A/N: I own none of the characters, they belong to the great George Lucas. Lucky him! But, I do own Zankou, Ghanima/Chani and Alia (just three names which I'm borrowing from Frank Herbert's Children of Dune) so no stealing!

Samalamadingdong: You are so right! You're the only one to know, so don't tell! SHHH!

Erianna Abyss: I agree. I don't think Obi-Wan would've been able to kill Ghanima, just like he couldn't with Anakin. But he still had to fight her because he believed her to be a Sith. It's his job, no matter what he feels.

Thanks to the ever loyal Hiding in the Shadow, DarthGladiator45, The Obsessive Pirate, amrawo, hikishianara, and Anarra!

Chapter 54

The two Jedi Masters, Ghanima and Luminara continued to fight back-to-back, lightsabers flashing. The Reek suddenly charged, and separated the foursome. The Reek chased Windu across the arena, the Master slashing at the Reek but he soon lost his lightsaber. Jango, watching from above, rocketed down into the arena to battle with Windu.

He retrieved his lightsaber easily, and the Reek tossed Jango away. The bounty hunter ended up under the Reek, desperately trying to avoid the creature's massive hoofs. Finally, he was free and killed the Reek then he and Windu fought fiercely. The bounty hunter finally fell as Windu decapitated him. His helmet went flying as his body fell to the ground, and Windu turned away to run back into the fight without a second thought.

Obi-Wan was, once again, attacked by the Acklay. After cutting off one of its legs, forcing it to fall to the ground, he spun his light saber over his and stabbed the Acklay. The beast finally slain, he began to deflect blasts from the ever-growing army of Droids.

"Why didn't you tell me of your plan," Obi-Wan shouted to Ghanima as they fought back-to-back again.

"I knew you would try to stop me, over protective as you are," she shouted over the noise. "I had no other choice than to let you believe I'd really turned to the Dark Side!"

"I wouldn't have stopped you," he protested as he began to cut down the slowly dissipating swarms of Geonosians.

"Yeah, right. I know you, Obi-Wan. You're a white hat kind of guy. You love to play hero," she explained simply.

"No, I don't," he protested, but she just smirked.

"You're in denial!"

"I am not," he protested again, but her smile grew as they faced one another.

"Another denial," she quipped deviously. He was about to say something but she pulled him to her with her free hand and kissed him fiercely. "Thanks for not killing me," she said with a smirk.

With that, they ran off to find Anakin and Padmé, hoping that they weren't in too much trouble. Meanwhile, R2 found the Battle Droid with C-3PO's head attached. He shot a projectile from his body that attached a suction device to C-3PO's head, and pulled the head away from the Battle Droid.

"R2, what are you doing here? Wait! No! How dare you! You're pulling too hard! Stop dragging me, you lead head!" R2 continued to drag C-3PO's head across the arena though and reattached him to his proper body, using an extendable welding arm. "R2, be careful! You might burn my circuits. Are you sure my head's on straight?"

The two Jedi Masters, Ghanima, Anakin, Padmé, and an exhausted group of about twenty Jedi stood in the center of the arena surrounded by a ring of Battle Droids. The bloodied sand around them was strewn with the bodies of dead Geonosians, shattered Droids, and even Jedi. Ki-Adi Mundi, Kit Fisto, and the other survivors from the raiding party was herded into the arena by super Battle Droids.

Are you all right? I was worried.

You know me, Anakin. I'm always careful.

Yeah, right.

Ghanima smirked at him, finally looking at him clearly for the first time. Something had changed in him, and she wasn't sure what. He looked happier than last she saw him, almost smug or pleased with himself. As she turned to look back at the encircling tiers above, where thousands of Battle Droids leveled their weapons menacingly, Anakin looked over at her curiously.

What are you wearing?

She heard him chuckle quietly, but ignored him. Gritting her teeth, she returned her attention back to the Archducal Box. Dooku stood there, a gracious smile plastered on his aged face. It was enough to make anyone sick. His old eyes traced over the crowd, stopping on her, Obi-Wan and Windu briefly with malice before lifting his hand, signaling the Droids to lower their weapons.

"Master Windu! You have fought gallantly, worthy of recognition in the history archives of the Jedi Order. Now it is finished," he told them. "Surrender, and your lives will be spared!"

"We will not be hostages for you to barter with, Dooku," Windu called back defiantly.

"Then, I'm sorry, old friend. You will have to be destroyed," The Droids raised their weapons, Dooku raising his hand to give the order to fire. Anakin and Padmé looked at one another before she looked up suddenly and a small spread across her lips.

"Look," she shouted to the others, pointing upwards.

P.S.: Two pages total.