Feeling a sense of duty towards the Ganathans for their service in saving his life, Brand sought to repay them. Seeing that Ganathan society called for a strong ruler, Brand agreed to take that position and lived among the Ganathans hidden by the radioactive clouds as King Empatojayos Brand for a number of decades. Because of the remoteness and secretive status of the Ganathan culture, Brand was able to escape the genocide of the Jedi Purge, the rise of the Empire, and the victories of the Alliance. It wasn't until a number of years after the defeat of the Emperor at Endor would Empatojayos Brand return to the galactic fold and once again take up his role as a Jedi Knight.

The Empire had been defeated, the Emperor and Darth Vader killed. However, Emperor Palpatine had a number of contingency plans, as well as Dark Side adepts to carry on his work should he ever be defeated. Storing a number of clones within his private storehouses, even after his death, Palpatine was able to transfer his spirit into these clones and live on in a new body. With his Dark Side adepts at his side, the Emperor rallied the remaining forces of the Empire and waged war on the newly formed New Republic. Just like old times, Rebel heroes Han and Leia Organa-Solo, pursued by bounty hunters and forces of the Empire were fated to enter into the realm of Brand and solicit his help in fighting the forces of evil in the galaxy.

The Solos having recently left Nar Shadda with another Jedi Knight who survived the Purge as well, Vima-Da-Boda, took a critical hit to their ship, and to escape the ruthless bounty hunter Boba Fett were forced to hid in the radioactive clouds that surrounded Brand and the Ganathans. It was then that Brand rescued the Solos and learned of all that had happened in his absence from the mainstream of galactic society. Repairing the ship, Brand agreed to return with the Solos to help defeat the Reborn Emperor and rebuild the Jedi Order.

Traveling to the hidden planet, New Alderaan, Brand was introduced to Luke Skywalker, son of Anakin Skywalker, the very man who tried to kill him so many years earlier. Luke also has with him Jedi Knight Kam Solusar and Jedi trainees Jem Brogan and Rayf Brogan who are the some of the first the Jedi hope to train as Knights to rebuild the Order. On New Alderaan, Brand works with Jem and Rayf in learning the ways of the Force and the Jedi Knights.