Part 21 (1/2)
”Lord Sidious... ” The tremble in the old man's voice was pure fear. ”I have no excuse to give you. ”
”No, you do not, ” he replied, silky with menace. ”And wise it is of you, Tyra.n.u.s, to attempt no self-defense. But I will forgive this lapse, provided you can s.n.a.t.c.h me a victory from this imminent defeat. I strongly suggest that you take the Neimoidian to task. ”
”Do you wish him to survive, my lord?”
”Yes, ” he said. ”But he need not know his life is not forfeit. Not at first. General Durd needs a sharp reminder of his place. A defining encounter with fear. ”
”My lord, he shall have it, ” said Dooku-and the dark side trembled. ”But what of Ken.o.bi and Skywalker? Surely we must capture them-or better yet, kill them. ”
And here was the sticking point. For while he had to protect Anakin, Dooku could never suspect that he himself was merely a placeholder. A useful lackey and nothing more.
”If I could afford to dispatch you to Lanteeb, Tyra.n.u.s, I would. But I am relying upon you to keep the other Separatist leaders in line. I am particularly perturbed by those sc.u.m in the Banking Clan. Grubby merchants, the lot of them, and not to be trusted out of your sight. My instincts tell me they are about to attempt a secret deal with the Trade Federation. You must see that poisonous bloom nipped in the bud, Tyra.n.u.s. Have no fear. The dark side shall account for Ken.o.bi and Skywalker in due course. ”
”My lord. ” Dooku's chin tucked tight to his chest. ”You are far more magnanimous than I deserve. You will not be disappointed again, I swear it. ”
Time to sweeten the old man with a tiny drop of honey. Dooku had his pride, after all. And though his bones were soaked in the dark side, still-no need to tempt fate. ”Trya.n.u.s, much is asked of you in this great endeavor. Your burdens are heavy, my expectations high.
I trust you will redeem yourself. ”
Dooku's relief was as resounding as his fear. ”My lord, I will. Your trust is not misplaced, I swear it. ”
Pleased, Sidious dismissed his apprentice. Then he returned his black robe to its rightful place, donned Palpatine's richly sober garb and became, once again, the Republic's revered and humble Supreme Chancellor.
And smiled all the way to the Senate.
Lok Durd prowled his new compound's production facility, so gleeful he could almost forget his recent fears and trepidations. The scientist was performing well past his expectations. With the last kink in her formula taken care of, the first s.h.i.+pments of raw damot.i.te delivered, tested and approved, and his droid workforce slaving without pause to convert the damot.i.te-and-rondium mixture to pure poison, he was at last able to bask in the glow of a job well done.
Especially since, within a matter of hours, those meddlesome Jedi would finally be dead-and with them the chance of his near-disastrous mistake being discovered.
Smiling, he watched the droids as they sealed another batch of bioweapon into small, secure canisters. Each dose was enough to wipe out a three-square-klick section of city. On some planets that would mean the entire city. On others, like Coruscant, Corellia, Alderaan, and the like, multiple strikes would lie required to wipe out a population-or at least enough of a population to guarantee a recalcitrant government's attention.
Really, I am so very good at what I do.
By his estimation he needed two more standard weeks of production and one more s.h.i.+pment of the raw damot.i.te, which was due shortly. Then he could contact Count Dooku with the good news that their next devastating offensive against the Republic could 89 begin. And this time there would be no Jedi interference. This time the Jedi would be forced to stand impotently by as millions were slaughtered.
I wonder if I can convince the Count to target the Jedi Temple itself? Wouldn't that he a glorious retribution?
His personal comlink buzzed. Irritated, he pulled it from his tunic pocket. ”What?”
”You have a priority incoming call, General. ”
And that was Barev, the kriffing barve. Ever since his precious Drivok sniffer had found the Jedi he'd been insupportable.
Overbearing, smug, arrogant-and presumptuous. It was time to discredit and discard him.
When I tell Dooku that the bioweapon is ready for deployment I shall be in a position to demand certain recognitions for my service.
Losing Barev will be but the first-but none that come after will taste as sweet.
Durd glared at the comlink. ”Yes? And?”
”It's the Count, ” said Barev. ”He seems-unhappy. ”
And just like that, his triumphant mood collapsed.
”What do you mean unhappy?” he demanded. ”What have you told him, Colonel? Have you been speaking out of turn?”
”To what good purpose. General?” said Barev. ”Our fates are tied, are they not? If one of us stumbles, we both stumble. I've no idea what he wants. ”
”I'm coming now, ” he snapped. ”Tell the Count I shall join him in a few moments. ”
Durd took the communication in his office, with the door firmly shut. Making sure his demeanor was suitably restrained, he flicked on his holodisplay unit and waited for Dooku's holo- image to appear. When it did, the Count's expression was discouraging.
”Do I strike you as a fool, General Durd?”
”A fool? No, no, my lord. You are the wisest man of my acquaintance. ”
”Then it is you who are the fool!” Dooku retorted. ”Did you think I would not learn the truth?”
Durd felt his stomachs roll. ”The truth, my lord?”
”About the Jedi! About the hostages! Have you told me nothing but lies?'
The shock was so great he nearly fell to the floor. ”My lord Count-my lord Count...”
”Hold your flapping Neimoidian tongue or I swear I will have it ripped out!”
Durd nodded mutely as greasy sweat slicked the skin beneath his suddenly overthick tunic.
”Have you lied about the weapon, Durd! ”
”No! No! My lord, I have not! I have the weapon. I've just come from inspecting it. Our stockpile is growing by the hour, I swear it!”
He was babbling, he could hear himself babbling, but he couldn't stop. Dooku's eyes-he's going to kill me. As soon as I'm useless to him, I'll be dead. ”I will send you some. Shall I send you some?”
Dooku ignored him. ”There is a scientist on Coruscant even now creating an antidote for the weapon. ”
”My lord Count, you must be misinformed, ” he said faintly. ”No antidote is possible. If you believe nothing else I say, I beg you to believe that. ”
Silence, as Dooku's terrible eyes bored into him. ”I do. As for the rest-there will be a reckoning, Durd. Soon. For now you will concentrate on producing my weapon. And you'll hold yourself in readiness for my retribution. ” Dooku's holoimage vanished as the link was cut.
Durd stood behind his desk and gasped for air.
90.No, no, no. This cannot be. I will not let this be.
He bellowed for Barev. Moments later the office door flew open.