"aaaa" - talking through a holocomunicator or comlink. 'aaaa' - talking through a bond.
AN: Sorry for not updating last night. I was a little busy with my friends since we were having a virtual game night. Anyways, I hope you all like my take on the arena scene from Attack of the Clones. (Sorry for moving from spelling to actual numbers in my chapter titles. I don't know why I did that lol)
Chapter 14
As soon as Padmè had changed into a white jumpsuit with a tan utility belt, along with tan boots that had light shin armor, an off-white shawl and with her hair having been done in an intricately looped hairstyle with kept it out of the way, she and Anakin, along with R2, took a gondola to Theed, headed to the palace and boarded the Senators H-Type Nubian yacht. Then they took off for Geonosis.
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It wasn't long before the Nubian yacht dropped out of hyperspace and came upon the planet of Geonosis. As Anakin entered the atmosphere and piloted the ship over the rocky ground, Padmè looked out her viewport windows at her surroundings and knew that she was right. Mace and the others were probably still on their way. Then she looked up and spotted the rising smoke in the distance.
"See those columns of steam straight ahead?" She asked. "I think those may be some type of exhaust vent."
"I'm guessing that you want me to land there so we can go search for Obi-Wan?" Anakin asked.
"Yes," Padmè answered.
"Sorry Padmè, but that's something I am unwilling to do. Your safety is still my top priority and I don't want to risk you getting hurt or even captured if we go down there. I know you want to rescue him, but I don't think we should attempt it by ourselves since we don't know where Obi-Wan is being held or if the Separatists have set a trap for anyone who does try it," Anakin told her. "I have another idea in mind. You see, Obi-Wan and I share a bond that we can use to get in touch with each other when we get separated. I'm going to try and use that connection to see if I can reach him."
Padmè nodded. "Alright," she said.
Once Anakin had guided the ship away from the rising steam and back into the air, he sank into a light trance. Then he reached out and tried to get in contact with his mentor. The Padawan smiled as he was briefly able to brush against Obi-Wan's force signature, but knew that if he wanted to be able to speak to him, then he would have to go deeper. He withdrew from the Force, opened his eyes and turned to Padmè. "I'm going to transfer control of the ship over to you," he told her.
"Why?" Padmè asked.
"I was able to briefly reach Obi-Wan, but in order to actually contact him, I'll have to go into a deeper meditation state. Also, I don't want to risk my connection by having to fly the ship if we get spotted," he responded.
Padmè nodded and took control of the ship as he transferred it over to her. She kept them in the air as he closed his eyes and sank deeper into the Force, finally able to make the connection that he needed to.
'Obi-Wan?' Anakin inquired, hoping that the Separatists hadn't done anything terrible to him.
He felt his brother's presence as it flared to life in his mind. 'Anakin! I thought I told you to remain on Naboo. Although I am glad that you are here, I need to know if you came alone and whether the Council got my message.'
Anakin softly grinned, even though his eyes were still closed. He knew full well that Obi-Wan wouldn't see it. 'I know. Yes, the Council did get your message as I transmitted it like you requested. Master Windu did order me to stay on Naboo as well, but Padmè refused to stay behind and decided to come rescue you. She told me that if I wanted to protect her, I had to come along.'
Then the padawan heard a deep soft chuckle in his mind. 'That's just like her. Always on the move, wanting to help people in need. Anakin, I want you to listen to me. Since it looks like I might not make it out of here alive, you have to tell the Council what Count Dooku has told me.'
Anakin wasn't sure that he wanted to hear what the former Jedi had told his brother but knew that he had to. 'What did he tell you?'
Then he heard Obi-Wan sigh. 'He told me that hundreds of Senators are now under the sway of a Dark Lord of the Sith.'
If Anakin's eyes had been opened, they would have widened in astonishment. 'What? That can't be true.'
After a few minutes, he heard Obi-Wan's voice again. 'I don't want to believe it either, but it very well might be. You need to send that message to the Council. I have a feeling that Dooku might be trying to mess with me, but it isn't something I want to risk being wrong about. I've been sentenced to death in a few hours. Do not try and rescue me. I want you to continue with your assignment and keep the Senator safe. Do not let your feelings for me get in the way of that.'
Anakin grew a little worried for his brother but knew that he had to obey. 'I will send your message as well as continue my assignment Master.'
He felt a small surge of hope come from Obi-Wan. 'Thank you, Anakin. I hope to see you soon.'
Anakin sent that same positivity back to him. 'You will. I promise.' Then he broke the connection and pressed a few buttons, activating the communications system. When he tried to send out a message, all he got was static. He sighed. "I'm going to have to bring us out of the planet's atmosphere Padmè," he said.
The Senator looked sharply at him. "Why?"
"Obi-Wan has tasked me with sending a message to the Council," Anakin responded. "It's important that I send it just in case Obi-Wan is killed as he has been sentenced to death. He also told me not to try and rescue him."
"Did Obi-Wan tell you what the message was about?" Padmè asked.
"He did, but it's something that the Council needs to know about," Anakin said as he transferred control of the ship over to his side and took the silver ship up into space, stopping just short of entering the asteroid field. "I fear that if I don't inform them, then I could be responsible for the death of every Jedi in existence!"
Padmè held her breath and then asked, "What do you mean?"
Anakin calmed down and replied, "You'll hear it once I get a clear signal in order to contact the Council."
Padmè nodded.
Anakin continued trying to find a clear signal and smiled as he said, "We finally have a signal!" He quickly put in the contact information of the Jedi Temple. "This is Jedi Padawan Anakin Skywalker, contacting the Jedi Temple. Please respond!"
There was a crackle over the speakers as they both waited for a response.
"Windu here," Mace said, his hologram popping up as he responded to Anakin's transmission.
Anakin wasted no time with pleasantries and told the Jedi Master what Obi-Wan had told him over their bond. When he finished, he sat back and waited for Mace to say something.
"Thank you for informing me, Skywalker. The Council will discuss this at a later date after we have rescued Knight Kenobi," Mace told him. "Now what are you doing here?"
"Master Windu, this is Senator Amidala," Padmè said, causing Mace's hologram to turn from Anakin to her. "It was my decision to leave Naboo and come rescue Obi-Wan. Anakin did not influence or use one of his mind tricks on me. He did not disobey your orders to protect me. In fact, he is still following them, which is why we are here in space and not down on the planet."
There was silence on the other end, with both Jedi and Senator wondering what the Jedi Master's response would be.
"Good job Skywalker. I know how badly you must want to go and rescue Obi-Wan, but you have managed to put your feelings aside and focus on the Senator's safety," Mace said, his hologram turning to face Anakin again. "I will be transmitting our landing coordinates to the Senator's ship. Meet up with the strike team and we will come up with a plan from there."
"Yes Master," Anakin responded.
Then Mace's hologram disappeared as a set of coordinates flashed onto the message panel aboard the ship. Padmè watched as Anakin entered them into the navicomputer, then grabbed the controls and piloted the ship back down to the surface, where the rescue crew of Jedi Knights were gathering. Hopefully, they would be able to free Obi-Wan and be able to prevent a war from starting at the same time.
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After they had rendezvoused with the two hundred and eleven other Jedi who had come with Mace to try and rescue Obi-Wan, Anakin turned to Padmè. "Senator, please stay with your ship and R2," he told her. "I'll feel better knowing that I won't have to worry about your safety in battle while trying to rescue Obi-Wan."
Mace, having heard Anakin speaking to Padmè, while sending two Jedi Knights as scouts to find out where Obi-Wan's execution was being held, walked over to the pair. "Senator," he said, catching her attention. "I can have Master Luminara Unduli and her padawan stay behind and serve as your temporary bodyguards while Anakin, the rest of the Jedi and I go and rescue Knight Kenobi."
Padmè nodded, agreeing to the plan as she knew that she would be more of a hindrance to the strike team if she went with them. "I will do as you have instructed Master Jedi," she replied. "Do you mind if I have a word with Padawan Skywalker before you depart?"
"Of course, Senator," Mace replied, walking away to give the two some privacy.
Padmè led Anakin inside her ship so they wouldn't have all of the Jedi who had arrived with Windu staring at them.
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"What did you want to tell me Padmè?" Anakin asked when they were alone.
Padmè softly smiled at him and grabbed his hands in hers. "Remember when you asked me to tell you what I decided during our conversation back on Naboo?" She asked.
"Have you made your decision?" Anakin asked, a small glimmer of hope in his eyes.
Padmè nodded. "I have," she said. "Anakin, from the moment you stepped foot in my penthouse back on Coruscant, I felt something stirring inside me. It made me feel as if I was losing a part of who I was as a person. Just knowing that we could never be together, it tore me apart. But now that I've come to realize that I have absolutely no control over who I fall in love with, I feel free. Free enough to tell the truth. I love you."
"You love me?" Anakin asked.
"I do," Padmè told him. "Now that I know we are destined to be together, I felt that you should know how I feel." She smiled. "It was fate that brought us back together."
"I love you too," Anakin said. Then he leaned down and kissed her on the lips. As soon as he pulled away, he wasn't sure if he would ever see her again.
"I know that I will see you again," Padmè told him as she let go of their hands. Then she pushed him towards the door of her ship. "Now go and save Obi-Wan."
Anakin softly chuckled as he turned around to look at her. "Yes Senator," he replied. Then he turned towards the door of her ship and once both Luminara and Barriss had arrived, he departed, heading towards a large group of Jedi who were waiting to charge into a battle where it was unknown whether any of them would survive or not.
Padmè walked to the door of her ship once she heard voices. She met up with the two Jedi who had been assigned to protect her while Anakin was heading over to where Mace was waiting with the rest of the strike team.
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The hot sun beat down into the arena, making Obi-Wan shift in place uncomfortably. He pulled at his chains, checking once again to see if there was a weakness to them that he had not known about. Some unseen flaw that the Geonosians had missed as they had cuffed him and strung him up by his arms, attaching the chain to the top of the pole. The cuffs didn't budge an inch. The Knight narrowed his eyes as he knew that he would need to be careful as there were thousands of Geonosians in the stands.
Movement overhead caught Obi-Wan's attention and he looked up only to see Dooku, Jango, Nute Gunray and his lieutenant come walking out onto the balcony. He also saw the leader of the Geonosian people step out with them.
Obi-Wan knew that he was outnumbered, but also knew that some sort of rescue would be coming since Anakin had been able to send his message to the Council. Then he saw the Geonosian hold up his hand as he rattled off a speech in his native tongue that reverberated throughout the arena. Then he heard the bug-like creature say something else and looked to his left as one of the gates at the far end of the arena opened.
He watched as an Acklay emerged from the dark corridor and cry out in a small screech of anger as it was poked by one of its handlers who was riding on an orray and armed with a spear.
As the handlers led the Acklay to the middle of the arena, they kept poking it since they wanted it as angry as they could make it. When both of the Geonosians had finished, they backed away, leaving the angry creature in the middle of the dusty arena floor.
At that moment, Obi-Wan saw the Acklay pounce towards him, aiming its two sharp front claws at the chained Knight. As one of the deadly claws came right at him, Obi-Wan spun to his left, watching as the claw missed him and hit the dirt. He was thankful that the Geonosians had made the chains long enough to allow their prisoners, or prisoner in his case, to dodge the attacks, but in the end, he was still attached to a pole with a deadly creature coming at him. Then he heard the creature roar and spun to his right just as the crustacean's other claw struck the pole right above his hands, freeing him from the chain that he had been attached to. His hands were still cuffed together, but at least he could do more than just run and spin in a circle.
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Once Anakin met up with Mace, who was waiting for the two scouts to get back, the Jedi Master handed him an extra lightsaber. The padawan figured out that it was for Obi-Wan as he placed it in a pocket within his robes.
Once the scouts came back and delivered the grim news that Obi-Wan was being held in an arena and that he was being chased around by a crustacean-like creature, Mace rallied the other Jedi and they all Force-sped across the Geonosian landscape towards the building.
Once they reached it, all the Jedi ignited their sabers since they knew that the sounds wouldn't be heard over the bug's cries of delight as they watched what was happening to their captive, and proceeded to cut several holes into the structure. Once that was done, they all snuck inside and got into position. Everyone, including Anakin, was hoping that they would be able to stop an execution from taking place.
Then Mace separated from the group and headed upwards towards the dark presence of Count Dooku.
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Back on the arena floor, Obi-Wan rolled on the sand-covered floor and dived out of the way, doing everything that he could to dodge the acklay's claws as the creature slammed them into the ground, trying to kill the helpless Knight.
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As much as Anakin wanted to peer out of his hiding place and see what was going on, he resisted the urge to. He could hear cheers – or what passed as cheers for an insect race – but kept calm and waited for the signal from Master Windu. He was certain if Obi-Wan was killed, he would feel it in the Force due to their familial bond.
The Padawan lightly touched his bond with Obi-Wan and sent a small probe towards the man. 'I'm here to rescue you brother. Master Windu and two hundred eleven other Jedi are here as well.' He felt a spark of confusion, as well as a small surge of hope radiate from Obi-Wan and softly, smiled before breaking the connection and clearing his mind, knowing that he had to be focused on the battle ahead, not on how Obi-Wan was doing.
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Obi-Wan was glad that the cuffs that had been placed on the wrists weren't force restraining cuffs or else he most likely would have been dead by now. As he fell on the ground and rolled in front of the pillar that he had been chained to, he heard the beast give a rancorous roar.
As the Knight looked upwards, he saw the creature rush at the tall round structure that he was laying in front of. The pillar creaked and wobbled before it cracked at the base and came crashing down, narrowly missing Obi-Wan, who had rolled out of the way at the last minute. As Obi-Wan climbed to his feet, he heard the Acklay roar and then saw the creature step over the broken pillar, which caused him to turn around and run for his life, at least until he could get a weapon to use against the deadly crustacean since he didn't have his lightsaber with him.
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Anakin could sense that the Geonosians were enjoying the sight of his brother having to run for his life as he was being chased by some sort of creature. The padawan knew full well what an arena such as this one was used for. Back when he had still been a slave on Tatooine, he had known some slaves who had been bought specifically for use in places like these where they would become 'food' for certain types of prey. He had also heard that if they managed to survive for a certain amount of time, then they would be set free. A few survived, but had died before they made it back to one of the cities due to lack of food and water.
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Obi-Wan missed having his lightsaber with him, but as soon as he saw a Geonosian riding by on an orray with a spear in his hand, he got an idea. As the orray got closer, Obi-Wan took two steps to his right, grabbed the top half of the spear and heaved it upwards, flinging the Geonosian to the dusty ground. Now he had a weapon.
He spied the Geonosian starting to get up and swung the spear around, whacking the bug on the head and knocking him back down. Then Obi-Wan flipped his weapon around, so the sharp tip was pointing at the creature who was stalking him.
The Geonosian bug-like creature was starting to get up but was soon crushed by one of the acklay's two front legs as the creature roared since its prey wouldn't stay still.
The Knight began to back away from the advancing crustacean while making sure that he kept the sharp spear in front of him.
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Anakin heard an inhuman roar. He figured it was coming from the creature that Obi-Wan was busy fighting down in the arena.
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Based on the cheers that Obi-Wan was hearing, he guessed that the thousands of Geonosians that were in the stands were happy watching what was going on between him and the Acklay. Right now, he was ducking and dodging the creature's front claws as the animal tried again and again to slice and dice him.
The Knight took a few steps forward and thrust the spear in front of him, which forced the crustacean backwards and up on its hind legs. Obi-Wan was forced to back up as the Acklay came forward and then he ducked, moving to the left and right as he came back up since the creature was snapping its claws at him.
Then he thrust the spear forward and turned it on its side managing to hit the Acklay. That seemed to make the creature angry as it thrust its front claws into the ground and roared.
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Anakin winced in his hiding spot as he heard the angry roar come from down below. He could tell from how the roar sounded that the creature was agitated that it hadn't been able to eat its prey yet.
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Obi-Wan took a few steps forward, making sure to keep his arm steady. Once he was in range, the Knight let the spear fly from his hand. He watched as it struck the crustacean in the shoulder. A tiny smile appeared on his face as he heard the creature squeal in pain. Then it disappeared as he watched the Acklay's head turn. The creature then grasped the spear in its mouth and pulled it free, before biting down on the metal stick and snapping it in two. The Knight took that as a sign and began to run as the Geonosians cheered and the one that remained in the arena rode up to the Acklay and poked it with his own staff.
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From his place on the balcony, Dooku allowed a smile to appear on his face as he knew that this would be all over soon. He raised a hand, calling for silence and watched as 3 droidekas rolled into the arena, surrounded the cuffed Jedi Knight and uncurled from their ball forms, pointing their twin blasters at him.
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Mace, who had come up behind Dooku and the others in the dark hallway that led to the balcony, stopped and took a moment to look at them all before making his way onto it and igniting his lightsaber in front of Jango's throat. Boba caught sight of the purple blade and after taking one look at the Jedi who was holding the blade, stepped backwards so he was out of the way just in case his father tried something and needed the room to move.
Dooku's expression changed as he heard the hum of the familiar saber right behind him, but it was only for a minute. Then he settled for a calm expression as he turned around to face Mace's steely gaze.
"Master Windu," he said with his typical charm. "How wonderful of you to join us."
"Sorry to disappoint you Dooku, but this party is over," Mace replied in a calm voice as he returned the calm expression on Dooku's face with one of his own.
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Everyone who heard those words, including Anakin, stepped out from their hiding places and ignited their lightsabers. As soon as they did, there was mass panic as all of the Geonosians who had been sitting in the stands, watching the show that had been going on, flew out of the arena in droves.
Obi-Wan looked shocked and then he slowly smiled as he looked around at all the Jedi who had come to rescue him and prevent a war from happening.
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Up on the balcony, Dooku took a moment to quickly glance around and then focused his gaze on Mace Windu, who was still looking at him with a calm expression on his face. "That my old friend was brave but quite foolish," he said. "You and all the other Jedi here are about to be outnumbered."
Mace smirked. "I don't think so," he countered. "The Geonosians are not warriors. You should know better than to underestimate the Jedi, seeing as you used to be part of the Order."
"We shall see about that," Dooku responded.
Mace turned back to the open doorway as he heard the sounds of metal feet coming towards him. He removed his saber from in front of Jango's neck and twirled it so he was holding it upright as Dooku and the others walked away.
Four super battle droids came marching up to him, their blasters ready to fire, but as soon as they did, Mace immediately began to deflect what he could back at the silver-plated droids. It was going well until Jango came at him with a flamethrower that was built into his left wrist gauntlet.
As the flames came towards him, Mace gracefully leapt off of the balcony, deflecting two stray laser bolts as they came flying at him and fell through the air, managing to deflect two more before landing on the sandy floor of the arena. Then he quickly shrugged off his flaming cloak.
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For Obi-Wan, it was a sight to behold. The Jedi who had been up in the stands came down to the arena floor and formed one giant wall. Then with a war-like cry, they all charged towards the oncoming wall of battle droids and super battle droids, some of whom were already firing their blasters.
There was no fear, no hesitation. If the Force willed it, most, but not all of the Jedi who had gone to the planet would be leaving with Obi-Wan, whom they had come to rescue.
Anakin, who had made it down to the arena floor, caught sight of Obi-Wan, who had escaped his entrapment within the three droids and was making his way towards him. The young padawan pulled the hilt that Mace had given him out of his pocket in his robe and tossed it on the air. "Obi-Wan!" He called out. "Catch!"
Obi-Wan caught the saber hilt and knew that it was not his, but right now he didn't care. As long as he had a lightsaber in his hand, he felt like a Jedi once more. The Knight ignited the blade to reveal that it was blue, like his former saber.
Anakin had continued to push his way forwards, striking down droids left, right and center until he was standing back-to-back with Obi-Wan. "It's good to see that you're still alive Obi-Wan," he said.
"I'm glad to see you as well Anakin," Obi-Wan told him as he blocked the shots that the droids were firing at them. "Where's the Senator?"
"I had Padmè stay with her ship," Anakin responded. "Master Luminara and Barriss are guarding her."
"That's good," Obi-Wan said. "Did you pass on my message?"
"Yes," Anakin replied.
Then they both got separated by a reek that the Geonosians had let into the arena.
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Up in the stands above the arena, two more Jedi came out of their hiding places and destroyed the few battle droids that had managed to make it up there.
The Geonosian warriors were still flying out of the arena as a new group of droids came marching onto the sandy floor. Then one of the bug-like warriors fired a sonic cannon, causing one of the Jedi, who was in its path, to try and leap out of the way. The Jedi wasn't able to leap high enough and got caught in it, getting slammed into one of the pillars, which fell down as the others had to run to escape the dust cloud that had been caused by the fallen pillar.
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Boba was glad that his father had hidden him in a small opening that he had found in the rock walls of the arena. The boy watched from where he was hiding and saw the Jedi fighting as another group of super battle droids and regular battle droids marched into the arena.
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Mace was in the middle of the arena floor, deflecting blaster bolts left and right. Then he leapt up in the air, landed back on the ground, deflected a blaster bolt that had been fired back into the droid who had fired it, and met up with Obi-Wan. Then the two stood back-to-back as they continued to deflect the bolts that came their way.
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Up on the balcony, Dooku turned to his right as he sensed another Jedi, who was intent on engaging the fallen Jedi in a duel, land beside him. Suddenly the Jedi, whose name was Coleman Trebor, activated his lightsaber and deflected back two of the shots that Jango, who was standing a few feet away from Dooku, fired in his direction. As Jango continued to fire, the male Vurk was struck in his shoulder by a third bolt, which caused him to stumble back towards the balcony railing, and then in his chest by a fourth one, which knocked him over and sent him falling to his death on the arena floor.
Jango holstered his blaster as Dooku nodded at him in thanks.
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Down in the arena, Mace and Obi-Wan were still fighting back to back. Then Obi-Wan had to dive out of the way as the reek came charging at the two of them. Mace continued to run as the animal chased after him.
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As Jango continued to watch the battle unfold from where he stood, he had an itching notion to get involved, so he activated his jetpack and Dooku merely glanced to his left as he watched the bounty hunter take off.
Mace managed to turn around and slice off the reek's left tusk before the reek slammed into him, causing the Jedi to drop his lightsaber. As Jango landed and turned off his jetpack, he made a move to run for the lightsaber.
The Jedi Master made it back to his feet and summoned his lightsaber to his left hand, causing the bounty hunter to stumble and fall flat on his face into the sand.
Mace ignited his saber again and the reek roared, causing Jango to look up from where he was laying in the sand. He tried to get out of the way but was tossed around as he was trampled, rolled and dragged by the reek.
As the reek came to a stop and turned around, getting ready to charge back into the battle, Jango had made it back onto his feet and was ready for him. The reek came running at him and the bounty hunter fired a single shot, before diving out of the way as the now-dead animal fell to the ground.
Jango quickly looked around and then stood up, not knowing that the reek had damaged his jetpack. As he turned around, he caught sight of the Jedi who had threatened him with a lightsaber.
Mace charged towards Jango, his eyes hard.
The bounty hunter raised his blaster again and fired while backing up as he saw the Jedi getting closer to him while deflecting the blaster bolts to his left and right.
As Mace drew near to the silver-clad bounty hunter, he swung downwards, slicing the blaster that Jango had been using in half. Then the bounty hunter tried to use his jetpack to escape, only to silently panic when the device didn't start.
Mace didn't flinch nor blink as he swung his blade and smoothly sliced Jango Fett's head off his body. He stood and watched as Jango's head flew out of the helmet as it rolled away from where his body lay as it fell to the ground.
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Dooku shifted in place, visibly shocked at what he was just witnessed. It was as if he could not believe that Jango Fett was no longer alive. He did know one thing. The Kaminoans would not be happy to hear the news.
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Boba was on his knees, even though he remained in his hiding place. His mouth slowly fell open as he couldn't believe it either. The young boy wanted to cry and scream at what he had just seen, but it seemed that he didn't have the mental capacity to do so as the shock of what had just happened was still running through his system.
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The Geonosian who had fired the first sonic blast, fired another one, this time missing a group of Jedi who managed to avoid getting blasted by the wave of green energy.
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As Obi-Wan proceeded to twirl his lightsaber around as he deflected the blaster bolts that the droids were firing in his direction, he saw that the two droids in front of him were backing away in fear. The Knight lowered his lightsaber and turned around, his eyes widening as he saw the Acklay that he had been defending himself against earlier.
The crustacean seemed to ignore all the other Jedi as it let out a roar and focused its little beady eyes upon Obi-Wan. The Jedi gripped the lightsaber that Anakin had given him in his left hand and gave it a twirl as he rushed at the crustacean and cut off its right then left front pincer claws.
The animal cried out in pain as it fell to the ground and then screeched as Obi-Wan slashed up its chest. Then the Knight gave the saber that he was holding a double twirl before plunging it into the Acklay's head, killing it instantly.
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The droids were closing in on the remaining Jedi who were still in the arena. Most of the ones who were still standing died instantly as they weren't able to block all the shots that the droids fired at them.
Dooku walked back out onto the balcony with Nute Gunray, his Lieutenant and two super battle droids flanking his right and left.
The Jedi who survived were pushed together into a circle. Anakin counted silently in his head and found out that only twenty-four out of the over two hundred Jedi had survived.
Dooku held up his hand and the droids retracted their blasters as they stopped firing. The remaining Jedi relaxed, but kept their guard up as they didn't know what was going to happen next. Obi-Wan rose from where he was kneeling next to a Jedi Knight as he had been checking to see if said Jedi was still alive. When that proved not to be the case, Obi-Wan stood up and moved away from the body.
"Master Windu, you have fought gallantly," Dooku's calm, deep voice reverberated throughout the arena. "Worthy of recognition in the archives of the Jedi Order." As he said this, three Geonosian warriors brought Plo Koon, Ki Adi Mundi and Aayla Secura over to the circle. "Now, it is finished. Surrender, and your lives will be spared."
"We will not be hostages for you to be bartered, Dooku" Mace yelled as he looked up in Dooku's direction.
"Then I am sorry, my old friend," Dooku responded with a sad look on his face.
After he had finished speaking, the droid army reengaged their weapons and pointed them at the Jedi.
Anakin twirled his lightsaber twice as he got into a defensive position, ready to fight to his last breath if need be. If he was going to die here, at least he had gotten the chance to see his mother and Padmè again.
A breeze rattled his Padawan braid and then the sounds of engines filled the sky. Anakin and the rest of the Jedi looked up to see two Acclamator-class Republic Assault ships flying overhead and three LAAT gunships descending towards them. Master Yoda was in the lead gunship, flanked by a row of troopers.
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As the gunships got near to the ground and opened fire on the new threat, the droids returned fire, choosing to focus on the ships instead of the Jedi.
The remaining Jedi raised their sabers and began deflecting the blaster shots that the droids who weren't preoccupied with the gunships would fire in their direction.
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As Master Yoda watched from where he was standing, he knew that the survivors wouldn't last long. "Around the survivors, a perimeter create," he said as he directed the gunships into position, creating a circle around Anakin and the others.
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As all three of the gunships landed, Obi-Wan and Anakin ran for the nearest one as the troopers inside laid down cover fire. After getting aboard the transport, Anakin turned around, catching a glimpse of the remaining Jedi getting on the other two.
Then the gunships lifted off from the ground. Anakin couldn't help but sigh as he knew that the galaxy would soon be at war.
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When Dooku saw the last gunship leave, he and the others left the balcony that they had been standing on.
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Even though the battle had moved away from the arena, Boba knew that the Jedi would be back for their fallen comrades. He didn't have much time. The boy, who was now an orphan, had finally found the opportunity to slip down onto the droid-covered arena floor.
As much as the young boy wanted to call out for his father, he knew the man would not answer. And then he saw the helmet. The boy felt his legs give out beneath him as he fell to his knees on the sandy floor. With shaking hands, he picked up the empty helmet.
His father was now dead. The boy had no one to turn to and nowhere to go. His life, his future that had once been so certain and happy now stretched before him empty and sad.
The young Fett allowed a few tears to run down his face as he pressed his forehead to the helmet.
AN: Anakin and Padmè have now gotten together!
I decided not to have Padmè and Anakin go down into the Geonosian factory and get captured since Anakin's assignment is to keep her safe. The scene of him using his bond to get in touch with Obi-Wan came from the fanfic: A Mother's Love by the-writer1988.
Hope you all enjoyed this chapter!
UP NEXT: Anakin, Obi-Wan and Master Yoda fight Dooku in a hanger bay while the rest of the Jedi fight on the dusty surface of Geonosis