Hi... *Ducks behind piled bags of sand to dodge grenade.. head pops up* *nervous laugh* Yea... Ummm I'm sorry? *squeal and jumps behind protection again* Stop that! I know I'm late!! *horde of tomatoes gets thrown* OKAY!! I'm sorry! I'm here aren't I?!? Just read my excuses on my profile.

Chapter 16:

Anakin sat at the console watching his master speak about some dire situations on Geonosis. It was already sent to the Council and they had ordered Anakin to stay on Tatooine until further notice. He put the tips of his fingers together then touched it to his lips, his brows curling in thought. He couldn't erase the last scene from the transmission...

"Wait!" Obi Wan turned and saw a horde of flying creatures ambushing from the rocks that they were hidden behind. He raised the hilt of his light saber and heard the snap-hiss as he automatically turned it on. The some other life forms emerged from their invisibility and raised guns. The guns shot at him and he immediately maneuvered his weapon reflecting the shots coming at him but one of the shots his the satellite he was using to transmit the message. "Damn!"

"I don't want to leave him there," Padmè voiced his thoughts exactly. "This isn't right. If the Council is to send their backup it will be too late. This map says the Council will have to go halfway through the galaxy to get to him. We're only half a parsec away. They wouldn't get there in time, Anakin." Padmè sat back at her own seat. Khariya looked at each of them, curiously. She had no idea how to handle situations the way Padmè and Anakin could. She knew she was impulsive and if she had her way, she would be at Geonosis already. Padmè and Anakin looked at each other now worried.

"The Council ordered us to stay put," Anakin reasoned. Khariya let herself a half smile when she realized it was the first time Anakin regarded any orders from authority. "I can't just go..."

"Well, that wasn't what you were saying on the way here," Padmè shot back. "And anyways your orders were to protect ME... And I intend on going to that planet to rescue Obi Wan." Her eyes turned from serious to almost mocking and Anakin smiled. "If plan to protect me then you'll just have to come along." Padmè stepped into the pilot's seat as Anakin kept grinning.

'If only Padmè acted like this more often." Then he caught himself. He looked at Khariya who looked deep in thought.

"I'm staying," Khariya announced. The other two looked at her in surprise and for a second, Khariya thought, she saw Padmè's eyes flash with triumph but she was convinced it was just her imagination working with what just happened outside their ship. "I'll be a distraction. I'll probably get you both killed trying to rescue me from one jam or another. I'll stay."

"You're coming with us," Anakin ordered taking a step up to her but never touching her. "And don't tell me you can't fight. I know you have enough control on the Force to know how to fight." Khariya looked at Padmè.

"Yes, he's right." Padmè looked sincere now. "We'll need all the help we can get right now. I know you can use the Force and that'll be enough to guide you with using a blaster. We need you." Khariya just shook her head.

"No, you don't. I have to stay Padmè. It's the right thing to do in the circumstances." Padmè pushed Anakin aside.

"You're coming, Khariya..."

"I think she's right, Padmè." Anakin looked at the older sister as she turned in surprise. "She'll be in danger. I don't want to risk Khariya getting hurt. I want to protect her but it'll an ongoing battle up there."

"How about me?" Padmè countered. "You're willing to risk me on Geonosis."

"No! It's nothing like that!" he exclaimed. "I know you can fight and hold out on your own. I remember it back when the Trade Federation invaded. You knew how to fight and protect yourself. You have experience. Khariya doesn't."

"This is a waste of time... Khariya we need you. Anakin, her fighting skills are competent. I know my sister and she can HELP us. Her experience won't come if you deny her the chance to fight," Padmè said confidently. "You're coming Khariya."

"Fine..." Khariya murmured. She felt a slight pride in knowing that Padmè had that much confidence in her. "I'll come." Padmè smiled relief and turned back to the pilot's chair.

"We'll be there in about an hour..."

***

A few minutes later, Anakin found Khariya hidden again. This time she was on the counter sitting quietly in the small bathroom. Anakin went in and shut the door. Khariya looked up, amused. Anakin was squashed between the wall and her legs. He smiled evilly as he separated her legs and stood between them as he wrapped his arms around her waist.

"I'm not sure I should have come, Anakin," she said as he kissed her tenderly. "I don't want either of you to worry about me..."

"We'd worry about you either way," he murmured into her ear. His breath tickled her and she giggled under her breath. "I never thanked you for the distraction..."

"Didn't have to." She felt his hands hold her head as he kissed her again. This time the kiss wasn't tender but passionate, literally taking away her breath. Her head went against the glass behind her, his lips taking hers as his own. He continued the bruising kiss for a few minutes before Khariya and Anakin broke away, flushed but happy.

"That was my thank you." He grinned and stepped out, leaving Khariya grinning as she leaned back on the wall, gasping for breath.

***

Anakin knew what he just did in the bathroom wasn't just to thank Khariya for their time in the shed but to remind him of his love for her. He felt a sudden rush with what Padmè had done when she took over the situation to rescue Obi Wan.

'Stupid... just old debris from your crush on Padmè,' he thought. 'Khariya is more than you'll ever need, Anakin. More than you'll ever want... More than what you deserve.' Anakin frowned at the thought but pushed the last sentiment aside. He knew it was true but at least he'd try his best to earn her...

***

Padmè knew that what she had done had just gotten her in Anakin's good books again. She saw the sheepish smile on his face when she ordered every one to come with her on the rescue mission. She smiled mischievously wondering if Anakin like the woman to take charge in other aspects of his *cough* life. One day, she'd try it out.

Anakin walked in his lips slightly swollen and a glassy look on his eyes. She immediately recognized the look as someone who just had some mild encounter with their other half. Something strange had taken over Padmè. The picture of Anakin and Khariya making out wasn't very disturbing anymore. She just thought it a challenge. She was surprised at her thoughts but she didn't mind them at all.

"See those columns of steam straight ahead?" Padmè asked as she maneuvered on the rocky planets of Geonosis. "They're exhaust vents of some type." Anakin squinted and saw what she was talking about.

"That'll do. We'll land there," he said sitting down on the co-pilot's seat.

She twisted in her seat to the intercom. "Khariya, c'mon back. We're about to land." A few moments later Khariya walked in a completely different outfit. She had on something of a more feminine version of Anakin's own Jedi garb.

"I'm here," she murmured sitting behind Padmè. She put on her restraining belts and held her breath as the ship landed in the midst of billowing steams covering their presence. As they were about to get off the ship, Padmè gave everyone one of her diplomatic lectures.

"Look whatever happens out there, follow my lead," she said sternly. "I'm not interested in getting into a war here. As a member of the Senate, maybe I can find a diplomatic solution to this mess."

"And as an outsider with no experience whatsoever in fighting, maybe I can stay in the ship?" Khariya asked grinning hopefully at Padmè who just rolled her eyes.

"Khari, you're coming. We need your help. It's not like there will be fighting for sure," Padmè said.

"Padmè, I'm young and so are you but I'm praying to the Maker right now that you're not that naïve," Khariya frowned. "It will turn to battles out there."

"Not if I can help it," she snapped. "Come on... Do YOU have any complaints Anakin?" She didn't bother waiting for his answer and just headed for the door.

"Don't worry," he replied. "I've given up trying to argue with you." Khariya looked at him smiling.

"Took you how long to get that?"

"About a week... Give or take a few days... You?"

"I'm still learning," she chuckled. She got his hand and Anakin felt her worry.

"I won't let anything happen to you Khariya," he whispered kissing her on the cheek.

"I'm not worried about me. I'm worried about you and Padmè. I'm a distraction... I'm worried you'll get yourself hurt because of me." She squeezed his hand and then picked up the blaster at the side of her seat. "But let's go..." Padmè was waiting impatiently outside.

"come on!" she snapped again. Anakin sighed and took the lead, taking them through one door and into a corridor with mangled walls. Khariya kept closely behind Padmè and kept turning to look at the walls. Something was tugging at her stomach as she saw the mashed figures engraved into the walls.

"I'm no security expert but aren't these corridors suppose to be guarded?" Khariya murmured.

"I don't know," Padmè answered just as uneasy herself.

"Something doesn't feel right..." She faintly heard a crunching noise behind her and she turned around quickly to see the figures she thought was engraved into the walls come alive and crawling their way to her. "ANAKIN!" Anakin circled roughly back and saw the bony creatures trying to claw their way to the sisters. He ran past and between them just as his light saber ignited.

"Get past the door at the end of the hall!" he ordered. The blue blade of his weapon sliced through everything in its range and he walked backwards towards Khariya and Padmè.

Khariya was blasting everything that moved around her, the laser bullets piercing the skin of the aliens.

"Back... back you tiny little skeletons," she muttered as she ran on. Padmè was beside her doing the same, her brow creased in concentration.

"The door!" Padmè exclaimed. Khariya turned to see it and began to gain distance from Padmè as she ran for it. Just as she was about to get close enough for the sensor to open a newer, bigger monster jumped in front of her snarling as it smiled dangerously. Khariya fell back frightened, yelling out Padmè's name.

Padmè saw the different Geonosian appear and began shooting at it from her spot but the lasers didn't seem to affecting the thick hide of the thing.

"Khariya, I'm coming!" Padmè exclaimed trying to fight her way through the annoying little ones. Just as the corridor cleared in front of her she saw the one with Khariya grasp the girl by the waist and pull her back and into the walls. "Khariya!" Anakin appeared from behind her and didn't notice what happened to her.

"Get behind the door Padmè!" commanded Anakin. Padmè impulsively followed the order but stopped when the path itself stopped. Anakin turned off his weapon and looked at Padmè. "Where's Khariya!?"

"She was taken..." she replied. Anakin turned angrily back towards the door but it shut itself and locked. Suddenly the path lurched for a second. Padmè lost her balance and fell into one of the machine lines. The path lurched a second time and Anakin came tumbling after but to a different conveyor belt.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Padmè dodged the different machineries that were making weapons around her. She looked behind her to see if Anakin had followed her but the moment she turned her attention from keeping herself from falling, an arm knocked her body into a vast pail lined in dirt and scum.

"Anakin!" she screamed at the top of her lungs as she tried clawing her way from the hole but at any grip she could take hold the dirt would just deteriorate underneath her fingers. She looked at the dirt and realized what it was; it was old traces of liquid alloys and realized she was in the line for the bucket to be refilled. "C'mon... C'mon... Khariya! Anakin! Help me!!"

Instead of voices, she heard a familiar beeping. "R2!!! Stop this thing!" She heard a series of beeps that she was hoping would mean a yes. She looked up and her fears were confirmed. A dispenser was starting to open above her but just as the round hole opened to pour hot liquid on her, it closed and her pail was moved onto the walkways. It tilted and she tumbled ungracefully out of her hole. She was about to breathe a sigh of relief but she looked up and she saw an assemblage of Geonosians staring down at her pointing weapons.

"Damn..." she muttered standing up with her arms held out in surrender.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Anakin was busy. He had misjudged the direction he thought Padmè had gone and was going towards a totally different destination. The mechanical guards were coming at him from all sides and he could just barely deflect all of the shots coming at him. He thought he finally got cover as he lost them at a crossroads of dozens conveyor belts and he tumbled into an obscure one in the corners of the crossing but he tumbled into another predicament. His light saber flew out of his hand as he fell onto an awkward position.

"No!" he grunted. He ran back towards it and saw it landed on one of the metal contraptions glued onto the belt. Anakin made a dive for it and as soon his hand had gripped the hilt another metal covering was welded on top of his arm.

"Ergh..." Anakin pulled at his arm trying to pry away the cover but it wouldn't budge. He stopped his efforts as the belt turned a corner and the metal arms began to smash the objects. As he rolled his body away from being crushed into pieces, another arm smashed onto the metal holding his arm freeing it. He moved away quickly but as he regained footing on the ground he was surrounded by guards. He raised the hilt of his light saber up but as he tried to click it on he realized that the steel hilt was smashed.

"Not again!" he exclaimed. He looked at his captors helplessly. "Obi Wan's gonna kill me..."

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Khariya was taken by the monster to an official-looking chamber. It was mostly taken up by a large circular table and a man was on the other side with a dark cloak and a regal façade.

"Sit down, Khariya," the man said. She was plopped down on a seat and glared at the alien holding her in place by holding her hands and arms together at the back of her chair. "Do let her go, Amiertho. I don't believe she's stupid enough to think that she can escape us." The alien let her go and stepped back.

"Thanks for the compliment," Khariya replied sarcastically as she rubbed her sore arms.

"You made quite a racket on your way here, Khariya."

"Well, it isn't every day I get pulled through walls against my will by something I don't even know the name of no less," she snapped. "And speaking of names, you haven't had the manners of giving me yours when you clearly know mine." The man looked at her irritated.

"I am Count Dooku and it would be most appreciated if the attitude was put away, Khariya."

"Count Dooku, is it? You filthy little bastard. You're the one who's been putting a bounty on my sister's head," she hissed.

"You're not in the best place to be handing out insults, Khariya..."

"Miss Naberrie to YOU, Count Dooku," she interrupted.

"Fair enough but I do have to ask you milady," he said standing up and walking to her side. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to help my sister and my boyfriend stop your plan to overthrow the Republic, which by the way is the stupidest thing I've ever heard of," she added. Khariya could barely contain her insults but that was what she did when she was nervous or afraid and right then she was panicky and downright terrified but she knew better than to show it.

"It's a stupid idea to overthrow something that isn't working anymore?" He put a hand on her cheek and Khariya backed away disgusted.

"It only won't work when people like YOU refuse to work WITH it," she retorted. She glanced over his shoulder and then over hers. She saw a heavy bust of some alien behind Count Dooku and it seemed her captor had disappeared. With all her strength, she gathered the Force and threw it against Count Dooku's head knocking him down with a bloody cut across the head. She turned to run through the door but she was enveloped by invisible arms. A second later, Amiertho appeared holding her to him as she kicked and screamed.

"Let me go!!" she shrieked. Several guards helped Count Dooku who looked at Khariya with a bloody stare.

"You little brat," he spat out before hitting her across the cheek. Her screams turned silent for a moment in shock. Count Dooku turned to Amiertho with orders. "Tie her up and put her in a seat with a good view of the Coliseum. She needs to have a good view when her old Jedi friend is torn limb from limb..." The orders took Khariya out of shock and she started screaming obscenities at Count Dooku again as she kicked in the air while being taken away.

"And gag her!!" he shouted over her shrieks. The doors closed and Count Dooku took a cloth to cleanse his wound. His head was pounding in pain but he quickly took an aspirin and the ache ceased for the moment. He still had work to do. He sat himself down on the seat he occupied when Khariya was brought in. In a few moments, Senator Amidala Naberrie and Padawan Anakin Skywalker would be brought in for his proposition.

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Haha. How you like that? Okay so I'm onto the next chapter which should equally be as long because the two chapter after that are already written and.. Haha. We'll see what happens...