Chapter one
The Jedi twins, now in their late twenties, waved farewell to their greying parents who were watching them from where they stood on Corescant's Imperial Palace. Jacen, smiling at the ship that was now his, the Millennium Falcon, gestured to his sister to hurry up.
"Wait, Ben and Anakin are on their way." The young Jedi bounded up to them, Anakin in his wake. He was their junior by ten years, but he didn't seem to mind. He flashed a grin at them, and gave them an energetic hug.
"What took you so long?" Reprimanded Jaina, leaning on Anakin's shoulder. "You're the whole reason for this trip, cousin-of-mine. Anakin's the only reason you hurried up!" Ben, or Obi-Wan (named after Luke's first teacher), merely flashed another grin at them.
"Oh, come off it. Look, are we leaving or not? And are we taking Artoo and Threepio?" The pair exchanged looks.
"I don't think sothey're needed here. We better go. The sooner we get there, the sooner we get back." Ben adjusted the lightsaber at his belt.
"Yeah, I guess. Well, Jacen, you're the pilot. Are we moving this bucket of bolts, or not?" Jacen frowned.
"Is that supposed to be an insult to my ship? Sure, it's a bucket of bolts, but a great bucket of bolts. Okay, smart-mouth. You getting into the co-pilot's seat, or what?" He held the same attitude as his father, Han Solo, once did, the same rough streak that ended up charming Leia, his mother. Ben flicked his brown hair out of his eyes.
"Nah, let Anakin here do it...I can sense he's dying to play with this ship." He said, stepping back. Anakin shook his head.
"A great Jedi you may be, my friend, but remember, it doesn't mean you go probing in my mind for my reaction!" He growled in mock-anger. He seated himself firmly in the co-pilot's seat for good measure. It was once Chewbacca's seat, but now, it was his. He brushed off any remains of Wookie fur and leaned back. "Besides, you can't fly a ship if your life depended on it...unless it's the X-Wing." Ben bristled, but Jacen interrupted.
"Right, you kids go and sit in the back!" Teased Jacen as he placed his headset on. Jaina pursed her lips.
"Fine then, if run into trouble, don't crawl back to us if you need gunners, okay?" Ben nudged Jaina.
"Jaina, manners to the pilots, control yourself!" They seated themselves in the passenger seats that were directly behind Jacen's and Anakin's seats.
"All right, lady and gentlemen, prepare for takeoff!" He flipped on the communications-link that was close to hand. "This is the Jacen Solo of the Millennium Falcon, requesting permission to takeoff, Corescant!" A familiar voice replied with good humour.
"Really, kids? What are you up to this time?" Jacen snorted.
"Uncle Luke, I should've known you an' Aunt Mara would be chasing after Obi-Wan Skywalker here to brush his teeth!" They fell about laughing in the cockpit.
"Funny, I'm sure, Jacen, but I was just checking if you guys were okay. By the sounds of it, you are. Anyway, why're you guys going wherever?" Ben leaned over and answered this time.
"Well, Dad, I think there're more Jedi on the outskirts of the system. I'll guide em, don't worry." He could feel his father's smile from where he sat.
"Well, then I should start worrying, shouldn't I?" Ben rolled his eyes.
"Come off it, Dad! Can we go now?" Luke sighed.
"So eager, son? Very well then...get outta here!" Ben smiled triumphantly.
"Right, guys," he said as they left Corescant's atmosphere, "I'm gonna show you where to go."
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On the other side of the galaxy in what was left of the now peaceful Imperial Empire, a storm was brewing in the mind of a young man. Andrew Damon was a resourceful commander in the Imperium, with an equally cunning mind. He read with scorn the history of the peace treaty between the Empire and the New Republic, and he was ashamed to know that they had given up. If only Grand Admiral Thrawn hadn't died that day decades ago...
In his mind, he had a plan to raise the Empire up again, something to destroy them for once and for all. During his readings, he had stumbled over a secret that Thrawn had hidden not so long ago, containing the key to the Rebellion's destruction. A massive but isolated Star Destroyer fleet by the name of Domination, was fully equipped, under the current command of a man by the name of Tiberus, and was kept in the outer reaches of the Empire, and out of the reaches of the pathetic Republic. There, troops were freshly trained and rallied, creating the perfect battle crew. All he had to do was find it. And perhaps...perhaps he could raise the Empire again, now that Pellaeon was dead. He could tell no-one, not even his friends. He would take a ship out to see if this was true, and, if it was, he could start the plans for the destruction of the New Republic under Leia Organa Solo.
But he cursed Thrawn under his breath for dying as he hurried through the corridors of the space station he was staying on. It would be a lot easier if Thrawn were still alive...then he could locate it, and take command of it. Yes...he could see it. Captain of...he stopped in his tracks. What if he were to take command of a Star Destroyer? It would make goings a lot easier. And he could persuade the crew...yes...it would work. He eyed the Annihilation through the viewport. It was one of the few Star Destroyers built in case the Empire needed to defend themselves. Empire indeed! Miserable system would've been a better word for it. He smiled inwardly, straightened up and started walking towards the Annihilation.
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"Uh...Ben...I don't think we're supposed to be here. This is one of the isolated places that Dad warned us about – your dad, too." Ben stared at the desert planet in front of them, falling into what seemed a trance.
"This is it," he whispered. "This is what I was telling you guys about. See that sun over there? That's Cardivarus. And the forest planet there is Dusk...I don't like the looks of it, but we're not going there. And that one over there...K'fiyanne, the ice planet." Jaina blinked at him in surprise.
"How did you know? We haven't even been there, let alone seen it." Anakin grinned.
"I think I know how he knows...something's told him, whatever's drawing him over there. Take us down there, Jacen." His brother snorted.
"Hey, who's the captain around here? Me. Right. Anakin, take us down...wait, don't. I will." Anakin narrowed his eyes at him.
"Why the sudden change of mind?" Jaina giggled from behind him.
"Well, the last time we allowed you to land a ship like the Falcon, you ended up in a mangled mess we had to pull you out of...because you said you were used to the X-Wing! Just like ol' Benny boy over here." Anakin grumbled to himself and leaned back in the chair, arms folded.
On the planet below, a grey-haired and tall man stood, with his brown-haired daughter beside him, watching the ship above them land. Her hand rested on the lightsaber on her belt, before she turned to her father.
"I've got a feeling that these are the Jedi we've been waiting for, Father. There's no need to get worried about what the Patriarch will say." The man squinted at the descending ship, his hand flying to his lightsaber in an old reaction.
"I know, dear, but we have to be careful. You said you called him? You know he never approves..." The woman smiled smoothly.
"Come, Father. How long has it been since we've been attacked? The Empire has fallen, and has no reason to go against us. Besides, we're the last Jedi on this planet. Wouldn't it be better to let them help us find a better home than this desert?" The elder shook his head.
"I don't know, Adi...the Patriarch isn't going to like this at all. You know how he is about visitors." She shoved him playfully.
"The Patriarch doesn't like anything, especially when I took the Firebird around the area." Her Father shoved her back, a smile playing on his lips.
"Control, Adi Katarn! Hush now, they come."
"Hey, we've got company already," said Jaina, fixing her gaze upon the two figures standing on the sand. "Hey, they're Jedi. I'm guessing these are the mysterious voices in your head, Ben?" Her cousin's eyes seemed to be rigid with the sight of the two people as well.
"No, just the woman...it's the one who was talking to me. Her name...she'll tell me her name when we land, she says," he said, a lot further away from the ship than the others thought. Jaina nudged him.
"You there? Or not there? You look more like your dad than you think, Benny boy." Anakin grinned behind him.
"Yeah...well, remember, he is his son..." Ben had inherited his father's calm looks, and his mother's greenish eyes, though they had a hint of blue in the corners. He brushed his father's light brown-blond hair out of his eyes, snapping out of what he was in.
"Well, of course. I wouldn't be anybody else's, okay?" Anakin gave one of his father's lopsided smiles, getting up from his seat.
"You sound more like your old man than you think, Ben. Now, are we leaving or not?" He was already heading in the direction of the ramp, so the others followed suit. Ben whistled softly as they stood on the sands of the planet.
"Looks a lot like Tatooine," he said, softly. "Let's go meet them." Jacen chuckled.
"That's cos it's covered in sand, Ben..." the strangers bowed, and smiled at them warmly.
"Good day to you, Jedi," said the grey-haired man, saluting with his lightsaber. "I am Kyle Katarn. I'm sure your mother, Master Skywalker, has spoken of me, and you are familiar with my name...and I'm familiar with your good father as well. We have crossed paths a few times." He then gestured to the slim, young woman beside him. Her shining brown hair rested lightly on her shoulders. "This is my daughter, Adi Katarn, as you probably have guessed." Ben smiled, and held out his hand in greeting.
"Please, just plain Ben will do. Your daughter...has often called me." She grinned, and held out her hand and clasped it with his.
"Yes, I have, as a matter of fact. I hope you didn't mind me intruding on your thoughts. You see, we haven't had any other Jedi around, and I thought you might be able to help us train the few that may have talents in the ways of the Force." She sighed. "Unfortunately, we don't have the facilities or equipment to train them. Surprisingly, metal is scarce here, and the only large amount of metal is in my ship." There was a pause, and she slapped her head. "'Sabers! I should remember my priorities as a host. Please, come with us? I'm sure we can talk inside where it's safer." They followed her to a fairly large town, or, a small city. And, like Tatooine, the buildings were basically domes made from stone. People bustled to and fro in the streets, walking, some stopping at the market stands along their way. A man, who appeared to be some sort of security officer, was riding a large, two-legged, two-armed sand lizard. His keen eyes caught the sight of some troublemakers he had spotted, and he bounded over to reprimand them. Adi stopped at one of the larger domes, and gestured to the door.
"Please, go ahead." Jaina leaned over to the others.
"Remember, manners. These people are being kind enough." Anakin shoved her gently.
"Oh, leave us alone, you wampa. Let's go in." There was a table in front of them, a simple, wooden affair with glasses and plates set around. There were benches to sit on, and rough-woven carpets covering parts of the sandy, hard floor.
"I'm sorry about the place, we don't expect company," said Kyle, apologetically. "But we'll bring what food and drink we have for you." Adi entered from a smooth side door, and set down the food in front of them. It was an exotic vegetarian meal, and it smelled delicious, a thousand eccentric scents coming from it. She poured them drinks, and sat down herself beside her father.
"It's been many, many years since we've had Jedi as company," sighed Kyle. "It's a welcoming sight to have them come again, but we're the only two that the Patriarch, or the city elder, will allow. He's a very superstitious yet knowing man, and he fears that if we allow anybody else in, people will rain terror upon us as the Imperials did decades ago. The only things he allows in are our usual trading ships." Jacen cocked his head.
"But the Empire fell, and is now at peace. Doesn't he know that?" Kyle nodded.
"You see, he fears that it will rise again. He has these...these oracles he talks to." He snorted. "Con artists, more like. You pay em, and they utter a load of nonsense. They walk around dressed in fancy clothes and claim they can read the future. Of course, they know that we know they're scum in disguise. And the Patriarch won't listen to us. They told him that Jedi were a nuisance, and they would overrun him some day. And he knows we're the guardians of this forsaken planet, yet he doesn't act like it. He doesn't accept the fact that the oracles were always wrong, whether it was about us or something else. I don't know...things need to change around here. We allowed you down here without his so-called great' permission because he wouldn't approve of you coming down here." He sighed. "And, because of our brush with a dark Jedi on the planet Dusk – you've probably seen the place – he believes that we can be the same if we use our power to fight in any way. He never approves of anything, the Patriarch." Ben laughed softly.
"Reminds be of somebody, but I can't put my finger on it..." Jacen shot him a look.
"Funny, Ben, but not really." Jaina glared at them for a moment, before turning back to Kyle and Adi.
"Please, go on." Adi held a smile, and continued for her father.
"Anyway, the slightest thing we do that's out-of-the-ordinary, he'll comment on. If we take out our lightsabers, he'll point fingers and accuse us of being dangerous. The only place we can train is far out in the desert, and it's not the nicest place to be." She begun to clear empty plates. "The Patriarch doesn't seem to approve with trainee Jedi either...he'll stop us if we tell a child of six that he's gifted with the Force." Kyle snorted again at this.
"I'm telling you, I'm sick and tired of him and his ideas. I was going to ask you...will you take us back with you? He never let us leave unless we had reason. He locked up Adi's ship, the Firebird, in some hanger and he won't let us get to it. He was forced to train guns on us to prove his point." Ben clasped his hand.
"Of course, Master Kyle! We'll be glad to bring two elite Jedi to the school. And, if you wish, anybody else who wishes to come." Kyle got up and shook his hand.
"Thank you so much, all of you! We are honoured to be taken from this place by your good selves. All that's left now is to tell the Patriarch that we'll be leaving."
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Not too far from where they were, the new self-appointed captain of the Annihilation, Andrew Damon, headed towards Thrawn's legendary backup supply of troops and Star Destroyers. He had managed to get rid of the last captain by persuading the crew that the Empire could rise again with his help. They drank it in, he thought, still smiling, Because they're weak-minded fools! There was some sort of encryptment on the document that contained the location, but after hiring a slicer by the name of Lission, he had learnt the coordinates of his destination.
"Once I find it," he whispered as he stared at the starlines from the bridge, "The Empire shall rally under my command!"
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The Patriarch stared at the Jedi in front of him from his throne. His old grey eyes remained unblinking as he stroked his pure-white beard. He shifted in his seat, staring continuously at the two in front of him. He let out a soft snort, and leaned forwards, resting his arm on a stout piece of wood.
"You honestly believe I'll allow you to leave? You're needed here." Kyle lowered his eyes.
"The young minds of the planet shouldn't be forced to live like this. They should be able to learn in the ways of the Force." The Patriarch stood up, raging.
"But if they do, they shall become like Palpatine or Vader! I shall not allow it! You have been corrupted by the dark side once before, Katarn, and it shall not happen again! You grew too powerful...no, we can't allow it! The oracles have spoken to me..." Adi watched the argument flicker back and forth, and then stepped forward.
"Your oracles know nothing, Patriarch. Would you like to discuss it further with a few friends of mine, old man?" She snapped, narrowing her brown-green eyes. The Patriarch's gaze swivelled to her.
"How dare you speak with me like this! Nobody is going to change my mind..." he broke off at the sight of the Jedi children, Jaina, Jacen, Anakin and Ben. "They...they came? You allowed them to come here? We allow nothing but the trade..." Adi gave a firm smile.
"I called him using my mind," she retorted, putting a hand on her hip.
"I hope we weren't intruding, my good Patriarch," said Ben, walking into view with Jacen, Jaina and Anakin behind him. The Patriarch spluttered.
"You can't let that immature Jedi here! Not him, not his cousins! Those...those are Jedi twins, trained by Skywalker, slayer of-" Adi stood forward.
"That'll be enough. We're taking the Firebird and leaving. You can't stop us. I'm sick of this place, and our restrictions. I want to leave." He stood up and waggled his finger at her.
"Enough, young lady! Remember, you still owe me-" she pointed an accusing finger at him.
"I owe you nothing! I paid off that debt years ago, but I didn't see it. I was a fool to believe you were looking out for my best interests." Kyle walked into the room, after slipping out unnoticed.
"We're ready, Adi...so are the twenty-five Jedi-to-be." The Patriarch's face went red, anger welling up inside him.
"I...you can't take people from here! I'll have you arrested..." he turned to Jacen. "And... I apologise, Master Jacen, and the rest of you, but you can't take them." Jacen smiled, looking like his father again.
"And, why, Patriarch? If she has paid off her debt, then she should be allowed to leave." The Patriarch waved his stick at them, angrily.
"You can't leave. I'll call the guards..." Adi swivelled around.
"And they'll do what? They're terrified of us. Farewell, Patriarch. I hope your oracles serve you better than I did." She bowed to him, and they filed out of the room.
"I'll have you hanged!" He stammered, waving his old arms in the air. "Or...or..." he sighed, and slumped into his seat. He heard the Firebird blast off, followed by the Millennium Falcon. He waited until they had left...and smiled. "You'll get what you deserve, Adi, child," he breathed, still smiling. "May all the gods help you on your journey."
Adi glanced back at Amaroth, something inside tugging at her. She then glanced at K'fiyanne, the ice planet – and the Dusk, its surface hidden by a swirling mass of sinister dark clouds. She shuddered, and then turned back to the controls of the Firebird. The craft was a neat, sleek vessel, with two lasers, two ion cannons and a concussion missile launcher. It was a dark red-brown, and it was shaped like an E-Wing, except it was a lot larger and was able to carry a maximum of twelve people including the pilot and co-pilot.
She and Kyle followed the Millennium Falcon out of the Cardivarus system, before speeding into hyperspace towards the Jedi school on Yavin 4, to drop off the odd twenty-five candidates. Yavin 4 was the secret Rebel base after the defeat of the first Death Star, and it was the place where the awards ceremony was held when Leia Organa Solo pinned medals on her brother, husband-to-be and Chewie. Later on, when Luke had started up the Jedi Academy (or praxeum, as he preferred to call it), there was some trouble with a dark Sith Lord, Exar Kun, who's spirit had overwhelmed two of his students, killing one and overtaking the other. Kyp Durron, who was infested with dark thoughts, stole a weapon that was worse than the Death Stars, the Sun Crusher, and escaped with it. Han and a handful of others brought him back, and he was released from the evil when Luke's first students defeated the corrupt spirit.
The new students-to-be waited with great anticipation of what was about to happen to them. They hoped to become Jedi Knights themselves, and follow in the footsteps of their guardians, Adi and Kyle. Twenty-five in all, they had been secretly readied for the visit by Kyle in the desert area where he trained Adi. He too was a great Jedi, and had defeated seven dark Lords who had killed his father.
Adi glanced at the little comm-light flashing above the comm-link, and she turned to her father.
"Incoming transmission, Father...I'll get it." She flipped it on, and spoke. "This is the Firebird, go ahead." There was a gentle snort of laughter, and then Jacen Solo replied back.
"Hello, it's Jacen. We're almost there, just to let you know. I'll send you the coordinates and we'll need to make another jump to lightspeed. You got em?" Adi watched letters scrolling across her screen.
"Yeah, I got em, Master Jacen. Okay, we're ready. We'll see you there, then. How are the other fifteen managing over there? Sorry, we didn't have enough room on here." A ripple of laughter was Jacen's reply.
"They're fine...they don't take up much room, though. Don't worry, the Falcon's a pretty big ship!" On the other side, Adi smiled.
"Glad to hear it...Firebird out." She turned off the comm-link, and grinned at Kyle, gesturing to the hyperspace lever. "You've got the honours." He grinned back, and placed his hand on it.
"Okay, folks...strap in! Jumping in five...four...three...two...one..." he pulled it back, and the stars around them faded into starlines. "And we're gone!"
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Captain Damon leaned forwards in his commander's seat, eyes widening at the sight before him. He ran a hand through his young hair, smiling.
"It...it's true...it exists..." And the sight before him was a fearsome one. The one he was waiting to see, aching to see after years of research. "The Domination Fleet exists! Oh, you Rebels, you may have taken our Katana fleet from us decades ago, but you shan't have the Domination! It's mine, and I shall rule over it in the name of Thrawn! I shall bring the Rebellion to their knees..." a voice spoke over the communications.
"Unidentified Imperial Star Destroyer, identify yourself, in the name of Thrawn!" Damon stopped the communications officer from answering.
"I'll handle this," he said, smiling. "Domination Fleet, I am your new commander, Captain Damon of the Annihilation. The Empire surrendered to the Rebellion, and I'm here to set things straight. I come in the name of Thrawn, and we shall succeed if you rally to me." There was a silence, then the voice.
"Do you know my name, Captain Damon?" The other smiled and leaned back.
"It's Tiberus, I've read the documents." Another pause, each officer on the bridge holding his breath for the reply. There was an almost-sigh, then the voice of Tiberus.
"In that case, Captain Damon, I hand over the command of the Domination Fleet to you. It's been many years, waiting for a new leader. I am old, seventy now. So, Captain Damon, I appoint you Commander of the Domination Fleet."
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The people of Amaroth who had accompanied Adi and the others pressed against viewports for a glimpse of their new home, Yavin 4. Adi and Kyle too stared, smiles on their faces at the Jedi school's haven, a world of opportunity and amazement.
"To think," whispered Kyle to Adi, "To think that this place was the training ground of the first Jedi Knights Master Luke trained! Amazing...truly amazing. And they defeated the first Death Star here...I think it's a wonderful accomplishment. And here, they shall be trained, too." Adi smiled, running a finger on the planet's statistics that were scrolling along her screen.
"It's a paradise...plenty of food and water, forest, mountains, hot springs and some large temples. Also great grounds to train a Jedi. The Great Master was right when he chose this place for his school." She heard her comm-link bleep.
"This is the Firebird. Where do we land, sir?" A chuckled met her voice...a casual, honest and composed voice, which sounded like the owner had gathered wisdom over decades...could it be...?
"This is Master Luke Skywalker, my friends, but no need to call be sir! Just follow the Falcon down, and I'll see you when you get down there." Kyle quivered with delight after she flipped off the comm.
"It is him, Adi...it's him!" She laughed softly and placed a hand on his arm.
"Easy, Dad. You sound like that little kid, what's his name? Jargon. You sound like how he sounded when you said he could touch your lightsaber! Yes, he is the real Master Skywalker, but don't fall out of your seat in excitement! I need you to land the Bird. I'll go with the navigation and communication controls." Kyle breathed in.
"Right, let's get this thing down!" Adi then giggled, nudged him again and turned back to her computer panels, hands on the various switches and buttons.
The Firebird landed in the clearing nearby the praxeum, which was now the main school. Luke Skywalker himself was standing on the slightly damp grass, his wife Mara beside him. He stood in front of them, smiling at the astonished twenty-five candidates. Adi and Kyle followed quietly behind, before standing behind the crowd.
"Welcome to Yavin 4, good people of Amaroth!" He said loudly, spreading his hands out wide. "I trust that you are eager to go. Will you please follow Mara here to the main schooling grounds? From there we'll begin training." Ben bounced out of the Millennium Falcon, grinning from ear to ear, throwing a friendly arm around his father's shoulders.
"This is why I left, Dad," he said, gesturing to the disappearing crowd. "But I'm back, you see..." he lowered his voice. "With two fully-fledged Jedi. Hey, where'd they go?" Luke smiled back.
"They're very modest not to show themselves...I trust they were the pilots I spoke with?" Ben nodded, leading his father to them.
"Hey, wait for us! Ben! You left us to put the ship on standby!" The others followed after him, a pink-faced Jaina in the lead. "That wasn't exactly polite, leaving us to turn the thing off. Never mind, I guess it's okay." Luke turned to them, as they hugged him in affection.
"So, has he behaved?" He teased, as Ben turned red.
"He behaved, I guess..." said Jaina, slowly. "But you know, little comments can leave bad impressions on the people..." Ben shoved her playfully.
"You sound like Threepio, Jaina!" She gave a smile, and fell in step with her brothers behind her. They walked into the main audience chamber, where Mara was giving a small presentation of the school and its grounds on a hologram.
"That's them," whispered Jacen, tapping Luke on the shoulder and nodding in the direction of Kyle and Adi. Luke quietly walked up to them and whispered, "May I talk to you?" Kyle, excitement dancing in his eyes, grabbed Adi by the arm and took them outside. "My son said you two were great Jedi," he said, his eyes searching them up and down.
"Well...it's a matter of opinion, Master Skywalker," said Kyle, gently.
"I'm sorry, my irresponsible son didn't tell me who you were. What were your names?" Asked Luke, glancing at Ben who was now trying to keep himself from turning red again.
"Kyle, Master, Kyle Katarn..." Luke's eyes shone.
"Kyle! You old bandit!" He seized him in a friendly hug, Kyle grinning. "Don't call me Master', all right? You're a friend...why didn't you say so? I had wondered where you had gone, after Mara helped you escape the Sith Temple..." he looked to his son again. "Ben! You didn't tell me!" Ben blushed again, turning around.
"Sorry," he mumbled, running a hand through his hair. Luke turned to the eighteen-year-old Adi, who was standing quietly to the side.
"And you're Adi...his daughter? Kyle, you never told me you..." Kyle quickly put a finger to his lips, dropping his voice to a whisper.
"Later, please, Luke. It's a long and unhappy story. Please don't." Adi now had her back turned towards the trees, before she turned back around and smiled.
"It's perfectly all right, Father...he didn't know..." there was an uncomfortable silence. Luke broke it for them, his gentle voice like a rustle on the breeze.
"Would you like to see the grounds? I think that the Jedi-to-bes will be very comfortable here."
Adi had gone to watch the other students with Ben, Jaina, Jacen and Anakin, while Kyle and Luke had a quiet talk. The lights were low, and the sunlight faded as night approached. Kyle sipped at his ale, looking thoughtful. He cleared his throat and leaned back in his chair.
"I'll tell you the story now, Luke. But if Adi were here, she would find it extremely painful. If you would prefer to pass on it, then let me know..." Luke nodded.
"I know, Kyle. But please, go ahead." Kyle sighed, closing his eyes in memory.
"It was several years ago when I found Adi and her sister A'lianne while exploring the dark shadows of Dusk. I used to share a ship with my friend, Jan...you remember her, don't you? Well, yes...so I adopted the two as my own, I'd never had children, but I knew these two were special. Their parents had been lost to a Dark Lord some years ago, A'lianne finishing him off and finishing her path to become a Jedi. Adi was at the deciding age of thirteen, and was still in training. Her sister was teaching her what she knew, and she was eighteen at the time. Anyway, I learnt that Adi had chosen the path to the Light Side, and her sister was pleased, but still disturbed. When questioned, she told me that there had been a boy with her – Iddyl Jun.
"Iddyl Jun used to be Adi's best friend, and they were taught together under A'lianne's careful eye. When the time came to build lightsabers, they were searching the planet for parts. They stumbled over another Sith Temple-" Luke allowed a gasp to escape his lips.
"I thought they all were destroyed..." he said, in a whisper. Kyle shook his head.
"I guess that one was missed, then. Where was I? Oh, yes. They had found another Temple, and Iddyl, his curiosity overwhelming him, wanted to explore it. Adi, however, demanded that they should stay away from it. She was a good child, from the start. But Iddyl...Iddyl went inside. And when he came out, he was extremely quiet. He left a month later for the wretched temple again." He sighed. "Poor Adi cried to her sister that he had gone in; but they said nothing of the matter for a year." He closed his eyes again, fighting rising tears. "When I came at the end of the second year of the incidents, and I took them in, A'lianne, feeling that Adi was safe with me, went off to get Iddyl back. Unfortunately, she never came back. Adi was crying that night, crying about a pain, and she said that she knew her sister was dead. I said that I would go after Iddyl...but she wouldn't hear of it. She said that we should go back to Amaroth, and never speak of it again.
"But then came nightmares, things that awoke her suddenly in the night. I often heard her speaking to Iddyl, telling him to return, telling him that he was wrong. Three years after living in Amaroth, when she was sixteen, and after she had built her ship, the Firebird, she left to bring him back herself. I followed her in secret, afraid of what she was about to do. She had left a note saying that she must face him to bring him back. When I got there, and had negotiated through the dark, evil corridors, I saw them in a fight. Their lightsabers clashed again and again, each as skilled as the other. I don't know who became Iddyl's Dark Master, but it must have been a good one. He had a terrible, twisted dark power, Luke...he kept on throwing Adi back against the hard walls that surrounded their fighting area. In the centre of the room, there was an abyss, of the Lost Souls of the Jedi. It was large, but not that large. Swirling spirits lived in there, trapped souls who had gone too far into the Temple...and he kept on saying that Adi would join them.
"She was too weak to fight after being thrown back again and again. He had her on her back, and rose his lightsaber ready to strike...and I couldn't stop myself. I threw him back myself, knowing a few tricks of the dark side...it was all I could do to stop him from killing her. I grabbed her and got out of there. Since then, two years after, he still plagues her in her sleep, her dreams...wherever a dark evil reigned, he would be there, as he would be able to take the leftover power and use it himself. She...she was never able to be rid of him. And, as he defeated her once, she lives only to defeat him and his evil reign of power, to avenge her sister's death. She's the last of her Blood, Luke, and if she dies, there shall be no more blood of the Dawn-Kins. It's Iddyl Jun's only aim, to rid the galaxy of the good Dawn-Kins. The name she carries now is Katarn, but inside, she knows that she's a Dawn-Kin, a doer of good, a warrior of Light, a conqueror of evil. And if he never ceases to stop his wrongdoing, he will kill her with it. And that's why I brought her here – not just to bring those twenty-five here, but to give her rest from him, far away. And so that I can turn to you for help, Luke." He looked up at Luke after finishing, his dark brown eyes holding back tears. "Will you help me, Master of the Jedi?" Luke stood up, and placed a hand on his friend's shoulder.
"Kyle, I'll do all I can in my power to help her."
Luke shared what he had learned with his son and Mara that night. Ben listened in silence, his eyes widening at every word. Luke sighed, leaning back.
"I...I never realised that such a bright, shining Jedi would hide so much pain and suffering," said Luke, shaking his head. Mara agreed, placing her hand over his.
"I know, Luke, but how can we help? You're needed here, to train the students and aid the teachers. Does this mean we're going up against another dark Jedi?" Luke nodded, running a hand through his brown hair that was now streaked with grey. Ben looked up.
"Dad, I'll help her. I know enough; I can help her. Besides, if I succeed, I will prove myself as a Jedi, as she will." He stood up. "I shall leave the judgement in your hands, Father. It's up to you to decide." Luke held up a hand.
"No, son, it's for you to decide. But, as I can see, you are already intent on helping her." A smile crept across his lips. "I think, son, that she shall benefit greatly from this. Now, get some rest. You'll need to rest for what's coming."
