Reluctantly, Lorana thought, Palpatine picked up the data-pad. "A cost-saving decision, most likely," he said, scrolling through the data. "Having all those extra people aboard would mean more supplies and equipment."

"What it would mean is a cancellation of the entire project," C'baoth countered. "What sense does it make to send an expedition to another galaxy if there's no chance of planting any colonies once we're there?"

"Perhaps that's the committee's point," Palpatine suggested quietly. "The political situation has changed considerably since You and the Council first proposed this project."

"Which is what makes Outbound Flight all the more important," C'baoth said. "We need to find out what dangers or threats might be lurking out in the Unknown Regions, or poised to invade us from another galaxy."

"Dangers?" Palpatine echoed, lifting his eyebrows. "I was under the impression that Outbound Flight's purpose was to search for new life and potential Force-users outside our borders. Certainly that was the rationale given in the original proposal."

"There's no reason it can't do both," C'baoth said stubbornly. "For that matter, I would think adding a security angle to the mission would make itmore acceptable to the Senate, not less."

Palpatine shook his head, his gray-white hair glinting in the light from the window behind him. Lorana could remember when that hair had been mostly brown, with only touches of gray at the temples. Now, after five years of carrying the Republic's weight on his shoulders, the brown had all but vanished. "I'm sorry, Master C'baoth," the Chancellor said. "If you can persuade the Senate to override Appropriations' cuts, I'll be more than happy to support you. But at the moment, there's nothing more I can do."

"Unless," Doriana put in, "Master C'baoth is able to do something about the Barlok situation."

"There's nothing more I can do," Palpatine repeated, throwing a cautioning look at his assistant. "At any rate, the Council's hardly going to send him out to Marcol sector when there are so many pressing matters to be attended to here."

"Not so fast," C'baoth rumbled. "What exactly is this problem?"

"It's hardly even worth mentioning," Palpatine said reluctantly. "A small dispute between the Corporate Alliance and one of Barlok's regional governments over some mining rights. Those Brolfi who left as you came in were just presenting their case and asking for assistance in negotiating a settlement."

"And you didn't immediately think of me?" C'baoth said drily. "I think I've been insulted."

"Please, Master C'baoth," Palpatine said with a smile. "I have far too many enemies on Coruscant already. I don't wish to add you to their number."

"Then make a bargain with me," C'baoth offered. "If I can resolve this dispute for you, will you instruct Appropriations to restore Outbound Flight's full funding?"

Lorana stirred uncomfortably in her seat. This was, it seemed to her, perilously close to the sort of under-the-desk speeder swapping that was steadily corroding the whole concept of justice in the Republic's government. But she didn't dare suggest that to C'baoth, certainly not in the presence of Palpatine and his aide.

"I can't make any promises," Palpatine cautioned. "Certainly not where the Senate is concerned. But I believe in Outbound Flight, Master C'baoth, and I'll do everything in my power to make sure your dream is realized."

For a long moment C'baoth didn't reply, and again Lorana felt the tension between the two men. Then, abruptly, the Jedi Master gave a short nod. "Very well, Chancellor Palpatine," he said, rising to his feet. "We'll be on our way to Barlok before the end of the day."

He leveled a finger at Palpatine. "Just make certain that when I come back I have my funding. And my colonists."

"I'll do my best," Palpatine said, giving the other a small smile. "Good day, Master C'baoth; Padawan Jinzler."

Lorana waited until they had passed through the outer office and were striding down the wide corridor before speaking. "What did you mean we'd be off to Barlok tonight?" she asked. "Doesn't the Council have to approve any such trips?"

"Don't worry about the Council," C'baoth said brusquely. "Back there, on our way into Palpatine's office, you broke stride for those two Brolfi."

Lorana felt her throat tighten. "I didn't want to just run them down."

"You wouldn't have," he countered. "I'd already measured the gap between them. Neither would have needed to move aside for us."

"Yet theydid move," Lorana pointed out.

"Because they wished to do so, out of respect," he said. "Understand this, my young Padawan. Someday you will be a Jedi, with all the power and responsibility that it entails. Never forget that we are the ones who hold this Republic together-not Palpatine, not the Senate, not the bureaucracy. Certainly not the small-minded people who can't make it through the day without running to Coruscant for help. They must learn to trust us-and before there can be trust, there must be respect. Do you understand?"

"I understand that we want them to respect us," Lorana said hesitantly. "But must they fear us as well?"

"Respect and fear are merely two sides of the same coin," C'baoth said. "Law-obeying citizens hold the coin one way; those who wallow in lawlessness hold it the other." He lifted a finger. "But with neither group can you appear weak or indecisive. Ever."

He lowered the raised finger, tapping it against the lightsaber tucked into her belt. "There are times when you'll wish your identity to remain unknown, and at those times you'll hide your lightsaber and all traces of who and what you are. But when you travel openly as a Jedi, you mustbehave as a Jedi. Always. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Master C'baoth," Lorana said, only half truthfully. Certainly she understood the words, but some of the attitude was still incomprehensible to her.

For a moment C'baoth continued to stare at her, as if sensing her partial duplicity. But to her relief, he turned away without demanding any more. "Very well, then," he said. "I'll go to the Temple and speak with the Council. You call the spaceport and arrange transport for us to the Barlok system. Once you've done that, go and pack."

"For how long?"

"For a simple mineral-rights dispute?" C'baoth scoffed. "Travel time both ways plus three standard days. I'll have this sorted out in no time."

"Yes, Master," Lorana murmured.

"And then," C'baoth continued, half to himself, "we'll see to Master Yoda and his shortsighted fears." Picking up his pace, he strode off down the corridor.

Lorana slowed to a halt, watching as the messengers and bureaucrats walking along on their own business moved hastily out of the way for the tall, white-haired Jedi Master. C'baoth, for his part, never even slowed, as if he simply expected others to make room for him.