Chapter X
"Wishing you'd gone with Leia instead?" Han shook his head, though his expression didn't change. Lando could hardly blame him. Solo had lost his youngest son to the invading aliens here when Anakin had succeeded in eliminating the greatest threat the Jedi had known since the Emperor. Jacen had vanished too, believed dead by all except his mother. While Jaina had begun a slide Calrissian remembered all too well from the time when Chewbacca had perished. There were few good memories awaiting them.
"With my luck I would've ended up here anyway," the former smuggler said, "Is our passenger talking?" "He's not even awake," Lando said, "He's got to be the strangest droid I've ever met." "You don't have to live around my house," Solo commented. "No, but I've had enough experience with your two charges to swear off their kind for the rest of my days," Calrissian said with a chuckle.
"I feel like I'm just some piece being moved in a cosmic puzzle," Han said, "I don't like it." "He could have at least given us with some idea of what to do once we arrive," Lando said. "Something tells me that what we will find is still uncertain," Solo said, "Which means that this may only be the first stop is a longer trip."
"I feel so useless, Master Luke," Threepio moaned, "Why am I here at all?" Across the room, Skywalker smiled faintly, and said, "We can't just leave you and we're not finished yet. Besides, someone has to look after Ben." The droid seemed to find no reassurance in his words, wandering off into the back of the ship. "You're a natural at getting him to leave us in peace," his wife commented, to which Luke shrugged. They were still an hour away from Obroa-skai, a world captured by the Yuuzhan Vong and now liberated to the benefit of the galaxy.
The library on the planet was well-known, and it also was located not too far from the space now held by the Imperial Remnant. A perfect spot for a quiet rendezvous, now that the war had died down. Luke suspected that the excuse used by Senator Rianes to come here was comprehensive, but when Cal Omas and the other heads of the Galactic Alliance saw the records of the meeting with the very ships that had recently attacked Denon… Well, the least that would occur would be that Rianes would be discredited.
If things go as planned, Luke thought. For all he knew, the respective parties might ditch their ships in interplanetary space and go in shuttles to the world itself. That would mean that their team would have to land undetected and sneak up on the group before anybody was aware of them. Normally not a problem for Jedi, but if Exar had guessed correctly one of the delegation was certainly versed well in the Force. The only question was whether this was for show, or quite real.
"I wish I could say that Sekot welcomes you, Corran," the voice of one of the Jedi now living below said, Fel wasn't sure who. "We have to reach a decision," Horn replied, "Do I get the Galactic Alliance out here to guard the planet until all of this blows over or do you risk being defenseless when the fighting starts?" "You know that we're hardly without protection," the other said, "This world has destroyed its enemies before." "It is not Zonama that I'm worried about," the Jedi Knight said, "It is you and the others. I believe that they are going to be the targets in any conflict that erupts."
"We have felt something of this nature coming since we left you," the Jedi below said, "It is not the first time we shall again weather a storm." "If the leaders of the Alliance ask me to direct them here, I cannot say I will refuse," Corran pleaded. "Let them come," the person on the far end said, "They are fighting for a lie. Sekot has shown us the truth, Master. Though lives may be lost here, it is with the one who stood firm that the answers lie. Ask him of his counterpart and you will see what must be done."
Jag frowned, puzzled at the odd phrasing. "Can't you be more specific?" Horn said. "Go back," the Jedi said, "Tell them what you wish. But remember what I have said, and when the time comes it will all fall into place." The channel closed, and the cockpit of his clawcraft was silent. "We're going to have to stop for fuel before we reach Denon," Jag said into the silence.
"I know," his companion said, "I'm just trying to decide which shipyard to use." Fel didn't reply, remembering the damage done to the infrastructure of the galaxy by the Yuuzhan Vong over the past five years. "Sluis Van is the only one that is close enough by the route we'll have to take," Corran said at last. The young Corellian agreed silently, setting his course and following the Jedi in leaping to the stars.