On Shedu Maad, the Sith Meditation Sphere known as Ship descended from the planet's heavens with two Jedi StealthX fighters flying at either side. The three ships landed several miles from the Jedi Order's Academy, allowing for Ship itself to disembark its sole passenger.

A boarding ramp unfurled from Ship's rear and Vestara Khai used it to exit the Sphere. Her booted feet hadn't even touched the ground before the pilots of the StealthXs - a gray-furred male Yuzzem and a female Givin - popped open their vessels' canopies and used the Force to launch themselves from their seats. They landed swiftly on their feet, meters away from Vestara on either side, their lightsabers ablaze.

Now standing on Shedu Maad's soil, Vestara rolled her eyes in irritation and raised her hands above her head.

"Very good, Khai," the Givin said. "Now tell your Sith ship to seal itself up again."

"Ship?" Vestara asked without turning her head to face the Sphere.

Ship complied with Vestara's unspoken command, and the section that had created the boarding ramp closed itself back against the hull.

Without hesitation, the Givin, with her free hand, pulled out a device the size of a human fingernail from her robes and quickly flung it toward Ship. The device latched onto the Meditation Sphere, whose form was then covered with blue electricity for five seconds. Once those seconds were gone, nothing more occurred.

"That should keep him inert," the Givin said before returning her attention to Vestara. "Now, ready for a walk to the Academy, Khai?"

"Can't wait," Vestara replied sarcastically.

The Yuzzem approached Vestara, his lightsaber still leveled against her, and he wasted no second with yanking the Sith's lightsaber from her belt.

"Let's go," the Yuzzem said.

By the Givin's lead, Vestara turned to the mathematically-minded alien's direction and followed her. The Yuzzem, meanwhile, continued to level the lightsaber behind Vestara as he followed her in turn.

Nearly an hour later, the two Jedi and one Sith arrived at the entrance to the Jedi Academy grounds. There, as they crossed the campus grounds, the trio was viewed with obvious wariness from the Jedi around them, primarily for Vestara's presence among them.

The nasty stares were really all that they had to endure on their trip through the grounds. It was also the worst that they, and especially Vestara, had to handle once they were inside the Jedi Temple itself.

The Sith hoped that the stares would be the worst thing she'd have to go through by the time her meeting with Luke Skywalker was over.

She and the two Jedi escorting her had finally arrived outside the Grand Master's office. The Givin knocked.

"Come," Luke's voice came from the other side.

The Givin then opened the door and led Vestara and the Yuzzem inside. Once the door was closed behind them, Grand Master Skywalker looked up and eyed Vestara instantly. His expression was as typically unreadable as his Force aura, just as Vestara came to know him.

"You two," Luke said to the Givin and Yuzzem. "Leave us."

The alien Jedi nodded, turned, and left, leaving Vestara alone with the Grand Master of the Jedi Order.

"Sit," Luke commanded without any hint of anger.

Vestara complied as she found herself a seat across from Luke.

"I'm listening," he said.

"As I'm sure you're quite aware of, Master Skywalker," Vestara began, "a civil war in the Mandalore sector is waging. And the Jedi are needed to help stop this before it becomes a grave threat to the galaxy."

"And as I'm sure you're quite aware of, Lady Khai," Luke countered without malice, "the Jedi are in no shape to mount a mission that can stop that war... even if we did believe your claim that it will concern the rest of the galaxy in the long-run."

Vestara's eyes beetled in confusion. "You haven't sensed anything from the Force that told you how bad this may get?"

"You know something I don't?" Luke asked, his expression doubtful of what Vestara maybe implying.

Vestara met Luke's gaze with a challenging one, already knowing what he thought even without the Force between them. "If I were lying, do you think I'd take such a risk coming here?"

"I think someone as smart as you would know how to calculate if the risks are worth the payoff of whatever scheme you're plotting, Vestara," Luke said.

"So you're just gonna let this civil war play out then?" Vestara asked.

"If it does turn into a considerable threat outside its sector, then I'll see to it that the Jedi will do something about it," Luke replied professionally.

"You'll be too late," Vestara said. "And with your resources, you won't be able to help out the Galactic Alliance stop it. Especially when Abeloth might return because of this war."

Luke narrowed his gaze upon Vestara. "If Abeloth returned," he intoned, "I would know."

"Would you now?" Vestara asked. "So, because you're the Grand Master of the Jedi Order, that automatically makes you the go-to guy for the Force to tell you when one of the most incomprehensible beings might return to wreak havoc on the galaxy again?"

"The thought has crossed my mind," Luke replied sardonically.

Vestara threw up her hands in defeat. "Fine. Fine. Don't believe me? Then probe for yourself."

Luke shook his head. "Nice try, Vestara. But you fooled me once, when you made me believe that you were ready for the Order."

"I fooled myself at the time," Vestara said. "I genuinely believed that I could be a Jedi, Master Skywalker. But I was wrong. So you and Ben weren't the only ones I tricked."

"Then why should I believe you now?" Luke asked.

Vestara made a wry face before shrugging her shoulders. "I don't know."

"Then give me one good reason why I shouldn't have you incarcerated in one of the Temple's jail cells?" Luke asked.

Vestara thought for a moment. "What if I asked for one Jedi to help with the Mandalorian crisis?"

"If you want Ben-"

"I won't ask for him," Vestara interrupted. "Any Knight or Master will do."

Luke leaned forward. "How about a Knight or Master who would fall beyond your sphere of dark influence?"

"If that's what it takes," Vestara said.

Luke crossed his arms in judgment. "Why are you so interested in the civil war?"

"You mean aside from the destructive potential it might bring to the galaxy?"

"If that's even true."

"Well, if nothing else, I'd certainly like to help an old friend."

"I assume you mean Mirta Gev?" Luke asked.

Vestara nodded. "She and I formed something of a friendship after that whole Qreph thing. It'd be nice to help her out."

"Does your friendship have anything to do with Nar Shaddaa?"

Vestara sighed. "Yes."

"Tell me about that, and then I might consider helping you."

"Really?"

Luke nodded.

"Well, I doubt you'll believe me anyway, but..."