Star Wars_ Fate of the Jedi 04_ Backlash - Aaron Allston [85]
“The more I’m likely to give up or escape.”
“Very good. Now, why not let the Imps try you? They might have done that. They still might. But the GA does have the right. Pellaeon was accorded GA citizenship for life because of his tenure as Supreme Commander of the Galactic Alliance Defense Forcce. As to why they’ve suddenly turned up the heat under this case, I can only guess, but I think it’s because Chief of State Daala needs something to distract the press from Admiral Niathal’s death.”
“So I’m just a game piece being moved around to convenience them. There’s no offended sense of justice at work here, not really.”
Mool clapped his hands as if applauding a superior sports play. “And if they aren’t pursuing justice, why are you willing at all to submit to justice?”
A wave of cold anger washed across Tahiri. For a moment she wasn’t sure how to handle it—suppress it like a Jedi, draw strength from it like a Sith? She chose neither, letting it settle on her, letting it turn the tone of her voice brittle and sharp. “So what do we do?”
“I begin assembling medical witnesses who can testify to the mentality of someone experiencing undue influence from a manipulative authority figure. I begin aggressively promoting a change of venue for the trial—”
“Why?”
“Because the one person in the galaxy who has the most experience with the Sith is prohibited by law from coming back to Coruscant to testify.”
“Luke Skywalker.”
“Correct. And we are very eager for him to testify, not only because of his breadth and depth of knowledge, but also because the public is experiencing a growing sympathy for the Jedi, and when I announce that Grand Master Luke Skywalker must testify in order for the trial to be fair, the prosecution case will experience more resistance from the public. Meanwhile, you need to remember that phrase you just used about being a game piece, and whenever you’re in public, put on a face reflecting how that feels, because you were also Jacen Solo’s game piece, and that’s why you’re in trouble. Tahiri, you really were a victim. You need to understand it, and the public needs to understand it.”
“All right. I’ll try.”
“Nobody wants to think of herself as a victim. You’ll have to try very hard to overcome that reluctance.” Mool rubbed at his cheek folds and looked away from her for a moment.
“You’ve got more bad news.”
“I hate dealing with Jedi. Hard to keep secrets.” He looked at her again. “I think you should reconsider the deal.”
“What deal?” Tahiri asked, putting some ice into her voice.
Mool flared his cheek folds. “The only deal I’ve brought you.” Shortly after becoming her public defender, Mool had brought her an offer from someone inside Daala’s government: If she would become an informant and gather evidence of Jedi crimes against the Galactic Alliance, she would be sentenced to a short term in a minimum-security facility of her choosing. “I’ve been led to believe that the offer remains open—and it may be your only chance of avoiding a death sentence.”
Tahiri glowered. “I’ve given you my answer on that,” she said. “I’m not changing my mind.”
Mool sighed and nodded, then said, “In that case, I think you need to consider where you might find a more suitable advocate.”
“You’re quitting?”
Mool shook his head. “Not a chance.”
“Then why?”
“Because I’ve been in this business for a few years now,” Mool said. “And that’s long enough to know you need someone who’s been in it for a few decades. As much as it pains me to say it, I’m not the best being to handle a high-profile case like this. It’s a different game than the one I usually play. To tell you the truth, if you’re determined