Chapter 4

Kael was silent the entire way back to Coruscant. Her heart and mind were heavy, though Kael thought about nothing. It was a hard thing to process: the death of her Master.

"Grieve Padawan Fen, but do not dwell on your sorrows, it will take you down a dark path," said Master Traw. His arm was healing, though still in a sling.

He gave a reassuring smile and she forced herself to weakly return it. Kael looked away and out to space. Coruscant was coming closer into view. It meant the cold reality would be hitting her soon. Kael would be returning to the Jedi Council but no longer by her Master's side.

The small ship docked at a port on the upper levels. The door opened and Kael walked out, followed by Master Traw, and Daroom. Once her feet left the ramp Kael stopped and turned to watch the repulsor lift carrying Master Shay's body.

Kael kept her composure. Her face was a cold, respectful expression. Master Shay would tell her to keep her head high, that he had become one with the Force, something no Jedi should ever fear. Master Traw stood tall and silent, his Padawan next to him.

Once Master Traw had passed, Kael followed behind him into the Temple. Looking back, Kael saw the person controlling the repulsor lift change direction to take the body to another place in the Temple. She watched until it turned down another hallway.

"Come Padawan Fen," said Master Traw, "I know we will soon be requested in the Council."

Master Traw led Kael and Daroom to the Council. They walked silently through the Temple. Word of the loss of Master Shay seemed to have passed through all of the ranks in the Order. As Kael passed the other Padawan, Knights, and even some Masters who knew her, became suddenly silent. She could feel it even in the Force. Like a pat on the back Kael felt energy being transferred to her through the Force. Looking at no one Kael continued to walk on.

The three Jedi entered a lift to the High Council. Master Traw walked into the Council first, followed by the two Padawan learners. The twelve Masters looked up as the three Jedi walked in. Even though most were of different species Kael could see the common expression of sadness. Master Shay had been well known and respected in the Jedi Order. Master Chec're Va, the Grand Master as the first to address them.

"Master Traw, Padawan Daroom, and Padawan Fen," said Master Va. "It is good to see you all alive and well."

The three Jedi nodded their heads in response.

"And to you Masters," added Master Traw.

On Master Va's left Master Firice Quilano, a female Togruta from the planet Shili, was the next to speak. "Master Traw we would all like to hear your report of the uprising on the planet Onderon and what were the results."

Master Traw nodded and stepped forward from the Padawans. His tone was smooth and calm.

"Master of the High Jedi Council, five days ago Master Shay, myself and our Padawans Kael and Daroom traveled to the planet Onderon to mediate a dispute within the government and the treatment of the planet's people.

"Soon after arrival it was evident that there was something else amiss, somewhere darker.

"The dispute between the government officials about how to handle the issues of the natives seemed to have a relatively easy solution. Padawan Fen was the first to notice through the Force that there were other intentions.

(Skipping Ahead)

"For these actions I request that Padawan Fen be immediately promoted to the status of Jedi Knight," said Master Traw.

Kael's mouth dropped open as she turned to face Master Traw. She couldn't believe what he had said. It was possible she had misheard. Master Traw would not throw around such words so casually.

Master Traw looked at Kael reassuringly and smiled. "Padawan Fen revealed her practiced light saber skills when she battled the Dark JedI in a duel. My padawan and myself witnessed her power and finesse as she fought. It was obvious she has spent many hours studying and learning from the training masters. Fen proved herself in the Trial of Skill.

"Next Padawan Fen passed the Trial of Courage by facing an opponent who was physically stronger, evil, and darker, in order to save her master from the Dark Jedi. With little hesitation Fen faced off against the manifestation of evil. Fen took on her opponent and defeated it.

" Finally of the Trial of the Spirit Padawan Fen displayed her inner strength. Instead of shrinking away and being overpowered, she reached within herself and was able to discover the true potential that we Masters have seen for some time now. Fen saw that she needed not to fear the power but to embrace it and let the Force guide her steps. By allowing herself to accept it, she was able to completely become one with the Force."

Master Traw paused and straightened. "There is no truer candidate to earn the title Knight in the Jedi Order. Padawan Kael Fen has shown her devotion to the JedI Order. Immediately she should be moved from Padawan status. You all know as well as I she has more than earned it."

Jedi Master Va nodded his head. "We will discuss this as a council. It is not a decision to be made lightly. Please wait outside, it won't take long."

Master Traw bowed to the council and began to walk out. Daroom and Kael followed his lead. Her head was spinning.

A Jedi Knight? At her age? It didn't seem possible.

Just before Kael had walked out, a familiar presence suddenly came in.

Jace.

Kael looked up and instead of seeing his half grin, she noticed that his eyes were cold, his face expressionless. He hadn't even acknowledged her as he entered.

Turning, she watched as Jace took the center of the room. There was something different about him. It was almost tangible in the Force. He seemed to command the attention of all the Masters.

"Knight Enree, you were not summoned by this council, what is it you seek?" Master Va asked. He waved his hand to Kael, a signal for her to continue on her way.

"No," said Jace loudly. "I want her to hear this."

Master Va nodded again. "Very well."

Jace took a breath, then stood tall and spoke to the entire room but addressed Master Va.

"I'm leaving the Jedi Oder," he began. "No longer is this a place for learning and growth but rather suppression and denial."

This shocked the council. Expressions on the different faces changed and a soft murmur of voices rose.

Master Va quieted them as he raised a hand. He closed his eyes and opened them again.

"Why do you think this Jace?" He asked calmly.

"I have expressed many times that to fully comprehend the Force, we Jedi must be able to learn it from all different aspects, not just what we decide is good. The Force works in many ways, most of which the Order refuses to understand."

"Such experiments would lead the Jedi Order closer to the Dark Side," said Master Brek, a male Kiffar. He had dark eyes long graying hair that was kept back from his face.

Kael knew him to be wise and cautious. He was very reserved, almost too much so in her opinion.

"The Jedi allow the Force to guide them in what is right, not preventing them from knowing what else is out there," added Master Nak'anhar, a dark blue Twi'lek.

Jace would not give up. "But learning of the Dark Side and of gray matters is forbidden. How are we able to truly become vessels of the Force if we do not allow ourselves to explore it? We cannot cut ourselves off from them because they are deemed wrong. To better prepare against our enemies the JedI must be given access to other teachings. We cannot live in only one way."

Voices rose again. Kael could easily sense the discontent in the Masters. What Jace was speaking of bordered on the Dark Side and almost went to far. She had not heard him speak like this before.

Master Va gazed around the room, silencing the Masters as he locked eyes with each of them.

"Jace we follow the beliefs of what we know will lead us down a path so that we may carry out the will of the Force. If we were to incorporate treachings of the Dark Side in the Temple, more students would be tempted to use darker powers of the Force. We cannot lead our students down a path from which they will never return. The Dark Side is very seductive to the young mind. If we open an opportunity for the Dark Side the Jedi will fall. As a council we know this cannot happen."

Jace set his jaw. "It is for this close mindedness that I take myself away from the Jedi Order permanently."

Kael suddenly felt hot tears brimming in her eyes. She would not let them fall.

"Jace do not do this," said Master Va. "You are making an irrational decision too soon."

"No, I'm not," Jace interrupted. "This is the first honest one I've made since I was brought to this temple."

Pausing, Jace took a deep breath then said, "The Jedi Orderis flawed, and because of this I can no longer serve it."

As suddenly as Jace had walked in, he abruptly left.

Kael felt as if she couldn't move. Her mind and body were unresponsive, in two different places.

Then things seemed to speed up and Kael swung into motion. She spun around to follow Jace. He had already taken the lift down so Kael was forced to wait.

Once she hit the ground floor, Kael opened her mind and stretched out with the Force, finding Jace almost instantly.

He was in the hangar, preparing to leave.

Kael took off running, using the Force to push her even harder and faster. When she reached the hangar she found it almost deserted. Jace stood on an empty landing platform, using the Force to control the switches on the different machines that brought out a retractable landing pad for his ship.

Under the bright light Jace's robes looked darker. His was face also hidden in shadows.

Calmly, Kael walked to him. Jace was her best friend but now she felt as if she had no idea who he was anymore. For a while now Jace had been distancing himself from the Jedi and even Kael and now she knew why. It was almost impossible to think it had come down to this.

"What are you doing?" Kael asked just before she reached him.

Jace looked sideways but didn't raise his eyes to look at her. He didn't reply and instead went back to getting his ship out of the hangar.

"Jace!" Kael shouted finally. It was coming back again, that rush of emotion she had felt before in the High Council.

Slowly he turned to face her. His green eyes, still bright, seemed to bore into Kael. Despite him being stoic and controlled, Kael could see into him through those eyes. That little boy she had met all those years ago was looking back at her.

"Jace," Kael said in a soft voice.

He took a step closer to her. "I can't stay Kael. This place has changed for us. The Temple is no longer the place it once was."

"You don't have to leave," said Kael.

"Yes I do. I don't belong here," Jace told her.

Words wouldn't come to mind any longer. Kael just didn't know what to say to the person she knew best. It seemed that her life had turned upside down and was spinning. It was as if it wasn't in her control any longer.

"Come with me," Jace offered, snapping Kael from her thoughts.

Kael looked back into his eyes. She thought about the Jedi Order. It had given her everything, a home, a life, and a purpose. There was no way she could just abandon it.

"Jace I can't just leave," Kael told him.

He turned back to his ship as it moved out of the Temple. Jace walked off the platform he and Kael were standing on. Kael followed behind him.

"And you can't leave either," Kael added.

Jace stopped walking. He stood tall and unmoving before her. Kael wished she knew what to say to Jace. She wanted him to stay. All of her life Kael had lived with Jace by her side. Without him the Temple would be an empty reminder.

"I'm different Kael. We both know I shouldn't be here. I am not a Jedi," Jace told her.

Kael slowly reached out her hand to touch Jace. He was so close but it felt as if we was already gone. A gentle wind blew through the hangar and her fingertips almost brushed the fabric of Jace's robe.

"Don't go," Kael whispered as she lowered her hand.

"I'm sorry," said Jace.

With that he walked away again. This time Kael couldn't follow. She forced herself to stay.

She watched as Jace reached his starfighter and jumped into the cockpit with the help of the Force. Kael listened to the engines start up and the top hatch close. In the sunlight Kael saw Jace turn to her and put his hand up against the top hatch. Kael couldn't return his good-bye. It was impossible to believe that the most important person in her life was just walking out of it.

There was nothing she could do. Kael couldn't stop him.

Jace turned back to the controls of his starfighter and lifted it off the platform. The ship accelerated and was soon gone from sight. Kael extended her mind through the Force and felt for Jace.

He was calm as he sat in the ship's cockpit. Jace hadn't put in a destination yet. He was probably searching for Kael like she was doing. He knew that Kael was waiting for a destination but he left Coruscant's atmosphere and still hadn't entered a route or ending point.

So this was it. Jace was really erasing himself from her life. He didn't want her to follow like he knew she would. Kael held on through the Force until she felt the ship lock up with the hyperspace ring. Kael flinched as the ship entered hyperspace. Now she felt a void in her heart, it was cold and empty.

Kael turned around and pushed Jace out of her mind. He was gone and it would stay that way. Dwelling on loss led to other emotions. The Jedi worked to free themselves from the ties of emotion. It was because of emotions that judgements became clouded and the right choice was often ignored. Emotions didn't get a Jedi anywhere and that would not change for Kael.

-

Her face was a cool mask as Kael Fen walked back into the council. All masters were standing with their hoods up, most of their faces hidden. The shades had been pulled down, covering the council room in darkness. It was so quiet. Kael heard almost nothing except for her softened footsteps.

Walking to the center of the room, Kael took a breath and went down on one knee. Suddenly all twelve lightsabers powered up. A spark of excitment raced through Kael's body. This was what she had worked for.

To be called a Jedi Knight was a great honor.