Part 19 (2/2)
”Well, ” he said, once they were alone. ”Why do I have the feeling you're not bringing me good news?”
Bail took a step forward. ”I hope you'll forgive the intrusion, Supreme Chancellor. Unfortunately, it was necessary. There are developments of which you must be made aware, that couldn't wait till morning. ”
Palpatine's hair glowed silver in his foyer's warm and welcoming light. ”Yes, ” he drawled. ”I'd gathered that much. Very well then, Senator. Master Yoda. If the galaxy as we know it is about to end, I fail to see why we can't discuss the matter in comfort. Come this way. ”
82.As Palpatine turned to lead them into his apartment proper. Bail glanced down at Yoda. Over to you. Yoda nodded, his eyes bleak, and together they followed in the Supreme Chancellor's chilly wake.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Only his brutally rigorous self-discipline, the discipline of the greatest Sith Lord ever to live, saved Sidious from revealing the depth of his fury as Yoda explained the mission to Lanteeb.
Dooku. you have failed me again.
”Master Yoda, ” he said, ruthlessly unemotional, ”I must confess to feeling perturbed. Why did you not tell me of this bioweapon when you first learned of the threat?” He s.h.i.+fted his gaze to the man standing beside his implacable enemy. ”And you, Senator Organa? As one of my most trusted security advisors, how could you not...”
”Upon me the blame falls for this, Supreme Chancellor, ” said Yoda. ”Persuaded by me Senator Organa was to keep this matter secret.
Defer to my judgment as a Jedi he did. ”
Sidious pushed to his feet and indulged himself in a temper- driven pacing back and forth before the vista window in his apartment's lounge.
”Master Yoda, you must know in what esteem I hold both you and your Order, therefore you must also know that what I say to you now I do not say lightly. ” He whirled, stabbing the hated Jedi with his most steely stare. ”How dare you? I am the Supreme Chancellor of this Republic, responsible for the welfare of its quadrillions of citizens. Who anointed you the gatekeeper of knowledge? Who appointed you my guardian, that you would decide what I should and should not he told of what goes on within our borders? I am the people's elected representative. Not you. How could you betray my trust in this fas.h.i.+on?”
Slumped over his gimer stick, Yoda bowed his head. ”Unknown at first was the extent of this problem. ” Then he looked up. ”And inform you of every Jedi mission I do not. Supreme Chancellor. ”
Sidious stopped pacing and clasped his hands behind his back. ”Then perhaps you should, ” he said coldly. ”But we can discuss that later. What I will say now is that when the extent of the problem was revealed you should have informed me. ”
Because then I could have bad Dooku take steps. And now it's too late. Now I must find a way to salvage this situation.
Organa, that meddler, cleared his throat. ”Master Yoda thought-and I agreed-that if we could deal with the threat quickly and discreetly we'd avoid yet another blow to the public's confidence. It was never about usurping your authority, Supreme Chancellor. ”
Perhaps. Perhaps not. But usurp it you did, you insignificant little princeling. And there will be a reckoning for that.
He kept his voice cold. ”Even so, Senator... ”
Chastened, Organa bowed his head.
Yoda, not chastened at all, the loathsome troll, met his hostile stare without flinching. ”Hopeful I was that Master Ken.o.bi and young Skywalker successful would lie in thwarting Lok Durd's plan. Hopeful I am that succeed they still might. ”
Anakin. He felt an uneasy ripple in the Force. His apprentice- in-waiting was threatened. He could feel it. The future he had foreseen remained unaltered-the time was swift approaching when Anakin would become his strong right hand-but that did not mean the boy could never come to harm. His encounter with Dooku had made that quite plain.
Be strong, Anakin. Be bold and resolute. I cannot openly aid you yet-but from the shadows I shall protect you as best I can.
”I will make no bones about it, ” he said austerely. ”You have both disappointed me, and shown a distressing lack of judgment. I expect much better, from both of you. ”
Giving them a moment to ponder that rebuke, he resumed his seat. Left them standing, like pet.i.tioners, like subjects.
83.”I have no doubt you believed you were acting in my best interests, and the best interests of our Republic, ” he said. ”That much at least does you credit. But let me make myself abundantly clear: I am in no need of your protection. Is that understood?”
”Supreme Chancellor, ” Organa murmured, his gaze still downcast.
”Understood it is, ” said Yoda, outwardly meek. The Jedi's true feelings were unreadable. ”Supreme Chancellor. ”
”Then we shall not speak of this again, ” he said, grandly magnanimous. ”Instead, Master Yoda, tell me how you suggest we proceed.
You say Master Ken.o.bi requests an all-out a.s.sault on this planet, Lanteeb. Do you concur with his a.s.sessment? I was under the impression that our deployment capabilities remain woefully compromised. ”
And now Yoda could not so perfectly contain his emotions. They colored the Force with delectable doubt. ”True it is that trouble the communications sabotage still causes our fleet. ”
”Not to mention those cruisers still in dry dock undergoing repairs from your encounter at Kothlis, ” he added. ”So my question remains-is a full-scale attempt to retake Lanteeb even feasible?”
”We may have no choice, ” said Organa. ”Durd's bioweapon has the potential to turn the tide of this war. ”
Yes, I know. That was the whole point.
”What of Master Ken.o.bi and young Anakin? Can they thwart this appalling Neimoidian before we're forced to launch a planetary a.s.sault?” Sidious shook his head. ”You say you're hopeful. Master Yoda. Can you give me more hope than that?”
”No, ” said Yoda. ”In flux this situation is, Supreme Chancellor. Further meditate upon it I must. ”
”I see. Senator Organa?”
Organa could hide nothing from him. He felt the man's sickening doubt, his growing alarm, the fear for his Jedi friend. There was also guilt for having held his tongue so long. Such a maelstrom of emotion was highly entertaining-and useful in keeping the senator off balance and less effective in his work.
Twice now Organa's instincts have interfered with my plans. I shall have to keep a closer eye on this man.
”Delaying an a.s.sault on Lanteeb is risky, ” Organa said slowly. ”If we're caught off guard and Dooku launches a bioweapon attack? I don't want to think about the consequences, Supreme Chancellor. ”
He pretended to ponder that deeply. ”I agree, Senator. Any delay in apprehending this criminal Lok Durd and dismantling his weapons production facility could lead to a catastrophic Separatist attack. But-and herein lies our dilemma-there is also significant risk in acting. Should word of this terrible new weapon get out, countless systems would be thrown into panic. It's possible we'd see ma.s.s defections from the Republic to the Separatists in an effort to appease Count Dooku and his thuggish allies. And what of our current military engagements? If we redeploy the few functional cruisers we have, then we abandon helpless civilians to Separatist predations.
And won't that damage faith in the Jedi and this government at a time when that faith is being sorely tested?”
”How then do you suggest we proceed, Supreme Chancellor?” said Yoda. ”Which risk is least risky, do you say?”
”Both choices are unpalatable, Master Yoda, ” he replied. Again, he pretended to consider their options. ”If we were not talking of Master Ken.o.bi and young Anakin, I believe I would authorize an immediate a.s.sault on Lanteeb. But we are talking of those two particular Jedi... and the three of us know what they're capable of, especially when their backs are pressed hard to the wall. ”
Organa stared at him. ”Are you sure? They're just two men, trapped on a hostile planet with no backup, no reliable communications, and only a lightsaber each, and they're facing unlimited firepower from a droid army. ”
”Not two men, Senator, ” he said gently. ”Two Jedi. Those two Jedi. And yes, that's the gamble I wish to take. I have absolute faith in them. I'd give my life into their keeping without a second thought. Wouldn't you?”
”Of course I would, ” said Organa. ”But we're not risking ourselves, we're risking the lives of those entrusted to our care. Supreme Chancellor...”
Sidious stood. ”Your point is taken. Senator. Alas, no matter what choice we make, countless thousands of lives are in danger. ”
”True that is, ” said Yoda heavily. ”And agree with your caution I do, Supreme Chancellor. ”
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