Slowly, reluctantly, Barriss sat back down. But her eyes never left the distended, bloated object of her resentment. Behind her and her friends, city attendants were removing the broken body of the Hutt’s former majordomo.
Shaking his head regretfully, Soergg addressed the curious delegates. “Our offworld friends have clearly been under enormous strain. This is quite understandable. Spending so much time among the savage, uncivilized nomads of the plains would take its toll on any civilized person.” At this insult, Bulgan started forward, and had to be restrained by Kyakhta. “I take no umbrage at the child’s outburst. I can only imagine the deprivations she and her companions have been forced to suffer these past weeks out on the empty prairie.”
“At least we didn’t have to worry about ‘savage nomads’ trying to murder us from ambush,” Barriss shot back. Luminara threw her a cautioning glance, but for once the Padawan ignored it. She was that angry.
One of the new Ansionian delegates peered down the ceremonial table at the well-known and highly respected member of Cuipernam’s diverse business community. The delegation had allowed the Hutt to be present as a courtesy, to observe the vote on behalf of all the city’s business interests. “This offworlder’s words trouble me, Soergg. Could she be so mistaken?”
The Hutt spread his arms wide. “You all know me here. I am only an ordinary businessperson trying, like the rest of you, to survive on a world where I was not born. Thanks to the warmth and openness of Ansion’s people, I have prospered here. Think now: would I really do anything to jeopardize all that I have e accomplished, everything that I have built?” Casting a kindly gaze in the direction of the barely controlled Padawan, he all but wept openly. “Is this the kind of understanding we can expect from envoys of the Senate if we consent to accept this concordance the Jedi bring before us?”
Oh, but he was clever! Barriss saw. The fat slug was an expert at twisting words to fit the situation. He might be lacking in minutiae like a conscience, or scruples, or legs, but words he had in abundance. She understood now why Master Luminara had warned her to keep silent. One of the first things a true Jedi must do, she remembered reluctantly, was learn to control her temper. At critical moments such as this meeting, personal feelings and individual emotions could not be allowed to intrude.
So she held in the fury she was feeling, did not try to employ the Force to wrench the smug, bloated Hutt’s eyes out of his swollen head, and sat still as a sculpture chiseled in stone while delegates and Jedi discussed the terms of the proposed agreement between the city and town folk and the Alwari of the open plains.
She took some small satisfaction in Soergg’s obvious tight-lipped displeasure when the final vote went nine to two in favor of adopting the concordance, with Kandah and an Ansionian from the southern communities voting against it. She also drew some edification from observing how effortlessly and smoothly Soergg subsequently lied, blandly conceding the fairness of the vote and vowing to uphold the terms of the treaty.
Taking her cue from her training, as well as from what she had just observed, she made her way unchallenged through the congratulatory post-vote crowd to confront him directly. He loomed above her, massive but slow moving. Though she did not show it, it did her heart good to sense the first stirrings of fear within him.
“I hope to meet you again some day, Soergg.” She smiled flatly. “Perhaps in surroundings and under circumstances where diplomacy is irrelevant.” She nodded tersely to where Luminara and Obi-Wan were conversing with several of the other delegates. “And where the expression of my inner feelings is not subject to external constraints.”
His response was a shrug that sent repulsive ripples through his lumbering body all the way down to his limp terminus of a posterior. “I bear you no ill will, little Padawan. Business is only business.” But his tone, she noted, belied his words. In reality, he was furious and upset.
“Who hired you to try to stop us?” she couldn’t keep from blurting. “I know who you paid, but who’s paying you?”
He laughed, a deep and thoroughly unpleasant ho-ho-ho. “Ah, little one, you may know much of Jedi secrets, but nothing of business or politics. Paying me for what? I do whatever I do because it is good for my trade. Always the Jedi seek wheels within wheels, complications in matters simple.”
“There’s nothing simple about an entire world voting to join a movement that would see it seceding from the Republic.”
“Secession? Why, that is a dead issue. Was it not just voted down, in your very presence?” he boomed softly.
“Then you’ll abide by the new treaty between the city folk of the Unity and the people of the plains? You won’t try to subvert it?” She glance suggestively back in the direction of the entrance, toward the spot where the frantic, shouting intruder had been cut down by the very being she as talking to. “I don’t suppose the individual you shot could have been carrying any incriminating evidence with him, could he?”
Soergg looked away, an action that was suggestive in itself. “An insidious notion, little Padawan. One unworthy of one as attractive as yourself.” Emerging from between rubbery lips a fat, mollusk-like tongue thrust briefly in her direction.
“It’s time we were all of us on our way,” Luminara observed. Turning, she waited while Obi-Wan thanked the representatives for their consideration, and commended them on their wise decision to remain within the Republic.
Once outside, Barriss tried to put aside her anger as she sidled up next to her fellow Padawan. “How are you feeling, Anakin?”
He was studying the sky, clearly anxious to leave. “Much better, now that our work here is done.” Seeing that she was still staring at him, he added, “Is something the matter.”
“No. It’s just that I think I may have misjudged you. I’ve come to know, and to understand you, a little better in the time we’ve been thrown together, Anakin. I realize now that you’re searching for something. Searching harder than most of us, I think.” Reaching out, she put a hand on his arm. “I just want to say that I hope you find whatever it is you’re looking for.”
He glanced over at her in surprise. “I’m looking to become a Jedi, Barriss. That’s all.”
“Is it?” she challenged him. When he chose not to respond, she added, “Well, if you ever feel the need to talk to someone besides Obi-Wan about it, you’re welcome to confide in me. If nothing else, maybe I can provide a different perspective on certain things.”
He hesitated, then replied gratefully, “I appreciate that, Barriss. I really do. I know it would be easier to talk to you about—certain things—than to Master Obi-Wan.” He nodded in the direction of the two conversing Jedi.
She laughed softly. “Anyone is easier to talk to than a Jedi Master.”
In agreement on that much, they began chatting in earnest, conversing for the first time with the straightforwardness and ease of old friends.
Luminara eyed them approvingly. It was important for Padawans to get along, because one day they would have to get along as Jedi, sometimes under the most difficult circumstances. Like Anakin, she too took a moment to glance skyward. Beyond the pure blue sky of Ansion, the Republic was in ferment. To the ordinary citizen all would appear normal, but those who were privy to the larger picture knew that vast forces were stirring—and not all of them benign. There was evil afoot. It was the task of the Jedi to root it out and render it harmless. But how was that to be done, when not even the Jedi Council was sure of the source or positive of its intent?
Not for someone like her to decide, she knew. All I can do is my job.
No, there was something else she could do. For a little while, at least. Lengthening her stride, she moved to catch up with Obi-Wan Kenobi; to seek his opinion on certain matters of significance, to congratulate him one more time on a job well done, and last but hardly least, to delight in the pleasure of his company.
There were some small pleasures not even a galaxy full of contentious factions and rising conflict could take away.
Shu Mai watched the Ansionian and the Corellian approach. Except for the three of them, the exhibition rooms were empty. The expression on the Senator’s face reflected concern. As for Tam Uliss, he made no attempt to disguise his displeasure.
“You’ve heard” was all the president of the Commerce Guild murmured. She already knew the answer.
It didn’t stop the industrialist from nodding emphatically. “Ansion has voted to remain in the Republic.” He glanced sharply to his right. “You didn’t deliver, Senator.”
Running a long-fingered hand through his mane, Mousul replied stiffly. “I did everything I could. The decision was not up to me. I vote here, in the Senate—not on the Unity Council. My ability to influence them is limited.”
“This was not the Senator’s fault,” Shu Mai put in quietly. “If those Jedi had not made a peace between the town dwellers and the nomads, the Unity would have voted for secession.”
“It doesn’t matter.” The industrialist’s tone was curt, his manner impatient. “You’ve both already agreed. We move forward now—with or without Ansion’s withdrawal.”
“What about the Malarians and the Keitumites?”
Tam Uliss was unyielding. “Without their withdrawal as well.”
Shu Mai let out a long sigh. “You know my opinion, and that of the rest of the guild. Without the impetus that would have been given to our movement by Ansion’s secession, we cannot declare ourselves and our intentions openly. Without the provocation the withdrawal of Ansion and its allies would have provided, we cannot count on sufficient support for our actions.”
Mousul nodded confirmation. “With Ansion, the Malarians, and the Keitumites still in the Senate, we have insufficient grounds for presenting our demands.”
“That’s not what you said last week.” Clearly, Tam Uliss was not to be denied. “You remember what you agreed to?”
“Yes, I remember.” Shu Mai started to her left toward a corridor. “I am not comfortable discussing this matter further here. Others may arrive to view this art exhibition. I’ve taken the liberty of arranging for a secure conference room in Bror Tower Four. Precautions have been put in place and personally checked by my staff. Security droids are now active on station. If you will follow me?” she smiled. “I’m sure we can resolve our differences.”
“There’s nothing to resolve.” Uliss was adamant. “We decided this last week, during the conference in the aircar.”
The fellow is so full of himself, Shu Mai thought disapprovingly as they moved out of the exhibition area and down the wide corridor.
Uliss spoke as they walked. “There comes a time when sentiment will no longer be denied. The others have been ready to declare the movement publicly for nearly a year now.” He searched the Guild president’s face.
“They would continue to wait, if you had not thrown your support to them.” There was no anger in Shu Mai's voice, no rancor. Only a simple statement of fact.
Uliss shrugged diffidently. “I’m sorry for this disagreement, but it can’t be avoided. You would have had us wait indefinitely.”
“Not indefinitely,” Shu Mai corrected him as she turned and led her companions toward the skyway that led to the next tower. “Only until the time is right.”
“And when is that to be? After another year of waiting? Two years? Three?”
“Whatever should prove necessary, my friend.” Their footgear clicked on the smooth floor. Removing a control unit from her waistband, she used it to scan the skyway ahead to make certain it was clear. It wouldn’t do to have some wandering office functionary stumble into them. “I would hope it wouldn’t be that long, but whatever it is, it is.”
Next to him, Mousul was nodding. “What you and your friends fail to understand, Uliss is that when it comes to politics, patience is one of the most powerful weapons one can yield.”
The industrialist shook his head regretfully. “There is time for patience, and then there is a time to move. You’re not going to win this argument, you know.”
“If we reveal ourselves too soon, no one will win any arguments,” Shu Mai replied with conviction. “I’m sorry we disagree on this, Uliss.”
The industrialist smiled. “No hard feelings, Shu Mai. Not even you can win every battle.”
They turned into the skyway. Beyond the transparent walls and roof of the pedestrian walkway that connected Bror Towers Three and Four, Coruscant shone resplendent in the scrubbed light of day. Strings of vehicles tracked traffic lines of force through the soaring buildings on preprogrammed missions. A fine place, Coruscant. The center of modern civilization. Sooner or later any who sought power, be it political, financial, or artistic, came to Coruscant. Those who sought to influence the affairs of worlds eventually found themselves residing within or standing before the Senate itself, the greatest and most important deliberative body in the galaxy. Each sought to sway its members in his or her own way. A little guidance, Shu Mai knew, was all that was needed. A few appropriate suggestions.
But they must be made at the right time, and under the proper circumstances. She lengthened her stride. Alongside her, Mousul did the same. Idly observing the city outside, Uliss fell a few steps behind.
Reaching the far end of the skyway, the president of the Commerce Guild whirled. Beside her, Mousul did the same. Raising the unprepossessing device she carried, Shu Mai touched a control.
Tam Uliss looked understandably surprised when be bumped up against the field. It was quite invisible, and quite impenetrable. The industrialist’s face sped through a remarkable range of expressions in a very short time. His words, which to judge from his appearance were rapidly growing increasingly irate, did not penetrate the barrier that had unexpectedly materialized between him and his companions. Neither did his hands and body.
The president of the Commerce Guild and the Senator from Ansion contemplated their fuming colleague unblinkingly. The Ansionian’s expression was blank, that of the Guild president thoughtful. A look of dawning alarm came over Uliss’ face. Turning abruptly, he tried to retrace his steps back to Bror Tower Three—only to find himself blocked by a second barrier identical to the one that had materialized in front.
Stepping up to the barrier, Shu Mai studied the now panicky individual trapped within the skywalk. All the industrialist’s money, all his important contacts, were of no use to him now. It was too bad. While she had not particularly like Tam Uliss, she had respected him. Not a hand-length from her face, a furious and frightened Uliss was now screaming threats and imprecations at his fellow conspirators. The barrier continued to block the industrialist’s words as well as his fists.
For a long moment, Shu Mai gazed into the face of her former associate. “Patience, my friend, is one weapon we cannot afford to waste,” she whispered softly, even thought he object of her admonition could not hear her. Turning away, she walked back to stand alongside Mousul, who had retreated slightly into the hallway behind them. The Senator looked on as Shu Mai touched several small controls in quick, practiced succession.
A slight creaking noise filled the end of the hallway, quickly rising to a groaning. Uliss stopped pounding on the unyielding barrier. His rage turned to uncertainty, then to surprise. Metal failed, composite dissolved. Both palms seemed pressed against the barrier, the industrialist was still looking at Shu Mai and the Senator as the entire skywalk broke away first from Bror Tower Three, then from Tower Four, and plunged toward the surface 166 floors below.
Walking right to the edge of the opening that had been torn in the side of the building, Shu Mai leaned over and looked down. Even amid the noise of the great city and given the distanc
e to the ground, the skywalk still made a very loud splintering, shattering sound when it struck. The president of the Commerce Guild gazed thoughtfully down at the wreckage for long moment before turning and moving back into the hallway that was now exposed to the air outside. Across the intervening gap, an identical hole had been torn in the side of Bror Tower Three.
“Structural fatigue,” she murmured to Mousul. “Uncommon in this day and age, but not unheard of.”
“Indeed,” the Senator from Ansion replied noncommittally.
“Such an important person. A terrible tragedy. Terrible. I will deliver the eulogy for Tam Uliss myself.” Long-fingered hands folded behind her back, she started down the hallway.
“That’s thoughtful of you, Shu Mai.” The Senator took a deep breath. “When they learn what happened to Tam Uliss, after what happened to Nemrileo of Tanjay, I don’t think any of the others will give us any more trouble.”
“I agree. Our support should be more manageable once again.”
The Senator gestured down the hallway. “If you don’t mind, I think I will leave now, as I have work of my own to do this afternoon.”
The president of the Commerce Guild gestured understandingly. “I understand. I have work of my own to do as well.”
They parted amiably; Mousul to return to his Senatorial duties, Shu Mai to her private office. There she locked herself in so tightly that nothing short of a small nova could interrupt her. Only when she was sure that everything was secure did she activate the special code sequence that put her in contact with the remarkable individual whom she was charged with reporting the progress of the conspiracy on Coruscant.
When a familiar face appeared before her, she began speaking without hesitation. “There have been some—problems. The Jedi succeeded in making peace between the urban and nomad factions on Ansion. As a result, the Unity delegates on Ansion voted to keep their world in the Republic.”
Star Wars: The Approaching Storm Page 31
