Chapter 8

7 BBY — Sundari

Cassian and the young woman walked slowly arm in arm to the tram, followed by the Verd'ika, and thankfully found it empty, so the three of them rode it back to the hospital. El tossed her hair back as she turned to face Cassian with an arched brow and a grin.

"Shall we begin?" She said tapping her fingers as if she had a winning hand at Sabacc. "My name is El, I'm an instructor at the Academy. My Clan has been part of the Academy Foundation for a millennia," she said looking over at Cassian with slightly mischievous eyes and waited for him to offer some information about himself. Cassian knew Citizens were more free with exchanging names, much more than the Warriors, so he was fascinated when she did not reveal her Clan.

"I'm Cassian, and I'm here to recover after a recent ordeal at the hands of some Mandalorians," Cassian smiled back at her waiting for her response. He knew how to play this game.

El's brows came together and she chuckled but was confused, "You have a Mandalorian brother, who assigned you a Verd'ika, but some Mandalorians beat you up?"

Cassian shrugged, "They seemed to think I was someone else, but once I convinced them I was a friend all was forgiven."

The tram arrived at the hospital near the front entrance, and the Verd'ika led the way to the cafeteria. Cassian and El followed as quickly as Cassian's legs would allow.

El nodded then added quietly, "Ah, I see. So — that would make you General Draven's spy then, right?"

Cassian saw the last piece fall into place, stopped and let go of her arm so he could cross his arms and smile at her. "And you — are clearly part of the Mandalorian Resistance, but you have no known affiliation with Bo-Katan's underground — at least that I'm aware of," he chided her.

El grinned but turned to start walking again so they wouldn't get too far behind the Verd'ika walking through the halls of the hospital, "We are separate from Bo-Katan. Her commanders are all Warriors, and we consider ourselves the Citizen branch. Now, how is it that General Draven has never mentioned you to me before today?"

Cassian rolled his eyes, "I suspect he wanted to keep you all to himself. But how did you find me so quickly in the entry of the Academy?"

El shrugged, "That was a bit of a happy accident. I had spoken with Draven this morning, and he apparently had just spoken to you, so I knew that there was a Rebellion spy in the hospital, but I didn't think you were coming to see me. I was working a lot with the newer students today and they tend to congregate in the lobby. As soon as you walked in I knew you were out of place. And once we spoke I knew who you were and that you had no idea what you had walked into."

Cassian nodded and shook his head, "Thank you, yeah I had not had enough time to evaluate the situation. I was tired and overly curious, it was sloppy of me."

El took his arm again, "You're welcome. And who is your Mandalorian 'big brother'?"

Cassian chuckled, "How do you know he is older than me?"

El shrugged, "He seems to take a prodigious amount of care of you."

Cassian looked sideways at El, "Well, he is — not a civilian."

El nodded, "Thus your current predicament. Just keep my organization well clear of his and we will be fine."

Cassian glanced over at her, "Why is there still such a divide between both aspects of society? I thought Bo-Katan had done well for every Mandalorian."

El wobbled her head, "Yes, Bo-Katan is well respected by everyone, but as you can see — she is not here."

Cassian frowned, "I suspect she would be if there was a viable plan of attack."

El nodded, "We tend to agree — but not everyone does. With no current official presence of the Warriors the old prejudices tend to dominate. Many people worry that she will never retake Mandalore and instead stay with Concordia, Kalevala and Krownest. But as you can see, the Empire has encouraged a policy of complacency in the average citizen with this facade of peaceful co-existence, and re-educating the minds of the youth. By keeping a lower profile, they hope in a generation that all resistance to their occupation will simply — disappear."

Cassian's frown deepened and he ran his fingers over his mustache, "And that — is why you stay at the Academy."

El lifted a brow, "You are quick, aren't you?" Her face then became darker. "But I also suspect that they are constantly searching for our weaknesses. And if they ever find one, they will strike at our throats and we will be drained by them."

Cassian nodded, "I have seen it happen on other planets. They occupy my home world as well."

El narrowed her eyes, "I've been trying to place your accent since we met. And where is your home world?"

Cassian chuckled, "Oh look! There's the cafeteria. I hope you enjoy overly processed and sterile tasting food."

El smirked, "Your evasion speaks more than your words, Cassian."

When they sat down with their plates at the same table Cassian had shared with Din, Cassian could not hide a slight grimace as his left thigh ached.

El's brows creased, "Do you need pain medication?"

Cassian took a cleansing breath as he relaxed his face, "No no no, it was just a longer walk than I usually take, it's fine, just a blaster wound."

El did not seem convinced, "And who shot you?"

Cassian chuckled as he took a piece of bread and broke off a chunk before stuffing it in his mouth. "Oh my big brother did that. Shot me three times actually." Then he noticed the Verd'ika had heard that part of their conversation sitting at a table near them, and Cassian pointed to each wound, left shin, left thigh, and mid-abdomen, and nodded pointing to the Verd'ika and smiled, "Your Ruus`alor. He did that."

The Verd'ika shook his head and looked away to scan the room.

El smirked again and raised her brow as she swallowed her bite of food, "And he put you under guard as well. Oh, I'm so interested to meet this bastard."

Cassian's brows came down in mock offense, "Hey, do not speak of my brother that way. Truth be told, he did save my life."

El cocked her head, "Such a hero! At least he came to your rescue after his Warrior buddies beat the daylights out of you."

Cassian nodded, "And he shot me. Three times." El laughed again.

Cassian swallowed his bite and then looked up at El, "So what exactly is happening at the Academy? Why is the Resistance seeking Draven's help?"

El rolled her eyes, "Draven doesn't care much about the children of Mandalore, but we certainly do. I was a student when the Imperials began pushing into Mandalorian society. They started by offering Mandalorian companies contracts to build starships. Then they started buying mining rights from the Clans for Beskar to be used in their ships. As they bought their way into the Clan and political leadership, they started asking to bring in their academics as guest lecturers, and then as permanent professors. Then they started donating to the Academy, and to certain Clan foundations that supported the Academy. Within less than five years, a majority of Imperial professors sat on the academic boards, and the name of the ancient school was changed to an Imperial Academy. My Clan had watched this all happening helplessly for years, but that was the first time that everyone took notice. Some Clans began to pull their children as students, and some tried to pull their funding. But as they did their influence also disappeared, and the Empire put in more money to replace the old Clans."

Cassian had forgotten his food listening to her story. He could easily envision every word. The Empire sometimes blasted its way through a system, and sometimes it grew like a disease — like a cancer. Like it did inside the Republic. Mandalore was another one of those civilizations. Ancient and strong, with a people who were severely divided. Even the mightiest Warrior can be felled from the inside. Cassian suddenly had lost his appetite entirely.

El could see that Cassian was disturbed, "You know, when I realized who exactly you were, I did think for a moment that Draven had sent you. But now I'm realizing he didn't, and he really doesn't see the relevance of what is happening here."

Cassian looked up at her and frowned, "No — he does not. But, I definitely do."

El's eyes were now wide with curiosity, "And why is that?"

Cassian looked back at her with his eyes that suddenly appeared much older than the rest of his face, and he no longer cared about their game. "Because my father was a member of the Confederacy of Independent Systems. He knew the Duchess, he respected her independence in the War, and he knew the Warriors. I know that he — and the Duchess — would be grieved to see how the Empire will finally take Mandalore: not with a battle — but with politics, money, and Academics."

El looked at Cassian with a mixture of sadness, sympathy, and respect, "My full name is El-Nadan, of Clan Eldar."

Cassian lifted his brows, realizing who he was eating a casual cafeteria dinner with, "And should I call you Lady El-Nadan?"

El rolled her eyes, "Only if you are going to help me."

Cassian's brows creased, "Help you with what, my Lady?"

21 BBY — Raxus

Cassian sat in a corner of the front parlor with his bags sitting next to him. Fest had been taken by the Republic with very little effort. Cassian was not there to see it, he had been on Raxus with his father at a meeting of the Confederacy of Independent Systems and they had learned of the occupation from Count Dooku himself.

Cassian had never seen that kind of devastation in his father's eyes. His father was never the same again. Cassian used to think it was because his father lost all of his possessions, like his art, and Cassian's mother's pictures. But later in life, Cassian understood, that it was the loss of that celebration of coming home, that feeling that you belong in one place, because Cassian never had that feeling since. And it made him always carry just a little unease inside his core, which manifests in people without a true home.

In the bags sitting next to Cassian was everything he owned, what he brought to the meeting on Raxus. After the announcement that Fest was taken, Lady Mina Bonteri immediately offered Maximilian and Cassian a room and board indefinitely. Max had no choice but to accept her offer until Banking Clan released his liquid assets so he could find other accommodations.

The Bonteri house on Raxus was another luxurious estate on a hillside made of stone and surrounded by lush landscape. Cassian was interested to go explore the grounds, but lately he didn't like to wander too far from his father.

"Cassian, would you like to see your new room?" A younger man's voice came from behind him.

Cassian stood up quickly, wiping his tears away so Lux Bonteri would not see he was a weak little five-year-old boy.

"Yes, Master Bonteri, thank you," Cassian said quietly.

"Call me Lux," he smiled kindly to Cassian, and picked up the larger of Cassian's bags.

"Thank you, Lux," Cassian mumbled.

Cassian followed Lux up the stairs and past many pieces of art, and then he realized they had probably been procured by his father. Lux took him into what had to be the family wing of the house, and Cassian was surprised that Lux appeared to be bringing Cassian into a suite of rooms including a play room.

"This area is meant to be a nursery, but I think that it would be ideal for you and your father. There are three bedrooms and this playroom is for you to use and your father to relax. And there's a balcony out there with a view of the gardens. Senator Amidala said that you love gardens —"

Cassian had already run out to the balcony to look out over the terraced blue-green space. The beauty of the entire hillside almost brought Cassian to tears again. But he heard Lux walk up behind him.

"Sorry you didn't get to say goodbye to Senator Amidala, she had to leave soon after the meeting with her Jedi friend," Lux said kindly.

Cassian looked up at Lux. "Was the Jedi scary?"

Lux smiled, "No. In fact, I think she expected us to be scary. But I think coming to Raxus actually changed her mind on a lot of things. I have a feeling we will be seeing her again in the future."

Cassian nodded, he still felt unsure. The only Jedi he had ever met was Qui-gon Ginn, because apparently Count Dooku had left the Jedi. Qui-gon was warm and kind, and Cassian's father greatly admired him, but he was also intimidating because he radiated significant power. It was like he shook the ground as he walked, but when he spoke he had the softest deep tones. Cassian also felt Count Dooku was the same, only even more awe inspiring. He seemed to have clouds over his head all the time, like a storm was constantly brewing with winds and lightning. Cassian's father said that the Count was just brooding and worried about the war, but Cassian could see the danger in his eyes. Qui-gon's eyes were more like a placid, yet powerful, like a calm ocean.

"Lux, do you think there will be peace with the Jedi?" Cassian asked quietly. He was not at the Confederacy hearing, but his father and Lady Mina discussed it all the way home after she had offered her home to them.

Lux looked down at Cassian's hopeful eyes. He couldn't quite squash the child's optimism. "I certainly hope so, Cassian. I don't want my father to have died for nothing."

Cassian's eyes went wide, "Your father died?"

Lux nodded and pulled up one of the porch chairs for Cassian to sit on as he sat down. "He died on Aargonar, soon after the war began," Lux could see Cassian was suddenly overcome with worry about his own father, and he clutched the front of his clothes where some kind of locket was underneath his shirt.

"Don't worry, Cassian, we won't let anything happen to you," Lux said quietly.

Cassian nodded, "When my father comes here he feels better. I'm glad we are here."

Maximilian walked out onto the porch looking in fairly good spirits, "I'm glad we are here too, Cassian. Lux, thank you for showing him the way, I hope to spend some time in the near future finding our own house, but your generosity is greatly appreciated."

Lux smiled up at him, "Yes, sir. I'm happy that Cassian will get to be a child in my old rooms here."

"And the gardens!" Cassian said delightedly.

"Let's go look at the gardens, Cassian. Sir, where is my mother?" Lux said standing up as Cassian jumped up from his chair.

"She went to receive a transport that was approaching the front gate, she wasn't expecting anyone but she wanted to be sure it wasn't another Representative from the Congress that wanted to discuss the Peace Accords," Max smiled.

"Alright, Cassian, let's just go and tell her where we are going, okay?"

Cassian ran ahead, but then realized he didn't know the way so he ran forward and then back to Lux several times on their way to the gardens. Cassian heard voices in the front hall reception area as he ran down the stairs. Lux had not caught up to him, so Cassian ran up to the corner of the hall and peeked around the corner with just one eye.

Cassian saw Lady Mina about fifty feet away at the end of the hall silhouetted by the tall open door, what looked like Count Dooku at the entrance, but he waved and turned to walk away as Cassian caught just a glimpse of his white hair and cloak billowing behind him as he left. Cassian also saw several large droids follow him.

Lady Mina closed the door behind them and turned back toward the hall looking troubled. She had her arms crossed and she had a frown on her lips. She paced for a moment, but then looked up as she heard Lux approaching.

Lux turned the corner and Cassian followed, "Who was that, mother?"

As soon as both Cassian and Lux made eye contact with Lady Mina she smiled, then the entire front entry hall collapsed in an explosion, and the air concussion threw Cassian and Lux back two dozen feet back from the hall and away from the rubble.

Cassian woke in a bed in a hospital. His face was still dirty and he could taste dust in his mouth. He tried to spit out the dust, and ended up starting a coughing fit, which brought someone to his bedside. Cassian looked up to see his father sitting there with tears in his eyes.

"Cassian! Son, are you in any pain?" Max said tenderly smoothing Cassian's hair.

Cassian shook his head, "Thirsty."

Max reached over to the table and found the water pitcher was low, so he poured out the last cup of water, and then helped Cassian sit up so he could drink it.

"I'll get the medic, and get you both some more water," Max said and then stopped to put a hand on Lux's shoulder, then walked away.

Cassian gulped his water, then looked over at Lux. He was sitting on the end of the bed next to Cassian's, facing away with slumped shoulders. They were in a room that held four beds, but they were the only two patients.

"Lux, where is your mother?" Cassian said confused.

Lux did not turn around, but said in a hollow voice, "She is dead, Cassian."

Cassian dropped his empty cup in shock and it fell to the bed then rolled off and fell to the floor.

Lux turned around, to look at Cassian. Lux had several wounds on his face that were either bandaged or covered with ointment, and he had another bandage around his neck that was bloody. His face was haunted, and his eyes were full of sadness.

Cassian suddenly felt tears spill down his cheeks, and he began to sniff. Lux got up and went over to put an arm around Cassian. Cassian felt ashamed, he should be the one comforting Lux, but he threw his arms around Lux's chest and held on tight.

"Cassian, I need to ask you a question," Lux whispered. "Did you see who my mother was talking to at the entrance?"

Cassian thought hard for a moment then he nodded his head.

"Who was it?" Lux whispered harshly.

"Droids — and I think Count Dooku," Cassian whispered back.

Lux hugged Cassian tightly, and he started to cry as well. By the time Max returned, he found the boys embracing and weeping. He sat down on the bed behind them and put his arms around them both.

They were all discharged later that day and Max brought the boys home to the undamaged portion of the Bonteri house. Over the next few weeks Lux was distant, and would disappear sometimes for days. He was too busy to spend any time with Cassian, and Cassian's father seemed completely occupied as well. He did not leave the house like Lux did, but he was locked in his rooms and taking multiple calls a day.

About a month after the murder of Mina Bonteri, Max told Cassian that they would be moving to the Carida Academy. "There are peace protesters there who are trying to revive the call for peace that Lady Mina started with Senator Amidala. We need to go support them," Max said with a firm lip.

"Father, I don't think we should leave Lux," Cassian said quietly.

Max frowned, "Lux has informed me he will be leaving Raxus and moving back to his home planet of Onderon. He wants to go and fight with the Resistance there. He is his own man, and I could not convince him otherwise."

Cassian felt sadness creeping in again. He could not remember the last time he felt happy. He put his hand over his shirt and touched Mon Mothma's transponder again.

Max put an arm around Cassian, "We will honor Lady Mina's memory by helping the people on Carida. Hopefully this will get the Republic's attention and help to stop the war. That will keep Lux safe, as well. Come now, let's start packing."

7 BBY — Sundari

Cassian returned to his room after his morning rehab appointment and collapsed onto his bed. He closed his eyes and then followed his instructions from the therapist. He tried to listen to his body and learn where his weaknesses still lurked.

He could feel his left hand was still shaky when he extended his fingers, but his bones and tendons were long since healed. His left thigh wound still gave him some shooting pains, but his therapist had proven to him that his left was just as strong as his right. And finally, he could still feel his left cheek bone when he smiled, so he worked on retraining his mind.

Suddenly, without warning he could see the glint of the interrogation lights off the helmet of the Mandalorian Warrior who had broken his cheekbone — and then he felt on his face the burning wind of the explosion that killed Mina Bonteri. Cassian opened his eyes as sweat beads formed on his forehead.

Cassian wiped his face and mustache and took a deep cleansing breath. He tried to calm his nerves as his eyes moved around the room, and he realized there was a blinking light on his table by the bed, indicating a new message. He tapped the light and his Mandalorian brother appeared in a holo-message.

"Vod — I'm away on a short mission. I won't be back today, but I should make it back in time for your call to Command tomorrow. I will contact you when I return," and he disappeared.

Cassian sighed. So he would have an afternoon alone to reflect on his post-traumatic thoughts. Great.

"Sir?" the Verd'ika said quietly from the door.

"Yeah?" Cassian rolled himself up and held his abdominal wound scar to avoid aggravating it, but when he was upright he looked to the door and dropped his hand from his scar and relaxed the grimace from his face, because Lady El was standing there.

El looked disturbed, she had her arms wrapped around herself, and was awkwardly shifting her weight. The games were over.

"Sorry, Cassian. Something has happened. I — I may have to ask you to help with what we discussed — sooner rather than later."

Cassian stood up and nodded, "Of course, my day actually just opened up. Let me just — change my sweaty shirt from therapy."

El nodded and walked back out.

Cassian walked over to the closet and pulled out a new shirt and changed quickly, leaving the sweaty rehab shirt in a heap, then grabbed his jacket and walked out but he stopped to talk to the Verd'ika.

"Your Ruus`alor doesn't know that I've been investigating the Academy. I had planned to tell him everything I had learned today, but you probably know he's been called away on assignment. If he tries to contact me and I don't answer, tell him that I asked you to stay here because your armor will call too much attention to us inside. He will be angry, but that is not your choice, it is mine, and he will understand that. Will you trust me, and honor my request to stay here?"

The Verd'ika looked back at him for a long moment and nodded, "The Ruus`alor has asked me to follow similar orders in the past." He then visibly sighed, "I will serve and aid your communication with him, Sir."

Cassian nodded and held out his hand, then the Verd'ika handed him a data spike no bigger than a marking pen. Cassian took it, but then the Verd'ika held up a small blaster that Cassian could easily conceal in his jacket. Cassian looked at the blaster with a small smile, but then looked up at the Verd'ika and shook his head. Cassian knew that if he was caught, he could not blast his way out of this situation. The Verd'ika also knew it, so he hesitated, but then put the blaster back in its holster.

"As soon as you see me heading back to you, just be ready," Cassian smiled, the Verd'ika nodded, Cassian clapped the Verd'ika on his arm and turned away, but the Verd'ika called after them.

"My Lady, he will start sweating when he is reaching his limit. Once he starts limping, if he does not rest he will drop to fifty percent function. I've been observing his progress in therapy."

Cassian looked back at the Verd'ika with a crease in his brow, but El smiled and said, "Thank you, Verd'ika. I promise — I will look after him for you, and your Ruus`alor."

Cassian raised a brow at El and then they walked down the hall, he mumbled, "You're really not that much older than me, El."

El looked sideways at him, "It's really that easy for your vod to get under your skin, Cassian?"

Cassian looked over at her and rolled his eyes, then smirked, "I'm not afraid to admit my faults. Are you, 'big sister'?"

El smiled and looked away, "Point taken." El did not have time to have faults. Her entire life had been taken over by her mission. But she used that mission to avoid any and all other attachment or responsibility. But she wasn't going to tell Cassian that.

Cassian smiled to himself, "If this is headed where I think it is, eventually you will have to meet my brother. I know that he's a textbook maladjusted-orphaned-male-military-asset, because I'm one too. But there's also a bit more to him than just that, so you'll have to bring your A-game."

El scoffed and chuckled as they stepped onto the tram. "If he's like all the other Warriors of this planet — he won't be nearly the challenge you were."

She watched as Cassian smiled at her comment then turned to zero in on the Academy building. He sat down on the tram and continued to stare at the metal and glass edifice as he rubbed his left thigh. She could see him calculating his next four moves. He was evaluating when his brother the Warrior would have to become involved, when General Draven would have to become involved, and when he would have to leave her behind because the issues she was about to bring to him could be considered internal Mandalorian affairs by the Rebellion or anyone else who might help. This play was a desperate one by El, but she felt she was reaching that point.

When the tram stopped El got up first and gestured for Cassian to follow her lead. "I will have to take you through the official visitors entrance instead of the general visitor entrance. You are a 'family friend.' They will monitor you but I will take you through non-restricted areas as if I am giving you a tour and then we will go to my office. There are literally cameras everywhere, so you will have to be very — discrete," El said quietly.

Cassian nodded, "Discrete is my specialty."

El opened the door and Cassian noted at least ten different cameras covering the front lobby just in the official visitor entrance area, the general entrance likely had about thirty cameras. Cassian started his usual approach to facial recognition avoidance, turning, adjusting his jacket, looking up or down, and using the other people around him to duck from all security. There was no other checkpoint because the camera system was assumed to be infallible.

El had to admit, he was a master of making it look natural. Once they had passed that area, they only had hallway cameras and lift cameras to deal with and that was child's play in comparison.

El gestured to the classrooms on the way to her office, she spoke grandly about the achievements of the school, the distinguished professors, and the students. As they passed one of the engineering classrooms, one of the doors suddenly opened in front of Cassian and a student rushed out and ran directly into him.

"Slow down!" Cassian said as he caught the student.

"Mr. Andor, this is one of our star pupils, Lady Sabine of Clan Wren. I assume you have a reason for leaving class early, Sabine?" El said with her eyebrow raised.

Sabine tossed her green hair, frowned first at Lady El, and then turned to the obvious foreigner she had run into.

"No, my Lady, I just — need to go back to my dorm and get some of my notes for my energy calculations," Sabine frowned and bit her lip.

Cassian looked into her narrowed almond-shaped eyes even though she tried to look away. There was something very wrong in this school…

"Alright then, Lady Wren, hurry up and get back to your project quickly," El said gently.

Sabine glanced back at Cassian, and then turned to El and gave her a tiny bow, "Yes, ma'am," then she ran away.

El watched Sabine go, and then put her tour guide smile back on and they continued on their way.

Cassian followed El into her office, and casually leaned on her desk at an angle that prevented any of the three cameras from getting a clear shot of his face. He pulled out the data spike and casually inserted it into the terminal while El appeared to be chatting and checking her routine communications.

Cassian whispered, "What is that young girl's project?"

El whispered back, "The subject of these communications."

They continued to behave casually and after El appeared to finish reading her communications, she closed her terminal, Cassian removed his data spike, and they walked out again. El walked him back to the visitor entrance and then they parted ways.

"I will come to you after end of the day," El whispered.

Cassian took the tram back to the hospital, but then he walked all the way through and exited the other side. His Verd'ika met him outside with a transport, and they took off toward a shipyard where they met and saluted another Verd'ika.

"Thank you guys, I appreciate the discretion," Cassian said, wiping the sweat from his brow.

The second Verd'ika showed Cassian to the ship terminal, and Cassian downloaded the data spike. Within seconds, a visual recording of El's terminal screen opened up, and she slowly scrolled through her communications. Cassian's eyes swept across the words faster than she was scrolling. And then — he saw it. At the very bottom of the communication. Cassian clenched his teeth and pounded his fist on the wall next to the terminal.

Cassian turned back to his Verd'ika, "Call your Ruus`alor. Tell him I said he'd better not be late tomorrow."