Epilogue

Of all the things that Supreme Overlord Shimrra could say about Nom Anor's conniving and secrecy with Czulkang Lah, disturbing was the most fitting word he could find. "Something about that man scheming with a Warmaster has me most unsettled, Onimi. I want to know what it is they're up to and I want to know it now!" he exclaimed as he slammed a fist onto the arm of his chair. "As much as I would like to help you, my liege, there isn't much I can do in that direction for now," Onimi replied.

"Strange that your powers cannot give me insight into their plans and schemes when I need it most and yet, when I least need it, you're like a prophet of sorts," Shimrra stated. "With due respect, Master, our species' natural immunity to my power prohibits me from seeing into their minds. If I really wanted to see into their intentions, I would risk tearing their sanity apart. This could also mean that I might make their heads pop like zits if I really concentrated beyond that point," Onimi said.

Probably for the better if you did that to them both before they have a chance to fulfill their dark intent, whatever it may be Shimrra thought but didn't say. Aloud though he said, "What can be done to investigate their intent in the meantime if I wished it?" "The traditional enforcer of the law would have to be sent with a warrant to search, of course," Onimi answered. "Oh how I hate relying on tradition to get my way!" Shimrra shouted at the top of his voice.

"Now calm down Sire, you need your strength of mind in order to overcome them as well as strength of body where necessary. You have not eaten in weeks and you are becoming dangerously thin as a result, just look at your gut and look at the paleness of your skin," Onimi said. For the first time in probably that long, Shimrra actually observed his physical condition and had to agree with his Jester. Still, there was no reason to allow Onimi to point that out in front of him unless it truly put Shimrra's future existence in peril.

Maybe it has thus, I will not act on Onimi's words except to heed them Shimrra told himself silently. "If your Highness wishes, I can have a feast prepared to restore your body and revive your mind. It is much needed after all your hard work these past several weeks, fighting off the Chiss and their Killik allies must be most tiring," Onimi said with a cackle in his voice. "Yes, order such a feast for me when you have a moment to do so: food is most welcoming in this hour of the night," Shimrra said with a nod.

"I shall and would you like me to send the investigator to seek out what information they can find on Anor's intentions?" Onimi inquired. "No, let them be. I want to see how this will turn out: whether it will help our ultimate goal or hinder it in anyway," Shimrra replied, shaking his head. "Your Excellency has always had the greatest clarity and wisdom even when depleted on strength," Onimi stated. A stupid imbecile even with a good meal, if you ask me; no wonder why I took to using him as my pawn when I found him Onimi thought mischievously.

"One more thing Onimi: what do you know of a fleet sent by Thrawn to not only thwart our own counterattack but to also retaliate against us?" Shimrra asked. "I know nothing beyond the fact that the counterattack was intercepted by allies of Admiral Thrawn and the Killiks," Onimi answered. It wasn't far from the truth though Onimi forgot to include visions of two women in black coming before him. This was a detail he felt was best left out for now until he could obtain more clarity in the vision.

Since each day brought more and more clarity to the vision, he guessed it was only a matter of time before these women revealed themselves to the Yuuzhan Vong. The engines of war shall turn in favor of the revelation of this vision soon enough, that I know for certain Onimi told himself. As if that wasn't good enough, Shimrra would know about these women if Anor or Lah brought them here. Was that their plan and if so, how did they know about these existence of these women when Onimi himself didn't until a few days before?

Could it be that there was someone who encountered these women and reported back to them? It was a troubling possibility but not one Onimi was unwilling to consider just as he wasn't unwilling to consider the possibility that they may be a threat to his power over Shimrra. For all he knew, Anor and Czulkang could teach persuade these women how to make Shimrra immune to Onimi's dark schemes. If that happened, he would be executed as not only would his pawn become immune but he would also discover the truth for himself.

Nonetheless, he would admit that if this was indeed the plan of the Intendant and the Warmaster, they were certainly taking great lengths to cover it up. But if that was not their plan, why would they strive to make Onimi think it was? Only one thing explained it: their purpose and interest in the women would solely be related to something Onimi could not prevent with all his power. For the moment, I will let them continue their game until what they bring is revealed Onimi thought.

He hated being under pressure, as he was now, because it reduced his ability to think of plausible and cunning plans to stop his enemies. Worse, it dulled his ability to use his power to enhance the effectiveness needed for those plans to suit his ends and his alone. Of course, this excluded exceptions he would have to make to satisfy and pacify Shimrra. Patience, young man, patience: Czulkang Lah and Nom Anor will reveal their intentions soon enough for you to be ready he told himself as he ordered for Shimrra's restoration feast to be readied.

But being young and still somewhat impulsive despite the wisdom his gift had given him whilst acting as his curse, sometimes made patience difficult. This was especially the case when he was bothered by a vision of a man with orange, glowing eyes. From the looks of it, this was an enemy Onimi thought vanquished years ago but who could it possibly be to bring such concern to him? How could they possibly be a threat to him now and were they connected to Nom Anor or Czulkang in any way?

The future was constantly moving in proportion to the actions beings across the galaxy took if they could take any. But since he himself was virtually immobilized, he would have to wait until the future moved toward him. Let the Intendant and the Warmaster play puppetry in the dark, he was far more skilled and effective at that than they were. And when they finally revealed their true intentions as well as who their puppets were, he would persuade Shimrra to strike accordingly.

All is not lost on this Court Jester just yet though most of it is, admittedly. There will be time enough to remedy this when those two reveal their plot at last he vowed from in the shadows.