"If we do, it will be with enough food and equipment to get settled," Pakmillu assured him. "We would also leave one of the Dreadnaughts behind for defense and transport. As you can see from Outbound Flight's design, it will be relatively easy to detach a single ship from the rest of the complex."

Anakin shook his head. "Still sounds dangerous."

"We are well prepared," Pakmillu reminded him. "And of course, we have eighteen Jedi aboard. It will be safe."

"Or at least as safe as one can be anywhere in these times," Obi-Wan murmured.

"And it will be a glorious adventure, as well," Pakmillu continued, eyeing Anakin. "A pity you will not be joining us."

"There are still a lot of things I want to do here," Anakin said, an unexpected flicker of emotion coloring his voice and sense. He looked sideways at Obi-Wan, and the emotion vanished beneath a more proper Jedi composure. "Besides, I can't leave my master until my training is complete."

"With six Jedi Masters aboard you would have several choices of a teacher," Pakmillu pointed out.

"That's not really how it works," Obi-Wan told him. It amazed him sometimes how people who had no idea whatsoever of the inner workings of Jedi methodology nevertheless had equally few qualms about expressing that ignorance. "You said Master C'baoth will be arriving soon?"

"He is in fact here," C'baoth's voice boomed from across the room.

Obi-Wan turned. There, just entering the room, were C'baoth and Lorana Jinzler. "This is a surprise, Master Kenobi," C'baoth continued as he strode casually through the bustle of activity. No one actually had to move to let him pass, Obi-Wan noticed, but there were quite a few near misses. Fortunately, most of the techs were too preoccupied to even notice his passage. Lorana picked her way through the crowd more carefully, looking distinctly uncomfortable. "I thought you'd be on your way back to Sulorine by now."

"I was relieved of that assignment," Obi-Wan said. "There's something I need to discuss with you, Master C'baoth."

C'baoth nodded. "Certainly. Go ahead."

Obi-Wan braced himself. Between C'baoth and Anakin, this was likely to be unpleasant. "Anakin and I would like to join the expedition."

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Anakin turn to him in astonishment. "Wewould? " the boy asked.

"We would," Obi-Wan said firmly. "At least to the edge of the galaxy."

C'baoth's lip quirked. "So Master Yoda finally concedes that I might indeed find Vergere?"

"Who's Vergere?" Lorana asked.

"A missing Jedi," C'baoth said, his eyes still on Obi-Wan's face. "Master Kenobi tried once to find her and failed."

"There was nothing in the voyage mandate about a search and rescue mission," Pakmillu said, his voice suddenly wary.

"That's because it's Jedi business, Captain, and none of your concern," C'baoth told him. "Don't worry, it won't interfere with our schedule." He lifted. his eyebrows toward Obi-Wan. "I hope you didn't ask to come along in the hope of assuaging any feelings of guilt."

"I didn'task to come at all," Obi-Wan said. "I simply do as the Council directs me."

"As do we all," C'baoth said, an edge of irony in his voice as he shifted his eyes to Anakin. "What about you, young Sky-walker? You seem unhappy with this change in your plans."

Obi-Wan held his breath. There were several reasons he hadn't told Anakin in advance about Windu's mandate, not the least of them being the fact that the boy still obviously held C'baoth in high esteem. If he'd told Anakin they were coming to Yaga Minor to keep an eye on the man, he would have pressed for further explanation. It wouldn't have done to disillusion him with Windu's concerns about C'baoth's possible involvement with the Barlok incident.

Fortunately, it was quickly evident that the decision to keep the boy in the dark had been the right one. "I'm not unhappy at all, Master C'baoth," Anakin said with a clear voice and sense of complete honesty. "I was just surprised. Master Obi-Wan hadn't told me about it."

"But youdo want to come see the Unknown Regions with me?"

Anakin hesitated. "I don't want to leave the Republic forever," he said. "But I was impressed by how you handled things on Barlok, ending the deadlock and all. I think I'd learn a lot just by watching you in your daily activities."

C'baoth smiled wryly at Obi-Wan. "One thing at least you've given the lad, Master Kenobi: a smooth tongue."

"I would hope I've given him more than that," Obi-Wan said evenly. "Still, he's right about how much he could learn from you." He nodded to Lorana. "As I'm sure Padawan Jinzler would agree."

"Indeed," C'baoth said. "And it'sJedi Jinzler now. She was elevated to Jedi Knighthood three weeks ago."

"Really," Obi-Wan said, carefully hiding his surprise. From the way she'd been talking on Barlok, he would have guessed that event to be years in the future. "My apologies, Jedi Jinzler, and my congratulations. Do I take it you'll also be traveling aboard Outbound Flight with Master C'baoth?"

"Of course she will," C'baoth said before Lorana could answer. "She's one of the chosen, one of the few among even the Jedi whom I trust completely."

"You don't trust even Jedi?" Anakin asked, sounding surprised.

"I said I trust hercompletely," C'baoth told him gravely. "Certainly there are others I trust. But only to a degree."

"Oh," Anakin said, clearly taken aback.

"Fortunately, you and your instructor are among that somewhat larger group," C'baoth said, a small smile touching his lips. "Very well, Master Kenobi. You and your Padawan may accompany me to the edge of the galaxy, provided you make your own arrangements for returning to the Republic."

"Thank you," Obi-Wan said. "The Delta-Twelve Skysprite we'll be using for our return is on the surface, ready to be brought up and loaded aboard."

"Good," C'baoth said. "You'll stay here aboard Dreadnaught-One. Captain, you'll arrange quarters for them."

"Yes, Master C'baoth," Pakmillu rumbled. "I'll have the quartermaster-"

"Youwill arrange quarters for them," C'baoth repeated, a subtle but unmistakable emphasis on the first word. "These are Jedi. They will be treated accordingly."

Pakmillu's mouth tendrils twitched. "Yes, Master C'baoth." He stepped to one of the consoles and tapped at the keys with his flippered hands. "And Jedi Jinzler?"

"I've already reserved her quarters near my own," C'baoth told him. "Deck Three, Suite A-Four."