I didn't sit back down after silencing the Chief of Clan Farkun. I just kept looking at him before we broke eye contact, and then I swept my gaze over the rest of the chiefs, trying to gauge their reactions. Their response was a mixed bag, mostly split between surprise and anger that I had the courage to speak to them in this manner. The Force may be cut off by the Ysalamiri hanging from their barks right above the table, but I didn't need it to know what type of thoughts were swirling in their minds as some of them reminded me of my siblings...
"Clans of Mandalore," I continued, my voice just as strong as at the start. "While I am now here, in a way representing Christopsis, I don't stand before you to deny the grief of Clan Farkun. Their warriors were slaughtered, and the people they swore to protect were dragged away in chains. I understand your sense of honor, and I know what such an insult against it means to you... I will not add to it by pretending it's not worth defending. If I were Mandalorian, I would demand justice just as fiercely." Watching, I could see that, at least among some of them, earned me a reaction, a positive one as some nodded their heads while others just narrowed their eyes while looking at me. "But," I continued, raising my hand and letting it down slowly, tapping my finger against the cold stone, "I wouldn't stain my honor with bloodlust. I would know when to stop and when justice has already been served. The pirates were captured... From there, the ploy would be discovered, and the mastermind behind it would be dragged into the open to face our justice. I would maintain my honor and focus my righteous wrath on the enemy's general, Dhar Dhrune. He was the one who signed the contracts; he was the one who lined the pirates' dirty pockets; he was the one who set them loose upon the convoys. Who is the culprit? The commander who gives the order or the soldier who follows it?"
"It is not that simple... Jedi..." The Farkun Chief spoke, and I expected it, so I already had my answer, saying it, cutting him off one more time.
"True. But you already killed the soldiers, too. The pirates had their verdict; I saw them die with my own eyes. You already judged them... You just proceeded to judge the innocents and the families of Christopsis, too! When will enough be enough? When the whole world burns? When nobody remains on that planet? We delivered the mastermind to you.... He is yours. His schemes were exposed and proved by us... Yet it's still not enough? Then this is no longer about your honor or your creed... It's just pointless bloodthirst. Nothing... but evil."
I let the accusation hit as hard as it could, because I wasn't thinking about holding back. There was a sudden tinge in me, a fleeting one... But... I don't know what it was, really, but... I think I hit a sensitive spot, because the Chief himself remained silent. At least, on the surface. Under it? Oh boy... he was boiling. Even his face turned a bit pinker as blood rushed to it. But, I wasn't going to back down... I had already accused him after all. What I was about to do was to make sure the other clans see my point and back off. Just alone, Clan Farkun wouldn't be able to do anything.
"You have proven your strength," I pressed on, looking at the others, "Everybody who was part of this elaborate plan, playing war from one end of the Galaxy to the other, has been exposed and punished. Mandalore has gained a new reputation, showing your determination and your might to the other powers of the Galaxy. You told them, through your actions, that no matter what, no matter the distance, anyone thinking they can push Mandalore will realize they have awoken a sleeping basilisk. What more proof is needed? What greater victory could you want than this? Mandalore has shown the Galaxy that it cannot be preyed upon. That it cannot be manipulated without consequence. But if you push it too far..." I muttered, looking back at the Chief, "That very quickly can turn into the other powers marking you as danger... as warmongers. Right now, the Galaxy won't tolerate it... They would do everything to snuff out every possible ember before they have time to grow into a fire."
With that... I straightened my back, signaling that I was done speaking to them. I said what I wanted, and that was it.
"..." The Chief of Farkun stood abruptly, his scarred jaw trembling as he pressed it together, grinding his teeth. Oh, I knew what he was thinking... That I was humiliating him and doing it on purpose. "One man is not enough!" He spat, "His world sheltered him until the last moment! Not to mention, his family profited from his dealings!"
So that was it? You won't let it go...? I was getting... annoyed. Even angry.
"Really now...?" I turned toward him slowly, "And what will you gain from slaughtering an entire world? Will it bring back your warriors? Will it unchain the taken people? Will a Huttese craft appear from hyperspace, giving them all back!? Or will it mark you as rabid dogs?"
"You speak of things you have no idea about," he growled, "Your Jedi weakness stops you from understanding our ways!"
"No, it does not." I countered sharply, slamming my palm against the obsidian once more, almost sneering at him, "My teachings allow me to see it clearly. The mercy I offered to you in my example shows that Mandalore does not need to destroy an entire world to prove its maturity! Mercy shows that you know when to put away the blade, that you strike only when it matters, not out of blind rage! But go ahead!" I snorted, crossing my arms, "Be what you want to be... And ruin your Unifier's plans and watch as your world turns back into a wasteland."
Now that tipped over some helmets, so to speak. There was an immediate reaction, as multiple other Chiefs stood, arguing, some pointing fingers at me and accusing me of threatening them. However, I just stood and let them say whatever they wanted... I knew, I felt it, that I was right.
"If you raze Christophsis," I continued, and I didn't care if they listened or not, "What message do you send to the rest of the Galaxy? A simple one: Mandalore cannot distinguish between the guilty and the innocent. That no contract, no alliance, no plea for aid is safe with you, because even if they deliver the culprit to you, even if they prove the crime, you will still burn everything around you. You think worlds, both new and those that are already under you, would see you as protectors after it or as a new tyrant? Heh... Where is the honor? I can only see butchery. Respect? None. Only fear... and your destruction."
By the time I finished, they also fell silent, seeing that I wasn't even caring what they were saying or accusing me of. They had no other choice but to shut up and listen, because I wasn't stopping. To my surprise, though, for the first time, Mand'alore also spoke when there was a momentary silence in the room.
"The Jedi had brought Dhar Dhrune to us because they believe in justice," He said, his voice flat, calm, and the quietest amongst us all, yet easily hearable by everybody, "Dhar is guilty. His family's greed paid for the slaughter, which stemmed from his father's weakness, allowing someone like Dhar to fester and grow. But, the sick limb has been sawed off... We have the proof and the culprit. We have our victory."
The silence that followed his short speech was surprisingly heavy, but it wasn't empty because I could tell that he had just announced that he agreed with me. That he accepted my reasoning, and although the decision still had to be made, his clan, the Fetts, is voting to end it here and now. Finally, after they all somewhat comprehended that fact, one by one, those Chiefs who were silent so far began to speak.
"I agree with Mand'alore." A woman in burnished silver armor rose, her face maybe the oldest among those who were present, "The Jedi speaks true. We have shown our strength already! Christophsis is not worth the loss of more blood and resources on our side. We will take Dhar and end it, banishing Christopsis and their ships from our Sector."
"I disagree!" Another, a somewhat younger man, stood up, "If we do not crush them, others will think they can escape with credits alone!"
"Sit down." A man sitting next to him shook his head, his fingers drumming on the top of his helmet, "Others will think Mandalore cannot be reasoned with if you go too far. That we are still the butchers... Is that what you want, boy? Turn everybody against us?"
The back-and-forth grew louder, with factions forming and dissolving in under a few seconds during the ensuing exchanges. Even so, there was a clear shift... I could sense that those who initially stood with Farkun were still voicing their support, yet buckled after an exchange of words, deciding that peace was indeed an option. Heh... By the third time I watched it happen, I already knew what was transpiring, even if in a weird, roundabout way. Farkun's supporters didn't want to offend them by changing sides, so they first spoke up in support, then, immediately, 'seeing reason,' backed out of their previous position. Haaaaah... Politics is just politics, even between warriors. At the end, even those who had shouted for vengeance earlier now had shifted, muttering about Mandalore's reputation, about trade, about the future... And through it all, Clan Farkun's Chief just stood there, jaw clenched, his eyes burning holes into me. His pride kept him silent, but it was an uncomfortable one, as he saw his allies slipping away... One by one... Ouch.
When the voices and opinions sounded pretty much unified, at last, Mand'alor raised his hand again, and the chamber stilled at once.
"It seems the clans lean toward restraint," he said slowly, "The guilty man has been delivered, and his head will answer for the debt he accumulated. Let us—"
"No."
I flinched as the single, pretty venomous and aggressive-sounding word whipped through the silence like a vibroblade. Of course, it was coming from the Chief of Farkun, who now leaned forward, planting both hands on the obsidian table. He looked... cold. No longer angry, but... determined.
"Our creed does not allow this." He spoke, only looking at me, "Clan Farkun's blood cannot be satisfied by one man's death. If the clans will not see our side, to see reason, then I will claim it by right." He straightened, picking up his helmet, his eyes never leaving mine, not until he put it on and gazing at me through his T-visor, "I invoke the Mandalorian Rite of the Duel. My clan's honor against yours, Jedi. Let the outcome decide Christophsis's fate."
Oh... Shit. I wanted to curse as the hall erupted in a deafening noise again, displaying shock, approval, outrage, all at once. And... This time, a new one joined the 'party.'
"The hell you do!" Vila shot to her feet, her lekku twitching like crazy. "What the fuck are you saying? That's insane!"
Even HK tilted his head, his photoreceptors glowing brighter.
[Cheerful Observation: At last, some entertainment.]
Eh. Thanks, buddy...
On the other hand, I didn't move. My heart was pounding, but beneath it, something stirred in me again. Even with the Ysalamiri above, smothering the Force, I felt a tug... Like... A thread pulling me forward. Was... was this what should happen? Was this part of... my healing? Why was I feeling that... again? Just when I was swimming in the Force, between life and death... Do I need to experience it again to become whole? I was jolted back to my thoughts by the Chief's mocking, modulated tone.
"What do you say? Face me, Jedi. Here, on Mandalore, before the leaders of our people. If you win, Christophsis is spared... If I win, we continue on our righteous crusade. This is Mandalore's way."
Vila was about to argue, but... I felt the Force pulling on me... my answer coming out before she had any chance of speaking.
"I accept," I said and felt myself relax, becoming... calm. So calm that I think my heartbeat slowed down instead of speeding up, "Choose your weapon... or your champion... Chief of Clan Farkun. I, Kael Varo, accept your challenge both in life... and death."