A/N: Well, let's be honest folks, I am sick and tired of googling Fanfiction for Ben Skywalker and Vestara Khai, so I think I'm just going to make my own. This takes place almost immediately Post-Allies, really is just meant to hold me over until Vortex finally comes out (in DECEMBER). Just fyi, I appreciate constructive criticism whole-heartedly, and am always looking for someone to critique my work so if there are any betas out there, please contact me. My sources, of course, are Allies, Wookieepedia, and whatever inspiration gives me. I do not own Star Wars, but I AM the only one playing in this particular sandbox at the moment, so….

Saber Gavar Khai regarded the situation he found himself in with a watchful manner. He composed himself in a rigid pose, arms folded with a frown on his face. High Lord Sarasu Taalon stood beside him, barely noticeable in the dark cave. Before him, the Skywalkers and Vestara knelt over a series of large, footprints imposed into the rocky cave floor. A true monster she was, to make such an impact on the granite, Gavar thought. Indeed it was a truly formidable foe.

"It just doesn't make any sense," Ben finally muttered. "She was dead, I could have sworn," He shook his head, bewildered.

"We're going to have to follow these tracks," Luke said agreeably. "We can't stop until she's dead, or at least until we know more about her."

Vestara now cleared her throat. "Before we put him under, your Dyon Stadd had said that he finally felt her influence leaving him. Perhaps the Jedi and Sith affected by Abeloth are feeling likewise?"

Gavar immediately caught onto Vestara's cue and sensed the High Lord follow as well. "I'm sure we shouldn't all go at once. There is a chance that the beast could come back for Stadd."

Luke looked up at once into the Sith Saber's eyes and he understood immediately. "You're suggesting we divide out forces," it was a statement, a challenging probe to reveal Gavar's intentions. He pursed his lips, considering his options.

Sarasu nodded in agreement. "It seems sensible," he allowed a small, satisfied smirk onto his face. "unless, of course, you don't trust us."

Luke's raised his eyebrows in a similar fashion. "Us?" He said slowly. "It seems only two people would be necessary to watch the ship, whichever party is going after Abeloth should be greater."

Ben rolled his eyes, "Dad, I don't think we should have these treacherous Sith watch Mom's ship," his eyes went to Vestara for a brief instant. "Which means one of us would have to stay, at the most."

Luke let out a quiet sigh, Ben; I'm not leaving you alone with her, if that's what you mean. His thoughts were immediately picked up by his son.

It doesn't seem like we have much of a choice, I don't think I could take on Gavar and Sarasu at the same time if things get nasty, Ben snapped back.

Gavar nodded in agreement. "I don't think we should get hung up on who goes where though, let myself, the High Lord, and Vestara hunt for the beast and we shall return with her corpse," He grinned wolfishly.

Luke shook his head. "After that stunt you just pulled? No chance," Luke's eyes met Ben's in weary resignation. "We'll let Ben and Vestara stay with the Shadow, while you, myself, and Taalon will hunt down Abeloth. That seems to be the only solution," Luke could sense Ben's discomfort through the Force. He had been able to sense the young Jedi's displeasure at the Sith's betrayal earlier, but this truly was the only compromise.

Sarasu shrugged his shoulders, "This seems a fair trade. The children would only slow us down, anyway," he smirked.

"So be it," Gavar said, unfolding his arms and approaching Ben. "I trust you not to try anything, Skywalker, or you'll have me to deal with,"

Ben stood his ground, undaunted, "I'd be more intimidated if I hadn't bested you earlier," He grinned arrogantly.

"Well consider this, young Jedi," the older man responded, "If I were to draw my weapon as fast as I could and run you in right here in front of your father, would you be quick enough to stop my blade with yours?" His gaze was almost like that of an animal, challenging and predatory, almost daring Ben to make a move.

Ben's gaze was equally cool and confident, but with just a hidden touch of swagger. The air stood silent as the other's waited for Ben's response, violent or not. After a long pause, Ben took a step closer, closing the distance between himself and Gavar Khai.

"Why don't you try it?" Ben challenged. "See if it works," He gave a small, taunting grin.

The air was even more quiet, three pairs of eyes glued to the scene before them, the two men daring each other to blink, shrug, or do any move that would reveal weakness.

If Luke hadn't been so worried as to show weakness on his son's behalf, he would have rolled his eyes. As it were, he kept his thoughts and feelings private, securing his mental defenses against all but Ben, whom he showered with weary resignation and unease.

After another long pause, Gavar gave a barely noticeable sneer, "That's the spirit," he said as he moved past him. "I suggest we begin the hunt immediately, Master Skywalker," Luke got up and Sasaru followed the two, leaving Ben and Vestara alone in the cave.

Vestara rose, brushing the dust from her hands and stood next to Ben, watching them go.

Catching Ben's gaze, she gave a nod, "He likes you," she said simply, and began making the trek back to the ship.

The cave emptied out into a valley, lush and green, with plenty of flora and fauna. The trio followed the trail left behind by the injured Abeloth. They continued along in relative silence, the tension filling their journey until finally Gavar broke the silence. "For all of his Jedi training holding him back, your son is quite an admirable swordsman,"

Luke chuckled as he stepped over a large root and waved a vine out of his view, "Well, he learned from the best," Appearances had to be kept up, if he was going to be traveling with Sith.

"And who would that have been, Master Skywalker?" the High Lord chimed in, earning a short chuckle from Gavar.

"I taught him how to use a lightsaber, learned fairly quickly after so long of focusing his training more on his connection to the Force," Luke responded in an even tone, being careful not to divulge any unnecessary information.

"Why was his combat training so neglected?" Gavar inquired, stepping over the same root as Luke had.

Luke paused, considering his next words carefully, "Let's just say we were having some family issues," he reflected for an instant on Jacen, barely an instant of nostalgia and he knew immediately that Gavar had sensed his discomfort. Gavar immediately bared his teeth in a grin.

"In the Sith, we are sure to teach our younglings combat as soon as they show a desire to learn. After that, their aptitude displays whether or not they will excel,"

Luke paused to swat an insect on his neck, "And what about the ones who don't show aptitude immediately?"

Gavar's wolfish grin widened. "They are discarded," came Sarasu's reply as he moved past Gavar, "folded up into flight simulations, and then into remedial training for hand to hand combat."

Luke shrugged, "Good to know that you don't toss out the late-bloomers off of a cliff or something,"

Gavar frowned, "What's a late-bloomer?"

Vestara leaned against the bulkhead of the medical compartment of the Shadow, her posture betraying her impatience as Ben tended to the unconscious form of Dyon Stadd. Her foot began tapping against the floor panel and her arms crossed themselves.

"There you go, Dyon," Ben muttered, injecting the IV into his friends arm. "You should wake up in a few hours and feel tons better,"

"Our fathers and High Lord Sarasu have been gone for quite a period," Vestara finally blurted. "Should they not have returned by now?"

Ben turned his head, "Didn't they teach you any patience at whatever kriffing, Sith-infested nest they hatch your kind at?" His words spat venom all over Vestara's stoic expression, a sudden ire that she hadn't expected from the young Jedi. "If something had happened to them, we would have sensed it through the Force. We haven't, so this leads me to believe that they are still looking for Abeloth," He shook his head, the stress knotting itself in his shoulders and neck. He tried heeding his own words, but it had been four hours since he had parted ways with his father's party.

Vestara's frown deepened and her foot ceased it's tapping. "Much better to know when the time is to act than to sit around and meditate all day. No one is served with inaction."

Ben snorted at this, "Yes, because the last time your Sith had any impulse to act, it ended up quite successfully for you, didn't it?" He turned to face his pseudo-companion squarely. "The next time you feel the need to betray someone, perhaps you should wait until after you know the monster is dead," Ben's smirk deepened, relishing rubbing Vestara's failed attempt at treachery in her face.

Truthfully, Ben would normally never feel such spiteful antagonism towards anyone. But he had realized, as had Vestara, that the Sith's act of betrayal had struck a deep wound in Ben. Just as he had begun feeling some level of companionship, even camaraderie with Vestara, they had attacked his father and himself, along with ruined the situation on Klantooine. He could only hope that Jaina and Lando were on their way safely back to Coruscant to sound the alarm of this new Sith threat to the rest of the Jedi and, though he doubted a friendly reception, the GFFA.

Vestara's eyes narrowed with an emotion that Ben didn't wholly recognize, though if he could guess, he could call It as close to concern as he had ever seen on her face. She took a step closer, the distance growing closer between them until they were less than arms length away.

"Ben," her voice was sad and almost mournful, and her frown was threatening gravely to become a grimace, "our ways are unfamiliar at best to you, but understand that it was not my decision to betray you and your father in such a way," Her painful admission flabbergasted Ben, but only for a moment. Ben tried not to let his surprise at her sudden, if infinitesimal, display of remorse shape his facial features and doing his best to maintain a neutral calm.

"I wish that I could believe that, Ves," he let his sincerity shine through in the form of his nickname for her. "But your actions and your words have contradicted themselves since I've come to know you." He crossed his arms sternly, a regretful frown creasing his brow.

Vestara's eyes met his, sadness and regret pouring through, "My father's actions, my father's words, not mine! I am honor bound as his daughter to follow his instruction and order!" Contempt crept into her voice, "I cannot simply joke with my father's word, Ben. I cannot simply laugh at his orders!"

Ben stood unmoved, his expression hardening. "That logic can only take you as far as you want to believe that the ends justify the means. Ultimately, we all have to take responsibility for our actions."

Vestara gave a hiss of frustration, but Ben cut her off. "Eventually, your father is going to order you to kill me, Ves. And I'm not sure that friends are people that you constantly have to watch your back around. You're going to have to make a choice eventually, Ves,"

Her gaze dropped, "I'm going to go to my quarters and ponder this," She said passively. Ben irked his head, almost unable to resist.

"It sounds like you just told me you were going to meditate on this," He grinned.

Vestara chuckled and shook her head, "Don't get your hopes up, Skywalker," She said, walking off.

"And you are quite certain he believed your performance?" Gavar Khai's voice was gravelly and course as it crackled over the comlink, completely unrecognizable with the different syllable accentuation and phonetic rhythm that came with speaking his native language.

"Yes, Father, he is convinced that I am unhappy with my life as a Sith Apprentice," Vestara paused as she chose her next words. "No doubt he will attempt to redeem me, and he will leave himself completely vulnerable to a strike." Her words were hollow, sounding unconvinced and unbothered at the same time.

"I sense, daughter of mine, that your thoughts are becoming confused on young Skywalker," Gavar inquired. "Must I take care of the boy myself?"

Vestara sneered, "Don't be silly, Father, my resolve has never been clearer." Her voice had retained the same hollowness, only now she was having trouble convincing herself that it was simply professional distance coming through.

"Good. This will be your final test in your Apprenticeship. Slaying Ben Skywalker will mean your ascension to Sith Saber." Gavar could hardly contain his pride, even over comlink.

"I am honored, Father. I will make you proud," Vestara closed her eyes, in reverence or regret, she was having trouble making the distinction.

"I will expect a report in two hours, or I will com you if there are any new developments in our search for Abeloth,"

"Is there any news, Father?" Vestara longed to move the topic away from Ben.

"We picked up a trail of blood that was near the tracks left behind by the beast. Wherever Abeloth is going, she is definitely hurt."

"Good hunting, Father."

"And you as well, daughter,"

The link was closed, and Vestara found herself lost in a maze of her loyalties….