THALIA

To say that today hadn't gone the way she thought it would, was an understatement. Somehow, she'd managed to find herself bound to Obi-Wan in the middle of a Geonosian killing arena, waiting to be devoured by all manner of hellish beasts.

In fact, saying that things had gone wrong in every way imaginable would have been more appropriate.

Poggle the Lesser, ruler of the Geonosians was addressing the huge crowd with none other than Count Dooku and King Tai standing behind him. Count Dooku was brave to show his face here. Thalia knew that the galaxy was close to breaking into an all-out war, but the Seperatists must have been confident in their stance to be present at a Jedi execution.

As Poggle gave one final sentiment, the crowd roared as three gates opened menacingly at the far end of the arena. Obi-Wan shifted nervously against her as three creatures emerged from the darkness. One was a Reek. A horned creature with tough black and red skin that was almost impossible to penetrate. The second was a Nexu, a huge cat-like creature with menacing red eyes. The third was an Acklay, practically a giant Preying Mantis.

From somewhere in the arena, drums started to echo which only excited the crowd even more, encouraging the animals to lock on to their targets.

Thalia pulled her legs towards her and tried to stand but it was no use with Obi-Wan still chained to her.

"It's alright. Just stay calm." He said behind her.

"How!?" She cried as the three animals broke into a run.

There was nothing they could do to move out of the creature's paths and a terrified cry left Thalia's throat as the Reek was barely twenty meters from them. She felt Obi-Wan wrap his fingers between hers and hold them tight as she shut her eyes, the ground shaking with the heavy footfalls of the creature.

"Wait." She distantly heard someone shout and suddenly, the footfalls slowed to a stop. Slowly, she lifted her head to the Royal Box and saw Count Dooku staring at the creatures, his hand outstretched as he used the force to calm them.

His eyes then met hers and he pointed to her, saying something to first Poggle and then Tai who nodded eagerly.

Poggle addressed his audience once more and the crowd seemed to mutter and flap their wings nervously.

"What's going on?" Thalia asked, her voice wavering as two Geonosians flew down to them.

"I don't know." Obi-Wan shook his head and she felt his head brushing against her shoulder as he moved. As he tried to twist around, the scratchy material from his slaver shirt rubbed against her back, still bare from the Zyggerian attire she still wore.

The Geonosians scurried over to them and to Thalia's surprise, undid the restraints holding her to Obi-Wan. They pulled her away from him and began walking her back to the archway as Dooku and Tai disappeared from the Royal Box.

"No!" She heard Qui-Gonn growl and she twisted around to see him pulling at the restraints. "They know who you really are, Thalia!" He yelled after her and she immediately started to struggle against the Geonosians' grip.

"Let me go!" She yelled, and managed to yank her arm away from one of them, but a sharp blow to the shoulder by the other quickly got her back under control.

As she was walked back through the archway she was met by King Tai and Count Dooku.

"Well, well, your highness. It seems we have much to discuss." Dooku said slyly.

"Neither Troska nor myself has any quarrel with the Separatists." Thalia began, the well worn sentence easily rolling off her tongue.

"Perhaps there are some arguments to be discussed there." He replied. "But what I am more interested in at the moment, is how someone with such a high Midichlorian count managed to slip under the radar for so long."

The Geonosians pushed her towards a small corridor in the side of the archway.

"How do you know about that?" Thalia spat as she was marched down the dark passageway. It was so low that the tops of her hair kept catching on jagged pieces of the tunnel's roof.

She was pulled sideways into a small room with chains hanging from the ceiling in the far corner. The Geonosians clicked to each other as the chains were locked onto her handcuffs and then pulled up above her head, just low enough that her feet still touched the ground.

"It seems your Jedi friends have not been as honest with you as you may believe. It seems one of their precious holocrons has found it's way into my hands." Dooku smiled wickedly as Thalia's heartrate rose even more and she glared at him.

"I don't want it to be like this." He said sadly, gesturing to the chains. "Why did you close the Crystal Caves?"

"It's the same answer I gave you last time." Thalia sighed. "They cause too much damage when used for the wrong reasons. They belong to Troska, and they will stay on Troska. It isn't up for negotiation, Count."

"Oh I understand that, of course. I would never ask you to reopen the caves, it's a very good reason to close them. To protect your planet and the galaxy." Dooku nodded as he paced back and forth in front of Thalia. "I have a proposition for you. The Separatists are willing to provide protection to your planet and all other neutral systems for yours and their support. Your protection would be our top priority, I can assure you." He finished and fixed Thalia with an expectant look, but all she did was slowly shake her head.

"The Republic have respected our choice. Why is it so hard for you to do the same?" She asked sadly.

"My dear, the universe is not that simple." Dooku replied and raised his hand. Thalia felt a sudden surge of the force wrap itself around her mind. It tightened and she cried out in pain.

"There are other ways to have you join the Separatists. With your power you could become one of the greatest Sith Lords in the history of the galaxy." Dooku spat and the pain in her head became almost unbearable. "Embrace your anger, use your fear."

"Join me and together we can bring peace to the galaxy." Dooku yelled.

"I…" Thalia began, but stopped suddenly as images from her childhood flashed in her mind. She remembered how her Father showed her the ways of the force.

"The strongest stars have hearts of Kyber." He used to say. "That's you."

"I…won't." Thalia growled and forced her eyes to open. She took hold of the force surrounding her and sent it flying back at Dooku. His eyes barely had time to widen before he flew backwards and slammed into the opposite wall, crumpling to the ground.

While Thalia was concentrating on Dooku, she didn't see King Tai pull out his whip and hurl it at her. The orange band wrapped around her leg and she cried out in pain as electricity surge through her. As the whip was pulled away an angry, red mark burned against her skin.

"Like I said, Princess. I didn't want it to come to this." Dooku gasped, trying to compose himself as he got to his feet. He nodded once at Tai before leaving the small room. Tai turned to Thalia, a horrible smirk on his face.