Vader interrogates a Rebel at a demolished refueling station, until the man reveals Luke's name and dies. He arranges to meet with Ulric Tagge, now Baron of the House of Tagge, chokes him for losing a Star Destroyer, and makes him tell what happened: as Orman's ship exploded, Rebels attacked his ship, which held out until the Falcon joined the fray; he and his staff survived in an escape pod and heard transmissions naming their attackers. Outraged that Tagge had all three but let them go, and weary of the rivalry, Vader shows him Orman and Silas, whose compartment survived. An R5 Unit monitors their life functions. Vader offers to keep them in stasis with Ulric as Baron if he cooperates or be brought before the Emperor with his brothers. Ulric agrees, enjoying his title. Wermis is surprised Vader didn't kill him, but Vader knows he is now a pawn. Patrolling near Yavin IV, Luke has his Blue Group X-Wings return to re-fuel, ignoring a pilot's jibe that he wants to keep Leia away from Han. TIEs enter the system chasing a civilian cruiser. Destroying the TIEs, they escort it to Yavin IV. Nursing a leg injury in the Massassi Ruins base, Leia interrupts Han's tale of Jabba and a three-legged bantha to meet the new arrivals, including Domina, a priestess of the Order of the Sacred Circle who seeks their aid. Her flirtation with Luke arouses him and irks Leia. Representing Monastery, a neutral world home to worshippers of the eternal circle of life, she tells Dodonna that Vader invited the Order to join the Empire. The Order is influential and could sway power against the Rebellion, so she invites Luke to debate Vader as an Alliance delegate. He and R2 go with Domina, while Han and the others follow in the Falcon to help if needed. 3PO uses ultra-frequency laserwaves to monitor Luke's progress as he, Domina, and R2 are attacked by a nightshrike, a flying creature preying at night in the Great Rain Forests. Killing the beast with his 'saber, Luke turns to see Vader. Barely controlling his anger, he vows they'll meet again. Vader is unimpressed and taunts him, but Domina's faith is soothing. Later, in quarters at the Temple of the Sacred Temple, Luke confides in R2 about his feelings for Leia and Domina, unaware Leia can hear him on the Falcon . That night, Domina and Vader meet in a tower room. She says the Order will be impressed at his use of the Force with the nightshrike, and that though her brothers put her here to avoid politics, their murder at Luke's hands [or so Vader has told her] has made her ally with Vader for vengeance.

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