rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第8节

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uared　skyscraper；　the　bluish　smooth　dome　provided　a　wele　relief　to　the　eye　of　the　beholder；　a　piece　of　art　within　a　munity　of　simple　efficiency。
　
　The　interior　of　the　building　was　no　less　vast　and　impressive；　its　gigantic　rotunda　encircled；　row　upon　row；　by　the　floating　platforms　of　the　many　Senators　of　the　Republic；　representing　the　great　majority　of　the　galaxy's　inhabitable　worlds。　A　significant　number　of　those　platforms　stood　empty　now；　because　of　the　separatist　movement。　Several　thousand　systems　had　joined　in　with　Count　Dooku　over　the　last　couple　of　years　to　secede　from　a　Republic　that　had；　in　their　eyes；　grown　too　ponderous　to　be　effective；　a　claim　that　even　the　staunchest　supporters　of　the　Republic　could　not　pletely　dispute。
　
　Still；　with　this　most　important　vote　scheduled；　the　walls　of　the　circular　room　echoed；　hundreds　and　hundreds　of　voices　chattering　all　at　once；　expressing　emotions　from　anger　to　regret　to　determination。
　
　In　the　middle　of　the　main　floor；　standing　at　the　stationary　dais；　the　one　unmoving　speaking　platform　in　the　entire　building；　Supreme　Chancellor　Palpatine　watched　and　listened；　taking　in　the　tumult　and　wearing　an　expression　that　showed　deep　concern。　He　was　past　middle　age　now；　with　silver　hair　and　a　face　creased　by　deep　lines　of　experience。　His　term　limit　had　ended　several　years　ago；　but　a　series　of　crises　had　allowed　him　to　stay　in　office　well　beyond　the　legal　limit。　From　a　distance；　one　might　have　thought　him　frail；　but　up　close　there　could　be　no　doubt　of　the　strength　and　fortitude　of　this　acplished　man。
　〃They　are　afraid；　Supreme　Chancellor；〃　Palpatine's　aide；　Uv　Gizen；　remarked　to　him。　〃Many　have　heard　reports　of　the　demonstrations；　even　violent　activity　near　this　very　building。　The　separatists…〃
　
　Palpatine　held　up　his　hand　to　quiet　the　nervous　aide。　〃They　are　a　troublesome　group；〃　he　replied。　〃It　would　seem　that　Count　Dooku　has　whipped　them　into　murderous　frenzy。　Or　perhaps；〃　he　said　with　apparent　reflection；　〃their　frustrations　are　mounting　despite　the　effort　of　that　estimable　former　Jedi　to　calm　them。　Either　way；　the　separatists　must　be　taken　seriously。〃
　
　Uv　Gizen　started　to　respond　again；　but　Palpatine　put　a　finger　to　pursed　lips　to　silence　him；　then　nodded　to　the　main　podium；　where　his　majordomo；　Mas　Amedda；　was　calling　for　order。
　〃Order！　We　shall　have　order！〃　the　majordomo　cried；　his　bluish　skin　brightening　with　agitation。　His　lethorn　head　tentacles；　protruding　from　the　back　side　of　his　skull　and　wrapping　down　over　his　collar　to　frame　his　head　like　a　cowl；　twitched　anxiously；　their　brownish…tipped　horns　bobbing　on　his　chest。　And　as　he　turned　side　to　side；　his　primary　horns；　standing　straight　for　almost　half　a　meter　above　his　head；　rotated　like　antennae　gathering　information　on　the　crowd。　Mas　Amedda　was　an　imposing　figure　in　the　Senate；　but　the　chatter；　the　thousand　private　conversations；　continued。
　〃Senators；　please！〃　Mas　Amedda　called　loudly。　〃Indeed；　we　have　much　to　discuss。　Many　important　issues。　But　the　motion　before　us　at　this　time；　to　mission　an　army　to　protect　the　Republic；　takes　precedence。　That　is　what　we　will　vote　on　at　this　time；　and　that　alone！　Other　business　must　defer。〃　A　few　plaints　came　back　at　Mas　Amedda；　and　a　few　conversations　seemed　to　gather　momentum；　but　then　Supreme　Chancellor　Palpatine　stepped　up　to　the　podium；　staring　out　over　the　gathering；　and　the　great　hall　went　silent。　Mas　Amedda　bowed　in　deference　to　the　great　man　and　stepped　aside。
　
　Palpatine　placed　his　hands　on　the　rim　of　the　podium；　his　shoulders　noticeably　sagging；　his　head　bowed。　The　curious　posture　only　heightened　the　tension；　making　the　cavernous　room　seem　even　more　silent；　if　that　was　possible。
　〃My　esteemed　colleagues；〃　he　began　slowly　and　deliberately；　but　even　with　that　effort；　his　voice　wavered　and　seemed　as　if　it　would　break　apart。　Curiosity　sent　murmurs　rumbling　throughout　the　nervous　gathering　once　more。　It　wasn't　often　that　Supreme　Chancellor　Palpatine　appeared　rattled。
　〃Excuse　me；〃　Palpatine　said　quietly。　Then；　a　moment　later；　he　straightened　and　inhaled　deeply；　seeming　to　gather　inner　strength；　which　was　amply　reflected　in　his　solid　voice　as　he　repeated；　〃My　esteemed　colleagues。　I　have　just　received　some　tragic　and　disturbing　news。　Senator　Amidala　of　the　Naboo　system　。　。　。　has　been　assassinated！〃
　
　A　shock　wave　of　silence　rolled　about　the　crowd；　eyes　went　wide；　mouths；　for　those　who　had　mouths；　hung　open　in　disbelief。
　〃This　grievous　blow　is　especially　personal　to　me；〃　Palpatine　explained。　　　〃Before　I　became　Chancellor；　I　was　a　Senator；　serving　Amidala　when　she　was　Queen　of　Naboo。　She　was　a　great　leader　who　fought　for　justice。　So　beloved　was　she　among　her　people　that　she　could　have　been　elected　Queen　for　life！〃　He　gave　a　great　sigh　and　a　helpless　chuckle；　as　if　that　notion　had　been　received　as　purely　preposterous　by　the　idealistic　Amidala；　as　indeed　it　had。　〃But　Senator　Amidala　believed　in　term　limits；　and　she　fervently　believed　in　democracy。　Her　death　is　a　great　loss　to　us　all。　We　will　all　mourn　her　as　a　relentless　champion　of　freedom。〃　The　Supreme　Chancellor　tilted　his　head；　his　eyes　lowering；　and　he　sighed　again。　〃And　as　a　dear　friend。〃
　
　A　few　conversations　began；　but　for　the　most　part；　the　reverential　silence　held　strong；　with　many　Senators　nodding　their　heads　in　agreement　with　Palpatine's　eulogy。
　
　But　at　that　critical　time；　on　this　most　important　day；　the　grim　news　could　not　overwhelm。　Palpatine　watched；　without　surprise；　as　the　volatile　Senator　of　Malastare；　Ask　Aak；　maneuvered　his　floating　platform　down　from　the　ranks　and　into　the　center　of　the　arena。　His　large　head　rotated　slowly　about；　his　three　eyes；　protruding　on　fingerlike　stalks；　seeming　to　work　independently；　his　horizontal　ears　twitching。　〃How　many　more　Senators　will　die　before　this　civil　strife　ends？〃　the　Malastarian　cried。　〃We　must　confront　these　rebels　now；　and　we　need　an　army　to　do　it！〃
　
　That　bold　statement　brought　many　shouts　of　assent　and　dissent　from　the　huge　gathering；　and　several　platforms　moved　all　at　once。　One；　bearing　a　blue…　haired；　scrunch…faced　being；　swept　down　fast　beside　the　platform　of　Ask　Aak。　〃Why　weren't　the　Jedi　able　to　stop　this　assassination？〃　demanded　Darsana；　the　ambassador　of　Glee　Anselm。　〃How　obvious　it　is　that　we　are　no　longer　safe　under　the　protection　of　the　Jedi！〃
　
　Another　platform　floated　in　fast　on　the　heels　of　Darsana's。　〃The　Republic　needs　more　security　now！〃　agreed　Twi'lek　Senator　Orn　Free　Taa；　his　thick　jowls　and　long　blue　lekku　head　tentacles　shaking。　〃Now！　Before　it　es　to　war！〃
　〃Must　I　remind　the　Senator　from　Malastare　that　negotiations　are　continuing　with　the　separatists？〃　Supreme　Chancellor　Palpatine　interjected。　〃Peace　is　our　objective　here。　Not　war。〃
　〃You　say　this　while　your　friend　lies　dead；　assassinated　by　those　same　people　with　whom　you　wish　to　negotiate？〃　Ask　Aak　asked；　his　orange…skinned　face　a　mask　of　incredulity。　All　around　the　central　arena；　shouts　and　cries　erupted；　with　Senators　arguing　vehemently。　Many　fists　and　other；　more　exotic；　appendages　were　waved　in　the　air　at　that　explosive　point。　Palpatine；　supremely　calm　through　it　all；　kept　his　disarming　stare　on　Ask　Aak。
　〃Did　you　not　just　name　Amidala　as　your　friend？〃　Ask　Aak　screamed　at　him。　Palpatine　simply　continued　to　stare　at　the　man；　a　center　of　calm；　the　eye　of　the　storm　that　was　raging　all　about　him。
　
　Palpatine's　majordomo　rushed　to　the　podium　then；　taking　the　cue　that　his　master　must　remain　above　this　petulant　squabbling　if　he　was　to　be　the　voice　of　reason　throughout　this　ferocious　debate。
　〃Order！〃　Mas　Amedda　cried　repeatedly。　〃Senators；　please！〃　But　it　went　on　and　on；　the　screaming；　the　shouting；　the　fist　waving。
　
　Unnoticed　through　it　all；　yet　another　platform；　bearing　four　people；　approached　the　Senate　gallery　from　the　side；　moving　slowly　but　deliberately。
　
　Aboard　the　approaching　platform；　Senator　Padme　Amidala　was　shaking　her　head　with　disgust　at　the　shouting　and　lack　of　civility　emanating　from　the　huge　gallery　before　them。　〃This　is　exactly　why　Count　Dooku　was　able　to　convince　so　many　systems　to　secede；〃　she　mented　to　her　handmaiden　Dorme；　who　was　standing　beside　her；　with　Captain　Typho　and　Jar　Jar　Binks　in　front　of　them；　the　captain　driving　the　platform。
　〃There　are　many　who　believe　that　the　Republic　has　bee　too　large　and　disjointed；〃　Dorme　agreed。
　
　They　came　into　the　gallery；　then　moved　slowly　onto　the　main；　central　arena；　but　the　Senators　there；　and　those　in　the　lower　rows　of　the　gallery；　were　too　involved　with　their　shouting　and　arguing　to　even　notice　the　unexpected　appearance。
　
　Standing　at　the　podium；　though；　Palpatine　did　see　Amidala。　His　expression　was　one　of　blatant　shock；　for　just　a　moment；　but　then　he　shook　himself　out　of　it　and　a　smile　widened　upon　his　face。
　〃My　noble　colleagues；〃　Amidala　said　loudly；　and　the　sound　of　her　most　familiar　voice　quieted　many　of　the　Senators；　who　turned　to　regard　her。　〃I　concur　with　the　Supreme　Chancellor。　At　all　costs；　we　do　not　want　war！〃　Gradually　at　first；　but　then　more　quickly；　the　Senate　Hall　went　quiet；　and　then　came　a　thunderous　outburst　of　cheering　and　applause。
　〃It　is　with　great　surprise　and　joy　that　the　chair　recognizes　the　Senator　from　Naboo；　Padme　Amid