Obi-Wan stood behind the pilot's chair of the gunship, looking intently out over the battlefield below them. As far as he could see, hundreds of mechanized transports and untold numbers of troopers and droids engaged in heated battle, as thick smoke filled the darkening sky.
How had it come to this, he thought to himself. He looked down at the hard, metal floor of the gunship, as he held tightly to the railing over his head. His mind drifted back to the blood-stained arena; many of the Jedi who had fallen were his friends, whom he had known all his life. Now they were gone, lost forever on a barren battlefield that should never have existed. He squeezed the railing tightly in his hand, as he felt a wave of anger overtake him. No, he thought to himself; he wouldn't give in to the same evil force that drove Dooku and whatever dark master he served. He closed his eyes, allowing the Force to calm him and drive the dark emotion from his mind.
His mind drifted again, this time to his young padawan. He opened his eyes and looked back out of the cockpit window. There was no longer any doubt as to the decision that Anakin had made, he knew that. He had sensed it, on the battlefield, when Anakin had freed him. Perhaps, Obi-Wan thought to himself, as he turned his eyes back to the floor, it was best this way, after all. Anakin had always been so reckless, so unsettled; perhaps, if he and Padmé truly did love each other, expulsion from the Jedi Order would be a small price to pay if his young friend could, finally, find some peace and happiness in his life. He took a deep, thoughtful breath; he hoped, with all of his heart, that Anakin had been able to find her and that they were both all right.
The ship's pilot suddenly turned his head toward Obi-Wan and called to him. "Sir," he said, as Obi-Wan looked up from the floor at him. "Look here, below us."
Obi-Wan took a step closer to the captain as he brought the ship lower to the sandy landscape and looked out of the cockpit window, to the spot where the captain gestured with his hand. There, in the waning sunlight, Obi-Wan saw a speeder, flanked by two small ships, moving quickly across the landscape, away from the battlefield.
Obi-Wan strained his eyes as he looked at the dark clad figure on the speeder. "That's Dooku," Obi-Wan said, looking intently at the speeder as it's rider's long, black cloak flapped in the wind. "We've got to stop him," he said, turning to the captain. 'Follow him!"
"Yes, sir," the captain replied and, turning the ship quickly, he threw the engines into full throttle, dropping closer to the landscape, as they laid chase to the tiny speeder as it sped off across the landscape.
Padmé pulled back smoothly on the controls, bringing the ship up, as she skimmed just over the top of the rocky outcropping, so close that huge, whirling clouds of sand and dust whipped into the air in their wake as they cleared it and descended quickly into the valley below.
"Miss Padmé," Threepio called nervously from the bench where he sat in the cockpit, "are you sure you wouldn't rather have Artoo pilot the ship?"
"Artoo's busy, Threepio," Padmé said, never taking her eyes from the cockpit window, as she reached over with her right hand and pushed the ship's throttle a little farther forward.
Anakin looked at her with a smile from his position in the copilot's chair. She was an amazingly skilled pilot, and he looked back out of the cockpit window, watching her skim the surface, weaving in and out of the massive stone formations with a grace and beauty that rivaled her own.
Anakin turned his attention to Artoo, who sat at the communications console, his data probe whirling quickly, as he continued to track Obi-Wan's signal. Anakin looked back at the radar display on the ship's console again. There, near the top of the display, he could see Obi-Wan's signal, moving quickly off to the west, away from the valley where the battle raged furiously.
"We're gaining on them," Anakin said, as he reached over and adjusted the scale of the display, narrowing the range.
Padmé smiled and glanced over at him, as she swung the ship hard to the left and around a massive stone formation, causing Threepio to cry out in fear once again. "Of course we are," she said, as she turned the ship toward Obi-Wan's signal on the radar display. "We're lighter and faster then they are."
"It doesn't hurt that we have a better pilot, either," Anakin said with a grin.
"That's a matter of opinion, Master Ani," Threepio said, nervously, as he struggled to keep himself from falling off the padded bench as Padmé maneuvered the ship around another rocky outcropping.
Padmé glanced over her shoulder at Threepio, and then turned and looked at Anakin with a smile, as she pushed the throttle again, the ship's engines pushing them ever faster over the rocky landscape.
Obi-Wan felt the ship rock, hard to the left, as another wave of laser blasts struck the shields from behind.
He knew that, soon, he would be facing Dooku. He remembered the stories that his master, Qui-Gon, had told him about his old master when he was younger. Dooku had been a very powerful Jedi, and it had indeed been a serious loss to the order when Dooku, along with twenty other Jedi Knights, had left so long ago. Now, he thought to himself, he was going to face his former master's teacher, and he would do it alone. For the first time in many years, he felt lost, alone, the same empty feeling that he had experienced when his master Qui-Gon had died. He found himself wishing, again, that Anakin were here with him now.
Obi-Wan turned his attention back to the cockpit window and watched as Dooku's speeder turned quickly and disappeared into what appeared to be a massive hangar in the side of the rocky mountain a good distance ahead of them. He felt the ship rock violently, yet again, as the two small ships behind them fired at their gunship furiously. They had broken away from Dooku earlier, and, having circled behind them, now pursued them at a furious pace.
Obi-Wan turned and looked to his right, as the trooper in the side gunner's position opened fire again at the small ships. "They're too fast," the gunner cried, as he continued to fire at their attackers.
Obi-Wan turned his attention back to the Captain. 'Bring us in fast, and swing as close as you can to that hangar entrance," he said, pointing to the spot where Dooku's speeder had disappeared. "If you can slow down, only for a moment, I think I can clear the distance."
"Yes sir," the captain replied with a nod, and he pushed the ship's throttle hard as he swung the ship quickly toward the hangar's entrance.
Obi-Wan turned quickly, and took hold of the support railing near the left side of the ship. He looked out of the open door, as the hangar's wide landing platform began to loom large as they approached it.
"Get ready, sir," the captain called over his shoulder, as he turned the ship quickly, bringing them in at an angle parallel with the mountain's rocky face. As they neared the platform, he pulled back hard on the throttle and, as the ship slowed quickly, Obi-Wan reached down and took his light saber from his belt. Holding it tightly in his hand, he took a deep breath and, reaching into the Force, he jumped.
The force of his jump, combined with the ship's forward momentum, carried him through the air and well over the landing platform. As the captain punched the gunship's throttle again and turned away back over the valley, Obi-Wan landed midway up the platform and, as his boots hit the ground, he ignited the blade of his saber and ran quickly into the hangar's entrance.
Yoda stood on the deck of the command vehicle, looking out over the valley where the battle continued to rage. From his vantage point, high on the command deck, he could see that the Federation's droid army was dwindling quickly, as the highly trained clone troopers continued to advance, relentlessly.
Yoda turned his eyes away from the battlefield for a moment, his weathered face troubled, thoughtful. Ever mindful of the living Force, Yoda now found himself drawn to Obi-Wan; he stood quietly, as he stretched out with his feelings, as the battle continued to rage around him.
The clone commander who stood nearby turned and approached the diminutive Jedi Master. "Master Yoda," he said, as Yoda looked up thoughtfully at him, "All forward units are advancing. The droid army appears to be in full retreat."
Yoda nodded, thoughtfully. "Very good, commander," he said, and then turned and looked back out over the battlefield for a long moment.
"Bring me my ship," he said, finally, as he turned and looked at the commander once again.
Nodding affirmatively, the commander turned and motioned to several of the troopers who stood nearby.
Count Dooku stood in the dimly lit hangar near his ship, as his droid pilot worked at the console, getting the massive interstellar sail ship ready to return to Coruscant.
He heard the sound of footsteps approaching him from behind and, turning slowly, he looked back over his shoulder towards the entrance of the hangar, just in time to see Obi-Wan run through the massive archway, the brilliant green blade of his lightsaber glowing brightly in the dim light.
"Well, Master Kenobi," Dooku said with a smile, turning to face Obi-Wan as he walked slowly into the hangar. "How nice of you to come and say goodbye."
"You're not going anywhere, Dooku," Obi-Wan said, as he walked slowly toward the center of the hangar, "except back to the Council to answer for what you've done."
"Come now, Master Kenobi," Dooku said with a smile, walking slowly towards the center of the hanger, his long black cloak swirling at his feet as he walked. "Do you really think that you'll be able to take me in?"
Obi-Wan looked at him, coldly, as the two Jedi Knights faced off near the center of the hangar. "I suppose we'll find out," he said, as he raised his lightsaber slowly.
Count Dooku smiled at him for a moment and then, stretching out his hand, a fierce bolt of Force lightning surged from his fingertips across the hangar. Taken by surprise, Obi-Wan swung his blade up quickly; the force of the blast was considerable, and he took a step back, steadying himself, as his blade deflected the massive bolt harmlessly toward the stone wall of the hangar.
"As you can see," Dooku said, as he lowered his hand to his belt, "my Jedi powers are far beyond yours, my friend." He looked at Obi-Wan with a grim expression. "Now," he said, coldly, "back down."
Obi-Wan returned his defiant stare, bringing his saber up beside him. 'I don't think so," he said, firmly, as he wrapped both of his hands tightly around the hilt of his saber.
Count Dooku smiled at him for a moment and then reached under his long black cape and, slowly, produced his lightsaber. He held the smooth, curved shaft of his weapon tightly in his hand, as he walked slowly around Obi-Wan, eyeing him carefully. Then, very smoothly, he ignited his weapon; the brilliant crimson blade hummed loudly as Dooku raised it slowly, in a formal salute, and then turned to face Obi-Wan straight on.
Obi-Wan leapt toward Dooku, bringing his saber around quickly, directly at Dooku's head. Nimbly and efficiently, Dooku stepped quickly to the side, parrying Obi-Wan's strong blow harmlessly to the side.
Nimbly and efficiently, Dooku stepped quickly to the side, parrying Obi-Wan's strong blow harmlessly to the side
Obi-Wan swung his blade, smoothly, in circular fashion, as he pressed his attack on Count Dooku. Each time, as he did, Dooku gracefully dodged and blocked each of his attacks.
Obi-Wan watched him as he fought; Dooku's fighting style was different; he was a swordsman, rather than a Jedi, a master of the old fighting style that the Order had abandoned long ago as being too difficult to master.
He struck out again, hard, as Dooku brought his blade up, catching Obi-Wan's blade, holding it steady in front of him as the two blades crackled and hissed wildly as they opposed each other.
"Come now, Master Kenobi," Count Dooku said, his lips curled into an evil smile. "You disappoint me. Yoda holds you in such high regard."
Obi-Wan dropped his blade, bringing it around, hard, as the Count raised his in reply, driving Obi-Wan's weapon harmlessly toward the hard stone floor. Quickly, Dooku switched to the offensive, bringing his crimson blade up and lunging hard at Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan leapt to the side, barely catching Dooku's lightning quick thrust with his blade, pushing it just far enough away from him that it pierced the edge of his tunic. He stepped back, quickly, panting hard as he fought to regain control of his situation.
Reaching into the Force as strongly as he could, he grit his teeth and, swinging his saber hard, he lunged at the Count, their weapons crashing and flashing brilliantly in the darkness.
"There," Anakin said, as he stood next to Padmé's pilot chair, pointing toward the landing platform in the mountain's face.
Padmé nodded, as she turned the ship hard, making for the platform as quickly as she could. "I see it," she said, as she reached forward and pulled back on the throttle, slowing the ship as she made a quick descent to the landing platform at the hangar's entrance.
Anakin closed his eyes, reaching into the Force; he could sense his master's familiar tremor in the Force now, as they neared the hangar. He could also tell that Obi-Wan was fighting, fighting hard, harder than Anakin had ever sensed when he and his master had fought together before.
"Hurry, Padmé," Anakin said, opening his eyes again, looking at her, his face troubled, worried. "He's in trouble."
Padmé reached over and punched the landing thrusters, and the small ship's graceful landing gear unfolded quickly. Just as it opened fully, Padmé cut the engines and dropped the ship the last several feet onto the platform, and then reached over and punched the button on the console that opened the rear entry hatch to the ship.
She turned and looked at Anakin, gazing into his eyes, as he reached to his belt and took his weapon tightly in his hand. "Go," she said, softly. "I'll catch up."
Anakin looked at her for just a moment, and then, quickly he turned and ran down the ramp.
Padmé stood up from her seat in the pilot's chair, and, as she went quickly to retrieve her weapon from the bench behind her, she watched, her heart aching again, as Anakin ran quickly down the landing platform and disappeared into the hangar's dark entrance.
She turned to Artoo, as he sat at the communications console. "Artoo," she said, her expression determined, "take the pilot's station. We may need to get out of here in a hurry."
Artoo whistled in reply, as, turning quickly, Padmé turned and ran down the ramp toward the hangar, her blaster swinging in her hand as she ran.
Obi-Wan took a deep breath and, with all of his might, he struck out, hard at Count Dooku. He brought his blade down, again and again, as the Count stepped quickly backwards, away from him, as he blocked each of Obi-Wan's thrusts.
Suddenly, Dooku swung his blade and, pressing Obi-Wan offensively, he unleashed a new fury of blows at the Jedi Knight. Thrusting furiously, Dooku began to step quickly toward Obi-Wan, his blade flashing brightly, as he drove Obi-Wan back across the hangar, toward his ship.
Obi-Wan fought furiously, as, with all of his might, he worked to deflect each of the Count's angry thrusts; he was growing tired, and each blow that he blocked left him weaker and weaker.
Dooku swung his blade hard, and Obi-Wan caught it with his own, as Dooku pressed his blade slowly down and toward the floor. Then, with a lightning quick thrust, Dooku lifted his blade and brought up and around, directly into Obi-Wan's right shoulder.
Obi-Wan cried out in pain as he stumbled backwards, instinctively reaching around with his left hand to his wounded shoulder. As he did, Dooku thrust forward, hard and fast, driving the point of his blade into Obi-Wan's right thigh.
With another cry of pain, Obi-Wan collapsed onto the cold, hard floor, his weapon rolling across the hangar as its blade disappeared into the handle.
The pain that coursed through his leg and shoulder was unbearable; his head swimming with pain, Obi-Wan grasped his leg with his wounded arm, as he struggled to find his bearings. Desperately, he reached into the Force, trying to calm himself; his eyes searched the cold, stone floor anxiously, trying to find his Jedi weapon. He caught sight of a flash of silver, lying several yards away. If he could only retrieve his weapon, he thought, he might still have a chance.
Dooku's swirling black cloak suddenly filled his field of view, and he looked up; the Count stood over him, the brilliant red blade of his light saber casting a crimson glow to his weathered face as he studied the fallen Jedi with a look of disdain and disappointment.
"As I said, Master Kenobi," Dooku gloated, bringing the humming blade of his saber within inches of Obi-Wan's face, "I expected more of you."
Obi-Wan drew his head back, as best he could, as the crimson blade hummed just an inch or two from his face. He was out of options; he had always known that this day could come, but now the cold reality of his own death began to sink in. He felt the same despair that had overtaken him years ago dog him, the cold, empty feeling he had endured when held his own dying master in his arms. He tried to calm himself again, but the cold reality of what was about to happen was sinking in; he was about to die.
Obi-Wan looked up at Dooku's face. His cold, vengeful eyes stared down at him, and Obi-Wan felt a sense of utter hopelessness overtake him as he watched the Sith Lord slowly raise his light saber high over his head. Obi-Wan closed his eyes, and steeled himself for what he knew was about to come. Dooku brought his saber down quickly, directly at Obi-Wan's exposed neck.
Suddenly, from out of nowhere, a brilliant blue blade of light appeared, stopping his thrust cold as the two blades hissed and crackled loudly, contacting each other in violent opposition.
Obi-Wan opened his eyes and followed the glowing blue blade to its owner. Anakin stood directly over him; on his face was a look of grim determination, as he stared directly into Dooku's astonished face.
"Well, well," Dooku said, slowly, his blade still held at bay by the young Jedi. "Very brave of you, my boy." He paused, his eyes flashing angrily in the dim light. "Foolish, but brave."
Dooku heard footsteps approaching. He turned and looked over his shoulder, toward the entrance to the hangar and, to his amazement, he saw a familiar figure run through the narrow passageway and stop near the entrance. Breathing heavily, Padmé lowered her blaster to her side as she stopped just inside, and she stared coldly at the Sith as he stood, perplexed, his blade still crackling wildly in contact with Anakin's.
Dooku turned and eyed the young Jedi warily, a sinister, yet surprised smile on his face. "I thought I'd seen the last of both of you," he said, coldly.
"You'll find we're both full of surprises," Anakin replied with a sarcastic smile.
Dooku smiled at him politely, and then, suddenly, swung his saber up and thrust it toward Anakin with all his might. Swiftly and smoothly, Anakin took a quick step backwards, and deflected the Count's blade. Instantly, he struck back, fiercely, taking a step forward and pushing Dooku's blade away from himself and Obi-Wan. His lightsaber flashed in smooth, circular motions as he pressed the Count offensively, driving him back from his fallen master.
Dooku was caught completely off guard by the ferocity of the young Jedi's attack; indeed, he found himself caught off balance, and surprised, as Anakin's brilliant blue blade struck at him quickly and fiercely, again and again. Dooku reached into the Dark side with all of his might, as he summoned the strength that he needed to deflect Anakin's attack. Padmé watched, tensely, for a moment, as Anakin drove the Count back and away from Obi-Wan. As soon as Obi-Wan was clear of the flashing blades, Padmé ran as quickly as she could to his side.
Obi-Wan looked up at her, bewildered and surprised. "Come on," she said, as she knelt beside him, and took hold of his shoulders. "We've got to get you out of here." She lifted with all of her might, as she tried to help Anakin's fallen mentor to his feet. Obi-Wan winced as Padmé helped him stand up, and he put his unwounded arm around her shoulders as she helped steady him.
Obi-Wan looked up and watched as Anakin spun quickly and deflected yet another of Dooku's attacks. "We've got to help him," Obi-Wan said, desperately. Padmé turned and watched as her young husband's blade flashed quickly, repelling the Count's advances, and then struck back, over and over.
Back in the center of the hangar, Dooku took another step backward as he blocked yet another of Anakin's strikes. His blade crackled and flashed again, as he held the young Jedi at bay. "You have unusual powers, young padawan," he said, breathing heavily, as he eyed Anakin's determined expression. "But they'll not be enough to save you, or your precious senator this time."
"I wouldn't bet on it," Anakin replied, coldly, his eyes flashing as he spoke. With a strong push, he shoved Dooku's crimson blade toward the stone floor, and the swung his own up quickly, first left and then right, as the Count stepped backwards and parried his attack.
As he leaned on Padmé's shoulders, Obi-Wan tried desperately to fight off the searing pain that coursed through his leg and arm. He reached into the Force with all of his might, focusing his attention on his saber that lay on the floor a short distance from where Anakin and Dooku fought.
Padmé caught a glimpse of movement on the floor, and she saw the hilt of Obi-Wan's saber flash as it began to move slowly toward them. It bounced and skittered for a short distance, and then it suddenly leapt from the floor and flew through the air toward them, directly at her. "Catch it, quickly," Obi-Wan instructed her as the smoothly polished tube flew through the air towards her. She stretched out her hand instinctively and snatched it from the air, just inches from her head.
The pain in Obi-Wan's leg and shoulder was excruciating, and, unable to stand any longer, he let himself begin to drop back to the cold stone floor. Padmé helped him, as best she could, and then knelt beside him as he looked up at her. Obi-Wan nodded across the hangar toward Anakin, and then looked back up at her. "Throw it to him," he said, his eyes focusing on the weapon she held in her hand.
Padmé stood up and turned her attention back to Anakin. She reached back over her shoulder, steadying herself. "Anakin!" she cried loudly, and then threw the saber toward him with all of her might.
As Obi-Wan's weapon flew towards him in a slow, high arc, Anakin's senses instantly focused on her voice; with one smooth motion, he swung his saber hard at Dooku, driving him back, and then he spun quickly toward her, stretched out his left hand and snatched the spinning saber from the air. In an instant, he ignited the brilliant green blade of his master's weapon and swung it back into Dooku's crimson blade as it lunged toward him.
Dooku turned his eyes back across the hangar, and regarded the young woman who stood next to Obi-Wan with contempt. "You've developed a bad habit, senator," he said, angrily. "This will be the last time you interfere with our business, I assure you. I'll deal with you soon enough."
Dooku's words struck him to the core of his being. With all of his might, Anakin reached into the Force and focused his mind on Padmé, allowing his love for her to flow through him. Hate, anger, frustration; they all disappeared as he allowed those warm feelings to overtake him, just as their darker counterparts had overtaken him in the tent on Tatooine, the night his mother had died. With a surge of energy, Anakin spun the saber in his right hand quickly, bringing its blue blade crashing into the other two fiercely.
Surprised, Dooku turned his attention back toward Anakin, and he saw the fierce look of determination that flashed in the young Jedi's eyes. "You will do nothing of the kind," he said, his voice echoing through the hangar as he spoke. "You stay away from her."
Obi-Wan heard Padmé gasp; turning his attention from Anakin to where she stood near him, he saw her stumble backward, and then drop to her knees beside him. He reached out and grabbed her by the arm as she did so, attempting to break her fall. "Padmé," he called, openly concerned. "Are you all right?"
Padmé tossed her head back, her eyes shut tightly, and she took another long, deep breath; the powerful sensation that overtook her was overwhelming. Instantly, she knew it was Anakin. She could feel him, touch him almost, as she was suddenly overtaken by an incredible surge of pure power. "I don't know," she said, as her breath came in short gasps, and she steadied herself with her hand as Obi-Wan held onto her. She looked up and watched as her young husband's lightsabers begin to whirl and flash brightly, crashing against the weathered Sith Lord's crimson blade over and over again. As he fought, she could feel his every move, sense his actions, almost as if she were fighting with him. She closed her eyes and reached out to him, allowing the intense feeling of love and devotion that she felt overcome her to flow back to him.
Obi-Wan turned his attention back toward his young apprentice. He had seen Anakin fight many times in the past; always before, he had seemed unsure of himself, seeming to rely more on his own abilities than the Force. But now, something was different. Obi-Wan watched, in utter amazement, as Anakin's weapons whirled in perfect symmetry in response to Dooku's attacks. With a smooth, fluid motion, he blocked each parry that the Count offered, and then countered in like fashion, his two weapons moving in concert with each other. These weren't the movements of an angry, unsure young padawan; Anakin now fought with the grace and speed of a Jedi master far beyond his years.
Obi-Wan turned and looked back to where Padmé knelt beside him. He watched her, mesmerized; she knelt there, trembling quietly, on the hard hangar floor, her breath still coming in short, ragged gasps. Her blaster lay discarded on the floor beside her, and her eyes were closed as she lowered her head slowly to her chest. She held herself tightly, her arms crossed over her chest, and her lips moved slowly, yet he heard nothing. Obi-Wan closed his eyes and stretched his feelings out toward her, attempting to sense what it was that seemed to hold her.
What he felt shocked him; he felt Padmé's familiar presence as he reached into the Force, touching the life energy that flowed through her. Yet there, with hers, was an unmistakable presence; it was Anakin, as surely as if he had reached into Anakin's energy alone, yet far stronger than anything he had sensed in the past. The two of them were one, joined so tightly that he had difficulty telling one from the other. He opened his eyes in astonished amazement, turning back to look at Anakin as he continued to fight fiercely in the center of the hangar.
Dooku's breathing came heavy now; never before had he encountered such an attack. He found himself deflecting blow after blow, as Anakin continued to drive him farther and farther across the hangar's cold floor. As he brought his blade up to deflect yet another strike, he caught sight of Anakin's determined expression, as the glowing blue blade he held in his right hand illuminated his face in the darkness. Was it possible, he thought to himself? How could it be that he, a Jedi master of so many years, now found himself outmatched by one such as this?
With all of the strength of the Dark Side that he could muster, Dooku blocked yet another of Anakin's attacks, and stretched out his hand toward a small storage container that sat near the base of his ship. With all of his might, he lifted the container into the air and sent it sailing towards Anakin from behind.
"Anakin, behind you!" Obi-Wan called out, as the container approached him. Reaching into the force, Anakin parried yet another of the Count's attacks and then, in one fluid motion, leapt straight into the air, allowing the container to pass harmlessly beneath him, as he cartwheeled headlong through the air and landed securely on his feet. As he did, he brought his blades up, crossed them, and caught Dooku's saber neatly between the two, sparks flashing, as the Count lunged at the young Jedi.
Dooku was running out of options; no matter what he tried, the young Jedi before him countered his every move with amazing speed. He struggled to keep his footing, deflecting blow after blow from the two blades that whirled around him. He realized, in utter shock and amazement, that the young padawan before him would, if given enough time, defeat and destroy him.
As quickly as he could, Dooku deflected another of Anakin's attacks, and his hand went quickly to a small device on his belt. He pressed a button on the side, and a small red light began to flash brightly.
From the rear of Dooku's ship, a small, round probe appeared, hovering in midair, the dim light reflecting off of its smooth, black surface as it made its way slowly down the entry ramp. Its scanners searching the hangar, as it paused for a moment near the base of the ramp and turned slowly toward the spot where Dooku and Anakin fought. Slowly, two small metal tangs emerged from the front of the spherical probe, and a spark of electricity arced between them. Directly below, a small cylinder protruded, and, at its tip, a sharp claw-like device exposed itself.
Obi-Wan saw the probe, only for an instant, as it suddenly surged with lightning speed toward the spot where Anakin continued to press his attack on Count Dooku. "Anakin!" he cried, as he watched the probe move with incredible speed toward his young apprentice. As she heard Obi-Wan's alarmed cry, Padmé opened her eyes and looked across the hangar, just in time to see the probe strike Anakin with considerable force.
Anakin felt an incredible shock as the probe struck him squarely between the shoulders, the sharp needle-like claw embedding itself deep in his flesh. The probe was heavy, and the device struck him hard, driving him forward a step or two, and, as it did, a field of blue electricity arced across his body, sending him to his knees almost immediately. He cried out in pain as he felt his muscles begin to convulse violently. The probe held him there for a moment, as the small cylinder embedded in his back began to turn a crimson red as it filled itself with his blood. Its work complete, the probe withdrew, and Anakin fell backwards onto the cold stone floor, his weapons rattling to the floor beside him.
Dooku stumbled backwards, breathing heavily, and extinguished the blade of his lightsaber. He reached, deeply, back into the Dark Side, trying desperately to regain his strength. He pressed the button on the device on his belt once again, and, as quickly as it had appeared, the small probe turned and disappeared back up the entrance ramp into his ship.
Still breathing heavily, Dooku took a step toward Anakin and eyed him warily as he lay, stunned and helpless, on the cold, hard floor. Anakin grimaced in pain, trying desperately to regain control of his body, as he turned and looked toward the place where his weapon lay quietly, just out of his reach.
"Well fought, my young Jedi," Dooku said coldly, looking down at Anakin as he struggled to extend his hand toward his weapon. "Well fought, indeed." He walked slowly toward the place where Anakin's weapon lay quietly and, with a smooth motion, caught it with his boot and kicked it clear of his outstretched hand. "It is indeed a pity that you have chosen the wrong path," he said, a grim smile returning to his face. As he smiled, he touched the igniter on his saber, and its crimson blade blazed to life once again.
"Nooo!" Padmé cried in agony, leaping to her feet. She knew what Dooku intended, and she took several steps toward Anakin as the Count turned to face her. "Stay away from him!" she screamed, angrily, as she turned her eyes to where her beloved husband lay defenseless, writhing in pain, on the hard hangar floor.
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed through the hangar; through the tears that welled up in her eyes, Padmé turned and looked back to the hangar's entrance; there, in the light that shown through the passageway, a small shadow approached.
Dooku turned again and followed her agonized gaze to the hangar's entrance. There, slowly and methodically, Yoda stepped out of the shadows and into the dim light, then stopped and stood quietly, placing his hands on his small cane. "Count Dooku," he said gruffly, as the exhausted Sith Lord turned to see his old master enter the hangar.
"Master Yoda," Dooku said, his eyes wide with surprise. He extinguished the blade of his lightsaber and returned it to his belt. Padmé watched as, slowly, he turned and walked away from Anakin, and toward the place where the aged Jedi stood.
Seeing that Dooku was now distracted, Padmé quietly, but quickly started to make her way across the hangar floor towards Anakin. As she reached him, she dropped to her knees behind him, placing her hands under his shoulders. With all of her strength, she lifted him up and pulled him into her lap, holding him tightly. "Anakin," she said, softly, "Anakin, are you all right?"
Anakin grimaced in pain as he lifted himself, with Padmé's help, up onto his elbows, and then placed his hand tightly over hers, as she wrapped her arms around his chest tightly. "I think so," he said, with a grimace of pain, and then looked across the hangar to where Dooku stood defiantly.
"You have interfered with our plans for the last time," Dooku said, turning to face his old master. His eyes searched the hangar, and a cruel smile spread across his face as he spotted the large power coupling on the hangar wall, directly across from where Yoda stood. Reaching into the Dark Side, Dooku stretched his hand out toward the heavy equipment and, with a loud creak and moan, ripped it free of its moorings and sent it flying across the hangar towards the tiny Jedi master.
Instantly, Yoda dropped his cane to the floor of the hangar. Reaching into the Force with a mighty effort, he caught the massive projectile only meters away, and then, with a strong push of his hands, sent it crashing harmlessly into a nearby wall.
Dooku looked up, and, gesturing with his outstretched hand, reached into the Force again. High above him, Yoda heard the massive stone ceiling of the hangar begin to crack and moan as, suddenly, a large section tore itself loose and began to fall toward him. Again, Yoda reached out with his tiny hands and, as before, caught the massive projectiles in midair, and sent them flying harmlessly toward the hangar walls.
Yoda took a deep breath, and regarded the aging, grey-haired Jedi with a wary eye. "Powerful you have become, Dooku," he said, slowly. "The Dark Side I sense in you."
"I have become more powerful than any Jedi," Dooku replied, as he stretched his arm out toward his former master. "Even more powerful than you." As he spoke, a large, brilliant bolt of Force lightning burst forth from his outstretched fingertips and crossed the hangar with incredible speed.
Instantly, Yoda raised his hand, as the bright blue bolt struck his open palm. He cringed, yet only slightly, as through the Force, he absorbed the massive energy and then, with a strong push, sent it flying back at his foe. Dooku raised his hand, deflecting the bolt upwards and into the massive stone ceiling, sending sparks and shards of the dark brown stone in all directions.
Openly frustrated, Dooku reached deeply into the Dark Side, and, summoning another large bolt of Force lightning, stretched out his hand toward his former master again. With a brilliant flash, the massive bolt flew across the hangar, striking the diminutive Jedi master's palm. As before, yet with much less effort, Yoda absorbed the massive energy, yet this time, he simply allowed the energy to dissipate back into the Force from which it had come, a feat of Force mastery that few could accomplish.
Taking a deep breath, Yoda eyed his former student with a knowing smile. "Much you still have to learn, my old padawan," he said.
Dooku smiled politely, and then reached for the saber that hung at his side. "It's obvious that this contest cannot be decided by our knowledge of the Force," he said, bringing his saber up to his face in a formal salute, "but rather, by our skills with a lightsaber."
Smoothly, Yoda reached beneath his tunic and produced a small, silver hilt, and, touching its igniter, the brilliant, emerald green blade of his tiny saber burst forth. He brought it to his side, wrapping both of his tiny hands securely around it, and regarded his foe defiantly. With the formalities officially over, Dooku leapt forth furiously and unleashed a saber thrust toward the tiny Jedi master.
It never came close to its mark; Anakin and Padmé watched, in utter amazement, as, almost effortlessly, Yoda turned his attacker's crimson blade aside. Infuriated and angry, Dooku unleashed an amazing flurry of blows. Striking with incredible speed and accuracy, he rained blows down on his former master with a speed that surpassed even the attack that Anakin had unleashed on him earlier. Again, Yoda deflected each blow, almost effortlessly, as he barely seemed to move; his precision movements, measured and accurate, simply turned each and every strike of the Sith Lord's crimson blade harmlessly aside.
Over and over, Count Dooku pressed his attack, and they watched as, each time, the tiny Jedi master simply pushed his blade away, seeming almost to absorb the energy with which Dooku fought; the harder Dooku tried to destroy him, the more it seemed that Yoda turned his efforts into futility.
As Padmé held him tightly, Anakin watched as, suddenly, Master Yoda cried out loudly and then, with a speed that he had never seen before, Yoda's tiny green blade began to spin wildly, each blow crashing against Dooku's brilliant crimson blade with amazing force. Dooku immediately went on the defensive, swinging his blade wildly as he tried to intercept the attacks, as Yoda cartwheeled around him in a circular motion, striking at him again and again. With a speed that was totally out of character for the tiny Jedi, who normally seemed to rely on his cane for tasks as simple as walking, he leapt all around his foe, back and forth, above and below, his saber striking with amazing fury. Dooku's blade seemed to strike wildly in all directions, as he worked to defend himself, to stay the massive attack of his old master.
Dooku struck out with his saber, directly overhead, as Yoda cartwheeled over him from behind, and landed on his feet directly in front of the weathered Count. As Dooku brought his blade down hard, Yoda stopped it clean with his own, and the two of them locked tightly in a battle of strength. As he held his opponent's blade securely at bay, Yoda regarded his foe with a wary eye. "Fought well, you have, my old padawan," he said, as he held off Dooku's attack.
Dooku pushed with all of his might against Yoda's blade, mustering all of his strength to do so. It was obvious to him now that he could not defeat his former master. If he were to live another day, he realized, he would have to end this contest, and quickly. His strength was waning fast; his battle with Anakin had drained him, and he knew that there was no way that he could defeat his former master in his current condition.
"This is only the beginning," Dooku said, a cold, defiant expression on his weathered face. He turned his attention to the large loading crane that stood in the center of the hangar. Stretching his free hand out toward it, he reached into the Dark Side with all of the strength that he had left and crushed the large metal footing that held the crane in place. With a strong Force push, he sent the crane slowly toppling toward the spot where Anakin and Padmé lay on the hangar floor.
"Anakin," Padmé said, quietly, as she looked up and saw the massive crane heading toward them. She knew that there was no way that they could move in time, as the force with which Dooku has sent it toward them was considerable. She lowered her head, wrapping her arms as tightly around Anakin as she could, and buried her face in his shoulder. "I love you," she said softly, as she felt him wrap his arm around hers tightly.
Anakin wasn't ready to give up, not now. They had been through too much together, come too far. He looked up at the crane as it fell toward them, and stretched out his free arm toward it, reaching into the Force with all of his might. Instantly, he felt the massive size and weight of the huge structure on him, and he grimaced as he attempted to hold it in the Force. "It's too heavy," he said, softly, a sense of despair slowly overtaking him.
Too heavy for him, perhaps... but not for Yoda.
Sensing Anakin's attempt to hold the crane, Yoda immediately pushed Dooku back with amazing force, sending him stumbling backwards against the hangar wall. In one smooth motion, he extinguished the blade of his saber, returned it to his belt, and stretched his hands out toward the falling crane.
Anakin felt the weight of the massive crane disappear, and he opened his eyes and looked up, just in time to see the enormous structure stop in midair, only about two meters above the spot where he and Padmé lay on the hangar floor. He squeezed Padmé's arm tightly, and she opened her eyes and looked up, just in time to see the massive structure float gently away from them and then, settle slowly toward the hangar floor.
Yoda took a deep breath and opened his eyes, exhaling slowly, as he allowed the Force energy with which he had stopped the falling structure to slowly subside. He turned and looked over his shoulder as, with a roar of the crafts engines, Dooku's ship lifted into the air and quickly left the hangar and took off into the orange, cloud strewn sky.
Taking a deep, pensive breath, he reached his hand out toward his cane and, as it lifted from the floor and flew to his hand, he started to walk slowly across the hangar toward them.
Across the hangar, Obi-Wan lifted himself slowly and painfully to his feet, as he reached over and held his wounded arm tightly. As best he could, he started to limp slowly across the hanger to the spot where Anakin and Padmé were.
The effects of the probe's stun were wearing off now, and Padmé stood up slowly. Gently placing her arms under Anakin's, she carefully helped him to his feet and quickly wrapped her arm tightly around his waist as he placed his arm over her shoulders. "Are you okay?" she asked, not attempting to conceal the worried tone in her voice.
Anakin nodded his head. "Yes," he replied softly, and then he turned, slowly and painfully, and took her into his arms, holding her tightly.
Padmé clung to him as tightly as she could, kissing him gently on the cheek as he wrapped his strong arms around her. She opened her eyes, just in time to see Obi-Wan hobble across the hangar to where they stood. "Anakin," she whispered softly, giving him a gentle squeeze. He looked down at her, and she nodded over his shoulder with a soft smile, and together, they both turned toward Obi-Wan.
"Are you two alright?" Obi-Wan asked as he hobbled painfully and slowly to where they stood together.
"Yes, Master," Anakin nodded, his breathing still coming slow and heavy as he tried to shake off the probe's residual energy. Padmé held tightly to him, her arm around his waist. "We're fine," he said, as he watched his wounded master approach him, slowly and painfully. "How are you, master?" he asked, as he reached out with his hand, taking Obi-Wan gently by the arm, steadying him as he stumbled slightly.
"I've been better," Obi-Wan replied with a painful smile. "But I'll be all right." He looked up and regarded his young padawan with pride. "Thanks to you," he said with a quiet smile.
Anakin returned his smile, and Obi-Wan placed his hand on Anakin's shoulder and squeezed it gently, as Master Yoda stepped up next to them, and regarded the three of them with keen interest.
"Master Obi-Wan," Yoda said, resting his hands on his cane, "medical attention you need." He quickly examined the angry wounds on his arm and thigh. "Treat those soon, we must, or worse they will become."
"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan replied with a nod, as Yoda turned his attention to the young couple that stood beside him. He regarded Padmé and Anakin for a long moment, as the two of them stood quietly before him, holding each other tightly in their arms.
After a moment, he turned his attention to Padmé. "Senator," Yoda asked, quietly, "safe and uninjured you are, I trust?"
"Yes, Master Yoda," Padmé replied with a nod.
"And you, young Skywalker?" he asked, turning an inquisitive face to Anakin.
"Yes, Master," he replied quietly. "I'll be fine."
"Hmmm," Yoda replied with a quiet nod, and then looked back to Anakin and Padmé as they stood quietly in front of him. "Much to discuss, we have," he said, and then turned his inquisitive face to them both. "Wouldn't you agree?'
Obi-Wan watched as Anakin took a long, deep breath, and then turned and looked back at Padmé. He smiled softly at her, gently squeezing her shoulders tightly as he looked into her beautiful eyes. "Yes," he said softly, and then turned his face back to Yoda. "Yes, Master," he replied. "Yes we do."
Yoda nodded slowly, and then turned toward the hangar's entrance. "This way, then," he said, as he started towards the entrance. "A ship waits for us."
Together, the three of them followed Yoda back through the entrance of the hangar and onto the small Naboo cruiser. As the entry ramp closed behind them, Artoo fired the engines and, with a blast of dust and heat from the thrusters, they lifted into the air, and headed back towards the command post.
Our story continues shortly!...