Mellanie Devanus Vevut

It took a few minutes to set up the shot, but the waiting paid off. "Now!" Araac shouted, and they both pulled their triggers. Mellanie's blaster bolt and Araac's flechette both flew directly for the Sith. Mellanie's was blocked by the nunchaku, but Araac's found flesh, downing the Sith immediately and giving Aryian the chance to breathe.

The two Mando'ade didn't hesitate, rolling to their feet and over the windowpane. The street was clear save for a few stragglers, and Mellanie made quick work of them. She trotted over to the Jedi, swapping in a fresh power pack for her blaster as she did so. "Comms are down. Did you see where the rest of the squad went?"

Araac reached down and relieved the Sith's corpse of it's nunchaku lightsabers, clipping him to his own belt. An explosion rocked the ground, throwing dirt in their faces, but Mellanie didn't flinch. She just knew they had to keep moving. She had the really strange feeling that Kalyani was in trouble, and she couldn't shake it. It made her want to tear through the city until she found her sister. She pushed the feeling down. Kaly would be fine. She had to be.

As soon as the Sith turned his attention away from Mellanie, she could hear Araac shouting for her to retreat. It was the smart thing to do. The Sith was twirling his blades, and the Jedi was pulled off the roof down towards those spinning blades. This was a battle way beyond her.

But the Jedi had saved her life. She owed him. And that was debt she could not ignore. Jumping to her feet, she retreated across the debris-lined avenue. Leaping through a shattered glass window, she ducked under the ledge. Araac was already there. Comms were down, and there was too much noise for them to hear each other, but Mellanie knew he was worried for her. She shook her head, trying to let him know she was fine. But there wasn't time for more than that. She had to help the Jedi. With a signal, she gestured. Side by side, crouching in the cover of the windowsill, the two of them leveled their weapons at the Sith, Mellanie resting hers on the sill for extra stability.

This was a time for careful aim. Once the Sith had his back to them and was distracted by the Jedi, he would get two blaster bolts to the back of the head.

Turning her fire on the squad drew their attention alright. The group split up, and Mel hoped that her message had somehow gotten through the jamming. She didn't know what that squad was sneaking off to do, but it couldn't be good. There wasn't anything she could do about it right now, though, cause the Sith had turned his attention directly on her. He came charging, swinging his short lightsabers like some sort of nunchaku.

Fumbling, Mellanie tried to flick the switch on her blaster to set the blasted thing to stun, but the Sith was on her faster than should have been possible. "Mel!" she heard Araac cry. A lightsaber was coming down at her head--and suddenly it hit midair and stopped. There was a second of confusion on both her part and the Sith's, and then she flicked the switch and began to pour expanding rings of stun bolts at him. In her buy'ce's HUD, she saw that the grizzled man in mismatched armor bearing a brilliant silver lightsaber--the one she had seen earlier--standing on a nearby rooftop. She assumed it was he she had to thank for saving her life.

Just then, Jaesko and Kalyani came pounding up. "Over there!" she cried, pointing them towards the rest of the squad that was slinking away. That left her and Araac, plus the Jedi and any other troops he had with him, to take on the Sith and the others with him. She continued to shoot as she retreated back towards the side of the street, looking for cover.

Focus, Mellanie told herself. She held her position, sticking to cover and popping out only to blast down more enemy forces. She was a good shot, but the invaders this round seemed more prepared and better at their jobs than the mercenaries of yesterday. Whereas yesterday's battle had been like shooting fish in a barrel, today was more of a careful exchange. Mel wasn't willing to take risks right now. She had plenty of fresh power packs, and she was ready for the long haul.

Suddenly, she spotted a group of commandos heading west, not bothering to trade blasterfire, but rather, trying to get around the emplacement where she and several other Vevuts were holding down the fort. Not kriffing likely, she thought. "On our flank," she announced on the group's comm channel. She ducked and rolled to a new position of cover, an L-shaped piece of metal that would protect her from the front and yet let her stay under cover from any return fire she was about to pick up. Popping up, she began to pour blasterfire towards the commando squad. The group shifted, and her heart dropped. The man in the back was carrying a blood-red lightsaber. Swallowing her intrepidation, she opened a broader comm channel, hoping to get some reinforcements. "Sith sighted on the western flank, coordinates 54.97 by 9374.784 and moving quickly."

"Nothing you can do about that until after this war," Rhar grunted. He knew nothing about any nobility, and even less about this count. "Better tell him he'll have to wait."

The clan leader turned back to wiping the mud and gore off his shin plate.

__

The next few hours passed quietly. Mellanie had checked over her gear and tried to catch a little sleep, but the tension in the air was too high for her to get any real sleep. She was actually glad when it came her turn to take over sentry duty for Kalyani and Jaesko. She and Araac had been watching the perimeter, making chit-chat, for about an hour when suddenly, everything erupted into chaos again. "So much for the relaxing chat," Mel muttered under her breath. She was already sending out the alert to the Vevuts when an explosion shattered the ground near her. She hit the dirt, covering her head instinctively as dirt and rock rained down on her. Rolling to her feet, she darted to the fortifications. Pulling out her blaster, she peeked around the edge. Squads of enemies were slowly marching forward, taking time to set up their own fortifications, turning the battlefield into a maze of metal. What helped hide their troops, however, also gave the Mandalorians an edge.

Mel opened fire, concentrating on the leading edge, where the squads were taking time to set up cover. With their attention divided, she was able to gun them down easier, especially during the moments where they were exposed.

Mirdala's bluntness was actually comforting. One thing Mellanie appreciated about the Mandalorians--they said what they meant. But it was a big secret, given what she knew about the way people in general would feel about the two of them if the truth became widely known. And Mel wasn't exactly trusting by nature. As Mirdala offered to help them with their kits, Mel bit her lip. Cautiously, she softly tapped into the Force, seeking Mirdala's intentions. It was a trick her father had forced on her. "Mellanie," he had said one day as they sat together in his office, "being able to tell if someone is being honest, or if they have a secret agenda, or if they're being rude, or if they wish you harm--it's saved my life many times, and it's the only reason I'm still in office. I want you to learn it, just in case." She hadn't been able to refuse him. So now, she hesitantly reached out, and after a moment, was able to brush the barest surface of Mirdala's very heavily armored and fortified mind. But it was enough--the dala was genuine in her offer.

She sighed and drew back. Her breathing had increased a little, and now she strove to get her breathing back under control. "Go on, Kaly. Go with her and see if there's something we can use. She's right; we may need every advantage. I'm not going to be so selfish as to sacrifice others' lives just to protect you and I."

It was a momentous statement, coming from her, and honestly it made her a little uncomfortable. She was used to putting her family first, always, and while she would have some measure of compassion for others, they weren't her focus or her priority. But now...perhaps that was starting to change. "I'm gonna find Araac. Let me know what Mirdala comes up with."

Mellanie glanced at the dark, overcast sky, then headed off back towards the Vevut's fires. She found the clan packing up. "What's up?" she asked Araac.

"Mand'alor was here--that Mando in the black beskar'gam. He said he wants us to move to defend the north side of the city, so we're heading that way in case there's an attack tonight."

"Okay," Mel replied. She stuck her helmet back on and commed Kalyani to let her know the news, then grabbed a few things and started walking through the city, Araac beside her.

"So what did that woman want?" Araac asked.

"That was Mirdala Ad'Goran," Mel replied. She glanced around, and seeing that no one was close enough to eavesdrop, proceeded to tell Araac all about the incident with the Jedi and Mirdala's words. "I'm grateful for her kindness, but I'm pissed off," she finished, her voice a furious whisper. "I never asked for this ability. I never wanted it. I was just born this way. But because of that, people are going to treat me differently. Some will even want to kill me. Just for something I had no choice about and can't control. What the shab is up with Mandalorians hating Force-users anyway?"

"They've done a lot of damage to my people in the past," Araac said soberly. "It's...it's just part of our culture now."

"That's no excuse," she snapped. "The Sith murder and terrorise everywhere they go. And it's doesn't mean we're all like that."

"I know, Mel'ika," he replied soothingly. "I know. It's not right, and it's not fair. But I think you should take Mirdala up on her offer. It'll protect you."

Mel sighed tiredly. "Sorry, I know you know. It's just...I hate it. And I will, I promise. Kalyani is already investigating what she can do." They fell silent for the rest of the walk. Mel's thoughts turned to Araac. He was such a rare gem in the midst of all of this. She remembered when he had found out she was Force-sensitive. He hadn't judged her, hadn't looked at her differently or wondered why she hadn't wanted any training. He had accepted her exactly how she was. They set down their supplies once they were at the northern front, and strung up a quick tent, a precaution against the return of the pounding rain.

"I'm going to make another trip," Araac said, coming around the corner.

"Okay," Mellanie replied. He turned to go. "Araac."

He glanced back. She walked over to him, and took his helmeted head in her hands. Gently she pulled his helmet down to touch her own. They stood there for a moment, helmeted forehead to helmeted forehead. "I love you," she finally said. She grinned. "Now, let's win this war and get on with life."

Mellanie put an arm around her sister's shoulder as Kaly implied that she had used the Force actively earlier. "It'll be okay, sis. We just have to be careful." Mirdala and her sandhound trotted up just then, and Mirdala was very blunt, suddenly accusing them of being Force-users. Mel cursed under her breath. But Mirdala seemed to not have the same opinion on Force-users as the rest of her people, for she immediately asked what she could do to help them. She met her sister's gaze. Kaly looked like she was ready to trust Mirdala, but Mel wasn't so sure. Her sister asked about the Seekers, but Mel chimed in right away. "More to the point, why do you want to help us? I mean, we're complete strangers, and not far from aruetiise."

Just because the Vevuts had welcomed them as their own didn't mean this woman would.

___

Keaz Vevut nodded as Mand'alor came up. "Su'cuy Mand'alor," he replied. "Yes, that was my son's riduur and her sister. Want some shig? There's some behot here." He poured a cup of the steaming liquid and offered it to Kandor. "We live to the northeast of Keldabe, about 1500 clicks from the city. Got a farm out there, good plot of land."

He sipped his drink, then spoke again. "What's the overall situation look after the day's fighting? Has the dar'jetii shown her shab'la face yet? We set up some ara'novor over there--they were trying to attack from the river, but I don't think they'll try to come that way again. Where do you need us when the next wave comes?"

Mirdala seemed weary, and Mellanie didn't blame her. Asking after her family might not have been the best idea, not today, not given the battle. For all she knew, one of Mirdala's close kin had died today--or more than one. Not sure what to say, Mel fell silent.

Suddenly, she felt something. It was like a bucket of water being dumped over her, fresh and clear and cool. Or as if there was suddenly a warm golden light illuminating the area, coming from one central point. Mel glanced in that direction and frowned, puzzled, seeing nothing. What is that? As quickly as it had come, the strange feeling faded.

A moment later, a black-clad Mandalorian came jogging up and motioned at Mirdala. Clearly there was some sort of trouble related to the odd sensation she had just felt. She set down her bowl and picked up her blaster. Holstering it, she rose and trotted over to see what the commotion was all about. There was a gathering crowd of Mandalorians around a fire, where four of them stood defending a man in hodge podge armor.

"This isn't over, hut'uunla jetii!" one man shouted.

Mellanie's heart sank. The man they were all staring at was a Jedi, and fighting on the side of the Mandalorians it seemed. The sensation she had felt--the Jedi must have done something with the Force, which was what had drawn this crowd of hostiles. She stepped back from the group. As if she needed more encouragement to keep her Force-sensitivity hidden, here it was. She bit the inside of her cheek, then turned away. She wasn't about to mess things up with the Vevuts just because of something she was born with and couldn't control. She'd keep it hidden if it took every ounce of her willpower.

Mirdala's question was so unexpected that despite the grim atmosphere, her exhaustion, and the death surrounding them, Mellanie smiled. "You're right. In much of the galaxy, fiance is a term for someone who you are going to be married to. Araac and I have made a commitment to each other, but we're not married quite yet." She squeezed his hand as he sat down next to her, then glanced back at Mirdala. "I know it's not quite how the Mandalorians do things. My mother is Dathomiri, and it's not quite how they do things either, but I was raised in the Core Worlds traditions, and my mother would kill me if I didn't have a big wedding." She took a bite of her stew. It was of some meat she hadn't ever tasted before, but it was hearty and good. "Kalyani and I came to Mandalore to be introduced to the family, and so that I could see my new home. Then we ran into a war." She glanced around. "Probably not the best time for a tour, huh?"

Her dry sense of humor wasn't always appreciated, but at least Araac gave her a wry grin. "Welcome to Manda'yaim, where we have tal, slaat, and kyr'am a-plenty!" he jibed.

Mellanie snorted. It was probably a little disrespectful to be cracking jokes when so many had just died, but people dealt with pain in different ways, and this was Mellanie's way of coping--don't think about it. Crack jokes, because it was either laugh or cry, and crying wasn't an option right now. She took a few more bites, then spoke again. "Do you have aliit here in the battle, Mirdala?"

With the destruction of the forces attacking their quarter came the chance for the defenders of Keldabe to regroup and have a breather. The Mandalorians retreated to their camp, and fires were lit to quickly heat up some food.

Mellanie stayed at the front line for a few minutes, her eyes sweeping the battlefield, looking for anyone in beskar'gam that was still moving. Her eyes caught something, and she darted over, hopping over the corpse of a deep-fried Trandoshan in the process until she reached the struggling figure. The yellow-and-black clad Mandalorian was struggling to breathe. Her armor had been crushed on her chest, and her right arm had been torn clean off. Mellanie knelt down beside her and carefully removed the woman's helmet. "Shhh, hey, I'm here to help you."

The woman drew a rattling breath. "Kyr'am...yaim'ol...aikiyc..."

"You're not going to the Manda yet," Mellanie replied. "Not on my watch." Carefully she pried the woman's armor plates apart. There was a gasp from the woman as air suddenly flooded her lungs. "Okay, now we need to get you to the medics. Here, come on." She reached down and helped the woman to her feet. After a second, though, she realized the woman wasn't going to be able to walk, so she scooped her up in her arms, suddenly thankful for all those long hours of lifting weights. She began to struggle to the med tent.

"Mel'ika!" Araac's voice cut through the mist and mud.

"Araac, help me get her to the medics!" Her fiance rushed over, and together, the two of them delivered the pale Mandalorian to the medics. Once outside the tent again, Mellanie suddenly sagged, and found herself caught in Araac's strong arms. "Sorry," she said wearily. "It's better if I don't stop."

Araac didn't release her. "Mel, you need to rest. Sit down, have some skraan. This battle is far from over, and I don't intend to let you wear yourself out before it is."

Mel shook her head. "But there are others out there who need help."

"The med droids will rescue them," he said, pointing to several who were doing just that. "Come on. I'm not taking no for an answer."

She was so exhausted that she didn't have the heart to put up much of a fight. Instead, she let him guide her over to the camp. With a sharp shock of relief, she saw Kalyani sitting by a fire, eating. She took off her helmet and met her sister's gaze, both of them silently communicating how grateful they were that the other still lived. Kalyani was being sniffed by a strange creature, the likes of which Mellanie hadn't seen before, and a petite woman in red armor had come over to introduce herself. "Su'cuy gar," Mellanie said. Araac grabbed them both bowls of stew and they sat down by Kalyani and Mirdala. "Is this your pet?" she asked Mirdala, pointing to the hound. "What is he? I've never seen his kind before."

Mud squirted up, coating her visor, as a blaster bolt impacted in the wet soil. Mellanie ducked behind the barricade she was using as cover and wiped it furiously. It wouldn't impact her HUD but she still preferred to aim with her own two eyes. It didn't really help much; instead of a mud splatter she now had a semi-transparent mud smear, but at least it was a little bit of an improvement.

She leaned back out of cover and sent a flurry of blaster bolts towards her opponents. A Shistavenen fell, and she quickly hid herself again.

The Vevuts were holding their own. For a while it seemed like the mercs were going to push them back into the city proper, but now the tide had turned in the Mandalorians' favor.

Still, Mellanie hadn't been prepared for the reality of war. It had been thing to know people were going to die; it was another thing to have it happen right in front of you, to see family members cut down and know they weren't going to be coming back. But to her private surprise, seeing these things was only making her fight harder.

"Mel! Need you in the cafe!"

Araac's voice crackled over her comm. He and some of the others had noticed a group of enemies trying to flank them by sneaking up behind a cafe. Mel checked her ammo, then prepared herself to run.

There was a lull, and Mel took the opportunity to lob one of her few grenades over the barricade. She then took off running, darting from cover to cover until she was able to come up behind the cafe. She opened fire, and her distraction was enough to catch the mercy in the crossfire between her and Araac's group.

The current threat dealt with, they converged. Rhar gave Mellanie a casual salute. She returned the sentiment by slapping a new power pack into her blaster. "Oya!" she called. Together, the five Mandalorians turned and charged back to the main line.

But in those few minutes, things had started to go downhill. The last of the mercenaries had crossed the river, and the land in between was a maze of crisscrossing blaster fire. As Mellanie added her fire to the mix, she heard Rhar calling for support over the comm.

A minute later, cheers erupted from the assembled Mandalorians as a pair of Besuliik starfighters swooped down and strafed the river. Their powerful guns tore the opposing group to shreds, and as they looped back up inn the clouds, the Vevuts intensified their fire. A few minutes later and the southwest bank was secure.

"OYA!" Mel shouted with the others. The night had passed slowly, interrupted by a few tense moments of landing craft and troop transports passing overhead, along with a few false alarms just when she was about to fall asleep. She knew that was sound strategy on Ab'ki's part; tired soldiers would make mistakes, and letting the Mandalorians stew in anticipation would wear on already raw nerves. But eventually, the time came, and Mand'alore's face had appeared on her HUD. His speech was short and to the point, but nevertheless inspiring.

They were ready.

During the night, it appeared that the Sith's forces were grouping mostly in the northern forest. It made sense given the topography of the city, but it was a little disappointing to the Vevuts, since they were about as far from the front line as possible right now. But someone had to guard the rear, and Mel wouldn't put it past a Sith to try to attack on multiple fronts, cliffs notwithstanding. And, she reflected, Mand'alore might call for backup in the north.

It turned out to be a good thing the Vevuts were there. A call came over their tactical channel--several landing craft had just settled on the near side of the river at the base of the escarpment. Mel hurried over and took her place in a long line of her clanmates. Sniper rifles were passed out to any who didn't have them, and as one, the Vevuts began to rain fire down on the enemies below.

Shooting fish in a barrel was the old Corellian saying, and it was true here. Mel's second shot took down an enemy soldier. As she continued to shoot, they continued to fall. She felt...oddly distant from it all. It wasn't like she was actually killing people...she might as well have been shooting targets in a practice range. The sensation was vaguely disturbing, but she didn't have time to think about it. Despite the covering fire, a decent number of the invaders had reached the bottom of the cliff and were currently ascending with ascension cables. A few of the better snipers adjusted their aim to the cables themselves, sending the soldiers plummeting to their deaths as the cables were severed, but many more were cresting the edge. And Clan Vevut was there to meet them. "For Mandalore!" went the cry, and full battle was joined.

The next two weeks flew by. Mellanie continued to train with a vengeance, determined to improve herself and be able to stand her ground among her new clan. There was a drive to prove herself worthy, even though when she expressed that to Araac, he told her there was no need to feel that way.

She had started training in her beskar’gam immediately. She wanted to feel as comfortable in it as possible, and so had even started wearing it outside of training sessions. It truly was starting to feel like a second skin the longer she wore it, and she welcomed that sensation as both a sign that she’d be better protected in combat, and that she was becoming more Mandalorian.

The second day after it had been given to her, she had spent a day painting it and preparing the flak jacket and other accouchements. It took from dawn until dusk, but at the end of the day, everything was finished. Her jacket and pants were an olive green, and her plates were striped with green, a goldish tan, and a rusty red. She wrapped a tan cape over it all so that draped behind her back, and paired it with practical brown boots that had a mag-clamp feature. Not that she thought she’d need it dirt-side in Keldabe, but one never knew. She filled her belt pouches with a few practical items—a line of self-gripping rope, a few ration sticks, a multi-tool, and some spare blaster power packs. Her comlink was hardwired into her buy’ce and her heads-up display was programmed for holomessages as well as an audio link if she wished.

Her beskar’gam was still shiny and new, but she knew by the end of the battle it would have the same lived-in and battle-scarred #weathering that the rest of Clan Vevuts’ showed.

Seventeen days after she and Kalyani had arrived on Mandalore, the word came. Ab’ki’s forces had been detected entering Mandalorian space. They had hours at most left to prepare. Clan Vevut was assigned to defend the southwest sector of Keldabe along with two other clans, and within an hour, everyone had piled into speeders and transports and headed for the capital. Once they arrived, they joined the throngs of the other Mando’ade that had arrived to fighting. It was like being in a vast sea of armor, colors ranging the entire rainbow and beyond, everyone with their own style. Weapons of every type imaginable were visible, and Mellanie was sure that many more remained hidden.

The Vevuts made their way hodge-podge to their assigned section and set up camp. The sky had grown dark and heavy with rain clouds, casting deep shadows over the land. The light of a thousand campfires, built to cook some lunch and ward off the sudden chill, cast tall shadows on the rough fabric tents. At some camps, the mood was boisterous, as alcohol and pre-battle bravado reigned. But at Mellanie’s tent, all was quiet. She sat a little ways off from the rest of the group on a small knoll, hand in hand with Araac, her head on his chest as they quietly stared at the gathering storm togther. Mellanie had been successfully ignoring the reality of the danger they were about to face, but now on the proverbial eve of battle, she couldn’t shake the feeling that tomorrow’s fighting might come at a steep cost. People would die…and it might be people she cared about. Her breath caught in her throat for a moment, and she tightened her grip on Araac’s hand. “I don’t want to lose you,” she whispered.

“Hey, I’ve been in worse fights than this,” he replied. “Nothing comes to mind…but I’m sure I have.”

She smiled at his half-hearted joke. “Guess I’ll just have to watch your back out there, huh?”

His face turned serious. “You’re as ready as you can be. We all are. We will fight as a team, and if we fall, we fall defending that which means the most: our family and each other.” He tilted her chin up and kissed her. “We’ll get through this, Mel’ika. You won’t be rid of me so easily.”

They sat in silence for a while longer, until Araac stirred again. “Better try to get some sleep if you can. I’m sure that we won’t miss our enemies’ arrival.” They rose and headed back to her tent, but when they arrived, she didn’t let go of his hand.

“Stay with me?” she asked hesitantly. If there was a chance this was their last day in the galaxy, she wanted to spend every remaining minute she could by his side.

He paused. “Always.”

"Hey," Mellanie replied a little gruffly, "don't worry about us, Mom. We'll be fine. Thanks for understanding. And I can't wait until you can meet everyone here. I'll call you after...after everything settles down."

The family talked for a few more minutes, then the girls signed off, but not before Araac had poked his head into the room and asked what was keeping them. Mellanie laughed and waved goodbye to the Link CEOs before turning to face him. "Did we have plans this vaar'tur that you didn't tell me about?"

He grinned. "Training. Ready to tal'onidir?"

Mellanie pouted. "But I'll get all sweaty!" she moaned in a mocking Coruscanti accent. "And I just got my nails done!"

He slapped her playfully on the head. "C'mon sharal dala. And you too, Kalyani."

***

As Araac had promised, they spent the day under his brutal training regimen. But Mellanie loved every minute. The Mandalorian fighting mindset was harsh, raw, and uncontrolled--and yet it took a lot of self-control to turn it on and off. It was an almost-berserker type rage, where one saw the enemy as a problem to be overcome at any cost. Mel knew it was going to take her some time to really master it, and even more, to feel comfortable in it, but it was a challenge, and she never backed down from a challenge.

"Not all Mandalorians fight this way," he told her as they were working on some hand to hand combat. "Some are more calculating. I've heard that's how Mand'alor fights. But it takes many, many years of training and honing one's skills to get there. This method will serve you best against Force-users, too. Force-users always expect people to attack in a certain way, and they have training that teaches them how to predict how an opponent will come at them. But when we get into this mindset, it throws off that sense, and gives us the advantage of unpredictability." He threw a punch at her head, which she blocked on her forearm.

Mel countered the punch with one of her own, then kicked him, attempting to sweep his legs out from underneath him. "Do Jedi teach that, or Sith?"

"Both," he replied, leaping over her leg and rolling. She spun to meet his renewed assault. "It serives them well against most opponents."

She nodded. It sounded like a trick she might like to learn. Maybe after this, she could call her father and see if he'd teach it to her.

They traded blows for a while longer, until Araac tried the leg-sweep attack. Mel leapt over it, but landed poorly and ended up tumbling to the ground. Never one to give up, though, she scissored her legs through his as she fell, causing him to fall and land heavily on top of her. "Oof!" she exclaimed. But she was laughing too hard to really complain. "Get off me, you big lug!"

He ignored her words, instead quickly pinning down. "Make me," he said, his voice lowering.

She met his eyes and grinned at the ferocious glint in them. Then quickly, she rocked her hips to the side and freed her leg. Wrapping it around his waist, she employed all her strength and tossed him to the side, freeing herself and sending him face first into the dirt. She rose lightly to her feet. "How's that?" she asked, her tone innocent.

He rose and brushed some of the dirt from his mouth. "Good," he said. "Where did you hibirar that?"

Mel grinned. "You don't know all of my secrets," she tossed back. "Actually, Kane taught me that. Something he picked up from a Trandoshan he met once."

"What was your brother doing wrestling a 'Doshan? Never mind, I don't want to know. Come on, let's get some skraan."

***

It was late afternoon when Mellanie received her biggest surprise. Kalyani had gone for a long conditioning run while she and Araac were working with vibroblades. After a while, Mellanie noticed that they had an audience. Araac's uncle, the clan chief, was watching them. After a while, he spoke up. "You're decent," he called out, "but you lack experience."

"Nothing I can really do about that," she replied, a little out of breath.

"No," Rhar agreed. "But I can give you an edge. Shekemir."

She traded glances with Araac, but he shook his head, clearly not knowing what his uncle was referring to. The two of them followed Rhar out of the barn where they had been practicing and over to Rhar's workshop. Once there, the brawny Mando pulled out a large crate. "I was saving this for after the wedding, but I suppose you're as good as family now anyway," he said. He removed the lid.

Mellanie gasped. She couldn't help it. Inside the crate was a full set of unpainted Mandalorian beskar'gam. She sank to her knees and caressed the plates. "I...I had hoped that one day...but I never thought it'd be now."

"Makes sense," he shrugged. "That stuff could may well save your life."

She looked up, a smile lighting her face, then rose and threw her arms around his neck. "Ori'vor'e ba'vodu! Ori'vor'e!" This was more than just practical protective gear; it was a sign that she truly was accepted now, that she was part of the family--and that she was Mandalorian.

Araac clasped his uncle's forearm. "Yes, thank you, Uncle. This means a lot." He turned to his fiancee. "I guess we can start you getting used to wearing it and fighting in it."

She smiled. "And I guess I need to decide on a paint job."

Mellanie stopped the message when Kalyani paused it. "Oh come on, Kaly. We can't chicken out. Mum and Aunt Brina deserve a real holocall, not just a vid-message." She deleted the message and then punched in the number again, this time toggling the switch for a live call.

The girls didn't have to wait long before the connection was made. "This is Brina Tha--Oh! Hello girls!" Aunt Brina's red hair was mussy and there was a streak of grease on her cheek, but her face was radiant as she saw her nieces. "How's Mandalore?"

Mellanie laughed. "What ship are you working on, Aunt Brina? The Mynock is here with us!"

"Your mom's," Brina replied. "And I've got to have a word with Roxi, 'cause she's been keeping this ship in a shabby state."

"You think everyone's work is shabby compared to yours," Mel replied, teasing. "Mandalore is great. Really great. Everyone's been so welcoming, and it's been amazing to meet Araac's family."

"I'm so glad to hear it! Had any good food?"

"Araac's mom is a great cook. The food is super spicy. I love it!" Mellanie paused. "Hey Aunt Brina, can you get Mom? Kaly and I want to talk to both of you."

"Sure thing, sweetheart. Give me a sec."

As they waited, the two girls exchanged glances. After a moment, Zara's face appeared on the vid screen next to Brina's. "Hey Mom," Mellanie began. "So...we have some news." She looked expectantly at her sister.

The next morning dawned clear, the rain of the previous day having moved on. Mellanie woke with a sense of purpose. She would train hard and push herself farther than she had ever gone before, because this was a battle worth fighting. It was, in a way, a fight for her future. Hers and Araac's.

She dressed and made her way downstairs. Once there, she ate a bowl of porridge while making friends with Araac's little sister. Once Kalyani joined her, however, she turned her attention on her sister. "We'd better call Mom and Aunt Brina. I'll let you break the news--Mom will take it better coming from you. Although she's bound to freak a bit anyway."

Mellanie immediately slid onto the bed next to her sister and put an arm around her. "Oh, Kaly, I'm sure it's not Julio..." She felt guilty for not immediately thinking about how her sister might feel. "Doesn't seem his style, I don't think." Of course, she couldn't be certain it wasn't him. Rhar hadn't named the Sith. She knew that both Kane and Kalyani didn't care much for their half brother, but he was still family, and Mel had heard he had a daughter of his own around their age.

Jaesko had frowned at Kaly's revelation, but slowly, she nodded. "Family is complicated. And sometimes you can't choose who you're related to. Especially, I'd wager, if your father was a pirate." She paused. "No offense," she added halfheartedly, clearly not meaning it.

"Anyway," Mel interjected, trying to turn the conversation away from Ronin Wartide, "the point is still that whoever this is who is attacking is a Sith and will have other Force-users with them. We need to take these next few weeks that we have to train fast and hard." She glanced at her fiancee. "The Mandalorians have always been able to stand their ground against Force-users. You'd better get Kalyani and I up to speed on your methods."

He nodded. "I know just who to ask. It'll be good for us all to have a refresher course anyway."

He and Jaesko began to talk and plan out some training regimens, and Mel's thoughts drifted to her and Kalyani's undeveloped Force abilities. Perhaps she and her sister should train a little with those too. Mel wasn't particularly interested in developing her Force skills, but in a battle, she'd need everything she had to give her an edge. But the girls' skills were an even bigger secret than the fact that Kalyani's half brother was Julio Furion. Especially around Mandalorians. They didn't like Force-users all that much, and Mel didn't really blame them given the abundance of Sith wreaking havoc in the galaxy. Araac knew--there was little he didn't--but Mel wasn't eager to advertise her abilities to the family in general. Her thoughts flashed to her father. She knew he had always been a little disappointed she hadn't chosen to become a Jedi Knight.

She gave a mental sigh. Her Force skills could save her life, or Araac's, or Kalyani's, or another of her new family. That was worth seeing if she could develop them a little further over the next few weeks, even if it was just practicing what she already knew. She'd talk to her sister about it in the morning.

The journey back to the farm was quiet. Rhar refused to say much more, insisting that he'd rather only share it once with the whole family. Mellanie looked over her shoulder, trading glances with her sister. Her sister looked frightened. Mel didn't blame her. A Sith, and a war? That was enough to make anyone hesitate.

Once they arrived back, Rhar gathered the family together. An hour later, everyone was packed into Vae's living room. Mellanie slipped up beside Araac and squeezed in next to him where he was perched on the arm of a couch.

"As you all know, Mand'alor is back onplanet and called a meeting of all the clan leaders," Rhar began without preamble. "It's not good news..."

He proceeded to share about the army about to invade the sector, and how it was led by a Sith bent on vengeance. There were a bunch of questions, and he fielded those he could. Finally, he told them to spread the news to the other members of their clan, and to recommend division leaders. Three hours later, everyone had returned to their homes. No one had felt like staying, even for Vae's skraan. Mel and Araac were left in the living room, sitting on the couch together. Araac had his arm around her shoulders, and she leaned back into him.

They were silent for a while, and finally, Araac spoke. "You and Kalyani need to leave."

Mellanie bristled. She sat forward and turned to look him in the eye. "There is no way in hell that I'm leaving you to fight without me."

"This isn't your fight, Mel'ika," he returned.

"Yes it is, Araac," she countered. "We're engaged. That makes your family, my family. That was the point of this trip in the first place, right? Guess what? That makes your people, my people and your home, my home. And I will fight to protect and defend it."

He looked deep into her eyes, then sighed. "I knew you'd say that. But I hate the thought of putting you in danger. I'm supposed to protect you."

Her fierce look softened. "I guess you'll just have to do that on the battlefield." Suddenly a wave of fear shot through her. Battlefield? She had never wanted this. She had never wanted to be in a battle. But her determination was stronger than her fear. Some things were worth fighting for, and this man--and this family--absolutely were. She squeezed his hand. "I am going to try to convince my sister to leave, though. Not that I think I'll have much luck...she's even more stubborn than I am."

He gave a small smile. "I've learned the hard way not to try to argue with you two."

She kissed him on the cheek. "That's right." She hopped up. "Well, no time like the present."

Heading to the room they were sharing, she found Kalyani sitting on her bed with Jaesko beside her. The two girls were cleaning their weapons. Mellanie crossed her arms. "So...I take it this means you're staying? You know Mom will flip out when she finds out. Maybe you should go, Kaly..."

To say MandalMotors was impressive was an understatement. It wasn't that it was a huge company, or that it was fancy, or that it was producing at an amazing rate. None of those were true, especially to people who knew business like the daughters of the Link CEO. But it was impressive in a resourceful way. Nothing was wasted. No corners were cut. Everyone working there was working there because they were doing what they loved. Each ship was made with intense care and dedication that outstripped any other company Mellanie knew of, save perhaps vos Corelli's work, and you didn't see much of that in the galaxy anymore these past years. No, there was a reason MandalMotors had the corner on the market for flying weapons. The quality was simply unmatched. Mel had spent her life around ships, and knew them inside and out, so she was able to appreciate the technical side, too. The specs on some of these ships were solid.

They were just getting ready to leave when Araac's comlink chirped. He excused himself to answer it and came back a few minutes later, the good cheer wiped off his face. "That was Uncle Rhar. Apparently the meeting with Mand'alore was serious. He wouldn't say much, but he asked for a ride back to the farm. We'll pick him up at the Oyu'baat. C'mon."

Mel sobered. She wondered what could be happening. They quickly piled into the landspeeder and headed off to the famous tapcaf. It was crowded with speeders; clearly, all or most of the clan leaders had shown up. Araac hopped out and disappeared inside, then was back after a minute with a very tall, clearly muscular Mandalorian in navy blue armor with silver accents. Mel scooted over so he could sit in the front with her and Araac.

"You must be Mellanie," he said by way of greeting.

She smiled at him. "Yes, I am, and that's my sister Kalyani."

"Rhar Vevut, Araac's uncle. Sorry to cut short your visit here, but you should both probably get out of the system while you can."

Mel was astonished. "What do you mean? What's happened?"

"War," he said simply. "War and dar'jetii."

Araac laughed. "Sure, as long as you're not going to act like an ik'aad all day."

Jaesko shoved him hard in the arm.

"Ow!" He rubbed it in mock pain.

"Now who's being the ik'aad?" she teased.

The four of them were ready to go half an hour later. They piled into a landspeeder and headed for town. It was funny, Mel thought as they drove through the streets of Keldabe. Elsewhere in the galaxy, the Mandalorian brother and sister would be conspicuous in their full armor, but here it was her and Kalyani in their plainclothes that stood out as foreigners.

There wasn't much to see in terms of "sightseeing". The Mandalorians were an extremely practical and warlike people, and that meant that the city was designed as a fortress, not a tourist attraction. Still, they spent the morning walking around, and ended up eating lunch at a small cafe. The more Mel saw of the culture, the people, and the planet, the happier she was that this was the life she was choosing--and more importantly, was choosing her. And she was also glad that Kalyani had hit it off so well with Jaesko. The girls were joking back and forth, and Mel's sides hurt from laughing.

After lunch, they headed to the MandalMotors factory.

----

Meanwhile in the Oyu’baat...

Rhar Vevut had listened soberly to Mand'alor's report. When the Seekers began to step forward, he raised a dark eyebrow under his deep blue helmet. Well, I'll be...

That mir'sheb from Ge'tal Vheh was being his normal self, throwing insults around at the Mando woman who had been speaking. But Vevut knew where it's loyalties lay. In the silence that fell after the Seekers stepped forward, Rhar stood. "It's a shame we didn't know about this earlier, but it's good you brought it to the clans. This threat seems real, and it seems serious. We all need to be ready to defend our system. Clan Vevut will fight. We will protect our home, and honor the Resol'nare." He glanced around the room. "And I think all of us should do the same."

It was one of the best evenings Mellanie could remember. Araac's family had welcomed her with open arms. Laughter swept over the room multiple times during dinner. His family was loud, and boisterous, and wonderful. Coming from a small, quiet background, livened up by the occasional prank, it was quite a difference for her. But far from overwhelming her, she instead appreciated the sense of unity and connectedness everyone around her displayed.

Late that night as she lay next to Kalyani on a small rough-hewn bed in a sparsely decorated guest room, she couldn't believe how nervous she had been coming here. It was like she was family already.

***

The next morning dawned to a dreary rain pounding on the roof. The temperature had dropped overnight, too, and Mel was glad she had thought to bring a jacket. She saw her sister stirring. "I'm going to meet Araac for a run," she told Kalyani. "See you in a bit."

Throwing her long blonde hair up in a ponytail, she dressed in casual capris and a tank top, grabbing her waterproof jacket to cover it all. Then she headed to the kitchen, where Araac was already waiting. He smiled at her. "Ready to go?"

She returned the grin. "I'm going to win today, I can feel it."

"We'll see," he replied, raising an eyebrow mischievously.

Together, they headed out, running a course through the Vevut clan's fields and pastures. Mellanie loved running. The pounding of her feet, the sharpness of breath, the blood rushing to her face--all combined to make her feel so alive. And it was a good time to talk to Araac, too. As they ran, they talked about his family. She loved seeing how much they meant to him. His face would light up with the humor of a story, and she'd almost stumble laughing.

Halfway through the run, they paused to catch their breath. They had reached the top of a small hill that was on the north side of the Vevut farmland. It sloped up on one side, then fell sharply away in a cliff, revealing the entire farm spread out before them. They stood there in silence for a moment, steam rising in puffs from their breath, rain streaming down their faces.

"I'm so glad we came here," Mellanie finally said. "It feels like...home."

Araac grinned, and put his arms around her waist, pulling her close. "It will be."

She nodded. "I know," she confirmed, her heartbeat beginning to race again.

His hand pushed back a lock of hair that had gotten plastered to her face by the rain. "Have you told your buir yet?"

She shook her head. "No, but...I don't think it'll surprise her at all. Mom knows we're serious, and now that I'm eighteen..."

He kissed her gently, then pointed off to the west. "See that building over there?"

She nodded.

"That's our house. My father and uncle have already started building it."

Mellanie's jaw dropped. "What?"

"Surprise," he grinned roguishly.

"Araac, that's amazing! When do I get to see it? Can we go now?"

He laughed. "Not yet. I don't want you going near it until it's done. Should be about two more weeks, and now that I'm here, we can pick up the pace even more. And...there's another surprise waiting for you too."

"Another one?" Her eyes twinkled. "What is it?"

He shook his head. "I think they want to save it for a wedding present." She was going to protest, but he kissed her firmly and gave her a grand wink, then took off running down the hill.

"Hey, no head starts!" she called, pounding after him.

They raced the rest of the way back to his parents' house. By now, the sun was up in earnest, and the rain had subsided to a misty drizzle. "See you for breakfast?" Araac asked. "You still up for that tour of MandalMotors today?"

"Absolutely," she replied. "Let me get dried off and dressed, and I'll be ready to go."

"Just don't track mud through buir's kitchen," he warned. "She'll never forgive you for that."

Mellanie smiled, and used the back entrance, taking off her shoes before going inside. She went up to her room and got cleaned up and changed into dry clothes, then headed back down to Vae's spotless kitchen. She smiled, seeing that her sister was already there. "You're going with us to Keldabe today, right, Kaly?"

It was one thing to read about Mandalore, to know, for instance, that it was the fifth planet in the system, that it had a 19 hour day and a 366 day rotational period, that it was a mixture of lush forests, dense jungle, sprawling hills and grassland, inhospitable deserts of white sand, and numerous rivers, lakes, and seas. But it was completely different to come out of hyperspace and see it sitting like a blue-green jewel in the darkness of space, and know that down there might very well lay her future.

Mellanie was gripped by the now-familiar mix of apprehension and excitement, the former more dominant over the latter until Araac's voice crackled over the comm. "Olarum, Mel'ika," he said. "Follow me down and let the nuhur commence!" She smiled at his blend of sarcasm and honesty. She knew he was a little nervous too, although he would never let on. Family was the most important thing to him, and she knew he wanted his to like her. As she and her sister brought the Crazy Mynock down, Mellanie reflected on what she knew of Araac's family. He had a father and mother, one older brother and three younger sisters, the youngest of which was still very young. They were farmers, and shared a massive plot of land with his mother's brother. His father's brother was the clan leader for Araac's family's clan--Vevut--and a metalsmith. There were always lots of kids running around from what she understood--Araac's siblings, as well as plenty of cousins. She remembered him telling her about what it was like growing up. She had always been envious of that kind of life. Her family was great, but small, and she didn't really have any extended family--at least, none that cared about her.

It wasn't long before they were landing on the outskirts of a large farm. In the dust whipped up by the repulsors, Mel saw some people exiting a squat building that seemed to be made of granite or some other type of stone, hewn in large squares and stacked together. It looked tough and no-nonsense. As the ship powered down, she smiled broadly at her sister. "Well, let's do this!"

The two girls headed down the ramp. Araac was waiting at the bottom, his helmet held loosely in his left hand. A smirk stole over his face at the sight of them, and once they caught up to him, the three turned and walked towards the building. By this point, there was a good sized group of Mandalorians gathered. All of the adults were in armor of various colors, although green and blue dominated. There was one woman in a vibrant orange shade that reminded Mellanie of a Nubian citrus fruit.

As they approached, there were several shouts of "Su cuy'gar, Ar'ika!"" Several of the Mandalorians came and gave Araac a rough hug. One hulking man in deep green armor with gold bracers tousled Araac's hair. A little girl with blonde pigtails came running up and jumped at him. He laughed and spun her around.

But the family's attention was quickly fixed to the outsiders. Araac set down his little sister, still smiling broadly, and grabbed Mellanie's hand. "Everyone, this is Mellanie Dev, and her sister Kalyani Wartide." Before coming, Mellanie and Araac had agreed to use the shortened form of Mellanie's last name. It was a precaution she had often taken, as in many places, it wasn't wise to advertise her connection with the GA Chief of State.

The Mandos looked at the girls with varying expressions, although most bordered on wary. She wasn't offended. Mandalorians were some of the least trusting people the in galaxy--until you were actually family. Then, she knew they were extremely loyal. And she was determined to quickly cross that line. "I'm glad to meet you," she replied. "You mean the galaxy to Araac."

He quickly began to introduce his family. "This is my father, Keaz," he said, pointing to the man who had tousled his hair when he had arrived. "And this is my mother, Vae." Mellanie smiled warmly at Araac's mother, a willowy woman in blue-and-orange armor with white highlights. "This is my uncle--my mother's brother--Cas, and his wife Siassi. These are their children," he pointed to two preteen boys, "Thrin and Rir. And they have a daughter Hia running around here somewhere." The young woman in the bright orange armor playfully chucked a rock at Araac's head. He ducked. "That's my sister Jaesko, and these two are Assa and Ilae." They appeared to be about 10 and 4, respectively. "And then we have my other cousins and aunt over there," Araac said, motioning to the right. "Aunt Bhesi, and her sons Gheas, Gamac, and Drinn." He glanced around and turned to his mother. "Where are Thasak and Uncle Rhar?"

"Mandalore is here," Vae replied. "Rhar went to a clan leaders gathering, and your brother went with him."

Araac seemed surprised. "Mandalore's here? What's that shabla ver'verd doing back after all this time?"

Vae shrugged. "Guess he decided to remember he's Mando'ade."

Mellanie only half listened. She knew she was going to be hopeless at remembering everybody's names, so she focused on just remembering Araac's mother's and father's names for now.

"Well, that makes for a change," Araac was saying. "So, buir, got any skraan?"

His mother grinned. "I made my special tiingilar just for the occasion."

Araac chuckled. "You know the way to this man's heart!" He grabbed Mellanie by the arm. "Just wait until you try it. My mother's cooking is the best on all of Mandalore." He steered her into the rustic stone house, and they were followed by the rest of the group.

It was a whirlwind. There were people everywhere, most of them talking completely in Mando'a. Mel had learned the basics of the language, but she was by no means fluent, and sometimes the conversation went over her head. But there was plenty of laughter and good spirits, and slowly, the family warmed up to her and Kalyani--especially as the night wore on and the adults drank more and more of the tihaar that they made themselves at the farm. For her part, Mel really enjoyed herself. Araac's family were solid, dependable types who clearly cared deeply for Araac. She had to put up with some open ribbing and blunt questions, but she simply laughed, appreciating the candor with which is family acted and spoke. It was a far cry from the civilized, sterile environment in which she had been raised--and she loved it.

She hoped Kalyani was okay. She didn't have much time to talk to her sister during the meal.

"Dirt? Farms? Warriors? Crazy family members?" Mellanie laughed. "Honestly, I'm not sure what to expect. Aruetiise like us hardly ever get to go to Mandalore. I just know what Araac has told me. But I'm going to try not to think about it too much, or I'll be so nervous I'll do something absolutely embarrassing in front of his family."

They spent the time chatting, grabbing a meal, and waiting. Mellanie found that she had to do some of the breathing techniques her father had taught her once. But above all, she was glad to be going. It was, in a way, about time. She loved Araac, and she wanted to spend her life with him. When she focused on that, her nerves melted away.

So by the time they came out of hyperspace, she was ready and excited.

"It's fine," Mellanie replied. "To be honest," she said, lowering her voice, "I'll be glad to have you there. Just in case it's a disaster."

Araac was taking his own ship, leaving the two girls to take one of the company ships. They were just approaching the hanger when suddenly there was the pounding of feet behind them. "Wait!"

Mellanie turned to see her godmother running to catch up to them. "Aunt Brina? What is it?"

Brina caught up, her sides heaving. "I've come to a decision. I don't want you taking any of the company ships," she said between pants for air. "I want you to take the Mynock."

Mellanie was stunned. "Are you serious?"

"Yes," Brina replied firmly. "It's in pristine condition, you know how to fly her, and I trust you with her. Just...bring her back safe and sound, okay?"

Mellanie threw her arms around the red-head. "Thank you so much, Aunt Brina! You know I will."

The girls changed direction and headed for the Crazy Mynock. Mellanie did know the ship like the back of her hand, having spent many hours with Brina tinkering and repairing the old Corellian freighter. The sisters boarded, and as the ship warmed up, she waved to Brina and lifted it into the air, heading out from the resort into space.

Araac's voice crackled over the comm. "Is that the Mynock?!?"

Mellanie smiled. "You bet it is."

"A ruug'la ship like that will fit right in at home." Even over the comm, Mel could tell he was teasing her. "Sending the coordinates. See you in a few hours dirtside."

Once the coordinates came through, Mellanie threw the lever, and sent them into hyperspace--destination: Mandalore.

This was going to be a momentous trip. Of that, Mellanie Devanus had no doubt.

It had all started a few weeks ago when Araac had asked her to meet his family. They had been dating for two years, but this was a huge step. His family was all back on Mandalore, and that was a place that outsiders rarely, if ever, went. She knew it was the next step in their relationship, and she thought she was ready for that, but it still made her nervous. She wanted his family to like her...because at the rate things were going, they might someday be her family.

That was a really strange thought. It wasn't that she felt she was too young--after all, she was 18, and in both Araac's culture and her own mother's culture, she would have been long married by now. But it still felt like she was beginning a new chapter of life. She suddenly shook her head. Don't be silly, Mel. It's just another step in the journey.

She smiled to herself as she entered her mother's office, only to find her older sister there. "Hey Kaly," she said cheerfully. "You ready yet? Araac has been ready to go for 'hours' he says." She raised an eyebrow teasingly at her sister. "And Aunt Brina said that if I want to leave anytime this week, I'd better come get you. Come on, everything's ready. It's not like they can't run things without you for a week."