It hadn't taken long after Sar and Alistar's little celebration had ended, that the Republic extraction team arrived.

They had already escorted the rescue target into one of the shuttles and were currently reporting back to his family. They had also sent a couple of medics into the bunker to check on the other slaves that remained.

While it was unknown exactly what to do with them, currently they would be transported to Coruscant and taken care of there for the time being.

It was decided that the captured smugglers would be handed over to the local authorities, which basically just meant the Hutt's though Sar did convince them to hand two of the prisoners over to Alistar so that he could get his 'tip.'

All of this had taken a couple of hours to get settled, and it was time to head back to the Temple and report back.

"I guess this is where our paths diverge." Alistar was currently standing at the foot of the landing ramp looking slightly up at Sar who was standing on it.

"Don't get all emotional with me now." While he was saying this, he extended his hand.

Alistar looked down at the extended hand before he gripped it with his own in a firm handshake.

"I'll be seeing you around Jedi." Alistar let go of Sar's hand and ended the handshake, before turning around heading towards the two prisoners that were tied to a Speeder a little distance away.

Sar also turned around and headed into the ship. The ramp shutting behind him.

***

The journey back had been calm and uneventful. This gave Sar a chance to reflect over his recent mission and what had occurred.

It was clear that there were clear flaws in the way the Order handle its image in the galaxy. From the way, Alistar spoke of the Jedi it was clear that their own image as keepers of the peace was far from the image that the rest of the galaxy had of them.

While Sar knew that this was a problem he wasn't sure how to solve it, but his belief in the Order, while shaken, hadn't been erased and he would have to report this news back to the Council.

Whatever the case, there was still something that bugged Sar about this mission.

It seemed like he was being led around by the nose the entire time and whoever this Tyranus was, Sar felt that there was more to him than just some scumbag slave buyer.

He was left with a lot more questions than he had started out with. He would have to meditate on these issues and let the Force guide him as it always did.

Though a few positives did come from this mission. His abilities and senses had become sharper, and his path towards greater power seemed far clearer than it was before, but along with this newfound path to power came even greater temptations.

Sar leaned back in the chair he was currently sitting in. He was more unsure than ever; he had realized that his view of the universe had been way too shallow, but he still believed that the Order was necessary to keep the peace in the galaxy.

And if it weren't, he would deal with that when the time came.

***

"You have truly done a remarkable job, Sar."

Sar was currently sitting in Chancellor Palpatine's office giving his report of the events that transpired during the mission. He had immediately gone to report back to the Senate which was strange as normally Jedi would report to the High Council before going to the Senate.

Sar however now knew that both the common people and the politicians saw the Jedi as an unpredictable threat that only answered to their own rules, and while the rest of the Jedi cared little for politics Sar knew that their current image could put the Order in danger.

Therefore he had decided to report back to the Chancellor first to show that the Jedi were still part of the Republic and respected their rules, even though they served a different set of ideals than the rest.

"Thank you for the praise Chancellor, but I don't deserve it. Hulma did escape after all." Sar spoke from his current seat in front of the Chancellor's desk. Sar truly didn't see the mission as a success considering the fact that Hulma had escaped.

Chancellor Palpatine just let out a soft chuckle and shook his head.

"You are too hard on yourself, my young friend. Hulma will turn up; the important thing is that you rescued the person you were sent for."

Sar felt great respect for the Chancellor; he seemed as wise as even Yoda and Sar felt a special kind of pull that made him trust him. So hearing those words from the Chancellor made Sar smile a little, though he still felt that he should have done more to capture Hulma.

Palpatine probably noticed the expression of uncertainty on his face as he asked him another question.

"Something else seems to trouble you, my young friend."

Sar snapped out of his daze by the question switching his attention to the Chancellor. He considered whether he should just ignore the question and say that he had to report to his Order, but he decided to say what was on his mind.

"This mission just made me realize that there are more to the universe than I was led to believe." Sar shifted slightly in his seat before he finished his sentence. "I'm just not sure whether the current way the Order is heading, is the right way."

Sar sounded confused as if he didn't fully know what he was trying to say himself, but luckily it seemed that the Chancellor had understood what he was trying to get across.

Palpatine rubbed his chin before he answered the question.

"I understand your concerns, my young friend. It is never easy to change one's own mind concerning the things you have been taught since you were a child." Palpatine stopped rubbing his chin and looked directly into Sar's eyes. "But do not be mistaken doubt is always a good thing."

Sar tilted his head at this, as he had always been told ever since he was young that doubt would lead one astray.

"It is?" Asked Sar genuinely confused at the Chancellors words

Palpatine just nodded.

"It is. While I know that your Order tells you that it will lead you down a dark path. I feel this thinking is too shallow. Doubt is what makes people able to take something and make it better so that they can remove the doubts they have."

Hearing Palpatine's answer made Sar realize something. He was right that doubt was needed as long as it was used as a tool to make something better. This removed most of the guilt Sar was feeling from the doubts he held about the Order's current practices.

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He would have wanted to talk at length with the Chancellor, but he knew that he had to report to the Council, so he decided to end the talk.

"Thank you, Chancellor, for your kind words." Sar stood up from his seat, the Chancellor following his lead and also standing up. "I will take your words to heart, but I must attend to my duties."

The Chancellor just gave a little smile and a small nod. Sar gave a small bow and exited the office.

He still had to report to the Council.

***

Standing in the familiar council chamber, Sar had just finished his retelling of the events. Currently, he was alway reporting about his observations concerning the rest of the galaxies view of them, but the response he was getting was less than ideal.

"Our duty his to protect the galaxy, not play petty politics." This curt reply came from Master Windu and while some Jedi frowned at his phrasing Sar could see that they all agreed.

Sar tried not to show it but he felt that this outlook was very arrogant and short-sighted. While he understood the Order's need of being seen as a neutral party in the galaxy, outright dismissing politics was exactly the kind of arrogance the rest of the galaxy accused the Order of possessing.

"Master, with all due respect, politics is a necessary evil, if we outright dismiss it the common people will believe that we see ourselves above the law and you all cannot seriously consider that to be an acceptable outco-!" Sar had gotten a little heated during his rant and was abruptly stopped by Yoda's raised hand.

"Calm yourself, young Sar," Yoda lowered his hand. "Your concerns, understandable are. But the Order untainted, it must remain." Yoda closed his eyes and indicated that the conversation was over.

Sar was disappointed to say the least and was about to argue again but stopped himself. It was clear that the Masters had no intention of changing their ways at the moment.

Sar sighed, then made a little bow before turning around and heading for the exit.

"Padawan, wait a minute." He was stopped by the clear and firm voice of his Master Shaak Ti. Sar turned around and looked curiously at her from his position in front of the door.

"There is one more thing." Shaak Ti stood up from her chair and waved for Sar to approach. When he was in front of her she placed a hand on his shoulder and began speaking.

"You have shown yourself capable and willing of the responsibilities that come with being a Jedi and a member of our Order. You have shown your skills in both the lightsaber and the Force. You have shown courage during both our mission three years ago and during your recently accomplished one. You have shown your spirit in your desire to protect the galaxy and the people that inhabit it. You have shown the mettle of your flesh in the trials you have undergone and your unwillingness to bend to the darkness. And finally, you have shown your insight in navigating an unfamiliar world and emerging from it better than before."

Sar eyes had become wider and wider during Shaak Ti's speech and now they were as wide as they could be. He was, for the first time in a long time, truly flustered, but he maintained his silence since he knew what came next.

Seeing that her Padawan had understood what she was hinting at a proud smile emerged on her face, before she once again went over to stand in front of her chair and ignited her lighsaber holding it in a two-handed grip, the blade pointed vertically upwards in front of her face.

The other Masters followed suit all standing up and igniting their lightsabers.

Sar remained silent before he went over towards Master Yoda, who was currently standing on his chair, his emerald green lightsaber also ignited.

He kneeled down in front of the Grandmaster and placed his lightsaber on the floor in front of him before looking down.

When Yoda saw that Sar was in position he began the ceremony.

"We are all Jedi. The Force speaks through us. Through our actions, the Force proclaims itself and what is real. Today we are here to acknowledge what the Force has proclaimed "

Yoda then looked at Sar before placing his lightsaber just above his left shoulder.

"Sar Pandala."

After saying his name he than shifted his lightsaber position to just above the right shoulder and finished his knighting.

"By the right of the Council, by the will of the Force, I dub thee Jedi, Knight of the Republic."

After having said this Yoda removed the lightsaber from Sar's shoulder before he took the same stance as the rest of the Masters.

Sar just took his lightsaber, stood up and left the Council, all in solemn silence.

***

Walking back to his chamber after the ceremony was a weird feeling. Sure physically nothing was changed with him, but Sar still felt like his mind was covered in a weird haze as he pretty much hovered towards his room.

For all his newfound doubts about the Order, he still considered it his home and its members his family, so the honor of being knighted weighed heavily on the former Padawan's mind.

When he finally reached his chamber he threw himself on the mat that served as his bed and stared up at the ceiling. For the first time in many years Sar felt truly tired. While he still slept it was often a meditation induced sleep, but this time Sar felt he needed real sleep.

Sar thought a bit more about his future. He could feel that something was coming, what it was he did not know, but he knew it would be here soon. And it would require more than just strength. Now that he was Jedi Knight he would have a lot of freedom.

He would have to use this freedom to further both his combat ability but also his understanding and knowledge of the world.

He would look into what he wanted to learn tomorrow after his training, and then take it from there he was sure that the Force would guide him onto the right path.

Having finally quelled the various thought swirling in his head Sar was finally able to sleep, but his sleep would not be as peaceful as he would have wanted.

Dreams have always held some importance to Force users Jedi and Sith alike, and Sar's was no different as for what he saw in his dream?

Well let's just say that nothing is set in stone and the galaxy had better hope that this particular dream doesn't prove that statement wrong.