Ch.3 Sith Showdown

The Count was expecting them. He turned, just as the Jedi entered the hangar. Honestly, didn't they ever hear of stealth? Even without the Force, Dooku could hear their footsteps echoing off the stone walls. He faced them with a mildly interested look. Master Sidious was right, he thought admirably, Kenobi and Skywalker have survived the arena, virtually unscathed. Now the plan could fully commence. Skywalker was boiling with barely suppressed rage. Did Sidious count that lack of self-control as an asset? Really, the boy was a danger to himself. Now Kenobi was acting as a true Jedi acts. Calm, serene, accepting his fate. That was the attitude Skywalker could only dream of.

It was Anakin who broke the silence.

"You're going to pay for all the Jedi you killed today, Dooku."

An empty threat. Obi-Wan spoke softly.

"We'll take him together. You, slowly on the right-"

But then Anakin's control finally broke.

"I'll take him now!"

He rushed forward, ignoring Obi-Wan's cry. Dooku calmly raised his hand, summoned the dark side of the Force and stuck him with Force lightning. Anakin was thrown across the room, the bolts of Lightning crawling all over him. He landed in a hollow in the wall, and lay there, moaning. Obi-Wan was instantly concerned. He reached out for Anakin through the Force and found that he was not seriously hurt. Obi-Wan returned Dooku's stare. The count started pacing and they circled each other, the intensity of their gazes creating an electric atmosphere in the hangar. What is it with him and walking? Obi-Wan thought exasperated.

"As you can see, my Jedi powers are far beyond yours. Now, back down."

Dooku sent more Lightning from his fingertips at Obi-Wan. He caught it with his lightsaber, unflinching. His expression was wary, but he never showed fear.

"I don't think so."

In one fluid movement, Dooku ignited his blood red blade and adopted a Makashi salute. Obi-Wan braced himself and the battle began. The duellists threw themselves into the fray and the deadly dance ranged all over the room. Obi-Wan spun, parried and thrust, leaping back in the nick of time and using ever trick he knew. Dooku stopped all his attacks, he seemed at ease and his lightsaber moved gracefully. Obi-Wan was losing ground, and being forced slowly back. He stepped over the docking bridge of Dooku's Solar Sailor. The count clashed against him more ferociously, taking advantage of the split second of weakness. Obi-Wan was already weary from the arena, and his fatigue was beginning to show. Dooku smiled derisively.

"Master Kenobi, you disappoint me. Yoda holds you in such high esteem."

He's trying to distract me, Obi-Wan thought desperately. He continued to beat off Dooku's attack, feeling more tired than ever. He didn't slow once, but he knew he couldn't keep this up for long.

There was a strange look in Dooku's eyes.

"Surely you can do better!"

Obi-Wan faltered, and corrected himself too late. A searing pain entered his arm and he cried out. He was too slow to stop the next blow, which pierced his thigh. The leg gave way, and he fell to the floor. The lightsaber skittered away. The pain was almost blinding Obi-Wan. He vaguely saw Dooku raise his blade for the final blow, and heard a shout. A bar of green light stopped the red from descending on him. Anakin… He heard Dooku speak.

"Brave of you, boy. I would have thought you had learned your lesson."

"I am a slow learner."

Obi-Wan could barely remain conscious. He saw Anakin engage Dooku. He'll never defeat him, unless… He reached for the discarded lightsaber and threw it.

"Anakin!"

Anakin caught it smoothly and continued his attack. Obi-Wan found it hard to keep up with the fight. Anakin as losing ground, just as he had. Dooku disposed of the green lightsaber. The blades whirled faster and faster until Anakin cried out. Oh no, was he killed? Obi-Wan squinted, trying to seeacross the hangar. But Anakin fell heavily beside him and Obi-Wan saw his right arm completely gone from the elbow down. And I thought my wounds were bad…

The count looked at them; two broken forms on the permacrete. He felt remorse trying to surface, but he pushed it back down. His head shot up; he felt a very familiar presence coming…

He turned smiling, to see Master Yoda walk slowly in, and rest his worn hands on his gimer stick. He greeted him pleasantly.

"Master Yoda."

"Count Dooku."

Yoda stood there staring at Dooku sadly. Dooku had no such emotion in his eyes as he spoke.

"You have interfered with our plans for the last time."

A large metal object detached itself from the wall and flew towards the little Jedi Master. Yoda held up his hand and stopped it in its tracks, letting it slowly hit the ground. Dooku was not deterred. Yet another object was sent hurtling towards Yoda, once more, it was stopped. The ceiling now felt Dooku's anger and started to collapse, but then it felt Yoda's calm control take over, and fell silent.

"Powerful you have become, Dooku. The dark side I sense in you."

"I've become more powerful than any Jedi. Even you."

Dooku's face was stony as he summoned the Dark Side and let forth a powerful surge of Lightning. Yoda caught it in his hand and sent it back to a startled Count.

Angered, Dooku sent another wave of Lightning at the little green Jedi. Yoda caught it again. But instead of sending it back, he absorbed it. There was a slight smile on his face as he vanquished the last of the Lightning.

"Much to learn, you still have."

Dooku lowered his hands and one of them strayed to his lightsaber hilt.

"It is obvious that this contest cannot be decided by our knowledge of the Force-"

His lightsaber ignited and he brought it forwards slowly.

"-But by our skills with a lightsaber."

He adopted the same salute as he did with Obi-Wan. Yoda's answer was to draw his lightsaber with the Force. Its green light illuminated his features and Dooku advanced.

Yoda gave himself to the Force. He jumped at Dooku, the Force aiding his momentum to bring him right in front of Dooku. His lightsaber blurred as he blocked Dooku's attacks. He spun and leapt and caught every one of the strokes. He positioned himself between Dooku and his ship. Let Dooku escape, I will not. Yoda thought. Too muck damage, he has done. He could sense Dooku's immense effort and the dark side surrounding him. His fighting style had changed little, but it was more ferocious. Their lightsabers clashed the hums and scrapes echoing off the stone wall. They dipped and swung at each other, memories of old sparring lessons coming back with each minute. Their lightsabers clashed stronger than ever and they did not break. Dooku concentrated, the dark side surging around him. But the dark side is only an easier path, not a stronger one. Backed by the full power of the Force, Yoda's blade was unmoveable.

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

"This is just the beginning!"

Dooku raised his free arm and Yoda sensed a wave in the Force as Dooku ripped the bottom of a service pillar apart. The metal buckled and broke under the pressure and came hurtling towards Obi-Wan and Anakin. The two younger Jedi were barely conscious. Yoda called on the power of the Force once more and stopped the pillar. It hung above the Jedi for a few moments, then fell behind them. Suddenly Yoda sensed movement behind him. Dooku!

Count Dooku saw Yoda pause to stop the pillar. He summoned his own powers and concentrated on the Jedi. He could only move one in time, now was the time to choose his master's plan or his own. Dooku didn't hesitate in lifting Obi-Wan off the ground and into the Solar Sailor. He climbed the ramp after him. He didn't glance at Yoda, but instructed the droid pilot to start the engines. The Sailor wasn't a large ship but he had enough room to lie Obi-Wan flat. The Jedi had lost consciousness completely, but Dooku knew he would revive long before they got to Coruscant. There was a medical kit beside him, for minor injuries, and he applied all the bacta it had onto Obi-Wan's wounds. It also had some sedatives, for emergency use only. Obi-Wan was already knocked out, but Dooku didn't want him to wake up too early. Once Obi-Wan was sedated, Dooku returned to his seat. They were already in space, with the solar sheets out. The small ship glided past the droid control ships orbiting Geonosis.