Disclaimer: I am not George Lucas or Rick Riordan.
Enter Jacen, Jaina, Ben, Danni, and Booster, on Cloud City.
As they step into UnuThul's yard, they discover that they are divided into four sections: winter, spring, autumn, and summer.
Jacen. One section for each of the four Joiners, four cardinal directions.
Booster eyes the spring section.
Booster. I'm loving that pasture. You guys mind . . .
Jacen. Go ahead.
Exit Booster.
Jacen, Ben, and Danni step into UnuThul's mansion.
Enter Jysella, UnuThul's personal assistant.
Jysella. Hello. Are you from Lord Sekot? We've been expecting you.
Jacen. Are you a ghost?
Jysella. [offended] I'm a Melodie, sir. A wind spirit, as you might expect, working for the Joiner King. My name is Jysella. We don't have ghosts.
Danni. No, of course you don't. My friend simply mistook you for Depa Billaba, the most beautiful mortal of all time. It's an easy mistake.
Jysella. [blushes] Oh . . . well, then. So you are from Sekot?
Jacen. Er, I'm the son of Sekot, yes.
Jysella. Excellent. Please, right this way.
Jysella leads Jacen, Ben, and Danni through Cloud City.
We're out of prime time now, so that's good. I can fit you in right before his eleven-twelve spot.
Jacen. Er, okay.
As they move through Cloud City, Jacen, Ben, Danni, and Jysella pass crowds of Melodies and Omwati.
Jacen frowns at the Omwati.
Not a Melodie?
Jysella. [laughs] That's an Omwati, of course. Our, er, ugly stepsisters, I suppose you would say. Don't you have Omwati on Tython? They're spirits of violent gusts, unlike we Melodies. We're all gentle breezes.
Jacen. Of course you are.
Danni. So, you were taking us to see UnuThul?
Jysella. We have a few minutes before he starts. He probably won't kill you if we go in now. Come along.
Jysella leads Jacen and the Jedi into UnuThul's lair. The area is covered with holocams and holovision equipment. As there is no floor, Ben almost tumbles down toward the surface of Woteba before Jacen catches him.
Ben. Holy . . . [to Jysella] Hey, Jysella. A little warning next time.
Jysella. [gasps] Oh, my. I'm so sorry. [into her comlink] Hello, sets? Is that Yoggoy? Hey, Yoggoy. Could we get a floor in the main studio, please? Yes, a solid one. Thanks.
In seconds, a group of Omwati workers build a makeshift floor for Jacen, Ben, and Danni.
Jacen. That can't be safe.
Jysella. Oh, it is. The Omwati are very good.
Jacen steps forward. Fortunately, the floor holds. Following after him, Danni takes his hand.
Danni. If I fall, you're catching me.
Jacen. Er, sure.
Ben steps forward.
Ben. You're catching me, too, Solo. But I ain't holding your hand.
As Jysella leads them into UnuThul's main sanctum, Jacen and the Jedi admire the place.
I've got to get a room like this.
Enter UnuThul, a bald man with blue eyes and a scarred face, dressed in elaborate crimson robes which spoke of aristocracy.
Jysella. Master Thul. These demigods . . .
UnuThul. Hold it. Watch.
UnuThul indicates one of the viewscreens around him, wherein a tornado is seen somewhere on Corellia.
The Disaster Channel. Beings do that on purpose. Isn't that amazing? Let's watch it again.
Jysella. Er, sir. This is Jacen, son of . . .
UnuThul. Yes, yes, I remember. You're back. How did it go?
Jacen. [surprised] Sorry? I think you've mistaken me . . .
UnuThul. No, no, Jacen Solo, aren't you? It was, what, last year? You were on your way to fight a voxyn, we believe.
Jacen. I . . . I don't remember.
UnuThul. [laughs] It must not have been a very good voxyn. No, we remember every being who's ever come to us for aid. Obi-Wan actually docked at our island for a month. At least you only stayed a few days. Now watch this video. These ducks get sucked straight into . . .
Jysella. Sir. Two minutes to air.
UnuThul. Air. We love air. How do we look? Makeup.
A crowd of Melodies surround him, making him look presentable.
Jacen holds out the backpack filled with Force spirits.
Jacen. Master Thul. We brought you these rogue Force spirits.
UnuThul. Did you? Well, how nice.
Jacen. Thrawn sent us to capture them for you. We hope you'll accept them and stop, you know, ordering demigods to be killed.
UnuThul. [laughs] Demigods be killed . . . Did we order that?
Jysella checks her datapad.
Jysella. Yes, sir, fifteenth of September. "Force spirits released by the death of Lord Nyax, demigods to be held responsible, et cetera. . . ." Yes, a general order for them all to be killed.
UnuThul. Oh, bumblefluff. We were just grumpy. Rescind that order, Jysella, and . . . Who's on guard duty, Unu? [to Unu] Unu, take these Force spirits down to Detention Block AA-23, will you?
A Omwati steps forward, takes the Force spirits, and frisks them away. Once they have departed, UnuThul grins at Jacen.
Now, sorry about that kill-on-sight business. But kriff, we really were mad, wasn't we? You know, we remember now. It almost seemed like a voice was telling us to give that order, a little cold tingle on the back of our neck.
Jacen. A voice in your head, sir?
UnuThul. Yes. How odd. Jysella, should we kill them?
Jysella. No, sir. They just brought us the Force spirits, which makes everything all right.
UnuThul. Of course. [laughs] Sorry. Jysella, let's send the demigods something nice. A box of chocolates, perhaps.
Jysella. A box of chocolates to every demigod in the galaxy, sir?
UnuThul. No, too expensive. Never mind. Wait, it's time. We're on.
UnuThul steps in front of the holocam.
Jacen exchanges looks with Ben and Danni.
Jacen. Jysella. Is he . . . always like that?
Jysella. [smiles] Well, you know what they say. If you don't like his mood, wait five minutes. That expression "whichever way the wind blows" — that was based on him.
Jacen. And that thing about the voxyn. Was I here before?
Jysella. I'm sorry. I don't remember. I'm Master Thul's new assistant. I've been with him longer than most, but still . . . not that long.
Danni. How long do his assistants usually last?
Jysella. Oh . . . I've been doing this for . . . twelve hours?
Announcer. And now, weather every twelve minutes. Here's your forecaster for the HoloNet News Weather Report: UnuThul.
UnuThul is broadcast onto the HoloNet.
UnuThul. Hello, Tython. UnuThul, Lord of the Joiners here, with weather every twelve. We'll have a low-pressure system moving over Chiron today, so expect milder temperatures since Anima wishes to spare the farmers. In the Core Worlds . . . Sorry, folks. Vader is angry with the Ash Worlds today, so it looks like that Chiron freeze is back on. Sorry, Anima. Over in the Corellian sector, we're not sure what Coronet did to offend Sekot, but you can expect winter storms. Thrawn himself is being called down to punish the area with ice. Bad news, Corellia. No, wait. Yun-Ne'Shel feels sorry for the Corellian capital, so you all will have much more moderate temperatures and sunny skies.
Jacen. This can't be right. Weather isn't this random.
Jysella. [smirks] And how often are the mundane meteorologists right? They talk about fronts and air pressure and moisture, but the weather surprises them all the time. At least UnuThul tells us why it's so unpredictable. Very hard job, trying to appease all the Je'daii at once. It's enough to drive anyone . . .
Jacen. [aside] Mad. UnuThul is completely mad.
UnuThul. And that's the weather. See you in twelve minutes, because we're sure it will change.
The holocams shut off, and UnuThul turns back to Jacen and the Jedi.
So you brought me some rogue Force spirits. We suppose . . . thanks. And did you want something else? I assume so. Demigods always do.
Jysella. Er, sir, this is Sekot's son.
UnuThul. Yes, yes. We know that. We said we remembered him from before.
Jysella. But sir, they're here from Tython.
Stunned, UnuThul laughs.
UnuThul. You mean you're here on behalf of your father this time? Finally. We knew they would send someone to renegotiate our contract.
Jacen. Er, what?
UnuThul. Oh, thank the Force. It's been, what, three thousand years since Sekot made me the Joiner King. Not that we're ungrateful, of course. But really, our contract is so vague. Obviously we're immortal, but "Joiner King." What does that mean? Am I a nature spirit? A demigod? A god? I want to be god of the winds, because the benefits are so much better. Can we start with that?
Ben. Bloah. You think we're here to promote you?
UnuThul. You are, then? Marvelous. We think we've shown quite a bit of initiative with the weather channel, eh? And of course we're in the press all the time. So many books have been written about us: Trouble on Cloud City, Lando Calrissian and the Flamewind of Oseon, Skyborn . . .
Jacen. Er, I don't think those are about you
Jysella shakes her head.
UnuThul. Nonsense. Jysella, they're biographies of us, aren't they?
Jysella. [untruthful] Absolutely, sir.
UnuThul. There, you see? We don't read. Who has time? But obviously the mortals love me. So, we'll change my official title to god of the winds. Then about salary and staff . . .
Jacen. Sir. We're not from Tython.
UnuThul. But . . .
Jacen. I'm the son of Sekot, yes. But we're not here to negotiate your contract. We're on a quest. And we need your help.
UnuThul's expression hardens.
UnuThul. Like last time? Like every being who comes here? Demigods! It's always about you, isn't it?
Jacen. Sir, please, I don't remember last time. But if you helped me once before . . .
UnuThul. We're always helping. Well, sometimes we're destroying, but mostly we're helping. And sometimes we're asked to do both at the same time. Why, Jax Pavan, the first of your kind . . .
Jacen. My kind? You mean, demigods?
UnuThul. Oh, please. We mean your line of demigods. You know, Jax Pavan, son of Lwyll, the only surviving hero of Haruun Kal. When the Republic burned down his planet, he escaped to Bastion, where he founded the kingdom that would eventually become the Galactic Empire. That's what we meant.
Jacen. I don't get it.
UnuThul. [rolls his eyes] The point being, we were thrown in the middle of that conflict, too. Lumiya calls up: "Oh, UnuThul, destroy Pavan's ships for me. I don't like him." Then Vader says, "No, you don't. That's my territory. Calm the winds." Then Lumiya is like, "No, wreck his ships, or I'll tell Zonama you're uncooperative." Do you think it's easy juggling requests like that?
Jacen. No. I guess not.
UnuThul. And don't get us started on Syal Antilles. We're still getting angry calls from Tython about knocking her out of space.
Danni. We just want information. We hear you know everything.
Through the Force, Danni manages to ease UnuThul's mind.
UnuThul. Well, that's true, of course. For instance, we know that this business here, this harebrained scheme of Lumiya's to bring you all together, is likely to end in bloodshed. As for you, Danni Quee, we know your father is in serious trouble.
UnuThul holds out a holograph of Face Loran, which Danni takes.
Danni. This . . . this is from his wallet.
UnuThul. Yes. All things lost in the wind eventually come to us. The holo blew away when the rakghouls captured him.
Danni. The what?
UnuThul narrows his eyes at Ben.
UnuThul. Now, you, son of Yun-Ne'Shel . . . Yes, we see your future.
UnuThul tosses Ben the picture of the YT-1300 freighter he drew years before. Ben stares at it in shock.
Jacen glances back at him, concerned.
Jacen. Ben? What is it?
Ben. Something I . . . I drew when I was a youngling. It's . . . it's nothing.
UnuThul. [laughs] Really? Just the key to your success. Now, where were we? Ah, yes, you wanted information. Are you sure about that? Sometimes information can be dangerous.
UnuThul smiles madly.
Jacen. Yeah. We need to find the lair of Onimi.
UnuThul. [smile fades] The Yuuzhan Vong? Why would you want to go there? He's horrible. He doesn't even watch our segment.
Danni. UnuThul. He's got my father. We need to rescue him and find out where Shira is being held captive.
UnuThul. Now, that's impossible. Even we can't see that. And believe me, we've tried. There's a series of Force illusion shielding Shira's location, very strong, impossible to locate.
Jacen. She's at a place called the Baanu Rass.
UnuThul receives a HoloNet transmission.
UnuThul. Hold on. We are getting something. Yes, she's at a place called the Baanu Rass. Sadly, we don't know where that is.
Danni. Onimi does. If you help us find him, we could get the location of the Queen . . .
Ben. Yeah. And if we save her, she'd be really grateful to you . . .
Jacen. And Sekot might promote you.
UnuThul. A promotion? And all you want from us is the Vong's location?
Jacen. Well, if you could get us there, too, that would be great.
Jysella. [applauds] Oh, he could do that. He often sends helpful winds . . .
UnuThul. Jysella, quiet. We have half a mind to discharge you for letting these beings in under false pretenses.
Jysella. [pales] Yes, sir. Sorry, sir.
Jacen. It wasn't her fault. But about that help . . .
UnuThul listens to transmissions from the Je'daii over his headset comlink.
UnuThul. Well, Sekot approves. He says . . . he says it would be better if you could avoid saving her until after the weekend, because he has a big party planned . . . O! That's Yun-Q'aah yelling at him, reminding him that the solstice starts at dawn. She says we should help you. And Yun-Ne'Shel . . . yes. Hmm. Very rare they agree on anything. Hold on . . .
Jacen smiles at Danni and Ben, relieved.
Enter Booster.
Jysella stares at Booster, instantly smitten.
Jysella. Who is that?
Jacen. That . . . that's just Booster Terrik, our . . . our guide.
Jysella. He's so manly.
Danni gags.
Booster. What's up, guys? Bloah, nice place. O! Sod squares.
Jacen. Captain. You just ate. And we're using the sod as a floor. This is, er, Jysella . . .
Booster. A Melodie. Beautiful as a summer breeze.
Jysella blushes.
Jacen. And UnuThul here was just about to help us.
UnuThul. Yes. It seems so. You'll find Onimi at Shimrra's Citadel.
Ben. As in the Supreme Overlord? That doesn't sound good.
Danni. I remember that place. I went there once with my father. It's in the Braxant sector, not far from Sartinaynian.
Booster. The Braxant sector again? Not good. Not good at all.
UnuThul. Now . . . as to getting you there . . .
Before UnuThul can finish, he contacted by Abeloth. Stunned, he taps his comlink to make sure it is working. Sure it is not malfunctioning, UnuThul pales, suddenly terrified.
She hasn't spoke to us for centuries. [to Abeloth] We can't . . . Yes, yes. We understand.
UnuThul swallows and turns to Jacen.
We are sorry, son of Zonama. New orders. You all have to die.
Jysella. But . . . but, sir, Sekot said to help them. Yun-Q'aah, Yun-Ne'Shel . . .
UnuThul. Jysella. Your job is already on the line. Besides, there are some orders that transcend even the wishes of the Je'daii, especially when it comes to the forces of nature.
Jacen. Whose orders? Sekot will fire you if you don't help us.
UnuThul. I doubt it.
UnuThul flicks his wrist and releases the Force spirits.
Even Sekot understands the order of things. And if she is waking, by all the Force, she cannot be denied. Goodbye, demigods. We are terribly sorry, but we'll have to make this quick. We are back on the air in four minutes.
Jacen ignites his lightsaber. Booster raises his club.
Jysella. No.
As the Force spirits charge at them, Jysella dives in front of them and takes the brunt of the impact. Then she, Jacen, Booster, and the Jedi tumble down toward the surface of the Woteba, the makeshift floor having been destroyed by the Force spirits.
UnuThul. Jysella. You are so over.
Jysella. [to Jacen] Quick. Son of Sekot, do you have any power over the air?
Jacen. A little.
Jysella. Then help me, or you're all dead.
Jysella takes Jacen's hand, and the two of them reach into the Force. Jacen takes Danni's hand.
Jacen. Group hug.
Booster, Ben, and Danni huddle together, hanging onto Jacen and Jysella as they fall, heading away from the charging Force spirits.
Ben. This is not good!
Booster. Bring it on, Force spirits. I'll pulverize you.
Jysella admires Booster.
Jysella. He's magnificent.
Jacen. Concentrate.
Jysella. Right.
Using the Force, Jacen and Jysella move the others away from the Force spirits, heading through a side tunnel, which slows their fall.
Can't . . . hold . . . long. Stay together. When the winds hit . . .
Booster. You're doing great, Jysella. My own mother was a Melodie, you know. She couldn't have done better herself.
Jysella. Comm me?
Booster winks.
Danni. Could you guys plan your date later? Look.
The Force spirits are growing closer.
Jysella. Can't hold them. But I'll try to shield you, do you one more favor.
Jacen. Thanks, Jysella. I hope you get a new job.
Jysella smiles, then vanishes. As the Force spirits hit, Jysella manages to save them, but Jacen, Booster, and the Jedi are shot so fast through space they all black out. They are sent straight through hyperspace . . . to the Braxant sector.
Exit all.