Timothy Zahn - Outbound Flight

“Jedi Master C’baoth is on his way to Barlok, my lord,”

Doriana said. “Depending on what kind of transport he was able to get, he should be there in three to six days.”

“Excellent,” Sidious said. “You’ll have no trouble arriving ahead of him?”

“None, my lord,” Doriana assured him. “My courier is faster than anything the Jedi can provide. He’ll also have to stop off at the Temple and persuade the Council to give him official permission, while I’m ready to go right now. And all the groundwork has been laid.”

“Then he should arrive to a warm reception indeed,”

Sidious said, his lips curving in a satisfied smile. “What about Chancellor Palpatine? You’re certain he won’t notice this littleside trip?”

“I’ve built the necessary slack into my schedule,”

Doriana assured him. “I can spend up to three days on Barlok without filling behind. If it ends up taking longer, there are a couple of items on my agenda I should be able to resolve via HoloNet conference. I can do that from Barlok or anywhere else along the way, without having to actually travel to those systems.”

“Again, excellent,” Sidious said. “I have many servants, Doriana, but few as clever and as subtle as you.”

“Thank you, my lord,” Doriana said, a warm glow flowing through him. Darth Sidious, Dark Lord of the Sith, was not a man who was generous with his compliments.

“It will be a distinct pleasure to get Jorus C’baoth out of our way,” Sidious went on. “All indeed goes according to my plan.”

“Yes, my lord,” Doriana said. “I’ll report as soon as we’ve achieved our victory.”

“Just make certain we have that victory,” Sidious said, the note of warning in his tone sending a chill through the lingering warmth of his earlier compliment. “Proceed with your work, my friend.”

“Yes, my lord.”

The image vanished. Shutting off the holoprojector, Doriana disconnected it from the computer and returned it to its hiding place. Then, pocketing his datapad, he retraced his steps to where his packed bags waited. Yes, the punishment for failing the Sith Lord would undoubtedly be severe. Nearly as severe, he had no doubt, as that which would descend upon him if Chancellor Palpatine ever learned that he had a traitor in his inner office.

But if the price of failure was great, so were the rewards of success. Doriana’s apartment, his position, and hisquiet but far-ranging authority were proof of that. It was, in his estimation, a gamble well worth taking.

Besides which, he did so enjoy the game.

Pulling out his comlink, he keyed for a taxi to take him to the spaceport. Then, gathering his bags together, he headed for the turbolift.

The door to the Jedi Council Chamber slid open.

“Come,” Jedi Master Mace Windu called.

Squaring his shoulders, wondering what this was all about, Obi-Wan Kenobi stepped inside.

And stopped, feeling his forehead wrinkling in surprise. A person summoned to the Jedi Council Chamber naturally expected to find the entire Council waiting for him. But aside from Windu, standing over by the windows gazing out at the city, the room was deserted. “No, you haven’t misunderstood where you were supposed to go,” Windu said, half turning to give Obi-Wan a faint smile. “I need to talk to you.”

“Certainly, Master Windu,” Obi-Wan said, still frowning as he crossed to where Windu stood. “Is this about Anakin again?”

“No,” Windu said, raising his eyebrows questioningly.

“Why, what’s young Skywalker done now?”

“Nothing,” Obi-Wan assured him hastily. “At least, nothing in particular. But you know what fourteen-year-old Padawan learners are like.”

“Strong, cocky, and amazing naive,” Windu said, smiling again. “I wish you luck with him.”

Obi-Wan shrugged. “If there is such a thing as luck.”

“You know what I mean.” Windu turned back to look out the window. “Tell me, have you ever heard of a project called Outbound Flight?”

Obi-Wan searched his memory. “I don’t think so.”

“It was proposed as a grand exploration and colonization mission,” Windu said. “Six Dreadnaught warships were to be linked to each other around a central equipment and supply storage core, the whole thing to be sent out into the Unknown Regions and from there to another galaxy”

Obi-Wan blinked. To another galaxy? “No, I haven’t heard anything at all about this. What’s the proposed time frame?”

“Actually, it’s mostly ready now,” Windu said. “Just the final assembly and some disagreements about the passenger list.”

“Who’s in charge of it? The Senate?”

“Nominally, it was the Council’s plan,” Windu said. “In practice, it’s been Master C’baoth who’s been the chief driving force behind it.”

“Jorus C’baoth, master of the designated interview?”

Obi-Wan asked drily. “And yet the project hasn’t made HoloNet newscasts? Incredible.”

“You shouldn’t talk about a Jedi Master that way,”

Windu reproved him mildly.

“Am I wrong?”

Windu shrugged, a slight lift of his shoulders. “The fact is, everyone connected with Outbound Flight has had their reasons for keeping the project out of the public eye,” he said.

“Chancellor Palpatine has been concerned that spending time and money this way in the face of the Republic’s other problems might not go over very well. Ditto for the Senate, which provided the Dreadnaughts they’ll be using.”

He pursed his lips. “As for the Council, we had reasons of our own.”

“Let me guess,” Obi-Wan said. “C’baoth is hoping Outbound Flight can find out what happened to Vergere.”

Windu looked at him in mild surprise. “You are growing in Jedi insight, aren’t you?”

“I’d like to think so,” Obi-Wan said. “But this doesn’t really qualify. Anakin and I never did get the whole story on her disappearance; more to the point, we weren’t able to find her on our last trip out that direction. Never mind what C’baoth wants; I want to know what happened to her.”

“Careful, Obi-Wan,” Windu warned. “You mustn’t allow your emotions to intrude on this.”

Obi-Wan bowed his head. “My apologies.”

“Emotion is the enemy,” Windu went on. “Emotion of all sorts. Yours and Master C’baoth’s.”

Obi-Wan frowned. “You think Master C’baoth is getting too close to this project?”

“To be honest, I don’t know what’s happening with him,” Windu admitted reluctantly. “He insists that we need to send a strong force out into the Unknown Regions to find Vergere and bring her back, which is all well and good. But at the same time he talks about how the Republic is teetering on the brink and how it might be good to transfer some of the best Jedi out of the Republic entirely, settling them in new colonies in the Unknown Regions where Coruscant politics can’t touch them.”

“You’re not really considering doing that, are you?”

Obi-Wan asked. “We’re spread thin enough as it is.”

“Most of the Council would agree with you,” Windu said. “Unfortunately, the majority also think that by now Vergere’s trail is so cold it will probably be impossible to follow.

Most of those who still hold out hope think a smaller probe would still be worthwhile, something larger than your attempt but far below the scale C’baoth wants.” He grimaced. “Thebottom line is that C’baoth is about the only one still pushing for the full Outbound Flight.”

“Are you suggesting he might defy the Council if you try to cancel it?”

“Why not?” Windu countered.

Obi-Wan turned back to face the window, and for a moment the room was silent. “So what exactly does the Council want me to do?” Obi-Van asked at last.