Disclaimer: Disney owns Star Wars, not me. All the characters and places (except for my OC Analise) belong to them. General trigger warning is in effect.
"aaaa"-talking out loud. "aaaa" (bold and italics)-talking through a holo or com. 'aaaaa'-inner thoughts. "aaaaa"-talking through a Bond or talking during a Force Vision. aaaa-Force Vision. "aaaa" (bold)-talking in another language. ("aaa") (bold, italics, and parenthesis)-talking through a holo or com in another language.
AN: Spring is coming! I can't wait to be outside again riding my bike and enjoying the sunshine:) I also got a summer job that I hopefully will be starting soon. I will still be updating every week to every two weeks. It will all depend on my schedule.
Thanks to Guest H, SpiritFighter208, Kryptman, BanzEye, CJ/OddBall, and Carrot52 for the reviews.
-We will see some reaction like I said, but that is still to come. Please be patient:)
-They're not going to elope I promise and now you guys have me rethinking the outline for the final story LOL
-I guess you'll just have to read this chapter to find out what happens to Satine:) And keep reading to see what happens next.
-I've been doing a combination of Legends and Canon. The Bonds for instance come from Legends with my own little twist.
Onto this week's episode of Crossing Battlefields, Mandalore has been taken over by Maul and his criminal empire. On Coruscant Analise and Obi-Wan worry about their friend still there while Satine is locked away. Declared a criminal to her own people...
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~Morality separates heroes from villains~ The Lawless, Clone Wars Season Five
Chapter Seventy-One: Mand'alor
Satine Kryze wasn't sure how it happened. She wasn't sure what was happening to her people.
Maul with his gang of criminals hadn't come out of nowhere. Even she, the Duchess of Mandalore had heard the whispers and rumors of the new power in the Underworld. Of a Zabrak with blood-red and black skin, yellow and blood-red eyes with a blade to match. She had heard the soft murmurs of how he and his hulking side-kick had bribed, fought, seduced the once great criminal empires to fall under his banner. Even the Hutts had stood to the side rather than risk being torn to shreds and having their kingdom swept out from under them.
But in her wildest dreams Satine hadn't thought that Pre Vizsla, that Death Watch would have agreed to help someone like Maul. For all their murderous ways and deep-rooted desire to push Mandalore back to the days of their wild warriors where Mandalorians fought each other as much their enemies; they still followed a Mandalorian code. One that would have seen them at best turning up at their nose at Maul. At worst they would have torn him to pieces.
But maybe that had been Satine's mistake. Her willingness to bend in certain areas when it came to Mandalore's warrior traditions had seem to take some of the sail from the wings of Death Watch. They still attacked, were still a threat. But it was if they were waiting for something...
Something like Maul.
They had used him. Used him to plant doubt into the people's minds. To be the heroes that Mandalore security couldn't be in the face of overwhelming odds. The people had turned, praising Death Watch. She wondered if they had cheered the return of Almec or if they knew that he was nothing more than a puppet. A mask to hide the face of the monster who was really running everything.
She rolled over on her small cot, her back to the door. Satine curled up as much as she could, trying to keep warm. Her eyes shut tightly as she silently prayed that her people would be safe, that Mandalore would survive, and that one day she could be free again.
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Korkie Kryze was pretty sure that this was the craziest thing he and his friends have ever done. Crazier even than the time they investigated corruption and discovered the Prime Minister had been behind it the whole time. But this...this was something he had never thought he would be doing.
But his Aunt Satine needed help and his other Aunt had reached out to join them. A shocker since he knew that she had been mad when Aunt Satine had thrown everything she had into the New Mandalore and seemingly turned her back on their traditions. But the Duchess had never been the warrior her sister had been. His other Aunt had been kept safe from the war that Satine had seen up close and had made her tired and sick of fighting.
Maybe there was a way to combine the two...
Korkie shook his head. This was not the time to be thinking of forming a new government where peace and war could live together side by side. This was the time to be rescuing his Aunt Satine, finding someway to get both his aunts off-world, and then it would be up to them to get help.
If the Republic would even listen to their pleas for help.
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Satine heaved a sigh as the door to her cell slid open. Slowly she pushed herself up and turned to face the door. The Duchess sneered at the Mandalorian. Like all members of Death Watch who sided with Maul after he had killed Vizsla in combat, he had painted over his armor. Gone were the traditional muted and military colors of grey and blue that Death Watch have favored. Now all their armor was stone grey and dull blood-red. Some, she had seen, had even attached metal horns to their helmets.
Her secret warrior heart rebelled at the treatment of the armor and wondered how many of his ancestors who had worn it before were now unsettled in the after-life. "Why are you here traitor?" she snapped at him as she sat as though upon a throne. "What do you want this time?"
The man didn't answer.
Instead there a soft buzzing sound and the man's body suddenly fell face-first onto the floor. Satine gazed at the body and then up in shock at the young man who looked so much like her standing in the door to her cell.
"You know that I would never betray you, Auntie," Korkie said as he gave a little smirk to her. "I'm here to rescue you after all."
"Oh Korkie!" Satine jumped to her feet and jogged over to her nephew. She embraced the young man that she had helped raise as tightly as she could. "You're here...How?"
"Freeze! Get your hands in the air!" Slowly Satine stepped away from Korkie and the pair lifted their hands high...
Only for the guard to let out a grunt as a blaster bolt pierced through his armor straight to his heart. Aunt and nephew turned as Mandalorian female, clad in silvery-gray and blue armor lowered her blaster.
"Not Death Watch!" The woman huffed and removed her nite owl helmet. She shook out her shot red hair and her hazel eyes narrowed as she studied the Duchess.
"Bo, it's you..." Today was a day for family reunions as the sisters stared at each other. They had not been so close since Bo-Katan Kryze had screamed at Satine for forgetting who they were. She and her Nite Owls had left, joining Vizsla. Satine had mourned that fight, that day. She had been left with little option but to stick to her guns in that moment. It had broken her heart to see her sister a criminal when she knew that Bo had been right. "It's been such a long time..."
"You don't need to worry Auntie," Korkie said as he slipped in between the pair. "Auntie Bo's on our side now." There the same small hint of worship in Korkie's voice as he talked about Bo just like when he talked to or about her. But Satine still narrowed her eyes thoughtfully at Bo.
"Why have you decided to help me now?" She kept her voice hard as beskar'gam even as she wanted to sing and shout to the sky that she had her sister, her best friend, her other half at her side again.
"Remember the saying," Bo told her. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend ori'vod." Bo's equally hard tone was softened by her use of ori'vod. It was nicer than what she had been called last time. Aruetii because Satine had turned her back on what had thought it truly meant to be Mandalore.
But now she wasn't aruetii. The others were. The members of Death Watch who had truly thrown everything away to be a part of Maul's Shadow Collective, to spread fear and chaos across their planet.
Satine held out her hand. "I remember a time so long ago when we were friends and more. Finally it seems that time has come again." And there it was. The unspoken apology for giving into her fear, for being a hut'uun, and turning her back on her warrior blood.
Bo's green eyes widened, then softened. She reached and clasped her hand around Satine's wrist. Her older sister doing the same to her wrist. This was apology and forgiveness. This was Bo saying she was wrong, that Mandalore could seek peace and Satine saying that the warrior ways could not be forgotten.
"Oya!" the sisters cheered together softly before letting go.
"Right," Satine nodded her head sharply as Bo put her helmet back on. "Let's get going."
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It had been easy, maybe too easy for them to make their escape. But Satine wasn't going to complain. Nor would she have flinched if there had been fighting. No...she would not have flinched. She would have grabbed one of Bo's blasters and fired away.
She could not longer remain the strict pacifist she had been for so many years.
The landing pad was small, but that was good since it meant they would attract little notice. She could see the members of Bo's crew, those who had followed her and turned their back on Maul. It didn't matter that he had defeated Vizsla in combat. No outsider was to rule Mandalore. That was that.
She wondered how Bo and her followers would feel if they knew what plans Satine had been making in the secret, shadowy channels of diplomacy.
There were a pair of speeder bikes waiting. Satine shook her head when she recognized Soniee, Lagos, and Amis. Her nephew's friends, still following where he lead them. It didn't matter what danger they faced. They were together.
Lagos waved his head at them as Bo stepped out onto the pad.
"Come on you lot! It's all clear!" Her sister waved them forward with a blaster.
"I need to get in contact with the Jedi Council. It will be the only way for us to get any help." She watched Bo's body tense at first, before relaxing some. Maybe her sister had come to see that the Jedi were not that bad. "Korkie I need your comlink."
"Sure Auntie," he reached into a pouch and fished it out. "But it's not going to do any good unless we get outside the city. They've been jamming all other other frequencies." The Duchess sighed and shook her her head again.
"Every single one of you is taking such a massive risk in helping me..."
"Yeah, but it's not like we haven't done this before Auntie. Right?" There were light chuckles even among Bo's crew. It really didn't surprise her that the truth of Almec's corruption and the fact that it had been teenagers to bring down had become legend even among the Death Watch. It was exactly the type of story of bravery and youth that many Mandalorians would love to hear.
"Come on!" Bo ordered as a speeder settled at the edge of the pad. The Nite Owl driving it hopped out. There was no need for speeders or bikes when one had a jetpack. "We need to get going."
Amis and Korkie helped Satine into the speeder before the young woman slipped into the pilot's seat.
It was a race against time. They all knew that.
And they all knew that they didn't have a lot of time.
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Their new leader had been right.
Vizsla's body was only now just cooling in the ground or where ever it had been dumped. It wasn't like what was left of them cared. Vizsla had lost in fair combat and that meant Maul ruled. Which was just fine for him and the others that stayed. The Zabrak had already proven that he was bloodthirsty, a warrior, and a lot smarter than Vizsla.
After all Maul had predicted that rebels would stage a break-out to free the former Duchess and get her to safety. He had been right. For there were the rebels and traitors taking off with the Duchess.
Beneath his helmet, the paint still fresh, he smirked and sent out an alert over the com channels. Then he turned and gestured with his hands to the other two with them. All three marched to the edge of the roof and jumped off.
Soon the Duchess and her rescuers would be joining Vizsla.
And Mandalore could become what it was always meant to be.
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Bang! Bang!
Bo shoved her sister's head down. There was no time to be gentle. She climbed onto the back of the speeder and glared at the warriors who were shooting at them.
No...no they weren't warriors. They were scum.
The speeder bikes pulled away and she gestured to the Nite Owls flying with their jetpacks. "Take those cowards out!" she shouted. As one her fellow warriors twitched the controls of their jetpacks and were suddenly racing backwards. They used their bodies to slam into two of the fighters, but that still left one.
The third fighter fired, seeing her as the main threat. Bo stepped back and forth, nearly flipping to one side as each shot missed. Without blinking or slowing she raised her left arm, pressed a button on her gauntlet, and fired a tow cable. It wrapped around the fighter's waist and she grinned. "You guys get the Duchess to safety! We'll meet up with you."
She didn't doubt that Korkie could handle it. He seemed to have inherited the best from both her and Satine.
Taking a deep breath, Satine leapt off the speeder which raced faster and faster away. She switched on her jet pack, using her body weight to pull the captive fighter down. Then she made a sharp turn and slammed him into the side of a building as she released the cable. The fighter went limp, falling to the ground.
With pride Bo looked up to check on her warriors. With punches and kicks as they were wrapped around them, they had easily taken out their foes. Bo shook her head as she turned in the air as they joined her and raced to catch up with the speeder and bikes.
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Their comrades had failed.
Which was only to be expected after all because there had only been three. There was strength in numbers. There were more of them and they would bring down the Duchess and the traitors. Those that wanted to fight back had to learn that there was a new power on Mandalore.
They would learn it or they would die.
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Their moment's peace had been just that.
A moment.
There was small explosion and the speeder rocked violently to one side as alarms began to blare. Satine grasped tightly to the side of the speeder as Amis fought to stay in control. The Duchess could hear the blaster-fire and turned to make sure that her sister was alright. She could not bare to lose Bo so soon after finally getting her back.
Satine turned to face forward again, hope rising in her chest as they entered a tunnel that lead to a landing pad outside Sundari's dome which meant outside the limits of the city. The speeder crashed to the ground, rubbing against the walls which slowed it and brought to a halt just on the landing platform.
She held up the comlink as Korkie and his friends joined Bo and her warriors in fighting off their attackers. "Blast!" she cursed. "The signal is still jammed." She needed to get further away...
Without a second thought Satine leapt out of the speeder. She kept her eye on the com's reception as she ducked down and ran, weaving right and left to keep from being too much of a clear target. Satine could hear Korkie's feet as he ran behind her. She heard the sound of his blaster, felt the heat of his shots as they flew over her shoulder and slammed into the chest-plate of one of Maul's men that had flown up in front of her.
"You're clear now Auntie!" Korki told her as they reached the edge of the platform. He ducked down behind a large box that was used to hold tools and parts. Satine held up the com when she could go no further and felt a wave of relief as it chirped the all clear. She quickly pressed the button to record and send her message.
"This is message for Obi-Wan and Analise Kenobi." If anyone could help her it would be her two dearest friends. "I...Mandalore has been lost to me. The people have been, are being massacred...By now you've probably gotten word that Almec is the Prime Minister. There's too much for me to explain everything right now. I can tell you that somehow he has the support of the crime families!" Satine heard the sound of a jetpack as it landed behind her. She turned and wanted to cry as Mandalorian in the red and grey armor, horns on his helmet punched her beloved nephew and he fell to the ground. He wasn't moving. She wanted to go to him.
But her message needed to get to Coruscant, to the Jetii. Satine turned back to the com and wondered if those watching, if those listening would hear the shaking in her voice. "Please Obi-Wan, Analise...I need your help. Please my friends..."
She let the com run for a few moments longer as two more of Maul's fighters surrounded her with the first. Than slowly Satine lowered the com.
She had done all she could.
It was up to others now.
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"You summoned us Masters?" Obi-Wan asked as he and Analise entered the communication center. The Master raised an eyebrow when saw that Ki-Adi-Mundi was there along with was the Cerean who entered the command into the holotransceiver.
It was Satine.
Obi-Wan wrapped one arm around his waist and while his other hand rested on his shoulder as though he was holding himself together. Analise threaded her arms through his, an anchor and to be anchored as Ki-Adi let the message play.
"This is message for Obi-Wan and Analise Kenobi. I...Mandalore has been lost to me. The people have been, are being massacred...By now you've probably gotten word that Almec is the Prime Minister. There's too much for me to explain everything right now. I can tell you that somehow he has the support of the crime families!" Satine looked over her shoulder for a moment before turning back. "Please Obi-Wan, Analise...I need your help. Please my friends..." The holo ended as three Mandalorians, one whose helmet had horns on top, moved in around Satine. Then it fizzled and vanished.
Analise tightened her grip on Obi-Wan as she remembered all the rumors Ventress and Hondo had been telling them. All the whispers from bounty hunters and smugglers.
"What say you about this Master Obi-Wan? Analise?" Yoda asked them gently. She slowly let go of her husband knowing that he would need to move.
"Death Watch...they and Satine have been at odds for years. But Ahsoka reported a while back that Death Watch and the Separatists are no longer working together. If this takeover was done by Death Watch, then it was likely an independent act done by Death Watch alone."
"But they had help," Analise kept her voice soft as she watched and read Obi-Wan through sight and Force. "Almec is in charge again and Satine said that he had the support of the crime families." Her sky-blue eyes peered at the older Jedi Masters. "And I know you both read my reports. You know what my sources have been saying recently..."
"Even if the crime families did help, the Separatists are not involved and that makes this an internal affair that only the Mandalorians can deal with." Ki-Adi shook his head slowly. "And even if we could, we currently have to run anything that solely diplomatic and/or not related to the war through the Chancellor's office. We already know his answer."
No. It would be no.
Obi-Wan spun around, his eyes swirling as their color shifted, not able to settle though Analise knew they would be as grey and as hard as durasteel in the end. "We can't just sit back and doing nothing. We would be leaving the Mandalorians in the hands of those crime families and for Satine to become a martyr!"
"Satine has been a great help to us and is a member of the FOJ. Mandalore could be a great help to is in the future and..." Ki-Adi held up a hand.
"A future that we cannot depend on now. Because of the Duchess' decision to keep Mandalore neutral in the world, we are unable to easily help her now." Palpatine was not pleased that Satine did follow him blindly and often held Mandalore as an example of what terrors could befall systems that stayed neutral.
Yoda tapped his gimer stick on the ground. "Understand your feelings I do, Obi-Wan and Analise. But if any action we were to take, then massive support from the Republic Senate we would need." And right now the support was not there when there were bigger things to worry about.
"Even with the support of the FOJ, it wouldn't be enough..." Obi-Wan wrapped an arm around his Moonbeam's waist. "The Senate will not vote to send any sort of aid to a neutral system." Yoda nodded sagely.
"Then nothing more is there that we can do."
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Analise yanked Obi-Wan by the hand, dragging him into a nearby alcove. Analise what...
Go! The Master stared into the sky-blue eyes that he loved so much. Anakin and Ahsoka want you to take the Twilight. It will be her farewell mission. Go to Mandalore and save Satine!
There is Darkness there...He lifted a hand and rested it on his Soul Mate's cheek. She nuzzled it, lightly pressing her lips to it. You know what the Underworld is saying. Who is in power.
I know and it is our job to fight back the Darkness that doesn't belong.
Then I will go. Hang the Council and the Senate. Analise wrapped her arms around Obi-Wan, clinging to him as her mind was already racing through everything she needed to do in order to keep his mission a secret for as long as possible.
Save Satine Ben. Save Satine and save Mandalore. Save our home.
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"Those that aided Satine in her attempted escape, including the renegade Death Watch soldiers, were able to flee. But with time we will find them. It does appear that the Duchess was able to make contact with the Jedi as you anticipated." Maul let out a pleased hissing sound at Almec's news.
That Satine's accomplices had escaped his forces mattered little to him. They could always be found later on and made to pay for their crimes.
Instead it was the face that Satine had been able to get word to the Jedi that pleased him and put a smile on his face. "Good, very good Almec. You have done well and I am pleased with your work." He turned to face the man. He was pleased to see that Almec watched him nervously.
"And what should be done about the people?"
Maul shrugged as though it mattered little to him and it honestly did. "It is you who is the legitimate Prime Minister of Mandalore Almec. Mandalore is currently a sovereign planet and you will maintain Mandalore's neutraility."
Almec nodded. He could work with that. "And what should be done about the Jedi?" Savage growled and snapped his teeth which made the man take a step back in fear which pleased Maul.
"I am sure that you know that since Mandalore is neutral that Jedi have no jurisdiction here. If Kenobi wants to come here and rescue his friend, he will have no choice but to come alone."
And Maul knew that he would come.
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The Twilight rocked side from side, engines sputtering as Obi-Wan very gingerly brought it down onto the landing platform. Honestly he was surprised that the old G9 Rigger-class light freighter had even been able to make the trip to Mandalore from Coruscant. It clearly had seen better days and was more than ready to be retired.
He let out a deep breath he had been holding as the ship settled...only to jump back and curse as one of the control panels sparked and started a small fire. The automatic systems at least worked. They kicked on and quickly put out the fire. Obi-Wan very carefully rose from the pilot's chair and picked up his helmet. 'This is the last time I ever borrow a ship from you Anakin!' he thought as he jammed the helmet on.
Hopefully he could borrow a better ship or the Twilight would hold together long enough for a return trip.
But he wasn't holding his breath for the second option.
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Of course the boarding ramp would be broken down. Obi-Wan had to jump on it to get it to lower enough where he could hop down onto the ground. He then punched at, making a face as some sort of oil leaked through the joints.
But as he messed with it, he was glancing around. From what he could see the Sundari spaceport was busy. Very busy. Like nothing had happened, everything was normal, and...
"You should probably get your ship looked at," a rough voice called out from behind him. Obi-Wan spun around and gazed at the armor clad and blaster carrying Mandalorian behind him. He raised an eyebrow. It was similar to Death Watch armor, but it wasn't the right color.
The Master shrugged and leaned against the ramp. "It's not my ship. It's my friend's..." At that moment the ramp lowered all the way to the ground, hitting it with a clang. That started a chain reaction as parts and pieces that Obi-Wan was certain the Twilight needed jumbled to the ground. He hopped back and forth as he continued "He had told me that the ship was perfectly fine." Which wasn't a total lie. "I'm really sorry about all of this..."
"Show me your landing permit." It was clear the guard was all business. Obi-Wan made a show of patting his pockets and pouches.
"I have a permit...but I left it on the ship. Here come with me and I'll show it to you." The guard shrugged and waved his blaster for Obi-Wan to go first.
There was silence for a couple minutes. Then came a dull thudding sound. The Moogan traders looked up for a minute than shook their heads and returned to their business. No doubt the poor fool didn't actually have a landing permit, but it was no matter to them.
So they didn't notice when a man with a neatly trimmed beard strolled down the landing ramp, tugging at his collar and armor.
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But Bo noticed.
She watched from her spot on the roof as the man glanced down at the helmet he held in his hands before placing it one his head. When one of her warriors went to shoot him, Bo held out an arm and silently shook her head.
The Jetii was here. He was alone, but he was here.
As he took off in a speeder, Bo felt hope.
It was odd knowing that a Jetii had given her hope.
But in that moment Bo didn't care.
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They had returned to her cell of course. They hadn't hit her or yelled at her or threatened more than was normal. Satine wondered if this was how Almec was going to get his revenge on her. She couldn't just be killed because she was still just popular enough that it would probably result in public outcry and her former Prime Minister wouldn't want that. So his revenge must be to let her sit and waste away in a cell. That had been her plan for him after all.
Satine sat on the narrow bench in the cell, her back turned to the door and arms wrapped tight around her waist. Her eyes were closed as she ran through every possible escape plan and outcome and news. She had to fight from drifting off into warmer memories that were far more pleasant than the present.
She knew that she needed to be ready for anything.
The door slid open behind her and Satine suppressed a sigh. "You've returned to do more of your master's bidding then?"
"You should know by now that I do my own bidding..."
Satine's eyes flew open at the familiar voice and she gasped out "Obi-Wan" before jumping to her feet and lurching to the other side of the bench. He was wearing that awful red and grey Death Watch armor, but she didn't care as she flung herself into his arms.
Obi-Wan was here. She was safe.
The pair hugged before the Master gently pushed his old love away. Satine looked over his shoulder, eyes dancing almost frantically. "Are you here alone? Where's Analise?"
"Analise had to stay behind to give us cover Satine. With the current state of the galaxy, neither the Jedi Council or the Galactic Senate can be of any help to us." The Duchess slowly nodded. The only option, the one she had been forced to come back to was her escape to Coruscant. Then and only then could she begin to gain actual support from the Senate to break Maul's grip on Mandalore.
Obi-Wan gave her a half-smirk and let her cling to the hand that was holding onto his helmet. Even though there were no other guards in sight, they were careful as they crept down the walkways to the nearest lift. Satine let go so that Obi-Wan could put his helmet on. "You have a plan this time right?"
He rolled his eyes because she couldn't see them and when Satine was in the mood, she could pack a punch. "You know I always have a plan my dear," he responded as they waited for the lift. The Duchess snorted just as the lift door opened...
And a Death Watch guard was standing inside.
Obi-Wan roughly shoved Satine into the lift, following her. The guard watched them as the lift doors closed and it resumed its travels downward. "Where are you taking the prisoner?" the guard questioned. "There isn't any record of a transfer here."
"New orders. Just came down from upstairs." Obi-Wan shrugged before glancing back at Satine who smiled a little.
"So what's the authorization code then?"
"The code...well...hmmm..." Satine watched Obi-Wan hem and haw, stalling for time as he pulled the blaster from its holster.
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The guard fell face-first onto the ground as soon as the lift doors opened. Satine and Obi-Wan wasted no time. They edged around the body and made a mad dash for the speeder pad. "Hey! Hey you! Stop now!" They ignored the angry command, hopping onto speeder and taking off. "The Duchess is getting away!
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'Blasters really are so uncivilized,' Obi-Wan complained in his head as he and Satine jumped off the speeder. They had been able to make it to the Twilight, but Death Watch had shaken off their head-start and were now right behind them. He couldn't give away his identity as a Jedi, so he used the pistol to give Satine cover to get up the boarding ramp before he followed.
At least the ramp behaved. Not making any sort of protest as Obi-Wan raised it.
He ran to the cockpit, tossing the helmet to the side as he jabbed the button to trigger the guns. Then jabbed it again when it sparked before finally just doing what Anakin would do and hitting the whole panel as hard as he could. The guns gave a groaning protest as they woke up and began to fire at the Death Watch members who were pounding the poor Twilight with their blasters.
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Their speeder came to a stop just outside the range of any gunfire. Not that Maul was worried should a stray shot head his way. There was no way that it would hit him.
Savage had hopped out of the speeder, his lightsaber hilt in hand as it normally was. His Apprentice was ready to jump into the fray and join the fight, but Savage still had a control issue when it came to wild battles. It was still half and half whether Savage would take Obi-Wan captive or kill him.
And Maul very much wanted him alive so he would keep a close eye on Savage. He wasn't too worried about the outcome of the battle.
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Satine slipped into the co-pilot's chair and gripped the controls as tight as she could. Her knuckles turned white and she forced herself not to think about how much damage the already battered ship had to be taking. "Obi-Wan we need need to find some way to contact my sister. She'll be able to help us and send reinforcements."
"And who on Mandalore is your sister?" Obi-Wan asked. Satine just gave him a sly smile as they gingerly, but quickly flew the Twilight up into the sky.
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Maul, with Savage at his side, stepped towards the front. The ship was taking off, but it was clear that it had seen better days. Even from the ground he could hear the ship creaking and groaning. It wouldn't take much to bring it down.
The Zabrak nodded sharply to two of the Death Watch members. Then he watched with a pleased look as the pair launched rockets towards the ship. The smug look only grew when the rockets slammed into the side of it and it started plunging back to the ground.
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"Brace yourself! We're going down!"
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Maul crossed his arms over his chest and narrowed his eyes as the ship began to spin wildly. Soon...soon...
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Blue sparks arched wildly up from the different panels. They were hissing and crackling as though reaching for something or someone to shock. Orange sparks were falling from the ceiling as smoke began to fill the cockpit.
"Come on!" Obi-Wan grabbed Satine's hand, yanking her up and making for the door. "We need to get off the ship!"
It was a good thing that Anakin and Ahsoka had been planning to retire the Twilight. He just hoped they weren't too made when he had to tell them it had been destroyed.
He hit the button for the boarding ramp...and nearly went flying as the swirling air outside sucked and pulled him down. He heard Satine's panicked cry of "Obi-Wan!" as he managed to wrap his hand around one of the ramp's poles. Satine slipped and Obi-Wan grabbed her hand as she went past.
The Twilight kept spinning and spinning. Obi-Wan gritted his teeth against the pain shooting through his arm. The Force shouted in his ear and the Master lost his grip just before an explosion rocked the ship. He and Satine fell. He hit the ground hard, the air getting knocked out of him. Grunting Obi-Wan rose up just enough to see Satine a few feet away...
Before a large explosion tore the Twilight apart! Obi-Wan curled up as heat seared his body, as pieces of durasteel and metal flew through the air, some cutting his skin. His head was ringing and every bit of his body just hurt.
Obi-Wan pushed himself up and looked for Satine. A piece of curved ship hull had landed over her, but thankfully only her leg had been caught. Gathering his strength, he reached out with the Force, lifting the hull off her, and tossing into the side.
The ringing in his head grew louder as the Force screamed again. Obi-Wan panted roughly, his vision slightly blurry. He could hear footsteps, see figures walking through the choking black smoke. Obi-Wan shook his head, then shook it again as one figure became the being that haunted his nightmares.
"No..not here..." he muttered and pushed himself to stand shakily. "It can't be him...not here..." The lightsaber in his hand turned on even though he could barely hold it. Obi-Wan shifted to fight...
Then started found his throat in a tight vice and he was being pulled through the air. Maul grined at him, his rotting breath hot on Obi-Wan's already warm skin. His lightsaber tumbled from his hands to hit the ground and switch off. He clawed at the hand around his throat, but he couldn't get it off.
"So it appears we meet again Kenobi," the former Sith purred in delight. "I wish to welcome you to my Mandalore." Obi-Wan said nothing as he watched Savage heft Satine over his shoulder and a guard pick up his saber. Nor did he speak when Maul threw him to the Death Watch guards. "I want them taken back to the palace."
Oh Maul was going to going to enjoy this.
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"Coming to the rescue of one you care deeply for," Maul purred as he lounged upon the throne of Mandalore. He eyed the Duchess as she knelt next to him. She could be useful, a fun plaything for a short time if he wished. But she had a bigger role, one that would make him very, very happy. "A noble trait. But it is a flaw that you and your beloved Duchess share." Casually Maul reached out a hand, wrapping the Force around Satine's neck and just barely allowing her to breath.
Obi-Wan pulled at the guards who tightened their grip as Satine rose in the air, her hands clawing at the unseen hold on her neck. Maul slowly walked down the stairs, Satine floating at his side while Savage marched slightly behind him. "Oh Master Jedi...you really should have chosen to follow the path of the Dark Side." Maul closed his eyes, savoring something that was giving pleasure. "Yes...There it is...your fear and your anger. Your hate...Ahh yes. I can feel it all."
Obi-Wan shut his eyes as tight as he could, desperately trying to center himself. He knew Maul's game. He had no doubt what the monster was planning on doing. Please Force, please...don't let him hurt Satine...Obi-Wan childishly pictured the Force forming a shield around the Duchess, his dear friend to keep her safe. To keep her alive...
But the anger kept growing. The hate wouldn't stop.
"Let that anger fuel your hate and your hate fuel your anger. Let it give you power!"
"No!" Satine choked out. "Don't you dare Obi! Don't listen to him!" Her voice was like a sharp poke and Obi-Wan shook his head back and forth to clear his mind. He began praying to the Force again.
"Shut-up," Savage growled at her. But stilled when Maul shook his head.
He could do this. He was Obi-Wan Kenobi. He could beat Maul.
"You can do your best to bring me down. You can even kill me. But you will never be able to destroy Maul. It takes a great deal of strength to resist the Dark Side. I have that strength. But you Maul...you are weak for only the weak embrace the Dark!"
"Those that chose to embrace the Dark Side are more powerful than you will ever know Kenobi."
"Those that oppose the Dark Side are more powerful that you will ever be!" Obi-Wan pulled at his captors again. Then he looked up at Maul and Savage making the older male hiss at the near pity in the Master's eyes. "I know where you and your brother are from. I've been to Dathomir and seen the village you came from. I know that the Nightsisters took your decision to join the Dark Side away from you and forced you to join. It wasn't your choice..."
"SILENCE!" Maul roared, his voice echoing through the throne room. He swung around, his eyes glaring and spittle flying from his mouth as he spoke in rage. "You dare to think you know me? I was the one who languished for years thinking of nothing else but you," he stalked towards Obi-Wan on his metal legs. "This moment is all I have thought about for years. This might not be the perfect tool for my vengeance, but it will still be enough to crush you!" Obi-Wan began to pray harder as Maul held the darksaber's hilt in his hand and walked back towards Satine. "You see Kenobi I was never planning on actually killing you, but you will still share in my pain."
The grip on Satine's throat tightened. Obi-Wan grunted as his feet were kicked out from under him than a rifle hit his back forcing him onto his hands and knees. He reached out with the Force as Maul switched on the darksaber, yanked Satine towards him...
And drove her onto the blade!
Satine didn't scream or cry out. She gave a breathy moan, her eyes widening then closing in pain. Maul held her head so that he could see her face. Obi-Wan could feel his heart breaking. He knew that Analise could probably feel his pain.
Analise! How would he be able to tell her that he let their friend be murdered right in front of his eyes? How would she forgive him? How would he forgive himself?
Maul nodded to the guards as he turned off the saber and let Satine go. She fell to the floor and Obi-Wan scrambled to reach her. "Satine...oh Satine," he moaned as he rolled her over, pulled her into his arms, and held her close. He tenderly brushed the hair back from her face and wiped the tears from her eyes.
He glanced up to see that Maul had returned to the throne. He sat upon, a gleeful smile upon his face as he glanced down at the lovers turned closest of friends.
"Obi-Wan..." Satine spoke softly as she gasped for air. "You must remember my dear Obi-Wan that you have so much to live for." She reached up a hand to rest upon the side of his face. "I love you and Analise. I will love you both always..." The hand fell from his face as her eyes closed and she went still.
Nothing is what it seems my Negotiator a voice whispered in his ear as he raised a warm hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to it.
That's when he felt it.
Faint and fluttering, but there. A ray of hope surged within him.
"Are we going to kill him now brother?" Obi-Wan heard Savage asked and he tightened his grip on Satine.
"No, no. Take down below and imprison him. Let him take the body with him," he told the guards with a nod. "It will allow him to drown further in his misery. Take them to his cell. They both can rot together."
Maul laughed as the guards lifted Obi-Wan up as he carried Satine in his arms.
He carried her and wrapped what Force he could around her.
Maul smiled as he watched them go.
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His meditations this day were different.
Palpatine could feel his brow furrow as the light from Coruscant's setting sun hit his face through the window of his blood-red office.
Something had happened.
Someone was creating ripples in the deep, inky, soulless Darkness that were so strong he could feel it on Coruscant.
And if he could feel it then the Jedi could feel it too.
And he realized he recognized the sense.
"You summoned me my Lord?"
"Yes I did. Have them prepare my ship at once and make my excuses. I seem to have an old friend I need to visit."
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Obi-Wan stayed quiet, kept his head down, and held Satine as tightly and as close as he could. The guards taking them to his cell seemed not to care. Which was fine with the Master. It allowed him to quickly run through plans. He could only do so much. He needed to escape and escape soon.
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The ship was ready. The children, through throwing up protests were ready as well. Satine would kill her if she at least didn't get them to safety. She didn't doubt that the Jetii would be willing to allow four teens to tag along.
Bo watched from behind a pillar as the speeder docked at one of the platforms. She frowned when she realized that Jetii's hands weren't exactly bound because he was carrying her sister in his arms. Satine was pale, not moving. Bo felt her heart stop for just a moment and her mind cry out 'Not Satine!' Not her older sister that had loved her so much and so deeply that Bo's betrayal of her was a wound that had taken years to heal.
She shook her head. They had come to save the Jetii and now they would save her sister. Bo looked away from the group and over to one of her men. She gave a sharp nod.
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"Agh!" Obi-Wan twisted as the guard behind him grunted. Something had hit his back. "It's the damn rebels!" he shouted and all the guards quickly turned around. Their heads turned side to side as they scanned the area for the rebels.
There a beeping sound. Obi-Wan looked to the jetpack of the guard who had given the alert and grinned. Carefully Obi-Wan balanced himself and kicked the guard in the back. then he dropped to the ground, sliding back and twisting so that his body covered Satine's.
The jetpack exploded in a flurry of bright colors and smoke. The guards stumbled to the feet, waving their hands to clear the smoke as blaster fire from somewhere knocked their weapons from their hands. The Jedi sat up a little and his eyes widened. A female figure with short red hair rose from the edge of the platform.
She moved.
She was quick. Doing a half-handstand to kick one guard in the head before leaping up and slamming her knee into his chest. Then she spun around, kicking the side of his head, and sending him flying back into a wall. Ducking down the warrior took the legs out from another guard before twisting around and hooking a leg around his neck. She yanked his arm backward and shot the cable from his own gauntlet into the chest plate of another guard. A blade popped out from her gauntlet as she let go of the first guard. Spinning around she sliced into the jetpack.
The jetpack roared and wildly took off. The two guards screamed as it flew through the air before slamming into a wall. Both were consumed in flames.
"I'm sorry, but I don't believe we've been introduce," Obi-Wan laid on his charm as the woman picked up his lightsaber and switched it on. "Who are you?"
"I'm Bo-Katan," she answered as she carefully sliced through his bindings, gave him his saber, and glanced at the still Satine. "My friends and I here to rescue you. Both of you. That's all you need to know right now." Mandalorians in similar colored armor to Bo's landed around them. Obi-Wan nodded as one them gingerly picked up Satine. Bo glanced at him with a smirk as she held up a jetpack. "Have you ever used one of these before Jetii?"
"No..." Obi-Wan admitted as he turned around and allowed Satine to attach the jetpack. "But I can assure that in this case I'm a fast learner."
"Great. Then let's get moving!" Obi-Wan ran to the end of the platform and jumped off it as the jetpack switched on where two rebels were already in the air. The rebel with Satine followed. Bo brushed a strand of hair from her face before running and jumping off the platform.
They would make it.
She just knew it.
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Sidious was not surprised that his senses had brought him to Mandalore. The planet was a massive thorn in his side. The Mandalorians were so similar to the Jedi when it came to their codes and their honor. In years long, long past the warriors of Mandalore might have been some use to the Sith, but not anymore. Now they were only a bother.
He marched across the landing platform. Two Death Watch guards were there, their blasters raised and ready to fire. "You there, halt!" one of them ordered. But Sidious just sneered. He reached out with the Force, choking them as hard as he could as he moved past them, stepping into the speeder.
Sidious drove into the tunnel, the door shutting behind him.
And then the necks of the guards snapped and they knew no more.
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The Death Watch had caught up, but Bo's warriors were better. Obi-Wan was impressed by how they were able to dodge the blaster fire from the guards behind them and fly into the tunnel that lead to the landing platform.
He and Bo landed, quickly taking out the two guards already there. Obi-Wan switched on his lightsaber, swinging around to deflect the blaster fire from their pursuers. He kept the rebel who was holding Satine behind him. He and the rebels worked well together, even as they slowly moved back to the doors to the landing platform.
Bo gave him a look and Obi-Wan bounced a shot back, taking out a guard. Then he turned and jogged to the door, the rebel with Satine jogging close behind. He glanced back to see one of the rebels get shot and another launch a rocket. It took out a guard, but the remaining three flew into the tunnel, meeting the rebels for close quarters fighting. But Bo and the other two were ready.
The door groaned as it slowly opened. A bright, glaring light hit Obi-Wan and he winced before his eyesight cleared.
There before him was the nightmare Satine had so badly wanted to avoid. Mandalorian fighting Mandalorian. Sundari burning again.
It was haran.
"Wow," Bo said as she came up next to him. "I guess Maul must really want you dead Kenobi." The Jedi Master snorted.
"You have no idea just how badly." Bo chuckled. Then they were diving into the battle, Satine between them to keep her safe.
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The throne room was dim, the air heavy. The vast majority of their forces had been sent to the landing platform to prevent Kenobi's escape. Savage stood before the throne where Maul sat, hunched over.
"I can sense it. I sense a presence that I haven't felt since..." Maul lifted his head, his eyes wide in shock. "My Master!" At that moment, the two guards in the room suddenly began to choke. Maul rose from his throne as they were suddenly lifted height into the air and slammed against the wall on either side of the main door.
The door opened to reveal a small human male in robes of black and dark wine. A hood covered his face as he stalked into the room. Savage watched as his brother left his throne with look of near wonderment on his face.
The guards fell to the ground, dead as Maul took a knee and bowed his head to the old man. "My Master," he said in worship.
"It is most impressive to see that you have survived your injuries Maul."
"I survived only because of your training Master. Training that I have used to build all of this in the hopes that I might return to your side."
"I see..." Sidious lifted his gaze from Maul and turned it to Savage. The hulking yellow and black Zabrak moved to stand on the other side of Maul. The man's gaze made his skin crawl. "It is so unfortunate then that you are trying to deceive me." He turned his back on the brothers.
"What do you mean Master," Maul asked in confusion. He wasn't trying to deceive his Master. He wanted the Sith to see his power, to see how strong he was. That he deserved the chance to be at Sidious' side once again.
"You have become my rival!" the Sith Lord roared as he turned and used the Force to send the pair flying into the windows by the throne. The glass beneath began to crack and break. They grunted and fought to break from the hold Sidious had them in. He laughed until he let them drop. Then laughed some more as the pair unhooked their sabers from their belts and ignited them.
The fools actually thought that they could fight him and win! He held his arms out from his side. Two hilts of sliver and gold slide down his arms into his palms one at a time. The crystals tortured song was music to his ears as he ignited them.
Maul and Savage charged at Sidious. They were bigger and stronger. It would be no problem to take out the old man.
But Sidious was fast and had many, many years under his belt.
The Sith Lord moved in a flash, ducking under the whirling blades of the brothers. He blocked their blows at the same time, not even seeming to bend as they brought all their strength to bare down upon him.
Instead Sidious only laughed and took pleasure in the chaos around him.
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Fires burned around them as they fought their way to the ship Bo said would get them off planet. Kom'rk-class fighters filled the sky. The hulls of some opened up and more rebel fighters flew down to join the battle. Death Watch members would then launch rockets at the gauntlet fighters to take them out. Obi-Wan and Bo ducked.
"There!" she suddenly shouted and pointed the where the platform was cleared. A gauntlet fighter had landed, the boarding ramp down. "Torian, let's go!" The rebel who had been holding Satine ran towards the gauntlet, Obi-Wan and Bo following.
Obi-Wan felt a wave of relief as they made it to the ramp. A brown haired girl and a blonde boy stood at the top waiting. Torian jogged up the ramp with Satine in his arms. "We'll take care of the Duchess. Korkie and Amis are ready to go!" Bo nodded and the trio took off to get Satine settled.
Obi-Wan started up the ramp, but paused and turned back to watch Bo who was still fighting. "Take Satine, Torian, and the kids back to the Jetii and the Republic! Tell them what happened here."
"You know that could lead to Mandalore being invaded by the Republic..."
"Yes, but Maul will die because of it and Mandalore can and will survive! We will always survive. Now go!" Obi-Wan turned, then stopped and turned back to look at Bo.
"Bo, you're Satine's sister." It wasn't a question, but a statement. Still the woman nodded. "Come with us..." She shook her head.
"I'm needed here."
He wanted to argue, but the Force gently urged him on. Bo was right. She needed to stay on Mandalore and guide the rebels, the people against Maul. She was needed if the planet and people were going to survive until the Republic came and after.
So Obi-Wan turned and walked up the ramp. But he thought he heard as the ramp closed up behind him a soft voice saying "Ret'urcy mhi...vor'e."
He squared his shoulders. He would return to Mandalore. Maul would die. The Republic would leave.
And Satine and her people would be free again.
Their home would be free.
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They had forced Sidious onto a balcony, but they were growing tired. Maul barely leapt out of the way of the Sith Lord's blades. Sidious wouldn't stop smiling. He was having so much fun.
There was a rage filled bellow and Savage's head rammed into the human's gut, shoving Sidious off the balacony. But he smirked, using the Force to stay afloat. Then he used it to yank Savage and Maul off the balcony, floating down to the ground as they caught themselves and landed beside him.
Savage impaled one end of his staff into the ground as Sidious slammed both of his sabers into the other end. Smoothly he took one and brought it up just in time to block a strike from Maul. He kicked Maul, sending him staggering back before reaching behind him and blocking Savage's attack. Sidious elbowed Savage before bending backwards again to avoid another attack from Maul who attempted to kick him, but only jumped over him.
Sidious flipped over Maul's blade before stepping back. His smirk only egged them on and he was loving it. Savage leapt over him as Maul attacked. Sidious drove back Maul just enough to give him time to flip back, kicking Savage hard enough to send the younger Zabrak flying. He turned back to Maul, breathing only a little bit harder.
It was no longer as much fun as it had been.
As Maul charged, Sidious switched off his sabers and used the Force to send Maul back, slamming him into the wall. Maul grunted and fell to the ground before sliding down the stairs.
Savage let out another rage-filled bellow, charging at the Sith Lord. But Sidious flipped over him again, forcing Savage to quickly stop and turn. He dodged the wild strikes of the light-staff before igniting his sabers again and forcing Savage to go on defense, pushing back and striking harder.
On the stairs, Maul moaned as his senses returned. He looked down just in time to see Sidious spin-kicking Savage so hard that it stunned the hulking Zabrak. With a laugh Sidious turned his lightsabers around, stepped backwards, and plunged them both deep into Savage!
"My brother..." Maul watched stunned as Sidious laughed happily then spun and shoved Savage hard with the Force. Maul moved. He ran as fast as he could, jumping down to the courtyard below where his younger brother lay. The green magic of the Nightsisters was pouring from his wound and Maul know that Savage was dying. That his life was over.
He knelt down, taking Savage's hand as the swirling green magic spread over his body. "I am sorry my brother. I am not a worthy apprentice. I'm not like you Maul and I never was." Maul knew that and squeezed Savage's hand tighter. He knew that Savage was not like him. That for all his blood-lust and murderous urges, his brother was a softer soul. He saw it even more now as Savage's body became what it was before the Nightsisters' magic had taken effect. A skinny Zabrak who would have fought to become a slave for a better life. "I'm sorry...Feral..."
A tear rolled down the side of Maul's face as Sidious cackled somewhere behind and above him. "You have forgotten the first and only reality of the Sith Maul. There can only ever be two and you are no longer my apprentice!" Maul turned as the burning rage filled him to the brim and more. "I have replaced you." Maul ignited his saber and the darksaber as Sidious jumped down the courtyard.
He attacked, blinded by his sadness and rage. Maul used all his strength, slamming his sabers down again and again. Trying to reach through any opening he thought he could see. When Sidious kicked him, he flipped back to land on his feet and brought his sabers up to block before pressing the attack again.
But Sidious was not fighting while blinded by rage or dealing with the death of someone he cared for. He was able to easily block and dodge Maul's blows. Not even the Zabrak's sharp and hard kick which pushed him back could stop him. He charged forward, using all his strength to hold the block of Maul's blades.
When Maul faltered, Sidious made his move. He twisted his sabers down then up, disarming Maul. He turned off his sabers and used the Force to pick Maul up before slamming him into the ground. Sidious did it again and again before throwing Maul into a wall then slamming back into the ground again.
The red and black Zabrak began to whimper and pant for breath. He peered up Sidious with fear in his eyes as he tried to crawl away. "Please Master...mercy please...please show me mercy!"
"Oh Maul...there is no such thing as mercy." Sidious poured lighting into Maul making his former student scream in pain. "But there is no need for you to worry. I am not going to kill you now. You still have some uses for me." Then Sidious poured more lighting into Maul and laughed as Maul's screams echoed off the buildings around them.
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Translations
aruetii: outsider or traitor; colloquially a "non-Mandalorian"
beskar'gam: armor; literally: "iron skin"
haran: hell; Literally: destruction, cosmic annihilation
hut'uun: coward
Jetii: Jedi
Mand'alor:"sole ruler" leader of the Mandalorians
ori'vod: big brother/sister, special friend
oya: Literally: Let's hunt! Colloquially adapted as a positive and triumphant cheer with potential meanings including "Stay alive!", "Go you!", and simply "Cheers!"
Ret'urcy mhi: Goodbye; literally "Maybe we'll meet again"
Vor'e: "Thanks"
