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“Well, stability is a word that won’t be bandied about too much in the next few days. Which is why I’m headed back to Coruscant.” Den shrugged. “I thought maybe we could travel together.”

“I have no objection. Though I doubt most of the other droids will speak to me if I’m accompanied by an organic.”

“Y’know, you might want to prune back that prickly side of your programming just a little. Otherwise, someone’s likely to do it for you—with a vibroknife. Very few people like a smart-mouthed droid.”

“As you might imagine, you’re by no means the first person to tell me this. However, I find it adds a bit of piquancy to an otherwise bland existence. And I can take care of myself, thank you.”

Den looked at his chrono. “Just about nine hours before the shuttle lifts. Any plans for the interim?”

“It would seem appropriate for me to spend it in the operating theater, aiding Jos and the others. That was, after all, my primary assignment.”

“Myself, I have another destination in mind. But even though we’ll be spending our last hours here in two separate locations, there is one thing that both places have in common,” Den said with a grin.

“Alcohol.” The droid paused. “Are you planning to tell anybody about your knowledge of the bota mutation?”

Den regarded I-Five. No doubt about it, he was as sharp as a lightsaber, this one. “Officially—no. And if I put fire gnats into any ears among the staff, that wouldn’t do much good, since they aren’t in a position to do anything about it except worry.”

“I sense an unspoken addendum.”

“Yeah, well, some of the card players and I have gotten friendly, and I’m thinking maybe I don’t want them to be caught from behind.”

“But if, as you say, they can’t affect the situation, why say anything?”

Den shrugged. “Wouldn’t you want to know?”

“Of course. The more data one has, the better equipped one is to function.”

“There you go.” Den started for the door. “I’m going to have a drink or six, then tell my friends the news. See you at the pad.”

35

Barriss tried her communicator again. Whatever conditions had blocked her attempts to establish a connection with the Jedi Temple had been constant for days, and she didn’t want to get her hopes up too high. She remembered something Jos had said one night while playing sabacc, quoting a homily he had gotten in a restaurant once: “Minimize expectations to avoid being disappointed.”

There’s a realistic philosophy, she thought.

Then, perhaps because she wasn’t expecting it, her comm went through. The holoproj flowered at one-sixth scale, and Barriss found herself looking at the image of Master Luminara Unduli. She felt a surge of joy at the sight.

“Master!”

“Who else? You did call me, didn’t you?”

Barriss grinned, anticipating the moment of sharing this great and terrible secret. Astonishing how mental and spiritual burdens could be made lighter by dividing them up, just as physical loads could be.

“Yes.” Abruptly, Barriss felt as if her mind was too full and jumbled to speak. She hesitated. She had to sort it out, had to make sure she was presenting it properly. This secret had the potential to affect the entire galaxy, after all…

Before she could speak, Luminara said, “Barriss, what is the situation there? Are you all right?”

“Oh, sorry. I’m just trying to figure out where to begin. There’s, uh, there’s a lot going on here.”

“Pick a starting point.” Was that the slightest hint of asperity in her Master’s voice, or merely a glitch in the transmission? The latter, she hoped. “You can go forward or back from there,” Master Unduli continued.

Barriss took a deep breath. “Very well. I’ve discovered something remarkable about the bota…”

Quickly she laid out her experiences, telling her Master the story, trying to keep it coherent. Trying also to convey, not just what had happened, but also how she had felt, the sense of total connection to the Force, the wonder of it all.

Master Unduli listened without interrupting. Now and then she