Chapter 9

The Nemesis In Flames

Zade Corr had been tracking the Sniper for days. He had a water recycler built into his beskar for survival. It could also make a paste which would supplement him. Honor bound as friends or bound to die. Zade would find this bastard Mando'ade.

Sometime Later

His eyes slowly opened. He blinked a few times, soaked in the mystery. A beautiful woman was sitting beside him. He wasn't sure who he was... He felt proud. He didn't know why. He felt advanced. He didn't understand. The beautiful woman beside him looked shocked. He was getting confused. Then he remembered, that was his girlfriend. Did he offend her? Then he realized he was strapped down. He was worried, and he tried to get up, but couldn't. At the same time, the room shook and quaked. Things made loud noises- smashed. Broke. He was groggy and weak. "Venus..." His girlfriend was pleasantly surprised. She was shocked, but laughing.
"Klavier! You're back!"
That was his name! There it is. That's my name. Klavier Artyom Fett. I'm a Mandalorian. That's why I'm proud. And I'm a General- that's why I'm advanced. And this girl is my love. And I am alive.
"Venus! Venus!" He gasped air back into his lungs.
"Easy, cyar'ika! You don't want to hurt yourself."
"I'm back. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. You were out for a while there."
"How long?" Klavier had to know.
"If I tell you, you'll leave me again."
"What does that mean?"
"You have someplace to go. Once you're better."
"Felucia?"
"No. That was a while ago."
"What?!"
She fiddled with her fingers.
"Somebody went to find the man who shot you. Remember, the Nemesis?"
"Yeah. Who went?"
"Zade Corr."
"Zade... Corr..." He said slowly. He remembered the pact. "Zade! How long have I been out? How long has he been gone?"
"When we loaded you into his speeder, he walked off. It was about six months ago."
"Any contact with him?"
"He left a message for you in Keldabe. Name of a meeting place, in case you woke up. He has done it since you were out, once a week."
"Can we get there? Moreover, why am I restrained, Ve?"
"We didn't know how you'd react once you woke up. And we were right to. Weird things happened while you were out." She glanced around the room. It was destroyed. Littered with bits of pottery and other fragmented things.
"Right. Anything else?"
"Lost fifteen Rangers on Felucia. I'm sorry, Klavier. I shouldn't have lead them-"
"You did what you had to do in your position. It's alright. You'll have to tell me their names later. Does Power still operate on Mandalore?"
She began unstrapping his restraints. "Yeah. They've scared off the Death Watch and the Rangers established a full-time base in one of their comm relays captured before you were hit."
"I remember that! That was the day you got fitted for beskar."
"So it was." She smiled, ecstatic that he was finally back after six months of missing him, waiting for him. They could finally be together again. Be a couple.
"Did... " Klavier couldn't find a better way to put it... "Did you find somebody else?"
"No! Of course not."
"Sorry- It's just, six months is a long time. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have... Sorry."
"It's fine. I missed you."
"It's not like I noticed I was gone, but it's good to be back."
He sat up and hugged her. He knew he would be in Keldabe by sunfall. Speaking of...
"What time is it?"
"Don't know exactly. Morning. Why?"
"I'm going to suit up and go to Keldabe. But you knew that."
She looked him in the eye and smiled sadly. "Yeah. But I'm going too."
"Are you sure?"
"It's Zade Corr. He's become folk legend. An honorable friend of the ad Mand'alor hunting the attempted murderer of his life-long super commando comrade across the barren wastes and jungles alike, is Zade Corr. Oh, yes. He won't disappoint. But now that you're back, you'll steal the spotlight."
"Yeah," Said Klavier. "That's Zade." Venus helped him up. "I'm okay, Ve. Let me stand on my own two feet." She eased away and he began a slow walk to his armour in the corner. Before even putting it on, he took the boltar out of the sheath on his shoulder with a hiss. He scraped in a seventh tally mark on his shin guard, and sheathed the blade once more. He began putting it on, starting with the jumpsuit, naturally.
"What's the tally for?"
"Number of times I've had my life saved by people who then go missing. Don't get me wrong- it was all of you. But Zade was one of you, and because of my stupidity in the face of unseeable danger, he disappeared. I learn from every mark."
He stripped himself of the patients gown- he hated those, more than he hated the Death Watch, perhaps. He thought himself as crazy for hating an inanimate thing- but you had no dignity in those things. He was about to put on the jumpsuit when he sensed Venus smiled behind him. Cheeky. Once equipped in his armour, he decided it was time. Us Mandos marry young. Why not?
"Ve..."
"Yeah? Whets wrong?"
He stared into her eyes, deep pools of green, like a forest in spring. She was beautiful. And she was his- and he never felt more complete.
"Will you marry me?"
That took her by surprise. She was shocked."
"Too sudden. Okay."
"Klav!" She grabbed his arm, and her surprise faded to happiness.
"Yes. I will."
He grabbed her hand. "Repeat after me, then. Mhi solus tome, mhi solus dar'tome, mhi me'dinui an, mhi ba'juri verde." It meant: We are one when together. we are one when parted. We will share all. We will raise warriors.
She tightened her grip. "Mhi solus tome, mhi solus dar'tome, mhi me'dinui an, mhi ba'juri verde."
He smiled. She stared at him, grinning from ear to ear, and kissed him. She felt safe when she was with him. He was all she had dreamed of.
"Shall we then?" He said. They linked arms, and began walking out of Klavier's house.
Venus was ready to enjoy married life, but she was curious about something.
"How are you so able?"
Klavier hadn't really thought of it, but now that she mentioned it. . . "Well... I don't know. If I wasn't Force-sensitive I'd be dead, so maybe it has something to do with that?"
"Well, frankly, your Force powers were not dormant as you were in the coma."
"Really?" Know that was curious.
"Yeah. Things around the room would move from place to place. Myself included, one time."
"Did you sit by the bed and wait for me for six months?" He said, now wondering.
"I did." She smiled at him. "You're worth it."
"I'd do the same for you, cyar'ika."
She rested her head on his shoulder, content to have him back.
"Where are the lads?"
"They're in their usual room. You show me."
"Alright. Let's see. . ." Much to Klavier's embarrassment, he ended up at the front door.
"You can't go without telling them you're back, cyar'ika! You took a wrong turn, is all."
"Why did buir have to buy me such a big house?"
"Because he was loaded by the Kaminoans, remember?"
"I know. Hey, Ve?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks. Thanks for not leaving me..." He knew he had to say it. He had to. It was simply time, but haar'chak, was it hard for him to say. "Ni kar'tayli gar darasuum. I love you." He marveled at how she was putting up with him. 1
"I love you too." She put her arms around him, and smiled. It was a moment he would remember for the rest of his life. "Now come," She said, releasing her arms, "let's go find the room."
Klavier turned on his heel and walked towards another junction within his mansion-like house. Or maze-like. Or too-kriffing-big, like. I should start saying things out loud. I'd get a few more laughs. The ever narcissistic Klavier Artyom Fett guessed his way through his too-kriffing-big house until he knew exactly where he was. He took another left, and was in the doorway.

A Moment Earlier

"Report from the Keldabe Ranger Outpost just came in, Styx. All green, Death Watch eliminated."
Styx looked up from his WESTAR 47. Most Mandalorian troops carried WESTAR pistols, but the Ranger dealt most only in the Mandalorian gun company. Westar was the Mando'a word for Rifleman. "Eliminated?" Replied Styx, in his beskar'gam. He had repainted it red while Klavier was out, and took his place as temporary joint managing officer of the Mandalorian Rangers. Lynx was doing most of the off world work, as agreed. Styx looked up to him now more than ever, having possibly expended his own life to save his woman and dearest of friends. He was the true word for a hero. But there was no word for that in Mando'a. Not yet. Daer, some were saying, was slang for hero. Daer. Sounded weird, but not wrong. Not a compound word like most Mando'a adjectives, but a horse proud of its own colour. Slang. But slang for now. It'll work its way to the archives soon enough. "They are eliminated?"
"Yessir, the reports come in as that." Astro had taken up as Power squad Comunications Expert. And he was damn good at it. Aliik and Tango were off hunting for the Nemesis too, but not alongside Zade, not as far as Styx knew, anyway. Styx zoned out for a moment, hearing a familiar rattle or armour, and standing up, looking at the door frame. "Keldabe is free. But we have a certain Ranger missing..." Said Astro.
"Good to hear about Keldabe. I think we should pay them a visit." Klavier Artyom Fett stood in the doorway, awake and aware for the first time in six months. Alive. Finally free of the darkness of sleep, ready to bring light to Mandalore. The clones in the room straightened up, there were comments passed and some ran to get a look to see it with their own eyes. Styx knew what to do to make the General welcomed back. . .
"Atten-shun! Oya Manda!"

The clones hit their armoured gauntlets off their chests and as it clattered the roared in jovial response: "Oya Manda!"
Styx walked over to the son of the Mandalore. "I told you not to die, Sir. It's a good thing you took my advice. Otherwise, Jango would have my head."
Klavier didn't recognize Styx for a moment. Then it hit him. "Styx?"
"Yessir?"
"I need a weapon."
Styx beckoned Klavier Fett to follow him. They walked towards a closet, and Styx produced and key and opened it. What lay in there was the beskan sheath and fine-edge honed blade itself. Also his slugthrower, with a full cylinder and eighteen slugs to strap onto his right arm, over the forearm bracer which he had retractable vibroblade on. He loaded the .47 calibre shells into the slots, then sheathed the beskan. His WESTAR 35 was in there too.
"I don't need to know the details now, Styx, but I heard you did a damn fine job. Thank you, for everything."
"No problem, Sir. And- by the way- now that you're awake, we hunt the Nemesis, right?"
Klavier's gaze hardened. "You don't give the orders around here, Styx." Styx was at a loss for words.
"S-sorry, Sir. Of c-c-course, S-"
Klavier's expression softened greatly. "I'm yanking your chain. Besides, that is what we're doing. I'm not putting you, or any of the clones, or Venus or anyone associated with me at risk anymore. No more dead family members, starting now."
Styx couldn't get angry. "Bastard," He smiled, "I was off-guard this time- but next time I'll meet your eyes with a stare just like yours- I've been practicing."
Klavier laughed, then felt weird. "That's really, really weird. That was the first time I laughed in six months. Shab, that's freaking me out. Yeah, screw that notion. We're not taking the landspeeder this time, by the way. Have we gunships on station?"
"Yeah. But first, Sir, follow me."
"Styx led them back to the main room, right beside Astro, who snapped to attention.
"Sir! Good to have you back."
"At ease. I'm still Klavier. None of that military strict stuff for my lads. Astro, open a channel across Mandalore."
"Across Mandalore?"
"Can you do that?"
"Yeah. Sure, uh..." Astro fiddled with some buttons and levers. "Here, push this button and it will send a transmission to all receivers."
"This is Mandalorian General Klavier Artyom Fett. The ad Mand'alor is back. Oya Manda!"
"You know," Said Venus with her classic I'm-going-to-make-fun-of-you-right-now smirk, "you've got stones for somebody who just woke up after a six-month coma."
"I do." He said, with the same smirk.
"Easy-whoa, whoa, whoa, udesii, get a room!" Said somebody. They looked across- it was a man in standard ARC armour with blue markings, with no helmet. Klavier didn't know him.
"So'cuy. Who, might I ask, are you?" Asked Klavier, carefully.
"I could ask you the same question, verd'ika."
Verd'ika? Who the varp does this guy think he is?
"I'm Klavier Artyom Fett, commander of the Mandalorian Rangers."
"Very nice."
This guy's got an extreme case of soreshebse-syndrome. Just who is this guy?
"I'll try again. I'm Klavier Artyom Fett, son of the Mandalore, commander of the 84th Galactic Marine Rangers and Mandalorian Rangers, a General in the Grand Army of the Republic. Who, are you?"
"Somebody who doesn't answer to your Mandalore." Said the man in the ARC armour.
Klavier took two steps towards the man, and his clones circled the man also. He was very worried the clones served under him for a second. Preposterous. They're family, and that's a lot more than blood. There's at least three Prime Rangers in this room.
"Oh yeah? Shab, too bad for you."
"Why?"
"You're in the company of those who do." Klavier looked at Styx, who had his WESTAR trained on the non-clones head.
"Can I fire, Sir? Can I kill him? I have never seen him before."
Klavier was shocked. "Has anyone?"
The silence was deafening. Klavier took a step back. The circle grew considerably wider. And Styx allowed himself to smirk behind his helmet.
"What's going on?" Asked Venus, concerned.
"It's fine, Ma'am. Keep your blaster on the bastard aruetii in case things go pear-shaped. General- do your thing."
A clone threw Klavier a WESTAR 35 heavy blaster pistol. Klavier caught it, threw it to the infiltrator. That's when he spoke.
"You have no strength. Execute me, or others will die too. More family members." No. It can't be.

The traitor glanced at Venus. "Her."
"FIRE!" A volley of lasers rippled through the infiltrator.
Klavier took Venus' arm. "You're coming with me, cyar'ika." The smell of singed flesh reeked the room already. "It's not safe here. That wasn't the Nemesis. I'm getting you checked out- this shabhole is as low as they get. Can't trust anything. I'm thinking of a new elaborate plan for this piece of shab."
"Okay, okay," Venus composed herself. Six months GAR service with the Rangers made her immune to this kind of stuff, it was normal now. "Let's go. Landspeeder?"
"As bad as it seems, yes. But we're going separately. I'm going with Power squad. What's here and left of it. Styx, Astro, get as many as Power remnant as you can and get your things."
"What?! Klav, no! You're just back!" Exclaimed Venus. Klavier grabbed her shoulders, gave her that let-me-fix-this look he could always do to calm her.
"You sat by me for six months and waited for my arrival. I know you don't want me to go, and you know neither do I. But I have to. I told you back then, I'm telling you now. I'm not letting anything happen to you, cyar'ika. Okay? Now I have to go." He put his helmet to hers in a 'Keldabe kiss'. "I'll be back. I promise. And I am a Fett. My word means everything."
She was silent, and he hugged her. But he took pleasure in knowing he would return. Because he was sure- he wasn't missing anything else.

Three Hours Later

Klavier Artyom and some of Power squad- Styx, Rivet, Fife, Zulu and Astro- were in the landspeeder. Klavier drove hard and fast to where he was shot.
"Sir, I don't doubt your command-
"But where are we going, is it, Rivet? I'll tell you. We're going to where I was shot. That's where. Why? Because this man will die by my six-shooter. And I swear it." They arrived as he finished.
"So, I'll do it. You're free to come too, but you're not obligated to. You don't have to, you don't need to."
Styx jumped out. "Crazy bastard. One of these days you'll come across something as stubborn as you are. I'm with you, for old times' sake."
Then Zulu jumped out. "I'm going too. For Kilo."
Rivet jumped out. "I'm on you, Sir."
Astro looked at Fife. "Oh shab, I'm not going to be last in."
They jumped out in sync. "Fife and Astro of Power squad, reporting for duty!" They said, one of the same.
Klavier looked at them, all of them, long and hard. "Don't think you're necessary. You're not obligated, any of you. You've all done right by me-"
"And will continue to do so." Finished Styx. "Even if we have to go renegade to do it. If you wanted us to stay at the house, your shab out of luck."
Klavier adopted his face-down-eyes-up, I-could-not-care-less stance, and drew his two
WESTAR 35 scoped blaster pistols. "I'm warning you. This is the point of no return. This is the end of the end. I want you to understand that. The importance is this," He held up two gloved fingers, pointed towards the sky for an unknown emphasis. "I'm going to kill somebody painfully, slow and brutally for Kilo, for buir, for myself and for my wife. And if you take that kill away from me..."
Silence. Until Styx caught on- this was something Klavier had to do alone, but he couldn't say that to his own boys. Styx took a step back. "Come on, boys. He has to do this alone."
Klavier nodded.
Zulu protested: "NO! He'll die alone! Are you gone mad?"
Styx walked towards Klavier, grabbed Klavier's hand at the elbow. They both squeezed. "Oya, buir. Get him." Klavier looked at them, all of them.
"Ni kar'tayli gai sa'ad. I know your name as my child. All of you. All of the 84th, my boys." He blinked back a tear.
"We always felt it." Said Styx.
"It's in case I don't come back- and take of care my beloved." And with that, Klavier turned on his heel and began walking, from the spot where Zade Corr did that very day when everything changed. "Verd ori'shya beskar'gam," he shouted back. He wanted one final word to say to his boys, but couldn't find it. "Oya!" He shouted.
"Oya!" Came the chorus.
And that was that. Mandalorian General Klavier Artyom Fett of the Grand Army of the Republic, son of the Mandalore and Death Watch Decimator continued walking, his cloak fluttering in the wind as he grew distant, and eventually, out of sight. His sons, his legacy, began towards home.