New Republic Shuttle Frontier

Leia received the coded message from Luke and breathed a sigh of relief. She glanced over at Kessori, who was curled up under a blanket in the co-pilot's seat.

"Flynn is safe," she said.

"What?" Kessori bolted upright in the seat, eyes wide and not appearing convinced.

"Flynn is safe," Leia said, reaching over and squeezing her arm. "The Jedi got him off Rebel Victory."

Kessori peppered Leia with questions, none of which Leia had answers for except one. "We're meeting them in a safe place – that's all I know right now. We'll have to figure out what to do from there."

"What about Rebel Victory? Are we still going there?" Kessori asked.

"I think we'll have to," Leia answered. "Admiral Kyrell is hanging far out on a limb. I need to be there to deal with any political obstacles that are thrown his way."

"And I need access to their systems so I can start tracking down his horrible Uncle!" Kessori declared – the cold and angry tone catching Leia's attention. This was a side of Kessori she had never seen.

"Not so fast, Kessori. This is dangerous business – the moment you start investigating Anogen Ecks, he will know it. There are people who do this for a living and we need to allow them to do their jobs," Leia instructed. Kessori appeared ready to argue for a moment, then groaned and looked into the blue swirls of hyperspace. "Kess, I am very serious about this." Without looking at Leia, Kess nodded in agreement.

D'Qar

Luke made his way up from the lower holds of Star Gazer into the cockpit. Luke checked the chrono and looked up at the sky. Leia should be arriving any time now. Luke had sent a coded message to Leia stating he was "looking at property for the new Academy". She confirmed her understanding which was a relief. Luke had mentioned using D'Qar as a Jedi training facility in recent months. Leia was already headed toward Rebel Victory, which was only a few hours from D'Qar. Diverting to D'Qar would be such a small delay that few people would think to question the difference in time.

When they left Rebel Victory, Luke had not determined where they were going. Things simply happened too quickly. He was thinking of Kashyyk, but that was a couple days flight and would be high on the list of sites the New Republic might look. He tried to Comm Lando on Bespin. He was doing business in the Core worlds. It took about ten minutes for the obvious to occur to him. Right there, only a quick jump away from the Fleet, was D'Qar. D'Qar would have played a major role in the Rebellion's operations had the war not ended when it did. The climate was hospitable enough, with jungles and plains, multiple sources of water, places where the soil was amenable for agricultural purposes, and relatively benign wildlife. The Rebel Alliance had already constructed the administrative, docking, and maintenance facilities. A few private residential structures were completed, along with one larger dormitory-style building. The framing for a second dormitory had been erected when construction stopped. Best of all, the planet was uninhabited prior to its discovery by scouts.

When they arrived, it was a little eerie to see the relatively new structures covered in vines and uninhabited. Then Luke considered how the buildings appeared camouflaged from above.

"Wow! This is the Galaxy's best kept secret," Hinson said as they disembarked.

When the generators started up without difficulty, Andrew asked, "Is it me, or does anyone else think it should be a little more difficult than this? I'm not sure I believe in anything being this easy."

"I hate to admit it," Luke said, "but the thought has crossed my mind." Corran nodded in agreement.

But that was many hours ago, and the crew had grown used to the new surroundings.

Luke looked through the transparisteel windows and saw Corran working with Hinson on defensive tactics. Andrew sat off to the side watching. Luke was hoping Andrew would have been able to find the answers he was seeking without so much difficulty. Ever since their conversation in Andrew's quarters on Rebel Victory, Andrew's shields had been up. Luke observed Hinson's frustration with this when Andrew wasn't looking. It was a distraction that could prove to be dangerous if they found themselves in a serious conflict. In spite of what he said, Hinson was growing frustrated with his father's inability to commit to the Jedi.

Something caught Luke's eye in the distance. It looked like Kendy – and Flynn? Luke rushed out of the cockpit and down the ramp, then a sound overhead made him pause. It was Leia approaching, repulsorlifts down and lined up to set down ten or so meters to the left of Star Gazer. Luke looked across the open area toward Kendy and Flynn, who were now standing still, staring at the grey shuttle along with the three men. This gave Luke the opportunity to stop and gather his thoughts.

The ramp to Leia's shuttle came down, and Leia emerged looking for Luke. "Luke!" she called out, smiling in relief. He made his way to her and they embraced. "Very clever," she commented, looking around.

From behind Leia came Kessori. She looked nervous and hesitant. "Hello, Kessori," Luke said. He could feel her apprehension – she had not seen Flynn yet and probably thought he was in a holding cell on the Gazer.

"Hello, Master Skywalker," Kessori said with a shaky smile. She stood behind Leia as if she were nervous. This was very different from the happy, talkative young assistant Luke had encountered in the past.

"Kess!" a voice called out, causing Leia, Luke and the three men who were coming to greet the newcomers to look toward Kendy and the tall, virtually bald young man beside her.

"Flynn!" Kessori yelled, bypassing Luke and running ¼ of the distance to where Flynn had been standing. Flynn was faster so he made up more distance. When she made it to him he embraced her and her feet left the ground.

"I'm so sorry!" Kessori cried in his shoulder. "Please forgive me. I'm so sorry, Flynn!"

Flynn just held her tighter. Finally, he allowed her feet to return to the ground and held her just far enough away so she could see his face. He put his hands on either side of her face, shaking his head in disbelief. "Forgive you? You're sorry? Have you lost your mind, Kess? I'm the one who is sorry. All of this – it's all my fault. I was so… I was just so…" he tried unsuccessfully to find the words.

"He lied to you, Flynn. I know you love him and I'm sure he loves you too, but he lied to you! It is not your fault. You did the best you could," Kessori told him. They just stood there staring at each other for a few seconds, then Flynn pulled her into another hug and from the looks of it would have stayed there for another year had Luke not approached them.

"Kendy, could I have a word?" Luke asked. Kendy nodded and walked with Luke back toward Gazer. Leia had made her way to Flynn and Kessori and was hugging Flynn.

"I know. You're upset I let him out of custody," Kendy said. She didn't sound remorseful, but not obstinate either. Luke couldn't make sense of her emotions. She seemed conflicted.

Luke took her by the shoulders and made sure he had her attention. "I'm not upset, I'm just unsure of what you are doing and why," Luke explained. "I would have thought you'd have some bitterness toward Flynn."

"Why?" Kendy said matter-of-factly. "He was used and lied to. He didn't do anything to hurt anyone with his own hands, and that's a lot more than can be said about me and a lot of people I know when we were his age."

"I see," Luke said. He crossed his arms and stepped back. "His Uncle is like the Empire to you."

"No," she said. "He's not 'like the Empire'. It's not some abstract comparison. His Uncle is the Empire," Kendy said. "There is no point of separation between the Empire and Nash, Anogen Ecks, Paxson, and the rest of their Alliance. They've always been the Empire. They just had to adapt to the changing circumstances. That's all that's changed – the circumstances. They are still the same. They never left."

Luke couldn't deny the logic. He hadn't really considered it from that perspective, but Kendy was right – at least the superficial logic seemed sound.

"It makes a difference," she said. "If you stop trying to reinvent the wheel and just see them for what they are, it makes it a lot easier to understand what we're up against. I think it's kind of like it must have been in the Clone Wars, when the Galaxy thought there were two sides, but really it was just Palpatine controlling everything. That's what it's like now."

Luke wasn't quite following the logic at this point. "Now I'm a little lost," Luke admitted. "Who would be the Palpatine?" he asked.

"Nash Windrider and Anogen Ecks," Kendy said. "I talked to Flynn for a while down in the hold. He didn't ask me to let him out or anything. In fact, he wouldn't come out at first. He wanted me to get your permission."

"Smart kid," Luke blurted out, but he couldn't keep the corners of his mouth from turning upwards a little.

"I know," Kendy replied, smiling a little at first. Then she put her hands on her hips, sighed loudly, and looked up at the sky. "Honestly, Luke, I do know. I keep doing things and saying things that don't make any sense – even to myself." This was the first time Luke saw Kendy on the verge of tears since she returned from Jelucan. "I just thought maybe he would tell me something I didn't already know that would fill this place…" She patted the middle of her chest. "It's this empty place inside of me that needs to be filled with something. I don't know how to explain it," she said softly. In spite of her best efforts, a single tear found its way out. Luke instinctively reached out and wiped it away with his thumb. "I felt like Flynn might talk to me and help me understand what happened."

"I know," Luke reassured her. "I was hoping the same thing, though I imagine it is exponentially worse for you." They stood there looking at the ground in silence until Luke spoke again. "He wants to help us. He would if he could. We're going to have to get those answers from Anogen and whoever he sent to intercept us."

Kendy nodded, then made eye contact with Luke. She looked so vulnerable – so unlike the Kendy he knew so well - and it caught Luke off guard. Then he had an epiphany: That Kendy is gone – just like Grhan. As soon as the thought came to him, Kendy began to speak."If Grhan were here, I'd have talked to him about Nash and Ecks being the Empire. We'd have talked about what that means, and he would have told me he'd meditate on it. And he always would. Then we would talk about it again and he would help me understand things better." Kendy paused and enough silence passed between them that Luke thought that might be it. Luke smiled warmly and nodded. He started to turn, thinking they could walk back to the group together. Kendy reached out and put her hand on his arm, then drew it back. "But he's not here, so I am asking you. Will you meditate on it and maybe you could tell me if the Force gives you an idea if I am right or wrong? Or maybe you could tell me if it means anything at all?"

"Yes, of course I will," Luke told her. "In fact, you could do me a favor as well." Kendy's eyes seemed to brighten a little. "I've really missed being able to turn to Grhan for his ideas and input on things. A lot of ideas he brought to me were actually things he learned from talking to you. It would be really helpful to have that input again. Especially now."

Luke meant every word he said, and Kendy must have realized this. Her smile wasn't forced, and it really was as if someone turned on a light behind her eyes. "Sure, I can do that." Kendy and Luke started to walk over to the group.

"I was wondering when it would be my turn!" Leia scolded Luke and reached out for Kendy. She put her arm around Kendy's shoulder and steered Kendy away, leaving Luke standing with the Jedi crew, Kessori, and a nervous-looking Flynn.

"Okay, Boss. What's next?" Corran asked.

Kaphthosis

"This is remarkable!" Nash exclaimed.

Korus had been correct earlier in the night. The Apprentices were clearly uneasy as they made their way down to the sublevel where the staff had been busy carrying out Nash's orders. When exiting the lift, Korus and Sona noticed a change in the atmosphere. Unlike the dozens of times they had visited this level to deal with Grhan, there was a freshness in the air. After walking out into the center of the "cavern" they had a clue as to why.

Opposite from the corridor where they held Grhan was a corridor nearly three times as wide. Korus called it the "fat spoke on the wheel" when they were exploring the area on their first visit. The wall at the end of the corridor was no longer there. The corridor continued far beyond their ability to see from where they stood. A large armored vehicle was parked approximately 20 meters down the corridor, which meant it was driven in from the other side of the corridor. Where the ground level entrance was positioned was a mystery to them at that point.

"Ah – good! They've been making excellent progress this morning," Nash stated to the group. "And, in case you are wondering, the load that was on that vehicle was for you, Sona," Nash said, gesturing to Sona. Korus glanced down and gave her a quizzical look – appearing to enjoy the mystery. Sona raised a brow, smiled and shrugged.

Eevou was standing close to – but not directly beside – Paxson. Nash found this interesting. Eevou had not spoken to Paxson while Nash was observing them. This meant she had not spoken to him at all, as Nash had been extraordinarily observant.

"Go ahead – look around. I believe you will find many of the items you requested are here." Nash reached into his pocket and removed a small remote. He gestured back toward the lift, then pressed a button on his device. A 10-meter-wide, circular section of the wall on the opposite side of the lift opened up to reveal another cavernous room with racks of weapons, ranging from blaster rifles to vibroblades of every shape and size.

Eevou's eye's fell upon a particular row of similarly shaped metal tubes. As if being pulled by a magnet, she left the group and walked in a direct line back the way they entered, past the lift, stepping into the newly revealed space and stopping where her eyes had led her. "Lightsabers," she said, as if she had been waiting to say the word for years. Nash was smiling from ear-to-ear. This was one of the moments he had been most anticipating.

Nash knew Eevou had skills with a sword or saber of some sort. Precisely what the object would be he did not know – until now. Eevou removed two hilts from the display and stepped back to provide a wide berth between herself and any walls or objects. One snap-hiss was followed by another as two blue sabers of light hummed to life. Eevou held the two lightsabers parallel to the ground, one above her head and one at her waist. There was a short pause, then, "Magic!" Nash exclaimed as the blades of light began to dance. Eevou's movement was so rapid it was nearly impossible to make out her arms and hands. She moved with fluidity and grace. It was as mesmerizing as it was deadly.

When Eevou stopped, she was in the precise position she had taken before starting. The blades disappeared simultaneously, Eevou returned the hilts to the display where she had found them, and walked back out of the room and rejoined the group. Sona, Korus, and Anogen were speechless. Paxson showed no reaction whatsoever. Nash clapped slowly, walked over to Eevou and stood in front of her until she finally looked up. He smiled down at her, almost as if he were a proud father, and though Eevou tried not to react she grinned and rolled her eyes.

Nash looked at the others. "Who'd like to go next?"