Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars or any of it's characters or likenesses. They all belong to LFL.
AN: Here's chapter 3! Thanks for all your great reviews, I really appreciate all the kind words.
A Matter of Trust
Chapter 3: Confrontation with Dooku
The two Jedi and the Senator entered the observation room at the top spire. Chancellor Palpatine sat in a chair in the center of the room. The group approached him.
"Chancellor," Obi-Wan bowed.
"Are you okay?" Anakin asked.
"Count Dooku," was all the chancellor said. Count Dooku, also known as Darth Tyrannus, entered and flipped down over the railing. He drew his saber from his belt, as he approached them.
"This time, we will do it together," Obi-Wan instructed.
"I was about to say to that," Anakin replied. He gently motioned for Padme to stay behind him and near the Chancellor, before taking his place at Obi-Wan's side.
"You're no match for him. He's a Sith Lord," Palpatine discouraged.
"Chancellor Palpatine, Sith lords are our speciality," Obi-Wan smiled, as he and Anakin removed their cloaks.
"Be careful," Padme called. Anakin gave her a quick smile.
"Your swords please, we don't want to make a mess of things in front of the Chancellor and the good senator," Dooku said. Obi-Wan ignited his saber and crouched into a ready stance. Anakin was silent, as he ignited his own and mirrored his master's stance. The two highly skilled Jedi charged at Dooku, sabers crashing together in a brilliant array of sparks. They stopped for a moment, as their sabers hummed and crackled on contact.
"I've been looking forward to this," Dooku said.
"My powers have doubled since we last met Count," Anakin replied.
"Good. Twice the pride, double the fall," Dooku shot back. They engaged each other again, while Padme and the Chancellor looked on. Dooku force pushed Obi-Wan away and took Anakin one on one. Obi-Wan quickly regained ground and joined the fight again. Dooku force pushed Anakin into the wall, while choking Obi-Wan and lifting him into the air. He hurled the older knight across the room and he hit the floor hard. Dooku wasn't finished with him, as he willed a metal platform to fall on top of him. Padme brought her hands to mouth and yelped, as she watched her friend be hurt. She watched Anakin intently, as he leapt at Dooku, kicking him over the railing. Anakin hopped over after the aging Sith. Their sabers clashed in a dead lock with the familiar hums and crackling pops.
"I sense great fear in you Skywalker," Dooku said.
"You have hate. You have anger. But you don't use them," Dooku taunted, as they pulled their sabers out of the dead lock. Anakin took a breath and brought his saber over his head, before bringing it down fiercely on Dooku, who met it with his own saber. Their sabers continued to clash, before meeting in struggle again. Anakin brought his saber around and under, severing Dooku's hands from his wrists. Anakin caught Dooku's saber, as Dooku dropped to his knees. Anakin crossed the sabers and held them at Dooku's neck.
"Good, good Anakin, kill him. Kill him now," Palpatine ordered. Padme's eyes widened in shock. Dooku eyed Palpatine, shock and betrayal blazing in his eyes and marring his features.
"I shouldn't," Anakin struggled.
"No Anakin! He must stand trial!" Padme called. Palpatine steeled an icy glare on her.
"Normally, I would agree milady. But Count Dooku is just too dangerous to be kept alive. With him dead, surely we will be able to end this war," Palpatine said.
"I see your point Chancellor. But I believe that we can use Dooku to negotiate with the separatists and end this war without further bloodshed. We have one of their leaders, who has invaluable information. Once we have Grevious, they will be forced to negotiate," Padme argued.
"Senator Amidala is right," Anakin agreed, as he extinguished the lightsabers. He placed a pair of force-restraining cuffs around Dooku's forearms, since he no longer had any hands.
"Forgive me milady, perhaps you are correct. I hope you'll both forgive my brief error in judgement. This whole ordeal has been rather trying," Palpatine said, hoping to play on their sympathies.
"We understand your excellency," Anakin replied.
"Yes, I have longed to see Dooku brought to justice after all he has done. I understand your feelings Chancellor," Padme answered. With Dooku secure, Anakin and Padme headed over to check on Obi-Wan. Anakin carefully pulled him out from underneath the platform and knelt down beside him.
"Is he okay Ani?" Padme asked quietly. Anakin smirked.
"He'll be fine, he's been through worse than this," Anakin joked.
"Master, wake up. Come on," Anakin said, as he gently smacked at his cheeks. Obi-Wan groaned in pain.
"I feel like a Gondark ran over me," Obi-Wan groaned, as he stood up.
"No mater, this time you were just squished by a metal platform," Anakin quipped.
"Very funny Anakin," Obi-Wan replied.
"Anakin has capture Dooku, but Grevious is still on the loose," Palpatine interjected.
"Good work my old Padawan," Obi-Wan praised, as he took his place behind Dooku and forced him forward.
"The good Count will lead us to him," the older knight said. Count Dooku remained silent, as he had since his defeat at Skywalker's hands. He was still reeling from the kill orders that the Chancellor had given Anakin. But he was even more surprised at how quickly Anakin's dark tendencies were curbed by the presence of Amidala.
His master had lied to him! He was planning on betraying him all along in hopes of turning Skywalker! But it looks like his master's plans were foiled, as he could sense a great change in the force. Skywalker would not turn, but his master would also not let him live, for he knew too much. He had been a fool to join the dark side; he could see the truth now.
Palpatine followed Obi-Wan, his eyes boring into Dooku's back. He was thankful that no one could see him, as his eyes flashed between yellow and their normal green.
With the few moments where everyone's backs were to them, Anakin and Padme shared a longing gaze. Anakin wanted nothing more than to pull her into his arms and kiss her. She had just again proven herself to be an angel, for she had just saved him from doing something terrible. Had she not been there, he probably would have listened to the Chancellor...
Up on the bridge, General Grevious ordered his droids to begin attacking the Republic cruisers. The other ships retaliated and the Imperial Hand shuddered violently.
Up on the spire, Obi-Wan, Anakin and the others waited for the elevator.
"Elevator's not working. Artoo, activate elevator 32224. Artoo beeped and clicked in response, as he headed for the control panel. Suddenly, the ship shuddered again and the Imperial Hand began to dip, causing everyone aboard to slide as the ship turned vertically. Obi-Wan climbed through the opening above them, then helped Dooku and Chancellor Palpatine up. Anakin helped Padme up and then climbed up himself. The five then began running.
In the meantime, those on the bridge worked to get things under control.
"Fire the emergency booster engines," Grevious ordered.
In mid stride, the group of five began to slide again. Anakin grabbed Padme around the waist and grabbed onto a cable with his metal hand. Obi-Wan, Palpatine, and Dooku hung from Anakin's legs. Anakin groaned at the extra weight pulling on his legs.
"Hold on," Anakin told them.
"What is that?" Obi-Wan asked, as the elevator came barreling up at them.
"Oops, Artoo, Artoo, shut down the elevator," Anakin called into the comlink.
"Too late! JUMP!" Obi-Wan called. Anakin let go and he and Padme slid down the wall after them. The two Jedi Knights launched their extending cables and hooked them onto a support beam above them. They swung themselves and the others onto the next floor, just as the elevator roared by.
"Let's see if we can find anything flyable in the hanger bay," Obi-Wan suggested.
"Artoo, get down here," Anakin ordered into the comlink.
"General, the Jedi are in hallway 328," a droid reported.
"Activate ray shields," the general ordered.
The five people ran down the hallway, when suddenly, a shield surrounded them.
"Ray Shields," Anakin said, as Padme clutched his arm tighter.
"Wait a minute, how did this happen? We're smarter than this!" Obi-Wan griped.
"Apparently not," Anakin responded.
"I say patience," Anakin said. Obi-Wan crossed his arms over his chest.
"Patience?" Obi-Wan questioned.
"Yes, Artoo will be along in a few moments and he'll release the ray shields," Anakin replied. They soon heard a high pitched squeal, as Artoo came sliding into the wall with a hard bang and emitted several clicks and beeps.
"See, no problem," Anakin said. Suddenly, they were surrounded by droids and droidekas.
"Don't move," one droid told Artoo. Artoo zapped him, but the droid just kicked him over.
"Do you have a plan B?" Obi-Wan asked. Anakin gave him an annoyed look, but was silent. Their hands were cuffed and Anakin tried to silently reassure Padme with a loving glance. The droids marched the group to the bridge.
"Ah yes, the negotiator. General Kenobi, that wasn't much of a rescue," Grevious rasped, as he released the cuffs on Dooku. Grevious coughed and rasped.
"And Anakin Skywalker. I was expecting someone with your reputation to be a little older," Grevious coughed.
"General Grevious, your shorter than I expected," Anakin replied sarcastically. The general coughed again.
"Jedi scum," he spat.
"We have a job to do Anakin, try not to upset him," Obi-Wan playfully chided.
"We should resume our plans to deliver the chancellor," Dooku said.
"Sorry Count Dooku, but my master has informed me that you are no longer useful," Grevious rasped, as he plunged his saber through Dooku's chest. Padme screamed, while Obi-Wan and Anakin looked on in shock. Chancellor Palpatine hid a small smile. His secret was safe again. He had instructed Grevious that if Skywalker did not kill Dooku, then it would fall to him to do it. Dooku looked over to the two Jedi.
"Forgive me," he said, as life left him.
"Your lightsabers will make a find addition to my collection," Grevious said, as he tucked them away in his cloak. Obi-Wan recovered from the shock.
"Not this time. And this time, you won't escape," Obi-Wan said.
"Artoo!" Anakin signaled. Artoo squealed and let loose several zaps, freeing Obi-Wan's hands. Obi-Wan called his lightsaber from the General's cloak and freed Anakin, who also called his weapon. The two Jedi knights fought the droid guards, while two other droids pulled Padme and the Chancellor away. Anakin defeated the guard and then freed Padme and the Chancellor. They ran back to the bridge and saw that Obi-Wan had also defeated the other droid. The two Jedi knights destroyed the rest of the droids, then surrounded Grevious. The droid General shoved a staff into the window, shattering it. Grevious escaped, and Anakin pressed a control to seal the broken windows shut. The ship began to break apart.
"All escape pods have been launched," Anakin informed.
"Grevious. Do you know how to fly a cruiser like this?" Obi-Wan asked.
"You mean do I know how to land what's left of this thing," Anakin quipped, as he took the controls.
"Well?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Well, under the circumstances, I'd say the ability to pilot this thing is irrelevant. Strap yourselves in," he told his passengers.
"Open all hatches. Extend all flaps and drag fins," Anakin ordered. The ship broke in two, as it began to descend into the atmosphere. Anakin looked over at Obi-Wan.
"We lost something," Anakin stated.
"Not to worry, we are still flying half a ship," Obi-Wan replied.
"We're really picking up speed. Keep us level," Anakin said, as they entered the atmosphere.
"Steady," Obi-Wan said. Artoo let loose anxious clicks and whistles.
"Easy Artoo!" Anakin demanded.
"Five Thousand. Five ships on the left and the right," Obi-Wan reported. The ships around them deployed water to cool them down.
"The landing strip is right ahead," Obi-Wan informed.
"We're coming in too hot!" Anakin replied. The ship jolted hard, as it hit the ground. It slid and Anakin put on all the brakes, finally bringing them to a stop.
"Another happy landing," Obi-Wan joked.
A shuttle picked them up and took them to the Senate building. Chancellor Palpatine exited the shuttle and was met by his entourage. Anakin and Padme followed him.
"Are you coming master?" Anakin asked.
"Oh no, I'm not brave enough for politics. Besides, I have to report to the council. And I'm afraid I will have to tell them about your marriage," Obi-Wan said. Anakin and Padme nodded.
"I'll come to your apartment to meet with you both in the morning," Obi-Wan said, as he left on the shuttle for the temple. Padme sighed heavily and Anakin had to resist the urge to pull her in his arms since they were in public. Though, he knew it wouldn't be much longer before everyone knew. Senator Organa approached them both.
"Padme, it is good to see you are safe. Jedi Skywalker, the Republic cannot praise you enough," he said.
"Thank you Senator Organa," Anakin replied.
"Thank you Bail. Forgive me for being rude, but Jedi Skywalker has been kind enough to offer to escort me home. I am exhausted," Padme said.
"Of course. Good day to you both," Bail said. Padme sighed in relief, as Dorme and Typho arrived to take them home. Anakin helped her into the speeder and then made sure Artoo was secure in the back next to 3PO.
"Oh milady, we are both so glad to see that your both all right," Dorme said.
"Thank you Dorme," Padme said dejectedly.
"Milady, what's wrong?" Dorme asked. Anakin broke in for her.
"She's just worried. Obi-Wan knows about our marriage, it will not be a secret much longer," Anakin paused to place his hand on Padme's.
"But we'll be fine, no matter what the council decides to do with me," Anakin said, giving her a small smile. She smiled back as best she could, but she was so worried that they would find some way to take him from her.
"They will not take me from you. If we have to hide on Naboo for the rest of our lives, we will. But they will not separate us," Anakin replied, following her line of thinking. She smiled brightly at him, and leaned her head on his shoulder.
Anakin and Padme arrived home and filed in the door, followed by 3PO and Artoo. The droids went about their business, carrying on their usual bantering. Anakin pulled Padme into his arms and kissed her passionately.
"I was so worried when I heard you were captured," Anakin said.
"I'm okay, thanks to you," she replied, before wringing her hands.
"I have wonderful news Ani," she began. He smiled.
"What is it?" he asked, as he cupped her cheek.
"I'm pregnant," she announced. Anakin beamed at her.
"That's...that's wonderful," Anakin replied, as he hugged her.
"What do you think the council will do?" Padme asked, her expression turning to worry.
"I don't know, but let's not worry about that right now. Let's just be together tonight and celebrate this happy moment," Anakin replied, as for the first time, he caressed her rounding belly where their baby was growing. They kissed again longingly, letting their desire and passion overwhelm them. It had been almost six months since they had last seen each other, but it felt like a lifetime.
"I've missed you so much," Anakin said to her, his face only inches from hers.
"I've missed you too Ani," she replied, resting her head against his chest. The couple held each other close, as they looked out over the veranda, watching Coruscant's sun begin to set. They were silent for the time being, knowing that many words would be spoken tomorrow, as Anakin's future as a Jedi would be decided...