Leia had been looking forward to some rest and relaxation after the disappointment on Naboo. A quiet evening with Han on the Falcon, or maybe a friendly game of dejarik with her brother or Chewie. Instead, she and Han weren't talking, Evaan was sent on a recon mission and now Luke was dropping some unwanted facts on her.

She almost missed the fruitless arguments with slimey politicians.Almost.

"Those events are indeed rather concerning, Luke." Mon said once her brother was finished. She was as composed as ever, but Leia could see the subtle hints of fear in her eyes. "Why didn't you notify me sooner?"

A younger Luke would've flinched at the disapproval in her tone, but the jedi held his ground. "I had nothing but vague suspicions until that last vision. And I was taught visions were often unreliable."

The older woman frowned in consternation. "And you believe this….being….is a threat to our cause?"

Luke shuffled slightly in his seat. He had never enjoyed being in the bright debriefing room. "I'm not sure. He helped me find Master Nu's library, so I can't tell whether he's friend or foe, but he clearly knows my history with the rebellion."

"Which means a potential security leak." Mon sighed at that. "I understand your concern, commander. I even share it. But I can't mobilize significant forces to Devaron based on a vision. Not with the way our forces are stretched so thin."

"And I wouldn't lead any forces into a potential trap." Luke amended "I'm simply asking permission to investigate by myself."

Mon shook her head. "No, I believe a sort of middle ground would be our best chance. I will speak with Carlist and Hera. We can probably send rogue squadron and a modified freighter with you."

Luke gave a relieved smile. "Thank you, chancellor."

"Then it is settled." Mon said as she got up. "And on my part, I will do my best to keep it off the records. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some rather pressing duties to attend to."

"Until next time, Mon." Leia said, and the older woman nodded warmly in response before leaving the room.

"I just got back, and you're going on a mission already?" Leia half-joked. "Sometimes I miss the days we just flew around the Galaxy blowing up imperial bases."

Luke smiled sadly. He had missed her, too. "I should be back in a few days. And you get to spend some time with Han."

Leia glared at him. "I'm the last person you should try and get crafty with Luke. You know we're not talking for now."

"Can't say I understand why." he admonished "You love him, Leia. You always have."

"I don't question that." she said with frustration "It isn't about whether or not I love him."

"Then what is it about?" he asked with his usual earnestness.

She smiled wearily at him. "I'll tell you because you'll keep pestering me if I don't. But don't tell Han. This is something I have to do myself."

-O-

The Temple of Eedit was once an important Republic outpost in the colonies region during the clone wars, and its strategic location evidently brought the wrath of the separatists to its door. Decades later, Luke had ended up stuck on Devaron during a mission, and found himself training inside its halls for a while.

Now, years later, he returned for a very different reason.

Devaron was a temperate and heavily forested world, and the devaronians worked and sacrificed to preserve it's natural beauty, even during the reign of the Empire. But Deep within its forests, existed the long-abandoned Jedi temple. During Luke's last visit, he had used a hidzen entrance by a cave next to derelict dam destroyed during the clone wars.

This time, however, he found himself taking the grand promenade that cut straight through the forest to end at the temple. The Empire was long gone from Devaron, and so were the sensors they had used to monitor the main entrance. According to his old friend in Tekaroo city, at least. It had certainly been nice to fulfill his promise to Farnay.

"I always knew you'd come back." His devaronian friend had said as they sipped tea at her workshop "I guess you're finally a jedi?""I hope so." he had said. "I hope I'm finally ready."

"Are you ready?" she had asked sincerely "To restore the jedi? That is what you once told me you'd do.""There's still a long fight ahead." he had noted "Probably not the best circumstances to try and restore an order of peacekeepers.""Yes, I suppose they'd need a peace to keep first." she had said with a chuckle.

Luke had grinned at her joke, but it had also struck a chord. He didn't want people, or worse; his students, to think of the jedi as warriors. Even if a fight was just or inevitable. He needed to gain a deeper understanding of what the jedi should be before he could become a teacher.

There was far too much a stake; The heritage of a thousand generations, and the hope of many more to come.

The Grand promenade known as The Eedit Road was much easier path to tread compared to the one he had taken last time, and Luke found himself strangely enjoying the hike. Sunbeams filtered through the leaves as the breeze shook them, and pikhrons ran to hide behind boulders as he approached. The young jedi almost forgot he was walking into a potential trap, and nearly pitied his fellow rebels cooped up in the ships. Although Artoo constantly made high pitched sounds, which Luke guessed were signs he didn't appreciate the road like him.

After an hour or so of hiking, he finally found himself at the main entrance of the temple. It was a majestic building comprised of two, dissimilar towers made of grey stone and joined at the base. The circular courtyard was empty, showing no signs that any vehicle had visited the place recently.

Luke frowned as the force tensed around him. "Any nearby ships, Artoo?" he asked. The droid extended its antenna which spun for a few moments before the droid released a short burst of noise that Luke identified as a negative. "Then he shouldn't be able to escape. Stay here, buddy. If anything happens, or if I'm gone for more than two hours, signal the ships."

The droid gave a mournful sound that caused Luke to smile and pat his dome. "I know you want to come, but I need you to be my eyes out here. Don't worry. I'm sure I can take down any greedy scavengers this time."

Taking a deep breath, the young jedi entered the ancient building and made his way through its hallways. The smell was as musty as he remembered, and vines covered the walls and pillars. Small rodents scurried as the light from his glowrod fell on them. And yet, for a moment, Luke felt connected to his heritage once more.

The Force was strong with this place, much like it had been on Dagobah and Oddonis prime. He hadn't noticed during his last visit, likely because his own connection to the force hadn't been strong enough back then. Opening his mind, he reached out to to search for any nearby sentients.

He found it surprisingly quickly; an alien mind that was difficult to read, but undoubtedly intelligent. It seemed to be calling out to him in some way, and soon he found himself at the doorway to the central hall. Inside, it was well-lit with a skylight and largely resembled the one in the Oddonis temple.

And at its center, holding a familiar spear, stood the being from his vision.

"Ah, Master Jedi. It is an honor." the alien said respectfully with a bow "I, Ra'a of clan Bakhtor, greet you in the name of my people."

"The honor is mine." Luke said stoically. The being's mind was mostly unreadable, but he couldn't detect any malice in his words. His presence in the force was also muddled, and Luke couldn't tell whether or not he was strong in it. "You were the one who sent me the visions?"

"Indeed, I was." the being answered casually. It had a deep, throaty voice that matched its appearance. "Although my strength in what you call 'The Force' is rather meager, places built on a vergence of it, such as this one, allow me to use the gift of third sight."

Luke frowned at the words third sight. Examining the ground, he saw discarded rations and equipment that implied a recent camp. "Why did you send me to Master Nu's library? And why send Aphra with me?"

The being didn't move in the slightest. "The library was a gift from my master. As for the doctor, we needed to see how you would react to having someone who had once betrayed you at your mercy. If you could work with them, you would earn your prize. Just as we had needed to see how you would react to a faceless enemy in need of your help."

"You staged what happened on Hradreek with the pilot?" Luke asked with a trace of anger at the way the alien had endangered their lives for a test. "How did you disable our fighters?"

"I'm afraid that must remain my secret for the time being." the alien said stoically before gesturing with his spear. "Care to spar, master jedi?"

"I'm afraid not." Luke said sternly. He wouldn't give these people, this being, any more information about him. Not when they had clearly been studying him closely.

"A shame" the being said ruefully, and Luke found himself believing him. "Unfortunately, I cannot take no for an answer!"

The being lunged so quickly, he covered the distance to the jedi in an instant, and Luke barely had the time to ignite his saber and lift it to lock with Ra'a's spear. "Very good, son of Vader." the alien said as he twisted out of the deadlock, and Luke's eyes widened in fear at the name.

The being came at him again. And again. And again……his speed and strength were staggering, and he was clearly a seasoned warrior. But Luke matched him evenly. The blocked, parried, stabbed, lunged, swung…...but Luke still held back because he sensed that Ra'a wasn't out to kill him.

They were simply sparring.

Luke didn't know how long their duel lasted before the alien broke away from the fight and hurriedly took a few steps back. "A duel well-fought, master jedi, but one thing remains before I bid you farwell. My master told me to advise you to find Project: Ossus."

"I'm afraid I'm not ready for a farewell." Luke said coldly. Ra'a simply gave an approximation of a smirk. "Unfortunately, that is not my choice to make. My masters would be most displeased were I to be captured."

"And who are your masters?" Luke asked calmly, hoping his fear wasn't obvious to the alien. Just who were those people who knew so much about him? And were they friend or foe? He had to admit the second option unnerved him greatly.

Ra'a simply extended his right fist. "All in due time, son of Vader."

The Force flared around the being as he opened his palm. Three small, silver spheres dropped to the ground to release a smokescreen, and Luke tensed as he held his breath. The sound of glass breaking and falling to shatter on the ground rung within the hall, and he looked up to see the skylight broken.

Wrapping The Force around him, Luke ran towards the skylight and leaped the distance to the roof. He landed in a crouch to see the alien sitting in an unfamiliar starfighter, and its engines roared deafeningly as it took to the sky. The jedi hastily grabbed his commlink once he recovered. "Wedge! Wedge, do you copy?"

"On our way, Luke" his friend's voice came over the comm "We got something on the scanners for a second, but it's gone. Any ideas?"

"It's a starfighter. Probably cloaked." Luke said tensely and the comm went silent for a very long minute.

"We're trying every scanner we have, Luke. It's Not showing--wait….." Wedge seemed to tense as well before deflating. "Sorry, Luke. It just went into hyperspace. Any idea what that was?"

Luke stared ahead in disappointment. "No idea, Wedge. No idea."

-O-

The ride home was uneventful, but the swirling lights of hyperspace did nothing to sooth Luke the way they often did. Not even Artoo's attempts to chat could distract him. The rebellion's foothold was still shakey inspite of, or perhaps because of, their rapid growth. They couldn't afford another enemy fighting with cloak and dagger methods.

Master Yoda had taught him to let go of attachments, but he couldn't help but feel terrified at the thought of losing everything they had faught for. It didn't help that he had ended up with more questions than answers today. But one bit particularly unnerved him.

Son of Vader.

How did this Ra'a know Vader was his father? As far as he could tell, his father's true name was known only to the Emperor. And more importantly, was it time for him to spill that detail to command?

It wasn't his choice alone to make. He would have to discuss this with Leia.

Arriving at the rendezvous with Home One, Luke and the Rogues touched down in one of the hangers and defeatedly exited their starfighters. Wedge in particular seemed to share his dejection. "Do I get to know what that was all about, or is it for the people at the top only? Because the mission briefing was less than thorough."

Luke just shook his head ruefully. "Sorry, Wedge. Intelligence business."

Rogue leader just snorted. "I see Cracken is rubbing off on you. Just….keep me updated as much as you can."

Luke nodded. "I'll do my best."

A few farewells and half-hearted jokes later, Luke made his way to his quarters for a sonic shower and some rest before heading to the debriefing room. Mon Mothma, General Cracken and Leia were already seated and exchanging worried glances. Taking his seat, he greeted them and presented his report, alongside the written ones of Wedge and Captain Argus of the Swiftbolt. Cracken went over the data from the scanners, while Leia and Mon's worried frowns deepened.

"This seems to be more distressing than we initially thought." Mon said, and Luke could almost swear she seemed older than last week. "These Masters could very much be imperial, or criminal syndicates at best."

"Agreed." Leia added "This whole thing could be a trap. And I don't believe the emperor's personal assassin being captured right before this is a coincidence."

"I suppose you're right." Luke said thoughtfully. It was certainly a possibility he'd considered on his way here. "Do we even know what Project: Ossus is?"

"We do, in Fact" Cracked said as he put down his datapad and glanced at Mon. "It's one of Palpatine's hidden warehouses. According to Vader's data, it contained information Palpatine wanted to keep away from everyone, and not even his top enforcer knew what that was."

"Then it can't be good." Leia put in. "It could be back-up technical readouts of the Death Star or some other monstrosity. Perhaps even some biological weapon like the blue shadow virus."

"But that begs the obvious question; If this was indeed a trap by the Empire, wouldn't they already have access to said warehouse?" Mon wondered.

"Not if Palpatine kept it that secret." Cracken noted. "Not even Vader knew of its location or what's in it. Our slicers didn't find mind much about it in his files."

"But we know someone who might know where to find it" Luke pointed out.

Cracken rubbed his chin "The Empire does seem to be hunting the Emperor hands. From what we could tell, Vader suspected they might know. But if she knew, it makes no sense for them to send her here when she could just lead them there. Unless we're not dealing with the Empire."

"It seems we might have to take a risk." Mon said "We need to obtain whatever it is that is in the warehouse. Or destroy it if we couldn't. The thought of these secrets in the hands of the Empire..."

"I have an idea." Leia put in. "We could send a single task force to the system, while two more wait in reserve a microjump away at different points. That way, whatever the Empire or syndicates might send, we'd have a card up our sleeve."

"A daring plan, although somewhat simple." Cracken noted "But what if the primary force is jammed and can't signal the other two? Or if they bring in an interdictor?"

"You can't jam the force." Luke said with a devious smile. "I can go with the main group while Leia waits with the reinforcements. I'll be able to signal her if things go wrong."

"It's certainly worth considering." cracked said. "We'll speak with Rieekan to organize the forces. But there's still the matter of the ground-to-space defenses. Vader speculated that they'd keep away a fleet if they had to. And he certainly didn't have deactivation codes."

"But there's someone who might have them." Luke suggested.

"But how do we make sure she gives us authentic ones? Assuming she even knows anything." Mon wondered.

Luke shrugged "We bring her along. That way her fate will be the same as ours."

"Absolutely not!" Leia snapped "She could be part of this, remember? We need to take all possibilities into consideration. You've done plenty of reckless things, Luke, but taking along someone programmed to kill you is just crazy."

"So was hijacking a star destroyer." He reminded her with a grin, earning himself a death glare, much to Cracken and Mon's amusement.

"I'm afraid we may not have the option." Mothma stepped in. "From what Airen told me, those defenses could cause massive casualties and losses if we don't disable them; Losses we can't afford."

Cracken gave a resigned sigh as he grabbed his datapad again. "I suppose I'll have to reopen negotiations with our guest then. And send this data to engineering. A cloaking device that resisted all these scanners and an astromech's at that close of a range…..is something likely experimental, which is bad news for us."

Luke did his best to ignore the pit in his stomach. And he knew it wasn't from the stale ration bars he had ate.

Author's Notes:Another (hopefully) speedy update. I hope this chapter wasn't boring to you with all the planning. Some deep cut references to The Weapon of a Jedi by Jason Fry and some clone wars stuff. Hopefully Ra'a revealing himself was enjoyable.As usual, let me know what you think. Likes, Dislikes, Thoughts...it will mean the world to me. Your reviews get the next chapter here faster.