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Place: Geonosis, Execution Arena.
Obi-Wan and I stood alone in the hallway leading out to the bright sun of Geonosis and onto the sands of the Execution Arena. The Geonosians had gone to get binders, leaving several of their soldiers to watch us. Obi-Wan and I hadn't spoken since the previous evening, unsure of what to say to each other after what we'd said the night before. Any other words, seemed insignificant, out of place, in a way. But suddenly, I heard Obi-Wan's voice. "You didn't forget that I told you I loved you, did you?" He asked quietly. I looked up at him.
"No, of course not. How could I?" He did not look at me, but merely stared firmly out the door.
"And your feelings never changed, no matter what your Master said?" He asked.
"No."
Finally, he looked at me and his eyes were alight, sparkling and intense as they had been that night, that night, so long ago. "I've made a decision Elaina." He said firmly. I cocked my head, waiting for his words. "I've never forgotten my feelings, nor do I intend to forget them." His hands slipped under my chin and he rested his forehead against my own as he whispered, "I love you."
My breath constricted in my throat as I gazed at him. My eyes seemed to cloud over with tears that threatened to spill down my cheeks. No vision, no pain had ever been this excruciating. But it was there, resting in my heart, tearing it in two. I saw the pain that rested in Obi-Wan's eyes as he held my hand gently. Suddenly, he opened his thoughts to me and I stared at him as I touched them all and felt them all. Pain, helplessness, love. I felt my breath constrict in my throat as we stared at each other and slowly moved towards each other.
Suddenly, Obi-Wan's lips fell upon mine and my own met his. We kissed each other and allowed our feelings to join as one. My hands slipped from my sides and fell around him, holding him close to me. Never before had I felt so much in pain and so on fire with this feeling that I was forbidden to feel. I pushed him to me and he held me closely as our lips released their hold on each other. I lay my head upon his shoulder, and he grasped me close to him. I didn't want him to ever let me go, ever. He simply held me in his arms, his harsh breathing slowly moving the hairs by my ear. It was as if my senses had been widened. I could feel every breath he breathed, heard every heartbeat that pumped inside his body, felt every emotion. I had never felt so torn in two and so completed.
We were jerked from each other by the Geonosian guards as they clapped wrist-binders on our wrists, but I never allowed my eyes to leave his. "I love you." I whispered. He smiled wistfully as he allowed his wrists to be jerked together.
"I know." Then he sobered and turned his eyes upon me fully. "I pledge myself to you, Elaina." He said solemnly.
"I pledge myself to you, Obi-Wan."
These words, they had more meaning to them than simply a pledge. With these words, we had become Jedi Knights long ago. We had vowed before the Jedi Masters, "I pledge myself to the innocents of the worlds and to my future Padawans." We had changed our vows to vow ourselves to each other, rather than our Order, an ironic twist.
We were then shoved forward into the bright sunlight. My vision seemed clearer and I seemed to look upon things in a new light. I was more observant with Obi-Wan beside me, his mind fully intertwined with mine. I looked about me at the thousands of Geonosians who had showed up to witness our executions. I saw four large poles standing in the center of the arena. As we approached them, I sighed bravely as the Geonosians attached our binders to the long chain attached to the poles. "It will be alright. We'll get out of this." Obi-Wan said quietly.
"I know. But if we don't, I'll hold you personally responsible." I said. Obi-Wan grinned and shook his head.
"It would be ironic if I let you die after pledging my life to you, wouldn't it?" He said. I cocked my head and raised my eyebrows.
"Don't even THINK it, Obi-Wan Kenobi." He merely looked away and chuckled.
I had anticipated that the execution would start after we'd been tied, but it took longer than expected. "What's holding them up? Are they handing out congratulatory drinks or something?" I muttered. Obi-Wan shrugged then gestured towards a balcony above us. Dooku stood there proudly, flanked by the Viceroy and, of course, Jango Fett and Boba. I groaned and looked at Obi-Wan who nodded.
"Ironic. Just ironic." I shook my head.
"More than ironic. Obnoxious." I muttered.
Then a sudden shouting of the crowds attracted our attention to the doorway we'd just walked out of. Emerging from it was Anakin and Padmé. They looked around at the Arena in amazement. Beside me, I heard Obi-Wan breathe deeply and when I looked at him, I saw aggravation in his eyes. "Obi-Wan, give him a break. He was probably trying to rescue us." Obi-Wan turned to look at me.
"He disobeyed me. And now he's done us no good by getting captured." He said firmly. I rolled my eyes.
"You're so critical." He simply shook his head as he eyed his Padawan, who gave us a half-smile as he was lead to his post.
"I was beginning to wonder if you'd even gotten my message." Obi-Wan commented. Anakin shrugged defensively.
"I retransmitted your message just as you requested, Master." He paused, gulping before continuing hesitantly. "Then we decided to come and rescue you." Obi-Wan scoffed and looked up at his binders.
"Good job." He said cynically. Anakin shook his head.
"Hello Anakin." I said kindly. He turned to me and smiled. I tried to keep myself from seeing him as I had seen him in my vision, slaughtering the Tusken raiders. It was hard. It's something I don't think will ever fade. Just then, the crowd roared as Poggle the Lesser uttered something in his queer language.
Out of a large doorway, the animals to be used in the execution paraded out excitedly. My eyes widened as I stared at them. The first was a giant creature, imposing with his large horn upon his nose and a ring in his nostril. He pawed the earth angrily as he was urged forward by the Geonosians. Second, came a feline-like creature that leapt onto the sands excitedly, then as it was prodded forward, it jumped on its attacker and shook it ferociously to death. I winced and glanced at Obi-Wan. His eyes were fixed on the next creature that emerged. It was huge, tall and spindly, four long knife-like legs stabbing the earth as it screamed ferociously. I turned to Obi-Wan. "You sure this is going to go as well as you think it will?" I asked. He turned towards me and shrugged.
"Trust me." Then he turned to Anakin and said firmly, "You take the one on the right. I'll take the one on the left." Anakin frowned.
"What about Padmé?" Obi-Wan chuckled slightly.
"She seems to be on top of things." I looked in the direction of his glance and smiled as I saw Padmé crawling up the pole, her hands free of the binders.
I breathed deeply as the creatures charged. Anakin jumped out of the way of the bull-like creature, jumping on its back as he came down. The creature jerked away from the pole, trying to get Anakin off his back, jerking the chain from the pole. I winced as the insect-creature stabbed at Obi-Wan, but instead stabbed through Obi-Wan's chain, releasing him. I tried to work my binders loose, but to no avail. It wasn't working. There were an odd number of creatures, and an even number of us. I was left alone. But not for long. The feline-creature fell to the ground as Padmé kicked him hard. He limped away, then stopped as his multiple eyes fixed on me.
"Of course, the creature who can't cut me loose." I muttered as the creature bounded towards me. He jumped, anticipating me to jump, but I did not. I merely dove behind the pillar at the last minute. The creature's head smacked hard into the pole. I winced as it scratched angrily at the pole hiding me with it's claws, trying to reach behind the pole to get at me. He began to chase me around the pole, trying frantically to get at me. I ran around the pole until I stopped with a jerk. I stared at my hands. I had wound the chain completely around the pole. "Not good." I muttered as the creature slunk towards me, anticipating for me to duck behind a corner at any minute. But when I did not move, he made a motion to pounce. The creature jumped away from me with a howl as Obi-Wan stabbed a static pike into the creature. He leapt away angrily, pouncing away towards Padmé's pole.
"Great." Muttered, unwinding myself. Suddenly, I screamed as the insect creature slammed into my pole, one of its powerful legs slicing through the metal of the chain that bound me. I grinned and grabbed the remaining chain and looped it around my arm as I ran off. I wasn't sure where I would go. There was after all, nowhere to hide. I whirled around as pounding impact tremors shook my legs. The large bull-like creature that had previously been dragging Anakin on the ground and now began charging towards me. I began to run, trying to escape. I tried to turn, tried to dodge him, but though he was very large and heavy, he was still able to move with some measure of agility. I soon felt his angry breath against my back and I winced, then jumped up in the air, landing behind his horn as he charged angrily. He quickly knocked me off and stood still, panting and sputtering for breath.
I too, breathed a sigh of relief then looked towards Obi-Wan. He was having a dreadfully hard time of it, for the insect creature seemed to have it in for him. I closed my eyes and began to run again as I felt the feline creature run and spring towards me. I scrambled towards the poles and began to climb up one of them. The creature's claws caught my leg as I ascended and I winced, trying not to cry out. I was half-way up the pole and the creature was directly under me, holding onto the pole and trying to inch it's way up. I had to get away from it and in my mind, there was really only one way to get away from the creature. I would have to take a risk, but what is life without risks? I simply let go of the pole and fell directly on top of the creature's multiple eyes. The creature yelped loudly and slipped off the pole, causing me to tumble off of it. The creature leapt to his feet as he saw Padmé on top of the pole and ran off. I slumped behind the pole with a sigh of relief.
That relief was short lived though as I jumped to my feet and out of the way as the insect creature attempted to knock the pole down upon Obi-Wan. "Elaina!" I looked up as Anakin rode up to me on the bull creature, Padmé behind him. I jumped up behind Padmé, breathing a sigh of relief.
"Go to Obi-Wan." I told Anakin, who nodded and spurred the creature on. Obi-Wan managed to get away from his assailant and grabbed the hand that I extended and jumped up behind me. We thought we'd conquered, that we'd won over these many obstacles. We were wrong. As we rode towards the exit, we were suddenly surrounded by battle droids, super battle droids, and droiddekas. Anakin brought the creature to a halt and we looked around us grimly.
We had no lightsabers, no blasters. Obi-Wan's binders were still attached firmly to his wrists, as were Anakin's and mine. But suddenly, thin shafts of multi-colored lights sprang up around the stadium. Lightsabers. I grinned as I looked up to the balcony and saw Mace Windu. Obi-Wan and I looked at each other with surprise and gratitude. "Well, maybe we WILL get out of this alive." Obi-Wan said with a smile. I nodded, then winced as Mace Windu jumped to the ground, his cloak on fire. The blaster shots began to fly and we attempted to dodge them. Lightsabers were handed to us and we three Jedi cut each other's bonds.
The battle was ferocious, frightening, breathtaking. It seemed almost impossible for us to win, no matter how hard we tried, but I expelled these feeling. Those lead to regret, fright, fear, the Dark Side. It was not only frightening for me because of the battle, but because of the vision I had. It was not a clear vision like most of mine. It was rather, hazy, like looking through glass that is covered with dirt. All I could see or comprehend, was that I was standing on some steps, a staircase, my lightsaber out and ready, deflecting the blaster bolts of those in front of me. But I was tiring. I was so tired. I was stumbling. Then a shot of pain eclipsed my vision and I fell to my knees. In my vision, I slowly placed my hand on my stomach, then on my back. Blood. I had been shot from behind. Shot. I had been shot. Shot. I fell to the ground, but not before hearing an anguished cry of anger and pain. Obi-Wan.
"Elaina! Are you alright?" Obi-Wan yelled through the din of battle. I shook my head, wiping the pain from the vision from my mind.
"Yes! I'm fine!" He shook his head in aggravation.
"I wish you would just come out and say when you're in pain! It's not good to keep it all inside like that." He said as we fought back to back.
"I'm quite aware of that, but with whom am I supposed to share it with? No one can understand this pain." I protested.
"You could share it with me!" He yelled, slicing through a battle droid.
"I don't want to inflict it upon you, Obi-Wan. Besides, you wouldn't understand." I yelled. Obi-Wan frowned and shook his head.
"You are so stubborn." He muttered. I scoffed as I deflected a blaster bolt.
"And you're not?" I countered as I moved away from him, moving with the flow of the battle.
As I slashed through a battle droid, Obi-Wan's figure caught my eye. He was running down the field, but suddenly stopped, whirling around. The large insect creature that had been chasing him the whole time, hissed angrily at Obi-Wan, attempting to strike at him. Obi-Wan stared at him a moment, then slashed off one of his legs. The creature screamed in pain and wobbled unsteadily on its remaining legs. Obi-Wan dashed around the creature, slashing off its remaining legs with a fury, then stabbing it in the neck as it fell to the ground.
Its about bloody time. I heard him mutter in my mind. I chuckled and deflected more blaster bolts.
Suddenly, everything stopped and the battlefield was silent. I looked around me at the Jedi remaining. Of hundreds, only about twenty-five remained. That was not counting Padmé. She too stood among us, sweaty and covered with the filth of battle. I looked up at the balcony at Dooku, who stepped forward to speak with us. I glanced down at Obi-Wan as he felt a fellow Jedi's pulse. He hung his head and stood, staring grimly ahead. "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." Dooku said sorrowfully. Master Windu scoffed and shook his head.
"We are not hostages for you to barter, Dooku." He insisted. Dooku hung his head in mock sadness.
"Then, I am sorry, old friend." But before he could order another strike, Padmé's yell attracted our attention.
"Look!"
All the Jedi looked above us in wonder at the hovering spacecrafts containing thousands and thousands of, "Clones." Obi-Wan breathed. "Master Yoda's brought the clones." He whispered. I chuckled as the battle began again.
"Have I ever told you how much I love Master Yoda?" I asked. Obi-Wan grinned as he deflected another blaster bolt.
"No, all you've told me how much you love me." I laughed aloud and sliced a battle droid in half. I glanced above us and saw what Master Yoda was doing. He was creating a perimeter above us with the transports so that we could easily get on.
"Jedi! Move!" Master Windu called out, urging us towards the transports.
After a few more deflecting shots, Obi-Wan and I ran towards a transport, pulling Padmé and Anakin on with us. I stepped close to Anakin, looking out the pilot's window. He glanced down at me, then frowned. "There is a change in you Elaina." He said, his eyes dark. "I can feel it." I looked up at him, unsure of what to say.
"I have been through much." I said quietly. Anakin nodded, but his frown remained.
"I can feel it." He whispered, looking away. I shuddered and looked towards the front of the craft. "Aim right above the fuel cells!" Anakin suddenly called as a filter rose in our vision. The pilot aimed and fired, bringing the filter down on thousands of battle droids.
"Good call, my young Padawan!" Obi-Wan said proudly. Anakin nodded with a smile, then looked out the window. "Those Trade Federation starships are taking off! Target them immediately." Obi-Wan ordered the pilot. The pilot nodded and did as he was told. I shook my head. It was amazing how correct the cloners had been. These beings did whatever they were told to do, no questions asked.
"It's Dooku! Shoot him down!" Anakin suddenly cried out as Dooku's image came before us. He was riding on a speeder bike across the dunes, ignoring us completely,
"We're out of missiles, sir." The Captain said apologetically.
"Then follow him!" Anakin called back.
"We're going to need some help." Padmé said, concern evident in her voice. Obi-Wan shook his head.
"There's no time. Anakin, Elaina and I can handle this." He yelled over the ship's hum. Blaster fire rang out around us and the ship jolted violently, knocking into sand dunes and feeling as though it would crash. Obi-Wan, Anakin and I quickly grabbed hold of the ship, but Padmé was not so lucky. She fell from us, falling to the sand below.
Anakin cried out as he watched her fall. "Padmé! Put the ship down!" He yelled. I winced as I saw the pain reflective in his frantic gaze. Obi-Wan ignored it.
"No! Don't let your personal feelings get in the way! Follow that speeder!" He ordered the pilot. Anakin cast a frantic glance backward at Padmé, then turned back to the Captain.
"Lower the ship!" Anakin cried. Obi-Wan turned on Anakin, his eyes blazing. I watched them both, Master against Apprentice, both with determined fires blazing in their eyes.
"Anakin! We can't take Dooku alone! I need you. If we catch him, we can end this war right now! We have a job to do!" He insisted. I glanced at Anakin. He was not affected at all.
"I don't care! Put the ship down!" He yelled.
I glanced at the pilot. He was confused now, unsure who to follow. "Stay on course." I whispered. I sensed his relief as he continued to fly forward while Anakin and Obi-Wan went at each other once more.
"You'll be expelled from the Jedi Order!" Obi-Wan yelled.
"I can't leave her!" Anakin answered angrily. I grabbed his arm and pulled at him so he'd look at me.
"Anakin! Do you really think Padmé needs your protection? After all, she has lived ten years without it! Don't you think that she will make it on her own? We need you!" I pleaded. Anakin shook his head angrily and I almost covered my ears as he shouted inside my head.
YOU SHOULD BE THE ONE STICKING UP FOR ME! AFTER ALL YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH! YOU KNOW THAT I CAN'T LEAVE HER!
Obi-Wan however was not touched by his angrily voiced words. He stepped forward and yelled at him, trying to talk some sense into him. "Come to your senses! What do you think Padmé would do if she were in your position?" That struck a nerve. I congratulated Obi-Wan silently as Anakin relaxed slightly. He breathed deeply and closed his eyes, then opened them and looked away from Obi-Wan.
"She would do her duty." He said quietly. Obi-Wan nodded with more relief than anger and turned to the pilot.
"Follow that speeder." The Captain nodded and sped up the craft, following Dooku.
I wanted to reach out for Anakin. He stood still, anger seething beneath the surface of his mind. I wanted to hold him as I had done in the past, comfort him. I knew why he was angry. It was not just because of Padmé. It was because of me. I was a hypocrite and he knew it. I spouted Jedi ideals and truths, yet I myself denied them. Everyone else followed the rules but me. We were both hypocrites, Obi-Wan and I. I had failed Anakin. I should have set the example, but gave in to what I wanted. I had failed him.
We jumped from the transport as we came to a docking bay and we ran inside. I winced as the transport exploded behind us as we left it. We ran into the bay. All was quiet, save for the whirring of a droid that sped aboard the only ship in the hangar. Dooku stood alone, looking at us, waiting for us. We stepped forward together and watched him. But Anakin separated himself from us, pacing back and forth. A shudder ran up and down my spine as I saw the intense hatred in his eyes. "You're going to pay for all the Jedi you killed today Dooku." He said angrily. Dooku raised his eyebrows as if surprised by the fact that he had killed someone. Obi-Wan did not take his eyes off him, but drew out his lightsaber and spoke quietly to Anakin.
"We'll move in together. You slowly on the," Anakin cut him off with an angry gesture.
"I'm taking him now!" He growled, drawing his lightsaber and rushing towards Dooku angrily.
"Anakin, no!" Obi-Wan and I both seemed to yell at the same time as Anakin rushed towards the man. Dooku did not seem worried in the least. He merely raised his hand, ejecting blue Sith lightening from his fingers. Anakin slammed backwards into the wall with a groan, unable to move. The life-draining lightening weakened his body, that he could barely move without pain. Obi-Wan and I slowly stepped forward, trying to keep our focus. Dooku chuckled as we walked towards him.
"As you can see, my Jedi powers are far beyond yours. Now, back down." He shot Sith lightening at us, but we both absorbed it with our lightsabers. Obi-Wan shot Dooku a cocky half-smile.
"I don't think so."
Dooku growled and pounced upon us, his red lightsaber flashing angrily. Obi-Wan and I took him together as a team, moving smoothly as one unit as we had in the old days. Obi-Wan should stab, and I would counter Dooku's blow. I was thankful that Dooku did not have the double-bladed saber that my father had wielded against Obi-Wan, otherwise he would be much more deadly than this. I finally saw a hole, a place to stab Dooku and was just about to when he shoved Obi-Wan backwards and shot Sith lightening directly at me. I was not ready this time and flew backwards against the wall with a cry. The lightening pinned me against the wall, rendering me helpless. I could not move, for the lightening held me back.
Obi-Wan cast one look back at me, then turned back to Dooku. They fought hard, Obi-Wan trying his best to overcome Dooku. Dooku was greatly experienced in the arts of the lightsaber, I noted as I watched. His technique became more fiery and dangerous as I watched them fight. "Master Kenobi, you disappoint me. Yoda holds you in such high esteem. Surely you can do better!" Dooku hissed at one interval.
Don't let him get to you Obi-Wan. He is only trying to get you to use your anger. My mind whispered. I felt Obi-Wan's thanks as he pressed forward with new energy. But my breath caught in my throat as Dooku, attempted to stab Obi-Wan, but Obi-Wan blocked it. Angrily, Dooku countered the blow, stabbing Obi-Wan's left shoulder. Obi-Wan cried out and clutched his arm, giving Dooku his chance. He stabbed Obi-Wan hard in the thigh and watched as Obi-Wan fell to the ground with satisfaction.
Angrily, I broke free of the lightening and rushed at Dooku. Dooku looked up with a wary look and moved to attack position. I attacked him furiously, angry at what he had done to Obi-Wan, angry with everything. He grinned evilly as he blocked my blows. "You see Elaina, what your anger can do for you? It can make you powerful." He hissed. I faltered, taking a step back, realizing what I'd done. "There is something else I never told you Elaina." Dooku said as we paced around each other. "Do you know why your Father left you, turned to the Dark Side?" I cocked my head to the side, my lightsaber at the ready. Dooku regarded my saber with calm esteem, then continued. "He met a man during his travels, who convinced him that his anger was the more effective weapon against his adversaries. I told him, that he could be the greatest of all the Jedi were he to learn from my Master." He hissed.
I stepped back, shock paralyzing me. "You?" I whispered angrily. Dooku straightened proudly.
"I."
Angrily, I rushed at Dooku, my feelings flowing from my hands to my lightsaber. "You see! You can be great! Your gifts should be cultivated! A daughter of the Sith can rise to greater heights than the Jedi. And now, I will tell you what I told him." He ceased to pace and instead stood, gazing at me firmly. "You could be the greatest of all the Jedi, if you would learn from my Master." He hissed. Before I could rush towards him, my mind stopped me. He had destroyed my father. If I followed through with my feelings, he would destroy me. "Take your place at my side, at my Master's side, and accept the inheritance your Father has left you!" He hissed.
I slowly raised my eyes to look at him and lowered my lightsaber. "I will not fight you Dooku." I whispered, taking a step back. Dooku's eyes widened with surprise.
"Won't? Bravery, Elaina? I've heard that can kill you." He said. I shook my head.
"I won't." I said firmly.
"You mean, you shall abandon this chance, this opportunity to become great, and return to the Jedi?" He asked. I nodded slowly. He straightened and scoffed. "What makes you think they'll take you back once they learn of your betrayal." I ceased to step back and stared at him. "Yes, your betrayal." He stepped closer to me, his eyes on fire. "Your attraction to your companion will be your undoing, for surely, the Jedi will not allow you to stay with them if you continue to deny their teachings."
I stared at him, thinking, understanding, knowing that this was true. "They will turn you out Elaina, reject you. You will be shunned if you wish to follow through with this." He hissed. I raised my head.
"Obviously they will not." I murmured.
"What?" Dooku asked, surprised.
"They won't, because Qui-Gon knew that this was to come to pass." I whispered.
"It will destroy you if you return to them." He warned. I smiled and shrugged.
"Then I shall die happy." Dooku frowned and put forth his lightsaber. We quickly dove back into battle. He was an exhausting opponent and I very soon became fatigued. He grinned as he saw and felt the change.
"You see, without your anger, you are no match for me." I ignored him and countered his blow wearily. "You will die here Elaina." He said triumphantly. Then I remembered something and smiled wistfully.
"I'm afraid that you're wrong. I won't die here." Dooku again frowned and his eyes became ablaze.
"Why do you think such a foolish thought?" He asked. I shrugged and my smile grew broader.
"I can see into the future Dooku, and I know for a fact, that I will not die here!" I said triumphantly. Dooku let out a roar of rage and stabbed before I could think.
A shudder went through my entire body as the saber slashed completely through my side. I fell to the floor and Dooku raised his hand with a sneer, using the Force to shove me up against Obi-Wan. I opened my eyes faintly and saw the angry fires once more kindled in Obi-Wan's eyes. "Don't." I whispered. Obi-Wan looked startled as I spoke. "Don't give in." I whispered, turning to look back to Dooku. Dooku shook his head slowly as he watched us.
"Pathetic. And so it ends." I closed my eyes and turned my face against Obi-Wan as Dooku raised his lightsaber to slash into both of us. There was an angry cry and the crash of lightsaber against lightsaber. I opened my eyes and saw Dooku eyeing Anakin, who's saber was pressed against his own. "Brave of you boy, but foolish. I would've thought you'd learned your lesson." Dooku said regretfully. Anakin smiled cockily.
"Well I am a slow learner."
He quickly slashed against Dooku. "Anakin!" Obi-Wan yelled, tossing his own lightsaber to Anakin. Anakin quickly caught it and used both against the Dark Lord. At that moment, I could not keep my eyes open. I was so tired. I closed my eyes, allowing the sleep to take over, when Obi-Wan shook me slightly. I winced at the pain in my side, but my eyes fluttered open. "Don't go to sleep Elaina." I cocked my head in confusion. "You might not wake up." He said worriedly. I chuckled softly and closed my eyes again.
"I'll be fine." I whispered. But my eyes snapped open as a yell echoed throughout the chamber and in my mind. A moment later, Anakin was shoved back against Obi-Wan's leg, unconscious, his arm completely gone. I stared at his mutilated body in horror, then looked up at Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan stared at his Padawan, his eyes wide with pain. Dooku shook his head, then stepped closer to us, once more raising his lightsaber.
A soft clicking in the hallway behind Dooku, attracted my attention. I gently raised my head, eyeing the small shadow that slowly filled the doorway. I lay back down in shock as Master Yoda's short form entered the room. Even Dooku looked surprised as he regarded the Jedi Master. He pursed his lips as Yoda put his hands on his cane.
"Master Yoda"
"Count Dooku."
Though there was surprise in Dooku's voice, I was pleased to note the complete strength and disgust in the voice of my Master. Dooku noticed it as well, for he frowned as he gazed upon the Jedi Master. "You have interfered with our plans for the last time." He said slowly, raising his hand. A power tank fell from the wall, falling towards Yoda. Yoda easily deflected it. Another tank fell, quicker this time, but Yoda threw it away from him.
"Powerful you have become Dooku. The dark side I sense in you." Yoda said quietly.
"I have become more powerful than any Jedi. Even you, my old Master." Pursing his lips, Dooku caused several rocks to fall down on top of Yoda, but Yoda moved them away. Dooku then lifted his hand, letting forth Sith lightening. Again, Yoda deflected it, and again as Dooku flung it once more. Yoda chuckled softly.
"Much to learn you still have."
Dooku frowned and put his hand down at last. "It is obvious that this contest cannot be decided by our knowledge of the Force, but by our skills with a lightsaber." He then removed his lightsaber and brandished it at Master Yoda. Yoda was not at all intimidated, but merely brought out his lightsaber and held it in attack position. My brain, though frazzled with the pain and worry that it was, tried hard think of the last time I'd seen Master Yoda fight. Then I realized. I hadn't. I remember having asked Obi-Wan about it.
"Master Yoda rarely fights. He doesn't like to do it if he doesn't have to." Obi-Wan had said. "I don't even remember the last time I saw him fight." He had added. As I watched Master Yoda, I became dizzy as he jumped about, displaying such superior Jedi moves that I could barely believe that it was Master Yoda.
Finally, Dooku began to look tired. He began to slash at empty air as Yoda jumped about around him. Finally, Dooku quickly drew back from Yoda as he spoke something to him. Dooku grinned and murmured. "This is just the beginning." With that, he turned, and with the Force, caused a large power cell to fall from the ceiling, directly above the three of us. Yoda threw down his lightsaber, calling upon the Force to lift the cell away from us. I wearily glanced up at Dooku as he escaped in his ship. By now, I could barely think. I did not even register where I was anymore, the pain was so intense. I tried to think, tried to breathe evenly, but it was close to impossible. I felt and heard the large tremor as the cell hit the ground only a few feet away from us, then heard Master Yoda's small sigh.
I struggled to hold on to consciousness, but I felt myself quickly slipping away as I heard Anakin gasp for breath. He was awake. He stood, then gazed down at where his arm had once been in horror. I felt Obi-Wan move beside me as he carefully got to his feet, supporting his Padawan. He grunted as he placed weight on his leg, but stood firm. Padmé was there now, holding Anakin gently. All I could feel now was the white hot pain that exuded from my side. I heard Master Yoda's voice, but did not see him. I could barely even feel him. "Elaina, stand you must." He murmured gently.
"I can't Master. Hurts." I whispered, trying to form a coherant thought.
"Help you Obi-Wan will. Stand you must." He repeated firmly.
"Obi-Wan's hurt." I whispered.
"I can help you Elaina." Came Obi-Wan's insistant, but pained voice.
I shook my head frantically, but could do nothing as Obi-Wan carefully brought me up by my arms. I leaned against him and he put his arm around my waist, trying hard not to touch my mangled side.
"A day of infamy this is. Fear, pain, reign they do. Dark this day is." Yoda murmured as Obi-Wan lifted me into his arms, and I slipped into unconsciousness.
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Hey guys! So sorry for the long delay in a new chapter!! I've been particularly taken up with my Harry Potter story and almost forgot that I hadn't finished this. It's not done yet. There's about, maybe another chapter and an Epilogue. I think. :-) Thanks for all your guys' reviews though! I really appreciate it! And all you people who guessed the voices Elaina heard in the last chapter..........YOU'RE ALL RIGHT! :-) You guys are right, a REAL Star Wars buff would know that. Han and Leia. I'm having it be from "The Empire Strikes Back", though, rather than "Return of the Jedi". I think it was much more profound and touching in "Empire" than in "Jedi", that's all. Heck, it made ME cry! Don't know about the rest of you. ;-) Well hope you enjoyed this! And I'll try to stay on the ball with this! Thanks guys!
T.H.