Good Thursday, everyone! I hope you all had a happy Halloween!
To everyone who missed my update: I am now posting on Thursdays instead of Mondays. This is to give me more time to fine tune these chapters, which this one sorely needed. Don't worry, I will still post on Thanksgiving. And on my graduation day lol.
Also to make up for the delay, THIS CHAPTER IS UBER LONG. Around 13 pages. I try to keep my chapters aroun 8 to 10.
I just want to say thank you to everyone who comments and supports my fics! You guys are the best. It always makes my day when I see a new comment and I really appreciate them.
Paladin Stormwind: Ooooh Mystery Characters! Though I'm learning that they can sometimes raise people's expectations super high and I'm worried I can't meet them lol.
4thWallBreak: Uh…yeah…sorry…but it gets better! I think. Maybe not this chapter though.
Venomizer: Thank you so much!
Kuiil: I appreciate your enthusiasm, but the schedule must be obeyed. Every other Thursday for this one.
MoineLeute: I believe you misunderstood the scene. Rex is only referring to Ahsoka's markings on the speeder, not the Jaig eyes. Trust me, I am very aware that they are Mandalorian.
4thwallbreak: And here it is!
RubenRose21: Thank you so much and I appreciate it! I was really struggling with dealing with the fact that I couldn't always get it out on Monday. This schedule should ensure that there are no delays.
IT IS ONCE AGAIN TIME FOR EXECUTIVECUCUMBER TO MAKE CRAP UP ABOUT THE MANDALORIAN CULTURE.
Who is ready for narrative parallels?
Lots of Mando'a translations at the end!
Captain Rex awoke to a strange sensation. Something was touching his head. A few somethings, dexterous and long. Fingers.
They ran through his hair in a wandering pattern. There was a pleasant, gentle tugging sensation as the strands were caught on her fingers.
Because it was Commander Tano who was stroking his head. Who else could it be?
Captain Rex fought the need to interrupt her for as long as he could. He did not want her to stop.
His eyes opened too soon and her fingers stilled.
She was sitting by his cot, reaching out to touch his head. As his eyes met hers, she withdrew her hands.
"Sorry." She said. "You were having a nightmare. I thought it might help."
He was? For once he could not remember. Perhaps her efforts had been successful. He noted the look in her eyes and lifted himself onto one arm.
"'Are you all right'?" He asked, grateful for the phrase from early on in their reading.
"Obi Wan's tournament is today." Commander Tano said. "I just- have a bad feeling about this."
Captain Rex frowned. He remembered times when she or General Skywalker said they had a bad feeling. That feeling was nearly always correct.
"'I can't go?'" Captain Rex asked.
"No, I know we should go." Commander Tano said with a shake of her head. "I don't think it's us that's in danger."
Captain Rex blinked. He had not expected to go to the tournament.
"'I can't go?'" He repeated, emphasizing the 'I.'
"Do you want to?" Commander Tano asked.
Captain Rex paused. Part of him longed to leave the compound. The other knew that there would be many beings, many emotions there.
"I must go alone?" Captain Rex asked.
Commander Tano put her hand on his cheek. Her eyes were sad.
"No, my love." She said. "Bessany's not going, and neither are some of the other clones. Someone can watch you."
Captain Rex wanted to react to her calling him her love. He did not.
Boba didn't like arenas. But it made sense that Kenobi would have the tournament held here. It was the Arena of Tal'galar. Boba's father had mentioned it once or twice. It was a popular place for public challenges for the Darksaber, but it had been rarely used in the last few hundred years. It was old enough that the stone statues of warriors watching over the arena wore armor that was markedly different from the modern Mandalorian's. Kenobi had been wise in choosing this place. It would be good to keep the bloodshed contained in a predefined space. Less clean up.
He scowled down at the throng of hopefuls preparing on the sidelines. He could see Kryze. In fact, the circular arena's stands were close enough that Boba could hear their banter, as if they weren't about to try and murder each other. Fools. The Darksaber was nothing more than a relic from a time of better men. Like Boba's father.
Boba shifted uncomfortably on the balcony he was sharing with Kenobi and the Mandalor's guests. It was Skywalker and Amidala, with Tano. Their presences, combined with the setting, were making things far too familiar.
Boba wouldn't have been here if he wasn't determined to see Kenobi survive his reign. Boba thought it'd be a waste if one of the only decent Jedi died. Besides, he just wanted to see if he could keep Kenobi alive. It was a good challenge.
"How many entered, Obi Wan?" Skywalker asked.
"Thirty two." Kenobi said. "I'm pleased it's turned out so evenly. But I expected far more."
Kenobi was right. Boba had expected at least double the turn out.
"It's time, sir." Rau said.
"Yes." Kenobi said. "I suppose it is."
He stood and much of the crowd went quiet. Thousands of helmets turned their direction.
"Oloram, Mando'ade." Kenobi said. His Mando'a was getting better. "Today we are gathered to determine the next ruler of Mandalore through trial of combat."
He paused, allowing the swell of cheers from the crowd.
"The rules will be as follows." Kenobi said. "It will consist of one on one duels using whatever traditional Mandalorian weapon you desire. Killing is permitted, but if your opponent yields, you must spare them."
Boba snorted quietly. What Mandalorian would yield? But Kenobi seemed to be pleading with the fighters to not kill their opponents. Boba knew that if it wouldn't have caused a riot, Kenobi would have banned lethal force.
"Show the proper Mandokarla and the Darksaber shall be yours." Kenobi finished. "The first two fighters may take their places."
Boba didn't recognize the two combatants stepping into the main circle of the arena. He leaned forward onto the balcony. The fight started, beginning with a few blaster bolts dinging off the opponents' armor.
Watching someone fight from this distance was familiar as well, but in a different way.
Boba stood on tiptoes, peering down at the clones sparring in the training rooms below.
"Why can't I train like that, buir?" He asked his father.
Jango put his hand on Boba's head.
"You're too little, Bob'ika." He said.
Boba looked up at his father with a frown.
"I'm the same age as them!" He protested.
Jango smiled and picked Boba up so he could see better.
"That's why I said too little, and not too young." He said. "Maybe in a year or so. But you can learn a lot from just watching."
So they did. Boba studied the ways the clones moved as they fought and sparred.
Boba felt his father tense. One of the trainers was stalking towards one of the clones that hadn't been doing as well. Boba knew him. Priest. Buir had told him to stay away from the trainer. Priest jerked the clone by the arm. Boba could hear his angry screams through the transparisteel. Then Priest hit the cadet. He raised his hand as if to strike the clone again.
Then one of the other clones stepped forward. He said something Boba couldn't hear, but Priest did. The trainer rounded on this new cadet and struck him instead.
One of the other cadets snuck up to the original clone. He crouched by his hurt brother and helped him stand.
Buir cursed quietly under his breath.
"Buir?" Boba asked.
"Go back to our quarters, Bob'ika." Jango said. "I need to talk to Priest. He can't keep going off on them like that."
Boba nodded and Jango put him down. As Boba hurried away, he heard his father mutter under his breath.
"Damn them. They're too much like me. They're too Mandalorian."
"Kle Morut is the winner!"
Boba blinked, jerked back to the present by Kenobi's voice. He looked down at the arena. The sands were stained red and the loser was lying still in a pool of blood.
One down, thirty one to go. Boba looked around the arena, remembering why he was here. It was difficult to see if anyone was being particularly suspicious in a crowd of armored Mandalorians. They were all armed, all violent, and all excited by the fighting.
"Next, is Bo Katan Kryze vs. Shere Rook!" Kenobi said.
Boba scowled at Kryze as she sauntered out into the arena. Her opponent was- Boba blinked. They weren't human. What seemed to be a full blooded Nautolan man, wearing a modified golden-brown helmet stepped out to face Kryze.
Despite adoption being rampant among Mandalorians, non-humans were rare.
"Begin." Kenobi said.
The two were well matched, but Kryze fought with a desperation that made Boba cringe. Shere seemed surprised by her fervor. The Nautolan had also been naive, which was what got him killed.
He could have won. He had had Kryze in a chokehold.
"Yield." He had demanded.
Kryze had motioned for him to let her go, so she could speak. He did so. She stabbed him.
"What the hell?" Boba heard Skywalker say. "Obi Wan, that has to be against the rules!"
"It's not, I'm afraid." Kenobi said, though he sounded like he was holding back anger.
Boba quelled his own spark of rage before it could really light. What do you care if she's dishonorable?
The next fights weren't particularly noteworthy, besides one interesting bout where an Ursa Wren choked her opponent with his own whip cord. Kryze soon proved herself one of the frontrunners. She carved through her opponents with a fervor that disturbed Boba.
He remembered what his father had told him of Death Watch. The murders, the corruption of the Mandalorian way. He had learned that Kryze had been a member before splitting off when Maul had taken control of the faction.
Boba curled his lip as he thought of her becoming Mandalor. His father's spirit would be writhing in the Manda if he was aware of what was happening.
There was one other contestant that Boba had his eye on: Naak Eldar. The man, clad in two toned green armor, just didn't kriffing give up. He was knocked down and forced into a corner several times throughout his two matches. His tenacity was to be admired.
Boba did admire it. Far more than Kryze's dogmatic obsession. He didn't know if Naak had the skills to beat Kryze, but he'd far prefer Naak over her.
You shouldn't prefer anything. The voice in Boba's head said. You shouldn't care. You are not Mandalorian.
The first bracket was soon over. Then the second. By the time Kenobi called a break, there were only eight contestants left. Most of the other twenty four were dead. Boba thought Kenobi looked somewhat disturbed as the most recent body was carried off the arena floor by their clanmates. The eight left were Kryze, Ursa Wren, one of the Children of the Watch called Paz Vizla, Naak Eldar, a brash young man from Clan Kast, another warrior from Eldar, a member of clan Ordo, and a middle aged member of Clan Rook.
"I'm glad we didn't bring Luke and Leia." Skywalker commented as they retreated from the Mandalor's box.
"You considered it?" Tano asked.
"No." Amidala said firmly.
Kenobi did not engage with their banter. His brow was furrowed.
"Chin up, Kenobi." Boba said. "Seven more fights and it's not your problem anymore."
"Yes, I know." Kenobi said. "It appears that Bo Katan will become Mandalor."
"Yeah, it does look that way." Skywalker noted. "She's quite a fighter."
"But is she the right leader for Mandalore?" Kenobi asked.
"Why should you care?" Boba asked. "We're about to be done with the whole affair."
Kenobi raised an eyebrow at Boba.
"Surely you care what happens to this people." He said.
Boba shrugged, but his stomach twisted in an uncomfortable way.
Kenobi put his hand to his chin.
"Boba, what would your father say is the core of Mandalorian culture?"
Boba was taken aback.
"Aliit." He said automatically. "Whether it be by blood or adoption, a Mandalorian has no purpose without family."
Kenobi nodded slowly.
"That is what I thought." He said. "And that is why I am concerned."
Kenobi's jaw tightened.
"Bo Katan betrayed her sister." He said.
Boba did not expect the visceral reaction he had to Kenobi's statement. His stomach twisted and he felt ill.
"What?" He demanded. "Do the rest of them know?"
"I assume so." Kenobi said.
Boba grit his teeth. It wasn't his problem. It was none of his business if the Mandalorians lost their way. But he could not shake the thought of how his father would react.
"Bo Katan Kryze vs. Naak Eldar!" Kenobi announced.
Boba watched the two come into the fighting ring. It was time to see whose determination would outlast the other.
"I respect what you have done in removing Maul, Kryze." Naak said. "But you are Death Watch. Go lead your own people."
Boba raised an appreciative eyebrow. It was good that someone was finally reminding the people that Kryze had been Death Watch.
"Hut'uun." Kryze said loudly. "You're afraid."
"Hardly." Naak said. "If I die here, the people I love will meet me in the Manda. I can't say the same for you."
Kryze let out a scream of rage at that.
Boba watched Naak get up seven times after Kryze knocked him down. He did not get up the eighth.
Boba closed his eyes as Kenobi announced Kryze the winner in a shaky voice. He wondered if Naak wasn't in a better place now, with his loved ones as he had said. The rest of them were likely to be forced to live under Kryze's rule.
You aren't one of them!
Boba tried to be hopeful as Ursa Wren defeated the woman from Ordo, Paz Vizla killed the other member of Clan Eldar, and the man from Rook barely overcame the man from Kast. But even those winners didn't have Kryze's insanity and even her skill in many cases. Except maybe-
"The semi finals, Ursa Wren vs. Bo Katan Kryze!" Kenobi announced.
Boba found himself rooting for the dark haired woman in the yellow armor. She was young, Boba knew, but fought with a level headedness that was promising. He was sure she would make a better Mandalor than Kryze.
You don't care. Boba reminded himself. It doesn't matter who wins.
But then, why was he here? He had earned his payment twice over. Yet he stayed, protecting Kenobi, watching the people that Jango had loved so much.
Skirata had asked him the same question. Boba hadn't been able to answer.
Boba realized that neither Wren or Kryze were moving. They were talking.
"I don't want to kill you, Ursa." Kryze was saying. "Sabine needs you."
"She needs a strong Mandalor." Wren replied. "I don't believe that's you."
Boba's respect for Wren rose at her words. Despite the connection they seemed to share, Wren did not think Kryze fit for the throne.
"Then I'm sorry." Kryze did sound remorseful.
They both broke into action at the same time. Kryze whipped out her blasters and squeezed off several rounds. Wren ducked under them, darting to the side. She raised her hand and activated her whip cord. It whistled through the air and grew taut as it wrapped around Kryze's wrist. Kryze gave a loud gasp of pain that seemed exaggerated to Boba. The whip cord stung, but any Mandalorian worth their gal could handle that.
"She coats her cord in shards of beskar, I believe." Boba heard Kenobi mutter to Skywalker.
Kryze burst into the air with her jetpack. Wren detached the whipcord as to not be dragged into the air. She dropped something, and a cloud of blinding particles exploded into the air. Boba automatically reached to rub at his eyes, but his helmet was in the way. He removed his bucket and found that when looked at with his natural eyes, the smoke was merely brightly colored.
Clever. Boba thought. Whatever this woman had done to her smoke bombs, they made it impossible to keep a HUD up. Kryze would have to remove her helmet or be blinded.
Kryze tore off her helmet and threw it to the side. Then she barreled from the air into Wren. Wren caught Kryze and they skidded through the sand. Their uncontrolled tumble turned into trying to pin the other. Eventually Kryze ended up on top. She had her vibroblade out, aiming for the neck. Wren caught Kryze's wrist as she tried to force the blade down. For a few long seconds they struggled, then Wren seemed to tighten her grip around Kryze's wrist, the same wrist that the whipcord had caught. Kryze dropped the vibroblade with another gasp.
Wren scrambled away and got to her feet. Kryze had found her balance again as well. Then she bent over and fired the rocket on her jetpack.
It hit Wren in the chest.
Boba sucked in a breath as Wren was blasted backwards into the wall of the arena. The spectators let out a collective gasp as Wren collapsed.
She stirred faintly, but it was clear the fight was over.
"The- the winner is Bo Katan Kryze." Kenobi said.
Boba gripped the edge of the balcony. There was using all of your resources in battle, but- this didn't seem resourceful. It felt cheap. And it made Boba furious.
They carried Wren away. Kenobi sent a messenger to inquire about her status. Boba barely heard Kenobi mutter with his friends. All he could think about was the sheer audacity. How did hitting your enemy with a missile from five feet away show that you had the honor to become Mandalor?
He seethed through Paz Vizla's bloody victory over the man from Clan Rook.
Kryze was going to win. There was no question about it. Paz Vizla won through brute force rather than skill. Not that Bo Katan always relied on that either.
"Kenobi!"
Skirata had come to the balcony, followed by two of his Nulls. His eyes softened a degree as he saw Boba, but turned to Kenobi.
"We can't let her win." Skirata said.
"I will not interfere with the matches." Kenobi said firmly. "That would make things worse."
"She's going to try and exile the clones, you know she is!" Skirata said. "At the very least, she's going to make them feel very unwelcome."
"Why didn't you send a champion?" Boba asked. "Couldn't your Nulls win this single handedly?"
One of the Nulls behind Skirata laughed.
"You think we're mentally fit for that?" He said. "Nah, the galaxy doesn't need us as Mandalor."
"Challenge her after the match, if you wish." Kenobi said wearily. "But I said that this was the way it would be determined. I will not go back on my word."
Kenobi was right. The Mandalorian people would riot if he tried to change the rules now.
Even if the winner is a power hungry maniac.
Not. Your. Problem. Boba told himself. Or was it Boba saying those words in his head?
Boba watched the pod filled with cadets drift as his getaway ship prepared to jump to hyperspace. He thought he could still see one of the betrayed faces in the viewport.
"Boba." Aurra said. "Come up here."
Boba obediently followed her to the cockpit where Bossk was piloting.
"Will- they be all right?" Boba asked.
"Who?" Aurra said absently.
"The cadets."
Aurra shrugged.
"Who cares?" She said. "You told me that they're not worth much anyway. It's not your problem."
"But-"
Aurra whirled around and struck Boba in the face. Boba stumbled as her whip-like fingers dug into his cheek.
"Not. Your. Problem." Aurra hissed, eyes flashing with anger.
Boba said nothing as he held his hand to where she had hit him. He stared at the ground.
"Boba." Aurra's voice had softened, her long fingers now caressing Boba's cheek. "You're not one of them. Not a clone, not a Mandalorian. You owe them nothing. And you give them nothing."
Remembering the hatred in the cadets' eyes as he had left them, Boba believed her.
Boba realized Skirata was looking at him. He did not like the look in the older man's eyes.
"The final fight-" Kenobi announced. "Bo Katan Kryze vs. Paz Vizla."
"The Darksaber is my birthright!" Vizla said loudly. "Yield now, or I will show you the strength of the Vizla blood!"
"The only Vizla that I knew who was worthy was Pre." Kryze said. "He would want me to be his successor. And I will honor that."
Vizla gave a roar and hefted his repeating blaster. Kryze darted between the lasers, only a few blackening her armor. She leapt into the air, aided by her jetpack, and fired her own blasts at Vizla.
Vizla lashed out with surprising agility and wrenched Kryze out of the air by the neck. Boba smirked as Kryze scrabbled at his grip. Vizla reached up and wrenched her helmet off, tossing it to the side. He unsheathed his vibroblade, dropping his blaster in the process.
Kryze activated her flamethrower and rammed it towards Vizla's helmet. The flames wouldn't do much but heat up the metal after a while, but Vizla instinctively jerked her away and released her neck.
Kryze managed to land on her feet. Vizla lunged for his blaster as Kryze launched herself forward. In a moment it was over. Kryze's vibroblade was buried underneath Vizla's helmet. Vizla fell to his knees, hands pawing uselessly at his neck. Then he fell forward and was still.
Kryze stood for a moment over Vizla's body, breathing heavily. Then she looked up at Kenobi.
"I've followed your di'kutla rules!" She shouted. "Give me what should have always been mine!"
Kenobi withdrew the Darksaber. He stretched out his hand and the hilt floated down to Kryze. She caught it, ignited it, and held it aloft. The crowd roared, but Boba could not tell if it was in support of Kryze or was expressing its disapproval. It didn't matter either way. Bo Katan Kryze was Mandalor.
And it was wrong.
Why should you care? Aurra Sing's voice rang in his ears. Let the fools destroy themselves.You are not Mandalorian.
Wasn't he?
Boba remembered the faraway look in his father's eye as he taught Boba of the Mandalorians, the love Jango had for his people.
Family was everything to the Mandalorians.
You don't have a family any more. Aurra Sing's voice said. There's no one left, especially not anyone who would care about the Mandalorians. You're alone. You're meant to be alone.
Not anymore.
Boba stood.
"You aren't fit for that blade, Kryze!" He shouted. "You're Kyr'tsad. Anyone who fought under that banner is a traitor!"
Kryze looked up at him with mocking disgust.
"Is that what your donor told you?" She asked. "He was dar'manda. He knew nothing of true Mandalorian spirit."
Boba tightened his grip on the edge of the balcony.
"Says the aliit'naast!" He spat. "My father spoke the words of the gai bal manda for me. What right do you have to deny that?"
"The right as Mandalor." Kryze said calmly. "I am the leader of Mandalore. You cannot deny it."
Boba was quiet for a moment. There was one way to stop Kryze from destroying what Jango had loved.
Boba didn't want the throne. He had never wanted to lead Mandalore. But it seemed that someone who didn't want the power would be better than someone who did.
"Tengaanar ni gar kal!" Boba shouted the traditional challenge with as much conviction as he could.
Kryze froze and watched Boba as he activated his jetpack and jumped into the arena below.
The second Boba's feet hit the sand, he realized he was terrified. The sun was flooding the arena. The sand was packed down, with a loose layer on top. Through the roaring of the crowd, Boba could hear the buzz of a lightsaber,
Was this what Jango had experienced before he died?
Kryze leveled the Darksaber at Boba.
"It's fitting that I purge your donor's unworthy blood before I take the throne." She said.
"Go ahead and try." Boba growled.
What are you doing? Aurra Sing's voice shouted in his head.
Doing what needs to be done, responded his father's voice.
Boba pulled out his blaster and fired off a few rounds. Kryze didn't bother trying to deflect them with the Darksaber. She dodged them nimbly and shot a couple of bolts back. Boba let them snap off his armor.
They both paused. Boba studied the way Kryze held the Darksaber. It was awkward in her hands. Basic sword wielding was part of the standard Mandalorian training, at least the training Jango had Boba go through. Kryze looked as if she had never held anything longer than a vibrodagger before.
Boba felt himself relax a degree. His father's opponent had been an expert duelist, one of the most powerful Jedi. Boba was facing a novice in the art. He would take advantage of that.
"Mandalor haar hut'uun!" Boba called. "You have the Darksaber now and you're too afraid to kill me with it!"
Kryze charged. Boba readied himself and caught her first swing on his vambrace. He thanked his father for passing his pure beskar down to him. He fired with his other hand from his hip. The bolts hit Kryze's pauldron. She stumbled back from the force. Boba shot out his whip cord and it landed true: wrapped around Kryze's injured wrist. He flared his jetpack as he pulled, boosting him up into the air and giving him more torque.
Kryze dropped the Darksaber. Boba maneuvered himself quickly in the air and gave another blast from his jetpack. His enhanced kick sent Kryze skidding back a few feet. Boba took the time to kick the Darksaber halfway across the arena. Kryze dove for it, but Boba disengaged his whipcord and shot a line of flames between her and the hilt.
"That's your prize for beating me." Boba said. "You can have it after."
With a shout of anger, Kryze pulled out her other blaster. Boba deflected most of the barrage of blaster fire off of his vambrace. He still stumbled from the blows. By the time he had recovered, Kryze was on him again. She rammed a vibroblade towards his neck. Boba bent his head, letting the knife screech its way across his helmet.
Boba unsheathed his own blade. They exchanged a few blows, each managing to glance off of their armor. As Boba considered his next move, she disengaged. She blasted backwards a few yards and then bent over slightly.
Boba cursed as he saw her replaced missile.
Before he could think, he leaned over too. They fired the missiles at the same time, and Boba's caught hers in the air. The explosion staggered him, made worse when two blaster bolts rammed into the side of his head. Once Boba's vision focused again, Kryze had the Darksaber.
Boba threw up his arms as she barrelled towards him, propelled by her jetpack. The Darksaber flashed and there was a sickening, shearing sound. White hot agony like he'd never experienced seared across his arm.
Blindly Boba activated his jetpack, sending him careening away from Kryze. He crashed into the sand. He lay there, barely able to move from the pain. He watched Kryze step over his own severed arm and stalk slowly towards him.
"Witness first hand the weakness of the Fett bloodline." She announced.
Boba forced himself to one knee. He cradled his stump in his hand, but stared at Kryze.
"My father-" He said between heavy gasps. "Was not weak."
He activated his rocket dart launchers. They blasted out from his bent knee and straight into Kryze's unarmored side.
Boba didn't know how he managed to move as quickly as he did. He launched himself up and tackled Kryze. They fell to the ground and Boba snatched at the hand holding the Darksaber. Kryze struggled against him, clawing at him with her other hand. Boba dug his knee into her injured side and she cried out, releasing the Darksaber. Boba ignited the it and held it over Kryze's chest.
"Yield." Boba hissed.
"Never to you." Kryze said in a voice broken with hatred and pain.
Boba raised the Darksaber.
Obi Wan could not help but feel a twinge of regret as he watched Boba wrest the Darksaber from Bo Katan with one hand.
It did not have to be this way, Bo Katan. He thought.
Boba lifted the Darksaber, ready for the final blow.
He didn't strike.
Obi Wan frowned. Bo Katan's lips were moving, but he could not hear her.
Boba stared at his opponent. A dawning sense of horror leached into the Force. Then Boba stood on shaky feet and turned off the Darksaber.
"I yield." He said, his voice surprisingly strong.
What?
A surge of murmuring filled the arena. Obi Wan could not move. Boba had been winning. He had won.
Boba threw the Darksaber into the sand of the arena and staggered away, cradling his blackened stump.
"What the hell just happened?" Anakin asked as they watched Skirata rush down to the arena floor to help Boba. "Obi Wan-"
"I don't know." Obi Wan said. "I- don't understand."
Bo Katan had gotten to her feet. She stooped to snatch up the Darksaber. Once again she ignited it and held it aloft.
Obi Wan could not tell if the noise now thundering in the arena were cheers or outraged cries.
Obi Wan entered the throne room. Part of him was deeply relieved that he did not have to go and sit on the throne. The other part was worried about who was sitting on it now.
Bo Katan sat there, surrounded by attendants, including Kor and Fenn Rau. Even with all the attention, the moment Obi Wan entered, Bo Katan's gaze pierced him.
"Kenobi." She said.
"You called for me." Obi Wan said. "What can I do for you?"
Bo Katan straightened and glared at Obi Wan.
"For starters, get off my planet." She said. "You're banished."
Obi Wan blinked. She had threatened this, of course, but he hadn't expected her to follow through so quickly.
The room fell silent, all eyes on Bo Katan.
"Aunt Bo," Kor said. "Must you? He's made it clear that he is no threat to your throne."
Bo Katan whirled on Kor and backhanded him with a gauntleted hand. Obi Wan stepped forward without realizing, his hand at his saber.
"I am your Mandalor!" Bo Katan hissed.
The silence that followed was deafening, safe for Bo Katan's heavy breathing. Obi Wan tried to catch Kor's eye, but the boy was staring at the ground.
"I want him off this planet." Bo Katan finally said. "He's caused me enough trouble."
And won you the Darksaber from Maul. Obi Wan thought.
He couldn't help but notice that some of the attendants were shifting uncomfortably.
"Then my reign is truly over." Obi Wan said. "I will leave as soon as possible."
He paused, and then looked at Bo Katan.
"What are your plans for the clones?" Obi Wan asked.
Bo Katan narrowed her eyes.
"What concern is it of yours?" She asked.
"I worked hard to create a home for the clones here." Obi Wan replied. "I would not like to see that work undone."
"It's not your business anymore." Bo Katan said. "But if you must know, if those things want to keep playing at being Mandalorians, I won't stop them. They'll just have to follow my rules."
Obi Wan didn't like the way Bo Katan was smirking. But there wasn't much more that he could say.
"Good luck then, Mandalor."
Obi Wan felt hollow as he turned to leave.
"Wait." Bo Katan said.
Obi Wan looked back.
"Return that armor." Bo Katan said.
Obi Wan felt a rush of annoyance. He had earned this armor through the siege and his victory over Maul.
"No." He said.
Then he left the room. Less than an hour after losing the throne, he was banished. He had never expected it to be so painful.
Obi Wan had only made it down the hall before he heard footsteps behind him. He turned to see Kor jogging to catch up. Obi Wan stopped and waited for his son. Once Kor had reached him, the young man just stood, staring at Obi Wan.
"I'm sorry." Obi Wan finally said.
Kor shrugged.
"It's not your fault." He said. "But- would you have stayed if she hadn't banished you?"
Obi Wan hesitated.
"I don't know." He confessed. "I am still a Jedi. I still have duties to my men back on Coruscant."
Kor nodded. Obi Wan could feel the boy's disappointment.
"You could come with me." Obi Wan found himself saying. "Though I'm not sure your aunt would be too pleased about it."
Kor's face contorted with bitterness.
"I doubt my Mandalor cares either way." He said. "And even if she did-"
He shook his head.
"I don't know if it's my mother's influence on me, but I'm uncomfortable with many of her methods." He said. "I'm not sure if I wish to continue to support that."
"You don't have to." Obi Wan said. He found himself genuinely wanting to bring Kor back with him, away from Bo Katan's sudden imbalance. "Perhaps some time on Coruscant would give you some space to think."
"What would you tell the Jedi?" Kor asked. Bitterness had come into his voice. "That I'm your nephew? I won't be hidden again."
Obi Wan wasn't surprised. He could feel the boy's pain of the years of hiding his parentage. He wouldn't want to repeat that.
"There are other members of the Jedi that have children." Obi Wan said slowly. "Celibacy isn't part of the Code."
"But forbidding attachments is, isn't it?" Kor said. "My mother often spoke of that complication. Even if you accepted me as your son, you'd be encouraged to cut ties."
Obi Wan didn't respond at first. He thought of Anakin's offer to join his and Plo's new Order. It was tempting, but Obi Wan had been in the Jedi Order his entire life. He had given up so much for it. He didn't know how Plo had left after 300 years.
But if he left, he could accept Kor as his son in the open. Could he do this for his son, when he could not do it for the love of his life?
"I will tell the Council of you." Obi Wan said. "It does not matter their reaction."
Kor blinked, this clearly not being the answer he expected.
"Then I'll come." He said.
Obi Wan smiled at Kor, who gave a hesitant smile back.
"I'm going to see Boba, if you wish to come." Obi Wan said. "I doubt Mandalor Kryze wishes him to be on the planet any more than she wants me. I wish to see if he needs any help getting off planet."
Kor nodded and followed Obi Wan to the Palace's hospital wing. Obi Wan was surprised that Bo Katan had allowed Kal to treat Boba there. Perhaps she understood that if she refused, she would most likely lose her head.
"Is that him?"
Obi Wan blinked at the sound of Boba's voice as he and Kor entered the wing. The spacious room was mostly empty, though Obi Wan could see the figure of Ursa Wren in one of the beds lining the walls. She was surrounded by family members.
Boba's call had come from a screened off bed. Kal Skirata's face poked out from behind one of the screens.
"Yeah, it's him." He said. Obi Wan could see anger flashing in his eyes. "Get over here, Kenobi. You need to hear this."
Obi Wan frowned as he strode across the room to Boba's bed. Kal let him inside the shelter of the screens. Boba was ashen and the stump of his arm was wrapped tightly in bacta. He struggled to sit up.
"Calm down, Bob'ika." Kal said as he put a hand on Boba's shoulder.
"Hello, Boba." Obi Wan said. "How are you feeling?"
"Like my hand was just cut off by a kriffing shabuir." Boba spat. "One who cares nothing for her people!"
"What did she tell you?" Obi Wan asked. "Why did you yield?"
Boba looked up at Obi Wan.
"She told me that if I killed her, if anyone else but her won, she had left orders for her followers to start another Civil War."
Obi Wan felt his breath catch.
He knew the Civil War. Satine had known it. Bo Katan had known it. She should know how the war had nearly destroyed Mandalorian culture.
"I couldn't." Boba said. "My dad- I couldn't put the rest of the Mandalorians through what he went through."
Boba looked down again.
"You did the right thing, Boba." Obi Wan found himself saying. "Mandalore couldn't survive another civil war."
"I know." Boba's voice cracked slightly.
"She can't get away with this." Kal said angrily. "The people need to know!"
Obi Wan shook his head.
"If they knew, they would attack Kryze's followers. The war would start regardless." He said. "I'm afraid-"
He cut himself off as a scream echoed through the Force.
The twins.
Something was terribly wrong.
Mando'a:
Tal'galar - spilled blood
Oloram - Welcome
Mando'ade - Children of Mandalore
Mandokarla - having the *right stuff*, showing guts and spirit, the state of being the epitome of Mando virtue
Buir - parent, father in this case
Bob'ika - Little Boba
Manda - the collective soul or heaven - the state of being Mandalorian in mind, body and spirit - also supreme, overarching, guardian-like
Aliit - family
Hut'uun - coward, worst possible insult
Di'kutla - idiotic, stupid, worthless
Kry'tsad - Death Watch
Aliit'naast - family destroyer, kin killer - insult that I made up
gai bal manda - adoption ceremony, lit. name and soul
Tengaanar ni gar kal - Show me your blade - Challenge that I made up
Mandalor haar hut'uun - Mandalor the coward
Shabuir - bad insult, basically mother effer
And we start with the token Rexsoka scene! Rex is able to do a bit better, overcoming his nightmares and having a somewhat normal conversation. Minus the quoting. Don't worry, next chapter will feature them far more.
I made up A LOT about Mandalorian culture here, but I feel that it makes sense, especially the traditional arena. I had fun bringing in Paz and Ursa, and making up some Mandos that immediately get wrekt.
Boba was also fun to write this chapter with his internal battle and two voices fighting in him. I wrote this initially with Boba winning and becoming Mandalor. Then I was like, crap I need Bo Katan to be Mandalor for reasons. So I took out their fight, because I believe that there was no way for Boba to survive a fight with Bo Katan. She would want him dead. But then there was this huge let down that Boba had all these thoughts and build up and then he doesn't fight Bo Katan. And then I had the brilliant idea of Bo Katan threatening civil war. Not only does it provide Boba a reason to let Bo Katan win, but also show who truly cares about Mandalore. (hint, it's not the person who becomes Mandalor) I also loved creating parallels between Boba and his father's last fight.
You know, I really love Bo Katan. I love seeing her in shows and she's great. You wouldn't be able to tell by the way I write her. I think it's so funny that where we're at in Star Wars that she's an ally, but I basically write her as a huge jerk and everyone still tells me I write her well. I think we're going to get a version of this Bo Katan in season 3. We haven't really seen what she's capable of.
Quick moment between Obi Wan and Kor! I do think Kor is more like his mother and Bo Katan cares more about being Mandalor than being his aunt.
I hope Boba's reasoning to give up makes sense. The Civil War was awful, and Boba would know how much it hurt Jango.
Oh no THE TWINS.
I hope everything was worth the wait!
Stay safe, remember to review, and have a great week!