The coming chapters are the ones I've been eager to write and share. Hope you enjoy them! Sorry for the gaps in updates. I've been playing SWTOR.

Chapter 10: Uncertainties

Ahsoka was growing concerned about Starkiller. He had remained completely silent ever since he returned to the ship. He just nodded to her and then retreated into the meditation chamber. Obviously, there was something he had seen or experienced that had shaken him. Ahsoka had never seen Starkiller carry the look that had before. Starkiller had never looked so…afraid and desolate before, and that spoke many volumes.

Galen sat in the meditation chamber, debating what to do over this new information, his new rank, and if he should tell Ahsoka about any of it. He cared greatly for Ahsoka. He would be lying to himself if he said he had no feelings for her. He chided himself for developing a rapport for Ahsoka. He couldn't drift from his course. He needed to remain focused on what was at hand. Now that he was a Jedi Knight, Galen suddenly felt compelled to go find out the truth about all of what he had learned, but where to start?

Galen closed his eyes and began to calm himself. He began to sift through all that he had seen from visions and learned from them. Anakin Skywalker was not Darth Vader yet. There was still time to prevent that, but there was one big question: why? What could the dark side possibly offer Anakin that the light couldn't, or was it for some other reason? This was not the only question lingering in his head. There was Palpatine, secure in his position as chancellor. Nobody knew of his true intentions or his identity, not even the Jedi knew. This would ultimately cause their downfall. Palpatine had control of the war on both fronts. They only way that he could lose was if he was exposed to the Galactic Senate, but that would not be easy to do. He had their support and their backing. As much as Galen would've loved to face Palpatine and kill him, it wouldn't do him much good. He would be hunted down by the Republic and everyone would see him as a murderer and a traitor. No good would come from this. Galen quickly extinguished the dark thought and drew upon the light side to calm down. He would never admit it to himself, but the image of him as a cyborg Sith was still fresh in mind. It sickened him and made him more wary of his thoughts. He did not want to himself looking like that. It was too much to bear.

Galen could sense Ahsoka in the ship. Somehow, he could sense her, even when he was not aboard the Rogue Shadow. He could sense her pain, her heartbeat, many things about her. It unnerved him, but it gave him a sigh of relief. He at least would know if she was in danger and that would help him protect her. For the past month and a half, he had been drilling Ahsoka hard on lightsaber training. It was not only for her safetly, but somehow, he had a feeling that they may to work together, and the training would prove to be invaluable, but for now, he was very protective of her, as if she was an easy target. He shouldn't be, but he was. Perhaps she made him think of Juno. Given the chance, he would have wanted to see Juno again.

As he thought about Juno and Ahsoka, he began to sense a familiar presence. It was Palpatine. He was being spirited away by the CIS, no doubt "captured." This presented him with an opportunity. The Jedi would undoubtedly send someone to rescue the Chancellor before he was spirited away from Coruscant. As much as Galen wanted to rush into action, he cautioned himself. That was his Sith side acting again. That would get him nowhere. He needed to come up with a plan. He was a Jedi now. Keeping that in mind, Galen reached out to the light side and began to shift through all his options. He could rescue the Chancellor and return him back to Coruscant. That would certainly earn him respect. He could let the Jedi rescue him and intervene when he saw fit. He could do nothing and let the Force do its work. That certainly seemed like an invalid option. Galen was all about action.

Suddenly, he lost the desire to meditate. There was too much amidst. Thinking that some training would keep him occupied, he activated his lightsaber. Holograms of stormtroopers appeared. They began to fire on him. He began to utilize his practice of Shien. With ease, he deflected the blaster fire of fifteen stormtroopers. He felled seven stormtroopers, then he turned to force push four others. Finally, he turned to use force lightning to neutralize the remaining ones. The holograms faded. Starkiller needed something more challenging. He keyed his comm to PROXY. He didn't feel ready to ask for Ahsoka, not yet anyways.

"Proxy, I need you."

"Right away, master."

As soon as PROXY entered, he took the form of Shaak Ti, the most difficult opponent he had ever faced. Galen immediately fell back on Soresu, never once striking back. The Jedi Master was still as difficult as before. He struggled to parry and counter her blows, which came very close. As he fought to defend himself, it dawned on him that he hadn't gone on the offensive once or even struck his opponent once. He was using only Soresu. Normally, he would be defensive, and then deliver a quick counter-offensive. He tried to summon his anger to go on the offensive, but this met with failure. Frustrated, he tried everything he could to go on the offensive, but nothing he thought would help him. His mind suddenly turned to Ahsoka, how much she had changed, how much more skilled she was, but yet, she was still so young and had yet to fight a true opponent and win.

Suddenly, Galen found himself using Juyo and quickly pressing his opponent. He felt no anger, no hatred, and no fear fueling his lightsaber technique. He also began to use his Sith Shien with great effect. Eventually, he disarmed PROXY and impaled him through the chest. The hologram faded and PROXY came back into view.

"Ah, master. I was wondering when you would go on the offensive," PROXY said. "Tell me, why so long to go on the offensive. Usually, you are not defensive for long periods of time."

Galen's mind considered PROXY's mind carefully. His thoughts turned to Shaak Ti's last words. Those words continued to haunt him to this day. Vader had betrayed him, and he had been a slave to Vader for most of his life. More than anything, he wanted to avenge himself, to unleash all his anger on Vader, but his thoughts turned to the Jedi Knight title he carried now. He considered the Jedi code.

There is no emotion. There is peace

There is no ignorance. There is knowledge

There is no passion. There is serenity

There is no chaos. There is harmony

There is no death. There is the Force

As a Jedi Knight, it was his duty to follow this code. Initially, when Galen had learned the Jedi Code, he was concerned that the Jedi would act like the Sith, but then he remember that the Jedi and Sith are polar opposites. He could count on them to be honest and true to their word. Still, he was Sith inside, trained to be a living weapon. He used his emotions to fuel him.

Peace is a lie. There is only passion

Through passion, I gain strength

Through Strength, I gain power

Through power, I gain victory

Through Victory, my chains are broken. The Force shall free me

Although a Jedi Knight, he was raised to be Sith. His training had already made him Sith, and still, he was uncertain of the Jedi accepted him. He was not the ideal Jedi, but if they truly believed that anyone can be redeemed, then that would be less of a concern.

"Master?"

Galen turned to face PROXY. He didn't really wish to divulge any information at this time, but PROXY would know if he was lying, so he decided his words carefully.

"Much has happened since I came to this time, PROXY. I have been rather preoccupied by both the Jedi and Sith."

"I understand master. I will not further the conversation."

Galen nodded, thankful for that. He had done so much thinking. He wasn't one to do this much of it. He was a person of action.

With action in his mind, he decided to see if any new developments had occurred. The CIS were clearly after the Chancellor. Wasting no time, Galen made his way to the cockpit with PROXY following him. He sat in the co-pilots seat and PROXY sat behind him. He gave Ahsoka a look of acknowledgment. Galen turned his attention to see many Republican ships exiting Coruscant's atmosphere. They were trying to intercept the chancellor. Even before the ships were within firing range, they had already begun firing. The sight of a major battle was something alien to him. All his life, he had trained in seclusion, had no time to stop and admire anything. Sure, he had participated in many operations and small battles, but never had he witnessed one like this. He was sure that this was and old sight for Ahsoka. She had told Galen about many of her adventures during the war. Galen was surprised that Ahsoka had done as well as she did. She was only a padawan, or perhaps an apprentice, but she was far better than the padawan that had left the Jedi Temple over a month ago. She had honed her lightsaber skills and her connection to the force had strengthened.

"So, I don't suppose you got a plan, Starguy," Ahsoka asked.

Galen turned to look at her. "What did you call me?"

"Starguy," Ahsoka answered. "I called Anakin Skyguy when I was his padawan. Besides, Starkiller is a bit like overkill. Starguy at least sounds better, less hostile."

Starkiller considered this for a moment. He didn't like it, but he decided to play along for now. "Alright, have it your way, Snips."

Ahsoka seemed slightly annoyed for a moment, but she quickly shook it off. She could learn to forgive him.

Galen gave her a small grin before returning his attention to the battler raging. Red and blue turbo laser shots filled space. There seemed to be no limits to how many shots were fired. They continued. Despite not being able to see them, Galen could sense familiar force auroras. One was Skywalker, one Kenobi, and the other Palpatine, but one he did not recognize. Galen immediately assumed, judging that the aurora was dark, that it was Palpatine's apprentice. He did not know who this person was, but maybe he would find out. No, he would find out. He had a duty to the Jedi Order, to the Republic.

"Chancellor Palpatine is being held hostage by the CIS. I must rescue him." Galen did not think about what he said. He just said it. He immediately regretted speaking those words. Ahsoka gave him a questioning look.

"Why? This is not our battle. This is the Jedi's battle. Let them handle it."

Galen realized that he was cornered. He couldn't possibly lie to Ahsoka. She would find out if he lied, and he really felt reluctant to tell her that he was a Jedi Knight. He worried that somehow this would upset and anger Ahsoka. It surprised him that Ahsoka being angered at him was something he didn't want. He shouldn't be afraid of such things, but for some reason, he was. Realizing he was left with no choice, Galen gave a sigh and accepted what had to be said. Still, he considered how he worded his respose.

"Ahsoka, when I went to the Jedi Temple, I faced the Trial of the Spirit. In the trial, I engaged a mechanical Sith in battle. He used my lightsaber technique, my force powers, and my fighting style. We were caught in a lightsaber lock and I took the chance to unmask the Sith, and I did. When I came face-to-face with him, I saw…myself, a demented man, a truly black shadow of myself. I was truly horrified, but I continued to battle him. I eventually struck him down, but not without receiving a warning from my dark side."

Galen concentrated on the moment he saw his hand to be the same as the Sith, along with the message, and mentally projected that moment into Ahsoka's mind. Ahsoka carried a look a shock.

"You can never escape me," she repeated. She turned to look at Galen. He carried a neutral look. "Surely, this can't be what draws you to save the chancellor. What are you not telling me?"
She's sure gotten better at this, Galen noted. His mind raced to find an answer.

"After the success of the trial, the Jedi Council, despite not being a member of the Jedi Order, officially "knighted" me and made me a Jedi Knight. For that, I owe my eternal gratitude to the light side and the Jedi. It is now my duty and my privilege to serve the Republic. You must understand."

Ahsoka was at a loss for words. Starkiller had been made into a Jedi Knight?! While she was more than impressed that a Sith assassin had overcome his darkness, it did not sit well with her. Maybe that was just here, but somehow, that was not a satisfying answer. There seemed to be a piece of the puzzle still unaccounted for, but what? It could have been her situation and her standing with the Jedi Order as well.

"Even if that's the answer that you were looking for, it is what it is," Galen continued. "To truly sever my connection to the dark side, I must take steps to help both the Jedi and the Republic."

Galen watched Ahsoka's expression carefully. He could tell that she still did not approve of his answer. More than once, he was annoyed with her. Ever since she had left the Jedi Order, she seemed to be more paranoid about things, like everything he said was somehow a lie. His answer was not a lie. He had told the truth…just not all of it, but why couldn't he tell her the full truth?

Why am I being so protective of her? What is stopping me from telling her everything?

Galen's mind began to reconsider his feelings for Ahsoka. He would be lying to himself if he said that he had no feelings for her beyond a friendship. More than anything, he desired for her approval and perhaps her anger if need be, but he could not acknowledge those feelings, not when the fate of the galaxy rested with him. He had a duty to fulfill. His duty always surpassed that of any feelings of doubt. As he thought this, he couldn't help but feel like a hypocrite. That was how he thought as a Sith: always put duty and orders in front of all things. So what was the right thing to do? What did being Jedi entail for him?

Deciding to concern the question later, he turned his attention to the battle.

"PROXY, track those two Jedi Starfighters. Determine their ultimate destination."

"The two fighters appear to be heading to this location. This CIS ship, the Invisible Hand."

"Then that's where I'm going. PROXY, plot a course to that ship, and make sure we get there before the Jedi do."

"Yes, master."

I'm sure this could have turned out better, but I really wanted to update just to keep this story going. Anyway, please, COMMENT, RATE, and FOLLOW. Peace!