by Timothy Zahn
"Anywhere in the Republic, yes," Lorana said. "But this is different."
"Only different in your mind," C'baoth said firmly. "But you're young. You'll grow." He pointed at the approaching collection of ships. "Once you see what we've done and meet the other Jedi you'll be more enthusiastic about the destiny that awaits us."
"What about this one?" Tarkosa asked, tapping his fingers on a rack of negative couplings. "Chas?"
"Just a second, just a second," Uliar growled, scanning the racks already in place as he silently cursed the crowd of tech assistants the Supreme Chancellor's Office had sent from Coruscant to help with the loading. For the most part, they'd proven themselves completely useless: dropping delicate components, sorting others into the wrong storage areas, and more often than not doubling up on one rack of spares while the proper set was left buried somewhere in the bowels of the storage core far beneath them. "It goes there," he told Tarkosa, pointing to a spot next to a rack of cooling-pump parts.
"What in theworlds? " a deep voice said from behind him.
Uliar turned to see a balding middle-age man in a plain tan robe standing in the doorway. "Who are you?" he demanded.
"Jedi Master Justyn Ma'Ning," the other said, his forehead creasing as he surveyed the chaos in the room. "This equipment should have been stowed two days ago."
"It was," Uliar said. "Very badly. We're trying to fix it."
"Ah," Ma'Ning said, a wryly knowing look on his face. Apparently, he'd met the Coruscant tech assistants, too. "Better speed it up. Master C'baoth is arriving today, and he won't be happy if he sees things this way." With a nod, he turned and headed off down the corridor.
"Like Jedi happiness is our problem," Uliar muttered under his breath at the empty doorway. He turned back to the storage racks; and as he did so, a repeater diagnostic display suddenly flickered on.
"That got it?" a voice called, and a young man popped his head into view through an open floor access panel.
"Hang on." Uliar stepped to the display and ran through its options list. "Looks perfect," he confirmed. Coruscant's tech assistants might be worthless, but the few actual techs who'd come with them were another story completely "Thanks."
"No problem," the other said, setting his toolbox on the floor beside the panel and pulling himself out. "You still having trouble with the repeater in the aft reactor bay?"
"Unless what you just did fixed that one, too," Tarkosa said.
"Probably not," the young man said as he maneuvered the access panel back into place. "These things are hooked parallel, but I doubt the circuit extends that far. I'll try to get to it when I get back from D-One."
"Why not do it now?" Uliar suggested. "D-One's all the way over on the far side of the hexagon. Why go all the way there and then have to come all the way back?"
"Because D-One's also the command ship," the tech reminded him. "Mon Gals might look like pushovers, but when Captain Pakmillu says he want something fixed, he meansnow."
Tarkosa snorted. "What's he going to do, bust all of us to civilian?"
"Don't know what he'd do toyou," the tech said drily, "butI'd still like to have a job once you fly off into the wild black. It won't take long, I promise."
"We'll hold you to that," Uliar said. "You sure we can't persuade you to come along? You're light-years ahead of most of our regular techs."
A muscle twitched in the other's cheek. "I doubt that, but thanks anyway," he said. "I'm not ready to leave civilization just yet."
"You'd better hope civilization doesn't leaveyou," Tarkosa warned. "The way things are going on Coruscant, I wouldn't bet on it."
"Maybe," the tech said, picking up his toolbox. "See you later."
"Okay," Uliar said. "Thanks again."
The other smiled and left the room. "Good man," Tarkosa commented. "You ever get his name?"
Uliar shook his head. "Dean something, I think. Doesn't matter-it's not like we'll ever see him again after tomorrow.
Okay, that rack of shock capacitors goes next to the negative couplings."
"The entire system can be run from here," Captain Pakmillu said, waving a flippered hand around the vast Combined Operations Center. "That means that if there's an emergency or disaster on any of the ships, countermeasures can be instituted immediately without the need to physically send people to those sites."
"Impressive," Obi-Wan said, looking around. Situated just aft of the cross-corridor behind the bridge/monitor room complex, the ComOps Center stretched probably thirty meters aft and filled the entire space between the Dreadnaught's two main bow corridors. It was currently a hive of activity, with dozens of humans and aliens bustling around and half the access panels and consoles open for last-minute checks or adjustment.
"What's that thing?" Anakin asked, pointing to a low console two rows over from where they were standing. "It looks like a Podracer control and monitor system."
"You have sharp eyes, young one," Pakmillu said, his own large eyes rolling toward the boy. "Yes, it is. We use it to control our fleet of speeders and swoops."
"You're joking," Obi-Wan said, frowning at the console. "You runswoops through these corridors?"
"Outbound Flight is a huge place, Master Kenobi," Pakmillu reminded him. "While each Dreadnaught is linked by the pylon turbolifts to its neighbors and the core, there's still a great deal of travel involved where the turbolifts do not go. Speeders are vital for moving crewers back and forth in both emergency and non-emergency situations."
"Yes, butswoops? " Obi-Wan persisted. "Wouldn't a more extensive turbolift system have been safer and more efficient?"
"Certainly," Pakmillu rumbled. "Unfortunately, it would also have been more expensive. The original Dreadnaughts did not include such a system, and the Senate did not wish to pay the costs of retrofitting."
"These control systems really are pretty good, though," Anakin assured him. "Some of the Podracers on Tatooine use them when they're trying out a new course."
"There aren't fifty thousand people wandering in and out of a Podracing course where they could be run over," Obi-Wan pointed out.
"But thereare plenty of animals on the courses," Anakin countered, a little too tartly. "You know, like dewbacks and banthas?"
"Anakin-" Obi-Wan began warningly.
"We have already tried the system, Master Kenobi," Pakmillu put in quickly. "As Padawan Skywalker said, it works quite well."
"I'll take your word for it," Obi-Wan said, eyeing Anakin darkly. The boy had developed a bad habit of disrespect lately, especially in public where he perhaps thought that his master would be reluctant to reprimand him. It was partly his age, Obi-Wan knew, but even so it was unacceptable.
But Anakin also knew just how far he could push it. In response to Obi-Wan's reproving look, he dropped his gaze, his expression indicating at least outward contrition.
And with that, this particular incident was apparently over. Making a mental note to have yet another talk with the boy the next time they were alone, Obi-Wan turned back to Pakmillu. "I understand you'll be making a short tour through Republic space before you enter the Unknown Regions."
"A sort of shakedown cruise, yes," Pakmillu said. "We must confirm that our equipment is functioning properly before we go beyond reach of repair facilities."
He stepped to a nearby navigational console and touched a key, and a holo of the galaxy appeared overhead. "From here we go to Lonnaw in Droma sector," he said, pointing. "After that, we'll cut through the edge of Glythe sector to Argai in Haldeen sector. Then we'll travel through Kokash and Mondress sectors, with a final stop possible in Albanin sector if it seems necessary."
"That's a lot of stops," Obi-Wan said.
"Most will just be flybys," Pakmillu assured him. "We won't actually stop unless there are problems."
"What happens then?" Anakin asked.
"If all goes well, three weeks from now we'll formally enter Unknown Space," Pakmillu said. "At a point approximately two hundred thirty light-years from the
edge of Wild Space we'll stop for a final navigational calibration"-his mouth tendrils wiggled as he shut down the holo-"and we'll then begin our journey in earnest. Through the Unknown Regions, and to the next galaxy."
Anakin whistled softly. "How long before you'll get back?"
"Several years at least," Pakmillu told him. "But the storage core has supplies enough for ten years, and we expect to be able to supplement its stores of foodstuffs and water along the way. In addition, our numbers may well diminish if we find hospitable worlds to colonize."
"You're not just going to leave people behind in the Unknown Regions, are you?" Anakin asked, frowning.
"If we do, it will be with enough food and equipment to get settled," Pakmillu assured him. "We would also leave one of the Dreadnaughts behind for defense and transport. As you can see from Outbound Flight's design, it will be relatively easy to detach a single ship from the rest of the complex."
Anakin shook his head. "Still sounds dangerous."
"We are well prepared," Pakmillu reminded him. "And of course, we have eighteen Jedi aboard. It will be safe."
"Or at least as safe as one can be anywhere in these times," Obi-Wan murmured.
"And it will be a glorious adventure, as well," Pakmillu continued, eyeing Anakin. "A pity you will not be joining us."
"There are still a lot of things I want to do here," Anakin said, an unexpected flicker of emotion coloring his voice and sense. He looked sideways at Obi-Wan, and the emotion vanished beneath a more proper Jedi composure. "Besides, I can't leave my master until my training is complete."
"With six Jedi Masters aboard you would have several choices of a teacher," Pakmillu pointed out.
"That's not really how it works," Obi-Wan told him. It amazed him sometimes how people who had no idea whatsoever of the inner workings of Jedi methodology nevertheless had equally few qualms about expressing that ignorance. "You said Master C'baoth will be arriving soon?"
"He is in fact here," C'baoth's voice boomed from across the room.
Obi-Wan turned. There, just entering the room, were C'baoth and Lorana Jinzler. "This is a surprise, Master Kenobi," C'baoth continued as he strode casually through the bustle of activity. No one actually had to move to let him pass, Obi-Wan noticed, but there were quite a few near misses. Fortunately, most of the techs were too preoccupied to even notice his passage. Lorana picked her way through the crowd more carefully, looking distinctly uncomfortable. "I thought you'd be on your way back to Sulorine by now."
"I was relieved of that assignment," Obi-Wan said. "There's something I need to discuss with you, Master C'baoth."
C'baoth nodded. "Certainly. Go ahead."
Obi-Wan braced himself. Between C'baoth and Anakin, this was likely to be unpleasant. "Anakin and I would like to join the expedition."
Out of the corner of his eye he saw Anakin turn to him in astonishment. "Wewould? " the boy asked.
"We would," Obi-Wan said firmly. "At least to the edge of the galaxy."
C'baoth's lip quirked. "So Master Yoda finally concedes that I might indeed find Vergere?"
"Who's Vergere?" Lorana asked.
"A missing Jedi," C'baoth said, his eyes still on Obi-Wan's face. "Master Kenobi tried once to find her and failed."
"There was nothing in the voyage mandate about a search and rescue mission," Pakmillu said, his voice suddenly wary.
"That's because it's Jedi business, Captain, and none of your concern," C'baoth told him. "Don't worry, it won't interfere with our schedule." He lifted. his eyebrows toward Obi-Wan. "I hope you didn't ask to come along in the hope of assuaging any feelings of guilt."
"I didn'task to come at all," Obi-Wan said. "I simply do as the Council directs me."
"As do we all," C'baoth said, an edge of irony in his voice as he shifted his eyes to Anakin. "What about you, young Sky-walker? You seem unhappy with this change in your plans."
Obi-Wan held his breath. There were several reasons he hadn't told Anakin in advance about Windu's mandate, not the least of them being the fact that the boy still obviously held C'baoth in high esteem. If he'd told Anakin they were coming to Yaga Minor to keep an eye on the man, he would have pressed for further explanation. It wouldn't have done to disillusion him with Windu's concerns about C'baoth's possible involvement with the Barlok incident.
Fortunately, it was quickly evident that the decision to keep the boy in the dark had been the right one. "I'm not unhappy at all, Master C'baoth," Anakin said with a clear voice and sense of complete honesty. "I was just surprised. Master Obi-Wan hadn't told me about it."
"But youdo want to come see the Unknown Regions with me?"
Anakin hesitated. "I don't want to leave the Republic forever," he said. "But I was impressed by how you handled things on Barlok, ending the deadlock and all. I think I'd learn a lot just by watching you in your daily activities."
C'baoth smiled wryly at Obi-Wan. "One thing at least you've given the lad, Master Kenobi: a smooth tongue."
"I would hope I've given him more than that," Obi-Wan said evenly. "Still, he's right about how much he could learn from you." He nodded to Lorana. "As I'm sure Padawan Jinzler would agree."
"Indeed," C'baoth said. "And it'sJedi Jinzler now. She was elevated to Jedi Knighthood three weeks ago."
"Really," Obi-Wan said, carefully hiding his surprise. From the way she'd been talking on Barlok, he would have guessed that event to be years in the future. "My apologies, Jedi Jinzler, and my congratulations. Do I take it you'll also be traveling aboard Outbound Flight with Master C'baoth?"
"Of course she will," C'baoth said before Lorana could answer. "She's one of the chosen, one of the few among even the Jedi whom I trust completely."
"You don't trust even Jedi?" Anakin asked, sounding surprised.
"I said I trust hercompletely," C'baoth told him gravely. "Certainly there are others I trust. But only to a degree."
"Oh," Anakin said, clearly taken aback.
"Fortunately, you and your instructor are among that somewhat larger group," C'baoth said, a small smile touching his lips. "Very well, Master Kenobi. You and your Padawan may accompany me to the edge of the galaxy, provided you make your own arrangements for returning to the Republic."
"Thank you," Obi-Wan said. "The Delta-Twelve Skysprite we'll be using for our return is on the surface, ready to be brought up and loaded aboard."
"Good," C'baoth said. "You'll stay here aboard Dreadnaught-One. Captain, you'll arrange quarters for them."
"Yes, Master C'baoth," Pakmillu rumbled. "I'll have the quartermaster-"
"Youwill arrange quarters for them," C'baoth repeated, a subtle but unmistakable emphasis on the first word. "These are Jedi. They will be treated accordingly."
Pakmillu's mouth tendrils twitched. "Yes, Master C'baoth." He stepped to one of the consoles and tapped at the keys with his flippered hands. "And Jedi Jinzler?"
"I've already reserved her quarters near my own," C'baoth told him. "Deck Three, Suite A-Four."
"Very well," Pakmillu said, peering at the display. "Master Kenobi, you and Master Skywalker will have Suite A-Eight on Deck Five. I trust that will be acceptable."
"It will," C'baoth said before Obi-Wan could answer. "You may now assign someone to escort them to their quarters."
From behind them came a sudden crinkling sound of tearing metal. Obi-Wan spun around to see that a large sheet of secondary conductive grid had come loose from the wall and was hanging precariously over a bank of control consoles. He stretched out with the Force?
C'baoth got there first, catching the sheet in a Force grip even as it came the rest of the way loose. "Jedi Jinzler: assist them," he ordered.
"Yes, Master C'baoth," Lorana said, hurrying off
"Captain Pakmillu, you were going to find an escort for our new passengers?" C'baoth continued in a conversational tone, even as he continued to hold the grid floating in midair.
"That won't be necessary," Obi-Wan said. "I studied Dreadnaught deck plans on t
he trip here. We can find our own way."
C'baoth frowned slightly, and for a second Obi-Wan thought he was going to insist on an escort anyway, as befit proper Jedi treatment. But then the wrinkles smoothed and he nodded. "Very well," he said. "Captain Pakmillu is hosting a First Night dinner in the senior officers' wardroom at seven. My fellow Jedi Masters will be there. You'll attend, as well."
"We'll be honored," Obi-Wan said.
"And you'll need to stop by the Dreadnaught-One medcenter," Pakmillu added. "The Supreme Chancellor's representative has instructed that all personnel be given a complete examination, including the taking of analysis-grade blood and tissue samples for shipment to Coruscant. Apparently, there's some concern about hive viruses or potential epidemics."