A/N: I finally finished it…enjoy
Chapter 10
The Honorable Victor
Tubbard was pacing himself, while Visas just bolted food down. Attendants and droids were frantically bringing out new bowls and hauling away empty ones; a large crowd had gathered by now, and Mical watched excitedly, finding this eating contest more interesting than the fighting matches outside.
Another Ebon Hawk crew member who was having fun was Bao-Dur. He no longer regretted having come to the Mandalorian ceremony since he had offered to fix Jolon's droids; he ended up not only fixing them but enhancing them. These aren't war machines, they're just maintenance droids…there's no harm in it…
When Bao-Dur finally finished he left the building and wandered about for a while. The torches were starting to be lit, and the fights appeared to be as numerous as ever. Bao-Dur wondered where Kalan was, and decided to go look for her. He went into the food tent but quickly left when he couldn't even get near the table because of the crowd that the eating contest had attracted. He started to wander, and for about a half hour he just walked around, picking up snatches of conversation concerning various Mandalorian traditions and a lot of mentions of a "Rak'jan challenge" that was to take place later at midnight. Bao-Dur didn't know what any of it was, and he wasn't interested.
Bao-Dur was about to sit down when he felt somebody tap his shoulder. He turned and saw Jolon. Next to him was a young Mandalorian woman.
"I've been looking for you! I went inside and saw what you did…that was amazing, the way you fixed all those droids so fast! I couldn't believe it!"
"It wasn't so hard," Bao-Dur said. "So…I see you beat that Kelborn after all."
"No, of course not. Kelborn is one of the best Mandalorian fighters here…I was stupid to think I could beat him. But I did do a good job, and he appreciated the effort, so he gave me Ralla anyway. Isn't he the greatest? I think he should be Mandalore's successor instead of Bralor."
"It's nice to meet you, Ralla," Bao-Dur said to the woman.
"Oh no, this isn't Ralla," Jolon said. "You see, after my father found out about the droids, he told Triko, his boss, that I had done a really great job. So Triko gave me one of his wives out of gratitude. I…I don't really deserve her, so I'm giving her to you."
"Er…that's not really necessary," Bao-Dur stammered.
"No, really, I think it is," Jolon said. "You were very kind to me, and it's the least I can do. I really have to go, because Ralla's waiting for me…I'll see you later, Bao."
Jolon ran off. Bao-Dur turned to his new wife. "I…"
She immediately dropped to her knees. Bao-Dur had seen several Mandalorian women doing this earlier, but was still somewhat alarmed. "You don't have to do that."
"I…I don't?" she asked nervously, looking up.
"No, of course not."
She stood up, looking very pleased. "Hello, Husband. My name is Dahika…but I suppose that doesn't really matter now. What number am I?"
"Number?"
"What number wife?"
"I don't understand."
"I mean, how many other wives do you have?"
"I don't have any."
"Oh…well, I guess I'm Dahika to you, then." Dahika looked very pleased at this, too.
"I'm sorry, but I really can't accept you…"
"What?"
"I can't accept you…I can't marry you."
Dahika looked heartbroken. "You don't want me?"
"I don't even know you."
"It's because I'm ugly, isn't it? That's what you think?"
"No, of course not, I…"
"Don't worry, you don't have to explain yourself," Dahika interrupted, sniffing. "This is my first year as a woman…I was hoping to get married to a young Mandalorian, to be his first wife. But none of them wanted me. Instead old Triko took me. He didn't even have to fight for me…he just took me, because nobody else wanted me, because I'm so ugly. Triko is seventy-two. I didn't want to be married to him…but then he gave me to Jolon. Can you believe it?
Even a seventy-two-year-old man thought I was too ugly for him! And now Jolon didn't want me, so he gave me to you, and now you don't want me…"
Dahika burst into tears. Bao-Dur sighed. "Dahika, I don't think you're ugly, really…"
"It's all right…I'll just go…"
"I'm sorry…If you really want, I'll be married to you…"
"Really?" Dahika asked, smiling.
"Sure. I mean…I won't be staying here long…"
"I'm leaving tomorrow morning, and I'm probably not coming back until next year."
"Oh…"
"Do you…do you mind if I call you by name, Husband?"
"Of course not. I'm Bao-Dur."
"I like that name. And I like your arm. And Jolon said you're nice…well, you'd have to be, to marry a person as ugly as me."
"I already told you, I don't think you're ugly."
"You don't have to lie to me, you know," Dahika said, her smile fading.
"I'm not lying. You're not ugly…you're not stunningly beautiful, but good looks aren't what make a person great anyway. It's their personality."
"You really think so?"
"Yes. And you should think so, too."
"Nobody's ever said anything like that to me before…you are very nice. I'm so glad I'm your wife."
"Is there something you wanted to do?"
Dahika blushed. "Well…"
"What is it?"
"I mean…it's getting late…"
"Oh, so you're tired? It's all right, I…"
"No, no," she said quickly, "I'm not tired, I just…" she paused and looked at him, as though hoping he'd finish her sentence for her.
"Is something wrong?" Bao-Dur asked, concerned.
"No…I'm just sort of…surprised."
"Surprised? Why?"
"Well…it doesn't matter. Are you sure there's nothing you'd like to do?"
"I don't really know what to do around here."
Dahika smiled shyly. "I've been here a couple of times, and if you want, I could show you a really nice place nearby where I always like to look at the stars."
"All right," Bao-Dur said. "I think I'd like that…"
--
"Where are we…" Atton started.
"Follow me," Kreia ordered.
"I just wanted…"
"Hey," another voice called.
Kreia and Atton stopped walking and turned. Mira was running over to them, followed by a Mandalorian covered in armor.
"What the hell is going on?" Mira demanded of Kreia. "First I hear Kalan's married to Mandalore, now she's the prize in some kind of Mandalorian death match?"
"I do not have the time to explain it to you," Kreia said. "Your understanding is irrelevant."
"Hey, don't talk to her like that," the Mandalorian said.
"Who are you?" Kreia asked.
"I'm her husband," the Mandalorian said proudly.
"You too, huh?" Atton said to Mira with a smirk.
"Come, fool," Kreia barked at Atton, walking away.
"Where are you going?" Mira asked, walking alongside her.
"If you must know, I am looking for the warrior called Huck."
"Warrior Huck!" Valk exclaimed. "I saw him fight earlier…he is a great warrior. He has won twenty wives at least today!"
"Why are we looking for this guy?" Atton asked, frowning.
"Do you know where he is?" Kreia asked Valk, ignoring Atton's question.
"Last I saw him he was fighting in the ring behind the food tent…"
Kreia marched off in the direction of the food tent. Atton followed her, Mira followed Atton, and Valk followed Mira.
Mira stopped when they reached the food tent. "Holy crap, is that Visas?!" Mira exclaimed, gaping at the eating contest.
"Whoa, I have got to see…" Atton started; Kreia grabbed his arm.
"We must go," Kreia commanded, pulling him away, glad that Mira and Valk weren't following.
--
"I have been sent to come get you. It is almost midnight."
Kalan looked up at Jana. "Thank you," she said quietly.
"I…I just wanted to let you know, I did not…think that this would happen," Jana said slowly. "When I challenged you, it was because I saw you as a threat, for one thing, but there was another reason…I thought that Mandalore would kill Bralor for you. I am sorry things did not turn out that way."
"It is not fair for you to blame yourself for anything. You acted in the way your culture wants you to act…you challenged me when Mandalore had me take your place. The fault is not yours."
"I…I suppose not. Anyway, come. It will be difficult to push through the crowds."
Kalan followed Jana out to the main ring. Everyone cheered when Kalan came into view, and she had a spot right next to the sergeant. Jana disappeared back into the crowd after dropping off Kalan. Across the ring, Mandalore stood at the very edge, waiting. Kalan stared at him, and she felt that he was watching her, too. She wondered what he was thinking.
Suddenly people started cheering. Bralor, wearing his gold armor, entered the ring. Like Jana, he had two Gamorrean axes. He bowed to the crowd, obviously enjoying all the attention.
Atton hadn't shown up yet.
After a few minutes people started to get restless. Kalan prayed that Atton had run away, that he was hiding somewhere out in the jungle where nobody could find him.
Then a hush fell over the crowd. A figure completely covered in shiny, bulky black armor entered the ring.
It can't be… Kalan thought, her eyes wide.
"I'm Atton Rand," the figure said to Bralor, "and I'm going to kick your ass."
It's him! Kalan thought, half proud, half terrified.
Bralor walked out into the center of the ring and faced Atton. He twitched his head the slightest bit in imitation of a bow, and Atton did the very same back. Then Bralor twirled his axes. Atton pulled out two Trandoshan swords and twirled those back.
They started quickly. Bralor fought much like Jana did, hacking madly but with precision. Kalan could see that Atton was having trouble blocking, but he still managed to prevent anything from getting through for a while. Bralor eventually got the better of him, though, and managed to smack him hard in the shoulder with the stick part of his axe. Bralor stepped back, allowing this move to sink into the crowd.
Now's your chance, Kalan thought desperately. Heal yourself!
But Atton didn't heal himself; he instead resumed the normal fighting. Kalan watched him intently, worriedly. She had trained with him a little in lightsaber combat, and the fighting style he used now was very different.
Why doesn't he have his lightsaber? Kalan thought suddenly.
Atton slammed his boot onto Bralor's, which hurt him much more than Kalan was expecting; then, while blocking with one sword arm, he smacked his sword hilt onto Bralor's faceplate just as Bralor had done with his shoulder. Bralor was stunned for a second; Atton stood back, gloating just as Bralor had, except saying, "This will be pure pazaak!"
Kalan groaned aloud. That was so unnecessary…
Bralor became furious; he fought like a madman, hacking over and over, and then, suddenly, Atton's block had the slightest slip…
Kalan cried out, and several people screamed, as Bralor sliced one of Atton's hands off.
Bralor stood still in satisfaction as the gloved hand fell to the ground, still gripping one of the swords, but, remarkably, Atton did not hesitate. He immediately kicked Bralor's shin, then thrust his sword through a weak spot in the shocked Mandalorian's armor, on his left side.
There was a gasp from the crowd; Atton pushed the sword in as far as it would go and twisted it. Bralor stood, very still, before suddenly collapsing to the ground.
"The fight is over," the match referee said, shocked and unsure in his tone. "Bralor is defeated. The outsider Atton Rand is the clear and honorable victor. Jedi Kalan is now his Rak'jan."
The crowd was silent as Atton stood over Bralor's dead body, gripping his arm where his hand had been cut off. There was no blood; Kalan wondered if Atton had healed it somehow or was using a different Force power to contain it.
Then, someone in the audience started clapping. A few others joined in until the entire crowd was clapping, then shouting, then cheering wildly. Kalan smiled, cheering with them. She was glad that Atton, an outsider, was receiving this kind of recognition from the Mandalorian crowd. She was also incredibly proud of him for defeating Bralor.
But his hand…
Oddly, Atton picked up his dismembered hand, which was still tightly gripping its sword, choosing to drop his other sword in the arena. Still carrying the hand, he walked over to Kalan; the crowd began to disperse.
"Your hand…are you all right?" Kalan asked concernedly.
"I'm fine," Atton mumbled; he walked past her, away from the crowds in the direction of the woods.
"You should let me heal it," Kalan said.
"I'll be okay…"
He stopped when he judged he was far away from the Mandalorians. It was dark, and Kalan could hardly see him standing in front of her.
"I just want you to know…how much I appreciate this," Kalan said. "I…I didn't think…I mean I…"
She blinked up at the bulky black helmet facing her.
"Could you…take that off?" she asked.
"Statement: I do not think that would be wise, Master."
Kalan's eyes widened, her mouth hanging open; she heard footsteps behind her. Kreia and Atton were approaching.
"Hey," Atton said, smiling at Kalan. "Great match, huh? I really taught that guy a lesson…"
"But you…" Kalan said weakly.
"I knew that he could not defeat the Mandalorian," Kreia said. "I came up with a way to…cheat."
"You went…you went all the way back to the ship and dressed up the HK?" Kalan asked, regaining some of her Jedi composure.
"Oh no," Kreia said, looking up at the droid. "He was already here."
"But droids aren't allowed," Kalan said.
"Apology: Master, forgive me for disobeying your intentions for me to remain at the Ebon Hawk. I only wanted to test my skills…and I did find it very unfair that the fighting was for meatbags only."
"You mean you pretended to be a Mandalorian?" Kalan asked incredulously.
"Reply: Oh yes, Master, it was not so difficult. I had only to put on that Mandalorian armor we found, and imitate their annoying accents."
"How did you know he was here?" Kalan asked Kreia.
"I had heard of a fighter called 'Warrior Huck,'" Kreia said. "Huck is not a Mandalorian name. It was not difficult for me to determine the truth."
"Yeah, not difficult for her to figure out that the Mandalorian warrior winning all the tournaments was actually our droid dressed up in Mandalorian armor mimicking voices," Atton said. "I agree, that one was pretty obvious."
"Statement: I learned many new fighting techniques, Master," the HK said.
"You did very well against Bralor," Kalan said.
"Statement: This unit looks forward to returning to the ship, so that the Iridonian may re-attach its hand."
"I'll make sure Bao-Dur does that," Kalan said. She looked over her shoulder; the Mandalorians had quieted down. "The festival is almost over."
"I do not know where the remaining crew members are," Kreia said.
"Probably all have lots of Mandalorian husbands and wives," Atton said with a smile. "How many did you get?" he asked the HK.
"Reply: Twenty-one."
"They will return in the morning," Kreia said. "We should go back to the ship, before this deception is discovered."
"I agree," Kalan said.
"You guys go ahead," Atton said to Kreia and the HK. "I want to talk to Kalan for a minute."
Kreia scowled and started walking off with the droid. Atton faced Kalan.
"So," Atton said with a smile, "you're my wife now."
"Technically I'm the HK's wife."
"They said 'Atton Rand.'"
Kalan's eyes turned to the ground. "I…actually thought it was you," she said quietly. "Fighting for me…I feel stupid now, but…I actually believed it was you."
"I would have!" Atton said quickly. "Really…I was all ready to…but then Kreia says the droid would have a better chance, and…well…I couldn't exactly argue with Kreia, you know?"
"I guess not…"
"Hey, you know how I feel about you," Atton said seriously.
Kalan looked up at him again. "I don't know if I feel the same way."
"But earlier you said…"
"Earlier I was confused."
"So…what?" Atton said angrily. "Just because my hand doesn't get cut off for you, you don't care about me anymore?"
"I just need to think," Kalan said calmly. "There is no need to…"
"Fine, go think, then," Atton said huffily. "Maybe you can go 'meditate' with Mical."
Atton stomped off. Kalan slowly smiled as she watched him walking away.
--
Kalan returned to the Mandalorian campsite the next morning to find the rest of her crew. The Departure Ceremony was well underway; ships were taking off and Mandalorian warriors were saying goodbye to their families.
It did not take long for her to locate Visas and Mical, who were lingering near the campsite entrance.
"How was your time at the festival?" she asked them curiously.
"I won a food competition," Visas said proudly. "Tubbard, the Mandalorian I was competing against, asked me to marry him."
"Did you?" Kalan asked, raising her eyebrows.
Visas blushed. "Well…yes, but…I promise it will not interfere with anything…he has told me he would be honored if I could maintain a correspondence with him, that is all."
"How about you?" Kalan asked Mical.
"Oh, Mira told me to stay away from the Mandalorian women," Mical said.
Good thinking, Mira… "Where is Mira?"
"I haven't seen her," Mical said. "Or Bao-Dur."
"He went to fix a droid and never came back," Visas added.
"There!" Mical suddenly exclaimed.
Mira was walking over with Valk.
"Here they are," Mira said. "I'm safe, you can go now."
"Goodbye, Wife," Valk said. "I hope to see you someday soon."
"I'll come by for a visit every now and then," Mira said with a smile.
Valk bowed and left.
"You married him?" Kalan asked.
Mira shrugged. "It was an accident…anyway, he's a nice kid, no harm in it."
Kalan was shocked; Mira's normally hot-tempered behavior seemed to have vanished. Then she caught sight of Bao-Dur approaching with a follower of his own.
"This is my wife, Dahika," Bao-Dur said, beaming at the rest of the group.
"You were also married?!" Mical exclaimed.
Bao-Dur ignored him. "I have to go now," he said to Dahika.
"If you want to contact me, I live on Ordo," Dahika said quickly.
"I'm sure I will."
Dahika smiled and whispered something in his ear. He smiled back and hugged her before she left.
"You were initially opposed to coming," Kalan said.
"I'm glad I did," Bao-Dur replied. "I learned a lot of things last night…I have a different understanding of the Mandalorian people."
"And I thought I was the only one," Mira said. "Is there anyone who didn't get married?"
"I didn't," Mical said. "I wonder if Kreia…"
"Ugh, I hope not," Mira said.
Mandalore was approaching them.
"Wait here," Kalan said. She walked over to him.
"Kalan, I…" Mandalore started.
"You acted according to your people's customs," Kalan said. "And I believe it would be best if you remained here, with your people, in accordance with your customs."
"I want to help you."
"You wanted to help me when it suited you. You neglected to help me when you could have because you found it improper."
"Kalan…"
"You do not deserve to be a member of my crew."
Mandalore bowed his head. "You…you're right. I'm sorry."
"Goodbye, Mandalore."
Kalan turned and walked back to her crew.
"We're going back to the ship."
"What about…" Mical started.
"He's not coming."
They returned to the ship; Kreia was waiting outside.
"It is time for us to leave this place," she said.
"Where are we going next?" Mical asked excitedly.
"Master Kavar has sent us a message at last. We shall follow his instructions."
Mical, Mira, Visas, and Bao-Dur headed onto the ship. Kalan was about to walk up the ramp when Kreia stopped her.
"Where is Mandalore?"
"He isn't coming."
"A pity…we could have used him on Onderon."
"Or he could have used us," she mumbled.
"What do you mean?" Kreia asked, frowning.
"I…don't believe he can be trusted," Kalan said.
"Even after what he did for you?"
"What he did?"
"Mandalore traditionally must 'inspect' the competitors before the Rak'jan match, to prevent cheating…an incident I was not anticipating. I feared that when he discovered the droid he would announce it and my plan would have unraveled…but he kept the secret and allowed the droid to compete in Atton's name."
"I…I had no idea…" Kalan thought for a moment. "If Bralor had won…or even just knocked off his helmet, or anything…if it had been discovered…"
"I doubt the other Mandalorians would have been very happy with it."
"Worse than that…not only did he authorize a droid to compete in the competition, he broke the an ancient tradition of his people by allowing Atton to cheat when he was specifically supposed to prevent it…In a way he participated in a conspiracy to kill his own successor."
"Mandalorian loyalty is not something to be doubted, especially not from that one."
"I'll be right back."
Kalan turned and ran back to the Mandalorian base; the ships had taken off, the festival was over, and the warriors were returning to their barracks or cleaning up. Kalan went to the building that had Mandalore's quarters; she found him in the control room, studying something on his computer.
"We need to talk," Kalan said.
Mandalore took her up to his room, removing his helmet as he had done when she had been his wife.
"You don't have to explain things," he said heavily. "I understand why…"
"No," Kalan interrupted. "You didn't tell me that you covered up for Atton…that you knew about the HK, but let it continue."
"I don't think that makes up for it. The fact is…I should have challenged Bralor."
"And let your other thirty-some wives go to the next in line so that Mandalore could marry a Jedi? We both know that wouldn't have been right."
"Then I should have cancelled the festival, I should have…"
"You did the right thing. I was the one in the wrong…I shouldn't have judged you so harshly. You have a responsibility to these people. They rely on you for firm leadership."
"I…I'm glad you understand."
"But if your people wouldn't mind, I'd like it if you would join my crew again…help us resolve the situation on Onderon."
"Of course I will."
Kalan smiled. There was a moment of awkward silence before she said, "We should get back to the ship…Kreia's waiting."
Mandalore put on his helmet. "I'll notify Kelborn that I'll be leaving the planet with you."
"Good…" she paused. "You know, the crew all had a pretty good time last night."
"Except for you."
Kalan shrugged. "It certainly was not as boring as I thought it might be."
Mandalore laughed. "That's one way to look at it…"
"Let's just say I won't be going to any more Mandalorian festivals anytime soon."
"Are you sure? My birthday is coming up in a few weeks, and Mandalore's birthday is one of the largest celebrations in Mandalorian…"
"No," Kalan said, smiling.
"All right," Mandalore said. "Let's go…"
THE END