Calista Calfan returned to the Republic on Coruscant with her Paranormal Investigators team with evidence from Mustafar. The strange energy burst that erupted on Mustafar was nothing they had ever seen before; there was residue all over the scene, so they took it back to observe.

"I want a status update in the next quarter hour. I'll be in my quarters filing my personal report." Calista ordered.

"Yes, ma'am." The investigation director replied.

Calista secured her room before sitting down in front of her hologram projector. She typed in her personal code and waited for a response. Soon, the image of her husband -Bolen Calfan- cleared up.

"Hello, Bolen." She greeted him softly, as she missed him; she hadn't seen him in person in a long time.

"I can't tell you how good it is to see your face again." Bolen said, managing a small smile. Bolen was a Jedi who spent his life hunting down traces of the dark side; that life left him hardened very much. When he married Calista, he regained a warmth inside his heart he hadn't felt in decades.

"There was another event of paranormal activity. This time on Mustafar." She told him.

"The trio was there, weren't they?"

"Straight from Jedi Aang."

"Something always felt off about him. What do you know?"

"He claims to be especially knowledged about old Jedi ways, and the old war. To know as much as he claims, he must be older than he looks."

"I meant 'what do you know about what happened on Mustafar?' But yes, that is strange."

"Oh. We don't know anything about the origin of the happening. I had the experts investigate, and it matched nothing on our element table."

"It?"

"There was a strange energy outburst, and it left strange residue everywhere."

"Anything like ectoplasm?"

"Not ghosts. Whatever this is hasn't been discovered yet."

"I would say contrary now. Get on it, work with whatever you have, and we'll make our case to the Chancellor." Bolen and Calista were close to the Chancellor; they held the position of Governor and Lieutenant Governor of the Republic.

"I hope to have some more information about what this is soon."

"Alright. I'll make a trip to Mustafar myself to investigate. Good work, Calista."

Calista smiled. "Good luck, Bolen."

They closed their conversation; the moment she stood up, there was a buzz at her door. "Open!" She shouted, then the investigation director stood in the open doorway. "Report?" She inquired.

"It's. . . gone."

"What is?"

"The evidence, sir. It just, disappeared."

"Were you able to find anything out? Tell me you had some data saved?"

"We did, yes. But the team -including myself- is very confused."

"I'm sure. I don't have any answers myself, but we can do our best to work. Now I have to add one more thing to my report."

"I'll leave you to it."

"Jo, I need the blood sample." Aang told Jo as they landed back on their base on Kashyyyk. Jo pulled the vial out of one of his arm compartment sockets and handed it to him.

"You know, I can help?" Jo suggested.

"No." Exar interrupted. "You and I are going to secure Brett. Help me out here."

Exar and Jo released Brett from his holding cell on their Tantive ship; he was unconscious, so they had to carry him at both ends.

Brett slowly woke up, feeling a little sore throughout his body. "Ooooh," he groaned, "I forgot how much stuns actually hurt." He barely opened his eyes; a bright light above his head kept his eyes closed while he readjusted. He tried blocking the light, but found his arms and legs were restrained.

"Where. . ." He remembered the last thing that happened to him while he was conscious. "Where did those Jedi take me?"

"How do you know that?" A familiar voice asked.

Brett looked up and saw the face of his father. "Dad?"

"I'm your Uncle Erickson." He corrected abruptly. Though Brett wasn't his direct son, Erickson treated him as such. And he was unhappy. Relieved, but unhappy. "How did you know they were Jedi? According to an early detailed report, there was no way you could've known about them."

"I. . . I was told that Jedi would be coming after me."

"Who?" Rye asked, jolting Brett with a sudden appearance, Nicolette and Nikki following behind. "Who told you that?"

Exar and Jo lastly entered the interrogation room; Exar gave his two credits worth. "This is the first time confronting you conscious, and in person, face-to-face, yet you knew we were Jedi. And you're suddenly a donor for a new stormtrooper clone army. You've got quite an explanation to give." He said, rather darkly.

"I can't say anything." Brett said.

"Why not?" Exar asked, growing frustrated.

"What have you gotten yourself into?" Nicolette asked quietly. It almost sounded like she was whimpering. About to cry.

"If I tell anything, then I'm already a dead man."

"Something worse will happen if you don't fess up." Exar seemingly threatened.

"Stand down, Exar!" Rye commanded.

"Yeah! Show him your true colors!" Jo joked.

Exar slowly sighed, then turned to face Rye. "Something worse will happen to the galaxy," he turned back to Brett, "if you don't fess up." He specified. "We have a job to do."

"I don't think I could care less about the galaxy." Brett spat.

Exar sighed and relaxed his shoulders. "Alright then. You're gonna want to relax your mind for a second." He instructed, putting up his hand, hoping the Force would guide him into his mind.

"Show me. . . your boss." He commanded. After a moment, Exar began seeing a clear picture. "I see. . . a dark cloud." Exar's expression tightened. "Can it be?" He whispered. "It. . . looks like. . ." He paused a long time. When he saw what he was looking for, he broke the connection. "I need to go." He said as he ran off.

"Wh- hey!" Aang exclaimed as Exar made his quick exit. When he caught up, he grabbed Exar's shoulder. "I get you're a team leader, but you're still a team leader. Don't leave us in the dark."

Rye overheard the dialogue when he caught up to them. "He's right." He backed Aang. "It's your job to lead your team; not to hold them back."

"Ah, sorry. Just got a little shocked." Exar fessed up. "Get Jo. Things are a bit more urgent now. I'll be on the ship."

Aang nods and goes back to retrieve Jo. Meanwhile, Rye looks onward and senses an immense and growing conflict within Exar.

"You sense it too?" Erickson asked, feeling the negative aura in the air.

Rye simply nods, says, "Yeah." with a serious tone, and walks off. "Contact Master Fexive."

Rye and Erickson summoned fellow Jedi Master Viran Fexive to voice their concerns with the leadership of their team.

"Brother, Rye." Viran greeted Rye with a bright smile and a hug; and likewise greeted Erickson.

"You were always one for a bright welcome, but why I called you here is of an urgent matter." Erickson said.

"I understand. What's the upset?" Rye asked.

"We fear our Padawan Knight Exar may be losing his touch." Rye explained as they started strolling along their temple.

"The dark side?" Viran thought.

"Not quite that extreme." Erickson said. "We fear that he may not be suitable to lead our team."

Viran stopped. "You summoned me here, for that?"

Rye and Erickson stopped, looked at each other, and back at Viran. "It's more serious than it sounds."

"I came here to the Outer Rim, from Coruscant, basically to give you leadership advice? One would consider that a waste of time especially with the holographic technology we have now." Viran explained, slightly irritated. Then he sensed something else. "But there's a reason you needed a second opinion isn't there?"

Erickson faced away from both and covered his mouth, barely covering the gasps that were on the verge of sobs. Rye put a hand on his shoulder.

"It wasn't your guys' fault." Viran comforted them. "The things that happen contrary to what we intend are just another trial. Remember, if you make it through the fire, the result will be brighter than ever anticipated. The key to avoiding that situation again is simply: being there for him in any way you can. When the dust settles, you can talk things through and make things better. To put it simply."

"Exar has been making scenes, and acting independently. If we were officially Republic, he would be branded an insubordinate. He still hasn't adapted the 'team mindset.' "

"I wouldn't consider what the Republic does with insubordinates friendly, but there should be some consequences. Just make sure whatever happens allows him to take a step back and think about why he is where he is."

Rye thought about that -Erickson was still lost in his thoughts- and thought of something else. He knew of Exar's arrogance and brute strength, and thought of only a negative outcome.

Viran thought of that too and added, "He is strong, but you're stronger. Remember, he's a leader, but not a master. . . And outnumbered. There will be fire; be the water. Be the balance."

Viran turned around to leave, but felt the need to say more. He turned back around and said, "It wasn't your fault. He made his choice. I pray to the Force you find your peace, before something else finds you."

"Could've gone without that last part." Rye mumbled. "I appreciate your help, Viran." He then said aloud.

Viran bowed his head as a response. "If you trust in the Force, you will learn from your experiences."

"I know." Rye said. "I know. It's just that: that's what we did then." Rye shook off that memory and said, "sorry for dragging you out here."

Rye lightened the mood with a chuckle. "It's fine. I've been meaning to visit for a while now. There any more spare rooms?"

"Unfortunately not. The misses are here. However, the couch is quite comfy this time of year." Rye joked.

"Oh it's fine." Viran put his hand up. "I just need a space to meditate."

"Oh, you can take one of ours. We're gonna be busy."

"Much appreciated. I'll try not to disturb-" Viran sensed more. "You have a guest?"

"Oh, yes. The team brought Brett back to us."

That shocked Viran more than Rye and Erickson thought it would've.

Calista looked through the saved files the science team saved while researching the Jedi team's finding. "Contact with the substance has no negative symptom recorded in the history of science." She read out loud. "But if what the Jedi Aang says is true, then this could potentially be the most dangerous substance in all of existence. As Aang described it, 'It was as if this substance absorbed itself into him, and got into his bloodstream. And if I can trust my senses, I'd say that whatever this is, unlocked his connection to the force, and he was subdued by the dark side.' But it confused us when he reported this. 'Although how he managed to-' " Calista stopped reading out of shock. " 'Although how he managed to rise from the dead is beyond me.' "

That sent Calista's mind on a trip. She pulled her comlink and asked for the head scientist. He was there within a few minutes, and they discussed the discovery.

"Did you read through this whole report?" She asked.

"I didn't read the whole thing; I just ordered someone to write it up."

"Well whenever you can find time, read through it, then lock it up."

"What's the matter?"

"This information itself is dangerous. Some people are panicking already with the rumors that the Sith might return. If this information somehow got around, that would only add to our problems. And if the rumors turned out to be true, we would immediately be disadvantaged."

"Understood. Do you think the Jedi Council should know?"

"I think the head of the council should know, then decide what should happen and who should know afterwards."

The scientist sighed. "How bad do you think things will get?"

"You and your family will be safe."

"A galaxy in never-ending war; trillions of innocent lives lost. Safety is never assured."

Calista knew his words were true. And so were hers, "But hope always is."

The Jedi trio had been flying through hyperspace for a long time. Exar was flying expertly and patiently, while Aang and Jo took notice of the extended flight time.

"I'm assuming we're flying either way beyond the Outer Rim or to the other side of the galaxy?" Jo inquired.

"Both." Exar answered simply, then resumed his silence.

Everyone sat in awkward silence for a few moments more, then Aang asked, "All right. Exar, you have to fill us in. What did you see? What does it mean? And where are we going?"

Exar didn't answer, but pulled out of hyperspace instead in front of an orange planet. Aang looked at the screen and read the diagnostics. "Dathomir II?!"

"Please tell me that's not a desert planet." Jo said. "Sand messes up my circuits."

"I'd describe it more like Atollon." Exar answered.

"That's a desert planet!" Aang interrupted strictly.

"This planet is warm. You'll be fine." Exar said.

"Okay!" Jo exclaimed optimistically. "So, a happy landing."

"Well, you'll be happy to land." Exar specified.

"You just said we'd be safe." Aang reminded him.

"Jo was asking about the weather and 'planetary conditions, but my people aren't so kind."

Aang scoffed.

"I have to be honest," Jo said, "This isn't cool. You have to tell us about this stuff beforehand."

Aang remembered Exar running off before telling the rest of the team anything back on Kashyyyk. "So, what's going on?" He asked, trying to coax an answer out of Exar again.

"We're entering the atmosphere." He said as they moved through the orange clouds. 'They should pick us up on the scanners any second.' Exar thought. He stopped the ship in mid-air and waited. He leveraged himself onto the control panels to get a better look outside.

Aang and Jo suspected something was supposed to happen, too. "So, is something supposed to happen?" Aang asked.

Exar was waiting around a minute, but answered after a couple seconds. "Supposed to." He said quietly.

He sat back down in his seat and put a hand on his forehead, fearing the worst.

"I get you like to be mysterious; but Exar, you have to tell us what's going on." Aang insisted.

Exar broke from his train of thought and began slowly lowering the ship down. They saw a mountain with huge doors built into them. A landing platform was in front of it. Exar saw scorch marks all over. Aang could sense the growing distress within Exar.

They landed, and Exar reached inside his cloak. He pulled out a blue crystal and handed it to Aang. "Just in case, you should take this." Aang took it and put it inside his cloak. "And keep your G.P.S. on, and follow the instructions."

Then all three of them exited the ship, but didn't move ahead very much. Exar looked around, fear building up inside him. Exar looked down at a scorch mark in front of his feet. He kneeled down and ran his fingers over it. He took a shaky breath and placed his palm flat onto it. When the images flashed, he recoiled in shock.

"Exar!" Jo shouted, holding Exar from falling down.

"Exar, what did you see?"

Exar took a deep breath, then answered, "Death."

Then they heard a noise and looked up; the doors were beginning to open. Aang and Jo helped Exar back up, and anxiously awaited the company they had; although the circumstances were less than appealing.

'There used to be an entire welcoming committee.' Exar thought. "There's so few." He said with a surprising amount of concern.

Out came a group of four Zabraks. Heavily, but not-so-noticeably scarred. The lead wore torn robes and a cape which covered his left arm. All four walked with modified spears, blood still visibly stained onto them.

Exar took steps forward, and the Zabraks stopped just short of him.

To break the silence, the lead Zabrak -named Heceowa Cometfire- asked, "Has the fallen prodigal returned, or do my eyes deceive me and the enemy has only returned to finish the job?"

"It's me, Heceowa." Exar said with a downcast voice. "What happened?"

"You left." Heceowa answered.

"Then everything went to hell." Another Zabrak said.

Heceowa nodded in agreement. "Another of your kind came along, and massacred us."

'Another like him?!' Aang thought. He thought it was strange that Heceowa said 'your kind,' and not 'our kind.' He didn't mean another Zabrak? Did he mean another Jedi? But Jedi wouldn't do anything like this. And that didn't sound good to Aang.

"He took out all but four of you?" Exar asked.

"There were much more of us left." Heceowa explained. "But the intruder. . . scorched our crop lands. . . and we were left with, no other food sources."

That implication made Exar take a step back. One of the bystanding Zabraks took out a reddened rag and wiped some blood off his lips and threw it on the ground in front of Exar. Aang slapped a hand over his mouth to cover the upcoming vomit.

"You were the best we had." Heceowa said. "If you had been here, you could've saved us."

"I. . ." Exar swallowed and stuttered through the shock, a traumatic memory flooding his brain; then he composed himself. "I take it this is why you carry huge forks instead of spears now?"

Through his cloak, Heceowa threw a mechanical left arm and locked it around Exar's throat. "Don't patronize me, Exar. You betrayed us; but through our pain, we have become stronger."

Exar sensed the dark side throughout Heceowa's spirit, but didn't let that distract him. But speaking of which, "Is that why you're still just as easily distracted?"

Heceowa narrowed his eyes and was confused. Then he remembered that there were three of them there; he looked around and didn't see the other two. Then they heard the doors close behind them. They looked back and saw the footprints. "After them!" Heceowa commanded, and his guards were off with immense speed.

Exar kicked Heceowa back, then drew his lightsaber.

"Maybe the best of us, but still rushing into things." Heceowa picked out a lightsaber hilt, then ignited the most bizarrely colored blade Exar had ever seen. It was orange, but with a black core.

"I know what I'm doing now."