Rayden and George sat together, the flickering campfire casting shadows across their faces, as they exchanged laughter and stories while watching over the camp. Each kid here had undergone rigorous discipline training back at the clan, so besides taking care of a few arguments, the two only had to assign everyone their tasks. The duo found themselves with an abundance of free time to relax and chat.
The sun hung low in the sky, painting the horizon in hues of orange and red, signaling that this was the last full day in the wilderness. Tomorrow, the group would make their way to the extraction site, finalling bring this survival challenge to an end.
As dusk settled in, the away teams returned one by one, their laughter echoing through the grove. At the entrance, a designated kid stood vigilant, counting the returnees to ensure none were left behind.
"Let's see 1, 2, 8, 11, 15. Everyone is here!" he called out, his voice carrying a note of relief as the final group crossed the threshold back into the safety of the grove. A sturdy barrier fell into place, blocking the entrance, a precaution against any curious wildlife that might wander too close.
"Good job, everyone. It's almost time for dinner. Make sure to wash up and meet at the campfire," Rayden announced, a wave of gratitude washing over him that there had been no mishaps today.
The kids hustled to the center of the campsite, a flurry of energy as some finished their ongoing card games. In contrast, others celebrated their last-minute victories with mock victory laps around their friends, laughter ringing into the evening air.
Those skilled in culinary arts were wrapping up the evening meal, a hearty concoction of fish soup paired with tender steaks from boar-like creatures that a team had successfully captured earlier in the day. They had fresh water sourced from an underground river and a medley of fruits, nuts, and sweet berries foraged from the grove's lush surroundings.
One by one, the children formed a line to receive their portions, excitement bubbling as they made their way to the common area, where a crackling fire created warmth and a cozy atmosphere, drawing different groups together to chat.
No one was permitted to go back for seconds until everyone had their first helping. George, who never hesitated to satisfy his hunger, usually indulged in two or three servings, relishing the flavors of their hard-earned meal. By the time everyone finished eating, the dishes were empty, and everyone felt full and pleased with how everything was organized.
Rayden, on the other hand, was content with just one serving. He found joy in watching his clanmates as they enjoyed their meals and shared laughter, their spirits light despite their surroundings. As he chewed thoughtfully and took in the scene around him, his mind began to wander.
He pondered strategies to make sure that every member of his clan made it to extraction unscathed. His mind then wandered to thoughts of his family, especially his parents and grandfather. He wondered if his mom had returned, having left so abruptly before he was dropped off. Her hasty departure nagged at him; it seemed such a contradiction to the enjoyment she had shown while watching him compete.
The contemplation shifted toward the future and the looming prospect of clans uniting after the games, speculating on which would lead the new house. Rayden popped a tart berry into his mouth, letting its burst of flavor linger on his tongue, as he silently hoped for Clan Knight to be chosen as the leader.
As thoughts of leadership swirled in his mind, he felt the weight of the impending civil war. He recognized the rise of the new Mandalorians and their pacifist ideals, a stark contrast to his own beliefs. His brow furrowed with concern; while he respected the values of peace and diplomacy, he knew in his heart he'd never adopt a pacifist stance, neither in this life nor back on Earth. True peace, he mused, arises only when all stand on equal footing, and both sides acknowledge the gravity of conflict. "Peace through strength," Rayden whispered to himself, resolve hardening within him as he prepared for whatever lay ahead.
"What will happen to our clan after the New Mandalorians win?" Rayden pondered. In the canon storyline, after their rise to power, the New Mandalorians expelled every martial clan from Mandalore. Given this universe's blend of both canon and Legends elements, Rayden suspected they would likely face exile as well.
Though his clan sought to avoid conflict, war tends to drag everyone in, whether they're willing or not. "I can't change anything on a galactic scale at the moment," he thought. Darth Plagueis and Palpatine were currently working to seize control of the Senate.
He couldn't even participate in this civil war. All he could do was offer suggestions and try to persuade his parents based on his meta-knowledge.
Once this competition was over, he would need to sit down with his father and discuss the droid production plant blueprint he had received. When he received his reward, he took a look at what was included and was somewhat shocked.
[Droid Production Plant Blueprint]
[Gives full schematics to build a droid production plant with the capacity to produce complex droids. Includes one free droid schematic to get started.]
From what Rayden could discern from the blueprints, the plant would be capable of producing thousands of droids each day. This would enable their clan to build and sell these droids, as well as use them for their own needs.
"You alright?" George asked, his voice cracking slightly as he was going through that phase of growing up. He had noticed Rayden lost in thought, silently munching on berries like a robot.
[A/N: voice cracking sucked and growing pains]
Rayden blinked several times, his mind slowly refocusing from the swirling thoughts that had preoccupied him. "I'm fine," he replied, a hint of distraction in his tone. "Just thinking about tomorrow and the future of our clan." He knew George was privy to the weight of their responsibilities, being the son of the clan's head of security.
George, taken aback by the depth of Rayden's contemplation, hadn't expected him to be consumed by such heavy matters at their age. While it was common to ponder what came next, the future of their clan felt too monumental a burden for children to bear. "There's no use thinking about the future now; it hasn't arrived yet," he said, his voice steady as he gestured to the laughter and chatter of the other kids nearby, their carefree spirits alive in the night air.
"Just focus on the here and now. Look at them," he continued, a fond smile spreading across his face as he observed their playful antics, "They're having a blast, enjoying every moment. Leave that kind of thinking to the adults for now. Just relish the present; we never know what tomorrow might hold, so it's not worth getting hung up on it right now." He offered Rayden a reassuring pat on the shoulder before turning to make his way back to his tent.
"When did he become so wise?" Rayden mused internally, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. George had a point; at just five years old, Rayden was still just a child. He grasped the broad strokes of the future that awaited them, but acknowledged that fretting over every detail was unproductive. One step at a time, he reminded himself, and he would prepare as best he could.
"Not to mention," he thought, a spark of determination igniting within him, "I'll need to train extra hard over these next few years. I have to be skilled enough to survive in this wild galaxy." As these thoughts settled in his mind, a calmness washed over his anxious heart, allowing him to feel more attuned to his surroundings.
He glanced at his system panel, and a smile blossomed on his face as he popped one last sweet berry into his mouth, savoring its burst of flavor. Content, he began his trek to bed, ready to embrace the comfort of sleep.
[Force Sensing level up]
[Force sensing (intermediate) 24/1000]
[Able to lift bigger and heavier objects now.]
[360° awareness (20m radius); predict attacks 2s ahead; able to sense emotions/intents better.]
=====
"Good night, son," Elyse said as she watched Rayden walk into his tent before turning around to walk home with Varn. After so many days, she would finally see her son again.
"Rayden and George built a pretty good campsite," Varn commented, walking with his arm intertwined with Elyse's. He felt proud that his son was demonstrating leadership abilities at such a young age, handling the other clansmen and any arguments that flared up.
"Yes, those two did a great job. They certainly take after their fathers." Elyse lay her head on Varn's shoulder, closing her eyes and allowing him and the Force to guide her.
Varn and Kael had known each other since childhood. While Varn was hyper and energetic, Kael was the stoic, silent type. As they aged, both men picked up each other's traits: Varn adopted a more stoic persona while Kael became more open, at least in his home life and with friends.
As the head of security for a clan of a few hundred people, Kael ensured that every detail of security was up to date and made sure all guards were prepared for any potential attack. His attention to detail and organizational skills rubbed off on George as he observed his father handling complex situations his whole life.
======
The following morning, the sun peeked over the horizon, casting a warm glow on the dew-kissed grass as each clan throughout the forest set about dismantling their campsites—the fragrant aroma of just-eaten breakfast wafted through the air.
"Listen up, everyone!" Rayden bellowed from his perch atop a sturdy boulder, his voice echoing through the grove. "Make sure you have everything; check and double-check before we head out!"
Beside him, George stepped forward, seamlessly taking charge once Rayden finished speaking. Drawing upon the organizational skills he had honed under his father's guidance, he moved amongst the campers with quiet authority, ensuring that each child was fulfilling their responsibilities.
An hour later, the campsite was transformed; all beds were folded, tents neatly stowed away, and essential gear packed. The kids had snacks prepared for the day, their chatter mingling with the sounds of nature as they lined up in organized groups of five in front of Rayden and George.
"Rayden, we are all set to move out at any moment," George said, the weight of his well-worn backpack pulling comfortably against his shoulder as he adjusted it.
"Good. All we're waiting on now is the location of the extraction site," Rayden replied in a clam steady voice. The two young men stood on the small boulder in the grove while the rest of the kids stayed in line but talked amongst themselves.
They had been instructed that when the time was right, an adult would deliver a holopuck containing the vital coordinates and time for their extraction.
Just as their conversation lingered in the cool silence, a deep rumble echoed above them, resonating like distant thunder. "That sounds like a JT-12 jetpack," Rayden said, his eyes darting upward as he scanned the sky.
George shook his head, skepticism etched on his face. "It sounds more like a Z-6, not a JT-12," he countered, also tilting his gaze skyward, his brow furrowing in disagreement.
"Are you crazy? That sound is unmistakably from the JT-12; it has a smoother, more refined tone compared to the Z-6," Rayden exclaimed, his expression tinged with disbelief as he met George's gaze.
"100 credits says it's a Z-6," George persisted, his voice steady and resolute.
"You're on," Rayden replied, a confident grin breaking across his face, certain he had already claimed victory in their friendly wager.
The two shook hands, each confident that they were right. As they looked back through the skyline in the grove, they noticed a figure in green armor slowly landing a few feet in front of them.
Both raised their brows as they examined the armored adult. It was clear that he did not belong to Clan Knight. The coiled serpent wrapped around his vibroblade caught their attention, along with an eye resembling a crosshair on his armor, which was a dead giveaway. Without saying a word, they both came to the same conclusion.
"Clan Serdran," they murmured in unison. They exchanged curious glances, wondering why a member from another clan was here. Had he come to the wrong location?
The adult man began to walk toward the group of kids and noticed Rayden and George standing in a leadership position.