Kalika stared at Dhas retreating back as he headed ( mostly ) straight for his gunship . He watched thoughtfully as the engines powered up and the vessel lifted , wobbled slightly before blasting straight for the New London sky . As it punched through the eternal cloud cover , he raised his hand in the Mandalorian salute , So long , my friend , Ill see you on the battlefield or in the afterlife May Great Caylith watch your back .
Looking again at the heavy signet ring in his hand , he carefully slid it onto his left hand and raised it to catch the light . Staring at it , he remembered his father and his dying wish that Kalika find and join the Mandalorians .
Do you see me now , father ? I am home . he whispered .
As he pondered his life course to this point , his mind light years away , a hand came down heavily on his shoulder .
Without thought , his hand whipped up , trapping the offending hand as he pivoted .
His opposing hand drove viciously up and into the hapless fellows elbow , forcing his torso ground wards as Kal'ika's eyes scanned for other assailants and his foot snapped towards the mans head to halt a whisker from crushing the ground crew foremans throat .
Jack muttered Kalika How many times do I have to tell you not to sneak up behind me ?
Jacks eyes bulged slightly as he gasped Let my arm go if you dont mind , sir , especially if you want that Stinger to lift today . These bones o mine dont handle rough treatment like they used too .
The young Mandalorian blushed slightly as he released Jacks arm and stepped back .
Jack rubbed his wrenched shoulder ruefully , knowing that slight blush was as close to an apology for his undignified manhandling as he was going to get .
Grimacing at the discomfited , scarred young man , correction , young Consul , before him , Jack said Come along , young sir , lets finish up with the Stinger , shall we ? Cant have a freshly minted Mandalorian Consul flying around with a faulty throttle on his ship , now can we ?
As the grizzled old foreman shambled back to the Stinger , Kalika looked up at the sky and , for the first time since his father died , smiled .
"Pressure makes gems, ease makes decay " - Mandalorian Proverb
