rasalvatore.attackoftheclones-第25部分

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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　his　grimy　shirt　and　breeches。　He　was　bald　and　sweaty；　and　though　he　had　seen　many　years　and　did　not　move　fluidly　any　longer；　with　too　many　old　injuries　slowing　him；　Dexter　Jettster　was　obviously　not　a　creature　anyone　wanted　to　fight…especially　since　he　was　possessed　of　four　huge　arms；　each　with　a　massive　fist　that　could　fully　bust　a　man's　face。　Obi…Wan　noted　the　many　respectful　glances　that　went　his　way　as　he　moved　to　the　booth。
　〃Hey；　ol'　buddy！〃
　〃Hey；　Dex。　Long　time。〃
　
　With　great　effort；　Dexter　managed　to　squeeze　himself　into　the　seat　opposite　Obi…Wan。　The　waitress　droid　was　back　by　then；　setting　two　steaming　mugs　of　ardees　in　front　of　the　old　friends。
　〃So；　my　friend；　what　can　I　do　for　ya？〃　Dexter　asked；　and　it　was　obvious　to　Obi…Wan　that　Dex　genuinely　wanted　to　help。　Obi…Wan　was　hardly　surprised。　He　didn't　always　approve　of　Dexter's　antics；　of　the　seedy　diner　and　the　many　fights；　but　he　knew　Dex　to　be　among　the　most　loyal　of　friends　that　anyone　could　ever　ask　for。　Dex　would　crush　the　life　out　of　an　enemy；　but　would　give　his　own　life　for　someone　he　cared　about。　That　was　the　code　among　the　star　wanderers；　and　one　that　Obi…Wan　could　truly　appreciate。　In　many；　many　ways；　being　here　with　Dex　appealed　to　the　Jedi　Knight　much　more　than　the　time　he　had　to　spend　among　the　ruling　elite。
　〃You　can　tell　me　what　this　is；〃　Obi…Wan　answered。　He　put　the　dart　on　the　table；　watching　Dex　all　the　time；　noting　how　the　being　quickly　placed　his　mug　back　down；　his　eyes　widening　as　he　regarded　the　curious　and　distinctive　item。
　〃Well；　waddya　know；〃　Dex　said　quietly；　as　if　he　could　hardly　draw　breath。
　
　He　picked　up　the　dart　delicately；　almost　reverently；　the　weapon　nearly　disappearing　within　the　folds　of　his　fat　fingers。　〃I　ain't　seen　one　of　these　since　I　was　prospecting　on　Subterrel　beyond　the　Outer　Rim。〃
　〃Do　you　know　where　it　came　from？〃
　
　Dexter　placed　the　dart　down　before　Obi…Wan。　〃This　baby　belongs　to　them　cloners。　What　you　got　here　is　a　Kamino　saberdart。〃
　〃Kamino　saberdart？〃　Obi…Wan　echoed。　〃I　wo