A Match for the Mandalore

Jennet



Canderous led us back down the corridor, comming Bao Dur as we went. “We’re close to the rendezvous. How are you guys doing?”



I heard Bao Dur’s tinny voice shouting over the comlink. “We took out some gun turrets for the TSF; they’re secure out here now. The General and Atton are on their way and will meet us at the rendezvous. The Sith have thinned out; we’re heading your direction. Lt. Grenn reports the fuel supply is near you; think you can take care of that?”



“Will do, see you soon. Out.” Canderous called, “Change of plans; we’re taking care of the fuel supply issue. Follow me.”



We hurried past the shuttle bay, and turned right down a short corridor, then left to find a huge double door, locked. The Mandalorian named Jenks moved forward at Canderous’s gesture, and shortly the door whooshed open.



The room was full of Sith, along with a couple of Dark Jedi to make things interesting. Visas and I rushed forward to engage these two while the rest of our crew commenced firing. These two were tougher than the ones we’d encountered before. I had my hands full keeping him from getting in a blow. I felt Canderous picking off troopers in a steady stream of energy.



Behind you, Wildcat.



With his warning, I managed to block a trooper who was aiming his vibrosword at my head, intent on parting it company with my neck. I twisted so I was fighting sideways, parrying the trooper and the evil Jedi simultaneously. I leaped around, beat the trooper’s blade out of my way, and ran him through the chest, immediately turning back to the Jedi. He hadn’t been close enough to get in a blow while my back had been turned. He was trying to get in a Force strike of some sort; it gave me enough of an opening to slash at his throat and he fell back, gurgling obscenely.



I helped Visas dispatch her Jedi; she had been doing fine without me but no point prolonging things. We whipped around to scan for more enemy to find them all dead. Opening the door in the back, we found yet more Sith; only a few this time, easily handled. I let the Mandalorians get in some good kill time and looked around the room. There were containers of fuel everywhere, and barrels of other chemicals and various parts. Canderous joined me, taking in components, and started to smile.



“What?” I asked. “You’ve got an idea, I can tell.”



“Just an old Mandalorian war trick. Dax! Get over here,” he called, and my former partner hurried to join us.



“You thinking the same thing I am?” Canderous gestured to the stuff stacked around, and Dax started to grin.



“Yes, Sir!” He said happily. “Jenks and I can have some made in no time.”



“Anyone want to tell me what’s going on?” I asked.



“Bombs, Wildcat. Proton bombs. Set around a ship in strategic spots, they can blow the entire piece of metal out of the sky.” He motioned to Dax. “Get on it, I want four made as quick as you two can.”



“Aye, Sir. Jenks!” The younger man trotted over, and the two of them started pulling supplies.



“Smart,” I said approvingly. “Will it really work?”



“Used it all the time during the war. We’ll need to remote detonate, of course. I don’t fancy being blown up with the enemy. We’ll set one of my men on that, while the rest of us storm the ship.” He took out the comlink again. “Mandalore here. What’s your ETA?”



Bao Dur’s voice crackled over the comlink. “Just a few minutes. The General and Atton are not far behind.”



“We’ll meet you there. I have good news. Out.” He disconnected and turned back to Jenks and Dax. “Get them down to the shuttle bay as soon as they’re assembled. Yar, Ubi, stay here and cover them, just in case. Leit, Conti, come with us.”



We headed back to the shuttle bay. We’d been there only a few minutes when Bao Dur, Mira, and Disciple arrived. Mira was grinning, and Disciple looked as excited as if he’d personally met one of his heroes in the Jedi archives. I smiled at them in greeting and they grinned back.



“The station is almost clean; the militia is handling the rest of the stragglers. Best fight I’ve had in ages,” Mira crowed enthusiastically.



“That was quite invigorating,” Disciple chimed in, sounding like he’d just left a tea party. But his usually carefully neat clothes were disheveled, and his face was shining with sweat. His hair was rumpled and wild, and he looked like he’d been having the time of his life. I chuckled, changing it to a cough when he looked over at me.



Bao Dur was conferring with Canderous, who was shaking his head and saying “Let’s wait until Ladria gets here.”



On the heels of that, she did arrive, Atton, HK-47, and Go-To in tow. That they’d been running was obvious.



“Report,” she said, a little breathlessly.



Bao Dur spoke up first. “The gun turrets are neutralized, and most of the Sith are dead. Mandalore recruited six of his men, and stopped the sabotage attempt on the fuel supply.”



Canderous looked at Ladria, and said in his deep voice, “Group effort, not me. I’ve got two of my men building proton bombs to take out the Ravager.” He gave his plan, Ladria nodding as he spoke.



“Excellent. Pick a man to activate the remote detonator. How long before they have the bombs built?”



“About another half hour,” Canderous answered.



“Good. Four of your men will carry them; I don’t want any mistakes and they’re familiar with the technology. Lt. Grenn provided schematics of the class of ship we’re invading.” She punched up the plans on a nearby terminal, and we all crowded around to look. “It would be more efficient to split up, but I want to stay together; we don’t know how many are left on board and I want to take out resistance as quickly as possible. We’ll head down this way,” she pointed on the terminal, tracing her finger down the plans. “loop around and go to the main part of the ship here.”



There were nods all around. She quickly ran through the rest of the plan, then handed each of us locator chips that we slapped somewhere on our person.



“These have been linked to the computer system on the station, overlaying our position on the schematics. The man you leave here can monitor our progress, and communicate by comlink.”



Just then, Dax and Jenks, followed by Yar and Ubi. All four were carrying a small device. I eyed them dubiously. Such a small thing to bring down a whole ship. Canderous caught the thought.



It works, Wildcat.



I believe you; it’s just they’re so small.



Powerful things are often in small packages. You ought to know that, of all people.



He quirked an eyebrow at me and grinned. I grinned back.



Canderous got Jenks set up on the computer terminal, clapping him on the arm as left to join the rest of us.



“All right, let’s move out,” Ladria said, and we all filed behind her to the shuttle.



It was short flight, and my heart was in my mouth the whole time. I have no problem with battle, but I have a huge issue with being stuck in a flying metal box while being picked off by big energy cannons from space. I sighed in relief when we docked.



We fanned out again as we headed down the corridor. Oddly, no one was there immediately. Canderous and I exchanged puzzled looks. Angus, Erik, Dax, and Danald all had bombs strapped to their chests; I was sticking close to Dax and Danald, Canderous to Angus and Erik. According to the schematics, it wasn’t far to the first bomb site. We were moving as fast as we could without running.



Only a short distance from the shuttle bay, we approached a large door I remembered was the bridge. Visas stopped abruptly, a hand to her temple.



“He’s here,” she said, as close to frightened as I’d ever heard her. She looked at Ladria, and said quietly. “No. You do not want to go in there. I should; my life for yours.”



Ladria smiled at the other woman, her eyes gentle. “You have done enough, Visas. This is not your task.”



“You don’t understand…he will kill you. He is strong, and he is evil. I can’t let you do this; it is my place to right this wrong.”



The door suddenly opened, and Ladria stepped through. Atton tried to follow, but she threw a stasis on him, smiled at all of us, and said quietly, “He can try, and I am stronger. You know your mission. I will join you when I can.”



The door shut on her as suddenly as it had opened, and she was gone.



Atton was released, and started to try and get through the door, shouting. Bao Dur joined him, but gave up shortly, shaking his head.



“It’s sealed tight, nothing’s getting through that.” He was frustrated, his blue eyes sparking with anxious fear. He turned to Atton, and put a hand on the other man’s shoulder.



“Atton, you have to calm down and trust she’ll be fine. We have a mission, and we have to move. Now,” he emphasized, when Atton opened his mouth to argue. He glared, but nodded at Bao Dur.



Visas looked almost catatonic, but she said calmly enough, “We cannot help her. We need to finish this. This way,” and she started to stride purposefully down the corridor.



I had felt something very dark behind that door, and shivered involuntarily as I followed Visas. I suddenly noticed that we no longer had the droids with us. I hurried up to Bao Dur and pointed this out. We turned around, seeing both HK-47 and Go-To in front of the door, not moving. I heard Bao Dur say something filthy under his breath and started; it was the first time I’d heard him swear. He strode down to talk to the droids, coming back quickly.



“They refuse to budge, say I’m not their master and they’ll wait for her. I told them to kill anyone that comes near that isn’t us. Gods know if they’ll obey.” He sounded frustrated and angry.



“Good riddance,” Atton muttered.



“I agree,” said Canderous unexpectedly. “The assassin droid won’t take orders from anyone but Ladria; better not to have them with us. I don’t trust either of them anyway; I’d take them out now if we had time.”



Without further comment, we continued toward the first bomb site. We came to a door, covered it as Bao Dur got it open, and immediately were fired upon as it opened. I didn’t stop to count, just waded in with Visas, Disciple and Bao Dur as Atton, Canderous, Mira and the Mandalorians covered us with blaster fire. There were at least three Dark Jedi among the crowd of Sith. The blade wielders made for those first, slashing our way through the troopers. I got held up for a while with three troops surrounding me. I parried swiftly, let the two in front and back get close, then leaped backwards as one lunged, his sword extended. He took out his friend with a thrust to the chest, staggered in surprise, and was dead an instant later as I slashed him across the throat. The third was advancing, and I took him out with thrust to the gut. I saw another approach, tossed my right-hand sword at him, and he caught it by reflex, dropping his own. In the same motion, I drew a dagger and threw it, burying it in his forehead. I grabbed my sword back as he fell, and turned back to the Dark Jedi I’d marked. He’d had time to try a force push; I shook it off and charged.



Canderous’s battle ecstasy was singing through me, and I could feel his exhalation as he picked off troopers. The Dark Jedi met my swords with his ‘saber, and we danced a bit, trying to find an opening. I was careful not to let the light saber too close to my blades and eventually he overreached, and I sliced his hand off. He bellowed in pain and I cured that with a quick thrust to the chest. I looked around and realized everyone else was finishing up. I have no idea why I did what I did next, but I sheathed my swords and picked up the Dark Jedi’s ‘saber, prying the dead hand off it.



“Anyone find another one of these?” I called out generally. Visas, with a look of surprise, tossed one to me. I held one in each hand, and reached for the Force to ignite them, as my father had taught me. The blades were red, and I didn’t like that, but they felt otherwise very natural. I gave them an experimental twirl and they responded beautifully.



Canderous looked wary.



Not thinking of turning jetti on me, are you Wildcat?



No, I thought back honestly. They feel good though. But no, I don’t want to be a Jedi. I do, however, want to keep my swords, and these would slice them off at the hilt. So I’ll use them, for now.



Out loud, mostly for the Mandalorians’ benefit, I said, “No point in wasting good weaponry, and if I’m going to be fighting Dark Jedi, at least I won’t lose my swords.”



Canderous, bless him, just shrugged and said, “Good idea.” I looked over at the rest of his kin, and they looked as wary as Canderous had a moment ago. I smiled at them, and they started, stone-faced. I shrugged and hooked the ‘sabers on my belt.



We made it to the first bomb site, and killed about five Sith who were in the room. We checked in with Jenks and planted the bomb. Following the corridor to the right, we headed toward the main part of the ship. There was an empty room with a computer terminal; Bao Dur hacked in and located some areas where we could set off gas and take care of some troops in advance. Very efficient. We continued on.



The main part of the ship was chaos; there were troops everywhere. I was in a constant state of heightened awareness and felt Canderous there too. He had taken to being near me during our various engagements; we were an efficient team, mostly back to back, and sensed each other’s movement so well it was like one person with three weapons. The ‘sabers were lovely to use; they blocked blaster shots like a dream and sliced through anything. We fought our way to the second and third drops, taking out anyone we came upon.



As we got our bearings to head to the fourth bomb site, Visas suddenly spoke.



“This was my room,” she said softly.



We were in the barracks area, standing in front of a door that looked like any other. She was staring at it, an odd look on her face. She turned to Bao Dur, and asked, “May I have a moment?”



He opened his mouth to argue, I could sense it. But then he closed it, and nodded. “Don’t take long,” he warned.



“I will be quick,” she promised, and disappeared inside.



As the door shut, there was a crackle from the comlink. Atton’s face sagged in relief when Ladria’s voice came through, asking our location and promising to catch up. We all took a deep breath in thanks and a faint cheer went up among the Ebon Hawk party. Canderous spoke up.



“Why don’t Jennet and I take our men to the fourth site, while you wait here for Visas to finish up and Ladria to arrive? It’s not far; we can rendezvous here when the last bomb is set.”



Bao Dur agreed, and Mira said she wanted to go along. Canderous and I nodded as one, and headed out, Mira and the Mandalorians in tow. Rounding a corner, we ran smack into a group of Sith, and suddenly we were ass deep in trouble. I waded in, Canderous at my back, and took about about three, Canderous two. Mira was blasting away behind us with the Mandalorians backing her up. When the dust settled, Danald, who had had the last bomb strapped to him, was gravely wounded, and the bomb itself was in pieces. Wires were totally fused, and parts were melted. Canderous growled in frustration.



I tended Danald, healing him and helping him up. Canderous was on the comlink, telling Bao Dur what had happened. They talked back and forth for a bit, then Canderous signed off. He turned to us, face somber.



“We passed a maintenance shop a ways back that had a missile in it with a proton core. Dax, I need you to build another bomb. We’re going to join the others, get to that shop, build the bomb, and plant it. Then we’re getting the hell out of here.”



We trooped back, picked up the rest of the party, and met Ladria and the droids halfway to the maintenance shop. She was paler than usual, but composed and in command. Reaching the bay with very little incident, Dax got to work and quickly assembled another bomb. Ladria, Atton, Canderous, Dax, and I decided to go set the last bomb while the others got to the shuttle bay and kept it secure for our return. The Mandalorians didn’t look happy about it until Canderous said something in their language that made them laugh. I was speaking it pretty fluently by this time, but didn’t catch it and he was blocking me.



What was that all about?



I told them it was their chance to show the jetti up.



I can see why you didn’t say that in Galactic Basic. Ladria probably understood you though.



She won’t mind. She’s got a great sense of humor for a jetti.



True.



We made it to the fourth site. There were a few Sith in the room, but we easily took them out, set the bomb and made for the shuttle. The ship was eerily silent around us.



“It’s almost unnecessary to blow this up.” I remarked. “I don’t think there’s enough left alive on board to continue the attack.”



“Better to take it out than risk the Sith recovering it. One less ship in their armada,” Ladria said reasonably.



“Good point.”



We made it to the shuttle with no challenges, and got the hell out of there. I was glad; the place was starting to creep me out entirely. Just before I boarded, I handed one of the light sabers I’d borrowed to Atton.



“You can take the crystals out and put your own in,” I said. “I don’t need it anymore.”



“Thanks,” he said, a little startled, but looking pleased.



I gave the other to Mira, who thanked me gravely. “I haven’t been able to build my own yet. This could come in handy until then.”



I grinned. “Kill lots of Sith with it.”



“Will do,” she said.



I was tired, and sat leaning on Canderous as we flew back to Telos station. When we were clear, Jenks activated the remote detonator, and we all watched the Ravager explode, eclipsing the stars with its fireworks.



“Ooohh. Pretty,” Mira remarked.



“Bet your ass,” I said, grinning.



There were shouts and hand slaps and cheers from everyone. We watched as the huge ship dissolved into tiny metal fragments, and Visas, who was seated near me, relaxed visibly.



“One down. The worst to come,” she said, so quietly I don’t think anyone but me heard her.



“Are you okay?” I asked.



She turned to me, her veiled face still and remote.



“I am now,” she said simply.