The Tales of Clan Danakar

Ch 10: Shaadlar Bat

Christophsis has been secured, and it is time for Beroya to depart, but not without saying goodbye.
Mando'a:
shaadlar bat=move on
Mirshmure'cya=Keldabe Kiss - slang for headbutt, "brain-kiss"
Jetii=Jedi
verd'ika=little soldier
Kaysh mirsh solus.=*You'll see.* ;)
elek=yeah
ni riduur=my husband
Cuy'val Dar=Those Who No-Longer Exist
ori'ramikad=supercommando, Mandalorian designation of elite special forces

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A few days later, and everything is back to the way things were before the battle. Well...all except for...one thing. Beroya's left eye was damaged beyond help from the lightsaber. But, she also takes off her helmet more often now. Ahsoka practically screamed when she first realized that Beroya's eye is heterochromatic, a swirl of blue, purple, and green.

Her left eye still has its colors, but she can't see out of it anymore and there's a scar running right through it and on her face. When we finally drive the Separatist forces off of Christophsis for good, we cheer and Beroya goes around to every single clone within reach, tapping her forehead to theirs with their helmets still on. Finally, after doing it over a dozen times, Anakin chuckles.

"What are you doing?" Holy shit Beroya actually giggled "Mirshmure'cya. A Keldabe kiss." Ahsoka giggles "You've given it two names but I still don't get it." Beroya laughs "It's a celebratory headbutt." "Oh! Can we do it?" Beroya chuckles "Afraid not Ahsoka. It's only done in helmets. I don't want to hurt you." She says as she gives Rex one.

Beroya strides over to the pouting Padawan and holds up both hands, palms facing Ahsoka. Ahsoka beams and gives the warrior the double high-five she's asking for. We celebrate that night with food and drink. Beroya will leave for Coruscant in the morning, so we chat all night. In the morning, Beroya is standing in the courtyard, chatting with the clones.

Her helmet is strapped to her waist so we can see her smile as she laughs at Cody. She's been in a really good mood since last night. I've never heard her laugh so much as she has in the last 24 hours. I wonder what's got her so happy. We walk up and I ask "What are they sending to pick you up? A Republic cruiser?" Now she's laughing at me "No Master Jetii. I have my own ride."

I raise an eyebrow at this "Oh? A friend from Mandalore?" She shakes her head "No," Her vambrace beeps and she presses a button on it, looking up as a VCX-series Auxiliary Starfighter appears "my partner." It lands and she smiles as the pilot hops out. He strides towards us. As he gets closer, I can see that he's got pale skin, red tattoos, dark grey hair, and silver eyes.

He's wearing light armor, but his vambraces and boots match Beroya's. When he reaches us, he smiles and introduces himself. "Hey there. I'm Calaveyron. The Republic's hired me to find and blow up droid factories for ya." That explains why he bothered to come and introduce himself. Anakin smiles "So, you're Beroya's partner huh?" He nods, looking very proud "That's me. You must be General Skywalker."

He nods "I am. This is my Padawan, Ahsoka Tano." She bows her head "Nice to meet you Calaveyron." I introduce myself as well and he smiles "A pleasure." Cody and Rex take turns extending their hands and introducing themselves. After Rex finishes, Beroya smiles. "Cal, Rex is the one I told you about. Verd'ika." He chuckles "Really?" She nods "Nice."

He looks at Rex, his face and tone suddenly, and dramatically, apologetic. "I am so sorry about her." She gasps and goes to punch him. He catches it but she steps in close to body check him and they're soon in a full-fledged brawl. I take this chance to look at Ahsoka. "Well Ahsoka, given what you've seen so far, what would you guess Calaveyron is?"

She hums, thinking for a good long minute before she snaps as the answer comes to her "Echani?" I nod "Very good. Though that doesn't explain the hair or the fact that he didn't punch her upon arrival." I hear a chuckle and turn to see Beroya and Calaveyron are suddenly done with their brawl. That was fast. "She's wearing her armor. I'm not breaking my hand on that."

Beroya's helmet beeps "I'm getting a call." She says as she puts on her helmet and walks away to take it. Calaveyron watches her walk away with the same look Anakin has when he sees Senator Amidala. I clear my throat, a knowing smile on my face. He sees my smile as Anakin asks "How do you put up with her?" Calaveyron laughs wholeheartedly, patting his shoulder.

"Nothing she does could possibly bother me Master Jedi." I grin "Oh? I find that hard to believe." He smiles "I find that, once you commit yourself to someone for the rest of your life, nothing could possibly ruin them for you." With that, he grabs her gear, and gives us all a nod. "Thanks for taking care of my wife. I look forward to working with you." He goes to the ship and loads up her equipment.

Beroya comes over to us, helmet off and a smile on her face. "Sorry about him. Kaysh mirsh solus." We hear from the ship "Hey!" She chuckles like a rebellious teenager. "What did you say?" Cody asks "I said he's an idiot. Literally though, it means 'his brain cell is lonely'." She says, a shit-eating grin plastered on her face. We can't help but snicker at this ourselves.

We say goodbye as they board the ship, taking off soon after. Her husband huh? An interesting couple, but her comment about her Echani husband makes sense. I wonder...could they be-no. ...Well, maybe.

~Ma'at's P.O.V.~

I watch the Jedi and clones wave goodbye as we take off, exiting the tinted atmosphere of Christophsis. I watch as they grow smaller and smaller until I can no longer see the lights of the military camp. "Want me to turn around?" I can hear the smirk on my husband's face. "No." I hum, turning away from the window to take the seat next to him. He throws me a lazy smile. "You alright love?"

I smile, placing my hand on his knee and squeezing. "Elek." I say, not really listening as I think back onto the call I'd received before we took off. It was from some Kaminoan geneticist asking if I could return to Kamino to discuss something confidential. "Back home?" I sigh, shaking my head. "As much as I'd love to ni riduur, I'm afraid the call I received was a summon to Tipoca City."

He glances at me and sighs. "Back to Kamino huh?" I nod. "I'm afraid so love." He shakes his head. "I don't get it. You quit from training the clones because you don't like their training methods, but now they want you to come back?" I give him a vague half-smile and a shrug. Truth be told, they did mention what this was for. The Cuy'val Dar.

A group of 100 mercenaries and bounty hunters (75 of which were Mandalorian), hired to train clone commandos on Kamino in secrecy. No one was to know of the job ever. I wouldn't have even taken the job if we hadn't been so pressed for money at the time. It was a good gig. Lots of money, every necessity (and non-essential) was provided while I trained the commandos alongside the other Cuy'val Dar.

The Battle of Geonosis signaled the end of the Cuy'val Dar contract. Instead of leaving (like most did), I agreed to help train regular troops as well. Just like my mother used to train recruits/cadets back on Mandalore when we were in the army. I miss those days, and I'm sure my mother does too. I wasn't lying when I told the Jedi she'd been crippled.

It happens when your leg gets crushed by a support column. Not that she let it stop her or anything. Her main role was in EOD, traps, and over watch (sniping). I smile as I remember the woman who trained me, who encouraged me to strive for the best. The ori'ramikad, the supercommandos, an elite special forces unit. While neither of my parents had achieved such an honor, they were confident I could.

I will not deny that I wanted to. The thought crossed my mind often enough. I smile as I remember my best friend proposing that we join together. That was the year my cousin got married. I'd told my friend to 'go on ahead, you know I'll catch up'. I can't call the process for becoming an ori'ramikad to be a tryout, but it's the best term I can come up with.

There were physical, psychological, and intelligence tests, then a close combat test, then a shooting test, and then you go on a trip with 3 of the current members to test chemistry. All of this is done in two days. That's the last aspect of the test. They put you through 48 straight hours of testing to test your patience, endurance, persistence, and dedication.

I only know this because my grandfather had been an ori'ramikad and he told me many stories about them. As to what the Cuy'val Dar have to do with the call I received on Christophsis...well, they weren't very forthcoming. In short? The Kaminoans want to do some sort of consultation regarding a future project involving the clones. I'm mostly going to satisfy my curiosity.