Chapter 16

The Jedi Temple's Hall of Remembrance was shrouded in a solemn silence, broken only by the soft crackling of the eternal flame at its center. Jedi of all ranks and ages stood in concentric circles around a small, cloth-draped form – the body of young Zara, the Twi'lek girl whose life had been cut tragically short.

Kaedan Dorn stood at the front of the gathering, his face a mask of grief and barely contained anger. His eyes, usually warm and full of wisdom beyond his years, now burned with a mixture of sorrow and self-recrimination. As Master Yoda spoke words of remembrance and hope, Kaedan found his mind wandering, replaying the fateful moment on the transport over and over again.

"One with the Force, young Zara has become," Yoda's gravelly voice intoned. "Celebrate her life, we must. Mourn her passing, but rejoice in her memory."

Kaedan's fists clenched at his sides. Celebrate? Rejoice? How could they speak of such things when Zara's life had been snuffed out so senselessly? 

A gentle hand on his shoulder broke through his spiral of dark thoughts. Kaedan looked up to see Raz, the young Zabrak, standing beside him. The boy's eyes were red-rimmed from crying, but there was concern there too – concern for Kaedan.

"Are you okay?" Raz whispered, his voice barely audible over the sound of the eternal flame.

Kaedan took a deep breath, forcing himself to relax. "I will be," he managed to say, though the words felt hollow even to his own ears.

As the ceremony concluded and the gathered Jedi began to disperse, Kaedan found himself surrounded by his fellow younglings. Their faces were a mixture of grief and worry – not just for Zara, but for him as well.

"We're here for you, Kaedan," Teela, the Rodian girl, said softly. "If you need to talk, or... or anything."

Kaedan managed a small, sad smile. "Thank you," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I appreciate that. I just... I need some time. But I'll be okay. We all will be."

As he watched his classmates walk away, Kaedan felt a renewed sense of determination settling over him. He couldn't change what had happened, couldn't bring Zara back. But he could honor her memory by becoming the best Jedi he could be – by using his unique knowledge and skills to prevent such tragedies in the future.

Across the Temple, in one of the many meditation gardens, Obi-Wan Kenobi sat in quiet contemplation. The news of what had transpired on the youngling transport had spread quickly through the Order, and Obi-Wan found himself grappling with the implications.

A youngling using the Dark Side proficently – it was almost unheard of. And not just any youngling, but Kaedan Dorn, the boy who had shown such promise, such unique insight into the Force during a lecture. Obi-Wan had heard whispers of Kaedan's rapid progress and his unorthodox ideas. He had even entertained the notion of taking the boy as his own Padawan, once Anakin was knighted.

But now... now everything had changed.

"Master?" Anakin's voice broke through Obi-Wan's reverie. The young boy approached, concern etched on his features. "Is everything alright? You look troubled."

Obi-Wan sighed, gesturing for Anakin to sit beside him. "I'm afraid I have some disturbing news, Anakin. It's about your friend, young Kaedan Dorn."

Anakin's brow furrowed, a slight frown forming on his face. "Kaedan? What's happened? Is he okay?"

Obi-Wan chose his words carefully. "There was... an incident, during the youngling transport from Ilum. They were attacked by slavers. One of the younglings, a girl named Zara, was killed."

Anakin's face paled, a deep frown evident on his face. "Slavers..." The Chosen one shook his head in disgust before saying, "H-how, don't Jedi Masters travel with them...?"

That level of incompetence was something Anakin refused to believe, he continued "That's... that's terrible. But what does this have to do with Kaedan?"

"In the heat of battle, after witnessing his friend's death, Kaedan... he tapped into the Dark Side of the Force, Anakin. The reports say his power was... considerable."

Anakin sat back, shock evident on his face. "Kaedan? But he's... he's just a kid. How could he even know how to do that?"

Obi-Wan shook his head, at both the irony of Anakin calling someone his age a kid, and the events that transpired. "That's what's so troubling. The level of control, the raw power he displayed, and even the more... graphic details – it's unprecedented for one so young. The Council is deeply concerned."

Anakin was quiet for a long moment, processing this information. When he spoke, his voice was uncharacteristically subdued. "What will happen to him?"

"That remains to be seen," Obi-Wan replied. "Master Yoda seems to be advocating for understanding and guidance. Others on the Council... well, they're not so sure."

As master and apprentice sat in thoughtful silence, neither aware of the invisible tendrils of darkness that were slowly but surely weaving their way through the Temple, through the very heart of the Republic itself.

Meanwhile, in one of the Temple's training dojos, Kaedan Dorn moved through a series of complex lightsaber forms. Sweat dripped from his brow, his muscles aching from hours of non-stop practice. But he pushed on, driven by a fierce determination.

He would become a Padawan soon – he had to. And when that time came, he would be ready. No more failures, no more losses. He would be strong enough to protect those he cared about, to change the dark future he knew was coming.

As Kaedan completed another set of forms, he became aware of a presence at the dojo's entrance. He turned, surprise registering on his face as he saw Master Mace Windu standing there, watching him with an unreadable expression.

"Master Windu," Kaedan said, bowing respectfully even as he felt a flicker of apprehension. Their last encounter in the Council chamber had not been... pleasant.

To Kaedan's shock, Windu inclined his head in return. "Young Dorn," the Jedi Master said, his deep voice carrying a note of... was that regret? "I wonder if I might have a word with you."

Kaedan nodded, deactivating his training saber. "Of course, Master."

Windu approached, his powerful frame seeming to fill the dojo. But when he spoke, his voice was surprisingly gentle. "I owe you an apology, Kaedan. My words in the Council chamber were... harsh. Unfair, even."

Kaedan blinked, sure he must have misheard. Mace Windu, apologizing to him? Jedi Knight Anakin would be jealous.

The Jedi Master continued, "I reacted out of fear – fear of what your actions might represent. But in doing so, I forgot one of the most fundamental tenets of our Order: compassion."

Windu's gaze met Kaedan's, and for the first time, the boy saw not the stern, unyielding Master, but a man – a man who carried his own burdens, his own struggles.

"The truth is, Kaedan, I understand your struggle more than you might think. The pull of the Dark Side... it's something I grapple with every day."

Kaedan's eyes widened, he'd heard about this in his past life, but had an image to promote. "You, Master? But you're... you're Mace Windu. You're one of the greatest Jedi in the Order."

A sad smile touched Windu's lips. "And yet, I am still human. Still fallible. My own lightsaber form, Vaapad, skirts dangerously close to the Dark Side. It requires me to channel my inner darkness, to use it without being consumed by it."

Kaedan listened, fascinated. This was a side of Mace Windu he had never seen, never even imagined existed. He didn't see it in the movies.

"The point is, young one," Windu continued, "that the struggle with the Dark Side is not something to be ashamed of. It's a part of our journey as Jedi. The key is in how we face that struggle, how we learn from it and grow stronger."

Kaedan nodded slowly, feeling a weight he hadn't even realized he'd been carrying start to lift from his shoulders. "Thank you, Master Windu," he said softly. "I... I needed to hear that."

Windu placed a hand on Kaedan's shoulder, his touch surprisingly gentle. "You have great potential, Kaedan Dorn. But remember, strength comes not just from power, but from wisdom, compassion, and the ability to face our own darkness without fear."

As Windu turned to leave, Kaedan called out, "Master? Do you... do you think I'll still have a chance to become a Padawan?"

Windu paused at the dojo's entrance, a hint of a smile on his face. "Keep training as you have been, young Dorn. I have a feeling your time will come sooner than you think."

With that, the Jedi Master was gone, leaving Kaedan alone with his thoughts. As he resumed his training, his movements now carried a new sense of purpose. The path ahead was still uncertain, fraught with challenges both external and internal. But for the first time since the incident on the transport, Kaedan felt a glimmer of hope.

He would face his darkness, would learn to control it rather than be controlled by it. And in doing so, he would become the Jedi – the defender, the protector – that this galaxy so desperately needed. He didn't really have a choice.

Live or die?

As night fell over Coruscant, the pieces on the great cosmic chessboard continued to shift. In the Senate building, Palpatine smiled to himself, sensing the ripples of change emanating from the Jedi Temple. In the Temple itself, Masters Yoda and Windu conferred in hushed tones, discussing the future of a uniquely gifted youngling. And in a small dormitory, Kaedan Dorn finally fell into a peaceful sleep.

Mistakes don't define us.