"We thought we'd come and rescue you," he said breathlessly to the stunned Jango, highly amused by Jango's surprise.

"Boba?" he asked, recovering from his shock. He had resigned himself to his fate, believing Boba free and safe, and thought the whole struggle at the pillars had been futile. Still he was a survivor and he wasn't going down without a fight, but this was the last thing he expected.

"He's flying the ship, rather well, I have to say," said Obi-Wan obviously impressed. Boba had gotten used to the controls extremely quickly and once he realized they were going after Jango he had taken on an air of fearlessness that reminded Obi-Wan of a certain young kid from Tatooine. Their first part of the plan had worked, now they just needed to get out of the arena and get back to the hangar where Yoda and Mace could pick them up.

Chaos still ensued around them as Obi-Wan glanced across to Anakin. He would have some strong words with the Jedi once they were out of this, but for now he just needed the man to listen. "We'll be moving to the exit gate over there," and he pointed to a hole where a mass of Geonosians were swarming. Anakin looked skeptical, but Obi-Wan continued.

"Trust me, just focus on that exit, grab Padme and start running when the distraction starts."

"This isn't the distraction?"

Obi-Wan smiled at Yoda's young padawan. "Do you know anything about Geonisian sand?"

"What!" exclaimed Anakin completely perplexed.

Obi-Wan flipped on his comm. with Boba. "OK, start the sand storm and head on out, we'll meet you there."

Suddenly the brilliant light was gone and replaced moments later by a great roar of over charged engines and the sand swirled up and around the arena floor, completely obscuring the four figures from the continuingly chaotic crowd, all desperate to get out of the place. Obi-Wan grabbed Jango and led him to the exit through the swirling, suffocating sand. It was slower going than Obi-Wan had wanted, but they were well hidden and being completely ignored by the few Geonosians who flew past them to get away.

A force warning sent Obi-Wan rolling to the floor, dragging Jango with him and the lumbering reek beast that had been such a threat to them earlier now blindly raced through their position, followed by the nexus predator that lashed out at the creature over Obi-Wan and Jango's heads. "That was too close!" said Obi-wan as he pulled Jango to his feet and they got to the exit, forcing their way through and out of the storm. He ducked down a darkened hallway while a steady stream of the Geonosians swept through and outside. He was waiting for Anakin and Padme but he sensed something was wrong.

"What are we waiting for! Let's get moving!" said Jango, pulling at Obi-Wan's grip. But Obi-Wan held firm, he wasn't leaving without the others. He sensed Anakin close and he was worried, agitated and to Obi-Wan's horror, carrying a stricken Padme. He released Jango and ran to the opening as the two emerged from the storm. Anakin looked terrible, as though the world had just collapsed around him. Padme was curled up in his arms, her face contorted in agony, a large bruise already forming on her cheek.

"What happened?" exclaimed Obi-wan immediately at their side and he guided Anakin to the shadows where Jango was still hiding. Anakin sank to the floor, gently laying Padme there. She gasped at every movement, sending cold chills down Obi-Wan's spine. Anakin's distress was rolling off him in waves at the thought of Padme hurt and Obi-Wan had to shake him to get any kind of answer.

"The reek just barreled into us, I wasn't fast enough," he said breathlessly.

"You weren't fast enough? You shouldn't even be here, what were you thinking! The Separatist have decided to go to war because of this. And now.." He bent down to check on Padme, "dear friend."

He could sense it was very bad. She had several broken bones, internal injuries and a possible concussion. As he lent over her she raised a shaky hand to his face which she stroked gently.

"Oh good, we found you," she said dreamily as she began to slip into unconsciousness and both Jedi panicked. Obi-Wan laid his hand on her forehead while Anakin held her closer.

"No, no!" Anakin cried, his illness still making his connection to the force hazy at best and his emotional state regarding Padme further clouding his abilities. This was all too close to his final encounter with his mother, holding her close in his arms as her life force slipped away from him. He had been able to control his anger and fear at that time, but this was too much for his weakened system to take.

Obi-Wan was becoming swept along by the powerful emotions rushing through Anakin and he had to block the boy from his mind as best he could. That meant he could not aid Padme as well as he wanted as he was fighting a battle on two fronts, the one that raged inside Anakin and the one that raged inside himself. He was so close to taking his hands and wrapping them around the boy's throat for bringing Padme into this mess. But that would not help Padme in any way, so he tried his best to focus on her. He knew they didn't have the time for this, but there was no way he was moving her in this condition. He concentrated on her most life threatening injuries and did his best to send all the healing force he could to her broken body.

"Come on, Padme, I know you can't wait to chew me out for hiding the truth from you for so long, so let me help you get your fighting spirit back." His voice was soothing as the force healing swept through her and she gave a soft sigh as his touch traced over her forehead. He breathed deeply, asserting that his ministrations would have to do for now until they could get her to the proper healers.

He stood with some help from Jango, who was still with them. His best chance of seeing Boba again was to stay with Obi-Wan, even if that meant having to wait for him to see to his friends. But that seemed to be over now, so they would be off to get Boba and leave, which was the only thing he cared about right now.

Obi-Wan turned to the deflated Anakin who had remained on the floor clutching Padme desperately. They didn't have time for his moping right now so he was perhaps harsher than he should have been considering the boy's emotional state, but they had to get moving.

"Anakin," he said with the authority Qui-Gon would use on him when he had been a disappointment, "get up, now. You won't help Padme like that. Boba is waiting! Come on!"

Anakin seemed to snap back into focus and he swiftly but carefully rose with Padme in his arms. She was barely conscious at this point, and still very ill, but she would survive. They moved off down the darkened hall, heading for the garage where Obi-Wan had found the swoop bike. They were about to race into the place, when both Obi-Wan and Anakin felt the powerful presence of Dooku waiting for them.

"Stay here," said Obi-Wan to his small group of followers, "I'll handle this."