Some thirty standard minutes later he was crowded into a secure comms booth with Yoda and the Temple's impressive communications chief, listening to an almost inaudible message from Obi-Wan.

"I didn't catch all of that, " he said, once the recording had run its course. "Can I hear it again?"

Yoda nodded at Ban-yaro, the Jedi tapped a switch on the comm deck, and a moment later the faint, static-scratched message replayed.

80."-both still alive. We're trapped by a theta storm in an outlying village. Master Yoda, we were unable to extract Doctor Fhernan.

Production of the weapon continues on a major scale. Recommend yon launch an immediate a.s.sault to take the planet. When the storm breaks, we'll return to the city and make another attempt to stop Durd. If we can, we'll..."

And there the message ended, swallowed by static. Bail sat back in his chair. "Thank you. " Looking at Yoda, he wondered if the ancient Jedi felt as sick with relief as he did himself. "So what now?"

"We wait, " said Yoda, standing, supported by his gimer stick.

"For how long?" he demanded. "I think it's fair to say the Republic's in graver danger now than it was the day Obi-Wan and Anakin left for Lanteeb. We have to rethink our strategy, Master Yoda. Obi-Wan's right-we need to get control of that planet. "

Yoda's ears flattened. "Still working to create an antidote your scientist friend is, Senator, " he pointed out. "Until a counter- measure against this bioweapon we have, public knowledge of the Separatists' plans we must avoid. Panic will that cause. Great devastation. "

"I agree, " he said. "The public can't know. But since when do we brief the public on our fleet deployments? n.o.body needs to know where the battle group's going. "

Yoda just looked at him. "A secret you think this business will remain, once GAR Fleet Command is told?"

With Separatist spies still in their midst? No. He's right. But- "Then we have to take this to Palpatine. If Durd really is stockpiling the bioweapon, it seems likely an attack on the Republic is imminent. As head of the Security Committee I can no longer support keeping the Supreme Chancellor in the dark. "

"Hmmph. " Yoda's ears flattened further. "Agree with you I do, Senator. Reluctantly. To Palpatine we will go. "

"You mean now?"

"Yes, now, " said Yoda. "Master Ban-yaro, every Temple resource you will direct to listening for Master Ken.o.bi's next message. "

"Yes, Master, " said the communications chief, bowing.

Yoda held out his hand. "A secure comlink, if you please. "

Ban-yaro handed him one and Yoda placed a comm to Palpatine's private residence, arranging for an immediate meeting. Then he handed back the comlink and turned. "Senator?"

Standing, Bail offered the comm chief a nod. "My thanks, Master Ban-yaro. Without your expertise and diligence we might be in even worse straits. "

It wasn't until he and Yoda were in his speeder, racing along a priority traffic lane with the Temple a distance behind them that the ancient Jedi Master spoke again.

"Ask you I must, Senator, to let me direct this conversation with the Supreme Chancellor. "

Bail gave Yoda a sidelong look. "Any particular reason why? Given I'm one of Palpatine's most trusted security advisors he's going to want to hear from me. And if I might be blunt, I can't afford to have my priorities questioned. It might be convenient to some that I enjoy a good relationship with the Jedi, but I must be seen as a senator, serving the Republic first and foremost. "

"Know that I do, " said Yoda, slumped and brooding in the speeder's front pa.s.senger seat. "Yet ask for your reticence I must. A delicate situation this is. "

"Please, Master Yoda, continue, " Bail said, as Yoda frowned at Coruscant's scintillating nighttime light show. "Whatever you tell me won't be repeated. "

Yoda's lips twitched. "Not even to Obi-Wan?"

"Not if you tell me to forget what I hear. "

"Senator... " Yoda looked at him, his eyes grim. "Forget what you hear. "

Oh, mercy. "Done. "

81."A keen interest does Palpatine take in Jedi business, Senator, " Yoda said. "Deflect his questions I can. Reveal more than you intend or I might like, you could, if freely you speak with him. "

"I see, " he said slowly.

Obi-Wan's never hidden his disdain for politics and politicians. But I never realized the att.i.tude went so high in the Order. Or that they regarded Palpatine so warily.

"Angry Palpatine will be when learn of the Lanteeb mission he does, " Yoda added. "Better it is that his anger toward me is directed.

Impervious to it I am. Harmed by his temper I cannot be. "

"Whereas I serve at the Supreme Chancellor's pleasure. "

"A good man you are. Bail Organa, " Yoda said quietly. "A great debt do we owe you. A poor friend would I be if damage to your career I allowed because of choices I made. "

Bail had to clear his throat. "Master Yoda-you owe me nothing. "

Sighing, Yoda shook his head. "Wrong about that you are. Senator. Obi-Wan's life do I owe you. "

Obi-Wan. My own life's not so cluttered with friends that I can afford to lose one. "Will he and Anakin be all right. Master? Will we get them back?"

"Know that I do not, " said Yoda, as though the words were deeply painful. "Pray for them you could, if prayer your custom is. "

Well, it was honored more in the breach than the practice, but... "I'll say every prayer I know, Master. I'll even make up a few if that'll help. "

Yoda nodded. "It would. "

Bail shifted them out of their government priority traffic lane into the slipstream that would take them to the ultra-high- security residential sector housing Palpatine's apartment. Then he considered Yoda again.

"You know what you'll be risking, if you delay an a.s.sault on Lanteeb. "

Another nod. "Yes, Senator. I know. "

"And if the worst happens?"

Yoda didn't answer-and Bail didn't push.

Stang.

They'd almost reached their destination. Even though he was Bail Organa, with Master Yoda as his pa.s.senger, even though his speeder was equipped with security clearance beacons, tags, markers and chips, still they were escorted the remainder of their journey by four heavily armed and armored Senate Personal Guard speeders. Once docked inside the fortified private residence's secure lockup facility, they were ordered from their own speeder, triple-scanned, retina-checked, then taken by a team of Senate Commandos to a dedicated armored swift-tube that whisked them to the penthouse suite, where Palpatine was waiting.

Clad head to toe in plain, unrelieved black-odd to see after his ceremonial Senate garb-the Republic's Supreme Chancellor dismissed their escort.

"Well, " he said, once they were alone. "Why do I have the feeling you're not bringing me good news?"

Bail took a step forward. "I hope you'll forgive the intrusion, Supreme Chancellor. Unfortunately, it was necessary. There are developments of which you must be made aware, that couldn't wait till morning. "

Palpatine's hair glowed silver in his foyer's warm and welcoming light. "Yes, " he drawled. "I'd gathered that much. Very well then, Senator. Master Yoda. If the galaxy as we know it is about to end, I fail to see why we can't discuss the matter in comfort. Come this way. "

82.As Palpatine turned to lead them into his apartment proper. Bail glanced down at Yoda. Over to you. Yoda nodded, his eyes bleak, and together they followed in the Supreme Chancellor's chilly wake.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Only his brutally rigorous self-discipline, the discipline of the greatest Sith Lord ever to live, saved Sidious from revealing the depth of his fury as Yoda explained the mission to Lanteeb.

Dooku. you have failed me again.

"Master Yoda, " he said, ruthlessly unemotional, "I must confess to feeling perturbed. Why did you not tell me of this bioweapon when you first learned of the threat?" He shifted his gaze to the man standing beside his implacable enemy. "And you, Senator Organa? As one of my most trusted security advisors, how could you not..."

"Upon me the blame falls for this, Supreme Chancellor, " said Yoda. "Persuaded by me Senator Organa was to keep this matter secret.

Defer to my judgment as a Jedi he did. "

Sidious pushed to his feet and indulged himself in a temper- driven pacing back and forth before the vista window in his apartment's lounge.

"Master Yoda, you must know in what esteem I hold both you and your Order, therefore you must also know that what I say to you now I do not say lightly. " He whirled, stabbing the hated Jedi with his most steely stare. "How dare you? I am the Supreme Chancellor of this Republic, responsible for the welfare of its quadrillions of citizens. Who anointed you the gatekeeper of knowledge? Who appointed you my guardian, that you would decide what I should and should not he told of what goes on within our borders? I am the people's elected representative. Not you. How could you betray my trust in this fashion?"

Slumped over his gimer stick, Yoda bowed his head. "Unknown at first was the extent of this problem. " Then he looked up. "And inform you of every Jedi mission I do not. Supreme Chancellor. "

Sidious stopped pacing and clasped his hands behind his back. "Then perhaps you should, " he said coldly. "But we can discuss that later. What I will say now is that when the extent of the problem was revealed you should have informed me. "

Because then I could have bad Dooku take steps. And now it's too late. Now I must find a way to salvage this situation.

Organa, that meddler, cleared his throat. "Master Yoda thought-and I agreed-that if we could deal with the threat quickly and discreetly we'd avoid yet another blow to the public's confidence. It was never about usurping your authority, Supreme Chancellor. "

Perhaps. Perhaps not. But usurp it you did, you insignificant little princeling. And there will be a reckoning for that.

He kept his voice cold. "Even so, Senator... "

Chastened, Organa bowed his head.

Yoda, not chastened at all, the loathsome troll, met his hostile stare without flinching. "Hopeful I was that Master Ken.o.bi and young Skywalker successful would lie in thwarting Lok Durd's plan. Hopeful I am that succeed they still might. "

Anakin. He felt an uneasy ripple in the Force. His apprentice- in-waiting was threatened. He could feel it. The future he had foreseen remained unaltered-the time was swift approaching when Anakin would become his strong right hand-but that did not mean the boy could never come to harm. His encounter with Dooku had made that quite plain.

Be strong, Anakin. Be bold and resolute. I cannot openly aid you yet-but from the shadows I shall protect you as best I can.

"I will make no bones about it, " he said austerely. "You have both disappointed me, and shown a distressing lack of judgment. I expect much better, from both of you. "

Giving them a moment to ponder that rebuke, he resumed his seat. Left them standing, like pet.i.tioners, like subjects.

83."I have no doubt you believed you were acting in my best interests, and the best interests of our Republic, " he said. "That much at least does you credit. But let me make myself abundantly clear: I am in no need of your protection. Is that understood?"

"Supreme Chancellor, " Organa murmured, his gaze still downcast.

"Understood it is, " said Yoda, outwardly meek. The Jedi's true feelings were unreadable. "Supreme Chancellor. "

"Then we shall not speak of this again, " he said, grandly magnanimous. "Instead, Master Yoda, tell me how you suggest we proceed.

You say Master Ken.o.bi requests an all-out a.s.sault on this planet, Lanteeb. Do you concur with his a.s.sessment? I was under the impression that our deployment capabilities remain woefully compromised. "

And now Yoda could not so perfectly contain his emotions. They colored the Force with delectable doubt. "True it is that trouble the communications sabotage still causes our fleet. "

"Not to mention those cruisers still in dry dock undergoing repairs from your encounter at Kothlis, " he added. "So my question remains-is a full-scale attempt to retake Lanteeb even feasible?"

"We may have no choice, " said Organa. "Durd's bioweapon has the potential to turn the tide of this war. "

Yes, I know. That was the whole point.

"What of Master Ken.o.bi and young Anakin? Can they thwart this appalling Neimoidian before we're forced to launch a planetary a.s.sault?" Sidious shook his head. "You say you're hopeful. Master Yoda. Can you give me more hope than that?"

"No, " said Yoda. "In flux this situation is, Supreme Chancellor. Further meditate upon it I must. "

"I see. Senator Organa?"

Organa could hide nothing from him. He felt the man's sickening doubt, his growing alarm, the fear for his Jedi friend. There was also guilt for having held his tongue so long. Such a maelstrom of emotion was highly entertaining-and useful in keeping the senator off balance and less effective in his work.

Twice now Organa's instincts have interfered with my plans. I shall have to keep a closer eye on this man.

"Delaying an a.s.sault on Lanteeb is risky, " Organa said slowly. "If we're caught off guard and Dooku launches a bioweapon attack? I don't want to think about the consequences, Supreme Chancellor. "

He pretended to ponder that deeply. "I agree, Senator. Any delay in apprehending this criminal Lok Durd and dismantling his weapons production facility could lead to a catastrophic Separatist attack. But-and herein lies our dilemma-there is also significant risk in acting. Should word of this terrible new weapon get out, countless systems would be thrown into panic. It's possible we'd see ma.s.s defections from the Republic to the Separatists in an effort to appease Count Dooku and his thuggish allies. And what of our current military engagements? If we redeploy the few functional cruisers we have, then we abandon helpless civilians to Separatist predations.

And won't that damage faith in the Jedi and this government at a time when that faith is being sorely tested?"

"How then do you suggest we proceed, Supreme Chancellor?" said Yoda. "Which risk is least risky, do you say?"

"Both choices are unpalatable, Master Yoda, " he replied. Again, he pretended to consider their options. "If we were not talking of Master Ken.o.bi and young Anakin, I believe I would authorize an immediate a.s.sault on Lanteeb. But we are talking of those two particular Jedi... and the three of us know what they're capable of, especially when their backs are pressed hard to the wall. "

Organa stared at him. "Are you sure? They're just two men, trapped on a hostile planet with no backup, no reliable communications, and only a lightsaber each, and they're facing unlimited firepower from a droid army. "

"Not two men, Senator, " he said gently. "Two Jedi. Those two Jedi. And yes, that's the gamble I wish to take. I have absolute faith in them. I'd give my life into their keeping without a second thought. Wouldn't you?"

"Of course I would, " said Organa. "But we're not risking ourselves, we're risking the lives of those entrusted to our care. Supreme Chancellor..."

Sidious stood. "Your point is taken. Senator. Alas, no matter what choice we make, countless thousands of lives are in danger. "

"True that is, " said Yoda heavily. "And agree with your caution I do, Supreme Chancellor. "