Star Wars_ The Dark Lord Trilogy - James Luceno [357]
When Breha had comlinked him unexpectedly, Bail had come close to telling her to flee, fully prepared to suffer whatever consequences would descend on him. To ensure Leia’s safety, he had even been ready to sacrifice Fang Zar.
Would Vader recognize Leia through the Force as his child? What would happen if he did? Would he compel Bail to reveal where Obi-Wan was; where Luke was?
No, Bail would die first.
“What’s taking Senator Zar so long?” Vader asked.
Bail had his mouth open to reply that the palace’s guest wing was some distance away when Sheltray Retrac entered the reception room, her expression alone making it clear that something was wrong. Approaching Bail, she leaned low to say in a quiet voice, “Fang Zar is not in the residence. We don’t know where he is.”
Before Bail could reply Vader swung to the two of them.
“Was Zar alerted of my coming?”
Bail came to his feet quickly. “No one was apprised beforehand of the reason for your visit.”
Vader glanced at Commander Appo. “Find him, Commander, and bring him to me.”
The words had scarcely left the black grille that concealed Vader’s mouth than security alarms began to sound throughout the palace. Captain Antilles immediately moved into the transmission field of the reception room’s holoprojector, where a half-life-size image of a security officer was already resolving.
“Sir, three unidentified beings have gained access to the palace. Their motive is unknown, but they are armed and were last seen in the residential wing, in the company of two droids.”
Two droids! Bail thought, rushing across the room in an effort to beat Vader to the holoprojector.
“Do we have images of the intruders?” Retrac asked before Bail could silence her.
Bail’s heart skipped a beat. If it was C-3PO and R2-D2—
“Only of the intruders,” the security officer said.
“Show them,” Antilles ordered.
The security cam image showed three males, one human and two humanoids, dashing down one of the corridors.
“Freeze the image!” Vader said from alongside the holoprojector. “Close in on the human.”
Bail was as confused as everyone else. Did Vader know the intruders? Were they agitators dispatched by Coruscant to work the protestors into a frenzy?
“Jedi,” Vader said, mostly to himself.
Bail wasn’t sure he had heard Vader correctly.
“Jedi? That can’t be possible—”
Vader whirled on him. “They’ve come for Fang Zar.” He stared at Bail from inside the mask. “Zar is attempting to return to Sern Prime. Apparently he hoped to keep from implicating you in his flight.”
The reception room fell silent, but only for a moment. From the holoprojector appeared an image of Breha, holding a distraught Leia in her arms.
“Bail, I won’t be joining you, after all,” she said, loud enough to be heard over the infant’s crying. “We had a disturbing encounter with three trespassers and a couple of droids, who nearly frightened the baby to death. She’s in no condition to be introduced to company. I’m trying to calm her—”
“That’s probably best,” Bail said in a rush. “I’ll check back with you in a moment.” Deactivating the holoprojector, he turned slowly to Vader, arranging his features to suggest a mix of mild disappointment at his wife’s message, and deep concern for just about everything else that had occurred.
“I’m certain there’ll be another time, Lord Vader.”
“I look forward to it,” Vader said.
With that, he turned and marched away.
Bail nearly collapsed. Exhaling in guarded relief, he dropped back into his chair.
“Jedi?” Antilles said, in obvious bewilderment.
Bail shook his head from side to side. “I don’t understand, either. But that is Skywalker.” Abruptly, he stood up. “We have to find Zar before he does.”
If I ever run into that astromech again …,” Skeck said as he, Archyr, and Shryne were racing for the palace’s east entrance.
Archyr nodded in agreement. “Never a good feeling when you’re tricked