Return: Chapter 8

As night settled over La'okio, Nom Anor decided to head home to his grashal following the end of his cultivating duties among the village. Throughout his on-foot trek back to what could be called his sanctuary in a place filled with people who wanted to kill him, he was wary of all those who passed him, even obvious members of the Extolled who would treat him with nothing but reverence as Yu'shaa the Prophet. The attack made upon him by Zhat Lah and Tla was not the first attack he endured, and it certainly wouldn't be the last, he knew. Yet, considering that attacks weren't as frequent here as they were while Shimrra-or rather Onimi (the one who was thankfully dead, Nom Anor reminded himself)-had been ruling the Yuuzhan Vong, even someone of Nom Anor's wariness can let their guard down, especially after a relatively long period of time had come to pass between attacks.

And that was what happened today. He let his guard down, actually allowing himself to believe that maybe no one would attack him today. And as if to counter that thought, Zhat Lah and Tla set upon him to try to beat him to death. In previous times, it would be either Sekot herself who would stop the violence or followers of Yu'shaa's Jeedai heresy; then it was Jacen Solo and Onimi of all people who saved him that time. Now Nom Anor had no choice but to accept Onimi's request of that lunch tomorrow so that they could be even; at least in that disgusting creature's demented head.

Nom Anor discontinued this line of thought and continued to head back to his grashal. When he rounded the corner to head back home, he stopped when he saw Nas Choka ahead of him.

"Hello, Nom Anor," Choka said. "I've been wondering where I could find you."

"What do you want, Choka?" Nom Anor asked.

"I witnessed the attack that Zhat Lah and Tla had performed against you," Choka explained. "It was such a surprise to see a legend among the Yuuzhan Vong like Jacen Solo save you from certain death; especially after all you had done against him and his family."

"What happened to him and his family, the entire Yuuzhan Vong race was responsible for, including you, Choka," Nom Anor said. "I just wanted to clarify that I wasn't solely responsible for those atrocities."

"Oh, no, you weren't," Choka said. "That much is clear. But you did more for us than most of us had... as well as doing more against us than any traitor like that bird woman Vergere."

"All these years and you're still not over the surrender that you yourself called for?" Nom Anor asked. "Seems self-defeating to me."

"You left us no choice, you know," Choka said. "I know that the Jeedai heresy wasn't all that killed our millennia-long society; most of the blame I personally assign to the infidels. But we both know that we could have had a better chance in victory against the Galactic Alliance were it not for the heresy that you inflamed as Yu'shaa."

"I think you forget, Choka, that what the likes of Shimrra had led was a lie," Nom Anor said.

"Oh, I haven't forgotten about that," Choka interjected.

"A lie that even Shimrra himself was aware of," Nom Anor added.

Choka smirked. "He seemed quite genuine in his belief in the gods in the final days of the war from what I saw. Did you not see it?"

"By then, Shimrra was quite mad; I'm not even sure he knew what words he was espousing after Zonama Sekot appeared in the skies of Coruscant," Nom Anor said. "What I do know was that all the while, from the time he toppled Quoreal from the polyp throne to the Battle of Yuuzhan'tar, Shimrra had always hungered power for himself."

"Ah, yes, even I admit that I cannot deny that truth even during Shimrra's reign," Choka stated. "But regardless, I didn't necessarily come here to talk about the folly of following Shimrra, although I was quite interested in talking to you about it, Nom Anor. No, what I did come here was to speak to you about what Onimi really is."

Nom Anor's one true eye narrowed in suspicion. "Onimi?"

"It is perplexing, I must say, that no one had seen that monster since the final battle of the war," Choka said. "And while I doubt anyone who even knew about him really cared about what happened to him after the war had ended, I must say that it is quite intriguing why we have not seen him until today; and saving you, no less. Sure, he offered that outlandish explanation that he and Jacen Solo were from alternate realities, but regardless, I sincerely doubt that the Onimi who cackled and rhymed at Shimrra's feet would so easily defeat a warrior like Tla with a simple scratch at the back of his head. Don't you think?"

"It must be a big difference between these Onimis, I believe," Nom Anor said.

"Then why didn't a keen eye such as yours, pardon the pun, take note of that even when you were surprised to see him alive, considering that you openly declared seeing him die?" Choka asked.

Nom Anor took a moment to himself to answer that. "Well, it is true that I had watched Onimi die. And it was certainly a big shock to see him alive. I guess it must have slipped my mind how this Onimi could defeat Tla so easily."

"Yes, just as it slips your mind to keep your guard up against those who still wish you dead here in La'okio," Choka commented. "But something tells me that there's more to this than you're letting on."

"Oh?" Nom Anor asked. "Like what?"

"I am not entirely sure, but I know that you know more than you are informing me," Choka said.

"Well, until you find out what that is, I shall return to my grashal..."

Choka blocked Nom Anor's way to return to his home. "You are going to tell me, right now, about what you know of Onimi."

"And if I don't?" Nom Anor challenged.

"Who do you think would last longer in a fight? A bureaucratic Intendent such as yourself, or an esteemed warrior such as myself?" Choka threatened.

"Quite an ego you still have, Choka," Nom Anor retorted. "I wouldn't have expected that coming from you. From someone like Tsavong Lah, yes, but I'm surprised at your willingness to sustain a tradition that was based on lies."

"Don't test me," Choka intoned.

"Like I haven't tested the warriors that you and Lah led?" Nom Anor asked. "You'd be surprised at how easily I was able to kill so many in the final battle of the war. And to think any of you put up a challenge for the Jedi. You know, you should count your blessings here, Choka; on Zonama, you don't have to endure anymore embarrassment from the incompetence of your warriors. No wonder they died in so many droves during the war. And I thought that they died for the loyalty they showed to their fictitious gods!"

Choka then quickly raised a fist, but before he could throw it out to punch Nom Anor, his fist was caught by a hand from behind. Choka looked behind and saw Harrar holding his fist.

"Is there a problem here?" Harrar asked.

"No, there is no problem," Nom Anor answered.

Choka looked back to his would-be victim before looking back at Harrar. "Like he said."

Harrar then let go of Choka's fist, albeit with obvious reluctance. "The both of you, return to your grashals immediately for the night."

Nom Anor and Choka wordlessly nodded before the latter walked past the former, deliberately bumping into him while the former Prefect of Yuuzhan'tar continued his route back to his own grashal.

"Do not think that you are exempt from scrutiny, Nom Anor," Harrar said without turning around.

Nom Anor stopped briefly in his tracks, but he didn't turn back either. "And what have I done?"

"You nearly destroyed Zonama, that's what you did," Harrar answered.

Nom Anor snorted and turned around. "That was years ago. And even Sekot had forgiven me after I returned."

Harrar then turned around to face Nom Anor. "You are correct. Since your deliverance by Mara Jade Skywalker and Tahiri Veila, you have not once done anything in any way to try to either destabilize the peace that the Yuuzhan Vong have gathered here in La'okio, nor did you try to do something like sabotage Zonama's hyperdrive cores again. And for that, Sekot has not put you on any special scrutiny. I, on the other hand, knowing all too well what kind of person you are, are still very skeptical of your intentions."

For a while, Nom Anor didn't say anything. Then he came out with, "Thanks. For saving me, that is."

Harrar nodded without mirth. "You are very welcome."

No further words were communicated between them as Nom Anor turned around to travel the last bit of distance back to his grashal. Harrar continued to stand there for some time before he, too, turned around and walked away.