Two days after its departure from the Maad system, the Jade Shadow dropped out of hyperspace into the Corellian system and before a fleet of Killik nestships.
From the pilot seat, Luke felt a sense of trepidation come over him as he got a good look at the nestship directly in front of him. And as he looked out toward at the other nestships through the Shadow's forward viewport, that trepidation increased slightly; their designs as capital ships unnerved him because of just how insectoid they appeared.
But it wasn't just that; the fact that UnuThul saw fit to bring so many of his Colony's hives to this system made Luke wonder just how much of a threat the Joiner King thought he faced... or knew he faced.
Several minutes after dropping out of hyperspace, Luke was guided by Centerpoint Orbital Control to one of the station's docking bays; he set the Shadow down next to a small insectoid-looking shuttle. No doubt, Luke thought, that was the vessel that brought UnuThul to this station, as he could sense him to be here now.
Once Luke stepped out onto the docking bay's deck, he was met by a contingent of CorSec officers—who seemed to have replaced the Centerpoint Party's security force when Thrackan Sal-Solo had been the Corellian Head of State—and they guided him to a private meeting room in one of the station's upper levels.
At the room's threshold, Luke took a moment as he saw Prime Minister Saxan seated at the head of the table, with Head of State Gejjen to her right, Admiral Prest to her left, and UnuThul directly across from her.
"Welcome, Master Skywalker," Saxan greeted Luke politely. "Please, have a seat." She waved toward the nearest seat to UnuThul.
"Thank you, Prime Minister Saxan," Luke replied with a respectful nod. He then took his seat next to UnuThul; he gave the Joiner King another respectful nod, for which the latter reciprocated.
"Now, then," Saxan spoke up, "let's get down to business." She directed her gaze upon UnuThul. "Your Majesty, please enlighten us as to the reason of your visit to the Corellian system, and to Centerpoint Station in particular."
"Very well," UnuThul began evenly. "The reason for our visit here, Prime Minister, is one that, as we have already explained, you would find unbelievable as you would find it horrifying. But first, we must ask, do any of you know what the purpose of what you call Centerpoint Station is?"
The three Corellian leaders each shared a nonplussed look before they returned their gazes upon UnuThul.
"I'm afraid we don't, Your Majesty," Saxan answered.
"Then we will tell you," UnuThul said. "It had been delivered to this system thousands of years ago by us, the Colony, for one sole purpose: to keep... her in her prison." A shadow of fear had fallen across UnuThul's face.
"Her, Your Majesty?" Saxan asked.
The intensity of that fear on UnuThul's scarred face increased exponentially; as if he were a human time bomb about to go off. Indeed, Luke could feel not just the Joiner King's individual fear radiating from his presence, but also the fear emanating from every single Killik and Joiner in the Corellian system.
"UnuThul, what's wrong?" Luke finally asked; he felt that Gejjen was about to blurt out that the Joiner King should just get out what he wanted to say already.
"Abeloth," UnuThul finally muttered.
The room went silent, though it wasn't because the other four humans shared the Joiner King's fear; rather, it was because of their shared confusion.
"Who is this Abeloth?" Prest was the one to ask.
UnuThul directed his gaze intensely toward the admiral. "We hope you never have to know."
"Tell us anyway," Gejjen said as he impatiently crossed his arms over his chest.
UnuThul seethed. "An ancient and powerful... abomination is the best word to describe her. She is an avatar of chaos, destruction personified, and sheer power unfettered by any mortal bounds."
Luke looked at UnuThul with visible concern; Saxan and Prest looked at the Joiner King with patience; and Gejjen looked at the scarred man with incredulity.
"Are you karkin' kiddin' me?!" the Head of State exclaimed mockingly. "You brought all your creepy nestships and all your disgusting bugs to this system because you're afraid of some fairy tale boogeyman? Oh, wait, sorry, boogeywoman," he corrected scornfully.
"She is very real, Head of State Gejjen," UnuThul intoned. "And if you believe in any deities, you best pray that she never escapes from her imprisonment in what you call the Maw."
"The Maw?!" Gejjen exclaimed again. "Oh, great, so you're tellin' us that this very station was somehow brought to this system by your bugs thousands of years ago so that it can somehow keep this... Force-god or somethin' trapped in the Maw?!"
"Yes," UnuThul stated fearfully.
Gejjen let out a loud and impatient sigh as he sat back in his seat, much to Saxan and Prest's shared consternation.
"Neither of you believe in this, right?" Gejjen asked his fellow Corellian leaders.
"Admittedly, this story does sound quite fantastical," Saxan said. "Your Majesty, I assume you know, or at least believe in all this, because your... Colony has some kind of records?"
UnuThul nodded darkly. "That we do, Prime Minister Saxan. The hive-memory of all our nests—Thuruht, Taat, Alaala, even pieces of Gorog—that have remained intact throughout the oceans of time that have passed. We remember it all."
"Your Majesty," Luke spoke up, "let's say that we believe in what you say, that this Abeloth is in the Maw and has remained in place there because of the existence of Centerpoint. What made you come to the Corellian system?"
"We had learned about the battle that you had with the Chiss mere months ago," UnuThul explained. "Thus, we came here to see if all was right with Qolaraloq."
"Qolaraloq?" Prest asked.
"That is this station's proper name, as given by the Colony," UnuThul elaborated.
"This is all gundark poodoo," Gejjen said irritably. "Madame Prime Minister, why are we wasting our time with this freak and his bugs? We should-"
"We should what, Head of State Gejjen?" Saxan interrupted harshly. "Launch another war against a foreign power even after the losses we took in our battle with the Chiss and the Galactic Alliance three months ago?"
Gejjen seemingly shrank in his seat.
Saxan redirected her gaze back upon UnuThul. "Your Majesty, I can assure you, nothing wrong has occurred with Centerpoint Station because of that battle with the Chiss and GA. Yes, we did suffer a few hull punctures here and there on account of several Chiss raiding parties, but those have since been repaired. And I can definitely assure you that there have been no internal systems issues on account of that invasion."
"While we sense your honesty, Prime Minister Saxan, in that that is what you believe," UnuThul said, "we of the Colony would very much appreciate it if you would allow us to conduct our own-"
"Uh-uh, no way," Gejjen said, having regained his confidence in speaking already. "We've been more than tolerant with you and your bug-lovin' filth in this system. There is no-"
"Head of State Gejjen," Saxan interrupted again, "must you be removed from this room?"
Gejjen seethed. "Prime Minister Saxan, please tell me you're not thinkin'-"
Saxan picked up her personal commlink from her belt and activated it; Gejjen shut up as soon as she clicked it.
"Security, escort Head of State Gejjen out of this room," Saxan said.
"Yes, Madame Prime Minister," a masculine voice responded curtly from the other end.
No sooner did Saxan replace the commlink back to her belt than two human male CorSec officers stepped into the room. Gejjen held his hands up next to his head as he stood up even before the officers circled the table to sidle up next to him; without a word, he let the officers escort him out.
Once Gejjen and the officers were gone, Saxan said, "If you would like to have your Colony conduct its own investigation into Centerpoint, Your Majesty, I hope you understand that if I were to allow this to occur, there would be certain conditions that would have to be met."
"Name them," UnuThul demanded simply.
"Every single member of your Colony must be monitored at all times by at least one member of Corellian Security," Saxan stated.
"That will be acceptable," UnuThul replied. "So long as they do not get in our way."
"As long as no member of your Colony interferes or sabotages any aspect of Centerpoint's security, CorSec shouldn't get in your way," Saxan countered.
"We have no intention of interfering or sabotaging Qolaraloq's security," UnuThul stated. "In fact, we want more than anything to keep its function safe."
"Then, for now, unless any conflicts arise, I leave all other security matters to Admiral Prest here," Saxan said.
"Very well," UnuThul said.
After a brief but awkward moment of silence, Saxan asked, "So, if there's nothing else, shall we consider this meeting concluded, Your Majesty?"
"We may," UnuThul answered evenly.
Saxan nodded before she and Prest stood up; UnuThul and Luke followed, but they were the first ones to leave the room.
Once the two Force-users were out in the corridor, they were met by another contingent of guards who surrounded them.
"Follow us," one of them said.
Luke and UnuThul wordlessly cooperated as the CorSec force began leading them back to the docking bay where their ships were docked.
As they walked, though, Luke erected a Force-bubble of silence around him and UnuThul so that their words couldn't be overhead by any of the guards.
"What you said about this Abeloth, UnuThul," Luke said, "is very serious."
"We know that you know, Master Skywalker, that what we have said is the truth," UnuThul stated. "You have less reason to doubt us than those three in there; especially that idiot Gejjen."
"Oh, I know that what you said is what you at least believe to be the truth.".
"We do not have another influence like Gorog controlling us, if that is what you fear."
"I don't. Or at least I don't have any solid reason to believe that yet. Still, what you described, a being of such immense power... when I really think about it, it seems..."
"Unfathomable?"
"That sounds about right."
"Well... she is not all-powerful, Master Skywalker. She can, in theory, be killed. Would you like to come to the nestship of Thuruht so that you may learn more about... Abeloth?" Again, a shudder of fear permeated UnuThul's being as he said that name.
"I would very much like to," Luke replied. "Still, this fear you have of her. Do you really think something might be wrong with Centerpoint after the Chiss' invasion?"
"Perhaps Saxan is right. Perhaps nothing happened. But we need to make sure."
"But that's not it, is it?"
UnuThul looked concerned as he stared at Luke. "What makes you say that, Master Skywalker?"
"Something happened, before you came to this system, I mean... You didn't come straight here after leaving the Utegetu Nebula, did you?"
Now that same fear returned to UnuThul's face. "No, we did not, Master Skywalker."
"Where did you go first?"
. . .
When the Solo Quest II dropped out of hyperspace before a moonless world with a few small continents dotting the enormous ocean in which they were set, Judicar loudly asked, "So are you gonna tell me what this mission is now?"
Jacen glared annoyingly at her. "I suppose now would be as good a time as any," he said, his irritation seeping into his tone. He looked back through the viewport before he said, "Rumor has it that a Sith Saber working for High Lord Taalon was spotted here, on Drescus, a few days ago. No hint as to this Saber's intentions, though."
"What's the Saber's name?" Judicar asked.
"Heskel Klettu," Jacen answered as he began piloting the Quest toward the planet ahead.
"Not one I'm familiar with," Judicar answered honestly.
"Too bad," Jacen remarked evenly.
"No GAG this time?"
"This is just a simple recon. Unless we get confirmation of Klettu being here, there won't be need for GAG this time."
"Funny."
Jacen shifted his eyes so that he saw Judicar's reflection in the viewport. "What is?"
"Doesn't sound like the safe thing to do. You're usually all about that."
Jacen redirected his focus back to the growing planet ahead and didn't say anything in return.
"Can I at least get a look as to what this guy looks like?" Judicar asked impatiently.
Without taking his eyes off the path ahead, Jacen reached his artificial hand over and activated his console's holocam projector.
"Huh," Judicar said. "That's what he looks like, eh?"
"Yes," Jacen replied patiently.
Then a feeling of recognition passed within the twin bond that was barely used between him and Judicar anymore.
At that, he killed the Quest's thrusters and fully shifted his attention over to his sister.
"Who is this man?" he asked intently.
Judicar gritted her teeth as she stared back at him. "Bite me, asshole," she growled.
"Wrong answer," he said.
"Wait, no-"
A surge of electricity coursed through her being for several seconds before she slumped again.
"Who is this man?" Jacen repeated angrily.
Judicar growled again before she inhaled sharply, as if she was hurting more over her pride being bruised than in being physically shocked.
"That's no Sith Saber," she said. "He's not even part of the Lost Tribe. At least not last I checked."
"I need a more direct answer than that," Jacen intoned.
Judicar sighed in defeat. "His name isn't Heskel Klettu, although that shares the same initials as his real name. And that's Herush Klass."
"Who is this Klass to you?" Jacen interrogated.
"A guy I slept with while I served on the Dodonna during the last war," Judicar answered.
Jacen blinked as he took in that information; he sensed no deception or attempt to cloak herself from him.
"Okay then," he finally said. "Now we have some interesting questions raised. Such as why is this guy posing as a member of the Lost Tribe? And has he since gained membership with them, as a mercenary or somethin' like that, since the last time you saw him?"
"Last time I saw him, it was well before I ever learned about the Lost Tribe," Judicar answered. "Hell, I honestly thought he was dead when the Dodonna was destroyed over Adumar."
"And you were too busy helping the Lost Tribe and trying to use our dead brother's lightsaber to reactivate Centerpoint Station as a weapon against the Jedi to ever look in to what happened to this guy," Jacen stated scornfully.
"Kriff you," Judicar said.
"No thanks, that'd be incest," Jacen replied dryly. "Plus, this guy's already done that for me anyway."
"Oh, what, are you gonna try to moralize to me about sleeping around? I don't see any ring between you and Tenel Ka."
At that, Jacen grabbed at Judicar's neck with his artificial hand.
"Don't," he growled. "You. Ever. Say. Her. Name. Again. Got that?"
"I got that," Judicar wheezed emphatically.
Jacen promptly released his grip on her and settled back into his seat.
"Alright then," he said with a semi-calmed tone as he returned his gaze to the viewport. "Here's the plan. You stay on the ship, I go around in the city on this planet where Heskel Klettu—or, Herush Klass, apparently—was last spotted."
"Wait, you're leaving me alone in here?" Judicar asked incredulously.
"Yeah," Jacen answered spitefully. "And you'll still be in your crash-webbing in that seat. Problem with that?"
"Yeah, I have a problem with that," Judicar said with a raised voice. "Like how long are you gonna be gone? And what if I have to use the 'fresher?"
"I'll bring you a cup before I leave the ship," Jacen said. "And it shouldn't take me more than a few hours."
"You're joking, right?" Judicar asked fearfully. "Right?"
Jacen shook his head. "Why should I? I can't bring you out because if Klass sees you, he'll make you out instantly, and not like he did before. But if I leave you here, free to roam around, you might find a way to escape, or even use this ship to try to escape, and I can't have that, obviously."
"You forget, dear brother," Judicar said, "that Klass knew me as Noonya Niazh, not as Jaina Solo or Darth Judicar. He might not recognize me."
"Maybe not," Jacen agreed. "But I'm not willing to take that risk."
"This coming from the guy who won't have a GAG contingent on standby when there was a rumor about a Sith Saber here," Judicar countered snidely.
Jacen's lips thinned as he looked back at his sister. Several tense moments later, he said, "Well... maybe you might spill some urine on the deck. It'll save me the cleanup later."
Judicar grinned facetiously. "Thanks. I guess."
Neither she nor Jacen said anything more before he resumed piloting the ship towards Drescus.
