Star Wars_ The New Rebellion - Kristine Kathryn Rusch [10]
“Threepio,” Winter said, caution in her voice. She stepped beside him. “Forgive us, TeeDee-El-Three-Point-Five. Apparently one of us was exploring areas of the shopping net that he wasn’t supposed to.”
“All the more reason for proper supervision,” the nanny droid said. “Under my charge, children behave with the utmost decorum. An outdated protocol model like the one you have guarding the children obviously cannot control them. You need experience—”
“Yes, you do.” Winter crossed her arms over her chest. “Have you ever reared Force-sensitive children before?”
“Children are children,” the nanny droid said. “No matter what their special talents. In my experience, over-sensitivity can be related to a lack of discipline—”
“I thought you hadn’t,” Winter said. “Threepio has done well with the singular challenges these children have presented him. All in all, I believe a nanny droid would be a disaster, both for the children, and for the adults.”
“Are you dismissing me?” the nanny droid asked.
“You were ordered here by a child,” Winter said.
“That was someone else!” Anakin yelled from inside the room.
Jaina put her hands over her mouth. Jacen went back into the nursery. “Anakin, no sense lying about it. The code gave you away. And now we can’t use it anymore.”
“I should say not,” Threepio said. “Imagine children with access to the shopping nets. What will they think of next?”
“Something equally outrageous,” Winter said, her gaze still on the nanny droid. The droid hadn’t moved. “TeeDee-El-Three-Point-Five, you have no place here. I am dismissing you.”
“Forgive me, Mistress,” the nanny droid said. “I do believe you’re making a mistake.”
“How exceptionally rude,” Threepio said. “Mistress Winter has charge of these children—”
“I’ll handle it, Threepio.” Winter was smiling now. “I will make note of your complaint,” she said to the nanny droid. “It will go into the file.”
The nanny droid made a soft sound of disgust. Then her body swiveled, and she rolled out of the anteroom, the door sliding shut behind her.
“File?” Threepio asked. “I didn’t know you kept files.”
“I don’t,” Winter said.
“What were you thinking?” Jacen asked, his voice carrying through the open door.
“The holo was pretty,” Anakin said.
Winter smiled at Threepio, then started for the nursery to settle the building dispute. “Anakin’s life was once saved by a nanny droid, you know. He might have been simply wishing for the security of his babyhood.”
“I am not—” Anakin started and then stopped as if his voice caught in his throat. Threepio hurried into the nursery. Anakin’s face had gone white.
“What is it?” Winter asked.
Jacen and Jaina had frozen in place. Their eyes widened, and then, in unison, all three children began to scream.
Four
Kueller strode across the hangar, his boots clanging on the metal. Technicians prostrated themselves before him, their gloved hands extended on the webbing. He walked so close to the group on the left that the hem of his cape brushed their skulls. The death’s-head mask adhered to his skin, giving him comfort, giving him power.
“I need a ship,” he said, his Force-strengthened voice echoing in the large room. It was empty except for three TIE fighters in various states of repair.
“Prepared, milord.” His faithful assistant, Femon, rose to her feet. Her long black hair hid her unnaturally pale face. With a flick of her head, she flipped the hair aside, revealing kohl-blackened eyes and blood-red lips. She had made her own face into a death mask that looked less realistic than his.
Kueller nodded. No one else moved. “Brakiss?”
“Gone, milord.”
“He wasted no time.”
“He said he had your permission.”
“You didn’t check?”
Femon smiled. “I always check.”
“Good.” Kueller caressed the word. Femon straightened beneath his praise, as she always did. If she weren’t so capable, he would …
He let the thought fade. No distractions, not even of the pleasant