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ning so far that a person viewing them from one end of the room would see them converging at the other end。 Throughout were the images of Jedi past and present； groups of sculpted busts done in bronze by many of the finest artisans of Coruscant。
Obi…Wan Kenobi stood at one of these busts； studying it； touching it； as if examining the facial features of the person depicted would give him some insight to the man's motivations。 There weren't many visitors in the Archives today…there rarely were more than a few…and so the Jedi expected that his call to Madame Jocasta Nu； the Jedi Archivist； would be answered shortly。
He stood patiently； studying the strong features on the bust； the high and proud cheekbones； the meticulous hairstyle； the eyes； wide and alert。 Obi… Wan hadn't known this man； this legend； Count Dooku； very well； but he had seen him on occasion and he knew that this bust captured the essence of Dooku perfectly。 There was an intensity about the man as palpable as that which had sometimes surrounded Master Qui…Gon； especially when Qui…Gon had found a particularly important cause。 Qui…Gon would go against the Jedi Council when he felt that he was right； as he had done with Anakin some ten years earlier； before the Council had agreed to recognize that the boy's special circumstances； the incredible Force potential and the promise that he might be the one spoken of in prophecy。
Yes； Obi…Wan had seen this kind of intensity in Qui…Gon on occasion； but what he knew of Dooku was that； unlike Qui…Gon； the man had never been able to shut it off； had always been stomping around； chewing over an issue。 The lights in his eyes were ever…burning fires。
But Dooku had taken it to extremes； and dangerous ones； Obi…Wan realized。 He had left the Jedi Order； had walked out on his calling and on his peers。 Whatever problems Dooku must have seen； he should have recognized that he could better repair them by remaining within the Jedi family。
〃Did you call for assistance？〃 came a stern voice behind Obi…Wan； drawing him from his thoughts。 He turned to see Madame Jocasta Nu standing beside him； her hands folded together before her； practically disappearing within the folds of her Jedi robes。 She was a frail…looking creature； quite elderly； and noting that brought a smile to Obi…Wan's face。 How many younger and less experienced Jedi had looked upon that facade； the thin and wrinkled face and neck； the white hair tied tight； thinking that they could push the woman around； getting her to do their studying for them； only to encounter the truth that was Jocasta Nu？ She was a firebrand； that weak facade hiding her true strength and determination。 Jocasta Nu had been the Archivist for many； many years； and this was her place； her domain； her kingdom。 Any Jedi ing in here； even the most exalted of Jedi Masters； would play by the rules of Jocasta Nu； or they would surely face her wrath。
〃Yes； yes I did；〃 Obi…Wan finally managed to respond； realizing that Jocasta Nu was staring at him inquisitively； awaiting an answer。 The old woman smiled and walked past him to regard the bust of Count Dooku。 〃He has a powerful face； doesn't he？〃 she mented； her quiet tone taking the tension out of the meeting。 〃He was one of the most brilliant Jedi I have had the privilege of knowing。〃
〃I never understood why he quit；〃 Obi…Wan said； following Jocasta Nu's look to the bust。 〃Only twenty Jedi have ever left the Order。〃
〃The Lost Twenty；〃 Jocasta Nu said with a profound sigh。 〃And Count Dooku was the most recent and the most painful。 No one likes to talk about it。 His leaving was a great loss to the Order。〃
〃What happened？〃
〃Well； one might say he was a bit out of step with the decisions of the Council；〃 the Archivist replied。 〃Much like your old Master； Qui…Gon。〃
Even though Obi…Wan had just been thinking the same thing； somewhat； to hear Jocasta Nu speak the words so definitively caught him off guard； and painted Qui…Gon in a more rebellious light than he had ever considered。 He knew that his former Master had his moments； of course； the greatest of those being the confrontations concerning Anakin； but he had never thought of Qui…Gon as that much of a rebel。 Apparently； Jocasta Nu； who had her finger as squarely as anyone on the pulse of the Jedi Temple； did。
〃Really？〃 Obi…Wan prompted； wanting the information about Dooku； of course； but also hoping to garner some insight into his old and beloved Master。
〃Oh； yes； they were alike in many ways。 Very individual thinkers。 Idealists。〃 She stared at the bust intently； and it seemed to Obi…Wan as if she had suddenly gone far； far away。 〃He was always striving to bee a more powerful Jedi。 He wanted to be the best。 With a lightsaber； in the old style of fencing； he had no match。 His knowledge of the Force was 。 。 。 unique。 In the end； I think he left because he lost faith in the Republic。 He believed that politics were corrupt。。。〃
Jocasta Nu paused for a moment and looked at Obi…Wan； a very revealing expression that showed she did not think Dooku as out of step as many of the others apparently did。
〃And he felt that the Jedi betrayed themselves by serving the politicians；〃 the Archivist stated。
Obi…Wan blinked； soaking in the words。 He knew that many； Qui…Gon included… even himself included； at times…often felt the same way。
〃He always had very high expectations of government；〃 Jocasta Nu went on。
〃He disappeared for nine or ten years； then just showed up recently as the head of the separatist movement。〃
〃Interesting；〃 Obi…Wan remarked； looking from the bust to the Archivist。
〃I'm still not sure I understand。〃
〃None of us does；〃 Jocasta Nu replied； her serious expression melting into a warm smile。 〃Well； I'm sure you didn't call me over here for a history lesson。 Are you having a problem； Master Kenobi？〃
〃Yes； I'm trying to find a planet system called Kamino。 It doesn't seem to show up on any of the archive charts。〃
〃Kamino？〃 Jocasta Nu looked around； as if she was searching for the system right then and there。 〃It's not a system I'm familiar with。 Let me see。〃
A few steps brought them to the puter screen where Obi…Wan had been searching。 She bent low； and pressed a couple of mands。 〃Are you sure you have the right coordinates？〃
〃According to my information； it should be in this quadrant somewhere；〃 said Obi…Wan 〃Just south of the Rishi Maze。〃
A few more taps of the keyboard brought nothing more than a frown to Jocasta Nu's old and weathered face。 〃But what are the exact coordinates？〃
〃I only know the quadrant；〃 Obi…Wan admitted； and Jocasta Nu turned up to regard him。
〃No coordinates？ It sounds like the sort of directions you'd get from a street tout…some old miner or furbog trader。〃
〃All three； actually；〃 Obi…Wan admitted with a grin。
〃Are you sure it exists？〃
〃Absolutely。〃
Jocasta Nu sat back and rubbed a hand pensively over her chin。 〃Let me do a gravitational scan；〃 she said； as much to herself as to Obi…Wan。 The star map hologram of the target quadrant went into motion after a few more keystrokes； and the pair studied the movements。 〃There are some inconsistencies here；〃 the sharp Archivist noted。 〃Maybe the planet you're seeking was destroyed。〃
〃Wouldn't that be on record？〃
〃It ought to be； unless it was very recent；〃 Jocasta Nu replied； but she was shaking her head even as she spoke the words； not even convincing herself。 〃I hate to say it； but it looks like the system you're searching for doesn't exist。〃
〃That's impossible…perhaps the Archives are inplete。〃
〃The Archives are prehensive and totally secure； my young Jedi；〃 came the imposing response； the Archivist stepping back from her familiarity with Obi…Wan and assuming again the demeanor of archive kingdom ruler。 〃One thing you may be absolutely sure of： If an item does not appear in our records； it does not exist。〃
The two stared at each other for a long moment； Obi…Wan taking note that there wasn't the slightest tremor of doubt in Jocasta Nu's declaration。 He looked back to the map； perplexed； caught within a seemingly unanswerable question。 He knew that no one in the galaxy was more reliable for information that Dexter