Chapter 10- Dur, Bao-Dur
The irrodonian techie smiled and stepped from the Ebon Hawk with Rehla and the wookie. He had to admit he trusted her more than he ever had. He was beginning to remember what he had felt during the war. The loyalty to the general, the adrenaline rush as each Mandalorian was cut down.
And now? Now the once proud Zabrak had allied himself with a dark Jedi exile, a psychotic wookie, and treacherous general of Onderon
It's the way of things
"You're late" General Vaklu commented
Rehla shot him a sweet smile "You remember who's in charge here, yes?"
Vaklu laughed eerily "I am, Jedi. You're a grunt, got it?"
Taken aback, Rehla nodded "Just remember, the Jedi's mine"
The Wookie let out a series of grunts
"What's he saying?" Bao-Dur asked
"He says Kriea dead" she said nonchalantly
"So"
"He's no longer indebted to me" she said, bored "Would you sort that out, Bao?"
"Happy to oblige"
Bao-Dur pressed the muzzle of his Mandalorian blaster to the back of Hanharrs head, and before the beast could react, pulled the trigger. He let out a roar and turned to engage him. It was too late. By the time he had turned another 6 blasts had been fired
The wookie collapsed
Still got it
"Take the men" Rehla commanded him "And put snipers around the city. I don't doubt Mandalore. He'll be here. I want the soldiers ready for him"
She picked up Hanharr, carrying him over her shoulder, and followed the general to the star ports exit
"GENERAL" he called "What are you doing with him?"
"I'll raise him when it is nessercery" she said, sadistically
Bao-Dur bowed "It's been an honour to serve with you again"
Rehla didn't reply
0o0o0o000o00o0
Only an hour later Bao-Dur had set up a ton of Vaklus men over the city. Snipers on every rooftop, Patrols on every street. The star port was locked down. Bao-Dur's bloodlust had risen. He himself was watching the star port with 15 sentries by his side, eager to take the helmet that made Mandalore what he was
"Anything?" he asked the sergeant for the sixth time in as many minutes
"No…..wait…Theres a ship coming in fast…no…." he bit his lip "no"
"What?"
"Theres a ton of them!"
Bao-Dur checked the radar. Sure enough there were a large number of blips rushing right towards them. Bao-Dur took out his Mandalorian Blaster
"Get ready" he told his men
"Sir" the techie croaked "The other side-"
Bao-Dur snapped up the radar. They were approaching from all directions
NO! THIS IS THE ONLY SAFE PLACE TO LAND!
Apparently they didn't care
"You. You. You. You. You. You and you" he counted seven troops "Get back into the city, that's where they're landing. I underestimated them. The cities a war zone. We have no defence point"
"You, You, You, get to the palace. Tell Vaklu and the general what's happened"
5 left
Bao-Dur heard an almighty roar behind him. Turned out at least one ship was using the star port. He crouched down behind the crates with his other troops
"Shall we fire, sir?"
"On my signal" he added "You three guard the exit. If the forces inside fail we'll be flanked"
The shuttle door opened
NOW
"NOW"
The two men opened fire along with the Zabrak, emptying blast after blast at the shuttle doors
"DAMN"
Bao-Dur ducked down with the troop on his left "What's up?"
"I have NEVER run out of ammo before today, what are the chances-"
Bao-Dur hastily took a clip from his pack and gave it to him, standing up and shooting a couple of shots himself
Just then a shot hit one of his troops square between the eyes. He went down with a thud and Bao-Dur ducked down himself. H heard a series of footsteps behind him
NO WAY! How many of these bastards can those shuttles hold?
He chanced a quick look and threw a frag grenade, counting 3 troops. He watched as two fumbled their rifles, not seeing the grenade
One left
Sure enough, they went boomy
That's when Bao-Dur realised
"Hey, fall back into the city" he told the troops
With a hurried glance at the final Mandalorian, they were gone
"Been a while" Bao-Dur called "How are you, murderer?"
Mandalore laughed "Look who's talking"
"What are you-?"
He's right
Bao-Dur hopped the crate and holstered his pistol. Mandalore threw down his rifle, following suit
"You used to be a good guy" Mandalore admitted "You should have stuck with Atton"
"Atton's dead" he said, waving that comment aside "Wouldn't he be here by now?"
"No, he wouldn't. He had a long way to travel from Dantooine" The Mandalorian sighed "But he'll be here before long"
"So, what do we do now?"
"You've changed, Bao-Dur. You're starting to accept honour in battle. If you weren't so attached to the dark side you'd make a formidable Mandalorian"
He added "We don't have to do anything"
"I'll remember that. What do we do now?" he repeated
Mandalore grudgingly handed the Zabrak a pistol "Let's let fate decide"
"What?"
"10 paces" Mandalore explained "One shot each. These guns carry explosive charges"
Bao-Dur didn't answer, but simply accepted the pistol, turned his back to Mandalore. They started walking.
"One" he counted
Why am I dong this?
"Two"
He's giving me a chance to walk away, isn't he?
"Three"
But I can beat him!
"Four"
I need to think
"Five
Why should he die?
"Six"
Just holster the gun and leave
"Seven"
Too late now
"Eight"
Just one shot
"Nine"
Just one life
"Ten"
He whirled around…and dropped the blaster. Before he could retrieve it though, he heard a cry of pain. He looked up to see Mandalore slumped on the floor. There was a guard with a blaster raised at the door. He grabbed the pistol and pointed it at him
"Hey! I just saved your life!" the guard exclaimed
"But you ended his"
That little finger movement was all it took. The guard's body parts were separated
He rushed to Mandalores side
Please be okay
"Not bad" the Mandalorian choked "Told you you'd make a good Mandalorian"
Bao-Dur smiled "But you're dying"
"Not only that" Mandalore said, ignoring him "You'd make a good…a good Mandalore"
"What?"
"Take my armour, my helmet"
"What?"
"Just do it, Damnit!"
A moment later Bao-Dur stood clothed in Mandalores armour, his face hidden behind the helmet of the Mandalorian leader
"Looking good" he joked "Listen..." he bit his lip "Can you do me a favour?"
"Anything" Bao-Dur said, trembling
"Tell Atton…..Canderous Ordo. Tell him that, won't you, it's my real name"
Bao-Dur wanted to cry. He sat beside the great man a long time. This man had so many stories left in him.
Eventually he passed away
0o0o0o00o0o0o0o
That's it!
As Bao-Dur put the helmet back on, he gave a cheerful smile. He had used the explosive Canderous hadn't used to persevere the legend. It was just a charred body now.
There they are
Bao-Dur…Canderous...watched as Atton and two young women stepped from the recently docked shuttle, and ran to meet them
"About time you arrived" he said happily, in Mandalores voice, using a voice changer and recording of the REAL Canderous "Ready?"
"I am" Atton said nervously "You"
"More than ever" he replied happily
"By the way" he told them, as they walked towards the city "Don't call me Mandalore anymore, from now on, I'm Canderous. Canderous Ordo"
"I'm Canderous" he repeated to himself, taking one last look at the charred remains of the original