Chapter 47

Anakin hated waiting. To put it mildly. Just knowing that Obi-Wan was out there, putting himself in terrible danger while Anakin had to wait it out at the Temple was beyond frustrating. The Chancellor had tried to convince him that the Jedi didn't trust him and that he should track down the bounty hunters by himself. Anakin had resisted the temptation with quite a lot of difficulty. Even if he couldn't catch them, it would have been good to assure himself Obi-Wan was alive and ok. There had been no contact for days and it was stressing him out. Ahsoka was suffering as well. She was also still upset with Obi-Wan for pre-warning Anakin, even if he did forget for a short while, and not her. She felt he didn't trust her. Anakin had tried to reassure her but he couldn't find the words. The only reason Obi-Wan had told him was because he had not done so before and realised it was a bad idea. He hadn't trusted Anakin either. He knew how much it stung.

Worse, he continued to dream about Obi-Wan being killed by the Council. Each time was different, sometimes he was there, sometimes he and Obi-Wan fought back together but the end result was always the same. Obi-Wan died in his arms. It may not be a Force vision like the ones about his mother but Anakin was convinced it was a warning all the same. Revealing the truth about himself and Obi-Wan would have deadly consequences. Maybe from the Council or maybe they were simply the ones Anakin's subconscious was most afraid of. Still, the end result wouldn't be good.

The only thing keeping him going was the connection with Obi-Wan. It allowed him to know the other man was alive and uninjured. Finally he had to attend the briefing about the Naboo festival of light. Mace pointed out that they hadn't heard from Obi-Wan so no longer had the advantage.

"Obi-Wan will do his part. We had best make sure we do ours." Anakin spoke up, unwilling to hear any form of slander against Obi-Wan. Even if it was unintentional. His nerves could not take it. He saw the looks Windu and Yoda exchanged but he didn't care right then. He needed the next twenty four hours to be over with. He needed Obi-Wan back in his arms.

The next morning, he, Ahsoka and Windu transported the Chancellor to Naboo. The trip was spent with the Chancellor trying to convince them that so much security wasn't necessary. Anakin was beginning to wonder if he did actually want to be kidnapped. Obviously he knew that the other side wouldn't kill him as he controlled them as well, but it was still odd. He was grateful to finally arrive on Naboo. The Queen was there to greet them with Padme and the rest of her retinue. The Queen and the Chancellor greeted each other. He made some comments about the amount of security but neither Jedi could be bothered to argue with him yet again.

"Anakin, Ahsoka, it is good to see you both again. Welcome to the festival." Padme smiled at them as the Chancellor moved off.

"I've never seen the Festival of Light." Ahsoka commented. "Seems like a big event."

"It is, Snips. It's good to see you too, Senator Amidala." Anakin smiled at Padme. He was glad she was here despite the danger. "They are expecting a large crowd which will make it difficult for Dooku to attack during the Ceremony. That leaves the palace as the best place for an ambush." Anakin addressed Ahsoka.

"Are you that certain an attack is going to happen?" Padme asked a little sadly.

"Sorry Padme, but yes." Anakin sighed. "Ahsoka is to be your personal bodyguard."

"At your service, my lady." Ahsoka grinned. Padme smiled at her.

"If there is trouble, Ahsoka will get you, the Queen and the rest of your staff to safety." Anakin stated.

"What about you?" Padme questioned.

"Oh, I'll be in the thick of all the trouble." Anakin smirked.

"Sounds about right." Padme laughed. They got themselves ready for the festival. He received word from Windu that Obi-Wan had made brief contact but only enough to let them know he was alive. He had been unable to say anything. Anakin had rolled his eyes. He could have told them Obi-Wan was alive easily enough. Still official confirmation was good. And he did appreciate Windu taking the time to let him know. It was more than he would have expected from the older Jedi. Anakin regretfully had to tail Palpatine all day while Ahsoka trailed Padme and the Queen all day. Windu was in charge of general security.

Soon it was time for the Festival. Anakin took up his position on the platform. The Chancellor was led out by the Senate guards and the ray shield was put in place. The Chancellor began his speech. Anakin paid no attention to this and glanced around the arena looking for anything out of place. Once he was finished the fireworks started. Anakin's heart ached for the time that he and Obi-Wan had spent together watching the fireworks for the New Year, here on Naboo. It hadn't been that long ago but it felt like an age. Suddenly he was yanked out of his thoughts.

"Skywalker! The shield generator." Windu snapped at him. Anakin glanced over, leaping into action. A Parwan was moving through the shield. He reached for the Force to hold him but he was a second too late. The shield generator exploded and he was thrown backwards in the blast. Anakin groaned. His head was ringing but he could make out Ahsoka leading the Queen and Padme to safety. That was good. Now. Then he heard Windu tell two guards to take the Chancellor to the speeder.

"Mace." Anakin tried to call out to him but he barely managed more than a croak. He took a deep breath and forced himself into a sitting position. His ribs protested violently. "Mace! Obi-Wan said they were disguised as guards." He managed, Windu looked over at him and then made to stop the guards he had just trusted with the Chancellor. Anakin then clambered to his feet and drew his lightsaber. Jumping over the railing he slashed through some of the Parwan's tentacles. He dodged as the rest tried to grab him and killed the bounty hunter with a simple thrust of his weapon. As the Parwan dropped to the ground, Anakin glanced around him. The two guards were being pursued by Windu, leaving the Chancellor prone on the ground. As Anakin was about to head over to him, Bane emerged and dragged the Chancellor towards a speeder that had just arrived.

"Oh no you don't." He grumbled to himself. It really was a lot of effort to rescue the man most likely behind this. With a sigh, he leapt forwards after Bane and the one he presumed was Eval. They got away just before he could reach them. Anakin snarled in frustration. His ribs ached. Then he spotted the second speeder that the two guards had not taken. He jumped into it and as he was about to take off and follow Bane, Windu arrived back. Together they took off after Bane, Eval and the Chancellor. Anakin arrived at their location just in time to see Obi-Wan fighting Bane. He jumped in and pointed his lightsaber at Eval. Windu aided Obi-Wan with Bane.

"Hold it right there." Anakin stated firmly.

"Do not kill, Moralo Eval." Eval pleaded. Anakin huffed.

"Doing alright, Obi-Wan?" He asked a little smugly as Bane was cuffed, Windu's lightsaber trained on him regardless.

"Kenobi." Bane spat. "I should have known." With the Chancellor rescued and his captors now the ones that had been captured, they headed back to Theed. Obi-Wan had to give his report to Windu. Anakin had to go back to act as the Chancellor's bodyguard. Obi-Wan told him that he would be going straight back to the transformation chamber once the debrief was complete. The Chancellor announced that now the threat had passed, Anakin was the only security he required. Especially as the guards had been infiltrated. Anakin groaned. He had already had enough of Palpatine for one day, he did not wish to be in his presence any longer, especially on his own. It was easier when other guards were around too. At least Obi-Wan would be back to himself soon. And Anakin knew he would not leave Naboo while Anakin was here so he would probably skulk around until they could manage some alone time. He hoped, anyway.

He walked the Chancellor down one of the long corridors of Theed Palace. Palpatine was talking about a banquet supposedly organised by Padme. Something wasn't right. Padme would have told him if there was a banquet. There was also no movement in the corridor beside themselves, not to mention no noise coming from ahead of them. There should certainly be more people around if a banquet was to be held. He reached into the Force. Dooku was here.

"Chancellor, I strongly suspect Dooku is behind that door. We should leave, now." Anakin warned.

"However can you tell?" Palpatine asked in fake astonishment.

"I can sense the Dark Side. I recognise the signature as Dooku's." Anakin moved Palpatine behind him. It was laughable really, protecting Palpatine from his own apprentice. Although, Dooku might actually get around to killing his Master these days.

"Oh it's far too late to be leaving, Skywalker." Dooku said as the doors slid open in front of them. He was seated at the far end of a long table. Anakin sensed droids coming up behind him. He leapt backwards and slashed through one easily. The second one dodged his attack and blocked his follow up. Then Anakin was the one forced to dodge a quick flurry of blows. Eventually he managed to take off one of its legs and then the arm holding its weapon. With that done it was easy to dispatch it. By the time he was done, Dooku was dragging the Chancellor away. Anakin was tempted to let him. However, that would be rather difficult to explain to the rest of the Jedi.

With a reluctant sigh, Anakin began to follow but more droids blocked his path. By the time he finally disposed of these ones, Obi-Wan had joined him, looking like himself again except for the hair and beard. Disregarding the fact that they had very little time, Anakin pulled him in for a searing kiss. Force he had missed this. It felt strange without the usual feeling of Obi-Wan's beard against his cheek and no hair to grip at the back of his neck. Regardless of the little details, Obi-Wan was back and with him. Anakin sighed in relief and gratitude.

"Never, ever, do that to me again." He breathed heavily once they finally pulled apart.

"Never." Obi-Wan promised. Then they sprinted off after the Chancellor. They arrived too late. Dooku's ship was about to fly away. Desperately, Anakin threw a homing beacon onto the ship.

"Come on." Anakin urged. Obi-Wan followed as Anakin led the way to the hangar. They passed a very confused Padme and some of the Theed Royal guard. Ahsoka was with them. She began charging after Anakin and Obi-Wan.

"Dooku has the Chancellor." Obi-Wan explained to Padme as they ran past. "We're tracking his ship." He called down the corridor. They arrived at the hangar and Anakin skidded to a halt, looking around for a suitable ship. He located one and dashed on board, wishing Artoo was with him. Obi-Wan sat down in the co-pilot seat and they set off. Ahsoka sat down behind him.

"I'm glad you're ok." Anakin said as they flew.

"Me too." Obi-Wan chuckled. "I knew Dooku had placed a commlink in my gun case and was listening in which is why I couldn't make more contact. It seems he still stood up the bounty hunters. I guess that must have been his plan all along. I assumed he changed the plan because he found out I was a traitor when I communicated with Mace." Obi-Wan sighed. "This is actually worse than last time. We actually stopped Palpatine getting kidnapped last time."

"Well, Maybe Dooku'll kill him for us before we arrive." Anakin smirked.

"I somehow doubt that. I don't think he will go as far as killing him yet." Obi-Wan replied. Anakin shrugged.

"I can still hope."

"Indeed." Obi-Wan gave him a fond smile.

"Sorry to break this up, but what the kriffing hell happened?" Ahsoka asked. "I thought the problem was over." Anakin laughed as Obi-Wan rolled his eyes at her language. He knew that was his fault. Obi-Wan gave her a quick overview.

"I threw a homing beacon on Dooku's ship so now we're chasing after him." Anakin finished the explanation.

"Right." Ahsoka nodded. Finally, Dooku's flagship came into view. Anakin blasted the control so they could land safely. Obi-Wan sent a message to the Temple with the location and a request for backup. Yoda told them a fleet would be there within half an hour. Windu was also on his way. They ran off the ship and battle droids were already gathering by the time they made it off the docking ramp. Between the three of them they disposed of them easily enough.

"Kriff. I wish Artoo were here." Anakin muttered, voicing his desire out loud this time.

"Yeah, he'd be a big help. I guess we start at the top?" Ahsoka suggested.

"Might as well." Obi-Wan agreed. They stepped into an elevator and waited as it took them upwards. "I have a bad feeling about this."

"You have a bad feeling about everything." Anakin teased, despite his own tenseness.

"I'm pretty sure that bad feeling is simply having Anakin around given his ability to attract trouble." Ahsoka put it. Anakin pouted at her as Obi-Wan chuckled.

"You might be right about that." He said. Anakin turned his pout on Obi-Wan who simply grinned at him. Anakin cursed under his breath. How was he supposed to pretend to be offended when presented with that face. All he wanted to do was kiss him but restrained himself for Ahsoka's sake.

Finally they arrived at the top floor. There were several battle droids that were easily disposed of. The trio walked through the double doors on their left and saw Palpatine bound to a chair that looked distinctly like a throne. Anakin frowned at that. It certainly didn't seem like he was being treated as a high profile captive. He briefly paused to wonder why he was here and not in a cell but then Anakin suddenly had double vision. He could see what was going on and yet he could also see the visions that Obi-Wan had shown him despite it not being the same ship they had rescued the Chancellor on in Obi-Wan's past. He clutched his head.

"Anakin?" Obi-Wan's concerned voice sounded to his right.

"I'm alright." He muttered. Then he shook himself and cleared his head. "Let's get this over with." They made their way down the steps and over to the Chancellor.

"Chancellor, are you alright?" Ahsoka asked.

"Count Dooku." Was all he said, indicating behind them. They turned around and Dooku was indeed strolling into the room.

"We can deal with this. You just stay there." Anakin told Palpatine, giving him a smile he hoped wasn't overly sarcastic. He heard Obi-Wan suppress a snort and guessed he hadn't been very successful. Anakin allowed himself a grin.

"He's a Sith Lord." Palpatine pointed out.

"As you keep telling me, I am exceptionally talented. I bested Dooku alone on Tatooine and now I have two other Jedi with me." Anakin rolled his eyes. "We got this." But then, that's probably exactly what Palpatine had been counting on. Dooku gracefully flipped over the railings and joined them on the ground. He ignited his lightsaber and the three Jedi did the same. They stared at each other, nobody willing to make the first move. Dooku knew he was outnumbered but seemed to remain relatively confident.

Sick of waiting, Anakin moved in. Ahsoka was immediately moving beside him. Obi-Wan was a little slower. Ahsoka struck first and was easily repelled. Anakin then joined in, throwing in a Hawk Bat Swoop that Dooku just managed to dodge. However, his neat dodge took him directly into the path of Obi-Wan's attack. The red blade barely managed to deflect the blue. They continued this three pronged attack, working seamlessly as a unit. Obi-Wan providing a Circle of Shelter while Anakin pressed the attack. Ahsoka provided a neat mix of attack and defence. One second she would join Anakin in an attack and then helped to block the retaliation that Obi-Wan couldn't reach or simply missed. Dooku was quickly losing ground. It was quite clear he was no match for all three of them.

Then more droids flooded into the room. Ahsoka broke off from the fight to deal with them. Anakin fought ferociously, moving from Ataru to Djem So as it suited his partnership with Obi-Wan. He used the Force to put more power into his movements. It looked like Ahsoka was going to be overwhelmed by the droids and it momentarily distracted Anakin. Dooku managed to kick him away.

"Anakin!" Obi-Wan called in concern. He didn't pause in the attack but now it was much more even. Anakin picked himself up off the floor and sprinted back across the room, dispatching several droids that got in his way. As he moved towards Dooku, the fallen Jedi hit Obi-Wan with a blast of Force lightning. The blue energy arced up his body and threw him into the railings. He collapsed to the floor and Dooku pulled the railing down on him. Anakin snarled in fury. He leapt towards Dooku, lightsaber flashing. Now he pushed himself into Vaapad. He allowed his anger and worry and general frustration to wrap around him, using it to power all of his blows.

Anakin lost track of time. Slowly he could see that he was gaining ground. Dooku's careful movements were slowly becoming more sloppy as he struggled to cope with Anakin's sheer power. Anakin was both younger and more powerful. Despite the fact that Anakin had already been in a couple of fights, Dooku could not hope to match him for much longer. The younger man called on all of his power and let the Force wrap around him. He was untouchable. Everything became a blur of red and blue. When he came back to himself, he was standing over Dooku, Dooku's own blade in his hand. Red and blue blades crossed right by his neck. The elder man's hands hung loosely by his sides.

"Yes, Anakin. Very good. Now kill him. End this war and become a hero." Palpatine cheered him on in a hypnotically soft voice. Dooku's eyes went wide. Anakin gave him a smirk.

"Master, don't. He's unarmed. You won." Ahsoka cried from somewhere above him. He glanced up, mindful not to take his full concentration off of Dooku. Ahsoka was standing amidst a pile of destroyed droids.

"Kill him, Anakin." Palpatine urged. Dooku glanced over at his Master and then back to Anakin.

"I guess Obi-Wan was right, Dooku. You're replaceable." Anakin's smirk widened.

"You were both right." Dooku sighed. "I was blinded. Yet I did not have time to put my own plan in place. Do with me as you will."

"Master, what's going on?" Ahsoka asked.

"Check on Obi-Wan, Snips." Anakin instructed. He moved away from Dooku and threw him back his lightsaber. "Together then?" He asked. Dooku looked at him in astonishment. He wasn't the only one. Ahsoka and Palpatine were gaping too. One in confused horror and the other in fury. "It's ok, Snips. Dooku might be a pain but he's not the true threat. The one we want is his Master. Darth Sideous."

"Otherwise known as your precious Chancellor." Dooku sneered over at Ahsoka who was now crouched by Obi-Wan. Anakin coughed and glared at the other man warningly. He would not tolerate any misbehaviour from Dooku. He may be on their side right now but there was no guarantee it would last. He and Dooku moved towards the Chancellor together, lightsabers aimed at his chest. Red and blue together.

"Dooku." Palpatine began in a warning tone. He looked completely furious and yet at a loss as to how to deal with this situation. "You should have killed him when you had the chance. You are weak." He spat at Anakin.

"I'd rather be weak than murder an unarmed man." Anakin shot back. They both stood in front of Palpatine.

"I am unarmed." The Chancellor pointed out.

"True. But Dooku isn't quite under the same restrictions as I am." Anakin smirked. Palpatine's eyes widened. "In fact, in Sith law, it's encouraged that he kill you."

"I am Sith, no longer." Dooku stated firmly. "Nor am I Jedi. I serve only the Force." Anakin nodded.

"Obi-Wan's ok." Ahsoka called. Anakin could hear him rousing. Taking a deep breath, Anakin made contact with the Temple. Yoda also contacted Windu who was clearly in a starship.

"Skywalker, have you located the Chancellor?" Windu asked. "Dooku's fleet is here and we've engaged them."

"Yes, Master. Except it has been revealed our esteemed Chancellor is in fact, a Sith Lord." Anakin announced.

"Sure of this, you are?" Yoda asked.

"Yes. Count Dooku has confirmed that Chancellor Palpatine is the Sith Master he has been serving. Palpatine has made no effort to deny such accusations."

"It is true." Dooku added.

"You have Dooku and the Chancellor?" Windu asked in amazement.

"What shall I do with Palpatine?" Anakin asked. "He's extremely dangerous."

"Inform the Senate we must." Yoda stated. Anakin sighed. That really didn't help him now.

"I am the Senate." Palpatine sneered. Too late, Anakin noticed the bindings on Palpatine's wrists coming undone. He just managed to shove Dooku backwards, out of the way of the red blade that seemed to come out of nowhere.

"Skywalker!" Came Windu's slightly panicked voice.

"Indeed I am dangerous, young Skywalker." Palpatine stated with a vicious smirk. "You shall pay for disobeying my orders." Anakin said nothing, simply regaining his feet and preparing himself. Palpatine attacked and it was beyond anything Anakin had ever experienced. The speed and skill that opposed him was more formidable than anything he had seen. Including watching Master Yoda train. It took every drop of his concentration to keep him at bay. He simply had no room to even think about attacking. This was unfortunate as Anakin was much more well versed at attacking.

He was saved from being completely overwhelmed by Dooku joining the fight. Strangely enough, Anakin and Dooku dropped into an easy, almost instinctual, partnership. It wasn't too unlike fighting with Obi-Wan. Dooku took most of the defensive side while Anakin attacked. He slipped into Vaapad, once more calling on every drop of Force power available to him in order to add strength and speed to his movements. Anakin was hyper aware of everything. He could feel beads of sweat forming on his forehead, slowly dripping down his face and at the base of his neck in his curls. But he was also aware of each twitch of Palpatine that indicated where he would strike next. Every swing of Palpatine's lightsaber seemed slowed somehow. It was easier to dodge and block in time. In his peripheral vision he could see Ahsoka tending to Obi-Wan.

"Skywalker!" Dooku's cry sounded as he was blasted by lightning, the energy arcing around his body as he had done to Obi-Wan earlier. Then he was thrown across the room, smashing into the far wall. Anakin could feel his life force draining slowly. The Count did not have much time. Anakin redoubled his attack. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Ahsoka heading over.

"No, Snips. Not this time." Anakin grunted. He did not want her in this fight. She was not ready. And he was not ready to lose her.

All of his fear and his anger bled into the Force power that he was channeling into his movements. He dug into all of the emotions he had experienced when Obi-Wan showed him the future he had lived through. Anakin finally embraced his own inner darkness that lingered despite his attempts to push it down, even after Mortis. Now he accepted it all and reached into the Force power he had accessed on Mortis. This time he was not creating balance, he was the balance. His hands moved of their own accord as his mind simply could not keep up with the speed of his movements. However his strength was flagging. It was taking enormous amounts of effort to sustain the amount of power he was channelling. Even he could not keep this up forever.

Anakin summoned up a Force blast and threw the old man across the room. He took some much needed breaths of air during his short reprieve. Then he blocked a barrage of Force lightning. Anakin gritted his teeth as he deflected the lightning back to the old man. He saw the face twisting in pain and felt a savage pleasure. Eventually Palpatine sank to the floor and the lightning stopped. Anakin gasped, desperately dragging precious air into his burning lungs.

"Master!" Ahsoka screamed at him. Palpatine was lunging towards him. Everything slowed down and Anakin's vision narrowed to the Sith Lord that was coming right at him. He twisted to the right and brought his own lightsaber up. His dodge was not quite enough and the red blade cut through his left arm that he had thrown out for balance, just above the wrist. Anakin cried out as he lost his left hand but at the same time his own blue blade was thrust upwards and right into Palpatine's chest. The man's eyes bulged in surprise. Much to his astonishment, a red blade then protruded from the Sith Lord's chest in the opposite direction. Dooku had recovered enough to attack Palpatine from behind. Blue and red ran parallel through the man's body and then both retracted. Darth Sideous fell to the floor with a gasp.

"S..skywalker." He rasped. With that last breath the Lord of the Sith passed into the void. Anakin and Dooku looked at each other. They both nodded and that was when Anakin's legs gave out. He reached out to break his fall but one hand had his lightsaber and the other was gone so he hit the floor with a painful thump.

"Master!"

"Skywalker!" Dooku and Ahsoka shouted at the same time. Ahsoka jumped forwards and cradled his head.

"You did awesome, Snips." Anakin whispered. His strength was gone. The adrenaline was fading fast and so the pain in his stump was demanding attention. That was about when Obi-Wan woke up. Soon enough he joined the strange group on the floor.

"What happ...Anakin!" He exclaimed.

"'Bi-Wan." Anakin sighed. Blackness was tinting the edge of his vision now. Words were a struggle. To save him talking, Ahsoka played the whole thing. She had recorded the whole fight on her commlink and sent it to the Temple. Anakin could tell Obi-Wan was only partially watching. Instead he was focused on pulling things out of Anakin's belt and dressing the gaping wound.

"We should get back to Coruscant." Ahsoka said.

"I think I…" Dooku began.

"You helped Anakin kill a Sith Lord. You are a hero, Dooku. We will need you to bring peace to the galaxy." Obi-Wan told him. As he spoke, Dooku crumpled to the floor himself. Anakin could feel his life force draining even quicker than before. It had been his sheer hatred of his Master that had helped him recover enough for the final blow. Now his need for revenge was sated and he was dying.

Reaching out, Anakin gasped the Count's hand in his remaining one. Then he concentrated. He reached out to the Force once more. Anakin used the last of his conscious thoughts to pray to Qui-Gon for help and then he began using the Force to sustain Dooku's life force. His already aching body cried out for him to stop sending so much power rushing through it into the older man but Anakin couldn't stop. Not yet. If he did so the Count would die. Enough blood had been shed in this kriffing war.

"Anakin? Anakin what are you doing?" Obi-Wan asked him in panic.

"N...no m...more." He mumbled, slurring his words. The black fog covered most of his vision now. All he could see was Obi-Wan's concerned face. As he channeled more energy into Dooku, his vision narrowed further to the grey-blue eyes he adored so much.

"It's alright, Anakin. You've done enough. You can let go now." Anakin dimly recognised that that hat was Qui-Gon's voice. He obeyed without thinking. It was harder than it should have been, letting the power go. Eventually he managed to stem the flow of power. His vision of Obi-Wan's eyes was tinged with grey light. His eyes reflected this, now looking more grey than blue, Anakin noticed vaguely. It took him quite a few moments to realise he was seeing his own Force signature. He must have been glowing. It dimmed as he released his hold on the Force. All that was left was exhaustion now.

"L...love…" He could not finish the sentence before the blackness took him.

Anakin woke up slowly. He became gradually more aware of the sensation of movement. Someone was carrying him. Where was he? Had he been injured on a mission again? Without the energy to open his eyes, Anakin relied on other senses.

"...will need a new leader. One my people will follow." Someone was saying. Anakin struggled to think, his head felt like it had been stuffed full of straw. Eventually he recognised it as Dooku's voice.

"Indeed." Came a second voice, from right above him. That must be whoever was carrying him. "The battle droids will need to be destroyed of course. I do not know what shall become of the Clones. They were raised to be soldiers." The voice sounded slightly sad. It was Obi-Wan's voice. Of course it was.

"Wazzgoinon?" He asked, wincing as his voice came out thick and heavy.

"Anakin!" Obi-Wan exclaimed.

"He's awake." A third voice stated excitedly. Ahsoka? Yes, Ahsoka.

"Sorta." Anakin agreed. He summoned up some hidden dregs of energy and opened his heavy eyelids. Obi-Wan was peering down at him with concern visible on his face. To Obi-Wan's left stood Ahsoka, also watching him anxiously. To the right stood Dooku with a blank expression although Anakin could have sworn he saw a hint of worry in the dark eyes. His exhausted brain must have been imagining things.

"How are you feeling?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Tired." He said. Memories were coming back to him now. As broken images flashed across his brain, he suddenly registered the dull pain at the end of his left arm. Glancing over, he saw that he now had a stump that was neatly bandaged.