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_ _Broken Legacy

Chapter 2: A Wolf's Tale

After wrapping his chest up with a bacta patch and meditating for a few hours, A'den readied for his upcoming conversation with Gralik. By now, the ship was far away from Kuat, nearing the hyperspace lane that would take him and his new guest wherever he wanted to go. But before he could make that decision he would speak with this shistavanen. He would listen to the wolf's story, and decide what to do after that.

He unfurled from his meditative position and exited his cabin, walking down the familiar corridors of his ship. As he studied its familiar walls, he was reminded of the day he had been gifted the extraordinary vessel by his mentor. The old trandoshan had said that any great bounty hunter needed a great ship. In fact this ship had been the lizards own before he had retired. It had come as a surprise. A'den knew what the ship meant to the old barve, that thing was his most cherished possession. He still remembered the conversation clearly when Krussk handed him the proverbial keys...

**********

Three years ago

Mandalore

Keldabe spaceport

Today was the day! His adoptive father, Kurrsk, had finally admitted that A'den was ready to go out on his own. At last the old lizard believed he could take care of himself, that he could stand strong with the others. A'den was exhilarated. He had been waiting fifteen years for this moment. He finally could make his mark on the universe.

A'den made an unmandalorian-like prance to the old but not outdated freighter before he stopped at the open ramp and waited for his father. The wrinkled trando was probably still sleeping he thought to himself with a smirk.

That of course, is when he felt a blunt object smack him upside the head painfully. "Ah krif!" he swore, nursing his beaten head and turning to see the old lizard himself in his dark brown robed beskar. "What was that for?" He demanded angrily.

"I felt what you were thinking about me. Haven't I taught you better ad'ika?" Krussk scolded with a grinning toothy maw and sportive gravelly voice. The shabuir may be old, but he was far from senile. In fact he was the strongest force user and toughest mandalorian A'den had ever met. Krussk had never really said much about his past, but the snippets of information he had managed to dig up over the years led him to believe that he was a Jetii before something had occurred that made him become a mandalorian. All this time and A'den still did not have the _gett'se_to ask him why.

What he did know was that Krussk was a friend of his family and had taken him in after...it_happened. Since then he had raised, taught, and trained him, shaping the fearful child into who he had become today. A'den watched Krussk closely, looking for any sign of the fact he was proud of him. But the red scaled trandoshan was a master of his body and mind, giving no tells whatsoever, even his force presence was unreadable, a blank wall of permacrete. A'den sighed in defeat, "yes _Buir."

"I thought as much, now...are you ready to get going?" Krussk asked, gifting A'den with one of his rare smiles. A'den learned to take those as the trandoshan's way of showing pride and affection, the experienced mando was gruff, belligerent, cunning, and yet kind. Although not one for smiling, when he did you knew it was a real one. And those smiles meant more to A'den then any hug or pat on the back ever would.

"Yes...I'm ready." A'den said confidently, taking a deep breath. He was, but he would also be lying to himself if he said he was not afraid as well. Up until this point, he always had Krussk watching over him. He had gotten used to the idea that the old lizard would be there to bail him out if something happened. But now, he would be alone, no backup, no father, no Krussk, just him, his ship, and the vast expanse of the galaxy at his fingertips. It was an exciting and terrifying prospect.

"I sense what you are feeling ad'ika, and know this....you are ready." Krussk spoke with conviction, placing one of his crimson scaly paws on A'den's shoulder, and opening his force aura to the young newly "knighted" bounty hunter, letting A'den know that he truly believed in him.

"I...thank you...Buir." A'den whispered hoarsely, firmly grabbing the old lizard's forearm and patting him on the opposite shoulder. It was a mandalorian handshake, letting each party know that the other was strong enough to haul them to safety if need be, a symbolic gesture.

"You're welcome ad'ika, but be warned. The galaxy is fraught with mystery and peril. You will see things that defy explanation, things that will question your faith in yourself and the force. I can't protect you from the harsh realities you will face, but I have prepared you. I have watched you grow the last fifteen years, ever since that night. I have seen you change from the broken and scarred child into the strong warrior before me now. I am proud of you A'den. You are the son I always wanted, although we are not blood you know the saying well." Krussk spoke with obvious pride, waiting for A'den to reply with one of the most sacred sayings of the mandalorian people.

"Aliit ori'shya tal'din." A'den replied without hesitation, smiling broadly with a tear running down his face from his watery, blue and red flecked eyes. This was a bittersweet moment. He was finally becoming a man, but this just might be the last time he ever saw his adoptive father. The trandoshan had selflessly raised him, a thankless task at times. He had become the father and family A'den lost, saving the young human from a horrifying death.

"Aliit ori'shya Tal'din." Krussk recited back, smiling so widely that his sharp teeth could be seen all the way to his pink gum-line. "Yes indeed my son, family is more than bloodline." At that A'den shrugged off and sense of embarrassment and swept his _Buir_in a hug, causing Krussk to give off a soft hissing chuckle and pat him on the back with a clawed paw. "Remember, if you come back, you will always have a place here, we are all family, and every mandalorian is connected. We are all brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, daughters, and sons. Now go before you make this old lizard cry." He joked, gently pushing A'den away and wiping a reptilian eye.

"I will make you proud Buir, I promise!" A'den swore, walking into the stock orange and silver modified freighter with one last glance and waive.

As Krussk watched the ship fly off into the space he spoke softly to himself. "Son...you already have."

**********

A'den sighed with a feeling of nostalgic melancholy. What was his Buir doing now? He hadn't seen or spoke to him since that day. The old lizard was probably sitting outside their home right at that moment, smoking his favorite tabacc pipe and relaxing without a care in the galaxy.

With that last thought A'den arrived in the galley and went to the built-in Caf machine, preparing two mugs of the amazing revitalizing brown liquid. His "guest" could have one he supposed. It would the polite thing to do. When he was finished, he grabbed the silver mugs and placed them on a thin circular tray, levitating it up into his hands with the force. Sometimes it could come in handy for menial tasks. With the beverages prepped, A'den left the galley and walked to the cell. He knocked firmly and entered after waiting for a few seconds.

Gralik was lying on the bed over the covers and staring off into space twiddling his paws. A'den set the tray down on the small table bolted into the deck and took the chair. "Hello my fuzzy friend! I've brought us some refreshments!" He said cheerfully, grabbing his own and sipping the cooling liquid with a contented sigh.

The shistavanen turned to him and sat up slowly, after a few moments of silence he grabbed his drink and took a swallow. He had a little difficulty with his muzzle and the rim of the mug but managed rather well.

"So what's your story? I've heard many different ones concerning you, and I wanna know the truth." A'den said cordially, wanting to get this going without starting any problems.

Gralik took another few sips before he spoke. "I guess it doesn't matter, if you really wanna know I'll tell ya." He growled with a depressed sigh. He set the mug down almost daintily with his large paws and stretched. "All this started when my father died, I......

**********

A'den listened for a few hours as the shistavanen weaved his tragic tale. The mandalorian sympathized with the wolf. He had lost his birth father too. He also believed him. The force told A'den that the wolf was not lying, although he was withholding some things, but that was understandable and to be expected.

"And that's it." Gralik sighed, leaning back on the bed, exhausted from the long painful story of his life. It was hard to tell someone all that he had done and why, but at the same time it was...relieving. He felt as if a weight had been lifted; now someone knew all the reasons, every fact. The only thing he wondered now was what was going to happen to him. He still had a good idea but the future was not set in stone as the saying goes.

The human nodded several times as he mulled it over. From what he heard, Gralik wasn't really a bad guy, just a victim of unfortunate circumstances behind his control. There was one thing he could do for the wolf. "Excuse me for a quick spell; I have some calls to make." He informed Gralik, standing up and leaving the cell.

**********

After the door closed Gralik sat on the bed and massaged his muzzle. It was almost a relief. He had been running for so long. Always feeling the oppressive weight of the fact he was being hunted, constantly hiding in the sludge and trash of society, knowing it could end like this or worse at any day. So when it did, he was almost wishing for it. What he had become was not the person he was, he used to be such a kind boy, so much so in fact that his sisters and mother used to think he was a stuffed animal. 'Spirits, where were they now?' He wondered sadly. He hadn't seen hide nor hair of them since before he went into hiding a year or so ago. He hoped they were still on Tattooine at that small moisture farmstead and away from harm. The only thing he wanted before he was put to death was to see them one last time, just to say goodbye.

The door to the cell opened an hour later and the human entered, taking his seat once more. "Okay, Gralik, you have two choices. Do you understand?"

He nodded his head, feeling slightly confused.

Choices...?

"One, you can sit here until I drop you off and collect the bounty. Where no doubt you shall be swiftly dealt with and your story ends. Or two, you can decide to enter a life debt to me and become a mandalorian. If you do that, your slate will be wiped clean, Cin Vhetin. I pulled allot of favors and spent a lot of credits to get you this opportunity. I wouldn't even ask for the life debt, but it's a requirement before the contractor will be satisfied." The bounty hunter presented the two options startling the wolfman. Why would he go through so much effort to save him? He asked and was stunned by the answer. "Simple, I believe everyone, well _most_everyone (he added darkly with a stony look), deserves a second chance."

Gralik was rendered speechless. This guy who captured him had heard his story and decided to do all this so easily. Never before had he known anyone who would do so much for him. "I...accept your offer." He growled quietly. "....Thank you." He added hoarsely, almost in tears as the implications fully hit him. He was free! (Well as free as one could be with a life debt). He had a chance at life again, something he had only dreamed of in the far off lands of impossibility.

"Good to hear!" The human shouted elatedly, standing up and heading for the door. "I'll go handle the remainder of the details, feel free to wander around the ship. You're free now." He said with a smile before walking out, leaving the door open. Gralik stared at the door, still coming to grips with his newly bestowed freedom.

His stomach took that chance to rumble and alert him of his need to feed the furnace. Gralik rose up from the bed and walked out of the room. Such a simple act, walking out of a room, but the connotation behind it made the task...extraordinary. At this point he was a new wolf, a clean slate...Cin Vhetin? Was that the word the human had used? In any case from now one he was free. Standing in the corridor, he began to wander in search of the ship's galley. It took a good bit of time, more than he expected. The vessel was far larger then he gave it credit for. He saw several rooms filled with all manners of tools and devices along with more cabins for crewmembers. The one that really grabbed his attention was a huge locked door simply labeled ARMORY. Intrigued, he stepped up to the little number pad and took a look.

The pad was lined with lettering and glyphs he could not understand. His curiosity abated, Gralik left the door alone and walked down a new path and came across a closed door were his lupine ears could detect raised voices. He pressed the button and it slid open to reveal the human hunter yelling at a sleazy looking hutt on the holo-projector built into the center of the chamber. 'This must be the communications room.' He thought to himself idly before the human began to yell once more in frustration and a hint of desperation.

"You can't do this to me! We had kriffing deal. I NEED THAT INFORMATION!" He roared clenching his fists.

"You know how it is A'den you aren't bringing the bounty in so that means no payment, and no payment means no information." The hutt replied with a devious and deprecating smile that held only contempt. "Those were the terms. That was the deal we agreed upon. Without those requirements being met you cannot earn the reward." The hutt chuckled sadistically and cut the connection, turning the projector off.

"YOU ARUETYC BASTARD!" A'den thundered, smashing his plasteel boot into the durasteele bulkhead and caving it in under his force enhanced strength. Then he sighed heavily and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Eventually he noticed that Gralik was standing in the doorway uncertainly. He wiped his watery eyes and cleared his throat. "What can I do for you right now?"

A little awkward, Gralik replied back, "I was kinda...hungry." His stomach rumbled again to reaffirm his statement.

"Oh, of course! Forgive me. No doubt you are very hungry. I was embroiled in a...discussion with my previous employer." He apologized with as much energy as he could muster at the moment. "I assume you will need to know the location of the galley?" A'den said with a forced grin.

Gralik nodded slowly, not finding the words to speak.

"Right, follow me then." A'den ordered, walking out of the room briskly, Gralik turned to the side to let the obviously distressed man through and looked back one last time at the holo-projector. He was pretty sure that he knew who was responsible for the hutt's betrayal and it made him feel like trash. With a sigh he turned and followed after the human.

A'den was waiting outside the room and motioned for Gralik to walk over. When he had, the human went down a connecting corridor without a word, and took a left bypassing a locked door and an open one with another cabin. Presumably that would belong to him now Gralik hypothesized. He was still a little bit overwhelmed by the series of events that had just transpired. Only an hour or so ago he was assuredly a dead man and now he was a bounty hunters...something, slave, manservant, bodyguard he didn't know. What he did know was that his fate was now ultimately tied to this A'den fellow.

His musing ground to a halt when he felt a tap on his shoulder. "Here we are...the galley." A'den announced gesturing to the surprisingly large kitchen and dining combo. Then he frowned, "You seem awfully distracted. I can sense it. I mean I understand that this must be a lot to take in, and this is definitely all very sudden, but I think it was the best option available to you."

"I'm fine, and thankful, but it is a lot to think about." Gralik replied with a smile, the human's concern cheering him up some. Not many people cared when he was on the run. You couldn't trust anybody. So to have someone who did, (albeit he was the one who caught him) was a nice change in pace.

"You and me both ner'vod!" A'den said with a halfhearted chuckle, using a word that Gralik could not understand. "How about I whip us up some grub eh?" He offered walking over to the big set up of appliances next to the massive fridge and freezer.

"That sounds good to me." Gralik stated moving to sit at one of the tables in the galley. As he sat he watched the human at the griddle working over a pair of huge nerf steaks with a side of Quor'sav eggs. The man looked much happier than he was a few minutes ago. He was either someone who got over things extremely quickly or a man who had a very talented pokerface. The human flipped the eggs and retrieved four more from the carton, but not the way you would expect. He gestured his free left hand and summoned them from their container with the force. Once they were close enough he levitated them over the hissing griddle and broke them in half. The eggs released their golden yolky treasure, falling into place beside their brethren and the sizzling steaks. In short order the steaks and eggs were done, using the force once more A'den called two plates and transferred the meal onto them with a spatula. He cleaned up the area, transferring the used tools to the sink and picked up the plates, this time with his own hands, then he walked over to Gralik and placed the larger one before him.

"Ori'skraan!" A'den exclaimed excitedly as he took his own seat and doled out the silverware from the holder on the table.

"What?" Gralik asked in confusion, half the words this guy said remained unintelligible to him.

"It's Mando for good eats or eat well." The mandalorian explained as he tucked into his steak with gusto. "That's something I'll have to teach you. No self-respecting mandalorian is unable to speak the language." And with that they spent the rest of the meal learning. A'den learned a little more about Gralik and he in turn learned more about mandalorian culture and language.

Several hours later the pair was still sitting at the table having finished their meal long ago. "Well I think that's enough lessons for today." A'den yawned, leaning back in his chair and standing up. "I'll show you to your room and let you get settled in. After that I have a few more calls to make, maybe my other contacts will know where he is." A'den added to himself, the canine's ears detecting the meant to be private words. 'Who is he talking about?' Gralik wondered but he did not want to overstep his boundaries so he didn't ask. Instead he stood up from his seat and let the man show him to his room. "You can rest here, the ship is open to you, but I would ask that you honor my privacy. Some areas will be off limits for now, later when I trust you more I will allow you to have free access to the entire ship." After that A'den left and Gralik closed the door. Once he was alone he went to his new bed and sat down. The small room was bland, not a single thing adorned the walls or tables. 'It looks like this is my life now' Gralik thought as he lay upon the silken sheets. 'The bed was better at least' He chuckled, settling in for a nap. 'At least things are looking up.'

A'den left the shistavanen to get settled in and went back to the comms room for one last call. He activated the holo projector and dialed in the number. Seconds later a figure materialized, an old aged Bloodhound decked out in a red, gold trimmed officer's uniform that sported silver inlaid studs and a black belt. "General...I need a favor."r."