rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第49节

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　〃If　the　report　is　accurate；〃　the　fiery　Ask　Aak　promptly　responded。
　〃It　is；　Senator；〃　Mace　Windu　assured　him；　and　Ask　Aak；　a　Senator　of　action；　accepted　that。　Indeed；　Yoda　understood　that　Ask　Aak　had　only　made　the　remark　because　he　had　wanted　the　Jedi　to　openly　support　the　report；　to　impress　upon　all　the　others　that　the　situation　was　on　the　verge　of　catastrophe。
　〃Count　Dooku　must　have　made　a　treaty　with　them；〃　Chancellor　Palpatine　reasoned。
　〃We　must　stop　them　before　they're　ready；〃　Bail　Organa　said。
　
　Jar　Jar　Binks　moved　front　and　center；　trembling　a　bit　but　keeping　his　tongue　in　his　mouth；　at　least。　〃Excueeze　me；　yousa　honorable　Supreme　Chancellor；　sir；〃　the　Gungan　began。　〃Maybe　dissen　Jedi　stoppen　the　rebel　army。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Jar　Jar；〃　Palpatine　politely　replied；　and　turned　to　Yoda。
　〃Master　Yoda；　how　many　Jedi　are　available　to　go　to　Geonosis？〃
　〃Throughout　the　galaxy；　thousands　of　Jedi　there　are；〃　the　diminutive　Jedi　Master　replied。　〃To　send　on　a　special　mission；　only　two　hundred　are　available。〃
　〃With　all　due　respect　to　the　Jedi　Order；　that　doesn't　sound　like　enough；〃　Bail　Organa　said。
　〃Through　negotiation　the　Jedi　maintain　peace；〃　Yoda　replied。　〃To　start　a　war；　we　do　not　intend。〃
　
　His　continued　calm　only　seemed　to　push　the　frantic　Ask　Aak　over　the　edge。
　〃The　debate　is　over！〃　he　cried。　〃Now　we　need　that　clone　army。〃　Yoda　closed　his　eyes　slowly；　pained　by　the　weight　of　reason　behind　the　dreaded　words。
　〃Unfortunately；　the　debate　is　not　over；〃　Bail　Organa　said。　〃The　Senate　will　never　approve　the　use　of　the　army　before　the　separatists　attack。　And　by　then；　it　will　likely　be　too　late。〃
　〃This　is　a　crisis；〃　Mas　Amedda　dared　interject。　〃The　Senate　must　vote　the　Chancellor　emergency　powers！　He　could　then　approve　the　use　of　the　clones。〃
　
　Palpatine　rocked　back　at　the　suggestion；　seeming　profoundly　shaken。　〃But　what　Senator　would　have　the　courage　to　propose　such　a　radical　amendment？〃　he　asked　hesitantly。
　〃I　will！〃　Ask　Aak　declared。
　
　Beside　him；　Bail　Organa　gave　a　helpless　chuckle　and　shook　his　head。　〃They　will　not　listen　to　you；　I　fear。　Nor　to　me；〃　he　added　quickly；　when　Ask　Aak　snapped　a　glare　at　him。　〃We　have　spent　too　much　of　our　political　capital　debating　the　philosophies　of　the　separatists　and　arguing　for　action。　The　Senate　will　not　see　our　call　as　anything　more　than　overly　alarmist。　We　need　a　voice　of　reason；　one　willing　to　reverse　position；　even；　given　the　gravity　of　the　current　situation。〃
　〃If　only　Senator　Amidala　was　here；〃　Mas　Amedda　reasoned。
　
　Without　hesitation；　Jar　Jar　Binks　stepped　forward　again。　〃Mesa　mosto　Supreme　Chancellor；〃　the　Gungan　said；　squaring　his　sloping　shoulders　as　much　as　possible。　〃Mesa　gusto　pallos；〃　he　said　deferentially　to　all　the　others。　〃Mesa　proud　to　proposing　the　motion　to　give　Yousa　Honor　emergency　powers。〃
　
　Palpatine　looked　from　the　trembling　Gungan　to　Bail　Organa。　〃He　speaks　for　Amidala；〃　the　Senator　from　Alderaan　said。　〃By　all　understanding　within　the　Senate；　Jar　Jar　Binks's　words　are　a　reflection　of　Senator　Amidala's　desires。〃
　
　Palpatine　nodded　grimly；　and　Yoda　sensed　a　strong　fear　from　the　man；　as　if　he　knew　that　he　was　about　to　be　thrust　forward　in　the　most　dangerous　position　he　and　the　Republic　had　ever　known。
　
　　Twisting　slowly　in　the　force　field；　restrained　by　crackling　bolts　of　blue　energy；　Obi…Wan　Kenobi　could　only　watch　helplessly　as　Count　Dooku　strode　into　the　room。　Wearing　an　expression　that　showed　great　sympathy；　but　one　that　Obi…Wan　certainly　did　not　trust；　the　regal　man　walked　up　right　before　the　Jedi。
　〃Traitor；〃　Obi…Wan　said。
　〃Hello；　my　friend；〃　Dooku　replied。　〃This　is　a　mistake。　A　terrible　mistake。　They've　gone　too　far。　This　is　madness！〃
　〃I　thought　you　were　their　leader　here；　Dooku；〃　Obi…Wan　replied；　holding　his　voice　as　steady　as　possible。
　〃This　had　nothing　to　do　with　me；　I　assure　you；〃　the　former　Jedi　insisted。　He　seemed　almost　hurt　by　the　accusation。　〃I　promise　you　that　I　will　petition　immediately　to　have　you　set　free。〃
　〃Well；　I　hope　it　doesn't　take　too　long。　I　have　work　to　do。〃　Obi…Wan　noted　a　slight　crack　in　Dooku's　remorseful　expression；　a　slight　twinge　of。。。　anger？
　
　〃May　I　ask　why　a　Jedi　Knight　is　all　the　way　out　here　on　Geonosis？〃　After　a　moment's　reflection；　Obi…Wan　decided　that　he　had　little　to　lose　here；　and　he　wanted　to　continue　to　press　Dooku；　that　he　might　gauge　the　truth。　〃I've　been　tracking　a　bounty　hunter　named　Jango　Fett。　Do　you　know　him？〃
　〃There　are　no　bounty　hunters　here　that　I'm　aware　of。　Geonosians　don't　trust　them。〃
　
　Trust。　There　was　a　good　word；　Obi…Wan　thought。　〃Well；　who　can　blame　them？〃　came　his　disarming　reply。　〃But　he　is　here；　I　assure　you。〃
　
　Count　Dooku　paused　for　a　moment；　then　nodded；　apparently　conceding　the　point。　〃It's　a　great　pity　that　our　paths　have　never　crossed　before；　Obi…　Wan；〃　he　said；　his　voice　warm　and　inviting。　〃Qui…Gon　always　spoke　very　highly　of　you。　I　wish　he　was　still　alive…I　could　use　his　help　right　now。〃
　〃Qui…Gon　Jinn　would　never　join　you。〃
　〃Don't　be　so　sure；　my　young　Jedi；〃　Count　Dooku　immediately　replied；　an　offsetting　smile　on　his　face；　one　of　confidence　and　calm。　〃You　forget　that　Qui…Gon　was　once　my　apprentice　just　as　you　were　once　his。〃
　〃You　believe　that　brings　loyalty　above　his　loyalty　to　the　Jedi　Council　and　the　Republic？〃
　〃He　knew　all　about　the　corruption　in　the　Senate；〃　Dooku　went　on　without　missing　a　beat。　〃They　all　do；　of　course。　Yoda　and　Mace　Windu。　But　Qui…Gon　would　never　have　gone　along　with　the　status　quo；　with　that　corruption；　if　he　had　known　the　truth　as　I　have。〃　The　pause　was　dramatic；　demanding　a　prompt　from　Obi…Wan。
　〃The　truth？〃
　〃The　truth；〃　said　a　confident　Dooku。　〃What　if　I　told　you　that　the　Republic　was　now　under　the　control　of　the　Dark　Lords　of　the　Sith？〃　That　hit　Obi…Wan　as　profoundly　as　any　of　the　electric　bolts　holding　him　ever　could。　〃No！　That's　not　possible。〃　His　mind　whirled；　needing　a　denial。　He　alone　among　the　living　Jedi　had　battled　a　Sith　Lord；　and　that　contest　had　cost　his　beloved　Master　Qui…Gon　his　life。　〃The　Jedi　would　be　aware　of　it。〃
　〃The　dark　side　of　the　Force　has　clouded　their　vision；　my　friend；〃　Dooku　calmly　explained。　〃Hundreds　of　Senators　are　now　under　the　influence　of　a　Sith　Lord　called　Darth　Sidious。〃
　〃I　don't　believe　you；〃　Obi…Wan　said　flatly。　He　only　wished　he　held　that　truth　as　solidly　as　he　had　just　proclaimed。
　〃The　viceroy　of　the　Trade　Federation　was　once　in　league　with　this　Darth　Sidious；〃　Dooku　explained；　and　given　the　events　of　a　decade　before；　it　seemed　a　reasonable　claim。　〃But　he　was　betrayed　ten　years　ago　by　the　Dark　Lord。　He　came　to　me　for　help；　fie　told　me　everything。　The　Jedi　Council　would　not　believe　him。　I　tried　many　times　to　warn　them；　but　they　wouldn't　listen　to　me。　Once　they　sense　the　Dark　Lord's　presence　and　realize　their　error；　it　will　be　too　late。　You　must　join　with　me；　Obi…Wan；　and　together　we　will　destroy　the　Sith。〃
　
　It　all　seemed　so　reasonable；　so　logical；　so　attuned　to　the　legend　of　Count　Dooku　as　Obi…Wan　had　learned　it。　But　beneath　the　silken　words　and　tone　was　a　feeling　Obi…Wan　had　that　flew　in　the　face　of　that　logic。
　〃I　will　never　join　you；　Dooku！〃
　
　The　cultured　and　regal　man　gave　a　great　and　disappointed　sigh；　then　turned　to　leave。　〃It　may　be　difficult　to　secure　your　release；〃　he　tossed　back　at　Obi…Wan　as　he　exited　the　room。
　
　　Approaching　Geonosis；　Anakin　employed　the　same　techniques　as　Obi…Wan　had；　using　the　asteroid　ring　near　Geonosis　to　hide　the　Naboo　starship　from　the　lurking　Trade　Federation　fleet。　And　like　his　mentor；　the　Padawan　recognized　the　unusual　and　threatening　posture　of　the　unexpected　fleet。　Breaking　atmosphere；　Anakin　brought　the　ship　down　low；　skimming　the　surface；　weaving　through　valleys　and　around　towering　rock　formations；　circling　mesas。　Padme　stood　next　to　him；　watching　the　skyline　for　some　signs。
　〃See　those　columns　of　steam　straight　ahead？〃　she　asked；　pointing。　〃They're　exhaust　vents　of　some　type。〃
　〃That'll　do；〃　agreed　Anakin；　and　he　banked　the　starship；　zooming　in　at　the　distant　lines　of　rising　white　steam。　He　brought　the　ship　right　into　one　steam　cloud　and　slid　her　down；　gently；　through　the　vent。　When　they　had　settled　on　firm　ground；　he　and　Padme　prepared　to　leave　the　ship。
　〃Look；　whatever　happens　out　there；　follow　my　lead；〃　Padme　told　him。　〃I'm　not　interested　in　getting　into　a　war　here。　As　a　member　of　the　Senate；　maybe　I　can　find　a　diplomatic　solution　to　this　mess。〃
　
　For　Anakin；　who　had　so　recently　used　the　diplomacy　of　the　lightsaber；　and　to　devastating　effect；　the　words　rang　true…　painfully　so。
　〃Trust　me　on　this？〃　Padme　added；　and　he　knew　that　she　had　recognized　the　pain　on　his　face。
　〃Don't　worry；〃　he　said；　and　he　made　himself　grin。　〃I've　given　up　trying　to　argue　with　you。〃
　
　Behind　them　as　they　headed　for　the　landing　ramp；　R2　gave　a　plaintive　wail。
　〃Stay　with　the　ship；〃　Padme　instructed　both　droids。　Then　she　and　Anakin　went　out　into　the　underground　plex；　and　recognized　almost　immediately　that　they　had　entered　a　huge　droid　factory。
　
　　Soon　after　the　pair　had　departed；　R2…D2's　legs　extended；　lifting　him　off　the　securing　platform；　and　he　began　rolling　immediately　for　the　ship　exit。
　〃My　sad　little　friend；　if　they　had　needed　our　help；　they　woul