I apologize for how long it took me to get this chapter out. Writer's block and little time were the culprits here. I want to thank all of the people who have given me such wonderful reviews, I look forward to getting more. Much of this chapter relates directly back to last book of the Force Heretic trilogy. As a reminder, I own none of this, but as much as this is an AU story, I wanted to keep it close to the actual NJO storyline. It's a long chapter, but they should get better. Thank you and enjoy.
Two standard weeks later
Commander Ekh'm Val had spent most of the journey from Yuuzhan'tar into the Unknown Regions in the main cockpit of the coralcraft. The infidels of the Galactic Alliance would have said it was the size of a large freighter. Val was not a warrior who considered himself overly proud, but he did feel grossly outclassed by the warriors of the Lord Slayer.
Val left the cockpit and wandered down into the main grotto of the coralcraft. There he watched the Lord Slayer training with his shaped warriors.
Jacen was sparring against one of the lower-ranked warriors among the guards he had brought with him. Garagh and Vergere stood together off to one side, both of them observing and evaluating.
The warrior lunged forward, demonstrating the destructive capabilities of both his shaped abilities and the Yuuzhan Vong martial arts, the ferocity of which Jacen had only before encountered in the martial art of the Noghri, Stava.
It was a difficult struggle for Jacen, especially as he had to actively concentrate on not calling upon the Force. The past two weeks he had practiced with the Slayers to improve his strength, agility, and other physical capabilities, as well as his combat skills. And every moment he refused to utilize the power of the Force, wanting to learn his own limitations.
The warrior lunged in with a knife-hand strike, which Jacen easily deflected to the side, exposing the warrior's ribs. He retaliated with a solid punch that would have shattered the ribs of a human, and even would have cracked a few in a normal Yuuzhan Vong. On a Slayer, it only served to momentarily stun him.
Jacen took that momentary advantage, kneeing the warrior in the belly, then hit him with a knife-hand strike to the back of the neck as he doubled over. Jacen followed that up with a punch to the jaw, then spun and delivered a ferocious kick that sent the warrior stumbling backwards.
But the Slayers were far better warriors than any the galaxy had ever seen before, and this young warrior quickly regained his footing, coming back at Jacen with both hands up and talons flashing. Jacen met the warrior's charge, locking hands with him. The two of them were very evenly matched for strength, and they spun around several times, trying to gain some advantage over the other.
Then Jacen grinned and shifted his weight ever so slightly.
With a speed and ferocity that shocked even Garagh watching from the side, Jacen stepped in closer to the warrior and used all of his opponent's leverage and strength, spinning him around before lifting him up in a throw. While the warrior was still in the air, Jacen was able to wrap one arm around his throat. The Slayer landed hard on the floor, with Jacen already prepared to break his neck and spine.
The match was over.
"Impressive," Vergere admitted as both Jacen and the Slayer rose and gave each other a respectful bow.
"I agree with your familiar," commented Garagh, "My Lord Slayer, I have never seen such a technique before. Where did you learn it?"
Jacen took a sip of water to refresh himself, still not wanting to call upon the Force. A healthy sweat could be a good thing.
"It is a technique I learned before my ascension to godhood," he explained, "the warrior bodyguards of my mother, the Noghri, practice an art just as lethal as our own. As the God-I-Am, I must know the fighting skills of the infidels in order to defeat them, or any opponent I face."
Garagh nodded. The wisdom of his god was truly boundless. "But my lord, you have the powers of a god. You could have slain Dahn easily, known his attacks even before he made them. Why not use such power?"
Jacen clapped him on the shoulder. Over the past two weeks, he had grown to sincerely like the leader of his Slayers, and he was pretty sure it was mutual.
"The powers of the God-I-Am I may have, but this body is still human. If this body is to channel the powers of the True Gods, then I must know its limitations. By fighting without my power, I make it so I need it less."
Vergere nodded sagely. Jacen knew she thought his denial of the Force was one of her teachings, but Jacen knew that had been one of his Aunt Mara's first lessons. Never assume anything. Never think you know what you can do. Find out exactly what you're capable of. Jacen knew that had been one of her big problems with Anakin in the early parts of the war.
Anakin.
The thought of his younger brother was still painful, and when Jacen closed his eyes he could still see his sibling. The Corellian influence in his tunic, that lopsided grin that both brothers had inherited from their father, that darn cocky self-assuredness. Jacen sometimes wondered what Anakin would think of him now, if he was still alive.
Jacen shook his head, and out of the corner of his eye spotted Ekh'm Val.
"Commander Val, do not hide in the corner like a brenzlit. You are among equals. Come and join us," invited Jacen.
Val bowed and walked over. "My Lord Slayer, I thank you, but I know that I am not among equals. The Slayers are vastly more powerful than I, and you are the avatar of Yun-Yammka. I could not equal any here even with the sacrifice of a thousand worthy warriors to Yun-Yuuzhan."
"Do not feel ashamed, Commander Val," Jacen said kindly, and allowed his Force empathy to connect with Val's, "You are integral to my plans and worth more to me than any Slayer at this point. Besides, these warriors are the personal guard of the God-I-Am, thus it is only fitting that they are enhanced and superior to all others. Supreme Commander Garagh here, is still stronger and faster than this human body, though I am coming close to matching him."
Jacen laughed easily, and could see Vergere smile too. Amusement rolled off of both Val and Garagh, even though both did an admirable job of keeping a straight face.
One of the other low-ranking Slayers arrived and bowed deeply. "My Lord Slayer, we are approaching the location given to us by Commander Val."
The coralcraft came out of darkspace over a lush green and blue world. Jacen knew it was Zonoma Sekot instantly. The whole planet radiated a power in the Force that could not be denied. He turned to Garagh.
"Repeat my orders to me, Supreme Commander, so that I know they will be followed," he ordered.
"We are not to attack under any circumstances," said the warrior simply.
Jacen smiled. "Good. Vergere?"
The avian creature nodded. "We must contact Sekot. The planet will be more receptive to Jedi than to those it knows as the Far Outsiders."
Jacen nodded and let his eyes close as he stretched out with the power of the Force. He could feel Vergere shining with power as well. Jacen did what he could to contact that vast power before him, projecting a sense of calm and peace. He could feel when his mind touched Sekot's, it was like taking a shower under condensed power. For a brief moment, Jacen realized just how small he was, how miniscule when compared to the Force. Strangely, though, it didn't bother him.
"My Lord Slayer, a strange craft is approaching."
Jacen let his eyes slide half open. An insectile ship, with a red carapace and green wings had flown out of the atmosphere and was rapidly approaching them.
"Let it come," he ordered.
Garagh watched as his lord again closed his eyes, seemingly serene, as was his familiar, Vergere. Unable to fathom what they were doing, Garagh returned his attention to the approaching vessel. It was not very unlike an oversized thud bug in appearance, and that disturbed him. Commander Val had told him this planet utilized living ships, but for the first time Garagh realized that made him very nervous. There was something utterly fascinating about this planet, but what it was he couldn't tell.
The insectile ship had reached them by now and extended its legs, grappling their coralcraft, and bringing it down to the surface.
Jacen opened his eyes when he felt the planet break contact with him. But he remained silent as he watched their ship get pulled down onto the surface. He, Vergere, and every single Yuuzhan Vong on the ship could do nothing but stare at the planet in awe.
They were brought down in the middle of a broad, grassy field surrounded on all sides by a wall of high trees.
"We're here," he breathed in wonderment.
"Come, Jacen Solo," said Vergere, "the inhabitants of Zonoma Sekot are awaiting us."
He looked out and indeed, nearly forty people were coming out of the forest. They had faintly blue skin, minimal clothing and seemingly primitive weapons, but Jacen had learned not underestimate people.
"Vergere, Garagh, Ekh'm, the three of you will accompany me," he told them, and they descended out into the field.
The knee-high grass swayed in a peaceful breeze beneath a deep blue sky. The air was filled with a fine down, maybe pollen from the huge variety of flowers scattered around. Jacen took a deep breath, inhaling the sweetness of a thousand exotic scents and the sense of triumph.
They had made it. This might finally be the solution to the war that he had been in search of for the last five years. Hopefully the natives wouldn't roast him and the warriors over an open fire just yet, but judging from their glares, he wasn't too confident about that, but neither did he want to hurt them.
There has to be a way to get their cooperation without violence, thought Jacen, I just have to figure out how.
One of the women, tall and slender with pure white hair stepped forward. "Who are you?" she demanded.
"My name is Jacen Solo, and I wish to thank you for welcoming…"
"You are not welcome here," growled a black-haired man.
"If we were not welcome, then why is it that we have been allowed to land on this planet?" reasoned Jacen.
"We were ordered to accept your landing on Zonoma on orders from Sekot," insisted the woman.
Garagh was wondering how much more of this he could allow. These commoners were insulting the honor of the Lord Slayer. If not for his god's specific orders of no violence, he would have slain these infidels already.
Jacen was momentarily confused by the woman's use of Zonoma and Sekot separately, until Vergere leaned in.
"Zonoma is the planet, and Sekot is the mind," she whispered.
Jacen nodded in understanding, then turned back to the people. Vergere had earlier explained to him that these people were known as the Ferroans.
"We have no interest in violence," he said to them, "In fact, we are here on a mission to end a terrible war that has been raging out of control, and I believe this planet is the key to ending that war."
Garagh and Ekh'm Val could not help but share a look of shock. The Lord Slayer was trying to end a war? Why? Had the Yuuzhan Vong displeased the gods? Had their sacrifices been insufficient?
"My Lord Slayer?" breathed Garagh, expecting a strike from an amphistaff for being so bold.
Jacen turned to him, wearing a kind expression on his face. "Yes Garagh. I wish to end this war," he said in the Yuuzhan Vong language so that the Ferroans would not understand, "Overlord Shimrra made one mistake by accepting me as Yun-Yammka. He forgot that I was also a Jedi. I have come to honor both sides of this war and wish for no more lives to be wasted. If this is unacceptable to you, or to you Commander Val, you may go to your Blessed Release with full honor or return to Overlord Shimrra and inform him that I am a traitor."
Supreme Commander Garagh thought long and hard for several moments. He had been raised to honor the gods and the Yuuzhan Vong above all else. And the way of the Yuuzhan Vong was war. Now his god wanted end this glorious war. It flew in the face of all he had believed. But he had sworn an oath to serve the God-Before-Him, and so he would.
"No, my Lord Slayer," he said slowly, "I swore to stand by you until my Blessed Release, and against any enemy. You are wise beyond any of our legends. You know the True Way. You will choose well for our people."
Jacen nodded kindly. He hadn't wanted to lose Garagh or any of his Slayers, but he had to tell them eventually of his plans. He turned back to the Ferroans.
"You will come with us," ordered the woman, "just you and one other. All others will stay here under guard."
Nodding, Jacen began to walk forward alone. About halfway to the Ferroans he stopped and glanced over his shoulder.
"Well familiar, are you coming or what?" he asked Vergere.
"Of course. I was only waiting for you to ask."
"My lord…"
"Stay here my warriors. I assure you that no harm will come to me on this planet. Surely you can also feel it."
Ekh'm Val nodded as he watched Yun-Yammka and his familiar walk into the forest with his familiar. There was something about this world, something that made it feel like… like home.
Jacen and Vergere were led through the expansive tampasi forest that was filled with boras, semi-intelligent trees that provided nearly everything to the Ferroans. Jacen couldn't help but keep his head moving at all times, examining the bounty of life that surrounded him. There was no competition among creatures, everything was perfectly balanced. Jacen again felt the sensation of just how small he was, not just in terms of the Force, but this time just in the scheme of life. And once more he was struck by how little that bothered him.
The two leaders, the woman Darak and the man Rowel, led him and Vergere to a small village several hours away by foot. There, the two of them were left in a hut that seemed to have grown from the ground while they waited for an audience with the Magister, whom Vergere had described as the interface between Sekot and others.
Vergere had worn a hooded cloak to prevent her from being immediately identified by the Ferroans.
"Be at ease, Jacen Solo," she told him, noting how tensed up he had become, "things will be fine once we speak to the Magister."
"I know," he agreed, but his sour expression didn't falter, "at least it should be. I don't know, I just have a bad feeling about this."
They met with the Magister, named Jabitha, a few hours later. Jacen spent over an hour giving her and the other Ferroans a detailed history of the course of the war, how it had taken Chewbacca at its outset, and had claimed his younger brother a few years later. He told them of the hundreds of millions of refugees who were scattered across the galaxy, having been ripped from their homes and their lives. Jacen explained how the Far Outsiders were really known as the Yuuzhan Vong, and about their society and culture.
Finally, he explained how he felt that Zonoma Sekot could be the solution to ending the war with as little more bloodshed as possible. He straddled the divide, he brought opposites together within himself, and could not consider either the Galactic Alliance or the Yuuzhan Vong as his enemy.
"Your words make it seem as though Zonoma is all-powerful," Jabitha objected, "it is but one world when there are many. Of what aid can Sekot be in that scale?"
"Size has no correlation to great deeds," countered Jacen, "the Jedi Master Yoda was smaller than anyone here, and yet he was among the greatest of the old Jedi. You seem to think that I am looking for a weapon in this war and that is farthest from the truth. I want a solution. The Yuuzhan Vong will not give up the planet they have shaped to be like their homeworld, and the Galactic Alliance will not rest until they have reclaimed Coruscant. There will be no end to the cycle of death. The Living Force requires that we do something."
"How dare you claim to speak for the Force," whispered Jabitha vehemently, "how can someone so small claim to understand something so grand?"
Jacen smiled but said nothing. He did understand, maybe better than any Jedi alive. He understood the synthesis of the Living and Unifying Force. He understood the balance between light and dark, and had passed beyond those distinctions.
Jabitha stood and the others followed her lead. "It has been a long day," she said, "return to the hut and rest, for I must commune with Sekot."
Jacen bowed his head. As Darak and Rowell led him and Vergere back to the village, Jacen turned to her.
"Thanks for the big help back there," he whispered.
"I thought you did just fine, Jacen Solo," came Vergere's whispered reply.
The air was suddenly alive with bolts of lightning and battle cries. Over two dozen Ferroans streamed out of the boras, one of whom managed to club Vergere, who fell to the ground. Jacen, Darak, and Rowel fought back, but none of them were willing to use lethal skills.
Jacen met one who charged him with a quick Stava throw, but two others took the brunt of a ferocious kick that knocked them both unconscious. Two more came at him, punching madly, but Jacen met their attacks calmly, parrying them with consummate skill that he had honed in training against the Slayers. Seeing a break in their defense, Jacen hurtled forward, landing a solid blow to each man's stomach. He then brought his fists up and around, hitting them on the bridge of the nose, and then pulled back, delivering a powerful palm strike to each of their chests, knocking them to the ground.
Jacen looked around. Most of the other attackers had fled by now, but he realized that Vergere was nowhere to be seen. He turned to the Ferroan guides.
"Who were those guys?" he demanded.
Darak shook her head. "I don't know. There has never been any opposition to Sekot's will. I recognize many of these, mostly farmers from north of here, but how and why they've united, I can't begin to guess."
Jacen moved over to one of the Ferroans that was conscious and gently knelt next to him. He kept his hands relaxed, not wanting to give any indications of a threat. "Why did you attack us, and where are they taking my companion?" he asked, and reinforced his question with the Force.
"Senshi told us to," explained the man, "he said that the Magister had to be told that she was doing the wrong thing, that Sekot could never call the Far Outsiders an ally. He took her too."
"Who!" cried Rowel.
"Magister Jabitha."
Darak and Rowel exchanged fearful looks. Never before had there ever been a threat to one of the Magisters.
"Where is Senshi taking them?" Jacen wanted to know.
"He only said that he would take them to a place that Sekot could not control. That way everyone would be forced to listen to him."
Jacen turned to his two guides. "Do you know where that place might be?"
"He can only mean the rogue boras," breathed Darak, "Like with all life, there can be cancers and diseases in the boras. There is one large grove, a day's walk from here, where such boras have grown together."
"I will take you there," said Rowel.
Rowel and Jacen moved quickly through the tampasi, surprising Jacen a little. Rowel moved with grace and ease through the undergrowth, displaying the skill of a well-trained hunter. The Ferroan knew of a shortcut, and was certain that he could bring the two of them to Senshi before he reached the rogue boras.
Jacen was silent most of the time. There were moments when all he could concentrate on was the wonderful feeling he got from being surrounded by life that enjoyed that gift. For the first time in years there were creatures not governed by pain or death. In spite of his pursuit, it made him feel serene. At other times, however, he wondered about Vergere. He saw her take a nasty blow to the head, but even then he should still sense her more clearly than he did now. It was as if she was still unconscious. If that were true, then she may need serious medical attention.
Several hours into their journey, Jacen could tell they were close. Ever so slightly, he altered the course he and Rowel were taking to take them directly to this Senshi.
Rowel spotted the Magister through the boras, and was unable to contain his rage any longer. It was the Magister who allowed the Ferroans to maintain a line of communication to their planet. It was through the Magister that Sekot made its decisions known. How could Senshi dare put all that in jeopardy?
He burst through the undergrowth with his weapon held high, Jacen immediately behind him.
Looking around, he could see that Vergere was still unconscious and the Magister had been blindfolded. There were almost thirty Ferroans of varying ages gathered about.
"Senshi you traitor!" cried Rowel, "I'll tear you to pieces!"
"You see! This is what the Jedi and the Far Outsiders do! They divide us!" yelled Senshi, both for Rowel and the benefit of his followers, "It is for this reason that they are too dangerous. Jabitha has forgotten the Crossings. She thinks she speaks for Sekot but she no longer does. She speaks only for herself."
"And how do you know how to speak for Sekot?" Jabitha challenged from her spot down the line, "When have you communed with Sekot?"
"Everyone please! Enough," said Jacen softly, projecting peace through the Force, "Senshi, you cannot ignore what is happening in the rest of the galaxy. If you do, then you will have something worse than a Jedi and a handful of Far Outsiders on Zonoma."
"Yes? Such as!"
"Such as an armada of ships with the Yuuzhan Vong, those you call the Far Outsiders. They will dominate the galaxy and slay those they consider to be infidels. And when the entire galaxy has fallen to their amphistaffs, whom will you look to for help when everyone else in the galaxy is gone?"
Jacen's words were spoken with a solemn expression, one that was utterly truthful. The Ferroans around Jabitha and Vergere began to murmur between themselves.
"I have come to persuade Sekot to help avert this catastrophe," continued Jacen, speaking softly and kindly, "If you truly have the best interests of Zonoma in your heart Senshi, then you will let Sekot hear us out."
"We are going to speak with Sekot now," replied the rebel leader, "come if you wish."
Jacen and Rowel fell into the line near Jabitha and Vergere and walked with the rest of the Ferroans. Ahead of them, Jacen could feel a knot of terrible darkness in the Force. Stretching out with his senses, the darkness swirled about like a whirlwind, sucking in and devouring all that came too close. And Senshi was leading them straight into the heart of darkness.
Jacen's eyes kept roaming around the area as Senshi led them around a muddy lake in the heart of these boras that seemed somehow… different. On the far side of the lake was a natural dam, and here the boras were thickest, their branches charred.
"What is this place, Senshi?" he asked.
The other man grinned wickedly. "The boras are complex creatures, and since we cohabit Zonoma with them, we have learned to respect each others differences. There are malignant boras, just as there are people. Usually they are still relatively safe, unless you disturb their seeding grounds, in which case you are in terrible danger."
Jacen had a sinking feeling that he knew the answer to his next question. "And just where are these seeding grounds?"
"You're standing on them."
Jacen felt the boras suddenly focus their attention on him, and a wave of anger rolled off them. Looking back over, he saw that Senshi had grabbed the Magister and held a lightning rod to her head.
"Now what, you Yuuzhan Vong Jedi? Now what?" he jeered.
The tentacled branches of the boras began to whip through the air, some of them stabbed into the ground next to Jacen. Their tips were as razor-sharp as a vibroblade, Jacen was certain that one thrust would put a good-sized hole through him.
Jacen delved deeply into the Force, searching for the minds of the boras.
Betrayed!, they cried, Violated!
Peace my friends, Jacen told them, We are no danger. We will leave.
Bones make us strong!, they insisted.
You are strong enough, my friends, Jacen said through the Force, and gently he began to unravel their knot of frustration and anger, Isolation leads to stagnation. Stagnation leads to corruption. Corruption leads to death.
Through the Force, the minds of the boras seemed to explode into bright sparks. Jacen could hear several of the Ferroans scream in fear.
He slowly opened his eyes, and saw that dozens of tentacles hung in the air, poised to strike. Gradually, they withdrew as the boras contemplated the new direction of their thoughts.
"Well done, Jacen Solo," said a familiar voice, "Very well done, indeed."
He turned around, and saw a somewhat ethereal version of Vergere standing before him. Jacen spun and saw that Vergere was still laying on the ground, covered by her cloak.
"Sekot!" cried Jabitha.
Still looking back and forth between the two Vergeres, realization slowly dawned on Jacen, and he turned back to this new Vergere.
"You've been testing us, haven't you? Sekot," he emphasized.
Sekot shook its feathered head. "No, not at all. I am testing you, Jacen Solo."
The young Jedi tossed the planetary projection a lopsided Solo grin. "Well? Did I pass?"
Smiling kindly, Sekot turned to Senshi, who instantly jumped away from the Magister and bowed his head. Then Sekot turned to Vergere who instantly stirred. Jacen watched as his friend stirred, and then came smoothly to her feet. Vergere then pushed back the hood of her cloak.
Several of the Ferroans gasped as they recognized her, the hero who had sacrificed herself to the Far Outsiders.
"It is good to see you again, Vergere," said Sekot.
"And Zonoma is as wonderful and exotic as it was before, Sekot," came her reply, then she turned to Jacen, "Do you understand this, Jacen Solo?"
"Maybe," he admitted, turning to Sekot, "This whole setup was designed to see how I react to threats. Do I fight or flee? Do I defend those I care about or use them as shields?"
"Or do you find the point of balance, and allow everyone to win?" agreed Sekot.
"You had Senshi kidnap the Magister, you were the one to keep Vergere unconscious, and you used the boras to threaten us."
"Actually," said Sekot, with a slightly malicious grin, "the boras acted of their own free will. These I cannot control. You could only provoke or soothe them. Does that anger you?"
Jacen shook his head. Vergere's form was the perfect one for Sekot to take. Just like his mentor's mind-expanding games. It was such a perfect match that Jacen couldn't resist chuckling.
"No, not at all. I'm just curious why?"
"I had to know what kind of warrior of I was dealing with," said Sekot.
"I hate being a warrior," admitted Jacen, "There has to be a method of achieving peace other than fighting."
"Have you found it, Jacen Solo?" asked Sekot and Vergere in unison.
He looked back and forth between the two of them, then lowered his head shamefully. "No. No I haven't."
"Yet you do not stop looking," added Sekot in admiration.
Jacen brought his head back up and looked into the eyes of the planet's thought-projection.
"There are some things for which failure is not an option," he said slowly, "Some goals require the ultimate sacrifice to achieve."
"And you are willing to be the one who suffers the consequences," agreed Sekot, "This is why I chose to test you, Jacen Solo. As caretaker of the Living Force as defined by the Potentium, I have always suspected that there would be someone who would have the power and more importantly, the capacity to understand the vastness of the Unifying Force. It is you ability to understand that I find most impressive."
"Then you'll come back to the galaxy and help me end this war?" said Jacen hopefully.
"I have fought the Far Outsiders," answered Sekot, "and I have fled from them. All of existence is defined by the actions we take and the consequences. We live in a galaxy shaped by the decisions of our ancestors, and our descendants will say the same of us. It is the duty of every generation to choose well."
"So tell me," replied Jacen, staring deep into those black orbs, "what is your decision? What kind of universe will you leave for the future?"
The planet's image approached until Sekot was only an arm's length away. Jacen was very conscious of how the planet had made this seem much more personal, made the future of the galaxy seem to hinge on what would happen in these next few seconds.
"I am a force unlike any you have seen before," said Sekot, so softly that only Jacen could hear, "I can give you weapons to fight the Far Outsiders. I can help you to eradicate them. After coming so far, would you refuse such a weapon?"
Jacen thought long and hard. Was there any other way to end this war? If he refused, could he sacrifice the rest of those that he loved? But if he accepted, would he have made an irrevocable decision in the course of his life? Would he have chosen to be nothing, but a slayer of worlds?
He met the planet's gaze. "I would refuse. It is not a weapon I came in search of, but a solution. Fight if you must, Sekot, but there is always another way to be victorious in a conflict. It's just a matter of making that choice."
Sekot nodded sagely. "Wisdom suits you, Jacen Solo. I will return with you to the galaxy, and help you to end this war."
The planetary image stepped closer, wrapping one hand around Jacen's arm, exerting a slight pressure, like a dense fog.
"I do not know what difference I can make in this war, but I am done with running," Sekot told him softly, "We must find a way to end this war before the death spreads on its own. Perhaps together, Jacen Solo, you and I can find our paths in this universe and in the Force. And maybe not just for ourselves, but for the sake of everyone in the galaxy."
Jacen looked Sekot in the eye and realized, that for the first time since he had opened himself wholly to the Unifying Force, surpassing Vergere's teachings, he had found someone with whom he could identify.
Three days later, after having made rapid preparations, Zonoma Sekot made the jump into hyperspace. All the inhabitants had been taken to the caves that Sekot had formed specifically for this purpose, and thankfully, when Zonoma reverted to realspace in the Deep Core, only a few jumps from Yuuzhan'tar, the casualties of the Ferroans were minimal.
Jacen immediately had the Slayers prepare to leave the planet and return to Yuuzhan'tar. As Jabitha and Sekot watched them prepare, Jacen brought Commander Val out of the coralcraft.
"Commander," began Jacen, "I want you to remain here on Zonoma Sekot as my representative to the Magister and to Sekot. The Ferroans do not trust our good intentions. I am placing my trust in you that you will aid in reassuring the people that we mean them no harm."
"I hear and obey, Lord Slayer."
Sekot stepped closer. "You have little to worry about, Ekh'm Val. There is much I look forward to discussing with you."
"I will send more to you when I have the opportunity," Jacen told the planet, "Let's try and get some answers about the connection between you and the Yuuzhan Vong."
"We will wait here for you, Jacen Solo," said Sekot. The planet watched for a few more moments as Jacen, Vergere, and the Slayers prepared to leave. Then, just before the ramp closed, Sekot had one thing left to say.
"Jacen Solo! May the Force be with you."