Disclaimer – all original Star Wars characters in this fanfic (excluding my OC's) are the property of Lucasfilm and Disney.
Chapter 34 "The Beginning of The Clone Wars – part 1"
Planet Geonosis, Petranaki Arena.
The fierce battle began immediately, the whole stadium filling with screaming laser bolts, Jedi leaping and spinning, trying to close into tight defensive groups, their lightsabers deflecting the bolts wildly.
Mace Windu spun around, recognizing that his most dangerous enemies were behind him. He faced Jango Fett and found himself looking straight at a wrist-mounted flamethrower.
A burst of flames reached out for the Jedi Master, igniting his brown robes. With Darth Vundus and the bounty hunter so close, the Jedi Master leaped away, lifting himself with the Force to fly out from the high stand and land in the arena. He pulled the burning robe from his back and threw it aside.
The fight intensified all around him, with Jedi battling countless B1 and B2 battle droids. Mace winced when he spotted Obi-Wan, Anakin. He motioned to other Jedi, but that wasn't necessary since the ones who were the closest already rushed toward their vulnerable companions, and threw lightsabers to Anakin and Obi-Wan.
"Right on time, Master Windu," stated Obi-Wan.
"Don't thank me yet, Kenobi," said Mace. "This is only the beginning."
The Jedi were really good fighters, but despite all the gallant efforts, the outcome was beginning to show clearly, as the Jedi were being pushed back by sheer numbers. The general retreat flowed toward the arena, though that area would provide little respite. In addition to the droids and Jedi, the monsters rushed about crazily, destroying everything in their path.
No number of battle droids could hope to separate Mace and Obi-Wan, so perfect were their movements, so attuned were they to each other. But the sheer bulk of the reek was too much even for a pair of lightsabers, and when the furious beast charged at the two Jedi, they had no choice but to dive apart.
The reek followed Mace, and he had to slash wildly to fend it off. He managed to drive it back but was butted and lost his lightsaber in the process. He came up facing the reek and figured that he could outmaneuver it to get his weapon back easily enough.
Jango Fett, who watched Master Windu from the stands, had the urge to fly down and face the Jedi, but he heeded the words of Zai'shira. The Mandalorian waited until the Jedi would deal with the beast, then he would fight him.
Mace jumped to the side when the reek charged and grabbed his lightsaber. The beast turned around and charged again, but this time, the Jedi Master jumped on its back and drove the purple blade deep into its skull. Reek roared and fall down dead. Windu dismounted from the beast and already needed to deflect Jango's first shot. With the second shot, Mace was more in control, and his deflection sent the bolt right back at the bounty hunter. But Jango was already in motion. He dove sidelong and came around ready to launch a series of shots the Jedi's way.
However, the Jedi was on him immediately, lightsaber weaving through the air. Jango dodged and used his flamethrower. The Jedi Master had to somersault away to not get burned. The man was good, Mace had to admit. Very good. More than once, the Jedi had to parry desperately to turn a bolt aside. He kept up his offensive flurry, though, keeping Jango on the defensive with sudden stabs and slashing cuts. Mace knew that one miscalculated swing was enough to end his life.
Step by step, the Jedi was getting closer and closer. Jango once again wanted to lift himself up into the air with his jetpack... and he did. The Mandalorian saw the purple blade coming for his neck, but his jetpack allowed him to get away from it at the last second. Mace used the Force and grabbed Jango with a telekinetic grip, yanking him from the air.
As the Mandalorian hit the ground, Mace jumped and slashed with his purple blade, but Jango rolled the side and fired with his blasters.
On the dignitary box, Darth Vundus observed the fight closely from above when a pair of Jedi moved towards him: Master Ky Narec and his Padawan Asajj Ventress. The Sith Lord activated his crimson blade and prepared to fight.
Master Narec swung with his green blade, which was blocked by the crimson one. "You have much better chances down below, Master Jedi," Lord Vundus said with a smirk. Asajj tried to attack from the side, but Darth Vundus used a Force push with his free hand and sent the Dathomirian Padawan towards the wall. As skilled as she was for a Padawan, Asajj was no match against a Sith Lord of his caliber.
The Jedi Master pulled the blade back, and this time, he thrust it forward, and Darth Vundus attempted to bash it to the side. However, Ky pulled his blade away, before the crimson one touched it, and resumed the thrust. The Sith Lord dodged to the side and swung his blade, aiming for the Jedi's throat. Ky ducked and jumped over Darth Vundus. He landed behind him and spun around with his green blade, which was blocked once again.
"I would love to play with you, but I have more important things to do," the Sith Lord said, his smile faded away, and this time, he attacked for real. With lightning speed and strength of Juyo, he overwhelmed Master Narec. After a few strikes, Darth Vundus pierced Narec's chest and sent him with a Force push towards the wall. The Jedi Master hit the stone and slide down right next to his Padawan.
"Master!" Asajj cried out with horror and sadness. The Dathomirian looked at the Sith and was ready to lunge at him, but she heard a voice. "Don't!" Asajj turned her head to look at the source of the voice.
Darth Vundus also turned his head and smirked. "Hello, old friend," the Sith spoke to Master Dooku, who approached them.
"I didn't want to believe it when Obi-Wan told us about you," the Jedi Master said disappointedly. "I understand you wanted to change the Order and even the galaxy, but you just became the other side of the same coin. It's a better choice."
"Spare me the speeches," replied the Sith Lord. "I thought you'd join me after you left the Order, but you returned the Jedi like a loyal, blind pet."
"You know nothing," Master Dooku stated and activated his lightsaber. With his blue blade, he performed a Makashi salute and prepared to fight his former friend. A sudden energy bolt from the side forced the Jedi Master to deflect it.
A large number of droids kept Master Windu busy while Jango flew with his jetpack towards the high stands and fired with his blaster at Dooku. Protecting the man, who hired him, was his top priority. Other battle droids joined the attack on Master Dooku as well, and he was forced to retreat. "Quickly, join the others!" Dooku ordered Asajj, who took a glance at the body Master Narec and complied. The Dathomirian jumped down and landed in the arena amongst the other Jedi. Dooku joined her shortly after while Jango landed beside Darth Vundus, who turned off his lightsaber with a smirk.
Even with all three beasts dead, more and more Jedi went down under the sheer weight of the laser barrage. Less than half of them were still standing. Soon, they were down to just over twenty, all herded together. Hundreds of battle droids stood around them, their weapons leveled. And then, all movement stopped suddenly.
"Master Windu!" Darth Vundus called from the dignitary box. His expression showed that he had truly enjoyed the spectacle of the battle.
"You have fought gallantly. Worthy of recognition in the Archives of the Jedi, but now it is finished." He paused and looked all about, leading the gazes of the trapped Jedi to the rows and rows of enemies still poised to destroy them.
"Surrender," the Sith Lord ordered. "And your lives will be spared."
"We will not become hostages for you to use as barter," Mace replied without the slightest hesitation.
Darth Vundus looked at Dooku. "You can still join me, my friend," he proposed. "Don't throw your life away for the Jedi."
"I would rather die as who I am now, rather than become a Sith," Dooku replied decisively. While the other Jedi smiled after hearing that statement, none of them knew what he really meant.
"Then I'm sorry, old friend," Darth Vundus said, in a tone that didn't sound at all sorry. "You will have to be destroyed." He raised his hand and looked to his assembled army, prepared to give the signal.
But then Padmé, exhausted, dirty, and bloody, raised her head to the sky above and shouted. "Look!" All eyes turned up to see half a dozen gunships, which descended upon the arena. Darth Vundus looked at the gunships, and a small, almost unnoticeable smirk appeared on his face.
All droids fired at the new enemies, but the gunships had their shields up. Clone troopers returned fire. Amid the sudden confusion and flashes of laser bolts, Master Yoda appeared in the dropdoor of one of the gunships. "Around the survivors, a perimeter create," he ordered.
Jango watched in astonishment as his clones began to battle the droids. He had to admit he was proud to see them in action. Darth Vundus turned around and spoke to Jango. "Your job is done," he stated. "Take your son and leave Geonosis."
The Mandalorian only nodded in response. As the Sith Lord left, Jango took one last glance at the arena below. The last of the Jedi entered one of the gunships, and they all lifted away immediately, leaving the destroyed battle droids and the dead bodies on the Petranaki arena.
Sometime later – Planet Geonosis, Geonosian Command Center.
"The Jedi have amassed a huge army!" Nute Gunray cried, looking at the large holotable, which displayed a red-colored holographic battle between the droid and the clone army.
"That doesn't seem possible," Darth Vundus replied, pretending to be perplexed. "How did the Jedi come up with an army so quickly?"
Poggle the Lesser rushed to the side to confer with an army commander, then returned to Darth Vundus, Nute Gunray, and the other members of the Separatists Council with a fierce expression. "All of our communications have been jammed!" he informed them. "We are under attack, on land and from above!"
"We must send all available droids into battle," Nute Gunray demanded.
However, the Sith Lord stared at the myriad of scenes, at the many battles and explosions all about the region, and shook his head before he Neimoidian could begin to argue his reasoning. "There are too many," he said resignedly. "They will soon have us surrounded."
Even as he spoke, the three winced as the central screen flashed, showing the explosive destruction of a major Geonosian defensive position.
"This is not going well at all," Nute Gunray admitted.
"Order a retreat," said Poggle the Lesser. "I am sending all my warriors deep into the catacombs to hide!" He nodded to several of his commanders as he finished, and they turned back to their comlinks, relaying the orders.
"We must get the cores of our ships back into space!" one of Nute Gunray's associates cried, and Gunray nodded as he considered the words and the devastating scenes of battle flashing across the viewscreens.
"I'm going to Coruscant," Darth Vundus announced.
Poggle the Lesser rushed across the room to a console and punched in some codes, bringing up a holographic schematic of a planet-sized weapon. He downloaded the schematic onto a cartridge with a few keystrokes and pulled it from the drive, turning to the Sith Lord. "The Jedi must not find our designs," the Archduke insisted. "If they have any idea of what we are planning to create, we are doomed."
Darth Vundus took the cartridge. "I will take the designs with me," he agreed. "The plans will be much safer with my Master."
A few minutes later - Planet Geonosis, E'Y-Akh Desert.
While the members of the Separatist Council escaped Geonosis via their personal starships, Darth Vundus took a Geonosian speeder and headed straight to his hangar in the N'ge'u Valley. A gift from Poggle the Lesser, a Solar Sailer, waited for him there. Escorted by two Geonosian fighters, he planned to use it and fly to Coruscant, but he felt a strong and dark presence nearby. Focused on it, he didn't realize at first that he was spotted by Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Padmé, who began to pursue him in a gunship.
As the gunship began to close, the fighters which escorted the Sith Lord suddenly banked away, veering off left and right, turning to engage. The clone pilot of the gunship was up to the task, weaving his way through their fire, but then another blast rocked the ship, and with the vehicle up on edge, Obi-Wan and Anakin had to hold on tight and scramble to stay in, but Padmé wasn't so fortunate.
One moment, she was beside Anakin, and then she was gone, tumbling out the open dropdoor.
"Padmé!" Anakin screamed. Everything seemed to be happening in slow motion, and he couldn't catch her, couldn't reach out fast enough. She tumbled down and hit the ground hard and lay very still.
"Padmé!" Anakin screamed again, and then he yelled to the clone pilot. "Put the ship down!"
Obi-Wan stood before him, his hands on Anakin's shoulders, holding him steady and firm. "Don't let your personal feelings get in the way," he reminded his Padawan. He turned to the pilot. "Follow that speeder."
Anakin pushed to the side, peering over his Master's shoulder, and growled. "Lower the ship!"
Obi-Wan turned to face him again, and this time, his look was not so sympathetic. "Anakin," he said flatly, showing that there was no room for debate. "I can't take Darth Vundus alone. If we catch him, we can end this war right now. We have a job to do."
"I don't care!" Anakin yelled at him. He pushed out to the side again and yelled at the pilot. "Put the ship down!"
"You'll be expelled from the Jedi Order," Obi-Wan said, his grim look showing no room for any argument. The blunt statement hit Anakin hard. "I can't leave her," he said, his voice suddenly little more than a whisper. The young Padawan wanted to save Padmé at any cost. Even though his mother wasn't dead, Anakin knew she was alive thanks to HK and ArchKnight Deiven.
"Come to your senses," said the uncompromising Obi-Wan. "What do you think Padmé would do if she were in your position?"
Anakin's shoulders slumped. "She would do her duty," he admitted.
Obi-Wan pushed past Anakin, moving toward the pilot. "Follow that speeder!"
The gunship did just that, zooming low. They found the speeder soon enough, parked outside a large tower. The gunship slowed down and lowered itself near the entrance. Anakin and Obi-Wan leaped out, rushing to the tower door, while the two Geonosian fighters destroyed the gunship.
Hardly pausing, Anakin burst through, lightsaber in hand and entered a vast hangar, with cranes and control panels, tug-ships and workbenches.
Inside, they found Darth Vundus, who stood at a control panel. A small interstellar sail ship sat nearby, a graceful, shining craft with a circular pod set on two lander legs, the retracted sails sweeping out to narrowing points behind it, like folded wings.
Anakin and Obi-Wan ignited their borrowed lightsabers, a green one and a blue one. "You're going to pay for all the Jedi you killed today!" Anakin growled.
"We move in together," Obi-Wan explained. "You slowly on the-"
"No! I'm taking him now!" Anakin pulled away and charged ahead. "Anakin, no!" Obi-Wan called out. "Remember what happened on Alderaan!"
The young Jedi suddenly stopped midway, recalling how a much more cunning Sith Lord defeated him then. Although remembering that was not pleasant, he knew Obi-Wan was right. Darth Vundus looked at him out of the corner of his eye and smiled as if truly amused. "Well, well..." he said, arching his brows. "Your Padawan has some brains after all." The older human reached for his lightsaber and activated it. "But it will not change the fact that you're going to die here."
"It's two on one, Sith," Anakin pointed out, but Darth Vundus smirked. "That won't help you."
Both Jedi lunged at Vundus, who blocked Anakin's strike and dodged Obi-Wan's. He immediately attacked Anakin with blindingly fast strikes. Obi-Wan preferred to wait for an attack and counter rather than pursue and be the aggressor in lightsaber combat.
When Anakin swung his green blade too wide, the Sith Lord Force-pushed him backward, then, he spun around and hit Obi-Wan with a roundhouse in the face. With a strong blow, the Sith bashed Obi-Wan's blue blade to the side and lifted him by the throat with a telekinetic grip. He hurled Obi-Wan across the hangar, and the Jedi hit the wall his head.
The Sith turned around as Anakin jumped towards him. Darth Vundus continued to fend off the strikes, and then his momentum played out. He was too far forward, while Dart Vundus remained in perfect balance, ready for a counterstrike. In one moment, the Sith Lord aimed at Anakin's right arm trying to cut it off, but to his surprise, the younger human dodged the attack. Since Anakin already had a tough duel with Darth Enigma, he was more prepared for a fight with a Sith Lord. Not to mention that after his defeat, he trained like crazy.
Not angry, but definitely annoyed, Darth Vundus attacked Anakin with Force lightning, catching the Jedi off guard and sending his screaming towards the wall next to his Master. "And so it ends," said the Sith Lord. He wanted to approach the two Jedi and finish them, but he suddenly felt a familiar presence.
The great hangar doors of the tower slid open, smoke from the battle outside pouring in, and through that smoke came two figures, one tall one small.
"Master Yoda and Master Dooku," Darth Vundus breathed.
"Sifo-Dyas," said Yoda, leaning on his cane and taking a good look at the Sith. Aside from his pale skin and the yellow-colored eyes, which were clear proof that the human turned to the dark side, the human still had his long black hair formed into a ponytail. "Fallen, you have."
Dooku sighed and shook his head. "Give up," he demanded. "You don't stand a chance against us."
The former Jedi Master's eyes widened, and he stepped back, turning to face Yoda and Dooku directly. He snapped his lightsaber back to his belt. "You have interfered with our plans for the last time," he said and waved his hand. Ripping a piece of machinery from the wall, he hurled at the Jedi Masters.
However, Yoda was ready, and he waved his own hand, Force-pushing the flying machinery harmlessly aside. Darth Vundus clutched up at the ceiling, breaking free great blocks that tumbled down at Yoda and Dooku. But this time, Master Dooku waved, and the boulders dropped to the sides, bouncing across the floor all about the untouched Jedi Masters.
Darth Vundus gave a little growl and thrust forth his hand, hurling bolts of blue lightning at the Jedi Masters. Yoda caught it in his own hand and turned it aside, but far from easy. "Powerful you have become, Sifo-Dyas," Master Yoda admitted, and the Sith grinned, but Yoda promptly took that grin away by adding, "The dark side, I sense in you."
"I have become more powerful than any Jedi," Darth Vundus countered. "Even you!"
More lightning poured forth from the Sith's hand, but this time, Master Dooku caught it and returned it to the Sith Lord, who raised his hand and redirected the attack towards the ceiling.
"Much to learn you still have," Yoda remarked.
Darth Vundus sighed with annoyance. He knew that a lightsaber fight would get him nowhere against both Jedi Masters. Obi-Wan and Anakin began to slowly get up, so time wasn't on his side. Before any more words could be spoken, however, all present in the hangar felt two strong sources of dark energy moving towards the hangar from two opposite directions. Darth Vundus knew one of them really well.
The Jedi heard the engines of a small ship, which landed outside, silence, and then footsteps. Suddenly everyone felt... cold. Darth Vundus wasn't hiding his surprise when he noticed a hooded figure entering the hangar. "Master?" he muttered.
Naturally, Dooku knew who that was, but he remained silent. Darth Sidious walked slowly in their direction, but his attention was focused not on Yoda or Dooku, but on someone behind them. A second powerful presence headed towards them from the opposite direction.
Anakin noticed a tall, hooded figure approaching them from the direction they entered. He recognized the dark energy immediately since it brought bad memories from the planet Alderaan. "Darth Plagueis," he whispered.
The Jedi were shifting their sight from one Sith Lord to another. Even Master Yoda wasn't looking forward to fighting both of them. Their mere presence was overwhelming. Anakin and Obi-Wan, who were already back on his feet, didn't really know what to do in this situation. Attacking any of them would be a suicide, and even Anakin wasn't reckless enough to do that.
Master Yoda assumed that in mere moments, this hangar will become a place that none of them would want to be in. If the two Sith Lords decide to join forces, they will be in grave trouble. He reached out for Obi-Wan, silently poking his mind with the Force and beckoning him and his Padawan to move closer to them.
Darth Sidious looked at Darth Vundus, and with a simple hand wave, he beckoned him to leave. The Sith apprentice wasted no time, sprinting away, leaping up the ramp to his sail ship.
With the opening, Obi-Wan pulled Anakin in the direction of Master Yoda. "What should we do?" asked Anakin, carefully watching the two Sith Lord's who glared at each other, like the two, deadly, wild beasts.
"Leave, we must. Save here, it is not," stated Yoda.
"Oh, please stay," said Darth Plagueis, gaining the Jedi's attention. "I insist."
"You didn't really think, that we would let you go?" asked Sidious. Both Sith Lords turned to face the Jedi. Sidious activated his two lightsabers, which he called from his sleeves, and Plagueis activated a single, long one.
All four Jedi took a fighting stance, ready for a fight. "Forgive me my language," said Anakin. "But we are... fucked."
Master Yoda looked at the two approaching Sith Lords and replied. "Indeed, we are."
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