rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第57部分

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　struggling　helplessly；　as　she　moved　ever　closer　to　the　pouring　molten　metal。　He　thought　he　might　get　to　her；　might　leap　with　the　Force；　but　then　he　passed　too　close　to　another　machine　and　a　vise　closed　over　his　arm；　mechanically　moving　it　into　position　before　a　programmed　cutting　machine。
　
　Anakin　kicked　out；　both　feet　slamming　a　winged　creature　that　had　pursued　him　in；　knocking　the　Geonosian　away。　He　struggled　mightily　against　the　unyielding　grip　of　the　machine　and　managed　to　turn　enough；　just　in　time；　to　avoid　the　cutting　blade…with　his　arm；　at　least。　He　could　only　watch　in　horror　as　the　machine　sliced　his　lightsaber　in　half。
　
　And　then　he　looked　back；　realizing　that　in　a　moment；　the　lightsaber　would　be　the　least　of　his　losses。
　〃Padme！　〃he　cried。
　
　Across　the　way；　R2…D2　had　landed　near　Padme's　vat。　He　worked　frantically；　slipping　his　controller　arm　onto　the　puter　access　plug；　then　scrolling　through　the　files。
　
　R2…D2　coolly　continued　his　work；　trying　to　put　aside　his　understanding　that　Padme　was　about　to　bee　encased　in　molten　metal。　At　last　he　succeeded　in　shutting　down　the　correct　conveyor。　It　stopped　short；　Padme　less　than　a　meter　from　the　metal　pour。　She　barely　had　time　to　register　relief…a　group　of　winged　creatures　swooped　down　upon　her　and　gathered　her　up　in　strong　grabbing　arms。
　
　Anakin；　kicking　away　another　of　the　creatures；　continued　to　struggle　with　the　machine　gripping　his　arm。　He　could　only　watch　in　dismay　as　a　group　of　deadly　droidekas　rolled　up　and　unfolded　into　position　around　him。　And　then　an　armored　rocket…man　dropped　before　him；　with　blaster　leveled　his　way。　〃Don't　move；　Jedi！〃　the　man　ordered。
　
　　Senator　Amidala　sat　on　one　side　of　the　large　conference　table；　with　Anakin　standing　protectively　behind　her。　Across　the　way　sat　Count　Dooku；　Jango　Fett　positioned　behind　him。　It　was　hardly　a　balanced　meeting；　though；　for　Jango　Fett　was　armed　where　Anakin　was　not；　and　the　room　was　lined　by　Geonosian　guards。
　〃You　are　holding　a　Jedi　Knight；　Obi…Wan　Kenobi；〃　Padme　said　calmly；　using　the　tone　that　had　gotten　her　through　so　many　Senatorial　negotiations。　〃I　am　formally　requesting　you　turn　him　over　to　me　now。〃
　〃He　has　been　convicted　of　espionage；　Senator；　and　will　be　executed。　In　just　a　few　hours；　I　believe。〃
　〃He　is　an　officer　of　the　Republic；〃　she　said；　her　voice　rising　a　bit。　〃You　can't　do　that。〃　〃We　don't　recognize　the　Republic　here；〃　Dooku　said。
　〃However；　if　Naboo　were　to　join　our　alliance；　I　could　easily　hear　your　plea　for　clemency。〃
　〃And　if　I　don't　join　your　rebellion；　I　assume　this　Jedi　with　me　will　also　die。〃
　〃I　don't　wish　to　make　you　join　our　cause　against　your　will；　Senator；　but　you　are　a　rational；　honest　representative　of　your　people；　and　I　assume　you　want　to　do　what's　in　their　best　interest。　Aren't　they　fed　up　with　the　corruption；　the　bureaucrats；　the　hypocrisy　of　it　all？　Aren't　you？　Be　honest；　Senator。〃
　
　His　words　stung　her；　because　she　knew　there　was　some　truth　in　them。　Just　enough　to　give　him　a　modicum　of　credibility；　enough　for　Dooku　to　entice　so　many　systems　to　join　in　his　alliance。　And　of　course；　the　reality　of　the　situation　around　her　stung　her　even　more　deeply。　She　knew　that　she　was　right；　that　her　ideals　meant　something；　but　how　did　that　measure　up　against　the　fact　that　she　would　be　executed　for　holding　them？　And　even　more　than　that；　how　did　her　precious　ideals　hold　up　against　the　fact　that　Anakin　would　die　for　them；　as　well？　She　knew　in　that　moment　just　how　much　she　loved　the　Padawan；　but　knew；　too；　that　she　could　not　deny　all　that　she　had　believed　for　all　of　her　life；　not　even　for　his　life　and　hers。　〃The　ideals　are　still　alive；　Count；　even　if　the　institution　is　failing。〃
　〃You　believe　in　the　same　ideals　we　believe　in！〃　Dooku　replied　at　once；　seizing　the　apparent　opening。　〃The　same　ideals　we　are　striving　to　make　prominent。〃
　〃If　what　you　say　is　true；　you　should　stay　in　the　Republic　and　help　Chancellor　Palpatine　put　things　right。〃
　〃The　Chancellor　means　well；　M'Lady；　but　he　is　inpetent；〃　Dooku　said。　〃He　has　promised　to　cut　the　bureaucracy；　but　the　bureaucrats　are　stronger　than　ever。　The　Republic　cannot　be　fixed；　M'Lady。　It　is　time　to　start　over。　The　democratic　process　in　the　Republic　is　a　sham。　A　game　played　on　the　voters。
　
　The　time　will　e　when　that　cult　of　greed　called　the　Republic　will　lose　even　the　pretext　of　democracy　and　freedom。〃
　
　Padme　firmed　her　jaw　against　the　assault；　consciously　reminding　herself　that　he　was　exaggerating；　playing　things　all　in　a　light　to　give　himself　credibility。　All　she　had　to　do　to　see　through　the　lies；　to　see　the　fangs　beneath　the　tempting　sway　of　the　serpent；　was　remind　herself　that　he　had　taken　Obi…Wan　prisoner　and　meant　to　execute　him。　Would　the　Republic　have　taken　such　a　prisoner　and　set　him　up　for　execution？　Would　she？
　
　〃I　cannot　believe　that；〃　she　said　with　renewed　determination。　〃I　know　of　your　treaties　with　the　Trade　Federation；　the　merce　Guild；　and　the　others；　Count。　What　is　happening　here　is　not　government　that　has　been　bought　out　by　business；　it's　business　being　government！　I　will　not　forsake　all　that　I　have　honored　and　worked　for；　and　betray　the　Republic。〃
　〃Then　you　will　betray　your　Jedi　friends？　Without　your　cooperation；　I　can　do　nothing　to　stop　their　execution。〃
　〃And　in　that　statement　lies　the　truth　of　your　proposed　improvement；〃　she　said　flatly；　her　words　holding　firm　against　the　turmoil　and　agony　that　was　wracking　her。　In　the　silence　that　followed；　Dooku's　staring　expression　went　from　that　of　a　polite　dignitary　to　an　angry　enemy；　for　just　a　flash；　before　reverting　to　his　usual　calm　and　regal　demeanor。
　〃And　what　about　me？〃　Padme　continued。　〃Am　I　to　be　executed　also？〃
　〃I　wouldn't　think　of　such　an　offense；〃　Dooku　said。　〃But　there　are　individuals　who　have　a　strong　interest　in　your　demise；　M'Lady。　It　has　nothing　to　do　with　politics；　I'm　afraid。　It's　purely　personal；　and　they　have　already　paid　great　sums　to　have　you　assassinated。　I'm　sure　they　will　push　hard　to　have　you　included　in　the　executions。　I'm　sorry；　but　if　you　are　not　going　to　cooperate；　I　must　turn　you　over　to　the　Geonosians　for　justice。　Without　your　cooperation；　I've　done　all　I　can　for　you。〃
　〃Justice；〃　Padme　echoed　incredulously；　with　a　shake　of　her　head　and　a　knowing　smirk。　And　then　there　was　silence。
　
　Dooku　waited　patiently　for　a　few　moments；　then　turned　and　nodded　to　Jango　Fett。
　〃Take　them　away！〃　the　bounty　hunter　ordered。
　
　　Much　to　his　dismay；　C…3PO　found　out　exactly　what　the　Geonosian　had　meant　when　he　had　said；　〃Put　him　in　the　line！〃
　
　He　was　in　group　of　drilling　battle　droids；　a　dozen　lines　of　twenty　in　a　rectangular　formation；　going　through　the　extensive　programming　testing　before　being　herded　onto　great　landing　pads　to　be　scooped　up　by　Trade　Federation　warships。
　
　So　flustered　was　the　out…of…place　protocol　droid；　and　so　unfamiliar　with　his　new　body；　that　when　the　Geonosian　ordered；　〃Left　face；〃　he　turned　to　the　right；　and　when　the　drill　leader　then　manded；　〃March；〃　the　battle　droid　now　facing　him　stomped　right　into　him；　bearing　him　backward；　following　its　orders　to　a　T　without　the　ability　to　improvise。
　〃Oh；　do　stop！〃　C…3PO　pleaded。　〃You　are　scratching　me！　Oh；　I　do　beg　you　to　stop！〃
　
　No　response　followed；　because　the　droids　had　been　programmed　to　respond　only　to　the　drill　leader。
　〃Oh；　do　stop！〃　C…3PO　begged　again；　fearful　that　he　was　going　to　be　knocked　over　and　trampled　by　the　battle　droid；　and　the　four　others　marching　behind　it。　His　sensors；　tied　in　to　his　new　torso；　showed　him　an　effective　solution　to　his　problem。　Without　even　realizing　what　he　was　doing；　C…3PO　fired　his　right…arm　laser；　point　blank；　into　the　pushing　battle　droid's　chest；　blasting　the　thing　apart。
　〃Oh　my！〃　C…3PO　cried。
　〃Halt！〃　the　Geonosian　drill　leader　screamed；　and　all　the　droids　immediately　froze　in　place。　Except　for　poor　C…3PO；　who　stood　there　positively　flummoxed；　his　torso　rotating　side　to　side　as　he　tried　to　figure　out　what　to　do　next。　He　heard　the　drill　leader　call　out　to　〃take　four…dot…seven　back　for　more　training；〃　and　when　he　considered　his　position　in　the　ranks；　he　knew　the　Geonosian　was　talking　about　him。
　〃Wait；　no；　it　is　a　mistake；〃　he　cried　as　a　pair　of　burly　maintenance　droi