rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第56节

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reate；　we　are　doomed。〃
　
　Dooku　took　the　cartridge。　〃I　will　take　the　designs　with　me；〃　he　agreed。　〃The　plans　will　be　much　safer　with　my　Master。〃
　
　With　a　curt　bow；　the　Count　swept　from　the　room。
　
　　Obi…Wan；　Anakin；　and　Padme　crouched　in　the　open　side　of　a　gunship　as　it　sped　across　the　expanding　battlefield　outside　the　arena；　its　laser　cannons　blaring；　its　shields　turning　back　the　responding　fire　from　the　droids。　Below　them；　clone　troopers　rushed　across　the　battlefield　on　speeder　bikes；　weaving　their　way　and　firing　all　the　while。
　〃They're　good；〃　Obi…Wan　remarked；　and　Anakin　nodded。
　
　Their　attention　went　right　back　to　their　own　situation；　then；　as　the　gunship　approached　a　huge　Techno　Union　starship　and　opened　fire。　Its　laser　cannons　slammed　away　at　the　giant；　but　seemed　to　be　having　little　effect。
　〃Aim　right　above　the　fuel　cells！〃　Anakin　cried　to　the　gunner。　With　a　slight　adjustment；　the　gunner　let　fly　his　next　burst。
　
　Huge　explosions　rocked　the　starship　and　it　began　to　tilt　ominously　to　the　side。　The　gunship；　and　others　rushing　in　nearby；　swerved　aside　as　the　great　craft　toppled。
　〃Good　call！〃　Obi…Wan　congratulated　his　Padawan；　then　he　shouted　to　the　crew；　〃Those　Trade　Federation　starships　are　taking　off！　Target　them　quickly！〃
　〃They're　too　big；　Master；〃　Anakin　replied。　〃The　ground…troopers　will　have　to　take　them　out。
　
　　The　gunship　roared　across　the　widening　battlefield；　lasers　blasting　away；　explosions　erupting　all　about　it；　a　scene　of　spectacular　destruction　and　frenzy。　Mace　Windu　shook　his　head　and　looked　to　Yoda。
　〃Capture　Dooku；　we　must；〃　Yoda　said；　his　calm　and　steady　voice　as　strong　an　anchor　as　Mace　could　have　asked　for　in　that　momentous　moment。　〃If　escape　he　does；　he　will　rally　more　systems　to　his　cause。〃
　
　Mace　looked　to　the　diminutive　Master　and　nodded　grimly。　〃Captain；　land　at　that　assembly　point　ahead；〃　he　ordered　the　lone　driving　his　gunship；　and　the　obedient　pilot　fast　settled　the　craft。　Mace；　Ki…Adi…Mundi；　and　a　host　of　clone　troopers　jumped　out；　but　Yoda　did　not　follow。
　〃To　the　forward　mand　center；　take　me；〃　he　instructed；　and　the　gunship　lifted　away。
　
　As　soon　as　they　put　down　at　the　relative　safety　of　the　position　that　had　been　secured　as　the　mand　center；　the　clone　mander　rushed　to　the　open　gunship　dropdoor。　〃Master　Yoda；　all　forward　positions　are　advancing。〃
　〃Very　good；　very　good；〃　Yoda　said。　〃Concentrate　all　your　fire　on　the　nearest　starship。〃
　〃Yes；　sir！〃
　
　The　clone　mander　ran　off；　organizing　his　leaders　as　he　went。　Soon　after；　the　forward　groups　began　picking　their　targets　in　a　more　coordinated　manner；　and　the　concentrated　fire　succeeded　where　sporadic　bursts　could　not；　taking　down　one　starship　after　another。
　
　　The　gunship　slowed　and　banked　suddenly；　circling　a　droid　gun　emplacement；　ing　too　fast　around　the　back　for　the　stationary　system　to　swivel。　A　furious　barrage　destroyed　the　defensive　position　pletely；　but　it　did　manage　a　single　shot　the　gunship's　way；　rocking　the　craft　hard。
　〃Hold　on！〃　Obi…Wan　cried；　grabbing　the　edge　of　the　open　dropdoor。
　〃Can't　think　of　a　better　choice！〃　Padme　yelled　back　at　him。
　
　Obi…Wan　turned　a　smirk　her　way；　or　started　to；　but　then　he　saw　a　Geonosian　speeder　soaring　away；　an　unmistakable　figure　in　the　open　cockpit。　Two　fighters　flanked　the　speeder；　the　trio　heading　fast　away　from　the　main　fighting。　〃Look！　Over　there！〃　〃It's　Dooku！〃　Anakin　cried。　〃Shoot　him　down！〃
　〃We're　out　of　ordnance；　sir；〃　the　clone　captain　replied。
　〃Follow　him！〃　Anakin　ordered。
　
　The　pilot　put　the　ship　up　on　its　side；　banking　fast　to　turn　into　a　straight　run　for　the　fleeing　Count。
　〃We're　going　to　need　some　help；〃　Padme　remarked。
　〃No；　there's　no　time；〃　said　Obi…Wan。　〃Anakin　and　I　can　handle　this。〃　As　the　gunship　began　to　close；　the　fighters　flanking　Dooku　banked　away　suddenly；　veering　off　left　and　right；　turning　to　engage。　The　clone　pilot　of　the　gunship　was　up　to　the　task；　weaving　his　way　through　their　fire；　but　then　another　blast　rocked　the　ship；　and　with　the　vehicle　up　on　edge；　Obi…　Wan　and　Anakin　had　to　hold　on　tight　and　scramble　to　stay　in。
　
　Padme　wasn't　so　fortunate。
　
　One　moment；　she　was　beside　Anakin；　and　then　she　was　gone；　tumbling　out　the　open　dropdoor。
　〃Padme！〃　Anakin　screamed。　Everything　seemed　to　be　happening　in　slow　motion；　and　he　couldn't　catch　her；　couldn't　reach　out　fast　enough。
　
　She　tumbled　down　and　hit　the　ground　hard；　and　lay　very　still。
　〃Padme！〃　Anakin　cried　again；　and　then　he　yelled　to　the　clone　pilot；　〃Put　the　ship　down！〃
　
　Obi…Wan　stood　before　him；　his　hands　on　Anakin's　shoulders；　holding　him　steady　and　firm。　〃Don't　let　your　personal　feelings　get　in　the　way；〃　he　reminded　his　Padawan。　He　turned　to　the　pilot。　〃Follow　that　speeder。〃　Anakin　pushed　to　the　side；　peering　over　his　Master's　shoulder；　and　growled；
　
　〃Lower　the　ship！〃
　
　Obi…Wan　turned　to　face　him　again；　and　this　time；　his　look　was　not　so　sympathetic。　〃Anakin；〃　he　said　flatly；　showing　that　there　was　no　room　for　debate。　〃I　can't　take　Dooku　alone。　If　we　catch　him；　we　can　end　this　war　right　now。　We　have　a　job　to　do。〃
　〃I　don't　care！〃　Anakin　yelled　at　him。　He　pushed　out　to　the　side　again　and　yelled　at　the　pilot；　〃Put　the　ship　down！〃
　〃You'll　be　expelled　from　the　Jedi　Order；〃　Obi…Wan　said；　his　grim　look　showing　no　room　for　any　argument。
　
　The　blunt　statement　hit　Anakin　hard。　〃I　can't　leave　her；〃　he　said；　his　voice　suddenly　little　more　than　a　whisper。
　〃e　to　your　senses；〃　said　the　unpromising　Obi…Wan。　〃What　do　you　think　Padme　would　do　if　she　were　in　your　position？〃
　
　Anakin's　shoulders　slumped。　〃She　would　do　her　duty；〃　he　admitted。　He　turned　and　looked　back　toward　where　Padme　had　fallen；　but　they　were　now　too　far　off；　and　there　was　too　much　dust。
　
　　Gunships　screamed　left　and　right；　trading　fire　with　laser　cannon　emplacements。　On　the　ground；　thousands　of　clone　troopers　battled　the　droids；　and　it　was　already　being　apparent　that　these　new　soldiers　were　indeed　superior。　One　against　one；　a　battle　droid　was　nearly　a　match　for　a　clone　trooper；　and　a　super　battle　droid　even　more　than　a　match。　But　in　groups　and　formations；　the　improvisation　of　the　clone　troopers；　reacting　to　the　fast…changing　battleground　and　following　the　relayed　orders　of　their　Jedi　mander；　was　quickly　giving　them　all　of　the　best　vantage　points；　all　the　high　ground　and　the　most　defensible　positions。
　
　The　battle　soon　extended　far　overhead；　as　well；　as　Republic　warships　engaged　those　Trade　Federation　ships　that　had　managed　to　get　offplanet；　and　those　that　had　not　yet　landed。　Most　of　those　Trade　Federation　ships　inside　the　asteroid　belt　and　immediately　within　the　perimeter　of　the　battle　were　troop　carriers　rather　than　battleships；　and　so　the　Republic　was　fast　gaining　the　upper　hand　there；　as　well。
　
　Over　at　the　mand　center；　an　exhausted　and　dirty　Mace　Windu　joined　Master　Yoda；　the　two　sharing　looks　that　bined　hope　for　the　present　and　fear　for　the　future。
　〃You　decided　to　bring　them；〃　Mace　stated。
　〃Troubling；　it　is；〃　Yoda　replied；　his　large　eyes　slowly　blinking。　〃Two　paths　were　there　open；　and　this　one　alone　offered　the　return　of　so　many　Jedi。〃
　
　Mace　Windu　nodded　his　approval　of　that　choice；　but　Yoda　only　looked　at　the　turmoil　and　destruction　raging　about　him　and　blinked　his　large　eyes　once　more。
　
　　Obi…Wan　pushed　past　Anakin；　moving　toward　the　pilot。　〃Follow　that　speeder！〃　The　gunship　did　just　that；　zooming　low。　They　found　the　speeder　soon　enough；　parked　outside　a　large　tower。　The　gunship　skimmed　to　a　stop；　moving　a　bit　lower；　and　Anakin　and　Obi…Wan　leapt　out；　rushing　to　the　tower　door。　Hardly　pausing；　Anakin　burst　through；　lightsaber　in　hand；　entering　a　huge　hangar；　with　cranes　and　control　panels；　tug…ships　and　workbenches。
　
　They　found　Count　Dooku　inside；　standing　at　a　control　panel；　working　some　instruments。　A　small　interstellar　sail　ship　sat　nearby；　a　graceful；　shining　craft　with　a　circular　pod　set　on　two　lander　legs；　the　retracted　sails　sweeping　out　to　narrowing　points　behind　it；　like　folded　wings。
　〃You're　going　to　pay　for　all　the　Jedi　you　killed　today；　Dooku！〃　Anakin　yelled　at　him；　moving　in　determinedly。　Again　he　felt　the　tug　of　a　determined　Obi…Wan；　holding　him　back。
　〃We　move　in　together；〃　Obi…Wan　explained。　〃You　slowly　on　the…〃
　〃No！　I'm　taking　him　now！〃　And　Anakin　pulled　away　and　charged　ahead。
　〃Anakin；　no！〃
　
　Like　a　charging　reek；　the　young　Jedi　came　on；　his　green　lightsaber　ready　to　cut　Dooku　in　half。　The　Count　looked　at　him　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye；　smiling　as　if　truly　amused。
　
　Anakin　didn't　catch　the　cue。　His　rage　moved　him　along；　as　it　had　with　the　Tusken　Raiders。
　
　But　this　was　no　simple　warrior　enemy。　Dooku's　hand　shot　out　toward　the　charging　Jedi；　sending　forth　a　Force　push　as　solid　as　any　stone　wall；　and　a　burst　of　blue　Force　lightning；　unknown　to　Jedi；　charged　all　about　the　trapped　and　lifted　Jedi　Padawan。
　
　Anakin　managed　to　hold　onto　his　lightsaber　as　he　went　up　into　the　air；　held　there　by　the　power　of　the　Count。　With　a　wave　of　his　hand；　Dooku　sent　Anakin　flying　across　the　room；　to　crash　into　a　distant　wall；　where　he　slumped　down；　dazed。
　〃As　you　can　see；　my　Jedi　powers　are　far　beyond　yours；〃　Dooku　said　with　plete　confidence　and　calm。
　〃I