tempting sway of the serpent, was remind herself that he had taken Obi-Wan prisoner and meant to execute him. Would the Republic have taken such a prisoner and set him up for execution? Would she?
'I cannot believe that,' she said with renewed determination. 'I know of your treaties with the Trade Federation, the Commerce Guild, and the others, Count. What is happening here is not government that has been bought out by business, it's business becoming government! I will not forsake all that I have honored and worked for, and betray the Republic.'
'Then you will betray your Jedi friends? Without your cooperation, I can do nothing to stop their execution.'
'And in that statement lies the truth of your proposed improvement,' she said flatly, her words holding firm against the turmoil and agony that was wracking her. In the silence that followed, Dooku's staring expression went from that of a polite dignitary to an angry enemy, for just a flash, before reverting to his usual calm and regal demeanor.
'And what about me?' Padme continued. 'Am I to be executed also?'
'I wouldn't think of such an offense,' Dooku said. 'But there are individuals who have a strong interest in your demise, M'Lady. It has nothing to do with politics, I'm afraid. It's purely personal, and they have already paid great sums to have you assassinated. I'm sure they will push hard to have you included in the executions. I'm sorry, but if you are not going to cooperate, I must turn you over to the Geonosians for justice. Without your cooperation, I've done all I can for you.'
'Justice,' Padme echoed incredulously, with a shake of her head and a knowing smirk. And then there was silence.
Dooku waited patiently for a few moments, then turned and nodded to Jango Fett.
'Take them away!' the bounty hunter ordered.
Much to his dismay, C-3PO found out exactly what the Geonosian had meant when he had said, 'Put him in the line!'
He was in group of drilling battle droids, a dozen lines of twenty in a rectangular formation, going through the extensive programming testing before being herded onto great landing pads to be scooped up by Trade Federation warships.
So flustered was the out-of-place protocol droid, and so unfamiliar with his new body, that when the Geonosian ordered, 'Left face,' he turned to the right, and when the drill leader then commanded, 'March,' the battle droid now facing him stomped right into him, bearing him backward, following its orders to a T without the ability to improvise.
'Oh, do stop!' C-3PO pleaded. 'You are scratching me! Oh, I do beg you to stop!'
No response followed, because the droids had been programmed to respond only to the drill leader.
'Oh, do stop!' C-3PO begged again, fearful that he was going to be knocked over and trampled by the battle droid, and the four others marching behind it. His sensors, tied in to his new torso, showed him an effective solution to his problem. Without even realizing what he was doing, C-3PO fired his right-arm laser, point blank, into the pushing battle droid's chest, blasting the thing apart.
'Oh my!' C-3PO cried.
'Halt!' the Geonosian drill leader screamed, and all the droids immediately froze in place. Except for poor C-3PO, who stood there positively flummoxed, his torso rotating side to side as he tried to figure out what to do next. He heard the drill leader call out to 'take four-dot-seven back for more training,' and when he considered his position in the ranks, he knew the Geonosian was talking about him.
'Wait, no, it is a mistake,' he cried as a pair of burly maintenance droids rolled over and scooped him up in their vise-grip arms. 'Oh, but this is all wrong. I am programmed in over three million languages, not for marching!'
Chapter Twenty-Three
Even before he reached the end of the corridor, Mace Windu sensed Yoda's great sadness. The Master was sitting on a balcony overlooking the Galactic Senate. Below, chaos reigned. Uproar and screaming, loud opinions and counter opinions-the turmoil struck a profound chord in Mace Windu, who understood Yoda's sadness, and shared it. This was the government that he and his proud Order were sworn to protect, though right now many of the Senators hardly seemed worthy of that protection.
Right there and then, all the faults of the Republic were laid bare to Mace Windu, and to Master Yoda, all of the bureaucratic nonsense that seemed to inevitably get in the way of true progress. This was the chaos that had spawned Count Dooku and the separatist movement. This was the nonsense that gave credence to otherwise outlandish claims, and allowed the greedy special interests, like the Trade Federation, to exploit the galaxy. The tall Jedi Master moved to the end of the corridor and sat down beside Yoda. He said nothing, because there was nothing to say. Their place was to observe and to fight in defense of the Republic.
However ridiculous many of the representatives of that body now appeared below them.
Mace and Yoda watched the Senators screaming furiously at each other, fists and other appendages waving in the air. At the podium across the way, Mas Amedda stood anxiously, glancing about and calling for order.
Finally, after many long minutes, the screaming died away.
'Order! Order!' Mas Amedda repeated many times, obviously trying to ensure that things did not spiral out of control once again.
Chancellor Palpatine moved front and center, and cast his gaze all about the amphitheater, meeting many eyes and trying hard to convey the gravity of the moment.
'In the regrettable absence of Senator Amidala,' he said at length, speaking slowly and distinctly, 'the chair recognizes the Senior Representative of Naboo, Jar Jar Binks.'
Mace looked at Yoda, who closed his eyes against the ensuing onslaught of cheers and boos, seemingly equal in strength. Everyone in the Senate knew what was coming, and the weight of it threatened to rip the body
