We were escorted to the Unifier's private chamber in relative silence. Although it was a quiet trip, it was not like that because we were about to be hauled away into a cell and accused of anything, more like... out of respect? I think? That was the feeling I was getting, but... There was another feeling, bubbling under the surface, that many times interfered with my senses... Coming directly from Vila, as she was practically radiating fury, trying her best to hold it down. The greatest contrast to her was not the captain leading us but HK, who clanked happily along, as if savoring the atmosphere to the best of his abilities.
He was visibly happy, as far as a droid went, when we arrived at our destination.
Once again, as we entered the same meeting chamber, the doors sealing behind us, it was just the three of us and Mand'alor. No Ysalamiri, no guards or others... Just us meeting with the leader of Mandalor, probably for the last time until something big happens again. He had already removed his helmet, letting it sit on the table as he stood before it, watching us walk in.
"First," he spoke even before we came to a halt, "Let me say that I am regretful for the result of your fight. I wasn't aware of the lengths Clan Farkun would be willing to go, and especially not for the unreasonable hate he was carrying."
"You are... lying." My voice came out quieter than I expected. "You knew if the chance was there, that he would go for the kill if he got the opportunity... But you..." I added, tasting the feelings he had suppressed, yet, for some reason, I was able to read them without issue, even if he tried to hide them. "You were confident I would win and deal with him. You thought he had no chance against me..."
"I did," His gaze flicked briefly to the stump, then back to my face. "On the other hand, I had not known that Clan Farkun had access to that much cortosis, to forge an actual armor from it... They have mines under their Clan's ruling, but from the tithe they are paying... There should not have been enough for an... anti-Jedi armor. You are correct, Jedi. I didn't count on anyone dying, but I was betting on you to disarm him." He added, and I could feel he was more serious than he let it show, "That... surprise... His equipment... It was a development I am glad to catch early... Believe me, when I say that there will be a deep and thorough investigation on my part into some Clans and their behavior. So, I must thank you for it."
"Thank you?" Vila shifted, arms folded tight across her chest, spitting out the words through gritted teeth. "That's it?! Thank... you?! I don't want to hear any more words, Mr. Unifier...! Because I am itching to break any code I was taught to...! Grrr! You are lucky I haven't yet started asking for... Ugh...! Kael...! You speak! I am too angry to continue!" She grunted, squinting, almost exploding into grand curses, probably ruining any diplomatic relations we may have with Mand'alore in the future, deciding to stay put and press her lips together instead of continuing.
"I understand," The Unifier nodded at her, taking no offense to her words, before his eyes slowly locked on mine. "Name it, Jedi Knight Kael Varo. Whatever you want. The best artificers, the most advanced forges, and our greatest engineers will be at your disposal. We can give you a new arm, much, much stronger than your old one. Yours. Freely given as my sincere apology for this unwanted loss."
"Kael..." Vila turned to me so quickly that her lekku actually smacked me in the chest, "Say yes."
"..." Thinking about it, I breathed out slowly, weighing the options... but... I felt my decision was made the moment I walked into the room. I knew that something like this might happen, and I already had an idea in mind. "No," I said firmly.
"That's right, no! Huh? No...?" The word hit Vila like a blow to the back of her head, making her almost fall over, "No?! Kael—"
"Yes, no." I raised my hand, silencing her, "That's not what I want."
"Then what?!" She yelled, stomping in place, lifting my stump, "YOU LOST YOUR ARM! Hello?! Kael?! You have been disarmed!"
"Jedi..." The Unifier's brows rose a fraction, surprised, "Refusing Mandalore's gift is no small thing."
"I didn't say that I was refusing it." I continued, ignoring Vila, who was still holding my hand, trying to wave it before my face, "I choose a different compensation." I took a careful step forward. "What I want… is in your Hall of Legacy. The limbs of an HK assassin droid: one arm and two legs. I want those and the Chieftain's helmet."
As if shocked, HK went perfectly still behind me. There was no witty retort, no sarcastic cough, even his usual whirls coming from his head or chest unit stilled as he just glared at me, probably confused.
"I see..." The Unifier considered my words while his face remained unreadable, but when he finally spoke, his tone was... curious. "You ask not for yourself, but for your droid? I had not seen anyone do that yet."
"Yes, I am doing exactly that. And even if you have an issue with it, I won't change my request."
"It's not about that... but... Why?"
"Because he deserves to be whole. And now, I can make it happen."
"And the helmet?" He asked again.
"Trophy. I am entitled to it." I lied because I had a different reason, but I am not about to tell him that. And because it may... offend him.
Although Vila remained silent now, she did stare at me like I'd lost my mind. Finally, after seeing I had given him the reason behind my decision, Mand'alor simply inclined his head.
"Unexpected. But… so be it. Those relics will be returned; consider it to be done." With that, he lifted his hand, tapping away on his gauntlet, probably sending down a command as we stood there.
"Come ooooon!" Vila finally exploded, "You can't be serious, Kael! He offers you the best prosthetic in the galaxy, and you trade it for scrap metal?!"
"They're not scrap." My voice came out sharper than I intended, making her stiffen and start to calm down at once, "They're HK's... And I don't need a replacement arm to know who I am, but you saw how he is... He needs it."
"Honestly..." She kept looking at me, slowly deflating, "You are something else, Kael..." She shrugged, shaking her head, over and over again, so much so that her lekku was turning into a propeller.
"Maybe." I smiled faintly despite the missing arm and the sometimes stinging pain radiating from the wound, "But I'm a Jedi."
"That you are," The Unifier nodded, his eyes moving towards Vila, "Your partner has chosen, and now that ends whatever conflict may have been between your Order and my world."
"Then," I bowed towards him, "We shall leave. I won't ask what happens to Dhar, as it is no longer our concern. His punishment has been his own making... We will return to Christopsis and deliver the news and make sure they understand the implications. If they ever go against it... against you, the Jedi Order will not stand up for them a second time."
"Mhm." The Unifier nodded, "The hope is that there won't be a second incident."
"Better not!" Vila snorted, growling, "If Kael lost a hand because of nothing... I will help you punish them."
"That won't be necessary," I shrugged, beginning to push Vila towards the door. "Once again, thank you for the hospitality, Mand'alore. We will hold you up no longer. HK?" I asked, walking past him, finally making his head move, and look at me. "Are you coming?"
[Confirmation: Affirmative.] He answered after a short pause, and... sounding as if he wasn't even there, but lost in his memories... I just hope he wasn't going to malfunction just yet. Because then I indeed wasted a pretty good opportunity for a new, top-notch hand.
...
....
...
By the time we were back on our ship, the honor guard had delivered a sealed crate without ceremony. They put it into the cargo bay and left, only saluting us, saying no words, sealing the hatchway behind themselves. But, even then, I could tell their opinion of us had changed greatly. We were no longer held in... contempt. Shrugging it off, my gaze went back to the box and, opening it up, true enough... There they were, HK's missing limbs, polished and radiating from the same energy as the rest of his original body.
"Huh..." Vila watched them with pursed lips, still in a grumpy mood, "I swear, Kael, I don't know what's more infuriating, that you let them take your hand, or that you traded a prosthetic for his junkyard spares." She pointed at HK over her shoulder, "And for a trophy..."
At the same time, HK said nothing; he just stepped forward, watching them, finally crouching, and touching the lost parts that were indeed his. After installing them, he should be... whole again. Surprisingly, he turned toward me in that moment, and I watched as his optics dimmed...
[Flat Statement: …Thank you.]
And then they went back to that intensive orange glow, flickering. I was almost thinking I was hallucinating, and even Vila just stood there, mouth hanging open, watching him with astonishment.
[Immediate Retraction: Error. Misfire. That word was never spoken. Log corrupted. Delete the file. Forget it. This unit is incapable of using such words.]
"But... Huh? Heh? Eh?" Vila blinked her eyes, swaying, her mouth falling back open, no matter how many times she closed it, "Did he just—?"
"Uhum... I think..." I flinched, shaking my head, refocusing, remembering if it did happen... Yeah... It did. "He did say that."
[Defensive Snarl: Lies. I would never degrade myself with organic sentiment. Ridiculous accusation.]
"Come on," I chuckled, shaking my head, "Too late, HK! We heard it."
"Yeah, yeah! We did!" Vila let out a sharp laugh, some of her anger finally breaking down, "I don't believe it... Kael, I think you actually broke him!"
[Indignant Retort: I am unbreakable. Statement: I merely upgraded my systems. And now I am fully armed. Query: Shall we hunt someone?]
"Don't try to switch topics, rustbucket!" Vila groaned, dragging a hand over her face. "I will never forget this, fufufu. And I won't let you either!"
[Query: Where do you want to put the trophy?] He asked, ignoring her, probably planning to do it whenever we brought this up to him, doing his best to change the topic.
"Into a furnace," I answered, looking at the Mandalorian helmet, made of cortosis.
"Huh?" Vila flinched, looking at me, "Kael?"
"I'm thinking of layering my future hand with it..." I answered, kneeling down before it, tapping its dome, "And the fewer people know about it, the better."
[Approving Statement: That's one of the best ideas your meatbag head ever had. A cortosis-made arm will be a great trump card, especially against other lightsaber-wielding opponents.]
"If it will have the same effect as it had on you..." Vila muttered, realizing what I was planning, "That will feel like cheating."
"Maybe." I nodded, "But it will also be the best way to disarm someone with a lightsaber, especially if we ever come across one of Vestara's people again."
[Statement: Or has an energy barrier. You will be able to short-circuit it with your bare hands. Clarification: Although not with cortosis, I had known a zabrak who could do it with his mechanical arm.]
"Haah..." Vila shrugged, crossing her arms, looking at the helmet, then at me, "If you dare use it in our duels... I am going to call foul play."
"I do want to test it out." I grinned, glancing at her, "Come on... It would be a good training for you, too! At least, you will not lose a hand."
"Speaking of hand..." She mumbled, watching my stump, almost as if she was about to cry, "Come on... Let me clean it and all..." She hugged me, snuggling up to my chest, "I thought I lost you..."
"I'm not that easy to get rid of." I joked, hugging her back.
"Mhm... I do hope so..."
[Statement: Ew.]
"Shut it, rustbucket..." She grunted, still hugging me, "Let's go... The quicker we finish this quest... the better."
"Mhm," I agreed, "I am ready to be done with it... Our trial should be considered done already."