Chapter 22

Kidnapped

CORUSCANT

Jedi Temple,

Obi-Wan stood in his robes looking at a burning Jedi funeral pyre, the body was Selene's and she had been returned to Coruscant by the Jedi. Attending her funeral with him was Anakin, Ahsoka, Master Yoda and her former Master Cin Drallig and other members of the Jedi Order, many of them padawans watching the body burn. "I still can't believe it, Leo and Selene were friends." Ahsoka said up to Anakin.

"Believe it, Obi-Wan recovered her body himself." Anakin said down to her "Whatever Leo was to us, he's turned his back on the Jedi we can't afford to be weak."

"Weak Master?" Ahsoka asked him.

Anakin nodded "It won't be long before the Count sends him against us, you'll have to be strong Ahsoka."

"What about Obi-Wan?" She asked, looking to Obi-Wan, he seemed different, distant, his eyes looking elsewhere focused on something, or someone else.

SERENNO

The Count's Palace

Leo knelt before Count Dooku as the Sith Lord looked at Leo's prize, holding the lightsaber in one hand Count Dooku admired the ancient sword "The blade of Exar Kun… impressive." The Count said with Leo's head still bowed, the Count turned the blade on and looked at its new color.

"Hmm and you have perfected the crystal within." The Count said before he tossed it to Leo, the boy caught it tightly in his hand and looked up to see Count Dooku approaching him.

"Arise my apprentice." Count Dooku bid him.

Rising to his feet Leo looked up at the Count "From henceforth you shall be my disciple, I will show you the ways of the Sith as they were shown to me."

"Thank you my master." Leo said graciously bowing at him "What is to be my first lesson?"

The Count gave a smile "We shall examine how well you understand the tenants of the Sith Code, the first line Peace is a Lie you shall learn this on Kiros with me." He told Leo walking to the throne rooms exit "Kiros, the artisan world?" Leo asked, following him hands behind his back.

"Very good, you know of it the population of Kiros has remained Neutral for too long, and in war everyone must choose a side" the Count told him.

Leo followed Dooku out of the palace and towards a transport ship already awaiting them "But the Kirosians are artisans, they have no warriors, no army what do they offer us as allies?" Leo pointed out.

"Not as allies, but offering to them." The Count said with a malicious grin.

KIROS

Torgurtan Colony

The Separaitst fleet disembarked from hyperspace down to the planet's surface Leo was standing aboard a large carrier cruiser with droid pilots, with them aboard the ship were two others. A super Tactical battle droid with red eyes, a gray paint scheme around its khaki body, the other a zygerrian man with matching blue armor with a golden lining around it. The bat-like alien gave Leo an uneasy look "Count who is this Jedi?"

Leo squeezed his hand into a fist "He is my new apprentice and you shall respect him like me."

"My apologies to you both my lord, I meant no offense but one can never be too careful." The zygerrian growled still glaring at Leo.

"Master, why are we here are the colonists here hiding a Republic base, smuggling weapons?" Leo asked him.

"Patience my apprentice all will be revealed in time." The Count said back to him, Leo noticed as his question was dismissed the zygerrian was giving him a look that he knew more than the apprentice.

After their ships landed, hundreds of battle droids marched out and stood in formation before the Count, Leo, the zygerrian and droid disembarked approached by a delegation of the colonists, led by an elderly torgurtan with his hands behind his back "Governor Roshti." Leo said to the Count as he stood behind him. "Watch closely apprentice, the lesson begins here." The Count whispered to him walking up to the Governor.

Roshti had a man and woman on each side of him, with white markings on their faces like all torgurtan had on them and their faces "Count Dooku, we have chosen to remain neutral in this conflict, why have you launched this invasion against us?"

The Count gave a playful shrug "Think of our presence as a peaceful occupation, for your protection as well as ours."

"I have heard the tragic stories of worlds caught between your droids and their clones, what of my people." The governor said Leo noticed the man and woman both had different expressions. The woman was plagued with fear while the younger man glared at them all showing they weren't welcome.

The Count took a few steps smiling "While I am helpless to prevent the fighting, I can offer your people sanctuary, a safe place until the conflict has ended." The Count said it may have been an offering but the Counts hand and tone showed it wasn't a gift that could be denied.

"Thank you count yours is a kind offer but-" the Count took Roshti by the shoulder "I insist." He said before he could object, leading them away "Apprentice, assist in the relocation." The Count ordered Leo as the Zygerrian walked forward with the droids.

"Round up all the citizens!" The Zygerrian ordered.

Leo bowed to his Master's wishes and followed the Zygerrian into the colony where they watched the droids grab every colonist they could find regardless of objection. Leo watched men, women and children being shoved into cages that had been aboard the carrier. Leo watched horrified as the children were ripped from their parents' arms to be stuffed into smaller cages with other children. "What is this?" Leo asked the Zygerrian "Spoils of war." The zygerrian said smiling.

After all of the colonists had been rounded up Leo couldn't stand it anymore, he walked back to the ship where the Count was entertaining the Governor aboard the bridge, the old man was sitting hunched over looking at the floor hearing something that seemed to have taken all spirit out of him. There were two commando droids with them standing guard over Roshti. "Guards escort the Governor to his new 'quarters'." The Count ordered.

The droids grabbed Roshti and he barely even struggled before they took him out of the bridge, Leo waited till Roshti was gone and looked at the Count starring out at the colony for their new base.

"Why are we here Master?" Leo asked him.

"The Sith code, why is Peace a Lie?" The Count asked him.

Leo looked out the window beside his new Master, watching the colonists get taken away "Apprentice?"

"These colonists chose peace and art, now they're losing their home and their freedom, chose to have no warriors, no defenses, not even a lock on their gates they were asking to be conquered." Leo said "But why?" Leo asked him.

"The zygerrian is Darts D'Nar, an emissary of the Zygerrian Queen and her Slave Empire." The Count said "We shall trade the peace loving colonists of Kiros to the Zygerrians in return for all the slaves they shall provide to the future Sith Empire." Count Dooku said gazing at Leo who stood their hands clenched in fists.

Dooku noticed his anger not just in the force but in the room "You object?"

"No Master." Leo said, keeping his face forward.

"Speak." The Count ordered.

"I was a slave once, or very much near as one can be." Leo said meeting his Masters gaze, "I was ripped from my family by the jedi like you, taught a religion I never believed in and sent to die for a Government who saw me as just another number." Leo said looking back at the soon to be slaves "And you look disfavorably on this ultimatum with the Zygerrians?" Count Dooku asked him.

Leo gave his attention back to the Count "It is beneath us."

Count Dooku gave him a stern but inquiried look wanting to hear more "Why do we need the Zygerrians?"

"As I said, the Empires of Sith were built on the backs of slaves, they will be required to build a new one." Count Dooku told him.

Leo heard him and gave a single knod "But the Separaitst Alliance will never legalize slavery."

"I will make it legal." The Count said "When the time is right." Leo and the count starred at one another with both yellow eyes.

Leo smiled "I see, we control the government and we can make the galaxy how we want it to be?"

"Indeed, and why we need slaves." He reminded him "If these colonists didn't want to lose their freedom they should have fought for it, where will they be taken Zygerria?" Leo asked him.

Dooku answered "The former Governor shall be, but we shall relocate his people to more secure locations far away from Jedi eyes."

"A wise move Master, wise indeed." Leo replied with his hands behind his back.

TEN DAYS LATER

KIROS

Obi-Wan, Rex, Cody, Anakin and Ahsoka were in orbit near Kiros in Anakin's new flagship. The group along with a battalion of clones took four gunships down to the village while four carrier gunships deployed an AT-TE each. The Jedi and most clones used speeder bikes while four scout clones took AT-RTs. The Republic forces took off through the empty village. "Anybody else think it's to quiet? I haven't seen any colonists." Ahsoka said as the five on the bikes flew beside each other.

"They're probably hiding." Anakin said. "Let's hope they stay hidden it makes our job easier if we don't have to worry about them in battle." Obi-Wan said.

"I don't like it. The clankers have never been shy about using civvies as living shields." Rex said. "I'm sure they're here somewhere let's make for the city centre." the older Knight said before they sped up.

"Clanker droids, dead ahead." Ahsoka warned as five commando droids on speeder bikes stopped not far ahead of them.

"Squad, tighten up form on me." Anakin ordered as the droids started moving towards them. Rex shot first and took one out before the droid leading them shot a clone's bike, disabling it and knocking him off. A few other clones opened fire and one managed to take another droid out. Ahsoka ignited her blades and stood up on her bike to deflect blaster fire. Anakin ignited his and slashed the lead droid's bike as he zoomed by, causing it to lose control and take out another droid. The remaining droids turned around to chase after them. One slammed into a clone, knocking him off before Ahsoka turned her bike around and shot it.

Rex turned his around and shot one of the last two while the last sped up beside Ahsoka. She ignited her blade and jumped onto the bike before cutting its head off. The padawan sheathed her blade and jumped back onto her bike. "We're all clear, Master." she told him.

Once they reached the city centre the Jedi and Rex opened fire on the droids standing in front of the two tanks. Rex managed to destroy one with his rocket launcher before it could target them. As they got closer to the second one, jumped from his bike and onto it before tossing three explosives into the open hatch then jumping off it and back onto his bike. The Knights and Ahsoka stopped and watched it explode before the others caught up and stopped near them. "Captain, have your men secure the area." Obi-Wan told him, earning a nod.

An hour later the clones were finishing off the remaining droids and had created a perimeter around the governor's tower where the Separatist commanding this battalion of droids was barricaded in. The four AT-TEs were close together so they could be ready to go when needed.

"How are we doing, Boil?" Obi-Wan asked the clone driving one of the AT-RTs as his second former apprentice stood beside him.

"We're still mopping up clankers here and there, sir we've established a perimeter around the governor's tower no one gets out without a fight." the clone replied. "Good work." the Master said before he walked towards Cody and another trooper.

"Cody, any word from the Separatist commander?" Obi-Wan asked the clone commander.

"He's barricaded inside his name is Darts D'Nar and he sent you a message, sir." Cody replied, taking out a holopad and turning it on. A hologram of the Zygerrian slaver appeared and spoke, hunched over showing his submission. "Master Kenobi, come to the tower we will negotiate terms for surrender." D'Nar said.

"Well, that was easy." the Master said when the pad was suddenly ripped out of Cody's hand. The Republic heroes looked towards the direction it went just in time to see Anakin crush it in his robot hand angrily then toss it to the ground

"Zygerrian scum! I'll handle that slaver." he said darkly. Ahsoka looked up at him from what she was doing. "Anakin, he asked for me. I need you to locate the missing Togruta colonists." Obi-Wan said. "Fine I'll have Admiral Yularen initiate a planetary bio-scan." the older Knight said before storming off Artoo rolled up to the two other Jedi and gave a concerned beep before following him.

"Why is he so upset?" Ahsoka asked the Jedi Master as she walked up to Obi-wan "Anakin has never talked about his past, has he?" Obi-Wan asked quietly. "Only to tell me he won't talk about it." she said. "As a child, Anakin and his mother were sold into slavery by the Hutt clans." Obi-Wan told them."Oh… And these Zygerrians, they're slavers?" she asked. "Anakin has struggled to put his past behind him." the Master replied. "Don't worry, i'll keep an eye on him." Ahsoka assured them as they watched their friend speak with a hologram of Admiral Yularen.

"Yes, make sure you do." Obi-Wan told her before he walked towards the tower.

Ahsoka followed him though grabbing his arm "What about you, how are you since you know?"

"I'm fine Ahsoka, our mission takes priority over our own feelings." He told her.

Meanwhile, into the tower D'Nar was sitting at the governor's desk, his feet propped onto the table stroking a owl in his hands, two commando droids in front of him. A hologram of Count Dooku, another Zygerrian in red armor and Leo were looking at him "The last shipment has arrived, why are you still here D'Nar?" The room was filled with cages around golden statues of Torgurtans.

"I have lured the Jedi here, I will make them pay for their arrogance." D'Nar told him, when suddenly Obi-Wan came in from the turbo lift.

"Oh do tell?" Obi-Wan said with a smirk.

The three holograms spun around saw Obi-Wan, "Gentlemen allow me to introduce Obi-Wan Kenobi Jedi Knight." The other Zygerrian growled and Leo just stared at his former teacher who gave him one look then back at Dooku.

"D'Nar, bring me Kenobi, on his knees." The Count ordered before they cut the transmission.

A few minutes later, while he was talking with Cody, Anakin's com went off and the two younger Jedi walked up to them as he answered it. "No, you are wrong, Jedi." came D'Nar's voice.

"Am I? You are no doubt aware your droid forces have been destroyed and you are surrounded, do the honourable thing and give up now, D'Nar. I promise you will receive fair treatment." Obi-Wan said.

"You've broken through my defenses, you think you've won? Think again. I've planted bombs all over the city no one will survive now, surrender." D'Nar said. "If you're not bluffing, then I must concede, but you'll have to make considerations first, you release the colonists." Obi-Wan replied.

"Here is my counter offer." D'Nar said before the building beside them suddenly exploded.

Most of the clones were okay but some were wounded while very few were killed. The Jedi and non-injured clones checked on the others. "I need a medic over here!" Anakin yelled as he kneeled beside the injured troopers.

"Artoo, where are you?" he called out, earning a beep from the droid who was a few feet behind him the Knight stood up as a clone came over to help his brother. "Watch yourself, buddy this is still a warzone." Anakin warned the droid, earning a beep. "Cody, we don't have time for the planetary scan hook Artoo up, and he'll locate the bombs." Anakin told the clone commander."Right away, sir." the commander replied. "Ahsoka, let's go." the older Knight said, walking past his padawan.

"Where are we going?" Ahsoka asked him as the three each climbed onto an AT-RT. "To disarm the bombs while Obi-Wan negotiates. I hope he can buy us some time." Anakin said as the three took off.

The two Jedi continued moving through the city, Cody's voice came over Anakin's com. "General Skywalker, your droid's transmitting the bomb coordinates now." the Commander said. "Copy that, Cody. We're approaching the first bomb now." Anakin replied before cutting off and turning his head towards the other two." Let's go." he said. The three sped up and soon turned a corner. Three normal droids and two super battle droids were protecting the bomb. The Jedi opened fire first, managing to take out the supers before the other three returned fire. Ahsoka jumped off her AT-RT as she got close and ignited her blades before landing in front of them and cutting them all down easily. The two Knights stopped behind her and got off as she took the panel off the bomb.

"There must be a wire we should cut or something to stop the countdown." she said, looking inside of it. "Stand back." Anakin said.

Anakin slashed it twice and the beeping stopped before he sheathed his blade. "How did you know that would work?" she asked him. "I trusted my instincts." he replied, walking up to his AT-RT. "You mean you guessed." she said with a small smirk, Anakin returned it as he hopped back on. "Yeah, but it was an educated guess. Now, come on. There's plenty more to go." he reminded them. Ahsoka rolled her eyes as she hopped back on to her speeder before the three continued searching.

Later they now had two bombs left. "These are the last of them." Anakin said as they reached the area, which was filled with droids. They jumped off their AT-RTs and started cutting droids down while moving towards the bombs. "Defuse the bomb, i'll cover you." Anakin said while deflecting blaster fire, while Ahsoka took the panel off one of them. Once doing so the other one started to beep. "Master, I think the bombs are linked." she said as he cut a Super down.

"You're supposed to disarm them, not activate them!" he said. "Droids! On the roof!" she warned as a few Supers appeared above and opened fire. "If they're connected, we'll have to defuse them at the same time." he said, backing up to them and continuing to deflect while the other two ignited their blades and started deflecting as well.

Their victory was short-lived after destroying the droids as two sniper droidekas appeared on the roof. "Snipers!" she warned. The three deflected bolts and tried sending the blasts back, only for their front shields to keep them from getting damaged. "The shields are too strong!" Ahsoka said before she quickly moved behind cover on one side of the courtyard while Anakin took cover on the other.

"We're pinned down master, we're running out of time!" she warned as bolts continued to hit near each of their positions.

"I know." he replied before walking around the small wall he was hiding behind. "Guys. They're weak from the side. I've got an angle on your droid." he said after coming back. Ahsoka checked on her Master.

"Okay, i've got a view of yours too. Same time. Ready?" she asked her master. "Go!" he exclaimed. The two jumped out and deflected a bolt from the droid aiming at them and towards the opposite. The beeping stopped and the younger Knight summoned both sabers back before the three sheathed their sabers. His wife sighed and wiped her forehead in relief.

"That was a close one." she said. "Let's hope Obi-Wan shares our luck." Anakin replied. The three went over to make sure there weren't any left when they heard an explosion coming from the city centre. They rushed up to the AT-RTs and hopped on as Obi-Wan's voice was heard from Anakin's com. "Anakin! Anakin, come in. D'Nar is making his escape from the tower." he said. "On our way." the older Knight replied before cutting off as the three made their way back. "We'll never catch him in time." Ahsoka told him.

"I am not letting that slaver scum get away!" Anakin snarled.

The three managed to reach the tower's highest landing pad with their AT-RTs just as D'Nar's ship was already flying away. When they reached the edge the three used the AT-RT's maximum jumping capability before using the Force to jump the rest of the way. The Jedi landed on one of the wings and Anakin stabbed his saber into it, causing the ship to start losing altitude and tilt backwards. They moved to the front quickly to keep from sliding off. "So what's your plan?" Ahsoka asked. "I'm open to ideas." he replied before the front suddenly split in two with both moving around to opposite sides of the ship. The Jedi quickly moved and jumped into the now open cargo hold.

They turned around after hearing something roar and saw some creature with a shell and tentacles. They dodged one tentacle before ducking two more. "Hold on!" Anakin said. "'Hold on?', do I have a choice?" she asked rhetorically as one tentacle grabbed her ankle and started pulling her towards it. Ahsoka ignited her blade and cut part of the tentacle off as another wrapped around Anakin and slammed him against a cage. The couple jumped onto the cages while avoiding its other tentacles before Ahsoka jumped onto its and stabbed her saber into it. The creature roared in pain before Anakin cut off the tentacle holding him.

"Ahsoka, you're only making it angry! I'll handle it go stabilize the ship." Anakin said as he dodged another tentacle.

The Ahsoka silently walked into the cockpit and saw D'Nar trying to keep the ship flying. Ahsoka pressed a few buttons on the side of the cockpit before D'Nar noticed them and got out of his seat. The slaver took out an electro-whip and chuckled evilly as he whipped the ground in front of them once. "Young Jedi, you'll learn your place." he said with a cruel smirk. The young Jedi ignited her blades. "I'm not so young anymore." Ahsoka taunted back.

She dodged his whip and D'Nar shifted most of his focus on her instead of Anakin.

She danced around the whip before jumping off the wall to kick him in the jaw and aimed both sabers at his neck. "Got ya." she said to him as Anakin walked into the room.

Ahsoka turned to him while keeping one blade at D'Nar's neck. "Mission accomplished, Master." she said, deactivating her sabers as the older Knight walked up to them. "Where are the colonists?" Anakin asked in a cold tone while glaring at him. "I will tell you nothing!" D'Nar spat. Anakin grabbed him by the collar with his left hand and slammed against the console before using his right to press the end of his hilt against D'Nar's neck. "Where are they!?" Anakin snarled. A look of fear appeared on the Zygerrian's face. "Master." Ahsoka said, trying to calm him. It seemed to work a bit as Knight removed the hilt from his neck before shoving him roughly against the back of the pilot chair. "My queen is going to bring back the royal slave auction as in the days before the Jedi. Zygerria will be rich and powerful again. The Jedi will not stop us this time." he spat. Anakin scoffed. "We'll see about that." Anakin said darkly. A worried look crossed Ahsoka's face.

Back on Anakin's flagship they contacted the Council and brought them up to speed. "General Skywalker, I ran the bioscan twice, but the results were negative." Yularen said.

"Are you saying the colonists are not in the city?" he asked the admiral.

"I'm saying they're not even on the planet the entire population appears to have simply vanished." the Admiral said.

"Vanished? That's impossible, those are my people." Ahsoka said troubled

"Troubling is the return of the Zygerrians." Yoda said to the Jedi "It is likely they mean to use Dooku to rebuild their slaver empire." Plo said in agreement "We cannot allow that, Master." Anakin said firmly, the former Slave knowing full well the horrors of such an enterprise. A clone came up to Admiral Yuralen and whispered something in his ear "Are you sure?"

The jedi gave the Admiral some attention "What is it?"

"We've received intel that Governor Roshti is being transported to Zygerria right now." Admiral Yuralen said "And the rest of my people?" Ahsoka asked.

The Admiral gave her a sad look "I'm afraid that's all our spies know should."

"Find the colonists you must." the Grand Master said. "What is it, Master?" Plo asked him.

"Sense, I do, a darker hand in this mystery slavery, a great tool it is for the rise of the Sith." he replied in a grave tone.

The transmission ended and Obi-Wan started to pace away from the holotable hands behind his back, his two friends noticed he was distressed and followed him "Master?" Anakin asked behind him.

"I saw him, I saw Leo he was with the Count and another Zygerrian." Obi-Wan told him.

Ahsoka's face went white and she shook her head "No…. no, no, no he would never do anything like this?"

Anakin's face turned into sheer angry "He'll pay for this Ahsoka, I swear it."