[Last Of The Jedi] - 07 (3 page)

“You left us here without transport,” Toma said.

“I know all that,” Trever said. “And I’m sorry I did it, believe me. Especially since things

well, they didn’t work out quite the way I thought they would.”

Dona held up a broad hand before anyone could speak. “Why don’t we all calm down and let the boy talk. He seems to have a story to tell.”

Clive backed away. He hadn’t really wanted to kill Trever anyway. Just to scare him. Or maim him.

Trever sat uneasily on a stool inside the shelter. Confronting this many disapproving faces wasn’t easy. As a former street thief, he was used to taking off when things became hostile. It wasn’t exactly a day in the space park when you had to stay and take it.

“Things went okay at first,” he said. “I mean, I crashed the ship when I landed on Samaria, but at least it was around the correct coordinates. And it was an old rust bucket anyway.” He looked at them uneasily. “Anyway, that’s where I met up with Flame. Of course she was in the middle of being chased by stormtroopers, but we managed to lose them. It was so totally galactic; I was up on this crystal formation thing, and she flew underneath –“

Roan dropped his head in his hands. Oryon groaned.

“You were supposed to sneak in without attracting attention,” Raina said.

“Yeah, I know. Anyway, then we contacted the resistance. And I met up with Ferus. He wasn’t too happy about seeing me but did agree to take Flame’s message about Moonstrike to the resistance.”

Solace leaned forward. “What did he think of Moonstrike?”

“Well, he thought it was a pretty good idea,” Trever said. “But he didn’t want to get involved. He thought it would expose the Jedi.”

Solace nodded. “Exactly what I think.”

Trever felt annoyed. “Yeah, I get that it’s in the Jedi handbook,” he said. “But you should see Flame. She’s full-moon amazing.”

“What happened next?” Roan asked. “Where is Ferus ?”

“I’m not sure,” Trever said. “He sent me and Flame to Rosha to escort the Roshan delegation. Our ship was attacked as soon as we entered Roshan airspace. Everyone else died. The last time I saw Ferus was on the HoloNet. Standing next to Darth Vader.”

“So he’s still a double agent,” Oryon said.

“I guess so,” Trever answered. Solace gave him a sharp look. “Anyway, I have to get back to Flame. I promised her I’d return the ship. We’re going to Bellassa.“

“We?” Solace asked.

“Bellassa?” Roan asked.

“She wants to talk to the Eleven about joining up with Moonstrike. She’s ready to fund their attacks on the Empire if they’re interested. Hey, Roan, you’re one of the Eleven – what do you think?”

“It’s worth considering,” Roan said. “I’m ready to return. Dona?”

“I’m more than ready,” Clive said. “I’m heading to Coruscant.” He looked over at Astri. She bit her lip, trying to decide.

“Lune and I will come, too,” she finally said.

“I’ll remain here for the time being,” Oryon said. “Toma and Raina still need help.”

“I’m going back to Coruscant,” Solace said. Everyone looked at her. “I never agreed to the idea of a ret base,” she said. “I didn’t promise Ferus that I’ d stay. Commitment makes me itchy.”

Clive jumped up. “Well, if we’re going, we’ve got s to arrange.”

The others moved out to gather their things. Solace led. Her eyes were on Trever, and he shifted uncomfortably.

“What is it that you’re not saying?” she asked.

“After we left Samaria, Darth Vader raided the resistance cell,” he said. “The leader was arrested. Not only that, the ruler of Samaria was arrested and killed. And when we entered Roshan airspace, it was like they were waiting for us… .”

“What are you saying, Trever?” Solace asked quietly.

“What if Ferus is one of them now?” Trever burst out. “What if he betrayed us?”

He looked down at his clasped hands. “I hate saying it. I hate even thinking it. But all those coincidences… I know you’re going to say it’s impossible.”

“Nothing is impossible,” Solace said in her usual . “Ferus is struggling with his Force connection. That makes him vulnerable. But…”

Trever waited, hanging. Solace was brusque and short-tempered. He wasn’t sure how much he liked her, he knew he depended on her. He valued her opinion. She didn’t factor in prejudice or emotion.

“I trust him,” she said.

The relief that filled him wasn’t enough to quiet his doubts. But it felt good, all the same.

He went off to the galley section of the pod to grab some grub. It wasn’t until he had eaten his fill and headed back that he saw that” she was still in the same position. Still thinking.

Ferus felt sweat spring out on his neck as he sat at Darth Vader’s console. Updating a code cylinder took only seconds, so the dark figure could return for his at any time.

Ferus couldn’t load information on his own dataport and crack it later. The files would be scrambled into complete garbage if he did. He could only flip through the files that had been downloaded in the recent updating. Most likely some of them would need passwords to actually read the contents. He’d have to see what he could glean and then commit it to memory.

He removed the code cylinder from the dock and stationed himself by the door. He’d be able to hear Vader’s footsteps from here.

He set the cylinder to holo-mode and flashed through the datafiles, concentrating on those with Vader’s high clearance. As a Jedi, he had been trained in information retention, but he was rusty. He tried to make the flow of information distinct in his brain and not a blur.

But Imperialization was a blur. Planets to be whipped into shape, rulers to intimidate, alliances to smash, a new agreement with Sienar Fleet Systems … but nothing helpful. Nothing he could use.

The information on Rosha didn’t demand a privacy code. He flipped through it. A watch list, a raid that captured the early leader of the resistance, scientists to be put under surveillance, an accounting of government wealth. Standard stuff. Nothing about Trever.

But here. Ferus moved on to the files already on the cylinder. Vader’s private files. They were under a security lock. They didn’t even have titles. They were the ones he needed to see.

Ferus was an expert code breaker. He expected this code to be tough, but it was tougher than anything he’d seen. Just when he thought he’d solved it, he realized he was still left with gibberish.

He couldn’t risk the time it would take to break it. Frustrated, he pounded his fist on the arm of his chair. Time was running out.

Desperately, Ferus took one last race through the codes.

He almost missed it. It would have been easy to. One title of one file was uncoded, even though the file itself was hidden behind walls of coding.

TWILIGHT.

Along with the title was a brief description. LSO. Ferus knew from his short time in the Empire that this stood for Large Scale Operation. Order 66 had been a LSO. The subheading was Planning/Implementation/ Contacts.

Then he heard the sound that always chilled him. But this time it stopped his heart.

Breathing.

Close. Too close. Vader was right outside the door. Ferus’s command of the Force was growing all the time. He just hated to have to rely on it.

He had no choice.

Ferus sent the code cylinder into the air as he threw himself into a chair. Using the Force, it sailed across the chamber and slid into the dock just as the door hissed open and Darth Vader walked in.

“To what do I owe this intrusion?” he asked.

“The door was open, so I made myself at home,” Ferus said, lounging in the chair. “I’m getting bored. I thought I’d pop by and see if you received my orders yet.”

“You are a petulant child,” Vader said.

He stood silently for a moment. Had Vader seen? He didn’t think so. Did he suspect something? Definitely.

“But in this case,” Vader finally said, “you will get your wish. The Emperor wishes your presence in the conference room.”

Vader picked up the code cylinder and slipped it into his utility belt. Ferus found he was able to breathe again. He followed Vader back down the hallway to the conference room. The door slid shut behind them and the light turned red, indicating that a secure communication would take place.

The hologram of the Emperor had a purplish cast, the color of a bruise.

“Here are your orders,” the Emperor said. ,”You are to proceed to Bellassa.”

“Bellassa?” Ferus couldn’t stop from blurting out the word. Of all the places in the galaxy, he hadn’t expected to be sent back to his homeworld.

“Lord Vader needs assistance,” the Emperor said. “The Empire finds itself in need of Bellassan expertise. They are to shift their factories from the production of luxury goods to communications and infrastructure technologies. This will be of benefit to them as well. Their economy is stagnating, and we will offer a needed boost. We’re importing scientists as well”

Their economy is in trouble because of your invasion, Ferus thought angrily. This was one of the difficult problems of being a double agent - keeping your facial expressions neutral.

“You will attend various meetings,” the Emperor went on, “covered by the HoloNet and broadcast throughout Bellassa, in which the factory overhaul will be discussed. Naturally, we want to focus on the creation of jobs and new technologies.”

Of course, Ferus thought. Now he understood. He was being sent to his homeworld to sell this project to his fellow Bellassans. His very presence would be used as a club to batter Bellassans into submission. He was the former resistance hero who had thrown his support to the Empire. He would be the poster boy for collaboration and surrender.

It turned his stomach. Everyone would see him. Everyone would despise him. He didn’t know if he had the power to make anyone lose hope, but even the possibility of that sickened him.

But he couldn’t back out. He had to do it. Now more than ever. He didn’t know what Twilight was. But he knew that the Empire was planning to strike against a large, spread-out target … so he had to find out what the target was, and when the attack was planned.

Then he had to return to Rosha and find Trever … which he wouldn’t be able to do if he defied the Emperor now.

Suddenly the comm unit crackled.

“I left orders not to be disturbed!” Darth Vader’s voice was like a laserwhip.

“Lord Vader, we have starfighters on our radar not registered to the Bellassan government,” the captain said. “Possible members of the resistance.”

“I’ll come up to the bridge,” Vader said.

“It appears you are needed,” the Emperor said. “You both have your orders.”

The hologram faded. Obviously the Emperor was not concerned about the ships. He knew Lord Vader could handle it.

Curious, Ferus hurried after Vader.

Vader strode onto the bridge and went to stand behind the captain’s chair.

“They haven’t identified themselves,” the captain reported.

“Are we in Bellassan airspace?”

“Just approaching the inner atmosphere, sir.”

Ferus looked at the radar, and then out the cockpit window for a visual sighting. Suddenly the two tiny points of light moved toward them, and he saw that they were battered V-wing starfighters, left over from the Clone Wars.

“Blast them,” Vader said.

“They haven’t shot at us,” the captain said. “They’re probably just doing surveillance.”

“I gave you an order, Captain,” Vader said.

NO! Ferus wanted to shout. Those starfighters could well be staffed by someone he knew, some member of the Eleven.

Fire from the laser cannons streaked into the atmosphere. The first ship dived and rolled, trying to evade the locked-on firepower.

You can do it, just heel it over to starboard and push those engines … come on, come on …

The ship disappeared. Vapor. The second ship heeled around.

“Look at him squirm!” One of the lesser officers made the comment. Vader looked over, and the officer paled.

The captain dived, the big ship moving easily, almost gracefully.

The second laser cannon sent off an energy bolt. Pull up, pull up! Ferus felt the cry inside him. The second ship was blasted into space dust.

Vader turned away. As he did, he spoke to the captain in a low voice. “I want that officer off this ship when we reach Bellassa and assigned to the nearest penal colony. Emotion has no place on a starship bridge.”

Ferus continued to stare out into space. Had he known them, those two pilots, brave enough to risk attacking a ship belonging to the Empire? He might have. He’d known most of the members of the resistance. If he didn’t know them personally, he most likely knew their friends. Their wives or husbands. Their parents.

His helplessness made his hands shake. He swallowed against the sour taste in his mouth.

Bellassa grew in his vision, and he could make out the mountain range, the forests, and then the great city of Ussa rising from the surrounding plains.

By simply traveling with the Empire, was he harming his beloved homeworld? Where did his true duty lie?

Was he about to attempt to save his world, or would he betray it?

Darth Vader returned to the conference room. His Master came through immediately. Palpatine didn’t even ask if the situation with the unidentified ships had been taken care of, or how. He just assumed that what needed to be done would be done. Vader appreciated that. For two beings who did not believe in trust, it was as close as they could come.

“Ferus Olin is the key to breaking the back of Bellassa,” his Master continued as though there had been no interruption. “That world has proven difficult to subdue. Other systems are beginning to take note of their successes.”

“The planet has become an inspiration for many resistance movements,” Vader agreed. “It must be crushed.”

“Your plan is a good one,” the Emperor said.

“We will destroy the resistance at the same time we move forward on the project. There is so much yet to be done. Years of planning. The new weapon will require more hardware, more ships, more weaponry. Governor Tarkin has coordinated the effort and will assist you.”