As we stood before Bo-Katan, I was still surprised by her statement. I figured that taking the Darksaber from Pre Vizsla, might have to happen, but this makes it a certainty. There are only a couple of problems. The main problem being me. I doubt Death Watch at least all of them will follow me, a random half Sephi Jedi Padawan, just because I have the Darksaber.
Even though in the Clone Wars, a good number of Death Watch members were loyal to the creed of following the strongest, and the wielder of the Darksaber. Which went hand in hand, when Maul took over.
The other problem is I don't know if I could beat Pre right now in fight. I'm not doubting my skills, but this isn't a slaver or random pirate or gang member. This is a trained veteran Mandalorian warrior who has seen more combat then I been alive. I'd be stupid to think I could beat him just because I can use the force and fight with a lightsaber.
Then I noticed Bo-Katan. Behind her, the Death Watch members began to gather by her side. Their weapons were lowered and they stood in silence. They were watching me.
"Some here remember your mother Selene, and what she stood for. She was a great warrior, mentor and protector to many of us here. And That means something. Not just because blood, but her teachings and continuing her legacy. If you are her child then you are also part of legacy. I will teach you our ways, and stand by you."
Anakin and Seris continued to watch and wait quietly.
Then Bo continued, " I will see that Pre Vizsla pays for his treachery but not today. Right now we will look into these Mandalorian mercenaries, and Jango Fett. We will find this clone army and stop it's growth. For the honor and glory of Mandalore."
She then stepped forward.
"But if you want my help unconditionally and to follow your lead, you will have to fight and beat me. It is our way and Selene would expect nothing less. So let us see what you are made of."
Seris raised a brow. "Is she serious?"
Anakin smirked. "When is a Mandalorian not serious. Plus we knew this was probably gonna have to happen."
I looked at Bo, intensely. "Are there any rules?"
Bo's stare grew serious. "No rules. Just use everything you have to fight and so will I."
I nodded then I towsed over the pearl necklace and ingot. "I will take those back when I win."
Bo nodded, then put on her helmet. She then handed the items to a warrior behind her.
Mean while, one Death Watch member secretly send a transmission.
The murmurs among Death Watch grew louder, a sea of beskar whispers echoing through the Concordia canyon. Helmets turned, visors glinting in the firelight as more warriors formed a wide circle. The air crackled with tension, the scent of burning slag and iron dust hanging thick.
Bo-Katan stepped forward "You want to prove yourself of being a Mandalorian?" she said, voice carrying through the night like a vibroblade's edge. "Then prove it the only way we respect. And the same way Selene did showing the strength of your convictions."
I squared my shoulders, heart hammering but mind steady. "If that's what it takes."
Bo's helmet visor glowing faint orange from the reflection of the fire. , then drew her twin vibroblades with a snarl of metal. Sparks hissed as the edges activated.
A ripple of anticipation ran through the gathered crowd. Anakin and Seris tensed, hands brushing their lightsabers, but I raised a hand to stop them.
"This is mine."
Bo's voice cut through the silence. "Three times your mother beat me in combat. Three times she showed me what it meant to be a True Mandalorian. Tonight, I'll show you those same lessons. Let's see if her blood runs true in you."
I drew my lightsaber and it ignited. The Golden yellow light with a shadowy hue came to life.
The crowd roared.
The first clash came like thunder. Bo lunged, her twin blades a storm of silver arcs. I brought my lightsaber up in a guard, it's golden light screaming against vibrating metal. The first strike rattled through my arms. She was strong and fast. And the second strike numbed my fingers, and the third I managed to deflect. Right as I did that her knee slammed forward into my ribs. I gasped, air torn from my lungs, I stumbling back.
She then sent a flurry of blaster bolts towards me. I dodge and parried the bolts with ease. She continued the constant suppressive fire, and moved in closer and closer. Right as she was a few feet away from me, she switched back to her blades in a clean transition that was flawless.
She pressed in, blades whirling like a hurricane. Every swing carried a brutal precision, slashes that would have cut me in half if I were slower.
One blade hooked around mine, twisted my hilt, and the second slammed across my jaw like a durasteel pipe. My head snapped sideways, lights bursting across my vision as I staggered into the dirt.
Was she always this strong or was I really that weak. I never had this much of a problem fighting Anakin or the others. Not even being outnumber by pirates, 10 to 1.
Bo stepped back, blades at her sides. "Lesson one," she barked, visor gleaming. "Selene taught me that you must always find new ways of fighting, or else you will be at a disadvantage. Especially when you face an opponent that fights in a ways your not use to. You will be overwhelmed, and die quicker. She always made me pay for not being versatile. Just like you are right now."
I spat blood into the dirt, wiped my mouth, and forced myself upright. My golden eyes burned brighter.
I surged forward with a Force-augmented dash, my blade flashing in sweeping arcs. Bo didn't retreat, she met me. She shifted her stance, blades crossing, every parry and block made her an iron wall. I tried to spin, to strike low at her thigh. She pivoted, caught my blade on her guard, and slammed her gauntlet into my chest.
I flew back, my boots scraping across stone as I hit the cliff wall. Pain flared down my side.
Before I could rise, a boot pressed hard against my throat, pinning me to the rock. Her blade rested just under my eye.
"Lesson two," Bo said coldly. "Selene taught me never let your opponent control the rhythm of the fight. Whether if it was the ground or air she owned the battle and dictated it. You? Your to confident and at the same time not confident when it counts. And that's why you're losing. You dictate the terms of the battle. "
I coughed, fingers clutching her boot. Anger rose like fire in my gut, but I forced it down, forced it into focus. I shoved with the Force, blasting her back just far enough to scramble to my knees.
The Death Watch warriors jeered and shouted for Bo. Only a few stayed quiet, watching closely.
Anakin leaned forward, whispering, "Come on Cain… don't let her break you."
Bo rolled her shoulders, blades spinning. "Get up, boy. I'm not done teaching you your mother's lessons."
The third clash was worse.
I tried to vary my strikes, mixing high slashes with low thrusts, but Bo adapted almost instantly like I was predictable. Every motion of hers was cleaner, tighter, a predator dissecting prey. She cut through my guard, slammed her elbow into my temple, then grabbed my arm, kicked my knee and spun me across the dirt.
The crowd roared as I rolled, barely managing to recover my footing. Bo didn't stop. She launched her grappling line, it wrapped around my wrist, and with one savage pull she yanked me off balance. My lightsaber clattered away into the dirt.
Before I could recover, her viroblade pressed across my throat again. My chest heaved, sweat dripping, lungs burning.
"Lesson three," Bo said, visor an unyielding mask. "Selene taught me never to fight like a warrior alone. Fight like you carry your clan. Your people. Every strike, every step, it was never for herself. You? You're still fighting only for you. Your words speak of purpose, but your attacks lack conviction."
Those words cut deeper than her blades. For a moment, doubt crept in. She's right. I know I talk about saving the galaxy and the universe, but why? There was only one clear answer... Self preservation. I knew how ugly this galaxy was gonna get, and I didn't want to deal with that. So I acted like something I wasn't... A hero.
I'm not the chosen one or a descendant of one. I'm just a kid who knows the history of this universe, with a high midichlorian count. I was fooling myself for trying to be like Anakin or Luke Skywalker. I was just a nobody before coming here, and now I'm a pretender wanna be.
Then, something else stirred. Like a light started to ignite in my being
I thought of Anakin, once a slave, whose future was set in stone. He was now standing beside me and looking at me like a brother, with limitless futures awaiting him.
Seris, who first doubted me and fought against me. Now trust's me and will follow me down all my walks of life.
Derren always the ever loyal and trusting friend. He'd always have my back no matter what. He never tries to flaunt his genius or take anything seriously. But when it came to his friends, he would give anything less then 110%.
Barriss, always kind and supportive. Trying her best. but still taking the time to look out for me even when she was struggling.
Master Plo, Master Fay, always believing in me and giving me the space to grow and find myself. Even Mother Talzin, looks out for me in her own way. I think I feel so comfortable with he most is because she reminds me so much of my mother from my past life. Seem so distant, but always helping me out even when I don't directly ask for help. And my mother...Selene, a ghost I had never known, but a guiding light that helped shaped me all the same.
I wasn't fighting alone or just for myself. I was fighting for them and their futures.
I reached out, my hand open. The Force surged. My lightsaber snapped from the dirt into my palm with a crackling hum as I reignited it.
I rose again. This time my stance changed. I was rooted, and I remembered why I was growing stronger and who I was truly fighting for.
My golden eyes narrowed on Bo, and they glowed faintly in the night light, like a fire was burning behind them.
Bo tilted her head slightly. "Hmph. Maybe you do carry her blood after all."
The fourth and final clash erupted like fire.
I advanced, my blade low and steady, my strikes were more focused and precise. I reached deep into the force to use shatterpoint, and seeing Bo's movements moments before she did them. I struck Bo countered, She went for a slash, but I parried. Her strikes then became fast and faster, but for the first time, I matched her rhythm.
She cut high, I parried and dropped low. She spun, knee aimed for my ribs, I rolled with it, redirected the force, slammed my saber up into her guard. The crackling hum of plasma clashed against vibrating steel, locking us in a deadly embrace.
She pushed harder, expecting me to give ground again. Instead, I rooted myself, stance solid. Her eyes widened behind the visor.
I snarled, golden eyes blazing. "This is my fight and I dictate how this goes."
With a surge of Force-augmented strength, I broke the lock, spun behind her, and swept her legs with a low kick. She hit the dirt, rolling instantly to rise, but I was there, saber at her throat.
The firelight glinted across her visor. For a long, silent moment, we both breathed hard, our weapons humming inches apart.
Then Bo disengaged her blades, dropping them to the dirt. She sat back on one knee, tilting her head up toward me.
"Enough."
The Death Watch erupted in shouts, some furious, others awed.
Bo reached up, pulled her helmet free, and stared at me with those piercing green eyes. Sweat plastered red hair to her temples, but her gaze was sharp as ever.
"You just barely won," she said, voice low but carrying. "Don't think for a second this makes you Mandalorian. But…" She stood, brushing dirt from her armor. "You fought like your mother at the end. You learning. You endured. One day you will be ready to lead Clan Vizsla."
She pointed a gauntleted finger at me.
"Remember this. Selene taught me those lessons in blood. Tonight, I gave them back to you. Do not waste them."
The Death Watch murmured in agreement.
I deactivated my blade, chest still heaving, then bowed my head slightly. "I won't."
Bo nodded once. "Then maybe… just maybe… you're worthy of what comes next."
I felt like for the first time in a long time. I found new purpose again. And it felt great. But there was one question I still had.
"Bo I had a question. Does the name Jaster Mereel ring a bell?"
Bo nodded. Yes he was one of your mothers trusted warriors. He disappeared along with her. We found out he was dead as well later."
Okay so Jaster still exists. That means I might be able to talk to Jango and get him to back down from working with Dooku. Which reminds me I need to increase my training intensity. This opened my eyes and showed me how weak I really am.
.