The pieces of the mystery are slowly coming together as'Kir Kanos'races towards the'Zanibar'homeworld,'Xo, in an attempt to save'Mirith Sinn'from a fate worse than death. But will he be in time? Will personal animosities between the two be too great? Meanwhile,'Grappa'the'Hutt'finds himself in an awkward situation, with the heat of the'Black Sun'starting to make him sweat.