Star Wars the Clone Wars: The Cestus Deception by Steven Barnes

Author:Steven Barnes [Barnes, Steven]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780345458988
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2005-03-01T07:00:00+00:00

"What? What are you talking about?"

The intruder turned, so slowly that he seemed like a machine in low gear, a disturbing contrast to the terrifying speed with which he had smashed through the roof. "You must learn that there is no place you can hide. A deal was struck. Those who renegotiate price may find other matters

transformed as well."

Although ordinarily the most imperious of men, Por'Ten completely melted before the intruder's molten gaze. "Wha-what are you talking about?"

The intruder came closer. His lips thinned. The tentacles about his head curled slowly, insinuatingly, as he spoke, twitching with their own crazed energy. He whispered, yet in some odd way the whisper was louder than a shout. "My master promised to keep you out of the war. That you would not be involved. That can change, my friends. That can all change."

Young Debbikin glanced at the others, nearing panic now. "No! We have kept our pledges to you. All of them."

The intruder sneered. "Then why have you raised your prices, threatened to withhold shipment without further credits?"

There was a moment of relief as they glanced at each other. For a moment, they had feared that he knew of the negotiations with the Jedi Kenobi! No, this was something completely different, Cestus Cybernetics'

demand for a 10 percent surcharge. Llitishi of sales and marketing had sworn that Count Dooku would agree if they but held firm.

"It is the war, the war!" Debbikin leaned closer, trying to establish a sense of intimacy. "Supply lines have been cut..."

The intruder was unimpressed. "We have made other arrangements for you."

"Yes, but the timing is off, and we have to buy additional products so that all of the equipment matches. We are proceeding, but everything is taking longer, and therefore more expensive-"

The intruder raised his palm. Although he hadn't so much as touched them, the force of his personality drove them backward into their seats.

"You cannot be trusted."

Quill was using his secondary hands to reach stealthily for the little nhold-out blaster always attached to his wallet. They knew that he was descended from an assassin clan, and that those skills had been passed from

one generation to the next for half a millennium. If their kidnapper made but a single mistake, the blaster would be out, the Nautolan would be dead, and they had a chance to regain control of the car. And Quill, incidentally, would have redeemed himself.

"How can you say that! Our dealings with you have placed Cestus in jeopardy with the Republic. We would not betray you. If we did, we would have no one!" The intruder's back was to Quill. The blaster was almost in hand ...

Tension crackled in the air. Debbikin kept his eyes on the intruder, striving not to reveal by eye movement or the slightest tremor of voice that anything was amiss.

For the first time the intruder seemed to change expressions. The film over his black eyes swirled. "Your Families need a lesson. The best I can imagine is one written in blood-"

Quill's

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