Disclaimer: I own none of this, except the plot. And even most of that belongs to Lucas. Buffy and Willow belong to Joss. No profit is being made off of this, other than the gratitude I feel when I read your reviews.
Quick Author's Note: Holy Hannah! I put out a call for a beta, and almost all of you who responded offered. So I would like to give thanks to all of you who offered, and special thanks to my new Beta's- Winterd, whose own story 'Phantom's and Slayers' inspired this little epic; Shadow Master, who has the Xander-centric Star Wars cross-over 'Divergence' on and FallenStar2, whose work inspired my own story 'Harry Potter and the Light Brigade', and who is one of my favourite authors on I recently found these two stories: 'Harry Potter and the Six Founders' and The Centaur's Shrine' by Arnaldus, quite possible the finest Harry Potter political thriller that I've ever read. Give 'em a try
Episode 2 Chapter 7
Arrival on Geonosis
Obi-Wan Kenobi was having a bad week.
It had started out simple enough - find out who was trying to kill Senator Amidala. Dex's realization about the origins of the dart had led him back to the Temple's archives, were he searched for the Kamino system for hours. When he couldn't find it, he suggested to Jocasta Nu, the Jedi archivist, that the archives were perhaps not complete…
Well, she didn't take that suggestion too well.
Which made him wonder, with a wry grin, how she would feel when she learned that the archives were not complete, tampering or not, and that mere younglings answered the riddle her precious archives had failed to.
The younglings had pointed him in the direction of the Kamino system, where he finally found his missing planet. Kamino was a world that had been suffering from a catastrophic climate shift for several hundred years now - one of the planets in the system had been destroyed, shifting Kamino's orbit and causing the massive ice caps to melt, which in turn caused the chaotic weather and massive, year-round storms that plagued the Kaminoans. But despite the hardships, the thin, long-necked aliens were known as the premier cloners in the galaxy.
It was on Kamino that Obi-Wan found the most disturbing piece of the puzzle. Not only did he find Jango Fett, the bounty hunter he had been searching for, but also the clone army he was being used as a template for. A Clone army, he was informed, that had been ordered by Jedi Master Syfo-Dias for the Republic.
After informing the Council, he had been ordered to arrest the bounty hunter and bring him back to the Temple for questioning. That didn't go very well - for a human, he was especially clever and devious. Even with the Force on his side, he was still hard pressed to just survive the encounter and he had just been able to place the tracking device on his ship before he escaped.
He then managed to track Fett to Geonosis, where his day took a turn for the worse when the bounty hunter had nearly blown him out of space. But his trip to Geonosis had proved even more fruitful than he would have anticipated. Finding the droid factories, finding out the Trade Federation was behind the assassination attempts, learning Count Dooku's plans… all of it was more than he was expecting to find and all the more disturbing as well. He had managed to get most of that info to the Council before he had been captured by the Destroyer droids.
So now, he was stung up in a full energy binder rack, wondering exactly two things - how long the Council would take to rescue him, and how long it would take Anakin to disobey his orders yet again and try to rescue him himself.
"Well…this is bad." Buffy pointed out, staring at the spot where the hologram had been moments ago. On Coruscant, Masters Yoda and Windu were also watching the hologram with keen interest.
"Alive, he is," Yoda said. "Feel him in the Force, I can."
"But they have taken him," Mace added, "and the wheels have begun to spin more dangerously."
"More happening on Geonosis, I feel, than has been revealed."
"I agree," Mace said, looking at Yoda, along with the rest of the Council. "We must not sit idly by."
"The Dark Side, I feel," Yoda said tiredly as he stretched out his feelings into the Force. "And all is cloudy."
Mace nodded in agreement, then turned his grim expression on to the rest of the Council and gave an order that hadn't been heard in many, many years. "Assemble." Mace then turned back to the comlink.
"We will deal with Count Dooku. The most important thing for you, Anakin, is to stay where you are. Protect the Senator at all costs. That is your first priority."
"Understood, Master." Anakin replied.
"That goes for you too, Buffy," Mace continued, turning his glare on his Padawan. "You've already disobeyed orders leaving Naboo. When this has been settled, you and I will have to have a little talk about obeying the chain of command."
"Yeah, and after that, we can have a little chat about dream interpretation," Buffy shot back with a glare. The student and master glared at one another for another few moments before the comlink was switched off.
Padmè quickly moved over to the Navcomputer, confirming what she already suspected. "They have to come halfway across the galaxy." She turned back to Anakin and Buffy. "They'll never get there in time to save him."
"No." Anakin said, already knowing what she was thinking.
"Yes," she replied
"No."
"Yes!"
"No!" Anakin's tone had turned into a half-whine now.
"Yes!"
"They're already acting like a married couple," Willow muttered, eliciting a small chuckle from Buffy.
"You can't seriously expect me to take you to Geonosis."
"It's less than a parsec away!"
"It's too dangerous, Padmè," Buffy interrupted. "You go to Geonosis and you'll literally be walking into the lion's den. Remember, these people want to kill you."
"Well, to hell with that!" Padmè shouted, to the surprise of the two Jedi. Willow only got a despairing look on her face. "I'm tired of running," Padmè continued. "I've spent the last few weeks living in fear of being killed and being bossed around by you, the Jedi Council, even the Chancellor. I've been forced to flee from Coruscant to Naboo to Tatooine... and I've had it. I'm done listening to everyone with their good intentions and their orders for my safety. I am going to Geonosis. I'm going to rescue Obi-Wan and hopefully stop a war before it starts. If you want to follow your orders, Anakin, you'll have to come with me. Willow, Buffy, you're welcome to stay behind. But I'm going. No more running."
"She used to be such a straight-laced, sensible person." Willow mused after a few moments. "Now she gets rebellious."
"I don't suppose we can talk you out of this?" Anakin asked.
"The Separatists are going to see this coming," Buffy added.
"No," Padmè shook her head. "They won't see this coming."
Anakin looked up at his sister, then at Willow, who spoke before he could say anything.
"She goes, I go," she said. Anakin then turned to Buffy, who shrugged.
"Hell, since when do I listen to Master Windu?" she asked, then grinned. "Let's misbehave."
Anakin quickly went back inside the house to grab their gear, and tell their mother they were leaving. A few minutes later he was back on the ship, which soon rose off the desert floor and into the Tatooine sky.
Back on Coruscant, Mace sat in the Chancellors office, but his mind was on his headstrong Padawan. There's no way she is going to listen to me, he thought to himself as Yoda recounted to the Chancellor and representatives of the Senate what they had learned, I just hope she doesn't get into to much trouble. Mace gazed around the room, looking at who was present. Masters Yoda, Ki-Adi-Mundi, and himself represented the Jedi; Senators Bail Organa, Ask Aak, and Representative Binks stood for the Senate, and Chancellor Palpatine was present flanked by his aid, Mas Amedda, listening to all with an air of apparent despair.
"The Commerce Guild is preparing for war," Bail said as Master Yoda finished. "Given the report of Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi, there can be no doubt of that."
"If the report is accurate," Ask Aak responded.
"It is, Senator," Mace Windu assured the Senator.
"Count Dooku must have made a treaty with them," Palpatine reasoned.
"We must stop them before they are ready," Bail said.
Jar Jar Binks moved to the front and nervously interrupted, "Excueze me, yousa honorable Supreme Chancellor, sir. Maybe dissent Jedi stoppen the rebel army."
"Thank you, Jar Jar," Palpatine replied politely, before turning to Yoda once more. "Master Yoda, how many Jedi are available to go to Geonosis?"
"Throughout the galaxy, thousands of Jedi there are," Yoda replied. "To send on a special mission, only two hundred are available."
"With all due respect to the Jedi Order, that doesn't sound like enough," Bail said.
"Through negotiation the Jedi maintain peace," Yoda responded. "To start a war, we do not."
"The debate it over!" Ask Aak shouted. "Now we need that clone army."
"Unfortunately, the debate is not over," Bail pointed out. "The Senate will never approve the use of the army before the Separatists attack. And by then, it will be too late."
"This is a crisis," Mass Amedda interjected. "The Senate must vote the Chancellor emergency powers! He could then approve the use of the clones."
Palpatine seemed to be profoundly shaken at the suggestion. "But what Senator would have the courage to propose such a radical amendment?"
"If only Senator Amidala were here…" Mas Amedda reasoned. And with those words, Jar Jar Binks, special Representative from Naboo, made the choice that would, unbeknownst to him, alter the galaxy in more ways than he could imagine.
Obi-Wan Kenobi was bored.
Still strung up in the energy binding field, he wasn't too concerned about his fate - he trusted in himself and in the Force that everything would work out in the end. He was mildly concerned about what his Padawan would do but he had faith that Buffy would keep him out of too much trouble. So he just hung in the energy binders, spinning slowly through the air with nothing to do but stare at the stone walls.
At least until Dooku walked in the room. Finally, maybe I can get some answers.
"Traitor," he spat to the regal-looking man as Dooku walked slowly around the spinning Jedi.
"Hello, my friend. This is a mistake. A terrible mistake. They've gone too far. This is madness!"
"I thought you were the leader here, Dooku," Obi-Wan replied calmly.
"This had nothing to do with me, I assure you," The regal former-Jedi insisted. "I promise you that I will petition immediately to have you set free."
"Well, I hope it doesn't take to long. I have work to do."
Dooku eyed Obi-Wan critically. "May I ask why a Jedi Knight is all the way out here on Geonosis?"
Obi-Wan took a moment to consider his options. Seeing little harm in reveal at least some of the truth, and hoping to gauge Dooku's reactions to see how deep the former Jedi was in, he spoke. "I've been tracking a bounty hunter named Jango Fett. Do you know him?"
"There are no bounty hunters here that I'm aware of. Geonosians don't trust them."
"Well, who can blame them?" Obi-Wan replied. "But he is here, I assure you."
Count Dooku nodded, appearing to concede the point. Then he looked at Obi-Wan thoughtfully. "It's a great pity that our paths have never crossed before, Obi-Wan," he said, his voice warm and inviting. "Qui-Gon always spoke very highly of you." He sighed. "I wish he was still alive - I could use his help right now."
"Qui-Gon Jinn would never join you."
"Don't be so sure, my young Jedi," Dooku replied, the assurance in his voice giving Obi-Wan pause. "You forget that Qui-Gon was once my apprentice just as you were once his."
"You believe that brings loyalty above his loyalty to the Jedi Council and the Republic?"
"He knew all about the corruption in the Senate," Dooku said matter-of-factly, not missing a beat. "They all do, of course. Yoda and Mace Windu. But Qui-Gon would never have gone along with the status quo, with that corruption, if he had known the truth as I have."
Despite himself, Obi-Wan couldn't help but be intrigued. "The truth?"
"The truth," Count Dooku replied confidently. "What if I told you that the Republic was now under the control of the Dark Lords of the Sith?"
"No!" Obi-Wan denied, desperately hoping that it wasn't true. He and Buffy alone among the Jedi had faced a Sith Lord, and he knew how deadly they could be. "That's not possible. The Jedi would be aware of it."
"The Dark Side of the Force has clouded their visions, my friend," Dooku calmly replied. "Hundreds of Senators are now under the influence of a Sith Lord called Darth Sidious."
"I don't believe you," Obi-Wan replied flatly. But deep inside he had his own doubts.
"The viceroy of the Trade Federation was once on league with this Darth Sidious. But he was betrayed ten years ago by the Dark Lord. He came to me for help. He told me everything. The Jedi Council would not believe him. I tried many times to warn them, but they wouldn't listen to me. Once they sense the Dark Lord's presence, it will be too late. You must join with me, Obi-Wan, and together we will destroy the Sith!"
To say Obi-Wan wasn't tempted by the offer would be a lie. The though of bringing down the Sith, once and for all… but that in itself was the problem. The offer was a little too logical, a little too neat. And, as Buffy was fond of saying, in the end it just didn't smell right.
"I'll never join you." Obi-Wan finally replied.
The cultured Jedi gave a great disappointed sigh and then turned to leave. "It may be difficult to secure your release," he tossed back as he exited the chamber.
"Are we there yet?"
Buffy sighed in irritation. She sighed once more when she saw the grin on her friend's face.
"You say that one more time, and I'll turn this starship right around…"
"We're coming up on Geono…shit," Anakin finished, staring at the sensor screen. "We got company."
Buffy looked at the screen and grimaced. "Tai-kong suo-yo duh shing-chiou sai-jin wuh duh pee-goo."
Willow looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "No, it's just the one planet there."
"And a fleet of Trade Federation ships between the planet and us."
"That's not cool."
"Ani, take over," Buffy said to her brother as she vacated the pilot's chair. "You're the better pilot."
"Right," Ani replied, sitting down behind the controls. "If we need to ram them, I'll let you know."
"You make one simple mistake, and it haunts you for the rest of your life…"
"Any ideas?" Padmè asked as she placed her hands on the back of the pilots chair and leaned forward over Anakin's shoulder to look out the cockpit window. Anakin nodded.
"We go through the asteroid belt."
"You want to fly into an asteroid belt?" Padmè asked incredulously.
"Sir, the possibility of successfully navigating an asteroid field is approximately 3,720 to 1!" Threepio stated in a panic.
Anakin didn't even spare the droid a glance back. "Never tell me the odds," he said as he slipped the sleek starship into the asteroid belt. "It's simple. We use the asteroids to shield us from the Trade Federation ships. Once on the other side, we take a straight line down to the planet's surface."
Anakin had little difficulty navigating through the asteroids, and soon they were flying low over the surface of the planet. Anakin looked around, searching for some signs of the droid factories his master spoke of. Padmè was the first to spot them.
"See those columns of steam straight ahead?" she asked, pointing to a spot on the horizon. "They're exhaust vents of some sort."
"That'll do," Anakin said. He brought the ship right into the middle of one of the steam plumes and gently brought the ship down to the ground. Once landed, the four stood and prepared to leave the ship.
"Look, whatever happens out there, follow our lead," Padmè told the Jedi, motioning to herself and her sister. "I'm not interested in getting into a war here. As members of the Senate, maybe we can find a diplomatic solution to this mess."
"And if that doesn't work, start blowing stuff up," Willow added, ignoring the glare Padmè gave her. Buffy chuckled, and Anakin nodded.
"Don't worry. I've given up trying to argue with you," he said. Padmè smiled, and then turned to the two droids that stood off to the side.
"Stay with the ship," she said, as the four walked down the walkway and into the droid factory.
Well, that went well. Buffy thought sarcastically as she, Willow, Anakin and Padmè were brought into large conference room. They took a seat at the end, and Buffy took the opportunity to glance around the table. Surrounding them on three sides were various and very recognizable aliens - Buffy saw representatives of the Commerce Guild, the Techno-Union, the Geonosians, the Trade Federation- and seated front and center was Count Dooku. Jango Fett stood behind him, looking intimidating.
It had started well enough. They had made their way into the droid factory - and then they had been attacked by the never ending Geonosian guards who had hidden in the walls. Things degenerated from there quickly - all four had been forced into the massive production floor and had been separated. Willow had been taken out early; she had missed the initial fall onto the belt Padmè had landed on and fallen to a lower belt, hitting her head and knocking her out. Padmè had ended up trapped in a molten metal bucket, and had only been saved by timely intervention from Artoo Deetoo. Anakin and herself had more success fending off the soldiers until Anakin's lightsaber had been destroyed and they had been surrounded by destroyer droids and the bounty hunter that now stood behind the Count.
Yeah. Definitely could have gone better. Buffy thought as Padmè spoke.
"You are holding a Jedi Knight, Obi-Wan Kenobi," she said calmly, using the same tone she used in formal senate negotiations. "I am formally requesting you turn him over to me now."
"He has been convicted of espionage, Senator, and will be executed. In just a few hours, I believe."
"He is an officer of the Republic. You can't do that."
"We don't recognize the Republic here," Dooku replied. "However, if Naboo were to join our alliance, I could easily hear your plea for clemency."
"And if I don't join your rebellion, I assume these Jedi with me will also die."
"I don't wish to make you join our cause against your will, Senator. But, you are a rational, honest representative of your people and I assume you want to do what is in their best interest. Aren't you fed up with the corruption, the bureaucrats, and the hypocrisy of it all? Aren't you? Be honest, Senator."
Padmè took a breath, and tried to hide how his words had stung her. Nevertheless, she wouldn't let him shake her from what she believed was right. "The ideals are still alive, Count, even if the institution is failing."
"You believe in the same ideals we believe in!" Dooku shot back, seizing the apparent opportunity. "The same ideals we are striving to make prominent."
"If what you say is true you should stay in the Republic and help Chancellor Palpatine put things right."
"The Chancellor means well, my lady, but he is incompetent," Dooku said. "He has promised to cut the bureaucracy but the bureaucrats are stronger than ever. The Republic cannot be fixed, Senator. It is time to start over. The democratic process in the Republic is a sham. A game played on the voters. The time will come when that cult of greed called the Republic will lose even the pretext of democracy and freedom. Everything you have fought for since you became Queen will have been for nothing. This is how liberty dies, with greed and ignorance. It is time the game is finished."
Padmè steeled herself against the assault, consciously reminding herself that he was exaggerating the truth to give himself more credibility. All she had to do was see past the lies and innuendo and see what he was actually doing. Building an army, starting a way, summarily executing his enemies…
"I cannot believe that," she piped, her determination renewed. "I know of your treaties with the Trade Federation, the Commerce Guild and others, Count. What is happening here is not government that has been bought out by business, it is business becoming government!"
"Then you will betray your Jedi friends? Without your cooperation, I can do nothing to stop their execution."
"It seems to me our execution has been on your agenda from the start, Count," Willow piped in, her tone accusatory. "We're aware that the Trade Federation put the hit out on my sister and I and we can see the same bounty hunter now works for you."
"Mr. Fett oversees my personal security," Dooku replied smoothly. "But he is a bounty hunter. If he took other jobs, he has done so without my knowledge."
"I wasn't aware someone as well-trained in the Jedi arts would need a bodyguard," Buffy drawled, her voice rich with sarcasm. Dooku's eyes narrowed, then he turned to Fett.
"Jango, please escort the prisoners to their cells. Make sure they are comfortable. I don't want them mistreated before their execution." His eyes turned over to the small blonde. "Leave her."
"On your feet," the helmeted bounty hunter growled and several droids moved to lift them up. Anakin opened his mouth to protest, but fell silent at the large weapon the bounty hunter had shoved underneath his chin. "Move."
Two heavy battle droids roughly picked up Buffy, who shouted in protest. "Hey, watch the shirt!"
"So…" Dooku began, looking over the Padawan. "You are the Jedi that my Master is so worried about. I must admit - I was expecting someone a bit…taller."
Buffy glared in return. "Yeah, and I thought you'd be a little younger. Wasn't expecting this amazing leader of the Separatists to be a member of the AARP." At his confused look, she sighed, "Don't even bother. It's an Earth thing."
"I must admit that I was intrigued when you were admitted to the temple, Padawan. Never before in the history of the Jedi has one so old been admitted. And never before has one so reckless been allowed to stay."
Buffy shrugged, "What can I say? I'm special."
"You could very well become the most powerful Jedi…"
"Please, spare me the seduction talk," Buffy cut in. "You," she pointed at him, "are the bad guy. I," she pointed to herself, "am the good guy. It's my job to kick your ass. And nothing you say or do is going to change that."
Dooku shook his head in disappointment, "Most unfortunate. As you will come to learn, I do not suffer fools. Nor does the Dark Lord."
"Dark Lord?" Buffy replied mockingly. "What, you work for Voldemort or something?"
"Gentlemen, please hold her here for a moment," he told the droids. Dooku rose and slowly walked around the table towards the captive Slayer.
"The Dark Lord has told me many things about you, Padawan Skywalker. He's seen how dangerous you can be. So I'm afraid we'll have to take some…extra… precautions."
Buffy eyed Dooku warily as the Count snapped his fingers. A battle droid appeared behind him, a familiar device in its hand. Buffy's eyes widened in panic, and she started thrashing, struggling to break free of the droids grip.
"NO!" she screamed as another droid held her head still, allowing its compatriot to place the control collar around her neck. "GET IT OFF! NO!"
Count Dooku finally let the regal mask fall off and smiled evilly at the younger Jedi. "My Master was looking forward to seeing this in person. Alas, he will just have to make do with a holo-recording. You have been a thorn in our side for far too long, Skywalker. Interfering with our plans, forcing us to tread even more carefully…well, now I think it's about time to repay your kindness." And with that, he activated the collar, turning the energy output to full, and savored her screams as they ran through the halls of the citadel.
TBC…
Well, all of my author's notes were at the beginning this time. I will just say that I am finishing this Episode up even as I post this chapter.
Onto...Review Responses:
Devinedesire: I'm sorry I haven't gotten back to you on your story yet; I promise I'll do it this week. I've just been busy as hell with work. Thanks for your offer, but in the end I found some Beta's after all.
RaeAngel: Glad you liked it. Hope to hear from you again with this chapter!
Jedi-Princess: Well, they lost all of those people, but they got Joey Styles. OH MY GOD! Glad to hear you're feeling better, though I'm more fond of Margaritaville myself.
Paul: Thanks for the offer, but I've found some new Beta's after all. Hope you like the latest chapters, though.
General Mac: Thanks for the offer. Hope you liked the new chapter!
Cycloneozgirl: Faith's role will be made clear in the next chapter. As for Qui-Gon: he will have a role, but it won't be very big, and it won't be made totally clear until Episode 3. Glad you've liked it!
CFlat: Now, if I tell you that, I'd ruin the surprise!
Just Me Prime: Honestly- Qui-Gon was a last minute decision. I saw Liam Neeson in Batman Begins, and I liked THAT character so much that I really wanted him back in this story, so to speak.
MaxCobra: Well, you get little Buffy/Willow action in chapter 8. Might not be the kind you want…
Miracle Angel Summers: Well, first I got to do 3, then I'll do 4, 5, and 6. As for a 7: well, I leave it open for one, though I'm not sure if I ever will.
Freetodream: Well, I got some betas, but please, feel free to review and critique- I'm always looking for good critiquing.
Sean Malloy-1: Funny you should say that- I just finished watching all six back-to-back, and it's funny what little things you pick up. Bits of dialogue they reused and such.
X-Spider: NO XANDER. Next.
Stcobb: And may the Schwartz be with you, as well!
Lorrie1974: I'm glad you liked the story so far. Thanks for the offer, but I got three great Beta's now. However, any suggestions you may have, please, don't hesitate to send it along in an e-mail, or a review.
Stemaphie: I'm glad you've liked my stories. The good news is that, not only have I just about finished this story, I will also be updating 'Light Brigade' this week, hopefully. Stay tuned!
Adame Shmi Skywalker Vader: My, that certainly is a long name;) And I hope this was soon enough for you!
Lightdemondarkangel: Yes, engaged. But remember- Buffy was created by Joss Whedon. I try to keep them as close to his vision as possible, and you KNOW how he likes happy characters…
Next week- Faith visits Buffy, and Buffy finally finds something to believe in. Oh, and there's a battle…