Boy, once again it took me forever to update. This story is beginning to wrap up, thanks for sticking with me through the entirety of this story. Look for a new story of mine that I will post in the Star Wars section under Movies, entitled Prophesy of the Twins (guess who's the star). Keep the reviews coming, even if I haven't updated in weeks, I will forever look forward to getting reviews. Once again, thank you and enjoy.
The next morning
Luke, Kenth, Leia led Jacen into the conference room. The square table in the middle of the room held a holomap of the galaxy above it, and more than twenty of the Alliance's top strategists and commanders sat around the table. Among them were Cal Omas, Admiral Sien Sovv, Commodore Brand, Generals Garm bel Iblis, Airen Cracken, Wedge Antilles, and Keyan Farlander. Niuk Niuv, Releqy, and Triebbakk stood behind Omas. Tenel Ka stood near one of the empty seats, and gave Jacen a wide smile, which he was more than happy to return.
The commanders allowed the arriving Jedi a few moments for brief greetings, during which time Jacen took the opportunity to grab Tenel Ka in a gentle embrace.
"I love you," he whispered to her.
It took all of Tenel Ka's willpower to avoid blushing as Cal Omas called the meeting to order. Jacen seemed as calm and serene as a forest pond. Go figure.
They were all seated and Admiral Sovv began. "Gentlemen and ladies, this session was called by Jedi Solo, so I'll turn the floor over to him."
Jacen stood and gazed deeply into the eyes of everyone sitting. No one held his gaze for more than a moment. "The Yuuzhan Vong are thoroughly entrenched in the Core," he began, "and it will take more than an overwhelming armada to defeat them. Nor can you continue to fight them as you've been doing, small-scale operations like those that enabled the Rebellion to overcome the Empire. Supreme Overlord Shimrra is not going to continue hunting down small strike forces. They are as insignificant to him as flitnats. He also has Nas Choka as his warmaster, who is a far greater military commander than we're used to seeing."
"We've done pretty well against them in the past, young man," commented General bel Iblis.
"We've dealt with Warmaster Tsavong Lah in the past, General,"countered Jacen, "His idea of strategy and tactics involves one thing: overwhelming force. Nas Choka, on the other hand, understands feints and withdraws, flanking and manuevers. He's a better officer than many in this room. We have to end this war in one fell swoop."
"How?" asked Wedge.
Jacen grinned at his family's old friend. "My time among the Yuuzhan Vong has given me a great deal of honor and respect among the elites. Additionally, workers and especially the Shamed Ones revere me as their True God. The warriors will not consider it shameful to surrender to me if I order them to obey the khattazz al'Yun, the Avatar. Additionally, the heretical movement has now been spurred to a nearly murderous frenzy…"
"How did that happen?" asked General Farlander, who had also studied at the Jedi Academy. There hadn't been a chance for him to meet with Kenth to explain Nom Anor's betrayal.
"Fortunately, one of my agents betrayed me to Supreme Overlord Shimrra, who ordered a slaughter of the Shamed Ones last night. This will put them into a frenzy, and they will expect their True God to come and help them overthrow the barbaric Supreme Overlord. When I arrive, and the manner in which I do so, will help the heretics gain many converts among the elites."
In the back of the room, Niuk Niuv snickered. "What do you intend, Jedi?" he sneered, "A direct assault on Coruscant?"
Jacen smiled grimly, waiting for the grunts and chuckles to subside. "Precisely," he told them.
The room went deathly silent.
"That's impossible," protested bel Iblis.
"How can we even get there, young Jacen?" asked Sovv, "Every route that would get us to Coruscant is heavily laced with dovin basal interdictor fields and small fleets. It would make any attack on Coruscant to costly and we would lose all strategic and tactical surprise."
Jacen didn't answer, but instead he turned to the data terminal in front of his seat, using the controls to highlight a route through the galaxy, terminating at Coruscant. A route that was devoid of any Yuuzhan Vong defense fleets. Jaws dropped around the room.
"Nas Choka is dedicated to the gods, and he sees me as not only as their incarnation here in life, but recognizes me as his superior even without my godhood. He is also my friend. Thus he has accepted my recommendations on fleet placements, and that the Alliance would never take this route. I explained to him that there were too many hyperspace dangers along this route, and the infidels, with their reluctance to accept the gift of death, would avoid it at all costs."
"It's not that dangerous," commented Wedge, his eyes locked on the route.
"No, it's not," agreed Jacen, "but the warriors think it is."
"Even if we amass the entire fleet, along with the Hapan and Imperial fleets and launch a single attack at Coruscant, we still don't have the capability to penetrate their defenses," protested Admiral Sovv.
"Ignoring the Yuuzhan Vong fleet under Nas Choka's command for a moment, Yuuzhan'tar's only defenses are based on the planet itself," Jacen continued to explain, "All of these defenses are directly or indirectly controlled by the World Brain. I will contact my friend the dhuryam through the Force. The World Brain and I have made a deal, and when I speak with it, the World Brain will stand down from the fighting. It may not fight the Yuuzhan Vong, but I can convince it not to fight us. Additionally, I have a plan that will throw the Yuuzhan Vong themselves into disarray."
"What plan might that be?" asked Cal Omas.
"One that I'm not yet ready to divulge to the Alliance," said Jacen simply, "This is a secret that can be utilized most effectively by those with the Force. I don't seek to demean the rest of you, the battle for Coruscant will require all of us working in harmony with each other. We are all a part of the Force, sensitive or not we are complimentary opposites, and we must support each other. I will take the Jedi with me and make preparations for the assault. Can the rest of you plan an assault on Coruscant, and time it for precisely five weeks from today?"
The High Command of the Galactic Alliance turned and looked at each other. Gradually, heads began to nod.
Finally, Wedge stood up and looked Jacen straight in the eyes. "Well have everything ready. Do you what has to be done, Jacen. May the Force be with you."
Jacen nodded once, then turned on his heel and immediately left the room. He caught a questioning probe from Tenel Ka, but responded with a feeling of love, and for her to trust him.
I love you, friend Jacen.
Jacen Solo, Avatar of the Force, smiled.
Han Solo was grumbling good-naturedly at his sabaac hand as the Millennium Falcon hurtled through hyperspace. For the first time in many long years, he had his family in one place. Jaina sat on the other side of the dejarik board, looking at her own hand and frowning, while Leia kept looking at her own in confusion.
Lucky thing we're not playing for credits, thought Han.
Jacen sat over to one side, watching the fight in the center of the hold. One of his less-scarred warriors, Dahn, Han thought the name was, was sparring against Cakhmain. Despite Dahn's shaper-enhanced strength and reflexes, the Noghri was holding his own quite well, until Dahn caught Cakhmain in a strange throw, bringing the Noghri to the floor with an arm around his throat.
Jacen erupted into laughter. "So you were paying attention!" he said to the Vong.
"I always pay attention, my lord," replied the warrior.
Han didn't have any idea what the two were talking about, but shook his head with a grin. The Falcon was one of four ships on their way to this mysterious Zonoma Sekot Jacen liked to keep talking about. Luke and Mara were traveling with Vergere and several other Jedi on the Jade Shadow, Talon Karrde was on his way as well with the Wild Karrde, and even Booster was bringing Ganner Rhysode, Garagh, Lando and most of the rest of the Jedi on the Errant Venture.
Leia and Jaina laid out their cards.
Eighteen for the wife and twelve for the girl, Han thought, grinning, then laid down his hand.
"Idiot's Array," he announced proudly.
Jaina's face fell but Leia smirked. "Which one, honey? The cards or the man?"
Han's grin died as Jacen and Jaina both laughed at their exchange. "She's got you there, Dad," commented his son.
Before Han could come up with a return barb, the hold's console alerted them to their arrival.
"Looks like we're coming up on Sekot," said Han.
"Zonoma, Dad," corrected Jacen, "Zonoma is the planet, Sekot is the mind."
"And your mind is giving me a headache," he tossed back as Han went to the cockpit. Leia followed him and slid into the co-pilot's seat, with Jacen and Jaina seated behind them.
As Jacen fell into the chair his eyes closed and he seemed to draw in on himself. Leia and Jaina could feel intense waves of power rolling off him. Leia shuddered. She knew Jacen had grown powerful… but this was almost frightening.
Oblivious to the Force, Han cut to their sublight engines, bringing them out of hyperspace above a gorgeous blue-green world. A moment later, the Shadow joined them in realspace, followed by the Venture and then the Wild Karrde.
The three smaller craft were soon joined by Lando's yacht, the Lady Luck, which was bringing the rest of the Jedi who hadn't deemed to stay at Eclipse.
Even Han felt a wave of calm wash over him as they approached. Suddenly, the comlink crackled to life.
"Attention, Lord Slayer, this is Ekh'm Val," said the voice.
"Good afternoon, Commander," greeted Jacen, "I have returned, as I promised, and I have brought the Jedi. Have the Ferroans send us landing coordinates. I wish to meet with you, Harrar, and Nen Yim as soon as I land."
"I hear and obey, my lord," answered Val, "Coordinates are being sent now."
"All right," said Han quietly, "let's get this bucket of bolts on the ground."
The four ships landed together on a large grassy area, surrounded by a large forest. Several people were already waiting for them, as Jacen explained this was the same area that he'd originally landed on so many months earlier. He, his family, and the rest of the Jedi debarked.
Jacen moved ahead to the group waiting.
"Magister Jabitha," he greeted, "it is a pleasure to see you again. I hope my agents haven't been too troublesome."
"Not at all," she replied, "in fact, they have actually been of great help."
"Excellent. Now, I must speak with all of you. Kartsong, my Slayer, I was right to leave you in command of my warriors. Come, Harrar, Nen Yim, Garagh, we must talk."
As Jacen walked away with Vergere, Ganner, and the Yuuzhan Vong, he noticed a young boy making his way towards the assembled Jedi, who were looking around in awe. Not a Ferroan child, a human. Jacen stretched out with the Force, and recognized that cloudy, yet immensely powerful presence. He smiled. Boy were the Jedi in for a surprise.
Luke Skywalker could feel the utter peace and serenity that seemed to infuse the very essence of the Force here on this strange world. He still couldn't understand what Jacen had meant when he said this was a living planet. He suddenly felt Mara come up beside him, her hand gently taking a hold of his own.
Mara could hardly express her wonderment at this planet. "This is…"
"Magnificent," he finished, "This place is so powerful."
"Ah, it's only one among many," said the voice of a young boy, causing all of the Jedi to turn to see a human boy about twelve standard years old, "That's what's so wizard about it."
"Who are you, boy?" asked Kyp Durron.
But even as the dark haired Jedi pilot asked, Luke felt a certainty settle within himself. It was the eyes; they were such a vivid blue. Not just that they were similar to his own. They were the same.
Mara seemed to recognize it to. "Is that…"
"Father?" asked Luke.
The boy smiled. "This is how your father appeared to me, when I knew him. He was your father, Master Skywalker. And I do not say that just because you have the same name. He is within you, as he is within Jacen."
"Who are you?" asked Leia.
"This is Sekot," said a blue-skinned woman as she came up, "Sometimes Sekot takes this form, sometimes the form of my father, the first Magister, and even sometimes even as myself, which is the most disturbing. My name is Jabitha. I am the Magister, I stand between Zonoma and Sekot."
"You make it sound as if they're two separate entities," commented Mara.
"Yes, Zonoma is the body, and Sekot is the mind."
Sekot, in the body of young Anakin Skywalker, grinned at the rest of the Jedi. "Young Jacen came to me some time ago, to help be a solution to your war. Since then, he and I have agreed on our plans. I have power over the Far Outsiders, those you know as the Yuuzhan Vong. With the help of Jacen, and the Yuuzhan Vong that he has sent here, I have found that I have always had power over them."
"What do you mean 'since then' you've spoken with Jacen?" asked Jaina, "From what he's told us he hasn't made any communications here."
Sekot smiled. "Unlike many others, Jacen does not communicate as a dust mite across my skin. In our case, both of us have been able to change. When the time comes, we will travel to your planet Coruscant, where Jacen and I will announce my presence to the Far Outsiders. In my own defense, I will have my own living ships crafted for the Jedi."
"Living ships?" repeated Jaina, grinning.
"Have you done this in the past?" asked Luke.
"Indeed I have, young Skywalker," answered Sekot, "The process is quite simple. Your Jedi will meet with the Jentari, who will then bring out the seed-partners. They may or may not bond with your Jedi. After that, they will remain bonded for several days, after which they will slough off their shells, and crawl off to unite and grow into a single ship."
"How many of these seed-partners will bond with you?" asked Kyp.
Sekot shrugged. "It depends. A ship was once crafted for Anakin Skywalker, who bonded with nine seed-partners, the highest ever."
Tahiri turned and watched as one of the Yuuzhan Vong, a priest, broke off from speaking with Jacen and came to join the rest of the Jedi. Sekot also saw the priest approach them.
"Jedi, may I introduce you to the priest Harrar, who has been instrumental in helping me to understand parts of my past, and my potential for the future."
Luke turned to the priest. "My name is Luke Skywalker, this is my wife Mara, and my sister Leia, her husband Han Solo."
"The master of the Jeedai," said Harrar, respectfully, "You who fell victim to Nom Anor's coomb spores, and the parents of the Twins. I am honored beyond measure that the Lord Slayer has given me the opportunity to meet with you."
"So what makes this world so important to the Yuuzhan Vong?" asked Luke.
"Our ancient texts speak of primordial Yuuzhan'tar," began Harrar, "a world where we had no wants. A world governed directly by the gods, who made sure that our needs were met. Since our travels between the galaxies began, we have had a prophesy of a living world, one that was anathema to us. There were rumores that during the final days of Quoreal – Shimrra's predecessor – that our advance scouts had discovered a living planet like that described in the prophesies. Rumors also said that his priests and seers had interpreted this as a sign that we should avoid this galaxy."
"You invaded anyway," commented Mara, a little snidely.
Harrar nodded. "We were dying. Shimrra realized this, and with all of Domain Jamaane behind him, he usurped Quoreal's throne and directed us to proceed as planned. He told us that he communicated with the gods, looking deeply into the Eighth Cortex and communing with both Yun-Harla and Yun-Yuuzhan, who told him to expect trickery in the galaxy. No mention was made of the living world, those of us who knew about it knew better than to speak of it. When the war went in our favor, everyone believed that Shimrra had been correct, that the gods had indeed promised us this galaxy."
"How can Zonoma Sekot help end this war?" asked Leia.
"Shimrra fears this world, more than he fears anything else," explained Harrar, "This world is prophesied to be our doom. Hopefully, with the Lord Slayer working to end this war, Zonoma Sekot can also be our salvation."
Jaina watched as the Jedi who had participated in the bonding process with the Jentari stood around, marveling at the seed-partners that had attached themselves to the Jedi. She had been the first one to walk up to the Jentari, she had wanted this more than she'd ever wanted anything before.
But now she stood off on to the side. Kyp and Saba had bonded with five seed-partners each, Corran with four, while nearly two dozen other Jedi each sported a pair of seed-partners, including Lowbacca, Zekk, and Alema.
Luke, Kenth, Mara, and her parents were meeting with Garagh, Vergere, and an ordinary warrior named Ekh'm Val, who had been here longer than any of the other Yuuzhan Vong. Jacen had let them in on his plans for Zonoma Sekot and the Alliance forces, and now they were trying to determine what role the rest of them would play once everything was ready.
As she watched, out of the corner of her eye she spotted Jacen emerge from the treeline with an ethereal-looking Vergere, which Jaina realized had to be Sekot. As they came into the clearing, Sekot's image disappated, leaving Jacen standing there with a crooked Solo grin on his face.
"There you are!" she called to her twin, "I've been looking all over for you. Are you still hiding yourself from the Force?"
Jacen gave her a gentle smile. "The Force is strong here, the usual methods don't work."
"Tell me about it."
He looked deep into Jaina's eyes, and she lowered her gaze, unable to meet those unfathomable depths.
"You're angry," he said simply, "Because none of the seed-partners bonded with you?"
"Why else!" she exploded, "I mean, I'm just as good a pilot as Corran, Kyp, or Saba, and they bonded instantly. I've flown my X-Wing into certain death so many times before. Why them and not me?"
"The bonding process has very little to do with piloting skill, and even less to do with courage," explained Jacen, "You have another purpose for the battle. Sekot can feel it, just as I can."
"Well I'm so glad you're comfortable deciding my fate," she retorted.
Jacen shook his head, smiling into the sky. "I haven't decided your fate, sister dear. Your destiny has already been written, Sekot and I are merely following it to the proper conclusion."
Jaina shook her head. Ever since his return, Jaina hadn't been able to understand anything about her twin. So much of the time recently, she had been afraid of him. Sometimes she almost hated him for the things he'd done, for making the choice to turn away from who he'd always been. For changing.
"Things change, Jaina," he said, "One of the pains of life is realizing that in growing up, nothing can go back to the way it was."
"What do you hope to accomplish, Jacen?" she asked, "What do you think this planet can do for the war?"
"The ancient texts are right," replied Jacen, "Zonoma Sekot will be the doom for the Yuuzhan Vong's way of life. Just, not as most of them expect. Here on Zonoma, the Yuuzhan Vong have finally felt something they haven't since they were first driven from Yuuzhan'tar: peace. Here they have come to truly understand that peace is not the submission of a conquered enemy. Peace is something serene and equal, the feeling that they don't have to fight anymore. This will be the end to the Yuuzhan Vong's way of life. They will turn from the path of war into one of peace."
Jaina lowered her head as they continued walking, she could see Uncle Luke and the others still discussing their tactics for Coruscant. Ganner looked at them and nodded confidently. Jaina turned to look up at her twin. He looked confident, serene, as though their victory was already a guarantee.
"I'm glad we have you back, Jace," she said honestly, "I don't think we ever could have gotten this far without you."