Darkness enveloped the galaxy. Only the blazing flames, which seemed to devour everything and everyone, brought light. A light of death. In the midst of all this, however, stood a single man, shrouded in a dark veil, his face hidden behind a red and silver mask.
She seemed to be more than enjoying the sight of a galaxy in flames. She seemed to get intoxicated by it. Finally he raised his hands to remove the mask. The face hidden behind it terrified him. Because it was none other than his own...
…
Bathed in sweat and breathing deeply, Ken woke up from his meditation. Without rubbing his eyes awake, he looked out of the window, still shaking. To his surprise, he realized that it was already broad daylight.
It had happened again. The same nightmare plagued him for the fifth night of this standard month. The dream of a burning galaxy, with this ominous man who just seemed to be an older version of himself. Strangely enough, these same nightmares always made him wake up more slowly. It seemed like something was keeping him trapped inside. As if something really wanted him to see this dream in its entirety.
Three years ago he had already decided not to sleep anymore. Putting yourself into a deep sleep trance for a few hours was all a Jedi needed to gather his strength. He was then able to devote the remaining time to his study of the Force and his duties, which have now increased many times over in his second month as a full-fledged Jedi Knight.
But these dreams always caused him to sleep until the morning.
However, Ken was now certain that these were not dreams. Nobody gets the same dream twice, let alone five times. It was very clear to him that this had to be a vision. A vision of him as the tormentor of the galaxy.
After this realization, he gradually became afraid. Did this vision perhaps show him something more than just a dark version of himself? Was she showing him his fate? To end up as a slave to the dark side and bring chaos?
A question that has plagued him ever since. After all, he still wasn't sure what he actually was and why he was here in the first place. His initial hopes that his new status as a knight would give him clarity have proven wrong. He was neither a born fighter nor a teacher nor a diplomat nor anything else. He was just there. Another Jedi, just so there were enough Jedi. He was unsure about everything else.
The only thing that was certain was that he didn't want to think about it any longer.
So he brushed back his neck-covering black hair, swung his brown Jedi robe around his muscular body, which was of average height for a seventeen-year-old man, and made his way outside with a helmet and a drone under his arm.
Walking through the corridors of the Jedi Temple, he greeted masters, knights, and padawans of all species. A long red carpet stretched across the floor beneath his feet, and the wall to his left was decorated with paintings depicting ancient legends of the Order. To his right was just a gray wall. Every two meters it was interrupted by elongated, oval windows, which allowed a small view of Galactic City. Finally he reached an open space which led him to a large terrace that was used as a training area. In addition to the gray durabeton that made up the floor and the metal railing at the edges, a few trees adorned the square. As always, Ken went to the edge first to enjoy the view.
Even though he had seen it countless times, he always found the view of Coruscant's cityscape impressive. The kilometer-high skyscrapers, the countless hover taxis and speeders that transported the billions of inhabitants of the galactic center from A to B and above all the clear sky, without a single cloud.
There was really only such a monumental sight here.
However, Ken also had to admit that he hadn't seen much of the galaxy so far. He couldn't even remember his home planet because he left it at the age of two to begin his training.
Until he was eleven, he was only in the temple and was only rarely sent on missions outside of Coruscant as a padawan and now as a knight. The only world on which he regularly stayed was Dantooine, as he had spent many of his years as a padawan in the enclave there.
He took another deep breath and then went to his typical place on this terrace, at the very back in the left corner.
As Ken looked at the training youngling-clans as he passed, he remembered the carefree days of his early days in the temple.
How he was the best in the clan in training with the training drones, the explorations of the lower city levels with his two best friends Keero and Vangsha secretly at night, or his learning hours in the archives.
He always looked back fondly on these simple days of his life, although his masters always cautioned him to look forward.
When he arrived at his quiet place, he activated his blue lightsaber and the training drone, pushed the visor of his helmet over his eyes and let the force guide him. Without allowing any of the drone's piercing bolts of lightning to pass through, he swung his lightsaber, reflecting them almost of their own accord.
Ken had never been much into aggressive lightsaber styles, or even fighting at all. He was taught that a Jedi should always find a peaceful solution to all problems, no matter the cost. And if a fight does happen, a Jedi may never attack, but only use the Force and his lightsaber for self-defense. For this reason, he decided in his first years as a padawan to specialize in the third form, the defensive fighting style Soresu. After all this time, it had gotten into his blood, even though he didn't train with the lightsaber often. He preferred to spend his time meditating and studying the Force, since in his opinion that's all the Jedi should devote their lives to instead of wasting their time on weapons training.
But when he needed a distraction, he found this to be a pleasant way to pass the time. But nothing more.
After four minutes of whirling around, he decided that was enough and switched off the drone.
When he then took off his visor, he discovered a person he knew but was reluctant to see at the entrance to the area. His former master and keeper of the archives. Kreia.
He wondered if she was here because of him, but got his answer the moment he realized she was heading in his direction.
Ken wasn't happy about her presence. Fifteen years ago, she was the Master who discovered him on a third-rate planet in the Outer Rim and, based on her sense of his talent in the Force, took him to Coruscant to introduce him to the Jedi Council. After his young man's training was finished, she immediately took him in as her student. At first Ken was pleased because she always gave him the impression of an experienced and wise master. To his regret, however, he soon discovered that training with her turned out to be much more strenuous than expected. Not only her very cryptic advice, but also her unorthodox philosophy made him quickly lose faith in her, which is why he preferred to spend time in the archives or even secretly take private lessons from other Jedi masters like Arren Kae or Vrook Lamar.
But probably the biggest problem was her view of the light and dark side. She constantly tells him that the two have to coexist and that one shouldn't turn away from the dark side. This was not only the utmost contempt for the teachings of the Jedi, but also dangerous because weak-willed, naive and inexperienced students could so easily fall to the dark side. For all these reasons, Ken not only quickly lost interest in her teachings, but even developed a certain dislike for her, which he was able to largely control.
There is no emotion, there is peace. he just said to himself when he felt it come up again.
"Master," he said with a curt bow, without showing his contempt.
"You're training again, I see. What is troubling you this time?" she asked in her rough, yet gentle voice.
Kreia had a habit of addressing her students impersonally. She said it was to remain emotionally distant, as required by the Jedi.
"It's nothing," Ken replied, slightly impatient. "Just simple training with my lightsaber. Like everyone out here."
Kreia stared at him emotionlessly under her brown hood, which she usually always had pulled over her eyes. Her look could be really frightening at times. The slightly wrinkled face and her gray hair, tied in a braid on the left and right, only reinforced this.
"You have spent your whole life in this temple, surrounded by Jedi, and yet you still do not know that you cannot hide your thoughts and feelings from them. Especially not in front of your old master, who knows your habits all too well? So I ask you again, what is troubling you?"
Ken knew it was pointless to continue to deny it. Master Vandar had once taught him that it was foolish not to talk about his fears and problems. Seeking help is not a shame, it only shows courage because you openly reveal your weaknesses. Besides, he had nothing to lose.
"It was the fifth time I had the same nightmare. I saw a dark, masked man at the center of a sea of flames that engulfed the galaxy. And when the man took off his mask, I saw my face behind it. Now I'm sure that this wasn't just a simple dream. Rather, I believe I have received a vision through the Force." He shuddered. "I am afraid, very afraid, that this vision could become reality and that the path of the dark side lies ahead of me."
"You're scared?" she asked. "Is it the fear of the inevitable, or the inability to overcome the inevitability?"
Ken began to doubt her again. Wasn't it obvious what scared him?
"I found myself seduced by the dark side of the Force. The flames symbolized the death and suffering I brought upon the galaxy. That's what I'm afraid of. That this vision becomes reality."
"What exactly makes you so sure it was a dark vision? That what you saw was death?"
Ken slowly lost his temper.
"I think the flames alone spoke for themselves that there was destruction here."
"Were they flames of destruction and death, or were they flames of hope. A fire that destroyed the galaxy, or one that burned away evil and brought peace?" the Jedi Master replied.
"I clearly felt the dark aura around me. The dark side…"
"I have already taught you that the dark side is not necessarily tied to evil," Kreia cut him off.
Here we go again, Ken thought to himself as he rolled his eyes. A philosophical teaching that he had to listen to so many times and which always caused horror in him.
"What you are saying here is treason. For thousands of years, the dark side of the Force has brought suffering to all living things. Ending and eliminating this suffering is precisely the task to which our order is committed. To say the dark side is not evil is pure heresy to everything our order stands for!" he said angrily, but calmed down immediately afterwards.
"Then tell me," Kreia said. "What exactly do the Jedi stand for?"
"The Jedi are the guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy. They use their power to protect others, to prevent war, and to bring peace. They are the preservers of all life, the executors of good, and always act in the name of power," Ken replied, as if he was lecturing her.
Kreia didn't move a bit. "Have you ever thought that the dark side could also be capable of something like this if you control it?" she asked him calmly.
Ken couldn't believe what he just heard. In all that time she hadn't changed a bit. He even had the feeling that she had become even more insane. He could not explain her heresy otherwise.
"As I said, the dark side only leads to death and devastation. Once you become obsessed with it, it leads you to commit cruel acts until you are no longer who you once were. It is impossible for the dark side to do good things. So why should I waste my time even thinking about it?" he confronted her.
"But it's really the dark side's fault if you give in to it. If the people cannot control their feelings and desires? If they doesn't fight against these very feelings within themself?" she questioned again. "The truth is that no power can ever take possession of someone unless you allow it. A strong personality is able to turn to the dark side without falling into it. Only when they surrender to their feelings, their inner drive, and allows themselfs to be guided by them, only then you can really talk of a fall."
Although Ken understood the words and content of her statement, he still wondered what the meaning of the instruction was. Did she try to seduce him into her ideology? Did she want to take advantage of him, win him over to something, or did she just want to give him advice?
"And what's the point of using the dark side? After all, we use the Force to make peace, not to fight or even kill?"
"The Force is many times more complex than we currently know. Living in constant isolation and not getting to know them to their full extent will sooner or later be our downfall. Many fallen Jedi once studied the light side. So they understood both their perspective and that of the enemy, which ultimately led to them always being superior to us. So if we don't learn to understand their point of view, one day they will rise up and the Jedi will be able to do nothing but stand idly against their downfall."
Ken thought briefly about what to say. After all, it was true that knowledge was half the battle. Even the Jedi Code said this.
"I can't do that," he then said resolutely. "It is forbidden for a Jedi to even be tempted by the dark teachings. The risk of falling for them is simply too high. After all, we Jedi also have rules that we have to follow."
"Is a Jedi who strictly follows the rules without exception still a Jedi?" Kreia asked him again. "Or isn't a Jedi someone who does the right thing, even if he has to break a rule or two?"
"These rules and our code are always the right way," Ken said stoically. "Our order was formed according to their foundations. Breaking them is tantamount to treason."
Kreia lowered her head again, her eyes disappearing beneath her hood. She finally seemed to give up.
"Of course you have to find your own way. But remember my words. One day you too will understand the meaning behind these."
Finally she turned around and slowly walked away from him, back into the temple.
Ken stared after her for a while with slight horror. He still couldn't believe it. How could a person with such distorted views, which she didn't even try to hide, still be in the Order and even be elevated to the rank of Master?
…
The gigantic, mushroom-shaped Senate building of Coruscant was probably the symbol of democracy in the galaxy. After the end of the Great Sith War, it was decided to preserve the old Senate Hall only as a memorial to the murder of the Jedi Master Vodo-Siosk Baas by his fallen student Exar Kun, and thus to the beginning of this devastating conflict. This new building was built to symbolize the horror that had been overcome and the prospect of better times. The old hall was only used on special occasions, such as trials or meetings.
When a report arrived a few days ago about a Mandalorian attack on the Belkadan research station, with the few who managed to escape, Supreme Chancellor Kor Arol called a special session of the Senate to discuss how to proceed.
In addition to all the senators from the thousands of republican systems, some members of the Jedi High Council were also present. Including Grandmaster Nomi Sunrider, a living legend who played a crucial role in the war against Exar Kun, Vandar Tokare, a small green-skinned offworlder, but with an astonishing age of almost 500 years and the new head of the enclave on Dantooine, master Vrook, who had already fought in the Great Sith War, or the Twi'lek Tott Doneeta, a companion of the Grandmaster in the war. Behind them were also the Bimm Jedi Master Dio Odnarb and the Rodian Nere Ivel.
Some senior military officials were also asked to be present at this meeting. In addition to Supreme Commander Brull, Saul Karath, recently appointed captain of Brull's flagship, his protege, Dallan Morivs, and Bothan Admiral Yaist Kru'hiv were also on site.
"This is a disaster!" shouted Senator Bennorio of G'wenee. "An attack on a research facility to destroy our new security is like a declaration of war. I demand a retaliatory strike, with immediate effect!"
Shouts of approval rang out from the senators of other Outer Rim worlds, which was all too understandable. After all, they would be the most threatened in the event of an aggressive war by the Mandalorians, since Mandalore was also in the Outer Rim. The danger could be neutralized with a quick attack.
"With all due respect, Senator," Obroa Skai's representative Dimbowl interjected. "An attack is the last thing we should do now. Our military is still not fully mobilized and our fleet still needs supplies. In other words, our resources are scarce. Too scarce to wage war."
"So what do you think we should do?" came from Ryloth's Twi'lek Senator's hover platform. "Just wait and let this needle-pricking tactic continue until it's too late?"
"First we should investigate what exactly happened and what the Mandalorians' motives were for attacking us. To start a war, you need one-hundred-percent proof that there is danger," Dimbowl justified himself.
"Isn't it enough proof that they attacked a research station that was tasked with a project that was supposed to protect us against enemy attacks?" came from Eriadu's platform.
"As long as we don't know their motives, it isn't," said the senator from Cato Neimoidia with the typical accent of the Neimoidians.
"This is outrageous!" everyone present heard through their headphones, which translated what the Ithorian Nogara said. "You Coreworlders have nothing but your own well-being in mind! You hide deep in the core behind Coruscant's defenses, feel safe and enjoy your decadent life! You don't give a damn what happens to us! After all, it's not you who will be hit hardest by the potential attack! By the time the Mandalorians advance on you, the defenses have already been mobilized and you won't see a single laser shot! We from the Mid and Outer Rim will be the ones who get the brunt! By the time you're ready to even get off your asses, our planets will have been helplessly overrun and our peoples will have been enslaved!"
This speech was followed by thunderous applause from all sides.
"Preventing war is in everyone's interest here, Senator," Dimbowl said calmly. "A counter-attack could only lead to further unwanted provocations, which would result in a galaxy-wide war. THAT would be a catastrophe."
"I think you overestimate our enemy," replied Nogara. "If we attack now there will be nothing left of the Mandalorians that we can provoke. Acting now would be the surest way to maintain peace and prevent war. Lengthy examinations will only give them the time they still need."
"Unfortunately I have to contradict you," interrupted Supreme Commander Brull. "It has now taken almost two decades to begin to rebuild our military. Exactly the same time that the Mandalorians had available. And now that they have destroyed our trump card, our balance of power is too balanced for us to be able to guarantee a quick victory, or even a victory at all."
"What if they didn't just destroy it?" questioned the Brodo Asogi representative. "What if they stole it to use it for their own purposes? To wage war and avenge their defeat in the Great Sith War? A possibility that cannot be ruled out for the Mandalorians."
"If this possibility exists, it is one more reason to attack immediately," the Calamarians demanded resolutely.
"As we already said, this is not possible for us at the moment!" said Dimbowl, who also lost his temper.
"Shut up, coward," Nogara shouted throughout the dome.
"Quiet in the hall!" the Umbaran Senate speaker asked everyone present. "The Supreme Chancellor Arol now has the floor!"
The Kel'Dor slowly rose from his seat and spoke into his microphone to the angry senators:
"My friends, you can be assured that I fully understand every point of view. Preserving our republic and maintaining peace within it is more important to me than anything else. But it is just as important to me to preserve the principles of our democracy. Therefore I would like to listen to your suggestions. Senator Dimbowl, you spoke of an investigation. How do you imagine this in detail?"
"With respect, Chancellor," the senator raised his voice. "My suggestion would be that we send a team of a squad of soldiers, as well as a handful of Jedi, to Belkadan to investigate. We will then use the results to determine our next course of action and whether an attack is really necessary."
Arol stood there thoughtfully for a moment. "It would be worth considering," he then said.
"Supreme Chancellor, you can't…" the Asogain shouted, but was interrupted again by the Senate Speaker, who then also switched off his microphone.
The Chancellor turned to the Jedi platform.
"Master Jedi. If such a mission were to be carried out, would you be prepared to take over the leadership of it?"
Sunrider stepped to her microphone. "The Jedi are always careful to do everything they can to avoid war. If an investigation into the incident contributes to this, we are ready to participate at any time."
Arol nodded curtly and turned back to the Senate. "Then let's vote on it now."
