Chapter IV

Instinctively, Han's hand went for his blaster but the other man was faster. The weapon shot out of the holster at his waist and across the short distance between them. "Your reputation for acting without hesitation in a time of danger precedes you," D'ukal said as he held the blaster in his palm, "Considering the fact that I cannot explain my presence if I am dead, I thought it best to intervene." "You'll have to forgive my husband," Leia said smoothly, glaring at Han out of the corner of her eye, "Circumstances over the past few years have made him jumpy when dealing with the unknown."

"An unfortunate side-effect of warfare," Vhaldoq said, "I assure you that my intentions are peaceful." "It's just..." she began, "We were expecting a more... official representative of the Empire." "An easy mistake to make," the Grand Admiral said, "It is precisely because of that I am here to see you." "Come again?" Han said. "How old would you say Gilad Pellaeon is?" D'ukal asked, abruptly changing the subject. "If I remember correctly, close to a century if not more," she said, remembering the brush with death the old man had during the final year of the war with the Yuuzhan Vong.

It had because of that more than anything that she believe Pellaeon had joined the final offensives and helped turn things around. "In other words," Vhaldoq went on, "A man who through one cause or another is likely to be replaced in the near future." Leia nodded, realizing where this was going. "I thought you were at odds with the Empire," Han remarked, "You certainly seemed that way the last time you showed up." "True, but you know what the Jedi say about appearances," the Grand Admiral said.

"So what were you up to then?" Leia asked. "Tell me, what would the war have been like if the Lusankya had not been at full strength? Or the Errant Venture? What if the plan to poison the Jedi had succeeded? Or if the Peace Brigade had found more willing to join? Or if the Sith had been permitted to have influence over any of these things?" D'ukal said. "You're taking credit for our victory?" Leia said incredulously, "You nearly pulled off the same thing Thrawn did, in a fraction of the time!" "But why so rushed a schedule?" Vhaldoq said, "You never really examined the cloning facility on Monark, did you?"

"I didn't have to," she said, remembering the brief stay on the planet, "I could sense what was being done there." "Did it ever occur to you why Thrawn chose to use multiple sources for his clones and why both he and I were cloned?" the Grand Admiral said. "We were busy at the time, trying to keep alive," Han remarked. "All right, then perhaps you can tell me why the Yuuzhan Vong cloned the voxyn but not their warriors?" D'ukal said. The simple question seemed to tear away the wall of doubt and suspicion between them and Leia felt that the man had discovered something of great importance.

"Perhaps because they only had one voxyn to start with?" she guessed, remembering what she'd learned about the deadly beasts. "Yes, and in that was a flaw that defeated the usefulness of their creations," Vhaldoq said. She nodded, remembering what she'd read about the Clone Wars. Supposedly, all those warriors had lived accelerated lives even after reaching adulthood. Without a living source, there was only so much duplication they could handle. Eventually another would have to be chosen or the entire army would collapse.

"That still doesn't explain about the Yuuzhan Vong warriors," Han put in, evidently reaching the same conclusion she had. "The Yuuzhan Vong would see such soldiers much like the clones were viewed long ago, as less than beings and therefore destined to be Shamed Ones. No warrior would willingly fight by the side of such a creature," the Grand Admiral said. "And yet the Supreme Overlord crafted his slayers to look like that very group," she reminded him.

"True, but they were bred not cloned. In a similar way, while I might wish to avoid death I have no desire to compete with myself. Especially since my clone and I might not have the same objectives," Vhaldoq said. "So what was going on at Monark?" she asked, "I think we've forgotten the subject." "Surely you've guessed by now, Princess," D'ukal said, "I was cloning warriors, but not for my use. They were for the Yuuzhan Vong."


The wind that whipped against him as he and his young friend crouched on the edge of the bluff overlooking the city reminded him of something, but Corran didn't remember what. Probably not important, Horn thought as he examined Jag in his getup. Both of them wore outfits designed to let them pass for smugglers, and Corran could aid that deception with a little nudge from the Force. His eyes swept over the city below, and Horn spotted movement on one street. Unless I'm mistaken, that group was wearing the traditional armor favored by the Yuuzhan Vong.

Motioning to Fel, the Jedi rose and walked easily down the slope and into the maze of paths with the pilot at his heels. Corran knew quite a bit about the place, since the proximity of Wrea to the Smuggler's Run had made it something of a convenient location for those leaving that warren of scum to hide. There had been a strong faction of the Peace Brigade here, which was probably what had saved the planet from worse damage during the lengthy conflict. With the traitorous lowlifes gone, and the Yuuzhan Vong no longer a force of galactic proportions it was returning to normal.

Which was why he'd insisted on checking things out when the trail of the alien prophet led in this direction. Jag was studiously watching the streets, and Horn had to smile at the way he resembled a certain grizzled smuggler in his wariness. Han would find that a trifle disconcerting, Corran thought as he remembered the relationship between Fel and Solo's daughter. They rounded a corner and Horn motioned Fel to stay back as he used the Force to enhance his vision and get a better view of the crowd there.

The assembled throng was indeed composed of Yuuzhan Vong, but now the Jedi could see that their armor wasn't in the best shape. Each carried weapons, ranging from amphistaffs to thud bugs. But that wasn't what held his attention. The warriors knelt before a low mound on which stood a figure with features Horn knew well. He held out his right hand, clutching an amphistaff much longer than normal. Taking the translator he'd brought out and placing it in his ear, Corran listened as the prophet began to speak.

[Where is the might of our people now?!] he said, [Those like me have been called Shamed Ones in times past, but I say that it is you who are shamed!] Several of the aliens bowed their heads in disgrace, while others stared directly at the speaker. [I have been sent to deliver a message to those like you, unwilling to believe that our creators have abandoned us,] the prophet went on, [There is a path that may yet lead our people to redemption in their eyes and thus receive their blessing.]

One of the assembled stood, gazing defiantly at the prophet and said, [It is said you bear the mark of the heretics, that you say you have been blessed with greater power than the Jedi and have defied their attempts to kill you many times over.] [The rumors are true,] the prophet said, pulling back his hood to reveal his face. One of his eyes was missing, and the other took in the group coldly. [Now feel the power I have been granted, that of the Dark Side!] the prophet said, extending his left hand.

Like the assembled warriors, Corran was shocked to see a gleaming artificial hand had replaced the limb. Before the Yuuzhan Vong could react to this, searing beams of energy shot from it and threw the defiant acolyte to the ground. His false hand still outstretched, the prophet said, [Join me, and together we will once again hold the galaxy in the palm of our hand.] As one, the warriors rose and followed him as he made his way down the street. "This isn't good," Jag said. Corran grimaced and said, "Tell me something I don't know."