After they argued for half of the night, going back and forth, finally Clarisse convinced Xander that going together would be the best option. There were still a lot of details to be taken care of, a solid plan to come up with, but it was decided, the two of them were going to Zakuul, blend in, and get as much information as possible. They both knew it wasn't going to be easy telling the rest of the family about their plan, but they needed their support, so a few days later, after they had their plan all worked out they got all of them together.

"We have come up with a plan…"Xander started to talk after Clarisse nodded at him.

"We?" interrupted Xollin right away surprised.

"Your mother and I…We are going to leave for Zakuul in about a month. We still have to take care of a few things…" he continued and this time Arria was the one to interrupt him.

"Why?" came her short question.

"We are going to gather as much information as possible, we need to know…"

"Why you two? I can go, and I am sure…" insisted Arria and Xander smiled in her direction. Just like her mother…I would have not expected anything less from her…he thought and continued to explain.

"We can blend in with the locals, establish perhaps some contacts, I am sure that not everyone there is happy with their Prince."

"Arria is right, let us go!" intervened Xollin taking advantage of the short break in his father's explanation.

"Do any of you ever look into a mirror? You can't blend in anywhere…Xollin, you look so different, that you would attract attention right away. Your hair, your tattoos…There is no way you can go unnoticed! Arria, you turn heads everywhere you go as well, you have a certain attitude that doesn't go well with the undercover missions. And you, Leo'Ren…Let us not get started on that…"

All of the three named looked at each other in silence. Xander was right, all of them had too much of distinctive looks to go unnoticed, even with some disguise.

"What are we supposed to do in the mean while? Just sit here and look different?" asked Arria looking at her aunt this time.

"Continue training. The recruits still need that, and we will keep in touch…I am sure that at some point we will need all of you in the best possible shape." Clarisse's answer was as always calm and spoken on a soft tone.

To everyone surprise Lyla ran from her seat into Clarisse's arms hugging her.

"Please come back…' she whispered and Clarisse smiled at her.

They all knew that she had started to talk the night she came to Yavin, but her reaction was surprising to almost everyone. Clarisse knew that Lyla considered her like she was a second mother, and hugged her back.

"Of course we will come back…We are only getting information, we are not going to start anything there. When we will have enough to go on, we are all going to make a plan. I don't want any of you neglecting your training, you especially."

Lyla let her head down, she knew she had a lot to learn and Leo'Ren was training her every day, but she was afraid to lose yet again someone she cared for.

"Whatever you do there, don't forget that Prince Arcann is mine! I called dibs on him three years ago and I intend to kill him myself." They all looked at Arria while she got up and left the room. She was frustrated, felt like she was being held back.

"I will talk to her," Leo'Ren assured them and got to his feet, starting towards the exit, with Layla following him closely.

Xollin was left with his parents and looked at them. It had been years since any of them fought…He knew he was more powerful than them, but he also knew they had the experience that could have come in handy this time. It wasn't about going to Zakuul and declare war, or go fight Prince Arcann, just an undercover mission to gather information.

"I guess I will take care of everything here in your absence," he finally said and his mother smiled to him.

"Please do so. I am glad that you understand…" she added and Xander closed one arm around her waist.

"I did not want her to go, but she can be so stubborn. Xollin, we are going to holo you every week, and send any information we come across as we get it. You can message us if anything happens. Use only secure lines, no one can know what we are doing."

"That goes without saying. Father, I know you would have rather preferred to go alone, but I think that would have been a mistake…You need someone with you and mom is the best choice…"

"Thank you…I guess…" joked Clarisse and her son smiled.

"You would both be sick without the other. Do not worry about us, we will be fine. Arria will understand too, she just needs more time," added Xollin, and left his parents to continue their preparations, without knowing that it was one of the rare occasions when he was wrong…Dead wrong.

Starting that day Arria worked at her own plan. She knew she had to do something, just as she knew that this time her brother and her cousin would not agree with her. She was on her own and her mind started to work on a way to get what she wanted: Prince Arcann's life.

Zakuul, the Infinite Empire, was the most advanced civilization known. It was a society where everything was monitored, automated, where droids did everything and people just enjoyed their lives. The whole planet was a swamp, with man-made towers, where people lived their perfect lives. In the swamps beasts roamed free, and that was where, after three days of travel, Xander decided to land, near one of the impressive towers. With the ship in stealth mode the trip was longer than expected, but they made it safely and Thomas was going to stay with the ship, while Xander and Clarisse were going to find a way inside the tower. They waited for the nightfall, and only then left the ship and started to walk carefully, with their senses on alert. They didn't want to attract any attention and sneaked around through the dense vegetation. Suddenly they heard voices and stopped, hiding behind a bush. Two dark silhouettes were approaching and they could hear them argue.

"This is a bad idea! You know that the knights are still looking for me…" they heard the first one talking.

"I told you to stay on Odessen. I could have come here by myself, you are the one that insisted…" the other responded and Xander looked at Clarisse the same second only to see the look on her face. They both knew that voice, and soon they both recognized the force signature as well.

"I would not leave you risk your life alone. You should know that much by now."

"I am just meeting a contact, nothing more. You should have stayed behind…" insisted the woman that both Clarisse and Xander had recognized.

Suddenly she stopped and looked around. "What is it? You are sensing something, don't you?" asked the man that was with her and his rifle charged the same second her lightsaber hummed to life.

"Whoever you are, come out."

Xander smiled at Clarisse and they both came out of hiding walking towards the couple. In the faint light, the woman recognized them both the same second.

"Darth Hellix…Master Clarisse…" she whispered and put her lightsaber away, saluting them.

"Lana Beniko…This is a surprise!"

After the first shock and short introductions, Lana took them inside the tower, and to her apartment that she still had there. It wasn't anything glamorous, but was clean, well-kept and most important, safe. She had to go to the meeting and her companion, Koth stayed with Xander and Clarisse, answering their questions. By the time Lana was back from her meeting, they had an idea about the new world they were in now, how it functioned, how it was monitored and how to avoid getting noticed. The next day Xander and Clarisse got their own place, in the same building with Lana's and they started to explore Zakuul. The different levels, with suspended gardens, decorated and built in different styles to clearly mark different sections were indeed impressive. The multitudes of air lanes were busy nonstop, and reminded them of the busy traffic on Nar Shaddaa. At the end of one of the days, they were having dinner all together and Clarisse asked Lana directly.

"How did you decide to come here? When?"

Lana looked down for a few seconds, then she started to talk. "I was on my ship in that convoy, three years ago when Darth Marr and Captain D'arc…" she stopped for a few seconds, knowing how good friends they used to be. "As soon as the attack started, I went into stealth mode and moved away. I saw it all happen, the ships got overwhelmed with sky troopers…"

"Those are the droids they use in battle, right?" interrupted Clarisse for a second just to make sure she understood everything correctly.

Lana nodded and then she continued. "I saw Darth Marr's ship exploding…A few escape pods made it out, but most died there. It was terrible…It was the first time I saw the Eternal Fleet in action…Terrifying. And the worst part is that it's all automated, commanded from the throne. Not one person on any of the ships, they are all droids, weapons, ammo…completely indestructible…"

"It had been built somehow, it must be a way to take it apart," interrupted Xander and Koth looked at him right away.

"It is thousands of years old. Nobody knows where it came from, or how it was built."

Lana continued after the short interruption only seconds later. "I knew I couldn't help, so I just stood there and watched for a while. Shortly after Darth Marr's ship exploded, the whole fleet disappeared just as suddenly as it appeared. That was when I came out of stealth and helped a few of the survivors. I wished I could have helped more, but my small ship could only fit a few. I have found a planet, in this sector, it is called Odessen. It is unsettled, force aligned, and had very few people on, mostly refugees from Zakuul…"

"Refugees? Why would anyone leave their perfect world?" Xander interrupted again, seeing already an opportunity.

"Different reasons…Some were accused of crimes they insist they have not committed, some force users that rebelled against the system, some just wanted to live in a green world, not controlled and run by droids…There is a small settlement. I took all the survivors there and I stayed there myself for a while, until I decided to come here and learn everything I could about Zakuul. Slowly, in the months after the Emperor's death and Prince Arcann's ascension to the throne, more and more people became unhappy with their new lives. The underworld of Zakuul is a source of invaluable information, you would be surprised… I have kept in touch with some of my old contacts and I know what has been going on in our worlds. I even heard rumors of an alliance forming, last year, and then the attack on Dromund Kaas and Coruscant most recently…"

"The alliance wasn't just a rumor…" said Xander this time and in the next few minutes he told them the truth about the alliance, about Rex and the remaining survivors. "Tell us more about Odessen. How far is it? And you said it is force aligned?" continued Xander with the questions.

"It is how I found it…Unlike Korriban, that was dark force infused, and Tython that was light sided, Odessen is neutral, but the energy is strong. In hyperspace, it would be a couple of hours trip, but I am always using stealth mode, and take detours, never go straight there…It's a safe place and I want to keep it that way," explained Lana, while Xander was starting to think of a plan already. "With more and more people fleeing Zakuul, Odessen has become their new, safe home. The small settlement that was there is growing and developing fast. The advanced technology of Zakuul is coming in handy and since people from all classes and professions are gathering on Odessen, are mostly materials that we need to build a whole new world."

"I was thinking…" Xander started to talk after a short break, pacing with his hands held at the small of his back. "With everything going on everywhere, Odessen sounds like the perfect place for a base of operations. We could unite our efforts, bring the remaining members of the alliance, and train whoever wants to join…"

"That is an excellent idea!" Lana interrupted him with sparkling eyes. "I am sorry, Darth Hellix, but with all the contacts that we have, we could actually start forming a decent opposition. I am sure more will join as soon as they hear about us…"

Xander smiled, recognizing in Lana the old respect for a higher ranked Sith, even if that society was more or less gone.

"We just have to be careful with who hears about us…We are going to need some time for logistics and get things moving, but I think we are on the right track…" spoke Clarisse this time, knowing already that was going to be a lot of work ahead of them.

~~#~~

That morning, Lyla woke up in Leo'Ren's arms, in his bed, and under his amused look she apologized quickly and ran out of his room as fast as she could, leaving him smiling. That is a first…he thought and next got up himself to get ready for the day ahead. They hadn't mentioned that night, and that day Lyla started her training. Under Leo'Ren's precise instructions, she was discovering her new connection with the force. Leo'Ren wasn't entirely convinced that she needed much training, since she could only use it if he was near her. If she was away from him she became force blind and she couldn't connect to the force, while if he was around he could more than easily protect both of them. Lyla was excited to learn new things and the new connection with the force made her feel useful, for the first time. Day after day, she learned something new and Leo'Ren was surprised at how fast she was learning, how accurately she was following every single one of his instructions. He remembered Rex saying that she was incredibly obedient, and now he was seeing it himself. She wouldn't do anything that he wasn't telling her to do, but at the same time doing everything he was instructing her. Another week later, after Clarisse and Xander told them about their plan to leave for Zakuul, Lyla had her nightmare again. She still wasn't able to sleep in the bed, so she continued to sleep beside the bed, on the hard floor. This time she screamed in her dream a few times, and her high emotions woke up Leo'Ren. He listened and heard her screams, rushing to her room. As soon as he entered he saw her on the floor, agitated and in the faint light of the moon her tears glistened on her cheeks. Leo'Ren knelt beside her trying to wake her up, and it took him a few tries. She finally woke up with yet another scream and stood up right in his arms.

"It is all right, Lyla. It's just a dream. You are safe…" he started to whisper her as soon as he saw her lavender eyes open, wrapping his arms around her. She was shaking, unable to say anything, just crying in his arms. "Shh…Everything is all right…I got you, you are safe…" he continued to whisper to her, noticing that she was slowly calming down. "I see you are still sleeping on the floor…And you are cold…Here." He lifted her in his arms and set her carefully on the bed.

"No…I can't sleep in the bed…" she whispered and tried to get out of the bed.

"Of course you can. I will stay with you…" he added and holding her close to him, in his arms, he tried to make himself comfortable in her bed. Unlike his bed, hers was smaller, and his feet were dangling a couple of inches over the edge, but it didn't matter. His goal was to make her sleep in the bed and not beside it.

Next morning she woke up alone, in the comfortable bed and asked herself if it was a dream, or he really was there the previous night. Lyla took her time to think and remembered him holding her close to him, crying his arms. Suddenly details that she never paid attention to before came into her mind. She remembered his calloused hands caressing the skin on her shoulders, on her back, while he was trying to calm her down, his voice was soft and soothing, not commanding like when they were training, even his eyes had a different shade of gold in the night, deeper, more brilliant. His hard, strong body was offering her that feeling of safety, she was convinced that nothing in the world could touch her as long as she was in his arms. Her eyes opened wider, and fear gripped at her, realizing she is starting to have feelings for him, as inappropriate as it was. She glanced at the chrono beside her and jumped out of bed knowing that she was going to be late for the training session.

Leo'Ren was already waiting for her, and she was late, which was unusual, considering that she was always there when he would arrive. She was never late, always eager to learn, always ready for their training. He wondered if she just slept in, or if something was wrong. Right away he tuned to the force and reached to her. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips when he figured that she was just getting ready, rushing, knowing she was late. Her agitation was almost palpable and he let himself think while waiting. The night that just passed came into his mind and the smile disappeared the same instant. That nightmare keeps coming back to haunt her even if she is safe now. She still sleeps on the floor…Unless she sleeps in my arms…he thought and the smile reappeared.

"I am so sorry, Darth Athran! I apologize…" her words interrupted him and he looked at her, surprised. He should have sensed her approaching, but he didn't. He was getting used to her presence.

"It is all right, Lyla. I hope you rested well…" he answered and she heard right away the insinuating tone blushing instantly.

"Yes…I didn't mean to wake you…" she whispered, lowering her head.

Leo'Ren looked at her, at the auburn reflections in her dark brown hair under the sunlight, and remembered that always smells like rain, clean, fresh and pure. Her clothes were starting to fit her better since she was eating normally, but her posture was just like before. He let out a sigh knowing that in her mind she was still a slave.

"Are you ready for today's lesson?" he asked her, trying to concentrate his attention to the training session instead of her.

"Yes, My Lord…" she answered without even looking at him, keeping her eyes on the ground.

From that day, Leo'Ren started to teach her spells, how to use the force, how to protect herself with shields and leaching casts. Lyla was doing everything just as he was telling her, but she couldn't get her offensive attacks out. Everything was all right to the point where the lightning was just on her fingertips. At that point her concentration was lost and she was getting more and more disappointed with herself. Leo'Ren was correcting her posture every time he saw her bowing her head or slouching her shoulders. His touch, even though the gloved hand, sent currents throughout her body. She was doing the best she could to hide it, but a fine observer like him noticed right away. He stopped touching her, unless it was imperative, knowing now that it made her uncomfortable. Leo'Ren figured that it was her state of mind that needed work, more than her technique and switched the training into a new direction. Convincing her that she was worthy proved harder than he initially thought. It wasn't just training anymore, and the discussion that he had with Xollin a while back came back into his mind. Xollin had told him that she was damaged, that her spirit was broken, after years of brainwashing, of torture and punishment, and Leo'Ren refused to believe it. He was convinced that she could make it back to being normal, to being herself, to have dreams and goals. When she asked him to teach her how to use a lightsaber, he was surprised and reluctant to the idea. It would mean that he had to touch her again, to teach her how to hold it, how to move, and he wasn't convinced that she was ready for it just yet. He wasn't sure he was up to it either. Her reactions at his touch made him realize his own reactions. He caught himself holding her closer than he should have, or longer than was necessary, inhaling her rainy scent, or just plainly enjoying the closeness.

Days passed into weeks and weeks into months, while Lyla was learning the use of force. Leo'Ren had become used to her presence, learned how to control and use the new found power that she brought him every time she was around. Her birthday was approaching, Lyla was going to turn eighteen in only a month, and Leo'Ren went out of his way to make sure he was going to be the first man ever in her life that gave her jewelry, her first piece of jewelry that was hers, something that she would have never imagined she might have. He had been looking for something small but brilliant, unique, just like her, and when he saw the small diamond in the shop that day, he knew it was just perfect. It was during one of his visits on Dromund Kaas, when the unusual diamond attracted his attention. It was, according to the old jeweler that had been served his father before, originally from a small mine on Ilum, which made it so unusual. The small stone was way more brilliant than any other diamond, but just as clear. Leo'Ren decided that a simple, almost invisible chain would make it into the perfect pendant for Lyla. That trip already looked better in his eyes, even if just because he had the perfect gift for her, in his hands, hardly waiting for the day will give it to her. The week after his return, Lyla was frustrated that she couldn't still cast her offensive spells, and Leo'Ren decided to make it more challenging for her and see if that was what was holding her back.

"Come with me." His short order was followed by his hand grabbing hers, and for a split second, Lyla looked at her hand disappearing into his. She followed him without any question, she trusted him, and only minutes later they were into wilderness.

"Where are we?" she asked looking around at the thick vegetation, listening to the sounds that roaming beasts were making while prowling their territory.

"In the wilderness…" came his evasive answer.

She could see that much, so she dared to ask another question. "Why are we here?"

"You will see soon enough." This time he answered without even looking at her, starting to walk on one of the paths leading into the deep forest.

Without any warning, Leo'Ren threw a small lightning at one of the bird looking creatures, and a whole group of them started to fly towards them the same instant. He quickly shielded both of them and then just stood back, with thick arms crossed over the wide chest.

"Defend us. Kill the birds."

Lyla looked at him scared, surprised, and saw his neutral expression. She looked around at the approaching group of birds, they were at least six or seven of them and she knew she should use a spell that would affect the whole area. The same instant she started to cast a lightning storm, but no lightning was coming out of her fingertips. She had done everything just the way he taught her, her arms were opened at her sides, even her body lifted in the air about a foot off the ground, but still no lightning. The birds were approaching, threatening, with what it sounded like battle screeches, and she suddenly was afraid that they will just hurt them.

"Channel the fear, everything you feel into that spell. Let the force flow through you and send it out to your enemy…" Lyla heard his instructions and her eyes filled with tears instantly. That was exactly what she was doing, yet she was still failing at it…And the birds were so close now…"I forgot to mention that they are venomous, one scratch can kill a man…" added Leo'Ren just to push her fear more. The birds would have been harmless, but he had to motivate her enough, push her limits into a real combat situation.

To her surprise, on the second attempt to cast the lightning storm, bright purple lightning covered the area surrounding them and Leo'Ren smiled, satisfied. Not only she managed to get the spell out, but she had used power from their connection, making it quite powerful. With the birds all dead around them in only a couple of seconds, Lyla turned to him with sparkling eyes, even if tears were drying on her cheeks.

"I did it!" she yelled happily and forgetting to control herself, she ran to him, hugging him. Leo'Ren smiled and wrapped his arms around her for a few seconds until she realized what she was doing and retreated, embarrassed.

"I am sorry, Darth Athran…" she apologized quickly and bowed in front of him.

"It is all right, Lyla. At least now we know that you can do it with the right motivation."

It had been almost six months since Clarisse and Xander left for Zakuul, and they were expected to return on Yavin in the next few days. That night, right before her birthday, Lyla couldn't sleep. She had tossed and turned in the bed for almost two hours when she gave up and left the comfort of the bed she was now sleeping in. She went and sat by the opened doors to the small terrace. In the faint light of the moon, tears started to run down her checks, and memories to invade her mind. She had no idea for how long she sat there crying, quietly, when the door opened wide and Leo'Ren entered in her room, worried. For a second he didn't see her and panicked, but then he did…She was still sitting by the terrace, with her knees gathered to her chest.

"Lyla…What is going on?" he asked and walked close to her. She rushed to wipe her tears, but it was too late, he already saw them and knelt beside her. "The nightmare again?" came his next questions lifting her face to him.

Lyla just shook her head and looked down. "No…Just memories…" she whispered and Leo'Ren sat down, beside her. Her emotions woke him up and he thought she was having her nightmare again. It had been over two months since last time and he rushed to her like always. She slowly lifted her eyes to him, lingering for only one second on the 'v' marks in the middle of his chest, another inheritance from his father. "I am sorry I woke you…I didn't realize…"

"It is all right. You want to talk about it?" he insisted this time and looked into her eyes. Lyla hesitated and he noticed that she was trying to retreat into her shell, to hide and control herself. "You still do not trust me…" he added.

"I do. It is not about trust…It's just…personal…" she continued to try and avoid talking about it.

Leo'Ren had a feeling that she was missing her family, it was six years since she saw them last, and he made another try to get through her defenses. "I miss my parents too…Three and a half years ago when they left just to never come back, they even said their good byes to my sister and I, without us even having the slightest clue…" he started and Lyla looked into his golden eyes, seeing the pain that was still there. "I can only imagine how hard it must've been for you to see them killed right in front of your eyes…" he stopped at her sob and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer to him. This time Lyla accepted the comfort of his body and let out a deep sigh.

"I keep thinking that maybe it was something I could have done to stop it from happening…I still think it was my fault…"

"It wasn't! You were a child, twelve years old, what could you have done?" he asked, finally understanding what it was that troubled her. She felt responsible for their deaths.

"Why they didn't kill me too? It would have been so much easier…" Leo'Ren heard her whisper and lifted her face to him, looking straight into her lavender eyes that had followed him all his life.

"It was your destiny. It wasn't your time to die…" he said simply. You had to come crashing into my life and make a mess of it…Make me lose my mind, my heart…Stars I love this girl!"

A/N

Thank you everyone for reading and reviewing. Your comments always make my day and I appreciate your kind words.