Hey y'all, not sure what to say aside from the usual apology for this chapter being extremely late, it seems like I do worse with self-imposed deadlines. So no more of that lol. From now on, I'll do my best to update when I can, but no promises.
... okay actually, I can probably guarantee at least one chapter every two-ish months, but that's it.
Hope you guys enjoy this one regardless, delaying it for so long only made me try harder to edit it to perfection like the inner masochist I can be. :D
Anakin didn't bother with a response to Dooku's taunt, instead feverishly jumping into battle with a flurry of attacks and parries. If there was one thing he knew from their previous encounters, he couldn't afford to give much, if any, breathing room.
Annoyingly enough though, each one of Anakin's strikes was repelled with purpose. Clearly, hacking away with impunity wasn't going to cut it. Not yet at least.
However, in the confined area of the ship's command center, one could only retreat so far before being backed into a corner. As such, Dooku fell back on one of his more effective strategies: hurling projectiles. Panels and levers were dislodged from security consoles before being thrown at Anakin with little regard. Though some of the debris was unavoidable, Anakin hardly slowed down before leaping up the slightly inclined platform to even ground, absorbing the blows he could manage with his bionic hand.
Dooku seemed almost reluctant in reigniting his lightsaber, though when their blades clashed, his smile simply reeked of amusement.
"You are unbalanced, boy," Dooku commented, the first time either of them spoke since his initial greeting. "Your anger, it calls to you, empowers you, but you don't draw on it."
"Maybe it does," he retorted, hoping the admission would give Dooku pause. "But I don't need it to beat you."
He took a few elementary jabs at the Count, each blow either met by a crimson blade or blocked by debris. A Force push out of frustration caused him to stumble momentarily, but it was only a fleeting victory.
"A shame how little you grasp. If you truly seek justice, you must do what must be done, use the tools at your disposal," Dooku countered. "Have all those years under Kenobi's tutelage amounted to nothing?"
Anakin was practically seething then. "You know nothing about Obi-Wan!" he snarled, before launching a batch of Dooku's scattered projectiles back at him. Two could play that game.
He deflected the debris aside without even a thought, as expected, but that slight delay was all Anakin needed to further press his attack. Though Dooku had evaded his attacks for the most part, it was clear he couldn't draw out the fight too long, especially once Mace and what was left of their squadron advanced. There was a definite rhythm to his movements; Anakin just had to find a way to exploit it.
"On the contrary," Dooku replied, effortlessly pivoting out of a corner, "I believe your former master and I understand each other more than you realize."
"Save it for the Senate."
"I could," Dooku said, truly seeming to consider the thought momentarily. "Ignorance does suit you, Skywalker. Ironic, considering you were prophesized to be the Jedi's savior."
Anakin snorted at this latest mention of his so-called destiny. "The prophecy is a lie. The Jedi have been around long before me or you or anyone else fighting this war, and they will be long after."
"Humility, on the other hand, certainly isn't one of your strengths. Surely you know your power will grow far beyond any mere Jedi."
Anakin paid no mind to his sentiment, charging forward to leverage his strength, putting Dooku on the back foot. Though his movements maintained that measured sense of elegance, it was clear the Sith was beginning to falter ever so slightly.
After making a nimble pirouette to further close the gap, Anakin forced a block high before delivering a swift kick to Dooku's shin. In conjunction, something had to give with the precision behind his attacks. That being the precarious balance of Dooku, the old man staggering back from the impact, his lightsaber lost in the process.
Anakin had anticipated the burst of Force lightning that followed, just barely raising his lightsaber in time to minimize the blow. He strode forward with purpose, Dooku once again resorting to a telekinetic attack, heaving what was left of the security console at him. In the split second he had before being forced to dodge, Anakin caught just a glimpse of Master Windu clearly outside the ray shield and advancing. Though how far he was from the command center, Anakin had no idea.
Just before he could move to strike Dooku's hand and bring that arc full circle, the heat of a blaster bolt zinged behind his head, and it was only then that he picked up on the clanking accompanying it.
Turning to the entrance, Anakin quickly assessed the threat. Seven battle droids total were in the room with more likely on the way, too much to account for on top of fighting Dooku already. Letting loose an almost feral growl at the decision he'd have to make, Anakin delivered a swift Force push in Dooku's general direction, before turning to eliminate the interference.
The droids had ceased shooting almost entirely once the element of surprise was gone, attempting to scamper out of the room only to be met by a blade to the head. Save for one, whose shots Anakin had deflected back out of instinct.
As he checked for interlopers out in the nearby hall, the Force practically screamed at him in warning, and he only had a moment to register his mistake before a second wave of Force lightning struck him in the back. Though he was disturbingly familiar with the sensation by now, tolerance didn't mean anything if he was entirely at Dooku's mercy regardless.
The last thing he felt was the cold, hard surface of the ship's walls.
Obi-Wan's eyes shot open, his meditation interrupted abruptly by a sensation he hadn't felt in weeks. The bond between master and apprentice had been stoked, waves of nearly indiscernible pain bombarding him at once. Yet when he reached out, the Force provided no answers to the source of Anakin's plight.
An oh too familiar sense of dread entered his mind as he raced through the possibilities. Nothing on the Holonet had caught his attention aside from the war effort ramping up, but he had expected that considering the loss of him and Ahsoka for the frontlines.
Satine, who had been helping him with his exercises, quickly caught on to his inner conflict. A delicate touch of the hand was all it took to coax him into an explanation. Exhaling a breath he didn't know he'd been holding, Obi-Wan gave her a rundown of the situation, limited as his knowledge was.
"He'll be okay," she assured, and somehow, he believed it.
"He's always had a habit of taking on more than he could handle. It may not cost him now, but…" he trailed off before finishing the thought. "I worry that won't be the case one day."
"What are you going to do?" There was a trace of nervousness to Satine's voice, her underlying concern clear as day. Obi-Wan knew better than to rush off into the unknown though, especially given that Bo-Katan had all but entrusted her base of operations to them while she and Ahsoka sought out Maul's. Staying was the only realistic option he had.
"Trust in the Force. It's already brought me this far," he replied, a resolute smile washing over his face briefly before he moved to stand, extending an invitational hand. "We may as well make sure everything on base is running smoothly. I doubt meditation will do me any good right now."
Satine smiled a grateful one of her own as she took him up on his offer. "Gladly."
At that moment, Obi-Wan felt like maybe things would be alright after all in the end.
He had a bad feeling ever since the ray shields had singled out Skywalker, seemingly with a purpose. Only a handful of Clones were able to accompany Mace to siege the ship's command center, where his fears were confirmed.
To start, he found the Knight sprawled over near the entrance in a prone position, barely stopping in time before he got trampled. Wreckage of ports and consoles littered the room, Dooku standing at its center. Oh, Dooku.
He had gone far and beyond a mere political idealist, as far as Mace was concerned. Even now, his crooked smile practically chilled him at the core.
"Master Windu, how prudent of you to join us," he greeted, his voice reeking of faux diplomacy. Was that how he rationalized his actions? For the greater good? "Though Skywalker's regression came as a disappointment, to say the least."
Maybe not.
"We've played your games long enough, Dooku. This ends now," he warned, tentatively crouching down next to Anakin to check for a pulse.
After affirming his relief with an exhale, Mace quickly motioned to the remaining Clones in turn. "Take him and whatever troopers you can find back to the infirmary. I'll handle things here."
"Oh, I think not," Dooku said pointedly, the only warning given before unleashing a torrent of force lightning. The few troopers that had managed to flank him succumbed then, unprepared for the attack. In contrast, Mace instinctively deflected the burst of energy, steeling himself for even more to come.
Mace was the first to break the tense standoff that followed, testing the waters with a few methodical jabs in hopes the Sith would commit. No such luck.
"I expected you to know better, old friend," Dooku continued calmly as if they were merely sparring on Temple grounds. "But I suppose that's indicative of the Order as a whole. You could all be so much more."
"All is as the Force wills it, so long as we heed that will," At that, Mace pointed his lightsaber accusingly. "Which you are not."
This time, Mace increased the intensity of his attacks, moving at a more frenetic pace. Dooku matched him blow for blow almost seamlessly, age having never deterred him. Still, Mace refused to second guess himself. In time, he would falter, especially given that Skywalker hadn't gone down without a fight.
"And who determines that?" Dooku questioned once their blades had retracted. "The Jedi do not hold a monopoly over the Force as you think. It is but a matter of perspective."
Mace shook his head. "This has evolved far beyond mere philosophical differences. You can surrender now and be put on trial for your crimes, you will receive a fair one. But continue to delay the outcome, and we will do what we must."
"Is that the lecture you gave Kenobi before his expulsion? You should know better than to expect justice from the Republic."
The thought hurt Mace more than he realized. It was distressing, to say the least, having one of their best turn away from the Order. It made them all the more susceptible at a time like this, though truthfully, Mace had long since abandoned the thought of a diplomatic solution. The war was approaching its peak, and it wouldn't stop with or without Kenobi. Not without taking action.
To Dooku, he simply said, "Obi-Wan made his own decision. Just as you can now."
For a moment, and only a moment, Dooku's face was nigh unreadable before morphing back into cold, calculating, hardness. "No, I think not."
Mace merely moved to clash blades once more, having expected such a rebuff. Aware he'd likely be outlasted in a prolonged fight, Dooku's movements had gained a sense of urgency in turn. Weaving around his parries, Mace probed him through the Force ever so subtly, seeking to disarm. What do you fear, Dooku?
But what he saw caused him to do the unthinkable: hesitate. The vicious cycle of hate, torment, and suffering, Mace had caught but a glimpse of it within the confines of Dooku's mind, his mental shields faltering for only the briefest of moments. But it had been enough. And at the forefront of it all was…
"Your master," Mace gritted out, still trying to process the fragmented images he had seen. "Why do you serve him?"
Again, Dooku was briefly caught off guard by his words, before coiling his mouth into an eerie smirk. "Perhaps he will tell you himself in due time."
And it was then he made for the exit unopposed, Mace realizing his intent was never to win the battle. The aggressive maneuvers, the rather conversational tone to his voice; those had all been purposeful distractions by Dooku to lure him away from the door and into the heat of battle, thus ensuring his escape.
Dooku swiftly deterred any pursuit Mace could muster with a violent Force push, flinging Anakin's body at him. This time, there was no hesitation as he corralled Anakin's momentum with a Force hold of his own, letting his lightsaber clatter to the ground in the process.
Though he knew it was the right decision, Mace couldn't help but let out a sigh of frustration as he scanned the adjacent hallway. Even as he put out an order for any remaining troopers to be conscious of fleeing transports and escape pods, he knew it'd likely be a fruitless effort.
Count Dooku was gone.
Anakin woke up to another familiar sight: dull, white walls. The Infirmary. It all came rushing back to him then: The fight, Dooku… ugh. He didn't want to deal with any of the fallout that was sure to come.
Instinctively, he reached over to feel for his bionic hand. Real. So, he had defied death once again, though at least this time he wasn't hooked up to a ventilator.
He moved to sit up tentatively, only for a gloved hand to ease him back down. The trooper's insignia was the only reason he didn't fight it. Rex. Oh, thank the Force, Rex made it.
"Easy there, General," Rex admonished. "Medic says you shouldn't have any lasting injuries, but he's no Kix in my book."
"What happened?" he asked, the words tumbling out of his mouth rather groggily.
"Looks like you took a beating from Count Dooku, that's what happened," Rex was never one to mince words. "Third-degree burns, minor scarring, and one hell of a headache, I'm imagining. You're lucky General Windu came when he did, could've been a lot worse."
"How long have I been out?"
"About two days," Anakin jolted back up at that information, Rex quickly clarifying. "You were drifting in and out when they put you in bacta, medics said they might as well sedate you for rest before we head back to Coruscant."
"Coruscant?" Anakin repeated in confusion.
"Apparently, we've got new intel regarding the origin of the bombing," Rex said with a shrug. "They wouldn't specify when I asked em what kind of intel."
Anakin briefly pondered the admission, opting to make nothing of it for the time being. "And Dooku?" he asked with a grimace, knowing full well the answer to that question.
"No luck there, I'm afraid. Slimy bastard took off in a transport before we had a chance to disable the hyperdrive." Rex confirmed, before adding, "Speaking of which, the GAR is expecting a full statement from you about this recent encounter. When you're ready, of course."
He shut his eyes tight, replaying the scenario in his mind again. "I could have done, I should have. If only—"
"The past is the past. It'd be best to move forward sooner rather than later," the stern voice of Master Windu cut in, acknowledging Anakin's state with a curt nod. "Good to see you're up and about."
That was about the closest one could get to warmth from the Korun master, but it sure didn't make for easy conversation. "Uh, thanks. Aside from the rock pounding in my head, I guess I feel fine," Anakin eventually replied. "Looks like I owe you one from what Rex tells me."
Predictably, Windu brushed the compliment off. "I did what was necessary. Though Dooku did evade capture, a Separatist stronghold was eliminated with few casualties. This was a collective victory for the Republic."
Anakin mulled this over, nodding in agreement. Though still largely disappointed in himself, it was relieving to hear that they at least accomplished something in retrospect.
"I agree, sir," Rex said, breaking the silence.
"So, about that report—" Anakin began.
"Get your rest if you need it," Windu quickly dismissed his line of thinking. "You may still have lingering concussion symptoms. If they really need a report, we'll get to it on Coruscant."
"Fine by me." Anakin was in no mood to be productive.
"Oh, and don't let Dooku deter you," Upon his noticeable wince, Windu pressed what Anakin assumed was supposed to be a comforting hand to his shoulder. "You have great potential, Skywalker. So long as you remain mindful, you can be the great Jedi you aspire to be, and soon."
It was one of the conversations that had survived the tests of time for him, and every time, it left him wondering the why behind it. This time being no exception as Anakin was left to contemplate Windu's words. It was always about potential, and it was getting to a point where Anakin was beginning to question whether he'd ever reach the expectations laid out for him. Could he?
When explaining his rationale to Rex, he had countered with an entirely different takeaway altogether. Needless to say, Anakin was dubious.
"A promotion? Rex, I'm practically walking on eggshells with the Council right now. My padawan and master are being accused of treason, and they barely trusted me to begin with. Dooku was the one chance I had to redeem myself."
"Maybe it was, but I'd say the hints are there regardless. Subtle praise, motivating you to be better, General Windu seemed to check all the boxes."
"I'll believe it when I see it," Anakin muttered, rolling over to his side and effectively ending the conversation. Thankfully, Rex took the hint.
Once he was alone, Anakin allowed himself to silently admit that even though the distrust between him and the Council likely went both ways, officially becoming a Master in name was a fun thought. Heck, it was what he'd dreamed of for years. And on the off-chance Rex's hunch was right, Anakin himself would check to make sure his Clone template didn't include a transfusion of midi-chlorians.
Flip flopped a bit on how the fight should play out, but decided Anakin wasn't quite in the right mental state to outclass Dooku as things stood. Gave Windu a few handicaps as well, and I think it turned out alright in the end. But feel free to let me know your thoughts if you want.
Appreciate all the love and comments, I'll try to be more consistent from here on. ^_^