Chapter 20
Jedi Knight Garen Muln and three Coruscant Security officers were looking around Chancellor Palpatine's private office in the Senate Building.
"Knight Muln, come look at this," one of the officers called out.
Garen walked over and took a piece of cloth that one of the officers handed him. "Where did you find this?"
The officer pointed to a corner of the overturned desk. "We ran it through the scanner and we found chemical traces on it. Most of them are industrial chemicals. Whoever was wearing that probably lives in the Works. It's full of smugglers, squatters, death stick runners, spice dealers; not a nice place, Knight Muln."
Garen nodded and tucked the cloth into his robe. "Well, it's a lead."
The officers nodded. "Our first one, really. Whoever this person is, he or she is very good."
Garen smiled. "But not perfect. Come look at this."
He led them over to the doors to the office and pointed to the activation panel outside the office. "See?"
They looked closely, but saw nothing.
Garen pointed. "Right there, it's a…well, for lack of a better word, it's a fingerprint. Only, no organic finger left this behind."
"What do you mean?"
"It's a scratch mark," he explained. "I wasn't surprised when you said that piece of cloth contained traces of industrial chemicals. This scratch mark does as well."
Garen spent a little more time in the office before leaving and contacting the Temple with an update.
"I'll be heading out to the Works, Master Windu," Garen said. "I have a feeling whoever I'm looking for won't be hard to find."
"You're thinking that it's Grievous, the droid we've heard about?" Mace questioned.
"Yes, Master, I do," Garen answered.
"Alright, keep us abreast of the situation, and if possible, take a few of the security officers with you."
"Understood, Master."
Garen rounded up several security officers and they set off for the Works section of the city-planet.
/
After spending the night in a forest that sat between the capitol city and the mountains, Obi-Wan and Anakin were nearly to their destination; the base of the highest peak in the long mountain ranges.
As they climbed out of the speeder, Obi-Wan's eyes scanned the mountain range while he stretched out with the Force.
"Can you sense anything, Anakin?" he asked after a moment.
The young man closed his eyes and reached out with his senses. Nearly fifteen minutes went by before Anakin's eyes opened again.
A frown and a shake of his head gave Obi-Wan his answer.
"Well, I guess we'll just have to start climbing then," he decided. "If Dooku is hiding in these mountains, the closer we get the easier it'll be to sense him."
They worked quickly, shedding their bulky cloaks and getting suited up in the climbing gear they had purchased in Salis D'aar.
"Alright, we're going to climb in a moderate but steady pace," Obi-Wan instructed his apprentice. "You're going up first. Since you're the inexperienced climber, I want you above me."
Anakin nodded. "Understood."
Obi-Wan was amazed of late how mature Anakin had become, especially in tense situations. When Obi-Wan least expected it, Anakin obeyed without question. So, without a word, Anakin hooked up to the rope and began climbing, anchoring them to the mountain every few feet.
/
The Works
Garen hated the Works. He remembered a time when he and Obi-Wan had sneaked away from their masters once and took an air taxi over there. It hadn't taken them long to run into some smugglers and spice dealers. They'd spent nearly an hour running from them, lightsabers flashing. When they'd returned to the Temple, their masters had been furious. It had been the only time he'd ever seen his master, Clee Rhara, angry.
"What are you smiling about, Knight Muln?"
Garen shook his head. "Just memories."
The four of them set off down the main areas of the Works, deciding to use the public walkways to travel between levels.
The security officers branched off from Garen, who had begun descending the levels, somehow knowing that Grievous, or whoever he was looking for, would not be found near the top.
/
They were a quarter of the way up the mountain when Anakin sensed it.
"Master," he whispered.
Obi-Wan watched him let go of the rope with one hand and point to an opening in the mountain.
"Well done, Anakin," Obi-Wan said. "The Force has led us to the right place."
Slowly, they began creeping sideways towards the opening. It took twenty minutes, but when they arrived, crawling through the opening was easy. A decent-sized tunnel existed and they made quick work of it, coming out of it into a large cavern after about eight meters.
Anakin dusted off his clothes and shed his climbing gear before turning in circles to look around.
"What is this place?"
Obi-Wan, now also unencumbered by his climbing gear, began walking around. The cavern was huge and seemed to go on quite a distance into the mountain. It seemed familiar to Obi-Wan, and when he figured it out, he went pale.
"It's a replica," he said softly. "He knew we would be the ones coming after him."
"A replica of what?" Anakin questioned, worried.
Obi-Wan looked at him and gestured all around them. "Look, Anakin. The high arches, the surrounding rock, the…"
Anakin's gasp sounded loudly and echoed in the cavern. "Geonosis."
/
Garen had only descended two levels when he heard it; a stomping sound behind him. He turned slowly; hand on his lightsaber ready for the confrontation.
"I knew it would be a Jedi," intoned the mechanized voice of the droid general, Grievous.
Garen took a deep breath just as the Coruscant Security officers came down the steps, each of them with their hands on their blaster pistols.
"You three go contact the Temple," Garen ordered. "Tell them that I've engaged Chancellor Palpatine's attacker. Tell them Count Dooku is behind the attack. It's his minion, General Grievous."
All three men took off running back up the stairs while Garen ignited his orange-bladed saber. He was stunned when Grievous opened his cloak and also pulled out a lightsaber.
"I've been trained in your Jedi arts by Count Dooku," the murderous droid revealed.
Force be with me, Garen thought.
He barely had time to react to General Grievous jumping at him, red lightsaber twirling dangerously.
/
Anakin's breathing increased when he realized that he was standing a near-exact replica of the cavern he and Obi-Wan were in on Geonosis where they last fought Dooku.
"Why?" he questioned. "What's the purpose of all this, Master?"
Obi-Wan shook his head as he pulled his lightsaber free from his belt, his thumb resting against the activation stud. His muscles had tensed in preparation for battle. His senses had sharpened and his focus had narrowed. He was ready.
Anakin also had his saber in his hand as the two of them headed for the far side of the cavern. They didn't get far.
"I sense Count Dooku," Anakin whispered.
Within seconds of his proclamation, the red glow of a lightsaber fell across their faces. Simultaneously, their blue blades sprang to life as they backed up.
Dooku appeared quickly, his steps measured, his regal bearing in place.
"We meet again, Master Kenobi, Padawan Skywalker," he said softly, his voice almost calming.
"Things are going to be different this time, Dooku," Anakin said without the sneer that he gave Dooku on Geonosis.
"You think so, boy?" Dooku questioned, twirling his lightsaber.
Obi-Wan and Anakin shared a look, communicating silently; determination shown in their matching blue eyes. They would not lose this fight.
/
Sweat was pouring off of Garen as he tried to hold up under the powerful onslaught of the mechanical monster before him. Grievous obviously had no connection to the Force, but his brute strength was becoming just as difficult to deal with.
"You won't last long Jedi, not in this fight and not in this war," Grievous taunted.
Garen leapt over his head, landing behind him, using the moment of surprise to catch his breath.
"I'll last long enough," Garen said, his orange-bladed saber swinging wildly, clashing with the red of Grievous.
/
Anakin and Obi-Wan had both dropped into defensive stances, waiting for Dooku to attack. Neither man was going to rush into anything. It didn't take long for Dooku to realize that and make his move.
Red and blue clashed savagely together. Despite fighting only one man, Anakin and Obi-Wan were both on the defensive.
Obi-Wan jumped over Dooku's head, landing behind him and attacked from there. Dooku, forced to defend in two directions, began losing some of the fluidity in his movements.
Obi-Wan, sensing the change immediately, moved in a step closer, the fierceness of his strikes doubling. He knew if they didn't stop Dooku there and then, things would only get worse for everyone, including Siri and Zakk.
"Your thoughts betray you, Obi-Wan," Dooku said.
Anakin heard the rebuke, but did not lose his concentration. He continued to assail Dooku with heavy strikes of his saber, one blow after another glancing off Dooku's blade.
Dooku knew he couldn't continue to fight them both. Working as a cohesive unit made Kenobi and Skywalker a powerful force, unlike the fight on Geonosis when Anakin was wild and impulsive. But there was something different in their emotions this time as well.
Obi-Wan became more vigorous in his strikes, punishing Dooku with their heaviness.
Back and forth the fight went, blue and red casting eerie shadows on the cavern walls as the trio danced all around. Sweat was pouring down all three faces and each man was getting tired.
Knowing he needed to change the circumstances of the fight, Dooku quickly spun to his left, let go of his saber with one hand and held the other out in front of him. The Force push sent Anakin sailing across the cavern and into a wall, just as on Geonosis. He hit with a sickening thud and was unconscious.
/
Garen was losing his advantage; the Force. He was weakening physically and mentally and it was shaking his connection to the Force. His strikes and parries were becoming clumsy and disjointed. His mind and his vision were cloudy.
"You're nearing your end, Jedi," Grievous sneered.
Breathing hard, Garen continued to fight.
I know, he thought to himself.
/
Watching his apprentice, his brother, slammed against the rock as he had on Geonosis infuriated Obi-Wan. He leapt at Dooku with renewed fury, striking harder and longer than he ever had before.
"I sense anger in you, Kenobi," Dooku taunted. "Fear as well."
Obi-Wan didn't deny that he was feeling both anger and fear; he simply attacked Dooku strongly, getting closer with each swing of his saber until they were nearly nose to nose.
"This ends here, Dooku," he said, his right hand leaving his saber and using his own Force push on the older man.
Dooku went flying into the air towards an outcropping of rocks. Obi-Wan followed him, watching as his hand hit the rocks, his saber falling from it and rolling away. Obi-Wan picked it up and hit the activation stud. He stood before Dooku, who had fallen to his knees. Obi-Wan crossed the sabers, holding one on either side of Dooku's head.
"Are you going to kill me, Obi-Wan?" Dooku asked. "Would you really kill an unarmed man in cold blood?"
Obi-Wan, anger still in his eyes, breathing erratic, calmed down slowly. His gaze met Dooku's and he knew he was staring into the eyes of pure evil. His deactivated Dooku's red blade and clipped it to his belt and backed away.
"Get up," he ordered.
Dooku stood gingerly and smiled. "I knew you couldn't do it. I knew you were…"
"Shut up," Obi-Wan snapped. "Don't think I didn't kill you for you, I stopped for myself."
Obi-Wan forced Dooku into a corner where he could still see him while he went to check on Anakin, who was beginning to awaken.
"Master?" Anakin called weakly.
Obi-Wan reached out and rested a hand on Anakin's forehead. "It's alright, Padawan. You're going to be okay."
"Do I…do I still have my arms?" he asked jokingly.
Obi-Wan laughed. "Yes, you still have them both."
Dooku, sensing his moment, jumped away from the corner and held out both hands.
"Obi-Wan!" Anakin yelled.
Obi-Wan jumped up just as Dooku's blade and his own flew from his belt and into Dooku's hands.
/
Grievous had pushed Garen down three more levels, and the Jedi was about to drop from exhaustion. Only his tenuous connection to the Force was keeping him going, but he knew even that would not last much longer. His hold on the Force, his hold to life was fading. And he knew it.
/
Dooku practically ran at Obi-Wan, who felt the Force scream at him to duck. He did, and felt Anakin press his own lightsaber into his hand.
Dooku was only steps in front of him when he leapt into the air, surging over Dooku's head.
/
Grievous kicked out with his mechanical leg and caught Garen in his midsection, sending the Jedi to his knees. Barely able to take in enough air to keep inflating his lungs, Garen accepted his fate.
/
Dooku expected Obi-Wan to land behind him before he attacked again. He was wrong.
As he flew over Dooku's head, Obi-Wan thrust his saber down and sideways. In one quick swing, Dooku's head was separated from his body.
/
Garen heard the voices of his fellow Jedi just as Grievous drove the red-bladed saber through his chest, through his heart.
Grievous pulled the saber back and watched the Jedi slump to the ground, dead. He reached down and collected Garen's lightsaber and slipped it into his robe; a trophy.
He was gone just before the Jedi entered the area. They were left with nothing more to do than collect the body of their fallen brother.
Tears stung the eyes of one of the would-be rescuers. The tall Dressellian male deactivated his saber and knelt down by his friend. After several moments he reached out a hand and closed Garen eyes.
"Goodbye, my friend," Reeft whispered softly.
/
"He doesn't deserve this, Master," Anakin said softly as he and Obi-wan watched the pyre burn. "He wasn't a Jedi."
Obi-Wan didn't say anything right away. He was simply staring into the flames, letting his mind wander.
/
Jedi Master Gavrem Dooku didn't often watch younglings anymore. But he was compelled to watch one young boy. A boy named Obi-Wan Kenobi. The child was amazing, even at the tender age of eight years.
"Thinking of taking another apprentice, you are?" a voice said from beside him.
Dooku looked down at Yoda, his master. "I hadn't considered it until I saw that boy there, the Kenobi boy. He's quite remarkable."
Yoda nodded. "Yes, young Obi-Wan, a fine Jedi he will be."
Dooku continued to watch the boy spar, and when the session was over, he went down to compliment the boy.
"You did well out there, young man."
Obi-Wan smiled politely. "Thank you, Master…?"
Dooku smiled back. "Dooku, but you may call me Gav."
Obi-Wan nodded. "Thank you, Gav."
"You keep working at those katas and building those saber skills and I'm certain you'll be able to best the most accomplished fighter in the Order."
"Master Yoda?"
Dooku laughed heartily. "Well, yes I suppose Master Yoda is the best. Perhaps I meant the second best, which would be my old padawan, Qui-Gon Jinn."
Obi-Wan's blue-gray eyes lit up. Master Jinn was a legend.
Dooku rested a hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder. "Come, I'll take you to meet him. He and his apprentice Xanatos Renashaii should be having evening meal by now."
Obi-Wan spent the evening with Dooku, Qui-Gon and Xanatos.
'These men are your future, Jedi Kenobi,' the Force whispered to him on that evening.
/
"He used to be a Jedi, Anakin," Obi-Wan said quietly. "He used to be."
He walked closer to the flames, as close as he could without getting burned. He could still make Dooku's face.
"Goodbye, Gav," he whispered. "I don't think I ever said thank you for that night, so…thank you."
He walked back to Anakin and sighed. "We should be heading back to our ship. I'm anxious to get home."
Anakin nodded. "Yes, Master."
The two men climbed into the speeder and headed for Salis D'aar and their ship.
Hours later, they were headed home.