Chapter 7

Luke Skywalker appeared with Wes Janson in Grand Admiral Thrawn's personal command room aboard the Septic, the flagship of the Imperial forces that flocked to the Alliance banner. Luke could tell that Thrawn spent time converting his personal quarters into a secondary bridge. The Chiss Grand Admiral also seemed to have a taste in art due to the collection he kept in his quarters.

"General Skywalker, Lieutenant Janson," Thrawn said from a perfect replica of the command chair on the bridge. "How nice of you to join us."

Luke concealed a feeling of embarrassment that he was later in arriving than the other members of his squadron. "Sorry I'm late, Admiral," he said. "I had Jedi business to attend to."

"Yes, of course," Thrawn said with a dismissive tone. "I supposed you are wondering why I called you here."

Luke nodded. "Yes, Admiral," he answered.

Thrawn pressed a button on his chair to activate a holoprojecter in the center of the room. The image of a small rocky planet appeared.

"I am sure you all recognize Kessel," Thrawn said. "It is the site of a major Imperial corrections center. Most who enter never see the light of day again."

"Our intelligence has pointed to an important computer being stored on Kessel," Thrawn said. "We have been led to believe that this computer contains vital information for a major secret project Emperor Palpatine was developing before his demise."

Luke observed the Grand Admiral closely, trying to probe for any hints of deception. Though he found none, it did not settle his unease. Thrawn was supposed to have a high security clearance, so Luke could not help but ask a question.

"Admiral, seeing as how you held a high position in the Imperial Navy, shouldn't you have already known about this secret project?" Luke asked.

"General Skywalker, I was dispatched on patrol in the Unknown Regions for much of my career," Thrawn said. "After the Death Star debacle, the Emperor tightened his security to prevent further leaks."

"That makes sense, Admiral," Luke admitted. The answer did not shake his feelings of unease, but he had no reason to believe Thrawn was lying.

"I have proposed an assault on Kessel to the Rebel High Command and they have approved of the action," Thrawn said. "Normally, I would use the fighters under my command, but I am requesting that Rogue Squadron lead the fighter attack on Kessel."

"What do you need us for?" Luke asked.

"My pilots need a rallying point," Thrawn admitted. "During the Clone Wars, the Jedi led Clonetroopers on campaigns, inspiring them to perform great deeds. Though we no longer use clone soldiers, they could still use Jedi leaders. Since I know you would be uncomfortable flying in a TIE Fighter, I have requested your entire squadron."

"What are your orders?" Luke asked. He was willing to trust Thrawn for the time being.

"Provide fighter support for naval and land operations," Thrawn replied. "I will be calling a meeting to discuss strategy shortly. You are dismissed. One of my aides will escort you to your new quarters."

+

Darth Apostas emerged from the jungle to gaze upon a lake. An island rested in the lake and a black temple rose into the sky. She realized it was Exar Kun's hidden retreat. The dark side seemed to radiate from the structure, repelling all life.

Apostas took a step onto the lake, finding a stepping stone. She continued along the path until she stood on the island. A black statue of Exar Kun greeted her, its presence serving as a warning sign. But Apostas was unafraid.

She stepped into the temple and was astonished to discover that it was much cooler than the jungle. Apostas glanced at the walls, noting the Sith hieroglyphs. She could not read them and wondered what secrets they contained.

Exar Kun's blue-white form materialized before Apostas. "Welcome to my private retreat, Darth Apostas," he said.

"This is a hidden repository of Sith knowledge," Apostas observed.

"For years, I researched the ancient secrets of the Sith and left a record here to protect it from overzealous Jedi," Kun said. "My research was nearly lost when the Jedi attacked this moon. But now it is available to you."

Apostas sighed. "I'm afraid I can't read that," she admitted.

"Tap into the dark side and it will be revealed to you," Kun commanded. "If you are truly Sith, then you will be able to understand the language."

Apostas slowly sat on the floor and began to meditate. She transformed herself into a conduit of the dark side, feeling its power feed her senses. Something about the temple amplified her power, transforming the trickle of power into a massive tidal wave. She opened her eyes, seeing the world around her in an entirely different light.

Apostas stood slowly, viewing only what she could describe as a visible representation of the Force. It pulsed violently in the temple, sending visible waves towards a section beneath the floor. Exar Kun appeared to her as a black vortex of swirling energy contained only by the ancient Sith's will.

But most importantly, Apostas could read the hieroglyphs on the walls. The mind absorbed the history of the ancient Sith. She read tales of many Sith Lords, learning of how Darth Prime conquered the Sith homeworld of Korriban and led his campaign that toppled the First Republic. It was knowledge unknown to even her father.

"Is there more?" Apostas asked Kun.

"My techniques can be taught if you find my tablet," Kun replied. He held out his right arm to point the way to the stairs.

Without hesitation, Apostas took the stairs to the basement. The sound of her boots against stone echoed. Only the occasional drip of water accompanied the noise of her intrusion

In the darkness, the Force gave her sight.

A giant blue crystal rose from the floor to the ceiling. Apostas could sense a powerful presence trapped within, but she ignored it. Something else beckoned.

Two Massassi statues guarded a worktable. A tablet and an ancient lightsaber rested on the table, just waiting for her to take them.

Apostas reached for the lightsaber first. Upon closer inspection, she realized that it had two blade emitters. She depressed the activation studs and blue blades emerged from the ends. The hilt was too short to handle with two hands, leading her to believe that Exar Kun may have practiced a variation of her Makashi form.

After deactivating the lightsaber, Apostas fastened to her belt. She then lifted the stone tablet from the table. The Sith hieroglyphs mentioned ancient Sith alchemy techniques. Vader once mentioned Sith alchemy, but told her that the knowledge was lost. Exar Kun had apparently rediscovered it four millennia ago.

"Learn the secrets of alchemy and I will be able to live again!" Kun told her as he materialized in the basement.

"Oh, even if I could learn these techniques in secret, why should I help you?" Apostas asked. She set the tablet on the worktable and drew her lightsaber. With a snap-hiss, the synthetic bloodshine of her blade emerged from the hilt.

Exar Kun blasted her with Force lightning. The dark tendrils collected around a raised lightsaber. Apostas held out her left hand and replied with her own lightning.

Kun left the focus of his lightning with one hand as he absorbed the incoming lightning with his other. "You have no idea how many unworthy fools I've killed here!" he exclaimed.

"You're forgetting one thing," Apostas said. "Life creates the Force. You are nothing but a ghost!"

To prove a point, Apostas deactivated her lightsaber and tapped into the dark side. The full brunt of Kun's lightning barrage impacted her torso, but she stood firm. "Your existence is but a shadow," she said, unaffected by the storm. "Without a body, you are useless."

Apostas held out her arms. "Return to the Force!" she screamed. Lightning poured from her body and into the ghostly form of Exar Kun. She could feel cells rupturing in her body as she tapped into an enormous power reserve.

"I will live again!" Exar Kun screamed defiantly before his ghost was overwhelmed by the storm. Knowing he would be beaten, a severely weakened Exar Kun retreated into the temple network he created.

Apostas allowed the lightning to dissipate. Glowlamps flickered on in the basement after the confrontation ended. The Sith fell to her knees and tapped into the dark side again, this time to heal her body. When she rose again, her body was refreshed, but her mind was exhausted.

More artifacts remained to be collected, so Apostas vowed to return to the site in the Sith Infiltrator.

Darth Vader sat alone in his personal meditation chamber aboard the Executor. When he noticed he was receiving an incoming transmission, Vader input a command on his chair that made a device lower his helmet onto his head. Once his face was covered, he activated the holoprojector on his chair.

An image of Apostas appeared on the right arm of Vader's chair. "Master, I accessed the Rebel beacon on Yavin 4," she reported. "I discovered bases on Dantooine and Ziost. There is also a base on a world in the Unknown Regions. I am transmitting the coordinates now."

"Well done, Lady Apostas," Vader told her.

"With your permission, I will investigate Ziost," Apostas added.

"Permission granted," Vader said. He probed with the Force, but found his daughter's mental shields were protecting her thoughts and motives. "I will detach a portion of the fleet to assist you."

"Thank you, Master," Apostas said.

"I will deal with the Rebels on Dantooine personally," Vader told her. "There will be no one to stop us this time."