In theory Tomas has the potential to lead to the status of the 'Red Bay' (Coral Bay having been renamed that in the aftermath) slaves being revisited. Too bad he's already stated that his opinion is that first Emperor shouldn't have changed his mind (an angsty teenager, how can this be?) after having finally heard that bit of history while already feeling down.

For some reason I'm remembering the suggestion that when writers go to hell they are locked in a room with their characters and that said characters are made aware of exactly who the author is. :)