A.N.
Now that my final exams are done you'll be seeing more updates from me this summer!
In case you're starting to see difficulties comprehending star wars knowledge you can easily use to get instant information about whatever it is you need help with.
Also, I'll do whatever I can to keep it simplified. After all, this story is kind of an alternative to what happened during the Jedi Civil War just as it is an exploration of what Kim as a Mandalorian would be like.
Enjoy!
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Chapter3- Qel-Droma's Honor
"We cannot get involved in this war," Master Vrook stated firmly to the council.
The temple on Dantooine has become quiet lately. The stronger the Mandalorians got, the more tense the relationship has gotten among the students and their masters. Vrook rubbed his temples, frustrated after repeating himself over a hundred times already.
Everyone shared the same views he had, except one. Master Corran Jinn, mentor to Jarren Qel Droma.
"Oh I know that," replied Jinn, "We all know that, but it is our students that seem to disagree."
"What say do they have in this?" Vrook rhetorically replied, "It is becoming clearer everyday that the darkside is beginning to impact their training."
"Just because they want to help relieve the pressures on the Republic doesn't mean they are turning to the dark side, Master Vrook!" Jinn pointed out, almost sarcastically.
"Curious have I gotten," interrupted Vandar, his greenish ears perked up, clearly frustrated, "where exactly do you stand in this, Master Jinn?"
"I don't believe we're setting a very good example for our students when we're constantly suppressing their offers for help," he explained, gesturing his hands towards the council, "we should hear them out, see what their opinions are in the matter."
"So what you're saying is that the Jedi Council should willingly risk open war with the Mandalorians just because our students suggested so?" Vrook jabbed.
"What I'm saying is the Jedi Council should reason with their students, or otherwise risk losing them!"
An awry smile crept across Vrook's face, "Much like they way you're doing with your student, Master Jinn?"
Jinn's eyes narrowed on Vrook, a tense and quiet moment ensued in the council as the two masters stared each other down. Everbody knew of the Qel-Droma legacy, and what blood ran down Jinn's student's veins.
Uliq Qel-Droma, the talented Jedi Knight who fought on Onderon during the Beast Wars and toppled the influence the evil dark lord Naga Sadow had on the monarchy, later fell to the darkside and attacked the Jedi Archives on Ossus, killing his brother and losing his connection in the force. Uliq lived the rest of his life in remorse on the desolate icy planet Rhen Var, regretting all his acts and building statues in honour of the people he loved. He was later shot through the heart by a pilot who thought he did the galaxy some good in doing so. His daughter and his old girlfriend were there to see his last moments.
And now, his descendant, Jarren Qel-Droma, is his chosen apprentice. Making Jinn vulnerable to criticism the instant his student did anything wrong, or disappointed the other masters in some way. Jarren always wondered why the council was so harsh on his master, if only he knew what his second name meant to the galaxy at one point, Jinn's just glad most people have forgotten.
"My student is not another Uliq, Master Vrook." Jinn spoke coldly.
Vrook raised a brow, "I never said he was, Mater Jinn."
Master Kavar glanced at the two and shrugged, "I take it the council is adjourned then?"
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Jarren was greeted by a beautiful sunrise when he stepped off the ship and took in a deep whiff of Mandalore's surface. He continued his journey down the plank and when his first foot touched the soil a long staff intersected his second step.
He looked up and was met by a tall man covered in blue armor; he failed to spot a pair of eyes behind the visor. Upon closer study, the armor had an inside cloth padding, handmade, not very well obviously.
"And who might you be?" the voice spoke through the helmet, the accent was almost Corellian, but with a stronger emphasis on the vowels.
"Um, I'm a…" Jarren hesitated; he had never met a Mandalorian, unless it was during combat. Being this close is never comfortable.
"Speak," his staff came up to Jarren's throat, radiating sparks as he activated it "or I'll carve the words out of you!"
"I'm Jarren, I wish to speak to your Mandalore," Jarren gulped, he hoped he wasn't offending him in some way, any wrong move and he could mess up his trial, and not to mention start a war between the Jedi and the council, "Sir?"
"My Mandalore?" the man laughed manically, he almost dropped his staff as his hand rushed to his belly, "foolish stranger! There's only one Mandalore!"
Jarren put on a smile as the Mandalorian continued to laugh, "ah yes, of course…that's what I meant!"
"You're a funny one," the man put his staff aside and patted Jarren on the shoulder…hard, "come along with me."
Jarren followed the man into the compound. It was strange that they had the landing pad on the outside of the village. All around him were men in similar armor; he must be on the military side of village. He took notice of the various speeder bikes in front of each shed and a massive antenna overlooked the entire place, stationed above a tall tower, surrounded by gun turrets.
"You, my friend, are in the wrong place," the man spoke as he led Jarren to an open doorway to what seemed like a control room.
"What? You mean I'm not on Mandalore?" Jarren asked, carefully.
"Oh you are!" the man stopped and turned to face him, Jarren noted a large computer panel behind the man, and someone seemed to be operating it, "It's just that you landed yourself in the middle of a military compound!"
"Oh," Jarren winced, what luck, He just stumbled into a nest of fully combat experienced Mandalorians, and at a time when relations with outsiders are already sensitive, "So, can I speak to a captain or someone who can take me to Mandalore?"
The man didn't speak, nor move. He just stared at him, studying him.
"It's kind of important, heh." Jarren began to feel nervous. The first five minutes and the trial already seems to be doomed to failure.
"We don't have a captain." The Mandalorian guide finally spoke, "Mandalorians don't like to be ordered around. Each of us is assigned a position that best suits our field and we do what we can. Each individual, independently, works as a team."
Jarren tried to hide his feelings at the mandalorians' explanation, but his expression betrayed him; an expression of absolute astonishment.
"You obviously don't know Mandalorians do you." his guide noted and turned to the computer operator, he nudged his shoulder and spoke a few words in a language Jarren couldn't comprehend, but from what he could see it became evident they don't get a lot of strangers around here. The other man glanced at Jarren and turned back to his guide, speaking in a deeper tone. The guide nodded and walked over to Jarren, "Come with me, I'll take you to see him."
They stepped back outside and Jarren frowned when he saw a gathering of men in the same blue uniform clustered on the other side of the compound, standing around a ring marked on the ground.
"Ah, the Battle Ring is starting!" the man looked over to Jarren and then glanced back towards the ring, "say, are you any good in a fight?"
Jarren's eyes widened and looked over to his partner, "what?"
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"Come on!" a loud voice snarled through its visor, "you call yourself a Mandalorian?"
"The honor of the Ordo Clan is in your hands!" another muffled voice cried.
"Teach him what it means to be a Mandalorian!" And thus the crowd cheered for the other man. Jarren on the other hand, stood unarmed, unprotected, and just as he chose to be.
The others frowned at that. Normally they prefer to arm themselves to the teeth when entering the Battle Ring, unless the challenger stated otherwise. His guide insisted he do so, but Jarren refused, much to the disappointment of his challenger, a big man who goes by the name of 'Merko Ordo'; apparently one of the best in the crowd. It seems these Mandalorians aren't aware of Jedi feats.
Jarren took up a common battle pose, adapted from his Jedi Training. He could sense his opponets' smile, who was now pouncing in his direction, fists tightly clenched and excited to finish this fight quickly, but Jarren smirked coolly and leapt over his opponents' charge, now upside down and catching a glimpse of his challenger's surprised reaction, Jarren flipped in the air and landed on the shocked Mandalorian's head, crushing him beneath his feet and leaping safely and gracefully behind him.
The crowd now fell silent as the dust cleared, the Mandalorian lifted his head from the dirt and slammed the floor in frustration, growling and cursing. Jarren laughed confidently and stood proudly, ready for the next charge. The Mandalorian turned around and remained crouched, eyeing his opponent. He carefully picked up some sand in his hand and charged again, this time throwing dirt into Jarren's eyes. Crying out as he charged at the blinded Jarren, he opened his arms, hoping to catch the young man, and throw him out of the arena. But Jarren reached out into the force and could sense the imminent danger, rathar than attempt to dodge the attack, Jarren felt this danger could easily become an opportunity to win. He fell on to his back and used his feet to take in the full force of the Mandalorians' charge, then absorbing all the energy he lifted the brute and, tapping into the force, threw him behind, over the ring, over the crowd, screaming as he fell, and landing heavily onto the ground. The crowd watched in awe as the man lifted his arm, and then gave up and allowed it to go limp.
Jarren stood, wiped his eyes from the dirt and posed happily, unscathed, "I take it I win then?" he said.
The crowd laughed, Jarren frowned. They laughed so much he flushed, and began to feel he missed something. They walked over to him, some of them still chuckling, and patted him on the shoulder and back, "Good fighting, young man!" one of them said and Jarren merely shrugged, "Begginier's luck, gets us everytime!" another one jabbed, and Jarren was about to argue, "looking forward to seeing you again, boy!" the last one cheered as he walked away, but Jarren wasn't sure what to say to that.
"That was good!" Jarren turned around, he spotted his guide, the one who got him into this mess in the first place, "Merko over there will struggle to regain the reputation he earned for a long time!" Jarren turned and looked at the body of his opponent, still finding it difficult to sit up, "I'm Purt by the way. What was yours again?"
Jarren turned back to find a hand extended to him, he took it easily, it seems this is one custom he's already used to, "Jarren Qel-Droma."
"Well Jarren, now that you've earned my respect how's about we go meet Mandalore?"
Jarren nodded and smiled, at last things seem to be looking up for his trial.
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A.N.
Soon, the story will start to take some exciting twists!
I hope what I have planned will keep a lot of you reading for some time.