按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
lar 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 wonder why it didn't show up in our analysis archive。〃
Dex poked down at the dart with a stubby finger。 〃It's these funny little cuts on the side that give it away；〃 he explained。 〃Those analysis droids you've got over there only focus on symbols； you know。 I should think you Jedi have more respect for the difference between knowledge and wisdom。〃
〃Well； Dex； if droids could think； there'd be none of us here； would there？〃 Obi…Wan answered with a laugh。
The Jedi Knight sobered quickly； though； remembering the gravity of his mission。 〃Kamino 。 。 。 doesn't sound familiar。 Is it part of the Republic？〃
〃No； it's beyond the Outer Rim。 I'd say about twelve parsecs outside the Rishi Maze； toward the south。 It should be easy to find； even for those droids in your archive。 These Kaminoans keep to themselves； mostly。 They're cloners。 Good ones； too。〃
Obi…Wan picked up the dart again； holding it between them； his elbow resting on the table。 〃Cloners？〃 he asked。 〃Are they friendly？〃
〃It depends。〃
〃On what？〃 The Jedi looked past the dart as he asked； and the grin on Dexter's face gave him his answer before it was spoken aloud。
〃On how good your manners are and how big your pocketbook is。〃
Obi…Wan looked back at the saberdart； hardly surprised。
Chapter Twelve
〃Senator Padme Amidala； formerly Queen Amidala of Naboo； certainly wasn't used to traveling in this manner。 The freighter held one class； steerage； and in truth； it was nothing more than a cargo ship； with several great open holds more suitable to inanimate cargo than to living beings。 The lighting was terrible and the smell was worse； though whether the odor came from the ship itself or the hordes of emigrants； beings of many； many species； Padme did not know。 Nor did she care。 In some ways； Padme was truly enjoying this voyage。 She knew that she should be back on Coruscant； fighting the efforts to create a Republic army； but somehow； she felt relaxed here； felt free。
Free of responsibility。 Free to just be Padme for a while； instead of Senator Amidala。 Moments such as these were rare for her； and had been since she was a child。 All of her life； it seemed； had been spent in public service； all of her focus had always been for the greater； the public； good； with hardly any time ever being given just to Padme； to her needs and her desires。
The Senator didn't regret that reality of her life。 She was proud of her acplishments； but more than that； even； she felt a profound sense of warmth； of munity； of belonging to something greater than herself。 Still； these moments when the responsibility was lifted were undeniably enjoyable。
She looked over at Anakin； who was sleeping somewhat restlessly。 She could see him now； not as a Jedi Padawan and her protector； but just as a young man。 A handsome young man； and one whose actions repeatedly professed his love for her。 A dangerous young man； to be sure； a Jedi who was thinking about things he should not。 A man who was inevitably following the call of his heart ab