"And who exactly is this new sith lord?" asked Leia to the circle of leaders composing the temporary backing of the uprising New Republic.

"He goes by the name of Darth Roarke."

"...So he is a real sith? Not just a dark jedi?"

"Why? Do you know of him?"

"Yes. Jedi Master Luke Skywalker fought him on Bakura. We thought he had died..."

"He is hiding in an area of the galaxy known as Byss--"

Han sat up straight. "Byss?"

Leia cocked her brow. He's awake? Must be important...

"I've heard it before... a long time ago... on Nar Shaddaa, in my smuggling days. Mako mentioned it. It's supposed to be a big meeting place of all the really powerful guys running the Empire. Only certain people have access."

"So it exists?" asked one of the New Republic representatives.

"Mako said it did, so, yeah."

"Can this Mako person be trusted?"

"Sure."

Leia raised her brow.

"Probably."

Leia gave Han a hard look.

"Sort of... But I'm sure he wouldn't lie about something like that. He took his work very seriously."

Leia rolled her eyes.

"Look Leia, all I'm sayin' is that we should have a look into it."

Leia looked at the representatives. They nodded their agreement. Leia looked back and Han and sighed. "Alright. Tell Chewie to fire up the engines. I'll go send word to Mon Mothma and request two squads of starfighters and the Tantive V." Note: V as in the roman numeral for 5, not the letter.

Luke turned in his lightsaber to the trooper. Handing my lightsaber over... to a trooper, and IMPERIAL TROOPER! He shook his head and walked over to his favorite corner to mediate. I need to look further beneath the surface of the complex... There's so much there...

"You talk about her a lot. In your dreams." Hateya sat down next to Luke and sat in meditation formation. "Gaeriel."

Luke shrugged. His wish he didn't. The Force would never allow such a bond. He glanced at Hateya's slender body and inviting curves. If only, if only...

"What are you seeking when you meditate. I can tell you're searching something out. Or are you searching for inner peace?"

"Both, I suppose."

"It's dangerous to focus on two such strong things at once. Forget your emotion; what are you searching out?"

"Use the Force to look at the building, the prison complex."

Hateya complied. "Nothing special... or new. What of it?"

"Don't just look at it; feel it."

Hateya did as she was told, sighing. "There's nothing awry."

"Focus on the floor."

"... Oh... There is something weird going on there..."

"Try to focus below the floor."

"... There's so much metal..."

"A very wise, very little green Jedi Master once told me that 'size matters not--the only difference is in your mind'. At first, it is very difficult to see inside the basement, but try harder. Let the Force guide you."

Hateya sighed doubtfully. "And did he say anything helpful about how to let the Force guide you through something that big?"

" 'Feel it you must. Feel the flow. Feel the Force around you, everywhere, waiting to be felt and used.' "

"Easier said than done. He must've had it easier."

"Well, it was Master Yoda..."

"So you were really taught by the Master Yoda? You're not just bluffing? Pulling a fast one over all of us?"

Luke was surprised. "Would I really lie to you about something like that?"

"I suppose not. But it's so hard to believe that one amongst us was actually taught by such an amazing jedi..."

"Commander Rieekan, are your squads ready?"

"Yes, General Solo. Awaiting your command, sir."

"Let's get outta here, then. Chewie, we're off."

The Falcon and two sqauds of X-wing starfighters left the massive docking bay of the Tantive V, which had taken them as close to the rumored location of Byss as they dared go with the huge starship.

Leia laid her hands gently on Han's aching shoulders. "We've been searching for hours, Han. I don't thing we'll find it."

"We have to be close. Short-range Imperial fighters keep shooting at us on sight." Several minutes later, Leia shivered violently and almost collapsed. "Leia! You okay!"

After another short shudder, she nodded. "I feel a great disturbance--"

"--'in the Force', yeah. What does it mean?"

"That we must be close."

A frantic voice yelled on the comm. "Red Leader to General Solo! Red Leader to General Solo!"

"What is it? What's wrong?"

"Imperial fighters! Mark 10-2! Tons of them!"

"Chewie, scanners!"

"How many, Han...?"

"General Solo to Red Leader and Green Leader. Pull back! Pull back! We can't win against that many! Chewie, get us outta here!" Han turned to Leia. "I think we found the right system. But if they call over sixty fighters a scouting group, there's no way we can infiltrate Byss now."

Leia nodded. "Get us back to the Tantive V."

Han cursed. "They're following us! Chewie, take control. Leia, come with me to the ion cannons."

They took several more hits. "Shields down to ten percent, Han! And half of Red and most of Green are gone!"

"Leia--" A fighter hit near Han's ion cannons.

"Han?... HAN!"

Hateya shook Luke awake. "I saw." She stared boldly into his eyes. "What are you planning?"

Luke grinned. "So you noticed... Good. Now, have you figured out why I stare out into the east every morning?"

Hateya nodded.

Luke grinned wider. "Very good."

Han groaned and sat up. "Take it easy, General Solo."

"Red Leader?"

He laughed. "Please, sir. Call me Rory. Are you all right?"

Han rubbed his head. "I guess so--Leia!"

"She's fine. Mon Mothma has her in a meeting right now. Other than that, she hasn't left your side. She must really love you, if ya' don't mind my saying, sir. It's just that I've never seen her as devoted to anyone as you, 'cept for maybe Skywalker, but they're brother and sister, afterall."

Han shrugged and stood. The med droid wheeled over to him, beeping and whirring. "Oh, shut up." Han walked by it and out the door.

"Han!" Leia ran over to Han and fondly embraced him.

Han tried his best not to stumble backwards. "Whoa, easy, Princess."

"How are you feeling?"

"Pretty good."

Leia smiled and kissed Han again. "Oh, Han, I meant to ask you about the new General. We really do need to pick one out... and if--when Luke gets back, he can just have the position again... but we really need to..."

"Any suggestions?"

"How about Rory, he's--"

"Yeah, Red Leader."

Leia was thoroughly surprised. "You actually know his name? How do you know him? Are you two friends or something--"

"I met him in the hospital room. Good kid. Needs to hold his tongue, though."

"I think you're the last one who needs to be saying that--"

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Sure. Let's go make sure the others agree he's fit for the job."

"I've already talked to them. They're the ones who suggested him."

Han shook his head. "You..."

"C'mon. Let's go find him and tell him ourselves."