Part 33 (1/2)

”Better still high but realistic goals that allow for the satisfaction and confidence of achievement,” Obi-Wan countered.

Abruptly, C'baoth stood up. ”I will not have my teaching philosophy dissected as if it were an interesting biological specimen,” he growled.

”Particularly not by one as young as you.”

”Age isn't necessarily the best indicator of knowledge in the Force,”

Obi-Wan pointed out, struggling for calm.

”No, but experience is,” C'baoth shot back. ”When you've trained as many Jedi as I have, we'll discuss this further. Until then, I believe your Padawan is waiting for you in Reactor Two.”

Obi-Wan took a careful breath. ”Very well, Master C'baoth,” he said.

”Until later.”

He stalked out into the corridor, drawing on the Force for calm. He hadn't really wanted to come aboard Outbound Flight, despite his and Windu's concerns about C'baoth. Not even with the possibility of finding Vergere as extra incentive.

Now, though, he was glad he'd come. In fact, when they reached the Roxuli system in four days, their final stop in Republic s.p.a.ce, he might consider contacting Windu to ask permission for him and Anakin to stay aboard Outbound Flight for the entire duration of its mission.

Because one of the other reasons for taking only infants into the Temple was to catch them before they could develop preconceived ideas of what a Jedi's life was like and how quickly they could achieve that goal. If all of C'baoth's Padawans had been cautious types like Lorana Jinzler, that was an issue he'd probably never even had to consider.

But inexperienced though Obi-Wan might be at training future Jedi, this was one problem he knew all about.

And if the eagerness he'd sensed in the children watching the meld was any indication, Outbound Flight's Jedi were going to have their hands full keeping their new Padawans from impatiently pus.h.i.+ng their boundaries, possibly right over the line into the dark side.

Somehow, whether C'baoth wanted to hear it or not, he had to get that message through to him. Before it was too late.

The starlines cleared away, and a small and distant red sun appeared in the Darkvenge's bridge viewports. ”So?” Kav growled.

”Patience, Vicelord,” Doriana advised, watching the blue-skinned alien standing beside the helm peering at the small device in his hand.

Mitth'raw'nuruodo had left the technician behind to guide them to the location the Chiss commander had specified. A moment later the tech gave a small nod and murmured a few words to the silvery TC-18 translator droid at his side. ”He says, 'We're here,' Vicelord Kav,” the droid reported in its melodic voice.

Kav sniffed. ”Wherever here is.”

”Here is wherever Commander Mitth'raw'nuruodo wants us to be,” Doriana said, not bothering to conceal his disgust with the other. Kav had had plenty of time to come to grips with his task force's destruction, but he was just as angry and irritable as ever.

And if he didn't watch his tongue and his temper, he was going to get the rest of them killed, too.

”Then where is he?” Kav demanded.

”Two incoming vessels,” the Neimoidian at the sensors called. ”One Chiss cruiser, one smaller vessel.”

The Chiss tech spoke again in the Sy Bisti trade language. ” 'They are the Springhawk and a long-range shuttle,' ” the TC droid announced primly. ” 'Commander Mitth'raw'nuruodo will wish to board immediately.' ”

”Tell the commander his usual docking port has been prepared for him,”

Doriana said.

A few minutes later, Mitth'raw'nuruodo strode through the blast doors onto the bridge, a pair of Chiss warriors trailing behind him. ”Welcome aboard, Commander,” Doriana said, rising from the couch.

”Thank you,” Mitth'raw'nuruodo said, his eyes flicking briefly to Kav's stiff face and posture. ”I appreciate your swift compliance with my instructions.”

”As I told you earlier, we wish to be fully cooperative,” Doriana reminded him.

”Excellent,” Mitth'raw'nuruodo said. ”I wish you to begin unloading your droid starfighters.”

Kav jerked like he'd been kicked. ”What do you say?” he breathed, his eyes bugging even more than usual.

”Your droid starfighters are to be transported to that asteroid.”

Mitth'raw'nuruodo pointed out the viewports at a small, irregularly shaped crescent of faint light against the stars. ”After that, I will require the services of those who program their combat movements.”

Kav gurgled under his breath, and for once Doriana could sympathize with him. The main strength of a Trade Federation battles.h.i.+p lay in its starfighters, the retrofitted quad laser batteries along the split-ring midline more of an afterthought than serious defensive armament. Removing its starfighters would leave the Darkvenge as helpless as the freighter it had once been. ”This is outrageous,” the Neimoidian protested. ”I will not consent to-”

”Be silent,” Doriana cut in, his eyes on Mitth'raw'nuruodo. Either he wanted the Darkvenge to be helpless, or-”You have a plan for dealing with Outbound Flight, don't you?”

”I have a plan,” Mitth'raw'nuruodo confirmed. ”Whether or not I activate it depends on whether or not you're ready to tell me the truth.”

An uncomfortable lump formed in Doriana's throat. ”Explain, please.”

”Your name is not Stratis,” Mitth'raw'nuruodo said. ”You're not your own master, but answer to another. And the social threat posed by these Jedi is not the true reason you seek Outbound Flight's destruction.” He lifted his eyebrows. ”If, indeed, you genuinely do seek its destruction.”

”What other reason would we have to be here?” Doriana asked.

”Perhaps your intent was to rendezvous with them,” Mitth'raw'nuruodo suggested. ”If Outbound Flight is filled with warriors instead of colonists, together your combined forces would have had both the firepower and the personnel necessary to launch an effective bridgehead invasion.”

”I've already told you we're not here for conquest.”

”I know what you told me,” Mitth'raw'nuruodo said, his face expressionless. ”Now you must persuade me to believe it.”

”Of course,” Doriana said. This was going to be risky, he knew, but he'd suspected from the beginning that Mitth'raw'nuruodo would eventually come to this conclusion. It was time to give him the rest of the truth. ”I believe I can answer all of your questions together. If you'll come with me, I'd like to introduce you to my superior.” Deliberately, he looked at Kav. ”You, Vicelord, will remain here.”

He didn't wait for Kav's inevitable protest, but set off across the bridge, leading Mitth'raw'nuruodo back to the office where they'd first conferred two days earlier. He ushered the Chiss inside and sealed the door, noting with no real surprise that Mitth'raw'nuruodo had also left his warrior escort behind. The commander was supremely confident in his abilities, and had clearly deduced that Doriana himself was no threat to him.

At least, not yet.

Doriana's special holoprojector was already hooked into the Darkvenge's comm system. Punching in the access code, he gestured Mitth'raw'nuruodo to the desk chair. ”Your first point is absolutely correct,” he began, mentally crossing his fingers that the battles.h.i.+p's huge transmitter would be able to punch a signal back to the Republic's HoloNet system.

”My true name is Kinman Doriana, an ident.i.ty I've taken care to keep secret from Vicelord Kav's crew and other a.s.sociates.”

”You play mutually opposing roles, then?”

Doriana stared. ”How did you know that?”

”It was obvious,” Mitth'raw'nuruodo said. ”Who are your two masters?”

”My official, public master is Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, the head of the Republic government,” Doriana said, the words echoing strangely in his ears. He hardly dared even think such things in the privacy of his own mind. To be saying them aloud, and to an unknown alien, was virtually unthinkable. ”My true Master is a Sith Lord named Darth Sidious.”

”A Sith Lord is . . . ?”