Chapter 11
Back on Coruscant the two Jedi take speeders up to the high city. There they met up with Obi Wan Kenobi. He welcomes them back and its clear he is pleased to see his former Padawans again. At the same time Obi wan tells the two of them that the Separatist droid army is attacking the underlevels of Coruscant.
"The Jedi are out in force but the droids are well organized" Obi Wan says.
"So what is happening at the moment?" Anakin asks.
"I'm going to go back to the temple for reinforcements," Obi Wan says.
"Can Farra and I come with you?" Anakin asks.
"You would be more help if you joined the fight" Obi Wan says, "It will take all our strength to destroy the Cortosis droids and the situation is getting desperate," Obi Wan explains.
Anakin remembers his own battle against the Cortosis droids on Tatooine during his rescue of Farra and tells Obi Wan that they will go and help.
The two Jedi make their way down to the underlevels. When they enter the indoor corridors they encounter some Trade Federation battle droids who immediately order them to drop their weapons. Farra and Anakin look at each other then back at the droids. Their lightsabers ignite as one and they leap forward. Their movements are fast and precise and their lightsabers flash with precision, reducing the droids to scrap metal. As the Jedi continue onward they decide to leave their lightsabers activated knowing they will run into more droids. Not much later they encounter some sentry droids who meet the same fate as the Trade Federation droids. As they enter the second indoor corridor both sense a disturbance in the Force. Proceeding to the next room they encounter a Dark Jedi named Trenox.
"You are causing us trouble Anakin but your efforts are futile" Trenox said.
"I don't think they are" Farra says walking around Trenox to stand behind him.
"It might be time to rethink your path my boy. The age of the Jedi is at an end" Trenox taunts Anakin.
"I don't think it is. I have seen the Jedi go from strength to strength. It is you who needs to rethink your path" Farra says.
Trenox turns to face her.
"Aah the lovely Farra Sti. As usual you are with your lover boy. Can't you fight on your own?" Trenox asked.
"Of course I can but Anakin and I fight better together," Farra said.
She has noticed that Anakin is not amused at Trenox referring to her as lovely. Then Trenox steps forward and kisses Farra. She Force shoves him away in disgust and wipes her mouth on her sleeve before spitting onto the floor.
"Sorry, I know that wasn't ladylike" she apologizes to Anakin.
"Do that again and you'll regret it. She's my girl" Anakin growls at Trenox, "Its ok, I know you didn't like what he did" Anakin mouths to Farra when Trenox isn't looking.
Trenox lunges at Farra and grabs her round her waist. As she tries to free herself Trenox darts into another corridor but not before slamming Anakin into the wall with the Force knocking him unconscious.
Trenox escapes to Bentho's nightclub carrying Farra with him. When Anakin wakes up he looks around wildly for Farra. Not seeing her he realizes that Trenox has taken her. He races through the corridors fighting more super battle droids and makes his way into the Undercity itself. There he encounters Dexter Jettster who has been trying to get supplies for his diner. Dexter appeared to be in shock and Anakin learns that a Jedi with a red lightsaber had threatened him then gone into Bentho's nightclub.
"He was no Jedi" Anakin says
Anakin has come to the conclusion that it was Trenox who threatened Dexter so he enters the club. Seeing Trenox he tells him to back down.
"Don't give commands to me boy," Trenox says to Anakin.
He attacks Anakin fiercely, but Anakin survives.
"Where is Farra?" Anakin asked.
"Your precious girlfriend is quite safe" Trenox replies.
Anakin can feel his temper getting close to breaking point. Taking a deep breath he tells himself to relax and runs through a couple of Jedi calming techniques. These work but Trenox has taken the opportunity to escape.
Anakin races after Trenox, fighting his way through Rodian mercenaries then enters the Core bay doing what he can to prevent Trenox escaping. He knows that Trenox knows where Farra is. However Trenox leaps onto a speeder and escapes. Anakin tries to catch up, destroying the turrets, Rodian mercenaries, some destroyer droids and some battle droids. During this fighting Anakin encounters a bounty hunter who tells him that he is too late as Trenox has destroyed most of the Jedi temple. Anakin hurries back to the Jedi Temple by finding another speeder. There he encounters Dooku accompanied by a Cortosis droid.
"Master Skywalker, what a pleasant surprise … you are quite tenacious" Dooku greets him.
"Dooku.." Anakin says.
"Ah and I see your arm has been replaced. Very good it suits you" Dooku cuts him off.
"Where is Farra?" Anakin asks, getting straight to the point.
"Oh yes your little girlfriend. I'm afraid I have no idea," Dooku says; "I am glad she isn't here as that will make my job easier" he ends.
"I said, "Where is Farra" Anakin snarled.
"Such passion you show young Skywalker. I do wish we had more time together, but for now I must attend to destroying the Jedi archives"
"You can't! You wouldn't. That's a millennia of knowledge, Dooku" Anakin says shocked.
"Yes, quite sad. But it has been helping your Jedi friends too long. This is a war and without the Archive's information, my forces will soon put an end to this destructive conflict. You would choose the same path I'm sure, given the opportunity," Dooku says.
"Never" Anakin declares.
Dooku leaves and the Cortosis droid attacks Anakin. Anakin's lightsaber leaps into his hand and ignites and the battle is on. After he has defeated the droid Anakin sees a hologram of Obi Wan Kenobi. Obi Wan asks Anakin where he is and Anakin tells him what he has found out. However Obi Wan doesn't respond and Anakin realizes he will have to deal with the situation himself. He fights his way through the separatist droids then encounters Trenox again. He asks Trenox again where Farra is.
"I'm too busy to be answering your questions now Skywalker" Trenox says.
"I will find Farra" Anakin warns.
"It's a shame you can't understand the vision and power of Dooku's plan. Your devotion to that silly order has blinded you"
At this Anakin becomes enraged.
"Don't make me destroy you," he warns.
"Hah you won't live to see what the Count has promised" Trenox says.
"Anakin has not been blinded. It is you who has been blinded and blinded to the truth," a female voice declares.
Anakin breaks into a smile as he has recognized the voice as that of Farra. She has entered the room lightsaber ignited, pointing at Trenox.
"How the heck did you escape from the Count?" Trenox asked.
"The Jedi rescued me. One of them was Obi Wan"
"Curse them" Trenox says.
He knows that Anakin will be stronger now that Farra is with him. Dooku had told him what he had learnt about the two of them and advised him to separate the two of them. By now Farra and Anakin are both circling Trenox. He attacks Anakin and the two Jedi battle him backwards and forwards across the library. By working together they manage to kill him. Anakin had regained control of his temper as soon as he knew Farra was safe.
At the conclusion of the battle Yoda shows up on the hologram and says that he's arrived with reinforcements. Anakin and Farra learn from Yoda that Dooku has escaped and that they must return to the council chamber, as the council needs to speak with them. They hurry back there and learn that Obi Wan was wounded in the fight against Dooku but the Force will mend his wounds in time. Anakin blames himself for this saying it would never have happened if he'd not let Dooku escape.
"Don't blame yourself Anakin. We should have sensed the deception earlier. And the information the two of you gleaned from Tatooine has been very helpful. Anakin and Farra are told that they need to go to Metalorn to retrieve the schematics of the Cortosis droids and return Wat Tambor, the leader of the techno union to Coruscant unharmed. This is to stop him making more Cortosis droids. The two Jedi accept this mission saying, "Yes Masters, we won't fail you"
They leave the council chamber and head back to their star fighters. On their way there Anakin asks Farra what happened to her.
"Trenox took me to Dooku, that's what happened. He took my lightsaber and put some binders, like the ones Ventress used, on me. I think he's cottoned on to the fact that together we are strong so is trying to separate us to weaken us"
"I'm just glad you showed up when you did. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't as I had lost my temper with Trenox" Anakin said.
"I'm glad too then"
"Did Trenox kiss you again?" Anakin wanted to know.
"No but I had the distinct impression that he likes me. I suspect he might have tried to turn me to the dark side given half the chance" Farra said.
"I'm glad we killed him then" Anakin said, "No one kisses my girl and gets away with it" he added.
The two Jedi had reached their star fighters by then and had paused to talk. Anakin raised his hand and caressed Farra's cheek.
"You are more precious to me than anything else" Anakin said, "Let me remove Trenox's stain from your mouth" Anakin added.
"Gladly" Farra said.
Anakin tips Farra's head up and kisses Farra. Farra relaxes into the kiss and enjoys the warmth of his lips against hers. They taste a hundred times better than Trenox's had. The two of them quickly became lost in their kiss as Anakin's lips caressed Farra's. Finally they came up for air.
"We should go. We have a mission to carry out," Farra said.
The two Jedi arrive on Metalorn some time later and land on the Metalorn outskirts near the Techno Union base. As the two Jedi make their way to the production facility they have to fight their way through battle droids, destroyer droids and Cortosis droids. They have to use Force Jumps to avoid floor alarms but eventually make it to the resistance facility. The Jedi fight their way through to the production core destroying all the droids and turrets they encounter. At the core Anakin finds some explosive charges. He tosses some to Farra and the two Jedi plant the charges on all the reactors they can see after Farra tells Anakin that the charges would be best placed on the reactors. When the two Jedi reach the third part of the core they find Wat Tambor.
"So Jedi we finally meet. What do you think of my factory?" Wat greets them.
"It's a marvel of the Techno Union. I'm going to feel terrible when we destroy it" Anakin says.
"What??" Wat asks in disbelief.
"Then you're coming with us to Coruscant. The Jedi Council has some questions for you about your experiments with Cortosis" Farra says.
"Ah yes Cortosis. Let me introduce the two of you to Vandalor"
Anakin recognizes Vandalar as the bounty hunter he had encountered while looking for Trenox on Coruscant.
"I don't think he approves of your plans for our factory" Wat continues.
"We've met before" Anakin replies, "Farra hasn't met him though" he ends.
Vandalor is silent and Wat continues on to say that he's heard a lot of the skill of the two Jedi and claims that he will feel terrible when Vandalor kills them.
"Claim your bounty Vandalor" Wat says then leaves.
The two Jedi ignite their lightsabers and circle Vandalor. He was armed with a jetpack, a staff capable of shooting lasers and a stunner that drains the Force powers of a Jedi. Whenever one of the Jedi was hit he or she would have to meditate while covered by the other to regain their Force Powers. One of the Jedi was always able to attack Vandalor while the other meditated and together Anakin and Farra wore him down and Anakin is finally able to get the killing blow in.
After the battle Anakin and Farra look at each other. Both are breathing heavily. Farra asks if Anakin is ok and he tells her that he is. Looking around Farra wonders where Tambor is.
"I guess he will be surprised to find that we are still alive," Farra says.
"Yes I suppose he will. But I guess he doesn't really understand what we Jedi can do," Anakin says.
"Which way now?" Farra asks Anakin.
"Just a minute love" Anakin says.
He closes his eyes and concentrates, finally pointing to a doorway leading to another room.
"Shall we?" Farra asks Anakin.
"Lets" Anakin says, jogging to the door.
Tambor is in the next room and he looks shocked to see that the Jedi are still alive.
"Impossible" he splutters.
Farra looks at Anakin and she can see that he is enjoying Tambor's shock.
"Next time you decide to hire protection, I suggest you consult with the Jedi first"
"How was I to know that Vandalor wouldn't succeed?" Tambor whines.
Farra is not impressed with Tambor's whining.
"Now come with us," Anakin says.
"And act like a man not a sniveling child" Farra says, her tone indicating to Anakin what she thinks of Tambor's whining.
Tambor reluctantly comes along after Farra ignites her lightsaber to press the point home. Before they leave Anakin plants the last charge. They had a minute and 30 seconds to evacuate. As they made their way out of the building they encountered more droids and turrets. The two Jedi fight their way through the droids and race outside and the facility goes up in a massive explosion. Anakin has his arm around Farra's waist as they watch the explosion.
The two Jedi and Tambor make their way back to the droid Factory Core fighting their way through droid resistance. When he can Anakin watches Farra's technique. She gracefully spins slashing at droids and reflecting their firing at them.'You are as gorgeous when you fight as when you aren't fighting' Anakin thinks
He continues his own battles and finally both Jedi and Tambor are out of the factory.
"My droids, my factory. The Jedi are a curse. Curse you both. One day, I tell you I will build a machine to."
"Quiet" Anakin interrupts.
"I sense something," Anakin says.
'I wonder what Anakin can sense. I hope it isn't trouble' Farra thinks.
Anakin looks around and then moves towards another room, Farra following.
'Dooku' Anakin realizes, 'What in Sith's name is he doing here I wonder? I hope he's not after Farra again. I'm sure the skunk knows we are strong together. I wonder what his game is. All right Dooku lets see what you're up to' Anakin is thinking.
Anakin followed by Farra enters the next room and Dooku shows up.
'I was right' Anakin thinks.
"Well we meet again Skywalker and Sti. A pity you are both here" Dooku said.
'I'm glad we are both here' Anakin thinks.
Dooku turns to Farra, "A shame I didn't get to spend more time with you the last time we were together. I am most interested in your relationship with Anakin. A pity he had to turn up and spoil our party."
Farra looks at Dooku her face reflecting calm and patience.
"Dooku, you know Anakin and I can take you. Why don't you save us a lot of trouble and give yourself up" Farra says.
Not surprisingly Dooku ignites his lightsaber.
"Lets see how good you two really are" Dooku said, "Apart" he adds.
Dooku Force shoves Farra into another room then reaches upward, pulling the wall down trapping himself and Farra in other room. Anakin watches in disbelief.
'You slimy, no good son of a bitch' Anakin thinks.
Anakin can hear lightsabers clashing. Using the Force he begins pulling at the rubble blocking the way into the other room.
'Got to get in there. Got to save Farra' he is thinking as he works.
It seemed to take an eternity to clear the rubble in front of him.
'I hope I'm not too late. I will kill Dooku if he's harmed her' Anakin thinks
Finally Anakin is able to enter the room. Farra and Dooku are dueling and Farra is holding her own. Dooku whips his head around and sees Anakin there.
"How on earth did you clear that mess" he asks in astonishment.
"Wouldn't you just like to know" Anakin says, his lips curled back in a sneer.
Farra has taken advantage of the Count's momentary distraction to run him through with her lightsaber. He collapses at Anakin's feet and Anakin takes his lightsaber.
"You ok?" Anakin asks Farra.
"Yes I'm fine love," Farra says.
"Glad to hear it" Anakin says kissing Farra.
The two Jedi return to their star fighters escorting Wat Tambor and return to Coruscant. Anakin and Farra go to the Council.
"The droid factory on Metalorn is destroyed and we defeated Dooku. Here is his lightsaber as proof" Farra says.
The Council praise the Jedi's efforts then say that they must be vigilant.
"A growing shadow of darkness I sense" Yoda says.
'The Sith lord' Anakin and Farra realize.
Chapter 12