Eight assassins hired to murder Darth Vader–eight assassins dead. Now the man who enlisted them seeks a ninth assassin. The price? A cost higher than all the credits in his bottomless coffers. But when it comes to avenging his son, no sacrifice is too great to acquire the man who can kill the Dark Lord of the Sith. 

Elsewhere, an unknown enemy obliterates a Star Destroyer, and an attempt is made on the life of the Emperor. A new enemy has made itself known in the galaxy, and Darth Vader is going to find it and crush it. But beware, warns the Emperor, this new adversary appears to wield a sorcery very old and very dark.