Vokara Che was currently walking in a relaxing manner in one of the healing gardens of the temple. It was one of her favorite activities of the day. In a war like this, there was little time to relax her strained mind as the lead healer of the temple. This was her personal type of meditation, walking in the garden while watering the healing plants.

Not being able to meditate in the more traditional way was one consequence of being an extremely hard-working person.

She couldn’t really relax while not doing anything at all. She would always think of the things she could do instead of sitting around. Interestingly, while doing low intensity work, like watering plants, she could relax her mind.

That was most likely a blessing from the force itself, since she needed to let go just like anyone else. Let go of every one of the small mistakes she committed today through the operations. She was not an intern healer anymore for quite a long time now, yet she still made errors.

Learning was truly a lifelong experience.

She was rumored to be one of the best currently living force-sensitive healers in the known galaxy. Even if she considered this notion ridiculous. It was more of a political statement than reality. The people on Coruscant just wanted to believe that they got the best healer in the galaxy. They got the highest quality medical equipment on the planet with doctors who had three times the experience than she had... Yet she was the one that they considered the best of the best...

They were treating her as some miracle worker with magical witch like powers! It should be time for them to realize that the force was not a joker card, that you can take out, if you have enough money and backing to pay for the services.

Not that she expected them to understand this.

“Do people ever learn?” — She asked from the plant she was currently watering.

That was the moment when two temple guards marched through the door, not even knocking or announcing themselves in any cultured way.

An action that immediately ruined the momentary silence and peace she cherished so much. Since this cursed war began, she had little to no time to relax. Opposed to common beliefs, even Jedi Masters needed some time for themselves to not go crazy.

No matter how hard, some may try to insist that it was not so. She sighed, suddenly feeling defeated as she realized that it was exactly what she tended to do. She wasn’t sure anymore if she was attempting to deceive herself or others.

She sighed one more time, only to be alerted by the sounds of incoming steps. What will it be this time? Another injured general, or one of the patients, began acting stubborn again, trying to get back into the meat grinder earlier? It was not that long since the war started, but the number of killed, injured and permanently crippled jedi was steadily rising with every passing day. It never ceased to amuse her, how much her fellow Jedi seemed to hate lying in bed, that they would choose to leave earlier only to be able to get back into the war.

She finally turned around as the sound of the closing guard’s steps was just about reaching her position. The very moment she turned around and saw the patient, who was brought here in the arms of one of the guards in front of her, she already sensed her mind melting from suppressed rage. Why would this two half-wit bring here the patient instead of asking me to go to the infirmary? Especially that it was just a child!

One of the guards began his explanation.

“Master Vokara, Padawan Nizzal has been found and brought back to the order in the company of another missing jedi youngling. She has been injured and there are visible dark side contamination that took over her entire body, and force presence.”

“Dark side contamination?” — Vokara asked in disbelief.

The guard stopped for a second, seeing her shocked expression, before he decided to continue.

The other guard hastily added. — “Physically, she seems mostly fine except for her bruised lek...” — He clearly sensed Vokara’s quickly deteriorating mood.

Vokara suppressed the rant she would so love to unleash at the two imbeciles. She urged the one that was holding the girl to put her down on a nearby sofa, while she began to look over her new patient. However, her breath was immediately caught in her throat after a single look.

“What is this?!” — The question left her mouth unintentionally as she fell into a state of shock.

The amount of dark side energies inside the body of this small girl was completely unprecedented.

She thought that the girl, like many padawans, especially since the war began, had only drawn a little from the dark side. It wasn’t a rare occurrence in the order, unfortunately, even if they would never openly acknowledge it or even talk about it.

The lure of power and greed was a constant guest in the mind of every intelligent being. Jedi were no exceptions either. The hunger was always present, because even the best of us had regrets and things that he or she would highly desire.

Yet this dark side corruption was not something that could happen accidentally. It was reaching deeper, almost revolting her as she opened her mind to the force.

Vokara hesitantly placed her palms on the visually ghostly white skin covered in blackened corrupted veins. She touched it carefully, and it felt unnaturally dry. It was clearly unhealthy and deathly pale.

What about those black veins? Is there a feasible reason why they would turn black? Was she poisoned, perhaps? She snorted at her own naivety.

She was poisoned, of course… With the dark side none the less.

Just then, she finally looked at the girl’s face properly, only to realize that she have treated her not too late ago.

What a stupid girl. Even after she went out of her way to reinvigorate some of her used up force energies, what does she do with it? Turns to the dark side at the first chance. Now what the hell was she supposed to do with her?

“What happened to this padawan, and where is her master, and actually, who is her master in the first place?” — She couldn’t help but demand some answers.

The guards seemed to exchange a quick glance, then one of them said.

“Her master is Obi-Wan Kenobi, and he is most likely in the middle of a council meeting. They are probably questioning the other youngling to better understand what led to this unfortunate situation.”

“Kenobi, I should have known, since when did that old crook get himself another padawan, and of all the possible padawans he got such a foolish girl? She already thinks that she could play around with the dark side.” — She sighed. — “Now hush, get out of here. I will call you when I need you, so wait outside! Move!”

Good riddance. Some would think that your average jedi is sensitive enough to read the mood and leave on their own. In reality, however, those two probably couldn’t even tie their own shoelaces without the help of the force holding their sweaty, little hands. That bastard Kenobi will hear about this as well. He has the face to go to some council meeting instead of staying with his padawan, when she needs her the most.

Vokara placed her palm over the girl’s forehead. It was hot, but not so much as to consider it a fever.

She looked at the clearly swollen lek, then the medical notes stating that she had a lek injury a while ago.

She bristled at the realisation. This impossible girl, one would think a born twi’lek is more conscious about her leks. She should use a headpiece to protect them. Her leks are completely bare. That is the reason why she always injures them.

She decided to give her one later. A young girl, even if she is a jedi, should take care of her leks after all. Until then, she will treat the injury with a salve and a bit of bandage. It should lessen the irritation and cool the swelling.

A few minutes later, she finished giving her patient a standard first aid treatment, but there was no way that she could clear this level of dark side corruption from her body.

“I can’t do anything about the dark side corruption.” — She lamented to herself. — “Maybe, if a few more masters joined in a cleansing ritual, it would be possible?”

“You shouldn’t try to do something so rash…” — Vokara jumped a little from the unexpectedly appearing voice. Only to realize that the girl was awake.

“Oh, gosh, you shouldn’t scare people who are trying to treat your wounds, girl, and what do you mean by making a rash decision? From my point of view, you are the one who had made some rash decisions, numerous ones, in fact. I can’t even understand how you managed to draw so deep from the dark side that you get this... your eyes!” — Vokara’s voice continued to rouse in octave, especially after she noticed the girl’s glowing golden eyes. Eyes that were definitely pink the last time she checked.

“Ugh, I know... You don’t have to scream my head off. Why does my head hurts like crazy? What day it is? No more importantly… what… where am I?”

“What day it is you ask? Who cares about that? Your eyes are glowing yellow! Are you a-a sith?!” — She couldn’t help but confront the girl on this subject, not that she actually believed her to be one. She was way too meek for that, in her opinion. Still, she wanted to hear an explanation.

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Now that she thought about it, there were a few ridiculous rumors circling around the temple mentioning a sith girl. Alas, she was too focused on her healing to care about absurd rumors. Could there be some truth in the matter?

Said girl winced painfully in the meantime. — “Please don’t yell. As I said before, my head hurts from it. Where am I in the first place? You seem kind of familiar. Did we meet somewhere?”

“... You, sigh... You are in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, and yes, you are right. We have met before. I am still the lead healer of the temple, Vokara Che.” — She explained to the confused girl at last.

The girl’s eyes widened with terror and disgust. Something that annoyed Vokara to no end. She was quickly reaching the end of her patience.

“... No way...” — Nizzal complained in disbelief. — “How did I get back here? I can’t stay here... I was already free!” — She tried to stand up, only to get pushed back to the sofa by Vokara’s arms.

“Now stop with that right now! I don’t care what kind of oh-so-serious business you have to go and finish, and believe me, everyone has some serious business nowadays.”

“What about if you began to tell me while lying there how you managed to get such a level of dark side corruption into your force presence, and why don’t you seem to care about this fact, like at all? Also, there are two temple guards standing outside the door. Not that I am in need of protection, but you should know what type of situation you are in, padawan.”

Nizzal seemed to deflate after Vokara’s statement about the temple guards. With a long sigh, she turned back to her and said.

“Fine, then... just stop shouting already... ugh... the whole room is moving around... I think I am about to throw up...”

Vokara, seeing that the girl must have had some serious concussion, reached out with the force and pulled over a nearby empty bucket for the girl to vomit in. She placed it in front of her. There was no need to urge her. She threw up almost immediately.

“Better?” — She asked with a smug undertone. — “You shouldn’t be moving around with a concussion.” — She lectured her offhandedly.

Nizzal stiffened and retorted weakly. — “I would be better if I wasn’t here in this cursed place… ugh…” — She stated, then leaned back over the bucket for another round.

Vokara rolled her eyes, picking up a glass of water from a nearby shelf. — “Here is some water, to clear out the aftertaste.”

“... Thanks.” — The girl said meekly, the fight leaving her under the strain of her sickness.

“So, what is your explanation for your current state?” — Vokara nudged her lightly.

“Your guess is as good as mine… However, based on how horrible I feel, I suspect that I got shot in the back with a paralysing beam. It must have been that stupid girl… I shouldn’t have let her out of the cage. I knew that she was trouble.”

Vokara raised a curious eyebrow at that, but instead of pursuing the topic, she focused on her main question. — “I meant the dark side corruption nesting in your body.”

Nizzal blinked, just realising what the woman was asking about. She thought about lying. Then again, if she was back here in her current state, she was already fucked. So might as well tell the truth of the matter. Not that she was going to leave this place anytime soon after this.

“Well, it is simple. A bunch of lizards decided to hunt me down, so I killed them first. I have learned to use the dark side from a very young age, along with the light side. It’s second nature to me.” — She glanced at her arms, with a grimace, then added. — “I guess, this time I truly went overboard. I am going to look like a ghost for days…”

Vokara couldn’t help but frown, realizing that to each answer, only more questions rouse in her mind. What was this girl talking about? How would she learn the dark side and the light side at the same time? She had to ask her just that.

“And how did you exactly achieve that?”

“Now that is a trade secret, you see...” — Nizzal immediately became defensive about her order’s secrets.

Suddenly a low humming noise filled the room, as a green light source appeared pointing straight at Nizzal’s neck. She gulped, taken aback by the sudden change of attitude.

“Look, girl, I may have a soft spot for children, but don’t think for once that I would not put you in chains if you turn out to be a sith. I will do what every jedi is born to do.”

“... Ha-haha-hahahahahahaa.....” — Nizzal started laughing without a care in the world.

“What... what is wrong with you now?” — Vokara was taken aback by her reaction as well.

“... Ha-aah... what a healer... you are… You would heal me, only to kill me later... I didn’t think that your hypocrisy could grow even further, but I see now that the last few thousand years didn’t go by without a trace.”

“If that was a try to rile me up, you have failed spectacularly.” — Vokara answered, keeping her calm, unsure what to think about that few thousand years comment. While she truly felt a bit uncomfortable about the first one, not that she would let the girl know that.

“To rile you up? Oh please, I have no need to do that. You are already holding a blade to my throat. I don’t even have a weapon. What need you may have, Master Jedi, to point a weapon at my neck.”

Vokara lowered her blade slowly after hearing that, and she looked a bit embarrassed, if anything.

“You are speaking of Jedi hypocrisy, yet you openly rely on dark side techniques. Using those abilities may come in handy here and there, but ultimately, they will destroy you and everyone around you.” — She instead retorted with her own lecture this time.

“I thought that being ridiculously arrogant was a trait of the dark side, Master Vokara. How is that, that you seem to be so advanced in it, then?” — Nizzal fired back.

“What do you mean by that?”

“You see, because you guys were weak-willed and couldn’t fight against the dark side’s influence, that doesn’t mean that others can’t.” — Nizzal stated with a satisfied expression.

“Now you are speaking like any fallen jedi would.” — Vokara narrowed her gaze at the girl. — “They all believed the lies, and were trapped in their delusion of control, entering the endless cycle of hatred. Until their clouded minds led them to early ruin.”

“I never said that it is easy. Not everyone is meant to wield a weapon that has no grip, only a blade. Each time you wield it, you cut yourself as well.”

Vokara was surprised by the girl’s words. Those words did not mirror the thoughts of a young girl at all.

“You speak wisdom, yet your actions show otherwise. Wouldn’t it be better to not use a faulty weapon in the first place and rely on other techniques?”

“Your logic is faulty. You are unable to see it, because it had been etched into your very being since you were taken into the order as a child.” — Nizzal retorted.

“Humph. What reason would be good enough to fall to the dark side? Tell me then?” — Reacted Vokara.

“To stay alive.” — Came the sobering answer.

Still, Vokara couldn’t accept such words like that.

“I would rather die than to fall to the dark side.”

“It is okay, but do not assume that everyone is like you. I, for example, have much to lose.”

“It is not about what you have to lose or not! It is accepting the will of the living force. If my time has come, I will do what is expected of me. Can you say the same!?”

Nizzal frowned.

‘A memory of my master disintegrating, dying while willingly giving up his existence. To entrust the safety of the memories to me flashed in front of my eyes. I felt as my vision began to turn blurry for a second, but I immediately blinked away those forming tears as I shouted at this stupid woman with reinvigorated rage.’

“Making a true sacrifice does not mean dying stupidly when you have the power to change your fate in your very hands! Choosing to jump in front of a gunshot when you are not even sure if you would be hit in the first place is not a heroic deed! Your unreasonable, stupid heroics are not something to be proud of, you hag!” — Nizzal exploded in an enraged state.

“What?! Take that back immediately!” — Vokara was clearly unused to such eccentric behaviors and couldn’t help but take offence in the girl’s words, reprimanding her out of reflex.

“No, you are a hag, a hag, hag-hag-HAG!” — Under the long accumulated pressure and frustration, Nizzal wasn’t able to act calmly anymore. Seeing how her words annoyed the older woman. She acted quite childishly, for once.

Vokara was taken aback by the unfolding situation. She has never been challenged in such a way, especially not in the middle of her healing garden. A place that she considered her personal kingdom. On top of all the frustration and overwork that was happening in the last months, it caused her to react in quite an immature way as well.

“How dare you call me like that, you thankless little wimp! I will give you a good spanking in place of your master! Come over here!”

Nizzal’s eyes grow wide as saucers seeing how the woman actually meant what she said. She would not survive such humiliation.

“Don’t you dare!” — She screamed, while ignoring her sense of vertigo. She jumped over the sofa, only to be hit by the nausea again, forcing her to fall to her knees. She desperately retched a few times, her stomach contorting painfully, but there was nothing more to vomit out.

Her body shivered when she was grabbed by the woman’s hands, who immediately picked her up with annoying ease.

Nizzal’s eyes widened in fear as she was carried back to the sofa. Kicking and biting all the way like a wildcat grabbed by its tail.

Cold sweat started to cover her skin, realizing that she was unable to protest in her current state. Her head was practically splitting in two, limbs going numb.

“Don’t you dare to humiliate me like that! It’s child abuse! Child abuse, I say!”

“It is the job of all responsible adults to teach some manners to the children in their care...” — The woman smirked, seeing how the girl squirmed in her arms, then added with a regretful sigh. — “Still, it would be unwise to further punish you when you are already in this state. I might be inclined to forgo that punishment altogether if you apologize properly.”

“…I hate you…” — The girl said, as a reaction Vokara sighed magnanimously. To which Nizzal shuddered once again and hastily corrected herself. — “Alright, alright! I am sorry! I hope you are happy now!” — She added in a whisper. — “Old hag…”

“Yes. It wasn’t so hard, was it? Wait… what did you say at the end?”

“Nothing…” — ‘I looked aside guiltily.’

‘She stared at me suspiciously.’ — “Listen girl, next time you call me that, I am gonna wash your mouth with soap.” — She said, with an eerily calm tone.

“…” — Nizzal gulped, realizing that she was truly at the end of her rope now.

“Cough, cough...”

‘At the sound of sharp coughs, both of us froze as if we were hit by a sudden lightning strike.‘

‘Our faces turned towards the door, where four people were currently standing in different states of shock. There were the two temple guards whose faces were hidden by their masks. Then Obi-Wan, with a strained poker face, and finally Ahsoka, looking at us with wide-open eyes and a slack jaw.'

Obi-Wan stated in an embarrassed tone. — “... We came in, because of the loud shouts... I guess... we will come back in a few minutes, since we are clearly interrupting something… come along Ahsoka...”

Ahsoka was practically pulled out of the room by her arm as she was still staring in disbelief at the unfolding events, clearly not wanting to believe what she saw...

‘In the meantime, I felt my face turn red from the incredible embarrassment. I wished the ground would open up and swallow me.’

“Urgh... I want to die....” — ‘I groaned.’

‘The cursed woman acted as if it wasn’t a big deal. Alas, her face betrayed her genuine emotions. She was also red as a ripe apple, and that was something, since her skin color was blue, not pale gray like mine was currently.’

“I thought that you had much to lose. What about not wanting to die?” — The woman said in a snarky voice.

“And who is exactly the reason for that?” — ‘I asked while wriggling out of her grasp.’ — “You were seriously trying to spank me like that. Are you living in the middle ages?”

“What? I will tell you that my family has always been blessed with the force. We have given many fine and proper jedi to the order. Also, the less force-sensitive family members turned out to be fine doctors and teachers. Exactly because of the traditionally strict teaching methods of our family.”

“Yeah… sure…”