Chapter 11: Rite of Passage

Planet Kalevala:

Like water from a tap, it was over. The crowd lowered their fists and dispersed as if nothing had happened. Likewise, Teersa dismissed the young hunters to the lodge they would stay in until the next morning. Jarek was about to follow the crowd but hesitated. Spurred by the confidence the chant had filled him with he made to intercept Teersa. Before he could reach her, her daughter intercepted him.

Ignoring her Jarek made eye contact with Teersa. "Chief Teersa might I have a word?"

"Of course," she said waving the woman aside. She hesitated and Teersa gave an insisting gesture, "Jezza it's fine you can go." the woman growled under her breath but bowed respectfully and left. Teersa stepped forward. "How are you? I can imagine you might be a bit overwhelmed given your circumstances."

Jarek was going to ask about the rite, but something about her words set his blood boiling. "My "circumstances" are why I'm here to win the Verd'goten," he snapped without thinking or any tact, "Not standing around exchanging pleasantries and muttering Orion blessings and prayers." His response lacked the calm respect he should offer one of such imposing rank and he half expected the clan chief to respond in kind. However, she maintained a cool demeanor. If anything, a bit of sadness crept into her eyes.

"Of course," she sighed, "It pains me to hear that your years of isolation from the clan have spoiled what is to our people a ritual of great beauty."

"Maybe isolation has given me a clearer view," Jarek hissed, "A concern for results. Not rituals."

"Whatever your views I will accept them," Teersa stated her tone taking on a slight edge. He was dangerously close to insulting her beliefs and the look she gave him was a clear warning he needed to bring his anger to heel. Not lacking good sense Jarek did just that and inclined his head in apology. Teersa accepted it before asking, "You have questions?"

He did have questions. Many in fact. He'd had years to come up with them but now presented with the opportunity to gain answers Jarek wasn't sure where to begin. "It surprises me that Dar'Manda are allowed in the rite," he stated hedging around to his true question, "I've not known the Mando'ade to be so hospitable."

Teersa acknowledges the point with a nod before explaining, "Different clans and houses have different interpretations, but clan Orion's law has always been that any child outcast has this right, as a means to rejoin the clan." She gestured toward his person, "So far as I can recall you're the first to exercise this right in my lifetime though there were others before in other clans."

"I'm not surprised," he scoffed, "I doubt many dar'manda ad'ika survive very long in the wilds to come of age."

Teersa gave him a halfhearted smile and arched an eyebrow. "I think, rather, it's because dar'manda children are so rare. Those who are declared no longer Mandalorian as adults rarely remain close to the clans and move on and raise their children elsewhere." That made sense to Jarek. In all his years he'd never seen another outcast child and it was understandable that after being outcast any being would rather leave and make a better life elsewhere, forsaking their culture in the process. Noting his wandering thoughts Teersa added a subject that he hadn't realized. "For many crimes committed against their fellow mando'ade a being would be executed. It may be hard for you to accept, Jarek...but the practice of shunning is, relatively speaking, humane."

Was it? Jarek thought mercilessly. He wanted to see her try it out for fifteen years. See how humane it was to subside off what they could hunt and gather on their own without the support of the clan.

Teersa must've been able to read his mind because her next words brought about a bit of a revelation. "It may be a difficult life, but at least they have the choice to atone and for some...to return." Some like Karst he recalled.

The thought surprised him, and he felt a bit ashamed for having lost his temper. Having it explained made him realize that becoming an outcast wasn't as much a curse as he'd thought. Depending on the mindset of the individual it could be an opportunity. Without the support of the clan had he not learned to be entirely self-sufficient? Had he not developed a quiet self-confidence? Anything less than total conviction would cause him to doubt his abilities and possibly cost him his life. Recalling Myler's final lesson he realized being an outcast had in many ways made him stronger than the rest of the clan. He didn't need the clan to survive, but they would indeed need his strength to evolve and grow stronger. With that thought in mind, Jarek only had one last question.

"Why was I made Dar'Manda, Teersa?" he asked softly and looked up at her pleadingly, "What crime could I have committed, even before I was born?"

Teersa's sigh and the slow shake of her head told him he wouldn't get the answer he sought, "Jarek this is not a question I can answer."

"Why not?" Jarek asked feeling the frustration creeping back into his tone, "Who was my mother Teersa!?"

"I don't know Jarek!" she hissed in a low tone, but the words struck home like a ram.

"What?" he asked, unsure what to make of her response.

Teersa sighed and placed a consoling hand upon his shoulder. "You were still a newborn when you came to our clan. We don't know where you came from, only that your presence be kept a secret, so we allowed Myler to raise you in the wilds."

This new information swirled in his head. "So, you made me an Outcast!?" he asked a little upset.

"In order to protect you, yes," she stated confidently. "We couldn't keep you in the village. Your sudden presence in the settlement would've raised too many questions." So, their solution for protecting him was allowing an old warrior to raise him on his own on the very edge of civilization?

"But...where did I come from?" he asked, desperate for just a few more answers to many questions still weighing on his mind.

Teersa glanced nervously to the side. She was breaking clan law just by speaking to him and was understandably nervous. "I don't know," she sighed apologetically.

A thought occurred to Jarek. If they'd been told to keep him safe, then someone must have delivered him with the message. "Who brought me here?" he asked.

"A Mandalorian warrior," she explained almost glad to give him the information, "Who neither gave his name nor showed his face." Jarek's heart sank. "His battle-scarred armor bore no insignia and after passing on his instructions, he left."

Jarek sighed feeling utterly defeated. He had come so far for answers, and without even competing in the Verd'Goten he had gotten them. Unfortunately. "So that's it then," he murmured, "After everything, I went through, I only have more questions." Who was the warrior who'd delivered him? His parent? Why would his mother allow him to be sent away? Why had she never sought him out? Was she dead? "All my training and I've failed even before the rite."

"That's not true." Teersa gripped him by both shoulders and shook slightly to jar him back to the present. "Your parents may have abandoned you, but your father raised you!" Jarek blinked in surprise at her words which seemed filled with hints of anger. "Myler poured his heart and soul into you so that one day you'd be a part of the clan." She stared heavily at him, "Do not disappoint him." she placed a finger on his chest. "Do not disappoint yourself. Whether you win the Verd'goten or not you have a place here." she gestures to the village and the life that echoed throughout it. "To start a new life."

A new life?

Jarek looked at her and couldn't help but get caught up in her conviction and enthusiasm. The clan chief wanted him to be a part of the clan. Tebb and Karst wanted him to be a part of the clan. Avin Solus wanted him to be a part of the Mando'ade. His father and Teersa all of them wanted him in the clan. At that moment he knew he could have a life within the clan. He would honor his father's wishes.

Taking a step back Jarek bowed respectfully to the clan chief-his clan chief. "Thank you, Teersa, for...helping me see the way."

Teersa smiled and returned the bow. When they stood Teersa spoke. "The verd'ika must retire to the lodge for the night. However, I want to wish you luck tomorrow."

Jarek nodded his thanks once more and headed towards the lodge she'd indicated. It resembled the rest of the buildings but stood apart from them. Out front stood a warrior in full armor and clutching a blaster. As he approached the guard made no indication, he was aware of his presence. Used to the disdain, Jarek pushed open the door and started to enter.

"Motherless cur," he heard the guard murmur causing him to stop in his tracks.

"What did you say?" Jarek growled without even turning. Despite having already been accepted by the clan chief, Jarek was still viewed as an outcast and that observation gulled him.

"Find your bed and get some sleep, Dar'Manda," the guard hissed in a sharp tone, "Dream of passing the Verd'goten. That's as close as you're going to get."

Despite the venom, in the warrior's words, Jarek didn't rise to the bait. He may have not found his answers, but he was still determined to win the Verd'goten no matter what anyone said. If he was to join the clan then he would prove he was worth having. He turned to the guard. "Oh, is this the hunter's lodge," he replied condescendingly, "With you guarding it I thought it was the freshers."

The guard rounded on him and started to yell, "Di'kut'la, sha'buir! You're an insult to everything-" but Jarek had already slammed the door shut in his face. He smiled as the sound of his curses muffled through the door filled him with satisfaction.

Inside the lodge was a single room warmed by a blazing fire in the center. Along each wall were several sets of bunks, some occupied by other participants. The rest milled about.

The moment he entered he felt dozens of eyes turn towards him. He only recognized a couple. One pair being those belonging to Gaegan, the tousled blonde headed youth and the other to Jilo.

"Well look what crawled in from the wild," Gaegan called out from the edge of the fire pit. "The motherless outcast." He ran a finger across his eyebrow. "I see you've still got that scar from the rock I threw at you. Now that is a fond memory."

Before Jarek could retort, Jilo stepped forward and shoved his shoulder. "You can be a real skanah, Gaegan," she hissed glaring at him, "Cut it out." She didn't wait for a response, before moving to sit on her bunk. Gaegan refused to keep silent for long.

"Where is your bite, Dar'Manda?" he continued to taunt, "Or do you need my permission to speak in the presence of true mando'ade." Jarek took a deep breath to keep his temper in check before marching up to the larger boy. To Gaegan's credit, he didn't flinch at his approach. He did wave a dismissive hand at his armor. "Awe you even try to dress as a Mandalorian," he scoffed, "Not that it fools anyone," Jarek noted that Gaegan's armor was of much higher quality than his, adorned with many designs and decals. Even if Jarek wore the armor of Mandalore the First, he doubted Gaegan would have treated him any differently.

"So, this is how it's going to be with you?" he snapped making sure to keep his eyes locked firmly onto Gaegan's. He'd show no fear.

Gaegan glared back sweeping his arms out at the occupants of the lodge. "This is how it's going to be with everyone, Dar'Manda." He jabbed a finger at him. "You belong in the wilds, not at Kart'a'Buir," he spat, "And definitely not in the Verd'Goten."

That was when Jarek realized something about Gaegan. He was a bully, a predator, and if he perceived Jarek as weak he'd always go for the throat and tear him down. Gaegan had made a mistake in assuming Jarek was easy prey. "You can sense it can't you?" he retorted smoothly, "You already know you're going to fail."

Gaegan hooted with laughter as did the sycophants standing behind him. "I've trained my whole life for this!" he declared proudly, slamming a fist onto his chest plate, "I'm not afraid of you-I'm not scared of anything!"

Jarek took an aggressive step forward taking the boy by surprise. "Confidence is quiet," he whispered almost nose to nose with the bully, "You're not."

Gaegan took a step back and quickly composed himself. "You know I often think of the day I gave you that scar," he taunted once more, "It's a tale to tell." He was trying to reassert his dominance by reminding the others how he'd drawn his blood. In a pack, if the alpha male bled it was viewed as a sign of weakness. Jarek wasn't weak and he also wasn't stupid enough to rise to the bait.

"Really?" he mocked with a cynical smile, "because I laugh remembering that look on your face when I knocked that rock right out of your hand." Gaegan seemed to shrink a bit and a flush colored his cheeks. "Bet you forget to mention that when you tell the story." From the curious glances from the others, Jarek was accurate in his assumption. Of course, who, in their right mind, would admit being embarrassed by a lowly outcast?

The bully refused to back down and speared a finger at him stating, "I branded you that day, dar'manda!"

Jarek held up his hands to show everyone just how little the scar had impacted him. He smirked at the boy. "All you did was make me stronger." He rapped a knuckle against his armored chest. "Steel sharpens steel." with that same hand he pointed directly at Gaegan. "Just wait. I'll prove that tomorrow."

Gaegan laughed but it lacked the confidence he'd held earlier. "This is boring!" he stated, "I'm going to be well-rested for the trials." He jerked his head in Jarek's direction and attempted one last bit of bravado. "You'll be the one surprised tomorrow, Dar'Manda. Not me!"

"Oh, are you going to shut your mouth?" Jarek snapped back, "That would be a surprise."

Much to Gaegan's embarrassment and Jarek's satisfaction, a few of the nearby youths laughed. Not wanting to give the bully a chance to get the last word in, Jarek turned and headed towards the nearest vacant bunk. The bed just happened to neighbor Jilo's. The young woman sat up and smiled at him as he neared.