Fallen Angels Sequel to Defining Us

by obi's girl

I don't have an official plot written up yet but the story starts after Sabé gave birth to Mara in the Epilogue of Defining Us. Parts of the story take place before Attack of the Clones, during, some after and a majority of it in Episode III.

5. Chapter 5

Fallen Angels
Chapter 5

Chapter 5, Post 1

Sabé sighed, kneeling down next to Mara as she talked excitedly with her friends, telling them stories about her father's missions. Normally, Sabé would be more focused on listening to Mara talk proudly about Obi-Wan but his current mission worried her. What if this was the last time? What if he didn't come home? Then Sabé would have to recite that speech she'd rehearsed by herself so many times he was away..

Master Windu always told her not to worry because Obi-Wan was always careful and would never make a mistake that could end…i/No, I need to stop thinking about this! If I keep worrying, Mara will pick it up and become worried herself. She needs to believe her father will come home to her and me. /i

"…and Anakin stupidly fell into the nest of gundarks," she finished and rolled her eyes. "For a Padawan Learner, he really isn't too bright. He does really stupid things sometimes!"

"Do gundarks eat humans?" one of the smaller children asked.

Mara shrugged. "Of course, they don't," she paused and thought to herself, trying to remember if they did. "No, they don't. Daddy grabbed his lightsabre, prayed to the Force there weren't any adult gundarks around and jumped into the nest, grabbing Anakin and jumping down from the nest, which was over 20 feet high!"

"Are gundarks' nests' really that high? Don't they fly low around the ground?" the same child asked.

Mara frowned. This little one was asking so many questions, taking away her thunder and it really annoyed her. "I don't know if they fly low or up really high above the clouds, Lexis! The nest was really, extremely high! That's all I know."

"Then, you're not a very good storyteller Mara if you don't know…" Lexis mumbled, crossing her arms, standing up from the circle and walked over to another group of kids.

Mara's mouth dropped. She scowled and pounded her fist into the mat. "It is too really high!" she shouted back.

Lexis turned back to her and huffed. "I heard from other children, you told them it was lower than that." She put out her hand and slapped it. "If it was that high to begin with, you need to stick to your story and say that it is."

Mara groaned and jumped up from the map, crossing her arms too. "Are you calling my father a liar!"

Sabé moaned, rising from the mat and standing beside her daughter. "Mara, come on. Stop this. Lexis is two years younger than you. You know better than to fight someone so much younger than you."

"But she called Daddy a liar, and I know he isn't. He always tells me the truth!" Mara pouted as she turned to her mother.

"Mara, you have to learn to let some things go because sometimes it really isn't worth fighting for," she said and smiled. "I've heard your father recall he didn't know exactly how high that nest was from the ground."

Mara looked back at Lexis and then at her mom, and smiled. "Mom, when is Daddy coming home?"

Sabé shrugged, her fingers brushing through Mara's reddish hair. and smiled. "I hope soon, darling. I hope…" Before she could continue, Sabé dropped to the floor in pain. Mara dropped to her side, and even Lexis ran over and sat beside Mara. Sabé winced in pain on the mat, feeling an invisible pain run through her body, and she knew. Ben was in trouble, and in a lot of pain too. And she was feeling that pain with him.

Sabé moaned, sitting a top the medical bed as she tried to explain to the many healers that she was fine. After she fainted in the crèche, someone called the healers and brought her to the ward. She had been examined thoroughly for any health conditions and asked so many questions. At one point, she decided it would be best to simply nod, say yes or no when appropriate and then wait for the moment they all decided to leave her alone and then, make a break for it.

She couldn't afford to stick around the medical ward any longer when she knew her husband was in danger. Earlier in their marriage, they had developed a bond. Sabé was afraid the bond would be too much – certainly it scared her that one day she would feel his death and it would hurt more than anything. But what happened before, Sabé knew what she felt wasn't Obi-Wan's death.

i/I need to get out of here and talk to Master Windu/i she finally decided. The former decoy glanced around the room - the healers that had been probing her before were scattered. They were either looking over the tests or were off attending to other patients. Sabé quietly jumped down from the bed and started casually for the door. Five footsteps to the door, she was stopped by Master Aiska.

"Sabé, what are you doing here? Are you well?" the woman asked.

Sabé turned and smiled at her. She glanced around the room, watching to see if other healers had noticed her escape. "Master Aiska, I really need to go. Ben, he's---"

Aiska frowned sourly. "In trouble again? He'll always be in trouble on missions, Sabé. He can't help it."

"I realize that Master but I felt---"

Aiska looked at her curiously, probing her and then beckoned her closer. "You have a bond with him, don't you?" Sabé didn't say anything but her attitude spoke louder. "Go then. See Master Windu, maybe you can catch him before he goes to the Senate."

Bail paced nervously about the Chancellor's office. His only solace was that Sabé had left before she witnessed her husband's capture. So much was happening too quickly and he felt there wasn't anything he could do stop these things. "…The Commerce Guilds are preparing for war...there can be no doubt of that," he muttered.

Palpatine sighed. "Count Dooku must have made a treaty with them."

Bail stopped pacing, turned and faced the Chancellor. "We must stop them before they're ready."

"Master Yoda, how many Jedi are available to go to Geonosis?"

Yoda closed his eyes and then reopened his eyes, looking at the Chancellor. "Throughout the galaxy, thousands of Jedi there are. To send on a special mission, only two hundred are available."

"The debate is over! Now we need that clone army!" Amedda declared. "We need to do something to defend ourselves."

Bail glared at the Senator. "Unfortunately, the debate is not over. The Senate will never approve the use of the clones before the Separatists attack."

"This is a crisis! The Senate must vote the Chancellor emergency powers! He could then approve the use of the clones," Amedda explained. "It is for the good of the Republic, to protect it from these rebels."

Palpatine frowned sourly, looking to Mas Amedda. "But what Senator would have the courage to propose such a radical amendment?"

"If only Senator Amidala were here…" Amedda mused.

"Master Windu," Sabé cried as she found the Master leaving his office. "What's happening? I felt something ...I don't know what it was but I know Ben's in trouble."

"He is." The Jedi Master glanced around and then gestured Sabé follow him. "We were waiting for a transmission from him but after a few short minutes, he was attacked and captured."

Sabé felt her heart pound wildly in her chest. Captured? "How far is he?"

"Far, milady," he said. "I am going to meet Master Yoda in the Senate building. Most likely the Senate will commission the use of a Clone Army to be dispatched to Geonosis to rescue Obi-Wan."

"What about Anakin and Padmé? Where are they?" Sabé questioned.

Mace shrugged. "Still on Naboo. They're too far out to mount a rescue attempt." He smiled and rested a hand on her shoulder. "I promise you milady, Obi-Wan will be safe. We'll bring him home to you."

"Thank you, Master," Sabé whispered, "and May the Force be with you."

"Traitor!" Obi-Wan said as he watched Dooku enter the room. Someone discovered his presence and was captured. Though he hadn't seen him after his capture, Obi-Wan felt Dooku's presence nearby and as the first person to see him, he had no doubt in his mind the Count was the leader.

The Count frowned, "Oh no, 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." he accused.

He shrugged, walking around Obi-Wan's levitating body, "This had nothing to do with me, I assure you. I promise you I will petition immediately to have you set free."

"Well, I hope it doesn't take too long. I have work to do."

The Count continued to walk around the Force fields, "May I ask why a Jedi Knight is all the way out here on Geonosis?"

"I've been tracking a bounty hunter named Jango Fett. Do you know him?"

Dooku was quiet for a long time, rubbing his chin, laughing slightly, "There are no bounty hunters here that I'm aware of. Geonosian's don't trust them."

"Well, who can blame them? But he is here, I can assure you."

Dooku walked around the force field some more, "It's a great pity that our paths have never crossed before, Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon always spoke very highly of you," he paused, "I wish he were still alive. I could use his help right now."

"Qui-Gon Jinn would never join you." he spat back.

He laughed heartily, "Don't be so sure, my young Jedi. You forget that he was once my apprentice just as you were once his. He knew all about the corruption in the Senate, but he would have never gone along with it if he had known the truth as I have."

Obi-Wan felt his pulse race. What truth was there? Suddenly, he remembered Sabé's suspicions about the Sith's control over the Senate and thought maybe this was the proof she needed. Still, Obi-Wan remained calm. If the Count knew what he was talking about, he wouldn't have anything to tell Sabé or the Council. "The truth?"

Dooku stopped pacing and turned to Obi-Wan, "The truth. What if I told you that the Republic was now under the control of the Dark Lords of the Sith?"

"No, that's not possible. The Jedi would be aware of it."

The Count chuckled, "The dark side of the Force has clouded their vision, my friend. Hundreds of Senators are now under the influence of a Sith Lord called Darth Sidious."

"I don't believe you."

Dooku began to pace again, "The Viceroy of the Trade Federation was once in league with this Darth Sidious. But the Dark Lord betrayed him ten years ago. 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 sensed the Dark Lord's presence, it would then be too late," he stopped pacing and faced Obi-Wan, "You must join me, Obi-Wan, and together we will destroy the Sith."

"I will never join you, Dooku."

The Jedi frowned and shrugged, "It may be difficult to secure your release."

tbc

Chapter 5, Post 2

"Order, Order!" Mas Amedda's voice sounded through the chambers as Master Windu met Master Yoda, sitting on a ledge overlooking the Senate chamber. Not surprisingly, opposing senators were yelling furiously at one another. "Order!" Amedda commanded again and the cries died down as the Chancellor rose from his seat.

"In the regrettable absence of Senator Amidala, the chair recognizes senior representative of Naboo, Jar Jar Binks."

Many of the Senators laughed as the Nubian pod floated to the middle of the chamber. The Gungan looked at Palpatine nervously, and then cleared his throat. "Senators, dellow felagates...In response to the direct threat to the Republic mesa propose that the Senate give immediately emergency powers to the Supreme Chancellor."

The uproar returned and then silenced as it was replaced by a rolling wave of applause. Palpatine rose again from his chair, smiled thanks to Jar Jar as he moved the pod back to its place next to the Alderenian Council. "It is with great reluctance that I have agreed to this calling. I love democracy... I love the Republic. The power you give me I will lay down when this crisis has abated. And as my first act with this new authority, I will create a grand army of the Republic to counter the increasing threats of the separatists."

Mace leaned off the wall and turned to Master Yoda, "It is done, then. I will take what Jedi we have left to Geonosis."

Yoda scratched his chin. "Visit I will the cloners on Kamino and see this army they have created for the Republic."

Outside of the chamber, Sabé leaned against the senate wall, closed her eyes and bit her lower lip.

"Don't be afraid." he said.

Padmé looked at him briefly, her eyes red from crying. He hadn't said anything to her since their capture, or she to him. During that long silence, Padmé had been able to reevaluate her feelings. When she first met Anakin, he was only a boy with a dream to marry her. Jedi were forbidden to love, but yet her best friend Sabé had been allowed to marry her one true love, also a Jedi. Why couldn't she do the same thing? She cared for Anakin, she realized she did but seeing how much he had grown up and how much he loved her and would be willing to sacrifice for her…wasn't that what love was about?

Padmé turned to him again; she had to tell him. This was her last chance to tell him. "I'm not afraid to die. I've been dying a little bit each day since you came back into my life."

Anakin frowned and turned to her partially, "What are you talking about?"

"I love you."

Anakin blinked his eyes, staring at her, "You love me!" To her ears, he soundedwith her for such an admission. "I thought we decided not to fall in love. That we would be forced to live a lie. That it would destroy our lives..."

Padmé shrugged slightly, "I think our lives are about to be destroyed anyway. I truly, deeply love you, and before we die I want you to know,"

Anakin leaned forward as Padmé kissed him and remembered their stolen kiss on Naboo. Padmé wanted him to kiss her and realized everyday after that she loved him but never admitted it and for the first time, she felt free.

Padmé pulled back from Anakin as the cart was driven into the arena. She saw Obi-Wan chained to the last pillar. He looked irritated and not surprised his Padawan and the Senator managed to be captured. The cart stopped abruptly, and a Geonosian grabbed Padmé's arm dragging her off. Discreetly, the Senator removed a wire from her belt and slipped it into her mouth before being chained next to Anakin.

"I was beginning to wonder if you had gotten my message." Obi-Wan said.

Anakin shrugged. "I retransmitted it as you requested, Master. Then we decided to come and rescue you."

i/Kids/ihe thought to himself, i/So reckless./i Obi-Wan looked up at his chains and then looked pointedly at Anakin. "Good job!"

Once they were secured to the pillars, the cart drove away and the roars in the crowd directed their attention to a high balcony above the arena. Poggle the Lesser, Count Dooku, Nute Gunray, The Fetts and other dignitaries settled on the balcony. Obi-Wan glared at Count Dooku as Poggle stepped forward and waved his hand to the guards in the arena. The crowd's cheers suddenly died. "Let the executions begin!"

The crowd yelled and cheered again as an arena side door opened. The guards moved around the door, holding their spears outward as the Reek, Nexu and Acklay came into the arena. The Acklay snapped at one of the guards, and then continued on.

"I've got a bad feeling about this." Anakin whispered.

The creatures tossed their heads, looking around, roaring and screeching, and then stopped once they caught sight of Obi-Wan, Padmé and Anakin, and started to move towards them.

Obi-Wan held his chin high, studying the creatures. "Anakin, take the one on the right. I'll take the one on the left."

The Padawan looked at him incredulously, "What about Padmé?"

Padmé let the wire slip from her mouth, caught it in her hands, and raised her arms to pick the lock of the chains. She turned around and began to pull herself up by the chain to the top of the post. Once on top, she pulled on the chain, trying to break free.

Obi-Wan smiled partly. "She seems to be on top of things."

Anakin frowned and then turned to look at the pillar but Padmé was gone. He noticed her on top of the pillar and smiled, and then frowned when he heard the snarls of the Reek charge his pillar. Anakin jumped, dodging the beast as his head smashed into the post. Using the Force, he landed on its back, and wrapped part of the chain around its horns. The Reek backed off, shaking its head angrily and then started to pull the chain from the post.

Meanwhile, Obi-Wan ducked around the post as the Acklay charged him. The Acklay crunched the post between its claws, slicing though Obi-Wan's chain. He smiled and leapt up, and ran towards one of the guards, followed by the Acklay. The Nexu prowled around Padmé's post, snapping at it as she struggled to tear the chain.

Obi-Wan continued to run against the guards. The guards looked at each other, dropped their spears and left the arena. Obi-Wan picked up one of the spears, and joined Anakin and Padmé again. Anakin moaned as the Reek started to buck, charging around the arena. He whirled the free chain around his head and cast it into the Reek's mouth and the creature's jaw clamped hard on it.

The Nexu's claws dug deep into the post, reaching the top and snapping its jaws at Padmé's feet. As she turned, the Nexu's claw barely caught her shirt, ripping it off, leaving deep marks on her back. The Senator hit the creature with her chain several times, and it fell down the pole. Then, Padmé jumped off the post into the air, swinging around on the chain and whacked the beast on the head. It tumbled back on the sand as Padmé climbed back up the pole, scrambling to the top.

Obi-Wan ran out behind the fallen Orray and threw his spear at the Acklay, hitting it in the neck. He smiled, proud of himself as the creature let out a terrible screech and then Obi-Wan frowned, sensing the error of his ways as it turned on him. The Nexu shook its head, sprung up and made another leap up at Padmé again. This time though, she was able to loosen the chain but the Nexu continued to attack. And then it smashed against the pillar as Anakin's reek stopped next to Padmé's poll.

"Jump!"

Padmé looked at the fallen Nexu and then leapt from the top of the post, landing behind Anakin. She kissed his cheek briefly as the reek charged away, passing the wounded Acklay and Obi-Wan. Seeing them, Obi-Wan darted towards it and jumped onto the Reek's back, behind Anakin and Padmé.

Nute Gunray was horrified. "This isn't how it's supposed to be! Jango, finish her off!"

The bounty hunter stepped forward into the light but the Count motioned for him to stay put. "Patience, Viceroy...she will die."

Droidekas rolled to the center of the arena, surrounding the Jedi. In the archducal box, amid the uproar, a lone-robed figure stalked towards the balcony. Mace Windu ignited his lightsaber and held it to Jango's throat as Count Dooku turned to him. "Master Windu, how pleasant of you to join us. You're just in time for the moment of truth. I would think these two new boys of yours could use a little more training."

Mace smiled slightly. "This party's over." He flicked his fingers and in strategic areas around the arena, hundreds of Jedi switched on their lightsabers.

Dooku's lip curled in slight amusement as he looked back at Mace, and clapped his hands. "Brave, but foolish, my old Jedi friend. You're impossibly outnumbered."

"I don't think so."

The Count looked around the great theater and smiled. "It wasn't the Geonosian's I was thinking about. How well do you think one Jedi will hold up against a thousand Battle Droids?" Mace looked to the arena as thousands of droids rolled in, surrounding Obi-Wan, Padmé and Anakin. Jango fired his flamethrower at Mace, igniting his robe, forcing him to jump from the balcony into the arena.

Anakin shrieked as the droids began to close on the Jedi and fire on them, and then were joined by Geonosian troops, firing ray guns that were more difficult for the Jedi to deflect. Several Jedi ran to the center of the arena and threw lightsabers to Obi-Wan and Anakin. Obi-Wan turned slightly to Anakin and cut his cuff off and then his own. Obi-Wan leapt from the pod, running towards Mace as Anakin and Padmé raced across the arena, the Senator shooting at droids as Anakin cut down the droids with his lightsaber.

Spooked by the battle, the Reek and Nexu bucked their riders off their backs and stampeded around the arena, trampling droids and Jedi in their path. Padmé picked up a discarded pistol, joining the fight. Among the crowd, Jedi cut down swaths of Geonosian's and droids, and in the arena, the Jedi continued their assault on the droids.

Mace Windu ran into the arena, fighting back to back with Obi-Wan as they cut down more droids and deflected shots with their lightsabers.

Although several Jedi were driven back, they had killed heaps of Geonosian's and cut down several droids. Individual Jedi were either killed or injured, or were retreating. Anakin looked at Padmé, surprised to see her fire back shots to the droids and Geonosian's. "You call this diplomacy?"

"No, I call it aggressive negotiations."

Anakin smiled and continued to deflect more blasts. Padmé jumped on the top of the orray, pulling the execution wagon as Anakin ran and jumped into the cart, deflecting laser blasts with his lightsaber. Padmé continued to blast droids as they rode through the arena. On another part of the arena, Obi-Wan and Mace fought back-to-back, lightsabers flashing until the Reek charged and separated them. The Reek chased Mace across the arena and as he slashed at it, he lost his lightsabre.

Jango Fett, watching from above, rocketed down into the arena to do battle with him. Mace retrieved his lightsaber as the Reek tossed Jango away, ending up under the creature. Then, Jango managed to free himself and killed the Reek, leaving him alone with Mace. Mace swung his lightsaber about as Jango pulled two blasters and started to fire on him, as Mace himself ran towards the bounty hunter, deflecting each blast. Then, once Mace was close enough, beheaded the Bounty Hunter. He watched as Jango's head rolled onto the ground and his body lifelessly collapsed.

Mace, Obi-Wan, Anakin, Padmé and an exhausted group of about twenty Jedi stood in the center of the arena, surrounded by a ring of battle droids. The sand around them was littered with dead Geonosian's, shattered droids and dead Jedi. Ki-Adi-Mundi and more survivors from the raiding party were herded into the arena by super battle droids, and from the encircling tiers above, thousands of battle droids leveled their weapons menacingly.

Count Dooku turned to Nute and then lifted his hand, signaling the droids to lower their weapons. "Master Windu, you have fought gallantly. Worthy of recognition in the history archives of the Jedi Order," he paused. "Surrender and your lives will be spared."

"We will not be hostages for you to barter with, Dooku!"

The Count sadly sighed, signaling once again to the droids. "Then, I'm sorry, old friend."

Obi-Wan watched as the droids raised their weapons. He activated his lightsabre and held it at ready as Anakin took the same stance. The Count raised his hand again, this time signaling the droids to fire. Padmé frowned, hearing a loud buzzing sound and looked up.

"Look!"

Obi-Wan, Anakin and the remaining Jedi survivors looked to the sky as six gun ships descended fast into the arena, landing in a cluster around the Jedi. Clone troopers spilled out, firing at the droids as the Jedi and rescue Jedi outnumbered the droids. Amidst the chaos, a small Jedi Master appeared at the door of one of the gun ships, surrounded by clone troopers.

"Circle the Jedi. A perimeter, create, around the survivors."

The surviving Jedi scrambled into the gun ships. Mace hung on tight as the gunship fired all of its weapons, rising out of the arena and over the topmost of the rim. In another part of the deserted arena, young Boba knelt down before his fallen father and picked up his helmet, holding it to his forehead and lowered his head in sorrow.

The Gunship, carrying Obi-Wan, Anakin and Padmé, slowed as it circled over a droid gun-emplacement. Padmé tightened her grip on the handles as she stood behind Anakin and Obi-Wan. It was really happening. The Clone Wars had started, a war she never wanted to happen. She'd warned the Senate several times if they gave in to the Separatists and ordered a Clone army, they could only offer violence in return. But it was too late now.

Padmé was startled as the gunship started to rock violently from near misses. Obi-Wan pointed to a lone speeder ahead of them, accompanied by two smaller speeders. "Look over there..."

"It's Dooku! Shoot him down!" Anakin ordered.

The Captain looked over the weapons, and turned back to the Jedi. "We're out of ordinance, sir," he said.

"Follow him!" Anakin yelled back to the Captain.

"We're going to need some help!" Padmé cried.

Obi-Wan shook his head. "No, there's no time. Anakin and I can handle this!" he shouted.

Dooku waved his fingers, signaling the two fighters flanking his ship to break away. They veered off left and right, looped around, and came up behind the Gunship. To avoid the beak-wire, the Gunship banked up a steep dune but was still hit. As the ship lurched on its side, Padmé and a clone trooper tumbled out. Anakin clenched his teeth as he watched Padmé fall from the ship and hit the sand.

"Padmé!" he cried and then screamed to the pilot, "Put the ship down! Down!"

Obi-Wan turned angrily to Anakin. "Don't let your personal feelings get in the way," he called back again to the pilot, "Follow that speeder."

The pilot complied, following in pursuit of Dooku's speeder as the gunship was followed by the two beak-wing fighters. Anakin ignored Obi-Wan, calling back to the clone pilot, "Lower the ship!"

"Anakin, I can't take Dooku alone. I need you. If we catch him we can end this war right now. We have a job to do."

Anakin shook his head stubbornly, yelling back at him, "I don't care. Put the ship down."

"You'll be expelled from the Jedi Order."

"I can't leave her."

Obi-Wan looked to the pilot and then looked sternly to Anakin, "Come to your senses. What do you think Padmé would do if she were in your position?"

Anakin sighed, understanding his own reactions and its consequences if he followed through. Dooku would escape and find a way to recruit more systems to his cause. And Padmé would be hurt by his actions by letting him get away. She wouldn't want him to risk her life to sacrifice all she had worked for. "She would do her duty."

"Are you all right?" Padmé heard a voice ask her as she regained consciousness. The gunship was gone and on its way to the hanger she realized as the clone trooped helped her up. "We better get you back to the Forward Command Center."

"No, no. Gather up what troops you can. We've got to get to that hanger," she commanded. "Get a transport. Hurry!"

Anakin and Obi-Wan watched as Count Dooku's speeder parried outside the tower. The gunship parked next to it, Obi-Wan and Anakin leapt down and but as it started to leave, enemy fire hit the gunship and it exploded.

tbc

Chapter 5, Post 3

"You're going to pay for all the Jedi you've killed today, Dooku!" Anakin cried as he and Obi-Wan ran into the dark hanger, their lightsabers ignited.

Dooku turned around slowly, facing Obi-Wan and Anakin. He couldn't believe they were there, trying to stop him.

"We'll take him together," Obi-Wan said. "You go in slowly on the..." Before he could continue, Anakin charged across the open space towards the Count. Anakin raised his lightsaber but at the last moment as he neared him, Dooku raised his hand and tossed him across the room using the Force.

Anakin slumped to the foot of the wall, semi-conscious as the Count moved towards Obi-Wan. "As you can see, my Jedi powers are far beyond yours. Back down," the Count said.

Obi-Wan shook his head, pacing around him. "I don't think so." He lifted his lightsaber as the Count ignited his. Obi-Wan came in fast, swinging at the Count's head, but Dooku parried the cut easily.

As they fought, it quickly became clear that Dooku was the complete swordsman, elegant, graceful, and classical - a master of the old style. The Count smiled as he parried again. "Master Kenobi, you disappoint me. Yoda holds you in such high esteem." Obi-Wan attacked again, but the Count blocked him. "Come, come, Master Kenobi. Surely, you can do better," he teased.

Obi-Wan took a deep breath, attacking again. For a moment, he drove the Count back, but Dooku's superior skill began to show again, forcing Obi-Wan to retreat. The Count increased the tempo of his attack as Obi-Wan was pushed to the limit to defend himself.

The Jedi thrust forward again, this time, his lightsaber blocking the Count's lightsaber as he struggled to remove his lightsaber from him. Count Dooku parried another cut and then thrusted as Obi-Wan stepped back quickly, panting for breath. As he came in for another, the Count surprised him and slashed at his shoulder and then a quick thrust to his thigh. Obi-Wan stumbled back, tripped and fell, his lightsaber skittering across the floor.

Count Dooku raised his lightsaber as Obi-Wan looked up at him helplessly, and his lightsaber flashed down and clashed against Anakin's lightsaber. The Count smiled, almost amused. "That's brave of you, boy - but foolish. I would have thought you'd have learned your lesson."

"I am a slow learner." he quipped, charging at Dooku, catching him slightly off balance. Anakin's lightsaber flashed as Dooku drew back. Dooku parried, drawing Anakin back.

"You have unusual powers, young Padawan. But not enough to save you this time."

Anakin smirked. "Don't bet on it!"

"Anakin!" Obi-Wan cried as he used the Force to grab his lightsaber and tossed it to Anakin. With two lightsabers, Anakin attacked Dooku. Dooku parried as Anakin drove him back against the wall. For a moment, Dooku sliced through one of the handles of Anakin's lightsaber as it flung from his hand and rolled back beside Obi-Wan's leg. Finally, Count Dooku, in one flashing move, sent Anakin's arm, cut off at the elbow, flying, still gripping his lightsaber. Anakin moaned slightly as he dropped to the ground in agony while Dooku drew himself up to deliver the coup de grace.

Count Dooku sighed, looking down at Anakin and then glanced up as he heard echoes of a cane walking towards the entrance of the hanger. The shadow moved closer to the hanger, and then walked tiredly inside and stopped, facing the Count.

"Master Yoda."

Yoda's eyes narrowed and he placed his cane in front on him, leaning on it for support. "Count Dooku."

"You have interfered with our plans for the last time." Yoda watched as Dooku levitated machinery, hurling it towards him. Yoda dropped his cane, holding up his small hands, deflecting the machinery and pushing it away from him. Count Dooku searched the hanger, spotted large boulders and used the Force to carry them over Master Yoda, and then released his grip, dropping them onto the Master. Yoda deflected the boulders, pushing them aside and letting them fall elsewhere. Dooku glared at the Master, throwing Force lightening towards him but Yoda deflected it. "Powerful you have become, Dooku. The dark side I sense in you."

Dooku shrugged. "I have become more powerful than any Jedi. Even you, my old Master." Dooku continued to hurl Force lightening, but his former Master deflected each one them, successfully. "Much to learn, you still have."

Count Dooku grinned, removing his lightsaber and standing ready. "It is obvious this contest will not be decided by our knowledge of the Force, but by our skills with a lightsaber." Dooku whirled his lightsaber in a formal salute as Master Yoda drew his lightsaber.

Suddenly, Count Dooku charged across the space, raining down blows upon the tiny figure, but Yoda didn't budge an inch. For the first part of the contest, Dooku parried every cut and thrust. Yoda smirked, flying forward, attacking Dooku from every angle, forcing him to retreat. Words were insufficient to describe the range and skill of Yoda's speed and swordplay; his was a humming blur of light. Finally, their blades crossed and the fighting slowed.

"Fought well you have, my old Padawan," Yoda complimented.

Dooku smirked smugly. "The battle is far from over. This is just the beginning."

Using the Force, Dooku pulled on one of the cranes in the hanger, then directed them until they were holding in place above Obi-Wan and Anakin, and then released his grip on the crane. Obi-Wan looked up as the cranes came down upon them. Yoda closed his eyes and concentrated, holding up the cranes as they lay in the air, only inches away from Obi-Wan and Anakin. Count Dooku disengaged his lightsaber, running from the hanger and boarded his ship. Yoda didn't look back to Dooku's ship as it left the hanger. The smaller Master stood there, holding the boulders, and then slowly moved them aside and dropping them at a safe distance away.

The lone ship glided, slowing to a stop as it approached the city planet. Count Dooku maneuvered the ship towards the run-down part of Coruscant, and landed. Upon landing, Count Dooku emerged from the ship and walked to the hooded figure, and bowed to it. "The Force is with us, Master Sidious." he said proudly, walking beside him in the hanger.

The shadow smiled. "Welcome home, Lord Tyranus. You have done well."

"I bring you good news, my Lord. The war has begun."

"Excellent ...Everything is going as planned."

Sabé looked around the medical lab, where several Jedi were either waiting to be looked at, were resting or being looked at already. Mara was still at the crèche, and Master Luminara was watching her. Sabé didn't want Mara with her when she went to look for Obi-Wan. If he was injured, or badly hurt, or something worse, she didn't want her to worry. Finally Master Aiska saw her looking, and she excused herself from the nurse and greeted Sabé.

"Hello Sabé," she said. "Obi-Wan's waiting for Anakin to come out of surgery."

"Surgery? What happened?"

Aiska gestured she walk along with her. "Nothing serious. Obi-Wan isn't seriously hurt, only a lightsaber stab in his right thigh but he's all right. He'll limp a lot when he walks. We've been able to clean the wound and I prescribed for him some medicine to dull the pain."

Sabé thanked her. "But what about Anakin? What happened to him?"

"He lost badly," Obi-Wan said, interrupting the two women. Sabé smiled, ran and hugged him. Obi-Wan winced and Sabé backed away, mumbling she was sorry. "Anakin dueled against Dooku, and...he had the upper hand for awhile and then he lost his hand. Dooku sliced it off."

"Oh," Sabé said, "I'm sorry. But you're all right?"

Obi-Wan smiled. "Yes. Anakin's pride, however.."

He looked around and saw Padmé waiting to join the group. Sabé only noticed her when she saw Obi-Wan look behind her, and Padmé stepped forward. The two women hugged each other. "What happened?"

Padmé shrugged. "A lot, but I don't want to talk about it now." She looked past Sabé and to the window behind her where Anakin was being fitted with a new mechanic hand. Sabé looked behind herself and then to Padmé. She wanted to ask, but she knew now wasn't the time.

"Master Kenobi, you're allowed to leave or you can stay, if you wish to wait for Anakin," Aiska interrupted them. "Master Yoda wants to see you about what happened on Kamino."

Obi-Wan looking to Sabé. "I'll talk to Master Yoda first. You can stay here with Padmé if you want."

"No, I'll go with you."

"Do you believe what Count Dooku said about Sidious controlling the Senate? It doesn't feel right." Obi-Wan said, as he looked out over Chamber's vista. The skies were a fiery dark red, and the city below seemed aged and crumbling. Everything was different.

"Joined the dark side, Dooku has. Lies, deceit, creating mistrust are his ways now." Yoda said.

Mace looked to Obi-Wan. "Never the less, I feel we should keep a closer eye on the Senate." Obi-Wan agreed. Mace looked out briefly, and then looked back at Obi-Wan. "Where is your apprentice?"

"On his way to Naboo. He is escorting Senator Amidala home," he said, remembering in the hanger when Padmé arrived, the kiss between Anakin and Padmé. He could see the change between them, and although he wasn't with Anakin on Naboo, he knew something must have happened. Sabé saw it too. "...I have to admit, without the clones, it would not have been a victory."

"Victory? Victory, you say?" Yoda added. Obi-Wan turned and looked at him as Yoda lowered his head. "Master Obi-Wan, not victory. The shroud of the dark side has fallen. Begun, this Clone War has."

Palpatine, Bail Organa and Mas Amedda watched sadly from the balcony at the square below as tens of thousands of Clone troops were drawn up in strict formation or moved forward in neat files, climbing the ramps of the Military Assault Ships. Everyone watched somberly as loaded Assault Ships took off from the square and others landed immediately in their place. The sky above was thick with transports as Clone troops marched and boarded ship. Bail Organa shook his head, hitting his fist against the railing as he watched.

...The Clone Wars had begun...

In a rose-covered arbor overlooking the sparkling lake, Anakin and Padmé stood before a Naboo Holy Man. Threepio and Artoo stood by watching as the Holy Man blessed the couple and then stepped aside as husband and wife came together and kissed. When they parted, Anakin and Padmé turned and looked out to the ocean as the sun set.

Once the door closed, Sabé thrust her arms around her husband and cried. Obi-Wan smiled and kissed her cheek. No words needed to be said between them as they simply held each other. The silence was broken however when Mara left her room and ran to her father, grabbing hold of his leg. Sabé smiled and then frowned as she noticed him flinch in pain and remembered he had been limping on the way back to their apartment. Sabé knelt down next to Mara, prying her arms away from him.

"Mama and I were worried about you, daddy." Mara cried.

Sabé smiled lightly, "Mara," she said, "I knew daddy would come home to us."

The girl looked curiously at her mother and shrugged, and then smiled again at her father. "Daddy, where did you go? What happened on your mission? Do you see exotic places?"

Obi-Wan smiled, "Oh yes, some places more pleasant than others but first I need to talk with your mother in private. I promise to tell you everything later."

"Daddy will talk to you later, darling." Sabé confirmed.

Mara then gestured Obi-Wan bend down and when he was close enough, Mara hugged him tight. "Welcome home, daddy." she whispered and kissed his cheek before retreating back to her room.

Ben smiled and then his face soured, "You know the Chancellor has been given absolute authority in the Senate..."

"I know," she said, "I find it to be very ironic. In the beginning, war was the last thing Palpatine wanted but in the end, someone else did the dirty work for him and now, we have a war that will probably last years and in that time, countless lives will be lost."

"You think he was wrong to do so?"

Sabé grunted, "I think he wanted this war to happen as a way to keep himself in power. Why, I don't know."

Obi-Wan's brow furrowed, "Sabé, while I was on Geonosis, I learned something very disturbing from Count Dooku. He said that a Sith Lord has been in control of the Senate since the Trade Federation took Naboo, and that this Sith Lord is probably the same Master that sent a trained apprentice to assassinate Queen Amidala."

"But what interest would a Sith have in killing Padmé? She's only a senator, she's not a Jedi."

"Perhaps one day she will bear offspring who are Force-sensitive." Obi-Wan reasoned.

Sabé laughed to herself, "I have, Ben. We have a strong three year old Force-sensitive daughter."

"Yes, we do." he agreed.

Sabé frowned and suddenly felt cold, "Palpatine. Could he be the Sith Lord the Jedi seek?"

Obi-Wan shrugged, "Palpatine is a politician.."

"Yes and Naja, my own handmaiden was given orders by someone from within the Senate to kill me. But she wouldn't name who -- I think the orders came from Palpatine."

"What would he have to gain from your death, other than Mara?" he questioned.

Sabé nodded, "I know he wants Mara and don't tell me I'm paranoid."

"You're not being paranoid," Ben said, "I worry too about Mara but I don't think it's a good idea to point fingers."

"How can I not? Is there a legitimate reason why I shouldn't suspect the Chancellor?" Sabé questioned him and sighed, "Obi-Wan, I'm already very scared; scared about the present, scared about the future. Is there any way for you to comfort my fears?"

Obi-Wan stood up from the stool and embraced Sabé. For the first time, Obi-Wan himself feared the future too. He flinched again and Sabé looked down at his wound, "Come on, I'll help you with the ointment."

Tbc