Dagger showed up to dorm three and burst through the door. She scoured the bunks to find both Echo and Fives asleep. They were sharing a bunk and the credits of a holofilm projected onto the ceiling above them. She laughed, they must have fallen asleep with the rest of the barracks practically empty.

With a wicked smile she threw herself onto the bed. She landed across both of their stomachs. They woke suddenly with startled shouts as the air left their bodies. From there on the brothers were a bunch of flailing limbs and confusion as they tried to figure out what happened.

They realized at the same time that it was Dagger who had woken them. With excited shouts and synchronized movement they grabbed her and lifted her up. A laugh escaped her as they wrestled around.

They played on the bed which was far too small. Fives in a headlock and Echo pinning Dagger, it was all a mess. One of their feet kicked out and hit the wall, sending them all toppling to the ground. They landed with an oof and all laughed.

"Great now that you are awake, you can get off!" Dagger exclaimed from the bottom of the pile.

Echo laughed and stood up. Fives followed him and pulled her to her feet, "so I take it you are ready to go?"

She nodded enthusiastically. Echo looped an arm around her shoulder and said, "then let's go, shorty."

"Hey! I'm not that short!" she protested.

As Fives finished pulling on jeans he grabbed her hand and led them over to the elevators, "yes you are, but that's ok. We'll keep you around anyway."

~B~

The trio walked through the streets of Coruscant. Her eyes darted to and fro underneath her helmet. There were so many colors, flashing neon signs everywhere. Sure it wasn't the cleanest place ever, but it had a certain charm.

She liked looking at all the shops as they passed. There were jewelry stores, restaurants, even clothing stores. She wondered what it would be like to go shopping for clothes. Not standard issue ones, not even male clothes.

Dagger had seen other females, even Commander Tano, but she had never had clothes for herself. She blushed at the thought of herself in girl's clothes. What would she look like? She wouldn't be able to show her friends, her brothers. She wondered what they would think.

If she was some other girl, not a trooper, just someone they saw passing on the street. What would he think of her? Would he think she was attractive? Before she could think about it any more she was pulled out of her thoughts.

Well, more like shaken out by two very excited clone troopers. Fives and Echo were practically vibrating out of their skin. They had arrived at the weapons store. One that apparently a lot of clones liked to visit.

"Well if it isn't the boys in white," the shopkeeper greeted warmly.

"Of the blue variety, too," Fives joked happily, "got any cool toys today?"

The shop keeper, an elderly human man, seemed to think for a second, "I think I might have something you would like Fives. And for you as well Echo. However, I haven't met you before. Might I ask your name, sir?"

Dagger squinted her eyes, surprised when he called them by name. He remembered them, even knew what kind of weapons they would like. She responded, "Dagger."

His eyes smiled happily, skin crinkling around the corners of his eyes. He grinned wide, "at last, I know just the thing to give you. Just give me a moment Dagger."

With that he disappeared into the back of the store. She turned to Echo, "he remembers you?"

Echo nodded enthusiastically, "Old Man Bean always remembers us. He's half the reason we come here."

"And because he always has the coolest gear in town," Fives interjected quickly. He held something that Dagger couldn't identify, but it sure looked like a weapon of some sort.

"He knows what stuff we are looking for, does a good job keeping everything in regs to be able to take them on the ship, even if we can't use 'em in the field," Echo said.

She hummed in acknowledgement. She rarely got to use her own dagger, only times when she trained alone in the middle of the night. However it was a permanent staple in her uniform, always tucked into its sheath along her thigh. It wasn't a particularly special dagger, it did the job though and it was one of her only possessions that was unique. The second most valuable to her, just after her helmet. She didn't realize that notion would soon change.

Old Man Bean came back into view carrying an antique looking box. She turned her head and strode closer to get a better look at it as he set it on the counter between them. There was an inscription on the aged but sturdy red wood. The box was about a foot long. She traced her fingertips over the runes embossed on the surface.

"Kotep runi" she breathed, she knew those words. From years ago, from her training. She hadn't seen them written out in a long time, she would have been surprised that she still remembered if it didn't mean so much to her.

Her first mentor had always told her the phrase, telling her that she needed to embody it. She needed to be that brave soul.

"Ahh, you can read Mando'a. I was wondering what it said. I think that you will quite enjoy what lies within, you and your brothers are Mandalorian after all," Old Man Bean said kindly. He did not rush, he could tell that the trooper was in a trance from just looking at the box.

Dagger flipped the latches and opened the box. Laying in plush royal purple velvet laid a gleaming dagger. The blade was a good size, maybe ten inches. The handle was wrapped in leather. Between the two laid the intricate hilt.

A skull of some sort, horns or tusks protruding out of the bottom slightly wrapping around the hilt. In the eye sockets laid matching purple gems. They were small, not big enough to hinder the use of the weapon, but enough that the dagger showed wealth.

She picked it up gently, running her hand along the dual edged blade. This was not ornamental she thought as a small cut formed along her fingertip. To cut with such light pressure this was a dangerous weapon indeed.

Old Man Bean smiled brightly at Dagger as she inspected it closely, in awe, "this is a Mandalorian blade, it is ancient. The beast portrayed in the hilt a Mythosaur, I have been told that the Mandalorians rode them long ago. No one has seen a Mythosaur in a very long time."

"How did you come by a dagger such as this," She asked admiring the silvertoned glint in the light. She had no idea what type of metal this was, but it was beautiful.

"A trade from someone from far away. He said that it was a family heirloom. It was passed down from parent to child for many generations. The traveler had lost their child, he did not say how. There was no one left to pass the blade onto and he could not bear to be reminded of it any longer. He made me promise to find a worthy warrior to give it to," he explained.

Her heart ached, "that's awful. To have all tradition, a lineage like that ended in such tragedy. I don't think I am worthy to carry such a blade."

Old Man Bean smiled, "I can tell a person's heart as soon as they walk into my store. I have held this dagger for years and have never seen a heart that is worthy of it, until you came into my store. Perfect is not what this dagger needs, it needs a brave soul. That is you."

Her chest swelled at the conviction with which he spoke his words, "I will strive to be worthy of this blade. How much for it?"

He held up his hand, "this blade is too precious. If I were to put a price on it I would be diminishing it's worth. The knowledge that the proud tradition it holds will be carried on is priceless."

Her shoulders slumped, why had he shown her if he would not sell it to her? He saw her become disheartened, "child never fear, I have not told you all of this to tease you. I made a promise to that traveler to never sell this blade. At his request I am gifting it to the one who is worthy of its power."

A small gasp escaped her. He couldn't possibly be willing to give this to her for nothing. To know that someone thought she was worthy of a dagger so precious, holding so much history. It was amazing, she was smiling from ear to ear.

"Thank you Mr. Bean, you have no idea how much this means," she said honestly.

His tone was somber and sincincere as he spoke, "I can only imagine. The Mandalorian are proud people. I know that if you were ever to come across the one who gave me this dagger he would approve of my decision. The hand that holds the dagger that was supposed to be his child's. He would approve of you carrying it in the child's place."

Dagger wanted to start crying on the spot. She wanted to ask a million questions about the origin of the dagger, about the traveler, about the Mandalorians. She settled for a thankful nod, placing the blade back into the rich velvet of the case and snapping it closed.

With the blade put away the moment had passed, she realized something, "I will need a sheath for it so I can carry it with me."

He nodded, "of course. Pick one that will suit it.'

He gestured over to the display of sheaths, some ornamental and some plane. Echo practically pounced on her, his mouth was running a mile a minute. He wanted to see her new dagger. He was just as excited about it as she was. He kept asking questions as she laughed at him.

While she studied the different sheaths and compared them with Echo. Fives held a pleasant conversation with Old Man Bean. The latter had just produced a pistol for Fives. The trooper was absolutely drooling over it. He had to have it, so he did in fact buy the pistol.

Echo on the other hand didn't actually want to buy anything today. Not even the long range rifle could convince him. He helped Dagger pick out a fitting sheath, high quality and secure but not flashy. She paid for it and they left the shop saying their goodbyes to Old Man Bean. He wished them well and requested that they visit him again next time they were on Coruscant. The tone in his voice was comforting, he seemed sure that they would all make it back.

~B~

Dagger called it a night after that, she headed back to the barracks with her box underarm. Fives accompanied her while Echo stayed out in search of a bar to get a drink and have a good time. She asked Fives if he wanted to hang out with her for the night, but he had already told Echo he would bring Jesse and Kix out to the club with them.

She understood, saying goodbye as he left the elevator on his floor. Dagger waited patiently while the elevator brought her to her floor. Almost there when the doors to the elevator opened.

Captain Rex, in casual clothes, entered, "hey Dagger."

"Sir," she greeted respectfully.

He turned his head to look Dagger over, "you can call me Rex, you know that right?"

She nodded and as they stepped out of the elevator together he continued, "what do you have there?"

Dagger grinned excitedly, not that he could see it from under her helmet. She held out the box to show him. He considered it carefully before speaking, "brave soul, mando'a. Where did you find this?"

"Look inside," she urged him on. She wanted to see what he thought of it. Would he approve? She wondered if he would think she was worthy of it as well, she hoped so.

The gasp of breath he took in when he opened the box made her giggle. That one action summed up her thoughts as well. He traced his fingers gently over the hilt as she held the box, "it's magnificent. It must have cost you a pretty penny."

"Actually," she then launched into telling him everything that had happened in the shop. He listened to her intently, he genuinely wanted to hear about what Dagger had to say. The trooper was just so excited about his new weapon that Rex felt happiness for him.

It seemed like minutes, but hours later they were still in the hallway sitting on the carpeted floor. They just talked, one conversation leading into another. Eventually Dagger started yawning, with a smile Rex stood. It was time to call it a night.

Before he slipped into his room he turned to Dagger one last time, "I think that the shop keeper made a good decision. You do deserve that dagger, Dagger."

With a short laugh, she thanked him and entered her room. Her cheeks were flaming at the praise. He thought she was worth the dagger, it made her happy that he approved. She went to bed that night with a smile on her face.