Disclaimer- If I owned Star Wars, there would be mush and more mush. Some of the dialogue in this chapter comes directly from the movies, via the books, and that belongs to George Lucas, Patricia Wrede, and RL Salvatore. I do own the new model of the Jedi starfighter.

A/N- Sorry about the wait. I had to finish the story I was working on before I moved on to something else, and it ended up being twenty-eight pages long. This chapter takes place ten years after the last one, during Attack of the Clones. Obi-Wan is a Jedi Master, not from training a Padawan, just as honor for his deeds, and because he is just that awesome. This will NOT, I repeat NOT be an Obidala, it will be AniAmi. No romance for Obi-Wan. Some future comments will hint at this, but I want to state out in the open that I am not taking any part of Jedi Apprentice as canon. Usually, I use the whole Xanatos Bandomeer thing, but not even that made it this time.

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Purity: Chapter Three

Starring: DOES-WHAT'S-BEST-FOR-THEM! Obi-Wan and HAVING-NONE-OF-IT! Qui-Gon.

Costarring: ANGRY-AND-ANNOYING! Anakin, CALM-AND -RATIONAL! Padme, MEANIE-POO-POO-HEAD! Dooku, and BOUNTY-HUNTING! Jango Fett.

Appearances by: MEDDLING! Yoda, NOT-DOING-MUCH! Mace, and RANDOM-NEARLY-SIGNIFICANT! people.

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"speech"

'private thoughts'

/communicating through Force bond/

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"Master, I'm not sure if Anakin's ready for this assignment. I've done my best with him, but he's still arrogant—"

"A failing of yours, this is not. Worry about him do not, successful I think he will be."

"Yes, Master. When do I leave?"

"Begin your trip to Kamino, you will, as soon as arrives your traveling companion does."

"Traveling companion?"

"Arriving soon, he should be."

By this time, they had reached the docking bay. The two Jedi Masters did not have to wait long before a sleek Jedi starfighter that had plainly seen some use landed. The hatch popped open, and a Jedi with a beard and red hair cut in a mullet climbed out.

Blinking in surprise, Qui-Gon turned to Yoda, who smiled knowingly. "A change of Padawans, I thought you could use."

Striding over to them, Obi-Wan smiled broadly. "Good to see you, Master, it's been a while."

Before Qui-Gon could respond, Yoda jumped in. "Another mission, I have for you. Accompany Qui-Gon to Kamino, you will."

"Kamino? I've never heard of it."

"Information, Qui-Gon will give you. May the Force be with you both."

They walked over to the new model two-man starfighter that was only slightly bigger than the original model, but still had enough room for both people. The idea behind the vehicle was to send twice as many Jedi into a situation without others knowing it. Clearly Yoda anticipated trouble if he was sending them in one.

Once they were in hyperspace, Obi-Wan could devote his full attention to the mission details.

"A few days ago, Senator Amidala came to Coruscant to speak against the Military Creation Act. Her ship was attacked and her decoy killed as soon as they landed. The Council asked Anakin and myself to protect her, but that night there was another attempt on her life. Two poisonous kouhuns were delivered through her bedroom window by a droid. Anakin dispatched of the kouhuns, and—"

"Let me guess, you jumped out the window and grabbed the droid, didn't you?"

"Am I so predictable?"

"Only to me. So then what happened?"

"The bounty hunter shot down the droid, and I fell into Anakin's speeder— his timing is nearly as good as yours— and we went on a wild chase through the streets. When we finally cornered her outside a pub, she was shot and killed from a distance by this." He pulled out the dart and handed it to the younger Master.

"Never seen anything like it."

"Neither have the analysis archives. After Anakin and Senator Amidala started back to Naboo, I took it to Dex."

Obi-Wan grinned. "How is he?"

"Doing well, and still an invaluable source of information you can find nowhere else. He told me that it's a Kamino saberdart, but Kamino isn't on the archive charts. So I took it to Yoda, and here we are."

"Not on the archives, hmm, that's interesting." Obi-Wan looked thoughtful for a moment, then asked, "How's Anakin?"

"Stubborn, impatient," Qui-Gon sighed. "Extremely headstrong."

"Oh, nothing new, then."

"True," he laughed. "but Anakin does have one thing you never did."

"What's that?"

"Arrogance. He has great skills and knows it, whereas you never had enough self-confidence to be arrogant."

"Nor the means to back it up."

"Not much has changed, I see, other than your haircut."

Rolling his eyes, Obi-Wan shook his head good-naturedly. Qui-Gon had always had far more confidence in his abilities than he did, or thought they even deserved. "How old is Anakin now?"

"He just turned twenty."

"And the Senator's, what, twenty-four, twenty-five? And you're trusting them alone together on Naboo?"

"That was the Council's idea, not mine. I don't think he ever got over his childhood infatuation with her."

"Well, if I remember Senator Amidala, she's headstrong enough to resist his advances if she wants to."

"It's the second part that worries me. Anakin can be very charming when he wants to be. I don't know if infatuation is even the right word anymore, it's turned into more of an obsession."

"Oh." The red-haired man blinked. "I can't offer any advice there, sorry."

"You were taught from childhood that it is not the Jedi way. Anakin was not, and he doesn't understand why it's wrong." Qui-Gon sighed. "He's been dreaming of his mother again."

"Oh." Obi-Wan repeated. "That's not good."

"He sees her in pain, and feels that they're premonitory dreams. You know me, I wouldn't know a premonition if it hit me with Yoda's gimer stick. Would you talk to him about it?"

"Of course I'd be willing, I just," he hesitated. "I don't think Anakin likes me very much. Just a feeling," he added hastily. "Well, a feeling and suspicions about him having classes or work to do every single time I'm around."

Frowning in thought, the tall Jedi asked, "Is that why you're never in-Temple anymore?"

"Well, put it this way, I didn't argue with the Council when they said they were sending me on a series of off-planet missions that were likely to take a few months. For whatever reason, Anakin doesn't like me, and I don't want to get in the way of his training."

"Why wouldn't Anakin like you? The only reason the Council agreed to his training was because of your support." He paused, sighing again. "You're right, though. I've known it for years, I just didn't acknowledge. I had hoped you'd be friends."

"So did I, but I guess it won't happen. Don't worry, I'll stay out of your hair."

"Though there are several things I am worried about, that isn't one of them."

"Do I get to hear what they are? I never did when I was a Padawan." He pouted.

Smiling at Obi-Wan's impression of himself as a child, Qui-Gon said, "The first is why Anakin doesn't like you."

"Maybe it's the whole Sith-killing thing. I did get avoided a lot after that."

"That was intimidation more than anything. I think Anakin is resentful, sees you as taking my attention away from him. That disturbs me, because it is the petulant reaction of a child, not a Jedi.

"I'm also worried about Anakin's dreams about his mother. If he becomes convinced he needs to do something about them, he will not listen to me if I tell him no. He's become defiant, something I am not accustomed to dealing with."

"Do you really think he'd go expressly against your orders? Arrogance is once thing, but I can't imagine him doing that."

"Sadly, I can. And if his dreams continue, it will become not only possible, but probable."

"I can't believe he'd have so little respect for you. When I was his age I'd sooner have eaten my lightsaber than willfully defied you."

"Well, there was that one time…"

"No way was I going to let you have all the fun. Besides, I saved your life, remember?"

"You make it sound as though it was a one-time event."

Chuckling, Obi-Wan leaned back. "So, continue. Isn't it nice to unload?"

"For the sake of my dignity, I will elect not to answer that. My final worry is that you'll pull your 'best-for-them' routine again, and we—I—won't see you for months at a time. Anakin doesn't need to be coddled, he's twenty years old and should get used to acting politely toward people he isn't particularly fond of. Furthermore, he needs to learn that the world doesn't revolve around him. But mostly—" he laughed. "Mostly I'd miss you."

He had been spoiled b the fifteen years of having Obi-Wan as his Padawan. His impatience and stubbornness had been tempered by and earnest desire to make Qui-Gon proud, and he applied himself to everything with enthusiasm. However, it was the sense of family that the Jedi Master missed most. He and Obi-Wan had each been the sole member of the other's family, whereas Anakin had no desire for a father figure. He wanted his mother, end of story. Qui-Gon was more than willing to endure a sulky, brooding, put out apprentice in order to spend some time with his son.

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"I killed them." Padme stepped back from the calm words.. "I killed them all. They're dead, every single one of them. Not just the men, but the women, and the children too. They're like animals, and I slaughtered them like animals. I hate them!" He picked up a rock and threw it at the wall. "It's all Obi-Wan's fault!"

"What's Obi-Wan's fault?" Padme asked cautiously. "I thought you haven't seen him since Naboo."

"No," he gave an unamused bark of laughter. "I haven't, but my Master has. Obi-Wan's probably been telling him all sorts of lies about me. He's jealous! He's holding me back! That's why Master Qui-Gon hasn't let me face the Trials yet.

"It's his fault that Mom died." He clenched his jaw and forcibly exhaled. "My Master would have let me come sooner, and I could've saved her, but Obi-Wan must have convinced him not let me." Abruptly, he whirled to face her. "I hate him! It's all his fault! I could've saved her!"

"You're not all-powerful, Anakin," she said soothingly.

"Well I should be. Someday I will be. I will be the most powerful Jedi there ever was. I'll even be able to stop people from dying. Then I'll make Obi-Wan pay!"

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"I would very much like to meet this Jango Fett."

"I would be most happy to arrange it for you."

While Taun We was off taking care of that, the Jedi took a moment to talk privately. "Obi-Wan, why don't you meet the bounty hunter, and I'll report back to the Council."

"Good idea, I'll keep you informed."

Qui-Gon went back to their starfighter. "Arfour, contact the Jedi Council, scramble code five and care of the old folk's home." He waited until the droid beeped in confirmation. "Master Yoda, Mace, we found Kamino exactly where it should be. The inhabitants here are creating a clone army for the Republic. They said that Master Sifo-Dyas placed the order almost ten years ago. I was under the impression he was killed before then. Did the Council ever authorize the order?"

"No," Mace answered. "Whoever did so did it without the consent of the Council. We'll have to check on the dates, but I strongly suspect it was not Sifo-Dyas who placed the order. Whom are they using to clone?"

"A bounty hunter called Jango Fett. Obi-Wan's talking to him now." He paused, and the two Councilors knew he was communicating with his former Padawan. "He claims not to have met Sifo-Dyas, he says he was recruited by someone called Tyranus. I'm fairly certain he is behind the attempts on Senator Amidala's life."

"Tell Obi-Wan to bring him back for questioning."

"Wait, Qui-Gon, conclusions you draw, what basis have you?"

"Obi-Wan gave me a mental image. About the same build, same style of armor, and he saw some jetpacks in a room they tried to hide which looked like the ones on Coruscant."

"Yes, to us bring him."

/Obi-Wan, we need to bring Jango Fett to Coruscant for questioning./

/Yes, Master. I didn't leave him that long ago, he can't have gotten far./

"Qui-Gon, your starfighter prepare for a chase. A feeling, I have, that need it you will. After himself, Obi-Wan can look," he added, reading the unspoken thought. "A Padawan he is no longer."

"Don't I know it. We'll contact you soon."

/I'll be up in a minute. Yoda seems to think we'll need the starfighter ready right away./

/Take your time./ The reply was sarcastic, backed up by the flashes of the fight he was getting.

He prepared the vehicle as quickly as possible and ran up to the roof to find Obi-Wan, drenched by the rain and panting slightly, watching a Mandalorian ship take off, "Master, you missed all the fun."

"I must be getting old, since I no longer would use the word fun to describe getting shot at, falling off of a roof and getting kicked in the head. You got a tracker on them, I trust?"

"Naturally."

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"Blast! This is why I hate flying!"

Obi-Wan swerved around the asteroid, followed by the torpedo. "Arfour, prepare to jettison the spare parts canisters." He paused and the droid beeped. "Release them now!"

Whipping the starfighter up and sideways, he landed in a crater while he explosion blasted through space.

"Now what?"

"Now we wait."

After a moment of silence, Qui-Gon said, "Thanks for that refreshingly sensible ride."

Grinning, the younger Master replied, "Been flying with Anakin too long?"

"The understatement of the century."

They waited a few more minutes, then Obi-Wan powered the starfighter back up and headed to land on Geonosis. Jango had gone into what looked like a central building. As they snuck around, Obi-Wan smiled. /Just like old times./

"They've discovered the operation on Kamino," Jango's voice said. "A Jedi was sent to inspect it."

"Who?" asked a deep voice very familiar to Qui-Gon.

"Kenobi, I think it was. Obi-Wan Kenobi."

"Did he send any transmissions to the Jedi Council?"

"Didn't have time. Lama Su took him around the establishment, then brought him up to see me. I just barely had enough time to get Boba to the ship. He couldn't've gotten to the docking bay and back."

"Did you… take care of him?"

"Blasted him in the asteroid field with a torpedo."

An amused chuckle escaped Count Dooku. "My dear Jango, do you really think that was enough to kill Obi-Wan Kenobi? No, he's alive, but he'll come here soon enough and we'll kill him then."

Qui-Gon exhaled, releasing to the Force the pain of having his former Master turn on Obi-Wan. He had to live in the moment, as he was constantly telling himself.

/Master./

He looked over at his son, who gripped his shoulder compassionately. Smiling slightly, he was going to reply, but was interrupted by Dooku speaking again. "Now we must persuade the Commerce Guild and the Corporate Alliance to sign the treaty."

"What about the Senator from Naboo?" asked Nute Gunray. "Is she dead yet? I'm not signing your treaty until I have her head on my desk."

"I am a men of my word, Viceroy."

"With these new battle droids we've built for you, Viceroy, you'll have the finest army in the galaxy."

/Isn't that Poggle the Lesser, Master?./

/Yes, I'm almost positive that it is./

They waited until the congregation had passed, then quietly stole down the hallway. The representative from the Corporate Alliance told Dooku he was authorized to sign the treaty, the representative from the Commerce Guild said they would keep their support a secret, and the InterGalactic Banking Clan representative agreed in the event of a nonexclusive arrangement. As quietly as possible, the two Jedi extricated themselves from the factory city.

/Master, why don't you wait here? In case I'm spotted. They still don't know about you./

Qui-Gon grudgingly agreed, only because the information they had was so vital. He stayed in the rocks while Obi-Wan went to the starfighter.

/Master, the long-range transmitter's been knocked out, and Arfour can't boost the power anymore./

/Why don't you try contacting Anakin and he can retransmit it? Naboo is much closer than Coruscant./

/His signal isn't anywhere on Naboo, Master. Should I widen it a little?./

/Yes… I do hope nothing has happened to him./

/There's his signal, it's coming from Tatooine./

/What in the blazes is he doing there? I told him to stay on Naboo! Oh well, patch it through to him./

"Anakin, Anakin do you copy? This is Obi-Wan Kenobi."

Rather than Anakin's voice, a series of beeps and whistles answered him. "Artoo? Am I coming in alright?" When the droid responded in the affirmative, he continued, "Record this message and take it to the Jedi Skywalker."

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"He says he's carrying a message from Obi-Wan Kenobi. Does that mean anything to you, Master Anakin?"

"No," he said shortly, turning away.

"Well, it means something to me." Padme squared her shoulders, determined to be the responsible one since Anakin was not.

"He says there's something that needs to be retransmitted, and it's quite important."

Once they were back on the ship, R2 projected an image of the Jedi. "Anakin, my long-range transmitter has been knocked out. On behalf of a mutual friend of ours, I ask that you retransmit this message to Coruscant."

"Mutual friend?" Padme asked.

Brow furrowed, Anakin replied, "I don't know, unless—" he blinked, comprehending the cryptic message. "My Master must be there too. Which one is the retransmit button?"

Pausing for a moment after flipping a switch, she nodded. "Go ahead, Artoo."

"We have tracked the bounty hunter Jango Fett to the droid foundries of Geonosis. The Trade Federation is to take delivery of a droid army here and it is clear that Viceroy Gunray is behind the assassination attempts on Senator Amidala.

"The Commerce Guild and the Corporate Alliance have both pledged their armies to Count Dooku and are forming an—"

The hologram swung about. "Wait! Wait!"

Obi-Wan drew his lightsaber and deflected blaster fire, backing out of the hologram as a droideka moved in.

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"I might have known you were behind this, Dooku." Obi-Wan was restrained by crackling bolts of energy in a force field.

"Oh no, my friend. This is a mistake, a terrible mistake. They've gone too far. This is madness!"

Qui-Gon was listening from outside the door, cloaked in a Force void so that he could be neither seen nor sensed. He shook his head, knowing his former Master well enough to be certain his words were a lie.

"I thought you were the leader here, Dooku." Obi-Wan's voice was completely steady, and Qui-Gon felt a surge of pride.

"This had nothing to do with me, I assure you. I will petition immediately to have you set free."

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

'That's telling him, Obi-Wan.'

He could only think it to himself; using mind speech would allow Dooku to sense him. However, he knew Obi-Wan's words and demeanor would annoy the Separatist—perhaps enough to get him to reveal something.

"May I ask why a Jedi Knight is all the way out here on Geonosis?"

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

"There are no bounty hunters here that I'm aware of. Geonosians don't trust them."

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

There was a pause, then, "It's a great pity out paths have never crossed before, Obi-Wan."

'Pity for you perhaps. That was entirely intentional on my part.'

"Qui-Gon always spoke very highly of you. I wish he was here now… I could use his help."

"Qui-Gon Jinn would never join you, Dooku." The name was spat in disgust.

'That's telling him, Obi-Wan.'

"Don't be so sure, my young Jedi. You forget that Qui-Gon was once my apprentice, just as you were once his."

"I forget nothing, Dooku. And I still stand by what I said before."

"Stubborn, stubborn. He knows all about the corruption in the Senate, of course. They all do. Yoda and Mace Windu. But Qui-Gon would never go along with the status quo if he knew the truth."

The only answer to the dramatic pause was an indelicate snort from the restrained Jedi.

"What if I told that the Republic was now under the control of the Dark Lords of the Sith?"

"No, that's not possible." Obi-Wan's voice was very slightly shaken, and Qui-Gon doubted his former Master noticed it at all. "The Jedi would be aware of it."

"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."

As Dooku relayed his attempts to warn the Jedi Council, and the plight of Nute Gunray ten years ago, Qui-Gon listened intently. There was a lie in the words, but Dooku seemed to be telling the truth about the Sith in the Senate.

"I will never join you, Dooku!"

"It may be very difficult to secure your release," he sighed.

There were footsteps, and Qui-Gon drew the Force void more tightly around himself. Seconds later, his former Master strode by, older but changed very little. As soon as he had passed, the Jedi walked into the room the Count had just vacated.

"Master?" asked Obi-Wan in shock. "How—when—why can't I sense you?"

"Force void," Qui-Gon explained, looking around for the mechanism to release him. "I followed Dooku here, then waited outside the door until he left."

"What do you think? Is the Senate really under the control of a Sith?"

"The part about approaching the Council… there was something wrong with that. But he at least thinks he's telling the truth about Darth Sidious. Or he's just gotten better at lying."

"There's that too."

"Alright, I can't find the release mechanism for this, let's the Force and see what happens."

"Not so fast."

With a sinking feeling, Qui-Gon turned around. Dooku stood there, holding something in his left hand. "Qui-Gon, I can't say I'm not surprised. Obi-Wan and I were just talking about you—"

"And I hold with everything he said."

That silenced the former Jedi for a moment. "It seems I misjudged you, my former apprentice."

"Apparently."

Sighing dramatically, Dooku said, "Then it seems I have no choice but to place you under arrest as well. Surrender your lightsaber." Seeing Qui-Gon's hesitation, he added, "Now, or else I will set the restraints on a level that will kill him if he so much as breathes."

/Do what you must, Master. I trust you./

That was the reason Qui-Gon handed over his lightsaber and submitted. Twenty-five years ago he had vowed never to betray Obi-Wan's trust, and he had no intention of starting now.

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"I retransmitted the message just as you requested, Master. Then we decided to rescue you."

"Good job!"

The doors opened, and out came the spider-like acklay toward Obi-Wan, the hideously ugly ynar toward Qui-Gon, the feline-like nexu toward Padme, and the horned reek toward Anakin.

"Let's give them a good show, shall we?"

"What about Padme?"

"She seems to be on top of things."

Qui-Gon rolled his eyes at the joke. Obi-Wan's dry sense of humor manifested itself at the oddest times.

The ynar was rather stupid and took a while to get the idea. This gave Qui-Gon the opportunity to watch—peripherally, of course—how his companions fared. Anakin had jumped onto the reek and broken the chain, Padme was beating the nexu off with the chain, and Obi-Wan was doing something that shocked everyone there. The acklay had crashed through the post to which Obi-Wan was chained, and the young Jedi Master extended his bound hands, edging cautiously nearer to the beast. The acklay extended one huge claw, lifting it into the air, and Obi-Wan leapt, flipping in midair and breaking the chain. Landing neatly, he reached into the front of his tunic and pulled out his double-bladed lightsaber.

The crowd roared, but Obi-Wan aid no attention as he moved swiftly to Qui-Gon's side, cut his bonds, and pulled out another lightsaber. "Funny how people always assume that Jedi only keep their lightsabers on their utility belts, even former Jedi don't think to look anywhere else."

They activated their lightsabers, and the pretty lights finally attracted the attention of the ynar. It charged, only to be cut down by the blue end of Obi-Wan's weapon.

The acklay had moved toward the reek and Anakin, who had been joined by Padme. "Sorry, Anakin," Obi-Wan called over his shoulder as they neared. "If I'd known you'd be joining us, I'd have grabbed a lightsaber for you as well."

'He probably knew and just wanted to exclude me,' Anakin thought bitterly, but relaxed as Padme's arms tightened around his waist. He had his angel; nothing else mattered.

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"You go in slowly, on that side—"

"I'm taking him now!"

"No, Anakin!"

Before either of the two Masters could react, Dooku had blasted Anakin with Force lightning, rendering him out of commission for the time. "I must say, Qui-Gon, if that's what you're teaching your students these days, then you're really losing your touch."

Qui-Gon did not reply, and Dooku continued. "What about Obi-Wan here? Let's see what you've taught him."

As they fought, Dooku blocked every strike with seeming ease. "Come now, I'm disappointed, Master Kenobi. Yoda holds you in such high regard. You'll have to do better than that."

Very unexpectedly, Obi-Wan smiled. "Very well."

He swung neatly from Form IV to Form III. Qui-Gon, Anakin, and Dooku were all surprised. "I found Form IV not as effective against Sith as I would like, and I am not nearly as well-versed as my Master in using Form IV against Form II."

Qui-Gon knew there was a story behind this, and that he would be told later. Obi-Wan was extremely proficient in Form III, adding here and there aspects of Form IV and even Form VII. However, both Jedi were thrown off by Dooku's drawing on the Dark Side. Darth Maul had been very different, and he was their only experience with Sith. Dooku also had the advantage of his lightsaber form; almost nothing could match Form II for 'saber-to-'saber work. The Count knocked Obi-Wan off balance, then, before he could recover his equilibrium, stuck his banana-handled lightsaber through Qui-Gon's shoulder and raked it through his thigh. "No hard feelings, I hope."

Anakin saw what was about to happen, and hauled himself to his feet, determined to save his Master. He flung his body forward to block the strike, but Obi-Wan was there, superimposing himself between Dooku and Qui-Gon with a clash and sizzle of laser meeting laser.

Now the two younger Jedi fought the Sith. They worked passably well together, both having been trained by Qui-Gon. Dooku knew that between Anakin's energy and Obi-Wan's skill he was in serious trouble; to take care of this, he kicked Obi-Wan in the face, propelled him over to the wall, and used the Force to collapse pieces of the crumbling wall on top of him. Anakin would soon tire, and he would be able to rejoin Lord Sidious.

/Obi-Wan?./ Qui-Gon sent out a tendril of thought to the younger Master, but there was no reply; he was unconscious. He went a different route instead, calling his lightsaber to his hand and tossing it to Anakin.

The young Padawan fared slightly better with both lightsabers, but the skilled Sith soon severed his arm. Anakin crumpled in a heap at Qui-Gon's side, barely conscious.

"This is the end," Dooku said softly, stepping slowly nearer.

"Not if anything to say about it I have." (1)

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Yoda put away his lightsaber with a sigh, watching Dooku speed away. He did not regret his decision to save Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Anakin; to many Jedi had already died that day.

"Anakin!" Padme cried as she ran to the young man's side, helping him up and hugging him.

Wincing slightly, Qui-Gon got to his feet and limped over to the wall. The diminutive Jedi followed and helped lift the collapsed wall off of Obi-Wan. He was bleeding badly, but head wounds tended to do that. His condition was far from life threatening. Qui-Gon heaved a great sigh of relief. "Obi-Wan?" he asked softly, pressing the backs of his fingers against the pale face. /Wake up, Little One./

/Master?./ he returned, wearily and in confusion. /Are you alright?./

'How like Obi-Wan,' Qui-Gon thought in amusement. /I'm fine, Little One. Let's go home./

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"A victory, you say? Master Obi-Wan, not a victory. Begun, the Clone Wars have."

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"I pronounce you husband and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Anakin Skywalker."

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Qui-Gon braced Obi-Wan as the younger man faltered. "What is it?"

"I—I don't know," he gulped slightly. "Something very important just happened, and it will determine the future. And… I have a bad feeling about it."

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A/N- Again, I apologize for the wait. I hope everyone enjoyed. Anakin really is an irritating prick, is he not? Chapter four has been started, and an extremely short interlude will be up soon, I hope. The sentence with the number was a quote from Revenge of the Sith, I thought it was cute. Comments and constructive criticism welcome.