"Ah, Geonosis, what a junkyard," Danny commented dryly.
He was exaggerating, of course, the planet wasn't one of such worlds. Geonosis was a sand planet, with an asteroid belt which used to be its satellite. There were still several parts of the planet where any life was impossible because of radiation levels. That's why its inhabitants had been living underground for centuries. The planet was located in the Outer Rim, and, ironically, the nearest Imperial outpost was a few hundred parsecs to the South.
Phantom got a bit delayed, actually, there were some matters he needed to sort out immediately, but they were taken care of quickly. When Danny appeared on Geonosis, he immediately noticed rocky structures on the distance, looking like termite mounds. Thankfully the Intelligence had provided him with the exact coordinates. It wouldn't have been funny if he had to pinpoint a location on the large planet. When he told Obi-Wan that he was going to barge in, Danny wasn't kidding. But that also meant that he would be an uninvited guest.
It should be fun as hell.
Turning invisible, Danny flew forward towards the building complex. He became intangible and got inside. Surprisingly, those crude buildings looked much better on the inside. Bas-reliefs looked very unusual, but that's what made them so interesting. It was a large hall, there weren't many decorations, rocks, rocks and rocks. Nicely curved and cut, but still rocks. The guards were outside, so Danny turned visible again. He went up the half circular staircase and entered the corridor.
It was poorly lightened, but Danny decided against lighting the way. His sensitive ears were on guard, so he could catch the footsteps or clatter of the wings. He didn't want to reveal his presence just yet. Only in front of the guy in charge. Phantom felt the presence of the Force sensitive, quite powerful for that matter. He decided to follow the trail, Danny calmly strolled forward, like if he was going through his own palace, before hearing clacking sounds. With the same expression Phantom walked into the right wall and came out in the next room.
Finally Danny stopped near the last door. He phased through and saw two men sitting at the table. One was a human, quite old, over seventy that's for sure. He had short grayed hair and a short, but carefully kept beard, which gave him a very noble look. He was wearing black and seemingly comfortable clothes, with a dark brown cape hanging on his shoulders, held by a silver clasp. He was talking with an alien beside him.
His conversationalist was a Geonosian. He had a grayish brown thick skin typical for his race, yellow eyes. From his chin were coming leathery spurts, which made it look like if the insectoid had an actual beard. He was wearing a metal chestplate, with holes in the back so it won't bother his dark yellow wings. In his hands the Geonosian held a cane.
"Our guests should arrive soon, Archduke Poggle," the human said in a low baritone. "Is everything ready?"
"Indeed, Count," the Geonosian said in his language of clacks and squawks. "You will see the results of our work as soon as they arrive."
Suddenly, the old man perked up. "We are not alone."
Danny saw one of the chairs flying at him, but Phantom merely caught it, before turning visible.
"How rude," the ghost commented, putting the chair on the ground. "But I'll think of it as if you offered this chair."
"Who are you?" The old man asked.
"And how did you get inside?" Poggle added.
"Ah, so many questions and so little time," Danny sighed, sitting on a chair. "Daniel Phantom is my name. As for how I got here, you should harden your security. Every idiot can get inside be using the cloaking device. Your Geonosian sense of smell doesn't work through the walls, so you know, Archduke. So, why I came here in the first place. A little birdie whispered that you are building a Separatist movement, Count Dooku."
"And you made the entire way here so you can ask to join?" Dooku asked. He kept the polite tone, at least for now.
"Yes. It was fun breaching your security. Anyways, I have several planets under my influence. By a snap of my fingers the locals will flip the Republican government in multiple sectors and come under my protection. But I need the assurance that your forces will be ready to assist the rebellions."
'Or I will have to send in the Stormtroopers,' Danny added mentally.
"May I ask, how have you learned about the Separatist movement's formation?"
"I can afford several agents. I can learn a lot of things, starting from this and ending with what is in the Chancellor's wardrobe."
Dooku stared at the young man in front of him. There was no possible way he could know. Danny meanwhile continued.
"I have several very talented commanders in my services as well. And since the Republic is building up its military machine, you will need both me and my men."
"It is what?"
Suddenly one of the Geonosians entered the room, namely flew through the hole under the ceiling, and reported something to Poggle. The Archduke rose from his seat, leaning on his cane.
"The guests have arrived, Count," Poggle said.
Dooku nodded and got up as well, before looking at Danny. "I suggest you come with us. We shall discuss everything there."
Phantom smiled and followed the two out of the room. Unknowingly to each other, both nobles were observing each other. Danny knew of Dooku - the rogue Jedi who left the Order and seized his title on his homeworld. The Intelligence gave him only that information, because the Emperor didn't order to look deeper into the matter. And he undoubtedly will order such a thing. Another thing which interested the ghost is that he could sense the darkness within the old man. He had turned to the Dark Side, which meant he could stab in the back easily and without restraint.
Dooku meanwhile watched the white haired man. He appeared out of nowhere and the old man couldn't see a cloaking device on him. That was strange. Then the Sith payed attention to Phantom's general appearance. White hair, green eyes, certainly not hard to spot and remember. Actually, he recalled something about the Jedi chasing a kid around Coruscant, and the kid had a very similar appearance. Maybe it was a false assumption, the Galaxy was large. What was more confusing is how his Master was unaware that someone was steering a revolt. Well, maybe Sidius knew, just didn't tell his apprentice, Dooku won't be surprised.
"How many systems exactly did you mean?" He asked the ghost.
Danny hummed. "I meant sectors, Count. Mostly they are located on the edge of the Republic, where the officials won't get easily. That's about...fifteen-twenty sectors. Or at least their capitals. I have enough hired professional soldiers to stage coups. I just have to be sure that the Republic won't barge in with an army of their own."
They soon came back to the entrance hall, and the doors opened. While Danny leaned on the wall, and the Archduke ordered not to attack the young man, Dooku went forward to greet the newest arrivals.
First was a strange guy, with green skin and a cylindrical head. All his facial organs were covered by metal devices: glasses and the breathing mask made of gold colored metal. He was wearing blue robes, with a metal plate on his shoulders and neck. The Skakoan greeted the count and stood nearby. It was Wat Tambor, the foreman of the Techno Union - one of the biggest corporations of the Galaxy. Danny heard something about Kuat Driveyards breaking out of the Union. One of the biggest shipyards of the Republic won't be joining the party, apparently.
The next were several heads of corporations. San Hill, Chairman of the InterGalactic Banking Clan, meeting with whom was the last thing Phantom wanted, Passel Argente, the Magistrate of the Corporate Alliance; Tikkes of the Quarren Isolation League; Po Nudo of the Hyper-Communications Cartel and Shu Mai of the Commerce Guild.
The last one to enter was one of the biggest moneybags of the Galaxy. Nute Gunray, the Viceroy of the Trade Federation. He was a Neimoidian, fairly tall, in a dark orange robe and a tall orange hat, which looked a bit like Pope's. He had a grayish wrinkly skin, with oval red,eyes positioned horizontally, with a black line coming from one end to another. His stance alone told about the man's arrogance. His cowardice was also well known.
"Welcome, gentlemen, lady," Count Dooku greeted. "I trust the trip went well."
"Indeed, Count Dooku," San Hill said with a smile, bowing slightly.
The Muun was probably the tallest, if you don't count the Neimoidian's hat. He had a very thin build, dark gray skin and a tall head without ears, only hearing holes on its sides. His middle and pointing fingers were twice as long as his unnamed fingers, nothing out of ordinary for his kind.
"Let's get to business," Gunray said. Danny wondered if thinking that his accent was jewish was antisemitism. Then the Neimoidian's eye fell on the ghost leaning against the wall. "And who is the kid?"
Everyone looked at Danny, and the Chairman's was especially angry. "YOU!" He exclaimed.
Phantom shrugged and smiled offhandedly. "Are you still pissed off?"
"We have lost millions of credits because of you!"
"Uhm, Kalee payed the loan they took. Fully. How did you expect almost bankrupt planet to return it?"
Oh, they did have something, but the Muun wasn't going to tell.
"Let's not start arguments, dear friends," Dooku interrupted them. "Let us continue our conversation in the room."
San glared at the white haired ghost, but backed off nevertheless. The group went forward, and everyone kept occasionally glancing at the youngest member. Danny didn't pay attention to them, and they didn't ask him questions. They were passing an enormous underground factory, and Phantom was quite impressed. They were making droids as easily as paper planes.
Suddenly Gunray decided to start a conversation.
"Count, how long shall we wait until the plan will be set in motion."
"Commerce Guild and the Corporate Alliance must sign the treaty."
"And what about Senator Amidala? Is she still alive? I won't sign the trety until I get her head."
"Still sore that you were beaten by her with a tribe of aborigines?" Danny asked smugly with a smirk.
"No one gave you a word," Gunray snapped, sounding offended.
"I keep my promises, Viceroy," Dooku responded. "You will get it soon."
Then Wat Tambor spoke. "We have created new battle droids for you, Count Dooku. You will have the most powerful army in the Galaxy," he said in a deep metallic voice.
Phantom resisted a snort. The Empire had one billion of active soldiers and five more ready to be conscripted. And most of them were veterans of the conquest campaigns of their Emperor. How many droids exactly did they have? The group sat at the circular table, in a big lighted room with multiple red and yellow screens.
"As I've already said, I'm deeply convinced that more than ten thousand systems will join our cause if we get your support. Our sudden addition has promised the support of twenty more systems," Dooku gestured at Phantom.
"Moreover, I have something else to offer."
Suddenly Danny took out a tube out of nowhere, and put it on the table with a slamming sound. It was filled with a glowing green liquid, which kept swirling in its tight space. Everyone looked at it with curiosity.
"This is ectoplasm. It can be used in many ways. Batteries charged from it will keep the droids on their legs for a year. If used as fuel, the ship can go for twice as long as normal one. The best thing is, I've discovered a place where we can get an unlimited supply of it. Hence why it is much cheaper than the usual fuel. I'm offering to supply this movement with it."
"That's...impressive," Dooku commented. "Where did you get it?"
"Corporate secret. I'd like to keep a monopoly," Phantom said, noticing narrowed eyes of the Corporations' leaders. "Hey, I want to play my part, too."
"Your enthusiasm is appreciated," Dooku commented. "But can you supply enough?"
"Well, I'll tell later, because I don't know how many ships you've got. But it should be enough, I think."
Dooku nodded. "With combined efforts we will be able to defeat the Republic."
"What you are offering can be considered a treason," Shu Mai argued.
"I won't call it a treason," Phantom argued. "After all, the Republic is getting ready for the war as well."
"What do you mean?" Gunray asked.
"Well, why else they would need a few million higly trained clones?"
It earned several incredulous looks. Phantom leaned back in his seat. "It seems that the Republic knows about our little chat. Apparently, there is no going back now."
He then noticed some movement under the roof. Through the hole in the wall, he saw Obi-Wan peeking at them. What was he doing here? Danny looked straight into the man's wide eyes, but just looked away. He was not going to rat the Jedi out. Still, Phantom was now obviously a Separatist in his eyes. Poor guy didn't know the real truth about who Danny was in reality. The Emperor was interested in tearing the Republic to shreds as much as he could, before ordering his legions to bang down the door of the rotten building, and the civil war was a perfect way. A good scare for the leaders should be enough to unite them.
"Droi..." Tambor was about to speak, but his voice module malfunctioned. He fiddled with the device. "Droids are in your disposal, Count Dooku."
"Banking Clan will sign this treaty," San added.
"Good, we have already received the support from our friends from the Trade Federation. If we add yours to their battle droids, we will get the biggest army in the Galaxy. The Jedi will be defeated. Despite this...inconvenience," Dooku said, referring to the clones. "How many of them are ready?" He asked Phantom.
Danny HAD to get into the commanding circle. And he will do everything what's needed. Phantom glanced at Obi-Wan, but he was gone already. Oh, well.
"They have an accelerated growth, but they have to be grown nevertheless. Several battalions are ready, but that's it. Maybe they have vehicles and ships, that I don't know about. I doubt the latter are made on Kamino as well."
"Hm, I see."
"We must destroy them before they will be able to do anything," Tambor said.
"Patience, dear friends," Dooku responded. "First, let's sign this treaty already."
Poggle gave a comand to one of the Geonosians and the bug soon returned with a datapad. He handed it to the Count, who left the first insignia. He passed it to the next leader, who signed it as well. Danny was the last one. Everyone looked at him in confusion.
"What corporation do you represent?" Shu Mai asked.
Phantom was silent at first, but then answered. "IMC"
"We've never heard of it."
"I was subtle so far, and we aren't so big. You will find the cooperation with me most beneficial. And I just needed the way to sell all this stuff and get money. I bet most of the present are here for this same reason." Danny said, before leaving his signature. Again not seeing the narrowed eyes, or ignoring them. "Just change the text of the treaty and add my company there."
IMC was an abbreviature for Imperial Mining Corporation. But it's not like he couldn't rephrase its true name. The company was state run, and the ectoplasm excavation was one of its responsibilities. Phantom could easily send the ships filled with fuel to the Separatists without revealing the Empire's existence. And if he binds the entire war machine to his supply, soon he will get the absolute control over the entire movement. Hopefully no one will notice this detail of his true intentions. Yes, they could find a replacement for fuel, but who would pay more for less efficiency, especially that greedy bastards.
Then the leaders decided to create the Separatist Council. It was supposed to be the highest organ of rule in the movement, and Danny became its part, although it took some convincing. If he doesn't prove to be a valuable asset, he will be kicked out of the Council. Phantom wasn't worried. Hyperion alone was the biggest ship in the Galaxy, the Republic didn't have a ship at least one fifth of its length. Too sad it was only one of its kind. Count Dooku, as the one who brought them all together, was chosen as the Head of the future state. Phantom voted in favor of such decision. Actually, everyone voted in favor.
The meeting was over and everyone parted ways. They had other issues to discuss, so they just walked to their rooms. Danny heard how a Geonosian whispered something to the Archduke. His hearing caught what they said.
"Sir, we have caught the Jedi."
"What?"
"He was taken into custody and locked in the interrogation room."
"Good, inform Count Dooku. I think he will be interested."
Phantom froze. Unless there was another Jedi within the hive building, it could only be Ben. Just great. Before he could turn invisible and free the captive, his communicator beeped. Danny found more or less secure spot and activated the hologram.
"My Lord," Keeper bowed. "I have important news."
"Make it quick."
The Head of Intelligence coughed. "Chancellor Palpatine is granted emergency rights. He proclaimed the creation of the Grand Army of the Republic."
"I fail to see what's 'grand' in sending an army of slaves into fight," Phantom muttered. "I want to know about every word said in the Senate before it even leaves the building."
"Understood, Your Majesty. I'll inform our agents."
Danny turned off the communicator and saw the Geonosian guard passing nearby. He quickly hid the device. The insectoid looked at him strangely.
"Quit staring," Phantom said.
The Geonosian blinked and walked off. Now, the ghost needed to find his more or less friend. He turned invisible and started searching. Danny cursed several times while wolking around the labyrinthine corridors. But finally he found the required room, or so he thought. Phantom phased inside, and he was right. Obi-Wan was hanging in a low gravity field, not able to move because of energy shackles. He seemed to be deeply in thought. Danny looked around for any cameras, and finding none, he became visible.
"Hm, awkward situation, isn't it?" He asked.
Obi-Wan's head snapped in his direction. "I thought you were better than this."
"Better than what?" Danny responded sarcastically. "Fighting for the people?"
"You are not fighting for the people, you are fighting for the corporate leaders."
"I'm not doing it for them, Ben. At least here the citizens will have any chance. The Senate is corrupt, they had turned the edge planets into raw materials' source. I want to help them, and I doubt that the Trade Federation is going to lose its place in the government. It's a big question on whose side they are. "
"If you came here to try to convince me to join, then you are losing your time. Dooku has already tried."
Danny raised his eyebrow and the field was shut down. Obi-Wan fell on the ground, but got up quickly. He stared at Phantom, who hadn't moved on an inch, with wide eyes.
"The guards outside are knocked out. I'd suggest you get out of here as fast as you can. Ta!"
To the Jedi's shock, Phantom disappeared in front of his eyes. This guy never ceased to surprise him, both physically and mentally. And he was too damn unpredictable.
Danny tried to get as far as he could as fast as he could. No one was going to suspect him if he was in the other end of the building. And no one suspected him when everyone found out about the escape. Danny didn't know where Ben was, but the ship he used was severely damaged, and under heavy guard.
The next meeting was supposed to concern the organizational questions. Phantom chose planet Hoth as the main secret storage of the ectoplasmical fuel. It wasn't far from Imperial positions, but enough not to reveal anything, and completely uninhabited by sentient beings, except for several tribes of primitive Talz. Funnily, the planetary name lied, it was cold as heck, even if not for the Emperor. Count Dooku was still very confident about the worlds who will join, so they managed to draw the supply line from one end to another.
After the meeting Danny was walking through the corridors, where he was allowed, of course. He didn't want to offend the owner. Suddenly Phantom saw a familiar face and smiled.
"Hey, Boba, what are you doing here?"
The boy jumped and turned in his direction. "Hey...My father just needed to come here and he took me."
"The Galaxy is too small," Danny's smile became dreamy.
"And what are you doing here?"
"You are speaking with a member of the Separatist Council, boy," Phantom said, parodying Gunray's tone. Boba got the reference and snickered, before remembering something.
"How is Danielle?" He asked. Last time he saw her she was in the worst condition.
"Oh, she is alright now. More than ever, I think."
Suddenly he heard a flapping of the wings. Danny looked to the side and saw a Geonosian approaching. He said something to Phantom, something only two of them understood. The locals had already guessed that he understood their language without the protocol droid. Boba only blinked. The Geonosian then flew off.
"What did he say?" The boy asked.
"He said that Poggle the Lesser invites us for the grand execution. And he didn't care to tell me where to go."
"There is an arena. We should probably go there, I know where it is."
Phantom decided to follow him, it wasn't like he had any choice. As they went through the corridors, Danny felt a foreign presence.
"Uhm, Boba, wait here for a moment, please."
Boba looked at him strangely, but nodded. Phantom went into a small corridor, already hearing the sounds of the crowd's cheers. There were small slits in the walls, through which the daylight was coming. Danny heard a rustle behind one of the columns.
"I recall asking you to get away, Ben," Danny deadpanned. The Jedi flinched and looked out from his hiding spot.
"Thank you for that, by the way, but I can't leave."
"Why?"
"Well, for starters, my ship is a pile of junk by now. Second, they caught Anakin and Padme, who, apparently, came here to save me."
"And who are they?"
"Anakin is my Padawan. I don't understand why he brought Senator Amidala with him. He was tasked with protecting her."
"Alright, alright, calm down."
"I am calm."
Danny just raised his hands in surrender. "I take it they are the ones to be executed. Poor fellows."
He then sighed. "Fine, I'll do what I can, but I'm not going out there, lightsaber blazing. You, meanwhile, stay close to the events."
Obi-Wan nodded. Phantom was younger than him, but he spoke reasonable things. Too sad he was on the enemy side.
Danny returned to Boba and they continued their way. Apparently, they got the very respectable positions on the main tribune. There were Nute Gunray and his minion, along with Count Dooku, Archduke Poggle and Jango Fett. So they were buddies. Weird. The man was either a double crossing bastard or...they were on the same side. But then, how could Dooku not know about the clone army? Maybe Fett was being paid by both sides and kept secrets of each. Shaking the thoughts into a corner of his metaphorical mind, Danny stood on the tribune, greeting everyone present and smirking at Jango's slightly surprised expression. Neither said anything, however.
The arena was enormous, the tribunes were filled to the brim, fitting thousands of Geonosians, some were even flying because there wasn't any place. All of them were cheering loudly. The doors on the arena opened and the prisoners were brought in on a chariot. One of them was a young man, with short brown hair and blue eyes, wearing black and brown Jedi robes. Near him was a young woman, with brown hair and eyes, who wore a tight white suit. They both were chained.
The pair was brought to the two pillars in the center, before they were tied to the stone structures.
Poggle stepped forward.
"Calm down! Calm down!" He said loudly and somehow everyone heard it and followed the request. "Now, let the execution begin!"
The crowd cheered loudly again as the gates in two different ends of the stadium opened. From the first jumped a very hungry Nexu. Why hungry? It ate the Geonosian who let it out. The other one was Acklay.
The Acklay was a three-eyed amphibious non-sentient creature. Despite its crustacean-like nature, Acklay also had characteristics possessed by reptiles, such as their powerful jaws filled with sharp teeth. The acklay had a tough, leathery skin of the green color, another trait from its reptilian heritage. Its belly was more vulnerable than other parts of its body, as the white flesh covering it was not as tough as it was elsewhere. The Acklay had a bony crest around its neck, used for both intimidation and protection. It also possessed six deadly claws, used for both pinning an opponent in combat or slicing them. Its limbs were long, allowing it to strike at enemies from a distance.
It looked very angry, but didn't dare to attack the Geonosians. Nevertheless, the creatures were forced to go forward, closer to the captives.
"A strange tradition," Danny said.
Poggle looked up at the taller man. "We have been executing our enemies this way for millennias."
"I understand, Archduke, and I didn't mean to offend. I just don't understand the purpose. You spend money for a show, but I doubt that there is much to look at when they are tied up. Those predators are going to eat them without even choking."
"It is still more entertaining than watching the head being cut off," the Geonosian grumbled, looking away.
"I wouldn't underestimate the Jedi, my friend," Dooku added. "Even if it is an amateur like Skywalker."
Danny shrugged, before crossing his hands. He got an idea what to do, but he had to wait for the right moment. The Acklay approached Anakin, while the Nexu was circling around Padme's pillar. Suddenly, the latter started to climb up the pillar after freeing one hand and using the chain as an assistance. Lockpicking, what a strange skill to have for a Senator.
When Acklay was about to strike Anakin, his chains suddenly snapped into pieces. The Jedi jumped to the side and avoided the strike. No one noticed a surprised look on Anakin's face as well as the tiny smirk on Phantom's. Now, where was Ben...
Padme was fighting back the feline predator from the pillar's top, using the chain as a whip. Nexu didn't like it and kept attempting to climb. Finally, he managed to scrath her back with its long claws. She screamed in pain and fell on her knees, thankfully the pillar was wide enough to ait on it. Gunray clenched his fists and snickered evilly and happily, like a kid who scratched the neighbor's car. Amidala meanwhile used the chain as the swing, jumping down, accelerating and hitting the feline with her legs. It worked very well.
"Ugh, she can't do that, shoot her!" Gunray demanded.
"Go ahead," Danny responded, offering him a blater to do at least something himself. Jango thought it looked too much like his own...wait.
He snatched the blaster from Danny's hand and put it back in its holster, glaring at the ghost. Phantom only chuckled. Some could think that he was insane for provoking the most dangerous people of the Galaxy, but he wasn't doing it for no reason.
Meanwhile Obi-Wan was inside one of the rooms where the animals were kept. He quickly slashed the Geonosians guarding them. At first the Jedi only wanted to get to the arena through this room. Suddenly he saw a rhinoceros like creature, with thick red and gray skin, with three horns - one above the nose and one from each cheek. Obi-Wan grinned as the crazy idea came into his mind.
Danny observed how Anakin was having a hard time without any weapon. He looked at the Geonosian guard near one of the gates, who was holding a pike. Picking the right moment, so it would look like Anakin did it, Phantom pulled the pike from the insectoid's grasp and right near the Jedi. Skywalker picked it and threw the pike at the beast, not having time to think about how it got there. Danny just loved his advanced telekinesis, which allowed to move objects without waving his hand. The pike stuck in the Acklay's skin, but the creature only took it out with its jaw and snapped it in half.
Anakin decided to resort to another plan. Jumping away from another stab and jumped on the creature's back, wrapping the chain around its neck. The Acklay cried in pain, and tried to shake him off. Suddenly, from one of the gates ran Obi-Wan, riding the rhinoceros. On a huge speed the being rammed into Nexu, either killing it or knocking the feline out. He then rode to get rid of the Acklay.
"Archduke Poggle, do you accept bets around here?" Danny asked.
The Geonosian shook his head in negative. It sounded like a good idea, however.
"I take my words back, Count. They are full of surprises, indeed," Phantom chuckled.
"Your enthusiasm seems to be misplaced here," Dooku commented.
"What can I say, I enjoy a good show. It makes me feel like a Roman Emperor."
No one decided to comment this. The guy seemed way too eccentric, they all decided. They were right, actually, but better let them think he was only that.
They watched as the prisoners jumped on the rhino, preparing to ride away.
"This can't be happening!" Gunray exclaimed. "Jango, go kill her!"
"Patience, Viceroy, she will definitely die," Dooku said in reassurance.
As he said this, about eight droids rolled out on the arena. They looked like metal wheels, but when they surrounded the group, they stood on small legs, pointing their built in blasters at them. Phantom started to think how to get them out of that situation, but then he heard the sound of an activated lightsaber. Danny, as well as everyone else, saw how Windu was holding the purple lightsaber near Jango's throat.
"Master Windu," Dooku said in a welcoming tone. "How nice of you to step in."
"Your plan has failed."
As he said that, across the entire arena sounded whirring noises, as many Jedi got out from their covers. The unarmed Geonosians started to flee.
"Brave, but really foolish, my old Jedi friend," Dooku commented. "You are severely outnumbered."
"I don't think so."
But then everyone heard clanking sounds coming through the corridor. Two droids approached. They had oval faces built into their torso, with built in blasters in their hands as well. The droids were made from gray shiny metal, and gave an impression of a very muscular figure. They fired at the Jedi, but he deflected several shots. Then Phantom decided to step in and simply swiped his leg and hit Mace's. The Jedi stumbled, not being able to resist the strength, added to the factor of surprise. He only needed a push over the edge, and Danny did just that. Mace fell on the arena, but landed on his legs. The Jedi could fall from considerable heights without any harm.
"Impressive," Dooku commented with a raised eyebrow.
"Never liked this guy, anyway," Danny shrugged.
The battle continued, the Jedi were fighting down there, against hundreds of droids which kept coming from the entrances. There was just so many of them. Phantom decided against interfering unless it was needed. And despite the fact that each Jedi was probably taking down at least fifty of the weak clankers, thank goodness HK wasn't with him at the moment, the numbers were overwhelming, and they were surrounded. HK would have already started the massacre for killing his fellow machines. Especially since the droid wrote a guide about fifty ways of killing the Jedi. Danny thought it was a masterpiece and it needed to be kept in only one exemplar in order to save many lives.
Suddenly one of the Knights jumped on their tribune, but before anyone could even blink, Jango shot him in his chest. The corpse fell over the edge and the mercenary rolled his blaster in cowboy fashion, before putting it back. Dooku smirked slightly and looked down again. Jango decided to finish Windu himself, so he used his jetpack to fly down. Several blasts reached the tribune, and while Viceroy was flinching and trying to duck from every shot, Phantom and Dooku weren't worried, well, the first one was worried for the boy nearby. Boba was leaning over the edge in curiousity, also not being afraid of the blaster bolts everywhere.
Jango was trying to fight the Jedi, but first he was almost ran over by the rhinoceros. It didn't step on him, but his jetpack started to sparkle. Then, when the animal ran at him again, Jango aimed and fired at its mouth, killing the creature immediately. It fell forward at him by inertia, but the man jumped to the side. The Bounty Hunter was immediately attacked by Windu. He kept firing, but the Jedi's purple lightsaber deflected them all. When he got dangerously close, Jango attempted to fly away, but the jetpack malfunctioned, he didn't fly anywhere and the blade reached his neck. In the next second, the mercenary's head flew off.
Phantom's eyes widened, before he looked at Boba. The boy, who saw all of what had happened, was silent. He only stared at the scene, not believing his own eyes. Danny only put a reassuring hand on the boy's shoulder, but he didn't react.
Finally all the Jedi were forced into the center. But when the droids were about to fire, Dooku stopped them.
"Master Windu," the Count spoke loudly. "You have shown the courage worth of being written down in the Jedi history. But now, it is over. Surrender, and we will spare your lives."
"We will never deal with you, Dooku," Windu said the old man's name like it was an insult.
"Sad. I'm terribly sorry, my old friend."
The droids pointed their weapons at the Jedi again. Then Phantom heard a loud whirring noise, and not only him. Out of nowhere, the entire fleet appeared above them. They had a shape similar to the Star Destroyers, but with more smooth edges. They were painted in red and white. A squadron of what looked like shuttles descended, firing at every droid they saw. Inside of them were troopers in white plastoid armor, which somehow resembled the Stormtroopers'. The shuttles landed around the Jedi, creating a wall berween them and the droids. They were running inside them, evacuating immediately and killing a lot of machines in the process.
It happened quickly, and in less than half a minute the ships were flying away. Count Dooku watched as they flew away, before turning around and walking off.
"It's time I set everything in motion, isn't it?" Phantom asked.
"Yes, it is," Dooku responded, without turning back and continuing his path.
Danny looked at Boba, but didn't find him there. Phantom looked around and saw him down on the arena. How did he get there so quickly? Seeing that no one was looking, Danny jumped down and hovered a few inches from the ground, before stepping on it softly. Boba was sitting near his father's helmet. He picked it and held the thing in his hands. Danny came closer quietly and heard a quiet sob.
"I'm sorry it happened like this," he said.
"This Jedi killed him!" Boba exclaimed.
"I know. But it comes with his occupation, doesn't it?"
Boba was silent, hugging the helmet close to his chest. There were no tears, even if the boy was ready to cry.
"Do you know what you are going to do now?" Phantom asked.
"Why do you care?" Boba snapped.
"Because you are a good kid. I know how it feels to be without the one who cares about you."
"I...maybe I should return to Kamino."
"Bad idea. Now, when the clone facilities are essential for the Republic, they won't leave it unguarded. And I doubt they will take kindly to you."
Boba was silent, trying to think up something else. "Father had a bank account on Aargau. There should be five hundred thousand credits."
"I see..."
"You are not going to do anything, right?"
"Oh, I will. I can get Jango's ship for you. Dooku is currently in its possession, but I can be persistent."
"Thanks...I guess."
Danny knew what Boba was going to do next. "You want to kill Windu."
"I do. He will pay for this," the boy said through gritted teeth, clenching his fist.
"It won't do any good, kid. Revenge is not like that, I repeat this speech for the second time. You will feel nasty afterwards."
"I don't care."
Danny sighed. He didn't have that much influence on the boy to change his mind. And forcing him wasn't going to add points. But it didn't mean he couldn't help him.
"Hey," Boba looked up at the young man. "Take this," he handed the boy a communicator. "If you need something, just call. Now, your father needs burial. Common now."
While the two were talking, several miles away was transpiring the first battle of what will be known as the Clone Wars