Tales of the Mandalorians

[Dieter Schprokets]

A Mandalorean barracks is a spartan place. And usually a quiet one at 5:00 AM, till tonight.

"WAKE UP YOU MAGGOTS!" Two members of the Mandalorian Guard strode into the room, weapons drawn. Slumbering pilots came to very quickly, and stood to at the end of their bunks.

"Clear out, the lot of ye!" This guard was a Molly. Now that the Bretonians were negotiating a ceasefire, having a Molly on guard detail made a lot more sense than it did even a few months ago. The pilots jumped to comply, and streamed out of the barracks double file.

"Except YOU, Carud'se Solegot!" The guard reached out, and barred one man from leaving. "Mandalore wants a word with you."

Warrior Solegot tensed, but said nothing. Once all the pilots were out, the Mandalore showed himself in the doorway, paused, then strode in and seated himself on a bunk. He looked at one of the guards;

"He armed?"

The guard responded in the negative. Cabot nodded, then gestured to Carud'se to sit across from him. The young man did so, with obvious reservation.

Cabot looked at the guard again, and commanded "Leave us." The Mandalore had sized up the young pilot, and knew he could kill him without a weapon in a few seconds. Knew it like he knew the sun would rise in half an hour. Not arrogance. Fact.

The guards exchanged a concerned glance, then left the room.

Cabot spoke tersely to the young man seated not 3 feet from him.

"Your real name isn't Solegut."

Carud'se's eyes widened, and he blanched. The young pilot knew that there were times in life when bluffing, and continuing to conceal something, could work. This was not one of those times.

He spoke, quietly, but without hesitation or faltering. "I am Carud'se Solus. My father is the Dha'wherd Solus."

The Mandalore nodded, then stood, took a few steps, then turned to face his pilot.

"I really wasn't that sure, but methods such as this bit of theatre tonight have a way of scaring the truth out of people."

He smiled a disarming smile, then stated matter-of-factly "Maybe you are my enemy. Not sure yet. Give me a reason not to kill you."

The pilot looked at the Mandalore in apparent alarm, then began to speak.

"My father became Dha'wherd when I was 16. He was inducted one night, because he demonstrated extreme proficiency while flying for a senior member."

The young pilot stood, then continued. "The night he was initiated, he changed forever. When they initiate you, you have to kill a stranger. Did you know that?" The Mandalore nodded. He knew what they were, and said so now.

"Murderers." he stated flatly.

Carud'se's snorted. "And we aren't? Are you quite sure the difference between us and them isn't one of degree, not kind?"

The Mandalore smiled. "Touche. But let's get to the point, shall we? You said "us" just now, and that is reassuring. But the fact remains that I essentially exiled your father and his entire bloody secret society. How can I trust your loyalt..."

The Mandalore's question was interrupted by his brain bouncing off the inside of his skull, which tends to play havoc with one's train of thought. The cause? A well placed hammer fist to the side of his head, put there by Carud'se. The Mandalore had actually had the chance to think "kid's fast" just after the man backspun and as the blow landed, but now the younger (and obviously very capable) fighter put him in an armbar, then drive a fatal punch to the the side of the Mandalore's neck.

Fatal, had it actually landed. It stopped a hair's breadth away from the neck. A punch designed to destroy the Carotid artery, had it gone one inch further. And Cabot knew it. Just couldn't do a damn thing about it.

Carud'se paused for effect, then dropped Cabot to the ground. He then sat and waited, smiling smugly while the Mandalore recovered himself, then the younger Solus spoke.

"Now you know I'm loyal. If I wasn't, you'd be dead." Solegut helped the dazed Mandalore to sit up.

"I saw you sizing me up, and intentionally slouched, and took other subtle measures to appear weak. My father taught me a great deal, Mandalore."

The Mandalore came to his feet and nodded. "You make your point effectively and brutally. Actually, I can think of no better way you could have satisfied my concerns."

John Cabot began to slowly pace, legs still a bit wobbly from the recent interruption of his central nervous system. His back was to the other man, but that seemed quite irrelevant now.

He turned to face Carud'se, eyes narrowed inquisitively. "Do you still speak with your father?"

Carud'se nodded. "On occasion sir. Perhaps once a month."

"Hmm." The Mandalore was thoughtful. "Dha'wherd Solus has been doing well for us against the Brotherhood, Benitez, and other Corsairs. He has brought us information that has made our hunting in Omicron Gamma easier. He has even contributed to the fighting, once it starts. In an Arrow, no less. Impressive."

Carud'se smiled. "Father is a hell of a pilot."

"So it seems." The Mandalore continued. "I need you to do something for me, and for the Mandalorians."

Solegut had an idea where this may be going. "Name it, Sir."

Cabot sat down again. Nice goose egg starting up on his head.

"I need to reconcile with the Dha'wherd, and I want to accomplish that through yourself and your father. I don't favour their methods, but I have no interest in destroying them. I need some reassurance that they will never attempt to destroy me."

Carud'se responded with satisfaction. "That assignment is something I gladly accept. My father actually wishes the same as you. He will help, this I know."

Cabot stood, then reached out to shake Carud'se's hand. That done, he said his parting words.

"Your identity will remain a secret. If it were known, well, you know the potential results."

Carud'se nodded. He knew, alright.

Cabot began to walk out, leaving with a final request. "Contact your father soon. Find out his general opinion on this arrangement, then report to me on the Goju Ryu."

As he left, the Mandalore reflected how unexpectedly well this had gone. He'd come here to sniff out a traitor, but now he had a mole in the Dha'wherd...

Oh, and one HELL of a headache...

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