Part 19 (1/2)

Some thirty standard minutes later he was crowded into a secure comms booth with Yoda and the Temple's impressive communications chief, listening to an almost inaudible message from Obi-Wan.

”I didn't catch all of that, ” he said, once the recording had run its course. ”Can I hear it again?”

Yoda nodded at Ban-yaro, the Jedi tapped a switch on the comm deck, and a moment later the faint, static-scratched message replayed.

80.”-both still alive. We're trapped by a theta storm in an outlying village. Master Yoda, we were unable to extract Doctor Fhernan.

Production of the weapon continues on a major scale. Recommend yon launch an immediate a.s.sault to take the planet. When the storm breaks, we'll return to the city and make another attempt to stop Durd. If we can, we'll...”

And there the message ended, swallowed by static. Bail sat back in his chair. ”Thank you. ” Looking at Yoda, he wondered if the ancient Jedi felt as sick with relief as he did himself. ”So what now?”

”We wait, ” said Yoda, standing, supported by his gimer stick.

”For how long?” he demanded. ”I think it's fair to say the Republic's in graver danger now than it was the day Obi-Wan and Anakin left for Lanteeb. We have to rethink our strategy, Master Yoda. Obi-Wan's right-we need to get control of that planet. ”

Yoda's ears flattened. ”Still working to create an antidote your scientist friend is, Senator, ” he pointed out. ”Until a counter- measure against this bioweapon we have, public knowledge of the Separatists' plans we must avoid. Panic will that cause. Great devastation. ”

”I agree, ” he said. ”The public can't know. But since when do we brief the public on our fleet deployments? n.o.body needs to know where the battle group's going. ”

Yoda just looked at him. ”A secret you think this business will remain, once GAR Fleet Command is told?”

With Separatist spies still in their midst? No. He's right. But- ”Then we have to take this to Palpatine. If Durd really is stockpiling the bioweapon, it seems likely an attack on the Republic is imminent. As head of the Security Committee I can no longer support keeping the Supreme Chancellor in the dark. ”

”Hmmph. ” Yoda's ears flattened further. ”Agree with you I do, Senator. Reluctantly. To Palpatine we will go. ”

”You mean now?”

”Yes, now, ” said Yoda. ”Master Ban-yaro, every Temple resource you will direct to listening for Master Ken.o.bi's next message. ”

”Yes, Master, ” said the communications chief, bowing.

Yoda held out his hand. ”A secure comlink, if you please. ”

Ban-yaro handed him one and Yoda placed a comm to Palpatine's private residence, arranging for an immediate meeting. Then he handed back the comlink and turned. ”Senator?”

Standing, Bail offered the comm chief a nod. ”My thanks, Master Ban-yaro. Without your expertise and diligence we might be in even worse straits. ”

It wasn't until he and Yoda were in his speeder, racing along a priority traffic lane with the Temple a distance behind them that the ancient Jedi Master spoke again.

”Ask you I must, Senator, to let me direct this conversation with the Supreme Chancellor. ”

Bail gave Yoda a sidelong look. ”Any particular reason why? Given I'm one of Palpatine's most trusted security advisors he's going to want to hear from me. And if I might be blunt, I can't afford to have my priorities questioned. It might be convenient to some that I enjoy a good relations.h.i.+p with the Jedi, but I must be seen as a senator, serving the Republic first and foremost. ”

”Know that I do, ” said Yoda, slumped and brooding in the speeder's front pa.s.senger seat. ”Yet ask for your reticence I must. A delicate situation this is. ”

”Please, Master Yoda, continue, ” Bail said, as Yoda frowned at Coruscant's scintillating nighttime light show. ”Whatever you tell me won't be repeated. ”

Yoda's lips twitched. ”Not even to Obi-Wan?”

”Not if you tell me to forget what I hear. ”

”Senator... ” Yoda looked at him, his eyes grim. ”Forget what you hear. ”

Oh, mercy. ”Done. ”

81.”A keen interest does Palpatine take in Jedi business, Senator, ” Yoda said. ”Deflect his questions I can. Reveal more than you intend or I might like, you could, if freely you speak with him. ”

”I see, ” he said slowly.

Obi-Wan's never hidden his disdain for politics and politicians. But I never realized the att.i.tude went so high in the Order. Or that they regarded Palpatine so warily.

”Angry Palpatine will be when learn of the Lanteeb mission he does, ” Yoda added. ”Better it is that his anger toward me is directed.

Impervious to it I am. Harmed by his temper I cannot be. ”

”Whereas I serve at the Supreme Chancellor's pleasure. ”

”A good man you are. Bail Organa, ” Yoda said quietly. ”A great debt do we owe you. A poor friend would I be if damage to your career I allowed because of choices I made. ”

Bail had to clear his throat. ”Master Yoda-you owe me nothing. ”

Sighing, Yoda shook his head. ”Wrong about that you are. Senator. Obi-Wan's life do I owe you. ”

Obi-Wan. My own life's not so cluttered with friends that I can afford to lose one. ”Will he and Anakin be all right. Master? Will we get them back?”

”Know that I do not, ” said Yoda, as though the words were deeply painful. ”Pray for them you could, if prayer your custom is. ”

Well, it was honored more in the breach than the practice, but... ”I'll say every prayer I know, Master. I'll even make up a few if that'll help. ”

Yoda nodded. ”It would. ”

Bail s.h.i.+fted them out of their government priority traffic lane into the slipstream that would take them to the ultra-high- security residential sector housing Palpatine's apartment. Then he considered Yoda again.

”You know what you'll be risking, if you delay an a.s.sault on Lanteeb. ”

Another nod. ”Yes, Senator. I know. ”

”And if the worst happens?”

Yoda didn't answer-and Bail didn't push.

Stang.

They'd almost reached their destination. Even though he was Bail Organa, with Master Yoda as his pa.s.senger, even though his speeder was equipped with security clearance beacons, tags, markers and chips, still they were escorted the remainder of their journey by four heavily armed and armored Senate Personal Guard speeders. Once docked inside the fortified private residence's secure lockup facility, they were ordered from their own speeder, triple-scanned, retina-checked, then taken by a team of Senate Commandos to a dedicated armored swift-tube that whisked them to the penthouse suite, where Palpatine was waiting.

Clad head to toe in plain, unrelieved black-odd to see after his ceremonial Senate garb-the Republic's Supreme Chancellor dismissed their escort.