Part 33 (1/2)
”Yes. Benti...”
She felt a rush of shamed relief. I should've had more faith. ”Mother, be quiet! And record me. I don't have time to say this twice. ”
”All right, ” her mother said. She sounded weak with shock, too. ”I'm recording. ”
”Tell the Jedi that Bespin is the next target. Tell them Anakin and Obi-Wan are still alive and need their help. Tell them the weapon is at the coordinates I'm calling from. They have to destroy the compound. Mother, I'm...”
”Benti, everyone's safe!” her mother said, close to shouting. ”The Jedi rescued all of us. Well, except for Samsam. I'm so sorry. Benti, are you there? Benti...”
And now she was neither woman nor droid, but a vast, aching emptiness. A universe of nothing.
They're safe? So those holoimages Durd's droid shows me-they're not true. It's all a lie. I've been controlled by a lie. Anakin, forgive me.
”Mother, I have to go, ” she said faintly. ”Tell everyone I'm sorry and I love them. Mother, I love you. ”
”Benti-Benti...”
She disconnected the comlink. Took a moment, just a moment, to press her hands flat to her face and hold back the dreadful wail of grief building in her throat. And then, when she could trust herself, she double-checked Durd's comm unit, making sure there was no trace of her outbound comm.
They're safe. They're all safe. And that means I'm free. The corridor outside Durd's office remained empty. She looked both ways once more, then ran for her lab as though a droid army was chasing her.
”Bespin?” said Palpatine, his holoimage gently s.h.i.+mmering. He was on his private yacht, on his way to Chandrila in an effort to sh.o.r.e up plunging Core World morale. ”Master Yoda, are yon sure?”
Seated in his Council Chamber chair, Yoda nodded. ”Quite sure I am, Supreme Chancellor. Impeccable is the source of this intelligence. ”
”I see, ” said Palpatine, then clasped his hands on his desk. ”Then I'm afraid I have no choice but to disappoint you. Master Yoda, Senators. Any s.h.i.+ps we have to spare must be sent to Bespin, not Lanteeb. A disruption to the Tibanna gas supply would be utterly catastrophic for the Republic. ”
Standing to one side, Bail Organa exchanged a worried glance with Padme. ”Supreme Chancellor, I'm sorry, but I can't agree. From what we've been able to ascertain so far from the Chandrila investigation, if Bespin is the next target for a bioweapon attack then not even Republic Cruisers will he able to stop it. A team of agents and bioweapon experts will prove far more effective than...”
”By all means. Senator, send in your people, ” said Palpatine, his voice edged like a vibroblade. ” We must take every step possible to prevent a second attack. But I also want a battle group deployed to that region. ”
137.
”Supreme Chancellor, please...” Padme began, but fell silent as Palpatine unclasped his hands and raised them, sharply.
”Enough!” he snapped. ”Must I remind you all how badly destabilized the Republic is at this moment? Because of your failure to prevent the tragedy on Chandrila, confidence in this administration has never been so low-and thanks to your secretive and high-banded handling of the situation my confidence in you has been sorely tested. So I beg you, do not disappoint me further by arguing against my decision!”
Bail bowed. ”Of course not, Supreme Chancellor. We'll inform Fleet of your request, and I'll dispatch our best teams as well. We'll do everything in our power to protect Bespin. Although...” He hesitated. ”It might be in the community's best interests if we order an evacuation. ”
”And send a signal to the Republic and the Separatists that we're unable to keep our citizens safe?” Palpatine demanded, incredulous.
”I hardly think so, Senator Organa. ”
”I agree, ” said Padme. ”We need to rea.s.sure people, not alarm them. But Supreme Chancellor, what about Lanteeb? It has to be wrested from Separatist control. Not only is it the source of this bioweapon, but the Jedi to whom you and I owe so much remain trapped there. We can't abandon them. ”
”My dear Senator, they are not abandoned, ” Palpatine retorted. ”Indeed, with Master Windu's unauthorized addition to Admiral Yularen's battle group, their welfare has been rated more important than the entire Bothan and Kothlis spynet operation. If that's not an indication of my regard for them, I'm not sure how I could go about convincing you. ”
Yoda caught Padme's eye and lifted a cautioning hand. She nodded, and stepped back. ”Supreme Chancellor, ” he said, ”accept your decision in this matter we do. Intend to usurp your authority we do not. ”
” Really?” Palpatine frowned. ”I must say, Master Yoda, you and your fellow Councilors have an odd way of showing it. ”
He didn't need the Force to show him the depth of Palpatine's displeasure. But it couldn't be helped. Mace Windu was right: no politician could be allowed to interfere with the Order's ability to protect its own people. Not even in wartime.
”Supreme Chancellor, ” said Bail. ”There may be another way to support the Lanteeb battle group. One that doesn't involve compromising Bespin. Will you trust me to explore it?”
Sighing, Palpatine lowered his gaze to his desk. ”Bail, Bail, Bail... ” He looked up again. ”Yes. Of course I'll trust you. That bioweapon must be eliminated. And of course I want Anakin and Master Ken.o.bi rescued. I fear dreadfully for their safety. On that score you have my unwavering support. ”
”But no more star cruisers, ” Bail muttered once the hololink was severed. ”I can't fathom his reasoning. Surely a swift resolution to the standoff at Lanteeb is in everyone's best interests. ”
”Don't he so hard on him. Bail, ” said Padme. ”Every government in the Republic is looking to him for solace, waiting for him to promise that their planet won't be the next Chandrila. It's our job to support him, not criticize and second-guess him. ”
Watching the two friends glare at each other, Yoda cleared his throat. ”Senators-mistaken am I that news for me you have? Something to do with Lanteeb, I think?”
”Sorry, Master Yoda, ” said Bail. ”Yes. Padme and I have come up with a plan we think could work. ”
He listened in silence as the two Senators explained their idea of forming an emergency civilian fleet to augment the Republic's Lanteeb battle group.
”The only problem, ” said Padme, frowning, ”is that while we've got in-principle support from several governments and corporations, n.o.body's willing to commit even one s.h.i.+p. They're all terrified of provoking a reprisal bioweapon attack on their own planets and people. ”
”From what Master Windu's reported, ” Bail added, ”it's clear we can't break Grievous's blockade without more s.h.i.+ps. And we can't get more s.h.i.+ps without being able to promise those who send them that they'll be safe. ”
”Can you help, Master Yoda?” said Padme. ”Bail says Doctor Netzl can't find the missing link to create a workable antidote, and that means there'll be no civilian aid for the battle group. And with the Supreme Chancellor so adamantly against redeploying any more 138 Republic cruisers... ” Her breath caught. ”I don't see how we're going to get Anakin and Obi-Wan off that planet. Or stop Durd and Dooku from launching any more attacks. Can you think of a way to break our deadlock?”
Yoda stroked his chin. It was interesting that she placed the safety of her Jedi friends before the welfare of the entire Republic. It wasn't what he expected from her. When it came to Obi-Wan and young Skywalker it was clear that Senator Amidala's emotions remained very much engaged.
A pity that is. Pain only can it cause her.
”Solve Doctor Netzl's dilemma I cannot, ” he said slowly. ”Promise these civilian interests that safe it is to help you I cannot. But an answer to Lanteeb? Hmm. Possess that I might. Senator Organa, your a.s.sistance would I need. ”
Bail nodded. ”It's yours. ”
Though he was weary and burdened with grave doubts, Yoda permitted himself a small smile. ”But discreet we must be, Senator. If to succeed my plan is, its secrecy paramount must be. Access do you have to a captured Separatist s.h.i.+p?”
”I do, actually, ” Bail said, surprised. ”An undercover operation near Kessel just netted us one of the Seps' older Techno Union s.h.i.+ps.
It's battered but flyable, and equipped with full Sep security pa.s.s codes. ”
”What do you have in mind, Master Yoda?” said Padme. ”Can you tell us?”
Sliding out of his chair, he began to pace the Council Chamber. The rapping of his gimer stick was loud in the silence. ”Agree that with only four cruisers, break Grievous's blockade Master Windu and his troops cannot. But slide through it one small s.h.i.+p could, if Grievous believes an ally it is. ”
”You want to send another Jedi to Lanteeb?” said Bail. ”Master Yoda-forgive my skepticism, but...”
”Changed the circ.u.mstances have, ” Yoda said, silencing him with a look. ”Thanks to Doctor Fhernan, know the location of the bioweapon facility we do. Possible it is now to infiltrate and destroy Durd's compound. ”
”I'm sorry, ” said Padme. ”If we know where the facility is, then why aren't we launching a full-scale a.s.sault? Surely that was always the idea? I know it would mean civilian casualties, which we're trying to avoid, hut if we don't destroy this weapon we'll have more civilian casualties than the Republic's seen in a thousand years. We should go back to Palpatine, tell him this, and...”