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his balance； as a bunch of stones fell loose； bouncing down the side of the mesa。
The Jedi drew out his lightsaber but did not ignite it。 He moved along cautiously； down and around a bend in the rocky path。
He saw the large； lizardlike creature ing for him； its huge fangs dripping lines of drool。 It stood on strong hind legs； its little forelegs twitching eagerly。 The lightsaber hummed to life and Obi…Wan dived down to the side； slashing back as he fell； opening the creature's side from foreleg to hind。 The creature landed and tried to turn； but as it spasmed in pain； it overbalanced and fell off the trail； plummeting hundreds of feet and shrieking all the way。
Obi…Wan had no time to watch the descent； though； for another of the beasts appeared； ing at him fast； its toothy maw open wide。 The Jedi filled that maw with lightsaber； shearing through teeth and gums； driving the blade right through the back of the creature's head。 He pulled hard to the side； the energy blade tearing right through the beast's skull； and turned to face yet another leaping beast。 Falling back and down； he let the lizard fly past； then he came up immediately and started to pursue。 But abruptly he stopped； reversed his grip； and stabbed out behind him； impaling a fourth creature。 He spun about； flipping the weapon from his right hand to his left； then slashed it out the side of the dying beast as he pleted his circuit； ing right around to face the one that had leapt past。 The creature circled slowly； seemingly sizing him up； and Obi…Wan turned with it； but kept his eyes and ears scanning the area。
He tried to scare the creature off； and with two of its panions lying dead on the rocks and a third having gone over the cliff； he fully expected it to flee。
But not this fierce beast。 It charged suddenly； jaws snapping。 A sidestep； forward step； and overhand slash had the creature's head rolling free on the ground。
〃Fun place；〃 the Jedi remarked after a while； when he was confident that no more of the creatures were about。 He put his weapon away and moved along； and soon after rounded the corner of the mesa。
A great plain spread out wide before him with many tall shapes in the far distance； indistinguishable in the darkness。 Obi…Wan took out his electrobinoculars and peered across the plain。 He saw a cluster of great towers…not natural stalagmites like those he had seen dotting the landscape； but shaped structures。 A roll of his finger increased the magnification； of both size and available light； and he scanned slowly to the side。
Trade Federation starships； scores of them； lined the region； settled on platforms。 The Jedi watched in amazement as another platform rose beside one ship and thousands of Battle Droids stepped off it and into the vessel； which then lifted away。
And was quickly replaced by another starship； settling down on the platform。
Another platform rose to the side； and again； thousands of droids stepped off to board the waiting starship； and that one； now filled with droid soldiers； lifted away。
〃Unbelievable；〃 the Jedi muttered and he looked to the eastern horizon； trying to gauge the amount of time he had before dawn； wondering if he could make the run before the light found him。
Not if he had to slowly work his way down the mesa； he realized； and so he shrugged and stepped ahead； closing his eyes and finding his power in the Force。 Then he leapt out； lifting himself with the Force to ease his descent。 He hit a bluff many feet down； but sprang away and fell again； and again； half bouncing； half flying his way down to the dark plain。
The sun was still below the eastern rim； though the land was beginning to lighten around him； when he reached the grandest tower of the plex。 The entryway was heavily guarded by battle droids； but Obi…Wan had no intention of going anywhere near that area。 Using the Force and his own conditioning； the Jedi scaled the tower； until he came to a small window。
He slipped in silently and moved from shadow to shadow； then ducked behind a wind curtain as he heard the approach of a pair of strange…looking creatures…Geonosians； he supposed。 They wore little clothing； and their skin was reddish； like the air about them； with flaps hanging in rolls in many places about their slender frames。 Leathery wings showed behind their bony shoulders。 Their heads were large and elongated； their skulls ridged top and side； and they had thick…lidded； bulbous eyes。 Their expressions seemed to be locked in a perpetual scowl。 〃Too many sentients；〃 he heard one of them say。 〃It is not your place to question Archduke Poggle the Lesser；〃 the other scolded； and grumbling； the pair wandered away。
Obi…Wan moved out behind them； going the opposite way。 He slipped from shadow to shadow along a narrow corridor lined with pillars。 He couldn't help but see the contrast between this place and Tipoca City。 Where Tipoca City was a work of art； all rounded and smooth； all glass and light； this place was rough…edged； all sharp corners and utilitarian features。
The Jedi moved along； ing to an open vent； sharp noises and pounding echoing up from it。 He dropped to the ground and looked all about； then crawled and peered over the edge。
A factory； a huge alignment of conveyor belts and pounding machines； lay below； in a wide…open area。 Obi…Wan watched in blank amazement as many； many Geonosians…these without wings like the pair that had walked past him… worked at various stations assembling droids。 At the far end of the conveyor； pleted droids stepped off under their own power； walking away down a distant corridor。
To platforms that would lift them to waiting Trade Federation starships； the Jedi realized。
With a shake of his head； Obi…Wan ran along； and then he sensed something； fleeting but definite。 He followed his instincts along the maze of corridors； at last ing to a vast underground chamber； with huge vaulted ceilings and rough…styled arches。 He started across； moving pillar to pillar； sensing that something or someone was near。
He heard their voices before he saw them； and he fell flat against the stone。
A group of six figures walked past him； four in front and two behind。 Two Geonosians were in that front row； along with a Neimoidian viceroy whom Obi… Wan knew all too well and a man whose features were also recognizable from busts the Jedi had seen in the Temple on Coruscant。
〃Now we must persuade the merce Guild and the Corporate Alliance to sign the treaty；〃 that former Jedi； Count Dooku； was saying。 The man was tall and regal； with perfect posture and a graceful gait。 His hair was silver and perfectly trimmed and his elegant features； strong jaw； and piercing eyes pleted the look of a man who had once been among the greatest of the Jedi。 He wore a black cape； clipped at his neck by a silver chain； and a black shirt and pants of the finest materials。 In looking at him； in feeling his presence； Obi…Wan understood that nothing less would ever suit this one。
〃What about the Senator from Naboo？〃 asked the Neimoidian； Nute Gunray； his beady eyes and thin features seeming smaller still beneath the tripronged headdress he always wore。 〃Is she dead yet？ I'm not signing your treaty until I have her head on my desk。〃
Obi…Wan nodded； huge pieces of the puzzle starting to fall into place。 It made sense to him that Nute Gunray would want Amidala dead； even if her voice of opposition to an army of the Republic was working in his favor。 Amidala had embarrassed the Neimoidian badly in the Battle of Naboo； after all。
〃I am a man of my word； Viceroy；〃 one of the separatists answered。
〃With these new battle droids we've built for you； Viceroy； you'll have the finest army in the galaxy；〃 said the Geonosian whom Obi…Wan believed to be Poggle the Lesser。 He didn't look much like the winged moners and workers Obi…Wan had seen。 His skin was lighter； more a grayish tan than red… tinted； and his head was huge； his large scowling mouth protruding just a bit； giving him a fierce appearance； an elongated chin that seemed more a long beard hung halfway down his torso。
They continued their banter； but had moved out of earshot