Obi-Wan's eyes shot open, his senses snapping into focus. Padmé was somewhere nearby and she may have been hurt in her fall. He gathered his feet beneath him and stood up. Looking around he realized he wasn't sure the way the transport had been traveling, he closed his eyes and with the Force, found Padmé's presence and began to maneuver the thick, loose sand of the dunes. The sand had a lot of give to the point of several stumbling steps in his journey, and had he not gained a lot of grace in his training he might have stumbled several more times.

Cresting the third dune, he found Padmé testing out her shoulder. Seeing her had given him new energy, his strides became longer and quickened until he was running as best he could. He reached the bottom of the dune as she turned towards him, she raced to him and they caught each other, nearly falling over as they embraced tightly, he could feel his eyes misting over, "I was so afraid you'd been hurt."

Padmé stepped back and looked at him, a smile on her lips as she reached up to stroke his cheek. Her smile widened and her eyes glittered, "There's sand in your beard, Master Kenobi."

He smiled and ran his fingers through her hair, careful not to disturb it too much and tangle her hair, "There's sand in your hair, Milady."

Padmé smirked, "I'm afraid there's sand other places too. Places I didn't think possible, it's no wonder Anakin hates sand so much…" The mention of Qui-Gon's apprentice shocked them both back to reality. Her smile was replaced by the look of grim determination she had worn since the battle had begun.

It was at that moment that the trooper who had fallen with Padmé returned, "A transport is on its way Senator; they will be here in thirty seconds."

Padmé nodded at the trooper, "Good Lieutenant. We still have a chance to help the others." She turned to Obi-Wan and watched as he winced slightly and held his forehead. Reaching out she caressed his forearm, trying to sooth him, "Ben, what is it?"

"It's Anakin, he's in a great deal of pain right now…"

Every nerve in Anakin Skywalker's body was ablaze in the most intense pain he'd ever known. He'd seen in his mind's eye the dark energy gather around Dooku before lashing across the hangar like lightning and setting his mind and body ablaze. He was thrown against the rock wall and he collapsed, his body and mind in horrible pain, and it was so overrun with sensory input that it refused to shut down. He was paralyzed with pain, but he was conscious to endure it.

He could see Dooku raise his fingers in the same fashion towards Qui-Gon. Lightning leapt across the hangar towards the Jedi Master, only to be intercepted by the green energy blade. Qui-Gon and his former mentor circled each other, "It doesn't have to be this way Dooku. You were once on the Council, come to your senses before you fall to the Dark Side."

Dooku's laughter was a vile sound that made Anakin's skin crawl, "My foolish apprentice, I have already found the Dark Side, thanks to my new Master, Lord Sidious. I am now empowered with the teachings of the Sith. The Dark Side is my ally."

Qui-Gon nodded grimly, "Then that makes you my enemy, my former Master. I am sorry for what I have to do." The Jedi Master leapt across the distance and his lightsaber burned through the air at Dooku's head. It was stopped at the last moment by the sudden existence of a bright red blade, that of a Sith lightsaber.

The battle was furious, thrusts, slashes, and blocks with the sabers were joined occasionally with punches and kicks. Green met red again and again accompanied by a crackling sound. As Anakin watched the battle he also concentrated on letting the Force, which in the hands of Dooku had spurned him so badly only moments ago, wash over his injuries and help him recover. For the first time since Dooku's attack, he felt his fingers twitch, he had been telling his arms to push him to his feet, but small miracles are miracles none-the-less.

Qui-Gon and Dooku seemed evenly matched, at least to Anakin. He had to press his body, force himself into the battle; he smiled when his leg twitched this time. His body was responding again, but sluggishly still, like a flooded engine. He concentrated and drew upon the Force to calm his overwrought nervous system…

Anakin was brought to a halt; his Master had made a mistake. He had not capitalized on an opening; Anakin had felt a touch of sentiment as he did so. Out of a sense of loyalty, Qui-Gon slowed his attack marginally, but to a fully trained Jedi… or a fully trained Sith, marginally was more than enough. Dooku forced Qui-Gon out of position, he over-reached and Dooku slashed his former student across the stomach. Qui-Gon's eyes widened in pain and Anakin's eyes widened in anguish, he let lose his horror in a scream, "NOOOOO!" His scream echoed through the hangar for the seconds it took his Master to crumple to the floor.

Dooku circled his former apprentice, "I am sorry Qui-Gon. You should have joined me; you should have listened; now I must punish you for your folly. It is fitting though, I created the Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, and it should be I who destroys him as well…" He raised his saber over his head and prepared to end the battle…

Anakin pushed his body to the limit, not caring about the searing pain, only that his Master was about to be killed. He called his saber to his hand and leapt across the hangar at the same time, intercepting Dooku's blade with his own at the last moment. Dooku smiled menacingly at the Padawan, "Impressive boy. Your ability to recover is amazing."

Anakin pushed the Sith away, "You'll find I'm full of surprises." He called out with the Force and drew Qui-Gon's weapon to him. Dooku was now faced with Anakin and twin green blades. The apprentice attacked with both blades, twirling to provide each strike with more momentum. It was a fighting style he'd learned from Master Depa Billiba.

Whereas most Jedi did not have the skill to wield two lightsabers at once, Anakin excelled at it, some argued he was better with two then he was with one. Many of his peers even believed Anakin could hold his own with Masters Yoda or Windu. In his more arrogant moments, Anakin believed he could probably handle them both…

However, Anakin's unorthodox attack was defused by the experienced Sith. Every strike was met with a parry, and Anakin was soon on the defensive. Dooku then drew Anakin in with a fake retreat, when the boy advanced; the saber in his left hand was met with Dooku's blade. Its explosion singed Anakin's hand, but the boy had no time for pain. He gripped his remaining lightsaber in both hands and retreated. With the Force, he hurled a rock into a nearby circuit panel. The lights in the hangar began to flicker and short, Anakin then struck a coolant hose, gas began to surround them. The most consistent illumination in the room was provided by their weapons. They each seemed to have decided independently to slow the pace of the battle.

They circled each other warily; Anakin initiated the first attack, a flurry of thrusts and slashes which were each met with parries and blocks. The Padawan then backed away, waiting for a new opportunity. Dooku feinted to the left then came at Anakin with a spinning strike from the other side, Anakin met the red blade with his own, and then Dooku's next three strikes before the Sith backed away.

Anakin spun his saber then charged with an overhead strike, Dooku blocked it but was surprised at the boy's intensity as he attacked; he drove Dooku backwards out of the cloud of coolant and smoke further back into the hangar. Dooku backed up, meeting each blow with a block. Finally Anakin's inexperience presented Dooku with an opportunity, he turned his defensive retreat into an attack, and Anakin was quickly overwhelmed, they locked up blades and Dooku forced Anakin to relinquished his two handed grip with a twirl which brought the boy's arm wide.

With a flick of the sith's wrist, Anakin's right arm was no longer intact, it fell to the floor still clutching his weapon. Dooku pushed with the Force, and Anakin skidded over by his fallen Master. Between the shock to his system of the loss of his arm and the unceremonious crash to the deck, Anakin was unconscious.

Obi-Wan and Padmé's transport touched down at almost the same moment as Yoda. Both Jedi felt Anakin lose consciousness, and charged forward with their weapons at the ready. Padmé and several troopers were already way behind the Jedi by the time they had disembarked.

Yoda was in the lead, his saber drawn but deactivated, while Obi-Wan entered the darkened hangar lit by the blue of his Lightsaber blade. They found Dooku standing over both of his opponents, his weapon raised for killer blows. Obi-Wan shouted across the hangar, "DOOKU!"

Dooku scowled at the reinforcements, and seemed ready to attack, until they were flanked by six clone troopers. He brought his saber into a salute, and then sprinted for his ship. Obi-Wan tried to cut off the Sith, but Dooku had far less distance to cross to the already prepped fighter. It took off before Obi-Wan could get there. In desperation, Obi-Wan flipped his saber in his hand and hurled it like a spear. It slashed the fighter, but did little more than superficial damage. "Damn it!" In a moment of anger, Obi-Wan kicked a tool station sending its contents everywhere. Instantly, Obi-Wan forgot the retreating Sith, and turned on the stricken Jedi.

He crossed the hangar to his former mentor and his student. Anakin was being attended to by the field medic, and Qui-Gon lay looking at the ceiling. He kneeled before Qui-Gon, "Master?"

Qui-Gon smiled strangely, his skin was nearly white and slick with cold sweat. His breathing was shallow, and he seemed to look around without focus "It is too late for me Obi-Wan. Anakin… you must complete his training."

Obi-Wan tried to bite back his tears, "Master… Qui-Gon, I swear it…"

Qui-Gon reached up sightlessly, and Obi-Wan took his hand and led it to his cheek. Anakin, though in excruciating pain, crawled to the Jedi Master's side, "Master?"

Qui-Gon turned towards Anakin, he reached out and Anakin helped the dying man's fingers find his cheek, "Proud… Proud of both… of… both of you… Love you like my…" He grimaced and fought to hang on for a moment longer, "Sons." Qui-Gon's eyes rolled back into his head and he was gone. The Force had welcomed him into its eternal embrace.

Obi-Wan dissolved into tears, while Anakin mumbled, "Master… Father… Please…"

Padmé kneeled at Obi-Wan's side and tried to provide both men with comfort. While Yoda closed his eyes and shook his head sadly.

Obi-Wan watched the scene before him with great sadness, he and the surviving members of the Council remained on Geonosis while the last of the injured and dead were evacuated. Their losses were heavy… far too heavy for Obi-Wan's taste. The presence of Master Windu and Master Yoda shook the Jedi from his thoughts, "Masters, how may I help you?"

Mace joined Obi-Wan at the bottom of the Falcon's entry ramp, "Where is Anakin?"

"He made a special request of me Master… It goes against tradition, but I had no choice but to grant it…"

Yoda stepped forward, "Yes, but answer the question you did not. Where is Anakin?"

Obi-Wan sighed, "He took Qui-Gon's body with him to Tatooine, early this morning, to attend to his final resting place."

Yoda nodded at Obi-Wan's explanation, "It is not the tradition, but deny Skywalker's sentiment I can not."

Mace nodded, "I'm inclined to agree. The boy is in pain, we have decided to honor Qui-Gon's request. You will complete Anakin's training." Obi-Wan nodded, and the elder Jedi continued, "But I want you both to get some rest. Contact Anakin; let him know you will renew his training in a month. He may return to the Temple at his leisure, but you both need time to absorb this and grieve. Escort the Senator back to Naboo, and also, get rid of this junk pile." The dark skinned Jedi gave Obi-Wan an almost uncharacteristic smile as he finished, "Even if possession were not forbidden, travel in this is not good for the Jedi image."

Obi-Wan and Mace shared a brief laugh before the younger man nodded, "I will endeavor to complete Anakin's training in a fashion befitting of Qui-Gon's memory Master. It might make yesterday's victory less costly."

Yoda suddenly rejoined the conversation at Obi-Wan's description of the events on Geonosis. "Victory? Victory, you say Obi-Wan? Victory yesterday was not… begun this Clone War, has."

Obi-Wan nodded grimly, "Of course Master. I am sorry. I will escort the Senator back to Naboo and inform Anakin immediately."

Yoda nodded grimly, "Good. May the Force be with you, Obi-Wan."

Obi-Wan bowed and walked up the Falcon's ramp to begin take off preparations. Mace and Yoda walked away, the dark-skinned man turned to his companion, "Are you sure it is wise to send Obi-Wan off with the Senator? I sense conflict within him concerning Amidala."

Yoda nodded grimly, "In motion, events have already become. See them through, is all we can do now."

"I see."