Apocalypse (Star Wars novel)
Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi: Apocalypse is the ninth and final novel in the Fate of the Jedi series. It is written by Troy Denning and was released on April 3, 2012.
| Author | Troy Denning |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Ian Keltie |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Star Wars |
| Genre | Science Fiction |
| Publisher | Del Rey |
Publication date | April 3, 2012 |
| Preceded by | Ascension |
| Followed by | Crucible |
Plot
Following the Sith takeover on Coruscant, the Jedi begin the strike to reclaim the planet and their Temple. Luke and Ben Skywalker and Vestara Khai join the assault team, while Leia and Han Solo attempt to rescue the Jedi younglings from their academy on Ossus. Allana is left on her mother's ship, on which she has a Force vision of Sith invading the Barabel nest she promised to keep secret. She asks Leia to warn Saba Sebatyne through the Force without giving away the secret, but Leia is unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, Wynn Dorvan, captured by Abeloth and initially interrogated via torture, then forced to remain at her side as advisor, witnesses Abeloth occupying Rokari Kem's body, which is wearing out, and possess Lieutenant Lydea Pagorski as well. She later takes the body of the Sith Lord, Lady Korelei, who served as Wynn's torturer. Wynn is present with all three bodies inside the computer core of the Jedi Temple. He kills Kem's body.
Ben and Vestara enter the Jedi Temple alone, but are ambushed by a large number of Sith. Sith attacks trouble the remainder of the assault team, due to Abeloth seeing the future and placing them strategically, though the Jedi place the blame on Vestara. They eventually break into the computer core and duel with the possessed Korelei, dealing horrific injuries which she survives with few problems. Ben is captured alive by the Sith before the team escape.
At the same time, Abeloth appears to have visited the disgraced Natasi Daala inside the blockade she built from a shattered moon. Jagged Fel sends Tahiri Veila to Hagamoor 3 to find Boba Fett and destroy Abeloth together. On Hagamoor 3, Tahiri discovers that a mine known as the Moon Maiden actually houses Moff Tol Getelles' secret laboratory, in which he tested a youth serum taken from drochs. Tahiri finds Abeloth in the lab, occupying Pagorski's body, and she attempts to take Tahiri's as a replacement.
Vestara Khai flees the Sith through the underground of the Jedi Temple, though is closely pursued. She realizes Allana's true identity and offers the Sith the chance to capture her. Once the Solos arrive and attempt to warn the Barabels, the Sith attack and Han spots Vestara throwing a thermal detonator at the Millennium Falcon. Bazel Warv, who shared the secret of the nest with Allana, loses both arms in combat and is killed by cannon shots. It is later revealed that the Sith turned Vestara in to Abeloth.
Raynar Thul, former Killik Joiner, is sent to his former hive, Thuruht, to discover who Abeloth truly is. He is shown the Histories of Thuruht, depicting Abeloth's origins. The Histories show a family of Celestials known as the Ones, a Father, a Son, and a Daughter. The Daughter is the embodiment of the light side of the Force, the Son the embodiment of the Dark Side, and the Father the Keeper of the Balance. Abeloth appeared in their home a mortal woman, becoming a servant and then the Mother. She aged while the immortal Ones never changed, and in order to become immortal, drank from the Font of Power and swam in the Pool of Knowledge, becoming the Bringer of Chaos and the Father's equal. According to Thuruht, Abeloth is loosed unto the galaxy every time a war becomes too powerful. Raynar returns to being a Joiner, but the information is relayed to the Jedi Masters. The story of the Ones tallies with Luke's memories of Yoda's story about Anakin encountering the Ones at the Mortis monolith. Anakin refused to assume the dying Father's place as Keeper of the Balance, resulting in the deaths of all the Ones via a Force-imbued dagger. The Masters conclude that Ben and Vestara have been taken to replace the Daughter and the Son, and brought to Abeloth's homeworld.
Jaina Solo attempts to bring Luke to Abeloth's planet, but is detained by Ship. Luke goes beyond shadows to fight Abeloth outside of his body. At the same time, Abeloth deprives Ben and Vestara of water to tempt them into drinking from the Font of Power. Both of them attack the physical form of Abeloth, killing it. Saba Sebatyne and her team take on the form in the computer core, which Saba kills when it attempts to possess her, going by the idea that Abeloth is weakened whenever one of her bodies dies. Luke meets a tattooed Sith by the Lake of Apparitions, understanding that Jedi and Sith fighting must keep the Balance. He and the Sith eliminate the Force energy of Abeloth, though both are severely wounded. Ben is recovered, and Vestara escapes with Ship. The book ends three months after the final battle, with Jaina and Jag's wedding.
Reception
Apocalypse reached 2 on The New York Times bestseller list on April 1, 2012.[1]
References
- "Best Sellers: Hardcover Fiction: Sunday, April 1st 2012". The New York Times. April 1, 2012. Retrieved 2015-03-16.