Star Wars_ Fate of the Jedi 08_ Ascension - Christie Golden [45]
“Could there be brain damage?” asked Eramuth, giving an admirable impression of someone deeply worried.
“It’s unlikely, given what we’re seeing here,” Javir replied, frowning at the readings.
“Now, I’m no doctor,” said Eramuth, “but I do know one thing from all my years practicing law. And that is while you may know a great deal about the brain, the mind remains largely a mystery.”
Nek almost wanted to smile at the glare Dr. Javir shot his uncle. The Duros turned her attention to her patient. “Do you know these people, Admiral Bwua’tu?”
Nek blinked solemnly at her, but didn’t reply.
“How about yourself? Do you remember who you are?”
He frowned, trying to look puzzled and agitated, but not too much so. The last thing any of them needed was for him to be sedated.
“This doesn’t make sense,” Javir muttered. “He should be recovered, if exhausted, according to the data.”
“We’ll stay and keep trying to reach him,” Eramuth said. “Friendly faces and all. I’ve got some old stories to tell that might jog his memory.”
Dr. Ysa’i tried and failed to hide a sour look at the thought of listening to Eramuth’s “old stories.” He covered quickly. “We’ll continue to monitor him. If there’s no change in an hour or so, we’ll run some tests. For now, I must tell you, all signs are positive. I’m sure Admiral Bwua’tu will soon be fully recovered.”
“Please alert one of the medical droids if the situation changes,” Javir said.
“At once,” Asokaji assured them. The doctors again checked the stats, then left together, talking quietly. Once the door had closed, the Bith turned back to Bwua’tu.
“Because of your extremely sensitive position in the government, sir, the former Chief of State and I both insisted that there be no monitoring or recording devices in this room, other than those deemed medically necessary. We can speak freely.”
“You’re certain?”
Eramuth nodded. “Otherwise, with some of the things I’ve said to young Rynog, I’m certain I’d have been hauled out for questioning.” His eyes twinkled briefly, then grew somber.
“I did notice the words former Chief of State to describe Admiral Daala,” Bwua’tu said quietly. “Tell me what’s happened.”
He listened, only interrupting occasionally to request clarification, as Asokaji and Eramuth spoke, his heart sinking with every stunning new fact.
Nek had already known that Daala was bent on demonstrating an increasing intolerance in her management of the various uprisings that seemed to be sprouting up like weeds. On the morning when he had been attacked, he’d been prepared to contact Kenth Hamner and move forward with their joint plan. He had a vague memory of the Devaronian journalist Madhi Vaandt reporting on the escalating violence.
“Natasi came to see me,” he said, and it was not a question. “She and Wynn Dorvan. I remember. There was a report on …” Nek frowned, struggling to recall. “Blaudu Sextus. The Octusi … and Mandalorians. Called in to suppress them.”
“I remember that visit,” Asokaji said. “It was the first time your brain activity had seemed targeted. The Chief—er, former Chief of State—thought that Vaandt had a connection with the attempt on your life.” He hesitated. “Vaandt was killed covering that story.”
“I am sorry to hear that,” Nek said honestly. “She was passionate about what she did. But no, she was not the reason I was interested in the vidcast. I will tell you all I remember about that when you’ve caught me up. I … was concerned about the uprisings and Madhi Vaandt’s theory that the Mandos were hired to protect the interests of …” He frowned. Some specific pieces of information, it would seem, were still proving elusive.
“The Sextuna Mining Corporation,” Asokaji provided helpfully. “Yes—Vaandt seemed to think that that wasn’t really the case.”
Eramuth had been listening without interrupting,