OBI-WAN

The sound was the first thing that alerted Obi-Wan to the fact that he was drifting back to consciousness. There was a deep, low thrumming sound that seemed to reverberate throughout his whole body. Then there was the sound of hushed voices speaking softly above him. One of them he knew. Thalia's.

He then noted that his center of gravity seemed off, like he was lying down. On hard ground he thought, which would explain why the thrumming seemed to flow through his body. There was some kind of machinery beneath him.

While his body lay on the hard ground, his head and shoulders were resting against something warm and soft. Something was wrapped around his torso, gripping his shoulder gently. It shifted every so often. It was an arm, he was lying against someone and they were holding him to keep him comfortable.

He then became aware that a hand was gently pushing it's fingers through his hair. Not purposefully, more as if it was being done absent-mindedly.

It was at this point that consciousness pulled at Obi-Wan and his senses returned to him. He caught a scent of wood and rose. His eyes opened slowly and he looked up at Thalia. She was faced away from him, talking to someone.

Obi-Wan's head rested in her lap, the long slit in the pants of the ensemble she'd been given meant his head was resting against her bare thigh and she held him with one arm as not to let him roll away from her. Her other hand was affectionately running itself through his hair, as if she was unaware of her actions.

A dull ache in his back forced him to shift slightly and Thalia's eyes quickly met his. She smiled down at him just for a moment before helping him to sit up, her hand bracing the space between his shoulder blades. He maneuvered himself round so he was sitting with his back resting against the wall like hers.

"We're on a Zyggerian ship." Thalia said beside him as he looked around, trying to take in his surroundings. "I overheard the guards. They're taking us to where they're keeping Qui-Gonn."

"Where?" Obi-Wan asked. His voice was gruff from unconsciousness, nothing a clear of the throat wouldn't fix. "Where?" He asked again, more clearly this time.

"Geonosis." She replied, looking sideways at him.

"Just a drop off before they keep going for their next delivery to Tattooine." Another voice said and Obi-Wan looked around Thalia to see the woman she'd been talking to sitting in the corner, her head resting against the back wall, her eyes closed.

"Are you sure there's nothing we can do to help, Noa?" Thalia asked her, referring to a prior conversation.

"Yes, I've heard of a woman there, Shmi Skywalker, she cares for the slave community on Tattooine, even though she's a slave herself." The woman replied.

"She sounds very remarkable." Thalia smiled gently and Noa nodded her head once.

"Why would Qui-Gonn be on Geonosis?" Thalia asked, turning back to Obi-Wan.

"It's the capital of the Separatist movement." He replied and Thalia sighed heavily beside him.

"Well, now what?" She asked.

"I think we're about to find out." Obi-Wan replied as the ship shuddered violently beneath them.

A side door in the corner of the room slid upwards to reveal a Zyggerian guard holding his blaster in both hands.

"On your feet, skugs." He growled and after a long pause, both Obi-Wan and Thalia got to their feet.

The guard stepped aside to let them pass. They walked through the doorway and straight out into the hold of the ship where four Geonosians were waiting. They clicked to each other and their insect-like wings shivered as they walked up to the pair holding handcuffs in their clawed hands.

Obi-Wan's hands were pulled behind his back and he watched Thalia wince as her were yanked back rather violently. The ramp of the ship lowered and the first thing that hit him was the immense heat and the hot, dry wind that made him feel instantly exhausted.

Beyond the ramp stood a huge, sandy colosseum from which rose a cacophony of chittering and clicking. It seemed a show was about to begin and they were to be the main attraction. Ahead of him, Thalia was pushed down the ramp and out into the wild weather. The elaborate, plaited hairstyle that had been bundled on top of her head had fallen, so strands of hair and plaits whipped madly around in the wind as she tried to shield her face from the flying sand.

Obi-Wan tried to keep an eye on her as they crossed the stretch of open sand, but it was near impossible with the amount of sand trying to force it's way into his eyes.

Thankfully, the wind died away the instant they entered the covered archway where an open top, hovering chariot was waiting. Thalia was pushed up first and chained to a rail than ran along the interior.

"So, isn't this the part where we make our heroic escape?" She asked as Obi-Wan was chained in opposite her. He could hear that she was trying to keep her voice even. She knew the fate that awaited Geonosian prisoners. They prided themselves on their Gladiator style fights between unarmed people and an array of deadly beasts.

"Don't be afraid." Obi-Wan said as the Princess looked out towards the the archway where the sound of cheering was growing.

"What else is there to be?" She replied quietly keeping her eyes on the archway.

They were suddenly thrown sideways as the chariot lurched forward.

"They still think we're both Jedi. Your identity is still a secret for now." Obi-Wan said and he knew he didn't sound convincing. He wasn't sure whether this was just a realization or if it was meant to be some sort of comfort.

"I'm more concerned about my life than my identity at the moment." Thalia replied tersely.

Then they were out into the arena and the millions of Geonosians in the high stalls let out ear-splitting screeches. Obi-Wan tried to look up at them all but the sun was so blinding that he shut his eyes immediately.

The chariot carried them to the centre of the arena where three pillars stood with a single chain hanging from the top of each one to keep their prisoners on a leash. As they moved closer, Obi-Wan saw a figure hanging from one of the chains.

"Qui-Gonn." Obi-Wan gasped as the chariot came to a stop just beyond the Jedi.

"I take it this is my rescue party." His Master said pleasantly.

"That was the plan anyway." Obi-Wan replied as both he and Thalia were hauled out of the chariot. Instead of being chained to the pillars like he'd assumed he would be, Obi-Wan was pushed up against Thalia and their handcuffs were locked together.

One of the Geonosians pushed them roughly to the ground so they were sitting back to back with their wrists bound together.

"I have a bad feeling about this." Obi-Wan muttered under his breath as a small group entered the royal box.