23 Chapter 23

Nearly two weeks go by in a flash as the small fleet finally near the Mandalorion sector. They could've arrived there a few days earlier, but even though his fleet wasn't big, it was slow, and he has made a lot of new enemies with his actions during the Invasion of Naboo. Whether it was the remnants of the Trade Federation, Jabba and the Hutt Cartel, or Darth Sidious for nearly killing his apprentice and foiling his plans, and even the Republic as they don't take kindly to the outer rim trying to flock to House Kahl.

In this regard, House Kahl effectively took the place of the CIS, only without the Sith influence. Every one of these factions and their allies were all very dangerous.

Hearing a few surprised gasps, Moka looked over to see Abella, and a few of the people they picked up from the slave traders looking out of the viewport at the sprawling metropolis of Kahlua. The planet had undergone a major change after Moka was found and Roz took the throne, one of those things being, Cianna, Kahlua's royal Capitol city, where Kahl Palace was located.

Cianna once had just a few buildings and some cottage style homes that made up a beautiful idyllic scene. But now, Cianna was filled with beautiful skyscrapers covered in vines, flowers and other greenery that made them look as though they apart of the natural landscape of the world. Though the city was as lively as Nar Shada and Coruscant, it wasn't noisy or filled with pollution as those cities were, because Cianna was run by House Kahl alone, and not a bunch of corrupt senators or underworld bosses like other worlds.

The city wasn't the only thing to undergo such a drastic change. The entire palace grew needlessly expansive, spanning over 100 kilometers in all directions. The palace now had a central building in the shape of a circle, allowing those in and around the central building to have a view from all sides.

Along with the central building, several buildings in the shape of artistic blades, surrounded the structure, connected the elevated walkways made of the strongest material. The whole palace was made from a combination of Phrik, Beskar, and Obsidian stone, giving the palace the image of a blackened star when looked at from above, which is why it was renamed, Blackstar Palace.

Landing in a hangar of one of the palace's unused blades, the small fleet began unloading the ships under the orders of the members of Dragon Squad, turned generals of this small army. Waiting for them at the landing dock was none other than the queen of Kahlua, Moka's Aunt Roz, out of her armor and wearing a beautiful flowing dark blue dress. Standing with Roz were members of her personal Royal Guard, a few House Elders, and a small attachment of their armed forces. The most surprising presence for Moka was seeing Markol, the once down and out realtor, standing suspiciously close to Roz.

Moka was very protective over the few people he cared for in his life, and as much as he hated to admit it, that even included the always nagging Jona. So when Moka and the crew walked up to meet Roz and the others, Moka was prepared to do a full interrogation on Markol, until he felt a cold chill, looked over, and saw his Aunt Roz glaring at him. Not feeling like getting pummeled by his Aunt in front of everyone, Moka decided to investigate later.

Walking up his Aunt, Roz pulled him into a loving bear hug. Though he is much taller than when he first met her as a kid, as he now towered over her, Roz's strength was still enough to make him feel as though he was being crushed. "Aunty, you're strong! You're too strong!" Moka struggled out as he's lifted in the air by his aunt's embrace. Even with his beskar armor on, he felt as though his ribs were being crushed. 'Is she even fucking human?!' Moka thought to himself.

Letting out a hearty laugh at her nephew's reaction, Roz finally let Moka down, but then her womanly instincts perk up as her gaze travels to both Emiry and Abbela. Feeling as though they just got into the sights of a predator, both girls feel a chill run through their spines. "And what a joyous occasion! My whore of a nephew has finally decided to bring a girl home! Quick, boy, tell me which one you are marrying? Or will it be both? The more wives you have, the more children you can bare for the clan!" Aunt Roz bellowed, Moka breaking out into a cold sweat.

Ever since Moka aged to become a "Man", when he was 14, his aunt has hounded him to find a girl to marry so that he can have lots of children. Not only was Clan Kahl now reduced to just Roz and Moka, he was the crown prince and had ambitions of being Mand'alor one day, so he had a responsibility to have children. It was even in his Oath that he took as a child that he would have children, so you can imagine the pressure Moka felt.

"Aunty, don't do this. They are new members of my crew, I'm not marrying anyone any time soon. We have a lot to do, so can we drop the marriage thing for now please?" Moka practically pleaded. Moka knew how serious his aunt was about him having kids. She even told him that if he doesn't impregnate someone by his 16th birthday, she was going to force him to one way or another. Moka got chills every time he thought about that threat, especially since he was only a few months away from his birthday.

Glaring slightly at Moka, Roz let out a heavy sigh and relented. "Fine, but you can't keep running from your responsibilities, Mo. For now, come inside and enjoy the feast I've prepared. You can tell me of all of your exploits, as well as why there is an unfamiliar fleet docking in my palace, hmm?" Aunt Roz said, looking pointedly at Moka before she walked into the palace, Moka and the others trailing behind.

Thankful to have escaped an awkward conversation, Moka, joined by the others, rode the transports needed to traverse the massive palace. Half an hour later, everyone was sitting in the dining room at the large round table made of beskar, with a comforting round fireplace in the middle of table that surrounded a large holoterminal. The atmosphere of the room was warm and inviting, and the food was delicious, as it was full of meat and vegetables from the local forest. It was truly a grand fest to welcome home the wayward prince.

As they ate, Moka began detailing the whole trip to his aunt, trying his best to leave out troublesome topics, but like what happened their whole lives, Jona told Roz everything Moka tried to omit, causing him to facepalm in the end. Shooting a glare at Jona, she only responded with a smug smirk as those around them laughed at their antics. They were truly like brother and sister they way they bickered and fought with one another. Unfortunately for Moka, he wouldn't even get a chance to argue with his childhood friend before his aunt asked the question that silenced the whole table.

"So? Which girl do you plan on courting then? Queen Padmé of Naboo? The Fallen Jedi Emiry? or the adorable Abbela?" Aunt Roz asked, looking pointedly at Moka, which made a few droplets of sweat begin forming on his face.

"Auntie, don't forget the slave woman, Shmi! Moka bought her on Tattooine and has been working very close with her in private as his "Secretary". He even named the woman Ambassador of Tattooine before we left!" Jona blurted out.

Now all eyes were on Moka once more. If he was sweating before, he was now pouring buckets. He hadn't even let himself think about it, but he was almost certain that he got Shmi pregnant. Though she was older, she wasn't ridiculously older, as in this world she was only 26, being born in the year 58 BBY. This only made her 11 years older than Moka, which wasn't unheard of in this world. Shmi was quiet, reserved in public, but was daring and adventurous in the bedroom which Moka enjoyed. During this time that they have been together, Moka had found himself genuinely infatuated with Shmi, but was conflicted as he also had his sights on Emiry and Abbela.

Emiry was only 19 and has a Jedi background and she was already connected to him through the force. Emiry seemed like the natural choice to Moka at first, but he can't shake the fact that their Force Bond terrifies him. He was searching every information network he could for an answer to break it, but the answers he got back were either for them to die, or for him to get strong enough to break it without any consequences.

Abbela was the same age as Padmé which is 14, a year younger than him. Abbela was a bundle of adorableness Moka was sure she'd never grow out of. She is also very strong in the force, but has no formal training. He also can't ignore how strongly connected to her through the force he is. She's always called him "Big Bro", but ever since they had sex and has been spending more alone time together, Moka found that she was a genuinely great girl, and was secretly happy that he may be having a kid with her.

Seeing no way out of this, Moka decided to speak. "The truth is, I have no answer yet. It's a messy answer, but it's the truth. Between the war and making plans for the future, marriage has honestly been the last thing on my mind. But, I am a man of my word, so I promise that I will have this settled before my 16th birthday." Moka said, resolutely, earning a nod of respect from Rust a few other Mandalorions.

Hearing this, Roz let out a heavy sigh, but in the end, nodded as well. "I understand, Mo. I know it doesn't seem fair to put all of this pressure on you, but that's just the state that our House and Clan is in right now. And thanks to that and other circumstances, I have to make tough decisions as well... I have arranged for you to be married. If you do not make a choice of who to marry by your 16th birthday, that day, you will be wed to Vera Beroya, Heiress to Clan Awaud. And after you are wed, I will be abdicating the throne to you, and marrying Markol. I am pregnant with his child, plus if I marry him now, he'd be King, and that'll just cause too many problems for the line of secession." Roz stated casually, as if she hadn't just dropped a bomb that wouldn't rock Moka's entire worldview.