The Holonet is abuzz with activity as the Corellian administration proclaims victory in running the GA out.

Ben reaches Ziost and lands near a craft that was recently destroyed.  He senses that he’s being watched by someone wicked.  After setting off into the woods, he hears his own ship blowing up and decides that after finding the amulet his next mission will be one of revenge on whoever is trying to strand him on this world.

During the night and long after his food has run out, he notices a smoke plum in the direction he can sense the wickedness.  He finds Faskus wearing the amulet around his neck and attacks him.  Ben realizes the man has a small daughter with him and decides to spare him, not knowing that the old man is already mortally wounded from the attack on his ship.  Faskus says he received the amulet from someone else and was only told to bring it here.  While trying to take the amulet to a cave he heard his ship being fired upon and he rushed back to save his daughter when he was injured.  After Faskus dies, Ben gathers his belongings and heads out, despicably leaving the young girl behind.  His astromech questions this decision, upsetting him.  As he leaves, he receives a birthday recording from his parents that they had made before he left.  He begins sobbing over his decision to kill a little girl on his birthday.  He decides to return and help her bury her father.

Over the next few weeks, there are minor skirmishes between the GA and Corellian forces, which have added Bespin and Fondor.  Klauskin returns to Commenor where he is retired as a hero, although most still believe he’s out of his mind.

Tycho Celchu informs Jacen that the GA security systems have been compromised and information is being sent elsewhere.  Jacen is infuriated when he learns that the slicing was done using an unassigned GAG access code.  They also learn that there will be a meeting of all the Corellian Confederation leaders as they gather to elect a new Chancellor.

After a training exercise, Jaina, Zekk, and Jag talk about what Jaina’s designation as the Sword of the Jedi actually means and whether it means she’ll have to defeat the Sith.  Jag receives a message that Alema is on the Errant Venture.

After returning to the Errant Venture, Jacen tracks down Lavint and they strike a deal for her to find out where the Confederation meeting will be taking place.  She agrees as long as he provides credits, a ship, and a chance to speak to his parents.

After living on Ziost for some time, Ben has a feeling, at the same time each day, of someone watching him.  He determines that the watcher is in a ship overhead.

Lumiya speaks with Dyur and he tells her that Ben has taken Faskus’s daughter under his wing.  Lumiya knows that is not the Sith way and says to kill both of them.

As they explore more of the ruins on Ziost, Ben’s droid alerts him that he is emitting a small signal and Ben finds a tracking device in his pouch.  Not long after, the sensation of being watched returns even stronger.  This time, however, they come under heavy fire from a passing ship and they take cover.  Using the Force, Ben hurls a rock at the ship causing it to leave them alone for the time being.

Back at Lando’s depot, Han and Leia board the repaired Millennium Falcon, but quickly come under attack from a Bothan fleet.  In the midst of the battle, they receive a message from Lavint.  She tells them that Alema Rar is with her.  In exchange for this information, she hopes they will remove Alema from her ship and give her information about the location of the Confederation summit.  The Solos decide to return to the Errant Venture.

Ben is beginning to have more vivid and intense dreams and he hears voices know his name.  He has to fight off several creatures when he wakes.

Back on the Venture, the united groups compare notes on their missions.  Inside the casino, Lavint and Alema continue to wait for Leia’s return.

Ben has a dream where the voices tell him to save the girl and learn about a ship that he can see in his dreams.

Alema is surprised to see Zekk and flees when she senses Corran Horn approaching from behind.  In the hallway, however, she runs into Jag and fires at him.  He deflects it and returns fire breaking her clavicle.  Alema steals Lavints ship and flies away.  Han gives Lavint the information about the Confederation summit.  Afterwards, Han tells Leia that the information about the location was too easily gotten and perhaps there is misinformation out there in hopes of leading the GA into a trap.

After three days without food, Ben finds another set of ruins.  He is hearing the voices during the day and at night they are instructing him on how to fly this eye-shaped craft he dreams of.
Jacen meets with Niathal and says he has found the location of the Confederation meeting and suggests an unconventional method of attacking it with her leading the attack and he backing her up in the Anakin Solo.  As he leaves, Lumiya catches up to him and tells him that they have temporary lost contact with Ben.

Ben dreams that a spider-like creature is crawling near him.  He instructs it to go outside and kill the creatures that have been attacking them instead of harming him and the girl and it obeys.  Later they dress up a dummy and place the transmitter on it.  The voices begin to tell Ben to kill and eat the girl to survive.  Ben is confused since the voices had earlier told him to protect her.  He becomes convinced the voices were trying to lull him to their side before revealing their true nature.  When the ship returns and fires at the dummy, he uses the Force to bring rocks down destroying it.  He scavenges supplies from the wreckage.

On Gilatter Eight, the site of the Confederation summit, Luke and other Jedi are watching and gaining information on the approaching ships.

In the morning, Ben and the girl venture into the ruin where they are able to find the eye-shaped craft.  Ben gets on board but there are no controls.  Using the information from his dreams is able to control it with his mind and they blast off from Ziost.

Jacen and Lumiya gain access to the Confederation Summit under the guise of radical smugglers.  Inside the meeting, when Jacen is unable to recognize anyone he asks a waiter when the meeting will begin.  He senses that the waiter has just given a signal and he threatens him.  The waiter reveals he was to report anyone asking questions.  Suddenly a huge hologram appears in the middle of the room and the man instructs everyone to look through the skylight and watch as GA ships are destroyed in a newly laid minefield.  A spotlight falls on Jacen and the man reveals Jacen’s identity.  The man’s name is Turr Phennir and is the newly elected Supreme Commander of the Confederacy’s military.  The meeting was a trap.  As Confederation troops attack him, Jacen sends a warning out through the Force and Luke receives it and passes it to the fleet.

Despite the warning, Niathal instructs only part of the fleet to leave.  She says that leaving will probably only lead them into another set of mines and by continuing on they will actually receive less hits.

Leia also receives the message and tries to convince Han to save Jacen.

Alema watches as the soldiers attack Jacen and thinks about escaping until she sees Luke and Mara arrive.  She can also sense that Han and Leia are not far behind.  Lumiya approaches her and they decide to enter the fight so they can keep everyone occupied in hopes of getting a shot at Luke and Leia.

The Solos arrive and Alema attacks Leia as Lumiya finds Luke.  She tells Luke that she does not hate him.  If she did she would have killed Jacen instead of letting him run away.  Luke realizes that everyone else, including Jacen, have gone.  She offers him a hand in peace, and Luke touches her but senses no evil inside.

Leia notices Alema is not attacking and looks up just in time to see her ship heading straight for the viewport overhead.  Alema puts on a decompression suit as smiles.  The ship smashes through creating a hole in the floor as atmosphere starts pouring out.  Leia Force shoves Han to safety and Luke uses a grappling hook to escape.

In route to the Anakin Solo, Jacen fumes as he sees the missed opportunities by the GA in the huge battle taking place.  As he lands, he also grants Lumiya permission to board.
In the end, the battle was a draw with each side claiming small victories.

Lumiya consoles Jacen who is feeling like a fool by telling him that all of the news will be spun in his favor and he’ll probably still end up being the hero.  She also teases him with a battle technique that will allow him to control and move fleets at his will, but only a Sith Master can do this.  She tells him that he will need to make the sacrifice of one he loves and take his new Sith name before this can happen.  Jacen says perhaps it will be his parents, but she challenges him that he does not love them as he says and they will not suffice.  He searches his feelings and cannot determine whether the love is still there.  She says he’s being too logical and not using his feelings.  He says the feelings make him weak, but she says that is only because he is afraid.  He is incensed and she mocks him saying that once he takes his Sith name, she’ll be waiting for him.

Jacen knows that the fate of his parents is the same.  If he loves them, they will be sacrificed, if not, they should be eliminated for the betterment of the galaxy.