by Jude Watson
"Certainly not the septsilk and veda cloth that both Zan Arbor and the Slams like to wear."
Anakin murmured a reply, busy studying the engine specs. "This doesn't make sense," he said. "The transport body style doesn't fit the engine. In speeders, you maximize every particle of space. I'd guess there is about three centimeters unaccounted for."
"That's not very much."
"Oh, yes it is." Anakin looked over at his Master. "It's just like the Slams' ship. They knew how to hide secret compartments in tiny spaces."
Anakin was already reaching under the dash. Obi-Wan felt along the floor and the edges of his seat. He had found a few compartments on the Slams' ship, but Anakin had found all of them.
"Got it." A drawer popped out toward Anakin. He reached inside, then tossed an item to Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan examined the palm-sized datapad. He switched it on. "It's a map of the plaza," Obi-Wan said as he accessed the file. "With notations on street closings and space lanes." Obi-Wan pressed a few more indicators.
"And the water transport tunnels are marked."
"Omega, Zan Arbor, and the Slams are planning to heist the new Relief Fund treasury," Anakin said.
"That's what they're after. Not only will it give them a fortune to operate with, it will embarrass Palpatine."
"It will be a political victory as well as a personal one. That's most likely why Bog and Sauro got involved — they are looking at a way to strike a blow against Palpatine. And if they profit from it as well, why not?"
"With the help of the Zone, a small band like the Slams can get around the entire Coruscant security force," Anakin said, shaking his head.
Obi-Wan nodded. "And in his arrogance, Omega expects to defeat the Jedi, too. If the Jedi Order allows the heist to happen, they will be disgraced. That will help Bog and Sauro pass their petition — or win a no- confidence vote against the Chancellor."
His eyes gleamed at Anakin, and Anakin caught the spark. He felt a spurt of excitement. The pieces were falling into place.
"At last we are one step ahead of Omega," Obi-Wan said. "Now all we have to do is set the trap."
Chapter Thirteen
Anakin expected his Master to explode into movement. Obi-Wan never wasted time. Instead, Obi-Wan just looked at him.
"So?"
"So?" Anakin asked cautiously.
"What next?"
"You want me to decide?"
Obi-Wan nodded. "When you become a Jedi Knight, you'll have to strategize as well as act."
There were a number of things to be done, and at first, they crowded Anakin's brain so that he wasn't sure which to do first. But then a moment later everything was clear and he knew what to do.
"First, we should contact Siri and Ferus and tell them what we know, so that they can concentrate their study of the water system on the area around the plaza," Anakin said. "Then, we should contact-Master Windu. The Jedi Council needs to come up with its own plans to protect the vertex during the ceremony."
"Good."
"And we should request a meeting with Chancellor Palpatine," Anakin went on. "It's the only way we can get across the seriousness of what we think is going to happen. After all, it's just guesswork, and it could be easily dismissed. But we should be able to convince him to increase security and put monitors on the water systems. Though…" Anakin tapped his fingers on the dashboard"… if we do nothing and simply allow them to sabotage the system with the Zone, we have an advantage."
Obi-Wan frowned. "We do?"
"The Jedi will not be affected, but our enemy won't know that. Omega and the Slams will be lulled into the belief that they have succeeded. In other words, we give them what they want in the beginning. But we control the outcome."
"But Anakin, that means exposing thousands of beings to the Zone."
"It's not toxic. The beings will have an extraordinarily pleasant morning, that's all."
Obi-Wan's frown grew deeper. "We don't know that.
You experienced it early on. We don't know what Zan Arbor has done to it since then. Are you forgetting the four workers who died?"
"But we have every reason to believe the system has been perfected."
Anakin hesitated. He could see that he had displeased his Master. "But of course we don't know that for sure. So we must guard the entry ports to the system so the Zone cannot be deployed."
Obi-Wan nodded. "Anything else?"
Anakin thought briefly. "No. Not at the moment." "I agree. Let's go."
They headed for the Senate. While Obi-Wan called ahead to request a meeting with Chancellor Palpatine, Anakin brooded on his mistake. He had seen the uneasiness in his Master's eyes, though it had passed quickly.
Sometimes he made mistakes and wasn't sure why they were wrong. He knew that his Master's deepest desire was to capture Omega. Anakin wondered how much it was permissible to risk in order to accomplish that. How much risk was too much? Who was best to judge? He wished he could ask Obi-Wan those questions, but he didn't want to displease him further.
As soon as they arrived at the Chancellor's office, they were ushered in to see him. He stood at the large window behind his desk, ready to receive them.
"Sly Moore tells me this is urgent," he said. "She is not accustomed to such vehemence. I hope it's not bad news."
"Well, that depends," Obi-Wan said. Quickly, he filled Palpatine in on what they had discovered and what they suspected.
"Naturally," Obi-Wan concluded, "the best thing to do is to cancel the ceremony."
"I think not," Palpatine said. "This fund has been the result of years of steady work on the part of many worlds. It is a tribute to the very ideals the Galactic Senate was founded upon originally — cooperation and benevolence. I hardly think that canceling the ceremony would help us in any way."
Anakin wasn't surprised, and neither was Obi-Wan.
"Then security must be increased," Obi-Wan said.
"I assure you, the best measures are already in place," Palpatine said. "And I have every confidence in the Jedi's abilities to forestall these villains."
"Then the water system should be shut off in that quadrant."
"And disrupt thousands of lives?" Palpatine looked impatient. "We will monitor the system, of course. Place guards on the entry points. That won't be difficult. If we know there will be an attempt, we will be able to foil it. Now, I have the distasteful task of having to attend a procedural hearing with Senator Divinian."
Palpatine directed his gaze at Obi-Wan. "May I borrow your apprentice?
I think it could be a valuable experience for him."
Obi-Wan nodded. "I'll return to the Temple and talk to Master Windu and Siri," he told Anakin. "Keep in contact."
Anakin watched Obi-Wan stride out of the office. He would rather be leaving with him, but he had asked to be included in the Chancellor's meetings, so he had to go.
"Capturing this Omega is important to your Master," Palpatine remarked as they left the office and started down the hall.
"It's important to the galaxy," Anakin said. "He's a dangerous enemy."
"Yes, but not the most dangerous enemy," Palpatine said. "From my experience, the most dangerous enemy is the one you can't see."
They drew up in front of a hearing room and walked inside. It was small and private. A long table took up most of the room, with seats equipped with repulsorlift motors that could adjust to the differing heights of many species. Bog sat in a seat at the center of the long table, with Bail Organa opposite him.
Bog spoke into his data recorder in a low tone. "Supreme Chancellor arrived. Meeting will start on time."
Chancellor Palpatine sat at the head of the table and indicated that Anakin take a seat behind him. Bog half-rose, then sat again, as if uncertain what protocol to follow.
"I am here as the head of the Senate investigating committee on Jedi Order abuses," Bog began. "The committee has entered its findings and has delivered an official petition to ban the Jedi from future Senate business.
>
We request from the Supreme Chancellor an override of Senator Organa's counter-petition to stall our petition in a separate committee. We believe it must be debated in the full Senate and acted upon immediately."
Palpatine turned. "Senator Organa?"
"Senators from two hundred planets have signed a protest and request to investigate the petition committee for undue bias in its deliberations,"
Organa said. "Until that investigation is concluded, the Senate can hardly debate the recommendations of the committee. Let alone vote on the issue."
"I have reached a ruling," Palpatine said.
Bog and Organa looked surprised.
"Th-the Supreme Chancellor has hardly had enough time to consider… I have not had a chance to refute…" Bog stammered in confusion.
Palpatine held up a hand. "Relax, Senator Divinian.
I rule that you may enter, debate, and vote on the petition to bar the Jedi Order from any further action on behalf of the Galactic Senate."
Palpatine rose, as Bog looked pleased and Bail Organa looked stunned.
"The vote should take place quickly — " Bog urged.
"I agree. The debate and vote shall take place tomorrow after the All Planets Relief Fund ceremony."
Bog stood and bowed. "Thank you for your ruling, Supreme Chancellor. I assure you it is in the best interests of the Senate."
"I assure you that the best interests of the Senate are always my first concern," Palpatine replied, and swept out.
Anakin followed him hastily. He was surprised and dismayed by the meeting. He had expected to hear a spirited debate, and hoped to see the justly renowned Bail Organa in action. But he never expected that Palpatine would rule for Bog.
"You look lost, Anakin," Palpatine said with a slight smile as Anakin swung into step beside him.
"Well, I have to admit I'm surprised. Why did you allow Bog to win?"
"I gave Bog what he wanted because I am sure he will fail," Palpatine replied.
Anakin was suddenly struck. Wasn't this what he had suggested to Obi- Wan earlier? He had wanted to do the same for their enemy, Omega.
"Bog doesn't know it, but he just destroyed his career," Palpatine said.
Palpatine wasn't gloating, Anakin thought. That would be beneath him.
But he did look rather… satisfied.
He remembered back on Romin, when he had felt a surge of power, realizing that the Force could not only allow him to move objects, but also to see into motivations and consequences. Many beings were transparent in their greed and ego, just as Bog was. Thinking several steps ahead was not that difficult.
Palpatine understood this; did his Master? Obi-Wan was so cautious.
Anakin glanced at Palpatine, admiring how he moved through the Senate halls. He did not exaggerate his power but he did not diminish it. He accepted it and accepted the ways in which he would have to use it.
How satisfying it must feel to simply wait for events to unfold as you have foreseen them, Anakin thought. How powerful to know the outcome before it happened. This was what he could learn — and not from his Master. From Palpatine.
Chapter Fourteen
At the Jedi Temple, Obi-Wan pored over the schematics for the water delivery system in the targeted area of Coruscant. Siri and Ferus showed him what they'd learned from the experts they'd consulted.
The laser map was holoprojected, and Siri used a laser pointer as she spoke. "The access points are here, here, and here, including the tunnel outside Dexter's Diner. They're the most likely places to strike. But of course with Omega we have to think of the least likely, too. That would be here and here. We've got Senate security forces on each point. All undercover, highest-level clearance. In addition, we have Jedi teams patrolling."
Obi-Wan nodded. "Looks good." "What about the thread analysis?" Ferus asked.
"Looks like a dead end," Obi-Wan reported. "A question of too much information rather than too little. The droid analyst says it's common throughout the galaxy. Thousands of uses and manufacturers. The computers are breaking them down into zones of probability, but…"
Siri looked back at the holoprojection map. "We have everything covered, Obi-Wan."
"But you do not feel secure."
Siri's eyebrows knit together. "No."
"Nor do I."
Ferus hooked his fingers into his utility belt. "I have a feeling none of us will be sleeping tonight."
Obi-Wan and Anakin spent the night patrolling the streets and sky lanes. Keeping out of sight, the Jedi made sure the water delivery system remained untouched. Master Windu had allocated the necessary resources to do so. Nevertheless, Anakin and Obi-Wan watched the watchers. They did not know when Omega's team would strike, but they felt they could not trust anyone else to be fully prepared. They knew Omega's cunning.
The first rays of the sun were flashing on the Temple spires as Obi- Wan and Anakin returned from their rounds. Waiting for them in the Great Hall were Jedi Master Soara Antana and her apprentice, Darra Haariden.
Anakin hurried forward to greet his friend Darra. He had barely seen her since their mission to Norah, where she'd been wounded.
"How are you doing?" he asked.
"Running on a full tank," she replied, her eyes smiling.
Meanwhile, Obi-Wan drew Soara aside.
"Thank you for coming so quickly," he said. "Is everything.."
Soara nodded. "They're having breakfast at the moment. Master Alann is with them."
Anakin overheard and shot his Master a curious look, but Obi-Wan merely said, "Meet us at Dexter's Diner at the prearranged time."
Anakin joined Obi-Wan. He raised his eyebrows in a question.
"The fear you saw on Astri's face," Obi-Wan said grimly. "I want to make it go away."
It took some persuading, but Astri agreed to meet him. Obi-Wan waited outside Dexter's Diner. When he saw her approach, he walked forward to greet her.
"Obi-Wan, I can't interfere with Bog, even for you," she said before he could speak. "I'm a Senator's wife now."
"Why can't you meet my eyes, Astri?" he asked. "Don't be ridiculous,"
she said, but her gaze kept moving.
"Are you afraid you were followed?"
"No. I took precautions." Astri saw her mistake. She bit her lip.
"You are afraid," Obi-Wan said. "Don't worry, you weren't followed.
There are Jedi watching your every move now. And yet you still can't meet my eyes."
All he could see was the top of her head. The dark curls that once tumbled down her back were now cropped close against her skull. He remembered when she had shaved off her hair in order to impersonate a bounty hunter. Astri had never had much vanity. She was a pure spirit, and he had misjudged her.
"I am ashamed," she said quietly. "That is why I can't meet your eyes.
" He took her arm and led her into the shelter of the diner overhang.
"There is no need for shame, old friend," he said softly. "We have been through worse together."
She shook her head. "No. We have not." She looked up, and he saw that her deep green eyes glistened with tears. "Now I have a child."
"And Bog has threatened him."
"He will take him away. He is so young, Obi-Wan. I cannot let that happen. No matter what. Even your friendship, even the entire Jedi Order is nothing to me in the face of that. I know that making a choice for one life against so many lives is wrong, but I cannot help myself." This time, she did not drop her eyes.
"Astri, that is not a cause for shame. I understand it. Of course that is what you must do."
"You understand that I couldn't help you?"
Obi-Wan nodded. "And you must understand that I must help you."
"There is no help for me. Even from the Jedi."
"Look." He took her by the shoulders and spun her around. Now she could see inside the diner. Her father, Didi, was comparing recipes with Dexter. Lune, her son, was sitting on a stool, swinging his legs as Darra teased him, making
him laugh. A large plate of Dex's special cakes sat in front of the child. He picked up a piece with his fingers and ate it, then licked his fingers.
Astri put a hand on her heart.
"I had Soara and Darra bring them. We can arrange to have them back before anyone knows they are missing, if that is your choice. But there is another."