“But why would she care about a regulation on Mindemir?” Obi-Wan asked.
“I’m sure she does not care for herself. She was paid to do this,” Qui-Gon said. “Paid in credits or influence. The question is, who paid her? “
“Jenna Zan Arbor?” Siri guessed.
“That is what we need to know.” Qui-Gon was already reaching for his comlink. “This is a job for Tahl.” He walked away a few paces to speak quietly.
“Why would she keep the real transcript?” Siri asked. “It could incriminate her.”
“For blackmail,” Adi said. “She could always threaten to expose the person who engineered this. She could send it anonymously to the Senate. Perhaps she’s covered her tracks so well that they could not tie the deception to her.”
Qui-Gon returned with the news that Tahl would get back to them as quickly as possible. They reviewed the other transcripts. It was easier now that they knew what they were looking for. In each case, the votes had been altered.
By the time they finished, Tahl had signaled Qui-Gon.
“You are right,” she said. “Jenna Zan Arbor conducted a series of experiments on the water supply of Mindemir. She needed a large planetary system to prove her theory, apparently. Endangering a whole system was of course against Senate regulations. But Senator S’orn introduced legislation that would allow this, if the planet’s legislative body agreed to the experiment. The measure passed in the Galactic Senate and a few weeks later the government of Mindemir voted to allow the experiment.”
“Easier to bribe a politician on a small planet to push through legislation,” Adi said shrewdly. “But she needed someone powerful in the Galactic Senate.”
“So we’ve linked Jenna Zan Arbor and Uta S’orn at last,” Qui-Gon said quietly. “Zan Arbor said S’orn had been helpful to her. I did not think she meant S’orn had acted illegally.”
“It is hard to believe,” Adi said. “She has a reputation for great integrity.”
“Eight months ago, Ren S’orn was still alive,” Obi-Wan said. “Jenna Zan Arbor was conducting her experiments on the Force as well. What if Senator S’orn knew this? What if Jenna Zan Arbor was blackmailing her?”
“So S’orn knew that Zan Arbor was holding her son, and she did what Zan Arbor asked?” Qui-Gon frowned thoughtfully. “It’s possible.”
“All the more reason to help Uta S’orn now,” Adi said. “Whether she wants us to or not.”
CHAPTER 16
Faced with the evidence, Uta S’orn crumbled.
“Yes,” she said. “I altered the record.”
She sat on a bench, her hands dangling between her knees. The grounds were quiet now, with most of the patients back in the Ward Domes.
“I had to,” Uta S’orn said. “She had my son.” “So you altered the Senate record in order to save him,” Adi prodded gently.
S’orn nodded. “And then she released him. But something went wrong. He was found dead. She told me that he had tried to break back into the lab, and Ona Nobis had killed him. I don’t know whether to believe her, but what can I do? I broke Senate laws. My son is dead. The only thing left for me is to devote myself to the people of Belasco, the only way I can. I cannot imagine why Jenna would contact me again. She must be here for another purpose. Surely she will leave me alone now, after all she’s done.”
Usually, Uta S’orn’s manner was brusque and impatient. Now Obi-Wan saw how deeply her grief ran. Her voice trembled, and her eyes were full of tears.
A tall man dressed in rich robes approached, followed by royal droid guards. Although his hair was silver, his face was youthful.
“Uta, are you all right? Do I need to eject these people?”
She hurriedly wiped her eyes. “No. This is our Leader, Min K’atel,” she said to the others.
Qui-Gon and Adi bowed. “We are Jedi Knights Qui-Gon Jinn and Adi Gallia, and these are our Padawans, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Siri.”
The Leader gave a short nod. “I don’t care if you are Jedi, you are not to disturb Uta S’orn.”
“They speak of things I’d rather forget,” Uta S’orn said. “I don’t mean to blame them, but - “
“Your distress is enough,” Min K’atel said. He turned to the Jedi. “I must request that you leave the royal grounds. You have upset Belasco’s greatest Senator.”
“We are just leaving,” Qui-Gon said politely. The Jedi bowed and made their way out of the glade. As they struck out across the lawn,
Obi-Wan said, “I have never seen Uta S’orn so affected before.”