**Chapter 407: Fractured Bonds**
**Scene 1 – Grace O'Connor's POV**
Grace O'Connor wandered through the bustling canteen of the 12th Sector headquarters with a rare spring in her step. For the first time in a month, real hope bloomed in her chest. Dagon was finally returning. That meant she and her friends — Sumeragi, Lichtendal, Christen, and the rest of the inner circle — would get to see battle again after being effectively grounded since Dentaal.
Not technically grounded, of course. Dagon had kept them at Lantilles while the Resurgents underwent major repairs and upgrades. But now the fleet was ready, and they were to receive orders to rejoin Dagon's forces — the Darkstar Fleet, as some had started calling it.
She was halfway through picking up a tray when she heard soft crying from a corner booth. Grace turned and saw Visenya and Kayla sitting together. The only two other Zeltrons in Dagon's inner forces. Kayla was a Jedi General, Visenya still primarily a journalist, but Grace had always liked the good press she brought.
Grace approached quietly. "Hey… you two okay?"
Both Zeltrons looked up, eyes red and puffy. Kayla tried to wipe her tears quickly, but Visenya just sniffled louder.
"He basically betrayed us," Kayla said, voice cracking with anger and hurt.
"It's so frustrating," Visenya exclaimed, slamming her small fist on the table. "He just… shut us out. Again."
Grace sat down across from them, concern etching her features. "What did he do? Wait — is it a Jedi thing?"
"Jedi thing?" Kayla repeated, confused.
"Yeah, I'm not sure, but I know you guys use battle meld during battles. That's how Dagon leads us to victory every time."
"Dagon is a selfish jerk," Visenya snapped, fresh tears spilling. "He only cares about winning. He doesn't care about his health or our feelings about him. So he keeps putting himself in danger over and over, and to make sure we don't feel anything, he closes off the Force bond when he's in danger."
Grace blinked, trying to process. "Umm… I don't understand. Isn't a Jedi's responsibility to protect the weak? And as a general — I don't mean to sound bad — but his job as a general is excellent when you compare how many lives he's saved."
"You don't understand," Visenya shouted, voice breaking. "We love him!"
"Vis, we're not supposed to say that out loud," Kayla hissed, quickly moving her hands to cover Visenya's mouth.
Grace's eyes widened. "Oh… oh… wait. But you're Jedi. Isn't that forbidden? Oh wait, Zeltrons are allowed… wait, does that mean Commander Tano and Zule and Stella and Flare… wait, what about General Aayla?"
"Not Aayla. At least not yet. Or never now," Kayla said bitterly.
"We broke up our engagement with him," Visenya said through fresh tears, shoulders shaking.
Grace sat back, stunned. The canteen noise seemed to fade around them. "You… what? All of you?"
Kayla nodded, wiping her own eyes. "After Naboo… after he stunned us and went through that dangerous holocron fusion alone… we couldn't take it anymore. He keeps risking everything and shutting us out. We gave the rings back."
Visenya's voice was small and broken. "He said a relationship goes two ways. Then he told us to stay or leave. So… we left."
Grace reached across the table and took both their hands. "I'm so sorry. I had no idea it was that serious. He really loves all of you — anyone with eyes can see it. But… Dagon is Dagon. Though i don't know much about him only ever interacted directly very few even during battles. He thinks he has to carry the galaxy alone sometimes."
"That's the problem," Kayla whispered. "We want to carry it with him. Not watch him almost die every other week."
The three Zeltrons sat in heavy silence, the weight of broken hearts hanging between them.
**Scene 2 – Zule's POV**
Zule sat on her bed in her quarters, tears streaming down her face. The door hissed open and her two younger sisters, Ashla and Cera, ran in.
"Sister, why are you sad?" Ashla asked, climbing onto the bed. "Should we get big brother Dagon for you?"
"Yeah, Dagon will help you," Cera added, hugging Zule's arm.
Zule's heart twisted. She pulled both girls close, voice cracking. "Sisters… you might not be seeing Dagon anymore."
"Why?" Ashla asked, eyes wide. "Did he leave us?"
"No, he promised to take care of us," Cera said firmly.
Zule shook her head, fresh tears falling. "No… he won't see my sisters anymore."
The two little girls looked terrified. "Why?" they asked in unison.
Zule snapped without meaning to, voice sharper than she intended. "Because I said so!"
Ashla and Cera flinched, eyes filling with tears. They scrambled off the bed and ran out of the room, crying.
Zule buried her face in her hands, sobbing harder. "What have I done…?"
A mysterious voice slithered into her mind, smooth and dark.
"How unfortunate."
Zule's head snapped up. "Who said that?"
"That would be you… or your darker self."
"Remember, Dagon taught you Force lightning. No — you betrayed him."
"I didn't! He betrayed me… the Jedi…"
"Really? Bringing up the Code now? After what happened to your mother? The Jedi didn't rescue her. Dagon did. He saved you."
Zule clutched her head. "And now look — we broke up. He's going to keep risking his life for—"
"For people he loves. To protect."
"Why are you torturing me?"
"I am not. You are."
The voice faded, leaving Zule alone with her tears and guilt.