Title: Darkness

Characters: Obi-wan Kenobi, Count Dooku

Period: The Clone Wars

Type: Adventure, Mystery

Summary: Obi-wan tries to stop Dooku from obtaining an ancient artifact.

DARK DISCOVERY! WHILE DIGGING THROUGH AN ANCIENT BURIAL SITE ON THE PLANET ATHISS DEEP WITHIN THE ANCIENT SITH EMPIRE, REPUBLIC ARCHAEOLOGISTS HAVE UNEARTHED A MYSTERIOUS TEMPLE LONG FORGOTTEN TO THE SANDS OF TIME!

FEARING WHAT MAY BE DISCOVERED WITHIN, THE JEDI COUNCIL DISPATCHES OBI-WAN KENOBI AND ANAKIN SKYWALKER TO INVESTIGATE, ONLY TO DISCOVER UPON ARRIVAL THAT THEY ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES INTERESTED IN THE LOST SECRETS OF THE SITH EMPIRE!

Lightsabers clashed and echoed throughout the ruined and ancient temple of the Sith Empire. Crimson and azure sparked a fiery dance across the faded hieroglyphs that etched the moss covered walls as the two duelists combated each other for control of the field.

"Where is your protege, Master Kenobi," taunted the Separatist leader as their blades locked together and brought them face to face. "Surely you are not confident in your swordsmanship to best me?"

"I am certain he is coming, Count," replied the sweating Jedi, though he did not quite feel the same confidence his tone conveyed. He had been fighting Dooku all around these ruins for the last ten minutes, trying to stop the fallen Jedi from going deeper into the ruins in search of whatever it was that beckoned to them all.

Kenobi could feel the Darkside permeate through the walls and into his flesh and bones and it left him feeling queasy in the stomach. Dooku did not seem to be affected by the aura around them but then again, Obi-wan should have known the Count would be more comfortable than he in this dark place.

Anakin where are you? Obi-wan asked as he parried a strike that would have cleaved his legs off. He had no idea what was delaying his fellow Jedi Knight or how much longer he could hold out against Dooku.

Crimson and azure blades clashed in a whirl of fury, neither one getting closer to either welder nor gaining or losing ground. They seemed to be at an en passé in the duel and after a climatic clash that sent sparks flying, the two duelists separated for room and a brief respite.

"You've improved since we last fought, I commend you, Master Kenobi," Dooku genuinely praised, a rarity for him.

Flinging the Sith Lord's compliment back at him, Kenobi replied smartly; "And you have managed to compliment me, most impressive, Count Dooku."

The Count of Seranno glared at his opponent and raising his sword, he taunted with his free hand for Kenobi to attack. The Jedi Master complied and lunged forward with a sweeping arc of his blue lightsaber. Dooku pushed aside the attack with his own crimson blade and gestured with his hand to send Kenobi flying back against an altar. Ancient pottery and essence burners clattered and shattered on the stone floor of the ruins. Obi-wan struggled to his feet and raised his weapon up in time to block a downward strike from Dooku.

The two men circled each other after Kenobi gathered his bearings, neither man willing to yield to the other as they tested each others defenses. Dooku broke the silence between them, "You cannot win Kenobi..."

"That is not my plan, Dooku." The Sith Lord narrowed his eyes at the Jedi and then, abruptly, flicked his line of sight past his shoulder at something that caught his attention. People were running up the steps and the Count realized Kenobi had no intention to defeat him alone, only delay him long enough for reinforcements to arrive.

"You look a little pale, Count, perhaps you should sit down and surrender before you pass out. I would not want on my conscious an elderly gentleman getting hurt." Kenobi quipped and received a dark glare in return.

"Do not think a bunch of clones and two temperamental apprentices will discourage me from obtaining the power hidden in here, Master Kenobi!" Dooku disengaged his weapon and reached up with both hands above him. He called upon the Force and focused on the keystone that kept the rest of the ceiling from falling down. Grabbing the stone with an invisible grip, he yanked on it hard. Dirt and sand cascaded down from the disturbed ceiling as the stone moved an inch. With one more pull the stone came loose and crashed before Obi-wan Kenobi as the Jedi took a step back to avoid it.

"You must really be getting old if that is the best you can do," Kenobi taunted with an annoying smirk. It faded as a rumble began to crescendo in the ruins and he looked up in time to see the rest of the ceiling begin to collapse.

"You should use that brain of yours to mind your surroundings instead of insulting me, Master Kenobi!" Dooku shouted over the falling ceiling.

"Obi-wan!" cried Anakin as he watched in horror as the ruins collapsed around his master and Count Dooku. A great cloud of dust and dirt billowed from the collapse and despite the threat of more stone falling; Anakin, Ashoka and the clones rushed forward to start digging the Jedi Master out from under the rubble.

"Obi-wan!"