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“It’s all conjectural,” Adi said. “It will disappear.”

Valorum scarcely heard her.

“I don’t care what they say about me personally. But now, all that I have accomplished in the senate is in question. I am made to answer to Mas Amedda, who is so consumed with procedure that no new legislation will pass. Yet more commissions and committees will come into being, and with them, expanded opportunities for graft and corruption.”

Valorum fell quiet for a long moment, shaking his head back and forth.

“The assassinations on Eriadu, and now this scandal, will have wide-ranging consequences. It has already been made clear to me that the Jedi are not to become involved in trade disputes, without the express consent of the senate.

“But worst of all, is the disservice I have done the Republic. The citizenry take its cue from the head of state—even when that one has become little more than an ineffectual figurehead.

“I looked for the causes of corruption and found myself to blame. Did I conveniently forget all the deals I struck with malicious beings? Did I conveniently forget that I, too, had been corrupted?”

He put his elbows on the desk and pressed his fingertips to his temples, keeping his gaze downward.

“I had a terrible dream last night, that seemed as much a reflection of my present circumstance as a vision of the future. In it, I felt myself besieged by nebulous forces, by wraiths of one sort or another. Something was reaching for me out of the blackness, to crush me in its grip.”

“Terrible, but only a dream,” Adi said. “Not a vision.”

Valorum managed to summon the same weak smile when he looked up at her.

“If only I had more supporters like you and Senator Palpatine.”

“Better a few faithful supporters, than a wealth of false friends,” Adi said. “Perhaps you can find some solace in that.”

In the High Council tower of the Jedi Temple, the eleven Masters listened to Adi recount her meeting with Valorum. As ever, Yoda was in motion, walking about with his gimer stick cane, and, because of the part they had played in the events, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were present.

“The Supreme Chancellor is correct about one thing,” Mace Windu said. “The aurodium could only have come from Havac. Cohl delivered the stolen ingots to him, then Havac set up the blind account and saw to it that the aurodium was invested in Valorum Shipping.”

“But why?” Yarael Poof asked.

“By suggesting collusion, Havac hoped to bring down both the Supreme Chancellor and the Trade Federation.”

“Valorum, perhaps,” Depa Billaba said. “But the Neimoidians have much of the senate on their payroll. The Trade Federation hasn’t been touched by the scandal.”

“Indeed they haven’t,” Oppo Rancisis agreed.

“Too little thought we gave these events,” Yoda said. “All of us.”

Yaddle turned to face Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, who were standing outside the Masters’ circle. “You two: flying here, flying there, chasing clues … If stopped for a moment to listen to the unifying Force, see what was coming you might have.”

“I did what I had to do, Masters,” Qui-Gon said, without apology.

Yoda loosed a prolonged sigh. “Blame you, we don’t, Qui-Gon. But exasperate us, you do.”

Qui-Gon inclined his head in a bow.

“This scandal wasn’t the sole work of the Nebula Front,” Adi said. “The Supreme Chancellor has other enemies—hidden enemies, plotting against him. Trying to maneuver him into a position where he will err gravely, and be voted out of office or be forced to resign.”

“To be replaced by the likes of Bail Antilles or Ainlee Teem,” Saesee Tiin muttered.

Windu nodded. “He has been too trusting.”

“Too naive,” Even Piell remarked harshly.

Yoda paced, then stopped. “Help him, we must—in secret, if need be.”

“We must heed the will of the Force in this matter,” Windu said. “We must be open to ways to counter the treacherous vortex into which the Republic has been drawn. Perhaps we can help Valorum get wind of events before his enemies have an opportunity to stack those events against him.”

“He senses perilous