The Trials of Mand'alor

Chapter 1

Brothers in Arms

War. An inevitable part of any society's history, a part that shapes the lives of thousands of millions for ages. For the planet of Mandalore it was life. The Mandalorians had always been a nomadic race and their primary sources of income were farming and engineering. Of course when one lived on a hostile and savage world such as Mandalore, it was necessary for them to become a warrior-focused culture in order to protect themselves. Concepts like duty, honor and hero didn't have words in their native tongue. That was just how you were supposed to live in the first place, but the idea of family did and other than war, family was the most important thing there was.

As a child Xerxes Fett had been taught these things by his adopted parents and he understood them. Mandalorians adopted war orphans quite frequently in times of war. It gave their race a wide variety of strengths and skills that enhanced the race's survival. Xerxes was born human along with his half brother Galbon. Their father had been Mand'alor the Father. He had gained his title by adopting many children. He was also the most recent and late leader of the planet, but he had raised his children to be good Mandalorian men and women.

Now at the ripe age of sixteen Xerxes took some time to lounge in his favorite tree and ponder his future. The wind gently swept at his thick auburn hair. With his eyes closed and his hands behind his head, Xerxes thought about the different things he could do with his life now that he was considered a man.

"THINK FAST!" Without even opening his eyes, Xerxes' reflexes kicked in. Moving his right hand from behind his head, Xerxes moved his hand in front of his face and outstretched his fingers, catching the piece of fruit that had been thrown directly at his face in the palm of his hand. Opening one eye, Xerxes inspected the piece of fruit. It was his favorite kind, a Varos, with a thin skin and a crunchy, yet juicy interior. Opening both his eyes, Xerxes looked down at another young man with shoulder length blonde hair and a broad shouldered frame.

"You're getting better, Xerxes!", the young man said with his hands on his hips.

Xerxes casually eyed the fruit again. "More like you're becoming predictable, Galbon."

"What?!" Galbon scoffed. "I nearly had you."

Taking a bite out of the fruit, Xerxes replied, "Nope. I knew that you were nearby for at least the past five minutes. You're getting sloppy." Tossing the remainder of the fruit to his brother, Xerxes slid off the tree branch and landed on his feet at the bottom. "It's like I could see you before you were even there." The two boys had always had their friendly rivalries. It was how they kept each other sharp. Their father had taught them that when you're the child of Mand'alor you have to keep up your image. While both Xerxes and Galbon were striking in addition to being strong, Galbon was considered the stronger of the two with his wide frame and confident attitude. Xerxes, on the other hand was a lean figure with green eyes with a ring of brown in the center and an intelligent glimmer. He had proved himself to be a natural leader and capable strategist among their friends. Together, the two brothers felt unstoppable.

"Yeah, well, that's not why I came here in the first place.", Galbon said eating the rest of the fruit. "The clan leader says he has a couple of jobs for us. Said it was important to get them done before we celebrate Vlad's verd'goten1 and the Mand'alor Competition." The two boys began to walk back towards their village.

"Did he say exactly what it was he wanted us to do?" Xerxes inquired.

"Nah, he didn't say." Galbon replied tossing away the fruit core. "I'm just glad to be doing something. I'm just so ready to get all the coming of age stuff over and done with and start on my future."

"Me too. I've been giving some thought into that mechanic business you've been talking about."

"Are you going to do it?"

"Yeah, I think it'd be a good business venture for us."

"Aw nice." Galbon smiled as he placed his hands behind his head. "You given any thought to that, uh, other thing?", Galbon teased with a mischievous look in his steel blue eyes.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Xerxes said looking away into the distance, indicating he clearly knew what Galbon was hinting at.

"Psh, don't give me that. You know full well that I mean you and Akiza."

With a smirk on his face, Xerxes pushed against Galbon's shoulder. "Shut up." Galbon didn't move very far. The two brothers chuckled.

"Are you gonna ask her to marry you or what?"

Xerxes sighed, but smiled. "Yeah, I think I will."

"Oh ho ho ho."

"But you can't say anything to her!" Xerxes said pointing to his brother. "I feel like it's the kind of thing better left to discuss with her after the new Mand'alor is decided."

"Alright, alright I hear you."

Xerxes decided to ask his brother something that he'd been worried about. "What do you think the new Mand'alor might be like?"

Galbon looked down slightly as they walked. "I don't know." He said. "I'm kinda hoping he makes an alliance with the Empire."

Xerxes nearly stopped in his tracks and looked at his brother in surprise. "What? Are you serious? The Empire is only interested in our Beskar metal. They'd strip mine the planet if they could."

Galbon looked back at Xerxes as they continued walking. "Oh, and I suppose the Republic wouldn't?"

"That's not what I'm saying at all. I'm saying we should worry about ourselves for now and take care of our own people."

"I agree and the quickest way to do that is by joining the Empire."

"Galbon, their political debates are not our problem."

"But they will be once they start looking for allies. At least the Empire is honest about what they want."

"The Empire has no sense of honor or justice!"

"The Republic is sneaky and manipulative, don't try to deny it!"

"Wait!", Xerxes stopped walking and held out his hands. Sighing, he continued to talk. "Just wait." Galbon stopped and looked expectantly at Xerxes. "Look, Galbon. I'm all for getting outside help, but we've been betrayed in the past by our allies on so many occasions that it's almost comical." Xerxes rubbed his hand against his cheek. "I think the best thing for Mandalore is to just stick to Mandalore and take care of itself. You know?"

"Yeah, I guess." Galbon still looked reluctant. "But if it were me, I'd expand our territory while we have the chance. Maybe take it from both the Republic and Empire."

Xerxes smirked again, "What, and start a war with both of them?"

Galbon placed an arm around Xerxes shoulders and confidently smiled, "Hey. As long as it was you and me, we could take on anyone."

Xerxes smiled, "Yeah, yeah we could." Picking up his pace Xerxes turned around and said, "Hey. Race you the rest of the way there." Then Xerxes ran towards Clan Beskad's village as fast as he could.

Galbon chased after him, "Hey, no fair!"

1)Verd'goten- Mandalorian coming of age, also knowna s the Warrior Trials