A/N: As yours truly strongly disliked FotJ and the entire Abeloth plot-line, she has no intention of cleaning up Goldens and Dennings messes. In her opinion, nine books leave plenty of room to set the stage, carry out the plot and then resolve everything at the end. Consider this fanfic set one stand-alone book (ca. one month) after Apocalypse: the preamble describes everything that happened in between. Warning: if you really liked FotJ, think Vestara is your favorite character and believe that Luke should be, like, totally dark 'n edgy, this fanfic is not for you at all. Consider this your chance to run away. Most characters will be portrayed differently and some (Boba Fett, Allana) will get less screen time or less screen time together (Ben/Vestara).
Constructive criticism is very much appreciated: if something concrete bothers you or seems off (grammar/spelling errors, blatant mischaracterization), drop me a note and I'll try to fix it or at least justify it. Will update weekly.
Preamble
Despite Abeloth's defeat at the hands of an alliance of Sith and Jedi, many Jedi were worried that the entity would simply return in a different shape. To counter this threat, Master Skywalker dispatched a squad of Ten Jedi to scour the universe in search of the one object that could kill one of the Ones: the Dagger of Mortis.
Unfortunately, the Sith Lords did not share this concern and, delighted at the absence of ten of the most talented young Jedi, mounted a series of raids against Jedi bases, led by the Sith High Lord Vantsuri Shia. But this movement was rash and ultimately futile: the raiders were defeated and only managed to damage a few Jedi outposts, incurring more losses themselves than they ever inflicted.
Even as most of the Ten were recalled to combat the Sith, Jedi Knight Jaina Solo was permitted to carry on and eventually found and retrieved the Dagger. The victorious Ten Knights regrouped at the Jedi Temple in Coruscant in time for the council's last session there.
For while the Ten had been searching, the remaining council members had desperately scrambled to relocate the entire Jedi Order. Even though the council could temporarily be housed in the yet-unfinished base on Ossus, logistics require a new, more centralized home base to replace the Temple.
As the darkness looms and insecurity pervades, one glimmer of hope remains: Jedi Knight Leia Organa Solo has been able to secure a position as Jedi ambassador to Coruscant. Thus far, she has negotiated the release and pardon of Tahiri Veila- so long as the aforementioned "Jedi" does not re-enter Republic space after her release.
At the last council session, it was decreed that Grand Master Luke Skywalker would bring the Dagger to Dagobah, to be kept safely there until it was needed, far away from the influence of the Lost Tribe of the Sith and (hopefully) shrouded by the Light side of the Force…