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Authors: James Luceno
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black cloak swept the polished floor.
“You were expected days ago,” Hill said, with a note of exasperation.
“Events of an unforeseen nature prevented me from returning earlier.”
“A successful journey, nevertheless, I assume.”
“You assume correctly.”
Hill relaxed somewhat. “We shouldn’t tarry here any longer than necessary. Transport is waiting.”
At Hill’s gesture, the black-cloaked Muuns began to angle toward the skyhook turbolifts, four of the silver-suited warriors falling in to flank Damask and the droid, which walked behind him.
“You’re limping,” Hill said in hushed urgency. “Are you injured?”
“Healing,” Damask said. “Make no further mention of it.”
“We could postpone the Gathering—”
“No. It will take place as scheduled.”
“I’m relieved to hear that,” Hill said, “since several of your guests are already in transit to Sojourn.”
The group was halfway to the turbolifts when a faction of Banking Clan officials deliberately cut across their path, forcing them to halt. The faction’s obvious leader, a Muun of middle age, separated himself from the rest and moved to the front.
“Magister Damask,” he said. “What a surprise to encounter you here, among the rabble.”
Damask adopted a faint grin. “Excluding yourself, of course, Chairman Tonith.”
Tonith stiffened. “We’re simply passing through.”
“As are we,” Damask said, motioning to Hill and the rest.
“You’ve been traveling, Magister?”
“A business trip, Chairman.”
“Of course.” It was Tonith’s turn to show a weak smile. “But in that case perhaps you haven’t heard that the Senate is on the verge of creating additional free-trade zones in the Outer Rim Territories. Despite what I understand were considerable efforts on your part to the contrary, the shipping cartels face the danger of being broken, and even if not, will certainly have to deal with fierce competition from start-up companies. Both Core and Outer Rim worlds should benefit greatly from the arrangement, wouldn’t you agree?”
Damask inclined his head in a bow of acknowledgment. “I hadn’t heard, Magister. Whom can we thank for swaying the liberals to adopt the amendment?”
“Among others, the Jedi Order lobbied successfully.”
“Then it must be for the best.”
“One would think,” Tonith said slowly. “Save for the fact that, in exchange, the Trade Federation will now enjoy full voting privileges in the Senate.”
“Ah, well. Appeasements of one sort or another always figure into Senate affairs.”
Tonith leaned slightly toward Damask. “Thank you, however, for suggesting that we invest in Outer Rim and trans-Perlemian shipping. The results provided a windfall.”
“Where and when I can be of service, Chairman.”
Tonith straightened. “Your clan father would be proud.”
Damask looked Tonith in the eye. “I take that as a compliment.”
“How else would I mean it, Magister?”
When the Banking Clan members had moved off and Damask’s group was back in motion, Damask glanced at Hill. “Someday we will topple the Toniths from their lofty perch.”
Hill smiled with his eyes. “I hope I’m alive to see that day. And just so you know, Hego, your father would be proud. Chairman Tonith’s sarcasm notwithstanding.”
“You would know better than most.”
Having arrived at the skyhook turbolifts, Hill was motioning everyone but himself and Damask into a separate lift when Damask said, “The droid will ride with us.”
Hill appraised 11-4D as the three of them entered the turbolift. “A new acquisition?”
“A door prize of sorts,” Damask said.
Hill didn’t pursue it. “You’ll be going to your residence or to Aborah?”
“Directly to the island. The droid will accompany me.”
“I’ll make the necessary arrangements.”
Damask lowered his voice to ask, “Are we secure in here?”
“Completely.”
Damask turned to face the taller, elder Muun. “Rugess
“You were expected days ago,” Hill said, with a note of exasperation.
“Events of an unforeseen nature prevented me from returning earlier.”
“A successful journey, nevertheless, I assume.”
“You assume correctly.”
Hill relaxed somewhat. “We shouldn’t tarry here any longer than necessary. Transport is waiting.”
At Hill’s gesture, the black-cloaked Muuns began to angle toward the skyhook turbolifts, four of the silver-suited warriors falling in to flank Damask and the droid, which walked behind him.
“You’re limping,” Hill said in hushed urgency. “Are you injured?”
“Healing,” Damask said. “Make no further mention of it.”
“We could postpone the Gathering—”
“No. It will take place as scheduled.”
“I’m relieved to hear that,” Hill said, “since several of your guests are already in transit to Sojourn.”
The group was halfway to the turbolifts when a faction of Banking Clan officials deliberately cut across their path, forcing them to halt. The faction’s obvious leader, a Muun of middle age, separated himself from the rest and moved to the front.
“Magister Damask,” he said. “What a surprise to encounter you here, among the rabble.”
Damask adopted a faint grin. “Excluding yourself, of course, Chairman Tonith.”
Tonith stiffened. “We’re simply passing through.”
“As are we,” Damask said, motioning to Hill and the rest.
“You’ve been traveling, Magister?”
“A business trip, Chairman.”
“Of course.” It was Tonith’s turn to show a weak smile. “But in that case perhaps you haven’t heard that the Senate is on the verge of creating additional free-trade zones in the Outer Rim Territories. Despite what I understand were considerable efforts on your part to the contrary, the shipping cartels face the danger of being broken, and even if not, will certainly have to deal with fierce competition from start-up companies. Both Core and Outer Rim worlds should benefit greatly from the arrangement, wouldn’t you agree?”
Damask inclined his head in a bow of acknowledgment. “I hadn’t heard, Magister. Whom can we thank for swaying the liberals to adopt the amendment?”
“Among others, the Jedi Order lobbied successfully.”
“Then it must be for the best.”
“One would think,” Tonith said slowly. “Save for the fact that, in exchange, the Trade Federation will now enjoy full voting privileges in the Senate.”
“Ah, well. Appeasements of one sort or another always figure into Senate affairs.”
Tonith leaned slightly toward Damask. “Thank you, however, for suggesting that we invest in Outer Rim and trans-Perlemian shipping. The results provided a windfall.”
“Where and when I can be of service, Chairman.”
Tonith straightened. “Your clan father would be proud.”
Damask looked Tonith in the eye. “I take that as a compliment.”
“How else would I mean it, Magister?”
When the Banking Clan members had moved off and Damask’s group was back in motion, Damask glanced at Hill. “Someday we will topple the Toniths from their lofty perch.”
Hill smiled with his eyes. “I hope I’m alive to see that day. And just so you know, Hego, your father would be proud. Chairman Tonith’s sarcasm notwithstanding.”
“You would know better than most.”
Having arrived at the skyhook turbolifts, Hill was motioning everyone but himself and Damask into a separate lift when Damask said, “The droid will ride with us.”
Hill appraised 11-4D as the three of them entered the turbolift. “A new acquisition?”
“A door prize of sorts,” Damask said.
Hill didn’t pursue it. “You’ll be going to your residence or to Aborah?”
“Directly to the island. The droid will accompany me.”
“I’ll make the necessary arrangements.”
Damask lowered his voice to ask, “Are we secure in here?”
“Completely.”
Damask turned to face the taller, elder Muun. “Rugess
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