As ruthless apprentice to Darth Vader, the Dark Apprentice was mercilessly schooled in the ways of the dark side, commanded to exterminate the last of the purged Jedi Order, and groomed for the ultimate Sith power play: assassination of the Emperor. He served without question, killed without remorse, and lost his heart without warning to beautiful Imperial fighter pilot Ja-ni, never suspecting that he was just a tool in the schemes of his Master's- until it was too late to escape their lethal betrayal. Ja-ni mourned Cale Lestin as dead... but now he is back, purged of all memories and programmed to kill. And as fate brings Ja-ni and Cale Lestin closer to reuniting, with Darth Vader determined not to lose assassin a second time, they will both make a stand. The prize is freedom. The punishment for failing will be eternal enslavement to the dark side of the Force...