No. 6—Proof of Life
Ransom Video | "I've got a pulse." | Screams from across the Hall
"Anakin's been gone too long," Obi-Wan said. "I think we need to send out a team to investigate where he is." And he would be on it. Anakin didn't usually take this long to complete simple missions. Ahsoka was safe at the Temple, because she'd come down with a bad flu when Anakin had to leave, but Anakin hadn't contacted Obi-Wan to check on her in over a week. Which, meant, at least according to Obi-Wan, that he could officially be declared missing.
"I agree," Mace said. "Skywalker doesn't usually go out of contact for this long. The lack of communication is troublesome, especially considering his padawan has been sick and Skywalker is incredibly loyal to his friends."
Mace didn't say it, but Obi-Wan knew what he meant. The whole Council did. Anakin had obsessively checked on Ahsoka every couple of hours while on the investigative mission, a nice break from the war efforts, until Yoda managed to convince him that Ahsoka wouldn't keel over if he didn't check on her every other hour. Anakin had still kept up daily checks.
Until just over a week ago.
An initiate stepped into the Council chambers. Caleb Dume. "Um, excuse me, masters, this holovid was delivered to you."
Obi-Wan's stomach dropped. His shoulder blades and the back of his neck prickled. This was bad news. He just knew it.
He reached out for the holovid. "Give it to me, Caleb."
Caleb dropped the holovid in Obi-Wan's hand, bowed, and left.
Obi-Wan activated the holovid. Dooku sprung up in miniature above Obi-Wan's hand, a kneeling Anakin at his feet. Blood streaked Anakin's face, matting in his hair and trailing down his cheek. A metal gag kept him from speaking. Dooku had one hand in Anakin's curly hair, holding Anakin upright. Anakin frowned, attempting a stern glare, but his eyes were bleary.
Anakin. Obi-Wan's heart slammed against his chest. This was why he hadn't contacted him. He was in the hands of a Sith Lord.
"Hello, Masters," Dooku said. "I believe I have something of yours." He shook Anakin with the hand in his hair.
Anakin cried out in pain, his cry muffled but still clear enough.
Obi-Wan winced. Normal shaking shouldn't elicit that response. Dooku had hurt Anakin badly.
"I assume you're going to want this back," Dooku said. "I'm willing to do that for you. On one condition." He grinned. "I want Palpatine's head on a stick."
Obi-Wan covered his mouth with his hand. Palpatine's head. Unless they managed to find Anakin and rescue him, he was well and truly gone. They could never ransom him like that.
Anakin gave a muffled cry, of anger this time. Dooku shook him.
"I'm sure you'll be willing to cooperate, seeing as Palpatine is really Darth Sidious and has been playing both sides of the war this whole time."
Obi-Wan's heart failed him. No. There was no way. Dooku was just lying to convince them to kill the chancellor for him. They couldn't have missed something this big.
"You'll find all the evidence you need at the coordinates at the end of this video. If you don't mind, I'll keep a hold of Palpatine's dear future apprentice he's been dying to replace me with until you succeed. I'm sure you understand. Best not to have a second Jedi in Yoda's lineage fall to the Dark Side." Dooku stroked Anakin's matted hair, ignoring the venomous glare Anakin leveled at him. "Oh, and I'd hurry, too. Skywalker can't last without food forever, and he's so terribly sensitive to electrocution." He removed Anakin's gag, then pushed him to the floor and shot him through with Force lightning.
Anakin's raspy scream filled the entire Council chamber, despite the tiny size of the holovid projector.
"I look forward to the delivery of my gift." The vid disappeared, replaced with a set of coordinates.
Obi-Wan collapsed against his chair, gasping for breath. Unbidden tears wet his eyes. "Oh, Anakin," he breathed. He shook his head and turned to Yoda. "What are we going to do?"