Lightsabers crashed as Anakin Skywalker and Count Dooku continued their battle in the Gungan temple on Naboo. The MagnaGuards surrounding the fight were a distraction to Anakin. He suddenly felt the droids' electrostaffs raise to his back. Anakin turned to quickly deflect the jab a droid had taken to him, but Dooku continued the lightsaber half of the battle, and Anakin had to attempt to multitask. He was quickly overtaken, one of the droids was able to hit Anakin, sending electric shock coursing through his body. He soon fell to the ground, trying to regain control, but the other three droids soon had their staffs in Anakin's back, leaving him near unconsciousness. Anakin refused to give up though, summoning the Force to push the four droids away from him. His victory was short lived, however, because Count Dooku quickly turned around and, using the Force, pushed Anakin against the wall, then pulled him back into a Force choke. Familiar, electric blue lightning streaking from Dooku's fingertips hit Anakin full force until he faded into complete unconsciousness. Dooku, at this point, slammed Anakin to the ground, with a smirk on his face.

Dooku looked content as he watched his prize hoisted into the containment field.

"Prisoner in place, Sir," the MagnaGuard explained to Dooku.

"Very good. And now, I have a call to make."

Padme, standing in a medical bay in the underwater city of Otoh Gunga, stared into the deep waters. Grievous had been successfully captured, thanks to the help of the Gungans. Now all she and JarJar Binks had to do was wait for Anakin to return from his pursuit of Risha Loo. But where was he? He'd been gone for long enough…

As if JarJar had been reading her thoughts, he piped up, saying, "Wheresa Ani? Hesa been gone mooie long time!"

"I'm not sure, JarJar," she replied. Right then, Padme's comlink began to beep.

"Anakin!" Padme exclaimed, expecting the image of her husband to appear. But, instead, the image of Count Dooku appeared, looking as smug as ever.

"Senator Amidala, we meet again," Dooku stated, "I regret to inform you that young Skywalker has been… detained."

"What have you done with Anakin?" Padme asked, her voice resonating with severity.

"Now, now, Senator," Dooku said playfully, "let's not become emotional."

"What do you want, Dooku?" Padme asked, worrying of what Dooku would request of her.

"I'm glad you asked! I could be persuaded to return Skywalker to you in exchange for General Grievous."

Upon hearing this, Padme cringed. Hesitant, she replied, "I-I can't do that. I'm sorry."

"You soon will be." Within the background, Padme could suddenly hear Anakin crying out in pain, because of the MagnaGuards electrostaffs. She couldn't bare to hear him in pain.

"Stop! You can not torture a prisoner!" Padme exclaimed.

"Torture!?" Dooku scoffed, "I don't know what you mean. I'll give you an hour to consider my proposition."

Padme was stuck. She had barely listened to JarJar's idea of giving Grievous to Dooku. Of course she wanted Anakin back, but with Grievous as a prisoner, the Separatists would grind to a halt, and the war would just possibly end. Padme stopped for a moment and pretended that Anakin were there. What would he choose? The safety of the galaxy was the first priority for both of them, but what of their love? With a deep breath, Padme made her final decision.

"JarJar, call the Jedi temple and tell them we've apprehended General Grievous, and that we will meet them in Theed in one hour."

JarJar sighed, "Yes, milady."

An hour had passed, and Dooku's ship landed at the rendez-vous point, and was surprised to find that the area had been completely cleared of all Gungans. Anakin, still in stun cuffs but now awake, just smiled, knowing Padme had made the right decision. Dooku, however, was furious, for he realized that the tide of the war just changed, in the Republic's favor.