Wraith." She said
"Great and here I thought this was going to be a nice little squad reunion." Wraith said sarcastically
"Well guess my daughter did fail to teach you manners." She replied
"Well can't be too hard on her he was raised by this lot." Ringmaster sighed gesturing toward the squad
"Hey" they all said except for Sandman who just chuckled
"But any way I just wanted to say thank you for looking out and protecting her. Even if you did use her as bait." Ringmaster said
"Hey she was ok in the end and how many times did you guys use me as bait?" Wraith replied "besides she's aliit and we ja'hailir our own."
"Well I hope you do the same for my three as well." Sandman cut in
"I would of sooner if you had told me they were yours" Wraith replied
"Well I thought you would of caught on sooner since they were the only ones your age we worked with." Sandman replied "that and how close I was to them."
"Yeah didn't really catch on to that. Hell when they told me their dad was in the squad my first guess was joker. Seeing how much he got around." Wraith chuckled
"Hahah" laughed Joker
"I take offense to that" another woman with pink hair and skin said walking from the back "I would never settle for a half-wit like him." She said as she walked up beside Sandman and wrapped her arm into his
"Hey what does that mean?" Joker stopped laughing
"How you doing Luxa? Besides if they were Jokers I'd expect them to be pig faced" Wraith chuckled
"Hey and what does that mean" Joker said defensively
"And as always good to see you but one question." Wraith asked ignoring Joker
She nodded for him to ask
"When the hell did you die?" Wraith blurted out
"During the coup I was one that went against Ordo and died while helping the resistance." She explained
"Alright." Wraith accepted her answer
"We all came here to tell you thank you and to keep an eye out on our daughters." Ringmaster said
"Don't worry I think they will be fine they are all strong, and they now have each other as well." Wraith said
"That they do but they will also need you." Ringmaster said
"Perhaps but I have some things I must deal with first." Wraith said
"Ah yes the Jedi." Ringmaster said
"Yes, I swore if he helped me get Rika back to the throne I would go with him for this testing." Wraith explained "and then he suggested this academy thing I just don't know what to do. I love being a Mandalorian and love the hunt, but something is saying I can be better."
"Well you did give him your word to go with him but the other was an option. Now that, is up for you to decide." Ringmaster said
"I don't know I need orders sir." Wraith replied "just tell me what to do sir"
"I can't after this last job you proved you don't need us and I am proud of that" Ringmaster said "this is for you to decide it's your life it always has been we just guided you down it."
"But sir?" Wraith began
"Ni'duraa!" Carnage shouted cutting off Wraith "you're a Mandalorian and part of carnival, get up find your sack and live on. Make a decision and go with it you don't need us anymore it's your life now take it and go with it."
"He is right move on. But just never forget where you came from." Ringmaster said
Just then everything began to fade and the squad started to go out of focus "What's happening?" wraith asked
"You going back just remember what we told you and live your life" he could hear Ringmaster fade away "and never forget where you come from"
Then everything went black.
Wraith shot up in his bed looking around taking in everything the white walls and white bed he realized he was in a hospital room. Then the pain hit him
"OOHHH FUCK! MY BACK!" Wraith yelled as he tensed in pain and laid back down hearing the commotion a woman wearing a Republic nurses uniform walked into his room.
"Whats the matter?" she asked concerned
"Yeah just sat up to quick." Wraith replied
"Alright well I will let the Master know you're awake." The nurse said
"Wait what stop." Wraith called but was to late she had already left "shit." He sighed
After a few minutes Master Zubza and a Republic trooper with his helmet under his arm walked in, the trooper was human but had some cybernetics on his face indicating he was a cyborg.
"Well well good to see you're awake." Master Zubza said cheerfully
"How can you see with those wraps on your eyes?" Wraith asked
"Through the force." He answers
"Yeah sure. Anyway where am I?" wraith asked
"You're on a Republic battle ship headed back to see the council." Master Zubza replied "you did promise you would see them if we helped you."
"Yes I did and I gave you my word so I will go see your council." Wraith replied "one more thing who is he?"
"This is commander Tollan a commander in republic special operations group." Master Zubza replied
"And what is he doing here?" wraith asked
"I am here because Master Zubza told me about your role in taking down this coup, and suggested you go to the trooper academy if the council doesn't have anything for you. I saw what you could do when you battled that Sith cause it was my team that assaulted the palace." Commander Tollan said "having seen that and what the Master told me about your planning and other actions during the mission, along with my recommendation to the academy you can go far and I see you would be a valuable asset to our group." The Commander explained "plus you are one tough son of a bitch taking a grenade like that.
"Well it was only a grenade" wrath chuckled "and it is a tempting offer but I still haven't decided to go to the academy, my obligation was to meet with the jedi order not the Republic. That was the deal." Wraith said gesturing toward Master Zubza "He helps me get rid of that upstart thinking he was the new Mand'alore and that bastard Sith that killed my squad, and I would do their little test."
"You little shit. Don't take this recommendation for granted I have never given out a recommendation like this before. I have turned down higher up and influential people's children for this recommendation people would kill for this opportunity." The commander yelled
"And I would probably be the one they hire to do the deed." Wratih said calmly sending a shiver down the hardened commando's spin that he hadn't felt in years "I've done my homework on the republic commandos and yes you guys are good and you have my respect as a warrior, and knowing you can't be bought off adds to that respect. The Jedi here suggested it cause yes the heat will be on me for this one and I'll have to disappear for a while and it would be a good cover… for a while." Wraith explained
"Well you certainly got the attitude for the work down." The commander sighed in defeat.
"Well I should I've been doing this since I was five." Wraith said "but any way what happened after I blacked out."
"Well you died." Master Zubza replied
"Oh that all?" Wraith said sarcastically "I want details."
"Well the medic worked on you, did what he could he called you dead but once we got you to the med bay we were able to resuscitate you." Master Zubza replied
"And what about Rika and the rest of the girls?" Wraith asked "oh and how long was I out?"
"Well you've been out for about two weeks now." Master Zubza replied
"What? You mean I missed all the fun?" Wraith asked shocked then chuckled the last part
"Well the 'fun' only lasted a few days after Rika ascended to the throne and with out Ordo his warriors had nothing binding them so they went back to doing what they do." Master Zubza replied "and the other girls that we met have stayed on as her personal body guards."
"Yeah without a leader to call Mand'alore they fall apart and begin to fight over who should be leader and we all just go our own way, but it's good the girls stayed they are the closest thing they have to family now." Wraith said "since I'm 'dead' right? Well that is the whole reason I'm on a Republic battle ship infirmary and not a Mandalorian one. You don't want them to know I'm alive."
"Well when he said your good he really meant it huh?" the Commander smirked
"Yeah so you try to sweeten the deal for the academy by giving me a new identity with everyone thinking I'm dead." Wraith exposed their plan with ease
"Damn you are good." the commander said with shocked eyes "especially for your age, I don't even want to think how it would be if you stayed as a bounty hunter."
"Never said I was going to do that even if I did I would only do enough time in service to work off the academy, that should of given me enough time for the heat to settle and then go back to doing what I do best." Wraith explained
"So you would just use us like that." The commander said
"Just the same as you would use me, everyone uses everyone else commander the only difference is those who see it and can find a way to use those who use them for their own gain survive the longest." Wraith explained
"The way you talk I would swear you're a Jedi if I didn't already know you were bounty hunter." The commander chuckled
"But any way who knows I'm still alive?" Wraith asked
"Only the people in this room and the council." Master Zubza replied
"So your little padawan doesn't know about your little sleight of hand?" Wraith questioned
"She told me who you really were, Jason. You her old friend who was also supposed to be picked up for Jedi training but, the Sith attacked that day and they went to your home but it was in flames by the time they came for you." Master Zubza explained
"Well Jason died that day and Wraith was born." Wraith said
"Well Wraith died as well maybe this is a chance for Jason to be reborn. Not everyone gets a second chance." Master Zubza replied
"Perhaps but the Wraith is known for walking between the dead and the living so he can never really die." Wraith said
"But maybe he can stay with the dead to let Jason have some time." Master Zubza said
"Hey I got enough problems without split personalities." Wraith chuckled "but speaking of Kristy what you going to tell her about me being alive?" he questioned
"Nothing, when she found out who you were then that you died in her arms it almost broke her. She is a talented Padawan but her mind is still scared from her past the council almost didn't let her join the academy when she first began because of the mental damage, but since she was so young she was able to work through it. Now with this she has had trouble, but she has worked through it I informed the council but made it out to only be the trauma of her first battle." Master Zubza explained
"That is some thin ice you walking on the Jedi." Wraith said coldly "if she was as destroyed as you say finding out I was back from the dead, just to die in her arms. I wonder how bad it would be if she found out I was still alive and you kept it from her?"
"It is my choice as her master to make, and path I will walk." Master Zubza replied
"Very well, as long as you know the risk." Wraith said again coldly "but don't look to me for help on it, no I won't go seeking her out or nothing" he said cutting Zubza off before he could argue. "But if our paths are to cross again I will not lie to her if she finds out the truth. Is that understood?"
"Yes I understand." Master Zubza sighed "but we need to leave you need some more treatments in the bacta tanks before you are up to full strength and before you speak with the council." Master Zubza said as he walked out of the infirmary
"Damn I never seen anyone talk to a Jedi like that let alone a master that is part of the council." The commander said
"Yeah well he still bleeds if you cut him, and he told you who I was, and who I was with for the past ten year's right" Wraith said
"Haha I will admit you got some balls, and yes he told me you were part of the Carnival and that does explain our attitude, but even with that said it would be great to have you on my unit as a squad leader, especially since most of the young officers we get out of there have no experience in real combat." The commander replied
"Yeah like I said I need time to think about it." Wraith said
"Alright I guess I'll leave you so you can get that treatment so you can get patched up." The Commander said
"Very well I'll see you later then." Wraith said as the commander left
ONE WEEK LATER
An orderly doing his rounds checking on patients comes to an empty bed that should be occupied.
"Wait who is supposed to be here?" he asks himself as he checks the record sheet and sees it's supposed to be the young patient that came in with critical injuries and was supposed to be on bed rest for another week, and that if anything is wrong is supposed to be reported directly to Jedi master Zubza. "shit." He says as he walks over to the com link on the wall "hey front desk can you give master Zubza a call his patient is gone."
"What do you mean gone?" came a voice from behind the orderly
"Oh, Master Zubza." The orderly said startled seeing both master Zubza and commander Tollan "he is not here."
"Well were could he have gone?" Master Zubza asked
"He did specialize in getting in and out of places he wasn't supposed to for the past ten years." The commander said
"Well he couldn't of gotten off the ship we haven't had any departures." Master Zubza replied
"And he supposed to be in bed for another week to heal how could he even walk out of here?" the Commander asked
"Well let's start looking." Master Zubza sighed
After about an hour of looking they still had no sign of him then they turned and walked into the next room and found it to be a gym and it was full of troopers working out in normal gym clothes then they saw a man who looked a lot younger than the rest with a tattoo on his right shoulder and upper arm, of a black hooded figure carrying a curved bladed weapon over its shoulder and holding out its skeleton hand as if to beckon someone to come to it, doing pull ups at the far end of the room. The two started to make their way across the gym toward him.
"You're supposed to be in the infirmary." Master Zubza said as Wraith dropped off the bar and looked at them
"Yeah I don't like being cooped up like that, and I gotta work out can't let myself get laander." Wraith replied as he wiped the sweat away from his forehead
"No but you need to heal and regain your strength." Master Zubza replied
"I'll be fine I am a fast healer." Wraith replied back
"Well then if you're feeling better you should go see the council" the commander said
"Yeah getting kinda cooped up on this ship." Wraith replied then looked at master Zubza "if that is alright with the council that is?"
"I will speak with them and ask but they should be willing to speak with you early." Master Zubza replied
"Alright" Wraith said as he slapped and rubbed his hands together. "Just gonna finish up my sets then head over to the chow hall. That hospital food is osik'la"
"You may want to tone down the Mandalorian." The commander said "it was only a few weeks ago the battle ended and some might still be sour about it."
"And? I can take any one of these guys." Wraith replied
"Just saying that you may want to play low key cause if someone finds out who you really are it would defeat the whole purpose of faking your death." Commander said
"You got a point there… fine I'll try to stay below the radar." Wraith sighed
"And we can't very well call you." Master zubza stopped and made sure no one was listening "Wraith."
"True. What did you have in mind." Wraith replied
"Well your real name would seem to work with maybe your Captains last name since you were so close to him." Master Zubza replied
"Even though that part of me died years ago, but I see your point." Wraith replied "but the Captains name won't due. If someone catches wind of that it may lead to them finding out. I'll go with Nage."
"And what does that stand for?" the commander asked
"It's short for Carnage. One of my brothers that died years ago." Wraith replied
"Very well I will get all the papers set for Jason Nage." Master Zubza replied as he turned to leave
"So Commander you gonna join me with my work out?" Wraith asked
"No I gotta get something's set, like that recommendation letter for the academy." The commander said raising an eyebrow.
"Still haven't decided if I am going to do that or not." Wraith chuckled
"Well I'll have it ready anyway." The commander replied as he to left leaving Wraith to start his pull ups again
FEW HOURS LATER
Wraith was waiting outside the council chamber doors wearing brown robes. Meanwhile master Zubza was inside speaking to the council.
"I have found the source of the disturbance in the force." Master Zubza replied
"Ah good work master Zubza we will see him now." Tuknal, the Zabrak said from his chair
"Very well master Tuknal, but just a warning he is a bit… rough around the edges." Master Zubza warned
"Very well we will take it into consideration." Master Tuknal replied "send him in."
"Very well." Master Zubza said as he walked over to the door and called Wraith in.
Wraith walked up to the center of the room with confidence normally not seen in someone's first visit to the council.
"He is an oddity." One of the master said
"Well I could say the same about you." Wraith replied
"He certainly has a mouth on him." The master said
"Yeah well I was told you wanted to test me, I don't like beating around the bush so get on with your tests." Wraith replied
"Very well let us begin." One of the Master said
They spent about two hours asking him about his past and he would answer when he felt he could disclose that information, but not giving to much out about the squad. Then they would ask about his grasp and concept of the force and made him guess what the picture was without looking at it. He would reply then add a snarky comment along with getting all of them right. This would put an upset look on their faces and make master Zubza shake his head. Once they were finished they asked him if he had any questions.
"Just one." Wraith replied
"Ask it." Master Tuknal replied
"What is the real reason you guys wanted to see me?" Wraith asked
"To test you on your grasp of the force. To passably enroll you into our academy." Master Tuknal responded
"Yeah, I call bullshit I know I am above your age limit and I am way too twisted to be a Jedi." Wraith replied and just received silence from them.
"That is being a little hard on yourself." One of the female Twi'lek members replied
"Oh no I take great pride in my twistedness. Now then what is the real reason you wanted to see me you could of easily gone over his report on me and made a decision what is all this elaborate hoax to get what you truly want from me?" Wraith ranted getting annoyed at how they were treating him like a kid
"You are sharp I'll give you that you are right in saying you too old to join and that 'twistedness' about you definitely disqualifies you from coming in." Master Tuknal replied "it's obvious we can't treat you like a child."
"Got that damn straight now no one does anything in this galaxy without their own benefit in mind now what is yours?" wraith asked
"Well we want to try and get information about some of your employers." Master Tuknal replied "we were hoping to just talk and get the info without you realizing it but you seem to be too good for that trick."
"Yeah I am plus your little mind tricks won't work on me or that little look into my mind thing I've been trained against that." Wraith replied "and all of our jobs, contracts and employers are completely confidential. We have a reputation to keep in mind."
"Yes but you are the only one who is remaining to maintain that reputation, even then everyone thinks you're dead so who would know it was you." Master Tuknal asked trying to convince him to tell
"The reason you just said makes me hold to it even more. I am the only one who is able to carry on that reputation dead or alive I would still know I betrayed my squad's beliefs and I can't live with that shame. So torture, dig into my brain you will never get it out of me; I'll be dead first and it's even harder to get intel from a corpse." Wraith replied
"I will give you credit not many have stood up against this council with the confidence and calmness you have." Master Tuknal
"You bleed and can all die, harder than some but it will happen to you so why be afraid when you are no different than me in that sense." Wraith replied
"Well said" Master Tuknal said with a bow of his head "you may leave it is obvious you won't reveal what we need and as our deal stated you came and spook to us and we tested you our deal is now over."
"Alright glad we had this talk." Wraith replied sarcastically as he turned and walked out giving them a slight wave "and just remember if you want a job done and done right drop me a line and offer me a price."
Wraith walked out the door and was greeted by Commander Tollan.
"So that was entertaining." The Commander chuckled
"Thought that was supposed to be a private meeting?" wraith smirked
"Yeah but I got connections in there. So no desire to join the Jedi then?" The Commander replied
"Naw I don't belong with them, I'm more of a… rough around the edges type not clean pressed philosophical type." Wraith chuckled
"Yeah but you can spit out some deep shit at times." The commander chuckled
"Yeah guess I picked that up from Sandman and Ringmaster." Wraith smirked and faded back to old memories
"Well any way you put anymore thought into my offer?" Tollan asked breaking wraith out of his memories
"Yeah I have and I will take you up on your offer can't show my face for a while especially having just taken down a Sith and preventing another system to go to their side, so when does it begin?" wraith asked
"Great! Classes start up in a month on Coruscant, also how old are you?" Tollan asked
"Alright been awhile since I been there last time hehe well let's just say it was a profitable day, oh and just turned sixteen." Wraith answered
"Alright so you would be a second year so you got some catching up to do." Tollan replied "I have no worries about your physical or tactical training; it's more of the customs and courtesies that have me worried."
"Yeah I can have some problems at that part but I know how to keep it under wraps." Wraith replied
"Alright I'll give you a lift there I am heading there now and you can get started on the academics part." Tollan offered
"Well I got one thing I gotta do before I head over there." Wraith replied "and don't worry I won't just dip out on you."
"Alright I am trusting you, and here." Tollan said as he tossed a data pad to Wraith "that is the standard data pad, every student gets one for their basic needs, and has all the academics you missed. Had it made up after we first talked about it."
"Well you didn't know I would take up your offer so why did you come up with this." Wraith said with a upward eyebrow
"Well I just… had a feeling you would take the offer." Tollan said
"Yeah well like I said gotta take care of some business." Wraith said as he walked down the hall
"Alright need a lift anyway?" Tollan asked
"Naw I like to get around on my own." Wraith said as he just kept walking
"Haha yeah of course you do." Tollan chuckled to himself
On Mandalore now queen Rika was going over paper work with her new personal guard and assistants helping her.
"Alright I need a break." Zumma said as she stretched
"No we need to finish this paper work." Rika replied
"Hey we been at it for over eight hours if we don't take a break our brains will be fried." Kanna said as she stood up and stretched as well "we ain't like Manna over there whose brain is like a fucking computer."
"Even I am getting a bit burnt out." Manna said as she sat back in her chair
Rika looked around at her only thing close enough to family and sighed "alright let's take a break it will be here in the morning."
"Alright." Kanna said giving another stretch
"Besides I want to do something." Rika said as she got up and headed to the door.
"Yeah we'll join you." Zumma said as she got up and the three followed her
"No you don't nee…" Rika began but was cut off
"Hey he was like a brother to us too." Zumma said "but one we could still have fun with." She giggled
"And what fun did you have?" Rika said with a raised eyebrow
"That is between the four of us." Kanna giggled
"And what kind of royal guards would we be if we let the Queen out of our sight." Manna replied
"Yeah alright." Rika said as she made her way out on to the royal hanger bay and found an empty space where the Night Shadow was supposed to be
"What the hell? Guards!" Zumma yelled as a couple of guards came running up asking what was the matter "where the hell is the Night Shadow?"
"The Night Shadow?" the guard asked confused
"Yes the ship that was in this spot." Zumma asked and the guard looked at her still confused then pulled out a data pad and began looking over it
"Ah ma'am this space is supposed to be empty." The guard said
"Let me see that." Zumma said as she grabbed the pad and saw it said 'vacant' under bay twelve "that isn't possible."
"Well only one guy I know crazy enough to come into a royal space port and steal a ship without raising any alarms." Rika said walking over toward the hanger bay door.
"No way we saw him die." Kanna said
"But we never saw his body afterward." Rika countered "he was the Wraith a being that walked between life and death."
"But…" Zumma began as she walked over to the hanger door with Rika then saw the Night Shadow leaving the planet then smiled "that he is."
On the ship Wraith was in the pilot's seat setting everything up to make the jump to light speed. "and she just had to move my chair." he said to himself as he adjusted his chair to where he was comfortable "now just gotta head to Coruscant and fade away for a while." He chuckled and made a small silent promise to the girls, but more to himself, on the planet below that he would return and see them again.
END CHAPTER 9
Laander- delicate, fragile (sometimes an insult - weak, pathetic)
Osik'la- messed up, screwed, horrible (impolite)
