Star Wars_ The New Rebellion - Kristine Kathryn Rusch [137]
“Except you, milord.”
Kueller smiled. The smile was deadly. “It would do you well to remember that, Yanne.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Four guards, Yanne. At all times.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll get on it right away, sir.” With a quick bow, he scrambled out the door.
Kueller turned back to the screen. The Thernbee’s jaws were still closed. Kueller sat down to wait until Skywalker appeared again.
It had taken Cole a few moments to convince Artoo to wait. The little droid was adamant about leaving Coruscant immediately. Threepio wasn’t pleased with Artoo’s plan. Artoo wanted to take the stock light freighter.
The problem was that Cole wasn’t authorized to use it. Nor did he feel he could leave Coruscant without permission.
He promised Artoo that he would get permission and aid. The two droids had had trouble seeing Mon Mothma. Cole might not be able to get her to see them, but he knew where to start.
He used the service computer in the stock light freighter repair room to contact General Antilles. He’d gone through six different systems before he got a response.
“I’m sorry, Fardreamer,” the slightly mechanized voice came back. “General Antilles is not receiving communications at this time.”
Cole had never heard of such a thing. “He told me to contact him with anything urgent. This is urgent. This is beyond urgent. Please, let him know—”
“I can’t, Fardreamer. Urgent or not, he’s only collecting messages.” The voice was rather curt. With only the barest consideration, it signed off.
“Oh, dear, oh, dear, oh, dear,” See-Threepio said.
Artoo squealed and rocked, his wheels clanging on the floor.
“Artoo says we haven’t much time.”
“I’m doing what I can, Artoo,” Cole said. “You don’t want to get out there, only to have Space-Traffic Control stop us for stealing the ship.”
“He has a point, Artoo,” Threepio said.
Cole ignored them. He sent a message to President Leia. The instant response came within the system that President Leia Organa Solo had resigned and all of her messages were being forwarded to Mon Mothma. When Cole tried to contact Mon Mothma, he met with the same wall that See-Threepio and Artoo had. She was already overbooked.
“You didn’t tell me that President Leia had resigned,” Cole said.
“We didn’t know ourselves until we tried to find her. Everything changed after those detonators.” See-Threepio shook his head. “Sometimes I wish I had never gone with Artoo.”
“To find the detonators?”
“No,” See-Threepio muttered. “Into that escape pod.”
Cole didn’t know what Threepio was referring to, and decided not to ask. Contacting Mon Mothma wouldn’t work either. He finally tried Admiral Ackbar. The response there was equally strange. Admiral Ackbar, his adjunct told Cole, was in a meeting, and his adjunct had no idea when, if ever, he would answer requests.
Cole kept his head bowed for a moment, hoping See-Threepio would think he was still studying the communications array. He needed to concentrate.
President Leia resigned.
Admiral Ackbar unreachable.
General Antilles unreachable.
Mon Mothma unreachable.
Something serious was happening.
The last time he had ignored Artoo, he had nearly gotten them all killed. Not to mention all the good people still out in unrepaired X-wings that might explode on them at any moment.
Artoo wailed.
“He says that we can’t wait any longer,” Threepio said. “He reminds you that you promised to help. Personally, Master Fardreamer, I wouldn’t hold you to that promise. After all, you’ve done what you can. Artoo is a bit eccentric—”
“And he’s been right each time he’s pointed something out,” Cole said. He put a hand on Artoo’s cylindrical head. “I’ve tried to be official. I guess it’s time to be unofficial.”
Artoo squealed with joy. He hurried toward the stock light freighter.
“Threepio,” Cole said, “do you know the President’s codes?”
“Sir, those are private and subject to change every day. Why—”
“Do you know the President’s codes?”
“Of course,” See-Threepio said. “And the codes for her husband and children.”
“I just need hers. Without them, we won’t be