The False Peace

  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 a
nd 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."

  Astri waited, her eyes drinking in the sight of her son.

  "You can leave Bog. The Jedi will offer you protection."

  She was already shaking her head. "He will find me. He will win." She

  turned. "You don't understand, Obi-Wan. He's not as stupid as he appears.

  He is cunning. I didn't realize... I didn't know... the lengths he would

  go. He got one taste of power, and it corrupted him. He has aligned himself

  with the worst in the galaxy. It started so softly. A favor for the

  Commerce Guild. Then another. And soon he was approached by another Senator

  - "

  "Sano Sauro."

  "Yes. He sold his honor. Well, the honor I thought he had. And now

  there is someone else, someone so powerful he does not say his name."

  "Granta Omega. And with Omega, Jenna Zan Arbor. Did you know that?"

  Astri looked away. "Yes. I knew that. And still I did nothing."

  He slipped his hand into her cold one and squeezed it briefly. "You

  were alone. Now you are not. You still have me."

  "Bog was never a strong man," she said. "How strange it is to fear him

  now."

  She reached into the pocket of her tunic and handed several disks to

  Obi-Wan.

  "What is this?"

  "Bog's data recorder. For his memoirs." She made a face. "I copied

  them secretly. He says it only keeps a record of meetings, but that's not

  true. He is too vain to hide what he thinks of as his accomplishments.

  There might be something on these."

  Obi-Wan slipped them into his tunic. "You didn't know I had brought

  Lune and Didi here. Why did you bring the disks?"

  "I've been carrying them with me. Seeing you, I felt so guilty, going

  along with Bog. I thought, there must be a way to help somehow. Bog is

  involved in something terrible. It is more than scheming against the Jedi

  in the Senate. There is some kind of plot, a takeover that will net him

  more power. He can't resist boasting to me. Soon we'll be able to afford

  whatever we want. A luxury cruiser for our trips to Nuralee. A villa by the

  Sea of Translucency on Dremulae."

  "Dremulae?"

  "Yes, he saw an image of the perfect spot, he said."

  Yes, Obi-Wan thought, in Omega's safe house.

  "He has these grand plans. And he's questioned me closely about the

  details of what will take place during the Relief Fund ceremony. I was on

  the planning committee. I can't imagine what that means."

  "I can," Obi-Wan said. "Astri, I promise you, after today you will not

  have to worry about Bog Divinian."

  She looked up into his face. Something came over her, some jolt of

  courage or certainty, and she nodded. "Thank you, old friend."

  "And now," Obi-Wan said in a lighter tone, "it is time to greet your

  son. I think he's almost out of cakes."

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Everything was in place. Secret security milled in the crowd. There

  were infrared sensors on the gravsled with the treasury. Extra guards in

  the Core Bank itself. Droids buzzed overhead as thick as flies.

  Obi-Wan stood to the side. In his ear was an earpiece in which Bog

  Divinian's voice droned on. Bog's recordings were filled with the dullest

  details, from when he took a tea break to the compliment paid him by the

  visiting ruler of Teevan. Obi-Wan noted that he even planned how late to be

  for the Senate hearing on the anti-Jedi petition. Six minutes. Short enough

  so that no one would be offended, long enough to demonstrate his

  importance, Obi-Wan guessed.

  None of the information was useful, and none of it was valuable,

  including Bog's insights into Senate politics. Still, Obi-Wan continued to

  listen. He had given a copy
to Tyro, but he wanted to hear for himself.

  The speeches on the platform were only slightly more interesting. One

  Senator after another came up and thanked the others and Palpatine, even

  while managing to convey that it was through his or her own early support

  that the idea really took off.

  In his ear, Bog worked on a speech. Obi-Wan could even hear his

  footsteps as he paced.

  In this time of great grief and sorrow.

  No. In this perilous time, we look to a leader who can take us from

  strong to stronger...

  No, that's not quite the tone. More... leaderlike. Now only one of us

  can lead us through the valley of fear to the mountaintop of solidarity...

  Obi-Wan switched off the recorder. Chancellor Palpatine was speaking,

  which meant the ceremony was almost over.

  "I accept this treasury on behalf of the Senate, and thank all the

  generous worlds that contributed," Palpatine said, with one hand on the

  armored repulsorlift wagon that held the glittering gold boxes of vertex.

  "This is the dawn of a new age. An age where help will arrive when and