Clone Wars Gambit: Siege Read Online Free PDF

of course not, but severely enough so she mended her ways.
”
    Without the scientist his plan was ruined. If Durd had misjudged the situation… “Punish her how, General?”
    “
I took action against a hostage, my lord. She understands now, and is perfectly obedient.
”
    Took action
meant “killed.” Grudgingly Dooku appreciated the gesture. “You’re quite certain she will give you no further trouble?”
    “
Absolutely, my lord Count,
” said Durd, eagerly nodding. “
She is as penitent as can be. You will have your weapon, sir. The Separatist Alliance will prevail.
”
    He could still sense Durd’s fear, but pride and arrogance and truth mingled with it. The Neimoidian believed his own claim, that much was clear.
    “And the other hostages? They remain secure?”
    “
They are secure, my lord Count. Doctor Fhernan is bound tight to my will.
”
    “Then I am satisfied,” he said. “For now. Return to your work, General. I look forward to your final report.”
    He broke the transmission in the midst of Durd’s incoherently blathered promises. And as he disconnected the signal he felt a leap in
Vanquisher
’s engines. A heartbeat later the stars beyond his stateroom’s window shivered and streaked as the cruiser made its jump to hyperspace.
    Disquiet allayed, Dooku returned to his bed. Sleep claimed him swiftly. As the warmth of the dark side closed over his head, he felt himself smile.
    Ah, sweet victory. Close enough now to kiss
.
    Scant seconds after Count Dooku’s flickering image vanished from the holopad, Lok Durd vomited down the front of his tunic.
    I lied to Count Dooku. I lied to Count Dooku. Hive Mother protect me, I lied to—
    He vomited again. Praise to all good things in the hive that he was alone. He’d lied to the leader of the Separatist Alliance, a man who—by all accounts both confirmed and rumored only—could kill with a look, or the snap of his fingers. Possibly by merely raising an eyebrow.
    I lied to Count Dooku. And… I think he believed me
.
    Horror and relief coursed through his veins. If he’d been human, surely a river of sweat would be pouring down his skin. How he’d managed to dupe Dooku he didn’t know, but he wasn’t inclined to question the miracle. No. He’d accept it and build on it, to salvage the ruins of his life.
    The Jedi escaped. Every hostage but one rescued. All I have
left is that barve of a woman. And if she so much as suspects that the rest of her precious family and friends are safe…
    There was no one he could trust with this. Barev, Colonel Argat’s replacement, was typical human scum. And as if that weren’t bad enough, the liaison officer answered to the nondroid wing of the Separatist military machine, not to him. Barev and the others called him
General
Durd, but he wasn’t really one of them. That was a courtesy title, a show of respect he’d had to fight for. Humans were such bigots. Count Dooku was a bigot, though no sentient who wanted to live was fool enough to say so to the man’s face.
    Durd whimpered. Mired to his armpits in trouble, staring at calamity everywhere he turned, there was only one creature he could trust. And it wasn’t even a creature, it was a droid. Built to his most careful specifications, and equipped with unique sensor and infrared programming that made it impossible for anyone to give the machine orders in his stead.
    KD-77 was the closest thing he had to a friend.
    His office in his now compromised compound was equipped with a small refresher. Durd washed his face and rinsed his mouth, forcing the panic of the last few hours to subside. True, his droid army had failed to kill or capture the Jedi-aiding Dr. Fhernan—but hope was not entirely lost. There were only two of them, after all. The groundcar they’d managed to escape in wouldn’t get them far. And beyond Lantibba City’s barely civilized limits lay nothing but open countryside and scattered villages. No spaceworthy craft. No comm equipment. The