Obi-Wan stood in one corner of a massive room, his arms folded as he lounged against the wall, his hood well over his face. One advantage of places like this was that no one questioned anyone else – not unless one was looking for trouble. Rattatak was rather like Mos Eisley in that respect, except that there was a whole planet of crime, rather than one city of it.

He glanced again at the open main door of the structure. It had been nearly three minutes, and still Cody hadn't joined him. He must have been delayed. Obi-Wan decided to wait. Surely clandestine meetings were a normality around here; no one would be suspicious of a robed smuggler meeting a contact.

Not that Cody looked like the kind of person who would be in a place like this, which was a little odd when one considered that Jango Fett had been the most notorious bounty hunter in known space. . . Then again, the robes that he himself wore weren't exactly commonplace, either. Obi-Wan cast a glance at the blinking red chronometer on the far wall and set himself to studying the large room. Anakin was here, he was certain of it.

The entire building was taken up by a single room. A wide corridor ran around the outside of the room, and in the center of it, extending perhaps twenty meters down, was an immense pit. Judging by the seats that were built up to the corridor, this was some sort of theater or game field.

With a casual air, he strolled closer to the edge and glanced down. Metal bars covered the far end of the pit, which was filled with sand. What kind of game demanded cages and sand? Maybe it was one of those arenas that were popular among Hutts, where large, starving creatures would battle each other for the amusement of the bloodthirsty crowds. One always found such places on outlying worlds. Trying to keep his expression free of disgust, he moved away, back to the edge.

It had been nearly a quarter of an hour now, and Obi-Wan wondered whether he should go back and check for Cody, or proceed on his own. The question was settled for the moment as an orange Twi'lek approached him, his demeanor confident and relaxed.

"I beg your pardon, Master Jedi," he said smoothly.

Obi-Wan moved his hand toward his hidden lightsaber. He had been discovered. Ah well, at least he could move the hood and breathe again. Shifting the rough fabric away from his face, he smiled at the Twi'lek. "Yes? How can I help you?"

"Actually, it's more a question of how I can help you," the man said, gesturing with a long blaster.

"Forgive me," said Obi-Wan, eyeing the weapon distrustfully. "I'm not sure I entirely believe that."

"I have a proposition for you, Jedi."

"Indeed. It wouldn't happen to be from Count Dooku, would it?"

The Twi'lek's pointed teeth glinted in a smile. "Do you want to help your friends, or don't you?"

"That would depend on the manner of 'helping', I'm afraid." Obi-Wan looked around the room. "Are they here – what shall I call you?"

"My name is Tar Saresh. And you're General Kenobi of the Galactic Republic."

Obi-Wan inclined his head. "Glad to hear it."

"The Count wishes me to show you this." He held out the holorecorder and pressed a button. A blue hologram flickered into life. Despite the situation, Obi-Wan couldn't help a sense of amusement. Two figures were in the hologram. Anakin leaned forward, gesturing angrily, his eyes narrowed, and just in front of him stood Cody, his posture slightly defensive, but his expression and bearing professionally calm.

Obi-Wan stroked his beard. "Might I be so bold as to ask why the Count has imprisoned them in this . . . establishment?"

Saresh tossed the holorecorder and caught it. "Count Dooku offers you a trade. If you surrender to us, he will release them. Otherwise, they will die."

"Well, I see the Count isn't mincing words today." Obi-Wan paced, pretending to think for a long moment, but in reality there was no choice. Unclipping his lightsaber, he flipped it around. "I'll turn this in now, as a gesture of good faith, if you will let me see them released. Forgive me if I'm not particularly trusting of your employer's word."

Saresh accepted the lightsaber, clapping him on the shoulder in a companionable fashion. "I wouldn't trust his word either, Jedi Kenobi. Very well. You shall see your friends freed." He raised his voice, calling out in Twi'leki. A moment later, two others of his kind disappeared down the stairs that lead to the seating area around the pit.

"What exactly is this place?" Obi-Wan asked. "It doesn't exactly look like a bolo-ball court."

"Nothing so common, I assure you," laughed Tar Saresh. He narrowed his eyes, and before Obi-Wan could move, he found his right wrist clutched in an iron grip. The Twi'lek jabbed a small device against Obi-Wan's arm, and he collapsed to his knees as a steady surge of electricity weakened him.

He gasped in protest. "I gave you my weapon!"

"Yours, yes, but not the Dathomirian's."

Saresh stepped back, removing the stun weapon. "Turn them over, now."

Frowning a little at having to reveal his last card, Obi-Wan obeyed.

With all three lightsabers in hand, Saresh took a long step back, his blaster still pointed at Obi-Wan's heart. "There, that is better."

Thank you for your approval.

Having placated his injured pride with that inaudible remark, Obi-Wan waited calmly for Anakin and Cody to arrive. He noticed that the rest of the room's occupants had left, presumably on some job or another.

Half a minute later, footsteps sounded against the stone floor, and the prisoners appeared, each followed by a pair of well-armed guards. Neither of them saw Obi-Wan at first. Anakin stalked along, his eyes narrowed in concentration, and Cody, whose hands were not bound, watched him from the corner of his eyes, as though he were waiting for a signal of some sort.

Tar Saresh smirked. "Your Jedi friend is going to attack his guards," he said. "I'd stake five hundred credits on it."

Before Obi-Wan could open his mouth, Anakin shouted, "Now!"
Cody turned and caught his Rodian guard's arm, flipping him completely over one shoulder and slamming him into the floor. Anakin turned to face his own guards and took a long step back, flinging his bound hands in their direction. A pulse of Force-energy, much less powerful than usual, sent them reeling back, and before either could regain his balance, Anakin had kicked the Weequay in the chin twice.

"See? I'd have won five hundred credits, had you bothered to place a bet against mine," said Tar Saresh. His pleased expression faded somewhat when Cody, with a flying tackle, slammed the second guard to the ground and grabbed his throat.

Anakin dropped to his knees beside the fallen Weequay, attempting to grab his gun, and Obi-Wan reached out a hand to pull his lightsaber back.

"Don't try it," said the orange Twi'lek, his smile transforming to a snarl, and he pointed his gun at Anakin, his free hand resting over the lightsabers.

Obi-Wan did the only thing he could. "Anakin, look out!" he shouted.

Anakin and the Weequay, both of whom were clutching at the weapon, glanced up at him. So did Cody. The large human guard Cody was throttling twisted suddenly. He landed on top of the commander and used his considerable weight in his favor, slamming his elbow down against Cody's chest. The Rodian got up, chittering angrily, and stumbled over to them, raising a stun baton.

The Weequay shot at Anakin, but missed by a hairs breadth. Anakin lunged, twisted the gun violently from his grasp, and shot him twice at point-blank range. Tar Saresh cursed, lifting his own gun, and fired a stun blast, but Anakin twisted under the laser and used the second human guard as a shield.

As the Twi'lek shifted his aim, Obi-Wan reached for his lightsaber a second time. An instant's warning was all he got before a surge of Force-energy held him immobile. A deep voice said, "We meet again, Obi-Wan Kenobi."

Tar Saresh glanced over his shoulder, rolling his eyes. "I have it well in hand, Count," he said. Sure enough, Anakin was on his hands and knees – Obi-Wan hadn't seen what happened at the last instant, but he no longer had a gun. Cody was kneeling, his arms held behind his back by the large human. Both prisoners seemed more than a little displeased, and Obi-Wan couldn't blame them.

Count Dooku frowned. "Did he not agree to the trade?"

The orange Twi'lek tilted his head, smiling again as he handed the three lightsabers to the Sith lord. "The Jedi Kenobi agreed; it was the other two who didn't cooperate. But no harm done – except for him, that is." He gestured at the dead Weequay and shrugged.

Anakin glared at Obi-Wan. "What are you doing here, Master?" he demanded roughly, shaking off his guard's grip.

Obi-Wan looked back at him, raising a sarcastic eyebrow. "Negotiating – or rescuing you, however you prefer to say it."

"Oh. It seems to be going well."

"Anakin, if you hadn't taken matters into your own hands –"

"Yeah, well, I didn't exactly know you were here, Master. All I knew was that our mission, that was supposed to take top priority, isn't completed."

Obi-Wan gazed evenly at him. "All in good time, Anakin. Now, if you don't mind, I must discuss something with the Count."

"Augh!" Anakin struggled to his feet. "No! We're not negotiating with Dooku or his filthy slaver allies!"

The Count looked more imperious than ever. "You don't have a choice, young Skywalker. Now be silent and let me speak with your master."

Anakin's eyes glowed with fury, but when Obi-Wan continued to stare at him, he jerked his head to the side in angry surrender. Cody said nothing, although that could have been because he was still trying to regain his breath. His eyes focused steadily on each occupant of the room, one after the other.

Obi-Wan turned back to the Sith lord. "Tar Saresh told me that you were willing to free them, if I surrendered."

"You are correct." The Count considered him for a long moment. "Saresh? Master Kenobi won't give you any trouble. You may release them."

Tar Saresh nodded and gestured to his men. Grumbling, the Weequay unlocked and removed Anakin's restraints. Anakin shoved him back, still glowering. "You think you can trust him to keep his word, Master?"

"I just did, did I not?" said Dooku, rather smugly.

"Anakin, keep silent," ordered Obi-Wan. He knew Count Dooku would have recognized his apprentice's lightsabers, and that it was very likely the mission would fail as it was. But if Anakin and Cody could get back to the Twilight in time, they might at least escape with their lives. He stared at his former apprentice, willing Anakin to think through the situation before he did something foolish.

Anakin ground his teeth, but remained quiet. Cody looked from him to Obi-Wan, then at the Count, as though he were calculating something. If he had been Rex, he might have rushed at the Count simply for the sake of resisting. Obi-Wan was glad he didn't have to worry about that, at least. Now, if only Cody could keep Anakin from attempting another rescue that was bound to fail.

"Come, Jedi Skywalker," said Tar Saresh, gesturing with his gun. "You can either leave with your life, or be shot where you stand."

After a second more of furious glaring, Anakin obeyed. With a final glance, Cody followed quietly. Obi-Wan watched as they left the building. At the entrance, Tar Saresh spoke again, bowed mockingly in farewell, and pressed the door controls. The heavy metal door slid shut.

"There you are, Count," said the orange Twi'lek, striding back to them. "I told you it would work, did I not?"

"You did well," replied the Sith lord calmly. "Now. Lock Master Kenobi in your most secure cell. If he escapes, it means your life."

Again, Tar Saresh seemed more annoyed than frightened. "No need to threaten, Count," he said coolly. "I know what I have to do."

"Very good." And Count Dooku left, leaving Obi-Wan to wonder what in the galaxy he had planned this time. It never boded well, when the Count kept prisoners. Still, he had sensed no duplicity from the Sith lord. At least Anakin and Cody would be safe.

Outside the building, Anakin stood facing the shut door with tense muscles. Cody glanced around at the curious gazes they were attracting. "General Skywalker," he said after a moment. "We should get back to the Twilight."

"And leave Obi-Wan here?" he snapped.

Cody paused. "General, Count Dooku must know we have Ventress prisoner. If he attacks, the men won't stand a chance."

There was a long pause, and then Anakin's shoulders slumped. "Fine. But we're coming back later."

They headed down a mostly deserted side street as Cody replied, "Yes, sir. General Kenobi won't be happy, though."

Anakin brightened visibly and punched his right fist into his left palm. "No, but I'd have to go back anyway. The good Count has my lightsaber."

He strode on, filled with new vigor, but as they neared the end of the street, he came to a sudden stop. "We're in trouble . . ." he said, his tone worried.

Cody turned, standing back to back with him. There was nothing in sight except a large pile of packing crates –

Then the crates were thrown aside and a dozen figures jumped out and rushed at them without a word. Anakin flung two of them back with a surge of Force energy, but the sheer numbers overwhelmed him. He fought like a madman, whirling and leaping and lashing out in every direction with sudden attacks that left their enemies reeling.

Amidst the blur of motion, he caught sight of Cody slamming one enemy's head against the wall, but then three others descended on him, their stun batons flashing.

Anakin, alone and weaponless, faced off against six opponents. They hesitated for the briefest instant before lunging at him. Barely able to see through the whirl of desperation and anger that surrounded him, Anakin snatched a club from the nearest figure and struck out blindly. He killed two of them before two stun batons were shoved against his back and held there.

As the last vestiges of consciousness faded from him, he heard a voice say, "Curse these Jedi freaks! Why does Saresh want him, anyway?"

Saresh . . .

Well, there's more action in this one, anyway. :) Poor Anakin can't seem to catch a break though. As the random thug said, "Why does Saresh want him, anyway?" Any ideas? *evil grin* Let me know what you think!