Book 2: Diversity Alliance
This novel begins with Raynar Thul's mother asking for her son to be personally escorted back to the Bornaryn fleet. Her brother in law Tyko Thul believes that Bornan disappearing is part of a scam (note on Tyko-he is the owner of a droid factory on Mechis III). The Bornaryn fleet is a highly protected group of ships, having pre-coordinated jumps, and a very highly technological communication system.
Meanwhile at the Jedi Academy, Raynar is slowly becoming more outgoing, and is disappointed when he is asked to return home. To help him out the Young Jedi Knights (i.e. Tenel Ka, Jaina, Jacen, and Lowie) agree to accompany Raynar and remain with him for a few days. Once on his family fleet, there is much emotion with Raynar's Uncle Tyko being a stuffed shirt and bragging about Raynar to Luke. After the Jedi Master's departure, the students and Raynar's family perform a "Ceremony of the Waters" to hope for Raynar's father's safe return, after which the YJK find that Raynar's parents were in trade talks with the Empire when Alderaan was destroyed. At about this time Aryn Dro Thul (Raynar's mom) receives word that there is a traitor on board and that their last hyperspace jump had been broadcasted for hijackers. As they await word on who the attackers are Jaina admires the ships weapon system and learns that Han Solo and Aryn Dro had met once before on Alderaan (this incident is narrated in AC Crispin's Han Solo Trilogy). After defeating the hijackers (who merely sought to capture the ships to smoke Bornan Thul out of hiding) the students decide to go on their own investigation of Bornan's disappearance. While the YJK (except Raynar) go to the ancient planet of Kuar (Bornan's last known meeting place before meeting Nolaa Tarkona) Tyko Thul goes to his factory on Mechis III.
While the YJK are on their way to Kuar, Zekk (Now a bounty hunter) heads to dive in a hollow asteroid base (Borgo Prime) called Shanko's Hive. There a bartender offers him the job of finding a smuggler named Fonterat (who's last scheduled meeting was with Bornan Thul on Gammalin) who was has the bartender (Droqi'ls) shipment of shells. When Zekk reaches Gammalin he finds a dusty abandoned world that seems to have been wiped out because of a plague. He quickly finds himself caught by Boba Fett who recognized the Lightening Rod as the ship that had shot at him in the Alderaan asteroid field. He says that "few have shot at me and lived," but understands that it was with honor and lets Zekk go, especially after he finds that Zekk is not after Bornan Thul but a trader named Fonterrat. They find Fonterrat in a cell, and realize he died after being without food. They find a message cube, which basically says that Fonterrat was the one who brought the plague to Gammalin, that it was part of a package he was carrying for Nolaa Tarkona.
On Kuar, the YJK find no sign of Raynar's father but do find a piece of colorful cloth that is identified as the colors of the House of Thul. On this piece of fabric is written. "Danger, If I am caught all humans in mortal danger, Thul." While exploring a nearby crater the YJK are almost attacked by combat arachnids but are rescued by a chocolate brown Wookie named "Raabakysh" (friend of Lowie's that was thought to be dead.) When Lowie and Raaba talk they find that she is a member of the Diversity Alliance, who took care of her when she thought she had nothing to live for.
Speaking of the Diversity Alliance, Nolaa Tarkona makes an appearance where it is learned that she is going through the alphabet to recruit species. She is related to Oola (dancer in Jabba's palace) and despises Bib Fortuna—a disgraced Twi'lek. Her sideman Havorak likes to eat humans (he's a Shishtavan).
Tyko Thul shows up on Kuar and insults Raaba (who has spent all night talking to Lowie about the DA. She stays on her ship The Rising Star b/c she doesn't like humans.) After being insulted by Tyko she takes off in her ship (Tyko calls Nolaa Tarkona a rabble rouser etc.) Afterward a ton of assassin droids come down in what seems to be a meteor storm and attack Tyko's ship messing up the Rock Dragon in the process. Tyko Thul is kidnapped by IG-88. Lowie is confused by Raaba's anti-human sentiment, and all the YJK agree that they would like to go back to Yavin 4 to check in with their families.