Private Chaaje'vode

[Elise Ahana-Gwyneira]

The city of Novania. The savannah city was bathed in the golden sun. Walking into a downtown grocery store, Elise Vizsla held a woven basket as she strolled through the grocery section. Exotic fruits were on display, awaiting their eager consumers. Picking up a melurrum fruit, Elise inspected it for freshness. Though, she knew she hardly needed to. As close to nature as the Arkanians of Archais were, they were quite dedicated to their wholesome foods. The hooded woman placed the fruit into her basket, her Shaman Medallian Chains jingling around her waist, as she moved through the isles some more, While she did not wear her buy'ce or boots, she was wearing Mandalorian armor as well. Observers would notice the large sack slung over her shoulder. The remaining armor was in there.

It was a casual shopping trip. - Well, it was an Elise Vizsla casual shopping trip. The Ajayid was naturally a fast mover, so she was out of the shop in a mere five minutes. She bit into that first melurrum she found, savoring the juicy fruit as she walked through the streets. She was heading back to the shipyards, to board her ship Estrela once more and make a return trip to the Dreamseer Coven. Elise was just really in the mood for melurrum, but she had a lot of training to do. Who knew where the Mandalorian Enclave would strike next? She needed to keep training, to prepare herself for the skirmishes to come. It was a regretful duty, but the Mandalorian exile had made her choice. With a heavy sigh, she continued to briskly walk to thee shipyards. Tunnel vision and deep thoughts consumed her, keeping her from paying attention to the Force Sense telling her that another vod, another Force Sensitive vod, was nearby.

Mia Monroe

 

[Mia Monroe]

Fingers drummed on the top of her helmet, watching Elise Ahana-Gwyneira from a bar across the street. She'd been following the girl for the last couple of days, learning her habits, making sure that the intelligence she' managed to gather about her defecting was actually accurate. Call her paranoid if you had to, but the last Vizsla she crossed paths with dragged her dead body through the streets of Sundari and cursed her to the last 40 years walking the blood wastes in the netherworld.

A heavy sigh blew out her nose. Reminding herself of Ijaat Mereel 's words; Vi an jorir tal...We all bear blood.

Paying her tab, she slid off the bar stool and followed her at a distance, reaching out in the force to get a sense from her. Elise was not alert, consumed by thoughts. Dangerous. In fact Mia was certain she could get within a few inches of the woman before she realised she could be in danger. So she did just that, as Elsie rounded a corner into a quiet street Mia closed the gap.

"You're going to get yourself killed, kid." she spoke softly, right behind her.

 

[Elise Ahana-Gwyneira]

"Eep!"

Only a split second after the Elise emitted a rather cute sounding noise of shock, she snapped into action. Her Mandalorian Core training served her well as she slipped into a defensive posture. Dropping her basket, she raised her hands to grapple her jump scarer and toss her over her shoulder in one, smooth movement.

Just as her hands slipped over her, ready to pull the maneuver, Elise blinked. She... strangely recognized this individual. But from where? Another one of her ba'buir's memories? She paused, slowly pulling her hands away as she processed her words.

"Uh..."

She blinked for a moment, then, "Actually, I'm pretty well trained. If I didn't realize you weren't a threat you'd be on the ground right now. But anyways, you look kind of familiar. If you're someone I might recognise as a friend, I could forgive the fate of my basket o' Melurrum."

Elise always rambled when she was nervous.

The girl crossed her arms, watching the woman, trying to figure out just where she saw that face before. Not even the voice, just the face. But she had a feeling she should know. Either way, after trying and failing to guess, even looking back on some of the memories she picked up from her father and grandfather, she just flat out asked it. "Yeah, sorry, I can't figure it out. Who are you?"

Mia Monroe

 

[Mia Monroe]

Well, at least her reaction showed her training. Mia took half a step back, arms coming up to counter whatever was coming her way. Recognition crossed the girls face and she hesitated, dropping the grapple. Mia contemplated teaching her a lesson for hesitating, for allowing Mia to get close. But she was not her alor, it wasn't her place.

"Training is only good if you actually use it, Elise Ahana-Gwyneira , not only did you fail in this moment as a mandalorian in allowing me to get that close, you also failed to heed warnings in the force. As a deserter to the Enclave, you cannot afford to be an utreekov."

She gave her an up down glane. "I'm no friend to clan Vizsla." she offered an answer finally. "My name is Mia Monroe and I'm her to recruit you, though I'm not entirely sure you're worth it."

 

[Elise Ahana-Gwyneira]

There was... a lot to take in.

An old Mand'Alor, from decades ago, presumed dead... was standing right in front of her. Hurling insults none the less, and talking something about recruitment for something.

Being told that she had "failed" as a Mandalorian caused Elise's eyes to noticably narrow. She gritted her teeth, clenched her fist. She had heard enough of being told she was a terrible Mandalorian, for betraying the Enclave and her family. But Elise was not a hothead. She was not like her mother and sister. While an emotional reaction was visible, she did not act on it. At least, not yet.

But what more, Mia Ordo had been a terrible leader. First time around, she had lead her people well. But after disappearing and coming back, she had changed for the worst; according to the history books. She lead Mandalore into ruin, and had been called "mad" by the eldest of Mandalorians she had spoken to. So why... was Elise taking poodoo from her?

Elise gulped the worst of her hostility down. She lifted her head high, speaking in a challenging tone. "I need prove nothing to you, fallen Mand'Alor. If I have failed, then you have ten times over."

She crossed her arms, mental clarity coming to her as her chatty nervousness was replaced by steady thought. "Color me interested in Mandalorian businesses, however. What are you recruiting for?"

Elise did have questions. A lot of questions. How long had Mia been tracking her? If she had put in all that effort to reach her, why her? What was Mia even doing alive? But as much as her mind was racing, she had to take things one step at a time. She knew what Ra Vizsla had done at the end of the civil war... for all Elise knew, this could be someone who was more of a threat after all. Either way, Elise knew exactly where her weapons were on her person, and she had a fast reaction time if she tried anything.

Mia Monroe

 

[Mia Monroe]

Mia's hand twitched and she slowly clenched and unclenched it to resist the urge to back hand the girl. She was just that, a girl. Ignorant and unknowing of the whole truth. the real sting of the insult, however, was that it wasn't wrong. A tight smile crossed her features. "That's your one, Elise. Any insults after that one, you pay the price for, if you know you're history as well as I think you do, then you know what I'm capable of. So don't test me." Something passed behind Mia's eyes as it often did when anger was close to the surface, her eyes shifting with a hint of sith orange before fading.

A swipe of her hand and the scattered meiloorun's found their way back into the basket, and Mia bent to pick it up, pressing it into Elise's hands. "Walk." It wasn't a request. They'd been still for too long, and Mia wasn't about discuss anything while they were standing in a quiet street. "You left the Enclave, I assume because your ideals and theirs don't align. If you're not interested in crusading your way across the stars for the sake of it, then perhaps you're more interested in something more."

She paused at the end of the street, allowing Elise to chose their direction. "There's a new claim for Mand'alor, whether you chose to answer his call or not is up to you. but he seeks to rebuild and restore Manda'yaim, among other things"

Elise Ahana-Gwyneira

 

[Elise Ahana-Gwyneira]

Elise almost scoffed when Mia "gave" her "one free pass" for insulting her. But the Ajayid held her tongue, and facial expressions. Though she still thought in annoyance, Says the one who just casually walked up to me and started insulting me repeatedly...

But even her distemper was dissipated when Mia spoke of the recruitment. Eyes wide, Elise stood, gripping her basket. She looked straight ahead, standing still for a moment, as she whispered.

"Mand'Alor..."

The title was breathed in awe. As if hearing of some legendary tale or ethereal myth. It might as well had been, for all Mandalorians of Elise's generation. For her entire twenty years of life, Elise had never seen anyone attempt to take up to prestigious, direly important position. The closest thing she ever saw to a Mand'Alor, were the leaders of the Enclave. Her grandfather, Kranak Vizsla , was the War Master. But he was no Mand'Alor, even if she heard whispers of others desiring he take the title. Then again, with how to Crusades were going, Elise was doubting the leadership of the ba'buir she loved. The last time anyone had tried to take the title of Mand'Alor, it had been Khamul Kryze , a member of the Brotherhood of the Maw. A vile swarm of the galaxy's worst of evildoers, trying to wipe the galaxy clean in the name of rebirth.

Elise looked up to Mia Monroe for a moment before looking around the city. Carrying her basket, she took a different direction than the way to the shipyards. Heading down a street, the old Ordo in toe, she made way to a city garden richly adorned in Archais' wildlife. There was hardly anyone here, and Elise chose an even more isolated spot to talk business. She dug her bare feet into the cool soul of the garden, pleased as she felt her deep connection to this planet course through her. These kinds of gardens were Elise's "happy place." The ferns and palms, trees and flowers. Archais had always been her safety, her home. She had never imagined that a long thought dead Mand'Alor would casually walk up to her and start insulting her today. Oh, and recruiting her.

Elise leaned against an Acacia tree, looking to Mia with a thoughtful, contemplative face. This was the face of a thinker, even a scholar. She brooded on the limited information given, thinking on so many things. Her doubts, her duty. Her track record of betrayal and defection. History, both ancient and recent. She lifted a hand to her chin, rubbing it as one question came into spoken word.

"Who is the new Mand'Alor?"

Elise was already entirely for the mission of restoring Mandalore. She instinctively felt called to it. However, she needed to know if she could trust the people in charge. The Enclave, the Galactic Alliance, even old empires and orders of old. Leadership, by nature, was held by flawed and imperfect beings. The ex-Mand'Alor standing before her was proof of that. Whoever was "Mand'Alor" right now... could she possibly trust them?

 

[Mia Monroe]

Mia tilted her head, watching Elise process her words, mull them over. A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth, entirely clad in beskar'gam but with her toes free and digging into the earth, she was definitely unusual, but then Mandalorians came from all walks of life. She was almost endearing.

Then she asked a question and all shadow of the smile dropped from her face. It was a good question, the right question really, but history had written her in poor light, deserved or not, what had they done for him?

" Ijaat Mereel " she answered. "Mand'alor the Rekindler." She smiled then. It was a good name, for a good man who had stolen her heart.

Elise Ahana-Gwyneira

 

[Elise Ahana-Gwyneira]

Ijaat Mereel...

Elise's eyes twinkled at the name. She had heard from her grandfather and mother, very good things about him. Furthermore, he was an unrivaled smith, warrior, and leader. He was a legend! Just as ancient to the young vod as Mia Ordo herself, he was... a welcome surprise. Of course, Elise had never actually met him. She only heard things from her family and read history books.

And yet, she felt a sense that... she could, perhaps, trust him. Maybe.

Just maybe.

Elise looked down again, thinking even more. Then, she spoke.

"My own ba'buir is the War Master of the Enclave. My entire life, I looked up to him. He helped train me, guide me. I even have some of his memories in my head. I admired him... but now, with the Crusades..."

She grimaced. It was a heart broken, solemn grimace made of shattered trust.

"From what I've read, from what I've heard, Ijaat Mereel is a good choice. Probably the best choice, for Mand'Alor. But even good leaders are mortal, capable of mistakes, so... how can I trust him?"

She looked up to Mia Monroe , and Mia would be able to see it. A girl who betrayed the Enclave, but felt even further betrayed by them. She was young, yes, but already looked worn out and took hurt by what she had been through. But her trials were just beginning, and she knew it. There was so much fight in her eyes as well. A desire to hope, a desire to dream. But so quickly, her own mistrust of all others formed overnight. Was she paranoid? Panicked? She needed to know. She hoped, but she knew how easily hope could be crushed.

 

[Mia Monroe]

Mia gave a small, understanding smile. She didn't know the story behind her defection, but mandalorians could be cruel in their exclusion. Whatever had happened this one bore scars. "Leaders are only as good as the people who follow them. A true mand'alor does not rule supreme, he is simply the first among many. They will expect to be held accountable for their mistakes, by you and other that chose to walk with him. More than this, Ijaat will weigh every step he takes before he takes it, his decisions are not absolute."

He also didn't want it, not really, but Mia had convinced him, pushed him, even. He was what they needed. Mia knew that in her heart. Let him lead them, the way they should be led, not dragged along behind a man or woman after their own agenda, but walking side by side with a brother.

"If you are unsure, come meet him. Only you can decide if you are willing to join the Protectors. Only you can choose whether to place your trust in him or not. I can't make that decision for you, and I'm biased so my opinion will always be in his favour." Mia pushed herself off the tree she'd been leaning on.

"Two things, before I go. Stop ignoring your senses. They are there for a reason, so listen to them. And brood in the safety of your home or camp, not walking on the street. You're a good kid, I'd hate to see that go to waste because you had your head up your backside." She turned to walk away, calling back as she did. "Think it over, I'll be in the port for a couple more days, come find me when you're ready and I'll take you to him."

Elise Ahana-Gwyneira

 

[Elise Ahana-Gwyneira]

With everything Mia Monroe said, Elise felt years of wisdom. Suddenly, Elise saw not the former Mand'Alor who led her people into ruin, but the true Mand'Alor before that. Mand'Alor the Liberator, who had freed her people and served them well. But the words, they had a tendency to sting. Being told not to ignore her Force Sense, Elise saw Darth Malum of House Marr in her mind, and everything leading up to finding out his identity. The heartbreak burned, and she knew for a fact how right Mia Ordo was. She narrowed her eyes, grimacing at all her short comings.

If a leader was only as good as their followers, what kind of rotted imbecile would Elise be to the great Ijaat Mereel ?

But that was when Mia left. She left, leaving her invitation for the taking.

"I'm her to recruit you, though I'm not entirely sure you're worth it."

The real sting of the insult, however, was that it wasn't wrong. Elise once again found that she not only distrusted others, but distrusted herself.

Her half smashed basket of fruit was no longer edible. Elise turned the return to her own home. She... needed to think...

After a morning prayer to the Ancient Ones, Elise Vizsla got right down to business.

She walked across her chamber, into the refresher. Taking a quick shower, she washed her shamanic paint off and freshened up. She dried off, slipping into her beskar'gam. As she adorned herself in her armor, her second skin, she let out a sigh. She clipped on her vambraces, coiled her medallion chains around her waist, and wrapped a shawl-like kama around her shoulders. She walked over to the buy'ce, gazing down on it with confliction and doubt.

She had always been a prodigy. It seemed that by mere instinct, by natural talent, she breezed through training. She soaked up written information like a sponge, was so quick to learn new combat techniques and weapons, and was graced with a strong connection to the Force. But where had all that talent and potential landed her? Betraying her family. Betraying her second home. Accidentally saving a Sith Lord - even falling for him. She was a Dreamseer, yet blind to what those dreams meant. So many times, her supposed talent only turned into a curse. It laughed at her, mocked her. It jeered that she was a savant who still failed at every capacity.

And yet, she remembered a conversation she had with her shaman mentor, the esteemed Siyarr Ahan-Mitharran , shortly after she defected from the Enclave.

"As you and I both know that second-guessing is death for a Mandalorian. Always has been so, always shall be so.... And if not you, I guarantee you now that someone else would have been perceived as a traitor in your place"

If not Elise, someone else would have been in her place. Elise had her gifts, and her curses. So many times, she had failed. And yet, her stubbornness and naive optimism remained still.

"If I'm a failed prodigy, then I'll be the best karking failure this galaxy has seen."

She stood before the holorecorder, straightening her position. She reached out, pressed it, and held record.

​

<"Teacher, Siyarr Ahan-Mitharran,">

She cleared her throat, speaking in a concise tone.

​

<"I'm leaving again, who knows how long this time. After so long, a party of Mandalorians is moving to restore our Mandalore. You know fully well, how sacred worlds are to us. Us Shamans have Archais, Ilum; and my Mando'ade have Mandalore. So, I'm going to see if I can help them.">

She looked away for a second, doubt flashing in her eyes, then returned her gaze to the recorder.

​

<"There's someone claiming to be Mand'alor. And yes, I know, we have a lot of bad histories with Mand'Alors, but I... I want to believe this one will be better. I want to believe there's still good people in the galaxy. So... I'll meet him, and see for myself.">

She teared up, sentimental. She knew fully well that she would be gone longer than last time. She always felt like a piece of herself stayed behind, at Archais, when she left. And for all the times that the galaxy turned its back on her, the Shaman Coven never had.

​

<"Did I... ever tell you how much you mean to me? Your teaching, your support. You were always there, even when no one else was. I keep doubting myself, but you kept on believing in me. It means the galaxy to me. My father died when I was young, but when I came under your tutelage, you filled the void he left. So...">

She smiled.

​

<"Thank you. For everything. I can't promise that I won't kark up again this time, but I'll do my best. It's what you taught me to do, master. So watch me! Watch me be the trailblazer you trained me to be! And I won't even accidentally save any Sith in the process this time. So... this is... this is so long...">

She offered a proper shaman bow, then, she stopped the recording.

She wiped away her tears, pulling her buy'ce over her head. She had thought for so long when choosing to defect, and she doubted herself when she finally did defect. She had avoided her giftings, avoided her calling, too long in that sea of doubt. Doubt was death to a Mandalorian. And Mia Monroe's words of insult, they became inspiration. She was not going to fail as a Mandalorian again.

She scooped her luggage up, throwing it over her back, and turned to leave her chambers. She was meeting Mia at her ship, and from there meeting Ijaat Mereel himself.

Elise was many things, but tardiness was never one of them.

Punctual to the enth degree, she arrived to the port early in the morning. Not a couple of days after their conversation, but a mere singular day after they spoke. With a determined, serious expression on her face, she followed the Force Signature of the old Mand'Alor to where she was. Her ship.

Standing several feet from the ship, she looked around for the ex-Ordo. She was ready.

 

[Mia Monroe]

Elise was smart, it didn't take much to see that. Mia knew little of the shaman tradition she followed aside from their deep connection with nature. Mia hadn't believed for a second that she wasn't worth it, everything from here on out would be to test her. To hone those skills and make her the Mandalorian she was meant to be.

When the morning came, and Mia felt her approach, she palmed the landing pad controls as she passed them. Cup of caff in her free hand she leant on the joists to look down on Elise. Fully garbed in her beskar'gam this time, Mia smiled at her her own armour reflecting the early morning sun. The lesson had been learned, Elise was a alert. She wasn't going to test her again on the same thing so soon.

"Su cuy'gar, El'ika. Welcome aboard." She nodded her head down the corridor. "Second door, the room is yours. I'll be in the cockpit."

She moved to the cockpit, allowing Elise a moment to get situated. Mia's hands moved calmly over preflight controls bringing them ship to life and opened comms to Ijaat Mereel using The planets own long range communications to extend her own. The communication at mandalore was unreilable, but he'd get the message from

"Su cuy'gar kar'taylir darasuum." She said softly. "I'm leaving Archais, recruit in tow. Shouldn't be more than a day or two unless trouble runs into us. Do me a favour, find her a space close to us, something tells me..." she trailed off and shook her head. Not sure how to word that something was telling her that there was more to the kids story, that whatever the Enclave had done was only part of the story. "She needs us. Well, she needs you." A small sad smile. "We'll see you soon."

She closed the comms, a quick glance down the corridor behind her to make sure Elise was on board and she closed the landing ramp, lifting the ship from its landing pad and into space. She'd wait for Elise to join her in the cockpit before entering them into hyperspace, for all Mia knew she might want to say goodbye.

Elise Ahana-Gwyneira

 

[Elise Ahana-Gwyneira]

Elise had said her goodbyes back at the Dreamseer Conclave. She tossed her stuff onto the bed in her crew cabin then immediately reported to the bridge. Elise hated leaving Archais behind. She would miss the Archais soil beneath her feet, and her connection to the plants. She could feel in planets just as much as people, a Force Signature that gave her a unique connection to every world. Its history, what the planet itself felt. She sensed it everywhere she went. And Archais, well, it was the planet she was closest to. It felt like a part of herself was in it, and this very planet was her safe haven. Leaving was always hard, and she learned through the years to rip it off like a band aid.

Mia Monroe may have been surprised then, at how fast Elise appeared in her cockpit. Elise sat down in the passenger seat, already looking up to the stars.

"I've been to Mandalore before."

Mia would quickly that Elise was a massive rambler.

"My buir took me when I was a kid. She took me to see the history for myself, he bloodbath. Showed me what had become of it, and that we should never forgive the Sith. I have my father's Clan, all lined up in a wall of bone and beskar. It was... horrible..."

The Ajayid shivered.

"I took my shoes off, stepped foot on the coarse sand. And I saw..."

Her eyes widened.

"The planet wept. All the destruction, all the wrath. Defilement, terror, death. I could feel it. I saw so many vod die, in an instant. But next I knew, in both an eon and in a millisecond, my mom was desperately shaking me awake back on her ship. I guess I had an extreme reaction to what I saw."

She sighed, leaning back in her seat. "I couldn't let anything like that happen again. I couldn't stand the thought, of even more genocide. So... when the Enclave started to go down its current path..."

She trailed off. Lifting a hand, she rubbed her eyes free of her tears. She had to shake herself from Mandalore's memories, her memories by extention, and gave Mia a firm nod, "Anyways, I had to come. It's my duty, as a Mandalorian."

She tried to make it look like she was capable of tying neat little bows on her chattering. But in her eyes, so much was rolling at the speed of light. Feeling a headache coming on, she lifted her hand and clenched her forehead. "Ready when you are. Sorry. I talk a lot. Ready to take off when you are."

 

[Mia Monroe]

Mia let her ramble, as she worked the navicomp, the stars stretching into lines before them, Elise's story weighing heavy on her heart. "You didn't have to come, Elise, you wouldn't have been faulted to stay behind."

She gave the girl a sideways glance. "The Enclave are doing what they feel is right. They're lost in the wind with nothing but rage in their hearts and enemies on both sides. There will always be crusaders and there should alway be protectors. And then there will be everyone in between. The nomads, bounty hunters and mercenaries, the farmers and builders who choose to stay on Manda'yaim the clans who settle elsewhere. All are Mandalorians, all are a part of our tribe. When they are done crusading, they will want a home to come to. That is what we will give them."

Content their course was locked in, she got to her feet and led her back down the ship, past her room and into a small galley where they could relax. "Kitchen is stocked with the basics. Help yourself to whatever, I don't cook." She settled herself onto on of the benches flanking a small table, half taken up by her bolter she'd taken apart to clean. She settled back into the job, waiting for the next torrent of words. It was going to be a long couple of days.

Elise Ahana-Gwyneira

 

[Elise Ahana-Gwyneira]

Ah, yes, the reality of twisted cycles in the galaxy. Jedi and Sith. Light Side and Dark Side. Empires and galactic powers. Mandalorians crusading, protecting, and everything in between. Mandalorians... fighting other Mandalorians. The curse of the cycle, and the inability to break it.

She remembered her conversations with Darth Malum of House Marr , at the little campfire in the Archais wilderness. They spoke of things such as destiny, the Force, and galactic cycles. The desire to break the chains of the cycle, rebelling against it. And now that she knew just what the philosopher truly was, his words made more sense. She had to wonder, if she was willing to be that kind of person to break the cycles. She still believed breaking those cycles were impossible. And she still was dedicated to her role of protector. She would fight for the innocent, regardless of the cost...

But with thoughts turning back to Malum, the Ajayid went strangely quiet as they entered the galley. Heartbreak was etched into her red eyes. But those eyes lit up when one, singular word was brought up.

Food.

Glorious food.

Instantaneously, Elise darted into the kitchen and checked on what kinds of ingredients for what kinds of food there were. She was able to quickly come upon a recipe with what she had, and she went straight to cooking.

Of course, as she cooked, she just had to talk.

"I'm so glad you have a kitchen! I eat a lot of food, my metabolism is kinda crazy. My vod'ika kept saying I eat like a starved rancor growing up."

As she put the ingredients together, she continued to ramble, "I learned to cook when I was little, my dad taught me. Then I cooked even more in the Dreamseer Coven. All that connection to the planet and stuff, we hunt and farm by hand when we can."

If Elise had undiagnosed ADHD, it would not have surprised anyone. "There's a lot of great game in the savannah! The boars are just, oh my word, insanely delicious! I've used it in a lot of traditional Mandalorian dishes, it makes it even better than it already was! Oh, haar'chak I should have brought some with me so you could try it! Oh well, another time. But speaking of boar, did you know that-..."

She did not stop until she placed the finished dish onto the table. It was a traditional tiingilar casserole with a sprinkling of extra seasoning. The smell was quite scrumptious, and Elise was already dishing out a monstrous serving for herself.

"...-and that's why it's a bad idea to sneak up on an antelope from behind. Anyways, dinner's ready? You're going to have so much heturam from this, it'll be awesome!"

She served Mia a smaller portion, then dug into her foot. And after long last, something Mia Monroe might have long forgotten returned to her after a bleak, endless night... silence.

 

[Mia Monroe]

Mia kept half an eye on Elise as she cooked and talked, slowly putting together the bolter and clearing space just in time for her appear with bowls. mia hadn't expected food, hell she spent most of her time living on rations bars and for too much alcohol so when a steaming bowl casserole was placed in front of her she was a little taken aback. "Uhh..thanks."

Utterly bewildered by the sudden silence and Elise's ravenous appetite she let out a small laugh. "Jasper would have like you." she said aloud, a pang of pain in her heart at the thought of her older brother. She hid it, digging into her food, the spices bringing back memories of days old on Manda'yaim, before she was Mand'alor. Days when she and her brothers had nothing to worry about aside from who was the better fighter.

---

The two days in hyperspace passed with much the same, with Elise slowly clearing out the contents of her kitchen using up supplies that would normally last her a couple of weeks. And Elise talked, mostly to fill the silence. She never touched on anything deeper that the chaotic miasma that were her surface thoughts. Mia's only peace was when the girl was sleeping, during which Mia would use her whiskey supply to take the edge off the slowly throbbing headache she was developing, or when she was eating.

Mia hadn't mentioned Jasper again, and had avoided all questions as best she could abut her own past. She didn't want to reminisce. Mia also took great care in not touching Elise. She understood what psychometry was and if there was anyone who could gve her more trauma than she needed, it was Mia.

Relief washed over her as the reversion alarms gave her an excuse to dodge another tale and retreat to the cockpit. Mandalore came into view and Mia felt the same gut punch she had when she'd seen it the first time. A flash of anger passed her and she filed it away for later use against Kaine Zambrano. Angling the ship towards the equator, she headed for Keldabe City. The port security pinged her as she broke atmosphere.

"Welcome home, Mia. Good hunting?"

"Always. Though you'll be pleased to know I'm in one piece this time."

A chuckle responded to her. "I'll let Mand'alor know you're inbound."

Ijaat Mereel Elise Ahana-Gwyneira

 

[Ijaat Mereel]

This time, he hadn't gotten lost in the forges working while she was gone. This time he had whiled away the hours directing and helping with the fortress. Pre-Fab though it might be, it was amazing the contacts that Danger Arceneau had put him in touch with. And the Rekali's and remnants of Clan Demadas had happily done trades and aid. There were more Mandalorians coming home by the day, and more defenses erected. Squat, grey, and ugly, the Armory as a few had taken to calling it was the nerve center of his operations and bristled with guns and defenders. They were not idle in their preparations, and as each building went up, so too did defenders fill its halls and bunks, as well as they could.

Hearing Mia was back, he clipped his helmet on and strode out to meet her and this new arrival with her. He managed to convince the guards he was fine within the main walls, and walked alone for once, eyeing the murals and statues that they had found or made along the way. Despite the galactic perception, Mandalorians enjoyed and engaged in art and the like just as much as anyone else in the Galaxy, just on their terms and foci.

Standing just outside the bay Port Security had assigned to Mia, he lounged and leaned against the entry, warden cloak flaring in the backwash of the engines as he watched the ship land, and as soon as the whine of the motors cut he was striding toward it, a lightness in his step that was often missing when Mia was. The two of them together were undertaking a monumental task, true. But the more they worked, the more allies showed and the more he believed it could be done. Someday.

Mia Monroe | Elise Ahana-Gwyneira

 

[Mia Monroe]

Mia forgot, for the briefest if moments that she had company, that she was supposed to be introducing Elise Ahana-Gwyneira to Ijaat. She was out of her seat before the engine had fully shut down, off the landing ramp before it had fully descended and in Ijaat's arms.

Everything that was wrong with the galaxy was forgotten, the sadness that had been creeping up on her the last couple of days washed away as she stood, her head pressed against his. "Su cuy'gar kar'taylir darasuum." She said softly, drawing back from him, hand brushing his cheek, before remembering that she had a guest.

Clearing her throat, she stepped back to usher Elise forward. The cold hard edges that Elise had seen and been a victim of since meeting Mia, were softened, melted away even, in Ijaat's presence. "Elise, may I present Ijaat Mereel , Ijaat, this is Elise Vizsla dreamseer shaman of Archais."

 

[Elise Ahana-Gwyneira]

Mandalore.

It had been years.

The moment the ship left hyperspace, Elise's Force Sense felt the creeping defilement and woe of the richly historic planet. It was like a rotting necrosis, in an agonizingly slow pace crawling up her veins. As the bitter chill coiled around her heart like jagged wire, she recognized the stench of the Dark Side all the way from orbit.

Once they entered the atmosphere, it got even worse. Elise was surprisingly quiet for Mia, shoving pain medicine down her throat and internally coping with the Force Sense sickness. But once the ship landed, she was nearly ready to vomit.

Elise would have seen Mia's break from stoic character, but was too busy trying not to faint to respond to it.

Her skin was extraordinarily pale. - It was why why had her buy'ce on. Trying her best to stand straight, she felt woozy upon seeing the legendary Ijaat Mereel down the walkway. As the Force Signature of Mandalore Itself kept ramming into her little body, Elise gulped and composed herself before taking a proper, disciplined step off the ship's walkway.

Stepping onto Mandalore's surface was like sinking into thick, ensnaring tar.

She bit her lip, forcing her focus onto the would be Mand'Alor. Elise struck a proper Mandalorian salute, practiced and proud, as her Force Sense still tried to tear her insides apart. <"Olarom, Alor'ad.">

Clear admiration, from stories and legends, was in her voice. But doubt as well. Fear. The fear of putting trust in someone again.

<"I heard a lot about you from my grandfather. You're a legend amongst vode. And now, you are the one proclaiming yourself Mand'Alor. Such a title hasn't been seen in decades.">

Straight to the point, a businesslike manner. All the pride of a Mandalorian was built into her image. And Ijaat was far more likely to see Kranak Vizsla's granddaughter than a subject of Novania in the person before him. Her beskar'gam was true to the classical Mandalorian design. There were hints of her shamanic influences in her armor. The medallion chains on her belt, the lighter fighting style that the armor suggested. But the equipment was truly that of a vod. And if he would have known it, Ijaat Mereel would have seen Gwyneira Vizsla's signature handiwork in the beskar's craftsmanship.

Despite everything that was screaming into her, through the Force, Elise stood tall. Looking up at the "Mand'Alor," a sense of challenge could be felt - but without a trace of the bite she had given Mia Monroe . Respectful, but bold. Elise was a wayward exile from the Enclave, and she needed to know that she could trust other vode once again.

 

[Ijaat Mereel]

The praise and honor made the smith distinctly uncomfortable and like am impostor. In part, it was why he often took visitors and planning in the forge, while working. He felt at home there, there was a simplicity and peace in the working of beskar that he could not find elsewhere these days. He had even begun taking in students, unreservedly teaching all he knew to them. Even some the long process of working bes'manda. This road was needed, but he had no illusions of where it would end. Manda'lors didn't live to be old and die abed. Not that any of the Mandalorian people did really, but particularly their leaders did not. He now lived every day expecting the last to be that one.

Smiling, he gave Mia's shoulder a gentle squeeze, softness in the corners of his eyes, before speaking.

"So you are the one my beloved has taken such a liking to. Welcome, truly, back home, vod'ika. You will stay with us, if you wish it, and we will find you a place in the Protectors, rebuilding."

Noting her stance prior to the moment, he cocked his head to the side and sighed.

"The planet is a lot to take in for those like us, Dreamseer. Sympathize with her plight, but do not follow the misery. It gets easier with time..."

Mia Monroe | Elise Ahana-Gwyneira