Star Wars_ The Approaching Storm - Alan Dean Foster [35]
Behind him, the gerils reflexively sealed their nostrils as their misshapen employer voided his disgust in an exceptionally ghastly and malodorous manner.
What Ogomoor did not know was that his intimidating employer now had to report the failure to one far more important than his Huttish self. Soergg did not fear that individual—but he respected him. Almost as much as he respected the credits being paid into his own local account in the service of furthering the cause of Ansionian secession.
Who was behind the one making the payments? he often wondered. Not that it really mattered. It was the money, the credits, that were important. The Hutts had little interest in politics except insofar as these served their immediate interests. It mattered not at all to Soergg whether Ansion and the worlds to which it was tied via treaties and pacts remained within the Republic or pulled out.
Or even if something else, as yet unseen and unvoiced, arose to take its place.
No one was surprised when Luminara was the first of the anxious searchers to find Barriss and her new allies. They met in the middle of a secondary marketplace. The two Alwari looked on with interest as Master and Padawan embraced unashamedly. Intent on the day-today grind of business, everyone else, shoppers and merchants alike, ignored them.
“And who might these two stalwart-looking locals be?” Luminara eyed the Alwari with interest. Kyakhta felt Jedi eyes burning into his own. For no reason at all, he began to shuffle his feet.
“My kidnappers, Master.” At the look on Luminara’s face, Barriss had to laugh. “Don’t gauge them too harshly. Both suffered from cerebral infirmities. In return for my curing them, they helped me escape.”
“A temporary escape, I’m obliged to remind you, Barriss,” Bulgan said. Straining to see over the heads of vendors and customers alike, he was scanning the multitude for signs of imminent assault. “Even as you enjoy this happy moment, I’d wager my last good credit that Bossban Soergg is sending a host of cutthroats in pursuit of us all.”
“Then we must hasten to leave.” Pulling a comlink from her belt, Luminara addressed it briefly, listened to a reply, spoke again, and replaced it. “Obi-Wan and Anakin are hurrying to join us.” She pointed. “We’ll gather by the fountain on the far side of this square.” Putting an arm around her Padawan’s shoulders, she guided Barriss in that direction.
“I’m glad you’ve had a chance in the field to use your skill in the healing arts. In the future, I wish you would try to find practice subjects other than kidnappers. I should be upset with you for letting your guard down so badly, but I’m too happy to see you safe and returned to us to be angry.”
They had to wait only a short while on the steps of the lorqual fountain before a swirl of robes in the crowd marked Obi-Wan’s arrival. Anakin was not far behind him. Both greeted Barriss in the traditional Jedi fashion: ceremonial, yet affectionate.
Bulgan observed the proceedings in silence. Only when the formalities had been concluded did he venture to inquire, while swatting away a hovering green-winged pekz, “What are you going to do now?”
Luminara turned to him. “We have secured an agreement with the Unity of Community to make peace with the nomads, if the Alwari will consent to share a percentage of their traditional lands with the city folk. In return, the city folk will agree to provide the Alwari with all manner of advanced goods and services, and will not try to intrude on or otherwise alter the time-honored Alwari way of life. Each will respect the other and the Senate will stay, insofar as it is possible for bureaucrats to do so, out of Ansionian affairs. In return, Ansion will remain within the Republic, which will ensure its economic and political independence from the Commerce Guild. Among others.” Her tone darkened. “Ansion will not become another Naboo.”
Kyakhta scratched at the bare skin of his neck, careful not to irritate the explosive still buried there. “Sounds complicated to me.”
“So it is,” Obi-Wan admitted.