chiposkippy - Thank you so much.

Chapter 47

Ben awoke, disoriented, trying to make sense of where he was. He was lying on a sofa too small for his body, legs draped up over the plush arm. Booted feet dangled over the floor. Sensing he was alone for the moment, he eased into a sitting position.

There was a door. Most certainly, it was locked. At least two beings he could sense through his foggy mind were guarding it. He vaguely remembered being shot, but the wound was cleaned and bandaged beneath the charred hole in his tunic. A sling held his arm close to his body so any movement would not aggravate the wound. Ben leaned back on the sofa as a sudden wave of dizziness washed over him. In retrospect, it was probably foolish to hide how much his head hurt from his master. This dizziness was more than the concussion. Someone had drugged him. His senses were muted and he felt only dull pain from his arm. It was as though he was disembodied, floating in mid-air, far away from and almost not caring about what he knew must be an urgent situation. Why was it urgent? Dooku … Dooku was plotting something. There was an ambush – too many droids. Where was Obi-Wan? Panic gripped him, the sudden realization that he could not sense his master snapped him back to alertness and reality. He reached for his saber, only to find it missing.

Ben made an attempt to stand, reaching to the back of the sofa to steady himself. It was imperative that he learn where he was and try to escape. He began to shuffle around the room. It seemed out of place for what he had seen thus far on Geonosis, lavishly decorated with fine furniture. Richly colored rugs were laid across the bare floor. Art, an abstract montage of twisted, disturbing images hung on the four walls. Everything pointed to someone with a taste for finer things. It was with a growing sense of unease that Ben began to suspect he was in Dooku's quarters.

The only exit was the door he knew was guarded, which meant he would have to wait. He sat down in a nearby chair, the tabletop in front of him catching his attention – a Shahmat game board. Several white pieces sat on the side next to a much smaller pile of black.

Ben turned at the sound of the door sliding open, a chill running down his spine. The presence was completely masked in the Force and had caught him by surprise. Count Dooku, former Jedi Master, leader of the Separatists, stepped into the doorway with a sense of regality. He was dressed in fine, dark linens. His hard expression broke into what could be considered a friendly smile as he noted the Jedi padawan. Ben was immediately on guard.

"Good, you are awake. I was concerned about your well-being. That was an awful blaster wound."

'Be polite until you understand more of your situation,' Ben said to himself, remembering his master's words on so many missions.

"Yes, if you would express my appreciation to whoever saw to my injury," Ben replied graciously.

"I will." Dooku sat down across from him, drawing Ben's gaze back across the game board. "Would you like to finish the game for my last opponent?"

"No, actually I would not," Ben said with a hesitant chuckle. "The hanish is gone, and you will corner the padi'sha in no more than three moves. If you were the lesser opponent, I might be able to get out of this mess, but I have heard you are quite a master of the game."

"It is important to know when not to fight," Dooku said, very pleased. Ben had the sinking suspicion the board had been arranged as a sort of test, one he had just passed with flying colors.

"I have kept track of you … as I have all that came from my line. It has to have been difficult finding your place, having a master with as much notoriety as Master Kenobi. And then there are the more controversial elements he is close to – Master Marojni and the young 'Chosen One'. But you have done well, and have established your giftings. You are actually a lot like I was at your age – not really a warrior, but a thinker, a strategist … something that will be needed in the coming days."

"What do you know of the coming days?" Ben asked

"Perhaps, I could get you something? A cup of hot tea?" Dooku suggested.

"My master taught me not to accept drinks when I am being held captive."

The lines of Dooku's face hardened, a curt nod accompanying his next words. "I assure you, my boy. You are not being held captive."

"Then why is the door guarded, and my weapon missing?" Ben challenged.

"The Geonosians." Dooku let out a frustrated sigh, shaking his head. "I have some pull with them and am doing all that is in my power to arrange your release. I finally was able to get you out of a prison cell and see to treating your wound. But, they are intensely suspicious. Perhaps it would help me in your defense if you could explain why they found two Jedi sneaking around their planet."

"We were investigating the assassination attempt on Senator Amidala's life. The trail of a bounty hunter believed responsible led here," Ben rattled off, keeping the story simple. The Force was warning him urgently to not trust the former Jedi master. Everything he had seen with Obi-Wan pointed to Dooku being the one in charge. "Where is my master?"

"Thankfully, he managed to get away. The droids gave chase, but he eluded them. Geonosian scouts saw him double-back to your ship and escape."

"That's a lie," Ben said. "He wouldn't leave me behind."

"Unless he thought he would be better able to help you by regrouping …"

"Then perhaps I should contact the Jedi Council and let them know I am well and not … a prisoner." Silence. The expression on Dooku's face turned even dourer. "I guess the Geonosians would frown on communication as well," Ben mused.

"They are right to mistrust the Republic. I have recently learned that the Senate is under the control of a Sith Lord."

"The Council would know," Ben defended immediately.

"The Dark Side of the Force has clouded their vision, young one. Hundreds of Senators are now under the influence of a Sith Lord called Darth Sidious."

Sidious. The name Fett had allowed to slip was Tyranus. Master and apprentice? Ben wondered.

"Then you need to contact the Council at once so that they are made aware …"

"They have known of the Sith since your master killed the one on Naboo. They have turned a blind eye to the corruption in the Senate. Do you think they would actually act on the information?"

Ben said nothing, acutely aware he was being manipulated. Whatever answer he gave, perhaps even his current silence would be twisted. Sure enough, Dooku looked at him with a pitying expression of fatherly concern. "It is alright to be confused. It is no secret that you don't always agree with the Council, something I applaud you for. Join me; help me right this wrong."

"I will never join you," Ben said, throwing all his determination into the words.

"Without your cooperation, I am afraid I have little leverage with the local authorities."

The door slid open and two Geonosian guards entered with a set of electrobinders. One released the sling around his shoulder, pulling his arms roughly behind his back. He let out a grunt at the pain.

"It seems you are still in pain," Dooku said, picking up a hypospray.

"No," Ben whispered. His mind was already muddied, his reflexes sluggish. He sensed that he needed full control of his faculties if he had any hope of finding his master and escaping.

"I know things about the Force the Jedi would never teach you … things I would share with a willing apprentice."

"I already have a master, thank you," Ben said, knowing he was condemning himself.

There was pressure on his neck, and a sharp hiss as the contents of the hypo was released. His body immediately began to feel heavy and tired.

"What a waste of potential," Dooku spat with distaste. "Take him away."

Ben struggled to maintain consciousness as he was dragged away, pain screaming through his shoulder as blackness and oblivion tore at his mind.

"We will see if your apprentice shares your views."

Was it possible the Senate was under the influence of a Sith? Master Yoda had always said that the Dark Side clouds everything. It was within the realm of possibility that it was powerful enough to even conceal one of its agents from the Council. And now Dooku was sharing his twisted story with Ben. It was one of those times as a master where all he could do was trust in the training he had given and in his apprentice's strength. Ben would never join Dooku.

Obi-Wan pulled at the unyielding binders. The force field not only held him in place but also interfered with his connection to the Force. He couldn't sense his apprentice. There was no way to warn him.

Suddenly, a figure dropped from the ceiling, consumed in a voluminous expanse of flapping cloak. It landed. Hands went to the hood of the dark cloak, pushing it back.

"Xan?" Obi-Wan whispered in surprise. "How did you get in here?"

"You forget that I have always been gifted in stealth," Xanatos said as he shook a considerable amount of dust from his cloak. "I did have to tunnel through part of the ceiling with my saber, but at least I wasn't seen."

Xanatos began to peruse a nearby control panel, frowning as he looked toward the cell's lone door. "There are quite a few guards outside here, and we won't have time to escape the way I came in. Be ready to move."

He switched off the controls on the console. The blue electromagnetic field that had engulfed its prisoner disintegrated. Obi-Wan tucked into a neat roll, landing on his feet just as the door opened. Xanatos' saber sprang to life and he began to fight through the Geonosian guards that poured into the room. Once a path had been cleared, both Jedi ran from the fray in a burst of Force-enhanced speed.

Obi-Wan and Xanatos fled the complex they now knew to be a Separatist base, resting only when they sensed they were at a safe distance.

"I believe that Dooku has become a Sith," Obi-Wan said immediately.

"That doesn't surprise me," Xanatos answered. "You never knew him as well as I did. He's always been a little too interested in the Dark Side. After I came back from Telos, he asked too many questions."

"He was pressuring me to join him. We need to find Ben," Obi-Wan said worriedly. "He is wounded …"

"I overheard some of the guards while I was on my way to find you. You both have been charged with espionage and are scheduled to be publicly executed. Apparently, there is some sort of arena not far from here. He was likely taken there. We will go as soon as I check in with Anakin."

"Anakin?" Xanatos whispered into his comlink. There was no response at first. "Anakin? Senator Amidala?"

The second query was greeted by a series of whistles and beeps.

"Artoo," Xanatos said. "I need to speak to Anakin."

The small droid responded with a mournful beep that told Xanatos all he needed to know. Anakin was not on the ship.

"I told him to stay on the ship," Xanatos ground out angrily as he shut off the transmission.

"And you expected him to actually stay?"

"He knew I was serious." Concern settled over Xanatos' features. "Something must have happened."

The barren landscape of Geonosis spread out before them outside the front view panel. Anakin and Padme sat in the pilot and co-pilot's chairs, both with booted feet propped up on the console.

"I honestly expected you to go after him as soon as he was out of sight," Padme said.

"You missed all the non-verbal communication," Anakin said. "Besides, he had that look in his eyes."

"What would that be?"

"The one that said that I would be on restriction for the rest of my apprenticeship if I crossed him this time. He meant business."

"I see," Padme said with gentle laughter. "I think my mother has given me a few of those in my lifetime …"

Anakin grimaced, his thoughts going to his own mother. Padme paused hesitantly. "I'm sorry about your mother."

She reached out and took his hand in hers. It was a simple, comforting gesture, but Anakin found the warmth around his hand overwhelming. It was like basking in sunlight. Her skin was soft and delicate, and he wanted to close the space between them and see if her lips were just as soft, but he resisted.

"Thanks," he said, struggling to find his voice as he pulled his hand away. His heart was racing, and he had never felt so giddy, but he managed to continue. "She will be fine now. I don't know what I would have done if I had lost her."

A shrill warning of whistles and beeps that sounded like some sort of droid expletive mercifully broke up the awkward, and dangerous, moment.

"What is it Artoo?"

His attention was drawn to the ship's sensors. "Uh, oh, we have company." He cursed himself for not sensing the approaching threat sooner.

"How many?" Padme asked.

Anakin stood and grabbed onto her hand. "We need to go."

As he hit the controls to extend the landing platform, a warning shot glided across the opening, scorching the hull where it hit. From his vantage point, Anakin could see destroyer droids settling into position. Anakin pushed Padme away from the entrance.

"Stay back," he warned as he took his saber from his belt. "We're surrounded. I will try to draw some of them away."

"Perhaps we should surrender."

"They want you dead, Padme," Anakin barked in disbelief.

"If they wanted us dead, they could have taken the ship out with all the firepower we saw. If we go with them, I may, as a senator, be able to find a diplomatic solution to all of this."

Anakin rested his head against the hull. Everything in him screamed to charge out there and fight to protect her. But, that would be an emotional decision, just like he had tried to make on Tatooine. He reached out into the Force and sensed it. His master, Obi-Wan, and Ben – they were all in danger. Surrendering would take him to them. If they stayed and made a stand, it was likely suicide.

"Okay," Anakin said. "We … surrender."

For something that the Force was telling him was right, it seemed a lot like failure. He turned to the small droid he was quickly learning to rely on.

"Artoo, after we are gone, I need you to go find my master. Remember the tracking device I hid on his cloak?"

Whistles and chirps indicated an affirmative. The little droid was eager to serve.

"Good, just follow that and try to stay out of sight. Here's my comlink in case he tries to contact me."

Anakin looked down at the lightsaber in his hand. How was he going to explain to his master, after so many lectures, that he was about to willingly part with the weapon that was his life? The droid army they were surrendering to certainly wouldn't let him keep it.

"Artoo, hold on to this. Take it to my master. We may need it later."

The droid let out a concerned set of whistles as Anakin and Padme approached the landing ramp once again.

"It will be okay, Artoo. We are supposed to do this."