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His response was a shrug that sent repulsive ripples through his lumbering body all the way down to his lump terminus of a posterior. “I bear you no ill will, little Padawan. Business is only business.” But his tone, she noted, belied his words. In reality, he was furious and upset.

“Who hired you to try to stop us?” she couldn’t keep from blurting. “I know who you paid, but who’s paying you?”

He laughed, a deep and thoroughly unpleasant ho-ho-ho. “Ah, little one, you may know much of Jedi secrets, but nothing of business or politics. Paying me for what? I do whatever I do because it is good for my trade. Always the Jedi seek wheels within wheels, complications in matters simple.”

“There’s nothing simple about an entire world voting to join a movement that would see it seceding from the Republic.”

“Secession? Why, that is a dead issue. Was it not just voted down, in your very presence?” he boomed softly.

“Then you’ll abide by the new treaty between the city folk of the Unity and the people of the plains? You won’t try to subvert it?” She glanced suggestively back in the direction of the entrance, toward the spot where the frantic, shouting intruder had been cut down by the very being she was talking to. “I don’t suppose the individual you shot could have been carrying any incriminating evidence with him, could he?”

Soergg looked away, an action that was suggestive in itself. “An insidious notion, little Padawan. One unworthy of one as attractive as yourself.” Emerging from between rubbery lips a fat, mollusklike tongue thrust briefly in her direction.

While the Hutt’s tortuous reasoning was not sufficient to cause her to break off the confrontation, the repulsive gesture and attendant compliment were more than enough to drive her away. She rejoined her colleagues.

“It’s time we were all of us on our way,” Luminara observed. Turning, she waited while Obi-Wan thanked the representatives for their consideration, and commended them on their wise decision to remain within the Republic.

Once outside, Barriss tried to put aside her anger as she sidled up next to her fellow Padawan. “How are you feeling, Anakin?”

He was studying the sky, clearly anxious to leave. “Much better, now that our work here is done.” Seeing that she was still staring at him, he added, “Is something the matter?”

“No. It’s just that I think I may have misjudged you. I’ve come to know, and to understand, you a little better in the time we’ve been thrown together, Anakin. I realize now that you’re searching for something. Searching harder than most of us, I think.” Reaching out, she put a hand on his arm. “I just want to say that I hope you find whatever it is you’re looking for.”

He glanced over at her in surprise. “I’m looking to become a Jedi, Barriss. That’s all.”

“Is it?” she challenged him. When he chose not to respond, she added, “Well, if you ever feel the need to talk to someone besides Obi-Wan about it, you’re welcome to confide in me. If nothing else, maybe I can provide a different perspective on certain things.”

He hesitated, then replied gratefully, “I appreciate that, Barriss. I really do. I know it would be easier to talk to you about—certain things—than to Master Obi-Wan.” He nodded in the direction of the two conversing Jedi.

She laughed softly. “Anyone is easier to talk to than a Jedi Master.”

In agreement on that much, they began chatting in earnest, conversing for the first time with the straightforwardness and ease of old friends.

Luminara eyed them approvingly. It was important for Padawans to get along, because one day they would have to get along as Jedi, sometimes under the most difficult circumstances. Like Anakin, she too took a moment to glance skyward. Beyond the pure blue sky of Ansion, the Republic was in ferment. To the ordinary citizen all would appear normal, but those who were privy to the larger picture knew that vast forces were stirring—and not all of them benign. There was evil afoot. It was the task of the Jedi to root it out and render it