Chapter Twenty-Five

Sarali woke with a splitting headache. The second thing to register in her mind was cold, bone-chilling cold. Her bodysuit hardly helped to keep her warm.

Sarali opened her eyes, quickly becoming accustomed to the dim lighting. She was in a small, empty room of stone flooring, stone walls, and a stone ceiling. The door was made of durasteel. Unless she could get the hinges out, she could not escape.

Strangely enough, there was a little black bundle on the floor. She reached out and pulled it over to her. It was clothing. At the top was a black satin slip. Underneath was a black leather jacket that looked quite inviting considering the cold of the room. There was also a pair of black leggings and something purple which after a small struggle turned out to be a dress, and a short one at that. Why were there clothes here?

Upon introspection, she found a thin blanket covering her. It did very little in terms of warmth, hense the prior lack of notice. Her tunic was burnt and ripped in several places, though thankfully the blanket was covering her. So they had provided clothes? Well, that was nice, almost too nice...

ooooooooooooooo

When Count Dooku walked into Obi-Wan's holding cell, he was met with a single word. "Traitor."

"Oh, no, my friend. This is a mistake, a terrible mistake. They have gone too far. This is madness," he said, hardly even sounding sincere.

"I thought you were the leader here, Dooku," Obi-Wan said pointedly and very coldly.

"This had nothing to do with me. I assure you," Dooku said, beginning to pace around Obi-Wan. "I will petition immediately to have you set free."

"Well, I hope it doesn't take too long. I have work to do," Obi-Wan said calmly, though it was obvious he did not believe the Count.

"May I ask why a Jedi Knight is all the way out here on Geonosis, and with a half-human Senator's aide?"

"I've been tracking a bounty hunter named Jango Fett. Do you know him?" Obi-Wan said, responding to the first before he realized that the Count had spoken of Sarali.

"There are no bounty hunters here that I am aware of. The Geonosians don't trust them," Dooku said. The second part actually sounded truthful.

"Well, who can blame them? But he is here. I assure you."

"It's a great pity that our paths have never crossed before, Obi-Wan," Dooku said evenly, though there was something in his voice hinting at true emotion. "Qui-Gon always spoke very highly of you...I wish he were still alive. I could use his help right now."

"Qui-Gon Jinn would never join you," Obi-Wan said. Obviously, Dooku had hit a nerve.

"Don't be so sure, my young Jedi. You forget that he was once my apprentice just as you were once his. He knew all about the corruption in the Senate, but he would never have gone along with it if he had known the truth as I have."

"The truth?" Obi-Wan questioned.

"The truth...What if I told you that the Republic was now under the control of the Dark Lord of the Sith?"

"No. That's not possible. The Jedi would be aware of it."

"The dark side of the Force has clouded their vision, my friend. Hundreds of Senators are now under the influence of a Sith Lord called Darth Sidious."

"I don't believe you," Obi-Wan chorused.

"The Trade Federation was once in league with this Darth Sidious. They were betrayed. The Viceroy came to me for help. Join me, Obi-Wan, and we can destroy the Sith."

"No. I will never join you, Dooku."

"That's odd. Your pretty little friend Sarali said you'd join right away when you heard what evil was controlling the galaxy."

"What have you done with her?" Obi-Wan demanded instantly.

"Oh, nothing much. She is warming up to me quite nicely," Dooku said with a disturbing smile.

"Stay away from her!"

"I am a man, and she is a beautiful...half-Cathar. Even you cannot have been immune to her charms..."

Unintentionally, Obi-Wan blushed. "Ah, so you've noticed. You seem quite taken by her. Contemplating leaving the Jedi Order, Obi-Wan? Or perhaps you've forgotten your Jedi Code. There is no emotion, there is peace...Anyway, I think it will be rather difficult to secure your release."