My heart was racing as I looked Crashun in the eyes, trying my best to hold my breath as he still had a sword to my throat. In one way, I was petrified as to what he'd do. Decapitate my head? Slit my throat? Stab me to death? At least I'd die a warrior's death...even though I wouldn't die on the battlefield.
"You know you can lower your sword, right? I'm not going to hurt you." I asked with slight humor, as I was trying to hide my fear.
"I don't know if I can trust you yet." Crashun replied still with a stone-cold look on his face.
"Crashun," I began. "It's me, you always can trust me."
"Says the woman who was an assassin for both Dooku and Death Watch." Crashun said with the same tone in his voice.
My expression went from humorous to serious in the blink of an eye. How the hell did he know that I was once a part of Death Watch…and the fact that I worked for Dooku. The only people that knew I worked for him were Death Watch, and Cid…who doesn't tell anyone my secrets…at least not to my knowledge.
"I don't know what you are talking about." I lied.
"Don't lie!" He shouted.
"Can you keep it down!" I yelled back in a much quieter voice. "I'd rather not have my mother know I was a part of a terrorist organization."
He rolled his eyes and I put my arms down. He took a step forward which inched the sword closer to my throat.
"Ok, before you murder me," I began.
"I'm not going to murder you." He said in a monotone voice.
I gestured to the sword. "Says the man who's aiming a sword at my throat."
He rolled his eyes again.
"As I was saying." I began in frustration. "I am going to walk over to that table on the other side of the room and I am going to take my crown off."
"Why?" He asked in annoyance.
"Because I've been wearing this since this morning, and I've got a headache…you wouldn't understand because A, you aren't a woman, and B, you don't wear crowns." I explained.
He glared at me as I began to slowly walk toward the table on the other side of the room. I didn't turn my back away from him once and kept constant eye contact with him. He was tense, I was tense…the whole tension in the room was almost unbearable. Once I reached the other side of the room, I took my crown off my head and placed it down on the table.
"See." I said in a calm and collected voice.
He still had a cold expression on his face which made me roll my eyes as I sat down in a chair next to the table. And in response, as he saw I wasn't a threat (at least to him now), he put his sword away.
"So, what do you want?" I ask as I crossed my right leg over my left and crossed my arms.
"Support." He simply stated.
I frowned. "Support? For what?"
"For thousands of years, my House and my Clan have honored the idea of Mandalorian traditions and sovereignty…things that your mother continues to cause a genocide to." He began. "I want to reestablish honor to the Clans…honor that we once had…as warriors, not pacifists."
I shook my head. "Says the man who took over his father's place on the ruling council."
He sighed in annoyance. "My father was a man of obedience. Yes, he respected your mother till the time of his death, but deep down, he was and will always be a True Mandalorian."
I tilted my head to the side. "A True Mandalorian? What is that?"
His facial expression immediately changed from annoyance to shock. "You don't know what a True Mandalorian is?"
I shook my head no in response.
"How sheltered did your mother make you?" He asked in both humor and annoyance.
"Well, I'm not that sheltered given I belonged to a terrorist organization." I explained and he shook his head in response.
"True Mandalorians were a group of supercommandos whose main goal was to reform Mandalorian radicalization. Their overall goal was to reestablish honor, ethics, and values, instead of just using violence and extremism to conquer worlds. They were created and led by the Mand'alor at the time…Jaster Mereel."
"The father of Jango Fett?" I questioned and he nodded.
"They were created and tried to combat against Tor Vizsla's attempt to try and divide the clans from each other, as Tor Vizsla led and created a group of radicals himself." He continued.
"The Death Watch." I answered and he nodded.
"The True Mandalorians however weren't radical, as Mereel created a set of laws that every True Mandalorian must follow…The Supercommando Codex." He continued. "It was and still is a modernization of the Canons of Honor and the Resol'nare…please tell me you know what they are."
I rolled my eyes. "The Canons of Honor were the laws and behaviors ancient Mandalorians had to follow during the time of the Old Republic…and the Resol'nare are the tenets of life every Mandalorian should follow."
He let out a huff of amusement. "I guess your terrorist Aunt did teach you something."
My expression turned into anger. "Watch your mouth Ordo."
His expression turned into anger as well. "Try me Kryze."
I rolled my eyes. "Continue."
He sighed. "The True Mandalorians sought to modernize warrior culture. Highly skilled warriors combated the extremism of Death Watch…which eventually led into…"
"The Great Clan Wars." I finished.
"Exactly." He nodded. "It is the fault of the Death Watch as to why so many Mandalorians die…both True and New Mandalorians…so when I found out that you of all people were working with Death Watch, I had to see for myself."
"So, you've been following me?" I question.
"No, but I heard of some of the assignments they've had you do." He explained. "Like slaughtering children…families."
I shook my head in disgust. "I have never and will never stand for that! And you of all people should know and understand that!"
"Not only that." He continued. "But now I hear you are helping the Jedi."
I frowned. "So?"
"So?" He asked in anger. "The Jedi almost destroyed our people! How can you stand even being in the same room as them?"
"I understand they have done some horrible things." I began. "But the ones that I have met have helped me in tremendous ways…they have been nothing but kind to me."
"The Jedi helped destroy the True Mandalorians!" He practically shouted. "They are just as bad as the Death Watch."
I raised my eyebrows. "Really? Is it just the Jedi?"
He shook his head. "It's all of them, Aurora. Think about it. The Republic and Jedi have caused most of the problems going on right now. The Senate has no regards for any of the systems it represents…it only supports upper-class citizens, and never any unfortunate poorer citizens. And the way they treat the Clones…they are Mandalorians by birth-right…they have no regard to be treated so poorly."
"And what about the Separatists?" I asked with a small sigh.
"They're just as bad. The Separtatists are being led and controlled out of greed and cruelty…how could you ever want to be allied with someone like Count Dooku?"
I shook my head. "I didn't want to by choice. During the time I was with Death Watch, I thought I was doing what was right…turns out I was brainwashed…told one thing but believed everything else. I didn't want to work for him…but at the time, I thought it was the only option. Everything changed when the Jedi caught me on Coruscant, they gave me two options…be charged for war crimes or help them find a missing holocron and rescue some kids to clear my name. After working with the Jedi, I realized everything Death Watch taught me…everything my aunt and Pre taught me was wrong and inhumane."
He didn't say anything after I said that…he probably didn't believe me…but I don't care, I know the truth and so did the Jedi.
"You probably don't believe a word that just came out of my mouth." I said after a few moments of silence.
"I don't." He immediately replied.
"And I don't care…believe what you want." I replied. "But I know what this is truly about."
"I told you…support." He explained.
I shook my head as I slowly got up from my seat and walked over towards him.
"This isn't about me, or the Jedi…it's about your problem with Death Watch…you're still holding a grudge of when they killed your brothers."
He fell silent, as he did whenever he felt uncomfortable…he did this when we were kids too, that's how I knew he was uncomfortable. Crashun's older brothers, Goran and Ijaat fought in the Civil War, and both were killed by Tor Vizsla, during a fight on Concord Dawn…I didn't know that they were a part of this True Mandalorian group, I just thought Death Watch was targeting them because they were a part of Clan Ordo. In recent times, especially now with New Mandalorian culture, Clan Ordo was a topic for heavy discussion as many people, including my mother's colleagues along with herself included sometimes, thought of them as a Clan that favored violence, and were too 'friendly' with 'Traditional Clans'. They also refused to give up any type of artifacts that were linked to the Crusades that were thousands of years old…most of the members of the Ruling Council wanted to see them destroyed.
"Where did you get the sword?" I asked trying to change the subject as I knew I wouldn't get a straight answer out of him.
"It was my father's." He explained. "It's thousands of years old…dating back to the time before the formation of the Old Republic. It's been passed down to leader of the Clan for generations."
I nodded. "Why do want my support?"
He sighed. "I need to know that you are in support of restoring True Mandalorian culture. I have made alliances with other Clans and mercenaries who also want to see the cause set into motion on the planet, that I have met while I was working jobs. You were trained to be an assassin, are a well-known bounty hunter around the outer rim, and have been trained just as any other Mando'ade, plus you are the Princess and heir to the throne of Mandalore. If I have your support, I will be that much closer to reestablishing honor and ethics to the Clans."
"And what of my title?" I asked and he frowned. "You said I am heir…if you fight Vizsla and win, per Mandalorian custom, you will take the throne."
"Aurora…" He began.
I walked away from him and placed my hands on the table and sighed. Just thinking of the thought of my mother being a prisoner and being exiled gives me goosebumps, I can't even stomach it.
"Aurora, I didn't mean…" He began but he stopped when I turned around.
I began to walk towards him. "So many people have tried to kill me over the years. I don't remember all their names. I have been traded like a slave, and betrayed…tortured, defiled, and shunned. Do you know what kept me standing through all those years in Death Watch?"
He stood silent as I continued.
"Faith." I said with slight anger. "Not in any traditions, not in warriors or my family…but in myself. Like it or not, I was born to rule Mandalore…and like it or not I will. So, if you think at trying to destroy my family and murder them for your own pleasure and to further your own cause to ascend the throne will work in your favor…you can be damn sure it won't."
He continued to remain silent as I stood a few inches away from him, before he replied to my comment.
"I need no throne, and no Aurora, that is only if you can survive as Mand'alor. The exposure you had with the Death Watch should have revealed you what Satine doesn't understand, what these New Mandalorians don't get it. There is no birthright or about that throne that gives you any right to claim the title." He began in a tone that made me take a step back. His tone was stone cold.
"Tell me Aurora, when was the last time that you visited Keldable? Seen the Kelita River or smelled through the actual forests of our world than this scarred wasteland left from the Dral'Han? How many Clans do you actually claim loyal to you? Who too believes that you are born to rule over us?" He asked as he looked straight into my eyes.
"Have you spoken to Chieftain Bralor? What about Chieftain Terrak Farr? Chieftain Bendak Navok? Chieftain Karrah Spar? The Awauds and Beyoras are already gone, Chieftain Nam Beroya has taken them off world because he's given up on us, he's sick of seeing Mandalore being torn apart by the politics that's weakening and the Death Watch that wants to lead us to try to conquer the galaxy and to plunder it as we did in the Mandalorian Wars. Were you aware of these or has palace life kept you out of the loop?" He asked as I noticed the grip on both his sword and helmet tightened. I said nothing in response to his comments as we both stared at each other in the most tense conversation that i've ever had in a while.
His blue eyes grew more stern, cold, and harder as he continued. "I'll tell you the Clans who follows me and why. Clan Itera has kept its vows for thousands of years to my House, even through our hardest times and even as their numbers had dwindled in the Civil Wars, they remained fighting besides us through the thickest and I can scarcely recall a time when there weren't any Iteras fighting along side us. Clan Cadera still remains with us even after Tor Vizsla had nearly decimated their Clan, I was there when I saw the Clan Cadera fortress burning and the bodies that liter that battlefield and I helped gave them their proper burials, I was 15 at that time and my innocence of what I had known as a child was gone, replaced by the flashes of war I saw before me. Clan Kelborn still claims Dxun as their home and yet have come to still fulfill our ancient pact together as we did under my ancestor, Mandalore the Preserver, they are as eager to see the return of our true warrior selves as we are and I have already fought in battles with them as the CIS neared their home. You've already heard that I've married Helga Sharratt, Clan Sharratt stands with House Ordo not out of self obligation but because I had helped them out of their troubles in Keldable, there is an economic crisis that's leaving disorder in the capital's welfare and increase demand of mercenaries, Sharratt were practically homeless before I took them in, and others I found that have been forced starving in the streets and prevent them from seeking out less honorable means of employment. Criminal groups are seeking to steep their claws into our world, there's corruption in your mother's government that she cannot see yet."
I sighed before he placed a hand on my left shoulder. My expression was still hardened, but his had become slightly softer.
"They follow me because they believe in me and I will not see that violated, I have sworn to protect them as the same for our worlds and our people scattered across this galaxy Aurora. If you want to become Mand'alor, toss aside notions feed to you by these New Mandalorians of royalty or hierarchy and let go of what Death Watch wanted turn you into. Remember you're roots Aurora, your grandfather Adonai Kryze was a Warlord that even Tor Vizsla respected, he was a man of hard lines and embraced the way of the Neo-Crusaders, he didn't demand things of his people or lord over them like he was their King. He saw his duty and died on the battlefield like an warrior. Embrace hardship and reject what only weakens you at your core, find your fire and see that it burns bright." He explained with the most sincerity I had seen since we started thus conversation.
I still was pissed as hell.
"Take this as my answer to supporting your cause…I need time to think…and if you even think about touching my mother or my cousins…I will make it, so your head sits on a wooden pike." I explained in anger.
He nodded before he walked past me, picked up his helmet, put it back on, and walked onto my balcony. He turned back.
"Ret'urcye mhi, Ro." He simply responded (which literally translates to 'Maybe we'll meet again' in Mando'a) before activating his jetpack and flied off
I stood shell-shocked for a moment before I walked over the balcony and closed the doors. I sighed and just as I was about to walk over to my bed, my doors opened and Geenine came rolling in.
"Oh, now you come in!" I practically shouted at her in annoyance. "I could've been dead by now!"
Geenine beeped at me in fury and retaliation.
"Oh, don't start!" I said in annoyance. "Relax, Crashun wouldn't hurt me…I hope."
Geenine let out a moan and I rolled my eyes before walking to my bathroom that was just attached to my bedroom to put on my pajamas. Once my pajamas were on, I climbed in bed, and got under the covers. Just as I was laying down, my commlink started beeping.
"You've got to be kidding me." I said with a moan as I reached to my bedside table and grabbed my commlink before placing it on my wrist to allow for the holographic image pop-up of who was calling me…it was Anakin.
"Ro, I hope I'm not bothering you." Anakin explained.
"I was literally trying to go to bed…thanks for ruining my sleep." I said with an eyeroll.
"Sorry, but we have a problem." He began.
"It's like every time I leave you guys there's a problem." I said with a sigh. "What did you do now?"
"Me, nothing, the Council is requesting you for an assignment." He explained.
"What type of assignment and where?" I asked as I held back a yawn.
"A rescue mission…and it's at The Citadel." He continued.
That made me sit straight up. "Please tell me it's not Obi-Wan or Ahsoka."
He shook his head. "No, it's another Jedi, but we could use your help on this one."
I sighed. "When do you need me?"
"As soon as possible." He explained.
"That may be tricky…I'd be leaving Mandalore while my mother is still here." I explained.
He sighed. "Can you and Zara think of something?"
"I always can say that I am going to one of the Senate Seminars that happen bi-weekly and have Zara go in my place." I thought aloud.
He nodded. "That works."
I sighed. "All see you in a little bit."
He nodded again before I ended the transmission. I sighed again before laying back in my bed. Geenine beeped in amusement, and I grabbed one of the 50 pillows on my bed and threw it at her. Thankfully she dodged it in amusement.
"I just want one day, where I don't have people kill me." I murmured, even though In the back of my mind, that day would most likely never come.