WOW! Thanks so much for all of your reviews!

Black's Phoenix: The Chancellor is a sneaky worm, so I don't know if he'll reveal anything. Thanks for your review!

The Shadowy Phantom: Thank you! I'm glad you like Shmi not dying.

Adame shmi Skywalker Vader: Why thank you so much for your review! F.E., just to say so all the other reviewers can see, means "Flying Expert' since Serena knows that Obi-Wan hates flying, so she just made it up to kinda annoy him. But he doesn't mind it.

Chiara Sholuk: Thanks for your review! Too bad that your sister can't review.

Hopelss4life: Well, since you want to know what happens next, then read this chapter!

Chapter 10

Back in Coruscant, the Council members and the Chancellor also saw the attack on Obi-Wan and Serena. Yoda looked to Mace Windu. "More happening on Geonosis, I feel, than has been revealed," he remarked.

"I agree," the former replied.

Anakin and Padme watched a hologram of Windu. "Anakin, We will deal with Count Dooku," he said. "The most important thing for you is to stay where you are. Protect the Senator at all costs. That is your first priority."

Anakin nodded. "Understood, Master," he replied miserably.

The hologram switched off while Padme was looking at the readout on the ship's control panel. "They'll never get there in time to save them, they have to come halfway across the galaxy," she spoke up. "Look, Geonosis is less than a parsec away." She started to hit buttons and flick switches. Anakin put a hand over hers, stopping her. She stared at him.

"If they're still alive," he replied.

Padme glared at him. "Annie, are you just going to sit here and let them die? She's my cousin, my friend, and he's your friend... your mentor..."

"He's like my father!" Anakin finished sadly. "But you heard Master Windu, he gave me strict orders to stay here."

Padme looked at him. "He gave you strict orders to protect me..." She pulled her hand free and flicked more switches. The engines fired. "...and I'm going to save them. So if you plan to protect me, you will have to come along."

Anakin grinned and took the controls. Threepio and Artoo came forward from the back of the starship, and Threepio strapped himself into a seat behind Padme. "I'm not worried, Artoo, it's just that I've never flown before," he said nervously, as the Naboo Starship rose from the bluff and zoomed away.

Back at Coruscant, Bail was pacing the floor anxiously. "The Commerce Guilds are preparing for war... there can be no doubt of that," he said.

"Count Dooku must have made a treaty with them," Palpatine replied.

Bail turned to him. "We must stop them before they're ready," he said firmly.

Jar Jar cleared his throat. "Exsueeze me, yousa honorable Supreme Chancellor, Sir." Palpatine looked at him. "Maybe dissen Jedi stoppen the rebel army."

Palpatine turned to the Jedi. "Master Yoda, how many Jedi are available to go to Geonosis?" he questioned.

"Throughout the galaxy, thousands of Jedi there are," Yoda informed him. "To send on a special mission, only two hundred are available."

"With all due respect for the Jedi Order, that doesn't sound like enough," Bail put in critically.

Yoda looked at him hard. "Through negotiation the Jedi maintains peace," he shot back. "To start a war, we do not intend."

"The debate is over!" Ask Aak barked, "Now we need that clone army."

Bail turned to him. "Unfortunately, the debate is not over," he contradicted. "The Senate will never approve the use of the clones before the separatists attack."

"This is a crisis!" Mas Amedda said, "The Senate must vote the Chancellor emergency powers! He could then approve the use of the clones."

Palpatine nodded. "But what Senator would have the courage to propose such a radical amendment?" he asked.

Amedda thought. "If only Senator Amidala were here." He said. Palpatine nodded regretfully, while Jar Jar was in deep thought. For himself, anyways.

Obi-Wan and Serena were suspended in a force field back to back, wrist to wrist, foot to foot, turning slowly as blue electric bolts restrained them. Serena was just waking up, and groaned. "Obi-Wan..." she said, and he glanced over his shoulder.

"Are you all right, Serena?" He asked worriedly. "You've been out for some time now."

She slowly opened her eyes and cracked her neck. "Yeah, I think I'm ok. Where are we?"

He snorted. "Where do you think? In a cell, of course."

"Oh, just the vacation spot I always needed," she replied sarcastically. "Now all I need is a drink and I'm good to go."

Obi-Wan, despite the situation, smiled. "I rather like that Jawa drink we had at the club," he returned.

She glanced back at him. "And here I thought you never drank alcohol, but I find that I am sadly mistaken," she grinned.

He shrugged. "Well, only on a rare occasion," he answered, and looked around. "Can you get us out of here?" he asked.

"I think so," she replied, and tried to use laser eyes to burn the place down below, so the electricity would stop. But nothing happened. She was shocked, and tried using a force field to break it, but it still didn't work.

"Well?" Obi-Wan said.

"It's not working!" she replied frantically, "I somehow can't use my powers, they're not working!" She tried to draw her claws, but she couldn't. "What's going on!" she cried desperately, "Why aren't they working?"

Count Dooku suddenly walked into the cell holding the both of them and pretended to look shocked. Serena quickly pulled her head up and glared at him, trying to retain her calmness.

Obi-Wan didn't help much. "Traitor!" he burst out angrily.

" Oh no, my friend," Count Dooku corrected, pretending to be innocent. "This is a mistake. A terrible mistake. They've gone too far, this is madness!" He circled them as they talked.

"I thought you were the leader here, Dooku," Obi-Wan returned sharply.

Count Dooku continued pacing around the room slowly. "This had nothing to do with me, I assure you," he said. "I promise you I will petition immediately to have you set free."

Serena rolled her eyes, while Obi-Wan glared at him. "Well, I hope it doesn't take too long," he said. "I have work to do."

Count Dooku was silent for a second. "May I ask why two Jedi Knights are all the way out here on Geonosis?" he questioned.

"We've been tracking a bounty hunter named Jango Fett, do you know him?" Obi-Wan asked.

The Count turned to him. "Well there are no bounty hunters here that I'm aware of," he replied. "The Geonosians don't trust them."

"Well, who can blame them, but he is here, I can assure you," Obi-Wan said firmly, not to be deterred.

Dooku didn't answer that but changed the subject; Serena was still waiting to ask him why her powers weren't working. "It's a great pity that our paths have never crossed before, Obi-Wan," he said, seemingly ignoring Serena. "Qui-Gon always spoke very highly of you." He sighed. "I wish he were still alive. I could use his help right now."

Serena snorted at that statement, disgusted.

"Qui-Gon Jinn would never join you," Obi-Wan replied, eyeing him angrily.

Dooku shook his head. "Don't be so sure, my young Jedi. You forget that he was once my apprentice just as you were once his. He knew all about the corruption in the Senate, but he would never have gone along with it if he had known the truth as I have."

"The truth?" Serena asked.

"The truth," Dooku replied firmly, looking at her. "What if I told you that the Republic was now under the control of the Dark Lords of the Sith?" he said.

Obi-Wan didn't believe him. "No, that's not possible. The Jedi would be aware of it," he answered.

"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," Dooku said, while Serena's head was swimming with this new information.

"I don't believe you," Obi-Wan said clearly, shaking his head.

"The Viceroy of the Trade Federation was once in league with this Darth Sidious," Dooku continued. "But he was betrayed ten years ago by the Dark Lord. He came to me for help. He told me everything. The Jedi Council would not believe him. I tried many times to warn them but they wouldn't listen to me. Once they sensed the Dark Lord's presence, it would then be too late. You must join me, Obi-Wan," he said, coming nearer to them. "And together we will destroy the Sith!"

Obi-Wan shook his head. "I will never join you, Dooku," he replied coldly, and Serena rejoiced silently, but quickly turned to glare at Dooku, as he studied her.

"Cannot use your powers, my young mutant?" he said mockingly. She glared daggers at him. "But of course you can't," he continued, walking around. "For that little needle that was put into has assured me that you will not be able to use them for quite some time. Precisely five hours, to be exact."

"What is it that was put into me, and how do you know of my powers?" she hissed furiously, anger quickly growing.

"A medicine that makes you unable to use your powers," Dooku replied. "Unfortunately, there is little of it. We store it here on Geonosis, in this building. About knowing about your powers... I have my resources. And five hours is just enough time."

She raised an eyebrow. "For?"

Dooku turned to leave. "It may be difficult to secure your release," he said, not answering the question.

Obi-Wan sighed, once they were freed of the Count, and put his head back. "Oh, this is all my fault," he said miserably.

"How is this your fault?" Serena asked. "It wasn't your fault that we were captured. If anything, it's mine. I should have been more cautious, but I wasn't."

He sighed again. "Serena, it's not your fault alone either, I think we were both at fault on this one," he replied. "I probably should have come on my own."

She glanced back. "Fine then." And she turned back, closing her eyes and trying to meditate.

"What's wrong now?" he asked, a bit annoyed at her curtness.

"Nothing's wrong. I'm trying to meditate."

"Something's wrong."

"How would you know?"

"I can sense it. Why are you suddenly being so harsh to me, Serena?"

She didn't speak for a minute. "Why do you think, Obi-Wan?" She replied, and shut her mouth tightly. Obi-Wan had been stubborn too long, and she couldn't bear it much longer. She needed to know that he loved her, but she knew that he never would. He was a Jedi and stuck to the Code.

Seemingly enough, Obi-Wan was thinking the exact opposite thing. He was chastising himself for being so thoughtless, and wished that there was no such thing as the Jedi Code, so he wouldn't have to reign in his emotions.

Well, that chapter was over.. some internal debate going with Obi-Wan... hmmm? Review and find out what happens next!