The ship had barely landed before Mill and Menyoo burst out of the cabin, ready to put distance between each another and get their council meetings out of the way. The sky was darkening as the sun crept below skyscrapers on the horizon; Its radiance replaced by a faint orange glow from the scintillating city below, outlining the edges of the landing pad. Waiting near the entrance to the temple with his arms crossed and eyes directed at the ship was Drew-Keel, Menyoo's uncle. Mill walks toward the Jedi, this time with all of his supplies strapped securely around his shoulders. The box containing the Sith book sat up in the bend of his left arm jutting diagonally from his torso. Menyoo packed light so he had a single, dainty bag hanging over his right arm where it makes a 90-degree angle from his hand extending into a pocket at his waist. "Menyoo my boy! Your first mission as a Jedi! Oh how exciting! I remember mine to this day, and it sounds like yours was quite the event!"

Drew's big smile was infectious, Mill couldn't help but lifting his cheeks at the old Jedi's blithe demeanor. Menyoo had no such problem. He stops dead in his tracks and looks his Uncle in his left eye, then alternates to the right one.

"Will there be trouble?" He asks flatly.

"Well, the council isn't thrilled with the results, but you are a full Jedi now. You cannot worry about approval and punishment. You must accept the consequences and understand they are your only concern. Learn from this. They are waiting for you now and will be aware of your arrival. Quickly now."

Menyoo shuffles past his Uncle and hastily makes his way through the door leading into the temple. Drew shifted his eyes slowly over to Mill and made a crooked half smile to greet his old friend and disciple. "Mill! I didn't expect to get much out of young Menyoo, but I expect to hear all about it from you."

Mill makes his way closer to Drew and presses his free hand against his arm, "With time you will Master. Is it a good or bad sign that I am going second?"

Drew lets out a hearty laugh. "Didn't you just hear what I said to Menyoo? What the council has to say about your actions should not worry you. Be respectful, hear us out, and do what you always do— whatever you want." He follows his last remark with another full laugh.

"I wouldn't be worried about what the Council has to say if they, you, didn't have the power to restrict my studies. Am I walking into a fight? Or is the attention on Menyoo?"

"Mill listen, they were surprised by Menyoo's actions. Yours, not so much. They are upset yes, but only some of them. There a few number of us who are on your side too, but we can't be so bold. And you have your enemies as you are well aware."

"Vux?" Mill asks, knowing full well he already knew the answer.

"He is the most spirited, yes."

Mill begins walking, Drew follows along by his side, "Aren't you supposed to be in there now?"

"Its my nephew in there, they thought it best I stay out here. I was also instructed to talk to you first."

"About?"

"About what happened. Mill you have friends on the council, but you have to keep us informed. We can't help you if we are left in the dark about things. Talk to me. What happened?"

Mill and Drew round a corner and near the entrance into a public reception area. Mill stops outside the door and walks over to the side of the foyer, looking around an adjacent hall to make sure nobody is nearby. "Well, I channeled the dark side. It didn't go the way I expected, and it latched on. It's hard to explain, but I feel different."

Drew shifts his feet, uncomfortable with the direction the conversation is heading, "The lure of the dark side?"

"No, not like I have experienced before anyway. It isn't a lure toward something, it's more like an impression. A new voice or intuition. Feeling maybe. I feel angrier and more sad. Anxious now under threat of the council and even now I can't help but wonder what you are thinking about what I say. I feel a lot of things. I don't feel beguiled, just… conscious. Of myself, and other things. Bothered, but interacted with and alive."

"Oh, that sounds… concerning. And confusing. Is that anything close to what you expected?"

"No. And I don't have any answers, just more questions."
Drew took his eyes off the ground and moved them into Mill's to prepare for his next question, "Should we be concerned?"

Mill leans over Drew's shoulder to get another look at the empty hallway, then whispers, "I have killed, in reaction and anger, among other strange occurrences." Mill then describes the singularity he created out of the force and the destruction it caused on the bridge, detailing how he felt and what it did to his body after he released it.

"Oh, maybe don't mention that part in the meeting. I'll report it."

Mill takes a step back and says back sternly, "Report it? You're playing messenger now?"

Drew-Keel sighs, closing his eyes in unison with releasing his breath, "Master Yoda and Poof are involved, they want tabs kept on you, but they are in support."

"Master Poof I know. He has helped me already. But Master Yoda?"

"He is interested in the results, but he wants caution to be taken. Understandably might I add. He knows—like me and Yarael do— that telling you no is useless. He just wants it under control, and he trusts you."

"And I trust in him. I'm just surprised is all, but I should know by now that predicting Master Yoda is near impossible. May I make a request?"
"Of course."

"I need a guard to watch me while I meditate."

Drew thinks for a moment, "That should be easy to arrange."

"Great, I also need to drop this book off before I see Jocasta. Otherwise the meeting will be the least of my concerns."

"Well her and I will be waiting for you in the council chambers. Do not delay! And speak the truth, just not the whole truth. The reliable on the council will know the full story, leave that to me."

"Thank you Master." Mill bows to his old teacher, the box in his arm ruffles his hair as it lowers onto its stiff corner. Drew turns to head to the council, and Mill heads toward the archives to drops off the book. There is no attendant at the counter so he leaves it on the floor behind the main desk and hurries to the chambers, not wanting to be late and upset the council any more. Mill reaches the section of the temple that houses the council chambers and makes his way up to the high council tower. As he reaches the room housing the entrance to the chambers, he sees Menyoo stepping out from the entrance.

"Did it go well?" Mill asks him, placing genuine concern in his inflection.

"My uncle didn't say?" Menyoo asks in a petulant tone and continues walking by Mill, not bothering to stop to hear his response or look at him in passing.

Mill mutters under his breath, "No, but you just told me plenty you brat." He lets in a deep breath of air and stands in front of the door, awaiting an attendant to call him in. Drew-Keel walks up from behind, "That is our queue champ." He squeezes Mill on the shoulder, then slips passed him. He opens the door to the high council chamber and holds it until Mill steps in and takes it from him. Drew takes his seat and waves him into the room. Mill steps hesitantly into the chamber, reminding himself to be confident, but feeling powerless and anxious in front of the austere committee.

Some of the council members sit up in respect to Mill's entrance, others relax in their chairs to display their lack of interest. Mill stands out toward the edge of the circle where he entered, not wanting to walk to the immediate center and have his back to any members. He coughs into his fist to begin, then merely says, "Venerable council," finishing with a short bow.

A few of the members turn to their neighbor, confused by what they are witnessing. Vux squints his eyes at Mill, wary of a trick. Saesee Tiin, the large, battle-renowned Iktotchi with a reputation for his sobering spirit, speaks first. "If Master Mill cares to join us fully, I shall read the report." Mill looks around his feet, then furtively glances at a few of the council members studying him. He clears his throat and takes a single, long step into the center of the room. He makes a menial nod at Saesee and the warrior continues, "Mill joins us now after returning from space after a near week of unrestrained insubordination. The following charges are being considered:

"Transport to the world of Moltok after the council's formal discountenance, aiding and abetting Jedi Knight Menyoo-Keel in his insubordination while on the planet Mygeeto, taking a Sith tome from the special collections archive off Coruscant, overdue return on said book,"

—"It's in now!" Mill says frantically, then looks over to Jocasta Nu with an awkward smile. She does nothing but glare back. Saesee holds a tepid expression until Mill looks back at him and then immediately diverts his look back down at the floor to await to await the final charges.

Saesee continues, "unsanctioned confrontation with private soldiers on Mygeeto, damage to property, and lastly a charge of corrupting the youth, placing partial blame for the recently knighted Jedi Menyoo-Keel's actions on you for failing to correct him and enabling his actions. And if I may speak freely, likely being a direct inspiration for Menyoo-Keel's actions given your history in the order. Do you have anything to say for yourself relating to these charges?"

Mill feels vexed at the council placing blame on him for Menyoo. He is not confident enough to argue with the report, instead opting for a more calculated route. "I imagine Menyoo told you why he did what he did on Mygeeto?" He says between administering awkward and oblique glances at the council members in front of him.

Saesee looks over at the Wookie Tyvokka then back at Mill, "He did, if you are referring to the Intergalactic banking Clan's reluctance to help the local population."

"Then all I have to say for myself is that he acted on his own. We made a deal he would make his own decisions, and although I do not disagree with his actions, I did not play a part in their becoming. Also, I did bring the book back, in case that wasn't clear."

Mill forced an awkward smile that was cut down by Jocasta Nu's following statement, "The council has decided on the course of punishment, but not on how. We will further create a list of restrictions we expect you to follow alongside another set of punishments if these restrictions are not adhered to. We further require a formal report written about what happened, especially concerning the two days you were away from Menyoo-Keel. Lastly, we wish to hear an informal report now of what transpired while you were away. we are well aware of what your intentions were, you made them clear before your unsanctioned departure. There is special interest from the council to know what you have learned. What were the results? And do not conflate this order with a belief that we accept your actions." She pauses, giving the council members time to prepare themselves for Mill's presentation, "Now speak."

Mill registers a tinge of satisfaction from her request. As conservative and insular the council has been in matters relating to the force, they see value in his study. Having some of his confidence restored, Mill recalls the events of the trip. He details his experiences of strong emotion and uncontrollable reactions. He tries to explain the newfound intuition that directs him, but specifies its eerie similarities to the experience of interfacing with the force. He expresses his lack of clarity in regards to his own intentions and thoughts, and his concerns about being angry, anxious, and fearful, meanwhile leaving out details pertaining to the explosion on the bridge or the death of the man on Moltok. After he finishes speaking, the council lurches into discussion, going back and forth on what this could mean and what could happen. The more impressionable on the council started in ardently, the judicious councilors sit in self-restraint and listen to the others' heated banter.

After several minutes of this back and forth, a single voice quiets the room. Master Dooku had remained quiet the entire discussion until the right moment of liminal quiet presented itself, "I would think our greatest concern should be that he speaks of the dark side not as an entity of evil, but as an entity in its own right. You distinguish the results as mere affects, instead of what we consider its machinations. I mean this not as a threat, but as a concerned council member, how can we be sure you are not its agent?"

This single moment of strong doubt is all Vux needed to start in with his own accusations, "We cannot! There is no guarantee of his loyalty. He has a history of serving his own interest over the order's. Once again, he acts on his own, and this time entangles himself with our immortal enemy. This is not the time for admonishment, but action!"

Mill, at this point having not spoken since he gave his report, put all his strength into refraining from rolling his eyes when Vux spoke. Dooku gave Vux the floor to continue on, "and what would you suggest Master Vux?"

Before Vux could speak, Jocasta Nu asserted some control over the spiraling situation, "Enough, this is not the time to discuss punishment. That will take place after Master Kandor is dismissed."

Vux does not relent, "But the possibility does exist, and we cannot be too careful. He must answer for these infractions!"

Oppo Rancisis, the regal Thisspiasian, turns the conversation back to the subject of the force and Mill's study, a conversation Mill is much more comfortable having, "I do sense fear and hostility in you Master Mill, and it has grown stronger since the beginning of the council meeting. You are unable to suppress your emotions you say?"

"That is correct, to a lesser degree. I can, but it is difficult and takes a lot of concentration."

Rancisis releases a deep hmmmm under his breath, then says directly to the council, "This could explain how the Sith were able to change Jedi in the past. The dark side strips a Jedi of his lessons, no matter how well imbedded they are. To Master Mill's credit, he is as strong a will as any of us, but a strong sense of doubt he now carries after only limited exposure to such forces."

Mill recognizes this as an opportunity, "If I may, I fear this is true. This is why I wish to make a request to the council. Allow me a guard to supervise me, and I shall explore these affects further. The guard is to ensure safety if anything gets out of hand." After his petition, he looks over to Drew, and is met with a slight nod in response.

A voice from behind Mill answers him, "This matter has been handled, and a guard has been assigned."

Mill whirls around to meet the words of Sifo-Dyas, then immediately looks to Drew-Keel with a perplexed look on his face, "Who?"

Drew-Keel looks just as confused by Sifo-Dyas' words, and he responds once again: "Your apprentice Sbeit Chemen is back. He will look after you while you meditate and report."

Mill is unsure how to handle this information. Although he will be happy to see his former apprentice, he always avoids bring Sbeit into his work. Of all people, Sbeit is the strongest dissenting voice in his inner circle. Sbeit could never understood Mill's occupations, nor could Mill understand his. Their relationship rests on a foundation of acceptance and avoidance. Furthermore, he has had some negative feelings toward his apprentice since his contact with the dark-side nexus. Mill begins to imagine what could happen if he cannot control it while Sbeit watches him. If he were to harm him, Mill would not handle it well, especially in the fragile state of mind he exists in currently. He feels his fear grow and recognizes this will only help bring about the future he fears most. He eliminates those thoughts from his mind, but he may have been too late as he catches Yoda scrutinizing him from his right side.

This is confirmed when Yoda speaks for the first time the entire meeting, "Then we shall await his results. Discussion now will serve only to confuse Master Mill's feelings. Study them, he will. Then we may discuss. Repercussions we discuss now."

Vux, seeing an opportunity to begin scheming against Mill, immediately agrees to Yoda's proposition, "All in agreement to dismiss Master Mill before he says more?"

"Aye" rings out in unison from around Mill

Then in a scornful tone, Vux leans slightly out of his chair toward Mill and says slowly with threatening under tones, "Then you are now dismissed, Master Kandor."

Mill leaves the council chambers uncertain of both his feelings and his next move. He must find his apprentice and discuss with him the events of the last few days, along with the risks associated with guarding him while he meditates. He decides against heading right to Sbeit's chambers, hoping to have some time to gather his thoughts before he sees him again. Mill begins in the direction of his office out of habit, and because it is the safest and most secluded place for him to reflect on the meeting. He reaches his office to find light breaking through the crack underneath his door and the sound of a conversation escaping with it. He nears the door and places his ear toward the edge, hoping to glean details of what is happening. At first his inability to recognize the voices worry him, before he realizes it is a simple news report. He listens a little longer to confirm, then takes a deep breath, stalling before having to deal with the person he expects on the other side. He gathers his final thoughts on the matters that were preoccupying him, then turns the handle and pushes the dark-wooden door forward. He takes a step into his office and looks over to his former padawan sitting in his chair with a holovid player in front of him. Sbeit silences the broadcast, then looks up at Mill and says to him, "Nice of you to return my message."