"Oh Blast!" Rey wrenched her hand from inside the mechanism of the farms harvester droid. Shaking out her hand, Rey stepped out of the vheh'yaime, a hut that was the dedicated workshop of Beviin-Vasur Farm.
Beviin brought her here years ago after the Yuuzhan Vong Wars and she had called it home ever since. Their farm was about ten kilometers outside of the planet's capital city of Keldabe. Rey found herself visiting the city a lot while Beviin worked as acting Mand'alor.
Rey heard arguing and turned to see Beviin and his husband, Merdit Vasur in a heated conversation, unaware of their surroundings. They were talking about her.
"Gordan, Merdit, what are you talking about?"
Both of them turned, caught off guard to see her there. Exchanging glances, Gordan reached out his hand to Rey, beckoning her to follow. "Come with us Rey, we have much to discuss."
"You may be wondering why Gordan decided to send you to the Northeastern mines, unaccompanied." Merdit began giving his husband a disapproving stare.
Rey thought, it had seemed a little inconsequential, she had worked in those mines before, helping repair the faulty wiring of the mines lifts a couple times in the past.
"That happened weeks ago, I don't see…"
"Gordan knew who was going to be there, and he knew who would respond to those attacks." Merdit interrupted Rey. She stopped walking with them, looking at Beviin.
"You knew they would be there?" Rey asked incredulously. He had meant for her to meet... Ren?
Beviin at least had the semblance to look guilty but quickly masked it, when it came to war, to victory, he was a no nonsense man, he believed in total war which Rey was only just now beginning to understand.
"I meant no harm to you my daughter," using the endearment at that time to lessen the blow. "You have noticed the First Order's growing interest in our planet, the new beskar deposits have brought much interest to our part of the outer rim." Beviin started to explain, they had finally reached the main vheh'yaime of their farm, a domed hut, the largest in the middle of their walled encampment, belonging to the Beviin Clan. Their home was roomy and open, an air pocket hidden in the side to let smoke float through the top. Goran, Merdit and Rey collectively took a seat at their table in front of the hearth.
"The First Order has been offering aid to our planet in the threat the Vong's have presented once again. Every offer made by Supreme Leader Snoke, has been denied by the Mand'alor." Rey did not interrupt, this had been more information than her family had been willing to relay. More information she had received in the past weeks following the mines attack. Rey did not miss Beviin being called to the capital city more times these last few months than in previous years.
"You know what they're after Rey, The Vongs and the First Order. The Mand'alor does not distinguish them as separate entities but a common threat." She could understand this, ultimately, the Mandalorians were not willing to give up their resources. Not when their planet desperately needed the valuable metal to be sold through trade, not stolen. It sounded to her, none of these factions were interested in trade anymore.
"Unfortunately, time has run out and both parties do not want to wait any longer."
"What does that have to do with me?" Rey asked, eyeing both her adoptive parents.
Beviin swallowed, preparing what he was about to say next, "The Mand'alor trusts me the most, I am his top Lieutenant and safe guard while he is off planet. He has requested...your help in this conflict."
"I'll do anything," Rey automatically replied, feeling proud for her father, feeling pride in the ability to call this place home and the kindness Beviin and Merdit both have shown her over the years. She felt confident that she was ready to finally do her best to give back to the race that had so readily taken her in upon the death of her birth parents.
"The Mand'alor has asked for you to be included in the negotiations for a trade." Beviin continued slowly.
"What are we trading?" If currency was not what the First Order asked for, what did they want? Rey is at the edge of her seat now.
"For you hand," Merdit blurted out.
Rey was ready to do anything for her people, anything but that.
"What?!" Rey yelled, jumping to her feet.
-Six Months Later—-
"It is time, my apprentice, to restrategize."
"What would you have me do?" Ren's voice was deep and emotionless behind his mask.
Snoke's deformed mouth twisted into a smirk. "There has been an awakening, have you felt it?"
Kylo dropped his head, gaze fixed on the polished black marble, "Yes." He admitted begrudgingly. What he did not admit, however, was the fact he had felt it long before his Master.
The girl from the mine.
"Beskar ore has been our main objective in allying with the Mandalorians. But now...I have a new task for you."
-6 months later on Mandalore-
The Capital City Keldabe
Kylo stepped off of his ship onto the spaceport. It sat atop a granite outcrop, boasting an impressive view of the surrounding Kelita river. The air smelled sweetly of resin trees. Ren looked to his right and could not miss the 100 meter tall tower of MandalMotors, adorned with the mythosaur skull logo. It was there they engineered and produced the Bes'uliik-class starfighter, with a body made out of beskar iron. The pilot in Ren wanted to get his hands in the cockpit of one of those fighters.
"Rey!"
Rey peered down from a control panel at a fellow engineer and friend, Mirta Gev .
"Merdit asked me to fetch you, you are to meet him at your apartments in the capital tonight."
"Ah" Rey sighed, quickly putting her tools away and jumping down from her position.
"Have you heard about the new ambush that happened at the old Neima Mine?" Gev asked, curious to see if Rey had any insight given her familial ties.
"Nothing other than it was a group of Vongs after Beskar." Rey shrugged. Her interest in the reports that came in everyday dwindled. She could not help but feel discouraged at the reminder of her duty to stop the ambushes.
Every update was the reminder of her sacrifice she was about to make.
At that thought, the alarm inside MandalMotors went off. Shouts rang out in the hangar adjacent to theirs. Rey didn't think twice before sprinting to her speedor, she kept her blaster and beskad there but unfortunately, no armor.
Mirta Gev and Rey ran to where the sounds of fighting were the loudest. Screams and inhumane growls were what greeted them when they finally made it to the battle.
Vong had tunneled their way into the underground network the Mandalorians had built so long ago, tunnels that ran under MandalMotors tower.
Rey passed the body of a fallen comrade, mortally wounded, he reached out with a bloody, mutilated arm, it was a helm. She grabbed the opposite end, meeting the eyes of fellow engineer. Agonizing over the sight of his body falling back, becoming motionless, lifeless.
Rey threw on the helm, not thinking twice before entering the barrage. Their helmets protected them from brute force of their spears and organic smoke bombs often filled the air during these attacks.
"Drive them back into the tunnels!" Rey yelled, she could see the gaping hole where they forced their way in.
It was only her, and a dozen Mandalorians desperately working to drive back more than twenty Vong Warriors.
She engaged one closest to her, aliens teeth kanshing and growling as he charged. Rey steeled herself against the frightful sight, her jaw set as she prepared for the impact of his weapon.
Rey used her speed and agility against the Vongs size and weight. She could do this.
Her blade swiped at the face of one, slashing through tough hide, slicing off his neck clean off with her vibroblade. Rey had made sure to keep this blade on hand, the increasing frequency of these kinds of attacks always at the back of her mind.
She sliced off the arm of one and gutted another.
Rey yelped as a huge Vong threw down its spear upon her blade. The vibration of the two weapons meeting made her teeth wrattle. She wrestled to gain control bearing down all her weight to throw this creature off but his size was triple hers.
It was then Rey heard a sound she hadn't heard in over a year. A masked figure bearing down, slicing through her opponent with a buzzing, vibrant red lightsaber.
She gasped, looking up to see someone she did not expect to meet again under the same circumstances as before.
"Warrior race?" His head cocking to the side.
Rey gaped behind her helm.
"Knights of Ren?" Rey inquired about their whereabouts.
"Just me, scavenger. " He quipped.
Rey could feel her breath hitch at the recognition in his voice.
Kylo turned and continued to cut down Vong after Vong. This was target practice for him.
Rey fell back into a rhythm, dodging and twirling, making sure to keep her swift feet one step ahead so the Vongs strength couldn't over power her again.
Ren was locked into a fight with two exceptionally large Vongs while one more came from behind.
"Ren!" Rey found herself yelling, she pulled her blaster from her utility belt and fired, like it was second nature. At that moment Kylo had defeated both and turned to see the third and last Vong collapse to the ground.
He turned towards her, shutting off his lightsaber and holstering it at his side. Once the sounds of battle had fallen away, Ren lifted an arm the hangar door that had been at their backs. His arm slowly moved and the door, which had been shut to block any Vongs exit, moved along with it.
"Leader of the Knights of Ren indeed."
Rey turned to face her father, appearing behind the opening door, Beviin approaching along with several others that belonged to the Mandalorian council.
"Boba Fett has returned to Mandalore, he requests that you meet with him immediately." Gorans eyes shift to Reys, signaling for her to follow while others ran past to help the injured and survey the damage. Rey took one step forward and hesitated, looking back at the people in need of help.
Beviin pulled her aside as Kylo and the other council members continued on.
"We're sending more medical help. I admire your foresight in grabbing a helmet."
"It wasn't a choice," Rey admonished, her mind drifting to the image of the fallen Mandalorian.
"Be that as it may, Fett has asked that you not be seen by Lord Ren until the wedding."
Rey swallowed, she had been included in each discussion over the past year on her nuptials.
She was being traded.
More valuable then beskar apparently, or at least that was what she had been told.
When the Mand'alor finally gave in, requesting the First Orders help to defeat the growing Vongs advances. Offering the vast majority of beskar ore with no trade restrictions, Snoke refused, there was only one condition he would accept, one condition met and Mandalore would have whatever they needed.
Goran Beviin, the acting Mand'alors, adoptive daughter.
She had been bait, the day Beviin sent her to investigate the Northeastern mines. She had been meant to catch the interest of the Knights of Ren and in doing so, Snoke. And it worked. Goran knew it worked once Snoke made it clear their past offer would no longer be enough. Goran knew on this condition, Snoke would not accept anything else. He had almost twisted Boba Fett's arm in this way. What did she have that interested the Supreme Leader?
Rey imagined the condition of not being seen was a simple power play, Fetts attempt to regain some semblance of control.
"Boba Fett wishes to meet with Kylo Ren alone, I will try to relay what is discussed but I cannot promise anything."
Rey solemnly nods, what else can she do?
That night Rey is getting ready for dinner at their apartments in the citadel when she is interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Come in,"
"You look beautiful," Beviin and Merdit both enter her rooms, both wringing their hands.
"What is it?" Rey asks immediately, she could think of nothing else but the meeting that took place earlier that afternoon.
Beviin takes a deep breath letting it out slowly, "With the sudden rise in Vong activity, their attacks are only becoming more bold."
"It was agreed that the wedding would happen as soon as possible. The First Order will not provide aid until the marriage is over."
Merdit continues, always quick to the point. "Boba Fett has decided for the wedding to take place tomorrow night, a ceremony where only you and Lord Ren will be present. Everyone will attend the celebration afterwards."
Rey nodded as her hands began to shake, her eyes burning. Beviin grabbed them, pressing them warmly into his.
"We have pressed that you are to be viewed as his equal...Word has spread of the union and it is being met with split views. Half spit at the idea, in remembrance of a time our people were enslaved by the First Galactic Empire."
"And the other half?" Rey croaked, having difficulty talking around the lump in her throat.
"The other half remember a time when their voices were heard throughout the galaxy, when Mandalorian's were honored warriors, who lived by the code. They wish to have that power once more."
Loyalty is life, for without one's clan one has no purpose.
The third line in The Canons of Honor ,the Mandalorian code, rang through Rey's head. Beviin, ever the traditionalist in Mandalorian culture, had drilled this code into Rey's brain whenever they trained together.
Rey drew in a deep breath, knowing what she had to do, ready to do it for her people.
Thanks for reading!
I am uploading Chapter 37 tonight on AO3 if you want to read ahead there!
/works/22917964/chapters/54780826