Batmanuchiha - confrontation is coming. Thanks for reading
Chapter 48
Thunderous cheers shook the crowded arena in the form of clicks and chirps from the insect-like Geonosians. They only grew in intensity as the lone prisoner was led in. His arms were stretched upward and chained to a pillar in the middle of the arena. From Obi-Wan's vantage point, he could see that his apprentice was weary and injured. Fresh blood had soaked through bandages and the padawan's tunics. Eyes closed, Ben began what Obi-Wan recognized as breathing exercises that would lead him into meditation. The Jedi master had never been more proud of his apprentice. Ben had obviously chosen pain and death over whatever power Dooku had offered.
Obi-Wan and Xanatos had sneaked into the arena using narrow corridors likely used for maintenance. They had found a hiding place at one of the lower levels of the stands and sat waiting, though they still weren't sure why they were waiting. Obi-Wan turned to his companion as whispered. "He is injured, Xan. I need to get out there soon."
"I know you are worried," Xanatos said softly. "But, we will fail miserably if you rely on me to be the voice of reason between the two of us."
"I know. We need to wait and see what Dooku's plans are." Obi-Wan sat back on his heels in thought. "I need to at least let him know he isn't alone."
The two Jedi masters had been shielding heavily since their escape from the Separatist prison cell. It was risky for Obi-Wan to even access his bond with his apprentice as Dooku would likely be sensitive to and searching for any fluctuations in the Force. Still, the former Jedi likely knew they were nearby. A Jedi master usually didn't venture far from his captured apprentice. Obi-Wan sent out a probe in the Force, touching his apprentice's mind, and was automatically met with a swell of relief and exhaustion.
{Hold on, Ben. I am coming.}
"What are they waiting for?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Not sure."
Scraping across the sand and loose gravel, the sound of something coming drew their attention. Xanatos had his saber ready as they turned. After a surprised beep at being on the receiving end of Xanatos' weapon, a hesitant R2D2 approached even more slowly.
"Artoo?" Obi-Wan asked. "How did you find us?"
"We can safely assume that Anakin tagged me at some point," Xanatos answered, patting his cloak down. "Where is Anakin, Artoo? He hasn't answered his comlink, and I've been quite concerned."
A small arm projected from the droid, placing Anakin's comlink in Xanatos' outstretched hand while a blue beam of light shined from the droid's dome, reflecting a holographic image of Senator Amidala's ship surrounded by destroyer droids. Anakin marched down the landing ramp, hands on his head, while Senator Amidala followed. "I guess that answers my question," Xanatos said numbly. "Where are they now?"
Another loud rush of cheers drew the two Jedi master's attention back to the arena. Large double doors opened. A hovercart emerged, pulled by some indigenous beast of burden. Anakin and Padme stood in the back, looking around the arena.
"I really wish I had my lightsaber," Obi-Wan murmured.
Artoo bobbled back and forth excitedly, whistling frantically, drawing a quick, "shhh," from both Jedi masters. "What is it?" Xanatos snapped at the small droid.
A panel on the droid's side opened, a small arm extending a silver cylinder.
"Anakin's lightsaber?" Xanatos grinned as he accepted the small gift and handed it to Obi-Wan. "Every once in a while, my apprentice does something that is sheer brilliance."
"Thank you, Anakin," Obi-Wan whispered.
It was an unusual feeling to know that every being occupying the arena was here to see him die, cheering for it to happen soon, but hoping it would be as drawn-out, painful, and gory as possible. Ben could sense the bloodlust growing in the crowd. He opened his eyes as the cheers increased, only to find two large doors opening. Was death approaching through those doors? He wasn't afraid to die; a Jedi was always prepared. It was just that he didn't want to die needlessly or before his time. At least his master was close by so he didn't feel alone. He treasured the brief contact his master had made moments before, as well as the assurance and pride reflected. The cart being led into the arena passed by him, the sight of its occupants offering Ben little hope. Anakin shot him a lop-sided grin while Senator Amidala scanned the crowd. There was no fear in her large brown eyes, only determination.
"What happened to you?" Ben asked.
"We surrendered," Anakin announced proudly. "It was a first for me. But don't worry, we sent Obi-Wan's message on to the Temple before we came to rescue you."
"I was sort of hoping for a traditional Marojni-Skywalker rescue this time," Ben said tiredly. "You know – the kind where you destroy everything in your path and don't get captured."
Ben rested his head back against the pillar, closing heavy eyelids in an attempt to once again clear his mind.
"You don't look like you're feeling too well," Anakin said as his chains were fixed to the pillar next to Ben.
"I was drugged. I've purged most of it from my system, so now there's just a pleasant mixture of brain fog and excruciating pain."
Another loud crescendo from the cheering crowd and Dooku approached with the Geonosian archduke, Poggle the Lesser, who gave a proclamation for whatever was about to happen to begin. Three doors around the arena opened revealing three beasts. The first was large with a long neck and six legs, the second was more compact and had a large horn protruding from its snout, and the third was small but fast. All had obviously been kept in poor conditions and taught to be vicious. Two handlers were already dead before the beasts even made it out of their pens.
"I've got a bad feeling about this," Anakin commented.
"Focus on keeping the senator safe. Our masters aren't far away," Ben replied with confidence. "At least she has the right idea."
"What is that?"
"Stay out of harm's way."
They both looked to see that Padme had somehow managed to slip from her cuffs and had climbed to the top of her pillar. Neither padawan had the time to contemplate her bravery or resourcefulness. Two angry beasts were converging on them.
The creature with six legs approached Ben. It brought one speared arm up to impale him, bearing sharp jagged teeth. Ben dodged the attack, pulling his chains into the path of the second leg. The animal easily severed the chains, and Ben found himself somewhat free. As another leg came down on him, the padawan dodged away from the pillar. The quick motion sent the arena around him spinning. Reeling from the sudden sense of vertigo, Ben stumbled to the ground, his face grinding into loose gravel and sand. He scrambled to his feet again as a blur of brilliant blue streaked into the creature's path. As the dust settled, Ben saw that Obi-Wan was standing protectively in front of him. The beast attacked, losing two of its legs for its effort. Ben chanced looking away for a moment as his master put the saber blade through the beast's head. He could see that the smallest of the creatures was already dead. Senator Amidala and Anakin were both behind Xanatos as he destroyed the remaining threat. The crowd reacted in an uproar of jeers.
The two Jedi masters moved in tandem, nearing each other, almost as though they had a bond of their own. It was likely they had one born of friendship and brotherhood. They had been trained by and connected to the same master. The group formed one small huddle in the middle of the arena.
"Time to leave," Obi-Wan said.
"I would love to," Xanatos replied. "But, that all seemed a little too easy."
As though on cue, Destroyer droids quickly rolled into the arena, all sitting up and closing a tight circle around the group. The four Jedi all instinctively pushed the young woman between them, the two armed masters taking the outermost positions. Obi-Wan looked at Xanatos, the pair nodding.
"Ben," Obi-Wan said. "Xanatos and I will cover you and Anakin. On our command, you both take the Senator and go, as fast as you can."
"What?!" Anakin voiced in disbelief, echoing Ben's exact thoughts on the suggestion.
"We will be along when we are sure you are safely away," Xanatos added nonchalantly, offering an unrealistic picture of their current situation.
"Yeah right," Anakin barked out, seeing through the false assurance.
"You two probably won't make it until we are out of the arena if all these fire on you," Ben added.
"Have a little more faith in us," Xanatos commented sarcastically, once again masking the gravity of the situation.
"No more arguments," Obi-Wan reprimanded, making eye contact with his apprentice. "This is distinctly an order."
Ben nodded his head, accepting his master's decision. He locked eyes with Anakin. The younger padawan's nostrils flared in anger, his gaze reflecting a certain amount of disgust that Ben would actually comply with such an order. Ben glanced toward Padme, a simple reminder that their mandate was to protect her, even if it claimed all of their lives. The Chosen One's defiance softened somewhat. As they waited for their masters' order, a wave of the Force swept over the arena. Geonosians began to scatter as one by one, lights appeared preceded by the sounds of sabers splitting the air. The four Jedi looked around to see salvation. Hundreds of their brethren approached. Then, battle droids began to pour into the arena.
As a few Jedi charged past, they tossed lightsabers to Ben and Anakin. For both padawans, it felt good to have weapons in hand again, even if the sabers weren't their own. Ben quickly lost sight of Anakin and Xanatos in the clash that ensued. He stayed close to his master as they battled side by side, certain it was Obi-Wan keeping him alive. Master Windu soon joined them, his face steely and focused. It was the first time Ben could actually remember being happy to see that expression.
The arena quickly dissolved into chaos, a maze of blaster fire from droids, as well as that deflected by lightsabers. Geonosians entered the fray, armed with sonic blasters. The concussive blasts of the powerful weapons sent Jedi and droids alike flying, showering the air with dust and debris. There seemed to be no end to the battle droids entering the arena, and the Jedi, their numbers dwindling, were overwhelmed. Ben and Obi-Wan soon found themselves being pushed backward, stumbling over the littered remains of battle droids and the bodies of their fellow Jedi as those that were still alive regrouped. Then, the droids stopped their firing.
The Jedi that remained looked around. They were surrounded, and there were too few, far too few of them left. Ben was glad to see Anakin and Xanatos with Senator Amidala still between them, alive and well. His master bent down, checking the pulse on a nearby comrade, a knight Ben remembered they had shared a joint mission with when he was 15 years old. Obi-Wan nodded his head slowly and sadly.
"Master Windu, you have fought gallantly – worthy of recognition in the Archives of the Jedi Order," Dooku called down from high above the arena. "Now it is finished. Surrender and your lives will be spared."
"We will not be hostages to be bartered Dooku," Master Windu proclaimed.
"Then, I'm sorry, old friend," Dooku said with false pity.
Ben poised his weapon and prepared for the third time in less than an hour to die, when suddenly, Padme said, "Look!"
Ben and Obi-Wan looked up as armored troop carriers, those they remembered from Kamino, began to circle their position, laying down fire on the droids. One landed nearby, and Obi-Wan pushed his apprentice back towards the carrier. As he boarded with Obi-Wan, Xanatos, Anakin, and Senator Amidala, Ben realized that it had all been a set-up. He and his master had set foot on Geonosis, spies who could be tried and executed. Two hundred Jedi were an invasion, their mere presence a declaration of war. It was Dooku's plan all along. The attempt on Senator Amidala's life and Jedi claims of investigation would matter little once word of this attack rallied more systems to Dooku's cause.