Chapter 21

"Alright, Dooku. I'm only going to say this once more and this time, I want you to listen," Mace told him. "Jedi do NOT torture people. Do you understand me?!"

Dooku smiled back at the master Jedi. "Completely."

"Good."

"But you're wrong." Dooku added with a smirk.

Mace closed his eyes and let out an agitated sigh. "This isn't for negotiation, Dooku. I will not allow torture."

"Uh-huh," he rolled his eyes. "Of course you won't."

"I won't!" Mace snapped.

"Didn't I just say that?" Dooku asked innocently.

Windu turned away and looked back through the glass at their prisoner. He couldn't see them, but that wasn't making him nervous. He sat there almost completely still, glaring at them with ignorant defiance.

Shaking his head, Mace spoke. "It's sad. The lad doesn't even know what side he has joined."

Though the statement wasn't for him to reply to, Dooku did anyway. "He doesn't care, Windu. He just thinks he's on the winning side."

Mace nodded slowly and looked down. "So many lost souls following the ways of the Sith… So many not knowing why or what they're getting themselves into."

Dooku shrugged. "I still don't."

"The only thing he would say was he just wants to be free," Mace continued softly. "But free from what?"

"Everything?" Dooku suggested. "Anything? He just wants a way out of this horrible existence."

Mace stole a glance at him. "Is that what you wanted when you joined the sith?"

"I didn't know what I wanted."

Luke followed his father, Mara, and Aric. Watching the young boy with Anakin was exactly how he pictured life would have been with him.

Aric was just so happy, bounding behind Anakin, full of vinegar. He looked like he was ready to take on the world. And he might have to, Luke thought sadly. I did, but I wasn't ready to. I guess you never can be.

He glanced over and caught Mara's eye. She smiled softly at him and continued walking. Luke could tell that she was a little uncomfortable with Anakin around. She was used to being the only ex-sith and being questioned about it, not being accepted for it. She wasn't sure if she liked it or not.

Anakin pushed the door to the Council's room open firmly and headed across towards the place where the prisoners were kept. Mace and Dooku stood there watching the prisoner from one side of the glass.

Luke nodded to Mace who nodded in return and then turned back to face the prisoner.

"What's his name?" Luke asked.

"Mace doesn't know," Dooku declared.

Windu ignored him and spoke. "He wouldn't say."

"Do you know his mission?" Mara inquired from beside them.

"Mace doesn't know that either," Dooku repeated.

Sighing Mace ignored the remark again. "He only said that he wanted to be free."

Anakin listened to the others but kept his eyes on the prisoner. Without a word, he made his way around the room and opened the door.

Dooku's eyes widened slightly as he saw Anakin go and sit in front of the prisoner, who looked up in surprise. Dooku nudged Mace and pointed.

Windu sighed. "What is he doing?"

Mara smiled. "Setting him free."