Chapter 9

The Challenger

"What's your name?"

"I'm Mical."

"Ooh, Mical. I like that."

"Me too."

"How many wives do you have?"

"Oh, I'm not married."

"You aren't?"

"Why not?"

"You should get married!"

"Well, I don't know…I just don't really have the time."

"You have time now."

"Pick me!"

"No, pick me!"

"Me! I'm the one you should pick!"

"I asked him first!"

"I…"

"Hey!"

The four Mandalorian girls turned in their chairs. Mira was glaring at them. "Get away from him."

They glared back and left. Mical frowned. "You didn't have to do that. They were only trying to be nice."

"Stay away from any girls around here from now on."

"But…"

"Trust me, they don't want to be 'nice.'"

Mical sighed. "Okay, if you say so."

Mira, trailed closely by her two admirers, moved to another part of the table. Mical looked over at Visas. She hadn't eaten for hours, and the crowd that had once been around her was now gone. Still, she sat at the table, seemingly having nothing better to do.

Suddenly the tent flap opened, and an enormous Mandalorian entered. He was almost as wide as he was tall, and he waddled over to a chair at the table that was across from Visas. A Mandalorian boy quickly pushed another chair next to it so that he could sit down.

"Are you the one who ate most of the food earlier?" the Mandalorian asked in a throaty voice.

"Yes," Visas replied.

"I am Tubbard," he said, extending a pudgy hand across the table. Visas shook his hand. "Are you still hungry?"

Visas smiled. "My master used to tell me that the most important thing I should learn to do was eat a lot, and the more I devoured, the stronger I would become. Under his guidance I learned to eat all the time. No, I am not very hungry right now, but I could eat everything on this table if I wanted to."

Tubbard laughed. "Everything on this table? Well, we'll see about that. I challenge you to an eating contest!"

This caught the attention of the Mandalorians nearby. They started cheering.

"Oh, I don't know," Visas said shyly.

"Afraid to lose?"

"No, I would just feel bad if all this wonderful food was eaten by just the two of us."

"There is plenty more. You don't have to worry about it."

"All right…I'll do it, then."

"Good! Everyone, prepare for an eating contest!"

Mira was watching from all the way down the table. "An eating contest?" she repeated, raising an eyebrow.

"Not necessarily honorable, but enjoyable all the same," Velk said.

"If they're doing an eating contest, we should probably leave," Valk said. "I don't want to get sick watching them."

"Yes…let's go over to a fighting ring."

Velk and Valk put their helmets back on and headed out of the food tent. Mira followed them, knowing if she tried to make a run for it they would only search for her, and hiding from them would make her day just as miserable as spending it with them.

They went over to one of the smaller fighting rings, where two men were fighting two women amidst cheers. Despite their indicated interest in going to this fighting ring, Valk and Velk turned to Mira instead of the fight.

"Mira," Valk said, a little nervously, "I think…I think you're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen, and I…"

"You're the smartest and strongest and most beautiful girl I've ever seen," Velk interrupted.

"I think so, too," Valk persisted, "and…"

"Look," Mira interrupted, "I don't really…"

"The fight is over!" the sergeant in the ring announced, and then went on to say the traditional statements. This was a friendly match, so there was no wife-trading involved.

"Do any others wish to fight?" the sergeant asked.

"We do!" Velk and Valk both shouted.

"What?" Mira asked, confused.

"I…I am challenging my brother," Velk said. "I wish to marry the outsider Mira."

"And I wish to marry her!" Valk said, nodding. "We will fight for her!"

The crowd cheered. Mira's jaw dropped.

The sergeant handed them each a dueling sword. "Let the fight begin!"

Mira turned frantically to a woman next to her in the crowd. "I don't want to get married!"

The woman looked at her like she was crazy. "It's not like there's anything you can do about it."

"But…" Mira said, glancing back at the duel. Valk and Velk, as she had assumed, were very evenly matched. She watched nervously, figuring her only chance was to wait for one of them to win and then explain to him later that she didn't like him.

After a few minutes, Valk finally triumphed over Velk. The sergeant announced it, and Mira was given to Valk. After the fight, the three met away from the crowds.

"I guess I'll see you later, Mira," Velk said with a sigh. "I have to go find some stupid girl to marry."

"I'm sure you'll find somebody good," Valk said. "I mean, not as good as Mira, but still good."

Velk stalked off. Mira turned to Valk hesitantly. "Listen," she said, "I don't…"

"I know, you're an outsider, and it's kind of confusing, but it's okay. I won't make you do anything you don't want to…I know outsiders don't like to kneel or anything. And you're my only wife, so I can call you Mira without worrying about a number, and you can call me Valk even though you're really supposed to address me as 'husband.' I don't think anyone will care if I bend the rules a little for you."

"Look, Valk, I appreciate it, but I really didn't…"

A young Mandalorian suddenly ran up to Valk. "Hi, Valk!"

"Jolon!" Valk said. "I thought you were stuck fixing droids!"

"No, I got out of it, this weird alien guy is helping me…I've been waiting for Kelborn to fight me for hours…"

"You're going to fight Kelborn?"

"I have to. If I don't, he'll get Ralla."

"You're good, Jolon, but you're not that good."

"Who's this?"

"Oh…this is my wife, Mira. Mira, meet my friend, Jolon."

"Congratulations!" Jolon exclaimed. "She looks really nice…"

"She is. She's the nicest person I've ever met."

"Uh…" Mira said nervously.

"Why don't you go tell the others about my new wife?" Valk asked.

"Of course! They'll be excited to hear about it."

"I'll see you later, Jolon. Good luck finding a wife of your own."

"See you, Valk!"

Jolon ran off. "He's my best friend," Valk explained. "He works with droids. He's crazy if he thinks he can beat Kelborn, though. Kelborn is…"

"Valk," Mira interrupted quickly, "I don't think this is going to work."

"What?"

"Me being your wife."

"Why not?"

"Because we're so different, and…"

"But I love you!"

"How old are you, anyway?"

"I'm fifteen."

Mira sighed. I figured as much. "Valk, I think you'd be a lot better off with a real Mandalorian girl, okay?"

"But I don't want a Mandalorian girl, I want you!"

"Why?"

"Because you're the nicest and the smartest and the…"

"You've only known me since this morning!"

"I don't know any other girls, and if I have to marry one, I want it to be you."

"But…but I have obligations…you know, I came here with the Jedi, and I have to follow her all over the place. We could leave any day now, and I wouldn't be able to come back for a really long time…"

"That's okay. The other wives are all leaving tomorrow morning, and most of their husbands won't see them until later this year or maybe even next Valentine's Day. I'll wait for you."

"Like I said before, you don't even know me! Do you know what I do for a living? I'm a bounty hunter!"

"Ooh," Valk said. "My father was a bounty hunter after the Republic War. He collected a lot of bounties, too…"

"Yeah, except I don't kill my bounties, I only capture them," Mira said, hoping this would make him lose interest.

"Wow. You'd have to be a lot stronger to do that."

"You really think so?" Mira asked, surprised.

"Of course. The weak ones are the ones who kill people. They don't have strength or patience."

"Everyone used to say I was weak, because I didn't kill my bounties."

"They're wrong."

"Yeah, I know, but…nobody's ever really agreed with me before."

"They're all stupid if they think you're weak."

"I guess maybe you do know me a little better than most people…"

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

Kalan didn't speak as Bralor grabbed her by the arm and started walking. He was leading her somewhere quickly and purposefully. Kalan's eyes moved from side to side, looking for some sign of any of her friends, but she couldn't see them. Even they can't help me. If they try to help me escape, the Mandalorians will get angry and might even attack themMandalore is the only one who can help me, and he doesn't want to…

Kalan tried hard to keep her emotions in check. She remembered how difficult it had been to fight Bralor in the Battle Ring, even with Force Powers and her lightsaber, and he had been weaponless; it was unlikely she could attack him and get away without giving him time to shout for help.

Kalan realized that Bralor was taking her away from the main part of the camp. "Where are we going?" she asked, and immediately regretted it.

Bralor's fist hit her before she even had time to flinch. They were in a deserted part of the camp now; an area where Kalan had never been. Nobody was here to see this.

"What did I tell you about speaking to me?" he snarled.

Kalan was about to answer when she remembered and knelt down in front of him. Once again, Bralor practically slammed his fist down on her shoulder, but he held it there, so Kalan remained kneeling. "I am sorry I did not show you the proper respect…"

"Sorry? That's the second time you've done this to me! There will be no third time, do you understand?"

"Yes, I understand…"

"Good!" He lifted his fist. "Now get up!"

Kalan hesitated. "But where are we…"

"We are going to my room."

"Why?"

Bralor actually laughed. "Get up, Jedi wench."

Kalan was frozen with fear. She didn't move.

"Get up!" Bralor yelled.

"N-no," Kalan said shakily.

"It will do you no good to defy me!"

"I'm not going with you…"

"Dammit, I'll have you here, then!"

Bralor pushed her backward and pinned her to the ground with one hand while he threw off his helmet with the other. For the first time, Kalan saw his face, red with anger.

Then, suddenly, she heard a clunking sound. Bralor turned around angrily and picked up a large rock that had struck the armor on his back. "What the hell?!"

"Oh, sorry! I thought you were an overstuffed cannok."

Kalan almost laughed with pure relief as Atton walked over. Bralor stood, his face turning even redder. "Who the hell do you think you are, throwing rocks at me!"

"It was only one rock, and I told you, it was a mistake."

"Don't play games with me, boy!"

"Boy? Nobody's called me that for twenty years. Just how old are you?"

"Why do you insult me?!"

"Why are you hurting Kalan?"

"She is my Rak'jan, my wife!"

"Is that supposed to be an excuse?"

"What I do with my wife is my own business, outsider!"

"If you're hurting her then I consider it my business."

"What are you, her mate?"

"Yeah. And I want you to get out of here. Now."

"You cannot command me!"

"Trust me, if you don't listen to me, you'll regret it. I know a crazy old Jedi who would enjoy doing all kinds of fun things to you with the Force if you don't free Kalan."

Bralor sighed, and a little bit of the redness left his face. "This is tiresome. I am busy; I do not want to be constantly interrupted. I'll tell you what. You look like a smart man. If you leave now, and do not come back here or tell anyone else like your crazy Jedi friend to come here, then I'll give you women. As many as you want…but not this one. Got it?"

"If your idea of a smart man is a pervert, then your head is even more screwed up than mine."

"That's it," Bralor said through clenched teeth. "I have had enough of you. You have insulted me. If you do not leave now, then I will be forced to hurt you."

"I'm not leaving without Kalan."

"Then you will pay."

"No, you will pay. Because if you hit me, you'll regret it."

"Is that a threat?"

"Yes."

"Then you wish to challenge me?"

"Sure."

"A Rak'jan challenge?"

"As long as it involves you in pain, I'm game."

"A Rak'jan challenge it is, then," Bralor said, grinning. "You are either a very strong warrior, or a fool. Either way, you will be the one in pain."

To Kalan's surprise, Bralor grabbed his helmet and ran off. Atton extended his hand and helped her up. "Overstuffed cannok?" she said with a small smile.

"Yeah, that was pretty lame, but I was kind of nervous, you know?"

Kalan turned her head slightly, and Atton saw where Bralor had struck her.

"Whoa, he really hit you," Atton said, raising his eyebrows.

"Oh, yeah," Kalan said, touching her cheek. She was about to heal herself when Atton stopped her.

"Let me do it."

Kalan smiled. "Okay."

Atton's Force heal was successful. "Good job," Kalan said.

"Thanks," Atton replied. He smiled. "Sometimes I wonder if I should think before I open my mouth…oh well. At least it got rid of that guy."

Kalan's smile immediately disappeared. "Atton, you have to leave."

"Why?"

"You have to run away. To the ship…no, they'll probably look there…but maybe there's somewhere you can hide, where they won't find you…"

"What are you talking about?"

"You've just challenged Bralor! You can't fight him!"

"Sure I can. I won't win, but I might be able to cut him a little with my brand new lightsaber…"

"Atton, the Rak'jan challenge is a death match!"

Somehow Atton managed to force a smile. "Ha, well, I should have figured, huh?"

"You have to leave before he gets back!"

"Whoa, hey, I'm not going anywhere."

"You already said you can't win!"

"But I'm not going to run away and let him hurt you!"

"Atton, you can't stay here and die!"

"Why can't you run away with me?"

"They would find us both!"

"We could take the ship and fly out of here…"

"And leave the others? What do you think the Mandalorians will do to them, when they find out that we're gone?"

"Well…oh, I guess you're right…" Atton smiled again. "Too bad Kreia really wanted to stay on Dxun, huh?"

"Atton, this isn't a joke, he'll be coming soon…"

"I told you, I'm not going."

"You can't beat him!"

"How do you know? If it's a death match I'll be able to use my Force powers, right?"

"Do you remember when I was fighting in the dueling ring here a while back?"

"Sort of…"

"Do you remember how the last man I fought was unarmed, while I had a lightsaber and my powers, and he still almost beat me?"

"Yeah…"

"That's Bralor."

"You're joking, right?"

"No. And even if it wasn't, you've only learned two powers anyway."

"Hey, Force Push is a good power!"

"It won't work on Bralor. If I recall, even Force Wave had little effect."

"Well, anyway, I'm not leaving."

"Atton, please, you'll die."

"Maybe I won't even have to fight him. Maybe Kreia will find a way to get you out of here, and then we can all leave."

"There's no guarantee that will happen."

"But she might. And I'd rather think that she will than leave you here with that rancor."

"Atton…" Kalan paused. "I appreciate this," she said quietly. "Really, I do…nobody's ever done something like this for me before."

"It's worth it."

Kalan could feel her heart pounding at the way he was looking at her. Then, suddenly, he pulled her close to him and started kissing her.

"I need the Rak'jan now."

Atton stopped and turned his head. "Did they ever teach you manners when you were a kid? I mean, the first time was bad enough, but that was just brutal."

Mandalore stood silently, waiting.

"Why do I have to leave?" Kalan asked, alarmed.

"The Rak'jan must be kept in isolation until the Rak'jan challenge, which will be held at midnight," Mandalore said in a monotone, as though reading rules out of a book. "She will watch the challenge and then depart with the victor as his Rak'jan."

"Why does she need to be held in isolation?" Atton asked.

Mandalore didn't answer.

"I'd better be going," Kalan said. "Atton, I…I…" she paused, and then said, in a small voice, "Good luck."

"Hey, I love you too," Atton said, grinning.

The instant Kalan turned around Atton's smile disappeared and his eyes turned to the ground.

From the shadows behind the trees Kreia watched Kalan walk off silently with Mandalore, then looked back at Atton. Now…what to do…Mandalore is holding Kalan, and Bralor is somewhere else…I would have to kill them both, and that would raise quite a stir…even with all the others I could not fight the whole camp…this challenge is the perfect way to kill off the fool, but it may also be the only way for the exile to get out of here…yet he could never defeat a Mandalorian warrior…

Kreia walked out in front of Atton. He glanced at her and then turned his eyes to the ground. "Come to gloat?" he asked, sounding miserable.

"You cannot defeat the Mandalorian as you are."

"Yeah, I realized that."

"We must come up with a plan."

"What exactly did you have in mind?"

"I do not have anything in mind."

"Well, that's helpful…"

"You are many things…a traitor, a murderer…and you are also by nature a cheater."

"How am I supposed to cheat against this guy? There's no way I can beat him, cheating or not. Unless he mysteriously dies right before the battle, which would look really suspicious, I c…"

"You are right," Kreia interrupted, sounding thoughtful. "You cannot beat him…"

"Thanks for the inspiring confidence," Atton said, scowling.

"Come. There is much work to be done."

"You mean you have a plan?"

"Come!"