It had been a successful capture. The viscous material of the portal evaporated as Count Dooku released the deactivation lever.
"All to easy", Senator Palpatine chuckled as his apprentice sheathed his lightsaber, its electric retraction echoing throughout the chamber. "You did well, Darth Tyranus".
Since the Jedi's initial encounter with Dooku on Geonosis, both Sith Lords were well aware of the potential they would have within a matter of years. Exhausted with their manipulation and treachery, they had waited four years for this cunning moment.
"As expected", replied Count Dooku. Holstering his weapon, he made his way over to Palpatine's throne. With a gentle wave of his hand, the metal cuffs keeping his master captive were released. "You can always trust a Jedi to take the high ground, unfortunately I was there first."
Such strategy had been what led to their enemies' demise in the first place. After Dooku's entrance, both master and padawan had charged up the titanium staircase of the throne room to challenge him. Through the dexterious use of his lightsaber and his connection to the dark side however, the Count had cornered the two Jedi Knights into the entrance door. As Palpatine requested, it was modified to emit an interdimensional portal whose technology had been long kept secret from the bureaucracies of the Galactic Republic. Ensnared by its grasp, Anakin and Obi Wan had been sucked in. Through the unwieldy, arbitrary nature of the technology itself, it was up to Palpatine and his apprentice to only guess what kind of carbon-based landscape their rivals would find themselves in. Either way, the possibility of their return was a guaranteed zero. Side by side, the Sith Lords made their way out of the chamber, discussing the busy agenda they had for the years to come.
Obi Wan had awakened to the itchy sensation of grass against his bearded face. Gaining consciousness, he realized he was surrounded in a field of such greenery, not unlike the lush pastures seen on Naboo. About thirty feet away from him, his companion lay sprawled in the flora.
"Anakin! Anakin!" Obi Wan shouted as he rushed over to the unconscious Jedi. "Are you alright?"
With a groan, Anakin came to his senses. "What happened... where are we master?"
"I was going to ask the same thing." Obi Wan replied. Once on their feet, the Jedi Knights looked around to find themselves in a field, encompassed by a range of hills made of purple stone. In the sky, floral outlines decorated the deep blue hue of the atmosphere above them. Relaxing and melodic, from somewhere unseen a guitar strummed and was accompanied by light percussion. It felt familiar, and an image of a dusty old spaceport bar briefly flashed through Obi Wan's consciousness. Was it a vision?
"Look over there!" exclaimed Anakin, pointing in the opposite direction. Sure enough, a blue four-legged figure ran across the naturescape, screaming at the top of his lungs.
"AAAAAAAAHHHHH! WAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!" Screeched Squidward as his tentacle feet plopped against the ground. Behind him, a pursuing one-wheeled robot advanced on his tail.
"Oh my." tisked Obi Wan. "Looks like that creature's being chased by a rouge droid!"
"What are we waiting for master?" Anakin inquired. "Let's help him!" Before they could however, the cephalapod had ran himself into a cluster of jellyfish. "Oh.. great." Squidward murmured to himself as they charged up their electric sting. With a flash of light, Squidward flew through the air, landing at the feet of the confused Jedi Masters.
"Are you ok, sir?" Inquired Obi Wan.
"Do I look okay to you, barnacle head?" Squidward said, rubbing his aching nose as he picked himself up. At that moment, the distance between the squid and the Jedi became bridged by Anakin. "You better take back what you said to my master", Anakin threatened. Despite their difference in species, the two Jedis paired with Squidward with about the same height, slightly taller than him. Before Squidward could interject however, Obi Wan pushed himself back in front of his student.
"What we meant to ask was where exactly we are" Obi Wan said politely.
"The Ocean." Squidward sarcastically retorted through his trademark, half-lidded stare.
Both Jedis looked at one another. "Which ocean?" Just then however, they came to realize that there couldn't be any ocean, what they were standing on was solid ground.
"That's ridiculous!" Anakin laughed. This thing's crazier than Yoda off his Donezepil.
"Perhaps not" Obi Wan replied. As he waved his arm, bubbles flourished from the cotton of his tunic.
"How, that's outrageous!" Anakin exclaimed. It wasn't just Obi Wan's gimmicks that gave it away. The hair of both Jedi flowed freely with a subtle current. Squidward glanced between the two of them, not sharing their amusement. Despite such physics, their gravitational connection to the ground was solid, natural even.
Just then, the harrowing squeal of a nearby robot announced it's presence. It's one wheel skidded against the kelp turf as it peeled its way towards them in a charge.
"Let me have this one, master!" Anaking said, bouncing on his toes as he got out his lightsaber.
"Well, what about the wat-" Kenobi paused, as his apprentice was already rushing towards the automaton in a sprint. "If you insist."
With a powerful swing, Anakin's saber burst into a blue flourish that cut straight across the robot's rusted cranium. Losing both it's power and control, it fell onto its side and slid to a halt.
Anakin retracted the blade and walked back towards the two. "See? Wasn't so bad".
Squidward stared, his mouth agape. "How.. humma.. humma.." he couldn't find the words.
Obi Wan smiled. "The lightsaber is the chosen weapon of the Jedi. It's a powerful blade composed of pure energy". He turned back to Anakin. "At least we now know they work underwater".
He further capitalized on the scene to introduce themselves. "I'm Jedi master Obi Wan Kenobi, and this is my padawan Anakin Skywalker. We were sent on a very important mission from Coruscant to recue a chancellor from the hands of Darth Tyranus. Are you familiar with the Geonosian system?
What had been awe soon turned back to skeptical boredom with the cephalopod. "Name's Squidward, if it means anything to you. I don't speak crazy", he snorted. His voice was noticeably more nasal than it was after they first arrived, given the swelling from the Jellyfish sting. "You two with Neptune or something?"
The name didn't register with either of them. Slowly but profoundly, it began to dawn on both Jedi that where they stood resembled nothing found among the hundreds of planets in the galaxy. Wherever Count Dooku had sent them, it was far, far away. Possibly somewhere in the unknown regions? In addition, what was it with these disobedient droids?
"Well, it seems as if we've got a lot of catching up to do" sighed Obi Wan. "Could you at least tell us what exactly this place is?" With another thoughtful gaze, both Anakin and Kenobi took in the rocky geography, particularly the stone Jellyfish on top of a nearby mountain.
"This is Jellyfish Fields", replied Squidward. "Usually I don't hang around such idiotic pastures, however if it weren't for these darn robots I wouldn't have been chased all the way here in the first place!"
"Who do they even belong to?" interjected Anakin, looking to take some control over the conversation. Not caring for diplomacy unlike his master, Anakin's primary concern was details.
"Your guess is as good as mine" Squidward replied. "However judging from my job experience, it's a no-brainer".
"Who did it?" Asked Obi-Wan.
"What job?" Inquired Anakin, struggling to maintain relevance.
"Listen, I just want to go home already!" Squidward whined, his voice growing impatient. "If you want to play twenty-one questions with me, then do it at my house."
With a rhythmic plopping, Squidward headed off without them. "Very well then..." Obi Wan stated. "We'll escort you!"
The two Jedi Knights paced after the mysterious creature, following him to three silloueted structures far in the distance.