[Last Of The Jedi] - 05(18)

But Sano Sauro’s office was dark.

Keets used a nifty device Dex had loaned him. It fit into the palm of his hand, making it unnoticeable as he pressed it against the sensor panel. With a few beeps, the device broke the code, and the door slid open.

“Sure wish I had this when my landlord kept locking me out of my apartment,” Keets said as he slipped it into his pocket.

“Why did he do that?”

Keets stepped through the doorway. “Oh, a little thing called failure to pay rent. Landlords are touchy creatures.”

They slipped like shadows into Sauro’s inner office.

“He’s a tidy fellow,” Keets said, looking around. “I don’t trust anyone this neat.”

“I’m not interested in his character at the moment,” Curran said, crossing to the desk. “Just his files.”

Keets followed at a more leisurely pace, as he checked out Sauro’s spare collection of items, the curved horns the color of blood, rising from the edges of his desk. “Old habit, my friend. Investigative journalist. Sometimes I’d learn more from what was in someone’s office than what was in his files. Like this.” Keets paused before what looked like a sculpture, the only decorative object in the room. It was a metal object with a crack down the middle, suspended by a small repulsorlift motor in a clear transparisteel cube.

“What is it?” Curran asked as he searched for the dataport release button.

“A lightsaber hilt.” Keets circled it slowly. “He hates the Jedi. He keeps the symbol of their defeat in his office, right in front of his eyes, so he can see it every day.”

Curran found the release. A datascreen rose from the middle of the desk. He quickly ran through the files. “Coded.”

“Naturally. Allow me.” Keets slid into the chair and tapped at the keyboard. “I’m in.”

“That was fast.”

“It’s all in the wrist.” Keets expertly keyed in a phrase. “I’m going to search any files that were recently opened… . Whoa, what’s this?”

“What’s what?”

“A memo Sauro sent to Palpatine. Blah blah, your excellency, your Imperialness, the usual … but here. He promises results on Samaria. ‘Personally responsible for results,’ he says … blah, more drivel, and — wait. Here. He says, `and there will be news of a deep interest of yours that has long coincided with mine.’ What could that mean?”

“I don’t know,” Curran said. “But let’s concentrate on the True Justice.”

Keets returned to searching through files. “Here we go.” He converted a file to holographic mode and sent it into the air.

Together they leaned closer to scan it. It was a complete record of the True Justice, complete with schematics.

“We need a ship’s log for coordinates,” Curran said anxiously.

“Not a problem — we’ll find it,” Keets muttered. “Wait. Something’s wrong. I’ve tripped something.”

“What?”

“A security code. Here — see that shimmer on the indicator light? Some models of this dataport display that if it’s been booby-trapped. It’s supposed to be a silent alarm, but if you know where to look …” Keets glanced up at Curran. “We’ll get caught.”

“Yes.”

They exchanged a quick look that confirmed what they had both decided. This information was vital. If they were caught, so be it.

Keets continued to flip through the file, moving even more rapidly now. “Here it is.”

Curran moved to the door. “I hear them.”

“I’ll transmit the entire file to Solace.” Keets keyed in the coordinates. “First I have to copy it. If I send it from Sauro’s computer, they’ll be able to track her.”

“They’re close.”

“Almost done.”

Keets watched the streaming file. Every second counted.

“They’re in the outer office!”

Keets saw the blinking FILE COPIED.

The door slipped open and Senate security poured in, Imperial guards led by one short, burly human man.

“Well, hey there, Zackery. Long time, no —”

“Keets.” The man pointed a blaster. “Breaking into a Senator’s office again, are you?”

“Keeps them honest.” Behind his back, Keets’s fingers were working frantically, keying in Solace’s comlink access. He pressed the comlink and sent the file.

“I’m going to enjoy handing you over to the Empire.”

“Anything that makes you happy,” Keets said. He glanced at Curran, giving him a look that told him the transfer had been successful. It didn’t matter what happened to them now. They’d won this round.