“Yes,” Palpatine admitted. “He is exactly what we need.”
Ferus milled among the crowd, trying to pick up what the mood was. It was apparent that the ministers had been swept along in the tide of Bog’s self-regard. Bog’s speech had moved through the city like wildfire, and the HoloNet on the planet was rebroadcasting it to cheers at every gathering place in Sath.
He noted how the ministers flocked around Bog but left the prime minister of Samaria by himself. Ferus moved toward him. He had been waiting for days to get Larker alone.
“Do you hear them?” Larker said to him. “They are transferring their loyalty to an Imperial advisor. Which I suppose makes you happy.”
“Not particularly.”
“You’re one of them.”
“No. I did a job for them. There’s a difference.”
Larker gave him a long look. “Keep telling yourself that,” he said softly.
“I know that you hired Astri Oddo to sabotage the computers,” Ferus said quietly. “I arranged for her escape. She must have contacted you.”
“She did.”
“Then you know you can trust me.”
Larker’s gaze roamed the crowd. “I can’t trust anyone.”
“If Bog continues to whip the city into a frenzy about the Roshan threat, you can step forward and admit it was you who gave the order to sabotage the computers, not the Roshans.”
“And if I do that, I’ll be arrested, and Bog will become governor,” Larker said.
“You might not have a choice,” Ferus said. “Bog is lining up support among the ministers to oust you.”
“They won’t betray me, in the end,” Larker said. “I’ve been working on establishing this agreement with the Roshans for years. The ministers all support it. The time to keep industrial secrets is over. We are each technological innovators, but if we work together we can make even bigger strides. We are experts in macrotechnology we can run cities, planets with our systems. They have made enormous strides in microtechnology. Their droids are among the smallest in the galaxy, with the most sophisticated systems. We had a setback when Rosha sided with the Separatists during the Clone Wars. They were deeply involved with the Trade Federation. But they’ve come to regret it. Now we can achieve a real trade agreement. We can share our technology.”
“Not if the Empire has anything to say about it.”
“They don’t. They don’t interfere in systemwide trade agreements. They don’t want the galactic economy to crash.”
“No, they just want to control it. Why do you think Bog is so against the trade agreement?”
Larker shrugged. “Because I support it. That’s reason enough. He knows that the average Samarian fears the Roshans, so he’ll use it as a wedge to gain support.” He gave Ferus a searching look. “You say you’re just a contract worker, working for credits. You know something about me that could bring me down, yet you don’t use it. Why?”
“Because I’m on your side. And I could use your help. The Emperor has asked me to find the resistance and offer them amnesty if they disband.”
Larker looked at him sharply. “And you expect them to do this?”
“No. But I was hired to deliver the message personally. If I can find them and talk to them, I might be able to help them. I was one of the founding members of the resistance on Bellassa. We struck many blows against the Empire after it took over the government. The city rose against them.”
“But the Empire is still in control.”
“You can’t kick the Empire off your planet. You can only make it hard for them to control you. And you wait for better opportunities.”
“So,” Larker said, “you were one of the founders of the Eleven, and yet here you are. Were you offered amnesty by the Emperor, too?”
“Yes.”
Larker looked at him with contempt. “So you took it and abandoned your cause.”
“Not exactly,” Ferus said. He couldn’t explain fully. It would compromise his mission. “I am still working for the cause, but … in a different way.”
But it was too late. He’d lost Larker.
“I can’t help you,” Larker said. “I don’t know anything about the resistance, anyway.”
Just then the assistant who’d been lurking nearby approached. Larker seized on the interruption. “Yes, Dahl?”
“The Roshan delegation would like to speak with you. Robbyn Sark especially is anxious to go over some details of the agreement.”
“Of course.” Larker nodded at Ferus and started across the crowded floor. Ferus watched as he said a few words into the aide’s ear. Dahl nodded.