Chapter 12

Nar Shaddaa

"An interspecies warrior culture stretching back thousands of years, the Mandalorians live for one purpose: To challenge the greatest opponents in combat and claim victory, for honor and glory. The best are proud fighters driven by a noble code, while the worst are bloodthirsty killers always looking for the next battle. While many act as independent mercenaries, the Mandalorians are divided into clans each answering to their own leader... Initiates can be born into Mandalorian society or inducted from outside; either way, new Mandalorians face harsh trials as they prove themselves worthy and learn the secrets of Mandalorian weapons and armor. The Mandalorians have been loosely allied with the Sith Empire since the Empire's return to the galaxy and played an instrumental role in the Sacking of Coruscant. Though not Imperial subjects, the Mandalorians have an enclave in the Citadel on Dromund Kaas. Their relationship with the Empire is sometimes strained, but the alliance offers one undeniable advantage: Ample opportunity to face the galaxy's greatest warriors, the Jedi."

- Holonet Codex Entry

"They're late."

Jaune spared a sideways glance at the diminutive mechanic sitting at his side on the ramp leading into the Myrtenaster. His buy'ce was sitting on the surface next to him, the volume on the comm inside turned up so that he could hear without wearing it on his head. He'd found that Ruby would talk to him more openly when his facial features weren't concealed.

The blond supposed it was a particularly aruetii requirement to hold a conversation, but as he'd grown rather fond of the brunette, Jaune considered it a minor concession.

After all, anyone who managed to put an actual shabla smile on the face of his usually frigid boss was worth befriending for that trait alone.

"There haven't been any calls, ad'ika," he replied soothingly. "And you know all of them can take care of themselves, elek?"

"Yeah, I know that…" Ruby sighed as she worked with deft fingers on the disassembled blaster in front of her crossed legs. The tip of her tongue poked out as she quickly snapped the pieces together before slapping the power pack home and letting it rest in her lap.

Jaune didn't comment on the fact that it'd been the third time she'd done so since they'd sat down.

"It's hard, though," she eventually spoke up again with a distant voice, silver eyes focused on the blaster still. "Being left behind, I mean. When Yang and I flew together, we always went everywhere together, y'know? She'd never… I mean…"

Wordlessly, Jaune reached over with his ungauntleted hand and rested it upon the smaller girl's shoulder, giving it a brief squeeze.

"I know she's always gotta feel like she has to look out for me," the brunette whispered. "But I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to her… and I wasn't… wasn't there to…"

"She's got both Weiss and Pyrrha with her," Jaune reminded her. "If there's a jate'shya team of Mandos than those two, I don't know of them."

"Jate'shya?"

"Er… better. I don't know of a better team."

Ruby nodded slowly. "They do work really well together… And… Yang can look after Weiss as well, like Pyrrha does…"

"And with Blake and Ren out together, well…" Jaune chuckled. "I can't imagine anyone taking on a pair of Jetii lightly."

"There was this one time on Alderaan," a cheery voice spoke up from above, "some noble got it into his fat head that he didn't need to follow the ruling House, figured he'd maybe make his own little fiefdom."

Both Ruby and Jaune turned slightly to regard the orange-haired Trooper who stood just inside the open airlock, doing maintenance of her own on her massive rotary assault cannon.

"What happened?" Ruby asked, eager as always for stories.

"Well, the Duke of House Organa didn't want to bring it to the notice of the King, who was of the ruling House, Panteer." Nora broke off from her rendition and shot them a grin. "Trust me, it'd take me all kriffing day to explain how the Houses on Alderaan work and even I don't get it completely… Anyway, so we get to the minor House's compound, they've all pulled inside to fortify their position, all of their troops and servants and everything… Blake tells me, 'hold position out here'. Then, she and Ren march up to those karking big doors…"

By this point, Ruby was turned around fully, crouched on her knees and silver eyes alight with curiosity. "Yeah, and?"

Nora stood up from her cannon after plugging the large power pack back in and flung her hands out to the side dramatically. "BOOM! Those doors could have stopped a speeder, but they just fly open before the two of them. All I see is them moving in, lightsabers out… and then nothing."

"Nothing?" the brunette whispered breathlessly.

"Nope. Not until they come walking back out, all calm and serene." Nora barked out a laugh. "Blake had that little smirk on her face, y'know the one? And she just said…"

"House Serrus will no longer be a problem."

Ruby almost fell off of the ramp at the soft words spoken from behind. "Blakey!" she squealed, clumsily regaining her footing and hurling herself into the Cathar woman's arms.

"Hello, ad'ika," Blake murmured, nuzzling the top of the brunette's head. "Did you miss me?"

"No," came the petulant reply, muffled as it was by the folds of the Jedi's cloak.

Ren smiled slightly as he made his way past, giving both Nora and Jaune a friendly nod. "Anything new?"

"Nayc, it's been pretty quiet," Jaune returned with a smile of his own. He'd grown rather fond of the quiet Mirialan man as well. While the two of them rarely conversed at length, it was incredibly calming to do his armor or weapons maintenance while in the presence of the meditating Jedi.

"Anyways," Nora grunted as she propped her assault cannon up against the bulkhead just inside the airlock door. "They all just laid down their arms after the two of them walked in."

"It wasn't that big of a deal, truly," Blake smiled, still hugging her affectionate girlfriend. "We merely convinced them of the… error of their ways."

"So, what about your mission today?" Jaune asked, slipping his gauntlets back on. "Any luck?"

"Indeed, we have a location." Blake evidently got tired of standing there and, with her arms still wrapped around Ruby, lifted her off of her feet just enough to walk over to the ramp. The brunette let out an eep as she was pulled around, but it turned into a pleased hum once she was settled into Blake's lap and leaning against her chest.

"Kandosii," Jaune cheered quietly. "Did you let the others know?"

"Only that we were successful." Blake quirked a smile. "I do believe they were in a drinking establishment, from the sound of things, and partaking of rather strong beverages."

At that, Jaune threw his head back and laughed. "Troch, Weiss always did like her tihaar if she could get ahold of it… She can drink both Pyrrha and myself under the table."

"Really?" Ruby giggled. "But… But she's so small!"

"Mmm." Blake tilted her head consideringly. "It might be her Echani heritage. They are, as a species, rather resistant to poisons and disease…"

"Lek, I don't doubt that." Jaune grinned again, reaching for his helmet to put on his head in order to use the comm. "That woman is atin'la as shab." He chuckled at the curious look Ruby gave him. "N'eparavu takisit, sorry. Atin'la means tough."

"Well, she certainly is that," Blake agreed. Her amber eyes lit up as her attention focused on the entrance to their berthing space. "Speaking of which… Oh, dear…"

Three figures came into view. The figure on the right in her alabaster armor was struggling to keep the crimson-armored figure in between them upright. Though Weiss wore her helmet, Pyrrha's was grasped in the hand of Yang who supported the tall redhead by the other arm. Between the two of them, they managed to make their way over to the rest of the befuddled crew.

"So," the blonde announced cheerfully. "We now know that Alderaanians can't hold their liquor."

"To be fair," Weiss retorted as she allowed Jaune to take her load, slipping her helmet off with a relieved sigh, "she'd already downed a mug of tihaar before you imbibed her with that… What was it you called that horrible drink?"

Yang chuckled as she helped Jaune steer the mostly comatose Pyrrha up the ramp. "Mad Mrelf. Good shavit, that."

"Oh, Sithspit, Yang!" Ruby admonished, her eyes wide. "You didn't!"

The blonde's continued chuckles, tinged with a bit of an evil undertone, was the only response as they moved out of view.

"Er… potent stuff, then?" Weiss inquired as both Ruby and Blake got to their feet, each one planting a quick kiss on her cheeks. The Echani was rather impressed with herself in managing to contain her blush this time.

"Yeah, it's from Corellia, strongest alcohol I've ever heard of…" Ruby sighed in exasperation as she gave the platinum-haired woman a hug around her armor. "I've heard tales of spacers who woke up on planets completely different from where they started after drinking that shavit."

Blake let out a quiet laugh at that, but before she could take Ruby's place with a hug of her own, Ren spoke up in quiet warning.

"We have company."

Everyone present whipped their heads around to spy a quartet of armored figures approach their landing pad from a service door a little ways away. Their hostile intentions were announced by the way they spread out and unlimbered their weapons.

"Oh, no," Ruby whispered, pulling her blaster out of its holster. "Should we fight or run?"

She spared a glance over her shoulder at the whirring noise followed by determined clanking. Nora strode down the ramp, helmet on and activated rotary cannon cradled competently in her arms. "I say we fight," her electronically filtered voice announced.

Blake nodded, moving forward to partially shield the brunette mechanic. "Make sure you stay behind me, Ruby," she murmured, fingering her unlit lightsaber.

"Parer… Wait." Weiss stepped forward, handing her helmet off to Ruby who tucked it under her free arm. "Let me speak with them."

"They are Mandalorians," Ren commented quietly from where he stood on the other side of Ruby.

The alabaster-armored woman stepped forward, coming to a halt ten paces in front of her ship. In response, the armored figures came to a halt as well. One, wearing tan armor with black and gold highlights, slung her assault cannon over her shoulder as she approached alone.

"I've never heard of a Mando using such a weapon," Blake commented mildly.

"Nope," Nora agreed. "They usually prefer blaster rifles or pistols, as a rule."

"There's one in the back with a sniper rifle," Ruby whispered, peeking out from around her Cathar girlfriend. She flinched as she heard more footsteps approach from behind but then relaxed as Jaune moved up alongside her with Yang resting a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"We know these vode," Jaune murmured, his voice filtered through the helmet he now wore. "Udesiir, relax, it should be okay."

"Should?" Yang asked sharply.

"Well… there was the one incident on Geonosis…" Jaune let out a huff that made a whiffing sound through his exterior mike. "Nayc, it'll be fine."

"Uh-huh." Looking unconvinced, the blonde Corellian loosened the blaster pistol in her holster. For her part, Ruby kept hers held upright and at the ready.

"Su cuy'gar, ner vod," Weiss called out levelly once the tan-armored figure came to a stop.

The other Mandalorian pulled her helmet off, revealing a tanned face with chocolate-colored eyes, framed by dark brown hair which was dyed with a gradient that transitioned to a caramel color.

"Su cuy'gar, ner vod," the Human woman returned, her face not betraying any emotion. "Didn't realize you'd be the renegade Mandalorian specified in the contract, Weiss."

"Life is full of surprises," Weiss answered curtly. "I can't let you take her."

"Nayc?"

"Nayc."

"Hmm." Dark brown eyes scanned the crew lining the front of the ramp leading up to the Myrtenaster. If she was particularly concerned about the amount of lethal firepower present, her expression didn't show it. "I see Jaune is still flying with you. Pyrrha, as well?"

Weiss nodded calmly. "Indisposed."

"Drinking again, eh?"

"Lek."

Showing some emotion for the first time, the woman barked out a quick laugh. "Kandosii. You know, I was really looking forward to fighting some Jetiie."

"Can't let you do that, either, Coco."

With a sigh, the brunette gave her a nod. "Fine."

"Lek?"

"Troch, Weiss, just so long as you tell me why."

The platinum-haired woman let out a huff, crossing her arms irritably. "I don't need to-"

"Gedet'ye."

"...She is my riduur."

Coco's mouth dropped open in surprise. "Nu draar! Really?"

"Elek, she is."

"Huh. Well, then, kandosii!" Coco peered at the group once more, consideringly. "And the Jetiie? Why do they accompany you?"

Weiss turned slightly to cough into her fist, clearing her throat. "Blake… that would be the Cathar Jetii… and Ruby… are both my riduure."

At that, Coco looked to be about ready to fall over. "K'uur!"

"It is the truth."

Shaking her head, the brunette Mandalorian turned to gesture her companions forward. "Well, then, you must introduce us."

With a nod, Weiss turned to regard the others, a small smile on her face. "Do you mind?"

"Uhhh… N- No, 'course not!" Ruby squeaked out. She still clung to Blake's side as they all approached, both Jaune and Nora removing their helmets.

Jaune stepped past them to clasp forearms with the largest of the newcomers, armored in pale green with brown highlights and with a blaster rifle now slung across his wide shoulders. "Su'cuy ner vod. It's been awhile, Yatsu."

A deep chuckle sounded as the helmet was slipped off to reveal the placid face of a Human male with short dark hair. "Indeed, ner vod. You're looking good, Jaune."

Weiss gave the introductions of her crew while the other two Mandalorians took their helmets off as well. Then it was Coco's turn.

"The big guy here is Yatsuhashi Daichi," she stated warmly, her face now showing a depth of emotion that seemed incongruous with how she'd faced them earlier. "My ram'ser, sorry, sniper, and medic, here," she gestured towards a Mirialan woman with pale green skin and intricate facial tattoos, brown hair, and armor that was colored brown and yellow, "is Velvet Scarlatina."

The last member stepped up, eliciting a curious stare from most of the Myrtenaster crew. He wore orange and black armor but carried no weapons other than blades set along the outside of his armored forearms. Most striking, however, was the strip of cloth that wrapped around his eyes.

"And then this," Coco continued, "is Fox Alistair. Oh, and in case you missed it, my name is Coco Adel, Ruus'alor of these vode."

"Ruus'alor?" Ruby whispered to Jaune, now standing next to her again.

"It's a rank, like a sergeant," Jaune explained quietly. "Loosely translated as a leader, we'd call Weiss that if she let us."

"I apologize for prying," Blake interjected cordially. "But I've never heard of a Miralukan who was a Mandalorian, though I've known a few of your race who were fellow Jedi…"

Fox chuckled, giving a nod as he turned his face towards the Cathar. "Grew up here on Nar Shaddaa with Velvet, until we ended up being taken in by Coco's father. And then, eventually, to Mandalore."

"How can you see?" Ruby asked, quickly ducking her head as soon as the words left her mouth. "Shavit, I didn't mean to actually ask that out loud…"

"It's quite alright, ad'ika," the tanned, orange-haired man replied with a laugh. "Most of my kind have some sort of affinity towards the Force, enough to allow us to, well, 'see', but I have extra enhancements to my buy'ce, my helmet, that allow me to function effectively in battle."

The gathering broke up soon after Coco revealed the source of the new bounty to be the same as the previous one, though it'd been specifically targeted for Mandalorians. Coco offered to bring her vode from the Myrtenaster back to the Mandalorian enclave there on Nar Shaddaa to retrieve the details and perhaps do something to limit the possibility of another vod taking the Darjetiie up on their offer.

While Weiss quickly agreed, Yang was just as fast to lay a restraining hand on her arm.

"Any way you could let Jaune handle this?" she asked, lilac eyes probing. "I thought it'd be a good time for you, me, an' Blake to have a chat over a few drinks."

Weiss looked at the blonde askance. "I thought we just did that."

"Nothing stronger than ale, promise!"

"Mmm." Blake glanced between her girlfriend and the earnest-looking sister of her other girlfriend. "I accept."

"Oh, troch, very well," Weiss sighed, waving Jaune along. "Gedet'ye, don't make me regret this…"

"Hey," Yang replied, affronted and holding her cybernetic hand to her chest. "It's me!"

Nar Shaddaa

Unknown Bar

"What I don't understand," Weiss mused into her relatively clean glass of Lomin ale, "is why none of these establishments have actual names outside of them."

"It's so they don't get raided," Yang explained as she knocked back a swallow of her own ale. "Every so often, the actual government here, the one run by the Hutts, try to establish some sorta order, maybe make sure everyone's current on their kickbacks, that sorta thing. But if they can't actually find the place…" The blonde shrugged guilelessly. "Can't raid it."

"I'm certain I could actually argue with that train of logic," Blake mused, peering into the depths of her own Lomin ale. "But I lack the desire to do so." She tilted her head back as she drained the last of her glass, signaling the male Twi'lek bartender for another. "So, Yang, what is on your mind?"

The Corellian pilot let out a sigh from where she sat to the right of Weiss. The Cathar was on the other side, with the alabaster-armored woman in between.

"Right… This is kinda tough, y'know?"

Weiss blinked her eyes in confusion. "Er… are you… referring to us? The two of us, with your sister?"

"Not… exactly. I mean, yeah, sure, that's some of it…" Yang tapped her metal fingers on the bar surface to get the bartender's attention, signaling for a refill. The lights in the smoky bar were dim enough that the rest of the clientele in the sparsely-populated room weren't all that visible, and the background hum of noise enough to allow their conversation some modicum of privacy.

"I do believe you made your intentions clear when you first found out," Blake tried to reassure her. "We will not do anything to hurt Ruby, or allow her to come to harm." Her brow was slightly furrowed as she tried to ascertain the feel of Yang's emotions, but they were rather chaotic and muddled at the moment. Whether from the blonde's drinking that day or her own imbibing, was just as unclear.

Wordlessly, Yang grabbed her new glass of ale and tilted it back, downing the contents in one go. Weiss quirked an eyebrow as they waited for the blonde to set her finished drink down with a bang.

"Ruby's all I got," the Corellian woman finally stated hoarsely. She cleared her throat before continuing.

"She's all the family I have, it's been just the two of us for some time, and… and I know she's grown up and all, shavit, saved my ass plenty of times in a firefight or two…" Yang shook her head, long blonde tresses swaying as she tapped the bar once more for another refill. Once it arrived, instead of attacking it with her usual gusto, she regarded it intently.

"Look," the blonde stated quietly. "All I've ever wanted was for Rubes to be happy. And… she is, now, with you two, so I'm good with that, I just…" She sighed heavily, knocking back another gulp of ale before lowering her head, face obscured by her hair. "You wanna know the truth? The real truth, about how I lost my arm?"

Weiss and Blake shared a startled glance. "Only if you truly want to tell us," the platinum-haired woman stated with soft reassurance.

Yang nodded before she sat back up, cybernetic arm in front of her. She observed the prosthetic as she slowly rotated her wrist.

"I was all signed up to go to the local flight academy on Corellia," she began in almost a whisper, just loud enough to carry over the background din. "Was about sixteen at the time. Summer... Mom... had left by then some time before, and I was worried about Rubes. Dad was… kinda self-absorbed over losing her." She shook her head irritably. "Not important. Anyway, so I was tryin' to get him to commit, y'know? I didn't… didn't want my lil' sis to have to take care of herself at fourteen when I left…"

Yang knocked back another large gulp before continuing. "We lived in a little town on Corellia called Patch, it was in the countryside, away from the cities and near the mountains. Got into a big row with Dad one day, just… I just couldn't get through to him, he didn't see anything wrong in the way he was… was…"

She set her drink down carefully, almost as if afraid she'd break it, and rubbed at her face with her left hand. "I was mad, shavit, I was so mad… I stormed out, figured I'd go climbing like I always used to do, clear my head… But I got careless, 'cause my temper wouldn't let me see straight, and I slipped halfway up a climb I'd done hundreds and hundreds of times before… Buncha rocks came with me, and when I fell into a crevice, my right arm got buried, trapped me there."

Weiss carefully reached out to rest an ungauntleted hand on her shoulder, and Yang flashed her a quick smile of gratitude before going on. "I blacked out for awhile, it hurt like frizz. When I woke up again… There was Rubes, her face wet with tears as she… she tried to dig me out, her hands were all bloody, and she was… she was cryin' out my name, beggin' me to wake up, to be okay…" Yang sniffled, wiping at her eyes with the back of her left hand.

"She'd followed me, worried about how mad I was. I got her to stop an' go get Dad." Sighing, the blonde knocked back the rest of her glass and set it back down gently. "Arm was a loss, obviously, but Dad had a decent enough job, insurance paid for the new one, here…"

Blake nodded after taking a careful sip from her ale. "But you missed your chance at flight school."

"Yeah, I did." The cybernetic hand closed into a fist atop the bar surface. "Six months later, Dad was gone, went off to find Summer, never saw either of 'em again. But I already knew pilotin', it was in my genes, I suppose, an' Rubbles was great at patchin' stuff up around the homestead… Anyway, we eventually ended up with the Ember Celica and without any shavit left behind on Corellia."

Her left arm propped her head upright as she stared off into the murky darkness of the bar. "I always felt… kinda guilty about putting my lil' sis in danger like that, that she followed me, and that I scared her like that, but it… it brought us closer together, y'know? And I guess… it's kinda pathetic, really, but I'm afraid we'll lose that… that we'd…"

Blake reached around her Mandalorian girlfriend to rest a reassuring hand on the blonde's back. "You know Ruby thinks the galaxy of you," the Cathar stated with conviction. "She'd do absolutely anything for you, and that will never change, no matter who she entrusts her heart to."

Weiss nodded, turning in her seat to regard the Corellian with unusual warmth. "You are her… well, her hero. There's no word in Mando'a for it, the amount of respect and love she has for her vod, her aliit… er, family. You."

"Yeah?" Yang sniffled again before regarding the other two with a wide, though watery, smile. "Well, alright… Shavit, I'm glad we met."

Blake smiled softly, nodding in agreement. "Mmm."

"Elek, ner vod," Weiss replied solemnly. "I am as well."

Dramatis Personae (in order of appearance):

Yang Xiao Long - Human female from Corellia. Smuggler, talented pilot, and droid tinkerer.

ZW-31 - Yang's custom astromech droid.

Ruby Rose - Human female from Corellia. Smuggler, skilled mechanic, and gun nut.

P3-NY - Ruby's astromech droid.

Lady Salem - Rattataki female. Sith Lord and advisor to the Emperor.

Lady Cinder Fall - Human female. Sith Lord Inquisitor.

Darth Hazel - Sith Pureblood male. Sith Lord Warrior.

Darth Tyrian - Zabrak male. Sith Lord Inquisitor.

Emerald Sustrai - Twi'lek female. Sith Marauder.

Mercury Black - Human male. Sith Warrior.

Weiss Schnee - Echani female from Eshan. Mandalorian bounty hunter.

Pyrrha Nikos - Human female from Alderaan. Mandalorian bounty hunter.

Jaune Arc - Human male from Mandalore. Mandalorian bounty hunter trainee.

Hei "Junior" Xiong - Human male from Tatooine. Gangster and information broker.

Melanie Malachite - Devaronian female exiled from Devaron. Bodyguard and assassin.

Miltia Malachite - Devaronian female exiled from Devaron. Bodyguard and assassin.

Blake Belladonna - Half-Cathar female from Cathar. Jedi Master.

Lie Ren - Mirialan male from Makeb. Jedi Apprentice to Master Belladonna.

Master Ozpin - Human male from Coruscant. Jedi Master and Council Member.

Nora Valkyrie - Human female from Ord Mantell. Republic Commando.

Neptune Vasilias - Devaronian male from Nar Shaddaa. Migrant Merchants' Guild.

Sun Wukong - Zabrak male from Nar Shaddaa. Grifter, middle-man, thief.

Coco Adel - Human Female from Coruscant. Mandalorian bounty hunter.

Fox Alistair - Miraluka Male from Nar Shaddaa. Mandalorian bounty hunter.

Velvet Scarlatina - Mirialan Female from Nar Shaddaa. Mandalorian bounty hunter.

Yatsuhashi Daichi - Human Male from Balmorra. Mandalorian bounty hunter.

A/N: And the truth behind Yang's arm is finally revealed. Sorry if some of it was a bit of a tear-jerker. And yay for Mando Team CFVY! They'll be making further appearances down the line… Next up, our heroes assault the enemy! Who will prevail?

Just a quick heads up - this is actually the last of my buffer. I'm hoping to get some more writing done this weekend, but there's a chance I might need to skip one week.

Stay shiny!