Vestara Khai sat at the edge of her mattress in the Jade Shadow. She sighed. She had the murder of Natua Wan on her conscience. It was her fault. The Rhak-Skuri could've been defeated, Natua could've been spared, and Ben Skywalker would've been saved. Tears slowly dripped from her face. Just then, she heard a knock on the hatch. She quickly brushed away her tears. "Come in." She called.

Ben walked in. "Dad says we're almost at Coruscant." He reported.

Vestara nodded. Ben immediately realized that something was wrong. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. I'm fine."

Ben sensed that lie. "Ves, whatever's bothering you, I can help." He placed his hand on her shoulder. Vestara shook her head. As hard as she tried, tears resumed flowing. "You can't." She wept. Ben's eyes widened. He immediately hugged her. "Hey, it's okay. If it's about the mission, you can rest knowing that this nightmare is almost over." He assured her.

Vestara shook her head. "No, it's not that. Something else." She wept. Tears had soaked Ben's right shoulder. Vestara sniffled. "You'd hate me for it."

Ben's expression softened. He knew what Vestara had done in the past. He instinctively knew that she was dealing with demons. He caressed her cheek. "Listen to me, Ves. I have, and always will love you. Nothing can or ever will change that."

Vestara wiped a tear away. "I just want to gather my mind."

Ben nodded, and patted her back. "This nightmare is almost over. Take all the time you need, but make sure you get ready for the infiltration."

Ben left the room, and closed the hatch.


Ben got his disguise on, then went into the cockpit. His father turned to him.

"How's Vestara doing?" Luke Skywalker asked.

"All I know is that something's bothering her. But she wouldn't specify."

Luke immediately thought back to when he was against Vestara. He cringed inwardly. He figured that that had to be it. He turned to his son. "I'll talk to her. You manage the ship, and don't do anything stupid."

"You're putting that task into a young adult boy?"

"Save being a smart-alec for after the mission."

Luke traveled through the Shadow. He arrived at the hatch of Vestara's quarters. He knocked on the door. "Vestara, It's Luke."

"I'm almost done." She called.

"When you're done, may we talk in private?"

There was a pause. "I guess."

After a little while of waiting, Vestara opened the hatch. "What did you want to talk about?"

Luke sensed the uneasiness in her voice. "I haven't been the best person to you." He said.

Vestara nodded slowly. "You were just trying to protect your son. I understand."

Luke shook his head. "Let me finish," He said softly, "I'm sorry for how I've treated you. I assumed that since you were born and raised Sith, that there was no redeeming you. Obviously, Ben proved me wrong."

A lump developed in Vestara's throat when Luke spoke of Ben redeeming her. She couldn't keep this lie up forever. But she needed to. She'd be ejected out of the airlock if he found out the truth. "I was scared. I've lost my wife, and I was worried I'd lose him too. That doesn't make what I did and said right. I'm sorry."

"I want to start anew with you. Start over. I want to make things better." Vestara sensed his honesty. She decided to go with it. "I accept. And I forgive you." She said. Luke patted her shoulder. "Thank you."


The Shadow landed covertly. Luke, Ben, and Vestara took a transport to the security checkpoint. After arriving at the checkpoint, they were met by GA Security. Sith Lord Ruku Myal–posing as a security officer–noticed them. Those folks are hiding something. He thought.

He subtly took glances at them. There was something about the older man and the young girl that piqued the Sith's interest. His eyes widened. So Skywalker and Khai live.

Luke sensed danger from Myal. Thinking fast, he used the Force to greatly dim the lights at the levtrain station. Myal immediately knew that this was indeed Luke Skywalker. Deciding that the risk was worth taking, he drew his lightsaber. "Jedi!" GA Security troops yelled. Myal didn't care. He lunged straight for Luke as blasterfire assailed him. Luke dove out of the way. As Myal landed, several blaster shots burned into him.

Using his hatred to fight the pain, Myal continued his advance on Luke. Vestara saw this as among many potential chances to redeem herself. Maybe I can banish this guilt if I keep helping the Jedi. She thought. She reached out through the Force, and sensed the Sith Lord's shikkar. Vestara sneakily used the Force to pull it out.

Myal was too busy preparing a slash to Luke's neck to notice his shikkar. He jumped, then felt a sharp pain in his chest! Luke rolled out of the way. Blasterfire hit Myal as he crashed to the ground. Vestara and Ben ran over. Luke felt Myal die. He turned to Ben and Vestara. "We've gotta go." He said.

Before more GA Security troops could arrive, the trio darted out of there, and rendezvoused with Admiral Bwua'tu.