In an Arbra planning room, Leia sends Luke, Berl, and Cinda Tarheel to the Belial Sun System to convince King S'Shah of Serphidi, the fourth world, to ally with them, as there are no Rebel bases here and Imperial activity has increased. 3PO is relieved he and R2 aren't going, as they're due for annual worn parts replacements. At Serphidi, the X-Wing pilots are attacked by four TIEs. Cinda hits two but is shot down, while Berl and Luke take out the others and follow; her ship is damaged, but she's fine. Serps on lizard mounts attack with blast-sticks; Berl is killed, Cinda is captured, and Luke seeks cover. S'Shah's aide, Chahis, wants to pursue, but S'Shah is happy with his "new toy," Cinda. Lost in a forest, Luke saves an old Serp, Elglih, from an attacking beast and is taken to Harmony Glade, his home, for dinner. Elglih says Serphidi was once a technological world, but centuries of war changed that; it was then united under one King, technology banned, but when S'Shah took over, he brought back science and turned harmless jousting contests into the Doom-Joust, declaring he could only be deposed by defeat. All have failed, but Elglih vows to win. Making Luke his squire, he trains him to joust. In Castle S'Shah, Cinda is brought before the King and mistakes his interest as lust, but he intends to eat her after "playing with [his] food." Luke bests Elglih in a mock-joust and realizes he must fight for him. A servant readies Cinda for dinner, saying she should be honoored; she escapes, but S'Shah catches her and takes her to a royal reviewing box on the joust field. As Elglih's challenger, Luke faces S'Shah on lizard mount. The King knocks him to the ground and breaks his weapon, but Luke throws his blast-stick, knocking him over. Luke overpowers him to make him surrender, but S'Shah pulls a micro-jolt and Luke has no choice but to kill him. Elglih, now the King, forges strong ties with the Rebels, then Luke and Cinda depart, grieving Berl's death.

Review not yet available. Please check back again soon.