Part 11 (1/2)

”We do what we must,” Palpatine said mildly.

Taa studied him for a moment. ”And I take it that your visit is prompted by genuine concern?”

”The supreme chancellor is the voice of the Republic, is he not?”

”For the moment,” Taa said nastily.

With Senate Guard sentries posted throughout the admitting area, Palpatine was made to show his identification no fewer than six times before being ushered into a waiting room reserved for Valorum's visitors.

There, he exchanged greetings with Alder - aan's delegate to the senate, Bail Antilles-- a tall, handsome man with dark hair--and with the equally distinguished senator from Corellia, Com Fordox.

”You've heard who's to blame for what happened?” Fordox asked as Palpatine sat down on the couch opposite him.

”Only that the Nebula Front appears to have been involved.”

”We have confirmed evidence of their involvement,” Antilles said.

Fordox's features reflected anger and confusion.

”This is beyond comprehension.”

”An act that cannot go unpunished,” Antilles agreed.

Commiserating with them, Palpatine firmed his lips and shook his head. ”A terrible sign of the times,” he said.

Most of the infirmities that landed delegates in the medcenter were usually the result of overindulgence in food or drink, or injuries sustained on the scoopball courts, in air taxi accidents, or as the outcome of the occasional honor duel. Rarely were delegates admitted because of illnesses, and even more rarely as a consequence of an a.s.sa.s.sination attempt.

Palpatine held himself accountable.

He should have seen what was coming during the meeting with Havac. More than once the young militant had stressed that Valorum needed to appreciate just how dangerous the Nebula Front was. But Palpatine hadn't thought Havac desperate enough to resort to a.s.sa.s.sination.

The fact that Havac was also a fool made him especially dangerous. Did he actually believe that things would go better for the Nebula Front with someone other than Valorum leading the senate?

Didn't he realize that Valorum was the Front's best hope for restraining the Trade Federation, through taxation and other means? By attempting to kill Valorum, Havac had not only reinforced the Federation's a.s.sertion that the Nebula Front was a public menace, he had also given added weight to the Neimoidians' demand for additional defensive weapons.

Havac would need to be reminded just who his enemies were.

Unless, of course, there was more to Havac than met the eye, Palpatine told himself. Was Havac's pleasant but nondescript countenance masking a cunning intellect?

Palpatine deliberated while Fordox and Antilles had their visit with Valorum. He was still mulling it over when Sei Taria entered the waiting room some time later.

Palpatine rose and nodded. ”How good to see you, Sei. Are you all right?”

She mustered a warm smile. ”I'm fine now, Senator. But it was terrible.”

Palpatine adopted a grave look. ”We will do all we can to protect the Supreme Chancellor.”

”I know you will.”

”How is he?” She glanced at the door. ”Eager to see you.” Armed guards flanked the door to Valorum's room--a windowless corral of monitoring devices, overseen by a bipedal medical droid equipped with servogrip pincers and a rebreatherlike vocabulator.

Valorum looked pale and grim, but he was sitting up in bed, his right arm, from wrist to shoulder, encased in a soft tube filled with bacta. A transparent, gelatinous fluid produced by an insectoid alien species, bacta had the ability to promote rapid cell rejuvenation and healing, usually without scarring. Palpatine often felt that the wondrous substance was as key to the survival of the Republic as were the Jedi.

”Supreme Chancellor,” he said, approaching the bed, ”I came as soon as I heard.” Valorum made a gesture of dismissal with his left hand. ”You shouldn't have bothered. They're releasing me later today.” He motioned Palpatine to a chair. ”Do you know what the guards did when they brought me in here?

They cleared every patient from the emergency room, then emptied this entire floor, with scarcely a concern for the condition of the patients.”

”The security was warranted,” Palpatine said.

”Knowing you would be brought here if they failed, the a.s.sa.s.sins could have stationed a second team in the admitting area.”

”Perhaps,” Valorum granted. ”But I doubt the actions of my protectors earned me any new allies.” He frowned. ”Worse, I have to suffer the transparent concern of delegates like Orn Free Taa.”

”Even Senator Taa understands that the Republic needs you,” Palpatine said.

”Nonsense. There are many who are qualified to fill my position. Bail Antilles, Ainlee Teem... even you, Senator.” Palpatine feigned a startled expression.

”Hardly, Supreme Chancellor.” Valorum grinned. ”I couldn't help but note how the delegates responded to you during the special session.”

”The Outer Rim is desperate for voices. I'm merely one of many.” Valorum shook his head. ”It's more than that.” He paused briefly. ”In any event, I want to thank you for the message your aide delivered to the podium.

But why didn't you inform me in advance of your plan to propose a summit meeting?” Palpatine spread his graceful hands. ”It was a spur-of-the - moment decision. Something had to be done before the taxation proposal went to committee, where it may have been crushed out of hand.”

”A brilliant stroke.” Valorum fell silent for a long moment.

”The Judicial Department has advised me that my attackers are members of the Nebula Front.”

”I've also heard.” Valorum forced an exhale. ”Now I see what the Trade Federation is up against.” Palpatine said nothing.

”But what was the Nebula Front's motive in attacking me? I'm doing what I can to find a peaceful solution to all this.”

”Your efforts are obviously not enough for them,” Palpatine said.

”Are they so convinced that Antilles or Teem would act differently?”

Palpatine formed his response carefully.

”Senator Antilles thinks only of the Core Worlds. Doubtless he would advocate a policy of nonintervention. As for Senator Teem, he would probably bestow whatever the Trade Federation requests in the way of advanced weaponry or additional franchises.” Valorum thought about it.

”Perhaps I was wrong in ruling that the Nebula Front shouldn't be allowed to partic.i.p.ate in the Eriadu summit. I feared giving the impression that the Republic would be recognizing them as a political ent.i.ty.

Furthermore, I couldn't envision them sitting down at the same table with the Neimoidians.” Confusion clouded his eyes. ”But what could they hope to gain by having me killed?” Palpatine recalled Havac ranting about not being invited to the summit.

We need a stronger Supreme Chancellor, Havac had said.

”I've been asking myself the same question,” Palpatine replied. ”But you were right not to solicit their partic.i.p.ation. They are dangerous--and deluded.” Valorum nodded. ”We can't risk having them interfere at Eriadu.

Too much is at stake. The outlying systems must be encouraged to speak for themselves, without fear of reprimand by the Trade Federation or reprisals by the Nebula Front.” Palpatine steepled his fingers in reflection, summoning memories of the recent meeting with Havac, hearing again his every word...

”Perhaps it is time to ask the Jedi for help,” he said at last.