PART 6

"DidSlipher confirm its arrival?" he asked.

"Notexactly, Master," the droid replied.

"Whynot?"

"Becauseit appears that Mr. Slipher is dead."

"Oh?"Plagueis pondered the news for a moment, before turning to face thedroid. "Did Maul kill him?"

"No,Master. From what I was able to glean from surveillance uploads fromthe prison, Mr. Slipher was killed instantly when a CLL binaryload-lifter decapitated him." The droid paused. "And then crushedhim underfoot."

"Ahumble end for such a promising mind."let out a small electronicgurgle. "I'm not sure that I take your meaning."

"It'sunimportant," Plagueis replied, and scratched his chin in thought."A droid, you say?"

"Yes.I'm sure it was accidental. It was the same droid, in fact, thatyou had tasked to deliver the package directly to the Zabrak."

"Ah."Plagueis beamed with pleasure. "So Maul has everything he needs tofacilitate his mission, then. You're sure?"

"I'veconfirmed it through surveillance holofootage," 11-4D said, andthen paused for a moment. "If I may inquire, what was the purposeof keeping this information from Master Sidious?"

"Thatis an excellent question, FourDee," Plagueis said. "I suppose youcould say for the purpose of strengthening our relationship."

"Sir?"

"BetweenLord Sidious and myself." Plagueis returned his attention to theBith in the vat before him, although his thoughts were now far awayfrom the resurrected Venamis. "The Zabrak's assassination missioninside the prison is of great interest to me. As you know, I haveextended a great deal of latitude to Lord Sidious in the past."outwith the dark side, Plagueis watched in a distracted way as Venamis'slifeless face stirred in the viscous chemical soup, one eye openingand rolling up to gaze at him. Then he continued. "Especially now,as we approach the pivotal moment in our plans for Palpatine'simpending chancellorship, I find his increasing tendency towardself-reliance to be disturbing. Of course the time will come when Iwill let him know that I was the one who provided Iram Radique withthe fully functional geological compressor that he needed—and thusallowed Maul to complete his mission. But the moment of revelation isnot yet ripe."