Chapter 7

Reunions

Anakin Skywalker cringed at the memory of Dooku's parting words; "I'm leaving you in charge here. I wish I could give you command, but your past errors force me to tell you, that you are not authorized take any independent action while I'm gone."

Anakin, however, learned there was a silver lining in Dooku's black cloud. Padm's opinion of him was as good as the Count's was bad. Anakin admitted to himself that even Padm's adoptive father, Councilor Yoda, treated him with something other than cold indifference. Imagine his dread when the Count returned and informed him that the pair was invited to join the Councilor's family for dinner that evening.

"Perhaps, I should find another way to serve the Emperor rather than in his army," Anakin mused during the quiet dinner. "After all there must be another way to show my gratitude for my release from slavery other than under the thumb of Count Dooku."

The dinner finished and the table cleared, Padmé joined Anakin on the settee in front of the fire. Across the room Yoda and Qui-Gon played a game of Sabaac under the watchful eye of Count Dooku. The Count, having many years of military training, felt he was the best person to offer advice on which moves would win the game.

"Won again, you did Qui-Gon," Yoda said as he watched the Healer's piece clear the board. "Think you would, win a game I could, at my age," Yoda declared to the Count.

"Would you care to play a game with me, Count Dooku?" Qui-Gon asked quietly. "I'm sure that with your years as an accomplished tactician a game played against you would prove quite interesting.

"Grown men have better things to do with their time than to play foolish games. Even ones that are a challenge," Dooku replied arrogantly.

Just then Obi-Wan entered the room. "I'm sorry for interrupting father but a messenger has arrived wishing to see Count Dooku."

"Good. It's about time. Show him in," the Count said not giving Yoda an opportunity to answer his son.

Everyone looked up expectantly as the sergeant entered the room to make his report.

"We're working with the Aggressive Military Recruitment Branch to search the marshes and swamps thoroughly."

"Yes," Dooku snapped with exasperation. "I know that. Tell me that all of the deserters have been apprehended."

"They have," the human officer replied. "That is all but one."

Dooku, who looked smugly at the others in the room, whirled around demanding, "What do you mean all but one? With all your advanced training and scanners how did you let him escape?"

"The prisoner was moving toward Theed an hour ago. But we lost her in the swamps. We need permission to search houses and other buildings near the marshes."

"Granted. Search the entire city. Allow no exceptions," Dooku ordered.

As the sergeant left the room Dooku turned to Yoda with a gleam in his eyes and a broad smirk on his face. "This is the chance I have waited for! I have wanted to turn this city inside out. With the reputation Theed has, it's little wonder that a deserter would come this way. She knows someone will help her get away with her treasonous behavior."

Qui-Gon's soft voice interrupted the Count's gloating, "That is not true."

Dooku shrugged. "The people of the city shield the Jedi, don't they? Many of them, in fact, are members of his band. Why would they think this law is any different? When I find the persons responsible, you will see the Emperor's justice."

For several minutes a deathly silence permeated the room. Then Qui-Gon rose from his seat and bowed to the room. "Thank you for a wonderful dinner Padmé and you for good game of Sabaac, Yoda. I think it's time that I return home. There are a few patients to care for before I go to bed."

"I'll see you to your speeder, Master Healer," Obi-Wan said.

Goodnights were exchanged between all parties and the young blond man walked the tall healer to the door. As Obi-Wan helped Qui-Gon with his cloak they could hear Dooku still ranting and they exchanged worried glances.

"The swamps are under military control now, Master Yoda. I have orders from the Emperor himself giving me that authority. If you have any objections to my procedures, feel free to address them to Palpatine. I'm not a cruel man and I remember your feelings about Aggressive Military placement. I will remove myself from your company. Goodnight. Skywalker we're leaving."

"We'll have the Count's company longer than I would have liked," Qui-Gon murmured to his companion.

"I need to warn Mistress Yaddle that her inn will be searched. Her guest should take extra care," Obi-Wan replied

As the two officers of the Emperor's military were leaving, Padmé rushed forward and bowed with respect to Dooku. "Count, would you allow Anakin to stay a little longer? For me please."

"A few minutes, Miss Padmé," Dooku responded not bothering to hide his annoyance. "Anakin you have 15 minutes. I will wait for you outside. Make it quick."

Only Padmé was pleased by the Count's sudden change in disposition. As Qui-Gon, Dooku, and Obi-Wan walked out the door Padmé turned to Anakin. "We can speak with father now."

"I don't think now is the best time. With the mention of the deserters and the Count's plans for Theed, he will not want to talk about that," Anakin said pressing his lips to Padm's forehead.

Outside Siri, Councilor Yoda's driver, waited to tell the healer why he could not take his old speeder home. "Ah sir," she interjected. "I'm afraid you will need to borrow one of Master Yoda's speeders tonight. Yours will not start."

"Oh! No, I couldn't! There is no way I could control a speeder that goes that fast," Qui-Gon informed the girl while dramatically empathizing the speed.

Siri nodded her head; a shadow of mild disgust crossed her face. She felt grown men should have more courage. It was obvious that the aging healer could not be one of the Jedi's knights if he was that concerned about speed. "I could drive you if Master Obi-Wan agrees."

Obi-Wan was about to agree when he felt a sharp jab in his ribs. "That's a good idea. But Obi-Wan why don't you drive me? That way you can deliver the medicine to your father and Mistress Siri can go to bed. I'm sure that you will drive slow enough not to send my heart into distress," Qui-Gon said good-naturedly.

Siri looked away from the healer to hide her disgust. That was fine, she didn't want to drive the coward to the infirmary anyway. He might say she was driving too fast and then Master Yoda would dismiss her. Her answer to the two men was cut short as a deep voice interrupted the conversation.

"Really Healer you set a bad example for young Obi-Wan. You're a man in an important position; it's unbecoming of you to fear something as trivial as a speeder. If you were in the military they would have made a man out of you long ago. You would have learned a thing or two about how to treat underlings too," Dooku sneered as he climbed into his own vehicle.

Qui-Gon sighed and turned dramatically to his younger companion and said, "Yes, I agree. Obi-Wan take Count Dooku's lesson to heart and remember his advice. You never know when it will come in handy."

Obi-Wan nodded very seriously as if the information was the most important gift ever given him. "Yes of course."

One moment Dooku looked pleased with the fact he'd passed on his knowledge to a young and impressionable mind and the next moment completely irritated. "Where is that dim-witted Skywalker? I told him a few minutes. It would serve him right if I left him to walk home. Yes, that's exactly what I intend to do. I'll deal with him in the morning. I'm not in the mood to wait any longer."

"Poor Anakin. He suffers constantly under that man," Obi-Wan remarked, watching the Count drive away.

"Anakin can take care of himself. We need to take care of Bant," Qui-Gon murmured quietly as he pulled Obi-Wan in the direction of the speeder garage.

"Bant!?"

Qui-Gon's long legs rapidly sped across distance to the garage, so rapidly in fact that Obi-Wan had to run to keep up.

"Did it cross your mind that the deserter they're looking for is your sister?" Qui-Gon asked patiently.

Obi-Wan was not mentally slow but even he was having trouble understanding Qui-Gon's logic. "If it's Bant why did you send Siri away? Everyone needs to be out on the marshes looking for her. Not wasting time with Dooku."

"I would prefer that no one discerns that I can handle as speeder as well as you. It just might save your sister's life," Qui-Gon said as he stopped short of the garage door.

Obi-Wan paled as Qui-Gon continued to speak. "Also if the deserter is Bant then she would head for the last place she felt safe. Here. She could be hiding in the speeder area and I didn't want Siri to know."

Trembling, Obi-Wan stepped through the door. When the lights flickered on, Qui-Gon, watched as a small figure secreted itself behind one of the speeders. He was aware from the shadow on the wall that the person was holding a vibroblade.

"If you're the deserter," Qui-Gon's soft voice whispered, "We're here to help you. I'm Qui-Gon Jinn, healer of Theed."

"Master Jinn," a small weak voice replied as a young Mon Calamarian female stepped from behind one of the speeders and fainted.

Obi-Wan raced over to the slumped figure lying prone on the floor and gently turned her over. He gasped as he recognized his sister. "It is Bant." He picked the girl up in his arms and rocked her back and forth. "We thought you were… you were …." Obi-Wan could not finish his sentence.

Bant tried to smile. She knew how much her family had missed her. Seeing them again was the only thing that had kept her going those five long years. "Oh, my Obi, you've grown so much."

Qui-Gon hated to interrupt the touching reunion but he realized the young girl was still in trouble. "Bant did you just arrive on your father's estate?"

"Yes, I hid in here when I saw the soldiers entering the buildings," Bant replied tiredly.

"They're searching for you. They're executing all deserters from the Emperor's service. We need to hide you at once. Count Dooku has ordered everyone to be searched and with his wrath the soldiers will waste no time," Qui-Gon gently reminded the pair.

"But Qui-Gon, what about father? He has wanted to see Bant and know she is all right. We can't take her away and not let him know she's alive," Obi-Wan implored.

Qui-Gon placed a comforting hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder and said, "I know it's hard, Obi-Wan. But we need to get her out of here before Anakin sees her. Go to the house and bring Yoda out here. Do not tell him about Bant," Qui-Gon warned as he picked up the young girl.

Anakin was right when he told Padmé they should choose another time to talk to the Councilor. Yoda wasted no time in denying Anakin's request to marry his adopted daughter.

"Notice your interest in her, I did. Learned about you, I did. Not happy, am I. Slave you were before serving the Emperor."

Anakin bowed to the tiny being, "It's true my mother and I were slaves. But I won my freedom in a pod…."

"Live on military pay you do. After my daughter's inheritance you are," Yoda interrupted.

Anakin nodded and swallowed the lump developing in his throat. "As Padme's father you want to protect her. And to do that you feel you are privileged to question my honor but you're not. I love Padmé and if you don't believe me there is nothing I can do."

"Then goodnight I bid you," Yoda snapped.

Anakin turned on his heal leaving the room so quickly that he nearly knocked over Padmé. "I'm sorry my love. Your father will not allow us to marry. I tried to speak with him reasonably but he accused me of wanting your inheritance."

Padmé was saved from answering as her brother rushed into the room. She looked at him in confusion. He was pale and looked as if he'd seen a ghost.

Anakin took this moment of confusion to pull Padmé into his arms and kiss her. "I'll marry you even if your father doesn't approve."

Padmé shook her head in denial and Anakin sighed. "I'll try to speak with your father again before doing anything drastic."

Again Padmé was unable to reply as her brother followed by her father entered the room and the two teens jumped apart.

"Your bedtime it is," Yoda told his daughter. "Leaving you were Mr. Skywalker."

In the garage Bant was explaining to Qui-Gon the conditions of service in the Emperor's army.

"We were forced to use arms against children and old people," Bant said after a sip of water. "It didn't matter that they had given up or did not resist."

"I understand…" Qui-Gon started before he was interrupted by Obi-Wan and Yoda entering the room.

"Qui-Gon, need me you do?" Yoda asked before he had seen his other daughter.

"Yes, I did. I want you to meet someone." With a slight grin he pointed to the Mon Calamarian girl, "Meet your long lost daughter, Bant."

tbc