long；〃 he promised。 He straddled the speeder bike； kicked it to life； and rocketed away across the dunes。
Chapter Eighteen
When the call beamed into the Jedi Temple on Coruscant； using scramble code 5 and in care of 〃the old folks home；〃 Mace Windu and Yoda knew that it was important。 Extremely important。
They took the call in Yoda's apartment； after Mace checked the corridor both ways； then pointedly closed the door。
The hologram of Obi…Wan Kenobi appeared before them。 The man was obviously on edge； glancing repeatedly over his shoulder。
〃Masters； I have successfully made contact with Lama Su； the Prime Minister of Kamino。〃
〃Ah； good it is that your planet you have found；〃 Yoda said。
〃Right where your students predicted；〃 Obi…Wan replied。 〃These Kaminoans are cloners…best in the galaxy I've been told； and from what I've seen； I don't doubt the claims。〃
Both Jedi Masters frowned。
〃They are using a bounty hunter named Jango Fett to create a clone army。〃
〃An army？〃 Mace repeated。
〃For the Republic；〃 came Obi…Wan's startling answer。
〃What's more； I have a strong feeling that this bounty hunter is behind the plot to assassinate Senator Amidala。〃
〃Do you think these cloners are involved in that； as well？〃
〃No； Master； there appears to be no motive。〃
〃Do not assume anything； Obi…Wan；〃 Yoda advised。 〃Clear； your mind must be if you are to discover the real villain behind this plot。〃
〃Yes； Master；〃 Obi…Wan said。 〃Prime Minister Lama Su has informed me that the first battalion of clone troopers are ready for delivery。 He also wanted me to remind you that if we require more…and they've another million well on the way to pletion…it will take more time to grow them。〃
〃A million clone warriors？〃 Mace Windu asked in disbelief。
〃Yes； Master。 They say Master Sifo…Dyas placed the order for the clone army almost ten years ago。 I was under the impression he was killed before that。 Did the Council ever authorize the creation of a clone army？〃
〃No；〃 Mace answered without hesitation； and without even looking to Yoda for confirmation。 〃Whoever placed that order did not have the authorization of the Jedi Council。〃
〃Then how？ And why？〃
〃The mystery deepens；〃 Mace said。 〃And it is one that needs unraveling； for more reasons than the safety of Senator Amidala。〃
〃The clones are impressive； Master；〃 Obi…Wan explained。 〃They have been created and trained for one purpose alone。〃
〃Into custody； take this Jango Fett；〃 Yoda instructed。 〃Bring him here。 Question him； we will。〃
〃Yes； Master。 I will report back when I have him。〃 Obi…Wan glanced over his shoulder again and abruptly instructed R4 to cut the transmission。
〃A clone army；〃 Mace remarked； alone with Yoda once again； the hologram gone。 〃Why would Sifo…Dyas…〃
〃When placed； this order was； may provide insight；〃 Yoda said； and Mace nodded。 If the timing of the order was correct； then Sifo…Dyas must have placed it right before he died。
〃If this Jango Fett was involved in trying to kill the Senator； and just happened to be chosen as the source for a clone army； created for the Republic。。。〃 Mace Windu stopped and shook his head。 The coincidence was too great for those two items to be simple chance。 But how could one tie in with the other？ Was it possible that whoever decided to create the clone army was afraid that Senator Amidala would be a strong enough voice to prevent that army from being used？
The Jedi Master rubbed a hand over his forehead and looked to Yoda； who sat with his eyes closed。 Probably contemplating the same riddles as he was； Mace knew。 And equally troubled； if not more so。
〃Blind we are； if the development of this clone army we could not see；〃 Yoda remarked。
〃I think it is time to inform the Senate that our ability to use the Force has diminished。〃
〃Only the Dark Lords of the Sith know of our weakness；〃 Yoda replied。 〃If informed the Senate is； multiply our adversaries will。〃
For the two Jedi Masters； this surprising development was troubling on several different levels。
Obi…Wan moved along the corridor carefully。 He knew nothing of Jango Fett's acplishments； but he figured they must be considerable； given the selection of the man as the prototype for a clone army。 Pausing； he closed his eyes and reached out to the Force； searching for hidden enemies。 A moment later； convinced that Jango wasn't in the immediate area； he approached the door。 Gently； he ran his fingers along the frame； sensing for potential traps； then finally touched the locking mechanism。 Holding one hand there； he tried the door。
It didn't budge。
Obi…Wan reached for his lightsaber thinking to shear through the portal； but he changed his mind； preferring subtlety。 He closed his eyes and sent his strength through his outstretched hand and into the lock； manipulating the mechanism easily。 Then； one hand going to his lightsaber； he tried the door again； and it slid open。
As soon as he viewed the room inside； he knew that he wouldn't be needing his weapon。 The apartment was in plete disorder。 The drawers of every cabinet hung open； some lay on the floor； and the chairs were knocked all askew。
To the side； the bedroom door was open； and it； too； was a wreck。 All the signs within pointed to a hurried departure。
Obi…Wan glanced all about； looking for some clue； and his gaze finally settled on a thin puter screen set on a counter in the main living area。 Rushing to it； he turned it on and recognized it at once as a security network； tied in to various cams set about the immediate area。 Obi…Wan scrolled from view to view； noting the corridor he had just traversed and various angles of the apartment itself。 An outside view of the area showed the apartment's rain…lashed roof…and he could see himself through the transparisteel window。
He continued his scroll； widening the lens and zooming in on anything suspicious。
Then he got a shot of a nearby landing pad and an odd…looking ship with a wide； flat base； narrowed to a point on the closest end and thinning as it climbed to a small partment； perhaps large enough for two or three men。 Rushing about the parked craft was a familiar figure； either Boba Fett or another clone。
Obi…Wan nodded and smiled knowingly as he followed the boy's movements； recognizing from the fluidity and randomness of some small actions that this was indeed Boba and not a perfectly controlled and conditioned clone。
Obi…Wan's grin didn't hold； though； as another familiar figure came into view。 It was Jango； dressed in the armor and rocket pack the Jedi had seen before； on the streets of Coruscant。 If Obi…Wan had had any doubts that Jango was the man who had hired Zam Wesell； those doubts were now gone。 He bolted from the apartment and ran down the corridor； looking for a way out。
〃Yeah； I'll let you fly it；〃 Jango said to Boba。
Boba punched a fist into the air in triumph； thrilled that his father was going to let him get behind the controls of Slave I。 It had been a long time； months； since Boba had been allowed to sit behind the controls。
〃Not to take her out； through；〃 Jango added； somewhat dimming the boy's jubilance。 〃We're going out hot； son； but we'll take her back out of lightspeed early so you can get some time working her about。〃
〃Can I put her down？〃
〃We'll see。〃 Boba knew that his father really meant 〃no；〃 but he didn't press the point。 He understood that something big and dangerous was going on around him； and so he decided to take whatever his dad offered； and be happy with that。 He hoisted another bag and climbed up the ramp to the small storage hold。 He looked back at Jango as he did so； then looked past Jango； to a human form rushing out of the tower's turbolift and toward them through the driving rain。 〃Dad！ Look！〃
As Jango swung about； Boba's eyes went wider still。 The running figure was their Jedi visitor…and he was drawing his lightsaber and igniting a blue blade that hissed in the downpour。 〃Get on board！〃 Jango called to him； but Boba hesitated； watching his father pull out his blaster and fire off a bolt at the charging Jedi。 With amazing reflexes； Obi…Wan snapped his ligh