Star Wars_ Fate of the Jedi 01_ Outcast - Aaron Allston [65]
“So the court thing is bad for us?”
“It doesn't improve our situation at all, but it suggests to the government that we are defying them.”
“So it's like getting in trouble for what your friend does.”
“Very much so.” Cilghal's comlink pinged, the signal of the Jedi guarding the main Temple entrance; it was a request from them that a Master come out to deal with some situation. Cilghal gave the little girl a reassuring look and headed out of the dining hall.
Master Durron caught up with her a few meters short of the main entrance. He was smiling, elated. “That was good news.”
“For Tahiri Veila.”
“Cilghal, it's the first chink in the wall of the government's position against us. The High Court is going to review the entire executive order. It could fall, too.”
“It's not the only thing.”
They swept out through the huge, open doors at the start of the Great Hall. Beyond was the breadth of Coruscant in late-morning sun.
Much closer were several official speeders hovering over and to the sides of the entryway. One was an ambulance, its rear doors open. The others were mostly Galactic Alliance Security vehicles, their operatives standing with a few medical personnel, and among them were the bounty hunters—Zilaash Kuh, the dark-haired ersatz Jedi, and Vrannin Vaxx, the human-turned-YVH-droid.
As Cilghal and Kyp arrived, a security captain turned from speaking with the Jedi guarding the entryway. He moved to stand before the two Masters. He was in full combat gear and his face, beneath his upraised helmet visor, was flushed red. “You'd better tell these two idiots to begin cooperating or they're going to spend five years in jail.”
Kyp's expression darkened. “You'd better—”
“Their job is to prevent unauthorized entry, just as it is the job of guards outside your blockhouse to do the same,” Cilghal interrupted, as smoothly as she could.
“I am authorized to enter.” The man held up a datacard. “This is a warrant. My authorization.”
“Which the guards, being very young, would not know what to do with.” Cilghal reached out to pluck the card from the captain's grasp, moving so swiftly that he stared at his palm for a second as if wondering how it had become suddenly empty.
Cilghal slid the card into her datapad. On the screen appeared the opening lines of a legal document—a warrant for the arrest of Jedi Valin Horn. “Ah. Of course. I must point out that the government and the Order have not yet come to terms on the question of who is to evaluate Jedi Horn's mental state.”
“We'll decide that. The Jedi no longer have a say in the matter.”
Cilghal felt very un-Jedi-like irritation bubbling up within her. “By the way, where is Captain Savar? The intelligent one who stands a chance of promotion sometime in his career?”
“Out cuddling Ewoks, I expect. Now, it's time for you to hand over Valin.”
“Not quite.”
The captain took another step forward, putting him face-to-face with Cilghal. She could feel tension rising in the captain's companions. Several of them made sure their weapons were at hand. The two bounty hunters surreptitiously stepped away from each other as if to define separate but overlapping fields of fire. “What,” the captain asked, “did you say?”
“You have left out a necessary step. You have failed to identify yourself.” Cilghal's palm itched as her sense of the moment told her it would be a very good idea to have her lightsaber in hand. But she couldn't reach for it, not in this situation. She would have to rely on her unarmed skills, and on the actions of Kyp Durron, if things went sour.
The captain hesitated, then drew an identicard from one of his pockets. He held it up directly in front of one of her bulbous eyes. “Captain Oric Harfard, Galactic Alliance Security.” The holo on the card matched his face, except that it was not as red. “Now get out of my way, fish-head.”
“Two things. First, my name is not Fish-Head. It