The holographic recording continued to play in the center of the Jedi Council chamber.
The image flickered slightly—clearly captured from a security camera—but it was unmistakable. The corridor of the palace on Randon. Senators fleeing. Clone troopers rushing after them.
And then the figure that remained behind.
Dagon Marek.
His cloak fell to the floor as another figure stepped forward from the shadows.
A young woman.
Twin crimson blades ignited with a sharp, violent hiss.
"Sith," Mace Windu repeated, quieter this time.
The chamber grew colder.
Even without sound, the duel carried weight. The Sith woman moved like a storm—fast, relentless, both blades flashing in tight arcs of crimson light. Her technique was aggressive, almost feral.
Ventress.
Several Masters recognized her immediately from intelligence reports.
Dagon ignited his own blade, the familiar hum filling the silent recording.
But what followed drew the attention of the entire Council.
His second weapon.
A shorter blade—barely half the length of the primary saber—snapped to life in his off-hand.
A shoto.
Windu's brow furrowed instantly.
"Hmph."
The purple-eyed Master leaned slightly forward, studying every movement.
"Unorthodox," Ki-Adi-Mundi murmured.
"Improper for a Jedi Knight," Windu replied coolly.
On the recording, Dagon fired a brief blaster shot from the emitter housing before the saber fully extended—forcing Ventress to twist aside before the blades clashed.
Even several Masters shifted in their seats.
"A lightsaber… with an integrated blaster?" murmured Adni Moretti in disbelief.
"Improvised engineering," Jocasta Nu said thoughtfully. "But highly unusual."
Windu exhaled slowly through his nose.
"Dangerous theatrics."
The duel intensified.
Ventress pressed forward, her twin sabers striking in quick alternating patterns—Makashi blended with more aggressive forms. She drove Marek back several steps.
But the shoto blade turned aside attacks that would have slipped through a single guard. Dagon's style shifted constantly—Shii-Cho broad arcs followed by tighter counters.
"His fundamentals remain crude," Windu said, unimpressed. "But he compensates with… adaptability."
Shaak Ti noticed the slight pause before the last word.
Plo Koon spoke softly.
"He survived."
"That is not the same as mastery," Windu replied.
The duel reached its climax.
Ventress lunged forward in a spinning strike—both blades scissoring toward Dagon's torso.
The recording showed a sudden flash of movement.
Then stillness.
Ventress collapsed.
Her lightsabers extinguished as her body struck the floor.
For a moment, the corridor stood silent.
Several Masters exchanged glances.
"A Sith eliminated," Ki-Adi-Mundi said quietly.
But the recording was not finished.
Dagon staggered slightly.
Then something happened.
A strange glow began to form around his body.
Green.
Not the faint shimmer of healing Force energy.
Not the dark crackling of Sith lightning.
Something far more violent.
Bolts of emerald lightning erupted from his body, striking the walls and floor around him. The corridor lights flickered violently as arcs of energy twisted around his form like living serpents.
The Council chamber fell completely silent.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
Even Yoda's ears lowered slightly.
Green lightning.
Ancient memory stirred within the Archives.
Jocasta Nu's voice was barely above a whisper.
"That… has not been recorded since the First Sith Wars."
Thousands of years ago.
A technique spoken of only in fragmented holocrons and ancient battlefield records—Force lightning corrupted and altered through unknown methods.
Most believed it lost.
Or myth.
The hologram ended abruptly.
The projector dimmed.
For several long seconds, the Council said nothing.
Shaak Ti could still feel the echo of the energy through the Force.
It had not felt like traditional Sith lightning.
It had felt… different.
Raw.
Uncontrolled.
Dangerous.
The Masters fell silent, each lost in thought.
"Nevertheless, the Order must somehow respond," Windu said finally, who was precisely responsible for the Order's foreign policy and relations with the Senate. "I suppose the Senate will raise the issue today."
"What is there to discuss? A Jedi met a Sith and, naturally, fought," someone muttered.
"Which he nearly lost," Windu countered, steepling his fingers. "To the Senate, such things are never clear-cut. Many will try to twist this to their advantage—or against us."
"You must handle this, my friend," Yoda concluded.
"Of course," Windu nodded.
Shaak Ti turned to Plo Koon. "Master, you are still on Lantilles, correct?"
"Yes, Master Ti."
"Master Unduli has been dispatched to you. Her Padawan is said to possess strong healing skills."
"I will inform them immediately—and have the operating room prepared."
"That would be wonderful," Shaak Ti said, inclining her head.