If the Empire was willing to destroy a world of pacifists, Varitek reasoned, then the Caamasi philosophy of pacifism alone would not be enough to deter it; the Empire had to be resisted, he decided, and with violence if necessary. Reluctantly abandoning his search for Jedi knowledge, Varitek now wanted desperately to join the fledgling Rebel Alliance, but didn't know how (Coruscant was, at the time, a world much restrained and disinclined to rebellion). Resolved to resist the Empire however he could, he soon hired on as a pilot for the Cosmohaul Shipping Company; over the next three years, he would travel from one world to the next, quietly using his company freighter to smuggle fugitives, weapons and medical supplies to resistance groups on worlds like Contruum and Ralltiir. Cosmohaul would become suspicious of their pilot's late or missing shipments, however, and eventually reported him to the Imperial Security Bureau, which summarily arrested Varitek on Borleias.

His months of imprisonment would be the worst of his life, during which he fell into a depression and despaired at what he regarded as a lack of accomplishment or purpose in his life, and his impotence against the Empire. But much changed during his captivity: the Empire was defeated at Endor, the New Republic was founded, and soon Borleias itself was freed and Varitek promptly released. Seeking a sense of direction for himself, he resumed his pursuit of knowledge of the Jedi teachings and returned to a now liberated Coruscant to browse its famed libraries and museums. He would not find much information about the Jedi, but he continued his education regardless and soon studied sentientology at the University of Coruscant. Upon his graduation in 10 ABY, he decided to return to the comfort and counsel of Morymento for the first time in a decade, where he resumed his relief work at the colony and was reunited with his old Caamasi friends.

It was they who would convince Varitek to enlist in the newly formed Jedi Academy, though in fact he needed little convincing. In 11 ABY, he would depart Morymento once again on a search for Jedi knowledge, but this time he would finally find it, and his life would be forever changed. After a series of tests and mental trials, Varitek was admitted to the Academy and would soon excel in his training, particularly in the fields of diplomacy and history; he would often spend hours immersed in the Academy’s records, and as a result he was frequently dispatched to negotiate the return of, or otherwise recover ancient artifacts on worlds such as Dantooine and Telos. Now a Jedi Knight at age 28, Varitek is known for his calm and deliberate demeanor in both combat and mediation, although the seriousness with which he regards his studies is often mistaken for disinterest in his fellow students at the Academy, and he has few close friends there as a result.

Varitek is most proficient with meditation and empathy; rather than considering the Force as a tool or weapon, the Jedi Knight instead regards it primarily as a means of greater understanding of himself and his surroundings, and applies the Force more to his studies than to combat. He also considers the potential power of the Force a profound responsibility, to be used not for curiosity or convenience, but to uphold the rule of law. While he is respectable with a lightsaber, he is rather a more defensive fighter who prefers the versatility of a blaster pistol (though as a rule, he keeps his Model 44 set to stun except in the direst of circumstances).