by James Luceno
his heart he judged the universe on his own terms, with a clear sense of right
and wrong.
He looked to no other guide than himself.
Among the delegates who represented the worlds of the outlying systems,
his reputation was particularly exalted, primarily because tiny Naboo was one
of those worlds, all by itself at the edge of the Mid Rim, with Malastare--
home to Gran and Dugs--itso only neighbor of significance. Like many of its
neighbors, Naboo was ruled by an elected monarch - comand an unenlightened
one, at that--but it was a peaceful world, unspoiled, rich in classic
elements, and inhabited not only by humans, but also by a mostly aquatic
indigenous species known as Gungans.
When most of his peers had left public service at the accepted age of
twenty, Palpatine had elected to remain a politician, and his tenure on
Coruscant had provided him with singular insight into the afflictions that
vexed the outlying star systems.
It was while befriending a group of Bith delegates that he first learned
of the Nebula Front, and later, it was a Bith who introduced him to some of
the members who commanded the organization.
By rights Palpatine should have had nothing to do with terrorists, but
the founding members of the Nebula Front were neither fanatics nor anarchists.
Many of their grievances with the Trade Federation, and Coruscant, were
legitimate. More important, wherever the Federation was involved, it was
difficult to remain impartial.
Had Palpatine been one of the many senators receiving Trade Federation
kickbacks, it would have been easy to look the other way, or to turn a deaf
ear--as Valorum had put it. But as the representative of a world that depended
on the Trade Federation for food and other imports, as Naboo did, it was
impossible to dismiss what he had heard and seen.
Eventually, the Bith had introduced him to the Front's newest leader,
Havac.
For previous meetings with Havac, Palpatine had selected out-of-the-way
places in Coruscant's lawless lower levels. But the current crisis in the
senate had necessitated that they exercise a greater measure of secrecy, so
Palpatine had chosen a humans only club in Coruscant's midlevel--a place where
patricians could gather for t'bac, brandy, games of dejarik, and quiet
reading- - and where there were actually fewer prying eyes than lower down. He
had taken the added precaution of informing Havac of the location at the last
possible moment. As tactically minded as Havac was, he lacked the expertise to
catch Palpatine with his guard lowered.
"Valorum is audacious," Havac said angrily, as soon as they were seated
at a table in the club's hardwood-paneled dining room. "He has the gall to
announce a summit in the Outer Rim--on Eriadu, no less--without asking the
Nebula Front to participate." "Unlike the Trade Federation," Palpatine said,
"the Nebula Front does not enjoy representation in the senate." "Yes, but the
Front has many friends on Eriadu, Senator." "Then all the better for you, I
should think." Havac had come alone, as had Palpatine, though both Sate
Pestage and Kinman Doriana were seated nearby. Palpatine had accepted from the
start that "Havac" was an alias, and Pestage had subsequently confirmed the
fact. Pestage had also learned that Havac was native to Eriadu, where his
impassioned holo - documentaries had established him to a few as an enemy of
the Trade Federation, a proponent of nonhuman rights, a malcontent and
idealist. He wanted desperately to change the galaxy, but his visual tirades
against injustice had largely gone unnoticed.
He was a relative newcomer to the Nebula Front, but the Front's militant
faction had recruited him to serve a special agenda.
Exasperated by Senate indifference and the Trade Federation's continued
violation of the trade agreements, the militants had decided to up the stakes
from mere interference in Federation business to terrorism.
Havac and the Front's new radicals were determined to hit the Trade
Federation where the Neimoidians and the rest would feel it the most - comin
their distended purses.
Palpatine had encouraged Havac, without actually advocating violence.
Rather, he had maintained that the surest way to effect lasting change was to
work through the senate.
"We're fed up with Valorum," Havac was saying. "He treads docilely when
and wherever the Trade Federation is concerned. His threat to tax the trade
routes is pure rhetoric. It's time that someone convince him that the Nebula
Front can be a more dangerous foe than the Trade Federation." Palpatine made
an offhand gesture, as if in dismissal. "It's true that the Supreme Chancellor
has little understanding of the Nebula Front's objectives, but he is not your
primary obstacle." Havac held Palpatine's heavy-lidded gaze.
"We need a stronger chancellor. Someone who wasn't born into wealth."
Palpatine gestured again. "Look elsewhere for your enemies. Look to the
members of the Trade Federation Directorate." Havac mulled it over for a
moment. "Perhaps you're right. Perhaps we do need to look elsewhere." He
grinned faintly and lowered his voice to add, "We have made a powerful new
ally, who has suggested several courses of action." "Indeed?" "It was he who
provided the data we needed to destroy a Trade Federation freighter at
Dorvalla." "The Federation has thousands of freighters," Palpatine said. "If
you expect to be victorious by destroying their ships, you're deluding yourvs.
You must get to the principals. Just as I have been doing in the senate." "Do
we have any friends there?" "A meager few. Whereas the Trade Federation has
the support of many important delegates--Toonbuck Toora, Tessek, Passel
Argente... They are enriched for their loyalty." Havac shook his head in
outrage. "It's pathetic that the Front needs to buy senatorial support, in the
same deplorable fashion that it is compelled to employ mercenaries." "There is
no other way," Palpatine said, with a purposeful sigh. "The courts are useless
and biased. But corruption has its advantages when you can simply purchase the
votes of unscrupulous delegates instead of having to convince them of the
virtues of your position." Havac rested his elbows on the table and leaned
forward. "We have the funds you asked for." Palpatine's eyebrows went up.
"Already?" "Our benefactor told us that the Revenue--his "It's best if I don't
know how you received them," Palpatine interrupted.
Havac nodded in comprehension. "One possible problem. It's in the form of
aurodium ingots." "Aurodium?" Palpatine sat back in his chair, steepling his
fingers. "Yes, that could present a problem. I can't very well distribute
ingots to those senators we hope to... impress." "Too easy to trace," Havac
said.
"Precisely. We'll have to have the aurodium converted to Republic
dataries, even though that will require some time." Palpatine fell silent for
a moment, then said, "May I suggest that one of my aides help you set up a
special account with a bank on an outlying world that won't ask questions
about the origin of the ingots. Once the aurodium i
s safely deposited there,
you'll be able to transfer funds through the InterGalactic Bank, and draw
against the account in the form of Republic credits." Havac clearly liked the
idea. "I know you'll put the funds to the best possible use." "I'll do all
within my power." Havac smiled in admiration. "You are the voice of the outer
systems, Senator." "I am not a voice of the outer systems, Havac," Palpatine
rejoined. "If you insist on awarding me an honorific, then consider me the
voice of the Republic. You need to remember this, because if you begin to
think in terms of inner systems against outer systems, star sectors against
rims, there can be no unity. Instead of equality for all, we will end up with
anarchy and secession." s tanding just outside of the Jedi Temple's east-
facing gate, Qui-Gon gave thought to where he should wander.
The day was warm and cloudless, except to the north, where microclimatic
storms were swirling about the summits of some of Coruscant's taller
buildings, and Qui-Gon had nothing to do.
He set out walking into the sun , memories of his youth surfacing, as if
images glimpsed in the riffling of a deck of sabacc cards. As ever, he saw
himself inside the Temple, meditating, studying, training, making friends and
losing some. He recalled a day he had stolen into one of the spires and had
had his first real look at Coruscant's fantastic cityscape, and how from that
moment forward he had yearned to explore the city-planet from bottom to top. A
quest that would remain a dream until well into his teen years and, in fact,
had yet to be completely fulfilled.
On those rare occasions when students were permitted to leave the Temple,
they moved about like groups of tourists, and always in the company of
chaperons of one sort or another. Visits to the Galactic Senate, the Courts
Building, the Municipal Authorities Building... But in those early
explorations Qui - Gon saw enough to understand that Coruscant was not the fa4
land he had first imagined it to be. The planet's climate was more or less
regulated, its original topography had long ago been leveled or buried, and
what nature there was existed indoors, where it could be tended to and
controlled.
Because it resided in all life, the Force was in some sense concentrated
on Coruscant. But one felt the Force differently there than on worlds in their
natural state, where the interconnectedness of all life created subtle shifts
and rhythms. If on many worlds the Force was a gentle murmur, on Coruscant it
was a howl--a white noise of sentience.
Qui-Gon had nothing in mind beyond walking. The huge holomap in the High
Council spire indicated hundreds of distant trouble spots and emergencies, but
the Reconciliation Council hadn't gotten around to assigning him and Obi-Wan
to any of them. He wondered if Yoda and some of the others were angry about
his seeming obsession with Captain Cohl.
To Qui-Gon's thinking, the council members were too willing to dismiss
Cohl as nothing more than a symptom of trying times, when he was much more
than that.
But, then, the Council had a tendency to dwell on repercussions, on
future events, rather than the present. Yoda, especially, was fond of saying
that the future was always in motion, and yet he and Mace Windu sometimes
acted as if that wasn't the case at all.
Did they know of some great event looming on the horizon? Qui-Gon
wondered. And would he fail to recognize that event, even were he to trip over
it?
He supposed he should at least remain open to the possibility that the
High Council Masters knew something he didn't.
The one thing he accepted as beyond dispute was that the Force was even
more mysterious than any of the Jedi perceived it to be.
He hadn't gone half a kilometer when Adi Gallia fell into step beside
him, catching him by surprise.
"In search of something purposeful, Qui-Gon, or just hoping you'll bump
into something worthy of your attention?" He smiled at her. "I have--you." She
laughed, then scolded him with a look.
Adi's fingernails were polished, and the same blue cosmetic that rimmed
her dark blue eyes traced the ligaments on the backs of her hands. She had
been a permanent member of the High Council for over a decade, and a Jedi
Master for much longer than that. Her parents were Corellian diplomats, but,
like Qui - Gon, she had been raised in the Temple. Adi had always been
enthralled by Coruscant, and knew the planet about as well as anyone. Over the
years, she had forged a close friendship with Supreme Chancellor Valorum,
along with several Core World delegates.
"Where is your young apprentice?" she asked as they sauntered.
"Sharpening his wits." "So you actually give him an occasional respite
from your resolute tutelage," she teased.
"It's a mutual thing," Qui-Gon said.
She laughed again, then grew serious. "I have news that's bound to
interest you. It seems that you might have been right about Cohl's surviving
the explosion of that Trade Federation freighter." Qui-Gon came to a dead stop
in the center of the sky bridge they were crossing. Droids and pedestrians
ambled past him to both sides.
"Has Cohl been seen?" Adi leaned on the bridge railing and gazed back
toward the Temple. "Dorvalla Space Corps pursued a shuttle that matched the
description and drive signature you and Obi-Wan furnished.
The shuttle crashed and exploded onworld, apparently not far from where
Cohl had established a temporary base." Qui-Gon nodded. "I know the area."
"There wasn't much left to investigate at the crash site, but the remains of
three humans found in the wreckage were identified as associates of Cohl. But
here's the interesting part The shuttle was clearly attempting to rendezvous
with Cohl's personal ship." "The Hawk-Bat." "It set down close to the crash
site, then proceeded to blast its way off Dorvalla, taking out a number of
Dorvalla's picket ships on the way." "Cohl made it to the ship," Qui-Gon said.
"You're that certain?" "I am." Adi nodded. "One of the picket ship pilots
reported that two or three of Cohl's band might have made it alive to the
Hawk-bat." "Has there been any sign of the ship since?" "It jumped to
hyperspace as soon as it left Dorvalla behind. But surveillance has been
doubled at all of Cohl's known retreats. Assuming he did survive, he'll be
spotted and, with luck, captured." "Adi, is there a chance that Obi-Wan and I
could--was "Cohl is no longer our concern," she cut him off. "Supreme
Chancellor Valorum is attempting to encourage the systems along the Rimma
Trade Route to assume responsibility for curtailing acts of terrorism in their
separate sectors. Intervention on our part would likely be viewed as indirect
support of the Trade Federation." Qui-Gon frowned. "That's shortsighted.
Most of the worlds along the Rimma support the Nebula Front to one degree
or another.
Recruits, funding, intelligence... The Rimma worlds supply these and
more." Adi regarded him for a long moment. "Qui-Gon, suppose I could arrange
for you to meet with Chancellor Valorum, so you could
apprise him of these
matters personally?" Qui-Gon nodded. "All right." "Then it's settled. I'm on
my way to meet with him now, and there's no time like the present." "I
couldn't have put it better." In his chambers beneath the senate rotunda,
Valorum reclined in his chair, exhaling wearily as he stretched his arms over
his head. Finished with the morning's business, he now had to face those
delegates who hadn't been able to secure appointments and were undoubtedly
lingering outside his office, anxious for a moment of his time.
"What's on the agenda for this afternoon?" he asked Sei Taria as she came
through the office's tall, ornate door.
The young human woman glanced at her wrist comm screen. "You have a
meeting with Adi Gallia, then a follow-up meeting with Bail Antilles and Horox
Ryyder. After that, you are meeting with the representatives of the Corporate
Alliance and the trade delegation from Ord Mantell. Then--was "Enough,"
Valorum said, holding up his hands and shutting his eyes. He gestured to the
door and the corridors beyond. "How bad are things out there?" "As crowded as
I've ever seen it, sir," she said.
"But I'm afraid that that's not the half of it." Valorum stood up and
reached for his cloak.
"Tell me the rest." "The plaza is swarming with demonstrators. Some are
calling for the breakup of the Trade Federation, others are denouncing your
stand on taxation. Security recommends that we leave by way of the rooftop
platforms." "No," Valorum said firmly. "This was to be expected, and now is
hardly the time for me to avoid my critics." Sei smiled approvingly. "I told
security you would say that. They said that if you insisted on exiting through
the plaza, they would be tripling the guard." "Very well." Valorum squared his
shoulders. "Are you ready?" Sei went to the door. "After you, sir." No sooner
did Valorum enter the anteroom than two tall Senate Guards stepped in to flank
him. They wore long dark - blue robes and gloves, and double-crested helmet
cowls that left visible only the eyes and mouth. Over their right shoulders,
the guards carried long, cumbersome rifles that were more ceremonial than
practical.
By the time Valorum had passed into the front offices, more guards had
fallen in before and behind him.
Short of the public corridors another pair joined the group, and yet two