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“You are Jedi,” he said at last. “The Yuuzhan Vong seek you.”

“Yes.”

“Perhaps you tell me this only to save yourselves.”

“If you don’t believe me, double-check your defensive grid.”

“It is being done,” the Givin replied.

“You’ll have proof enough when the Yuuzhan Vong show up,” Tahiri blurted.

“True,” the Givin said, apparently not caring which of the humans it was speaking to. “But even so, what use have they for our system?”

“We think they wish to stage a strike at Thyferra, and perhaps then the Core.”

“Ah. So they have the same use for our system that you did, Corran Horn.”

“Umm … yes.”

“And perhaps as little impact on our way of life.”

“You think so? And yet these Givin I first spoke to were collaborating with the Yuuzhan Vong for some reason.”

“Yes, that is of concern,” the dodecian said. “Our politics are … complex, and needn’t concern you. However, though such collusion with the Yuuzhan Vong might have been designed to upset the Coalition of Factors, there is still no reason to suspect that the Yuuzhan Vong actually pose a threat to our species.”

“But,” Anakin said, “they pose a threat to this station, and to your shipyards. The Yuuzhan Vong hate all technology.”

“Then perhaps we will hide the ships until they have gone.”

“Consider,” Corran said. “Since I was last here you’ve taken pains to integrate with the economy of the New Republic. You crewed this station, as I understand it, so your system would no longer be a battleground for foreign powers. You expanded your shipbuilding capabilities. Will you risk sacrificing that?”

“We certainly risk it if we engage the Yuuzhan Vong in combat. From what we understand, they can be quite formidable.”

Tahiri abruptly interrupted. “If you don’t fight them, you’ll be slaves,” she said. Her voice had gone low and weird, as it had when she thought she was a Yuuzhan Vong, back on Yavin 4.

“There is no reason to suspect that.”

Tahiri laughed. “I was a Yuuzhan Vong captive. I’ve seen what they do. Don’t you get it? Right, they may be staging a strike on Thyferra from here. They may have ten reasons for being here. But I can tell you what one of them is.”

“Explain,” the Givin said.

“You. Your species. The Yuuzhan Vong make every tool they use from living things. They believe life was given to them by the gods to shape. You think they aren’t interested in ready-made sentient beings who can survive in vacuum? The things they could make with you! They’ll blow up this station and blast your ships and cities into ions. Then they’ll take you and give you to their shapers. That will be the end of your complicated politics, Dodecian.”

“Emperor’s bones, she’s right,” Anakin said.

The Givin was silent for a half minute. “You really think this is true?” he asked at last.

“If you let them in without a fight, you’ve got no chance,” Tahiri assured him.

The Givin paused again, and again Anakin got the impression he was listening to some far-off voice.

“It is confirmed,” the dodecian said. “The defensive grid has been sabotaged. Fortunately, it can be remedied.”

“Does that mean you’ll fight?” Corran asked.

“I do not know. That decision does not lie with me. But we have taken into account all you said.”

“Let me contact Coruscant,” Corran said. “I can try to get more ships here, though I can’t promise anything.”

“I will enter that request,” the Givin said.

“Another thing. What have you done with the Yuuzhan Vong we took captive?”

“They are being questioned, to verify or dispute your story.”

“But Taan—” Tahiri began.

“Will be fine,” Corran said, cutting her off.

“The prisoner will not be harmed,” the dodecian confirmed. “Now. If you will accompany my aide, you will be provided with quarters and repast fit for your species.”

“Are we prisoners?”

“I would prefer you did not think of yourselves as such. You have been allowed to retain your Jedi weapons. But I would also prefer you remain confined to the quarters we assign you. The station is delicate.