A Match for the Mandalore

Jennet



Canderous had set up a bed in the garage. It was colder than the dorms, but he was always warm, and cold is very conducive to snuggling. It also offered privacy, and a locked door; two things that are in short supply on a relatively small ship with eight people. I’d noticed that even though there were eight bunks and one very small private cabin that Ladria used, several of the crew chose to sleep elsewhere. Bao Dur was usually in the engine room; I’d asked once and he said he could sleep better listening to the ship. Mira liked the cargo hold, and Atton seemed to mostly sleep in the cockpit. Only Visas and Disciple used the dorms regularly, after my first night on board.



Canderous had moved his footlocker into the garage too, and I’d transferred my few belongings and clothing to it. It made a nice low table if we wanted to get away for a bit and eat privately. Not that we’d really had any time to. But now that the mission was over, we did have time to spend together. We would arrive at Dxun tomorrow, and from there I wasn’t sure what the arrangements would be.



Well, they’ll have a hard time making me take my own room, I thought.



No one’s going to make you, Wildcat. We’re not prudish people, and I’m the Mandalore, after all. Who’s going to tell me who I can sleep with?



Isn’t that what this whole mate thing is about? Telling you it’s okay to sleep with me? I half-teased.



Oh, they wouldn’t care if you were just my mistress; they’d only object if I wanted to marry you without being my mate.



I stopped undressing at that. He was serious; I could tell. I shrugged, and let it go; I was his mate; the entire concept was moot anyway. And he had managed to down quite a lot of whiskey, although you could hardly tell.



”You’re drunk,” I informed him, smiling.



“A bit,” he agreed. “Come here.”



He was laying on the makeshift bed, constructed of two bunk mattresses and several blankets and pillows. He’d gotten his boots and socks off, and had his hands behind his head, the picture of blissful contentment. I grinned, and he smiled lopsidedly back.



“Do you know you’re cute when you’re hammered?” I asked.

“I,” he said with dignity, “am not cute. You, on the other hand, are. Come here.”



I complied, and he kissed me ferociously. His hands immediately started wandering everywhere, tugging at my clothes impatiently. I helped him along, not really wanting to lose yet another piece of my small wardrobe. His tongue started doing interesting things to my right ear and I shivered. I felt his hands fumbling at my pants and I pulled away long enough to yank them off.



“What’s this, then?” he asked as his hands found nothing but me. “Or, rather, what’s not this?”



“Just being prepared,” I said, laughing. I had not worn any underwear, with some vague idea of whispering it to him at some opportune moment. I had not had a such a moment, and he apparently hadn’t picked it up.



“You are genius,” he said freverently. “Grand idea; do it all the time.”



His lips clamped down on my nipple and I groaned. Really, it’s just not fair that he’s so good at that. Just the right amount of pressure and teeth. Oh my. One hand was caressing the other breast, the other was exploring much lower. Mmmmmmmm.



“You know, I was going to take your drunk away and spare you a hangover. But I think I like you this way; so sorry, you get to suffer.” I teased, exploring his broad chest and kissing him where I knew it would make him shiver.



You can do that? His mouth was busy, so he said it in my head.



Sure. It’s no harder than the stim; they’re both a sort of poison after all.



It’s not the stim that’s hard right now.



Prove it.



Oh, and did he ever.



After exploring every inch of me with tongue and teeth and hands, increasing the intensity until we were both wild and hungry, he crawled up, kissed me so hard my mouth felt bruised, and plunged in to me. I gasped into his mouth, shifting my hips so I could feel his whole length in me…and there was a lot of him. When he started to stroke, we were both so far gone that we couldn’t take it slow. I had a brief moment of hoping the door was soundproof and was gone. I urged him to go faster, and he pounded me so hard I thought my hip joints were going to give. I wrapped my legs around him and dragged my nails down his back. He moaned at that, increased the tempo even more, and worked a hand down to rub my clit. I exploded around him, and I felt him come right after with a deep groan of pleasure.



He propped himself on his elbows, still inside me, and looked at me full in the face. His eyes were almost soft, but still an intense blue, like the summer sky just before lightning strikes. He teased me with a few slow strokes and I came again, not so intense but a soft shudder. His smile was almost dreamy.



“I love you, Jennet,” he said softly. “Have I said it today?”



“I love you, Canderous,” I answered. “Yes. That’s twice. Three times, and it’s true.”



“I love you.”



“I love you too.”



His mind was drifting, but I heard it.



It’s always been true.



I covered us up, and fell asleep, curled up next to his warmth.



I woke the next morning alone. I got my robe out of the footlocker, grabbed some clothes, and headed to the ‘fresher. Luckily, most everyone was still asleep so I didn’t have to wait. I took a quick shower, brushed my teeth and dressed. I tossed my dirty clothes and robe into the laundry cycle and headed to the common area.



The scene was hysterical. Visas and Disciple were jumbled together on the couch like a couple of Gizka pups, sound asleep. Bao Dur was seated at the table with Canderous, and they were both chuckling. Canderous didn’t look any worse for wear, and had a cup of coffee in his hand, with a half-eaten plate of breakfast in front of him. I kissed Canderous good morning, which he returned enthusiastically, smiled at Bao Dur, and wandered down the short corridor to the cockpit. Atton was there, awake and bright eyed. He grinned and waved to me.



“We’re about an hour from Dxun,” he informed me.



“Good deal,” I smiled, and went back to the common room.



I headed to the galley and helped myself to breakfast and coffee. Seating myself next to Canderous, I asked generally, “How’s everyone this morning?”



“Well,” Bao Dur said reflectively, “Mira’s dead to the world in the cargo hold, and Ladria hasn’t come out of her cabin yet, but I think she’s awake. We’re considering carrying Visas at least back to the dorm and spare her some embarrassment.”



“That would be kind,” I said. I was two minds about it; I liked her and didn’t want her to feel awkward around anyone. But on the other hand, a little embarrassment is generally good for you.

Atton joined us from the cockpit. “Oh, don’t worry,” he said, nodding to the sleeping beauties, “I got holos.”



“In that case, go ahead and put her in her bunk.” I gave a wicked smile, and applied myself to breakfast.



Bao Dur got up, and gently picked Visas up as if she weighed nothing. He disappeared down the corridor, and returned shortly.



“Didn’t even twitch,” he said, chuckling.



“We’ll be at Dxun in an hour,” I said. “I’d hate to arrive with half the crew out of it.”



“Don’t worry; we can stay in orbit until everyone is ready to go.” Atton assured me.



“That would be fine,” Canderous interjected. “We’re in no hurry, and I can contact my base to let them know we’re arriving.”



I was more worried about the trials than I had thought; my stomach was clenching now. I tried to shake it off. Canderous looked at me, knowing my thoughts.



It’s going to be fine, Wildcat. Nothing to be nervous about.



Easy for you to say; you’re not getting an entire tribe of in-laws.



True. You’ve already won over Dax and the others we picked up on Telos. What’s a few more?



How few?



When I left, there were about a hundred warriors at the camp. There’s about five thousand I know about, scattered around. We estimate somewhere around triple that are alive, whereabouts unknown.



I didn’t have any idea how he knew that, but was too nervous to ask.



“How is this going to work?” I asked. I’ve always felt having enough information dispels fear. I’m not always right, but it’s a sound principle. “Do we just walk in, announce we’re mates, and let them sort it out?”



“Well…something like that, I think,” Canderous hedged.



“What do you mean, you think?” I asked, rather sharply.



“I told you I don’t know much about it,” Canderous growled.



I sighed. “So you did. Sorry. Well, what do you know?”



“Usually, the Elders handle this. As we don’t have any, I’m not sure. I expect Jarxel and the others will come up with something, with our help, to prove it.” Canderous sounded thoughtful. “I have a few ideas of my own that should convince my people.”



“Such as?” I asked, eyebrow raised.



“The most common signs of mate are sharing battle ecstasy and thoughts, sensing each other, and sharing strength. We could prove the at least two of those easily enough.” Canderous looked at me, and I nodded.



“It wouldn’t take much, just separate us and prove we can talk to each other.” I agreed.



“The battle ecstasy would have to be proven through combat,” he continued, “but an experienced warrior could tell if you were feeding off mine, and vice versa. Sensing each other could be proved; it would just take the right test, but it could be done. Sharing strength would be trickier. Might need a medical lab, which we don’t have on Dxun.”



“Maybe if we can pass the other tests, they’ll let that one slide,” I said hopefully.



“Maybe,” Canderous agreed, but he sounded doubtful. He smiled, and kissed me. “You worry too much, Wildcat,” he said.



“Probably,” I answered, and tried not to.



Atton’s voice came over the general comm. Fifteen minutes from Dxun orbit. Let me know when you want to land.



“We’re close enough for me to contact Jarxel; let me go see what they’ve prepared. They probably want to know I’ve survived, in any case,” Canderous said.



“Can I listen in?” I asked.



“Sure.”



I followed Canderous to the main computer terminal, and he punched up the frequency for the base on Dxun. After a few minutes, the weathered face of a man in his late forties or early fifties came on the screen.



“Jarxel,” Canderous said. “Good to see you, friend.”



“Mandalore.” Jarxel acknowledged formally. Then his craggy face broke into a grin. “Glad to see you alive, Canderous.”



“Glad to be alive,” Canderous answered. “Report.”



“We have good news,” Jarxel said. “Three weeks ago, we got word of a colony of Mandalorian women, Elders, and children, now young men and women, that had escaped the destruction of our home world. I sent some of our men to check on it, and it panned out. A party of Elders and survivors arrived two days ago.”



“Fantastic!” Canderous grinned. “How many?”



“Twelve in the party, including three Elders. Just over five hundred, total, including births in the last fifteen years.”



“Best news I’ve heard in years. Have you told the Elders about Jennet? And did Dax and his party arrive?”



“Yes to both.” Canderous grinned at me, and I smiled back.



Jarxel continued, “The Elders are willing to test you. But Canderous…” his voice sounded grim. “There’s a complication.”



“A complication?” Canderous scowled. “What complication?”



“The Elders said they’ve found your wife,” Jarxel said reluctantly.



“What?!” Canderous shouted. “Gerda’s dead, I buried her, I saw her! There’s no way she’s alive!”



I stared at the grim face of Jarxel, then at Canderous. I knew he believed Gerda dead, but could there be a mistake? I didn’t think so. He’d told me what he’d seen when Kreia had us in thrall, and I’d seen a good deal of it while he had been under, while I was trying to pull him out. I knew what the truth was. I couldn’t believe he was wrong. Moreover, I could hear his total shock in my head; he wasn’t trying to block me. The link doesn’t mean we instantly know everything about each other, but he couldn’t possibly fake this. What was going on here? I felt my stomach flop, but put a hand on Canderous’s arm in reassurance. He reached with his other hand and squeezed mine.



“Not Gerda,” Jarxel said flatly. “Cressa.”