AN: Hello and welcome to another chapter of The Wayfinder! To those who have read and reviewed, thank you so much! I read each and every one of your reviews but I think some of those reviews (or more specifically some of the topics) need to be addressed publicly.
Anakin Hate: This is a necessary point and not even as bad as I could have made it. Anakin, like it or not, was a thief and an arrogant little shit that liked to play with expensive machinery. This is all explored in chapter 10.
Percy's Powers: Yes, Percy has the Force. Yes, Percy has powers over water. These are all talked about in chapters 3 and 4, maybe not explicitly but they are talked about. Percy is also a Mandalorian, he lives on the moon of Concordia… A moon without water… How can he use water powers on a waterless world? He also has not needed to use these powers yet but they will be used soon.
Harem: This is not happening. As I have stated before, relationships are sacred. Percy will have to choose one woman and one woman only to be with as stated in chapter 6.
Yoda's Character: Yoda… My God, he's a Jedi not a god. He isn't dismissive of Percy, he's presumptuous about the mask he wears. This timeline follows the events of the Old Republic (as chapters 3&4 made pretty obviously clear) and in that time, one of the main events was a small thing called the Mandalorian Wars. The Mandalorian Wars set up for the Jedi Civil War and led to the First Purge, which was less bloody than the Great Purge instrumented by Palpatine with Order 66 but still was almost the end of the Order. The Mandalorian Wars, Jedi Civil War, and First Purge were the first major culling of the Jedi in Galactic history. So, if there's even a hint at a resurgence in the old ways of Mandalore? Well, I'm sure you can understand why Yoda would be skittish around something like this to the point of hostility.
Rating: Will I make this M rated? No, probably not. If I decide that this story does need to be made M, rest assured it will be rated as such. As of right now, I don't think the story has crossed that line yet.
Now, on with the chapter!
XXX
Naboo Embassy - Coruscant
968 Post Ruusan Reformation
XXX
"Welcome to the Naboo Embassy," Sabe said as we landed on the balcony of Padme's personal office - well, the Queen's office but semantics. "Governor Vizsla and Perseus have been allowed use of one of the many offices on this floor and are awaiting you now.
"Thank you, your grace," I said, facing Padme who was standing behind the Queen. "I will go to them. Both Hotshot and Captain will act as your escort until your return to Naboo. Will you require us to act as your return detail to Naboo?"
"Naboo would be most grateful if you act as such, Trident. I thank you," Sabe said as I nodded to her and Padme both.
"Will you need me to send in Perseus or the Governor himself before the Senate meeting?" I asked.
"Please send in Perseus, if you would Trident. It would be much appreciated," she said and I could have sworn I saw Padme smirk before I walked out of the room with LT, Golem, and Oak.
"Phantom, report," I said quietly as I walked through the halls of the embassy. Quickly, images passed over my visor - including the most direct path to the Governor's, now secured, room. "Thank you, my friend," I said as I watched the Nubian Senator pace in his office slowly as my small team made it to the office. I knocked on the door with a one-two, one-two, pause, one pattern that dad and I had created as a prearranged signal. The door swung open to reveal my father's face and myself sitting in a chair - stiffer than a board and obviously mechanical but that didn't really matter right now.
"Oh, thank the Ancestors," the PROXY droid said as a flash of light engulfed the room as we stepped in, revealing the holodroid had transformed into a mirror image of me at the current moment - black armor, black jumpsuit, and navy highlights all perfectly aligned where they should be. "Perhaps I should make myself scarce?"
"You're needed to stand guard, Trident," I said as the PROXY droid sighed and nodded, transforming back to his standard form with a strange hiss and a flash of light - revealing the outfit he was just wearing (the one I'm supposed to wear in the Senate) dangling off of him loosely. "Excellent," I grinned, using the Force to pull the clothes off the droid and hover them in the air before stripping down to my baffleweave/armorweave bodysuit as my armor floated around the droid as the clothes it was wearing started pulling themselves onto me.
"Welcome back, son," Dad said with a small grin as my ceremonial garb wrapped around me.
"I'd rather be in my armor," I muttered, "armorweave will just have to do, I suppose."
"You were the one who insisted that a hybrid of baffle and armor weaves would be for the best underneath your armor, boy. Your cape is more than capable of protecting you in a pinch," he said imperiously.
"Thank the Ancestors for Beskar coated armor weave," I grinned as the said cape wrapped around my shoulders and over the left side of my chest. Ceremonial gear, since the New Mandalorians took over, was changed from armor to something a bit more… Respectable. I almost scoffed, as if anything could be more respectable than a suit of pure beskar armor. I suppose proper would be the more correct term, then. Anyway. I unconsciously scratched at my chest where the white and blue tunic just revealed a hint of the body suit underneath my shirt - which wouldn't be too much of a surprise as Clan Vizsla's colors are black and navy. Anyway, the coat was a simple blue fabric with a pair of black stripes encasing the black Shriek Hawk covering nearly my entire back. The idea of the cape was that it represented the Ancestors of house Vizsla covering my back no matter where I went - I was effectively the representative of House and Clan Vizsla before the Senate while dad was Mandalore's representative, a Mand'alor in all but title.
"Elek, ad. You know your duties today?" dad asked smoothly.
"I do. I am to be the Voice of House Vizsla, effectively your voice as you speak with the authority the Duchess claims," I said confidently, reaching my arm out to take his. We clasped arms and he said one last thing.
"Ramikadyc, ni ad."
"Ramikadyc, ma'aliit."
"Ma'aliit," he said seriously, letting go of my hand as I turned to the door with Golem at my side as I made my way back to the Queen's chambers. [1]
"Mister Vizsla, welcome," Padme said, still in her handmaiden garb, "the Queen is waiting." I raised an eyebrow and her eyes told me more in that instant than anything she could have actually said could have. The room was bugged. I nodded to her and spoke.
"Then we mustn't keep her waiting, I am sure she will want to be at the senate with all due haste." Padme sagged slightly in relief but turned around to lead the way.
"Master Vizsla," Sabe said as I came face to face with her once again, "it is good to see you fully recovered from what the Federation inflicted on you."
"Thank you, your grace, it is an honor to meet you properly," I said in slight disgust. I hated playing politics but this had to be done. "When did you wish to leave for the Senate?"
"Immediately," she said and I felt my eyes widen slightly. "The Governor should meet us at the rooftop landing dock. I was unaware that we needed to leave so quickly, but that is the nature of these things. Palpatine requested an emergency meeting of the Senate and the Supreme Chancellor made it happen much faster than I thought could be possible. The meeting is set to convene in half an hour." I wasn't terribly surprised and only raised an eyebrow as the wall itself opened to reveal a Speeder sitting right there ready to be boarded. I simply raised my eyebrow and threw a look over at Padme who nodded. A handmaiden couldn't be allowed in the Senate chambers - only the Queen. Though no one would dare refuse a Mandalorian anything - especially with Golem and Hotshot with them - but Cap stayed back to defend the Queen herself.
The small speeder rocketed up to the roof with the three Strikers flying abreast with it, only for them to be joined by the familiar forms of Oak and LT. I grinned broadly as most of my Strikers were in one place as the PROXY droid became my walking Weapon Rack for the Senate. I had a beskad [2] on me along with my Lightsaber hidden in the folds of my cape but those wouldn't do very much good except in the most desperate scenarios - after all, the crossguard made it pretty damn clear who I actually was. Dad entered the shuttle with PROXY-Trident at his side and we were off to the Senate.
XXX
Senate Chambers Coruscant
"I must admit, your grace," I said quietly as I looked over the Senate Chamber in awe. "This is far and away from what I expected to find…"
"Indeed it is magnificent," Palpatine said quietly and I had to strangle the urge to scowl. The old bastard obviously wasn't really all that happy that I had to tag along - even less so that SenSec (Senate Security) had allowed my Strikers through without a second of hesitation, but, then again, these people apparently knew better than to ever try to separate an armed and helmeted Mandalorian from their weapons. "Though the double-dealing that goes on behind the clean facade would make even the undercity seem positively radiant."
"As is the nature of these things," I said evenly as Sabe cracked a small smirk that lasted right up until Valorum's voice boomed out through the hall.
"The Chair recognizes the Senator from the sovereign system of Naboo," he said and it was go time. I grinned as I felt the data drive Phantom slipped me after we passed SenSec against my breast, I knew what was on it - of course - it was a compilation of every misdeed, every action, and every word said by Nute Gunray since we made landfall on Naboo. Thank the gods for Slicers and stealth drones. But, while I knew the gist of what was on the drive, I didn't know specifically but I assumed Phantom only put the relative information on it as it was supposed to be seen by the Senate. Palpatine stepped up to the control panel of the pod and I was only mildly impressed as the pid dipped down to come level with the Supreme Chancellor's podium.
"Supreme Chancellor, delegates of the Senate," Palpatine said smoothly. "A tragedy has occurred which started with the taxation of trade routes, and has now engulfed our entire planet in the oppression of the Trade Federation.
"This is outrageous!" Another fucking Nemodian bellowed as his pod approached the Podium. "I object to the Senator's statements!"
"The Chair does not recognize the Senator from the Trade Federation at this time," Valorum snapped. "Please return to your station and be silent until called upon."
"To state our allegations, I present Queen Amidala, recently elected ruler of Naboo, who speaks on our behalf," Palpatine said to about three claps from the audience. I almost winced as I realized that Naboo wouldn't be getting any help from these people. Sabe stood and took the Senator's place at the control panel and even I thought I was going to be bored to tears by the way Sabe tried to plead her case.
"Honorable representatives of the Republic, I come to you under the gravest of circumstances. Naboo system has been invaded by the droid armies of the Tra-"
"I object! There is no proof!" The Nemodian snapped and this time I stood up and snapped off:
"Would you shut up!?" I barked, shocking the Senate chamber into silence, "the Chancellor has not called on the Trade Federation and you only make yourself look more guilty by interrupting the Queen," I shot back at the wide eyed Nemodian who had already opened his mouth to reply but I cut him off. "I am Perseus of House Vizsla, heir to Clan Vizsla, a Mandalorian." I addressed the now stunned audience who were almost shocked out of their wits when the Mandalorian contingent floated down to our side.
"He speaks true," father said, "I am Pre - head of Clan Vizsla and leader of House Vizsla, Governor of Concordia, and her Grace Satine Kryze's representative to this body. As you can see," he said, indicating LT, Oak, and PROXY-Trident, "these are my bodyguards for the time being. Mandalore is a peaceful world but one with no water. Her Grace sent myself and my son to negotiate for Water - Water vital to the continued survival of our people - when we were intercepted by a Trade Federation blockade," he said viciously, fire burning in his eyes. "I stand with Queen Amidala, I stand with my son who will speak for me in this matter."
"Perseus shall also speak for me," Sabe said and I could see the mirth in her eyes as the audience chamber exploded into furious whispers. It was almost unheard of for a world leader to let another speak with their voice - and Palpatine was furious. I felt his anger surging like a tidal wave before he ruthlessly crushed it, only a sliver of the addictive cold of the Dark Side tingling down my spine.
"I thank you, Father, Queen Amidala, for the privilege you have both bestowed on me. As such, am I free to continue, Chancellor?" I asked the man as the Trade Federation senator and the Malaster contingents whispered furiously to each other about what this could mean.
"Indeed, Senator Pro Tempore Mandalore-Naboo," Valorum said, obviously slightly off balance.
"This does not change the fact that there is no proof!" the Nemodian tried again desperately but I raised my hand to my coat pocket and removed the drive within.
"I think not," I said, hearing my voice boom through the chamber. "I was able to record these transmissions and my… Temporary bodyguards - mercenaries that have protected us faithfully since we were extracted from Naboo - managed to record some evidence as well. Shall I play them for you, Senator?" I said as I locked eyes with the annoying Nemodian. He stuttered something terrible before I turned to Valorum. "By your leave, Chancellor?" Valorum waved his hand in a gesture that I took to mean 'go ahead,' and plugged in the drive to the Control panel - watching in glee as the first Nemodian I met on Naboo appeared.
"This is a Trade Federation Blockade! Naboo is closed to all access, state your name and business here!" he said and I watched the chamber as it exploded in a flurry of activity. The Nemodian tried to move but apparently the Chancellor had enough and had overridden his pod. One damning piece of evidence after another just hammered home how screwed the Federation really was. Images of Battlecruisers, Lecrehulks disgorging hundreds of thousands of battle droids every other minute, labor camps… The pictures were a damning compilation of what the Federation was about to be in for, especially when Sabe's voice and the video from Phantom's position started. Strangely, the hall fell silent for this part.
"I will not cooperate."
"Now, now, your highness," Nute's voice said, obviously matching the Nemodian as he appeared on screen. "In time, the suffering of your people will persuade you to see our point of view. Commander?"
"What is the meaning of this!?" Dad asked as he came into the frame, obviously enraging a few more of the delegates. If a Mandalorian was captured, what would happen to them?
"Ah, governor Vizsla! How good of you to join us! You will be interred in camp four with the good queen here, perhaps your negotiations will flourish there? Commander, process them."
"Roger, roger," came the distinctly robotic voice as an obvious battle droid appeared on screen. A few seconds were skipped until the scene in the courtyard where a whole platoon of battle droids were dropped like flies.
"Queen Amidala, Governor Vizsla, I am Trident. We have an extraction vehicle prepared for you and the battle droids leading to it have been disabled, but we must hurry," I heard myself say in a slightly modified voice. I smirked as I heard the adjustment, silently thanking Phantom for the help. Time sped up as the frames sped by until I heard:
"The Jetti are right here, Trident," Cap's voice rang out through the Senate chamber as the two Jedi appeared on the screen - on Naboo - before the screen winked out of existence.
"This proves nothing!" The Malaster Senator barked, still denying any culpability for the acts that the entire galaxy just bore witness to.
"The evidence is clear!" Another voice called down, I could only raise my eyebrows in shock as Bail Organa voiced his support - and Alderaan's - for a Mandalorian cause. Would wonders never cease? "The Trade Federation has overstepped its boundaries and has invaded a sovereign system! Naboo is not a minority planet, my fellow senators, nay it is not! Naboo may very well be the shining star of our Galaxy, a planet whose peoples value peace and cooperation to the point where they have become a target. I ask you this, is this the price of Peace?" he boomed and I couldn't help but be impressed by the Senator. "Would you bleed and die because there is a system out there that wishes to punish you simply because your peace makes you a target? You Hosnia? Maybe you D'Quar? Dantooine? Mandalore herself? Who will be held hostage next for corporate gain?" He barked into the chamber, stirring the Senators to action. "Action must be quick, it must be decisive…" he said and I felt the pod move backward toward it's docking station and watched as dad's pod did the same - we weren't needed for this part of the vote so I stopped listening. After a few minutes, and terrifying a few more Senators, we met with the rest of our party on the west side of the building.
"An impressive showing, Perseus," Dad said with a broad grin across his face, one that I returned. "I dare say that our alliance with the Naboo is cemented in all but ink."
"I would hope so," I grinned broadly as the Strikers formed a circle around us and walked as confidently as any SenSec Agent through the corridors around Sabe, Dad, and myself. "But, if I'm being honest, Lott had it coming. I've wanted to do that and so much more to the Federation for years."
"If it pleases you," Sabe said quietly, interrupting our conversation with a broad grin, "I believe it would be best to return to Naboo tonight. Percy, we can serve the Federation as soon as we get back!"
"Calm yourself, Queen Amidala," I said quietly but grinned at her gently as we stepped into the Speeder.
"It would not do to be hasty, Majesty," dad said with his signature smirk. "The Federation is comprised of worms and sycophants but it would not surprise me if they tried to make you sign their treaty all the same and claim they had legal grounds for the invasion," he said as the speeder took off away from the Senate building and toward the Nubian embassy once again to pick up the last of Queen Amidala's entourage.
"You may be right, Governor," Sabe said quietly as we settled in for the short ride back to the Embassy.
"Helmsman," I said tapping my ear lightly after we got out of range of the short range jammers surrounding the Senate building. "We'll be taking off as soon as we return from the Naboo embassy. Prep the ship and expect us soon."
"Sir, I had thought we weren't leaving until nightfall?"
"Biggs," I said slowly, trying not to laugh, "you need to get out of the ship more often, night will fall soon."
"Aye sir," he said, slightly embarrassed but I just grinned broadly as we zipped through Coruscant with the Strikers over our heads.
XXX
"You told the Federation Senator to do what?!" Padme asked, utterly aghast. We had just made it back to the Embassy and the PROXY droid and I had swapped places once again, but I was able to actually tell Padme what had happened.
"Shut up and listen," I grinned as I had my helmet tucked under my arm. "Sabe, while an excellent decoy, is not your equal in oration, your majesty," I said with a small frown as I turned to her, "sorry, Sabe."
"No, you're quite right, Percy," she said with a slightly chagrined look on her face. "While I am trained to be the best I can be to help and serve Padme, I am not her. She's simply better at public speech than I could ever dream of being."
"Sabe-"
"No, Padme," Sabe said, interrupting the Queen, "I speak with your voice but perhaps it is time you retook the mantle…" she said quietly, meeting her best friend's eyes.
"Maybe… We will discuss this when we arrive back to Naboo," she said and we both knew there would be no more discussion on the subject.
"Ladies, it's time to go back to the Nighthawk," I said as I saw the sun sinking over the horizon. "We launch the ship as the sun falls, come on." Padme looked slightly startled but the three of us and PROXY walked out of the Queen's office as I donned my helmet once again. Together, we made our way to the speeder that Sabe had waiting for us and I was surprised to see dad already waiting for us in the speeder but made no mention of it. Minutes later and we were speeding back to the Nighthawk - I couldn't be happier. I never liked this scumridden world and only stayed because Padme needed me to. In minutes, we arrived back at the Nighthawk's docking bay but I came face to face with two men that I didn't expect to see there - Qui-Gon and another man.
"Trident," Qui-Gon called out with a smile and I realized, with a small start, that neither of the two men had lightsabers on them, "I believe I will take you up on your offer. This is my former Master, Dooku, he has expressed interest in your cause and would like to come aboard."
"Has he?" I asked as I turned to the old man and examined him, "and why should I let you come aboard, Master Dooku?"
"You are wise to be scrupulous, Trident," the old man said with a small smirk. "But perhaps not so much when quoting Mand'alor the Destroyer to the Council, if what my young Padawan said is accurate. You live by the Destroyer's mantra and that tells me all I need to know about you. You are young, reckless even, but your people come first in your mind - an admirable trait. But perhaps that has perhaps blinded you. You spoke of the shadows with such blatant disregard that the Council may act against you for mentioning the guild at all. I was head of the Shadow guild in my time in the Council, Master Windu is believed to lead it now."
"Why are you telling me this, Auretti?" I growled, my hand trailing down to my lightsaber unconsciously.
"Peace, child," the old man said with his hands well away from where his lightsaber would be in a gesture of peace that sort of fell flat in its absence. "I offer my services, I truly believe that your friend, Perseus Vizsla-" his eyes locked onto my visor and I knew that he knew too.
"Damn it Qui-Gon," I hissed, cutting off the old man. Both Jedi looked surprised as I ushered the entire group - Strikers, Handmaidens, Governor, Heavies, and Jedi included - onto the Nighthawk. I barked a command into a comms system beside the door as I lifted the gangplank and sealed the environment. "Come with me," I growled to the two as I pulled off my helmet - much to everyone's shock, "what!?" I barked at the whole of the crew and the distinctly unsurprised Jedi Masters, "He obviously knew, what harm has been done?"
"Maybe he was bluffing, Percy," Padme said, as confidently as only any career politician could be, at my side.
"I doubt it, Pad," I growled as I looked at the smirking Jedi. But I got one over on them as I nodded to their left and Phantom appeared out of nowhere as quietly as a ghost. Dooku staggered back with wide eyes as Phantom held his lightsaber's unengaged emitter mere millimeters from the old man's neck. "Besides, Phantom would have taken care of it if he tried to run back to the council," I said with a victorious smirk as Padme's eyes widened.
"What madness is this!?" the old man cried as Qui-Gon looked at Phantom with wide eyes.
"You're a Force Null… A void in the very force… How can this be? I felt you when we first met, I could swear it," Qui-Gon said quietly and I just grinned.
"Phantom is special," Dooku stared at one of my best friends standing there like a living shadow in his pure black armor broken only by a single navy stripe running down the left side of his helmet.
"None can do this, it's unnatural," Dooku muttered as he starred at Phantom. "He cannot be using a Force Cloak, nay, I am too familiar with the technique… How is this possible?" I felt my eyes widen as the shuttle took off from the platform.
"We're speaking of this in private," I said coldly, the Jedi looked surprised but I turned to look at Padme with a small frown replacing my scowl. "Queen Amidala, would you join us?"
"A conversation between two Jedi and two Mandalorians? I suppose I'll have to go just to make sure you don't kill each other," she said with her nose in the air. I just smirked and led the small group to one of the small, but secure, meeting rooms aboard the Nighthawk… Well, interrogation rooms that is, to-ma-toe to-mah-toe. This ship's first (and public) role may be as a freighter but it's main purpose is to act as a capture and incarceration vessel. We turned one of the corners and found ourselves - Jinn, Dooku, Julius (Phantom), and Padme - in a small room with the right amount of chairs.
"The room's secure," I said as I sat down between Padme and Phantom. "Talk, Jedi. How can you sense a Force Cloak?"
"Experience," he said with a frown, "it is the fine art of sensing a man where none stands visibly - the Force has not led me yet astray. Your friend though, he is different."
"He is," I said simply. I didn't plan to give them any information on Phantom that I didn't have to, but his… Unique, nature and cloaking tech makes him almost invaluable for hunting Force Sensitives. Lux may have been dad's main bodyguard when not on mission elsewhere, but Julius (Phantom) was different. He was born mute but strong with the Force. According to Lux, his mother died when he was very young and Julius just took to the background and never left. Julius was also the Striker's main engineer - and he was a bloody brilliant one at that. He had completely engineered his cloaking tech from scratch just by observing the damnable shadow men [3] and how they were able to slip through the night without so much as a flicker of movement being observed even with high powered night vision. That was a year ago when Ayla had to survive her Verd'goten on the shadow world. Ayla (LT), much to Maz's chagrin after hoping for years that she would take to blaster pistols, was Ben's star pupil. She never missed a shot with her rifle that she managed to take off a Shadow Man, much to her mentor's joy, just like Ben did. But what none of them were aware of was that Julius had been sent to observe and not be observed in turn while he watched over her and the natives. It was where he really learned what he was when Ayla, who we had all known to be Force Sensitive, didn't even have a slight clue that he was there.
"Yet he does not speak for himself?" The count asked curiously.
"You assume he can speak for himself, master Jedi," the count's eyes widened slightly in understanding and he nodded.
"My apologies. I meant no offense," he said apologetically.
"And none was taken," I said and Phantom nodded once, reaffirming my words.
"Excellent," the count said as the ship shook momentarily, I couldn't help but grin.
"Come on, we need to get up to the bridge," I said reaching my hand out to Qui-Gon, "it's good to have you onboard Qui-Gon," we shook and I held my hand out to the Count. His eyebrow climbed into his forehead but he clasped my forearm anyway. "I had decided to let you come aboard the moment I saw you master, but I had to be sure. The fact you are both missing your sabers is the biggest fact."
"What's the significance in that?" Padme asked, her brows knitted together as she tried to work out the implications of the missing blades.
"When a Jedi, on the admittedly rare occasion, decides he or she decides their time with the order is over they will hand their lightsaber over to the council along with anything belonging to the Order. The Lightsaber is seen as the weapon of the Jedi Order, and anyone leaving the Order is no longer considered a Jedi. This is why one must relinquish their lightsaber. This is why I, my former Padawan, and the Council were surprised when they found you in possession of the blades. Along with the Lightsaber we leave anything that belongs to the Order, which is most of our possessions considering we have been members of the order since we were but younglings." Qui-Gon said calmly.
"In other words?" I snarked as we reached the Nighthawk's dorsal hatch to enter the Fist, "they left the order with the clothes on their back and the change in their pocket. The Jedi can't have an armed upstart running around causing havoc as a dark Jedi or, Ancestors forbid, Sith. And, since Lightsabers are hellishly difficult to produce - without knowing where to find materials, that is - it generally means a Jedi who's left the order will never get their hands on another one." Padme's eyes widened slightly in realization before she fell silent and nodded slowly as she thought about it. But I felt my eyebrows climb slightly as I thought about something. "Wait, why are you both here? I understand you being here Qui-Gon but you, Dooku? Call me curious." I said cooly.
"My p- former, padawan," Qui-Gon said regretfully and I felt my eyebrow climb even higher, "was tasked by the Council to gather information on you… They sent him to Satine to do this," he said and I almost choked on my laugh that erupted from my throat. Qui-Gon raised an eyebrow as I cackled maniacally for a few minutes before calming myself with great, heaving breaths and raising an eyebrow at the former Jedi master.
"Satine is clueless, she doesn't know anything about the Strikers - well, now I expect she knows we exist but that's not too surprising since we outed ourselves to the Senate," I rubbed my chin thoughtfully.
"And how can you be sure of this?" I just raised an eyebrow at Dooku who nodded in understanding. "A spy, I should have expected as much. But if that much is true then you would belong to a much larger organization, would you not?" I nodded slowly as I thought of how to answer that.
"Yes, we are the Strike team of Kyr'tsad. Death Watch. We are the torchbearers, the flame keepers, of Mandalore's warrior heritage. Our people have thrown away that heritage, that legacy forged in blood and fire, for peace," I spat. "Queen Amidala knows our creed: he who lays down his arms when his people are endangered is condemned to our hell. We're fighters, warriors! Not peacekeepers, dammit!" I barked as I looked at the two Jedi before taking a breath to calm myself as I felt Pamde's hand slip into mine. I glanced at her and nodded as she squeezed my hand gently. "Yeah… Death Watch… That's our organization," I said quietly.
After that outburst, not another word was spoken as I pushed open the hatch and led our small contingent back to the bridge just in time to see that we had escaped the planet's gravity well and were about to make the jump.
"Coordinates set," the Helmsman said as I took my spot at the command table. "Making the jump to Naboo in five… four… three… two… one… Jumping," and immediately the stars stretched before we entered the swirling blue tunnel that was hyperspace.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, Nubians and Mandalorians, former Jedi," I said with a grin stretching across my face, "next stop? Naboo."
"Excellent," Qui-Gon said and I nodded to him and Dooku both.
"Come on," I said simply and saw them eye me curiously as I walked over to the supply closet. Jinn looked at me with realization flashing in his eyes while Dooku just looked confused. "You're not Jedi anymore but they did teach you everything you know, I'll be damned if I pass that up." I said as I reached into a pouch and took out a pair of kyber crystals - green and yellow, tossing them into the air and watching as the Jedi both caught them using the Force with a look of wonder on their faces.
"Kyber Crystals," Dooku muttered, obviously awed by the small but mighty force crystal.
"Ghostfire, if I am not mistaken," Qui-Gon said reverently, the green crystal between his fingers as Dooku held the yellow Zophis crystal I gave him.
"Now, make some sabers, can't have you be unarmed if the shadows come or the Federation wants a fight. Oak," I said turning to the Striker who had taken a place beside dad, "show them the workstation, the Queen and I need to speak on what will more than likely happen when we reach Naboo. Dismissed!"
XXX
[1] - Ramikadyc is the word for a warrior's state of mind. Basically the conversation went something like this: "Strength of mind, my son." "Strength of mind, for the name of the clan." "For the name of the clan."
[2] - Mentioned in chapter 8, I mistakenly called a Kal Knife - a traditional Mandalorian dagger made of beskar - a beskad, which is a single edged Beskar sword, so I'm rolling with it for the time being.
[3] - Shadow Men, more commonly referred to as Shadow People, are a subspecies of Humans that call the world Umbara their home. Located within a Nebula, the local sun does not reach the planetary surface allowing for little sunlight and people who have adapted perfect night vision. This world was highlighted in one of my favorite arcs of the Clone Wars. Umbaran blasters were an advanced form of Blaster Rifle - somewhere between a blaster and disruptor.
[4] - Bold is directly from The Phantom Menace and I do not own that.
