chapter 10

Mandalore, Sundari,

Vai-Viktis Vizla

"Tanya, I don't think this is the greatest idea." I said as I followed along behind her, shaking my head.

"Nonsense, this is a perfectly reasonable idea." Tanya said, waving her hand to dismiss and toss away the idea.

"I mean, maybe, but exploring the city without guards seems tempting fate if you ask me." I pointed out keeping my eyes open in case any trouble happened.

"There are going to be opportunities and events that will require me to have a minimal security presence, mainly just opportunities and events that will be just the two of us. If I cannot trust you to keep me safe then why are you even here?" She said with a smile looking at me, causing me to sigh and acknowledge that there was a point to this madness.

"Besides, what was the point of all that training we've gone through under Bo if I couldn't handle myself in the literal safest city for my existence?"

"I don't know about that." I said looking over at a wall while we were passing by. The wall in question had a black outline of the symbol of Death Watch. A little bit of vandalism, but still it was something I had never seen sprayed on a wall in my lifetime. Death Watch had been thoroughly destroyed after the Clan Wars and the new Death Watch that my mother was a part of tended to be a lot more careful and quiet about their plans so who was posting images like this was a bit confusing to me.

Tanya looked over there as well and then shrugged. "I figured Death Watch two would come out sooner or later." She said as she started walking on, observing the neighborhood we were in.

Tanya had decided that she needed to see the people she would be serving without a large number of guards following her around to distinguish that she was some form of royalty. But instead of going to one of the wealthier districts like I assume she would plan when we snuck out. Instead, we ended up in a more lower-middle income area with lots of apartment buildings. More closer to the edges of the city, where manual labor jobs were located.

Turning to catch up to her I asked, "Death Watch two?" Wondering why she referred to it in such a way.

"Yes, Death Watch two. Well, I bet someone refers to it just as a continuation of Death Watch. I doubt direct continuation. All research I've done on their little paramilitary indicates that their leadership was completely wiped out, so any organization that pops up spouting that it is the same thing is most likely just an organization trying to use the name for brand recognizability. 'Your forefathers fought for Death Watch come join us' and all that shimmery." Tanya said without a hint of worry as we continued our walk.

"I theorize something like this would happen," she said. As we turned a corner, we saw another one of the Death Watch vandalizations on the wall, this time with a silver X through it. "As time goes on and the Clan Wars get further away, people are going to become a little bit disgruntled with the current status quo and wonder if the old status quo is better in some way, happens in every society. Once an ideology exists, it will grow in a society until it is either destroyed or fully asserts itself."

She stopped talking as a group of teenagers walked by, most of them wearing regular New Mandalorian clothes. However, a few of them were wearing noticeable knee and elbow pads meant for Mandalorian armor as they dribbled a ball between them.

"Hmm, it seems the idea of turning armor into a fashion statement is working."

"So what do you make of this?" I said, pointing to the silver X through the Death Watch symbol.

"An unfortunate but not unwelcome development. I theorized that an organization would take root with the groups who are displeased with the direction of the New Mandalorians. And I'd hoped that the document would help alleviate some of that pressure.

It would seem that considering how it's been referred to as the Silver Codex online, some people have taken it as a rallying mark.

As long as it stays as simple vandalism and childish gang stuff, it is not a big concern."

"And if it moves beyond that?" I asked, curious about her opinion.

"Thankfully the ideology of Silver is, let's call it, very defensive, so I don't think they will cause any trouble. I'm more concerned about their interactions with Death Watch in the future. Gang violence is not conducive to a stable economy, and if they end up going at each other, that could be a problem that could set back progress."

Continuing on her way, she looked at one of these storefronts at the lower parts of the building. It appeared to be selling some sort of designer Mandalorian vambraces, belts, and vests. Non-lethal items, designed for beauty, and finally the little bits of technology that were a glowing convenience. However, I would probably need to actually own one to know what it could do.

"Hmm, remind me to talk to Zum Muduuc when we go to Bo's training area again. I might have a business opportunity for him to consider."

I nodded, taking out a notebook to mark that down.

When I first met Tanya, I had trouble nailing down her eccentricities, even misunderstanding her at first. But over the years, I started to get to know how her mind worked. She was goal-driven, usually centered on peace like her aunt, but she was not a slave to peace like the New Mandalorians.

Instead, she was always looking for opportunities to push her agenda and keeping a strong sense of what could go wrong in mind. There were, of course, moments where she was more daring, but she usually had some sort of backup plan when she was implementing one of those daring ideas.

I wondered how that would serve her once we got to Coruscant. Theoretically, she would just be a regular diplomat, but with the way her mind worked, I would not be surprised if she could pull some fast ones and get Mandalore some trade deals that most people would not have considered.

Really only time would tell, but I trusted her a lot more now than when I first met her. Back then, she had just been a useful way to get away from mother. But considering she was willing to put herself through training to make sure she was in Tip-Top shape, explore areas of the city she was not usually going to go to see what it was like, and actually get an understanding of how Mandalore worked. I don't know. I just feel like she was going to go a lot further than a mere senator and do ten times more good than any senator could ever accomplish.

(Play: Tipsy)

My musings are interrupted when Tanya enters a local tapcafe in a fairly quiet side street. Called the Sleepy Strill, it is a tapcafe that is squeezed between an apartment and a laundromat with a logo of a sleeping strill above the door to the cantina. I followed her inside to see a fairly busy interior with most of the tables being occupied by teens our age, a bar counter with a bartender on the right side of the room with a door that you assume leads into the kitchen behind the counter, and a jukebox at the far end of the room. This is to be expected since it is after school has ended for the day and there is a local public school near here.

Tanya takes a seat at the counter and starts to look at the flimsiplas menu while the bartender watches. I followed her lead and took a seat next to her so I could lean in to take a look at the menu too. As expected it is filled with a variety of snacks, meals, and beverages with a few specialties here and there.

Before you can decide what to order you see Tanya wave the bartender over. "I'll have a glass of Black Caf, my friend will have some Cassus Tea, and a bowl of red gourd soup with grilled cheese Haarshun bread please."

The bartender raised an eyebrow, "Aren't you a little young to be drinking caf?"

"Yes, yes I am." came her immediate and deadpan reply.

The bartender shrugged before getting started on our orders. I knew Tanya wanted to drink caf for a long time, so this might be the true reason we are exploring the lower income areas of Sundari. Getting to know the population could just be an excuse or a secondary objective. People are less likely to recognise her here than in the upper districts where she is more often seen and the people are more likely to talk to Satine's staff about Tanya's activities.

"So, is the reason that we are here is so that you can satisfy your caf addiction?" I had to ask.

"Partially, no reason we can't gather information and have a break from walking at a nice tapcaf." Ah, so it is just a side benefit to exploring the city. "Additionally, tapcafs are an excellent place to gather information, as it's a location where many people gather and converse with one another. An excellent place to overhear information."

Tanya motions with her head to a group sitting at a table right behind them talking fairly loudly. "Man school is a pain, what I wouldn't give to go back to the old ways. At least my parents wouldn't give me homework. At most they'll give me chores around the house and then combat lessons on weekend with a bit of lessons from their life in the form of stories from their youth. Reading dry history books is torture."

Another teen in the group decides to chime in. "Come on, school is not that bad. If we didn't have school we wouldn't have met each other and learned stuff that our parents didn't know. Ms. Frizle's chemistry class is usually fun with her experiments."

"Yeah, but Mr. Rezla's Math and Ms. Kriz's New Mando philosophy lesson is a bore. Like when am I going to use them? Sure, learning how to count my money and how to not offend New Mandos is fine. But when the kriff am I going to use calculus?"

One of the girls in the group decided to chime in, "Well, you would need to know calculus for an office job as well as learning how to calculate hyperspace jumps."

"Yeah, I know I am not smart enough for an office job or being a trader, I'd just have the Astromech calculate my jumps. Anyway enough about school, so you guys ready for the Ambience Concert next week?"

My eavesdropping was interrupted when the bartender came back with our order. I got my tea, Tanya got her caf, and a plate of grilled cheese toast and red gourd soup was put in-between us. "Here you go, ladies. If you need anything let me know." As the bartender returns to serving the other customers you see Tanya pick up her caf and take a big sip from her foam cup.

I had to hide my laugh as a cough as I see Tanya's eyes go wide and her face becomes a grimace as she forces herself to swallow the drink that I assume would have the taste of waste water from an industrial plant. "What is this swill?"

The bartender who was also watching chimed in apologetically. "Insta-Caf, if you want real caf, you would need to go to those high class tapcafs in the upper districts. They are the only ones that have the money to import real freeze dried caf from off-world. All of the local government greenhouses are used to plant staple crops or fruits and vegetables."

"What about private greenhouses?"

"Nope, not enough space to plant entire fields of caf that can be sold commercially, and even if they did, it would be so pricey that only the rich could afford it for personal consumption. Of course that is just in Sundari."

"Oh?" I can hear the genuine interest in her tone.

"Oya'baat in Keldabe is an ancient hotel and tapcaf that is still in business since the Old Republic era. Their Spiced Caf is their most famous beverage in Mandalore because they are the only ones who made it. If you want the best caf on Mandalore, that's where you'll find it."

Tanya visibly deflates from the news. "Alright, do you have any recommendations to make this at least palatable?"

"I have just the thing. I'll be right back." As the bartender took back Tanya's drink, I took a sip of my tea after swallowing a bite of my grilled cheese bread that I dipped into the soup.

"So how was your first taste of being an adult?" I jest.

"It was… bracing, to put it mildly." she looked genuinely offended that such a thing is allowed to be sold commercially.

The bartender returned with Tanya's caf, except now it is much lighter in color. "Here you go, our Special Strill Caf. Guaranteed to turn even the worst insta-caf into something drinkable."

I watched as Tanya took a cautionary sip of the improved caf. It did not take long before it looked like she was in bliss. "Amazing, what did you do? It's like an entirely new drink?"

"Well, I added some nerf butter, a bit of cream, and a sprinkle of Correllian Cinnamon powder. The butter helps kill the bitterness and acidity whilst giving a smooth texture. The cream adds flavor as well as making it smoother. Finally the cinnamon powder gives the drink a healthy spicy yet sweet flavor." The bartender explained.

"I'll have to try that myself sometime, thank you sir." Tanya thanked the man before taking another sip.

"No problem, let me know if you need anything."

"Actually there is something you could help us with." Tanya pulled out a datapad. "Could you tell us what you think about the new Silver Codex that has been going around lately? It is for our school social studies project."

"Sure, as an apology for having you drink straight insta-caf, I'll answer some questions."

714 FNM (24BBY)

Month 1

Mandalore, Sundari, Royal Palaces

Engiz Ordo

Carefully I finished strapping the armored boot onto my leg. The silver beskar was a little gaudy for my personal taste but it was something I was just going to have to accept. I'd come a long way from just saying orphaned Ordo to a member of the royal guard and I was proud to have done it.

Most of my cousins were more interested in local affairs. Rusak who was like a brother to me, was currently studying to become a doctor. Bark my slightly younger brother, who is about my own age, and is planning to go into politics directly, maybe even taking over for the old man when the time comes. Hell even my adopted sister Ikudtovu, was going into security because she wanted to be part of the local self-defense force.

Until I was 10, I had planned to become a historian. I had always enjoyed the histories of our worlds, always enjoyed learning about all the cultures and my life had pretty much been set for a teaching gig. And then I met her, the monster, and I just knew I needed to be part of the royal guard.

"Hey, if you keep admiring yourself in the reflection of your knee guards, people are going to think you're vain. Which is totally unfair, that's my job." Came the voice of possibly the strangest personality I'd ever come across. Tabi Kregg a Mandalorian from Harswee, they were a strange group of Mandalorians to say the least. And Tabi was a wondrous example of how strange they were. Harswee had a slightly higher gravity which had resulted in even their weakest candidates for military work hitting the minimum requirements for the Royal Guard.

Why was that important? Well that's why Tabi, who looked lithe, compared to the rest of the Royal Guards currently preparing for their first meeting with their soon-to-be target of protection duties. Add in Harswee's long history of fabric work and high fashion results in a very flamboyant personality.

Shaking my head I said "Not vain, just thinking, Tabi."

"Good, I don't want someone trying to compete for my position as the most beautiful Royal Guard." He said as he did a little twirl to show off his blue uniform.

"And when did you acquire this position?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh, when I took that maid to…" you see them stop and think better of themself before saying. "A gentleman never tells about his conquest."

"Right, just going to pretend I didn't hear that." I said standing up and kicking my boots against the ground to make sure they were well and truly on. Reaching down I picked up my helmet and carefully slid it on the massive wing that went off the top. It was a little bit unbalancing but I have been training to deal with this for a couple years now. Ever since I made my interest in a position as a Royal Guard known to the patriarch, he'd been more than willing to make sure I got the training needed.

The only real thing I hate about this helmet was the missing T of a visor. Instead of using the old method they had gone with some open eye design, sure I could slide the part of the helmet down and use it as sort of a sun blocker but if I just had a full helmet I would have access to a lot more tech than this piece of metal and not get dust or smoke in my eyes.

I was reaching over for the force staff when Tabi spoke up. "So what battlefield are you planning to go to?"

"Battlefield?" I asked, a little bit confused.

"Every Mandalorian has their own personal battlefield. At least that's what my family believes. That's how Mandalore the Binder took control of our system so many generations ago."

"Mandalore the Binder." I muttered. He was a Mandalore about 2,000 years ago, I think. It was hard to tell because there might have been another Mandalore the Binder but you are probably talking about the one that had come from your home world of Harswee. Man was considered one of the greatest Mandalores that ever existed and showed that it was possible for anyone to take on that rank as he had been a son of a rug maker. Harswee still produced rugs to this day even though they were all diversifying with other fabric products.

"I hate to say this but I don't have a battlefield I am angling for, because I'm exactly where I want to be."

"So your battlefield was to become a Royal Guard? Intriguing." Tabi said as he looked at me with an uncomfortable stare. Ignoring the pinkish blonde lock that was trying to come loose of his wild hair and block his view.

"Alright then, what battlefield are you trying to conquer?" I said, trying to get him to stop staring at me.

"Well fashion of course," he said matter of factly before continuing, "and maybe a few young lasses' hearts along the way."

"Really? that's it?" came a female voice from a few spots over. "All that build up and your answer is 'I want to get laid?'" Thisish Skota stepped into the locker area not seeming to care this was the men's locker room and pointed directly at Tabi. "If you're going to be a filthy degenerate do me a favor and make sure you do it safely. We only have a limited supply of STD medication and I'm not going to give it all out to you if you're going to abuse it." She didn't have her helmet on so you could see that she was a few years older than the rest of the people in the room. One of the old hands that is meant to keep an eye on the newer Royal Guards for this assignment. She brushed her dark black hair back before she crossed her arms waiting for a response.

"Madam you wound me I would never abuse the stockpile." Tabi said acting overly hurt by the comments.

"So the stockpiles will abuse you?" Came the voice of the fourth member of their little group, Kor Kastel. Causing Thisish to chuckle and Tabi to look indignant. Didn't seem to care though as he was too busy trying to figure out how to get the shoulders to poof out right on the uniform. Kor was a dark-haired man from Vorpa'ya. I wasn't too familiar with the culture of that planet beyond being in the same system as Concord Dawn. All I knew was that it didn't have many notable features and was mostly used as an agri-world.

Only thing I can really identify about him was that he had a thing for tattoos as I've seen many ancient Mandalorian symbols tattooed on his upper body. Must have meant for standard good luck from what I understood. Though it was interesting that he had the iron heart directly tattooed over his heart.

"Oh you think you're a real comedian don't you? Well answer me this, what is your battlefield then?" Tabby said pointing at Kor.

"Wherever the guard sends me is my battlefield." Kol answered nonchalantly.

"By the Binder, I do want to hear goals more loftier than fighting for the Royal Guard, Royal Guard is what we do not who we are." Tabi proclaimed.

"Well if you put it like that my goal is to make sure young idiots like you don't get themselves dead by prolonged idiotic stupid disease ridden stunts. So please do not waste my medical supplies." Thisish was giving him the death glare.

Whatever thoughts I was going to have were sideswiped as the Second in command of this detachment of Royal Guards opened the door. Kuth Mok stepped in and immediately looked around."I see everyone has not finished putting on their armor, except Ordack, of course." He said mentioning to the last member of the guard unit, who was leaning back against a corner, having already gotten himself prepared.

Struc Ordack nodded his head to his second in command. Ordack was sticking to his 'no unnecessary comment' shtick the entire time I'd known him, which was about a month at this point. He was the team's commander, but he only spoke up when necessary, preferring to let Mok and Thisish keep the majority in line.

"In the next 20 minutes, we will be meeting with codename Pixie for our introduction." Ordack said looking at his vambrace sounding displeased to use the codename that apparently had been used for there charge for longe while now, "We'll be part of her personal Royal Guard detachment to make sure she doesn't get into any trouble, you have made good time but it might be wise to speed up."

Thisish nodded her agrement, "We are the Mandalorian Royal Guard. We must maintain our professional status at all times while looking disciplined and gallant whilst doing it. Looking like a hodgepodge of parts is an insult to our position"

"Plus," Mok added, "as soon as we get this meeting over with, the sooner we can go back to off duty and I can go watch the latest episode of the Protectors.

"Yes Sir." came the voices of the 3 newbies guards before we quickly gathered on the rest of our stuff.

"So," Tabi Sais looking at Kuth, "what your personal Battlefield?"

Kuth, who was busy attaching his vambrace to his cybernetic arm, gave him a looked that said he had no idea what Tabi was talking about. "My battlefield? It's whenever a person screws up and need me to fix their tech issues?"

"That 's not what I mean?" Tabi said looking annoyed.

"Too bad, that the answer your getting, now get your helmet on." Kuth responded before his hand glitched and gave a rude gesture, at least I think glitched out. He began working on trying to fix it from that position.

After the 20-minute time span, we have been given to get fully dressed. We were told to be waiting outside our barracks area, standing next to each other in formation. I was a bundle of nerves. I will admit it, today was the day I've been working a long time to get to ever since I was 13 and I confirmed something.

The day I met a monster. And as if my thoughts of her was a summoning spell, said monster appeared.

Walking down the hallway with her handmaiden close by her side, in a comfortable looking dress with her fully auburn hair almost down to the small of her back now, came Tanya Kryze or as the Royal Guard apparently had codenamed her the Pixie. Why is she named that way? I didn't know but it apparently has been around for a long time.

"Good afternoon Lady Kryze." Commander Ordack said bowing his head to the royal family member. "I've assembled your guard detail for your coming trip to Coruscant for inspection."

"Thank you Commander Ordack, my protective detail looks well and truly put together." She said looking us over, from my distance of a few feet away, with a practiced eye it felt like.

"If you wish ma'am, I could introduce each of them to you."

"I believe I can introduce myself, thank you very much." Tanya said, nodding for the royal guard before stepping forward looking at the first person in line.

"You're a little short for a Royal Guard." she commented, looking at Tabi.

"On Harswee I'm actually fairly tall." came his chipper reply before he gave a bow, "Tabi Kregg at your service ma'am."

"Harswee, higher gravity am I correct?" Tabby nodded, "Are you genetically divergent from the regular human genome? Well in any case,I accept your service Tabi and I hope we have a wonderful good real working relationship." She said with a smile before stepping on and looking up at the next guard who happened to be me.

Considering she had initiated the conversation with Tabby I decided to remain quiet assuming this was the proper formalities.

"Engiz?" Tanya said, looking up at me, completely stalling my brain for a second. I hadn't told her I was coming in my last letter to her. Hell, I kept the whole Royal Guard plan a surprise so how did she know it was me. "Engiz Ordo?" She asked again.

"Yes, Tanya, it's me. Surprise?" I tried to say, though my surprise was totally and completely destroyed at this point.

"Good to see you, Engiz," she said, reaching up to pat me on the shoulder, "it'll be good to have conversations with someone else I know on Coruscant and we won't have to wait on mail delay, finally."

I smiled beneath my helmet and nodded "Yes, we won't." Smiling, she moved on and I could do nothing much other than watch her go. She was a monster alright, an intelligent monster with good instincts on how to fight. And I simply wanted to be near her when something happened. I didn't know how far she would go but people like her went far and the people who were close to them when they did, rose in status and fame. She had the potential to become the next Mandalor and I wanted to be by her side the whole way.

Smiling, I turned my head back to look straight ahead, to look more professional. Then I noticed that Tabi was looking at me, turning a bit I looked at him before he elbowed me in the side. "Liar, no battles my ass." he said in a hushed and teasing tone as I stifled a groan.

I think he might have popped something out of place, couldn't exactly blame him, he's from a planet where people had a lot more tolerance for strength but it still hurt like hell. Maintaining full control I tried not to show the pain until Tanya had left and all the other guards were filing back into the barracks.

Thankfully, Thisish noticed me standing awkwardly and came over to ask what was wrong or I might have stood there for a couple hours more trying to keep the pain in.