Warmaster Tsavong Lah stared down on the infidel world of Coruscant; even now, the Shapers were remaking it into Yuuzhan\u2019tar, the long-lost homeworld.<\/p>\n
Word had long since reached his ears about the disaster at Iridonia. Domain Kraal\u2019s utter annihilation at the hands of the Zabrak defenders and their allies in the remains of the New Republic were ill tidings.<\/p>\n
In spite of the best efforts of the priesthood, rumors were spreading throughout the warrior caste. Officially, Domain Kraal had been Shamed by their inability to hold Borleias against the New Republic fleet; their destruction at Iridonia had merely proven that they truly were no longer part of the Yuuzhan Vong. Rumors persisted, though, that it wasn\u2019t merely Domain Kraal that had lost the favor of the gods, but all the Yuuzhan Vong everywhere\u2014that the sacking of Coruscant had been a mistake.<\/p>\n
Tsavong Lah officially ignored such rumors, of course; but the loss of his father, the great warmaster Czulkang Lah, had long since shaken his faith.<\/p>\n
If these Iridonians have the power to resist us where the rest of the infidels have not, will they not teach their tricks to their allies? Have we been undone?<\/em><\/p>\n This galaxy is a dark place indeed.<\/em> In spite of himself, the warmaster shivered\u2014the only outward sign of the uncertainty he felt.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Halyn sat with his feet up on the console, a rather reckless posture given the number of sensitive controls that could possibly lead to disaster. He watched the blue-white mottled blur of hyperspace shimmer around the Starwind<\/em> as the light freighter glided towards Mon Calamari.<\/p>\n Another entered the cockpit module; the door hissed shut behind her. \u201cHow long until we reach Mon Calamari?\u201d<\/p>\n Halyn glanced past his booted foot to a timer clicking down. \u201cTwelve hours, give or take.\u201d<\/p>\n Kelta Rose seated herself in his lap and wrapped her arms around him. \u201cGood, then we have plenty of time for just the two of us.\u201d<\/p>\n The Zabrak\u2019s smile was a satisfied predator\u2019s. \u201cTired of spending time with the kids?\u201d<\/p>\n The red-headed Jedi shook her head. \u201cThey\u2019re too busy trying to get Deuce to tell them stories of the old days. To them, the Civil War was some great period of romance and heroism\u2014and somehow I don\u2019t think the stories of a droid will shake them from that.\u201d<\/p>\n Halyn closed his eyes contentedly. \u201cDo those two remind you of anyone?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was hoping it was just me,\u201d she said with a shudder. \u201cI hope it doesn\u2019t take them twenty years to figure it out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMe, too.\u201d<\/p>\n They rested in contented silence for several minutes before Kelta asked, \u201cHalyn, can I ask you a question?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou just did, but I\u2019ll let you ask another.\u201d<\/p>\n She straightened enough to punch his shoulder, but smiled. \u201cThanks. No, what I wanted to ask was\u2026\u201d she hesitated, \u201cwell, what\u2019s your last name?\u201d<\/p>\n Halyn laughed aloud. \u201cThat\u2019s probably the silliest question you\u2019ve ever asked me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I\u2019m serious,\u201d Kelta said. \u201cWhen I first met you, you were Halyn Lance, the Rebel general and hero. You\u2019ve also been Jessik the pirate, and Sanshir the Iridonian loyalist. Which one are<\/em> you?\u201d<\/p>\n He didn\u2019t answer with an immediate wisecrack; instead, he was silent for a few reflective moments. \u201cI\u2019m just Halyn,\u201d he said at last. \u201cI\u2019m not the Rebel general\u2014I haven\u2019t been for a long time, and in some ways I never was. Jessik was someone I became for a while, but it was never really me<\/em>\u2014not really. And Halyn Sanshir, to me, is the kid who ran away from home and joined a freighter crew way too young.\u201d He shrugged. \u201cThat just leaves Halyn.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, if we do<\/em> get married, you\u2019re going to have to figure this out,\u201d Kelta joked. \u201cI\u2019m not changing my first name to match yours.\u201d<\/p>\n Halyn sighed. \u201cGet involved with a woman and the first thing she thinks of is marriage.\u201d<\/p>\n Kelta leaned back and punched him again. \u201cAfter twenty years, I\u2019m allowed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd she gets all abusive,\u201d he continued on, \u201cthinks she can tell you what to do and everything. It\u2019s even worse when she\u2019s a Jedi, of course, because then she uses Jedi mind tricks to get her way.\u201d<\/p>\n Kelta smirked and waved her hand in front of his face. \u201cYou want to take off all your clothes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s true,\u201d Halyn said with a smile. \u201cAfter all, we have twelve hours to Mon Calamari.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd twenty years of time to make up for,\u201d Kelta concluded with a nod.<\/p>\n The Starwind<\/em> continued on its course through the blur of hyperspace, toward distant Mon Calamari. Halyn and Kelta found a long-lost contentment in each other\u2019s arms, though they knew it would be short-lived, lasting only until they were thrust into battle again. The war would not turn on their efforts, and they were comfortable with the role of warriors and soldiers rather than leaders and heroes.<\/p>\n They had spent their time as heroes, and were content to pass off the role to the hope of the next generation\u2014a young Zabrak warrior and Jedi girl laughing and conversing in the forward hold.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Warmaster Tsavong Lah stared down on the infidel world of Coruscant; even now, the Shapers were remaking it into Yuuzhan\u2019tar, the long-lost homeworld. Word had long since reached his ears about the disaster at Iridonia. Domain Kraal\u2019s utter annihilation at … Continue reading