Star Wars_ Darth Maul 02_ Shadow Hunter - Michael Reaves [52]
Veracity and prevarication seemed equally dangerous here. It was a Neimoidian’s worst nightmare: a situation from which it was impossible to worm one’s way out. Gunray looked down and saw that he was wringing his own hands every bit as industriously as were Rune Haako and Daultay Dofine.
Only one thing was certain. Soon—very soon—they would have to tell the Sith Lord something.
Jedi Master Yoda entered the conference antechamber, a smaller room off to one side of the Council Chamber. Mace Windu and Qui-Gon Jinn were already seated at the pleekwood table. Behind them a floor-to-ceiling transparisteel window offered a panoramic view of the endless architectural welter that was Coruscant and its continuous streams of air traffic.
Yoda moved slowly toward one of the chairs. He leaned on his gimer-stick cane as he walked, and Windu had to suppress a smile as he watched Yoda’s progress. While Yoda was easily the oldest member of the council, being well over 800 standard years of age, he was by no means as decrepit as he sometimes pretended to be. Though it was true that he had slowed slightly in the years that Windu had known him, Yoda’s skill with a lightsaber was still second to none on the council.
Windu waited until his colleague was seated before he spoke. “I have not deemed it necessary to call a general meeting of the council concerning this yet,” he said. “Nevertheless, it is a problem that in my opinion warrants discussion.”
Yoda nodded. “Of the Black Sun matter you speak.”
“Yes—specifically of Oolth the Fondorian, and the Padawan Darsha Assant, who was sent to bring him here.”
“Has there been any word at all from her?” Qui-Gon Jinn asked.
“None. It has been almost forty-eight hours. The mission should not have taken more than four or five at the most.”
“Anoon Bondara is missing, as well,” Yoda said reflectively. “Coincidence I doubt it is.”
“You think Bondara has gone in search of Assant?” Windu asked. Yoda nodded.
“Understandable,” Jinn said. “Assant is his Padawan. If he felt she was in danger, he would look into it.”
“Of course he would,” Windu replied. “But why did he not inform any of us as to his intentions? And why has there been no communication from either of them?”
There was silence for a moment as the three Jedi Masters pondered the questions. Then Yoda said, “Some infraction on her part, perhaps he knew or suspected. Want to protect her from repercussions, he would.”
Jinn nodded. “Anoon has always been one to chafe at rules and restrictions.”
Mace Windu glanced at Jinn and raised an eyebrow. Jinn smiled slightly and shrugged.
“This makes sense to me,” Windu said. “It feels right. But, however noble Anoon Bondara’s intentions, we cannot have him and Assant acting without the knowledge or consent of the council.”
“Agreed we are on this matter,” Yoda said. “Send an investigator we must.”
“Yes,” Windu said. “But who? With the current state of affairs in the Republic Senate, all our senior members are on standby alert, and may continue to be for some time.”
“I have a suggestion,” Qui-Gon Jinn said. “Dispatch my Padawan. If Black Sun is involved, he will be able to sense it.”
“Obi-Wan Kenobi? Potentially strong in the Force he is,” Yoda mused. “A good choice he would be.”
Mace Windu nodded slowly. Yoda was right. Though not yet a full-fledged Jedi Knight, Kenobi had amply demonstrated his skills in battle and in negotiation. If anyone could find out what had happened to Bondara and Assant, he could.
The senior member of the council stood. “We are decided, then. Qui-Gon, you will explain the situation to Kenobi and send him on his way as soon as possible. There is something about all this …” Windu was silent for a moment.
“Yes,” Yoda said soberly. “No accident this was.”
Qui-Gon Jinn said nothing; he merely nodded his agreement, then stood. “Obi-Wan