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A few hours later, E-3 came in to deliver several messages as Lecersen was finishing his nightcap.

“I am delighted to report that the IT-O was successful in extracting the code from your guest, sir,” he said. “Termination was immediate once the interrogator determined that the fellow was telling the truth.”

“Excellent news.” While the Moff fully recognized the necessity for torture if information could not be extracted in a more restrained and less messy manner, he did not particularly care for it. Once he had what he needed, the torture had ceased and the subject had been eliminated quickly and painlessly. That was how civilized beings operated. “Tell the YVH to dispose of the body in the usual manner.”

“Certainly, sir. Also, Senator Treen is standing by on the comm to report on her meeting with Senator Suldar.”

Lecersen, buoyed by the first bit of news, was hopeful that the evening would bear yet more fruit. He accepted the comm the droid handed to him and then waved E-3PO out.

“Senator Treen,” he purred, taking a sip of the delicious chak-root liquor. “I trust your evening was productive and entertaining both.”

“Indeed it was, Drikl,” she said. “We all had the most splendid time. The nerf steak was impeccably grilled, and I am delighted to report that the Vagnerian canapés were as delicate and flavorful as ever.”

“Glad to know the Indigo Tower has not suffered a decline in quality.” He didn’t mind the banter. Treen got right to the point if things were bad. When she went on a tangent about immaterial things, it was a reassuring sign.

“Indeed, we must go there again sometime soon.”

“How was the company?”

“Charming, attractive, and every bit as ruthless and power-hungry as the rest of us,” Treen said chirpily. “And very willing to be molded, it would seem.”

“Appearances can be deceiving,” warned Lecersen. He took another sip, the liquid burning his throat in a most pleasant manner.

“Don’t I know it!” She chuckled. “However, Fost and I have been at this game almost as long as he has been alive, and I highly doubt he’ll squirm away. Besides, he has far too much to gain.”

“What does he offer?”

“Well, as I said, he is quite charming, and is making a superb impression on some of the other Senators. Especially the ones who are fledglings, and who are a bit more timid and less ambitious than he.”

That piqued Lecersen’s interest. “Go on.”

“He apparently has quite the following. It’s rather endearing, really. There’s one in particular he’s been working closely with. You’ll never guess who.”

“I probably won’t,” Lecersen agreed readily, “so please enlighten me.”

“Padnel Ovin, the new, rather scruffy Senator from Klatooine.”

“Really?” Lecersen was surprised. “They seem like an odd pair. I’d be surprised to learn that Padnel Ovin even remembers to take a sanisteam once a day.”

“Well, it seems as though Kameron is grooming—oh my, I didn’t even mean to make the pun—” Treen giggled. “—Senator Ovin for something rather key later on down the line. And he has intimated that others of his little gaggle of admirers are in positions where they could give us a great deal of support.”

“What positions are those, and who are we talking about?” Lecersen drained his drink and put it on the table.

“He was rather coy about that, but I don’t think he’s fibbing.”

“You’re hardly a Jedi, my dear, to be able to tell such things.”

“Ah, but I am a most excellent judge of character, and you cannot argue that, Drikl.”

He supposed he couldn’t. “Well, for now, that’s a very promising start. I will leave him in your extremely capable hands. There is something I’d like to bring to your attention, and you had best pass it along to the others.”

Quickly, he told her about the nighttime visit from Mahlor, from the unfortunate Minyavish’s arrival to his end.

“How unpleasant,” said Treen. He could imagine her wrinkling her nose in distaste and smiled a little. “And he mentioned Fost and myself specifically by name?”

“He did. He did not seem