Above the planet Corellia on the Yammka, the flagship of the Yuuzhan Vong Warmaster

"Salkeli, are your people ready?" Nas Choka sullenly asked the green Rodian of the Peace Brigade.

He nodded and fumbled with a screwdriver he was holding in his hand. Rong Lian, Nas Choka's adjutant, punched the Rodian in the back, causing him to fall face down and dropping the wrench. "You will duly reply to our Warmaster and accurately bow to him, do you understand that, infidel?"

"Yes, I understand," said Salkeli and grabbed the slipped tool.

Rong Lian kicked the mechanical instrument out of the Rodian's reach. "The Warmaster first, you tech-worshipper!"

Salkeli stood up slowly to turn to Nas Choka with a demonstrative deep bow. "My people are ready, Warmaster."

"Then you set out with your nefarious ships to board Centerpoint!" the Warmaster snapped at the infidel.

Salkeli bowed again. "So it will be, Warmaster."

Nas Choka turned away, and only now did the Peace Brigadist dare to bend down for the wrench, albeit hesitantly.

Stunned by the enemy's onslaught, proud Corellia had surrendered without a fight—at least, the reigning Duchess Marcha, a small, furry Drall with the black beady eyes typical of her species, had sent a delegation to the Yammka, Nas Choka's flagship, to humbly affirm the submission. No one in the Corellian system expected that the system would actually become a war target after that big bluff three years ago.

"Shok Choka!" the Warmaster barked. "You go to the central prison and free this traitor named Thrackan Sal-Solo to make him President of Corellia. I heard the human already has experience collaborating with us."

Immediately, the Warmaster's domain mate rushed off to carry out the order.

༺═────────────═༻

Meanwhile on Zonama Sekot

Kyp Durron and Nom Anor had reached Zonama Sekot, met, and together finally found the camp of the Jedi who, besides Corran Horn and Tahiri Veila, were still on the living planet. Kyp immediately noticed the depressed mood in which his fellow Jedi found themselves.

"What's up, folks?" Kyp asked.

Jacen Solo took a few steps toward the two newcomers, brown eyes a blank skepticism. "Nom Anor? You?"

"I'm a defector now," declared the enemy's agent solemnly. "I gave valuable information to Kyp Durron on Mon Cala that the Yuuzhan Vong fleet is attacking Corellia to use Centerpoint to wipe out this planet we are on."

All of the other Jedi present turned to them.

"But the station is not operational," Nom Anor added quickly, "for I merely lured the Warmaster there so that we might have easier time on Coruscant itself, where the Shamed Ones have grown rebellious to finally claim their due rights and to get back their honor."

"The station can't be put into operation without a Jedi anyway," Jacen said. "So, in principle, it's a good thing you lured the fleet to Corellia."

"Then is it true that you and Nom Anor have some kind of deal?" Kyp asked Jacen. "And now is the time when he reveals himself as a defector?"

"Only now for you Jedi," Nom Anor broke down Kyp's statement. "For it will be necessary for me to return once more to the Overlord as a servant appearing loyal, in order to maneuver him into position for surrender."

Jacen looked as if he'd suddenly had a bad toothache—and Kyp's relief at Nom Anor's confession as a defector faded from his expression just as quickly.

"We might talk about that later," Jacen changed the subject, "because we've got our own problems here now. A day ago, Danni Quee was kidnapped by locals."

"Danni Quee, that's the one...", Nom Anor started to think aloud.

"Danni Quee is a biologist who has helped us a lot and she has a great passion for this planet," Jacen explained. "The native Ferroans who kidnapped her, are doing this to get us off the planet before we can convince Zonama Sekot to join our cause and end the Yuuzhan Vong invasion."

"Then the planet is indeed alive," Nom Anor said with thoughtful awe in his voice, then a thought occurred to him and he put on a confident expression. "Anyway, the kidnapping isn't a big deal, because it's more of a matter of the heart, as I was able to learn during my previous expedition on this planet."

Jacen Solo raised an eyebrow. "Things of the heart?"

"From our traveling party one member also got kidnapped by … what did you call them? ... Ferroans - a young shaper who", Nom Anor pointed at his heart, "was in love with me. After I turned her down because my heart belongs to someone else, she turned to the locals, who pretended to kidnap her, to persuade me to be more devoted to her — easy to see through for a master deceiver like me."

At Kyp Durron's face disdain flared up at the enemy agent's self-praise, but Jacen's dark brown eyes lit up. "So Danni Quee is just ... in love?"

Nom Anor nodded meaningfully.

"Then let's go and fix this ... right away!" Jacen exclaimed enthusiastically, gesturing for his fellow Jedi to follow.

"But what about the threat of Corellia?" Luke Skywalker tried to stop his nephew, "and the uprising of the Shamed Ones on Coruscant, which we should support, when your younger brother was such a close friend of these people and you should honor his legacy in this regard? If what Nom Anor says is true, then the Ferroans won't do anything to Danni, so she can wait here as well until we have restored peace to the galaxy."

"Don't worry, it won't be long," Jacen called, turning to run.

"Jacen, stay here, I've got a bad feeling about this," his aunt called after him, but only a few moments later the young lad had disappeared already.

Mara Jade shrugged, then turned and looked menacingly at Nom Anor. "If the Ferroans lay just one finger on Jacen or on Danni or on both because of your allegations, you're next!"

Nom Anor waved her off. "Get in line, Mara Jade; first we must deal with Shimrra and his court jester."

"His court jester?" the sandy-haired Jedi wondered.

Nom Anor shook his bald head thoughtfully. "There's more to Onimi than my good eye can see at first glance. We should keep an eye on him."

༺═────────────═༻

Meanwhile at Centerpoint station

"Holy Keeramak, these calibrations are so finely tuned, who is supposed to set them exactly when shooting?", the Rodian Salkeli said angrily while fiddling with the controls of the Centerpoint station. "The farther away I zoom in on a target, the more it shakes and barely stays in view!"

"This isn't just a simple Death Star where the target is huge and in sight," scoffed another Peace Brigadesman, a square, graying-haired human.

"Not this button, it turns off the protective shield," warned a technician.

Salkeli immediately removed his suction-cupped finger from the yellow button and looked at the technician. "Antone, is there some trick to getting the aiming lock steady so it doesn't shake back and forth when aiming at the target?"

The technician shrugged. "I was told you were a specialist?"

The Rodian's protruding snout quivered with anger. "I'm the best speeder repairman in all of Bakura. It really can't be that difficult!"

"Young Anakin Solo certainly managed that back then," Antone pointed out.

Salkeli's round compound eyes flashed angrily. "A Jedi, then. Why didn't they tell us that straight away?"

Antone smiled knowingly. "Now you know."

Salkeli reluctantly peeled a villip from his pocket and stroked the brown ball until he awoke to reveal Nas Choka's face, mustache fluff quivering in anticipation.

༺═────────────═༻

And again on Zonama Sekot

Jacen Solo arrived at the place where the Ferroans were holding Danni Quee. Ever since rescuing the young woman from the Yuuzhan Vong captivity years ago, he had wished for exactly what the supposedly former enemy agent had just promised him. He'd followed Danni's Force presence, guiding him like a beacon to the right place, and came to a clearing. The young biologist lay in a pit lined with a kind of silt – a place that could pass for a comfortable bed on this planet. Around them sat or stood a group of blue skinned Ferroans, chatting in a relaxed, friendly tone. In the background, a cozy fire rustled as two white-haired women prepared a piece of venison above - an idyll that in the eyes of the young Jedi looked more like a cozy weekend getaway than a violent kidnapping.

One of the kidnappers turned to Jacen as he stepped into the clearing, and his expression instantly darkened, as he spied the telltale lightsaber cylinder on the young man's belt. "What are you doing here, Jedi?"

"I want to talk to Danni, has she been asleep long?"

"You did well to come here alone, Jedi," one of the other Ferroans said more forgivingly. "But you offworlders have brought us nothing but misery, and after the previous attack we fear nothing better."

"But we didn't attack you," Jacen protested. "Those were the Yuuzhan Vong!"

"But you are at war with those who attacked us. And that doesn't make any difference to us," the Ferroan from earlier contradicted, looking at another of the kidnappers, "doesn't it, Senshi?"

Senshi nodded. "And that's exactly why you will now walk back to your group and you will lift yourself off this planet." He pointed to a wooden and well-padded stretcher. "Then we will come behind and bring your mate to your ship."

"That's very thoughtful of you, but we need to talk to the planet first. Talk, mind you, don't fight."

"We are not stupid and understand your words very well, Jedi," the first Ferroan rebuked him. "But what about your actions?"

"My actions?" Jacen asked, stunned. "It is my word that I use here. And all I see here is a group of Ferroans who kidnapped a human female who didn't harm them. So much for action."

"Why are you still here?" the first Ferroan provoked him.

"Because I want to speak to Zonama Sekot. And with Danni, if that's all right."

"Leave him alone, Tourou," Senshi said soothingly. "I think we should wake up the prisoner."

"If you allow me, I want to do it myself."

Tourou raised a hand. "No!"

Jacen gave Tourou a serene but steady gaze, then slowly unbuckled his lightsaber from his belt and laid it down in front of Senshi, who he thought was the sanest of the group. Ensuring that all the kidnappers were okay with what he was doing - it must be added that he was subtly influencing their thoughts as well - he got down on one knee by the silt hollow where the young biologist was sleeping peacefully. The Ferroans took a few steps back to give the two some privacy, and Jacen gently stroked Danni's cheek.

The blonde biologist slowly opened her eyes. "Where am I?"

Jacen Solo gave Danni his best smile. "You are safe."

"You mean the Solo definition of safety?"

Jacen laughed mischievously. "I think it's a bit more than that."

Danni lifted her head and looked at her captors. "Who are they?"

Jacen smiled understandingly and brushed a blond lock of hair from her sweaty forehead. "Danni, you don't have to feign anything any longer. I know about."

Danni's green eyes blinked in wonder. "What do you know about, Jacen Solo?"

"About how you feel about me. So feel free to tell these men that they may stop this now. I love you too."

Danni jumped up from her mossy bed and sat a bit apart from him. "How I do feel about you? How did you come up with the idea? Well, I got a pretty hard hit on the back of the head earlier, but it didn't hit me that badly."

Jacen sat there dumbstruck, his face so soft and hopeful a moment ago frozen.

Danni slipped back over to him a bit. "I'm sorry, Jacen, but... I feel so taken by surprise. I..." she looked around and saw the puzzled faces of the Ferroans, "...was probably brought here unconscious. But nothing at all had been agreed; you have to believe me." Her eyes became intense. "And as for your feelings, I actually thought we sorted that out on Dantooine three years ago."

"Yes, but ... half a year ago on the Jade Shadow you looked at me like that in the engine room ... and then you gently stroked this …", his thumb and index finger pulled a dark brown strand of his forehead, "… strand of hair out of my cheek."

Danni kneaded her hands in embarrassment. "Yes, I remember, but that too was purely friendship."

Jacen slapped his forehead with his hand. "How could I even trust Nom Anor?!" he scolded himself. "Then he may have arranged your kidnapping."

"Nom Anor? Here on Zonama Sekot? Kidnapping me?"

"Let's go back to the camp and discuss this with the other Jedi," Jacen suggested. "Nom Anor is there too, and then he's welcome to clear up this cruel misunderstanding and to justify himself to Aunt Mara as well. I'm honestly sorry Danni, I didn't mean to."

Danni bowed her head. "Unfortunately with that it's not done, because now you've said it."

"Enough talking," Tourou said angrily, sliding between Danni and Jacen, looking at the young Jedi. "This is a real kidnapping, and if that puts your mind at ease, Jedi, we don't know any Nom Anor."

Jacen held the gaze of the Ferroan. "Maybe he disguised himself and pretended to be someone else. Then kidnappings happen here all the time? What a hoard of scum and villainy — with or without Nom Anor!"

"Hey, young Jedi, that's not how you talk about Zonama Sekot!" a new voice interjected.

Jacen turned to the voice. "Vergere?"

"Sekot!" Senshi said solemnly.

"The test is over," Vergere explained. "The Jedi pose no threat to our world, as this young Jedi's chivalrous behavior has just demonstrated. So you can let the woman go."

Jacen burst out laughing. "Vergere," he spluttered. "You'd worked with Nom Anor before to teach me something, but this really is the pinnacle. So the stinking intendant was right: it was a fake kidnapping! Hahahaha! And I was beginning to think all his other talk about defecting and such was just smoke and mirrors too... and that he even would have fooled Kyp Durron with it. Hahahahaha!"

Danni grabbed his hand. "Jacen, please calm down."

He shook off her hand. "You cleared things up between us, and so..."

"Easy, young Jedi", Vergere said. "I am touched by your pain, which to a certain degree is my fault too, but now there are more important things to turn on."

Jacen stared at the purple bird creature. "Vergere, you look younger than when I last saw you on Ebaq 9."

The little bird turned to the Ferroans. "Thank you, you can go now."

Senshi, Tourou and the other kidnappers bowed their black, gray or white haired heads in farewell. The two women who had prepared the venison took it from the fireplace and put it out, bringing up the rear of the departing blue procession.

"And now," said Vergere, "let's go to the other Jedi."

They came to the place where the other Jedi and Nom Anor were waiting for them.

As soon as he caught sight of the silhouette of Vergere, Nom Anor took a step back, and all the Jedi could see how he shuddered to even look at her.

"It's amazing the fear you show, Yuuzhan Vong," said Vergere's image, "even though we've never met before."

Nom Anor blinked. "Haven't we?" Noticing that this Vergere seemed younger than the one he knew, he wondered if that might be a ruse - or just a member of the same species as the traitor?

"Nom Anor," Jacen said somberly, and was about to continue when his aunt interrupted him.

"Well, I never thought I'd say something like that one day, but thank you, Nom Anor, for showing Jacen and Danni such a smooth exit from this kidnapping." Mara Jade smiled tightly. "It seems you already know your way around this planet well."

Nom Anor returned Mara's smile and Jacen shot his aunt an angry look.

"It was of particular concern to me," Nom Anor replied courteously. "When Jacen has been going through so much lately."

Mara turned away from him, and one could feel that the kind words of the former enemy were a bit too much for her. She looked at Jacen. "You don't look too happy despite the kidnapping's minor outcome - and neither does Danni, by the way."

"It doesn't matter," Jacen said, "because Vergere has something to tell us."

"I knew Vergere when she was here," the purple bird-creature began, "but I am Sekot and after this young man here was so disappointed that it not only could erode the morale of you Jedi, but also plunge the entire galaxy into its doom as well, I, Sekot, decided to help you."

Jacen remembered what Senshi had called her. "Then you are the spirit of Zonama Sekot?"

Vergere's image nodded. "I always present myself in the guise known to those I speak to. But yes, it is me."

Luke Skywalker smiled in relief. "And I thought you were about to lecture us on Jedi morals in the Old Republic again. Then let's forge a plan of who goes where and when, so that we can surprise the enemy where he doesn't expect us."

"I'd love to," Nom Anor agreed, "but I ask that you only let me know as much that I don't have to lie to the Supreme Overlord, for he senses when you lie."

Mara Jade looked from Jacen to her husband Luke and the other Jedi. "I guess that won't be a problem, will it?"

None of the Jedi contradicted her. The plan meeting was only slightly delayed when the former kidnapper named Senshi ran towards the group of Jedi and the sole Yuuzhan Vong to return the lightsaber Jacen Solo had forgotten to take back at the kidnapper's rest area.

This chapter contains events from the book series "New Jedi Order" This chapter contains events from the book series "New Jedi Order", Vol. 5 "Agents of Chaos II: Jedi Eclipse" by James Luceno (2000); Vol. 17 "Against All Hope" by Shane Dix and Sean Williams and Vol. 19. "The Unifying Force" by James Luceno (2003)