A Match for the Mandalore

Canderous sat back in his chair suddenly, like a marionette that had its strings cut. “Cressa?” he said blankly.

“She was with the colony. Gods know how she found it when we didn’t, but she claims she’s your wife.” Jarxel said, almost apologetically. “The Elders object to an outlander wife of the Mandalore, and are willing to listen to her.”

“I never married her, and I haven’t seen her in more than seven years. I was with her for less than a year, for fuck’s sake!” Canderous bellowed.

“I know that, and so do most of the men here. But that’s what the Elders and Cressa claim.” He seemed to focus on me, and gave me a gruff smile. “You must be Jennet, yes?”

I had been looking back and forth between them, feeling Canderous’s rage and frustration over this unknown woman. I knew he was telling the truth; that wasn’t in question. What I didn’t know was what would happen because of her claims. Well, can’t do anything about it right now anyway. I tried to smile back at the vidscreen.

“Yes,” I said. “Nice to meet you, Jarxel.”

“Dax has sung your praises since he got here,” Jarxel said, not smiling, but not frowning or scowling, either. “I hope what he says about you is true.”

“I hope so, too.” I answered ruefully. “Depends on what he’s said.”

“If half of what he’s told me is true, I’m looking forward to meeting you,” was all Jarxel would say.

Great. Well, Dax is my Champion, I suppose he’ll say nice things about me. What a Mandalorian considers nice is another story. I just smiled noncommittally, and shrugged.

“Look, Jarxel, we’re ten minutes or so from orbit, a few hours from landing. What was the plan for our arrival?” Canderous cut in.

“Well, with the Elders here, there was going to be an honor guard, and formal greeting at the camp.”

“Skip the guard, and don’t tell anyone we’re coming yet. You alone right now?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Get Dax, and join us in three hours at the usual landing site. Say it’s a hunting party, whatever…just make sure no one from the Elders or Cressa gets wind of it. I need information before I hit the camp, and I don’t want to discuss it over vidlink.”

“Yes, Mandalore.”

“Jarxel, you’ve known me my whole damn life. You only call me Mandalore in private now when there’s something up. Spit it out.”

“All right,” Jarxel’s craggy face was set in a scowl. “I think you’re wrong about the honor guard. You should have one; it shows strength in the face of the enemy. But I pick it; I can make sure you’re escorted by men loyal to you that can keep their mouths shut. And there’s no rule about how long it takes you to get to camp. If there’s any question, you simply say you insisted on a briefing before the ceremonies.”

“Excellent. I knew I left you in charge for a reason. See you in three hours. Canderous out.” He switched off with a savage jab at the button.

He turned to me, face set and angry. “The bitch means trouble. I’m sorry, Wildcat. This is going to be tougher than I thought.”

“I’m not sure you have anything to apologize for. But I would like to know what’s going on,” I said honestly. I wasn’t mad at him; he was obviously as thrown at this as I was. But some explanations were needed.

“And you will. But I’d like to save my breath and only do it once, if that’s all right. We need to get the crew up and ready to talk strategy as soon as Jarxel gets to us.”

“Can you at least tell me who this Cressa is, and what she was to you?” I asked irritably.

I had faith in him, but was a bit irked he didn’t just start explaining right away. He looked at me, his face a bit wary.

I’m telling the truth.

I know, you idiot, I answered tartly.

He sighed. “All right, edited version. Cressa was a soldier during the war; she was a good one, too, and young, barely eighteen. She went mercenary after, like a lot of us. I ran into her about two years later, and we hooked up. I was working for some pretty slimy people then, and wasn’t interested in anything permanent. She was, and took exception to my attitude. She left, not happily, and I haven’t seen her since.”

“Great. A woman scored. Just what we need,” I muttered.

“Exactly. Let’s get the crew together; we need every brain to pick we can get.”

Most everyone was awake now. Mira staggered in just a few minutes after we got to the common room, looking grumpy. I sent her some healing, and she looked around, spotted me, and smiled.

“Thanks. Only you would think to use healing for a hangover,” she said ruefully. “Gods, I can’t wait ‘til I can do that.”

“Not just me,” I said, smiling, and nodding around the room. Disciple, who had been dead to the world a half hour ago, looked bright and fresh, not a hair out of place. Visas was as cool and composed as ever. “I’m just nice enough to share.”

“Sadists, the lot,” muttered Mira. “Jedi just love to make a lesson out of everything.”

She wandered into the galley for coffee. Once everyone was assembled, Canderous gave a brief summary of his conversation with Jarxel. There was a moment of stunned silence. I could tell it had taken Canderous a huge effort to admit to being in a bind, especially such a personal one, let alone ask for any help. For once Atton didn’t offer any smart comments. Finally, Ladria spoke.

“I don’t think there’s much we can offer until Jarxel gets here and we hear what’s going on in your camp. It would help if we understood how this Cressa could claim she was your wife, and what proof she would offer.” She said quietly.

Canderous appeared to be thinking about that, and ran his hand through his hair and down his face. “There would have to be a contract. Anything she had would be forged, of course, but she could do that easily enough. Witnesses would help too, but as far as I know, no other Mandalorians were around when we were involved. I’m absolutely certain she didn’t bear me a child. That would serve as proof as well.”

“How can you be certain?” Ladria asked sharply.

“This I want to hear,” Atton chortled.

Canderous sent him a filthy look. “Because I had a sterility procedure done just before I met her. It’s reversible, of course, but I’m not one to leave a responsibility behind. I wasn’t interested in that sort of problem at the time,” he growled. “Anything else you want to know, Rand?”

“Did she know about that?” Atton asked promptly.

“I don’t think so.”

“Got the medical records to back that up?”

“Yes.”

“They could be faked, as well.”

“True. But a check in the records at the hospital on Nar Shadaa would prove it. You got something to say?”

“Just trying to cover your bases, pal.” Atton said. “I’m on your side. If nothing else, believe I want Jennet happy, and for some odd reason, you seem to do that.”

Canderous quit glowering, mostly, at that. “Thanks,” he said, grudgingly.

You didn’t tell me you were sterile reversible, I thought crankily.

It never came up, he said honestly. You didn’t seem worried about getting pregnant, and I meant to ask about that; but I knew you couldn’t from me unless I had the procedure reversed.

I’m not worried because I won’t get pregnant until I want to. Part of the nice side benefits of being an advanced healer and Jedi trained.

One day you’ll have to explain that in detail.

It’s simple. I can flush foreign substances out of my body, and reverse any physical thing done to me, pretty much. If the damage is very great, I can’t overcome everything. But getting pregnant…semen is a foreign substance, I simply kill it before it takes; and keep my body in a state of non-receptiveness. It’s almost unconscious now. Not that I’ve had many opportunities to worry about it. But I am a female warrior; rape is always a concern. I’ve never wanted to have a child not of my choosing, so I learned early to prevent it.

Makes sense. But what part of ‘one day’ was unclear?

Oh shut up, and I elbowed him. I was pleased to see he could joke again, though.

Disciple, who had been silent until now, spoke up. “You said there would be a contract?”

Canderous looked surprised. “Yes.”

“Would it be a Mandalorian one, or a Galactic standard?” His voice was thoughtful.

“Galactic. She couldn’t claim a Mandalorian, the ceremony would have to be performed among our people. I wouldn’t put it past her to try and persuade some of our people to lie about it, but Mandalorians are stubborn, and not easily charmed or bullied.”

“If it’s Galactic, I could probably prove it false,” Disciple said firmly.

“You could?” Canderous said, nonplussed.

“I’ve spent most of my life in archives; of course I can discern false documents. It would likely be quite obvious to a trained archivist.” Disciple said confidently.

“You’d do that for me?” Canderous said wonderingly.

“Of course,” Disciple said, surprised. “You’re family. And I despise liars,” he added with a scowl. “Why should this loathsome woman get away with making people I care about miserable?”

“I…” Canderous seemed completely bewildered. “Thanks,” he said finally, his voice almost hoarse. He offered his hand to Disciple, who shook it firmly.

“It’s nothing,” he said, and I could tell he meant it. I hopped up and kissed his cheek.

“Thank you,” I said, smiling. Amazingly, he blushed.

“I’m quite fond of you and Canderous,” he said shyly. “Whatever I can do to help.”