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Anakin and Sarah were led into a room where their hands and feet were strung through binds. They both tried to manipulate the manacles with the Force, but it was resistant. There was still tension hanging thickly between the two Padawans, and it felt especially palpable in the dim and silent room.

What had happened on Tatooine still hung heavily on both of their minds. Anakin felt that Sarah was trying to meditate, but unsuccessfully.

"So..." said Anakin, trying to make some kind of conversation.

Sarah opened her eyes and looked at him, but did not say anything.

"Where do you think Obi-Wan is?" He asked.

"I don't know," she said quietly.

He took a deep breath, "Hey, look, I just -... I just wanted to say that I'm sorry. What happened back on Tatooine...I'm sorry."

She was silent for a few moments before she finally said quietly, "I know you are." There was a momentary pause before she spoke again. "And you know that I forgive you. I'll always forgive you Anakin, no matter what stupid thing you do."

He felt a small smile spread across his face. "Thanks...I think."

She tried to return the smile but found it difficult. "You were close to the dark, Anakin, I felt it. It was scary."

"She was my mother, Sarah. How could I not be angry after what those monsters did to her?"

"To be a Jedi is to control your anger." Was all that she could say.

"To have emotion is to be human! You don't know what it's like to have your own mother murdered, Sarah! To hold her in your arms while she dies."

"How could you say that, Anakin? How could you say that I don't know what it's like?" She looked at him, hurt flashing in her eyes.

Anakin was surprised at himself. How could he have forgotten about what had happened to Sarah's parents? "I -...I'm sorry, I forgot."

"It was a long time ago," she said quickly.

"I shouldn't have said that."

"Really, Anakin, just forget it. It's not important." After this, they once again sunk into their uncomfortable silence.

"It is important," he said after a long while. "Sarah..."

"What?"

"I just," he took a deep breath. "I just wanted to say that I -"

But Anakin was not able to finish his sentence, for at that moment, the door to the room slid open, and Count Dooku came strolling in. "Well," he said. "If it isn't the esteemed Padawans of Obi-Wan Kenobi."

"Dooku," Anakin said.

"I must say that I have wanted to meet you both for so very long. Anakin Skywalker and Sarah Walterr." Dooku smirked, "Although, I really would have expected a little more out of the two of you, allowing yourselves to be captured so easily...it does not do much to ease my conscience about the caliber of the galaxy's young Jedi."

"What do you want Dooku?" Sarah asked.

Dooku did not answer, but instead pulled Anakin's lightsaber out of his belt. He went to turn it on, and a few lone sparks flew out of the hilt before it completely shut down. "My my," Dooku said, the smirk still playing on his face, "what kind of lightsaber is that? I would think that the Padawans of the great Kenobi would never have been allowed to build a piece of space junk such as this."

"Why are you here, Dooku?" Anakin asked angrily.

"Why am I here? Oh surely you jest, young Skywalker. Seeing as to how neither of you seem to be going anywhere in a hurry, I would have thought that you could spare some time for an old man. The man who trained the man who trained your own Master."

He chuckled ruefully. "But of course, I am not here to reminisce."

"Then why are you here?" Anakin asked.

"My, you are an impatient one, aren't you Skywalker? But if you insist, I have come here with a proposition."

"A proposition?" Anakin asked suspiciously.

"Really, Skywalker! This would go much faster if you did not continue to constantly interrupt me!"

Anakin glared at Dooku, but the old Count continued, "As I said, I have a proposition. As of now, I have your dear Master held in quite a similar position to the one that the two of you are in right now. If, you two join me, your dear Obi-Wan will walk away from this planet free and unharmed."

"We'll never join you, Dooku." Sarah said firmly. "Our loyalties will always remain true to the Jedi, and to the Republic."

Dooku sighed heavily, "So much like your Master. I can tell that the lies of the Jedi have been thickly inscribed in your heads, and I must say that that is quite unfortunate. But perhaps, it will take some bargaining of more...precious materials to get you to comply.

Dooku motioned to the droid standing at the door, and in marched six battle droids and a droideka, all surrounding Padme Amidala, whose hands and mouth still remained bound.

Anakin's breath caught in his throat, "Padme!"

Dooku smiled, "Of course, If you join me, then Senator Amidala will also leave Geonosis unscathed. It is your choice. I know what a terrible blow it would be if she was to die...particularly for you, young Skywalker."

"Anakin," Sarah said warningly.

Not able to look at Padme, Anakin turned his eyes to Sarah, she gave him a pleading look, and when he finally turned back to Dooku, and taking a deep breath he said, "We remain firm in our words, Count. We will never join you."

Dooku smiled. "Very well. Then you will join the Senator and your Master in the arena later for some...fun. Geonosian-style of course."

Dooku gave the signal to the droids, and they marched Padme out of the room. Before he left, he turned back to the Jedi, "Of course, my offer will remain. If you join me, those that you both love will walk free."

And with those parting words, Dooku turned and left, leaving Anakin and Sarah hanging in silence.

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A/N: All right, I am once again at a bit of an unsure spot here, and could just use some opinions. If (and that is a very very big, giant, and fat -- you get the picture -- 'if'), if Anakin and Sarah were to maybe...I don't know...have more than your typical friendship sort of feelings for each other, would that be completely awkward and ruin the whole story by miring it in melodrama? I have refrained from getting into this so far, but now...anyway, like I said, I don't know...and there are many other ideas raging around in my head, so fear not. Sorry to chew your ears off like this, but...it's been bugging me for a very long time.

Also, as this week is (unfortunately), finals week, I will try my hardest to update, but please forgive me if I am not able to. Thanks for reading!