The Cestus Deception (7 page)

Only two hours remained.

Nate and six of his brothers stood in a bricked, walled-off area outside the ribbed arch of the barracks, beneath Vandor-3’s densely starred night sky, performing a cohort ship-out ceremony. Whenever a trooper headed off on assignment, his cohort wished him not only good luck, but good-bye. In the context of a trooper’s life, this was more practicality than pessimism.

If he did return, congratulations on a job well done.

If he did not, well… what needed to be said had been said.

“It is the proudest duty of a trooper to serve and seek a good death,” said Glorii Profus, their Kaminoan mentor.

The graceful, silver-skinned Profus was a combination psychiatric and spiritual adviser. Although clones never yielded to their fear, it would be wrong to think that they never experienced it. Emotion was as valuable as blasters and bombs, death an inevitable part of war itself. No trooper could, through any amount of skill or strength, avoid that unpleasant reality. And always, on all planets and through all times, soldiers had asked the same question:
What if I die?
And for a trooper, the most comforting answer was:
You
will
die. But the GAR goes on forever.

The Kaminoan gracefully arched his long silver neck and raised his cup, brimming with Tallian wine, the finest in the quadrant. His voice was cultured and comforting. “From water you are born. In fire you die. Your bodies seed the stars,” he said, the ritual words that had comforted a million clones before they marched to their deaths, and might comfort a billion more.

They raised their cups as one. “We seed the stars!” they said, together.

And then they drank.

The Jedi Temple dominated Coruscant’s cityscape for kilometers around, its five towering spires piercing the clouds like a titan’s outstretched fingers. Within the countless hallways and corridors, the lecture halls and exercise yards, libraries and meditation chambers were all designed with an intrinsic grace and flow. Within them, even the least gifted were sensitized to contemplate that Force binding the universe into a single organism.

The Council itself met in chambers less prepossessing but no less dignified than those of the Chancellor. Its arched walls and hangings had been created by the galaxy’s finest craftspeople. Such richness would cost a fortune to reproduce, but most of the furnishings were gifts from rulers and merchants whose lives, wealth, and honor had been protected by Jedi skills over the millennia.

Obi-Wan had long since grown accustomed to the opulence, and gave it little notice as he stood at ease before the Council, awaiting their pronouncement.

Master Yoda’s wizened head tilted slightly sideways as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Kit Fisto consulted with them.

“These are confusing times,” Obi-Wan said. “In many ways, our former mandate has been suspended, and much of our authority curtailed.”

“Strife changes many things,” Yoda said. “Unpredictable these Clone Wars prove to be.”

“But now I am sent on a sensitive diplomatic mission, involving treaties on multiple levels—such complexity that we require a barrister just to sort them out.” Obi-Wan considered his next words carefully. “I have never refused a mission, but must tell you honestly that I feel ill prepared for this… this maze of commerce and politics.”

Master Yoda frowned. “Worry I do. No longer may Jedi look to the words and actions of Masters past for their guidance. Strange new times are these.” The other Jedi in the room nodded in agreement. This subject had been debated long and hard, but in the end, the Jedi were obliged to fulfill the Senate’s and the Chancellor’s wishes.

At the moment, Mace Windu’s face resembled a somber mask sculpted of onyx duracrete. Of all the Jedi, it was Master Windu who held status closest to that of Yoda. “I agree, but the Republic has never been tested so severely. If asked to accept new roles, we must respond. If we cannot protect the Republic, to whom should the responsibility fall?”

“It augurs well that Palpatine still seeks diplomatic solutions,” Kit said.

“Then why not send diplomats?” Obi-Wan asked, realizing as he did that he already knew the answer: diplomacy was only the first layer of the Chancellor’s response. Palpatine knew that a Jedi’s mere presence was a durasteel fist in a furred glove.

“The war goes well,” Master Windu said, “but we are forced into too many unfamiliar roles. If we are not careful, we may lose our clarity of purpose and intent. Too often, lightsabers are required where once words alone sufficed.”

Yoda nodded. “Once, Jedi had only to appear to quiet a crowd. Now common brawlers we become.”

“It is the matter of Antar Four, and even the Battle of Jabiim,” Windu said. Those grim memories triggered a murmur of regret.

“There have been more victories than failures,” Obi-Wan reminded them.

“I agree,” Master Windu said, “but the maintenance of social order requires both myth and reality.” Once upon a time it had been difficult for Obi-Wan to comprehend Windu’s meanings. The Master Jedi’s profound meditations lifted him to a realm few could dream of, let alone experience. But in more recent years Obi-Wan had begun not merely to appreciate these pronouncements but almost to anticipate them. “And the myth has been fractured: only the reality remains. This situation on Cestus is delicate, and involves these Force-sensitive droids. Ultimately, a swift and clear resolution would save many lives.” He leaned forward and fixed Obi-Wan with a gaze that might have cut diamonds. “Whatever misgivings you may have,” Master Windu said, “you are asked to accept this mission with your usual integrity and commitment. Master Kenobi, Master Fisto, for every conceivable reason, you must not fail.”

Kit Fisto bowed, and his sensory tendrils wavered eagerly, like sea fronds in an invisible current. “I gladly accept.”

“I also accept,” Obi Wan said, then added, “I will bring Ord Cestus back into the fold. We will end these Jedi Killers.”

Yoda’s eyes glowed warmly. “With the Force as our guide, into peace war may yet transform.”

For three hours Obi-Wan lay in his cubicle’s hard bed, slowing and synchronizing his body’s rhythms to maximize the restorative benefits. Where an ordinary mind and body wavered in and out of the mental and physical zones of recuperation, every minute spent in this extreme state was worth three minutes of ordinary slumber. He emerged rested and ready, packing his gear and rendezvousing with Kit for the flight to Cestus.

In the Temple’s communal dining hall, the two Jedi shared a meal of thrantcill pâté and hawk-bat eggs. While eating they spoke in quiet voices of trivial things, understanding that the days ahead would be intense. Memories of such quiet times were sustaining.

They took an air taxi out to Centralia Memorial Spaceport. The port was one of Coruscant’s oldest, some of its older pads actually preserved as monuments even as the rest of the spaceport expanded out into one of the galaxy’s most modern facilities. There awaited the Jedi a refurbished Republic cruiser, its scarlet skin panels open at the aft wing as technicians made last-minute adjustments to the fuel atomizer cone and radiation dampers.

They’d half finished supervising their ship’s loading when a military shuttle arrived, its triwing configuration folded for docking. Five troopers in gleaming white armor exited.

If Obi-Wan was entirely honest with himself, he had to admit that large groups of clone troopers made him slightly uncomfortable. Easy to understand and explain away. One factor was the fact that they were the absolute image of the notorious bounty hunter Jango Fett, who had come within a hair of killing him on three separate occasions. More disturbing still was the fact that, although genetically human, they had not led human lives: clone troopers were born and bred purely for war, without the nurturance of a mother’s embrace, or the safety of a father’s loving discipline.

They looked human… they laughed and ate and fought and died like men. But if not human, what exactly were they?

“General Kenobi.” The trooper saluted. “CT-Three-Six/ Seven-Three-Two reporting. May we take your gear, sir?” His bearing and attitude were clear and crisp, his eyes guileless. A memory floated to mind. Hadn’t CT-36/732 been the trooper who’d fought the JK? The young man seemed healthy. No slightest gesture betrayed physical or emotional pain of any kind. Remarkable.

“Yes, please stow it in our cabin.” With admirable ease the trooper slung his gear over his left shoulder, a nod his only response.

Obi-Wan was surprised by his slight aversion. It mirrored the prejudice he knew some others to feel, people who treated the troopers as if they were little more than droids. This was unworthy of him, of any Jedi. These terribly young men, no matter what their origin, were prepared to die in service to the Republic. What more could anyone ask? If their progenitor had been evil (and Obi-Wan was not entirely certain that that word fit the complex and mysterious Jango Fett), his clones had died already in their thousands. How many deaths would it take to wash away an assassin’s stain?

“Oh my, oh my,” a falsetto voice cried behind them. Obi-Wan turned, recognition filtering its way through his other thoughts. Approaching slowly was a creature with a great flat turquoise shell covering a wet, fleshy body. The creature crept along on a single many-toed foot. A yellowish mucus trail glistened on the ground behind him.

Obi-Wan smiled, all discomfiture vanishing. This one, he knew. “Barrister Snoil!” he said with genuine pleasure. Politicians Obi-Wan distrusted, and in most cases their minions were even worse. Regardless, Doolb Snoil was one of the three or four finest legal minds of his acquaintance, and had proven worthy of trust during sensitive negotiations on Rijel-12. Of Vippit extraction from the planet Nal Hutta, Snoil had attended one of Mrlsst’s renowned legal universities before beginning his initial apprenticeship in the Gevarno Cluster. A celebrated career and a reputation for exhaustive research and absolute reliability had led Snoil to his current berth. If anyone could make sense out of this Cestus mess, it would be Snoil.

“Master Kenobi!” he said, twin eyestalks wobbling in delight. “It’s been almost twelve years.”

Obi-Wan noted the new rings and deposits on the turquoise shell, clear evidence that Doolb had been able to afford regular treatments and shipments of his native viptiel plants, high in the nutrients his people used to prepare themselves for the rigors of householding. In another few years, he reckoned, Snoil would return home to mate. If Nal Hutta’s economics were anything like Kenobi remembered, Snoil would have his pick of the most desirable females. “I see by your shell that you have been prosperous.”

“One tries.” His eyestalks swiveled around. “And—Master Fisto! Oh, my goodness. I did not know that you were accompanying us.”

Kit clasped Snoil’s hand. “Good to have you along, Barrister. I know your home. Once upon a time I spent a week trench diving on Nal Hutta.”

“Goodness gracious! So dangerous! The fire-kraken—”

“Are no longer an issue.” Kit smiled broadly and continued up the ramp.

Snoil raised one of his stubby hands, then the other, and rubbed them together eagerly. “Fear not!” he cried in his tremulous falsetto. “When the right moment arrives, Barrister Snoil will not be found wanting.”

Snoil crawled the rest of the way up the landing ramp. The Vippit was followed by five troopers moving equipment and armament aboard. They acknowledged the two Jedi and continued their work.

A trooper displaying captain’s colors saluted sharply. “General Kenobi?”

“Yes?”

“Captain A-Nine-Eight at your service. My orders.” He handed Obi-Wan a thumbnail-sized data chip.

Obi-Wan inserted the chip into his datapad, and it swiftly generated a hologram. He studied the mission résumé and skill sets, and was satisfied. “Everything is in order,” he nodded. “This is my colleague, Master Kit Fisto.”

The trooper regarded Kit with an emotion Obi-Wan recognized instantly: respect. “General Fisto, an honor to serve with you.” Fascinating. To Obi-Wan, the trooper had merely been polite. His body language toward Kit suggested a greater level of esteem. Obi-Wan swiftly guessed why: the clone had seen vid of Kit’s droid encounter. If there was one thing a soldier respected, it was another fighter’s prowess.

“Captain,” Kit said. Obi-Wan said nothing, but he noted that, in some way that had escaped him, Kit and the clone trooper had made an emotional connection. This was a good thing. Kit was raring to go, always. Obi-Wan was cursed by a constant urge to understand the reason for his missions—Kit merely needed a target. He envied the Nautolan’s clarity.

The trooper turned to his four men. “Get the equipment aboard,” he said, and they hastened to obey.

Kit turned to Obi-Wan. “They are utterly obedient,” he noted, perhaps again anticipating Obi-Wan’s own thoughts.

“Because they have been trained to be,” he said. “Not out of any sense of independent judgment or choice.”

Kit looked at him curiously, his sensor tendrils twitching. Then he and the Nautolan entered the ship and prepared for their journey.

Within minutes all the gear was stowed, the checklists completed, the protocols passed. The ship hummed, and then hovered, then with an explosive acceleration broke free of Coruscant’s gravity and lanced up into the clouds.

Obi-Wan winced. His voyage from Forscan VI was gruelingly recent, but that was preferable to flying with a stranger at the controls. Better still was simply staying on the ground.

Obi-Wan found his way up to the nose of the ship and settled into an acceleration couch as the ship rose. The clouds gave way to clear blue. The blue itself faded and darkened as they entered the blackness of space.

Around the horizon’s graceful curve hovered twelve giant transport ships, shuttling clone troopers from Coruscant bunkers to Vandor-3, the second most populous planet in Coruscant’s system. He’d heard that Vandor-3’s ocean was a brutal clone-testing ground. Officials had spoken of it as if discussing profit-and-loss balance sheets. Obi-Wan found that obscene, but still, what was the alternative? What was right and wrong in their current situation? The Separatists could turn out endless automata on assembly lines. Should the Republic recruit or conscript comparable living armies? Jango Fett, the GAR’s original genetic model, had gladly placed himself in the most hazardous situations imaginable. A man of war if ever one had lived. Was it wrong to channel his “children” down the same path?

Kit had appeared behind him. “They do nothing but prepare for war,” he said, again mirroring Obi-Wan’s thoughts.

Obi-Wan smiled. That Jedi anticipation, manifesting in a different arena. He found himself relaxing, hoping now to be able to take advantage of Kit’s sensitivity in the trying days ahead. “What manner of life is this?”

“A soldier’s,” Kit replied, as if this was the only possible, or desirable, answer.

And perhaps it was.

Of course, he himself had left enough tissue about the galaxy for Kamino’s master cloners to have created quite a different army. And if they had, to what purpose might it have been put?

He laughed at that thought. And although the Nautolan arched an eyebrow in unasked query, Obi-Wan kept his darkly amused speculations to himself.