29 BBY

Lothal


"Here you go," Kunon said as she set down a cup of steaming tea in front of Shaak Ti.

The Togruta bowed and took the cup, "Thank you Kunon," she said as she took a sip. "This is good," she said as she rested the cup back onto the tabletop, "What is it?"

Kunon traveled around the table and sat next to her husband who was looking at the Jedi with a blank stare. Kunon could feel his fear and worries through the Force. She rested a hand on top of his and Drudu looked at her before he closed his mind off from her. "It's a blend that I make myself using plants from the garden and fruits that I get from the city," Kunon answered the Jedi.

"I wonder if I could get the recipe," Shaak Ti said before she was cut off by Kunon.

"How did you find me?" she asked.

The Jedi let out a sigh, "To be completely honest," she said, "it was just an accident." Shaak Ti then cast a look upstairs to where she felt Reeva in his room. "I was at Mon Cala helping Master Fisto settle a disagreement between the Mon Calamari and the Quarren."

Kunon snorted, "They're never going to get along, are they?" she asked with a weary sigh.

"Well," Shaak Ti said with a smile. It seems that Kunon hasn't changed all that much, "Their current King, Yos Kolina, is making great headway in relations between the two." She took another sip of the tea letting the warm liquid travel down her throat and looked at her friend. The drink brought up happier times that the two shared. From the time they were younglings in the Boma Clan, to the time each of them attained the rank of Knight. "But I was stopping here in Lothal to purchase some food that you can't find on Coruscant."

"And you just happen to come across our son," Drudu said, speaking for the first time since the Jedi appeared.

"Yes," Shaak said as she gave the man once over. "So you're the one that caught Kunon's eye," she said as her brow rose upward slightly. Amused at the fact that it was Mandolorian that drew Kunon away from the order

"Let's not get into that," Kunon said, cutting in before anything else on the subject could come up. "I left the order so I'm not bound by their rules anymore," she said to the Jedi before she turned to her husband, "And I'm not the reason why she's here."

Drudu clenched his teeth and sucked in air, "I know why she is here," he said shortly, "she's here because of our son."

Shaak Ti let out a sigh, "You are correct," she said, drinking from the cup once more. "Kunon, you know that I have to report this to the Council once I return to Coruscant."

Kunon nodded her head, "I knew that this day would probably come," she said softly as she rested her hands on top of the table.

Shaak Ti reached over and rested her hand on top of Kunon's, "Kunon because of our friendship and because I know you. I wanted to talk to you about what the next step should be." Kunon looked at Shaak Ti's black eyes and slowly placed her other hand on top of the Jedi's.

"Thank you."

The Torgurta nodded her head and pulled her hands back. Kunon then rested her head on Drudu's shoulders. "I can tell that Reeva's been trained," Shaak Ti pointed out, "And I do not feel the dark side in him or you so I know that there isn't an issue, yet."

"But," Drudu said as he snaked an arm around Kunon, who was shivering.

"You felt it, haven't you," Shaak Ti said, looking at Kunon with knowing eyes, "the Force acts strangely around him."

"So," Kunon said bitterness slowly creeping in.

Stunned Shaak Ti looked bewildered at her friend, "So? Kunon you know the dangers of someone as strong as him falling to the dark side," she said before she began to plead, "You have done well, both of you," she said, nodding towards Drudu who didn't acknowledge her. "But what would happen should he fall to the dark side, he needs to be trained by Masters."

"You know why I left the order in the first place," Kunon said slowly separating herself from Drudu. "I do not agree with the way the Jedi do things, they have fallen into stagnation, and don't get me started on the Republic and its issues."

"Be as that may be," Shaak Ti said, "You have to set that aside and think about Reeva. If I don't take him then the Council might as well come here themselves and do it."

Kunon stood up quickly, her teeth bared and Drudu put his hands on the table ready to 'escort' the Jetii out, "Shaak I trust you but I don't trust the Council to train my son. The only way I'll agree to this is if Master Qui-Gon teaches him," Kunon snapped, "at the very least he would understand and I trust him to teach Reeva."

Shaak Ti's expression fell and a pang of sadness swept towards Kunon through the Force, "Shaak," Kunon said breathlessly, "What's wrong?"

"Master Qui-Gon," Shaak Ti said slowly, "Is dead."

Kunon's legs gave out and she collapsed into her chair. Surprised Drudu went to her side and held her. "What..how…?" she gasped softly, the words barely coming out.

"During the Invasion of Naboo," Shaak Ti explained slowly, "He was killed by a Sith Warrior."

At those words, the fight left Kunon and an almost clarity washed over her. "You said Sith…" she said, hoping that she had misheard her.

Shaak Ti nodded her head. "A Sith."

That was all Kunon needed to drop her resistance. She nodded her head. "Fine," she said as she hugged herself, regaining some of her energy back, "You can take Reeva."

Drudu looked at his wife in shock, "Kunon…"

The Echani looked to her husband, the love of her life. "We knew that this might happen, besides my vision…" she trailed off closing her eyes as tears began to form. "I think he needs to be with the Jedi."

Drudu began to breathe heavily as if he was barely containing himself.

The squeak of the door opening cracked through the air as a single human man came through wearing green beskar armor, "Hey Alor!" he said in a boisterous tone, "I…" the man stopped as he saw the extra guest, the Jetii. "Did I come at a bad time," he said, his hand slowly going towards the blaster at his hip.

"No, Krig," Drudu said standing up with his head down, "Come give me your report," he said walking towards the door, "Are the others here?"

Krig looked at the Jetii and said slowly, "Yes," before he turned his head towards Drudu.

"Good," he said and motioned the Mandalorian outside, "Let's do this outside, the Jetii doesn't need to hear this." The bitterness is clear in his tone. Before he stepped outside he turned to look at Shaak Ti and said in a low voice, "The only way I'll agree to this is if Reeva wants it and he is allowed to complete Verd'goten." With that, the door slammed shut.

Shaak Ti turned to Kunon who had her head buried in her hands. "I'm sorry Kunon, truly I am," Shaak Ti said.

Kunon just shook her head, "Don't be," she said as her head raised she wiped the tears away with the sleeve of her shirt. "We both knew that this day would come, we just hoped that it wouldn't."

The Jedi rose from her seat and made her way towards Kunon and sat next to her. She then brought Kunon to her, "I can't imagine what you're going through, this is why Master…"

"Don't," Kunon cut her off, "Don't preach to me about attachments."

Shaak Ti bit her tongue on the subject and decided to go into another one. "Perhaps this is for the best," she tried to reason. "Perhaps that is why the Force brought me here instead of another Jedi."

Kunon nodded her head, "I can't imagine if someone like Rancisis found us," she chuckled before she pulled out of the hug and looked at Shaak with an amused smile, "Is that hairy snake still around?"

Shaak Ti just shook her head but she did have a small smile on her lips. "Yes, and he's still on the High Council."

Kunon rolled her eyes, "Great."

"Buir," Reeva said as he slowly came out of his hiding spot around the corner. Kunon looked up at her son and her eyes widened slightly at what was staring back at her. His eyes were strong and resolute, "I want to be Jetii," he said, his voice unwavering. "I want to be strong like you."

Kunon stood up and went over to Reeva and brought herself to her knees in front of him. "Are you sure, my dear?" she asked Reeva, "The life of a Jedi is a hard one, you'll be tested in ways you can't even imagine." Kunon cupped Reeva's cheek, "You don't have to do this," she told him, her eyes misting, "you have nothing to prove to me or your father. Say the word and we'll go…"

Reeva's brown eyes looked down for a moment before he looked back up and grasped his mother's hand gently. "I know buir, but…" he said trailing off as he tried to find the words, "I can't explain it, but I have to go." He watched as his mother closed her eyes and fought back the tears.

"Well, go tell your father what you have decided," she said as she stood back on her feet and gently shoed Reeva to the door, "Then go pack your things."

The boy looked to his mother as tears slowly began to fall. He turned towards the door but stopped. He then turned around and hugged his mother tightly. "It'll be alright mom," he said, "the Force will always connect us." Reeva then let go of the hug and ran out the door.

Kunon just stood there as the tears fell down her face. An orange hand rested on her shoulder, "I know this isn't easy, but it is the right thing," Shaak Ti said, trying her best to comfort the ex-Jedi. The Echani patted her eyes with her shirt.

"I know," she said, "deep down I knew this was coming. I've known for a while now, but I just hoped…" her voice cracked.

Shaak Ti wrapped her arms around Kunon and led her back to the kitchen. Gently she sat Kunon down and used the Force to bring over the kettle and pour out a cup of tea. Shaak Ti then brought the steaming cup to Kunon and placed it in front of her where it sat. "You mentioned a vision before," the togruta Jedi asked as she brought her own cup back to her. "Did it tell you that your son would be a Jedi?"

Kunon grasped the teacup with both hands, not trusting the strength of her hands, and brought it to her lips. "Sort of…" she said unsure all of sudden. She then began to tell Shaak Ti everything about the vision she had a year ago. Every minute detail that she could remember from the cold grapes of the dark side to the wound of the Force. When she was finished, her cup was empty. The opposite was true for Shaak as it laid there untouched, cold.

"That," the Jedi gasped, "That is a very peculiar vision indeed." she brought up a small finger and stroked her chin, "and you say you had this right around the time of the Invasion of Naboo?" Kunon nodded. "I see."

"When you told me that it was the Sith that killed Qui-Gon," Kunon said as she filled her cup with the last of the tea, "It all just clicked for me."

"A wound in the Force," Shaak Ti said slowly, "Perhaps that is what has blinded Master Yoda's visions."

That got Kunon's attention, "Master Yoda…"

Shaak Ti nodded, "I'm only telling you this because of the vision you had, but…" she trailed off thinking, "He said that the dark side has been blocking his vision within the Force, it's been difficult for him to see anything."

"Then that means that the Sith are out there and they are about to make their move," Kunon said, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath, "Yes you need to take Reeva with you, his connection with the Force will be needed."

"That reminds me," Shaak Ti said as she turned to Kunon, "Have you figured out why the Force behaves as it does around him?"

Kunon let out a sigh, "No," she said and looked at Shaak Ti, "To be honest there are times where I...I don't understand him. His growth is something I have never seen, and there are times where he seems I don't know…" she trailed off before saying, "older."

Shaak Ti cocked her head to the side, "Explain?"

"There are times when he doesn't act like a child," Kunon said as he ran a hand through her hair. "It's like he's an adult stuck in the body of a child."

"And you think it has something to do with the vision?" Shaak Ti added.

Kunon shook her head, "Yes, no, I don't know," she said with a sigh, "To be honest, he frightens me."

Unbeknownst to the two, Reeva was sitting on the stairs listening to them as they talked. After he told his buir his decision he quickly ran back inside, he didn't see the crestfallen expression of his father. Reeva was only halfway up the stairs when he heard his mother talk about a vision. So he waited to listen in. When he heard his mother say that she was afraid of him, his body went cold. He wrapped his arms around his knees and buried his head in them. His own mother was afraid of him? Did his dad feel the same? "But," he perked up at the sound of his mother's voice. "I still love him. He is still my son."

Deciding that he should probably stop listening in, it is quite rude after all, he quietly got up and went back upstairs to finish packing his things.

Back in the kitchen, Kunon rested a hand on top of Shaak Ti's, "Promise me something," she said. Shaak Ti looked at the Echani who had a serious look on her face. "Watch over him," she said, "I've taught him almost everything I know, and I know things are going to be difficult for him at the temple." Kunon looked into Shaak Ti's black eyes, "Once word gets out that he's my son and he's Mandalorian trained…" she couldn't finish.

Shaak Ti placed a hand over the one on top of hers. "I promise." Kunon smiled and nodded before Shaak Ti asked, "What is Verdgoten."

Kunon chuckled at her friend's attempt at Mando'a, "It's Verd'goten," she corrected, "It's a rite of passage that all Mando'ad must go through before being recognized as an adult."

Shaak Ti nodded her head, "If that's the case then I see no problem," the Jedi said, "There are instances where Jedi younglings or Padawans are allowed to leave to complete such rites." she reached up and touched her headdress which contained the teeth of an Akul. Kunon smiled.

"Thank you," Kunon said resting in her chair, "That would put Drudu at ease."

As if summoned Drudu and three other Mandalorians walked back into the house, his face unreadable. "Well," he said, his voice rough, "Reeva told me that he is going to be Jetii." He then turned and glared at Shaak Ti. "When Reeva reaches the proper age and training I will take him on his Verd'goten."

Shaak Ti raised a hand up stopping all conversation, "As I was explaining to Kunon," she said in a calm voice, "Jedi are allowed to complete rites of passage of their people as long as it does not greatly interfere with their training." Drudge's face twitched and lost some of its aggression. "In fact when the time comes I will gladly make sure that the council grants permission."

A Mandalorian that had pink armor, except for the shoulder pad which was bronze, rested a hand on Drudu's shoulder, "See ori'vod," he said with a gruff voice, "Gar should cuyir proud, not kaden."

"I'm not angry," Drudu said stubbornly.

"He's pouting," Kunon chuckled as she got up.

"HA!" Krig said, slapping Drudu back, "Your riduur got it."

Drudge turned and pushed Krig, "Copaani mirshmure'cye, vod?" he growled and Krig raised his hands in surrender.

At this point, Kunon reached her husband and turned him to face her. "Bondur is right," she said, "We both should be proud."

Drudu closed his eyes and rested his head on top of hers. "I wanted more time with him," he whispered.

Behind him, Krig scratched the back of his helmet and hung back, but the pink and brown Mandalorian, Bondur, stepped up. "Aliit alor," he said. Drudu raised his head and looked at Bondur who just looked at him and didn't say a word. Drudu nodded his head.

"You all are right," he said as he clasped Bondur's shoulder, "We should celebrate!" Drudu turned towards Krig and another Mandalorian that wore blue and green armor, this one wasn't a human as lightly grey armored lekku came out of his helmet. "Krig, Sona, go to town, get as much alcohol as you can carry, I think I even have some Kri'gee in the basement," Drudu mumbled as she scratched his chin before he turned to Bondur. "Go alert the clan of this honor," he told the Mando'ad. "Last time a Mando'ad became a Jetii it was from that osik Clan Vizsla," Drudu spat before he smiled, "But now it is time for Clan Ordo to show the galaxy what we're made of!"

Bondur nodded before he left and took the other two with him.

Shaak Ti stood up and made her way to the door. "I'll return tomorrow to pick up Reeva," she said to Kunon before she passed her. Drudu walked in front of Shaak Ti who froze.

"You're staying with us tonight," Drudu said with a frown that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Look," he said with a sigh and a shake of his head, "Our kind have never got along." As he spoke Reeva came downstairs and walked into the room. Drudu looked to his son before he looked at Shaak Ti, "But that's going to change, it has to change."

Shaak Ti eyebrow raised, "There are some who see Jetii as enemies," Drudu said, "The only way for that to change is if we understand each other. The only time Mando'ad and Jetii meet is on the battlefield. Jetii have proven their worth as warriors, now it's time to prove that they are worthy of our friendship."

"And how do you propose we do that?" Shaak Ti asked, a small smile forming on her lips.

Drudu lips pulled back as he smiled showing off his white teeth. "By joining us for our feast!" he cried out before he turned to Reeva, "Ad'ika! Go grab the barrel of Kri'gee and bring it up." Reeva nodded his head and disappeared out the door. Drudu turned to Shaak Ti, "Come with us," he said as he shepherded her and Kunon into the kitchen. "We're going to make some Uj'alayi and Tiingilar!"

Kunon looked on with a smile as a bewildered Shaak ti was herded into the kitchen. She busted out laughing as the Jedi looked to her for rescue, but instead, she joined the duo in the kitchen.

As the sunset, the Ordo house came alive with activity as Krig, Sona, and Bondur returned from their separate missions. The household became a flurry of activity as furniture was moved outside and fires were lit. Ships began to fly and land near the homestead and Mandalorians of all colors and races came flooding out. Some assisted Kunon and Shaak in the kitchen while others helped Drudu and Reeva set up the outside dining space.

The rest began to help themselves to Tihaar and Ne'tra gal.

Soon the air was filled with song and conversations with laughter sprinkled in.

Shaak Ti looked around and was amazed at the different colors of armor and races that filled the lawn. It was vastly different from what she was taught at the temple. There Mandalorians were said to be savages who only cared about fighting, mostly against the Jedi and the Republic. They were only loyal to whoever paid them the most credits. They were greedy and bloodthirsty and cared only for themselves. Yet here she saw them celebrating one of them becoming a Jedi, their most hated enemy.

"Something on your mind?" Drudu's deep voice broke Shaak Ti out of her mind. She turned to the Mandalorian as he set down a barrel.

"A few things," she said slowly nodding her head around, "I notice that many Mandalorians have different colored armor, is there a particular reason?"

Drudu grunted as he pulled a cup that was clipped to his belt. He took a moment to fill it with a thick black liquid. The Mandalorian took a sip before he answered, "In the old days it used to donate rank, but without a Mand'alor, uh leader," he added seeing the confusion on Shaak Ti's face, "we grew past that, and now it usually means certain things." He pointed to Bondur, "Like Bondur, pink represents respected or respecting someone, and the bronze means that he is of nobility or high status."

Shaak Ti nodded her head in understanding, "So he is someone of high stature in the clan and is respected."

Drudu smiled and chuckled before he took a drink, "You catch on quickly," he said.

"I also think that what I know about the Mandalorians is not entirely accurate," Shaak Ti said

Drudu's eyebrow raised, "How so?"

"At the Temple, we are taught the Mandalorians are bloodthirsty monsters who only care about themselves," Shaak Ti said before she waved around the party, "But I see here that is not the case."

"What do you see Jetii?" Drudu asked as they watched as Reeva was pulled into a group of Mandalorians and given a cup. Slowly the boy brought the cup to his lips and dranks its contents, and then immediately spat it out much to the enjoyment of the adults around him. Scruffing up his face, Reeva drank the rest of the cup and coughed as the group cheered for him. The cheering was cut short when a female dressed in green and blue armor came up and socked one of the group members before she dragged Reeva away from them. The Mandalorian that got punched was laughed at by the group.

"I see that family is what you value most," Shaak Ti answered.

Drudu nodded, "This is the way," he said before he sighed and took another drink. "I won't lie to you Jetii," he said, swirling his cup, "There are some Mandalorians who are like that, those whose desire is to fight and kill." He then looked up to Shaak Ti, "But there are others like myself that see that we must adapt and change with the times, we have to if we are to survive as a people. At the same time, we must honor our ancestor's ways."

"And that was what the Mandalorian Civil War was about?" the Jedi asked.

"Yes," Drudu nodded, "unfortunately when the war ended and those that honor the warrior tradition were exiled."

It was Shaak Ti's turn to nod, "I'm guessing you don't approve of the current government."

Drudu shook his head, "We are warriors," he said, "The path of a pacifist is not our way, mark my words it will not last." The Mandalorian swallowed the rest of his drink before he reached over and filled his cup plus one more.

"But enough of this talk," he said, handing Shaak Ti the extra cup, "This is a celebration." Drudu grasped the Jedi's shoulder and pushed her along. "COME ON! LET'S SHOW THE JETII HOW MANDO'AD PARTY!"

There was a resounding, "OYA!" echoed out as the celebration ramped up.

The celebration lasted well into the night in a fashion that left a mark on those that were there. It was a night to remember for all, but eventually, as all things must, it came to an end.