A day has now passed since they returned. Shesprer has been receiving medical treatment since then. Luckily, the Kolto tank and the medi-kits were enough to provision him until they arrived on Coruscant. The doctors said that his life was not in danger and that he would be fit again soon.

Meanwhile, Ken had set out to present his investigation results to the Senate immediately. He had told them everything. From their discovery, to the Mandalorian's planned war, to the death of his crew, including the Jedi, and everything beyond.

"I therefore sincerely hope that we all agree here that quick action and an immediate war of aggression are necessary," he said from his Senate platform floating in the middle of the rotunda.

A loud murmur filled the hall. He could only hope that there would be no loud dissenting voices, even if he expected nothing else from the senators of the Core Worlds and the Inner Rim.

"I have to say, I'm still against it," said Obroa-Skais Senator Dimbowl, according to Ken's expectations. Ken already knew him. From what he had heard, he was also the one who suggested this fact-finding mission. "Now that you've destroyed the Mandalorians' secret weapon, they'll definitely think twice about attacking. There is no need to act. Not as long as our territory is left alone.

Ken had to control himself not to lose his temper. "So you're saying that we should continue to hide behind our borders and twiddle our thumbs while the Mandalorians in the Outer Rim attack planet after planet and countless people die?"

"As already said, it is doubtful whether they will attack at all," argued Dimbowl calmly. "Furthermore, we are under no obligation to defend the worlds in the Outer Rim. They have decided against admission to the Republic or have not yet applied for it. "So why should we sacrifice countless soldiers just to defend worlds that have refused their alliance with us?"

"It is by no means doubtful that there will be an attack! Mandalore did not originally plan this monster. He would have attacked anyway. We have simply robbed him of a potentially decisive factor."

"As I said, he will still think twice after we have demonstrated our strength here. And as I said, the worlds in the Outer Rim are largely not our responsibility. I therefore ask Supreme Chancellor Arol not to intervene until there is no direct danger to the Republic." A thunderous applause from dozens of other senators rang out in the form of applause and cheers.

"You're all about politics and power!" Ken interrupted this euphoria in horror. "In all this you forget that the inhabitants of these worlds are still living beings. To simply leave them to their fate now, when we have the power to influence it, is devoid of humanity!" This time it was him who received applause. Especially from the few Senators who represented planets in the Outer Rim. Only Tol Cressa, Senator of Andara, agreed with them. Ken also sensed growing disappointment in him toward the Senate and the Chancellor. Maybe he could at least find an ally here.

"You can believe me!" shouted Dimbowl. "I have compassion for these worlds as well. After all, Obroa-Skai is not exactly far from Mandalore. But our forces are too small to defend the countless worlds that could be threatened by attack. This makes it all the more important to hold them back and mobilize them for defense should this even become necessary."

Now the Supreme Chancellor also took the floor after letting the senators and Ken debate for a while to listen to their arguments. "Jedi Rav. If your reports are correct, then this situation is indeed extremely worrying. I actually have to contradict Senator Dimbowl here and say that an attack by the Mandalorians is still very likely." Ken was happy to hear that. Dimbowl finally got a slap down for his ruthlessness. But he had rejoiced too soon.

"But that's exactly why I have to say that it is now even more important to hold back any troops and prepare them for such a scenario. If we attack now, we will weaken our armed forces even more and in the event of an actual attack we will be at their mercy without any protection."

Ken's joy immediately turned to horror. "Chancellor, you…!

"I'm sorry Master Jedi, but my decision has been made. As much as I feel sorry for the inhabitants of the worlds in question, I am still the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic and as such I must always act for their benefit. Everything else takes priority for me. I will therefore refrain from any campaigning in the Outer Rim. The meeting is hereby ended."

The Chancellor was already making his way towards the exit and was accompanied by a mixture of applause and shouts of horror. Ken, however, simply collapsed into his seat in disbelief and stamped on the ground angrily.

….

The stubbornness of the Senate and the Chancellor had already outraged Ken enough, but that of the Council surpassed everything.

"How can you make such a decision?" he asked, horrified and angry.

"I'd like to say it again," Vrook said. "All Jedi are forbidden to intervene in the event of a Mandalorian attack. No matter where, whenever and under whatever circumstances."

"You can't be serious! After everything I've said, at least you should have understood that the Mandalorians are a serious threat!"

"Our order still needs to recover from the last war!" explained the young master Atris. "Too many knights and masters fell there! We cannot afford to intervene in another one in which even more will potentially die, otherwise the dark side could rise again!"

"I saw everything!" Ken objected. "The Mandalorians will attack! Even if they only start with small campaigns in the Outer Rim, sooner or later they will invade the Republic! Then we can't just sit there and do nothing while innocent civilians die and the republic we swore to protect is destroyed!"

Now Master Zul spoke up. "No matter how great the threat posed by the Mandalorians may be, if the Jedi Order falls apart, dark forces will once again descend upon the galaxy, which would be far worse. As long as the order exists, there is hope."

Ken was too upset to answer. They were naive. Just as naive as he was back then. This showed again that he was just a victim of this order. This doctrine spread like a sore through their ranks, infecting each and every one. Because of peace and justice. Nowadays the Jedi were only concerned with their ideological fight against the dark side, without even fully understanding it. They didn't care about anything else and that was best seen here. And that, and only that, was the true darkness. Indifference towards others and only focusing on your own goals. Prefer your own to the general one. To hear anything about hope coming from their mouth was an absolute disgrace. Ken had never been so disappointed. After the stubbornness of the Senate, he had hoped to at least find support within his order, but apparently the council had become just as decadent. And he has blindly followed them all these years and eaten out of their hands. But that was finally over. If the Jedi no longer stood for justice, then he would have to do it himself. And he wasn't completely alone either. Shesprer would definitely join him. Besides, there was only one person he could count on. At least he hoped so. He never thought it would come to this.

"I'm sorry, Ken," said Grandmaster Sunrider. "But the council's decision is final."

"I accept the council's decision," he lied and, after a mock bow, headed for the archives.

….

As Ken left the room, the door slowly closed again and all twelve members of the council sat in silence for a moment.

"He's angry," Vrook finally interjected. "He won't just accept our request. We have to do something about him. Otherwise, sooner or later his anger will be our undoing."

The others remained silent, probably because they had nothing to say.

Vandar had felt it too. Ken was angry. Angry about the death of his friends, angry about the outcome of his mission and angry about the decision of the Senate and the Council. He began to wonder if it wasn't a mistake to choose him for this mission. All the masters had agreed that the Force had whispered this path to them. Was this a sign that darkness would soon fall upon them? Had the Force abandoned the Jedi? It saddened Vandar just to see what had become of the compassionate, peaceful, and humble young Jedi. But he didn't want to give it up. He felt that it wasn't too late for him.

"I say we exclude him from all Order activities for now," Atris stated her point. "He will have to use the time to find himself again and learn to obey the Force."

"I agree," Teqoo stated and Masters Kace and Vash followed his example.

But the grandmaster had a different opinion. "Expelling him from the Order is the last thing we should do now," she contradicted the masters. "We have to keep an eye on him. If we leave him alone now, there is an even greater danger that he will go his own way than that he will find his way back to that of the Jedi.

"Master Sunrider," Vrook spoke up again. "We cannot allow him to continue to hang around among other Jedi and possibly drag others into his cause until he has gotten back on the right path."

"We also can't take the risk of letting him escape our control. Sometimes all it takes is one fallen Jedi to set off a chain reaction that ends in catastrophe."

Apparently she was referring to Exar Kun.

"I agree with the Grandmaster," Sylvar purred between them. "It'll take him some time, but he'll get over everything." She pointed to herself. "Even I did it. Ironically, even by the man who sparked my anger in the first place."

The Grand Master radiated a wave of sadness at the mention. Vandar knew exactly why. Her past with Ulic Qel-Droma was no secret among the older Jedi.

"And Ken is a more gifted Jedi than I ever could have been," the Cathar continued. "If we just give him the time, he will rehabilitate himself."

Everyone waited eagerly for the Grand Master's answer, which seemed to still be lost in her memories. Finally she realized that everyone was watching her and woke up from it.

"Yes," she said, shaking her head. "I think so too. We still can't take our eyes off him for the time being. The most important thing now will be to continue to have him under control and to regain his trust. He will continue to participate in any activities. The meeting of the Council is hereby terminated."

There was no further objection to this announcement and all the masters silently left the council chamber.

….

Once again, all kinds of masters, knights and padawans cavorted in the large data libraries, which were the archives of the Jedi Temple. But in the midst of this crowd, Ken saw the person he was looking for standing between the blue glowing shelves. The keeper of the archives and his old master. Kreia. He walked decisively over to her.

"Master," he said with a curt bow.

She turned to him in surprise and looked at him from under her hood as usual.

"You are back. Have you finally found what you were looking for?"

"Yes, I found something I hoped I would never find." He paused for a moment. "You were right."

"Is that so? All I did was say something that was neither really true nor really false."

As always, Ken didn't understand her empty phrases, but ignored it at first.

"I think I have to apologize to you."

"It is wrong to apologize for finding the truth. Because even if it is everywhere, it still doesn't exist."

Ken just stared at her in confusion. Kreia still didn't seem to have changed. Now he wanted to know.

"Many things can become truth or lies as soon as someone believes them. Everyone has to find their own truth first, like you have now. That she resembles mine is nothing more than another act of the Force, a sign that our fates are intertwined. And a sign that some truths are perhaps truer than others."

"Does that mean you'll help me with my plans?"

It was now known to many in the temple what he stood for. He waited hopefully for her answer.

"The Force will bring us together again when the time is right. Until then our paths will diverge. So if you have any questions, ask them now."

There was actually one thing that Ken couldn't get out of his mind since his fight with the Mandalorian strike force.

"Tell me, have you ever made use of the dark side?"

"I did, yes," she replied. Ken almost thought so. Only someone who has ever experienced something like this could think like that. "Just like you." But that surprised him again. Had she felt it? Was the dark side so strong within him at that moment that it could be felt across the galaxy? "And just like everyone else."

"What?" he asked, confused.

"The dark side may be an aspect of the Force, but as I said, the true darkness lies within each of us. Surrendering to your feelings is such an easy, seductive thing. To controll them is the real challange."

"Yes," he said convincingly. It was actually so obvious. There was no topic he had come across more often in the last few days.

"It is a part of each of us. Therefore it can never be defeated. The only way would be to accept them. Fleeing is impossible because no one can flee from themselves."

Ken now understood the fundamental problem in the Jedi Order. Most people simply didn't know that. They were constantly told that they had to renounce the dark side and fight it. That it is an evil force that consumes and corrupts you. The closedness to feelings and the one-sided doctrine meant that young Jedi were never given the opportunity to come to terms with themselves, which led to ignorance and lack of caution towards the dark side and drew many towards it. If the Jedi had not dealt with this issue so obtusely, catastrophes like Exar Kun or even Ajunta Pall, the founder of the Sith Order, could have been avoided. Only their ancestors, the Je'daii, understood this and lived according to this philosophy. It was sad for Ken to see that the Order had deteriorated.

"You understood that and didn't fall into the dark side as a result," his former master praised him.

So she had actually felt it. Was this the strong bond between a master and a student?

"Thank you, Master. May the force be with you."

Kreia, typical of her, did not return this farewell, but only bowed her head slightly downwards.

Ken went back to his chamber, where he had erected a monument honoring Hysha, Keero, and Vangsha. A simple Durabeton base with their names engraved on it. Their lightsabers lay on top of it.

"Master, friends, you did not die in vain. Your sacrifice has finally led me to my true path. I will end this terror and bring true peace to the galaxy. This is my duty as a Jedi."