"My Master, I am afraid to inform you that Skywalker didn't show himself. He must have sensed the trap" Dooku relayed
"That is most unfortunate. Worry not though for I have an alternate solution" Sidious responded
"Very well my master" Dooku replied
The comm ended.
Anakin POV
I have to save my mother before Sidious gets to her. I cant let the jedi know or they may be killed again like in the vision.
After class he didn't follow the other students to lunch, and instead headed to the hangar bay.
"You shouldn't be here Skywalker" Master Deja said.
"I am waiting for master Kenobi" Anakin lied
"Very well. Wait here and don't move" Deja said
Although I'm a padawan i'm still not allowed out of the temple without a knight or the councils permission. Im going to have to get out whilst she's not looking.
Once Master Deja had moved to inspect a ship, Anakin made his move. He ran towards a ship (2 seats) and before Deja could do anything he had set off. He made surer to deactivate the tracking devise so the council wouldn't know his location.
Council POV
"Masters, I'm so sorry. " Deja said
"What happened?" Mace asked, as the council listened with interest.
"Skywalker stole a ship' Deja replied
"WHAT!" Windu shouted, "Activate the tracking beacon"
"He disabled it. I don't know how he was able to do that. Its almost impossible to deactivate withiout a special code which only the council know" Deja said
The council all knew how he did it (being a super powerful sith lord certainly helped).
"See if you can get it back online. We will try on out end to locate him" Windu ordered
"Yes master" Deja replied
.
Anakin POV
The tracking signal should be deactivated. It was surprisingly easy to rewire. Didn't even need the codes.
Anakin entered the Tatooine system and began trying to detect if Sidious was nearby, but couldn't feel anything.
He approached the planet and in particular Mos Eisley. Once he had landed at a spaceport he made his way to Wattos shop.
This should be fun. The Jedi refused to rescue her, so I will do it myself. As Vader I returned here and gutted this scum, and that was the most satisfying kill I ever had other than Sidious and Kenobi.
He got closer to Wattos' store and sensed his mother inside.
I'm coming for you mom
"Hello Watto" Anakin abruptly spoke
Watto made a little scream and spun around to meet Skywalker.
"I take it that Jedi busniess didn't work then. Well your welcome back here boy" Watto said with a small laugh.
Anakin grasped Wattos neck with the force and lifted him. The Alien struggled to breathe and shook around violently.
Anakins mother rushed in to see the commotion and watto was immedietly released.
"Ani." Shimi said before running to hug her son.
"I've missed you mom' Anakin said.
"I've missed you more" Shimi said
Anakin doubted that. It had been a couple years for her, but nearly 30 years for him since they had last met. The last time he had seen her she died in his arms.
"Why have you come back?" Shimi questioned with concern
"I've come to rescue you" Anakin said with a smile
"You didn't have to come back for me. I don't wont you to worry about me" Shimi replied
"I fear someone is coming to kill you" Anakin pout bluntly
"What?" Shimi said puzzled
" There is a very dangerous man named sidious who is coming for me I think he is going to target you to lure me out" Anakin responded
"Why is this man coming for you?" Shimi asked with much more concern
"Remember when Qui-gon came here to set me free?"
"Yes"
"He gave me a blood test and found I had the most midiclorians of anyone he had ever seen. That means i am powerful in the force, and sidious wants this power for himself" Anakin tried to explain.
Shimi didn't say anything for a long moment. But eventually asked:
"Is Qui-Gon here with you. I need to talk to him about this Sidious person. I want to make sure you are safe"
"Mom. He's dead. Shortly after I left you he was killed by Sidious' apprentice called Maul. Maul was then killed by Obi-Wan who is now my master. But Sidious wants me to replace Maul."
In the background Watto was listening with intrigue, but also fear of Skywalker.
"Im taking you with me to Corruscant. There The Jedi can keep you safe" Anakin told his mother.
"You are not taking my property anywhere jedi" watto spoke up
Anakin sent Watto a message through the force
"You know what I am capable of"
Wato quikley backtracked, "Actually yes you can go"
And with that the two left.
I sense something. Dooku.
"Mom we need to hurry" Anakin said quickly
"What is is dear?" Shimi asked
"Sidious' pawn is here to capture me" Anakin said sadly
"Oh no. What are we going to do" Shimi asked with some distress and concern
"I have a ship nearby. You need to got there, put it in autopilot and leave. I can deal with Dooku, but he will attempt to use you against me if you stay with me" Anakin said
"I won't leave you. You are still my chlid, and I wont let anyone harm you" Shimi replied with a tear
This was very similar to what luke said as he was dying.
Anakin now had a tear.
Dooku's ship landed nearby and the sith approached the two.
"Stay away from here Dooku" Anakin demanded
"I have no intention of harming her. All I require is you to come with me" Dooku replied
"Never" Anakin put bluntly
"So be it" Dooku said igniting his blade.
Dooku unleashed a wave of lightning at Shimi, but Anakin deflected it.
"YOU DARE ATTACK HER" Anakin yelled before attacking with a furious set of powerful attacks.
"Impressive" Dooku noted
Anakin didn't reply and continued his attack.
"You're hatred makes you powerful, but you are making mistakes. You allow you shear emotions get the better of you. You need to control your anger" Dooku advised
Anakin knew what Dooku was doing. He wanted Anakin to use his hatred and anger to embrace the dark-side which would make him easier to turn. Little did Dooku know he was already using the darkside and intentionally making a few minot errors to give Dooku overconfidence, so that dooku would make a major mistake. He knew Dooku wasn't going ton kill him, so he could afford to make some sloppy moves.
"RUN" Anakin shouted towards his mother before using to the force to push her away.
The duel continued.
Shimi got back up and ran to Anakins ship and activated the commlink
Shimi knew how to operate a comlink from her work with Watto. She went from each channel one by one.
"Hello, is anyone there?"
No answer
She tries a different channel
no answer
Council POV
"Has anyone gotten a lead on Skywalker yet?" Windu enquiered.
No-one replied.
Kenobi was also in the room, but also didn't reply.
BEEP BEEP
All heads turned towards Kenobi. His Comm had activated.
"Hello, is anyone there?"
"Who is this?" Kenobi asked
"Shimi skywalker. I need help"
The council were shocked at the name reveal
"What is wrong?" Kenobi asked.
"My son came to help me, but some man with a red laser sword attacked him. They've been fighting for a while now." Shimi
"Where are you?" Obi-Wan asked
"Mos Eisley, Tatooine" Shimi replied
"We're coming" Kenobi responded
"Please Hurry" Shimi pleaded
Anakin POV
Anakin sensed Shimi had contacted the council, but hoped Dooku hadn't also sensed it.
She contacted the council. This is what I was trying to avoid. Now the jedi are going to come and the events of my vision might happen again. Sidious is probably waiting nearby to strike if needed.
I need to let Dooku capture me and take me off-world before Sidious can kill any other jedi or my mother.
The two continued to exchange blades, but Anakin took a step back and deactivated his.
"I surrender as long as you and your master leave my mother alone" Anakin announced
"Those terms are suitable. I accept your surrender" Dooku replied
Dooku placed Anakin in force cuffs and led him away. Shimi ran back to see her son being led away and screamed "ANI"
"Leave her alone Dooku" Anakin demanded
"I am a man of my word" Dooku replied, "I know she contacted the Jedi, so it was wise to surrender. We wouldn't want this to get messy" Dooku revealed
The 2 entered dookus shuttle and to anakins surprise he was seated in the co-pilot seat (although still force cuffed)
"Why don't you throw me in the cago hold" Anakin questioned
"I like you and I want to talk" Dooku said honestly.
The shuttle left the system and a few seconds later a Jedi shuttle entered.
Shimi POV
She was sat next to Anakins ship crying. The Jedi Shuttle landed next to her and Yoda, Kenobi, Windu, Plo and Mundi emerged.
"Where's Anakin?" Kenobi quickly asked
Shimi tried to talk through her tears
"H..H..He's gone. That man took him right after I contacted you"
The masters looked at each other with deep concern and worry.
"To sidious, take him Dooku will." Yoda said sadly
"Did you hear Dooku and Anakin say anything that could help us?" Windu asked
"He said stuff like he needed to control his hate and anger. I don't know what any of that meant" Shimi replied
"Turn him to the dark side Sidious will try" Yoda stated
"I thought you said there is no try" Kenobi asked
"Made me question everything I believe Skywalker has" Yoda replied
The other Jedi stood silent.
Dooku POV
" I know you're not evil Dooku. You don't have to do this" Anakin said. If he could be saved, then dooku certainly could.
"You know nothing child" Dooku replied Bluntly
"You can't trust Sidious" Anakin responded
Dooku was taken aback by the child knowing of Sidious
"What do you know of Sidious?" Dooku Questioned
"That he doesn't actually care, or even respect you. He is just using you to get to his end goal of galactic domination. Once you have served your purpose he will have you killed. You wonder why he wants me? Its to replace you" Anakin told Dooku
"You're wrong" Dooku said with hesitation
"I am though. Certainly you have suspected Sidious' reasons for recruiting you."
Dooku couldn't help but reflect for a long moment.
"How do you know all this" Dooku asked
"Im from the future"
Council POV
The Jedi And Shimi landed back on Corruscant. Shimi was taken to the medical wing to be tested for illness and recieve therapy. The Jedi returned to the council chambers.
"Arrived to late we did" Yoda announced to the council, 'Taken by Dooku Skywalker was"
"How do we know this wan't intentional?" Master Tii asked
'What do you mean?" Windu asked
"We have seen how powerful SKywalker is. Shimi said he was taken away in cuffs suggesting he surrendered rather than was incapacitated. I don't think Skywalker would surrender unless he had good reason to" Tii said
"Yes. His reason was to protect his mother" Windu replied
"I think theres's more to it. Skywalker could have probably defeated Dooku or at least gotten away with her. We have seen how powerful he is." Tii continued
"I think she has a point. Maybe he wanted to go with dooku once he knew we were coming to get Shimi. Perhaps he's trying to turn him back to the light. If anakin can come back after commititng all those attrocoties then Dooku definatly can" Kenobi said
Anakin POV
"I'm from the future"
Dooku didn't speak for a long second
"That's impossible" Dooku replied
"Nothing is impossible through the power of the force" Anakin stated," In my timeline I became Sidious' new apprentice and he ordered me to kill you. We then ruled the galaxy for nearly 30 years before I killed him to save my son. I died shortly after and the force brought me back to make amends." Anakin told him
"You lie" Dooku accused
"Search your feelings you know it to be true. You have seen my power. Would you expect the average 13 year old to hold their own against the best duelist the order had. You know something has been off since the begining" Anakin rebutted
Dooku couldn't help but believe him. He knew he was toon powerful for even the chosen one.
"Why are you telling me this?" Dooku asked
"I want to help you. I don't want you to be Sidious' servant as I was" Anakin said
"I am not his servant. I chose the dark-side to better the galaxy. The republic is corrupt and the Jedi lost their way" Dooku tried to justify his actions
"I completely agree. That is partly why I joined Sidious. The Jedi had lost their way and continued to support the corrupt republic. I'm not here to save the Jedi or the republic. I only want to destroy sidious. He will cause so much pain and suffering"
Dooku sat in silence for a few minutes.
"I will help you" Dooku said