Jedi Knight
Location: Gardens, Silver Rest, Kashyyyk
Equipment: Simple Jedi Robes, inherited lightsaber, light-filtering lenses, Hush-style comlink, aquata breather, liquid-cable launcher, stim pills, nutrient/food pack
Tag: Caedyn Arenais
Des stood quietly, turning over his words, examining them from all angles. There were parts she didn't fully agree with. Parts of it didn't really apply to her quandary or the crux of what nagged at her. Some of it was too simplistic. The answers were too easy.
"Just because someone thinks they're doing the right thing, doesn't mean they actually are doing the right thing. History is filled with monsters who thought they were doing the right thing. Though they were doing what was just. Sheev Palpatine is a great example. The same goes for Darth Vader." She shook her head. "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions." Some might have felt she was being contrarian. But it was an honest counter-point. How did one actually know they were doing something good, doing the right thing? Or just projecting their own ego on the matter? She supposed part of it had to do with some things being objectively good and objectively bad. Like stopping slavers. Defending the station at Sepan and detaining the Kastolar Raider leadership. Saving thousands of innocent, peaceful lives from the predations of the Raiders. That was objectively good, she supposed. But what about the Raiders they'd killed in the battle?
What about all the Drael that'd been killed at Yurb and Nar Kreeta. Sure the Bryn'adul had no remorse or sense of restraint. But they weren't Force-dead. They used the Force much as the Jedi or Sith did. And they were a form of life, with culture, and individuality. Killing them protected others, usually. Bu t... was it actually right to do so? She supposed it was less wrong than letting them slaughter innocent people. She knew she would have to fight them at some point. And as much as they scared her, it wasn't from a lack of understanding. But merely because of the kind of enemy they were. And... she realized she didn't want to kill them. Or anyone. But if she had to, she would. Without hesitation and with utmost efficiency. They at least deserved that. Suffering was not the Jedi way. But if one were to surrender... she doubted she would end it. Surrender wasn't in their culture or their way though. That would be admitting weakness. They would have killed themselves in shame first.
The raiders could have surrendered. Jedi didn't usually kill surrendering combatants or ones that were fleeing. They had the chance to run. None of them took it. They accepted the risk of injury or death. And her and Caltin, and the others, had gone through them like a scythe through wheat. She'd tried to only injure, to incapacitate, save for the droids. But plenty had died anyway. The choice was on them, she supposed. And the ones that did die merely returned to the Force. Better luck next time.
