Futures Past

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Chapter 15- Unwanted Visitors

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Obi Wan closed his eyes and concentrated on the living Force, just as Master Qui Gon had taught him to. He saw a small transport ship in his minds eye, landing among the warehouses, and Padmé struggling. He saw a red symbol on the wall of the warehouse and mentally made a note of it.

"What's wrong Master?" Anakin asked, dipping lower to the storehouses.

"Nothing, go, that one there, that's the one she's in."

They leapt out near the warehouse and crept through a broken window.

Obi Wan saw a ship in the distance, coming in their direction.

"Quickly, we haven't much time."

Anakin made to activate his lightsabre.

"No!" Obi Wan stopped him

We should talk like this so we don't attract attention. We need the element of surprise until we find her.

Anakin nodded silently. Should we split up Master? We could find Padmé much faster.

We remember our last encounter with Dooku Anakin, if you find him with Padmé I don't think you can face him alone.

Anakin frowned, feeling insulted that Obi Wan didn't consider him skilled. His anger radiated through the Force.

Anakin, I doubt I could take Dooku on with anything other than disastrous results. Calm down or he will sense us.

Anakin nodded, still a little angry. Obi Wan sensed he was dying to prove himself worthy.  

Very well Anakin, if you wish to split up. You check down here and I will look upstairs.

Anakin grinned and sped off, eager to prove his worth in the field. Obi Wan shook his head and made his way carefully up the stairs, trying to sense Dooku or Padmé with the Force, but she couldn't be detected. Her emotions and life signs could not be perceived by the Jedi.

Perhaps Dooku has already sensed us and is cloaking them both. He wondered, making sure his metal shields were up, pleased to sense Anakin had done the same.

He didn't want to activate his lightsabre because of the noise so crept, trying to sense any hidden dangers ahead. The long wooden corridor stretched ominously before him, and the chances of finding Padmé seemed to get smaller, he was painfully aware of the low hum of a transport quite near.

Deciding to check every room he started nearest. Lunging into each room, ready for attack but always ending up empty handed, he sensed Anakin was having the same luck.

He reached back to the stairs and found what he'd thought to first be a cupboard when he'd passed it, it seemed to be a door, and there were Padmé's vibrations from there. Hearing the whir of the ship above he threw caution to the wind in desperation.

He ignited his lightsabre and kicked through the door, ready to defend. He was met with an empty room, with large windows which were flung open. Dooku stood by them with Padmé in an iron grasp, she was barely conscious and in a rather… revealing outfit. Obi Wan was sickened at the sight, Dooku even putting his hands on her filled him with hatred and anger.

"Let her go Dooku. I don't know what you're planning, but it ends now."

"…Obi… Obi Wan?" Padmé croaked in confusion.

"Yes Padmé I'm here." He tried to send her reassurance and soothing thoughts through the Force, he hoped she wasn't hurt.

"We won't be for long." Dooku growled looking backwards at the landing ship.

"You're not going anywhere."

Anakin, I've found her, first room at the stairs. He quickly informed his protégé, before stepping slowly towards Dooku.

"Lets end this Dooku, let her go, what do you want with her anyway?"

"It's not so much what I want, though I wouldn't mind. It is my Master who so desires the lovely senator here." Dooku smiled a sinister knowing smile and Obi Wan suppressed a shudder.

Anakin chose that moment to burst dramatically through the door, lightsabre blazing like his eyes.

Dooku chuckled lightly.

"Master and apprentice, can't find one without the other, I will send you both to hell together then."

The hum of the transport's engines grew almost deafening.

"It's your lucky day, your deaths will have to wait. Certainly not your lucky day is it senator?" He stroked Padmé's cheek and smirked at the two Jedi before leaping from the window.

"Padmé!" Anakin screamed as Obi Wan ran to the window, lightsabre ablaze.

"Anakin, get back to the temple. Tell them what happened!" He cried before leaping out too.

"Master! But I-" But he was already gone. Anakin slammed his fist into the wall and ran back towards the speeder.

*

Obi Wan landed on his feet, with the grace of a cat, and ran towards the craft, swinging his lightsabre in anticipation.

Dooku had just got on board and the ramp was closing fast. He leapt onto the craft's 'foot' and balanced there, bringing his lightsabre up onto the joint of the closing door as the ship lifted from the ground. He didn't particularly want to cut his way through the entire circuitry in the hollow where the ships feet were stored during flight, though the alternative was more risky, but he knew he had to do it. He plunged his weapon deep into the strong metal of the door joint quickly melting a hole through it. He managed to get through and into the main ship just before the reinforced inner doors swung shut.

At least we won't all be sucked out of the hold due to air pressure. Obi Wan thought, but it was not particularly comforting. Padmé could be anywhere inside this starship, and Obi Wan had no idea of its destination.

I'll just have to work my way through I suppose. He ducked into a darkened alcove, deactivating his Jedi weapon as some guards -Dressed like the clone troopers… he thought in confusion- marched past him with guns at the ready.

They must be investigating the hole in the outer wall. Wouldn't do for them to identify a lightsabre hole would it? He leapt from the hallway using the Force to push them back, flying into the inner door, he activated his lightsabre again, scything it forward and killing them all in one blow. He opened the doors and the three were sucked into space.

I hope the control room didn't notice that. He thought, running down the hallway and away from the scene. He had a feeling his presence wouldn't go unnoticed for long.

*

"Sir, the troopers aren't responding, the last recording was of a hum, and a crash. They must have been attacked or there was a weapons malfunction."

"It certainly wasn't a weapons malfunction commander. We have an unwanted guest on board, and I know where he'll be heading. Let me handle this." Dooku turned from the window, and strode out of the control room, lightsabre firmly in hand.

This should be interesting Obi Wan, you don't have Yoda to save you now. Let's see what you've really got.

*