Chapter 2

A Plan

"This Valentine's Day sounds interesting," Mical said. "I'm glad we're staying for it."

"I suppose," Kalan said. "I don't know how excited everyone else is, though. When Mandalore was talking about it, only Visas looked interested."

"We have nothing better to do," Mical said. He paused. "So…were you thinking about competing? You are very strong. You could probably beat anyone."

Kalan smiled. "I don't know about that. Besides, Mandalore said most of the challenges are for couples."

"Oh…ha…if course," Mical said nervously.

"Is something wrong?"

"Wrong? No…nothing's wrong. I just…well…"

"Yes?"

"I wanted to…never mind."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Okay."

Mical got up from his chair and left.

Kreia, who was watching from one of the side passageways, scowled. She turned her head and saw Atton also scowling at them from a different side passageway. They must not have her, Kreia thought. Something needs to be done.

Kreia walked away. She went into Visas' room, interrupting her usual meditation.

"Is something wrong?" Visas asked. She had never been approached by Kreia before.

"There is something I want you to do."

"What is it?"

Kreia paused. "What do you think of the men here?"

"I think they are strange."

"Whom do you like the most?"

Visas thought for a moment. "I like Bao-Dur."

Damn! Kreia thought angrily. "What about…Atton?"

Visas smiled. "He is a fool."

Well, at least she agrees with me. "And Mical?"

"I don't really know much about him. I suppose he seems all right…I've never spoken to him."

"Start."

Visas frowned. "Why?"

"Because if you do not get Mical to like you more than he likes Kalan, I will do something to you that you will not enjoy."

"Why don't you want him to like Kalan?"

"The Exile must not fall in love with him or anyone else. You know this. It would make her weaker when the time comes."

Visas sighed. "I suppose you are right. But I don't know if I really like Mical."

"You do not have to like him. Just get him to like you."

"Oh, all right."

Kreia smiled and left Visas. She hurried over to the Main Hold. Kalan was gone; now, Mira was there. "I want to speak with you in private," she said.

"Fine."

Kreia walked off of the ship and Mira followed. She had gone a ways into the jungle when Mira spoke. "Why are we going so far out?" she asked.

"What do you think of Atton?"

Mira raised her eyebrows. "Are you serious?"

"Very."

"You brought me all the way out here just to ask me that?"

"Yes."

Mira laughed. "Well, what can I say? I haven't been with you all for very long, but I know enough about him to say he's a complete loser."

"Do you think you could persuade him to like you?"

Mira's jaw dropped. "What?!"

"It should not be difficult."

"Why the hell would I want to?"

"Because I told you to, and that should be reason enough."

"Well, it isn't!"

"Then maybe this could change your mind…"

------------------------------------------

Mandalore stood in the Main Hold. Kalan approached him. "So, what do you think of it?"

"Think of what?"

"The ship. The Ebon Hawk."

"Oh…the ship? It's…uh…okay."

"Is something wrong?"

"No."

Why does everyone seem so nervous today? Kalan wondered.

"I really think you should find a partner for the events at the Valentine's Day celebration," Mandalore said, changing the subject. "A lot of people wouldn't expect you to do well because you're not a Mandalorian, but you could show them, just like you did in the Battle Ring."

"Are you sure the other Mandalorians would allow me to participate in this?"

"Are you joking? I'm Mandalore! If I wanted a cannok to participate they would allow it! They do whatever I say. Anyway, you really should find a fighting partner. I'd pick you, of course, but we'd win too easily, and my wives would be jealous."

"Wives? I didn't know you were married."

"Of course I'm married. I'm Mandalore."

"Uh…okay."

"So why don't you pick someone from the ship to compete with?"

"I don't know, really…I don't know if anyone would really want to."

"I'm sure Mical would agree to. He seems to like you a lot."

"Him? Oh…well…he doesn't really like me, you know? And he might be kind of uncomfortable if we're doing something that Mandalorian warriors are supposed to do with their wives…"

Mandalore folded his arms. "Well…what about that Atton person?"

"Atton? He's…well…he's weird."

"Oh. I guess there isn't anyone then…except that Iridonian."

"I don't think Bao-Dur would be very interested in participating in a Mandalorian festival."

"Then you're on your own…droids aren't allowed to compete."

"I assumed as much."

"Well, at the very least you can watch me fight. I'll probably receive a few challenges…a lot of young warriors are afraid to fight me, but some think they can beat me. It is very honorable for a Mandalorian to beat Mandalore."

"Have you ever been beaten?"

"Only once, last Valentine's Day. The man who beat me is dead now. He wanted to be Mandalore, and he used his victory over me as an excuse…anyway, enough about him. I might lose a few more times this year. We've been training a lot harder, and there's some real good warriors out there. From what I've heard, there's also some really good wives…including my own. My wives will fight with other wives, and if the other wives win, then they will become mine."

"But aren't they already married to someone else?"

"Of course. But I only marry them if they win, and my wives are strong this year; I am not expecting many to be replaced. Of course, I can also gain a new wife if my wife and I defeat another warrior and his wife in combat…Oh, I know what you're thinking, that the woman would be married to me against her will…but you're wrong. To be married to Mandalore is the highest honor a Mandalorian woman can have. Many would kill their husbands to be married to me…this way there's less bloodshed. I don't think there will be any death challenges…there weren't any last year, and I haven't seen any strong rivalries this year yet. But there could be."

"Well, I think I'll be going. It was nice talking to you, Mandalore."

Kalan walked off, glad to be away from Mandalore; more and more she was beginning to dislike him and his male-dominated culture. She went into the garage and saw Bao-Dur sitting on the floor, talking to his remote. "Hello, Bao," she said.

"Hello, General," he said back.

"Is everything going okay with you?"

"Not really."

"What's wrong?"

"Mandalore."

Kalan sighed. "Honestly, Bao, he's not so bad."

"Yes he is. He's a Mandalorian."

"You shouldn't judge him that way," Kalan said, also reminding herself that despite his odd customs he had helped her quite a lot.

"Oh…I suppose you're right, General…"

Kalan yawned. "It's getting late. I'd better get some sleep. I'll see you in the morning."

"Sure thing, General."