Dar'Manda

Beneath my helm, I smiled at Rose' words, a sense of cherishment washing over my form, our bond growing not only through the emotions of the moment, but through the emotions within our hearts as well. Truly, Kad Ha'rangir could be felt across Qat's entirety, sweeping across the land like the warmth of renewed fire rising from its heated coals, the entirety of the Mandalorian spirit rebirthing from long dead ideals. And for myself and Rose, we would be no different, a simple spark amidst the renewing flame. "Then may we forever chase the glory of honor in his name," My words would echo both from beneath my helm and within hers, a sense of endearment lingering upon them as my hands caressed her arms. Rising with her, I turned toward the two crimson beasts and pointed to each before her departure. "Like the ancients hounds of old whom chased the sun and moon, so shall we chase them in his crusade. I name your mount after Sköll, whom chased away the light, and mine Hati, whom always followed behind within the darkness." And as I watched her walk away, I turned my own gaze toward the metallic beast before me, a glimmer of sentience within its gaze. I reached up, placing my hand upon its form, running it across towards its front, an almost symbiotic understanding left unspoken as we simply looked upon each other. "Yes. Hati suits you just fine." I said. "Together, you and I, will ride the waves of darkness. Let the galaxy begin to quake." With that, I mounted Hati, patting her armored places once I settled myself, the twin beskar blades crossing my back as I took control and began lifting the Bes'uliik into the air. All across Qat as the crusade began its rising, a singular set of words echoed as one by the mouths of all.... "For Mand'alor!

Never had my sight gazed upon such power, such command, as I did this day upon Qat, its mesmerizing sounds and look nearly sweeping me away into a dream as I stood among Rose and the masses that had flocked upon the call of war. It was beautiful, poetic, and inspiring. And it called to my heart like a grasp of righteousness. Even beneath the helm that covered my Miralukian face, I could help but smile, as a tear strolled down my face, humbled by what I was standing there, witnessing. "I agree." I spoke in return to Rose' request as we ventured forward out amongst the masses, the golden glimmer of the Mythosaur Helm shimmering in the glowing lights that illuminated the whole as we walked onward. Feeling Rose' gloved hand, I pressed my helmed cheek against in, my gaze shifting toward her momentarily before returning back toward Mandalore as she spoke. "I do not wish to lose you again." The speech itself grasped me to the core, the very blood within my form boiling with the notion of war, of honor, of soul. It swept across me like a blanket of ecstasy as I was taken in by her words, my hand unconsciously tracing the outline of the helm that remained clipped to my hip, the words of Kad Ha'rangir echoing through my mind and heart. I found myself soon following in suit as the mass responded to each word spoken, carried away by the sheer feeling that swept across us entirely. Truly, our beloved God was with us this day, his embrace comforting and true. Soon I could my own helm within my hand, raised high for all to see as the cheers swept across the lands, my eyeless gaze exposed to all. Canderous Bralor had finally returned. I was home at last. And I smiled brazenly at that very notion.

As Rose stood from her perch, I simply gazed blindly about the room, my ears attentive toward the sounds that surrounded us, the smells that lingered in the air, taking in what my lack of sight could not grasp. True, I was able to see in a sense of the word, like forebearing shadows coming before the moment was upon us. But not in a literal sense. I could make out figures, silhouettes, like one using a broken hologic to search out spirits among the white noise. And though I retained the ability, there still held a retransition stage of returning toward my natural means of seeing. So, for the moment, like Rru, I would miss the tantalizing sight that I would likely regret later. But still, knowing that she would be by my side, as much of a rock to me as I would be to her, made my stand firm in the belief that the path that laid before me was of true honor and glory, worthy of my resurgence as Canderous Bralor and rebirthing the long dead Clan of my forefathers. "Ready to slay even the deadliest of foes with the slightest look," I jested in return, the humble smile hidden beneath the ancient helm as we strolled forward into our destinies. "May our foes fall to your beauty as much as they fall to your blade." And as we boarded our shuttle, my ship hovered silently outside, ready to follow us toward our next destination. Walking aboard this shuttle, we took our places and awaited our departure. I still had yet to learn of where we were going, but I trusted Rose, a bond beginning to form between the two of us. Whether it was Kad Ha'rangir or the Force that was responsible, only time would tell. ((To Qat))

My head shifted toward the sound of the hissing door, my eyeless gaze staring into the unknowing of nothingness as I overheard the footsteps come and go, the moment of leering almost causing my temper to flare just as the attendees shooed the onlookers away. Turning back toward Rose, my heart still filled with grief, I dared not to look upon her form with my forbidden sight, rather awaited her touch as well as her forgiveness.... if I truly deserved such. As as she did, I flinched at the surprise momentarily, and quickly welcomed her touch with a warming heart. "So he spoke to you as well? I questioned, feeling her hand tracing my face, unknowing of the blood until its metallic taste graced my lips, quickly causing me to grab her hand as she finished and tracing it until I found the puncture, realizing that despite her words, my foolishness had caused her more heartbreak than i had thought, a feeling that i too had known too often, especially in Luna. "He visited me upon the dunes, begging my return to his service. No longer had I spoke those words, my hand grasped tightly that of Rose', my form convulsing in a fit of undeniable possession, causing my head to sway backwards and toward the stars, my breathing shallow and grasping for air as something within took hold. And through me, it echoed its grasp into Rose, the words that soon erupted from mouth speaking in near unison to the voice that echoed within her own mind. "Children of my children, hear me now. For I am Kad Ha'rangir, Master of the Crusade and Lord of Purification. Baptize thy selves in my blood..." The unified voices trailed off momentarily as I unknowing slit my thumb upon the Mythosaur helm before reaching upward toward Roses' own face, my blood soaking thumb sliding down her own face from her forehead toward her lips before reaching back up and crossing beneath her own eyes in the same fashion as she had done to me. As the words continued, her blood dried upon my face, I reached for my own helm and adorned it as Ha'rangir finished speaking through me. "And then set forth upon the galaxy in search of my Ani'la Akaan, bathing in the blood of the weak as your crusade unfolds in my name, and in my name alone. Bare witness of my truth, for I am the only truth." Awakening from what felt like a slumber, the words spoken still echoing in my head, I stood up. I looked at Rose gauging if I had been the only one to feel it, but as the attendees scurried away in haste, I knew that I wasn't. There was no doubt in my mind now that both of us were being called into service, only I did not know where. Only that we were bonded now and forever, the ache of my form beginning to mimic her own. And deep down, the fire that I've always starved was beginning to burn brightly, a thirst that I once found unquenchable. "I will answer his call just as you sister."

I sat there in silence as I contemplated upon what had happened, where I had went wrong, the sights of Rru and Rose haunting even my thoughts as my hands held that blasted helm, awaiting the other two droids to return. In a moment of fit, I threw it, the mythosaur bone clanking against the plating of my ship's innards hull as I paced. Clenching my fist, I pounded the upward clench into my forehead, the words "Stupid, stupid, stupid" escaping my lips as I did. That was when my comm unit chirped, her location echoing a deep sigh of relief exhaling from my lungs. Quickly replying, I left her with little words. "Be there soon." And soon it would be, as the two droid returned with what little they were capable of recovering. Adorning my armor, I lifted my ship toward the upper atmosphere and toward my new destination, leaving this cursed world behind, as well as the scars left upon myself and those I had left upon it. It wouldn't be long before the doors to Rose' room hissed open and I stood before her, a different sight than what she had beheld before. My helm hung on my hip next to the Mythosaur Mask we were meant to retrieve, revealing my eyeless sockets that spoke of who I truly was, the armor i wore ancient. The man before her was not Atlas Dark, but Canderous Bralor, the last of Clan Bralor. And this man stood before her broken hearted. Reaching my hand out toward her, almost as if in disbelief, i caressed her face only but for a moment before i crashed to my knees as tears flowed from my face and my head slouched toward the durasteel floor. Few words escaped my lips, but the echoed of my sorrow, of my grief, of my broken heart. And even though she stood before me, there would forever be an ache in my own heart for the one that was not. "Truly. I am sorry Rose. I failed the both of you."

Death was nothing new for me, its grip held tightly but for a moment before life flooded upon me once again, it's cold waters surrounding my body in an icy embrace as I awoke aboard my ship within its cloning tank. Memories of my death began to flood my mind, causing me to react as if it was happening again, my vital signs going berserk but for a minute as I readjusted from death into life. It was the part I hated about cloning, and in truth, I hated the idea of cloning completely. Yet, as the sole remaining survivor of Clan Bralor, I held a duty to keep on living, even if it took multiple lifetimes. "No. Not until I have my vengence." I thought in silence as I remembered Rru and Rose, even the being known as Nexu, and the consequences of my ignorance. Floating there, I pondered what would become of them. As I sat there, floating in the cloning tank, my probe droids went about their duties, attempting to collect my body and possessions even as Nexu attempted to collect an unlikely, near non-existent bounty upon it, one managing to collect the helm I had fought so hard to claim and quickly returned to my ship as the two others went about collecting my armor and weapons as well as that of Rose and Rru. As of this moment, I held no clue as to whether they would achieve their objective or if my cybernetic form would be forced into its self destructive protocol following their destruction or tampering now that my vitals were non-existant. But back aboard my ship, as the memories returned, so did the voice and the promise it spoke of and expected. My gaze opened up, its sixth sense probing my surroundings behind its eyeless birthright. Slowly I climbed from the watery rebirth, my form stumbling like a newborn as my mind struggled against the body's unused motor functions and I fell flat upon my face outside the tank, forcing me to crawl toward the chamber that held a change of clothes as well as a spare suite of armor. Inch by inch I would crawl, my strength slowly beginning to return as I made my way. It would take time, but eventually, I would reach my destination. About a hour and a half would pass before i was dressed and in the cockpit of my ship, a waiting the return of at least one of my droids as Rose's comm would arrive, her voice coming across my screen and a sigh of relief silently erupting from my mouth. At least she had made it. By now, her weapon and armor had returned as well, leaving only my own and Rru's left for retrieval. Opening the channel, I replied. "Its great to hear your voice." I spoke, the echo of sadness ringing in my voice. "Rru... he didn't make it. I'm not to clear about the details, but I found both of your bodies before my own death. I'm...I'm sorry Rose. I... i have no words to make this any easier. I was a fool and it cost you both your lives. But if you wish, the least I can do is give you a ride and return your armor that my droids recovered. Just sent me your coordinates. Dark out. There was much I could say, or do. But if Rose chose to stick by me, and bring me into their fold, I would spend the rest of my lives repaying her for my foolishness by raging our Gods infinite war along side her. It was all I could do, and Canderous Bralor was a being of his word. ((Character sheet edited accordingly))

I looked on in horror as I gazed upon the carnage, unable to look away, unable to grasp my thoughts as my mind raced with chaos and questions. Rose laid there, defiled and grotesque. And Rru. Rru laid just a mere distance away, covered in blood, clutching what appeared to be a lightsaber, noticeably knocking at death's door. Anger flooded me at first, unaware to what had transpire here and what the tusken grasped a lightsaber. I knew of his sensitivity, evident of my first gaze upon him with my forbidden sight. But never could have I guessed he possessed such a weapon, a signifying blade of those i once chose to hunt. I was glued in my stance, unable to move, nor react, as I looked upon the two in anger filled horror, questions of what, how, who, and why all plaguing my concious. Frozen, I tried to make sense of things. Just hours ago, we were beginning such a great hunt. Now, here they laid, Rose dead, wounds unrecognizable while Rru gripped a weapon I never thought he possessed. While my heart urged me to pounce upon the Tusken for what he seemingly had done, logic kept me in place, as darkness lingered about immensely in the air which caused me to ponder what was real and what wasn't. "This is what happened." I spoke aloud to Nexu, the look of confusion and grief reappearing upon my face as my gazed remained upon Rose and Rru unwavering. "I no longer hold the title of Mandalore because I lead too many to death." But in the back of my mind linger a logic I felt hard to fight. It spoke of a warriors death, the very foundation of our people and our beliefs, that we should wage war in order to find ourselves a worthy afterlife. And as I gazed upon the two below, it reminded me of why I released the title of Mandalore, why I had became dar'manda, as I led so many to pointless deaths, their souls lost to manda even in the rebirthing of cloning technology. You may live countless times, but the soul only dies once. This is why Mandalorians revered cloning. It was damnation. "I've led two more down the path as dar'manda." I spoke as tears streamed down my face, the ache empty in my chest as I felt sorrow fill my heart, unaware that I had included Rru in that very statement. "Truly, I am cursed. And without any indication nor warning, as I gazed upon Rose and Rru, my slugthrower found its round right through my heart, my aim pressed against the body sleeve and under the chestplate, a perfect shot that blew away my heart in the same matter that it ached only moments before: shattered. My body slowly slumped to its knees, blood from my missing heart feeling my chest cavity and pouring from the singular hole that now bored its path through my form, spilling its contents to the ground before me. And as I looked to the starry sky above as my breath left my lungs and my soul with it, I saw it with clarity as time slowed to a singular halt. "Death is but the beginning." The voice from before spoke, the feeling of pride and vengeance feeling my soul, echoing the voice's own tone. "You're time has not yet come. I will not allow you to perish until you have fulfilled your duty. My child. My dar'manda. You will wage my war. "I am unworthy. I spoke in grief and anger, my thoughts flowing back toward the dar'manda that I once led under the title of Mandalore the Souless, of my clan's annihilation, of Luna's demise, and now Rose of Rru. "I cannot lead more souls away from manda and away from the eternal. I won't. "Fool! The voice spoke in anger. "Their souls are not mine to claim until war has been waged. Wage my war and I will grant them their eternity, their manda. This is the truth of the Taung, the truth of Mandalorian, the truth of Kad Ha'rangir! Without it, there is no rest. "What do you mean? I poised, a glimmer of hope feeling my soul as the promised was made. "They are already dead. What can be done for their souls?" "I am Kad Ha'rangir!" It spoke, its voice resonating down into the depths of my soul, its emotions washing over me as if waves crashed upon the shore that was my soul, the truth of it baptizing me in its power. "I am destruction. I am war. I am death. I am all! Now give yourself to me." But I already had. As time begin to move forward once more, I felt a new purpose flow into me. Even as my life disappeared from existence, i felt its power flowing through my soul, rekindling a fire lost so long ago. My emotions were strong, dark in nature, and war beckoned me. I didn't know why, but I reveled in this knowing, taking it all in like an expiring sponge as the darkness engulfed me, both in mind and in spirit. Little did I know that when I was cloned, I would no longer carry the alias of Atlas Dark, that I would once again carry my true name as Canderous Bralor, and that my sole objective would be war. All I knew was the warm embrace as I accepted his offer fully and completely this time. "Your soul is mine dar'manda. Be reborn through me."

"I see." Much had changed since I was a part of the Black Sun, and as I viewed the being before me with my forbidden sight, some things hadn't. Briefly I smiled. Lowering my weapons, I sheathed them, watching as the Hunter before me began tracking Rru and Rose. He had little to worry about. I would never shoot an opponent in the back, but found solace in the fact that he trusted me enough to. "Its an honorable career, and the pay isn't half bad." In truth, I didn't really need his help tracking Rru and Rose. Tatooine may have been a big place, but I have walked these dunes for many years now, so I knew them as well as I knew myself. Still, I was curious as to why the Black Sun wanted Rru, and this seemed like the easiest route to go in finding that information out. So I would play the part presented to me as i followed him swiftly. "Mandalore is the leader of my people." I spoke with a slight chuckle, surprised that the being before me had never heard the title, nor of our heritage. To know of Mandalorians is to know of Mandalore. "Or one of our adopted homeworlds. Whichever you are asking about. It means 'Sole Ruler' in my native tongue." As I spoke this, an uneasy feeling began to settle over me, a pull to the far off distance that reeked of doom and dread. I couldn't explain it, only that it urged me to make haste in our hunt of Rru and Rose. Without thought, I ran out to the forefront, quickly following the trail until we came to a elongated set of caverns. By now, the certainty of what we would find had settled into my heart, the feeling of dread thick and lingering. Only, despite that, I wasnt ready to see what I was about to witness.

A large eruption of laughter burst forth from my lungs as Nexu mentioned Black Sun, my visor splitting and sheathing its self as it revealed the blonde haired humanoid beneath the mask, my amber eyes trained upon his own hidden gaze. Though I did not lower my weapons, my guard slightly dropped and a smile crossed my face. "Ah yes, the Black Sun. I should have known." It had been ages since I had heard their name mentioned, memories of glorious battles and triumphs dancing through my head. Most notiably my battle with the Sith Lord known as Furion as well as my designing the base at Dubrillion. The days of my youth, so grand. "Tell me... who leads my former brethren now. Jacen? Delta?" So many years spent within the organization, so many battles. Such were my glory days. Days I hoped would one day return. But my time with the Black Sun had long been gone. I was once an Elite Operative, level five to be exact. But after a few failed bounties, I decided to retire, and leave that life behind me. My only hope was dying a death fitting a warrior myself, which is why i came to Tatooine, to the birth place of the only family i had ever known. And this is where i met Rose and Rru, a new hope for a warrior such as i. "In truth, I have no connection to him, only the blue haired woman you mention. She is 'vod, she is a sister of our people, and why I stand before you. And yes, we hunted the beast, though, I do not know where they are..." My words fell silent as I realized the truth of the situation. I really didn't know where they were. I had been scanning the horizon since we came to from whatever that sensation was, and there were no bodies nor heat signatures to be found. They were lost to me as of this moment.

Dust in the wind... Just as all hope felt lost despite my greatest efforts, darkness swallowed the world in a single lingering gulp as everything around me and in my sight simply vanished. And for a singular moment, I pondered if death taken me. Yet as soon as the aches returned, so did the world, the horde, their weapons, everything gone save for the two beasts that the two of us had slain individually. My mind began to race momentarily as a sense of panic set in, the unknowing of what happening growing fully aware. For me, everything had been real. To me, it was no illusion. But as I stood here among the dunes of Tatooine, there was no evidence to back up my belief. Only the lingering corruption of my soul that ached for war. And it was in that moment that my mind returned to Nexu, his mind obviously doing the same. Just as I turned to meet the gaze, and weapons, of Nexu, my own reaction mimicking his own as we both drew our weapons up each other in a stalemate, my gatling gaunlet and my hidden slugthrower both aimed at the being. Beneath my visor, I grinned, knowing the God of Destruction was on my side as we stared upon one another. But then the being spoke, my true name being spoken, unaware that he had heard me announce myself by it. "And what do you want of the Tuskan?" I questioned, my weapons aimed with steady hands as i moved about circularly, my gaze ever present and attentive to his own movements. I would, without any doubt, act if he even appeared to fire his own weapons without little thought. For death would present me an everlasting afterlife filled with glory if I took him with me. "What is your business with Rru?"

I couldn't believe my eyes as Nexu rushed out into the fray, obviously overlooking that I had ducked back behind the decaying carcus after the release of the third grenade. With little thought, I charged forth myself, the whirling of the gatling gaunlet letting loose its volley as I jumped from behind my cover. With my enhanced speed, it didn't take me long to cover the distance between Nexu and myself, the barrage of blaster fire focused upon the unending horde before us. I suppose that if I was to perish, this would be an honorable death, facing the infinite legion head on, songs of our tale living on through the ages by the locals who would find our deceased forms and the aftermath. With a smile hidden behind the darkened visor I adorned, I passed the hunter, igniting my damaged jetpack just enough to launch my form into the fray ahead with a few short bursts of explosive ignitions, my Ryyk Blades at the ready as I twirled my form into a deadly spin where my feet landed, bodies falling in a circular pattern around me, the rebreather beneath my visor a handy instrument to have as my form released the knock-out gas into the air around me, adding insult to injury to those who had declared me their enemy. Aided by the shifting winds of Tatooine, the gas roamed freely as it hissed it's way deep into the enemy's march, most unaware that they had even been gassed as they fell upon the sands, and for those it had yet to reach, hysteria and panic would set in as they stood at the ready. But my foolishness had not gone without a price, a stray blaster shot grazing my ribs and thigh as one managed a lucky shot similar to the one earlier that had damaged my jetpack, causing me to grow curious if it was the same being. But I cared little at this point, my thigh merely fathomed pain receptors, but the pain in my ribs real and fueling my onset of rage. As both of my Ryyk Blades disengaged from their hidden sheaths within my cybernetic arms, I grasped them tightly and once again charged forth, carrying the mixture of air and gas with me as I flew forth. Some of those around me fell to my blades, others to the lingering gas as i cut my path through the horse, whom now was forced to engage in close quarters rather than distant shots, their polearms having little efficiency against the duo of Nexu and myself. Still unaware of the lack of blood and guts that my reversed blades should have carried, I faced the possibility of my death with open arms. There was no fear, no regret. Only hatred, pain, and vengeance. Kad Ha’rangir was my only Master, and in his name, I would gladly die a death befitting the warrior he had chosen me to be. I placed my faith solely in he, the bane of peace, the Master of Destruction, my fate solely his to decide. I stood a true Mandalorian Warrior, unaware that my amber eyes grew distorted and corrupted by the darkness devouring my soul with each step I took. And the menacing smile that remained hidden by my blackened visor would have spoken mounds in testimony that I enjoyed each slain enemy more and more. Atlas Dark had truly embraced the darkness within. A warriors roar erupted from my throat, my body numb to the few shots that managed to connect and melt flesh with fiber, adding only more fuel to the fire boiling within me. The roar, similar to the one Rru had only released earlier, was a roar of darkness, and its impending victory.

There was a firefight! Crimson bolts lit up the darkened sky in a volley of fire as shots rang across the sand, rudely interrupting my conversation with the being below and infuriating me beyond doubt. It wasn't so much that they were shooting at me, but rather, that there was little decency left in the galaxy when two warriors could not converse upon the battle field without outsiders sticking their noses in where it didn't belong. And as I went to turn around and speak to them of their rudeness, one managed a lucky blow, sending me into a downward spiral until i crashed hard upon the sand, knocking the wind from my lungs. "Shite" managed to escape my lips as I rolled over from upon my back, where i had landed, onto my hands and feet, scurrying across the sandy landscape toward the carcus that the other warrior now laid behind in almost demonic fashion. Propping up against the decaying form, I looked at Nexu. "Guess this means we're allies, for now at least. Hearing an unknown roar echo across the landscape, I felt its chill, its terror, and somehow I knew that it resonated from Rru, and it left me with a sense of dread. Something had happened, something with dire consequences, and though I could not tell what, it simply did not sit right with me. I could feel his anger, his hatred, and in turn, it began to fuel my own. First Luna, then Dreth and the truth of their trickery. But now, now my comrades felt similarly as to my own, and I didn't not like those I knew to hurt. Only, I had yet discovered that I was partially to blame. "Ready yourself Nexu." I spoke in haste toward the being, something edging me to attack at that singular moment, like a push from the grave its self, aching for war and death in return, as I pulled three cylindrical spheres from my form, thermal detonators to be exact, with my thumbs clasping down upon the first two's activation buttons as the timers sounded their activation. "Now they find out what it means to attack Canderous Bralor of Clan Bralor, former Mandalore and Black Sun Operative..." The rest just trailed off as I chunked the spheres toward the incoming horde who currently stood distracted. Ducking back behind the carcus, Nexu could silently hear me counting to three before an immersive explosion shook loose among the horde as well as the ground between, its rumble felt even under our own forms. It was in that moment I stood up, letting my own barrage of crimson bolts light up those who still remained, my determination hidden behind my blackened visor. Now only these demons stood between me and my friends, and after the night I've had, my levels of stress was deteriorating as I took it out upon these beasts of ages past. I needed to make it to Rru and Rose, to see what and why this dread erupting from Rru was caused by and be of some aid to them. And this horde before me was making it impossible. With my free arm, I threw the third detonator as the gatling gaunlet winded down, ducking back behind the decaying beast once more, and reading my Ryyk blades erupted once more, giving me an almost wyrm like appearance. They would fall before me should they stand against me, for war called my name, and war was within me. For Mandalore

Without a word, I charged forth, by blades extended. With every slash of the Ryyk blades, I felt the power of Kad Ha'rangir empowering me, I could feel my strength growing, my speed getting faster. I could taste my list for more, and as I viewed the warrior before me, eternal damnation of House Dreth. They had taken so much from me, caused me so much grief, so much pain, and it was time I returned such hospitality. I reveled in the thought of their destruction, and it fueled my soul with a fire I hadn't felt in such a long time. Dancing a duel of death upon the eternal sands, the dust intertwining amidst our forms, I felt the call of war, of action, and it gripped my soul so tightly. It felt as if I was home, in the warm embrace of my loved ones, as if the entirety of Clan Bralor embraced me once again. I would honor my master with his desires, firstly with this warrior before me and then the whole of Dreth, for I would bury them just as I buried my Clan, only this time in pleasure. Dreth would pay for what they had done. With a simple lift of my foot as I started to run, I nearly cleared five feet of distance in only a blink of an eye, and I felt more alive than I ever had. The power of Kad Ha'rangir was amazing, powerful, and I was loving it, as a mound of dust exploded into the air as my fist drove into the sands when I missed the warrior. "Kad Ha'rangir preserve us" I spoke, quickly twisting upon the sand and bolting toward the warrior once again, this time unleashing a fury of laser bolts as the gatling gauntlet sprung to life and twirled its barrage followed by a massive explosion of fire and fuel as I launched a grenade following the blaster bolts. "For Mandalore! I spoke without thinking, I acted without remorse, I let the warrior within me guide my every decision, and I acted from heart. I intended to destroy this warrior of Dreth before me, and in doing so, start my campaign of terror upon the House he represented. I would avenge my Clan, and nothing would stop me so long as I held the power of Kad Ha'rangir to aid me in battle. And knowing that simply set so graciously upon my blackening heart as I slung myself at the opponent time and time again. And in one single blow,the Ryyk blade ejecting from my forearm and its hilt finding my grasp as I spun my form beautifully, the warrior fell at my hand, my blade finding the gap between visor and shoulder as I spilt its blood upon the darkened sand. I sat there, partially in disbelief that I had felled a member of House Dreth all the way out here, but also that Kad Ha'rangir had aided me so well in this battle. It felt almost too good to be true, as if I was dreaming. I was faster than ever before, stronger, and even deadlier. I hadn't even broken a sweat. But something soon came over me as i stood there, and before i even held a chance to question what it was, I activated my jetpack via my HUD and an explosion of fire and lift erupted behind me, knocking the approaching warrior(Crixus) behind me off guard and blasting me to safety. "Who approaches Canderous of Clan Bralor?" I spoke to the newly arrived warrior, stationary above him with my gatling gaunlet at the ready and my Ryyk Blades resheathed. "Speak now, or forever hold your peace! Silently beneath the glowing red visor, I grinned, my heart racing with excitement, hoping he chose the latter.

There was darkness in the air, and it was a thick mist, covering not only the local area, but the very souls it ensnared. I stood there as the familiar visor hovered above me through the thick mist, as if gazing upon me with every intent of ending what it once began. Dreth was the name it bore, and I had never forgotten it even for a singular moment. And I stood beneath it, as if begging it to reach down and dare an attempt. I remembered the moment I first laid eyes upon those known as Dreth, a fellow Clan whom once served Mandalore along side us in centuries past. That was, until the day that I, the Dar'Manda had been born, a curse upon Clan Bralor, that my father had been Miraluka. Shunned by all but my own clan, I was branded unworthy at birth, and Dreth in their hatred of the Force and its ilk, made sure that I would carry the curse alone. They were the reason I was the last of my clan, wiping all of Clan Bralor from existence while leaving me alive, a reminder of Bralor's curse, all because my mother chose the righteous path of birthing her rapist's seed. And I have walked the path of Dar'Manda since I was but a man of ten years, even leading fellow Dar'Manda like myself as Mandalore the Souless until Dreth once again forced me to walk alone. They were the true curse of Clan Bralor, not his ideology. And now that I have companionship once more, they hover above me, attempting once again to destroy me. "Canderous Bralor...." A voice whispers across the sand, echoing through the mist and traveling upon the swirling of air and moisture. "Call upon my name and forsake the false Manda." It speaks to my heart, I feel its tug at my soul, a fire burning within. "You once knew me as a friend, yet forsook me when you tossed aside the Crown." I felt its warm embrace wrapping around me and comforting my sorrow. "Call upon me and i shall set your soul afire, granting you truth of 'Ani'la Akaan', the Great Last Battle." Once again a voice spoke across the sands and through the mist, this one familiar and loving, its tone known nearly all of my life. "Don't my love. Do not give into the Darkness. I beg this of you. It was Luna's voice, causing me to gaze around, yet I could not see nor find her form among the mist as I tried so desperately. "It will only end in pain and misery for the both of us." "Call upon my name and I will grant you the power to avenge your Clan my child, and the knowledge of Dreth's greatest weakness. Spoke the mysterious voice, the truth of its words so alluring that it nearly caused my gaze to stop my search for Luna, my heart feeling torn in two. "I will show you the power the fear in you, and together we will raise Clan Bralor from the ashes of those whom have feared its name for millennia. All you have to do is call my name." "I beg you Canderous, do not listen to it. I heard her voice, sobbing hidden behind strength, causing my chest to burn with sadness and I tried to reach out toward the direction it came from. "The power it will grant you will be your destruction, just as it did my brother." Despite the mysterious beings words, Luna had my attention the most, as I scanned through every vision i held at my disposal, including the Force, still unaware that i was awake and no longer dreaming, her tug at my heart despite tearing it in two keeping my sanity as i focused to grasp an understanding of what was happening to me. She was my guiding light amidst the lingering darkness, until.... "Who do you think took everything away from you my child, including your beloved?" The mysterious voice once again beckoned, a wave of sadness washing over me as I heard Luna cry out hysterically, and in almost unison the truth came to me, echoing in my shattering heart as much as the mysterious voice and Luna's. "Dreth" "Forgive them Canderous." I heard Luna speak, her voice sounding full of tears, aching at the revealing of the truth that nearly broke my soul. First my Clan, then my fellow Dar'Manda, and now my beloved. It was almost too much to take as my blood boiled with the heat of ten thousand suns lighting the sky. "Canderous, my love, do not let hate consume you. I am still here, in your heart. Do not give in." Yet it was too late, my heart and soul burning with desire, fueled by hate and wrath, vengeance my only cause. And as a warrior stepped forward adorning the emblem of Dreth upon its armor: war. "Kad Ha'rangir."

Was it a dream? Or was it real? I could no longer tell reality from fiction as I laid there in silence, gazing upon the twin suns beaming over head as I gazed upon the distant sands roaring before me. It was a beautiful sight, even for the hell hole known as Tatooine, the wind blowing through my spiked blonde hair, the sand rushing across my form. It felt peaceful, familiar, as if a memory. "Canderous." I heard a voice speak, its tone coy and playful as my name was dragged out before two hands wrapped around my eyeless sockets, feeling a soft touch and smelling the subtle hint of jasmine. "What are you staring at love?" My heart nearly stopped. That voice, that smell, that touch. Impossible. She was dead, buried beside her family's farm. I've seen her grave. Yet, I knew her too well, her white irisless eyes, that soft wavy brown hair that clung to her shoulders and still managed to reach the middle of her back. And the jasmine, her favorite tea, an expensive herb that I brought to her often enough that she had grew to know the exact moment I would walk through the door. Luna? But how? You're dead! "Always pointing out the obvious there, aren't you Captain? Though, not as long as you thought." She spoke with a chuckled, placing a kiss upon my blistered and chapped lips before sitting down next to me, grasping my hand into hers and squeezing tightly, laying her head upon my shoulder. "And this is a memory set within a dream. Beautiful setting isn't it, Canderous dear?" "What do you mean Lulu?" I questioned, her words growing more perplexing by the moment. What did she mean by not as long as i had thought? I held suspicions that Scorpio had survived, reports popping up here and there about him, but nothing concrete. But nothing about her nor her parents and younger brother. Only grave markers, now long covered by the shifting sands, along with the family farm where I spent my youth while in hiding. "I thought your uncle Ragnar had claimed your life. It's the reason I joined the Black Sun, to hunt Sith, to find him." "He almost did." She spoke, sadness in her tone as she buried her face into my armor to hide the tears that streamed her face. "If it wasn't for Scorpio, he would have. And because of that, he left me here to join the Jedi and do as you have. Only..." She stopped for a moment, almost as if wishing what she was about was not true as she raised up and stayed into the distant stars. "He became the thing he hunted, and now, faces death upon a distant planet, his soul lost without guidence. At least I had Master Starlisk to guide mine at Gala. I jumped up, rushing to my feet but suddenly stopped by her tight grasp as she pulled me back. "There's nothing you can do Canderous. His fate is sealed, and it must be this way, as the Force wills it. Besides, you're still dreaming, and you've gotten yourself into quite a jam over that silly mask. I chuckled at her words, a warm feeling rushing over my form, feeling home for the first time in a long time with the woman who had long held my heart. "I sure have, haven't i? Silence sat for a moment as I cherished the moment, and as I went to speak, I found her finger upon my lip as she shushed me, typical of her when she felt the need to say something before I did. "You've been too hard on yourself love. You are not soulless as you believe, but rather the opposite. You are full of life, expressing yourself and your beliefs, standing for what you feel is right, and you never back down from anything. I only wish I had your courage when I was alive. So live for me Canderous, live in honor of you clan, and live to free yourself of the shackles you have placed upon yourself." But suddenly that warm feeling was rushed aside as a cold, bitter, otherworldly presence invaded my dreamscape. It felt dark, deadly, and hungry. Looking around, I could not place it, and as I went to turn back to Luna, she was gone and the landscape darkened by a rumbling cloud of static and hellfire lingered above me, a familiar Visor forming its shape as I stood to face it, my singular word as cold as the air that began to swarm around me. "Dreth" Little did I know that I was now awake, my form once again complete, unknowingly thanks to Luna's spirit.

It felt as if I had been laying there for hours, day turning into evening, followed shortly by the night sky as thousands of suns and stars burned in the distant galaxies. I held no clue as to Rru or Rose' whereabouts, and in truth, it worried me. But I was stuck, unable to do anything as the night air began to grow cold with the absence of the twin suns. In the distance where I had originally fallen, I see the glowing red signals of my probe droids, knowing of their collection and awaiting their arrival. I had programmed the droids using medical droid programming to collect and reassemble my cybernetics in case of destruction, a necessary protocol for a loner such as I. But the wait had always killed me in a manner of speaking. Off in the distance I could hear the shriek of Rru's mount, followed by weapons fire, but what it foretold, I could not sense nor see. My enhanced vision and hearing had been damaged during the fall, forcing me to remove my visor and rely on my own natural abilities, little as they were. True, as a Miraluka hybrid, I could see through the Force. But it helped me little amidst the sand of Tatooine, my vision no more than white noise at this point. So I simply listened, my gatling gauntlet standing ready at the moments notice of trouble in my vicinity. I felt pathetic, weak, unable to assist those I was in watch of. And in truth, thoughts of ending my life dishonorably had crossed my mind. But after the mess I had caused, the life I had ended, all to retrieve this mask, I could not dishonor the fight that was fought simply because of my failure as Manda. For now, I could only sit and wait, my probe droids acting to heal and rebuild their Master. I only prayed that Rose and Rru could hold out that long.

Click... Beep... Boom... Within three sounds, victory was ours, but at untold costs, sending my world spiraling into hell. Firstly, upon my own discovery, my form literally fell apart on me. Unaware to Rru's own attack happening at the same time as mine, upon pushing the button of the detpacks posted within the dead Banthas, my arm crumbled before my eyes, leaving me only thoughts upon the stress put upon it during our fight. On top of that, like a chain reaction, so did the rest of my cybernetic form follow in suite, next with my weapons and jetpack following with both my legs as I plummeted hard upon the sea of dunes below, knocking the wind out of me. Laying there, helpless aside from my armor and the one arm that managed to retain it's fixture, I looked outward toward the now beheaded behemoth that laid lifeless before me. grabbing one of the ejected Ryyk Blades, driving it's tip into the ground and pulling my massive forward inch by inch toward the beast. Secondly, in the midst of the previous chaos, I noticed Rose being thrown across the landscape. Deep down, I felt failure of her being attacked, as I trusted that she would keep her distance. But I should have known better, as Mandalorians were never known for playing things cool and thinking before hand. Point in case was the shape I now laid in. Unaware of her injuries, and in truth, of little help or use as this moment, I trusted the Tusken to run to her aid as I finally skidded my form across the few meters that distanced myself from the dragon. How pathetic was I, to believe that I could solely take down such a beast? How ridiculous did I appear crawling toward a prize that I sowed into the beast's scales while it dreamt one night so long ago. But here I was, a lesson well learnt despite my surviving the odds thanks to Rose and Rru. "Rru!" I yelled across the sands, noticing his drexl flying nearby, placing Rru at least within ear shot. "Go check on Rose. I'll be fine." And such was the truth of the matter. Aside from my cybernetics gone to shite, and being a one armed slug, I was unscathed aside from being covered in venom and sand. "Grab my first aid kit if she's been cut. It'll have antivenom in it." I spoke, leaning over on my side and burying my blade in it's scales, blood and flesh squirting all over me as I went. If I could, I would have ran to Rose myself, but without the use of my legs and missing arm, it was best I remained focus on the task at hand. And I continuously dug my blade along a sewn scar until I felt the steel hit bone, or rather Mythrosaur Bone in this case. Using my only arm, I reached in nearly to my elbow, and pulled forth a T-Visor many believed to long be forgotten, the Helm of Mandalore the First. Wiggling my way upward against the Krayt's form, I sat there, gazing upon it's visage, an half hearted grin upon my face. Never did I think I would retrieve the item I held after I hid it away inside the beast, but nonetheless, here I was holding it once again within my hands, still unworthy to hold it. Yet, perhaps this new proclaimed Mandalore would, and it brought hope to my heart. And after today's battle, our surviving it despite the odds, and the new feeling of life returning to my soul, just perhaps it would be a new era for our kind.

The beast reared its massive head as I flew forth toward his, its fangs snarling at my puny form, the poisonous venom already dripping from its cuspids as it drew its serpent like neck back and lunged forward for its first attack. Had I been an inexperienced lackey hired to protect, it would have gobbled me in more seconds. But no, that was its first mistake. For I had hunted its lesser kin for nearly a decade, Krayt and Tuskens alike, any who wished harm upon those I chose to protect. And as its head neared me, I slung my form aside and placed a well deserved punch to its nostril, causing the beast's head to fall backwards almost in disbelief. No, I would not go so easily. If it wanted me, it would have to fight with all its might. And so the beast would this day, for as soon as it recovered from my first blow, it moved its massive form aside and brought about its tail in an attempt to catch me off guard. Yet again it failed, for unlike the beast before me, I was lighter and quicker despite my own massive size, shrouding myself in a smoke screen as tear gas leaked from my form and enveloped me within its darkened cloud. Leaning backwards, I reared away, unleashing a barrage of blasterfire I lit up its side with my gatling gauntlet just before my cybernetic hand twisted to side and allowing two simultaneous plasma grenades to launch themselves behind the barrage. The beast let out a roar of pain that echoed through-out the region, likely sending distant beings into a frenzied flee as its sounds reach kilometers away. But it was not done yet. Like a beast backed into a corner, it would fight until its dying breath, and soon came at me feriously. Angered and in dire pain, much like myself, it held firm that it would not go quietly, if at all. It struck at me again with its tail, causing me to flee its reach, but this time its head awaited me, jaws wide open. Unable to react, I soon found myself clutched between its powerful jaws, my cybernetic form versus its natural encompassing strength as my form struggled to keep it bite open, glowing red and smoking as we two fought for the better to survive. Yes. Today was the day of the great hunt and I had chosen my prey wisely. Too long had I been without a worthy opponent, an adversary worthy of my struggle. And beneath the mask that adorned my face, I grinned while heartily, for today I had found such. Smoke poured from its mouth as it bellowed outward, making my form impossible to see from within its jaws, yet I was there, and more alive than I had been in so very long. Today my soul filled with a warriors pride, no longer feeling the burden of Dar'Manda, but rather the living spirit of Clan Bralor, and I reveled in it. This was the moments I lived for and dreamed of. Using my cybernetic strength, combined with the force of the jetpack upon my back releasing its inferno at full power, I grinned, feeling the beast away its serpent like head as it fought to close its jaws and seal my demise. But this was its second mistake, granting me an opportune moment to slide my hand forward and brace its jaws with one of the Ryyk Blades just long enough to once again let loose a barrage of blaster fire from the gatling gauntlet and setting its throat aflame with its burning plasma and granting my release. Flying upward and out of its grasp, my heart pounding with such velocity that it felt as if it was going to burst, the adrenaline within me pumping at full speed, I gave praise for the first time in a long time for the opponent that I faced this day. My form covered in its venomous drool, thankful the beskar held up under such pressure and I held no scratch for it to bleed into, I drew ready for my last and final attack. All I needed was for Rose and Rru to play their part as distractions, and after seeing my fight with the greater Krayt Dragon so far, surely I had inspired them. ((2))

"You will have it, " I spoke in response to Rose's request, a nod of my visor in a manner of giving my word before I turned toward Rru, a name that in my mind fit him perfectly. "I hear Krayt Dragons scales make fine armor. And with those words lingering upon the wind, I chuckled and sped away. I had already set my plan in motion, a slaughter of Bantha upon the horizon to lure in the prey I was vigilant on ever watching, keeping tabs upon the present that I had hidden within its form, a means of concealing what I wished and never being found without my knowledge unless a warrior worthy of it claimed it for themselves. Yet, as fate would have it, I would be that warrior to retrieve it, and presenting it anew to a warrior I would need to seem worthy of my own sight. Fate, such a fickle concept, yet it's power immeasurable. Zooming across the sands, I whined past an old farmstead that long held childhood memories for me, a dear friend and fellow warrior whose life began and ended there. Nearly lost to the sands of time now, it laid half buried beneath an encompassing dune, it's history all but forgotten by the loves it held and my own memory, it's fate mirroring my own. House of Armegedon, it's only surviving member with whereabouts unknown to all but he, his lineage dating back as far as the Force Orders themselves. By the time I arrived, the three humble probe droids hovered in unison through-out the carnage, their lure hinting at a nibble by the distant rumble that snaked its way toward me. Dismounting, the Rryk Blades sat perched outward, ready for battle, ready for a truly magnificent hunt. As Rose and Rru began to arrive, I motioned them to ready themselves. Rru would revel in what laid in store, a hunt worthy of honor in his people's misguided ways. And Rose, if not frozen in awestruck, would find this to be the greatest test of her life. Yet, despite their injuries, my faith in the two seemingly held firm. Passing Rru my KX-80 rifle, I spoke but a few humble words. "You'll need this." For nearly a decade I had laid this day out to perfection. The beast we hunted fed daily at this exact location as to keep tabs upon it as well as provide a means of keeping it local should I ever need to retrieve the item I awarded it when I first came to Tatooine. And as the sand began to shift and stir in the distance, I knew that my efforts were not in vain. A grimacing chuckle erupted from beneath my darkened Beskar visor, quickly followed by a devilish grin as my prey came ever so closer. The sands began to rise, at first no more than a simple mound. But then horns began to emerge, and the mound grew ever so largely, just as the head of the nearly one hundred and thirty meter beast reared upward for the first bite of the day, quickly devouring the Bantha it had just taken. I looked toward the two that accompanied me, giving a humble nod toward them as the beast devoured a second. Without a word, I charged forth, the hum and explosion of the engines upon my back igniting and lifting my form into the air and toward the greater Krayt Dragon with haste. Yes, today was a day worthy of such a hunt. ((1))

I sat in silence for a moment as the two finished conversing, my gaze upon the distance, lost within my own thoughts despite their words having caught my hearing here and there. Ross's offer from before, only solidified by her recently secondary offer to join her and her 'vod, brought forth emotions I had not felt in over a decade, a purpose I had all but left behind me. A smirk came across my face, sly and devilish, as I thought of the fate working behind the scenes. "It's likely his ancestor's turned away from technology after the destruction of their lush planet..." I spoke, gathering a handful of sand and letting it pour from the bottom of my clenched fist as I remembered back to stories I had heard of Tatooine's history. "Scolars of every sort have came from all across the galaxy, hiring protectorates as they venture out in search of questions to that very answer, very few ever returning with their humble finds." I stood, looking toward the horizon, my mind fluttering off in the distance as if I was gauging something, almost as I was looking for something. And while I was, I didn't mention it yet, rather conversing on my own thoughts of the Tusken heritage. "It's a common belief that the Jawas and Sand People are descendants of the original race, yet, it's never been completely proven given the differences in DNA. But given the history of Tatooine, and it's history with the Infinite Empire of Rakata, I suspect that is why the Sand People resent technology. It was the original race, probably a space faring race, that doomed Tatooine in the first place. And if the Jawas and Sand People are truly their descendants, that would explain why the Sand People resent technology while the Jawas embrace it." By now I had seen what I was looking for, the rise of the familiar hill toward the West. Turning around, I climbed onto a nearby speeder, it's engines churning to life as it hummed its first breath in a couple of moons. Turning toward Rose and Tru, I playfully grinned at the two before my visor swung shut, it's mechanical gears whirling behind a red glow. "Before we set off to join your vod Rose, there is something I must retrieve, something my Clan has carried for generations. Will you aid me? And you, Rru, I suspect you would not turn down a great hunt. Shall we appease your ancestors with honor? The trip was only a few clicks away, through the trenches of the fallen Tuskens I had slayed only a week ago, and past an old homestead that I knew all too well. It would be a worthy hunt for us all, but given the condition of the two, I would carry most of the payload. Either way, what I sought must be retrieved before I joined them, and their Mandalore tested by me and me alone in single combat to see if he or she was worthy to carry the title I carried for nearly half my life.

I listened closely to the Tusken as he spoke, my assumption standing correct as he nearly cloned the exact words that he had heard hundreds of times from others he had slain over the last few years exploring Tatooine. As this Tusken, or rather this man, held no clue to who he was. But either way, I, the once blind son of Clan Bralor knew all too different. Speaking in the Tusken's dialect, I mentioned a phrase that would ring true on both of lineages as warriors, roughly translating to the following. "From Dust we are born, and to dust we shall return upon death, embraced by the spirits of those that came before us" Leaning back onto the speeder where we had congregated, feeling more like a third wheel right about now as the two love birds stared off into the distant setting of the twin suns, I couldn't help but find myself pitying the man behind the Tusken wraps right about now. There was no way to know his back story, nor where he was truly from. But after seeing his face, gazing upon him with my forbidden sight, there was no denying it. He wasn't born into them. I had gazed upon enough of them to know this fact. Thinking back to my own linage, the reason behind my false name, what lead to me being the last of my Clan and branded Dar'Manda, in a way, I felt a slight kinship, even if I despised what he considered kin. "Rruor'rur'rr?" I questioned in a jestly manner, a simple chuckle erupting from my drying mouth that nearly led to a cough. "Can I call you Rru for short? I am Atlas Dark of Clan Bralor." I stretched my arm outward and up toward him, preparing to grasp his just below the elbow should he return the offer in the warriors handshake.

As the duel between the two warriors drew to a close, I find myself more intrigued by the Tuskan more than the hate I held normally for his people. He not only held his own against a skilled warrior, he fought true. It made my mind wonder of this strange desert beast. So as the two limped out of the Cantina, I followed as well, saying not a word as I left credits for my tab and then some, chugging the last of the amber ale as I did. Once outside I merely observed, letting my forbidden vision fall upon the two as Rose tended his wounds. As an observer, it was a warm sight to see two combatants settle differences outside of death, a test of strength to further hone their skill before the true battle took place. But as I gazed onward, I noticed more than I meant to, especially concerning the Tusken. It seemed we weren't so different as I had first thought. Letting go of my forbidden vision, I approached cautiously, yet less threathening, my cybernetic gaze meeting the man's beneath the mask. "We are simple warriors," My tone groan in his native tongue, as I took a look as his wound, nodding to Rose that it would suffice for the time being, and beginning to tend to her own using a similar, yet veteranly trained use of the same kit. "She only wished to test your skill, not kill you. If she had wished your death, we would not be having this conversation." Just as I finished the last of the suturing on Rose, I turned my gaze back toward the Tuskan as I stood. "Tell me Tuskan. You're not originally of this world, are you?

Silently in stillness, I watched the two before me ever so closely as they twirled about the dance floor like swirling pedals upon a fountain's drain. I would respect the girl's wishes, despite my own doubts, and only observe as she seemingly scouted the Tusken. My ears catching a tune playing in the foreground, having heard mention by another patron that the classic had been remade by some diva pop star by the name of Ammi Wolfstar, I chugged down my drink, awaiting the beast before me to make a favorable mistake. Yet to my surprise, it wasn't the beast whom made the first move. It was the young girl, whose blue hued hair mimicked the skies of Onderon, who struck first, a kiss of death foretelling her intentions. At first, out of natural reaction and out of dislike for the Tusken, I went to move toward her aid. Yet, like the hand of an old friend pulling upon arm, the laws of our ways prevented me from interfering. The gears within my arms whirled as I clenched my fists in disgust, yet, this was her choice alone to engage this beast in the ways of our people. Even if his would not return the favor. Much to my surprise though, she managed to outmatch him at every turn, only briefly receiving the wind knocked from her sails as she continued her attack, the bar soon filling with smoke and fire as she added momentum to her attack using a jetpack. Truly she had this match rather quickly, or so I thought until the Tusken sacrificed an injury to regain the upper hand. At first I considered some time of aid, whether via the strength and speed of my cybernetics or simply by knocking out everyone within the bar using the gas dispenser I had wired through-out my form. But, even then, it felt distasteful in aiding, despite my ill-will toward the Tusken. So for now, I'm simply stood and watched, hoping she could recover from the added momentum that the Tusken had added during his last attack and regain the upperhand. Yet, should he try something dirty, like using the slug thrower he held upon his back, he would find something very similar pointed in his direction within the palm of my hand, the same pistol that Rose had too found herself upon the near receiving end just a few hours before.

My head tilted slightly upon its axis as Rose' words rang through before I turned my vision back to the beast before me, my helm and blades retracting into my cybernetic form as I cooled my temper. If she welcomed him, and he minded his nature, whom was I to be the aggressor. Realizing that I was out of liquor, I wandered toward the bar as the two stepped outward onto the dance floor, Talis rushing to gather me a refill. It wasn't out of fear nor was it out of requirement. But Talis had known me for a better part of going on three years now, so he knew me well. It has been nearly two-thirds a decade since I set foot upon the desolate planet in search of some sort of hint as to the whereabouts or fate of my childhood friend after encountering his sister years ago. But I had only found the remains of their homestead, ravaged by their Uncle and his kin, the Sith. Such seemed to be the theme of the Galaxy during our youth, my own story very similar due to a chance of birth. Taking a gulp of the brew, my gaze shifted back towards the Tuskan. Silently I pondered his own story, but shook it from my mind after a brief thought. It wasn't that I hated him, but the cowardice ways of his kin. Supposedly they were the rightful descendants of this once lush planet, between them and their kin that scavenge. But unlike our forefathers, the Taung, their society had died with their demise, leaving behind these husks of their former selves. Yet, unlike their kin, these Tuskens grew to hate anyone outside themselves. And in cowardice, they attack in numbers upon the weak, fearing the strong, all while claiming a warriors path. And that sickened me. Briefly feeling the glass shatter in my hand as my grip tightened, I turned back to Talis asking his forgiveness and asking that he charge me for it. Yet, all the while wondering if I was any better than him. He may have been Tusken, and I Mandalorian. But besides tactics, was I the better to claim warrior? Again I shook the thought, claiming it to be a mere thought brought about by the Bralor Curse, a constant need to justify doubt of one's self prowess in combat. Hence why I changed my name and deleted the records of myself all those years ago in an attempt to rid myself of such doubt, leaving it up to fate to decide whether I would follow the doubtfilled life of my lineage or would I live up to my namesake's?

I had been sitting there in silence for quite a few moments, lost in memories of these last few years upon this dusty planet and contemplating her words and offer. In truth, I had grown tired of Krayt, though it's hide had managed to bide my cost of living, as well as the many Tuskan gaderffi I had brought in, and just as I was about accept her offer, I felt the table being shoved on top of me. Steam hissed from my form as the rebreather automatically found its self upon my face and my helm shutting close over my surprised look. "Kriff. What the.... was all I managed to get out before my line of sight followed the aim of Rose' weapon and saw the Tuskan standing at the door way. Ignoring Rose' attempt to clean the alcohol she had spilt as I rose up, the twin Ryyyk Blades erupting from my cybernetic forearms as I stared down the beast through the red glow behind my blackened T-Visor, my astonishment at his bravery overwhelming my ability to clearly think straight. Yet I stood by, my blades at the ready despite Rose sheathing her own as two seemed to jest. Hearing his grizzled attempts at basic, which was a surprise of its own, a threatening growl erupted from within my own form, a harsh variation of growls and clicks that the Tuskan would know as his native language which would loosely translate into "Fier'fek your ancestors, coward. Your kind knows nothing of the Warrior's Dance." Which was partially true, at least from own perspective. For I had walked this planet for many seasons alone, a hired hand to hunt his brethren among many other jobs. And I had dealt with many of his kind, all a hindrance and nuisance, like mynocks to space goers. Despite poor Talis' attempts, whom stood off to my side, to quell my temper and urge me outside, my form stood firm. If this Tuskan wished to the witness the dance of warrior, I was happy to oblige. As the last of Clan Bralor, dar'manda or not, I was honor bound to do so, and unlike those they attacked in swarms, I would not go quietly into the night.