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tative trance。 He took a moment to register the words； and then gave a little shrug； not disagreeing。 〃I don't sleep well anymore。〃
That was hardly news to Obi…Wan。 〃Because of your mother？〃 he asked。
〃I don't know why I keep dreaming about her now；〃 Anakin answered； frustration ing through in his voice。 〃I haven't seen her since I was little。〃
〃Your love for her was； and remains； deep；〃 Obi…Wan said。 〃That is hardly reason for despair。〃
〃But these are more than。。。〃 Anakin started to say； but he stopped and sighed and shook his head。 〃Are they dreams； or are they visions？ Are they images of what has been； or do they tell of something that is yet to be？〃
〃Or are they just dreams？〃 Obi…Wan said； his gentle smile showing through his scraggly beard。 〃Not every dream is a premonition； some vision or some mystical connection。 Some dreams are just 。 。 。 dreams； and even Jedi have dreams； young Padawan。〃
Anakin didn't seem very satisfied with that。 He just shook his head again。
〃Dreams pass in time；〃 Obi…Wan told him。 〃I'd rather dream of Padme；〃 Anakin replied with a sly smile。 〃Just being around her again is 。。。 intoxicating。〃
Obi…Wan's sudden frown erased both his and Anakin's smiles。 〃Mind your thoughts； Anakin；〃 he scolded in no uncertain tone。 〃They betray you。 You've made a mitment to the Jedi Order； a mitment not easily broken； and the Jedi stand on such relationships is unpromising。 Attachment is forbidden。〃 He gave a little derisive snort and looked toward the sleeping Senator's room。 〃And don't forget that she's a politician。 They're not to be trusted。〃
〃She's not like the others in the Senate； Master；〃 Anakin protested strongly。
Obi…Wan eyed him carefully。 〃It's been my experience that Senators focus only on pleasing those who fund their campaigns； and they are more than willing to forget the niceties of democracy to get those funds。〃
〃Not another lecture； Master；〃 Anakin said with a profound sigh。 He had heard this particular diatribe repeatedly。 〃At least not on the economics of politics。〃
Obi…Wan was no fan of the politics of the Republic。 He started speaking again； or tried to； but Anakin abruptly interrupted。
〃Please； Master；〃 Anakin said emphatically。 〃Besides； you're generalizing。 I know that Padme…〃
〃Senator Amidala；〃 Obi…Wan sternly corrected。
〃…isn't like that；〃 Anakin finished。 〃And the Chancellor doesn't seem to be corrupt。〃
〃Palpatine's a politician。 I've observed that he is very clever at following the passions and prejudices of the Senators。〃
〃I think he is a good man；〃 Anakin stated。 〃My instincts are very positive about。。。〃
The young Padawan trailed off； his eyes widening； his expression being one of shock。
〃I sense it； too；〃 Obi…Wan said breathlessly； and the two Jedi exploded into motion。
Inside the bedroom； the kouhuns crawled slowly and deliberately toward the sleeping Padme's exposed neck and face； their mandibles clicking excitedly。
〃Wee oooo！〃 R2…D2 shrieked； catching on to the threat。 The droid tootled a series of alarms and focused a light on the bed； highlighting the centipede invaders perfectly as Obi…Wan and Anakin burst into the room。
Padme awoke； her eyes going wide； sucking in her breath in terror as the wicked little creatures stood up and hissed； and came at her。
Or would have； except that Anakin was there； his blue lightsaber blade slashing across； just above the bedcovers； once and again； slicing both creatures in half。
〃Droid！〃 Obi…Wan cried； and Anakin and Padme turned to see him rushing for the window。 There； hovering outside； was the remote assassin； its appendages retracting fast。
Obi…Wan leapt into the blinds； taking them with him right through the window； shattering the glass。 He reached into the Force as he leapt； using it to extend his jump； to send him far through the air to catch hold of the retreating droid assassin。 With his added weight； the floating droid sank considerably； but it pensated and stabilized quickly； leaving the Jedi hanging on to it a hundred stories up。
Off flew the droid； taking Obi…Wan with it。
〃Anakin？〃 Padme asked； turning to him。 When she saw him return the look； and saw the sudden flicker of intensity in his blue eyes； she pulled her nightdress higher about her shoulders。
〃Stay here！〃 Anakin instructed。 〃Watch her； Artoo！〃 He rushed for the door； only to stop abruptly as Captain Typho and a pair of guards； along with the handmaiden Dorme； charged in。
〃See to her！〃 was all that Anakin explained as he scrambled past them； running full out for the turbolift。
Not without defensive systems； the probe droid repeatedly sent electrical shocks arcing over its surface； stinging Obi…Wan's hands。
The Jedi Knight gritted through the pain； having no alternative but to hold on。 He knew he shouldn't look down； but he did so anyway； to see the city teeming far； far below。
Another shock nearly sent him plummeting toward that distant bustle。 Reflexively； and hardly considering all the implications； the Jedi fumbled with one hand； found a power wire； and pulled it free； ceasing the electrical shocks。
But ending； too； the power that kept the probe droid aloft。 Down they went； falling like stones； the lights of the various floors flashing past them like strobes as they dropped。
〃Not good； not good！〃 Obi…Wan said over and over as he worked frantically to reconnect the wire。 Finally； he got it。 The probe droid's lights blinked back on； and off the remote soared； with Obi…Wan hanging on desperately。 The droid wasted no time in reigniting the series of electrical shocks； stinging the Jedi； but not shaking the stubborn man free。
Anakin was in no mood to wait for a turbolift。 Out came his lightsaber； and with a single well…placed thrust the Padawan had the doors open； though the turbolift car was nowhere near his floor。 Anakin didn't even pause long enough to discern if it was above him or below； he just leapt into the shaft； catching hold of one of the supporting poles with one arm； propping the side of his foot tight against it； and spinning downward。 His mind whirled； trying to remember the layout of the building； and which levels held the various docking bays。
Suddenly that sixth sense； feeling through the Force； alerted him to danger。
〃Yikes！〃 he yelled as he looked down to see the turbolift racing up at him。 Grabbing on tighter to the pole； he held his open palm downward； then sent a tremendous Force push below； not to stop the lift； but to propel himself back up the shaft； keeping him ahead of the lift with sufficient speed for him to reorient himself and land； sprawled； atop the speeding car。 Again； whipping out his lightsaber； he stabbed it through the catch on the lift's top hatch。 Ignoring the shrieks from the car's occupants below； Anakin pulled open the hatch； grabbed the edge as he shut off his blade； then somersaulted into the car。
〃Docking bay level？〃 he asked the pair of stunned Senators； a Sullustan and a human。
〃Forty…seven！〃 the human responded at once。
〃Too late；〃 the Sullustan added； noting the rolling floor numbers。 The diminutive Senator started to add； 〃Next is sixty…something；〃 but Anakin slammed the brake button； and when that didn't work fast enough for him； he reached into the Force again and grabbed at the braking mechanisms； forcing them even more tightly into place。
All three went off the floor with the sudden stop； the Sullustan landing hard。 Anakin banged on the door； yelling for it to open。 A hand on his shoulder slowed him； and he turned to see the human Senator step by； one finger held up in a gesture bidding the eager young Jedi to wait。 The Senator pushed a button； clearly marked on the panel； and the turbolift door slid open。
With a shrug and a sheepish smile； Anakin had to fall to his belly and squeeze through the opening to drop to the hallway below。 He ran frantically； left and then right； finally spotting a balcony adjacent to the parking garage。 Out he ran； then vaulted over a rail； dropping to a line of parked speeders。 One yellow； snub…nosed speeder was open； so he jumped in； firing it up and zooming away； off the platform and then up； up； h