The Flashback - 10 BBY
Dark clouds circled over the arena and wind pummeled over the tall, mournful gray walls as the echo of thunder shook the desolate ground. The sun was a small sphere hidden by the clouds as the stirring heart of a warrior pulsed to the beat of the rising storm. Howling winds whispered around the pentagon shaped arena, screaming and screeching as it whistled through the cracks and creases.
“You look brave, my lady.” One of the slaves whispered as I stood, seeing the reflection of myself in the mirror.
You and I both know that’s a lie...
The pallor of my white and black suit struck fear into their hearts. A ten-year-old could send them shaking in their boots. Such was the prowess of the Mandalorians… I remarked wordlessly. Slinging my empty jetpack on, I struggled to remain still as the two maids worked tirelessly to secure the straps – while tightening them far beyond what was necessary.
A position as a warrior in my clan was well sought after. A path walked with honor, echoed Commander Li-az’s brutal, coiled voice. He was a snake in a baby’s bed - what I was about to become.
My secret disappointment, my growing discomfort, my reluctance… my fear… grew with each step I took toward the arena, the slaves following warily behind. My heart was twisting, by mind numbing, my stomach churning as each foot replaced the other in the sandy pathway to the stadium.
Ragged and forlorn, the gates screeched open as I paced through the giant, iron bars. A pathway to honor or to death, Li-az? The Commander smiled approvingly at me as I saluted him jerkily, taking the rifle handed to me.
My name is a curse, my life a bane to the kind. A bounty to the powerful. I am a Mandalorian by birth – not by entrance. Rage flows through my blood, violence kindles my spirit. I chanted our warrior oath silently, quaking in my hard soled boots. Courage is my nature, compassion is my hatred. Love is for the weak, fear used by the strong. My heart screamed at me. Do you really believe that?
Silence… a palpable silence that wreathed around me and loomed over the arena. No one was there to greet me… no beast to tame – just the wind from the west and the rising storm.
The prison chamber door squeaked open as the last of my sanity shattered in the wake of a wailing, screaming child. You never said I’d have to kill a human! I wanted to howl. But it was too late; too far along to stop. The little boy’s crumbling figure was a shadow in the misery of the arena. His dark brown eyes were clouded and his face was stained with tears. The human’s steps were labored and his heart thundered so loudly that I could hear the thrum in his breast from where I stood, shaking. The boy’s shaggy hair was a matted black-brown mass, his clothes similar to a monk’s. The sharp crack of a whip snapped the feasible disquiet and he cried out in torment. I trembled… I was the one who had brought this suffering on him…
“Silence,” snapped Li-az from his viewing balcony as the storm winds swirled and whirred.
Moaning softly, the little boy and his trailing guards led him toward me, my throat tightening as I saw the scars on his little body. What is this supposed to prove? Our people’s heartlessness? Our blatant evil? If this is what a warrior is…. I don’t think I’m interested…
I looked at my parents in raging anger. Their faces were stony and drawn; their eyes urging me forward. To the kill! I muttered under my breath. Snatching my gaze away from them, my blundering eyes caught a slight movement against the far left side of the arena. The wind tussled around the cloak of a seated stranger, his dark brown cowl shadowing all but his silhouette. In the dim glimmer of his figure, a strange, but familiar weapon caught a snap of sunlight that had breached the cloudy barrier. My heart stopped – it was a Jedi.
I was killing his apprentice. My eyes widened in fear. What will an angry Jedi do to the Mandalorian who kills his apprentice? His apprentice was going to be killed by me. Through my weapon, I was going to tear away master from apprentice. The deathly severity of the development shattered over me, piercing my armor.
Lightsabers will pierce your suit. My heart pounded. Now whose heart can you hear?
“Finish him!” My commander bellowed over the wall.
I cocked my rifle pointed the barrel toward the apprentice, my palms sweating and heart racing. My vision was blurring and the edges of my vision dimmed. What am I doing?
Clap!
The echo of the rifle shook the stadium as I threw the weapon to the ground. The white bolter rifle clattering as the metal components jostled as it sunk into the thick, choking sand. My misfired shot loosened several rocks on the eastern wall. The little boy’s horror filled face turned to one of surprise.
“I will never kill a Jedi.” I muttered as I raced away from the boy. Has my training really drove me to kill the innocent? To crush the weak? What am I doing? How can I accept this?
Tears rose in my eyes. I won’t… I’ll be dead before I can tell anyone else.
I ran and ran and ran as far as I could. I didn’t care anymore. Let my death be a swift one… I threw off my helmet as my legs began to cramp and seize up. Is that why they make you fast before this? To cloud your heart and mind…
“Agh!” I screamed in blind frustration. I whipped around, my green eyes blazing as I glared at Li-az. “How could you do this?”
The grainy sand churning beneath my feet, I raced toward the opposite iron gates. The north exit. I knew it was closed – but that didn’t change my bleeding heart. My guilt… Who else had tried to escape? To leave the prison that Li-az had created… his army – that’s all we were. A dark army of angry, rash minions that did as the world told us. Nothing more than pieces in some large game?
“Little one…,” spoke someone softly.
The Jedi stood before me, his cowl hiding everything but his resilient blue eyes. Naught but the iron gates separated myself from him.“Your apprentice is safe… go… go… and get him.” I whispered. No one will come for me… I’ll be killed at dawn.
Tears streamed down my face. I was terrified. Would the Jedi kill me now? For imprisoning his apprentice? I squeezed my eyes shut, feeling the salty residue of my fresh tears at the corners of my mouth. I opened my eyes, bravely gazing through the slats of the gate toward the Jedi. “I will die as an honorable Mandalorian – and not what Li-az wants to make me.”
The Jedi peered up toward the skies, his eyes closing briefly before he turned his gaze toward the gates. Then there was a long creaking as the bonds of the iron began to break.
I watched in awe as the little apprentice raced toward his mentor, putting out his hands.
He’s using the force…
My heart began to beat faster in excitement as the Jedi bent and squared away the metallic barrier.
“Come.” The Jedi Master extended his hand and I took it quickly as we raced toward the shelter of the forest. Li-az’s soldiers would come for us; they would destroy us.
“Thank you, but please… Li-az will kill us all if you stay.”
“I know,” was the grizzled Jedi’s reply.
We continued running until we got deeper into the forest as the bullets of Li-az’s men grew louder and closer.
The little apprentice racing alongside me until the sun was completely blotted out by the canopy.
“Get close.” The Jedi whispered sternly.
I turned a questioning glance toward his apprentice, but he put a finger to his lips to silence me.
Nodding briskly, I crouched beside the boy and the master Jedi. My heart pounded as I listened to the approach of Li-az’s men. We will be found… why do we crouch here? Surely the Jedi don’t think they’ll just pass us by? They’re Mandalorians – we’re bounty hunters in the flesh. We are born to find those we seek.
But they did pass us by… they didn’t see us. I didn’t know how, but as my eyes locked the chocolate ones of the apprentice, I decided I shouldn’t ask questions – after I already had.
“Who are you and… how did you?” My voice quaked in childish awe.
“The ways of the Force are as varied as those who feel it, little one.” The Jedi master smiled.
“Thank you,” I said extending my hand. “I’m Del Avior. I suppose that this is probably the first handshake that our kinds have shared in many years…” I gazed up at the Jedi.
“You are right, Del.” He turned his head toward the arena, that’s dim outline could still be seen from the place that we now stood. “Master Obi-Wan Kenobi.”
I smiled at him and knew that although it was the most likely the last time I would see the ambiguous pair –
I would never forget my debt to them.
