Part 7 (1/2)
”Binalie certainly can't get the plant up and running any faster,” he
said ”Maybe they want him to act as interpreter with the Cranscoc” heseee of theirs ”More likelythey're seeking a hostage”
”Possibly,” Doriana nodded ”That could be useful, providing Roshton is willing to play along”
”You will make it your business to see that he does,” Sidious saidbluntly ”That goes for that Jedi, Tories, as well I don't want either ofthe trouble until the Republic task force arrives” Doriana blinked”You knew about that?”
Another thin smile ”Did you think you were my only source of information, Doriana?”
”Of course not, my lord,” Doriana said hastily Still, he couldn't helpbut feel a touch of disappointment He'd rather hoped to deliver thatparticular tidbit of news himself
”But information is useful only when someone is in position to exploit it,” Sidious continued ”And we cannot allow either the Republic or Separatist forces to dae Spaarti Creations”
”I understand, my lord,” Doriana said
”Good,” Sidious said ”Then carry out your orders” The ie vanishedDoriana put the holoprojector away The droids had finished for theircordon around the 'scorners and entrances while the droidekas rolled watchfully around theperi in or out anyti how Lord Binalie'se to the sudden invasion But the only person he couldsee was a quarter of the way around the ardener on hisknees beside one of the sculpted bushes Apparently thethe his forehead with a gloved hand
And Doriana stiffened That was no gardener
It was Co a curse under his breath, Doriana headed off toward Roshton,walking as quickly as he could without drawing undue attention froh his
”No,” Lord Pilester Binalie said fir to simply sit by andlet those monsters take up residence in my plant” ”I understand yourfrustration,” Jafer Tories soothed ”But I'ein there They could have destroyed Spaarti from orbit if that hat they'dwanted”
”I knohat they want: the sarowled ”The point is that the longer this silly dance goes on, thegreater the chance soet careless When that happens,it'll be the end of Spaarti Creations”
”But the Republic's going to send help, aren't they?” Binalie's twelve- year-old son Corf spoke up from his chair at the other corner of the desk
”Probably,” Binalie told the boy gri to think that ant” Tories frowned ”What do you rowled ”The Republic and Separatists are like apair of dokriks fighting over a bone What does it ets destroyed?” ”So what do you suggest?” Tories asked
Binalie's lips coet the Separatists outourselves, now, before Roshton and his clone troopers can regroup to attackBribe them, blackmail theet out afterward”
”You can't be serious,” Tories protested, frowning There was a whisperof warning from the Force; a sense of alien minds nearby ”Why not?” Binaliecountered ”What are you worried about, Roshton's blatherings about treason?
That's nothing but a bunch of-” He stopped as heavy footsteps suddenly sounded outside the office door ”What in the world?” heto rise to his feet
With a crash, the door was shoved violently inward, the warped panel sla another two meters across the room
Binalie dropped back into his chair with a curse, his hand darting toward
one of the desk drawers ”No!” Tories snapped, reaching out with the Force to lock the other's arm in place
He was just in time Half a second later the e combat droids strode into the room, the heavy blasters permanentlyattached to their forearonce around the rooer, and then they uard positions
Through the opening stepped a pair of brightly dressed Neimoidians Theone in the lead wore the blue and purple robes and black miter of a unitcommander, while the other wore a siear was blue, with four twisted horns atop it ”Good day, Lord Binalie,”the commander said in a stilted voice ”I trust we do not intrude?”
Tories looked a silent warning at Binalie, got ht his hand up-erowled sarcastically ”It's not like I have any actual workto do What do you want?”
”Perlances atfirst Tories and then Corf ”I aestured to his companion ”This is Dif Gehad, MasterCreator of New Products”
”And what new products are you trying to build in my factory?” Binalieasked Gehad started to speak -”Not so quickly, Lord Binalie,” Ashelinterrupted