Disclaimer: Star Wars and its characters and affiliated resources are not mine. Please don't sue me.

A/N: This is about Tru Veld—obscure friend of Anakin. His flashback in this chapter is based on a book in the Jedi Quest series…just in case someone thinks it sounds familiar, it is. So yeah, R+R, and enjoy! Please excuse my lack of literary talent…thanks.

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Chapter One: Second Thoughts

Newly Knighted Tru Veld strode down the softly lit corridors of the Jedi Temple on his way to get his Padawan braid shaved. His robes swooshed softly as he walked and pondered what had happened just minutes before…

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Ry-Gaul had said, "We're going to the Council Room…the Councilwishes to see you."

"What?"

Ry-Gaul, being the man of few words he was, just smiled. But his gray eyes were shining—not with tears, but with pride.

He remembered wondering, so why is Ry-Gaul so happy?

Confused, he'd walked into the Council Room, exactly a step behind his Master, just as every time before. All he knew was that he and his Master had returned from a successful mission to Cloud City with flying colors just yesterday. All he'd expected was a "good job" and/or a "here is your next mission," even though all he wanted was time to rest.

Ever since the start of the Clone Wars, missions came one right after the other, with a few days' rest, at most, in between. Long rests at the Temple had become scarce to most Jedi; only the medics, archivists, and younglings enjoyed the privilege of Temple stays—even the guardians and teachers of the younglings were getting called away from time to time. And sometimes, even the medics and archivists were obliged to leave the Temple for some Senator or other.

Odd…in my Padawan days, we wanted more missions. Now, all we want is peace and rest.

But now, here he was, a full Jedi Knight—courtesy of the Council.

At least it wasn't another mission.

He and Ry-Gaul had entered the Council Room, and to his surprise, all twelve seats were actually filled—filled with the physical presence of each Master who held that seat—not with a hologram. What was it Master Windu had said?

"The Council has decided that you are now ready to become a Jedi Knight."

Yoda had continued, "Passed your examinations, you have. A Knight now, you are."

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Knight Tru Veld smiled. He was on his own now, free to make his own decisions, free to choose his actions, and free of the troublesome Padawan braid that occasionally whip lashed his face when it grew too long. His smile stretched into a grin.

Now I can get a Padawan and watch him/her/it fiddle with the braid! Suddenly, his grin became a frown. Is the Council really sure that I can actually do this? Do I really want to train someone to become stronger in the Force? Can I even keep myself outta trouble?

His mind flashed back to several years before…

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He and Ry-Gaul, along with three other Master-Padawan duos, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, Soara Antana and Darra Thel-Tanis, and Siri Tachi and Ferus Olin were after a wanted criminal, Granta Omega, the son of a fallen Jedi.

Funny…that's when we had enough Jedi for back-ups and double-teams, and that was only a couple years ago.

On that mission, his lightsaber had shorted out.

It had shorted before…but Anakin and I fixed it. Why didn't I go to Ry-Gaul then?

Instead of doing the right thing and going directly to Ry-Gaul, he had chosen to tell Ferus.

It was just because I was scared to be left behind on a mission. I put myself first…and not the mission.

Against the Jedi Code, which required a faulty lightsaber to be reported immediately to the Master, Tru had chosen to conceal the fact and go to another Padawan…twice.

And again, against the Jedi Code, I put myself—and not the mission—first.

He and Ferus had repaired it, but again, this time in the midst of battle, it had shorted out. Ferus, one to be noble to the end, gave his lightsaber to Tru and took the faulty lightsaber.

All this… so I could stay in one piece? Huh, I think I'd rather be wounded or dead if everything else didn't happen.

Then, a deadly blaster bullet had fired, going straight for Ferus with a powerless lightsaber.

It wasn't his fault—I should never have allowed him to take back my lightsaber. I should've been the one to be shot.

But instead, Darra, his best friend other than Anakin, valiantly sacrificed her life for Ferus'. As a result, there was one less Padawan, one less future Knight for the Order, and one less friend. And as if that wasn't enough, Ferus had left the Order, resulting in another Padawan gone, another future Knight gone, and another friend…gone.

All this…was because of my choice.

Furthermore, Anakin apparently had known about the defect, and was mad that Tru had gone to Ferus instead of him!

And then I broke off our friendship—just because I was annoyed at Anakin's jealousy. The closest friendship I ever had—my best friend—gone…because I chickened… and made a stupid choice.

What happened was not anybody's fault except his. And though they had cornered Omega, and though Obi-Wan had killed Omega and purged the Republic of one of the most dangerous criminals in the Republic's history, to Tru, the whole mission was a failure.

Sure, most of it was exciting, most of it was good, but was the elimination of an outlaw really worth losing Darra, Ferus, and Anakin? I don't think so.

Tru sighed. Might as well stop thinking now—I shouldn't belabor something unchangeable.

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A/N: Yes, a horrible way to end a chapter—but wait, there's more! If you read the next chapter when I upload it, you will get more of the story absolutely FREE! Of course, this offer does not include the charges your Internet Service Provider gives you for being online. ANYWAY, please R+R my next chapter…when I upload it. Thanks!