The issue features the story "Masters and Students of the Force," which focuses on the Jedi Exar Kun as he learns secrets about the Sith and fallen Jedi Freedon Nadd.
In the remote reaches of the Star Wars universe, an ancient and deadly power has been reawakened by a foolish and arrogant young Jedi. He will begin a quest to become a Dark Lord of the Sith, and every galaxy will be threatened by his power.
On Dantooine, the Jedi apprentice Exar Kun listens to his master's holocron recounting the story of the Sith sorcerer Naga Sadow, who escaped Republic gunships by manipulating solar flares from the Denarii Nova to destroy the Republic gunships, resulting in the destruction of the entire star system. Kun is curious about the Dark Lords of the Sith and Dark Jedi like Freedon Nadd, much to the concern of his master, Vodo-Siosk Baas.
Before Kun can listen to the story of Freedon Nadd, Master Vodo orders him to turn off the holocron, saying that the knowledge is only meant for Jedi Masters. While Kun is confident since he has almost completed his lightsaber training, Vodo counsels him that a Jedi's training never ends. He tells Kun to prepare to practise his lightsaber with fellow pupils Crado and Sylvar.
In the Empress Teta system, Lord Keto inspecting a carbonite outpost to solidify ties with the Carbonite Guild. However, his tour is interrupted by the arrival of the Royal Tutor Korus, Aleema Keto, Satal Keto, and four other young royals. The younger Ketos had formed a dark side secret society called the Krath which dabbled in Sith magic.
When Lord Keto demands to know the meaning of this, Korus opens his mouth only to reveal a dark side illusion. The Krath use dark side illusions to overpower the Mining Guild officials and Lord Keto's guards, causing them to go into a catatonic shock. The Krath drag Lord Keto into a vat of molten carbonite. He is carefully dipped into a the vat, becoming a frieze. Launching a political uprising, the Krath execute several dissidents in that manner.
While dining over the head of Minister Halkans, Satal proposes obliterating several cities on Kirrek while Aleema boasts about torturing and humiliating descendants. A disfigured former Tutor Korus has been reduced to a servant. When he accidentall spills a flask of wine, Aleema incinerates him with Sith magic. Satal quips that it is time for their tired old fathers and teachers to step aside for the new blood and requests that another servant be sent up with more wine.
On the planet Onderon, the Jedi Ulic Qel-Droma, Nomi Sunrider, Dace Diath, Tott Doneeta and Qrrrl Toq enjoy a holiday by learning to ride Drexl beasts. Their holiday is interrupted by Jedi Master Arca Jeth, who informs him about the political coup in the Empress Teta system. The Jedi learn that the coup instigators Satal and Aleema had visited Onderon during the Freedon Nadd Uprising and made contact with King Ommin.
With the Jedi and Republic marshaling forces to save the Tetan worlds from the Krath, Master Arca tasks Dace, Qrrl Toq, and Oss Wilum with briefing Jedi and Republic leaders on the planet Ossus about what they had seen on Onderon. Arca plans to instruct Nomi in the art of battle meditation. He plans to send her and Ulic to the Empress Teta system to lead the Jedi intervention.
While packing up Sith artifacts for shipment to the Jedi Archives on Ossus, Ulic encounters a Force ghost of the Sith Lord Freedon Nadd, who tells him that the Sith are destined to rise again and claims that Ulic will be one of the great ones. Nadd also predicts that there is another one even greater than Ulic.
Back on Dantooine, Exar Kun parries with Crado under the instruction of Master Vodo. The prideful Kun beats Crado in combat, with the two exchanging insults. Kun then duels Crado's mate Sylvar. When Kun taunts her with xenophobic remarks, Sylvar gives in to her rage and scratches Kun's cheek. Kun turns the tables on Sylvar and challenges her to a fight.
Before an enraged Kun can strike her down, Maser Vodo restrains him and warns him not to give in to anger. Vodo asks Kun if he is a greater warrior than his master because of his lightsaber. Kun replies that Vodo is the master but that he only knows what he can do. Crado goads Kun by throwing him his lightsaber.
Kun challenges his master to a duel but Master Vodo bests him with his wooden staff. Vodo tries to assert his authority but Kun retrieves another lightsaber with the Force and breaks Vodo's staff. As Sylvar helps Vodo to his feet, Vodo tells Kun that he is the most formidable student he has ever taught. However, he senses something missing in Kun warns that Kun's heart escapes the light side. Kun counters that only he knows his heart.
In this issue, Naga Sadow is pictured with a Human appearance and described as "a member of an elite priesthood, of pure Sith blood" rebelling against the Dark Lords of the Sith descended from the Human Exiles who conquered them. This was retconned in Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi — The Golden Age of the Sith, in which Sadow was established as a Sith species/Human hybrid with mostly human blood and a Dark Lord of the Sith himself, while his primary rival, Ludo Kressh, was of mostly Sith blood.
- ; October 1, 1994; Dark Horse Comics; First printing
- ; November 10, 2015; Marvel Comics; Digital edition
- Tales of the Jedi: Dark Lords of the Sith
- Star Wars Omnibus: Tales of the Jedi, Volume 2
- Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: Tales of the Jedi Vol. 3
- Star Wars Legends: Tales of the Jedi Omnibus