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[Last Of The Jedi] - 06(3)



“Or perhaps it’s a necessary component of strength.”

“Very true. Now,” the Emperor said, turning to walk toward the turbolift, “come and walk with me. I have something to discuss with you. I’m glad you remained on the planet. It shows respect.”

“Or a lack of transport,” Ferus observed.

The Emperor ignored this. He wasn’t one for jokes. But that didn’t mean Ferus didn’t derive some pleasure out of launching a few his way. One thing about the Imperials, they were a humorless bunch. “I would like your assessment of the current situation here,” Palpatine said.

Ferus clicked into a businesslike mode. “The infrastructure has been restored up to ninety-eight percent and by the end of today will be fully operational —”

“I am not talking about the infrastructure. I am not a bureaucrat. I am interested in your impressions of the situation.”

Ferus thought a moment. He knew what the Emperor was asking. “The population was unnerved by the infrastructure crash,” Ferus confided. “It left the city feeling vulnerable. Bog Divinian is exploiting the vulnerability. He’s hinting that the delegation from Rosha is behind it.”

“They are here to negotiate a trade agreement.”

“The first ever. The two planets have been technological rivals for decades. Exploiting the Samarian distrust of the Roshans isn’t a bad strategy to gain power, but it could backfire. Most Samarians now support trade with Rosha. If they discover that Divinian is manufacturing the charges against the Roshans, the whole thing could blow up in your face. You’d have unrest here, and distrust of the Empire will grow. That would feed the resistance.”

“I could simply blame Divinian, and then remove him from office.”

“Well, that’s a strategy. But the Samarians wouldn’t believe you. You’d have to use force to crush the planet.” Which you don’t mind doing.

“What about this resistance?” the Emperor asked. “They have struck a few Imperial targets and have been successful.”

“Their numbers are small,” Ferus said. He was treading on dangerous ground here. He had remained on the planet to help the resistance. He didn’t want to give the Emperor a reason to crack down, but if he minimized their strength too much, the Emperor would become suspicious.

“They seem well organized.”

“Yes,” Ferus agreed. He had to. Both of the operations to knock out Imperial transports had been executed flawlessly. If he didn’t admit that, Palpatine would suspect his involvement.

“You know more about resistance groups than Lord Vader. He wouldn’t admit that, but it’s true,” the Emperor said. By his tone one could almost think he was musing aloud, but Ferus didn’t buy it for a minute. This whole conversation had been calculated, and Ferus had the feeling the outcome was inevitable. He began to feel nervous. Very nervous.

“Only Sath matters on Samaria,” Palpatine continued. “If resistance is crushed here, it will be eliminated planetwide. And here is where the computer system crashed. Lord Vader tells me you have not been able to restore the records of any subversives on the planet.”

“That was the saboteur’s first target, it turns out,” Ferus said. “Those records are gone forever.”

“What the galaxy doesn’t understand,” Palpatine continued, “is that resistance results in problems for a society as a whole — there is property damage, restricted movement for all, an atmosphere of fear and distrust. The best outcome for this planet is that it continues to be a prosperous, well-run society.”

“Of course.” There really were times when Ferus felt he was in the middle of a dream. This couldn’t be real. He couldn’t be walking alongside Emperor Palpatine and agreeing with him.

He knew he was being manipulated. He was here to play out the game. He had to seem reluctant, but he also had to seem corruptible. But it had to be a challenge, or Palpatine would suspect him.

“I want you to find the leaders of the resistance cell in Sath and bring them a message,” Palpatine went on. “I offer them amnesty, if they disband. We must maintain the peace.”

Amazing. Ferus wanted to shake his head at the sheer audacity of it. This figure of evil and destruction claimed to be carrying a message of peace.

“You forget I don’t know who the resistance is,” Ferus said.

“I forget nothing,” Palpatine said, a hint of sharpness in his tone. “That is a minor detail. And who better to bring them the message than one who has been granted amnesty himself?”

There it was. The inevitable trap. Ferus marveled at its cleverness, even as he winced as it bit into him. He had been given amnesty, so they’d trust him. He could reassure them of the Emperor’s trustworthiness without saying a word. And then Palpatine would crush them. It might not be now, it might not even be soon, but it would be.