AN: "aaaa" - talking through a holocommunicator or comlink. 'aaaa' - talking through a bond.
Chapter 13
Obi-Wan quickly made his way back through the spiralled caverns. He was relieved that he hadn't been spotted as he exited the cold and dark droid factory and made his way to his starfighter. He also saw that the sun was making its way into the sky, as it cast a soft light on the red rock. R4 saw him approaching and beeped in greeting.
"Hello R4. Listen, I need you to activate the transmitter," Obi-Wan told his astromech. "I need to get in contact with the Jedi Council."
R4 whistled and beeped, popping open the small communications array on the side of the red and white fighter. The small silver dish popped out of its spot on Obi-Wan's fighter and swivelled around as it tried to find a clear signal. The astromech beeped when the small satellite wasn't able to find anything.
Obi-Wan tilted his head in confusion, wondering why it wasn't working when it had been fine out in the rain on Kamino. The Knight climbed onto the wing and proceeded to examine the transmitter up close. "The transmitter is working fine, but it would seem that we are not receiving a return signal and Coruscant is too far away," he said. He looked up from what he had been doing. "R4, are you able to boost the power?"
R4 beeped a no while shaking his domed head back and forth.
"We'll have to try something else," Obi-Wan said. Then he hopped into his fighter's cockpit. "Maybe we can contact Anakin on Naboo since it's much closer." He flipped a few switches on the sides of his controls that were inside the ship. "Anakin? Do you copy? This is Obi-Wan Kenobi."
The Knight was unaware that high on the cliffs in a dark alcove, he was being watched by a Geonosian.
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Anakin came back to the villa, having taken his mother home as she had needed to check on her small garden that she had made behind her home. As soon as he had walked through the front door, he heard Padmè calling for him. Quickly making his way to the living room, he asked, "Padmè, what is it?"
"R2 is carrying a message for you," Padmè told him as she stepped aside and revealed the blue and white droid that had come to her while she had been reading on the couch.
"From who?" Anakin asked.
"Obi-Wan," Padmè responded. "I didn't want to play it without you."
Without needing any more words, R2 began playing the message. The blue hologram of his Master appeared and he soon started speaking.
"Anakin, my long-range transmitter has been knocked out," Obi-Wan began. "I need you to retransmit this message to Coruscant."
Anakin immediately started the transmission and once he had confirmation that the Council and the Chancellor, along with a few members of the Loyalist Committee, were receiving his signal, he resumed the message that Obi-Wan had sent him.
"I have tracked the bounty hunter Jango Fett to the droid foundries on Geonosis," Obi-Wan said as his hologram stood there with his hands in his sleeves. "While I was trying to locate him, I stumbled upon a secret meeting in which I learned that the Trade Federation is to take possession of a massive droid army that is being assembled here. I have also learned that it is Viceroy Nute Gunray who has been behind the assassination attempts on Senator Amidala. Both the Commerce Guilds and the Corporate Alliance have pledged their armies to Count Dooku and are forming a…" Obi-Wan's figure looked beyond the transmitter, as he had been alerted to something that the others could not see. "Wait," He called out, reaching for his lightsaber and igniting the blue blade as whatever the Knight had seen kept advancing towards him. "Wait."
The hologram flicked and faded leaving only the transmission from Coruscant still glowing in the living room where Anakin and Padmè were watching. Anakin's heart stopped for a second as he couldn't believe what he had just seen.
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On Coruscant, Mace looked up at the hologram as he, most of the Council, Luminara, Barriss, Chancellor Palpatine and the members of the Loyalist Committee saw Obi-Wan being attacked. Soon the Knight was forced out of the shot as he was overwhelmed by the laser blasts that the shielded droidekas were firing on him. One of them made it into the frame and then the transmission faded away as the droid managed to obliterate the transmitter and by the looks of it, the rest of Obi-Wan's starfighter as well.
Once the hologram had faded, Mace looked down at Master Yoda, who in turn was looking back at him.
"More happening on Geonosis, I feel, than has been revealed," Master Yoda said.
"I agree," Mace replied. Then he looked up at the hologram that was in the Chancellor's office.
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"Anakin, we will deal with Count Dooku," Mace told him. "The most important thing for you is to stay right where you are. The Senator is still in danger. You must protect her at all costs. That is your first priority."
"Yes Master," Anakin responded. "I will do as you have instructed."
The hologram faded away and Padmè turned to look at him, a somewhat shocked and incredulous look on her face. "Anakin, are you just going to leave Obi-Wan in the hands of the Separatists?" She asked. "Whoever the Jedi Council sends will never get there in time to save him since they're going to have to travel halfway across the galaxy." Then she prompted R2 to bring up a map of the galaxy and pointed out the planet that Obi-Wan was currently being held on. "Look! We are a lot closer. Why don't we go rescue him?"
Anakin sighed and sank onto the couch, sitting beside the Senator. Then he looked at her. "Padmè, as much as I want to go rescue him, I just can't," he said. "If I do that, I'll be breaking the instructions that I have been given to protect you. I also can't let you go rush off headfirst into danger, especially since those Separatists who are on Geonosis have the people who tried to assassinate you with them!"
"Anakin, you know I can take care of myself," Padmè responded.
"I know that Padmè," Anakin told her. "You also know that I've come to see Obi-Wan like my brother. I can't simply disobey orders just because of that. Part of being a Jedi is learning to let go of your attachments." He looked at her, hoping that she would understand what he was telling her. "I know that one day, hopefully in the distant future, Obi-Wan and I will have to part ways, but right now I have to stay here. I also don't want to risk losing you."
Padmè sat on the couch, stunned at what Anakin had just told her. She understood where he was coming from but Obi-Wan was her friend too. She couldn't leave him there to face whatever was coming his way. Turning away from him, she stood up and walked over to the doorway that led to the other parts of the house. She had made up her mind. As soon as she had finished changing, they were going to leave immediately, regardless of what Anakin had been ordered to do. But he had his orders from the Council and she was going to see that he followed them.
"Padmè?" Anakin asked as he watched the Senator get up off the couch.
The Senator turned around. "I'm sorry Anakin, but I will not just sit here and hide like some damsel in distress," she said. "Obi-Wan is in trouble and I am going to help him. If you want to protect me, then I guess you'll just have to come along."
Anakin softly grinned and watched as she left the room to go get changed.
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The mood inside Chancellor Palpatine's office was both somber and frantic as everyone was overwhelmed and frustrated by the apparent lack of options.
Masters Yoda, Mace Windu, Qui-Gon Jinn and Ki-Adi-Mundi were there, acting as representatives from the Jedi Council. They stood back and watched, along with Ask Aak, Jar-Jar, Mas Amedda and Palpatine, who was standing behind his desk as Senator Bail Organa paced back and forth within the room.
"The Commerce Guilds are preparing for war," he said. "Given what we all just heard from that report that Knight Kenobi gave us, there can be no doubt of that."
"Count Dooku must have made them sign a treaty," Chancellor Palpatine reasoned.
Ask Aak said something in his native language that caused Bail to turn and face him. "Unfortunately, the debate is not over," he told the Gran Senator. "The rest of the Senate will never approve of the clones before the Separatists attack."
Jar-Jar looked at both Senators, opting not to say anything.
"This is a crisis," Mas Amedda said. "The only way for this to work is if the Senate votes to give the Chancellor emergency powers." He folded his hands in front of him. "Then he could approve the use of the clone army."
Palpatine rocked back at the suggestion, seeming profoundly shaken. "But what Senator would have the courage to propose such a radical amendment?" he asked hesitantly.
"If only Senator Amidala was here," Mas Amedda told the Chancellor.
Palpatine nodded grimly, knowing that ever since Padmè had gone into hiding, she had made Jar-Jar her replacement in the Senate.
The Gungan, who was standing nearby, frowned. He had been attending the meetings that Padmè would have been present for had she been on the planet. He mostly stayed quiet during them as he was sure that if he opened his mouth, he would make some terrible mistake and ruin everything. He knew that he was not the best choice to be doing this, but Padmè had asked him to take her place in the Senate while she was away and he had accepted the position. He knew what he had to do.
"Chancellor," Bail said as he looked at Palpatine. "Might I recommend that if the vote indeed does pass, that you place this army under the command of the Jedi? Seeing as they will be the ones fighting to keep us safe in the war that is to come?"
"That sounds like a grand idea," Palpatine replied. Then he turned to Master Yoda. "What do you think Master Jedi?"
"Accept command over the clone army, the Jedi Order does," Yoda responded.
"Then the matter is settled," Palpatine said, declaring the meeting over.
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Back on Geonosis, Count Dooku walked towards the room in which Obi-Wan was being held. When he had been told that the Jedi Knight had been captured while sending a message back to the Republic about what he had discovered on the planet, he knew that it had to be a mistake. There was no way that this could have happened. As he passed by the guards, they both stood at attention. Then the door in front of him opened and Dooku walked in.
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As Obi-Wan slowly twisted around, he realized that he was being restrained in a containment field. The mechanism slowly rotated, allowing the captive Knight to get a good look at his surroundings.
The room that he was being held in was well lit, with dim lights shining down onto the floor around the perimeter of the room. There were more lights situated around the circle that had been set in the ceiling that cast circles of light onto the floor.
Obi-Wan hoped that the Council had gotten his message, although he was sure that Anakin had transmitted it. He looked towards the door as it slid open and stiffened as he saw who had entered the room.
"Traitor," Obi-Wan told the former Jedi who now stood before him.
"Oh no, my friend," Dooku responded with just a small hint of sadness and concern in his voice as he gazed upon the Knight who was currently trapped in the containment field. "I can see now that this has been a mistake. A terrible mistake. They have gone too far! This is utter and complete madness."
"I thought you were their leader here, Dooku," Obi-Wan replied, holding his voice as steady as he could, trying to keep any emotion out of it.
"This had nothing to do with me, I can assure you of that," the former Jedi and now turned Count insisted as he began to pace around the room. He seemed almost hurt by the accusation. "I promise you that I will petition immediately to have you set free."
"Well, I hope that you don't take too long as I would like to get back to work," Obi-Wan retorted.
"May I ask what a Jedi Knight, such as yourself, is doing out here on Geonosis?" Dooku questioned, slowly finishing his walk around the captive Jedi Knight.
After a moment's reflection, Obi-Wan decided that he might as well tell the Count why he was here as he wanted to see what the man's response would be. "I've been tracking a bounty hunter named Jango Fett," he said. "Would you happen to know him?"
"As far as I'm aware, there are no bounty hunters here, as the Geonosians do not trust them," Dooku responded as he stood in front of Obi-Wan, watching as he spun around.
"Well, who can blame them?" Obi-Wan asked disarmingly. "But I can assure you that he is here."
Dooku paused for only a moment, then gave a slight nod, apparently conceding the point. "It's such a pity that we had to meet like this Obi-Wan, he said, his voice holding a small hint of warmth to it. "Qui-Gon always spoke very highly of you. I do wish that he was here with you now as I could use his help."
"Qui-Gon Jinn would have never joined you," Obi-Wan said defiantly. Of all things, the Knight wasn't exactly expecting him to say that. If Dooku really thought that the man that Obi-Wan looked up to as a father and a mentor would ever join him, then he was delusional.
"Don't be so sure," Dooku replied calmly, an offsetting smile on his face. "I'm sure you haven't forgotten that Qui-Gon was once my apprentice just as you were once his?" When Obi-Wan didn't say anything in response, the man continued. "He knew all about the corruption in the Senate. If only he had known how deep it ran, then I'm sure that he never would have gone along with it had he known the truth as I have."
"The truth?" Obi-Wan asked, a little confused as to where the Count was going with this.
Dooku nodded confidently. "What if I were to tell you that the Republic was now under the control of the Dark Lord of the Sith?" He asked.
Those words hit Obi-Wan like a slap to the face would. "That is not possible," he responded firmly. "The Jedi, especially the Council, would have been made aware of it."
"The Dark Side of the Force has clouded their vision, my friend," Dooku calmly explained. "Hundreds of Senators are now under the influence of a Sith Lord who goes by the name of Darth Sidious."
"You are lying to me Dooku," Obi-Wan told him. "I do not nor will I ever believe you."
"The Viceroy of the Trade Federation was once in collaboration with this Darth Sidious, but ten years ago, he was betrayed by the Dark Lord. So he came to me for help and told me everything that the Sith Lord had done to him," Dooku went on to explain. "Obi-Wan you must join me. Only together can we defeat the Sith."
"I will never join you, Dooku," Obi-Wan answered. The Knight knew in his mind that he would not betray the Jedi or the Republic like that. Especially when he wasn't entirely sure if Dooku was even telling him the truth. More than likely, it was all a trap.
Dooku sighed in apparent disappointment and turned around. Obi-Wan watched as the cultured and regal man walked over to the door and then turned around. "You have just made it even more difficult to secure your release," he said as he exited the room.
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Even before Jedi Master Mace Windu reached the door to the pod for the Senator of Naboo, where Master Yoda was waiting for him, he could hear Jar Jar's voice coming from inside the rotunda. He never thought that he would live to see such a day like today. He couldn't believe that an entire group of people were willing to put the power over an entire galaxy into the hands of one man.
He entered the room and leaned on the other ledge as Master Yoda was standing on the left one and Qui-Gon was standing behind him. All three of them said nothing as they had nothing to say. Their place was to observe and to fight in defence of the Republic.
On the Senate floor below them, Jar-Jar, who was acting on the behalf of Senator Amidala, was speaking. "Senators, fellow delegates, in response to this direct threat to the Republic," he said. "Mesa propose that the Senate give immediately emergency powers to the Supreme Chancellor."
There came a brief silence as no one moved or breathed a word. Jar-Jar stood still, hiding his large shaking hands within the folds of his robes. Then came the clapping, loud cheers, growls, hoots, and howls as everyone agreed to the idea.
A relieved look spread over the Gungan's face. At long last Jar-Jar Binks felt as if he had done something right.
Mas Amedda allowed the Senate to react joyfully for a few more moments before stepping forward and banging his staff down while calling for order. Soon the Senate floor died down as the Chancellor stood up, a regretful and downcast look on his face as this was the last thing he wanted.
"It is with great reluctance that I have agreed to this calling that has been placed before me," Palpatine began. "I love democracy and I love the Republic. The power that you now give me I promise to lay down when this dreadful crisis has passed."
There was a small round of clapping that soon died down when the Chancellor held up his hands again.
"As my first act with this new authority, I will create a Grand Army of the Republic that will be under the command of the Jedi Order as they will be the ones defending and protecting the Republic," Palpatine said as he finished his speech.
All three Jedi looked on as they heard the clapping of everyone who was currently in the room.
"It is done," Mace told his fellow Jedi as he folded his arms across his chest. "Even with the power that the Senate has now granted the Chancellor, there is nothing that he can do to take control of the army away from us. The Senate wanted us to have power over the army and only the Senate will be allowed to strip us of such power."
"Which will never happen," Qui-Gon said, causing both Mace and Yoda to look at him. "Even those who stand to make money off of the war would rather have the army stay with us than let the Republic get their hands on it." Then he stroked his beard. "What are our next steps?"
"I will take what Jedi we have left and go to Geonosis to help Obi-Wan," Mace said.
"And visit, I will, the cloners of Kamino and see this army they have created for the Republic," Yoda said.
Qui-Gon nodded and all three Jedi left the Senate building.
UP NEXT: Anakin and Padmè arrive on Geonosis and a battle ensues to save Obi-Wan from being executed. Please don't forget to leave me a review!