Star Wars_ The Dark Lord Trilogy - James Luceno [119]
Mace’s eyes widened in alert. “Do your gunners know that the Supreme Chancellor is aboard? Do they realize they can’t fire on the shuttle?”
“They have orders to disable if possible, sir. The shuttle is shielded and well armored, in any case.”
“Who else knows of the abduction?” Kit thought to ask. “Has this been released or leaked to the media?”
“Yes, sir. Moments ago.”
“On whose orders?” Mace fumed.
“The Supreme Chancellor’s top advisers.”
Shaak Ti forced an exhale. “All of Coruscant will panic.”
Mace squared his shoulders. “Commander, scramble every available starfighter. That ship cannot be allowed to reach the Separatist fleet.”
Dooku hadn’t fled alone. The only indications of Tythe’s invasion were the hulking remains of Separatist and Republic warships, tumbling indolently in starlight.
“We were all beginning to wonder if you were going to return,” a human crew chief said by way of welcoming Obi-Wan and Anakin back to the assault cruiser’s ventral landing bay.
Obi-Wan descended the ladder affixed to the starfighter’s cockpit. “When did the Separatists jump?”
“Less than an hour, local. Guess they had enough of the pounding we were giving them.”
Leaping to the deck, Anakin laughed nastily. “Believe whatever you want.”
The crew chief furrowed his brow in uncertainty.
“Do we know where they’re headed?” Obi-Wan asked quickly.
The crew chief turned to him. “Most of the capital ships jumped Rimward. A few appear to be headed for the Nelvaan system—thirteen parsecs from here.”
“What are our orders?”
“We’re still waiting to find out. The fact is, we haven’t received any communications from Coruscant since the start of the battle.”
Anakin took a sudden interest in the crew chief’s remarks.
“Could be local interference,” Obi-Wan said.
The crew chief looked dubious. “Several other battle groups reported that they have been unable to communicate with Coruscant.”
Anakin shot Obi-Wan an embittered look and began to storm away.
“Anakin,” Obi-Wan said, following in his footsteps.
Anakin whirled on him. “We were wrong to come here, Master. I was wrong to come here. It was all a feint, and we fell for it. We’re being kept away from Coruscant. I can feel it.”
Obi-Wan folded his arms across his chest. “You wouldn’t be saying that if we’d captured Dooku.”
“But we didn’t, Master. That’s what counts. And now no communication with Coruscant? You don’t even see it, do you?”
Obi-Wan regarded him carefully. “See what, Anakin?”
Anakin started to speak, then cut himself off and began again. “You should keep me fighting. You shouldn’t give me time to think.”
Obi-Wan rested his hands on Anakin’s shoulders. “Calm yourself.”
Anakin shrugged him off, a new fire in his eyes. “You’re my best friend. Tell me what I should do. Forget for a moment that you’re wearing the robes of a Jedi and tell me what I should do!”
Stung by the gravity in Anakin’s voice, Obi-Wan fell silent for a moment, then said: “The Force is our ally, Anakin. When we’re mindful of the Force, our actions are in accord with the will of the Force. Tythe wasn’t a wrong choice. It’s simply that we’re ignorant of its import in the greater scheme.”
Anakin lowered his head in sadness. “You’re right, Master. My mind isn’t as fast as my lightsaber.” He stared at his artificial limb. “My heart isn’t as impervious to pain as my right hand.”
Obi-Wan felt as if someone had knotted his insides. He had failed his apprentice and closest friend. Anakin was suffering, and the only balm he offered were Jedi platitudes. His body heaved a stuttering breath. He had his mouth open to speak when the crew chief interrupted.
“General Skywalker, something has your astromech very flustered.”
Obi-Wan and Anakin swung to Anakin’s starfighter.
“Artoo?” Anakin said in a concerned tone.
The astromech tooted, shrilled, chittered.
“Does he understand droid?” the crew chief asked Obi-Wan as Anakin hurried past him.
“That droid,” Obi-Wan said.
Anakin began to scale the cockpit ladder. “What is it, Artoo? What’s wrong?”
The droid whistled and zithered.
Throwing