Vader was somewhat glad they were not murdered on the spot in the labyrinthine caves. The immediate future however, made him uneasy. He and Ahsoka were overwhelmed by wave after wave of the Geonosian. They slaughtered the enemy but inconceivably, the bugs would rise-even after fatal wounds-and continue stumbling towards them. Eventually the sheer numbers immobilized and captured them. Vader's light saber was snatched out of his grasp. Force-inhibiting cuffs were placed onto their wrists and bags were thrust over their heads. A dull noise surrounded them and he tilted his head trying to pinpoint the sound. He wondered what was going to happen next, Vader knew that they were going to be sentenced to death but how were they going to die? A quick death was better than a prolonged torturous one.
Sharp prods made him move onto something with wheels. Vader smelled the scent of animals and a lack of machinery. A chariot, he concluded. He sensed Ahsoka stepping onto the chariot.
"I'm going, I'm going! Quit poking me!" Ahsoka squirmed next to him. Vader smiled internally, even captured, she was as feisty as ever. His grin faded. She was so young, too young to die. He could have taught her so much more, he could have molded her into the perfect warrior. Another perfect devotee to the Emperor. Eventually. Vader was confident that he would be able to turn her to his cause.
A buzz of wings and the bags were whipped off. In the dark, there was no difference to him. The Force told him enough. He was in a small chamber with 4 guards and Ahsoka. He sensed the machinery to used to open the doors whir alive.
The large doors cracked just enough for light to enter and allow them to read the words inscribed above in the doorway. Let conversation cease let laughter flee. This is a place wherein death rejoices to serve the living.
The chariot lurched forward and the harsh light struck their eyes. Vader blinked rapidly, adjusting to the bright transition from the darkness. He looked at the ground. Sand, he thought morosely. He was to possibly die in sand. What a terrible way for Darth Vader, scourge of the Galactic Empire, to go. Glancing up he took in the rows of seating surrounding the arena. Ah, they were to be the entertainment.
The Geonosian guards grabbed them by the chains and led them to large posts in the middle of a coliseum. "Master Obi Wan!" She cried recognizing the figure already bound to the post on the far left. "Hello there. Fancy meeting you here. What are you doing in this place, Ahsoka?" Ahsoka opened her mouth but Vader hissed over her. "We are here on the Empire's business. Jedi," he spat. He didn't trust the Jedi, they were always interfering with his business and defying the Emperor's decrees. Obi Wan quirked an eyebrow in amusement "Seeing as we are all chained to posts about to die for entertainment, how about we keep things civil and work together to get out hmm?"
Vader tried to block out the oppressive heat on his skin, the jeering of the crowd, the stench of the Coliseum. It made it hard for him to judge the Jedi's intentions. Ahsoka looked to him for directions. Her intense gaze made it even harder to concentrate on the Jedi's placid face.
"I tried to help Solaria's planet," The man offered. Vader was thrown off kilter. So this man was the Jedi that trained Ahsoka and the one that Solaria said that was kind to her when captured. The Geonosian in the balcony made an announcement and the huge sandstone doors cracked open again. It was too late to keep considering.
"Fine."
