Obi-Wan raced ahead of the clones, acting more like Anakin in that moment than he realized.
Dooku had been spotted on the field and without a word to Cody or Rex he had used the Force to race ahead.
His only thought was that if he could force Dooku into retreating then less of the clones would die on this day. Because when he was pushed, Dooku would always retreat. Obi-Wan just had to push him hard and fast.
"Get after him!" yelled Cody, watching with a bad feeling as their General streaked away. But the clankers were too heavy to move quickly through and the clones could only watch in muted horror as their General engaged the Count without any back-up.
"Come to die Kenobi?" Dooku demanded as he flipped his lightsaber, forcing Obi-Wan to move out of its path.
"Not today Count," snarked Obi-Wan flipping over Dooku and bringing his saber down in a classic Ataru move. It had been a long time since Obi-Wan had seriously engaged in the aggressive fourth form, not since his Padawan days. But he couldn't play the defensive side today, not if he wanted to save his men's lives.
Their battle was brutal, and Obi-Wan felt his strength waning the more he battled. He had pushed himself to hard, burning the candle at both ends. Even with the Force he was failing, his muscles shook and he began to slow.
The unexpected pain of Dooku's blood red blade grazing his arm was enough to shock Obi-Wan into stillness. It was all the distraction Dooku needed. Without any hesitation the hilt of his lightsaber met the back of Obi-Wan's head and the Jedi Master dropped like a stone.
Dooku was mildly surprised that Obi-Wan had fallen like that. Though it had been plain to see that something had been off with the Jedi. He had been sloppy, fighting like a green Knight then the seasoned Master he was.
He now gazed down dispassionately at Obi-Wan as he lay in the mud. His Master was quite clear on what was to be done. Sideous wanted Obi-Wan killed, or permanently removed.
Dooku raised his blood red lightsaber to strike his grandpadawan down.***
.
.
.
Slowly his lightsaber lowered.
.
.
.
"Please! Please Master!" pleaded Qui-Gon. His blue form was crouched protectively in front of Obi-Wan. He was reaching for his former Master with everything he had. "Please don't!"
Dooku gazed down at Obi-Wan, almost seemingly able to see him for the first time. How pale and worn the other man look, how aged. Moreso then the last time they had met.
Casting an eye out, Dooku realized that there was no sign of Skywalker or the Padawan.
They should have made an appearance by now. The blue clade clones confirmed that the 501st was present amongst the orange of the 212th. Sideous had said nothing to explain the absence, except to impress the fact that Obi-Wan had to be removed.
Glancing down again at Obi-Wan. Dooku came to a decision. He wrapped the Force around the prone form of Kenobi and picking him up. He then turned to the nearest commander driod.
"Sound the retreat."
With a single glance back the Count swept from the battlefield with the floating Jedi behind him.
Once again Obi-Wan woke to be suspended on a force field in the company of Count Dooku. A quick glance around informed Obi-Wan that he was on a ship. Making any hope of rescue about impossible.
Obi-Wan didn't even bother to struggle, he just let his mind wander until the door opened to reveal the Count looking as severe as usual.
"We really must stop meeting this way," Obi-Wan quipped as the count came to stand in front of him. Unlike in Genois Obi-Wan wasn't floating high above the ground and so he was face level with Dooku.
Dooku said nothing, he just stared at Obi-Wan. Then he did something that Obi-Wan was not expecting. Yan's hand came out and tilted Obi-Wan's head back and studying the younger man. What he saw there had the Count's lips thinning.
"You look exhausted and ragged Kenobi. Hasn't Skywalker been taking care of you properly?" Dooku sneered. But under the sarcasm was a real note of concern. Under the bright lights of the room, Dooku could see how terrible the Jedi Master looked.
"Anakin's temple bound," sighed Obi-Wan. If by saying those words, his shoulders slumped, the weight of the world falling once more upon him. He suddenly felt exhausted, and was too tired to banter like usual with the Count. Too tired to hide the fact that Anakin would not be rescuing him once more.
Dooku chuckled, "Maybe the Council isn't a bunch of moronic idiots after all. But I'm sure your beloved Padawan is finding a way around that rule. I wonder how long I will have to wait for the foolish boy."
"4 months," whispered Obi-Wan, the words just falling out.
Dooku looked shock. Before reaching forward with a hand. Obi-Wan tried to flinch away, but only succeeded in pulling away slightly. Dooku wasn't discouraged and touched Obi-Wan's face. Obi-Wan closed his eyes expecting pain to shot through him. Instead Dooku just rested his hand on his check. The hand was warm against his check, and it slowly moved to his forehead where his hair was gentle pushed away.
"Rest Obi-Wan," commanded Dooku, shoving through Kenobi's frayed shields and forcing the younger man to fall asleep with a strong force command.
With the help of the Force, Dooku carried the young man he once considered a grandson into his own quarters and tuck him into the bed. He sat on the edge and just gazed down at the boy.
For a moment he allowed himself to remember. Remember that this was Qui-Gon's pride and joy. He had been a small scrawny thing, a wisp in the shadow of his giant master. A tender shoot that had wilted and almost died before blossoming into the most radiant flower despite all the adversity.
How could he have forgotten the fondness he had felt when he saw the small boy flipping with ease in the saloons? Stepping into a class and watching the boy eagerly soaking in the knowledge? Or the anger he felt when he heard what Qui-Gon had did with the boy? The determination to challenge his Padawan in order to save this boy?
As he had sat in thought, he had unconsciously began brushing the hair off of Obi-Wan's face.
Something was changing, that much Dooku was certain. And deep within his soul, he also knew it wasn't because the so called 'Chosen One.' It was because of the boy that lay sleeping in his bed.
Hesitantly he reached towards the Force, not the Dark Side of the Force, but the light. He fully expected to be burnt by the pure light. It wouldn't surprise him, not with what he had done, the atrocities that he had committed.
But instead of burning him, the Force hesitantly reached back for him. They warily reached out for each other, each hesitant of being burnt by the other. Yet all he felt was warmth, a warmth he missed. He was always cold when using the Dark side of the Force. Now he was filled with its light, and he lost sense of time for a moment as it beckoned him further. With great reluctance he pulled away, though the warmth still cradled him.
Grabbing his comm, Dooku left the room
His emotions were swirling all over the place. Feeling stronger than he had felt them in a long time. His anger was still there, but it wasn't a cold fury anymore. Doubt, reason, and regret was flowing strongly in him. He was suddenly questioning everything he had been doing since leaving the Order. The Light side of the Force seemed to have showered its lights on his plans, bringing to light many issues he had been blind to.
When he looked up he realized he had ended up in the archives of his ship and a sudden longing filled his heart. Pulling out his comm link Dooku typed in a number he knew by heart.
"Hello?"
Yan's heart clenched at the sound of her voice. But he stayed silent, suddenly unsure what to say. The other end was silent, and Yan thought she had hung up when she whispered his name.
"Yan?"
"Jocasta," Yan said just as quietly.
Both were silent , neither knowing what to say to the other. The time and hurt laid heavily between them.
Finally Jocasta broke the silence. "Why have you called Yan?" The after so much time, was not said.
"I have a certain Jedi Master in my possession that is a little worse for wear. My surprise when I hear it will be four months until the brattling comes to retrieve him."
Jocasta knew Yan well enough to know he was asking her a question without really asking it. The Council had been willing to overlook so many of Anakin's shortcoming. Being temple bound that long was a serious offense.
But this was Count Dooku, who had slayed Jedi. Who had Obi-Wan prisoner right now. She should be informing the Council right now. But she hesitated, why would he call her after all this time?
The Force urged her to trust him, that it wasn't the Count of Serenno that had called her. But her Yan, the man she had loved for most of her life. The man who brought back rare pieces of knowledge from all corners of the universe, who stole secret kisses within the stacks. The man who cried on her shoulder when the news of their son, for Jocasta loved that boy like a son, was murdered by the Sith.
"Anakin murdered an entire Tusken Village right before the War started," Jocasta admitted. She had broken protocol to read the official report that had been sealed by the Council, using her credentials to do so.
Yan made a small noise. "That explains Genosis. Darkness rolled off that boy in waves, made him sloppy. Sloppiness he paid for."
"What are you going to do to our Obi-Wan Yan," Jocasta said, her voice hard after hearing the tone of Yan's voice.
Our Obi-Wan, a slight reminder what laid between them. What Obi-Wan had been to both of them, what he still was to Jocasta.
"A guest for now, perhaps when the clones recover him, he'll be in better shape then what he left," Dooku said softly.
Jocasta gently sighed in relief, "Thank-you beloved."
Yan felt as if he had been punched, "After all this time?" After everything I have done?
"My heart has always belonged to you, it always will," Jocasta said softly. She had spent her life loving Yan and a part of her always will. Even if they could never be together again after everything he had done. Though a small seed of hope was blossoming in Jocasta's chest. That perhaps Yan, the man she loved for so long was not totally gone as the comm clicked off.
***To get the full effect of the lightsaber scene you need to play the music for How To Train Your Dragon, the Downed Dragon, the part where Hiccup is about to kill Toothless with his dagger and looks him in the eyes. That is what I heard when I was writing that scene.
I hope this wasn't to obvious or to OC, but I love fics with grandfatherly Dooku. And I want to include that in this fic because there isn't enough of it. And since everyone is facing their issues in the Kenobi line, I had to include Dooku getting help. Though like everyone, he's got a way to go and serious reflection.
And if your still wondering what Khos means from the last chapter, sorry to disappoint but I didn't include the meaning on purpose :P So it will be a few chapters before I reveal it though some of you have already looked it up :)