"Mhi solus tome. Mhi solus dar'tome. Mhi me'dinui an. Mhi ba'juri verde." - "We are one when together. We are one when parted. We will share all. We will raise warriors."

Mandalorian marriage vow

The Kath Hound, High Orbit above Nar Shaddaa

Two Years after the Battle of Alacra Palace

"I've got a few more things lined up if you're interested." Ollobei's holo-projection said as the payout confirmation went through on Cazur's datapad.

Cazur nodded. It was just Hylt and him in the workshop at that moment. The crew had just hit a Hutt warehouse and burned the supplies of spice within. Ollobei, of course, had nothing against the drug trade, nor did whoever funded it, Cazur assumed. It was certainly at the behest of a rival cartel. But, the more things changed, the more they stayed the same. Sometimes, one had to be a piece on the board to make it through another day on the Outer rim.

"Give us a day or two. We need to rest." The zabrak said.

"Or a week." Hylt murmured, rubbing her eyes.

"Of course. Good work as always. See you 'round." Ollobei said.

The connection closed.

"Yeah. A week." Cazur said, his shoulders sagging slightly. He was tired down to his bones. They had been pushing hard recently, but it was literally paying off. The entire Clan had been chipping in for much needed repairs on the Battle Cry, which were finally about done. The Kath Hound's crew had earned some time off.

"Glad you agree. I'm going to go get started on that." Hylt said, yawning as she walked out of the workshop.

Cazur walked away from the holo-table and left the room, emerging out into the Kath Hound's spinal hallway behind Hylt. It was quiet. By the ship's clock, it was night time, not long before most of the crew would be going to bed.

"Hey, Caz'vod, we get paid?" Stroyh asked from up in the cockpit. He scratched his nose with the mechanical arm that had replaced the one he'd lost on Ryloth.

"Ollobei was good for it as always." Cazur said. "Try to actually get some sleep tonight, eh? Don't need you sending us into a star or something because you were up until morning working on your arm."

"Yes, Caz'buir." Stroyh lowed, waving his Clan-brother off.

Cazur rolled his eyes, shaking his head, but left Stroyh alone. His path took him to the doorways to the common room and billets, so he peaked into the common room first. There was Kavala, still in her armor, sprawled on the couch and snoring, a datapad just out of her reach on the floor. Cazur approached, taking a folded blanket off the back of the couch and laying it over her little sister. He noted it wasn't quite long enough for her anymore. The zygerrian was going through another growth spurt. Cazur felt a certain bittersweet melancholy at that as he left the room and headed across the hall.

The door across from Zej's room was open. Two people were inside.

One was Zej herself. She was seated on the end of the cot within, her back against the wall, reading a story in Mando'a from a datapad she held in her hand. It was a children's tale, "Mag & Mythi", telling of how a young Mandalorian found a recently hatched mythosaur, tamed it, and went on the expected youthful adventures after that.

The other occupant of the room was Saiala. The twi'lek girl was under her blankets, a mythosaur plushie wrapped in her arms as she listened to Zej read her favorite story. Saiala was in the process of learning to read both Basic and Mando'a herself.

Zej looked up from the datapad, smiling at Cazur as she continued telling the story from memory. Cazur didn't interrupt. He went to the head of the bed, kneeling down and putting an arm around Saiala.

When the story was over, Zej put the datapad on a shelf above Saiala's cot.

"Alright. Time for sleep." Zej said.

"One more story, Zej'buir? Pleeaase?" Saiala asked.

"Not this time, ad'ika. You need your rest." Zej said, giving Saiala's knee a gentle squeeze.

"Ok…", Saiala said sulkily.

"Ad'ika. Listen to your mother." Cazur said. He leaned over, kissing his daughter on top of her head. "It's already passed your bed time."

"Stro'vod is always staying up late." Saiala complained.

"Stro'vod is fu-...very silly and should be going to bed sooner." Cazur said.

"I'll sing for you. Would you like that?" Zej offered.

Saiala settled deeper into her blankets, her plush mythosaur squished against her cheek as she nodded her agreement

Cazur pulled the blanket up to Saiala's chin, then moved to the door frame, leaning against it as Zej took his place.

And so Zej sang, softly and sweetly. It was the very same tune that Cazur had heard on that fateful night back on Pyth Prime. Saiala's eyelids began to droop lower and lower, until eventually, she was asleep, breathing steadily. Cazur watched the whole process and felt a great welling of pride and joy deep in his soul. A year ago, Zej and he had spoken their vows to each other, joining in marriage, and in that same ceremony, both of them adopted Saiala as their own.

Cazur could only hope he'd do right by the young twi'lek. He hoped she never had to wonder if she was loved, if she was safe, if she could be herself. If a day came when Saiala decided the life of a Mando wasn't for her, Cazur would still be there for her with all the loving fierceness he could muster. Saiala deserved that much. She deserved far, far more.

When Zej stopped singing, she gently kissed her daughter's forehead and left the small room, closing the door behind her. The look of contented satisfaction on her face warmed Cazur like no bottle of tihaar ever would.

"She's still perfect." Zej said quietly, leaning against the closed door, looking up at Cazur.

"Just like her mother." Cazur said quietly, his fingers lightly trailing along Zej's cheek.

Zej smirked. "Flatterer."

"It's a grave breach of honor for a Mharin to reduce his Muse to a mere object of flattery, cyar'ika." Cazur replied, affecting a stern expression.

Zej's smile grew as she took Cazur by the hand and walked the short distance down the hall to his room. Soon, they were both out of their armor, snuggling close on Cazur's cot. Neither of them had much interest in physical intimacy beyond that, but to Cazur, it was the greatest thing in the world to feel Zej's warmth against him, making him feel more safe and secure than even the finest suit of beskar'gam ever could. His only regret was the Kath Hound's cots weren't really conducively sized for sleeping beside each other. The exhaustion that lay over the entire crew, however, quickly saw the both of them passed out and snoring.

Cazur awoke to the ship's intercom beeping at him. It was Hylt's watch, so it was her voice that emerged from the speaker.

"Caz'vod? We're getting a priority call from Lannic. It's urgent." Hylt's told them.

Cazur coughed, his eyes fluttering. Zej had awoken and returned to her own bed at some point.

"Right, right. Uh. All hands to the holo-table, then." Cazur replied. He pulled on a jumpsuit and padded out of his room, waking Stroyh, Kavala, and Zej. They all made their way to the workshop, a shuffling, bleary procession.

Inside the workshop, Hylt was leaning back against a wall with her arms crossed. Lannic's holo-projection was awaiting them. Cazur placed himself before them, seeing their expression furrow slightly. Tensions between Cazur and Lannic had decreased somewhat, but not disappeared since their ascension to Chieftain of Clan Mharal. They still saw Cazur as their primary competition who might challenge them for their place at any time. For the good of the Clan, the two made themselves get along.

"I'll make this quick. I have a lot of calls to make." Lannic said. "Lady Bo-Katan Kryze as retaken Mandalore and claimed the title of Manda'lor. She calls all the Clans to her side."

Cazur's heart skipped a beat. He looked around the room at his crew, who shared his shock.

"She's reclaimed the Darksaber, then." Cazur said.

"It was destroyed." Lannic informed them.

Cazur blinked. "S-So…so she found the Helm of Mandalore?"

"It remains lost." Lannic said.

"Then we don't have a new fucking Manda'lor." Stroyh cursed.

Hylt shot him a scathing look.

"If we keep waiting around for dusty old relics to decide who will lead the Mando'ade, we're going to be nothing but a memory before long." Lannic retorted. "It's time to let go of the past and start looking to our future as a people. The Children of the Watch have already pledged themselves to Lady Kryze after driving off the Imperial Remnant occupying our world and relighting the Great Forge. If the Watch can bring themselves to that, Clan Mharal can, too." The Chieftain shook their head. "This isn't a suggestion or a request. I am pledging the Clan to Lady Kryze's banner. If you disagree, you can leave. I'm sure there will be others who do the same. But I think you all know this is the best hope for our future as a people, for better or worse. I won't let Mharal leave themselves out in the cold for the sake of traditions that had a part of putting us in this position in the first place."

"We'll be there, Lan'vod. Don't mind Stroyh. He has to lash out to feel something sometimes." Cazur said.

"Di'kut." The volpai grumbled.

"Very well. Good. Your acceptance is appreciated." Lannic said. "Well, like I said, I have a lot of call to make, so I will let you go. Safe travels, all of you."

They hung up.

Cazur had to take a few moments, then put his hands on the holo-table. Manda'lor? A new Manda'lor in his lifetime? It was…well it was unbelievable.

"Is this real? Am I dreaming right now?" Kavala asked.

"No. No, you aren't dreaming, Kav'vod." Cazur said, putting his hands against his cheeks as if to confirm that he himself wasn't dreaming, either. "Stro'vod. Get the hyperdrive going on the double. Set coordinates for Mandalore." Triumph surged within him. "We're going home."

"Aliit ori'shya tal'din." - "Family is more than blood."