Honoured Enemy

[Sabik Dhami]

[ Theme ]

The shuttle settled down in its designated port at Novania, a major spaceport city on Arkania. The planet was closely nestled by the One Sith and two Mandalorian factions vying for control and power. It was ideal for Sabik Dhami and his goals, a united coalition of Dar'manda clans to serve the Black Empire. Arkania would serve as a platform for assaults against the One Sith while those forsaken by the Mandalorians, Dar'manda, would funnel in from the local systems.

Sabik stood with the other troopers, the entire 88th Mechanized Assault Group was with him, albeit they were without armor or weapons. Their equipment was being processed in another facility. They wore their civilian clothes and chatted among each other calmly. One would almost confuse them with any ordinary man of a trade, and not the brutal killing force of Sith Lords.

Though to say Sabik was Sith was wrong. He had never adhered to their code, and while he had been a Jedi Padawan he was a child at the time, the disappearance of his mother and the sacking of Coruscant had shattered that dream. He was raised by his Mandalorian father and welcomed into his clan, but through the years his untamed emotions channeled through the force and ultimately he fell to the Dark Sides call. Sabik Dhami was solely responsible for the murder of Clan Dhami. He was a Dark Jedi who obeyed the commands of Sith Lords out of personal gain, wealth and renown.

Customs processed them relatively quickly. Without the galactic jurisdiction of the Republic or other governments, Arkania was shy of angering those in positions in power, and while Sabik was at the bottom of the food chain for the Black Empire, it still was enough cause for local officials on Arkania to tread gently. The dar'manda entered the streets, the troopers dispersed for their hotels, and so would he.

 

[Delsin Shaw]

Dar'manda. A term used for those who had lost their honor among the Mandalorian people. Dar'Jetii. Another for the man who I hunted. One who was Dark within the force. [member="Sabik Dhami"], was a man who killed his own people. For what? Power? Greed? I didn't know exactly, but the man had to be brought to justice. I just... I couldn't think why a man would turn on his own people. His family. I guess that is just the thing. I was raised differently than others. I grew up in a house that was all about family. And from what I had little about, the man wasn't in the best of places when it came to the home front.

The meeting that was here in the capital city was... pleasant. It wasn't as what I thought it would be. Dar'Manda coming together for a common goal. Much like how Jedi would, Sith even clamber together for the betterment of their banner... sometimes. Something made this man choose his actions. What drove him to such acts? I had to find out. Even more so when I had a lead, telling me he was on the home planet of my father. When I first discovered this, I wanted to wring the man's neck like a wet towel. How dare he come to my home. How dare he kill those who trusted him. After seeing him? I wasn't so sure. He was a simple man. While he did have his face covered up for reasons of his own, I had my reasons too.

As the man was beginning to walk away, I tapped his shoulder. My gloved hand being the one to touch him. I didn't really wait for him to turn around. I just began to ask him a question as my right hand was in my pocket. The white robotic limb was clearly visible. Fingers in the pocket with the thumb sticking out, I had grown used to this limb now. Even if I didn't like it as much as my 'real arm.' It would serve it's purpose.

"I have some questions for you Dhami."

Pulling my hand from my pocket, and drawing my hilt, I was clearly holding a lightsaber in hand. Not activated yet, but there for a reason. I was ready if he decided to fight me. The longer, ovate hilt was firmly grasped in my hand. It was a little longer than the standard lightsaber, but not quite as long as a Long-Handled variant. The dark silver shone slightly in the light that surrounded us.

"Why?"

 

[Sabik Dhami]

A tap on the shoulder caught Sabik off-guard. His mind was not actively searching for anyone. For what need would there be? He was a target, that was established, but it was a large galaxy, with easier targets, for better credits. He was unprepared for any sort of confrontation, and his mind raced to reason it out. Perhaps he had forgotten something, or even dropped a belonging of his. Yet a shiver ran down his spine, not of cold or a change of wind, but something inside him was screaming in alarm.

Sabik turned, and the chill grew worse. His bones rattled when the stranger addressed him by name. His stomach knotted and his heart sank. Bad news, and his entire force were in civvies and heading for their beds. He would be alone in this. It had been years since the acolyte had to confront an adversary alone. He was a military commander not a pawn thrown at Jedi, not that he did not receive formal training. He was taught by none other than Darth Vidar - until his untimely demise.

The man before him shifted his hands, Sabik's eyes darted to watch. It was a lightsaber hilt he held, but without the activation he knew that this would not be a fight but a warning that Sabik would need to tread carefully. Albeit the former One Sith commander was never a politician, he only knew war. The crashing tides of soldiers, the mass widespread confusion and chaos, and the blood. So much blood.

'I have some questions for you Dhami. Why?' The words plastered to his mind. He would have stuttered had he not bit down on his tongue, a mix of confusion of both question and sudden surprise. This man knew his clan name, and this close to the Mandalorians... he knew. His crimes warranted him dar'manda and a death sentence without trial by any Mandalorian that came across him. The man before him was now both judge and executioner.

Despite all this, Sabik Dhami knew only one thing in life; survival. Perhaps he would not need to eat mice or slay Jedi to survive this time, but rather use that which he hardly ever used, words. The Dark Jedi shot back as his mind caught up, "A bit daring of you, Arkania isn't under Mandalorian jurisdiction, and my troops have flooded this city. Don't make threats you can't commit." He gestured to Carricks hilt, while making no move of his own to unclasp his own lightsaber.

[member="Zephyr Carrick"]

 

[Delsin Shaw]

The man made no move to any weapons. So far, I didn't have to worry about it. However, any man knowing of a fight was coming knew where to look for weapons, or the intent to use one. The man was capable of defending himself. To what extent? I had no inclination. It was also with his word choice to my question at him. He was on edge the entire time. He knew I was here for his life as a Dar'Manda. He knew the rules, and he broke them. backing him up was an army. Yes, but that doesn't mean they would be in time for him. My fight was with this man alone. Not the others who were here. Their time would come soon enough.

"You didn't answer my question."

I wasn't forceful about it. Stating a fact. He avoided the question I wanted him to answer with a counter threat of more people on his side. I just smirked. My face clearly visible for him to see at the moment. If this were to go south, then soon he wouldn't be seeing my visage. I simply stood there. Prepared to attack, or to defend.

​"Arkania may house your troops, but this is my home. My ancestry is of Arkanian origins."

I couldn't quite see the man's face. Only a portion of it. Hiding his face like he hid from the consequences of killing his family. Just for that fact, I wanted to rip the metal off of his face to expose who he was.

"You know I am willing to dare challenge you here. Prepare yourself."

Taking a few steps back away from him, I gave some girth between us. Giving myself time to react, and would prevent him from grabbing my lightsaber from me should he choose to do so. I had enough confidence in my ability to close the gap in the blink of an eye. The question was how much did he believe in himself to defend against my assault.

[member="Sabik Dhami"]

 

[Sabik Dhami]

He pushed for answers and Sabik's blood began to boil. His time spent on Mandalore, and as a Mandalorian, was one he tried to forget. He was thankful for everything he learned, but at what cost? His fist clenched, mechanical, cold and unliving. That was the cost. It had almost cost his life too. The Mandalorians were cruel in their ways, rather than teaching their children the wonders of life and to love one another they taught only war. Sure it was to defend their people but at what cost?

The Jedi maintained a balance, but they were also the kidnappers of children, indoctrinating them to a cause they couldn't fully understand at such young ages, and yet they held them to their word for the rest of their life. Moronic by nature and archaic in concept. Sabik held no love for either, nor did he favor the Sith. He was out for himself.

Then the stranger began to backstep, preparing himself for a duel. "No," Sabik said, marching forward, he tried to shove the man in the chest, "You want answers first." He would try to shove again. "I murdered a clan who adhered to an outdated doctrine that has millions of Mandalorians the galaxy over brutally have children beat each other in vain attempts to teach them the ways of war. I am merely the result of your peoples cruel intentions. I never asked for this." He gestured with his mechanical arm to the breathing apparatus on his face.

[member="Zephyr Carrick"]

 

[Delsin Shaw]

The man coming towards me stated clearly no. He reached out to shove me. The first time he made a connection with my chest. The second time he missed as I was taking steps back. Saying that he murdered a clan that taught on an outdated ideal. A doctrine that was no longer relevant. I disagreed with him. There was so much you could learn from it. The ideal of Honor was not only about war. It wasn't the idea of war, but that of self defense and surviving on one's own. Even if he didn't realise it, he was still living by this code for breathing, and fighting.

Children beaten? Sure. It happens. Mandalorians were born tough, and were built tough because of their once nomadic lifestyle. Hell, some of us still are nomadic. I know I am. I move around from Voss, to Dantooine, to Odessen, and Echoly'a. I wasn't ever in the same place for long. He was not the result of the Mandalorian people. He was the result of his own actions, or inaction of whatever crossed his path. Only we can forge our own destiny, and he didn't understand that. I felt... pity. Almost as though he was scared of what happened, and didn't want to think about it again. He wasn't fighting his past, he was running from it.

Through the force I could feel the man's rage and anger towards me coming after him. But I also could feel just a twinge of fear. I shook my head as he was still yelling at me. I knew he may have not wanted the loss of his arm, but neither did I. I lost mine to shrapnel because I was hasty and didn't think about my actions. Now it was time for him to learn the same.

"You answered, but you don't understand. Each person lives a different life. You are running. Sadly, I must stop this. You have to pay for the consequences of your actions. Our people didn't force you to kill your own. You acted upon your hate, and rage without control. For that, you need to pay the price."

Stepping back, my father's helmet activated. I flexed my left hand inside it's glove as the lightsaber ignited in it's bladed red and black edge. I could feel my connection to the force deepen as I stood there. Yellow eyes of the helmet flaring up as the HUD activated. I was ready for the man, I had determined he was guilty of killing innocent people. Now it was time to give the man his sentence.

[member="Sabik Dhami"],

 

[Sabik Dhami]

"No," he agreed, "They didn't force me." His breathing intensified, and the cold blue gaze shifted into a vibrant blood-orange. He continued to march towards Carrick, keeping the distance closed, but he still made no move for his lightsaber, even as his opponent activated his own. More snarl than voice, he remarked on the events, "They just had it coming."

As the Force illuminated within Carrick, so did it too illuminate Dhami. Through time his once shining bright light had become corrupted, somewhere down the path he had lost his way. Now all that was left was the shattered pieces of a man trying in vain to climb to the top of the hill, a dark cloud followed in his shadow, ferocious, unreasoning, corrupting.

This stranger had to be eliminated, he knew that, but he wasn't going to make the first move. If it was one thing he had learned as a commander it was to study your opponent, and his opening move would tell him everything he needed to know, for now. He curled his wrist and thumbed the wrist-mounted datapad. He dropped an emergency beacon into the comms. It would still be awhile before the troops could scramble, he would just have to hold on till they arrived.

[member="Zephyr Carrick"]

 

[Delsin Shaw]

"No they didn't. You forced it!"

I was done with this man's bickering. He was clearly set in his ways and wouldn't change or accept the fact that he made a mistake. Even more so when he thought he could last against me. He started to move his hand to do something, drawing a weapon or not, I acted. He may have been waiting for me to act, and would try to find how I acted. Everyone did it, and I expected him to do so.

My right hand reached out. Grabbing onto him through the force and yanking him closer to me. If he kept trying to get closer to me and close the distance, then I would help him. Aided by my glove, the tug on him could upset his stance right off the word go, or could even allow my blade to pierce his chest as I thrusted it out at him at the same instance. Thrusting at the man with the bladed saber. I knew it likely was the start of the fight, but it was entirely possible that this man was all talk and no action.

As a Mandalorian, I would be greatly disappointed if that was true.

[member="Sabik Dhami"]

 

[Sabik Dhami]

Dhami had elicited a response of anger, exactly what he wanted. He continued to pace forward and then he felt it like a shiver down his spine. A surge of power that trembled through the Force. Unready but adaptable, as the tug pulled him he had no means to prevent it, but rather went with it. He launched himself, half-force jump, and half allowing him to be pulled by the stranger.

He torqued his muscles and spun, as lithe and straight as a diver. Narrowly missing the blade thrust out for him, he moved past and beyond Carrick, landing in an awkward roll. He stumbled and almost fell, he hadn't been entirely prepared. Still, he made no move to unclasp his lightsaber hilt from his belt. "Attacking a man who isn't defending himself? How honourable."

He continued to preach to Carrick, "I remember a time when my father would do the same to me. My brother was spared the worst of it, after all, he was fathers favourite." He waved his hand, as though this were casual conversation, "He said it would make us stronger, more prepared, more keen, he tried to make me fight back but I had no real desire to fight without a noble cause." When he did unclasp his lightsaber at last he kept it unactivated, "And when I did fight back, you should have seen his eyes. Justice served."

[member="Zephyr Carrick"]