Clone Wars Gambit: Siege Read Online Free PDF Page A

Neimoidian scientist set his teeth on edge and his skin to crawling. All Neimoidians did, of course, but Durd was the worst. More repellent even than Gunray, and that was quite a feat. At their last meeting, some three days ago, Durd had sworn to him on bended knees that the bioweapon was nearly ready. One last small irregularity to be ironed out. “
A week, a week at most, my lord Count, and I promise you will have it. One week.
” He’d sensed no deception in Durd’s desperate promise. Could he have been mistaken? Could he have been
deceived?
    The thought sent a shiver through him. His Master wanted that weapon completed. Further delay would displease him. And no man in his right mind displeased the Sith Lord Darth Sidious.
    Durd, if you have lied to me I shall with my own hands peel you in thin strips and force you to feast on your own slimy hide
.
    So he bent his thoughts toward Lanteeb, toward Lok Durd and the Corellian scientist, Dr. Fhernan, the Neimoidian’s unwilling accomplice. Pushed hard through the roiling Force so he might discover the truth.
    And there—there—
yes
—lay the source of his unease. Lanteeb and Lok Durd. The fear was faint but unmistakable. A different note, a different
taste
, than the ambient fear of the nothing little planet’s irrelevant populace.
    Something is wrong
.
    Lok Durd’s bioweapon was the lynchpin in an important tactical dance. If the Neimoidian had somehow bungled his crucial task…
    In addition to
Vanquisher
’s standard comm equipment, he of course had his own private holo unit for discreet conversations. Tight with ruthlessly restrained anger, Dooku fetched the unit out of hiding, placed it on his stateroom’s table, and commed the Neimoidian.
    Durd took too long to answer.
    “
My lord Count!
” the scum cried, at last. “
An honor. Such an honor. How can I be of service today?
”
    The Neimoidian wasn’t easy to read. Not only because of the vast distance separating them, or because reading anyone via hologram was a distinct challenge in itself, but because his duplicitous species as a whole was a slippery challenge—even for a Sith.
    “What progress have you made with the Project, General? By my reckoning you should be four days closer to success. Are you?”
    Durd’s nictitating membranes flicked across his ugly eyes. “
Closer, my lord Count? Yes, we are certainly closer. Yes, indeed, my lord. Success is within our grasp.
”
    Dooku smiled, being sure to display all his teeth. “And how many fingers would you say you have laid firmly upon it, General?”
    “
Fingers, my lord Count? I’m not sure I—that’s to say—human idioms, my lord, not always easy to—
”
    “General Durd!” He let the dark side flare around him. “I give you fair warning—I am not to be trifled with. You are being handsomely paid for the privilege of serving the Separatist Alliance. And even though you have failed us once we have forgiven you. Are you under the impression that a second failure will meet with an equivalent leniency? For if you are…” He shook his head. “Alas. You labor under a serious misapprehension. Do you understand me, General? Or do my idioms continue to confuse?”
    “
No, my lord Count,
” said the Neimoidian faintly. “
I understand perfectly.
”
    “Excellent. Then I can expect to hear from you no later than four days hence, with good news about the completion of your Project?”
    “
Yes, my lord Count,
” said Durd. He was close to choking. “
Four days, my lord. I will comm you in four days.
”
    A distinct stench of fear bubbled through the dark side. Dooku smoothed his beard, eyes narrowed. “What aren’t you telling me, Durd?
The truth
. Or I swear you will feel
my
fingers closing hard upon the back of your neck.”
    The Neimoidian wrung his plump, clammy hands. “
It’s—it’s nothing, my lord Count. I swear. The woman was being troublesome. The scientist. Doctor Fhernan. I had to punish her. Not so that she cannot work,