The battle for Ontotho is heating up, and JEDI PADAWAN CERE JUNDA finds herself right in the middle of it, fighting alongside the FYLAR FREEDOM FIGHTERS. But as Cere moves to help end the local war, she will come face to face with the last person she expects! What secrets lie in the hidden temple of Ontotho? The race is on to find out.
Around 14 BBY, a gigoran is killed as an Inquisitor continues her search for the temple on Ontotho. The Purge Troopers who accompany the Inquisitor are doubtful about any of the Fylar Freedom Fighters knowing anything but the Inquisitor proves them wrong as she reveals signs of the temple beneath the ground the freedom fighters were protecting.
Cere Junda attacks alongside the Fylari.
Years earlier, the Daa Corporation security team is planning how they will approach the Fylari as they spot Cere Junda waiting calmly. Cere explains they have no right to explore as the Fylar region is an independent nation as the Daa security claim they are legitimately there due to the agreement between the Republic and the Ontothon government. One of the security recognises Cere from her exploits in Ontotho City and orders for the security team to open fire. Cere responds with her own words as she calls the Fylari hidden around the area to emerge and fight for their land. Neralli, En-Threelo, and the other freedom fighters join Cere and push back the Daa forces, focusing only on destroying the droids and not killing the officers.
Hours later, Cere and the others return to a Fylari village. Fess, a Gigoran freedom fighter, comments that the Daa will come back with an even larger force. Neralli initially defends Cere, but does end up siding with Fess when he argues that they should stick to defending their own lands rather than enacting Cere's plans to go back to the city and get word to the Jedi Council. Before they could settle the argument, an explosion sends people to the ground. Daa Corporation droids descend on Cere and the Fylari who begin defending the village. They figure out the equipment the recovered from the previous skirmish must have had trackers hidden within them. The group manage to fend off the droids and Neralli approaches Cere to ask her how many fighters she would need for her plan.
Within a Daa Camp on the border between Ontotho and the Fylar region, Dylanto Daa discusses Cere and the freedom fighters' recent exploits with Dylanto impressed with the Jedi. As Dylanto tells the Commander to get some rest, Cere and the selected fighters sneak into the camp. Cere pushes ahead and causes some chaos with her lightsaber causing the loading dock to set on fire. With the distraction set, Cere and En-Threelo knock out a couple of the guards, and attempt to access the communications system but are disappointed to find it locked. Cere gives En-Threelo a time limit of ten minutes to unlock it as she enters Dylanto's part of the camp.
Dylanto Daa defends himself from Cere Junda.
Inside, Dylanto hears Cere walk around and fires out with his blaster but is soon disarmed by the padawan. Dylanto claims no ill will towards Cere and claims he no longer thought she was a Jedi due to her working with the freedom fighters. Dylanto manages to press a button on a nearby table which sends in a few of the Daa security droids. Cere quickly dispenses them but soon clashes with another lightsaber. Eno Cordova stands before her, alive and well, as they both comment that they thought the other dead.
Eno makes more comments about the overwhelming nature of the Force on Ontotho before Dylanto explains that he took care of the injured Jedi and made sure no one knew of his survival, in case of the attackers' return. Cere ties to explain what has happened to her but Eno continues talking about his own time spent with Dylanto. Cere claims that Dylanto is simply trying to distract Eno from contacting the Jedi Council but Eno claims that he already has, with the help of Dylanto. Cere then reveals to Eno that she has been fighting on the side of the Fylari to Eno's surprise.
Two days later, the two sides of the war meet. Cere is alongside Neralli, Fess, Moroo, and En-Threelo. And Eno joins Dylanto and the rest of the Daa representatives. Neralli is worried of a trap being put upon them as the two groups approach each other. The tension already bleeds through as Eno tries to calm down the two leaders in the back and forth that occurrs between the two. Eno eventually dismantles the situation, using Cere's same display of the Force she used on Nameel, and gets the two sides to agree to a two day peace. Cere claims the peace will not last long, but Eno says it only needs to last long enough for the pair of Jedi to figure out what is going on as the two look on at the temple at the center of the issue.
- UPC 759606094721; October 9, 2019; Marvel Comics