Star Wars_ The Dark Lord Trilogy - James Luceno [81]
“Sidious?”
“Possibly. Even if it wasn’t, it’s likely that Dooku has other confederates on Coruscant, and tracking them down could eventually lead us to Sidious. Other evidence has come to light, as well. Intelligence discovered that the building belonged to a corporation called LiMerge Power, which was believed to have been involved in the manufacture and distribution of prohibited weapons during Finis Valorum’s term as Supreme Chancellor. It was rumored at the time that LiMerge was responsible for funding acts of piracy directed against Trade Federation vessels in the Outer Rim. And it was those acts of piracy that led ultimately to the Trade Federation being granted the right to defend their vessels with battle droids.”
“Are you telling me that LiMerge might have been in league with the Sith?”
“Why not? At Naboo, the Trade Federation was in league with Sidious. The entire Confederacy is in league with him now.”
Anakin shrugged impatiently. “I still don’t understand how this keeps us from returning to Coruscant.”
“I’ve just been informed that the Separatists have attacked a Republic garrison base on Tythe, and occupied the planet.”
“Who cares? I mean, I’m sorry for any troopers we lost, but Tythe is a wasteland.”
“Exactly,” Obi-Wan said. “But before it became a wasteland, it was headquarters for LiMerge Power.”
Anakin mulled it over for a moment. “Another attempt by Sidious to erase the trail we’ve been following?”
Obi-Wan ran his hand over his mouth. “The Council was able to convince Palpatine of the need to retake Tythe, and he has authorized a full battle group to divert there. It seems he is finally willing to follow Master Yoda’s advice about concentrating on dismantling the Confederacy leadership.”
“Grievous is on Tythe?”
Obi-Wan grinned. “Better: Dooku is there.”
Anakin turned his back to Obi-Wan. His face was flushed when he finally swung around. “Not good enough.”
Obi-Wan blinked. “Not good enough?”
“The search for Sidious began with us. We discovered the first clues. If he’s thought to be on Coruscant, then we’re the ones who should be there to capture him.”
“Anakin, Mace and Shaak Ti are more than capable of seeing to that—if Sidious is even there.”
Anakin was shaking his head. “Not as easily as … we could. Sidious is a Sith Lord!”
Obi-Wan took a moment to respond. “The way I remember it, we didn’t fare all that well against Dooku.”
“All that’s changed!” Anakin said, becoming angrier as he spoke. “I’m stronger than I was. You’re stronger. Together, we can defeat any Sith.”
“Anakin, is this really about capturing Sidious?”
“Of course it is. We deserve the honor.”
“Honor? Since when did this war become a contest for first place? If you’re thinking that the capture of Sidious will earn you a place on the Council—”
“I don’t care about the Council! I’m telling you we need to return to Coruscant. People are counting us.”
“What people?”
“The … people of Coruscant.”
Obi-Wan inhaled slowly. “Why don’t I believe you?”
“I don’t know, Master? Suppose you tell me?”
Obi-Wan narrowed his eyes. “Don’t turn this into a game. There’s something else at work here. Have you had a vision I should know about?”
Anakin started to reply, bit back whatever it was he had in mind to say, and began again. “The truth is … I want to be home. We’ve been out here longer than anyone—trooper or Jedi.”
“That’s what you get for being so good at what you do,” Obi-Wan said, hoping to lighten the mood.
“I’m tired of it, Master. I want to be home.”
Obi-Wan studied him. “You miss the Temple so much? The food? The lights of Coruscant?”
“Yes.”
“Yes, to what?”
“All of it.”
“Then your protests have nothing to do with capturing Sidious.”
“No. They do.”
“Well, which is it—home or Sidious?”
“Why can’t it be both?”
Obi-Wan fell silent, as if struck by a sudden suspicion. “Anakin, is it Padmé?”
Anakin rolled his eyes.