"What about me? I already knew."

-Jolee Bindo

Revan and Exon followed the scientist who was being escorted none too gently by Ciras and Ava. Sagat was cursing Revan's name as he was hauled along. "I'll see you court marshaled Jedi" he spat. "You will be spending the rest of your life in a cell after I'm done with you."

Ava had slapped the scientist upside the head and told him to shut up.

They traveled down flights of stairs going deeper down the facility. The illumination along the bleached walls grew dimmer as if to mimic the darker nature of the research done below. They came towards the fourth basement level where a long narrow corridor welcomed them. Black metal doors jutted from either side of the hallway, seemingly endless in their numbers as they disappeared into the gloom beyond.

"Which room houses your research?" asked Revan.

"All of them" sneered Sagat. "You need days to search its entirety and that is time we do not have." He struggled against the soldiers to either side of him.

"You're wasting time Jedi, when you should be ensuring our survival"

Revan ignored his protests. He scanned one of the doors which had a keypad, eye detector and comm. unit, most likely for voice identification.

"Open the door" said Revan

Sagat glared at him "I will not help you defile my research bastard" he spat.

"Do as he says or I'll rip the door off its hinges" said Exon. His voice was quiet but it held the promise of a threat.

"I can't guarantee your research will survive the damage."

Sagat seemed to consider this momentarily. After deciding it wouldn't do him much good resisting, he twisted himself from Ava's grip and stomped to the first door. He pressed a sequence of buttons quickly and spoke in the comm..

"Authorization: Sagat Alpha 9617"

The doors opened to reveal a dim blue lit room. Revan turned towards the soldiers. "Keep an eye on him, this might take awhile"

Ciras nodded "Will do sir"

The Jedi moved around the room stepping over discarded papers and garbage. The room was an appalling mess, much like the scientist who presided over the experiments. Revan gingerly picked up a few sheets and scanned the contents.

"I think this is a good time you told me your story" remarked Revan as he shifted through the various papers. Most of them looked like chemical formulae and equations. He tried to look for anything which would indicate a log.

"My story?" asked Exon warily.

"You are alienated from the rest of the Jedi here." Said Revan solemnly. "I see it clearly from the body language shown by the other warriors, and the tone of contempt Melara has whenever she speaks with you."

Exon did not reply for awhile. He tried to look busy by tapping a few consoles in order to bring up data feeds. The whole room was a mess of papers, instruments and discarded equipment. He glimpsed a few softly blue glowing cylinders at the back of the room but there not seem to be any discernable objects in them.

"Unity is not at the forefront of the Jedi right now" remarked Revan when the other warrior didn't reply. "This schism will only aid the enemy."

Exon sighed and turned around. "I am grateful for you 'concern' Revan, but I don't see how it is any of your business."

Revan tilted his head slightly. "Melara is hiding something. You know something that might shed light on what that is. If she compromises this mission with her secrets then it is my duty to find out what that is."

The other Jedi seemed to consider that. His purple eyes flashed momentarily. Eventually he shrugged, his brown robes billowing softly with the gesture.

"Why don't you start by explaining how you two got acquainted?"

"I first met her about a year ago." Said Exon reluctantly. He pretended to be fascinated by the empty glowing jars lining the walls.

"We went on a few missions from time to time, having been sent to more or less the same sector."

"Go on," prompted Revan.

"About six months ago…and she was dressed more respectably at the time, we were part of a team of Jedi and Republic military tasked with tracking down some pirates that were harassing trade routes to Alderaan. We tracked them down to a spaceport and had managed to corner them in the station."

Exon seemed bitter at the memory. "The Master and I broke into two teams. I led a strike force of Jedi and soldiers while she commanded a rearguard. The pirates had taken hostages" He slapped his fist against his palm continuously in a nervous tick like fashion.

"I wanted to attack the pirates but she overruled my call, preferring to wait it out and see if it was possible to negotiate with the scum."

Revan listened silently as the other Jedi began to pace. "We were in a standoff for about eight hours until the pirates grew sick of talking. They said if they didn't let them go they would start killing hostages…to prove their point they killed a Twi'lek."

Exon's eyes were hard now, pained at the memory. It was clear this was the first time he had confided his troubles with another person.

"I made a decision to prevent any more civilian casualties. I took my team and silently inserted myself around the area where the hostages and pirates were. The Master told me to stand down…but I gave the order to strike when we were in position. We managed to take the pirates by surprise and all the remaining hostages were freed…but one of the soldiers took a blaster shot to the head and died."

Exon grimaced, his pale features growing colder in the dim blue light. "When we debriefed with the council, Melara accused me of recklessness and disobeying orders. Through her words, I was reprimanded and made to do penitence for my actions."

He snarled the last words as if still unbelieving of the outcome. "Now all Jedi who know her well look upon me with a veil of suspicion. My name, is synonymous with shame and recklessness."

"You think you were wronged?" asked Revan mildly. He shifted through a couple of papers.

"I saved the hostages damn it!" snapped Exon. "All of them. The soldier who died knew the risks, he was a solider. It's what they do."

The pair were silent for a long moment the only sound being the soft whirr of machinery and bubbling from the jars. Eventually Revan spoke again.

"Do you know what the difference between a Jedi and Sith are?" asked Revan softly. He stopped his perusal to address the other Jedi directly.

Exon clearly did not expect that line of questioning. He scowled. "The Sith are a lot uglier and can shoot lightning?" replied Exon sardonically.

"There is that," admitted Revan. "But the main difference is the Sith believe in absolutes."

Revan started pacing around the central table littered with data pads. Exon watched him silently.

"I am right so you are wrong. That is their main philosophy when it comes down to the core of it." He gestured towards Exon. "It is a self defeating argument, one born of arrogance and hubris. You can't accept your own faults so it must be everyone else who is wrong."

Revan arched an eyebrow before stopping to look at the other Jedi who was now scowling.

"Are you saying my actions were not warranted?" the other man snarled "I told you I had to make a decision!"

Revan shook his head. "No, from what you tell me, it was a tactically sound choice that could have had multiple outcomes. You should feel proud you saved those civilians, but you should also feel like crap that one of your soldiers died. As a Jedi, every decision has consequences."

"Then what then?" demanded Exon. He gripped his knuckles tightly at the other Jedi's cold analysis of him.

"I'm referring to your state of mind after the fact" said Revan quietly. "You clearly believe that the Jedi council did a disservice to you and that there was no other way to deal with the situation. Maybe yours was the best way. But the fact remains that you do not try to look at other possibilities even in retrospect."

"Self doubt is not becoming of a Jedi" remarked Exon. His anger gradually dimmed as the other Jedi continued.

"On the contrary, a Jedi must always doubt themselves." Said Revan matter of factly. "It is the only way to stay grounded."

He helped himself to a relatively clean spot on the table, sitting on top while idly looking through some of the papers.

"You probably think to yourself, 'I could never be like a Sith. There is no way I could fall to the dark side.'"

Exon seemed uncomfortable with this line of conversation. "I suppose so. No Jedi Knight truly believes themselves capable of such depravity."

"And that is the crux of the problem" said Revan sadly. "Everyone believes they are somehow elevated…protected from such evil. Their self assuredness blinds them to the small things that eventually lead to damnation."

Revan gaze seemed far away at that point, as if recollecting some distant memory. "You think to yourself, 'I am doing this for all the right reasons'. It might be a small thing, such as letting yourself read forbidden Sith lore to better know the enemy, or abandoning an ally in a firefight to capture a potential valuable lead."

Revan looked back at Exon.

"But these things gradually add up. Before you know it, you are willing to use powers no different than the Sith Lords and would gladly sacrifice even your loved ones to do what you think is right."

Exon wanted to say something but Revan continued. "I am reminded of a story that one of the Masters told me…about a Jedi padawan called Jolee Bindo."

"Who?" asked Exon confused.

"He was a Jedi that was active around the time of Exar Kun" said Revan solemnly. "What was interesting about this man was that he fell in love with another woman and took her for his wife."

"So he fell in love…I guess that's a sin in itself" remarked Exon. He didn't seem very convinced of his own words.

"That's not what I'm referring to." Said Revan. "That he fell in love was not his sin…although some council members would dispute that. Love is an extension of compassion and it is a beautiful and natural thing."

Revan thought he saw something interesting and studied a sheet more intently. "No, what I'm referring to is that he married this woman without taking it up with the council. If he was an ordinary man, then good for him. But he was a Jedi, who swore an oath to protect. He had a responsibility to the order."

Revan shrugged. "Perhaps the council would have eventually condoned the marriage, it is not unheard of after all. But no, he thought he knew better and not only married this woman but took her under his tutelage. He was not even a Jedi Knight yet."

"What happened to him?" asked Exon, who was interested despite himself.

"His wife…betrayed his trust" said Revan gravely. He stopped looking at the sheet to stare at Exon intently. "she threw her lot in with Exar Kun in the war and killed many Jedi before finally being struck down herself."

"That's…ironic" said Exon.

"What I'm trying to tell you," said Revan "is that this Jolee Bindo, thought like so many Jedi do. That they know better, and that led to his demise…and the downfall of others." Revan smiled bitterly.

"Did he turn to the dark side in anger?"

"No, he apparently went into self Exile although I do not know the exact reasons."

"If he didn't turn then I don't see how this story is relevant to me" replied Exon. He folded his arms and leaned against a wall.

"Jolee Bindo, through his action brought destruction to the Republic…he brought suffering to himself, and if I remember correctly that is the last phrase in a very long list of things that happen when you are tempted by the dark side. It didn't matter he didn't turn, but his actions made it possible for others to succumb. Not everyone falls the same way."

Exon seemed less defiant now, his shoulders sagged and his posture was less rigid. Revan continued.

"Arrogance, self righteouness, these are damaging qualities when not tempered with humility and introspection. I suspect Jolee Bindo went into Exile to atone for his actions. It is better to learn the lesson eventually than not at all."

Exon still didn't look fully convinced. "You like to talk as if you are some sort of wise sage Revan." He looked at the other Jedi accusingly. "But from what I have seen, you are not any better than the Jedi in your story" He pointed a finger at Revan. "You storm onto this facility high handed and insult a Master…never mind she probably deserved it. You barge in, trying to take charge of everyone here…and you are not even a Master!"

His purple eyes flashed. "Tell me I'm wrong and I know you are a liar and a hypocrite."

Revan nodded. "I am often arrogant and willful," he admitted. "it is often hard to operate under the assumption you are wrong." He gave a humorless smile. "I often find myself at odds with the council. You are right though…I take advantage of other people to achieve my own ends"

Revan thought back sadly to Ailene who he had dragged across a battlefield, probably scarring her for life.

"I know this and I try to correct the mistakes I have made." He looked at Exon seriously. "Every day I tell myself I am no more special than any other citizen of the Republic. Empty words I know, without analyzing what I've done wrong in the past."

Exon saw that Revan seemed a lot more somber now. His self recrimination made it easier for Exon to be less hostile to the other Jedi.

"We all have our unique gifts and contribute in different ways. I appreciate what the soldiers do here and how much more courageous they are than us to fight without being backed by the powers we wield." Revan glanced back at the soldiers outside who were arguing amiably about some bet they made. Apparently Ciras had more confirmed kills in the battle before and she had to clean his rifle for a week.

"Which one?" Revan heard Ava say. He smiled and shook his head.

"And the Master?" asked Exon sarcastically.

"Melara has come under my scrutiny for very specific reasons" said Revan gravely. "She dresses like a whore, and yet she is a Jedi Master" Revan sneered when he spoke the title. "They are supposed to be the very pinnacle of humility, integrity and good will."

"And yet, she flaunts her assets like some Twi'lek at a pleasure den! She uses her beauty to get her way, passing off her fake kindness to hide the fact that she is sexually manipulating everyone around her" Revan glared at Exon who looked less comfortable now under the other Jedi's gaze.

"Tell me she isn't deserving of suspicion and I know you are a liar."

"You are…not wrong" admitted Exon.

"She is hiding something…and I will find out what that is" replied Revan grimly. Exon looked like he wanted to say something but kept his mouth shut. Revan glanced at him in suspicion.

"Is there more to your tale that would illuminate me to her secrets?"

Exon actually looked shamed. "I…it is not my place to speak of her."

"Tell me" said Revan without humor.

"It is not relevant…" said Exon. He looked at Revan uncomfortably. "You are right, she does have a secret…and not a very honorable one…but I do not think it impedes this mission, so I do not feel the need to tell you. It would only be slander."

Revan stared at Exon for a few moments before resuming his perusal of the data around him.

"We'll see."