Ferus stopped short as Trever’s words hit him in the face. He stood still for a moment as the meaning sank in.
As much as he wanted to control this, he couldn’t. He had to stop underestimating Trever. He was treating him like a child, and he wasn’t. Siri would have known that. Obi-Wan would have known that. Trever had been through so much. He’d done so much. He was capable of so much more.
“Yes,” Ferus admitted. “You’re right. That’s what I was like.” Then he sighed. “Okay, I’ll contact the resistance. I’ll tell them about you. This is a meeting place, right here. They’ll find you. You’ll be able to tell Flame’s story your own way, and they can make the decision whether to meet with her. Fair enough?”
“Fair enough,” Trever said, but his jaw was still set.
Ferus’s comlink signaled. He looked at it. He was wanted back at Imperial headquarters. He hated to leave things like this with Trever.
“I have to go,” he said.
“Oh, is the Emperor calling you?” Trever asked in a stinging tone. “Ready to do his bidding?”
“You know why I’m doing this,” Ferus said.
Trever looked at him, his expression clouded with his disappointment. “Not really. I know this, though: If you get that close to evil, it can rub off on you.”
Ferus walked away, toward the speeder. He had no answer to give Trever.
Because deep in his heart, he suspected that Trever was right.
Chapter Fifteen
Darth Vader wanted to avoid this particular discussion with his Master, but he could not. Palpatine appeared in hologram form, his hands tucked into the pockets of his robe.
“I received a report that there was an assassination attempt on Divinian’s life,” the Emperor began.
“Doubtful,” Vader replied. “I have received contradictory reports. Divinian wants to be a hero and is blaming the Roshans.”
“I am starting to be impressed by our Bog.”
Vader’s voice remained cold. “He wants to rule Samaria. He wants real power.”
“His personal droid was retrieved by Ferus Olin.”
“I have requested a full report from him,” Vader said.
“Your stormtroopers went after the thief, but it was Ferus Olin who was successful.”
This was exactly why he didn’t want to have this talk.
Vader decided to change the subject. “Roshan droids were spotted as well. I think they were set off by Divinian.”
“Interesting.” The Emperor laughed softly to himself.
“With the assassination attempt, his support is greater than ever. Sathans will think Larker is a fool for trusting the Roshans.”
“A good sign.”
“My presence here is no longer required, then?”
“Wait and make sure Divinian is elected. I want an Imperial governor in every capital city.”
“Divinian will be elected, just as you planned, my Master.”
Palpatine continued, “In the meantime … Ferus Olin’s power is growing. I sense great … uncertainty in him.”
“Will he join us?”
Palpatine smiled. “He will become one of us.”
The hologram of his Master faded. Darth Vader didn’t move.
No. Not Ferns Olin.
It was time to get rid of him.
Olin was a reminder of his past. His past was dead. Olin must follow.
Chapter Sixteen
Ferus appeared in Darth Vader’s office. “At your service.”
“I have a job for you,” Vader said.
“I take orders from the Emperor.”
“The Emperor has commanded me. You can check with him if you like.” Vader assumed that Ferus would decide not to. And even if he did, his Master had told him to help Bog Divinian before the vote. He could always claim that this was his intent.
“What’s the job?”
“Find the thief who stole Bog Divinian’s personal droid.” Vader enjoyed the look of surprise on Ferus Olin’s face.
“But the droid has been returned ”
“The thief was involved in the assassination attempt.”
“There was no assassination attempt,” Ferus said impatiently. “Bog made it up to make himself look like a hero.”
“All the more reason to find the thief. If someone appears who can denounce Divinian, it could influence the vote.”
“I can’t find him again I didn’t see much.”
“I’m sure you will be able to. If you fail, I will institute mass arrests. A battalion orbiting Lemurtoo is awaiting my order to invade.”
There. At last. Ferus Olin looked uneasy.
“I think this is a bad idea ”
“I am not interested in your opinion, Ferus Olin,” Vader said.