For Honor

[A/N For timeline reference, this story takes place after the Leviathan, but before the crew goes to find the last Star Map.]

I stood in the doorway to the cargo hold, watching Canderous gather the weapons and armor he needed for his confrontation with Jagi. Since Jagi's challenge, and Canderous' refusal to explain Jagi's accusations, I intended to go with Canderous, even if he wished for me to just stand back and watch.

Now, after Malak's revelation on the Leviathan, I needed to get away from the rest of the crew. While Mission, Zaalbar, Juhani and Jolee had accepted the fact I used to be Revan, I could still sense that they were ill at ease around me. Canderous had not only accepted the fact, but embraced it. Disturbing, when I thought about it, but preferable to Carth's black looks.

'Canderous.'

He turned towards me with an intense look on his face. Canderous had always been fierce, but since Jagi's challenge, he had been downright brutal, even outside of battle.

'When we arrive on Tatooine, I'd like to go with you to meet Jagi,' I announced.

The room was completely silent until he answered: 'If you want.'

As I made my way to exit the Ebon Hawk, I nearly ran into Carth head-on. He tensed up, and stood in the corridor for a moment, as if to say something, but I kept on moving. After seeing the horror in his expression from finding out I was Revan, I couldn't even look him in the eyes anymore.

The Sith bombed my home world! Revan took away my family and destroyed my life! I flinched at the memory of Carth's words after the Leviathan, and walked down the Ebon Hawk's loading ramp.

'Ah, so you managed to come after all. I see you brought a friend.' Jagi approached Canderous and me, followed by two hired thugs.

'You brought some of your own as well,' replied Canderous, as though we were all gathering for a party.

'Ha! Indeed I did.' Jagi's face took on a superior expression, 'I foresaw that you might need help so I arranged a distraction.'

I scowled at Jagi; I wasn't stupid enough to get into a fight with two angry Mandalorians. 'I came by my own free will.'

'I do not need to hear your excuses, Jedi! I know why he brought you!'

'Enough of this talk, Jagi! Let us do what we came here to do,' Canderous interrupted.

I muttered, 'I think you both need to calm down.'

Jagi, who hadn't heard me continued, 'We both know the stakes here, and we both know what we must do. It is only in death that this can end.'

'This is a mater of honor. I cannot stand by this insult. I must do this,' Canderous explained.

I could feel my curiosity pushing at the back of my mind. 'Why do you need to fight him, Canderous?'

'He has slandered me and questioned my honor. Among the Mandalore, many have died for much lesser insults.'

'I speak truth! And honor is at stake here!' Jagi's voice rang out among the dunes. 'The deaths of my comrades, your warriors, is a debt in blood that can only be paid by you. When you saw prospects for glory, you abandoned the plan and left us to die surrounded by enemies! You sent your own men to die out there! I cannot forgive you for what you did!'

Canderous looked flustered, 'That's not the way it happened...'

'Why did you abandon them?' I asked softly.

'The Althiri were fighting hard. I saw a break in their defenses that left them exposed. If I had not done what I did, many more warriors would have died and the battle would have taken much longer. I stand by my decision. I can regret their loss, but it was necessary.'

How many people had died because of my decisions? I realized, listening to them argue, that I didn't want any more blood on my hands. Canderous would probably tell me later that the blood from this would not be on my hands, as this incident had nothing to do with me, Revan or otherwise. Right then it didn't matter, I was going to involve myself in their fight to see if I could stop the outcome from being the death of one of them. Sometimes I think I give my intelligence too much credit.

I forced all anxiety out of my voice as I turned to Jagi. 'Jagi, what he did was a smart tactical move. He may have saved many lives by doing what he did.'

'He cost us ours!' The anguish in Jagi's voice was all too apparent. It was heartbreaking. 'But... but I do see your point... But... why did you have to leave us there to die while you chased glory somewhere else?'

Canderous, more composed than before, responded, 'I saw a choice and had to take it. It ended the battle quicker than we would have otherwise, and many of our warriors would have died. Mandalore taught us that opportunism and flexibility in battle were to be admired. You may contradict me, but do you contradict him as well?'

'No! I... I... I see that I have been wrong,' Jagi stuttered for a moment, then calmed considerably. 'I have not been true to the teachings of Mandalore. I was wrong to question your honor. But I must now cleanse mine with my life.'

Canderous nodded, a grim look on his face. 'And so it shall be.'

A feeling of dread settled in my stomach, as I watched Jagi turn his blaster on himself.

I glanced toward Canderous and cried, 'He doesn't need to do this!'

As I began to move forward, Canderous grabbed my upper arm and pulled me back. The sound of blaster fire made me shake. I felt tears welling up in my eyes. He held on to me until I stopped trembling and managed to ask, 'Why?'

He was silent a moment, before letting go of my arm. In Canderous' silence, I heard angry muttering to my left. Glancing up, I saw Jagi's thugs rummaging through his belongings, looking for payment or extra profit, before scampering off.

'Canderous...' I murmured.

'Thanks for what you did,' he began, 'whatever your intentions might have been. I just need some time to sort things out. I don't think there is an easy explanation for you, not without teaching you my people's entire history and culture. For now, just understand that our actions were... for honor.'

With that, he turned away and we began our trek back to Anchorhead.