"The time has come to put an end to the Disciples of Ragnos. I believe that Tavion is storing Force power in the scepter for one purpose: to resurrect Marka Ragnos."

The whole Audience Chamber gave a collective gasp. Luke's gaze swept the room from the top of the dais as everyone took in this information.

"Is that possible?" Jaden asked, confused.

"The Force holds a great many secrets. It may be possible that, if a high enough concentration of Force energy is infused into a body, the cells might regenerate, bringing the person back to life."

Her blood ran cold. "We have to stop them!"

Kyle stood next to Jaden, arms crossed and released a humorless chuckle. "Ha! No kiddin!" He turned and addressed Luke. "So we're going to Korriban, huh? Not exactly a vacation spot."

Jaden felt like she'd missed something. "Korriban? I remember seeing it mentioned in the Archives. What is it?"

"It's the burial place of a whole bunch of Sith lords. It's where Ragnos is buried," Kyle replied.

"If Ragnos is resurrected, there's no telling what he might be able to do. It will take all of our strength to stop him," Luke said. "We must be on our guard down in the valley there. We'll go in separate teams, the more advanced students will be sent closer to the burial site, while the apprentices will be more spread out on the perimeter. Your masters will accompany you. The New Republic fleet has agreed to assist us in engaging Tavion's Imperial ships. We leave within the hour, and may the Force be with you all."

"We're not heading to Korriban just yet," Kyle told Jaden when she joined him in the hangar by the Raven's Claw. "I just received a distress signal from Rosh."

Jaden's felt as though her heart had stopped. "Rosh? Where is he?"

"He's being held captive on Taspir III. It's an Imperial controlled planet, a real paradise," he said sarcastically.

"I'm confused, how did he get a message out?" The gears in her head started turning, something wasn't right, she could feel it.

"I don't know. But we can't leave him there."

Jaden wasn't sure what she was feeling, she'd learned not long ago that her friend wasn't her friend anymore. She wanted him to turn back to the light, but it seemed impossible. She could never be sure to trust him again after his betrayal. What was stopping him from pulling everything out from under her again? And she was starting to resent the softer feelings she had towards him too. She wondered if Kyle was even thinking of the risks.

"Rosh could still belong to the dark side. It could be a trap," she reasoned.

Kyle stood up straighter and clasped his hands behind him, giving an imitation of Luke. He looked down at the ground as if considering her words, then looked back up at her. "It could be. But I'm not willing to let him die there if it isn't."

He had a point, but…

"But what about Ragnos?" Jaden almost pleaded. "We have to go to Korriban."

Kyle unclasped his hands and put them on his hips. "Well if we're lucky, we'll catch up with everyone else before the fireworks start." He studied her face with that searching, intense gaze that often made her squirmed under it, raising an eyebrow. "If you don't wanna help me…-"

"N-No. I'm coming. I want to come." Her voice came out as a rebellious tremor, her true emotions lapping at the edge, threatening to spill over.

"Do you?" Kyle's voice was firm, but his eyes were soft.

"Yes, Rosh is my friend and we need to save him, let's go before we miss everything." She started to push past Kyle towards the cockpit, but on a hunch, he grabbed her shoulder and swung her back around to face him.

"That's not all, is it Jaden?" He held her shoulders firmly, looking her in the eye. She was struggling with something, of that much he could see. "What is it kid?" He asked softly.

"Kyle…" Was all she could get out before the tears and the sobs fully escaped her. Kyle didn't hesitate a second before pulling her into his arms and wrapping them around her like a safety net, catching her as she collapsed into his chest. She was safe, the storm was outside. He stroked her hair like she was a little girl, his little girl. Kyle had never had kids, but he wanted them someday, and this felt like good practice. He'd have to talk to Jan about that soon.

Jaden felt safe. It felt good to be held by something solid, someone whose presence always made her feel appreciated, accepted and challenged her to be better. The smell of Kyle's starched shirt, the feel of his heartbeat against her cheek, the hand rubbing her back, this was the care she'd so desperately wanted, needed.

"Hey, kiddo," he said softly into her hair. "Tell me what's wrong."

"Everything," Jaden said miserably.

"Can you narrow it down for me?" He asked gently, but his dry delivery made her choke out a laugh. How was she crying like a baby one minute and laughing the next?

She took a deep breath, and tried to tell him.

"Rosh, I… I had suspicions, feelings about him from our first mission on Tatooine, the way he killed the Sand People we ran into, his eyes… I was afraid and worried about him. I wanted to tell you but didn't want to interfere and I'm sorry. And now he's with the dark side, with Tavion and I hate it. I hate it, I hate her, and I hate him!"

"No you don't," Kyle said gently.

"I do! I hate him because I, I…"

"C'mon Jaden, it's okay, it's just me."

"I love him." Her breath escaped like a sigh of relief and a gasp for air all at once. "I love him and I don't want him to die." She cried even more, somehow, the feeling of complete relief at finally admitting those feelings freed her from all the pressure, all the pain. "And… and there's something else too…"

"Tell me."

"On my first day, when I saw Tavion at the Temple with the scepter… I was spying on them and she must've heard me and pointed it in my direction… I got hit by all that Force energy… I felt… Something happened inside of me, this great darkness and pain entered me, somehow it's all clear but I've had nightmares from it since, images of darkness, the sound of mechanical breathing, like… like Darth Vader, I just know it was him. I've been more irritable and angry since then and it's been so hard to control…"

More choking sobs ensued. Kyle held her tighter, wishing he could squeeze the darkness out, ward it off with his comforting embrace, but he couldn't, he knew enough about facing off with the dark side to know that it would be her choice, not his, and she still had a long way to go.

"Jaden."

She finally lifted her head and looked Kyle full in the face, holding his eyes with hers, he felt his own brim with tears. "Uh," he cleared his throat. "Listen, this fight, this internal darkness, I have a feeling that it's going to get stronger the closer we get to Rosh and Tavion. The closer we get to defeating her. If you're going to come with me, I have to ask, can you put your feelings for Rosh aside, can you fight your anger and hold this darkness back for us to complete our mission?"

Jaden took a deep breath, the fresh air from the moon blowing through the hangar. She still felt the darkness, it was there, just below the surface. But somehow, having her master know it was there, knowing that she was with him and that he'd given her the tools to fight it, she didn't feel so alone.

"I'm coming," she said.

"You can fight this Jaden, but it will be the greatest challenge of your life. The closer you get to betrayal, the closer you get to the cliff's edge," the image of the handsome Jedi said. She'd heard his voice on Nar Kreeta, and now here, in the cockpit of the Raven's Claw, where Kyle had told her to mediate, she could see him as clear as if he were there with her. And now she could finally put the pieces together of his identity. She'd seen plenty of hologram images and recordings of him, the scar at the corner of his right eye was unmistakable. He was the Spirit of Anakin Skywalker. Luke's father.

But beside him, was the darkness, the black helmeted figure robed in darkness. Darth Vader.

"The conviction you lack will be your undoing. The true test of the Force is approaching you, and you shall soon join me."

"No!" Jaden screamed out loud.

"Jaden focus!" It was Kyle, but his voice was echoey, as if from far far away.

No, we will see. Just you wait. The darkness cannot prevail where there is light. I've seen it all the time I've been at the Academy, with your son. He saved you. Who's to say I can't help Rosh too.

"Helping your so-called friend is not what's at stake," Vader said. "It's your salvation you should fear. Without all of your power, what will you do then? You didn't think you became so powerful merely because Luke and Katarn were good teachers, did you?"

What do you mean?

"Search your feelings."

He was right, whatever had happened to her that first day, the blast from the scepter, it was the reason she'd picked up things so quickly, so easily. But yet…

What about my lightsaber? I built it before I was hit by the scepter's power.

Silence. It seemed Vader didn't know how to reply. Then:

"What will you do when you lose everything and have no power or strength? You will die."

Jaden looked around for Anakin, but he had long since disappeared.

Is the dark side truly this powerful?

The Raven's Claw flew over the volcanic planet of Taspir III, red lava and heat haze seemed to cover the majority of the planet's surface. Jaden could already feel herself sweating. A large factory came into view and Kyle maneuvered the Claw towards a lone landing platform that was empty and at the side of the facility, well hidden and not well guarded.

"You gonna be okay kid?"

She nodded.

"We don't have time to talk about it, but did you discover any answers, anything interesting that helped while meditating?"

She shrugged. "I'm not sure. But you needn't worry about me Kyle. I think now that I'm more aware of the darkness, the easier it'll be for me to fight it."

Kyle nodded back. "Just… be careful. Fighting darkness is easier said than done when you're not in a volatile situation. Keep your wits about you and call me if you need anything, especially if you find Rosh." He placed his hand on her shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. "I believe in you kid, and that's the truth. I… I've grown really fond of you and Rosh. It almost feels like Jan and I have kids of our own at this point… but she only visits on occasion." They both laughed lightly, the stress of the situation an ever present weight on their shoulders.

"I love you too Kyle." Jaden's voice was hoarse as she vocalized her true sentiments. "And Jan, she's… she's like the mom I always wanted. Hopefully I can tell her that someday." She slipped out of the cockpit and landed on the circular platform below before her master could reply, but she was sure she'd seen more tears well in his eyes.

A moment later, Kyle's emotion edged voice cleared its throat over the comlink and began to speak.

"I'll go in the back way. If we enter from both sides, we're bound to find him. May the Force be with you Jaden."

"And you too," Jaden said before securing her com and setting her face towards the door. Even if she had to cut a hole in the side with her lightsabers, she was going to get inside. At all costs.

The door opened easily and she was met with stormtroopers, but there were so few that fighting them was easier than entering the facility. Jaden found a lift and took it up to the next level where she was met with more security and a lone door that led out onto a retractable bridge that wasn't out. She stared at the large gap wondering if she could jump it, then looked down, getting blasted with a wave of heat from the swirling lava and decided that it wasn't worth the risk, but spotted a platform below.

"Ah Sithspit," she muttered and went back inside to take the lift back down. She found an outside door and a ramp leading to the platform below. The heat of the lava was much more intense here. Beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.

"Whew, it's really hot here." She wiped her brow and located a switch, throwing it. Far above her, she watched as the bridge extended, locking the two opposite pieces together. Jaden worked her way back up, running across the bridge in case it decided to retract again and stealthily entered the door at the far end. The room she'd entered was a kind of tower with a ramp that spiraled downward, with small control rooms or lifts off the side built into the wall. No one was visible on this top floor of sorts, so she snuck down, hiding behind metal pillars or tubes filled with lava that presumably would be sent to some other part of the facility to be mined for its minerals. She heard two stormtroopers as she crept along behind them as they patrolled rather lazily.

"Anyways, that Bith was really getting on my nerves, so I shot him. How was I supposed to know he was a friend of the Admiral?" The first said as if giving a perfectly good reason.

"You'll be executed for sure." His companion replied matter-of-factly.

"No way. They don't know it was me." His friend argued.

"Sure they do, your pistol has a tracking device in it. The higher ups can trace when your weapon was fired and where."

There was a tense silence. Jaden had been sneakily walking behind them, matching the sound of her footsteps with theirs. She stopped when they did. Blessedly, they didn't notice her, she was partially behind a pillar, but even if they looked in her direction, she'd be caught. She reached towards one of her sabers. Finally, the first stormtrooper said:

"You're kidding? Um, I-I have to go check on something." Then he turned. Both stormtroopers hesitated, then raised their blasters.

"Wait!" Jaden said, holding up a hand, hoping their minds were susceptible to Mind Trick. "Tell me where your prisoner is being kept if you want to live."

"In the Refinery," they both replied in monotone.

"And how do I get there?"

"Outside, take the long bridge, can't miss it."

"Good, now forget I was here." Jaden slipped past them, adding over her shoulder, "Get back to work!" They repeated her words back to her and went about their routine.

Jaden stood at the edge of the long bridge that crossed a wide expanse of lava that flowed into the refinery. It was unguarded and seemingly safe to cross. But she knew better. These Imperials had to have something up their sleeves. On either side of the bridge were dark colored buildings with ramps leading down into the lava and doors that were tight shut. It all gave Jaden a very ominous feeling as she stepped onto the bridge and began to cross it, looking from side to side, even up and down to ensure that nothing was going to come at her.

A small sound, like a door opening to the side and behind her, Jaden stopped and turned, seeing the first door in the building on her left slowly open, and a large Hazard Trooper, like the ones on Vjun stepped out. It was several yards away and it began its descent from the ramp. Jaden's heart skipped a beat as it took a step right into the lake of lava. She fully expected the trooper to catch fire and start screaming, but it didn't, it kept going and then she realized that the other door in the building on the other side was opening.

"Hold it right there!" The first Hazard shouted and Jaden took off before their concussion rifles started firing. She ran and kept going, even as more Hazards appeared on either side of her. The bridge began to shake with the impact of their missed shots. One hit a space in the bridge farther ahead and Jaden had to skid to a stop. She watched helplessly as large chunks of the bridge sank into the lava. Some pieces stuck out like small islands, the gap was too large to jump. She'd had to risk it with the broken pieces.

How am I going to get to the other side without getting boiled?! She thought frantically.

"Focus," the voice of Anakin Skywalker echoed again and again in her mind. "You can do this. Just Focus."

Jaden focused on the closet chunk of bridge in front of her even as the bridge beneath her feet trembled and shook. She jumped, landing perfectly in the center. The heat was even more intense down here, nearly blinding her with each wave that swept across her face. She leapt to another pile, made it, and another and another, getting farther from the slow moving Hazards who, even with their masks, could not see their target properly to make a clean shot and soon enough, the firing ceased.

She looked across to her goal, the farthest jump she'd have to make so far without much room for a running start. She knelt down anyway into a starting position and focused on her goal. She thought of all the times she'd focused like that: In training, her cell on Dosuun, the big jump over the chasm on Chandrila, to name a few. She closed her eyes, trusted the Force, and jumped.

She landed on her feet, stumbling, but catching herself and ran towards the large door of the refinery. It opened into a large room with a short lift up to a high platform surrounded by a railing. And on that platform was a large statue, a bust of the head and shoulders of Marka Ragnos.

Just like the one in Racto's office! Jaden realized.

Suddenly, a figure jumped out from behind the statue and started shooting a blaster at her. Jaden crouched and rolled to the side, easily avoiding the bolts. She looked up and saw why. They weren't serious shots, they were just meant to mess with her. The figure standing on the platform was Alora.