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So far, Luke had not seen a living being in this place, and the only one he felt was Brakiss.

Brakiss was closer now. He had regained control of himself.

The droid walked in tiny, mincing steps. It was easy for Luke to keep up. He asked no more questions, and the droid volunteered no more information. When they reached the end of the room, the droid opened the door.

“I am not allowed to go into the assembly room. Only specialized droids may be near that equipment. Master Brakiss awaits you. I will be here to escort you to your ship when you are finished.”

Luke thanked him, which made the protocol droid bob in astonishment. Then Luke stepped through the door.

The assembly room had a three-story opaque dome. Glow panels ran along the dome’s supports and reflected off the opaque covering, making the room as bright as daylight. Stacked conveyor belts emerged from the wall, angled in from every direction, and met at a tube in the middle. The tube was clear and large enough to fit a probe droid. Only oversized droids, like a binary load lifter, would not fit inside that tube.

The tube disappeared into the depths of the building. The floor was clear, and Luke could see the droids below, most shut off, all completely assembled, probably awaiting final checks before being sent to fulfill whatever orders were made.

The conveyors were off. The room was silent. Except for Luke’s breathing.

And for Brakiss’s.

Brakiss stood between two conveyor belts. The size of the room made him look small. He wore a silver uniform and matching silver boots. A silver lightsaber hung from his waist.

Luke had forgotten how stunning Brakiss was. Brakiss’s blue eyes pierced anything they looked at. His nose was straight, his skin flawless, and his lips thin. Leia had once called him one of the most handsome men she had ever seen.

She was right.

“Master Skywalker.” Brakiss’s tone held no respect. He stood his ground. If Luke wanted to bridge the distance between them, he would have to do it himself.

“Brakiss.” Luke let the calmness of the Force flow through him. “You never completed your training.”

“You didn’t come all this way to discuss that,” Brakiss said.

“Indeed?” Luke clasped his hands behind his back. His lightsaber was a reassuring weight against his hip. “Then what did I come here for?”

“Don’t play master-student games with me, Skywalker,” Brakiss said. “Just tell me what you want.”

“Your mother told me that you were expecting me,” Luke said.

“You didn’t hurt her, did you?” There was a swift protectiveness in Brakiss that startled Luke. It had not been there before.

“Of course not,” Luke said. “Your mother is a good woman, Brakiss. She is concerned for you.”

“She’s never been concerned for me,” Brakiss said, and Luke felt the pain, the ancient pain that had prevented Brakiss from facing himself on Yavin 4. Brakiss blamed his mother for the Empire’s use of him as a child. Not the Empire. His mother, who had been unable to prevent his loss.

But Luke had no time for old family arguments. “Were you expecting me, Brakiss?”

“At some point, Skywalker. You never let your students go easily.”

“It’s been years,” Luke said. “Students make their own choices. You aren’t the only student I’ve lost.”

“I was the only member of the Empire to best you,” Brakiss said, bringing himself to his full height.

Luke glanced around him. The light gave the room an airy, open feel that the protocol-droid section did not have. “This is an Imperial facility, then?”

“No,” Brakiss snarled. “It’s mine.”

“You’re no longer with the Empire.” Luke smiled. “See, Brakiss? Some good did come from your stay on Yavin 4.”

“I’m not with the Empire any longer because the Empire no longer exists,” Brakiss said.

“There are still enclaves,” Luke said.

Brakiss waved a hand in dismissal. “Powerless groups who cannot let go of the past. I have a new life here, Skywalker. I don’t need you.”

“I never said you did,” Luke said. “But you have a talent in the Force, Brakiss, a talent that needs nurturing, not the