rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第22节

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o　watch　over　the　Senator？
　
　〃You'll　be　back　here　in　no　time；〃　Obi…Wan　assured　her。
　〃I　will　be　most　grateful　for　your　speed；　Master　Jedi。〃
　
　Anakin　didn't　appreciate　hearing　Padme　speak　of　any　gratitude　at　all　toward　Obi…Wan。　At　least；　he　didn't　want　Padme　to　elevate　Obi…Wan's　importance　in　all　of　this　above　his　own。　〃Time　to　go；〃　he　said；　striding　forward。
　〃I　know；〃　Padme　answered　him；　but　she　didn't　seem　pleased。　Anakin　reminded　himself　not　to　take　it　personally。　Padme　felt　that　her　duty　was　here。　She　wasn't　thrilled　with　running　offplanet…and　she　wasn't　thrilled　with　having　another　of　her　dear　handmaidens　stepping　into　the　line　of　fire　in　her　stead；　especially　with　images　of　dead　Corde　so　fresh　in　her　mind。
　
　Padme　and　Dorme　shared　another　hug。　Anakin　took　up　the　luggage　and　led　the　way　off　the　speeder　bus；　onto　a　landing　where　R2…D2　waited。
　〃May　the　Force　be　with　you；〃　Obi…Wan　said。
　〃May　the　Force　be　with　you；　Master。〃　Anakin　meant　every　word　of　it。　He　wanted　Obi…Wan　to　find　out　who　was　behind　the　assassination　attempts；　to　make　the　galaxy　safe　for　Padme　once　again。　But　he　had　to　admit　that　he　hoped　it　wouldn't　happen　too　quickly。　His　duty　now　put　him　right　beside　the　woman　he　loved；　and　he　wouldn't　be　happy　if　this　assignment　proved　a　short　one；　if　duty　pulled　him　away　from　her　yet　again。
　〃Suddenly　I'm　afraid；〃　Padme　said　to　him　as　they　walked　away；　heading　toward　the　giant　star　freighter　that　would　take　them　to　Naboo。　Behind　the　pair；　R2…D2　rolled　along；　tootling　cheerily。
　〃This　is　my　first　assignment　on　my　own。　I　am；　too。〃　Anakin　turned　about；　taking　Padme's　gaze　with　his　own；　and　grinned　widely。　〃But　don't　worry。　We've　got　Artoo　with　us！〃
　
　Again；　the　levity　was　much　needed。
　
　Back　at　the　bus；　waiting　for　it　to　take　them　back　to　the　main　city；　the　three　left　behind　watched　Anakin；　Padme；　and　R2…D2　blend　into　the　throng　of　the　vast　spaceport。　〃I　hope　he　doesn't　try　anything　foolish；〃　Obi…Wan　said。　The　mere　fact　that　he　would　speak　so　openly　concerning　his　student　showed　Captain　Typho　how　much　the　Jedi　Knight　had　e　to　trust　him。
　〃I'd　be　more　concerned　about　her　doing　something　than　him；〃　Typho　replied。　He　shook　his　head；　his　expression　serious。　〃She's　not　one　to　follow　orders。〃
　〃Like…minded　traveling　panions；〃　Dorme　observed。
　
　Obi…Wan　and　Typho　turned　to　regard　her；　and　Typho　shook　his　head　helplessly　again。　Obi…Wan　didn't　disagree　with　Dorme's　assessment；　however　innocently　she　meant　it。　Padme　Amidala　was　a　stubborn　one　indeed；　one　of　strong　and　independent　thinking　and　more　than　willing　to　trust　her　own　judgment　above　that　of　others；　whatever　their　position　and　experience。　But　of　the　pair　who　had　just　left　the　speeder　bus；　she　wasn't　the　most　headstrong。
　
　It　was　not　a　forting　thought。
　
　Chapter　Eleven
　
　The　great　Jedi　Temple　was　a　place　of　reflection　and　of　hard　training；　and　it　was　also　a　place　of　information。　The　Jedi　were　traditionally　the　keepers　of　the　peace；　and　also　of　knowledge。　Beneath　their　high　ceilings；　off　the　main　corridor　of　the　Temple；　stood　the　glass　cubicles；　the　analysis　rooms；　filled　with　droids　of　various　shapes　and　sizes；　and　various　purposes。　Obi…Wan　Kenobi　was　thinking　of　Anakin　and　Padme　as　he　made　his　way　through　the　Temple。　He　wondered；　not　for　the　first　time　and　certainly　not　for　the　last；　about　the　wisdom　of　sending　Anakin　off　with　the　Senator。　The　eagerness　with　which　the　Padawan　had　embraced　his　new　duty　set　off　warning　bells　in　Obi…Wan's　head；　but　he　had　allowed　the　mission　to　go　forth　anyway；　mostly　because　he　knew　that　he'd　be　too　busy　following　the　leads　he　hoped　he　could　garner　here；　uncovering　the　source　of　Amidala's　troubles。
　
　The　analysis　cubicles　were　busy　this　day；　as　they　were　nearly　every　day；　with　students　and　Masters　alike　hard　at　their　studies。　Obi…Wan　found　one　open　cubicle　with　an　SP…4　analysis　droid；　the　type　he　needed。　He　sat　down　in　front　of　the　console　and　the　droid　responded　immediately；　sliding　open　a　tray。
　〃Place　the　subject　for　analysis　on　the　sensor　tray；　please；〃　the　droid's　metallic　voice　said。　Obi…Wan　was　already　moving；　pulling　forth　the　toxic　dart　that　had　killed　the　subcontracting　bounty　hunter。
　
　As　soon　as　the　tray　receded；　the　screen　before　Obi…Wan　lit　up　and　began　scrolling　through　a　series　of　diagrams　and　streams　of　data。
　〃It's　a　toxic　dart；〃　the　Jedi　explained　to　the　SP…4。　〃I　need　to　know　where　it　came　from　and　who　made　it。〃
　〃One　moment；　please。〃　More　diagrams　rolled　by；　more　reams　of　data　scrolling；　and　then　the　screen　paused；　showing　a　somewhat　similar　dart。　But　it　wasn't　a　match　and　the　scrolling　started　again。　Images　of　the　dart　flashed　up　before　Obi…Wan；　superimposed　with　diagrams　of　similar　objects。　Nothing　matched。　The　screen　went　blank。　The　tray　slid　back　out。　〃As　you　can　see　on　your　screen；　subject　weapon　does　not　exist　in　any　known　culture；〃　SP…　4　explained。　〃Markings　cannot　be　identified。　Probably　self…made　by　a　warrior　not　associated　with　any　known　culture。　Stand　away　from　the　sensor　tray；　please。〃
　〃Excuse　me？　Could　you　try　again　please？〃　There　was　no　hiding　the　frustration　in　Obi…Wan's　voice。
　〃Master　Jedi；　our　records　are　very　thorough。　They　cover　eighty　percent　of　the　galaxy。　If　I　can't　tell　you　where　it　came　from；　nobody　can。〃
　
　Obi…Wan　picked　up　the　dart；　looked　at　the　droid；　and　sighed；　not　so　sure　that　he　agreed　with　that　particular　assessment。　〃Thanks　for　your　assistance；〃　he　said。　He　wondered　if　SP…4s　were　equipped　to　understand　the　inflections　of　sarcasm。
　〃You　may　not　be　able　to　figure　this　out；　but　I　think　I　know　someone　who　might。〃
　〃The　odds　do　not　suggest　such　a　possibility；〃　SP…4　started　to　reply；　and　began　rolling　along　with　a　dissertation　about　the　pleteness　of　its　data　banks；　of　its　unequaled　search　capabilities；　of。。。
　
　It　didn't　matter；　for　Obi…Wan　was　long　gone；　walking　briskly　along　the　great　corridor　and　out　of　the　Jedi　Temple。
　
　He　left　without　a　word　to　anyone；　his　thoughts　turned　inward；　trying　to　find　some　focus。　He　needed　answers；　and　quickly。　He　knew　that　instinctively；　but　he　had　a　nagging　feeling　that　it　wasn't　necessarily　about　Senator　Amidala's　safety。　He　sensed　that　something　more　might　be　at　stake　here；　though　what　it　was；　he　could　only　guess。　Anakin's　mindset？　A　greater　plot　against　the　Republic？
　
　Or　perhaps　he　was　just　being　jumpy　because　the　normally　reliable　SP…4　droid　hadn't　been　able　to　help　him　at　all。　He　needed　answers；　and　conventional　methods　of　attaining　them　wouldn't　suffice；　apparently。　But　Obi…Wan　Kenobi　was　not　a　conventional　Jedi；　in　many　ways。　Although　he　tended　to　be　reserved；　especially　when　dealing　with　his　Padawan；　his　former　Master；　Qui…　Gon　Jinn；　had　left　a　mark　on　Obi…Wan。
　
　He　knew　where　to　get　his　answers。
　
　He　took　a　speeder　to　the　business　section　of　Coco　town；　far　from　where　he　and　Anakin　had　caught　the　would…be　assassin。
　
　Obi…Wan　stopped　his　vehicle　and　exited　to　the　street。　He　moved　to　one　small　building；　its　windows　foggy；　its　walls　metallic　and　brightly　painted。　Lettering　above　the　door　named　the　place；　and　though　he　could　not　read　that　particular　script；　Obi…Wan　knew　well　what　it　said：　DEX'S　DINER。　He　smiled。　He　hadn't　seen　Dex　in　a　long　time。　Far　too　long；　he　mused　as　he　entered。　The　inside　of　the　diner　was　fairly　typical　of　the　establishments　along　the　lower　level；　with　booths　set　against　the　walls　and　many　small　freestanding　circular　tables　surrounded　by　tall　stools。　There　was　a　counter　area；　as　well；　partly　lined　with　stools　and　partly　open；　a　variety　of　beings　standing　and　leaning　against　it；　mostly　freighter　drivers　and　dockworkers；　people　who　still　used　their　muscles　in　a　galaxy　grown　soft　through　technology。
　
　The　Jedi　moved　to　one　small　table；　sliding　onto　its　stool　as　a　waitress　droid　wiped　the　table　down　with　a　rag。
　〃Can　I　help　ya？〃　the　droid　asked。
　〃I'm　looking　for　Dexter。〃
　
　The　waitress　droid　made　a　rather　unpleasant　sound。
　
　Obi…Wan　just　smiled。　〃I　do　need　to　speak　with　Dexter。〃
　〃Waddya　want　him　for？〃
　〃He's　not　in　trouble；〃　the　Jedi　assured　her。　〃It's　personal。〃
　
　The　droid　stared　at　him　for　a　short　while；　sizing　him　up；　then；　with　a　shake　of　her　head；　she　moved　to　the　open　serving　hatch　behind　the　counter。
　〃Someone　to　see　ya；　honey；〃　she　said。　〃A　Jedi；　by　the　looks　of　him。〃
　
　A　huge　head　poked　through　the　open　hatchway　almost　immediately；　acpanied　by　a　line　of　grayish　steam。　A　wide　smile…on　a　mouth　wide　enough　to　swallow　Obi…Wan's　head　whole…with　huge　block　teeth　grew　on　the　immense　face　as　he　set　his　gaze　on　the　visitor。　〃Obi…Wan！〃
　〃Hey；　Dex；〃　Obi…Wan　replied；　standing　and　moving　to　the　counter。
　〃Take　a　seat；　old　buddy！　Be　right　with　ya！〃
　
　Obi…Wan　glanced　around。　The　waitress　droid　had　gone　about　her　business；　tending　to　other　customers。　He　moved　to　a　booth　just　to　the　side　of　the　counter。
　〃You　want　a　cup　of　ardees？〃　the　droid　asked；　her　demeanor　much　more　acmodating。
　〃Thank　you。〃
　
　She　moved　off　toward　the　counter；　slipping　aside　as　the　infamous　Dexter　Jettster　moved　through　the　counter　door；　walking　with　a　stiff　gait。　He　was　an　impressive　sort；　a　neckless　mound　of　flesh；　dwarfing　most　of　the　toughies　who　frequented　his　establishment。　His　great　belly　poked　out　beneath　h