Short chapter here, guys. I'm trying to get the final groundwork prepared for the climax. :) "Once we're all back together, we'll retrieve the launch codes, and then - " No, sorry, that was Boss' line. :) However, once everyone's on Rattatak, the fireworks can start. . . Hehe.

Obi-Wan sat cross-legged and straight-backed, his posture correct in every particular as he meditated; or, rather, as he attempted to meditate.

The guards down the hall were playing a very loud game of dice and, from what actual words he could gather amidst their cursing and swearing, they were also placing bets on which Jedi would survive the longest at tonight's games. He remembered the sandy pit with some trepidation, shook his head slightly, and settled down again to clear his mind.

A burst of raucous laughter intruded on his peace, followed by a guttural voice shouting, "Fifty creds says they'll both last longer than the soldiers! Ha!"

Obi-Wan opened his eyes and stared severely in the general direction of the interruption.

Another ruffian joined in. "Saresh won't get his money's worth out of 'em. Bet he won't even need us to subdue 'em."

Flash, who had been lounging irritatedly against the door, spun to face the bars and hollered back, "Why don't you come in here and find out, you useless scumbags?"

There was a short pause, probably because the thugs were unable to actually process the fact that they were being insulted. Obi-Wan sniffed.

Namer quietly got up from his position by the far wall, put a hand on Flash's shoulder, and pulled him away from the door. "That's not a good idea right now."

Flash obeyed, looking mutinous, and Namer smirked. "We'll prove 'em wrong when they go up against us."

Echo stopped fiddling with his hopelessly broken chronometer and cast a nervous glance at the hallway. "General, do you know what they mean about Saresh?"

"I'm afraid so," Obi-Wan replied, giving up all hope of meditating in the foreseeable future. "It looks as though this building is chiefly used as an arena."

Echo looked blank.

Obi-Wan got up and straightened his tunic, wincing at the pull in his injured shoulder. "Apparently, you and Anakin and I are to be forced into fighting for our lives."

"Against those jokers?" Flash asked, tilting his head at the door.

"I doubt it," Obi-Wan told him, glancing into the hall. "If this is anything like that one on Geonosis, we'll have to deal with creatures of some sort." He frowned and tugged gently at his beard. "Large, dangerous creatures. And somehow I don't see Tar Saresh returning my lightsaber, so we'll have to make do."

"We don't have weapons," said Echo, falling back into his usual habit of stating the obvious. "Maybe we could steal some when the guards come to get us!"

"General," said Namer. "Are we the only ones down here?"

"Well, Ghost and Trap were taken past us, but I didn't see anyone else."

"That's right," said Echo. "And Fives is in the opposite direction, with Det and Waxer and Boil."

"I hope they're not causing too much trouble," Obi-Wan said uselessly, thinking back to Ryloth. Waxer and Boil with Fives . . . He supposed he should be grateful that those three weren't imprisoned with Anakin; they'd be sure to collectively think up some foolhardy, dangerous plan.

Flash paced to the other side of the room and kicked lightly at the wall. "General Skywalker must be with Ghost and Trap, then."

"Indeed," Obi-Wan said. "And Cody is probably there as well, if he didn't manage to escape. It seems we must wait for Captain Rex to contact the Jedi Council for assistance."

"Yeah," said Flash. "If he finds out where the other jamming device is."

"Or if he leaves Rattatak," Namer interjected quietly. "But he won't do that."

Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow. "No, and I trust he won't call in reinforcements from the Negotiator. You don't think he's planning to fight his way into the prison, Namer?"

"No, sir. I think he'll probably call in the nearest help he can."

"Oh?"

"Nearest help I know of is General Fisto and his commandos."

"Oh." Obi-Wan considered this for a moment. "Dear me."

Flash and Echo exchanged rueful smirks, and Namer nodded. "Yes, General."

Anakin gripped the bars of the door in both hands, closed his eyes, and focused on the door. He could scarcely reach the Force with his mind. A fierce ache started in his forehead, and he gritted his teeth.

"General," said Trap's curious voice. "What are you doing?"

Anakin took a deep breath, ignoring the uncomfortable prickling around his face and neck. "Trying – to break through – the door."

After a few more seconds, he gave up, staggering back and wiping the sweat from his forehead. When he looked up, Cody was eyeing him thoughtfully.

Anakin frowned. "What?"

"General, even if you get through the door, you can't get through the ray shield."

He sighed and slumped down, propping his arms across one knee. "Yeah, you're right."

Trap and Ghost had run out of things to argue about some time previously – most of their conversation had been about whether the Five-Oh-First or the Two-Twelfth was better at such-and-such a thing – and were now sitting in companionable silence.

Anakin sighed and tipped his head back towards the ceiling. It was getting late, even by Rattatakian time. "Wonder how long we're going to be stuck here."

No one answered, probably because they were all wondering the same thing.

"One of us could shout through the shield," Trap suggested, flicking at the weird lizard creature that kept scampering in and out of a tiny hole in the wall. "Maybe see where the other guys are."

Everyone managed to look halfway interested for approximately two seconds before sinking back into boredom.

A loud clang down the hall and loud voices brought them to their feet. Anakin rushed to the door and peered out. "Well, if it isn't our friend Tar Saresh and a brute of a guard."

The orange Twi'lek moved up to the ray shield and peered through with a friendly smile. "Jedi Skywalker, step back from the door."

Anakin obeyed. "You know, you could occasionally say something else!" he huffed.

The ray shield flickered out of existence. "Such as?"

"Oh, I don't know." Anakin folded his arms. "Maybe, 'I'm so sorry we've held you here for so long. I've decided to let you go.' Something like that."

Saresh laughed. "You Jedi are so arrogant! But it won't be long now. However, I came here to release the clone commander."

Cody held his ground. "Why?"

"Someone wishes to speak with you."

"Yeah, no thanks."

Tar Saresh drew a gun. "You don't have a choice."

". . . Right." Cody turned to glance questioningly at Anakin. "General?"

"How can you refuse the good Count's invitation?" Anakin said bitingly. "Don't give away any trade secrets."

Cody raised an eyebrow and moved over to the door.

"Really, Skywalker," Tar Saresh said, releasing the lock. "You must think us to be barbarians."

"Yes, actually, I do."

Trap and Ghost moved closer to the door, and Tar Saresh waved them back. "You have a few hours left. I suggest you get some rest while you still can."

The muscular guard handcuffed Cody and shoved him down the hall.

Tar Saresh started to follow them, then said, with a friendly smile, "Ah, yes. Jedi Skywalker, have you ever seen a horned kath hound?"

So, what the heck? What does Dooku want to talk to Cody for? And horned kath hounds? :O

Oh - keep a lookout for a new series of one-shots I'll be doing, which I'll be collecting under the inauspicious title of 'Misadventures of Jedi Generals'. :D