Chapter 8: Fear

"I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain."

~ Frank Herbert, Dune

Fury Class Interceptor, "Salvation": 3641 BBY (12 ATC)

The vacation had been well deserved and far shorter than anyone would have liked. While entering the Salvation again felt like coming home, it now felt a bit different. While Vette and Jaesa teamed up to prep the ship, Medria and Malavai moved him into their room. It was a little strange. For so long, it was only her in this room, with rare occasions of Vette sleeping over in it or the very rare times Malavai fell asleep next to her while they were talking late at night. But now… it felt cozy. The large room now had two small desks, one for her and one for him so they could work privately away from the chaos of their crew. In one corner, they kept her meditation pillow, and nearby there was a reader chair for Malavai to be able to relax and read his holojournals before bed. His items were now joined with hers on the shelves, and the bathroom had both of their belongings on the counter on either side of the sink. It now looked like he had always been there—a perfect mix of his and hers and theirs. Medria looked around, satisfied, before she flopped onto their bed with a content sigh.

"Hmmm, I think I'll keep you. These sheets you chose are absolutely divine." She hummed, her legs rubbing against the silky sheets in content. She didn't even know sheets could be so soft.

"Oh? Is that all I'm good for?" He asked, crawling onto the bed after her with a smile. She grinned as he slowly crawled over her until she was practically pinned to the bed.

"Well…" she drew it out, acting like she was thinking hard. "These are very nice sheets…"

Malavai's eyebrow raised as he nodded, leaning in closer until his nose was just hairs away from her. Her breath caught in her throat, waiting so close. Her eyes looked down to those perfect lips before looking back up at his deep blue eyes. But the moment kept dragging out, longer and longer. She was practically squirming under him.

"Malavai-" She whispered.

"Yes?" She could feel his breath mingle with her, and it made her long more.

"Are you going to kiss me or not?" She finally asked.

"Hmmm… I'm afraid I'm no good at that, only getting sheets."

Medria pulled back, mouth agape. He smirked down at her, so she tried to lunge forward to kiss him instead, but he jumped back.

"Fine, Fine, you are very good at kissing too." She laughed, going after him. He dodged out of the way, avoiding her as she chased him around the room. They zigged and zagged around the room, Malavai running around the furniture to put distance between them, laughing as she half-heartedly chased after him. She finally managed to pin him down on the bed by sitting on his hips and staring down at him.

"What else? What else am I good for?" he asked, placing his warm hands on her hips.

"Do you want me to list every little thing?" She asked.

"Hmmm… That would be nice."

"Would it? Well… you're good at choosing sheets and kissing, and that thing you do to me…"

"Oh? That thing?"

"Yeah," She ran her hands up his arms, "and you're good at medicine and keeping the rest of the crew and me alive. You're a great pilot-"

"OH! I've got to get to the cockpit." He shifted her off him and quickly pulled on his uniform jacket.

"What?" She sat on the bed, staring at him in utter confusion. She was so sure they were going to break in the sheets together.

"I'm sorry, my love, but I do not trust anyone to be flying us out of Dromund Kaas safely without getting cited by planetary security. If it were any other planet, I might trust your apprentice and Vette, but not here. " He leaned down and gave her a quick kiss before rushing out of the room. Medria groaned loudly before dropping back on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

"No, no, absolutely not!" she heard her husband's voice carrying from the cockpit. "What speed do you think we should be going?- That is NOT an acceptable speed. Are you trying to get us cited, or are you planning on killing us in a great explosion! Dear Emperor! Vette! What do you think you're doing! Gears UP!"

She laid there and listened to her family's commotion about the ship. Yes, Nathem manor was home for her, but this, this was something truly special.

However, there was something itching in the back of her mind and sinking into her stomach. She could feel the force trying to say something, though she didn't know what. It didn't take long until they were in orbit for Vette to knock on the door.

"You decent?"

"Come in, Vette," Medria called. Slowly her Twi'lek sister poked her head in. Medria leaned her head back off the edge of the bed to look at the door.

"Hey, His Scariness is calling on holo." She said softly so no one else would hear. Medria nodded and rolled off the bed. With a few short strides, she was at the door.

"Thank you for getting me, shall we?" Medria gestured towards the holo terminal where the rest of the crew was waiting. They walked forward to join everyone else, and Medria took a deep breath, sparing a moment to glance at everyone. Quinn was restlessly adjusting his uniform, smoothing out any invisible wrinkles. He caught her eyes and nodded, falling into attention for the call. She answered the holo and looked up at the image of her master.

"Apprentice, it is customary to bow when in the presence of a member of the dark counsel," He stated, the undercurrent of an order in his tone.

"Yes, my master" She dropped to a knee and lowered her head. She could feel Vette moving beside her, and quickly Medria moved her hand subtly to signal for her to be still. The younger girl froze where she was and remained quiet.

"Rise, my faithful servant," She stood and looked up at him. Thoughts started to creep up in her head, but she quickly squashed them down. But she did find herself more uneasy. "We are at war. The Dark Council has placed me in charge, and battles are being waged across the galaxy. You and Lord Draahg will oversee the most crucial confrontations. Draahg is already deployed, and now I shall unleash you."

"Whatever it takes, master. I will win this war for the Empire." She vowed.

"Our task will be much more difficult if you fall, my apprentice. We've caught wind of a secret plot that threatens to undermine the advantage you helped deliver on the planet Quesh. The conflict for resources on Quesh remains the most important of the fringe systems. The republic must not succeed."

"Give me the details of this plot." She requested, feeling the force pull more at her.

"Commander Ollien will brief you. He awaits your arrival at the forward command center on Quesh. I find myself nostalgic sending my most prized apprentice off to war. This is the culmination of everything we've done."

She paused. It was unusual for her master to be sentimental. Even when she became a Lord and had her own apprentice, her master wasn't a sentimental person.

"The poignancy of this moment is not lost on me, master," She said, smiling softly. It was strange… poignancy was not the word she wanted to use, but it did seem to be the one the force wanted her to use.

"Poignancy. You've hit on the perfect word to describe where we are, my friend. I bid you farewell."

The holo went dark, and the silence filled the chamber. While it wasn't uncommon for momentary silence to collect thoughts after Lord Baras gave their lord her next mission, it was odd that nothing happened for so long. The rest of the crew shared looks glancing at each other and their lord, waiting for her next instruction, but she just stood there. Her hands were pressed against the outer edge of the holo, and a crease formed on her brow. He knew that look so well, concerned and deep in thought.

"My Lord?" He finally spoke up after Vette nudged him to do so. Her eyes snapped up to him, and she momentarily looked surprised, as if she had forgotten where she was entirely.

"Captain," her voice was soft as she blinked carefully. She gathered herself and straightened. "Make course for Quesh."

She gave the order. He sighed, slightly relieved, and bowed. The crew immediately dispersed to do their daily tasks as he went to set their flight towards the horrid planet. Once they were in hyperdrive, he gave the watch to Vette, whom he trusted, to his remaining surprise, more than the other members of the crew, so long as it wasn't exiting the capital planet, of course.

As he exited the cockpit, he was surprised to see his love still standing in the same spot at the holo terminal, eyes unseeing. To his relief, the crew wasn't around, so he approached her slowly, with no sudden movements that would startle her until he was by her side. Her head snapped up so quickly he was startled.

"I need to meditate." her voice broke through the silence of the room. He was quiet for a moment. Meditation meant that there was something going on that she wasn't sure how to deal with.

"Do you wish to speak about it first, my love?" He asked, making sure she knew he was asking as her husband, not the captain under her command. She smiled sadly at him, placing a hand on his cheek, and shook her head.

"No, not really. Something just… doesn't feel right, but I'm not sure yet. Meditation will open up the path for me. Besides, you're here to keep me safe while I'm exposed." She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "I shouldn't be long."

He watched as she sauntered off to their chambers, and the door closed behind her. She hated meditation. Passionately. He was the only one she confided in about what happened during meditations and why she avoided them. Most sith would simply draw on their anger and hate in meditation; she was one of the few who would converse with the force, meld its will with her own. She did not bind it in chains like the sith, nor did she bow to its will like the jedi. Wholly unique.

He sat quietly, reading through the crew logs and mission logs in the common area. As abnormal as the crew was for a military ship, he had to give his lord credit where it was due. They worked amazingly well together. Each mission was a success. As normal, he filtered through the mail destined for "the crew of the Salvation" or "Lord Nathem and company ." Many were letters from people they passed, military officials, government officials, and peoples of power praising their efforts for the Empire. His lord was only a titled Sith Lord for a few months, but people already knew her name throughout the Empire. He was filled with pride. He never thought he'd get off Balmora, let alone work for an accomplished Sith whom he married. His life was good and plentiful.

A scream erupted from their chambers. He immediately jumped to action, datapad dropping to the floor as he sprinted across the common area. He could hear the others clamoring out of the rooms they were in, but he paid them no mind as he rushed into his chambers.

Medria was on the floor at her meditation mat, convulsing. Her limbs flung around as she thrashed, screaming at the top of her lungs. The room was filling with pressure and electricity. He dropped to the floor next to her and grabbed her arms, trying to hold them down.

"My Lord, snap out of it. Wake up," he shouted at her, trying to hold her tight in his arms. He could feel the hair on his arms rise as small shocks traveled through them. His hands were numb and burning, but he couldn't let go. He wouldn't. Suddenly her eyes opened gold and red, and he was thrown back. The crack resounded when his head hit the wall. Black dots spotted his vision as he tried to shake the daze.

"Apprentice Willsaam, you need to subdue our lord," Quinn ordered.

Jaesa didn't hesitate to heed his command, holding her hands out with closed eyes as she approached her master. Malavai wasn't well versed in the force, but he was observant enough to tell that whatever the apprentice was doing was working. Medria stopped thrashing about, and her breath evened.

"Thank you." He whispered as he approached his wife. Slowly he gathered her in his arms and carried her to the medbay. Once her unconscious body was settled on the medical table, he set to the slow process of completing medical scans to see what was wrong. To his relief, nothing came up. That meant there was only one cause, visions. He let out a shaky sigh and sat down next to her. It seemed like time had slowed to a crawl until her eyes opened. In fact, he hadn't even noticed as his focus was on where his hands were folded with her hand. It was only when he felt a warm foreign presence in his mind that he realized she was awake and staring at him.

"Medria." He jumped to his feet.

"I'm fine, husband. Meditation…. Was not the best idea." she forced a smile. Despite his protests, she sat slowly, legs moving to hang off the table. Her eyes narrowed. "You're bleeding-"

"It's nothing. What did you see?" He asked gently, but her brows furrowed and head tilted to the side.

"I'm not sure."

Geonosis: 22 BBY (3631 ATC)

If anyone had asked, this was all planned. That was the only story she would corroborate with. Otherwise, she'd have to admit that she was completely blindsided by droidekas. Her subsequent imprisonment was a measured move to gain more information about the plot to kill Senator Amidala.

That being said, it was very annoying to be suspended in a force field with bolts restraining her. The Geonosians who took her in broke her wristband and all that went with it. She now measuredly had to keep track of her presence in the force like she used to have to do. Taking slow deep breaths measured how much time she actually had before she would need to worry. If Anakin was able to get her message to the council, hopefully, she'd have a day… maybe, if she didn't touch the force. It was refreshing, though the force field caused her to spin slightly, at least it would be if it hadn't been so irritating.

The sound of footsteps getting closer echoed down the small entranceway. She held her breath, waiting to see who it was. Unsurprisingly, it wasn't a Geonosian, but a human-looking elderly man, who looked somewhat familiar. It took but a moment to place his face.

"For a political idealist, you sure do seem to lean more towards treason." Obi-Wan greeted. The older man's eyebrows raised as he donned a wounded look.

"Oh no, my friend. This is a mistake, a terrible mistake. They've gone too far. This is madness." The words were all right, but his voice didn't match. Obi-Wan's eyebrow raised.

"Here I was thinking you were the leader here, Master Dooku." She bit out the man's former title. But it didn't provoke him; he simply sighed and shook his head.

"This had nothing to do with me, I assure you. I promise you I will petition immediately to have you set free." He said, circling in the opposite direction of her rotation.

"Well…" she started blandly, looking at her bindings. "I do hope it doesn't take too long. I do have work to do."

"May I ask why a Jedi Knight is all the way out here on Geonosis?" the former Jedi asked, not looking at Obi-Wan herself.

"I've been following a bounty hunter named Jango Fett. He's wanted for questioning about the assassination attempts against a senator." Dooku stopped pacing and turned to finally look at her.

"There's no bounty hunters here that I'm aware of. Geonosians don't trust them," he said

"Who can blame them? But he is here; I followed him myself." She idly wondered if she would have to pay for the repairs to her ship herself. Ship damage was not completely uncommon, but when it did happen, she normally plopped her apprentice in the maintenance bay to 'assist' with the repairs. However, she had some sort of promotion that wouldn't be the case this time around.

"It's a pity that our paths have never crossed before, Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon always spoke very highly of you." Dooku said before he stopped, sighing heavily like the weight of the galaxy had just landed on his shoulders. "I wish he were still alive. I could use his help right now."

"Qui-Gon Jinn was an exemplary Jedi. He wouldn't have joined you, not when I can practically smell the darkness from you."

"Don't be so sure, my young Jedi. You forget that he was once my apprentice, just as you were once his. He knew all about the corruption in the senate, but he would never have gone along with it if he had known the truth."

"Truth?" She asked, truly curious.

"The truth." He paused and inspected Obi-Wan. "What if I told you that the republic is now under the control of the Dark Lords of the Sith?"

Obi-Wan would have leaned back if she could have, as she sighed. She waited a few seconds, letting it soak in. If it were anyone else saying that, she'd doubt it. She assumed that the 'master' was somewhere in the core, but to be controlling the republic, that left very few options. Her mind raked through the names of politicians who could be the one. Cold, demanding, calculating, manipulative. Her mind landed on only one name. Who else could it be? It was so clear to her. But she couldn't show her hand.

"That's not possible. The Jedi would be aware of it."

"The Darkside of the Force has clouded their vision, my friend. Hundreds of senators are now under the influence of a Sith Lord called Darth Sidious.

And now a name. Sidious. That was what she needed.

"Why should I believe you?"

"The Viceroy of the Trade Federation was once in league with this Darth Sidious, but he was betrayed ten years ago by the Dark Lord. He came to me for help. He told me everything. The Jedi Council would not believe him. I tried many times to warn them, but they wouldn't listen to me. Once they sensed the Dark Lord's presence, it would be too late. You must join me, Obi-Wan, and together we will destroy the Sith."

"I know my place in this galaxy, do you?" She asked, staring him down. The tension was palpable as she sighed and shook her head. "I'm afraid to say, but I have my own plans. I cannot join you. But perhaps one day, you will join me."

The old man shook his head and turned away.

"It may be difficult to secure your release." He said sadly, facing her one last time before getting ready to exit the cell. Just before he was almost out of the room, her voice broke the silence.

"It's strange for someone who claims to miss my master to not have attended his funeral nor to seek out the legacy he left."Her voice echoed in the chamber, and the former Jedi froze. He didn't respond, but he did stop moving to leave. His head was bowed, but she knew she had his ear. "Perhaps then, there was a reason he never mentioned you."

The silence stretched. She waited for any excuse, anything, as the room seemed darker than before. He didn't say anything. He didn't even look at her again as he walked quickly towards the exit, and he disappeared down the entryway to her cell. The sound of his footsteps got quieter and quieter the further we went until she couldn't hear it any longer.

She sighed heavily, moving into a light, uncomfortable meditation. She was doing her best at preparing herself for whatever was to come, an extended stay right in this position, torture, execution. She worked on slowing and steadying her mind. After nearly thirty years with the jidai, she had learned some useful techniques. She steadied her mind and slowly repeated her childhood mantra. It grounded her, locked her in her body, and kept her from being pulled away. She could almost hear her father's warm voice echoing it with her. She kept going until she realized that the voice wasn't in her mind, drawn from her distant past, but there behind her, whispering in her ear. Her breath hitched as a ghostly hand reached around from behind and rested on her throat.

"Don't forget Medria. Don't ever forget." He whispered.

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. The hand that was on her throat tightened around it, but she took another deep breath, determined now. After a few strenuous minutes, the hand loosened, and she could sense the presence in the force move around to stand in front of her.

"Are you ignoring me again?" He asked, his voice cutting not only through the air but through the force as well. She took another deep breath and remained silent. With how Dooku left, it was unlikely that she would be freed. However that left few options left, she would either: remain imprisoned, tortured until she joined him, or be executed. None of those sounded like great options to her. She knew he was a patient man, but she could be as well. For the next few minutes, or perhaps it was hours, she hung there in silence, observing his presence with closed eyes. He paced in front of her, and she could feel his gaze on her. He sighed heavily and stopped his pacing after a minute, and grabbed her chin.

"Open yourself up now, child." His voice snapped. Her eyes opened again, and she met his. When she made no move to comply, he stepped closer, nose to nose. "You will either open up now and accept the vision that is to come, or it will come later, at your inconvenience. So, obey."

She nodded slowly and lowered her shields. It did not take much for the turbulence of the force to slam into her and drag her to the abyss.

"Put the ship down!" Anakin was shouting, leaning dangerously out of the open carrier. It was Geonosis, obviously, but there was battle all around.

"Anakin," She grabbed her apprentice's arm, pulling him into the carrier. She cursed herself as she let the Jedi line come out of her mouth, "Don't let your personal feelings get in the way!"

"Lower the ship!" He shouted at the pilot.

"I can't take Dooku alone. I need you with me on this. If we catch him, we can end this war right now. We have a job to do."

"I don't care. Put the ship down."

The vision shifted

She could smell the scent of electrified flesh, smoke rising from singed flesh and hair. Her eyes narrowed as she took a defensive stance. Dooku was in front of her smiling, mocking her. She moved with practiced ease, parrying and attacking like a dance. Their sabers locked together, and she heard a pained moan from behind her. She glanced back, her attention shifting to Anakin, lying against the wall, pained and in distress. Her apprentice smoking slightly. It opened her up.

Pain shot through her arm, followed by her thigh. White flashed before her eyes as her breath hitched. She had felt this pain before. Lightsaber pain. Deep cauterization to the muscles and perhaps the bone. She tried to move, her eyes looking up at Dooku, who was poised to stab her through the chest, but the afflicted appendages wouldn't move. She snarled at him as her apprentice jumped through the air and continued the fight.

She could feel her moving the force, guiding it hastily to the wounds, urging it to mend, heal, fast. Then she heard Anakin's cry of pain, and he was sent careening through the air to her, minus an arm. His face was pale already, and he was sweating. Instinctually she wrapped herself around him, covering him the best she could to shield him.

When she came to, she was shaking, her breath was irregular, and she was gasping for air. Cool ghostly hands held her head, stroking her neck comfortingly.

"Breathe, my child. Breathe. Fret not. I'm here." Her father's voice cooed. She glared up at him, ignoring the sweat dripping from her brow. He was smiling gently at her, like he did when she was so young, way back on Dromund Kaas, before she ever experienced anything but the manor. His cold hand caressed the back of her neck in the same soothing manner that forced her body to relax against her wishes.

"I hate you," she whispered, her eyes slipping closed. She was feeling weak, weaker than she liked. 'Arcann, I need you here," her mind cried against the bond family bond she had with him.

"Then hate me, my dear child. I still will not leave you."

"Ahem," Kad cleared his voice. When Anakin's head whipped in his direction, Kad was very clearly trying not to look at them. He shifted, looking uncomfortable. "I'm not gonna say nothin, but…" He trailed off, jutting his chin towards the bright light quickly approaching. They all squinted as the sunlight hit them. When Anakin's vision cleared, a stone dropped in his stomach. The carriage was pulling them towards four large pillars. He then felt a familiar warm presence touch his mind, and a wave of despair not his own passed over him.

There against one of the middle pillars, he saw his master, arms chained above her head. She looked small, her clothes in an unusual disarray, her hair falling out of its usual hairstyle. It was hot, but the parlor of her skin was pale, illuminated by a sheen of sweat. Her gray eyes followed him, looking upset. He kept his eyes on her as the carriage passed by and stopped.

"I was beginning to wonder if you got my message." Master Obi-Wan's cold voice snapped.

"I retransmitted it just as you requested, Master." He answered quickly as the guard shoved him into the pillar and forced him to turn around. "Then we decided to rescue you."

Her brow raised, and very slowly, she looked up at her manacled wrists.

"Good job." She said sarcastically. He pushed down his annoyance. She wasn't even grateful that they tried. If it wasn't for Padme, he wasn't even sure if he wanted to go rescue her. She turned her head to Kad, who was getting chained to the pillar on her other side.

"Kad, so nice of you to join us…" Her voice drawled. The pale man paled further.

"I've contacted the overseer, and he's working on getting in contact with the alliance to come to rescue you. I'll deliver the rest of my report when we get out of here."

"You look like a gundark tap-danced on your face."

"Not just the face…unfortunately."

"Well, you know what they say about scars." Master Obi-Wan seemed to flirt. Anakin turned to a bemused Padme and pretended to gag.

"They make a man look more handsome and alluring."

"Get enough of them, and you'll scare all the prospects away. If we're lucky, it's my version."

Master Obi-Wan sighed and turned back to face Anakin.

"So, apprentice mine, beasts or firing squad?" She asked, brow raised in a hint of amusement.

"Master-" Anakin sighed heavily. This had been a 'game' for her since he was a youngling. Which would it be, and if he guessed right, he got something in return.

"Come now, beasts or firing squad?"

"I think beasts."

The crowd started cheering louder before growing eerily quiet as the Geonosian minister started speaking. When he finished, the crowd erupted in cheering, and on the far side of the arena, the gates on several tunnels started to open. Creatures came out, prodded forward by Geonosians with pikes. Some of the creatures, Anakin, unfortunately, recognized, an acklay, a reek, and a nexu, but then there were several creatures leashed together and snarling. It had an impressive stance, like a rabid dog but filled with muscles of a great hunter and tusks that protruded upward from its lower jaw.

"I've got a bad feeling about this." Anakin sighed, glancing between the creatures being herded towards them.

"Just relax, apprentice mine. Concentrate." His master said gently. Anakin looked over at her, poking at their bond with an edge of worry. Master Obi-Wan glanced at him with a slight smile, and he felt warmth flood their bond.

"What about Padme!" Anakin asked. Padme wasn't a Jedi, or whatever Kad was, it was more dangerous for her. With the way the nexu tore apart the Geonosian, it would do the same to her easily. Anakin watched as his master's blue-gray eyes drift over his shoulder with a look of approval and turned back to stare down the strange creatures with focus.

"Oh, she seems to be on top of things." his master dismissed.

Anakin spared a moment to look at Padme only to see the column empty. He glanced around before noticing that Padme had literally scaled the column. Anakin turned his focus to the reek as it charged him. He jumped up, landing on the beast's back, and quickly wrapped his chains around its horn to get the gains free from the column. He did his best to keep aware of what was going on around him, just in case, when he heard his master's voice bark loudly. He tried not to be distracted as he heard her shout in the language he had yet to figure out. However, the distraction was just enough that between the reek charging all over and the Geonosian guards riling it up, he lost his balance and tipped over, getting dragged next to and under the beast. It took several minutes, but Anakin got the reek mostly under control, and he forced it to charge at the nexu that had attacked Padme.

"Are you okay?" He called up, looking at Padme with concern as he saw her shirt ripped and blood leaking out.

"Sure!" She assured and then paused with a brief pained expression. "Well, sort of."

"Jump down."

Padme jumped down behind him and briefly kissed his cheek. He turned the reek around to help Obi-Wan and Kad. To his confusion, the Ackley was being… well, eaten alive by the creatures that were supposed to be attacking Obi-Wan. He looked wildly around for his master but only saw Kad, who was standing free of the chains but still shackled, looking up.

"What is she doing?" Padme asked in shock. Anakin spared Padme a glance to see where she was looking and followed her gaze. To say he was shocked would be an understatement. His master had scaled the pillar like Padme had, but instead of sitting on top, she was hanging upside down, the chains wrapped in her arms as she pulled.

"Ah, Anakin, best you don't just sit there, take Kad and… Watch out!" Anakin was able to spur the reek on just in time to avoid the Nexu that had just tried to bite him. Kad ran towards them, jumping on behind Padme. He heard Obi-Wan shout again, and the creatures that had been feasting turned and immediately started attacking the nexu.

"I'll be down in a moment, apprentice." Obi-Wan ground out as he saw her strain against the chains. To his surprise, he watched the stone, the actual stone, start to crack. She paused, taking a few deep breaths before shifting and straining again. He heard a loud crack like lightning, and his master went tumbling towards the ground. He heard a loud thud as a small cloud of dust went up as his master landed. Padme tensed behind him, her arms tightened around his waist as they looked with worry to the cloud, but his master's form strode out of it, swinging the chain around like a whip at the Geonosians. He could feel the force vibrating around her, getting sucked in like a vortex. With a sharp word, the beasts that had been intended to attack her went for the guards in the arena, systematically taking them down.

It was then everything went upside down. They were surrounded by droidekas.

"Master-" Anakin started, looking at the droids in uncertainty as he tried to hold the reek still.

"Be still, Anakin." Master Obi-Wan ordered. He knew the look in her eyes, calculating. However, it didn't take long before they all noticed blue and green lightsabers igniting all around the arena. Their Geonosian audience dispersed quickly, and the air filled with the sound of wings as all warriors were still. Anakin sighed in relief. They were going to be alright. As if the galaxy was trying to prove him wrong yet again, the sound of marching droids filled the air, and battle droids filed into the arena.

"Oy Sudas" He heard his master sigh out a familiar phrase before turning to him. "Anakin, protect the senator."

"Yes, Master."

"Kad…" She turned to the bruised white-haired man who was doing his best to not make physical contact with the beautiful senator. "Do your best not to die. I'd hate to have to send the old man your body."

"Understood."

There were few times Anakin actually experienced true battle. It was true that he and Master Obi-Wan seemed to get… challenging missions, but it was nothing like this. Blaster fire was everywhere, and he watched as several knighted Jedi fell, even a few masters fell. Every Jedi on the field were trained individuals, all led by Master Windu, who was certain to be the next grandmaster of the order, yet, they still found themselves completely surrounded, with no real chance at survival. Just when all seemed at a loss, the droids stopped firing and stilled their old man stepped forward on the balcony who looked vaguely familiar.

"Master Windu, you have fought gallantly worthy of recognition in the archives of the Jedi order. Now it is finished. Surrender, and your lives will be spared." the old man said. Anakin felt exhaustion creeping in at his bones, and he looked around. Familiar faces all looked tired, and some even resigned to death, though curiously, some had only looked up at the elderly man with anger. In fact, even his own master was glaring up at the man.

"We will not be hostages to be bartered, Dooku."

"Then," the old man, Dooku, as Master Windu called him, sighed, "I'm sorry old friend."

The sounds of blasters charging and droids aiming happened simultaneously. Anakin raised his lightsaber and subtly moved in front of Padme. He felt his master's presence brush across their bond, like a warm hand on his shoulder, comforting, reassuring. Anakin took a deep breath and sealed himself. Master Obi-Wan brushed against the bond again, and he felt a swell of calmness wash over him before his master's shields went back up.

"550 billion galactic credits." A voice shouted. Everything froze. "The Jidai do not wish to be bartered. I have… well, at least two down there that I would like to still be breathing and in one piece." Anakin looked across the arena, and there was no denying the familiar elderly man who stood alone in the arena stands. It was Boreas Tremel, His master's friend.

"Who are you?" Dooku asked, his voice carrying.

"An interested party. Will 550 billion be enough to purchase the lives of these Jidai and… I see one young lady with a blaster, so her as well?"

A terse silence stretched. Anakin suddenly felt a very comforting warm hand on his shoulder. He looked over and saw Master Obi-Wan next to him.

"Be ready, Anakin. He's stalling." She whispered. Her eyes were locked on the new individual, carefully watching. "Republic incoming… carriers and cruisers with thousands… Incoming in one minute." She spoke as if she was relaying a message that only she was receiving. Tremel was still bartering with Dooku, their voices carrying across the arena. Kad shuffled close to the trio, and Anakin's eyes narrowed slightly. He knew Tremel had sent him to protect his mother, but there was something about the man that made Anakin tense.

Master Obi-Wan turned to him and said one word that was phrased like a question "Nevizkut?" Kad nodded and repeated the word, his eyes downcast. His master reached out and grabbed his forearm but didn't take her eyes off Kad. "Report to Tremel when the reinforcements arrive. I expect a full debriefing when the business here is completed."

"Yes, Ma'am." Kad replayed solemnly.

It seemed to be as soon as the conversation was finished when Padme shouted, "Look!"

Just as Master Obi-Wan relayed, gunships came swooping in through the opening of the arena, firing on the droids. Kad immediately took off, running towards Tremel, who shouted over the fire. "Well, it looks like I'm not needed. Goodbye Count, may our paths never cross again."

His master, on the other hand, was quickly ushering him and Padme onto a carrier together. The ship took off and joined several other ships. Was this what war looked like? Blaster and cannon fire filled the sky. Their own vessel shook and swayed in the air.

"Hold on!" His master ordered, her own hand white-knuckling a metal bar along the door frame. Anakin and Padme quickly grabbed onto the hanging cargo net.

"Aim for the fuel cells!" Anakin shouted at the gunners, who seemed to take his advice as the next sip they passed exploded.

"Good call, apprentice." She commended him before barking more orders at the pilots and gunners with what seemed to be experience. Her eyes were everywhere, noticing every battle movement. It was her watchful eyes that spotted Dooku's speeder and her order that had them following.

"We should get help," Padme spoke up.

"We haven't the time, senator. If we turn back for help, we will have lost him already."

Not moments later, the ship shook again, violently this time. Anakin tried to reach out to Padme, who was standing too close to the opening, but his fingers just missed her, and she screamed as she fell.

"PADME!" He shouted, leaning dangerously out of the ship. "Put the ship down!" he ordered. His eyes were on Padme's unmoving form on the sand that he didn't feel the force move as something hard pressed against his back, and he went tumbling out of the ship with a shout of surprise. As he turned in the air, looking up at the ship in confusion, he saw only his master at the opening, her face firm and determined before turning away from him.

Obi-Wan stared down as her apprentice went careening towards the surface. There were few things she argued with the force about, but there was one thing she would always be firm on. Nobody touched her boy, and if this was the way to keep him from being stupid, this is what she would have to do. She turned back to the pilot, ignoring the shock of the troopers.

"Continue following the speeder. We must not lose sight of the count."

A silence filled the ship that wasn't quite like it had been before, and she knew it. It was a sense of unease and confusion, but none of the troopers went against her orders, continuing to pursue in silence. Obi-Wan watched on in complete focus for a few moments before asking for one of the trooper's com units. He handed it over with a moment of hesitation. She thumbed it on and listened to the chatter going on over the unit.

"This is Obi-Wan Kenobi. Does anyone copy?" She called in. There were a few moments of static chatter before a welcoming voice spoke over the unit.

"Hear you, I do, young Obi-Wan."

"Master Yoda, I am pursuing Count Dooku. I will have the troopers I'm with relay our location. I will need reinforcements. Anakin and the senator were thrown from the gunship, and I had to leave them behind."

"Come to you, I will. Try, you must, to stop your former grandmaster."

"Understood, Master, Kenobi out." Obi-Wan signaled the end of the transmission and handed the com back to the trooper. "Relay our coordinates, so they can find us."

Coldness washed over her, and she felt her father's presence behind her. Her eyes closed for a moment, but her hand tightened on the handle. Why was he still there? Normally he would appear and annoy her for a few minutes before disappearing for several weeks or months before he would appear again. She tried to ignore him, gathering her strength to face her grandmaster.

"What are you going to do, my child? What is it you think you can accomplish? You need my strength." His voice echoed around her. She turned her head pointedly, looking ahead at Dooku.

In the distance, she could see a small outcrop in the stone, a private hangar bay. He truly was going to try to leave. She sighed heavily and sealed herself.

"Drop me off there and go get reinforcements," Obi-Wan ordered as they approached. Technically she was out of the ship before it even touched down, and the troopers were well trained enough to realize that this was likely to happen and immediately took off, narrowly escaping the first few lasts, but not the ones that followed. She held her saber in her hand unignited and slowly entered the hanger.

To her surprise, Dooku was there waiting for her at a control panel, a bemused smile crossed his lips as he looked to the entrance.

"No padawan, shame, I would have liked to greet him."

"I'm afraid my apprentice is dealing with other matters at hand. But now we can continue our conversation." Obi-Wan kept her lightsaber low, indicating to him her wish to converse but the ability to fight if needed.

"Ah, Obi-Wan, there is little left to say. You will not join me. Therefore any discussion is over." His hand raised in an all too familiar manner. Sith lightning burst forth from his fingers, shooting towards her. With annoyance and familiarity, her saber moved quickly, igniting just in time to block the strike and absorb it. When he withdrew the lightning, she shook her head and tsked.

"Ah, grandmaster, we were having such a nice conversation. It was just about to get interesting too." She sighed as if she was dealing with a petulant child. Dooku's eyebrow raised.

"Perhaps you are right, child. But as you can see, my Jedi powers are far beyond yours." Dooku tried to reason as he started a wide circle around her, his hand on his lightsaber. "Now, back down."

"I don't think so." She answered, matching his pace to create a wide circle, keeping account of her surroundings. "You seem very sure of your abilities and of mine. If you were there in my training with Qui-Gon, I'd probably be more accepting of your judgment. However, I don't believe you've ever seen me spar at the temple."

In a swift motion, he flurried his saber, igniting it. Welcoming the challenge. They continued to circle each other for a few more seconds before Obi-Wan sighed and launched herself at Dooku.

While training as a Jedi, she had to relearn several things; she learned how to sound like she was from Coruscant, learned how to portray Jedi serenity, learned how to keep to only the lightsaber forms she knew. She was sorely tempted to switch back to her previous habits of fighting. Dooku's fighting style was the type she had been most used to from her time fighting not only the Jedi but also a few Sith that she had faced. But, Obi-Wan was never taught Makashi, and was never taught how to face an opponent who used Makashi. In fact, she was now certain that Qui-Gon's never taught it because Dooku was a master in the form. She found herself frustratingly stuck using only Aratu and Soresu.

"Master Kenobi, you disappoint me. Yoda holds you in such high esteem." He taunted with a pleased grin, despite his words.

"Master Kenobi, now is it? What happened to the child?" She parried his strike, her eyebrow raised.

"No, I'm simply surprised. Has Jedi swordsmanship degenerated so quickly, or are you trying to make fun of me?" He asked, striking, parring, and taunting as easy as breathing.

"Want to take a guess?" a feral grin crept across her lips, making her teeth look far sharper than any human had any right having. Then Dooku made an unexpected move, and she didn't have her second saber to block as she would have. Seering pain burst through her shoulder as he struck, followed immediately by her thigh. Her processing brain froze, consumed only by the burning pain of flesh cauterized to the bone. Muscle and tendons severed. She gasped, her breath expelled from her lungs as she hit the floor.

When was the last time she was hit so deeply with a saber? It certainly wasn't as a Jedi, all of those had been shallow and superficial. It had to be back with her siblings… Vaylin was particularly vicious with her strikes, and Arcann had been on a rampage, eager to hit anything he could. She had to see the medic numerous times because of those two. Except at this moment, there was no one there covering her back. There was no flash of a fellow lightsaber, no blasters firing as kolto was being administered. She was alone, left only with the cool touch of her father hovering close to her.

"Ask for my help, my child, and I will give you what power I have." she heard her father say in the force.

"Sudas j'us," she growled out under her breath. Though the words weren't just for the demon trying to tempt her back into hell.

Dooku stood over her and, through her pain-hazed vision, had a look of resignation as he raised his saber to deal a killing strike.

It took but a half moment for her body to spur into motion. She rolled on the ground and swung her leg out as she avoided the strike, attempting to sweep the elderly man's legs out from under him. He jumped over them, surprise evident in the force. She jumped to her feet, lightsaber summoned to her left hand. She pulled the force close to her, wrapping it around her, making sure that in the force, she was unnoticeable. Then her pain became a strength for her.

The change was obviously a surprise as Dooku had to fumble back just to block the flurry of attacks. The teasing and banter between the two ended completely, and this had turned finally from what seemed like a duel to an outright battle. Obi-Wan skillfully avoided using her injured side as she fought, and Dooku seemed to realize that the injury only revitalized her. His eyes narrowed, and with a warning in the force that reached Obi-Wan, too late, she was thrown back with force. She heard a loud crack, and light covered her vision. Her ears rang loudly, and everything around her swam.

What was she doing? She was just meditating with Anakin, wasn't she? The ground was under her hands, and she felt the need to vomit like never before. Spots danced in her vision as she stared at a dusty red floor. There was something moving near her. Her eyes wouldn't focus as she looked up. There was a red saber, she could make that out, and in the distance, she could see the glow of a green one being ignited. Everything blurred before she tipped into the black.