I helped patch up the rest of the participants, then turned my attentions to refueling and recovering myself. My spent healing was returning fast, but I was hungry again. Lorna, thoughtful and wise woman that she is, had dragooned some of her kitchen staff into setting up a table loaded with snacks designed to keep a warrior's energy high. Several kegs of ale, jugs of water and other cold beverages were also provided. Canderous I helped ourselves and dug in, seeing that Carth and several of his men had already served themselves and were sitting under a nearby tree. More were forming up a line behind us.

Canderous gathered Jarxel, the honor guard, and the two highest ranking Republic soldiers that were fighting with us together to talk strategy as we ate. The two sergeants, Henders and Quarn, seemed not at all phased by fighting along side the Mandalorians against their own troops. I asked about this, curious, and they both shrugged.

"We drill against each other all the time," Henders clarified. "This isn't any different from that. When Admiral Onasi explained the situation, most of the ship wanted in on the action, and at least half didn't care if they'd be fighting with or against the Mandalorians. Either way, we'd learn a lot," he said with a practical air, Quarn nodding beside him.

"The Admiral picked two hundred out, and afterwards explained to us that the Mandoa are interested in an alliance, and told us that the Mandalore himself was a Hero of the Republic," Quarn said matter-of-fact. "That got a lot of us to thinking that with the Sith threat, it wouldn't be a bad idea to have fighters of your reputation on our side. Especially with the Jedi so decimated now."

"That's good to hear," Canderous said skeptically, "and I'm not saying I don't believe you, son. But it's not like most of my people go out of our way to, let's say, make ourselves popular." He smiled, which makes most people nervous.

Quarn and Henders eyed him warily, but stood their ground. "The general public will come around if you guys help turn the tide of the war," Quarn said wisely. "I've been a soldier long enough to have fought with a number of unlikely allies, and all I care about is if you'll watch my back. And," he added with some spirit, "I don't believe I'm young enough to be your son, Sir."

Canderous gave a bark of genuine laughter. "You'll do, Sergeant Quarn," he said approvingly. "Now, this is the plan…"

The hour ended, and both groups faced off across the field. I saw that the Jedi were ranged in front, regular swords and vibroblades at the ready, as light sabers are unreliable when used with energy dampeners. I did notice all of them kept their 'sabers hooked to their belts. I had Dad's with me too, although for the life of me I had no idea what had made me impulsively grab them when we'd left our room. But the weight of them on my hips, slightly behind the hilts of my spinning blades, made me feel grounded, somehow. That, and the comforting presence of Canderous.

I wasn't frightened about this battle at all; I knew this test was merely an exercise to collect data on whether I could participate in the group sharing of battle ecstasy. The Elders could not dispute I was Canderous' Mate now. They neither could nor, I was sure, would refuse to allow our marriage even if I can't. I was, after all, an outlander; they could not hold one inability against me. I was merely nervous about the possibility of something going wrong. I shook it off as best I could and prepared myself for battle, feeling Canderous doing the same.

The signal, a single shot from a blaster cannon, went off, and the two small armies came together with a roar. As we had discussed during the break, the Republic soldiers, led by Quarn and Henders, went left while Jarxel and Kelborn with fifty of our troops broke right, leaving me and Canderous to punch through the middle with the remainder of our forces. Dax, Xarga and Kex were covering me, with Zuka and Tagren guarding Canderous. I found myself almost immediately facing off with Mira, who grinned maniacally as she did her level best to cut me down. I blocked and parried a few well-placed attacks, ducked under her blade, and dealt a blow that staggered her back a pace, with Dax getting in a blaster shot that put her out of the fight. One Jedi down; I grinned almost as savagely as Canderous.

I felt the Canderous' battle ecstasy flow through me, merging with my own abilities, and we smoothly moved into a united front of steel. It was curious; until I came along, he preferred blasters over blades, but the more we fought together, the more he seemed to grab a sword first. Yet I still didn't care as much for blasters; to me they were clumsy and inaccurate. Amazing what you think about when you're in a fight.

The battle ecstasy ramped higher, and we were shifting effortlessly back and forth, slicing anything that came near, the honor guard taking out stray threats. I could see Canderous fighting off two at once, with Zuka and Tagren busy with their own opponents, and felt him watching me taking on several swordsmen, with my own backup slashing away. I batted aside one blade, thrust the gut of another attacker, and slashed the arm of the third, following up with a death blow to the first. Another chop and the third was out. I waded forward, Canderous following in perfect step.

Then a curious sensation started to tickle my senses. A flow of energy like but unlike the feeling of sharing ecstasy with Canderous ran through me like a barely felt electrical current. I felt myself grow a tiny bit stronger and my arms felt lighter, as if the blades I was wielding suddenly lost mass. I was more aware of Tagren, Dax and Kex fighting near me, and my shared awareness with Canderous grew sharper, almost dangerously so; I could hardly tell where I ended and Canderous began.

The mass battle ecstasy had begun.

All around me, I could feel the Mandalorians' life forces growing stronger and more focused, the wounded but still fighting regaining some of their strength. The feeling grew, and it merged with my own connection with the Force. Unlike when I had first started sharing this with Canderous, I was almost unconsciously assimilating it, taking in the energy and cycling it back out. I felt Canderous directing the awareness, using it to help his fighters stay strong in the face of the enemy. It surged suddenly, an upwelling of pure energy so strong I would have staggered if I wasn't so in tune with its source – Canderous. It started with him, and like tendrils of unseen fog, touched each Mandalorian, siphoning off their power. But instead of draining them to feed ourselves, it cycled back through me, where it was amassed and purified was the closest word I could think of. Combined with the power I drew from the Force, it flowed back into Canderous, and through him, the rest of the Mandalorians.

It was the most incredible feeling I'd ever experienced, and I was almost giddy with power of it. I became aware of every Mandalorian fighter on the field, and could almost see them fighting. It wasn't like Canderous' and my shared sight; more of sensing where everyone was and what they were doing. I found with a little concentration I could actually focus on individuals, while retaining an overall sense of the battle in general.

And suddenly, I realized they could feel me. All of them. And Canderous too. I wasn't surprised they could feel their Mandalore; from what I'd been told of this condition it was what I expected. But that they could feel me too was indescribably strange and wonderful.

I felt Canderous' exaultation surging through me, and his wild power sending strength out to his men. Moreover, like Jedi Battle Meditation, he could sense the overall pattern of the battle, and direct the troops to plugging holes in defense and taking advantage of openings in the enemy's.

This is new, he said, the singing joy of battle ringing through my mind. I saw him bat aside two swords that were coming at him effortlessly, and take out their owners.

It doesn't usually work like this? I asked, striking down two of my own.

Not this intensely.

I had an idea, and shifted my sight. Immediately, I felt Canderous respond to the heightened awareness, and that ability trickle out to the troops in general. The tide of the battle turned, and we went from a near equal clash between two bands to an almost single unit of destruction, mowing down the enemy in a powerful surge of whirling steel and blazing blaster fire.

Suddenly, I had Ladria in front of me and Canderous and I took her down in perfect synchronized motions of controlled savagery. We advanced, blades moving in a blur of silver, the honor guard blasting away behind us. They effortlessly fired around us, in tune with our movements. I could feel Jarxel and Kelborn slashing and blasting their way through the right flank. I wondered how Quarn and Henders were faring with their band.

Almost as soon as the thought was in my head, I could feel them too, as well as the rest of the Republic troops they were leading, almost as if the power was just waiting for me to express what I wanted. It was different from the battle ecstasy, yet the same. I felt them gain strength and focus, and step up their attack. But this wasn't as powerful as the effect on the Mandalorians, although it was still being directed through me and Canderous. He could not draw from them or unite them as he could his own kin.

But, I thought suddenly, I can.

Using Canderous' ability as a guide, I reached out and touched their essence through the Force, drawing strength, cycling it through Canderous, and feeding energy back to them. I felt their surprise at suddenly sensing me, but they adjusted admirably, and were soon plowing into the enemy with renewed vigor. I glowed with approval, and concentrated on my own fighting as well as helping Canderous focus directing the troops.

Connecting with the Republic troops was the final step to finishing this fight, and we did so in an efficient, deadly manner. I felt the rush of battle start to ebb, and the energy give one last surge through me before cycling down to nothing. I swayed on my feet, feeling a little weak and light-headed. Canderous stood by me, his face shining with sweat and the aftereffects of the experience, his blue eyes electric.

"You okay, Wildcat?" he asked, smiling with a sort of wild joy.

"Yeah," I said, smiling back, and felt myself pitching forward, awareness abruptly gone.

I came to in Canderous' arms, blinking as his worried face hovered above me.

"You know," I said crankily, "twice in one day is ridiculous."

"I felt you pass out, cyar'ika," Canderous rumbled. "The ecstasy drained you."

"Thanks for clearing that up," I said sweetly. "I just thought it was low blood sugar."

"Not the way you eat," he retorted, but quit looking worried. "Can you stand now?"

"Not if you don't let go of me," but I touched his face to soften the remark.

He kissed my fingertips and stood, setting me on my feet. I swayed a little, but my energy was returning quickly. I let the lightheadedness abate, and nodded.

"I'm fine now," I reported.

I looked around, and the carnage was amazing. We had at least two thirds of our troops still standing. Of the Republic troops, every single one was down, although most were stirring and starting to stumble to their feet. The Elders, Megari, and the Jedi who were already back on their feet were beginning to hand out kolto packs and administer medical aid. I moved to join them, but Canderous stopped me with a hand on my arm.

"Wait, Wildcat," he said low.

I turned, and the Mandalorian troops were approaching, Jarxel and the honor guard in the lead. Puzzled, I stayed put and waited for them to approach. Elder Gregor was suddenly next to me, apparently curious as to what was going on. I was curious myself.

Reaching me, Jarxel smoothly went to one knee, the rest of the Mandoa following suit. I looked at Canderous, mystified. He seemed to understand what was happening, but shrugged, and nodded my attention back to the men. He wasn't blocking me, but wasn't sharing either.

"Lady," Jarxel said, head bowed. "We have felt the mass battle ecstasy many times, and it is a powerful experience. But your power was nothing like we've ever felt before, and it gave us a strength and unity that we are proud yet humbled to be a part of. We pledge ourselves to you as our Lady. You are indeed the true Mate of the Mandalore, and the spirit of our people."

I swallowed hard, throat suddenly thick with emotion. I sent a wild look at Canderous, not having a clue what to say.

Just say what you feel, cyar'ika.

Thanks a lot, I thought irritably.

I was nearly paralyzed with fear of saying or doing the wrong thing; I had no experience at all with this sort of thing.

I love you Jennet, was all that Canderous would say, but it steadied me.

"Thank you," I said, loud enough for my voice to carry to the back of the crowd. "I am proud to be your Lady. Please," I stepped forward, and touched Jarxel's shoulder, "you don't need to kneel to me."

He caught my hand, and kissed the back of it. "I am your man, Lady, with the last breath of my body. I will fight with you, and for you, protect you and follow you, and honor you as the Mate to my Mandalore." He touched his forehead to the back of my hand, and stood, taking a position to the right of Canderous, who had unobtrusively come over to stand by me.

Dax scooted forward without standing, taking my hand and kissing it. "As your Champion, Lady, I will fight with you, and for you, protect you and follow you, and honor you as the Mate of my Mandalore. I am your man to the last breath of my body." He touched his forehead to my hand, and stood, taking position to my left.

The rest of the honor guard followed, surrounding Canderous and me, and one by one the men of the camp repeated the ritual, although when they stood, it was in front of me, Canderous and the honor guard. I lost count of the minutes, but finally every one took the oath, for that, Canderous assured me silently, was what it was.

When the last man was standing, Jarxel raised his hand in fist over his head, and bellowed: "Hail to the Lady of the Mandoa!"

"Hail to the Lady of the Mandoa!" roared the crowd. I felt Canderous in my head, warm and strong and so proud.

You've done well, My Lady, I heard, and I smiled through the tears I didn't dare shed.