"The girl has become very attached to her Master."
The two Jedi walked side by side through the quiet corridors of the medical complex. Their voices were low, respectful of the wounded who rested behind sealed doors.
Plo Koon inclined his head slightly.
"Yes," he said calmly. "She has."
Luminara Unduli folded her hands within the sleeves of her robes.
"She was always energetic," Luminara continued. "But her attachment seems… unusually strong."
Plo Koon gave a faint, almost amused exhale.
"That is one way to describe it."
He paused before continuing.
"She was considered a bit of a… problem youngling," he admitted. "Few Masters were willing to take her as a Padawan. She had already remained in the Temple almost six months longer than usual."
Luminara raised an eyebrow.
"I had heard rumors."
"And then the war began," Plo Koon said. "Everything changed very quickly. One day, during a routine report to the Council, I suddenly learned that Ahsoka had been assigned to a Jedi Knight."
"Dagon Marek," Luminara said thoughtfully.
"Yes."
"And how has he performed as a commander?"
Plo Koon clasped his hands behind his back as they walked.
"Surprisingly well," he answered. "General Marek has completed every assignment given by the Council with minimal losses among his clone units."
"That alone is impressive."
"The officers at headquarters speak highly of him," Plo Koon continued. "They say he plans carefully and fights decisively."
Luminara nodded.
"Then I believe he may be a worthy Master for Ahsoka. She will learn a great deal from such a Jedi."
---
### A short time later
Inside a quiet meditation chamber, a holographic transmission flickered to life.
Two figures appeared in blue light.
Yoda and Kit Fisto.
Dagon stood calmly before the projector, still wearing medical bandages across his torso.
Yoda studied him carefully.
"Strong in the Force, this event was," the small Master said slowly. "Purify corrupted kyber crystals… few Jedi have done this."
Kit Fisto gave his usual warm smile.
"I must admit, Master Marek, that was impressive."
Dagon inclined his head respectfully.
"It was not my achievement alone. My Padawan helped guide the process."
Yoda nodded approvingly.
"Courage she showed. Proud, you should be."
Kit Fisto's expression shifted slightly.
"However," he continued, "some members of the Council are… less enthusiastic."
Dagon sighed quietly.
"I expected that."
"Concerned they are," Yoda said. "Survive green Sith lightning… few Jedi ever have."
Kit Fisto crossed his arms.
"To be blunt," he added, "a few of the more conservative Masters briefly suggested the possibility that you might have… fallen to the dark side."
Dagon allowed himself a dry smile.
"That is comforting."
"But explain yourself you did," Yoda said calmly.
Dagon nodded.
"I told them what I know of the Nightsisters of Dathomir."
Both Masters listened carefully.
"The witches of Dathomir use techniques that blur the line between what we call the Force and what they call magic," Dagon explained. "Their rituals often involve corruption of natural Force nexuses."
"Ventress was trained by them after her fall," he continued. "Her lightning carried traces of those methods."
Kit Fisto leaned forward slightly.
"And the purification?"
"A counteraction," Dagon replied. "The crystals absorbed the corruption. By restoring them, the energy was redirected."
Yoda stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"Possible… this explanation is."
"But the Council will still want to see the full recording," Kit Fisto said.
Dagon nodded.
"I expected as much."
Yoda's ears drooped slightly.
"Another concern there is."
"Ventress."
Dagon's expression hardened.
"Yes."
Yoda spoke slowly.
"Once apprentice to a Jedi she was. After his death… she fell."
"For thousands of years," Kit Fisto added, "the Nightsisters remained largely neutral in galactic affairs."
"Destroying one of their own," Yoda finished quietly, "consequences may bring."
Dagon nodded.
"I understand."
"Prepare a detailed report," Kit Fisto said. "The Council will want to review everything."
"I will."
The hologram faded.
---
### Far away — on Dathomir
The night winds howled through the black forests.
Within the ancient Nightsister stronghold, dozens of witches suddenly cried out.
Every one of them felt it.
A sharp, burning pain.
A sister had died.
Their connection through the dark magicks of the clan made the loss impossible to ignore.
At the center of the chamber stood Mother Talzin.
Her eyes snapped open.
For a brief moment, she saw it through the Force.
Green lightning.
A Jedi.
And the destruction of a corrupted soul.
Her voice echoed through the cavern like thunder.
"Vengeance."
The word spread through the temple like a curse.
The Nightsisters had lost one of their own.
And they would not forget.