The senators were gathered in the main compartment of the ship.
Though their faces appeared composed, Senator **Riyo Chuchi** could feel the heaviness hanging in the air. The atmosphere was tense and subdued, a quiet reminder of how close the mission had come to disaster.
Everyone was disheartened.
Everyone except, perhaps, **Padmé Amidala** and **Bail Organa**.
Yes, their diplomatic mission had technically failed, but Amidala seemed strangely unaffected by the outcome. She did not even appear particularly worried that their Jedi escort had nearly died saving them. She had visited the medical bay briefly to ask about his condition, but the meeting had lasted barely a minute.
Yet something about her behavior unsettled Chuchi.
It almost felt as if Senator Amidala didn't simply not care.
It felt as if she had wanted the Jedi to die.
The suspicion grew stronger when Chuchi accidentally overheard a fragment of conversation while passing near their cabin. The door was slightly open—just enough for voices to slip through.
"…We need to make the most of this incident," Amidala said quietly. "If we present it correctly, we can seriously undermine the people's trust in the Separatists—and perhaps even in the Chancellor, who is becoming far too comfortable with the Jedi."
"As soon as we return to Coruscant," she continued coldly, "I intend to voice my dissatisfaction to the Council regarding this Jedi's actions. His recklessness jeopardized our peace negotiations."
"I agree," Organa replied. "He acted very strangely… even dangerously. I have worked with members of the Order for years, and **Dagon Marek's** behavior is unlike anything I have seen before."
Chuchi froze.
Barely hearing approaching footsteps, she quickly slipped back into her own cabin before anyone could notice her.
How can they…?
The thought burned in her mind.
That Jedi had risked his life to save them.
And instead of gratitude, he received veiled accusations.
Yes, his actions had been brutal. Ruthless, even.
But they had also been effective.
Chuchi sighed quietly.
She remembered something her mother had once told her.
*"Politicians are not guided by feelings. They are guided by interests."*
Riyo had always known that.
But until now… she had still believed that doing the right thing mattered.
---
## The Medical Bay
Inside the medical section of the corvette, the atmosphere was far calmer.
**Dagon Marek** sat on the edge of a medical bed while a droid finished scanning his injuries. Most of the burns had already healed, leaving only faint scars.
Across from him stood **Ahsoka Tano**, arms folded but clearly relieved to see her Master alive.
Leaning against the bulkhead nearby was **Visenya**, watching the scene quietly.
Dagon finally broke the silence.
"So," he said calmly, "about the crystals."
Ahsoka blinked.
"You mean the purification?"
Visenya immediately shook her head.
"No."
Both Jedi looked at her.
"I'm not sharing that story," she said firmly.
Dagon raised an eyebrow.
"Why not?"
Visenya crossed her arms.
"Because you were dying," she said bluntly. "I watched it happen. Your body was burning from the inside, your armor was melting, and you somehow purified corrupted kyber crystals while half-dead."
She shook her head again.
"That's not something I want to explain to the Jedi Council."
Dagon chuckled softly.
"Technically," he said, "it's important."
Ahsoka tilted her head.
"Why?"
Dagon answered calmly.
"Because it may be the first recorded purification of Sith-tainted crystals since the destruction of the ancient Sith empires."
Visenya stared at him.
"That's exactly why."
Silence hung for a moment.
Then Visenya spoke again.
"I'll tell them what happened," she said finally.
"But only on one condition."
Dagon folded his arms.
"Let me guess."
"You let me stay with you," she said. "Through the rest of the war."
Ahsoka looked between them in surprise.
"Wait—you want to join us?"
Visenya shrugged.
"You two are clearly trouble magnets."
Dagon sighed.
"That's not a convincing argument."
Visenya smirked.
"But it's true."
Ahsoka laughed.
Dagon studied both of them for a moment.
He could already feel through the Force that the two had become friends during the journey.
Finally he nodded.
"Fine."
Visenya grinned slightly.
"But you should know," Dagon added calmly, "that means you'll also be present when Ahsoka faces her trials."
Ahsoka blinked.
"My trials?"
Dagon nodded.
"The Five Trials of the Jedi."
He raised one finger.
"Trial of Skill."
Another finger.
"Trial of Courage."
A third.
"Trial of Spirit."
Then another.
"Trial of Flesh."
Finally—
"Trial of Insight."
Ahsoka listened carefully.
"Every Jedi must face them before becoming a Knight," Dagon explained.
He gestured toward her belt.
"You already completed one."
Ahsoka frowned.
"I did?"
"Yes."
He pointed toward the lightsaber crystal he now carried.
"The Trial of Courage."
"You stepped into corrupted energy and helped purify the kyber crystal even though it could have killed you."
Ahsoka blinked.
"I was just helping…"
Dagon smiled slightly.
"That's usually how courage works."
He reached over and handed her a second crystal.
Ahsoka stared at it.
"For your second lightsaber," he said.
Her eyes widened.
"A shoto?"
Dagon nodded.
"If you want one."
Ahsoka grinned.
"Master… this is amazing!"
---
## Outside the Corridor
Meanwhile, Riyo Chuchi quietly left her cabin to clear her thoughts.
But as she turned a corner—
Someone grabbed her arm.
She gasped softly.
Dagon Marek stood beside her.
"Quiet," he whispered.
Before she could protest, he gently pulled her into a side corridor.
Seconds later, Padmé's voice echoed nearby.
"…I'm certain the Council will listen."
The two senators were walking past.
Dagon waited silently until their footsteps faded away.
Only then did he release Chuchi.
"You heard them," he said quietly.
Riyo looked down.
"Yes."
Dagon leaned against the wall.
"You shouldn't take it personally."
She looked up sharply.
"They're blaming you."
He shrugged.
"That's politics."
Riyo frowned.
"You almost died saving them."
"Yes."
"And they're using it against you."
Dagon nodded calmly.
"Because that's their job."
She stared at him.
"How can you accept that?"
He answered without hesitation.
"Because I'm both a Jedi and a soldier."
He folded his arms.
"The Senate guides the Republic."
"And the Jedi serve the Republic."
"Which means sometimes we're guided by interests too."
Riyo shook her head slowly.
"That sounds… wrong."
"Sometimes it is."
Silence followed.
Then Dagon spoke again.
"But if you ever need help," he said calmly, "you can count on me."
Riyo looked at him in surprise.
"Why?"
Dagon smiled faintly.
"Because unlike politicians… I remember who risked their lives."
For the first time since the mission began, Riyo felt a small sense of relief.
But deep down, a troubling thought remained.
For the first time…
She wondered if she had chosen the right side in this war.