Alderaan
Still recovering in the military hospital with his arm in a sling and Padme by his side, Anakin heard the sound of a battalion marching in a row of four towards his bedside. At the front was Palpatine and a Bounty Hunter familiar at least in appearance with his Mandalorian Armor. The presence of the Chancellor called the attention of both Anakin and Padme.
Palpatine: Young Skywalker!
He stretched his hands out and smiled as if he was about to hug Anakin.
Palpatine: I am pleased to see you have made a remarkable recovery.
The Chancellor appeared to notice Skywalker's missing hand, which was wrapped in bandages in a sling. He looked at the thing with gritted teeth, a seemingly false smile.
Palpatine: Well it's good to see you in such high spirits.
He made a quick attempt to change the subject.
Palpatine: I came to inform you that this Bounty Hunter...
He gestured towards the Mandalorian Armored individual.
Palpatine:...Has discovered the location of Count Dooku.
Anakin: Then why come to me?
Palpatine: Actually it was lady Padme who I came to see. I thought the news would bring her some..small...comfort.
Padme: Much appreciated Chancellor Palpatine.
She lowered her head in a small bow.
Palpatine brought his hands together and rubbed them.
Palpatine: Now then. It is time to begin planning the assault. I bid you both well.
He bowed his head slightly, and then turned to walk away, the troopers followed and so did the Bounty Hunter. Anakin and Padme watched and waited until they were out of sight.
Anakin with his good hand reached over and placed an arm on Padme's own, leaning in close to her and whispering.
Anakin:Padme...Obi-Wan was heading to Geonosis.
Padme:What?! well we have to get there before the Troopers do.
Anakin: How! I just lost a hand?
Padme: I'll get you out of here.
She moved down and picked him up, carrying him over her shoulder.
Anakin:What are you doing?
Padme: Let's go.
A Medical droid moved to intercept, the one who had just tended to Anakin's injuries lacked the ability to restrain him.
"Excuse me. Your Highness but Jedi Skywalker cannot leave."
The weakened Anakin raised his good hand and moved it in front of his face.
Anakin: I am fit to leave.
"You are fit to leave."
Padme: thank you.
She said in an almost sarcastic tone and then walked past the droid, walking through the halls. They made their way sometime without being seen until they heard someone shout.
Own:Stop!
Padme turned around. Owen was standing there, holding a blaster out.
Anakin:Owen...
Owen's face changed and he lowered the gun.
Owen:Padme?
He ran forward as if to hug the two.
Owen:oh my god...I thought you were kidnapping him...what are you doing?
Anakin:We're going after Obi-Wan.
Padme: He's on Geonosis. The Troopers are on their way there.
Owen: Geonosis? Well we have to get there before the Troopers do?
Padme:That's what we're doing.
Owen: We'll have to use my ship. It's civilian. Hundreds like it are leaving now that the planet's been liberated.
Padme: then let's go. I hope Obi-Wan is alright.
Geonosis
Obi-Wan awoke sometime later. It appeared that he had not been moved from the spot from which he had fallen. He rose and grabbed the back of his head. Dooku sat with his legs crossed. Tea placed on the floor between them.
Dooku:Master Kenobi.
Obi-Wan:...Traitor.
Dooku: No, my friend. There's been a terrible mistake.
Kenobi rose to a seating looked at his arms as though he expected chains or cuffs where there were none.
Dooku: You are not my prisoner...and I am not your enemy. I sensed your coming. If I had not planned to meet you I would not have made this fine tea for us both to enjoy, and it would not have reached just the right temperature at the moment of you're waking.
Obi-wan suspiciously stared at Dooku and then reached for the tea.
Obi-wan. Strange...I sense no intention of deceit from you.
Dooku:I have none.
Obi-wan: So you planned on meeting me. I take it you planned on the attempted assassination on Alderaan as well.
Dooku chuckled.
Dooku: You give me too much credit, Master Kenobi. I do not denied I cared very little for the Separatists even as I was hired to protect them.
Obi-Wan: So why do I doubt that I can trust you.
Dooku sighed.
Dooku: Do you remember when I left the order?
Obi-Wan: Yes...I felt for certain you fell to the Dark Side.
Dooku: I did...For a time.
Flashback
Dooku sat meditating on Geonosis. His narration continued.
"After the death of my student Qui Gonn Jinn. I felt myself slipping into the Darkness."
The area he was in appeared to shake, rocks began to fall as the roof crumbled.
"A Darkness so all consuming that escaping it felt like tearing off my own arm. I sought to cleanse myself of these evil thoughts"
The shaking increased and it felt like the building would collapse.
"But eventually..."
The falling rocks suddenly stopped and floated in the air. Some light was now shining down from the ceiling.
"I succeeded."
The rocks fell to the ground lightly and the meditating count opened his eyes.
"And it was at that moment..."
A sound interrupted the Count. The source was a small communications device. Dooku waved his hand and the device made a sound indicating its activation. The image of a hologram of a cloaked figure appeared.
"that I was contacted by the Sith."
Dooku spoke with the hologram.
"He offered me a place at his side. I thought of what I would happen if I refused."
The hologram deactivated. Behind Dooku two red Saber blades activated. Maul stood overhead. A sadistic grin on his face at he brought his saber down.
"Instead I would infiltrate the ranks of the Sith, Learn as much as I could and then betray him"
Obi-Wan: Even if I believe that is true...was it worth it?
Dooku: I know one thing that is of value to you.
Obi-Wan: And that is...
Dooku: The Sith has a spy...in the senate.
He seemed to emphasize his words. Obi-Wan's mouth hung open upon receiving this realization.
Obi-Wan:...what?
Dooku: A spy keeping this war in a stalemate.
Obi-Wan:..who?
Dooku: That is something you will have to discover on your own. I was unable to identify them but perhaps you can.
Obi-Wan: By the force...
Dooku: I don't know how deep this conspiracy goes, but I believe you can be trusted. I cannot say the same for young Skywalker.
Obi-Wan:...Anakin?
Dooku: there is a darkness in him. I sensed it. You would be wise to be wary of him.
The sound of a ship could be heard landing. The interruption caused both heads to turn towards the direction of the source. Kenobi looked at Dooku suspiciously and then stood to walk towards the ship.
The craft had landed just outside of the opening of the cave. Owen, Anakin and Padme exited. Obi-Wan stepped out of the darkness of the entrance. Padme ran up and hugged him upon sight.
Padme:We have to go! The troopers are coming for...
Anakin stared with a look of hate at someone, he held up and pointed at the Count with his lightsaber. Owen raised his blaster.
Anakin:What's going on?
Kenobi: it's alright! Anakin! The Count is not our enemy.
Anakin lowered his weapon and Owen did the same.
Anakin:We have to go Republic ships will be on this place any minute.
Obi-wan turned to face Dooku.
Obi-Wan:Well then it's time to go.
Dooku:hmm...So it is.
Obi-Wan: If you have any information with you now is the time?
Dooku:I am not going...
Obi-Wan:...what?
Dooku: I am old. General Kenobi. There is not much that I can do, and if they are coming for me then it means that I know too much. The Sith's influence has been used to orchestrate my assassination.
Obi-Wan: Come with us. Share your knowledge with the Council.
Dooku: Kenobi...If I go with you...We would be dead long before we reach the Jedi...I must stay here for both our sakes.
Obi-Wan:But you'll die.
Dooku: nothing can stop that..now go.
Obi-Wan backed away slowly.
Padme: They're coming!
Kenobi looked up and Republic ships appearing above. He looked back to the Count and found him missing.
Anakin:Forget the Count! Let's go!
Kenobi backed away and then fully turned to run to the ship, which took off quickly.
Inside the cave. Dooku sat with his eyes closed in meditation. The light shine upon him, the cave began to shake, rocks and chunks of debris began to fall around him. Outside with the exception of Owen who piloted, all eyes were on Dooku's fortress carved into the stone. Inside the collapsing stopped, the rocks floated and the light shone. The Count opened his eyes.
From the outside. The group saw several ships fly by. There was the strange sound of a green pulse and several blasts that hit the tall structures, causing them to collapse. This was followed by several bombardments. The group within Lars's ship watched in sadness, as the fortress was completely destroyed in a series of powerful explosions, leaving only a massive cloud of dust as the structure collapsed
The group left defeated. For Padme, Anakin and Owen, the sadness was hollow. They had known him only as an enemy. For Obi-Wan Kenobi the sadness was overwhelming. Dooku had been like a grandfather to him as much as Qui Gonn had been a father. He had seen the Count in name only, the man who had given up his title and al the had to the Jedi, the selfless warrior, he had seen him change from a mighty Jedi to a jolly old man, and finally grow old and bitter with the world until he became an enemy and then even when it seemed he could not be saved. He had redeemed himself, devoted himself to the light and was rewarded in blood. The ultimate tragedy for Obi-Wan was that in the passing of the elder, he wondered what he remembered more, the old man, or what the battle with his own dark side had made him. How much was the good person he knew and how much was the disease.
Obi-Wan had lost nearly everything. He had lost the present in the form of the Jedi Master who had raised him like a son for a long as he could remember.
He had lost his past, with the death of the Count. Perhaps he deluded himself into thinking that could return to him if he saved Dooku.
All that he had left to lose was the future. In Anakin.
The group entered the cockpit. Padme was the first to break the silence as the ship exited the atmosphere. She held close the the wounded Anakin. Despite having a robotic hand his arm was still in the sling.
Padme: It feel like we are surrounded by darkness sometimes. Like we're alone.
Obi-Wan's head was down but upon the speaking of the words it began to rise.
Obi-Wan:It's not all Darkness. There are glimmers of hope...There is light.
He looked off into the stars out in space. The group looked out as well. Owen at the pilot seat. Anakin putting his one good arm around Padme and Obi-Wan all looked out to the stars.