Star Wars - Aliit Nehutyc

Chapter 3: Kyr'tsad Trouble

Snow covered the ground of the alleyway. It had been many months since Kad had last been here. He looked around between the different run-down buildings and up at the flickering holo-signs. He walked into the Oyu'baat and walked up to the bar. Echoy'la, Kar, Darra, and Opakki entered behind him. Last night, Kad had received a mysterious call from Sev Vizsla instructing him to come to the Oyu'baat at 1300, and so they were there, but Sev was nowhere to be seen. Kad's helmet scanned the surroundings and saw no heat signals except those of his vode, the bartender, and the few other customers at the Oyu'baat. Finally, a red blip appeared in the corner of his HUD. He blinked and the point-of-view imaging zoomed back out to normal size. An armoured figure walked through the door, two Jai'galaar Westar-35s hanging at his waist. His helmet had the blue Death Watch symbol that Kad both feared and hated. Death Watch had killed his family, and now they dared to ask him for help. He repeated in his mind over and over, "Cin Vhetin, Cin Vhetin" but he couldn't help but remember what the Death Watch had done to his family. Kad turned slowly around in his seat and faced the newcomer. The others did the same. Time seemed at a standstill as the two clans faced each other, not moving a muscle. The silence was broken by a cough in the back of the mostly quiet cantina, and the slurping noise made by some ale being gulped down.

"Glad you came, kid." The Mandalorian in the Death Watch armour said finally. "I had my doubts. Anyway, let's get down to business. Some upstart from Clan Tracinya has been growing neral on my land, and when my men come near it, they start firing. We need more armed force to show them who's boss."

"Why couldn't you just bring in some of your other Death Watch friends, Sev?" Kad asked, putting a slight growl in his throat when he said Death Watch.

"As you may be aware, our numbers have gone down ever since the Empire came in and used some super-weapon they called "The Duchess" to eliminate resistance," Sev said. He paused, adjusted the holster on his hip, and continued. "The Death Watch in particular suffered the most because we hated the Empire more than the normal Mando'ad did. Kid, I know you hate the Death Watch. Most other Mandalorians do too. If you want to, go ahead; pull your gun on me and kill me right now. I won't stop you. I just want my land back." Kad couldn't tell if he was serious or not but didn't feel like getting into a shootout.

"Fine. We'll help you." Kad said, fidgeting with a shimmering Vibroknife. He slid the knife into its sheath on his gauntlet, and gripped Sev's hand, making the deal official. They let go, and Sev pulled off his helmet. Scars ran down all over his face, and a fresh wound across his chin was still bleeding.

"Meet me and my ad'ike at the coordinates I'm sending you. Thank you for your help, ner vod," he said, pulling a data pad from his belt, entering a list of numbers, and sending them. Kad's data pad beeped in response as the coordinates came through. The Death Watch Mando nodded, replaced his helmet, about-faced, and strode out of the building. Kad let out a sigh, trying to release some of the tension that was coursing through his veins. He pulled off his helmet and dropped it on the table.

"Well, I guess we have to follow through now... Let's hope this isn't all one big trap," Kad said, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow.

"Yeah, would have done that way differently," said Darra, rising from her bar.

"If I had done it, there would have been one less member of the death watch and a huge mess to clean up in here. You and I both know not to trust those guys. What you did was di'kutla, stupid."

"Maybe so," Kad said. He drew his Vibroknife and twirled it around his fingers. "Remember

though, Cin Vhetin, a fresh start. Everyone should have the chance to make clean what they once did."

"Maybe so," she began again, "but I know from experience that people's personalities don't change, and that group works as one. They are all killers at heart. Cin Vhetin or no Cin Vhetin, you should learn to never trust anyone," she looked at the dark doorway, "Especially that creep."

"I wouldn't be surprised if he betrays us, somehow or some way," Echoy'la said, rising from his seat and pulling off his helmet. His curly jet-black hair bounced as he rose. He ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. "You shouldn't have trusted him, Kad."

"I of all people should know not to trust him. He's part of the kriffing cult that killed my family, but I still fall for their devilish ploys every time. I say we go in there ready for an ambush, but not like we want a fight. Let's go back to camp, get some blasters, and head out there." He sheathed the knife and pulled his helmet back over his head. They walked together out the door and started walking towards their speeder bikes. Kad hopped onto his speeder and flipped the ignition. He heard a small click near the fuel tank. Puzzled at the sound, he leaned over and saw a small blinking red light under the hood. Suddenly, he jumped off, but not before the bike burst into flames and exploded with a roar. The others had not mounted their bikes yet, but they still got caught in the shock wave that threw Kad into a permacrete wall.

"Haar'chak, what happened, Kad?" Opakki asked, running over to him.

"Would you look at that," Darra said as she picked herself up, then glanced suspiciously at her speeder, "I was right. When will you learn to trust me?"

"What was it about "not trusting anyone" that you were saying, Darra, a few minutes back?" asked Kad as he struggled to sit up. Darra just looked up at the shadow of a spaceship that flew overhead and sighed.

"I guess we go on foot," Kar murmured. Echoy'la grabbed Kad's wrist and helped him stand. Kad pulled a piece of shrapnel out of his beskar-impregnated undersuit.

"Wayii! Am I glad I had on my Beskar'gam," Kad exclaimed.

"You okay, ner vod?" Opakki asked.

"Fine, I guess. I got a little bruised when I got slammed into the wall. Not the worst to happen. I guess we'll have to walk all the way home." They started walking through the pure white snow filling the paths leading to their home.