CHAPTER 25 : Rescue and confrontation !

On a balcony of a high shining building of Cato Nemoida was hiding Jedi Knight Ferus Ollin from the many droids already looking for him. Thank the Force, it was only simple CIS droids which hadn't think to pound the alarm for finding a Jedi on this Separatist world. But here was his problem : he had to find Aayla Secura without being caught so Ferus knew he had to find new clothes. Twenty meters below him were standing on the platform where a Separatist Shuttle had landed a few minutes ago. Ferus had been too late to see who came out of the ship but recognized the Force's signature of Assajj Ventress : now he was really in a bad situation, he was a lonely Jedi against the whole Separatist army. But he had been expecting that, after all, coming at Cato Nemoidia was a risky thing to do, even in time of peace.

Then, trusting the Force, Ferus let himself fall over the edge with his eyes closed; the fall seemed to last minutes or even hours but he knew he had to land correctly on the platform and, using all of his power, Ferus crashed on the ground without harming himself but creating a powerful shock with the Force which sent the three guards protecting the shuttle flying out of the platform, into the void. Due to the power of the Force wave, the pilot of the shuttle came ou of the ship to figure what was going on and stopped in front of the Jedi Knight and begged immediately for mercy. Surprised by such coward behaviour, Ferus studied the man as if he was prepared to shoot him in the back : the pilot was wearing a black piloting suit looking very similar to a clonepilot suit but in black. It was perfect, Ferus won't be recognized in such outfit : well, if he could hide his face, it would have been perfect but he would deal with it.

"Your clothes," said Ferus with a deadly serious tone.

"What ?" asked the man still on the floor.

"You will give me your clothes and you'll wait here for me until I return," replied Ferus using the Force to persuade the pilot.

"O-o-of course Master Jedi !"

After a few minutes, the pilot now wearing a Jedi cloak entered his ship after thanking Ferus who started to run inside the next tall building in front of him. Inside of it, Ferus found himself inside a very rich room with red and black carpets on the ground and golden statue of Nemoidian or famous human of the entire galaxy and the Jedi couldn't help but sigh as he thought how much greedy were the Nemoidian. Now waiting to waste time looking at those treasures, Ferus continued his way outside the building and arrived at a very long road leading to the next arches of Cato Nemoidia. The Jedi Knight knew that Aayla was in the North Arch as he heard Nemoidian guards speaking about her but he was now at the South Arch : he had to hurry and find a way to go there.

"Attention please, people of Cato Nemoidia, the Jedi Knight Ferus Ollin is currently on the planet and is mercilessly killing at sight. We are begging you to stay at your home, our droids would take care of this threat" said the voice of Count Dooku, echoing in all the city.

"It was about time, Dooku ! I thought you would let me play around for days !" thought Ferus as he dashed toward the grand plaza at the end of the road. "I must hide between those citizen and then, I will take Aayla home !"

Arriving at the plaza where undreds of humans and many aliens were talking about the arrival of the Jedi in the city, Ferus started to walk and even speak with few women who tried to deconcentrate him but it was only a trick to show he wasn't the Jedi : he was a simple pilot wanting to go at the cantina as he told everyone who talked with the Knight. Then he heard the voice. The voice of the blasted woman that took Aayla away : Aurra Sing was flirting with a three human at the time right in the middle of the plaza.

"Here you are", said darkly Ferus to himself, "you won't get away in one piece this time !"

He slowy approches the group and came right behind Aurra Sing as he started to caress her back. The bounty hunter loving the fact that a bold foold had dare to touch her didn't bother to look behind her and stated :

"You want me for yourself honey, right ?"

"Actually, yes," replied Ferus whispering in her ear.

Aura Sing didn't turn her head to look who was flirting with her but she managed to noticed in the black helmet of the man in front of her that the bold man had gold streaks and immediately knew that Jedi Ollin was the man behind her but tried to hide the fact that she discovered.

"What do you want me to do, honey ?" asked Aura putting his hand on her buttock.

"Perhaps we can go somewhere, we would drink, you will tell me how you catch Aayla Secura and then, we'll go to my ship," informed Ferus.

"Ah, yes. The Jedi," then the bounty hunter turned back and kissed Ferus with violence. In order to protect himself, Ferus Forcepushed Aura Sing and the three other humans far away from here. But then, he realised it had been a really bad move.

"The Jedi ! He's here !" yelled a citizen.

"Stop him ! We don't want this scum on Cato Nemoidia" screamed a Weequay behind the Jedi.

The whole plaza were in a real mess as Ferus was running on the roofs of the building in which Aura Sing had used the chaos to flee away. Of course, she knew where Aayla was and she would ultimately drive him to her : Ferus only wished he didn't encounter Dooku on his way. Suddenly, the Force was screaming at him to jump on the next building and as he obeyed his precious ally, he noticed that three security ships had blown up the roof where he was previously and they were chasing him. Hearing the dark laugh of Aura Sing still running from him, Ollin knew she had call reinforcement but something was troubling the Jedi Knight : why the Separatist would help a bounty hunter ? It was clear that Sing had to bring Aayla to Dooku but the job finished, why were they helping the bounty hunter to survive against a Jedi ? Was it also a trap for him ? It sounded to much like a trap.

Ferus had to stop thinking about Sing as a bolt destroyed a part of the roof right in front of him but he managed to jump at the last second but then, at the end of the road in front of him, appeared another eavy armored ship and started to fire at the Jedi who had the only choice to dash straight forward and by jumping, landed on the cockpit of the ship. The others pilots realised too late their mistake as they fired at the Jedi, who just escaped out of sight, letting the ship being destroyed.

Catching his breath, Ferus understood that going outside was now a suicidal move so he'll take the long way inside the city but then, he heard a voice echoing not far away from him followed by yells and applauses. He also sensed Aura Sing heading to this mysterious loud place and then he realised that Dooku and Aayla were also in such place. As he predicted, Aura Sing had guided him to her ! And then, the ships weren't there to kill him but to make him arrive there !

"Well, Ferus... I hope that the ARC troopers won't be too long" said the Jedi to himself. Then, he started to walk calmly inside those dark blues corridors leading to the destination he was aiming. Even if the Force was urging him to not go there, he didn't have the choice : he had to save Aayla, first because he loved her, and second, because she had been captured because of his weakness. Escaping his toughts, he arrived at an intersection where three ways were leading in different location. Trusting the Force once again, he took the path of the right and then, he heard a blaster's shot at the end of the corridor and had only the time to cover himself against the wall as he heard her laugh.

"You found me little jedi ! Don't worry, you will be soon my prisonner and you and I will play everytime !" said Aurra Sing with a seductive tone. "Come on ! Catch me and punish me, Ferus Ollin !"

Ignoring the taunts, the Jedi in the outfit of a pilot walked again slowly to the end of the corridor and arrived in a very dark room in which many weapons were disposed. They were also part of armour like chestplate, helmet.

"Well, this doesn't good at all !"thought Ferus as he sighed. But the door behind him immediately closed as an other door, a much bigger than the previous, started to open and bring lights in the weapons' room. Until then, Ferus had hear nothing but his breath but now, the was hearing screams, yelling and applauses again. He was there ! Aayla would be saved. Ferus, encouraged by the Force, passed the door and found himself in a huge arena with many warriors and all sorts of creatures : there were a Rancor, Sandpeople, three very big nexus, a squad of Togruta warriors and two assassin droids.

"Our final guest has arrived, dear Cato Nemoidia ! Please welcome Jedi Knight Ferus Ollin" said the so charismatic voice of Count Dooku far above him. Then Ferus saw the Sith Lord smiling to him, with the Jedi Aayla Secura in the outfit of a slave, and Aurra Sing next to him.

"A trap... What a brilliant plan from the mighty Sith...," sighed Ferus.

"You are weak"

An evil laugh was heard in the darkness.

"You are so weak that you're disgusting me ! And you call yourself a Council Member ?" asked the voice again.

The darkness turned into a black and wide cave in which azure water was emerging from nowhere, drops of water were also falling from the cave's roof.

"You hurt him and I hate you for that !"

The water was beginning to boil.

"I should be with him, not you ! As powerful as he is, he should be with a strong woman..."

Then, a figure came out of the water and slowly, her face was easily seen. Siri Tachi's face. But she was different, her eyes were totally yellow, her lips were red and her hairs were much longer. Such view was so familiar … This dark Siri Tachi had shown her face once, and she was doing it again.

"I love him as you do..." said the figure of Siri, tears rolling on her face as she looked away.

Siri woke up in sweat in a medical bed inside what appeared to be a tent. Next to her, a medical droid was working on a computer without noticing that she wasn't unconscious anymore. She felt so cold, her head hurt but that was nothing compare to the pain she felt in her heart. What happened to her ? And what was this dream ? And where was Obi-wan ? Where was she ?

Noticing her state of panick, the droid turned to the Council Member and gave her a tranquillizer.

"You are on Dromund Kaas, Master Tachi. Master Kenobi brought you here two days ago. He said he was sorry to not be here when you'll wake up but as a general, he couldn't let his men alone," informed the droid.

"Why was I brought here ?" asked the Jedi Master.

"You were unconscious, and Master Kenobi asked us to watch over you."

"Thank you," said Siri.

She felt so ashamed and so confuse, why wasn't she fighting with Obi-wan and what happen before ? She remembered the Dark Temple but then, nothing. She knew something really wrong happen there but the question was : what ? Even the Force seemed to be as empty as her memories but of course, it was natural as Dromund Kaas was a darkside's place.

"please, come here Obi-wan, I need you"thought Siri.

And then, as he probably heard her, Obi-wan came inside the tent, his hair and face drenched because of the rain outside. He had the serious look he wore on the battlefield but when he saw his wife, he immediately smiled and the usual sparkle in his grey-blue eyes was back. The sight of her husband brought warm feeling and comfort to the blonde Jedi, but she still needed him and answers.

"Obi-wan..." started Siri holding her tears.

"Shhh, it's over now, Siri," said the auburn man sitting next to her in the bed and holding her.

"Obi-wan, I did something wrong," now she was crying on his chest, " tell me, please. T-t-tell me what I've done to you".

"How do you know ?" asked Kenobi worried.

"She told me... on my dreams. I've seen the dark version of myself again and she was mad... and very sad"

"It's nothing really. You don't have to worry about it," stated the man.

"Don't hide it from me... I want to know... w-w-what I've done to you !"

Then Obi-wan kissed her, gently but with all the love he had for his wife.

"Alright, we went to the Dark Temple and Grievous had set a trap. We were locked inside a chamber and the Temple took control on your mind and body. At first, even when you were fighting me, your words were still coherent but as the fight continued, the Siri I knew was about to disappear so I knocked you out and brought you here..." said Obi-wan ashamed and looking at the floor.

"It wasn't me Obi-wan ! I don't remember anything, please do not believe I thought those words !" begged Siri.

"But you were right," replied Obi-wan looking into her wet eyes.

"No, she wasn't right !"

"You were keeping things from me and the Temple understood that and find your weakness in those secrets."

"What ? I-I don't have any secret, you know everything of my life and how I feel about you," explained Siri crying.

"But you rarely told me how you feel about everything else. And I'm sorry you had to keep it for yourself. This is my fault, not yours."

"No it is not ! You won't blame yourself for what happened in this Dark Temple ! I don't believe what I said !"

"You don't think that I give too much credits to my mission with Anakin ? You don't want a child with me right now ?" asked Obi-wan serious.

"I want to have children with you Obi-wan."

At last, Obi-wan smiled, "you didn't answer to my first question."

"Duty above everything, Obi-wan. I agree with you on that : I am your wife but I am also a Jedi. If we want to change the Order, I must show that I can be both in the same time."

"Siri ..." sighed Kenobi.

"No Obi-wan ! What I said is not what I mean. And yes, I want to be pregnant with your first child every day, but we are at war. And I'm only thirty three and you are thirty-five. We still have time. This war won't last ten years."

"I'm counting on ending it tomorrow yes," joked Obi-wan and Siri couldn't help but laugh after learning all the truth. "I don't blame you for what you told me."

"You know it wasn't the truth."

"It was … from a certain point of view," said wisely Obi-wan and Siri laughed again.

"General Kenobi ! Grievous has made a move !" yelled Cody entering the medical tent.

"What is it, Cody ?" asked Kenobi.

"A ship just arrived behind the Sith Tower and we are certain Grievous is going to disappear. We tried to destroy it but without any success and the Negotiator isn't responding to our communication. We are alone, General."

"I have an idea," said Siri, "Cody and his clones will stop the progress of the army and we'll sneak in the castle. We can climb there from the river."

"Your state isn't -"

"I've slept a whole day, Obi-wan ! I can fight," cut sternly Siri.

"Alright," the Master sighed, "Cody, you heard the plan."

"Yes, sir !" and then, the orange commander disappeared.

Half an hour later, Siri and Obi-wan entered the castle of Kaas City as Siri forsaw it : they hadn't encountered any droids and climbing hadn't been really hard. But now, they had to find a way to get to the hangar, stop Grievous and take the holocron to the Temple. They soon arrived in a wide room in which a grand stone with Sith symbols on it, and taking stairs on the right, they had to fight against a small squad of droids which were leading to the hangar.

"This way, I can feel the holocron. We are close," said Siri to his husband behind her.

"I can feel it too..." replied the male Jedi nodding.

The two Jedi lovers continued their way into the many room of the castle until they arrived, after destroying two droids destroyer, to a very wide chamber : in fact, the room was made inside the rocks of the mountain next to the castle and then, they realised where they were. In the back of this huge room, after a few stairs, a black throne had been build inside the rocky wall. It was truly similar to the one Obi-wan saw in his visions about him as an Emperor, and it was as if the darkside was sitting on it. Suddenly, a dark voice was echoing in the throneroom as Siri ignited her lightsaber.

"My life spans millenia. Legions have risen to test me."

"Calm down, Siri. No one is here. We won't have a vision," explained Obi-wan.

"My ascendance is inevitable. A day, a year, a millenium- it matters not. I hold the patience of stone and the will of stars" said the voice again.

"Is that .. ?" asked Siri.

"Yes, the old Sith Emperor reclaimed his throneroom," replied Obi-wan as he turned back and realised that eight magnaguards were now facing the two Jedi. "Siri."

"Understood" and then Siri dashed outside the throneroom and headed to the private hangar, leaving Obi-wan dealing with the droids.

After checking she had left, Kenobi turned to his opponents, and ran a hand through his hair. He really didn't want to leave Grievous to Siri but he knew she would gain some time until his arrival and perhaps, she could steal the holocron.

Ferus Ollin in a quick move cut another harm and noticed that the Rancor was chasing him. He was really exhausted but after defeating all of the gladiatorian, he wouldn't finish eaten by such monster. Even if the Jedi was having a hard time, every citizen and Aurra Sing as well was thrilled by the show : they all wanted to know if this new arena's heroe would die or will be able to defeat the Rancor in a horrible manner. They were craving for blood and death and, when Ferus had crushed a head of a Nexu with a rock, spreading blood all over the place, the crowd had fallen in love with the Jedi Knight and his name was yelled in the whole stadium. Even Dooku was enjoying the show but was ready to stop the fight at any moment if Ollin was in too much danger : his master's order had been clear, Ollin will help them to corrupt Skywalker. But first, Ollin had to fall to the darkside and his love for the Twi'lek Jedi would doomed himself. Darth Tyranus wasn't so sure about the fall of Ollin, he reminded him too much of Obi-wan Kenobi, the true fighter of the Lightside and the lover of life. The Jedi Order seemed to notice that and was now closed to accept that Jedi might fall in love and that was thanked to Obi-wan. Qui-Gon would have been proud of his son, as Dooku was, honestly, proud of his grand-padawan. Even if they were enemies, Dooku had grown to love Obi-wan and never wanted his death and perhaps Obi-wan would spare him in the future.

"It's enough Count !" said Aayla Secura trying to yell at the old man. She was pathetic, in this slave's outfit and the Force suppressing collar but Dooku understood why Ferus loved her : Twi'lek were now to be exotic species and Aayla Secura was one of the most beautiful twi'lek Dooku had seen. But right now, she was his slave and Aura Sing had kept reminding her about her condition as witnessed her many bruises on her body.

"Don't worry, you and Jedi Ollin will soon die," lied Dooku and then, he pressed a button in front of him and twenty battledroids came to surround Ferus as the Rancor was stop by his owner. Seeing such terrific beast listening to his owner had always amazed the people but right now, every pair of eyes were on Ferus Ollin. But suddenly, blue shots came from the roof of the stadium and ARC trooper came down to protect the Jedi as they destroyed the droids. Then Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano emerged from the crowd, the padawan coming to the rescue of the ARCs and Ferus as Anakin ordered the Rancor's owner to leave immediately or his pet would die : the Jedi from Tatooine knew, by listening to the pilots in his youth, that Rancor were truly attached beings so the owner wouldn't hesitate and the Rancor quickly re-entered his cage.

"You're just in time, as always Skywalker," said Ferus to his rival.

"Well you saved me on Geonosis last time. It's a pay back ! Now go save Knight Secura so we can leave this hell !" yelled Anakin as he countered the bolts of incoming droids.

Ferus didn't wait any seconds on the arena's ground and jumped at Dooku's tribune where as predicted, only Aura Sing and Aayla were waiting for him.

"Where is Dooku ?" asked Ferus annoyed.

"He left, my dear. And now, I will sell my new slave," teased Sing.

"Do you want to leave ?" asked Ferus now nearly angry.

"Oh oh ! An angry Jedi !"

"I am exhausted. I won't control myself if me fight," informed Ferus raising his green lightsaber.

"Then come Jedi !" yelled Aura as she threw Aayla against a wall but realised too late that Ferus was laready five inches in front of her and that he send her fallin of the balcony by a powerfull kick in her chest.

Tired of fighting, Ferus fell on the ground and Aayla came slowly on top of him.

"I'm proud of you Ferus. I would have kill her," whispered Aayla.

Then Ferus kissed her as he took her Force-suppressing collard off, "You know you would have done the same. I was worried. I love you"

"Don't," Aayla kissed him, "leave me alone again," she kissed even more, "And do not fight like this in front of me ! I had to look away every single minute !"

"I'm sorry," replied the man with gold streaks smiling.

"And you didn't bring clothes ! I'm half naked like this !" complained Secura.

"Don't worry, I'm sure we'll find something." And then, Ferus took his lover in his arms and joined Skywalker's group who immediately reatreat their shuttle hidden below the arena.

"Well, that was fun," said Ahsoka when Aayla sat in front of her with a Jedi cloak on her shoulders.

"Fun ?" asked the blue Jedi.

"I've win two hundreds credits by betting on Ferus," laughed Ahsoka and then, everyone in the cockpit started to laugh. The nightmare was over, Aayla Secura will come home.

Running faster with the Force, Siri quickly arrived in front of Grievous shuttle in which he was just about to board. Using the Force, she pulled out the Holocron from Grievous's cloak who had the only choice but to come figthing the Jedi.

"Come quickly Obi-wan..." thought Siri as she ignited her purple lightsaber.

"General Tachi, "Grievous laughed, "I look forward to add your unique lightsaber to my collection" and then, the cyborg ignited two lightsabers. Yelling, he attacked brutally at the woman by trying to plug his lightsabers into Siri's chest but she crouched at the last time and aimed for the legs of the Separatist General. She only realised her mistake when Grievous tried to crush her with his metal claws when he jumped above her but she managed to dodge again. The fight continued on, the purple blade was unfortunately only countering the assault of the two others and Siri knew she would last long if she didn't attack. But suddenly, Grievous took his blaster with another hidden hand and started to shoot at her. Noticing that every blots were missing, she tried to taunt the cyborg.

"You should have replace your eyes by a droid's" yelled Siri with a cold tone.

"I am NOT a droid, Jedi scum," screamed Grevious as he locked his two blades with Siri's.

The next five minutes of the fight were a real torture for Siri's muscles as she danced around the many attacks of Grievous and sensing she couldn't take it anymore, she Forcepushed the General but he managed to escape the Jedi's move by accelerating at the last time and then, he was once again locking his lightsabers against the purple one. And after laughing evily, with his free hand, he toke the holocron from Siri. "This is mine!" and then, the cyborg drove his metal fist into Siri's belly who fell on ground out of breath.

"The mighty Cold Queen will be beheaded by General Grievous. I wish Kenobi was here to see you" said Grievous as he crossed his lightsabers in front of Siri's neck.

"Do something! DO SOMETHING!" yelled Siri in her mind. And then, Grievous litteraly disappeared in front of her and crashed inside the shuttle thirty meters from her position. Looking to the opposite direction, she saw Obi-wan with an electronic staff in one hand and his lightsaber in the other standing at the entrance of the hangar.

"You failed General Kenobi !" laughed Grievous inside the shuttle and quickly closed the doors as he saw Obi-wan throwing the staff toward the ship which landed off immediately, the staff missing it from centimeters.

Kneeling next to her, Obi-wan took Siri's face in his hands and asked :"Are you alright?"

"Yes, I am... I'm sorry. I've failed," said Siri looking away.

Obi-wan forced her to look at him again and kissed her passionately, "Grievous is a very stronger fighter. Much stronger than when I defeated him. Mace injuried him greatly in my time."

"I know, but -"

"There is no but. You could have died against him. I'm glad you're still with me, Siri Kenobi"

Siri smiled to her husband and kissed him to show him how much she loved him, "Don't worry. I told you we are going to die together in our bed."

"I'm pretty sure I will find a way to become a spirit to watch over our children," joked Obi-wan.

"Yes, I'm very sure of that," laughed Siri.

Author note : And it's done ! So sorry for the wait, but I'm kinda busy with my studies. Anyway, I hope you love this chapter ! As you can see, no one is safe from the darkside.

Next time, I'm going to pass some CW events and I'll write about Mandalore ;) ! Don't worry, Siri will go with Obi-wan and she will meet Satine :D

And have you seen the last CW episode ? Force, Obi-wan is such a bad-ass with two lightsabers !

Please rate and review as always, I love you all :)