Futures Past

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Chapter 16- Rescued

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Padmé, can you hear me? Padmé? Obi Wan knew it was a long shot but at this juncture he had to take it. He knew it was only a matter of time before he was discovered.

Obi Wan?? How…

Thank the Force you're alright! We are communicating through the Force, I knew you could do it, just think back to me like you're doing. Do you know where you are? Are you hurt?

I don't know where they put me, Obi Wan please help me, Dooku keeps saying I belong to the Emperor or something, I'm so afraid.

Obi Wan shuddered with the intense feelings Padmé was radiating, Afraid was an understatement.

Don't worry, I'll get you out of this. No-one will hurt you. Just keep…feeling, I'll find you.

Obi Wan ducked down another hallway as more troopers marched past.

This is getting ridiculous. He tutted, deciding not to attack as it would draw more attention to himself. One incident could be attributed to a malfunction, not two.

He made his way into another hallway, feeling out Padmé with the Force. She was moving, though how that was possible he didn't know. The presence of the Force in her area greatly increased.

"Dooku." He whispered out loud, running into the next hallway, his heart pounding with worry.

"Hello Obi Wan."

*

Anakin sped back to the temple so fast he was sure he'd break the controls. His driving if possible was even more reckless and he narrowly avoided several collisions.

As soon as he reached the temple he leapt out of the speeder barely bothering to shut off the engine.

"Master Windu!" He screamed skidding to a halt in front of the Master.

"Anakin, back already?"

"It's….it's Padmé, Dooku has her, he kidnapped her in a cruiser and Obi Wan went after them, I saw the ship take off but I don't know anything else. I don't know where they went Master!" He gasped out very fast.

"Calm down, Anakin calm down!" Mace commanded. "We will find a way to make contact with Master Kenobi, but you must calm down. Use the Force."

Anakin took deep breaths and let the Force wash over him.

"Now, we will go to Master Yoda and see what we can do. Was the senator hurt that you could sense?"

"No, she was very pale though Master. She was scared, he had control over her body, she was very weak. I think she had been drugged, she had… different clothing on, so I'd think she must have been sedated probably more than once."

Mace nodded and motioned for Anakin to follow. He did obediently, hoping that Obi Wan could protect Padmé.

*

"Dooku." Obi Wan nodded, his eyes fleeting to Padmé and back again.

"Oh yes, she's still alive, barely." Dooku said, looking at the limp senator hanging in the air behind him with the Force. Obi Wan had a feeling that Padmé was showing more skin than she would've liked, and it was no wonder she had to be sedated to get into such an outfit.

"Your Emperor will never have her Dooku, you will die first." He said sounding braver than he felt.

"Tut, tut Obi Wan, you like her don't you. A little more than a Jedi should. More than you should. What would your Padawan say? What would Qui Gon say?"

Obi Wan swallowed, taking a deep breath to calm him. He didn't want Dooku getting to him with his emotions, and he certainly didn't want him knowing his thoughts, he immediately shielded his mind.

"Good boy, but you still have much to learn. Pity you will not live to learn it." Dooku drew his blood red lightsabre.

"You do not deserve to hold that weapon, you are a mockery of a Jedi, and you will not have the satisfaction of my death." Obi Wan raised his icy blue blade.

"We've done this before Jedi. And as we know, you came off less than favourably."

"That will change." He stepped towards the Count.

"Another move and I'll snap her neck." Dooku raised his hand towards Padmé.

Obi Wan stopped but said, "You wouldn't dare. If your Master wants her, you would not make a move to kill her."

"Can you be so sure, are you willing to stake her life on it?" Dooku flicked his hand and Padmé's head raised, an invisible grip tightening on her throat. She started to choke.

"STOP!" Obi Wan cried.

Dooku released his hold and smirked knowingly. "So, you do care for her. How… interesting."

"You know nothing Dooku, your black twisted heart is not capable of those emotions."

"You should've joined me when you had the chance Obi Wan, the senate is powerless now, the Jedi will crumble, as I said they always would. Too blind to even begin to be aware of their fate, they will know soon enough, when my Master sends your distorted shell back to them, a rotten corpse to be added to their unquenchable list of dead. They will be no more, and never will be again."

"I will not rest until I see you and your master fall, even if it kills me." Obi Wan spat.

"Good Obi Wan, feel your anger, embrace it. Strike me down and rid the world of my menace, kill me and condemn yourself. My Master killed Qui Gon you know, he trained the Sith that murdered him, just as I will murder you. He felt the life drain from his once great body, saw his soul scattered to the winds, you couldn't save him could you Obi Wan? You wanted to kill everything, and you would've done if it could've brought him back."

"Shut up!" Obi Wan screamed, "You aren't good enough to even think his name Dooku!"

"Good. Embrace your hatred, kill me! Or prove what a failure you really are, just as Qui Gon always thought you were."

"Liar!" Obi wan lunged towards him recklessly, knowing what Dooku was doing but powerless to fight it, Dooku fed his fears and spurred him on, fanning the flames that sprung up inside.

Dooku easily countered his blows, swinging round and catching Obi Wan's back, searing the flesh beneath the Jedi robes.

Obi Wan cried out, falling to the floor, he saw Padmé in the air, still floating, blurry eyes open watching with heightening horror at the fight.

You can do it Obi Wan, I know you can. You have to.

Obi Wan felt strength return to him, he felt her compassion through the Force and it warmed his soul. The Force flowed through his veins and soothed him, bringing power back to him.

He jumped back up, closing his eyes and feeling Dooku's movements, all the time Padmé's compassion and comforting radiated to him, giving potency.

He parried the blows back, flowing like water and moving like the wind. He pushed Dooku back with the Force, so now he was standing in front of Padmé and Dooku was on the other side of the corridor.

Just then a massive rumble swayed the ship, both fighters fought to keep their balance.

"Sir, we are being attacked, great plasma missiles are being fired at us, they've already taken out our shield generators, we are sitting ducks, what should we do?" Dooku's comm. link buzzed.

Obi Wan glared at Dooku as he bellowed into the link, "Don't just sit here you fools attack back."

Obi wan lunged at him again, breaking the link and searing Dooku's arm, Padmé dropped to the ground with a thud as Dooku turned on his heel and ran.

I will kill you Obi Wan. That's a promise. Was Dooku's last retort to him as the Count fled towards the control room and another hit rocked the ship.

"Padmé are you alright?" Obi Wan ran over to her.

"Thank you for saving me Obi Wan." She smiled kissing him on the cheek softly, before falling unconscious. He scooped her up gently in his strong arms, running back towards the door which he entered from.

Master, we are at the back of the ship, come to us and we'll get you out of here. Anakin's voice broke into his thoughts.

"Thank the Force." He said out loud, running to the doors. He smashed the button to open reinforced inner doors and saw a tubeway leading down to presumably the Jedi cruiser below. Anakin stood at the doorway, concern on his face. He instantly yanked Padmé from Obi Wan's grip, staggered slightly, as he was a more slight build, then ran down the tube, followed closely by Obi Wan.

Safe again. For now.

*

A rather abrupt ending I know, but I had a massive writers block and don't want to give any more away until the next chap, how evil I am,*evil cackle!*

Ahem, review please, tell me what you think, any suggestions welcome.

Thanks

xXx