"Stay here," said Obi-Wan to his small group of followers, "I'll handle this."
Although, truthfully he didn't really know what he would do. Dooku was still an enigma to him. He was holding something back behind his protective shields and that made Obi-Wan nervous as he approached the man cautiously. He had certainly done everything he could to help Obi-Wan and for that he was grateful. But Obi-Wan could not get the feeling that he was missing something. There was no time to dwell on that now; both Boba and Padme needed him focused on their current situation.
"Obi-Wan, what are you doing here, this is madness!" he exclaimed looking around constantly for the army of Geonosian warriors he was sure were on their way. What was the boy thinking? He had given him a way off the planet with the child; they should have been light years away from this place by now and out of danger. He had lost one son already to the sith monster, he would not allow his vision of loosing Obi-Wan to be fulfilled too, he had to leave!
"Padme needs medical attention, now, and all five of us are leaving this world together." His voice was surprisingly authoritative considering his anxiety. Dooku wasn't fooled and stepped up to him his arm outstretched to Obi-Wan's shoulder, but Obi-Wan backed away, not wanting the man's touch. "You would have had me leave without her and the others. Why was that?"
Dooku paused his advance on Obi-Wan and looked around again. His force senses were screaming at him to leave, but he just couldn't without Obi-Wan, his one last connection to his dear Qui-Gon. The man's death had been the most painful experience he had ever felt, the loose of such a pure spirit of the living force had ripped a huge gash into his consciousness when it had happened and it had never truly healed. Now his padawan's padawan was before him, his eye defiant with the sparkle of Qui-Gon still within him. If he had to bring the rabble with him to save his grandson, so be it.
"Because I knew you'd do something foolish, like this! I have a shuttle that can get us all to the hangar." He turned to leave, but Obi-Wan stopped him.
"What are you not telling me?" asked Obi-Wan, sensing Dooku's rising fear.
"Let me explain once we are moving. Bring them this way; I have the Geonosian leaders mind blocked. Their people won't bother us if we move quickly." He headed out and Obi-Wan beckoned the others to follow him. A mind block was a delicate thing, especially if used on more than one subject, so Dooku got them moving quickly through the hangar to a waiting shuttle.
They carefully brought Padme on board and let her lie on a low bench that ran along the side of the vehicle. Anakin remained at her side as Obi-Wan watched over them and once they were all settled aboard he moved to Dooku to finish their conversation.
Before he could ask his question again, Dooku thrust out his arm to Obi-Wan holding a lightsabre hilt. His plan to silence the former padawan worked as Obi-Wan stepped back from the hilt, frozen in time by its presence, witnessing with a sudden horrid and morbid reality the vision his mind intended to display to him.
Qui-Gon fought with all the skill he possessed, but it wasn't going to be enough. He would fall, that was inevitable, but the longer he fought off the sith, the sooner Obi-Wan could reach him. If he could only have the boy at his side, this creature would have been destroyed by now, but Qui-Gon's body was slipping in its exhaustion. Another slip and - Force! It was over! Force! This was what a mortal wound felt like, it seared through his body and for a brief moment it was as though it was rejecting the very idea of the impalement and he remained on his feet. That was until the blade slid out and all movement was down, graceful, but down. Not like this! He could have held on for just a few more seconds, he was better than this, he certainly wasn't that old! He tried to clear his mind. Focus on Obi-Wan, shield him from this pain, he'll need his strength to defeat the sith. Obi could do it, he had to do it, for the sake of the children, Padme and Anakin. Oh, Anakin! Taken from his mother and Qui-Gon in almost the same breath, he only had Obi-Wan left to protect him. It was so much to ask of his padawan, but surely he would not deny his master's dying wish. Let me hold out until I can explain to him, the boy must be trained and there is no other I would trust with such a task. The future, or may be it is just a possible future, I see them living as brothers in a world of peace. The chosen one will bring it, Obi-Wan must see that. Oh, Force, let the fighting end so I can speak to him. But it's calling, it's removing the pain, not so blinding any more. Then why can't I stand? Grant me one last try at the monster. I hear them so close to me now, keep going Obi, you have to finish this so I can tell you how much I – Force, no! Just a moment longer, just –
Obi-Wan found himself on the floor of the shuttle, Dooku at his side resting a comforting hand on his shoulder, Jango now piloting the small craft. Dooku was speaking, but Obi couldn't make out the words, they were so quiet, while the ringing in his eyes was still high pitched and whiny. He looked down at the saber hilt resting on the floor where Dooku had left it after coming to Obi's aid. He reached down and picked it up. It was deceptively light in his hand, but it felt good to hold one again and be able to examine it carefully. As the ringing subsided he became aware of Dooku's words and slowly rotated the hilt to familiarize himself with his master's blade.
"Obi-Wan, you never truly grieved for him, did you?" asked Dooku gently.
Obi shook his head slowly, continuing to examine the object in his hand.
"I'm so sorry. If I had known I never would have presented this to you so suddenly." He placed his hand over one of Obi's and Obi looked up at him. The eye of a distressed child fell upon Dooku to be met with eyes of concern and compassion from the old man.
"How did you get this?" asked Obi quietly, still reeling from his vision.
"Master Yoda thought it appropriate to gift it to me. It would have gone to you to keep or dispose of as you saw fit, so now I return it to you. I feel you are going to need it very soon."
He stood for a moment and glanced over at Anakin, still tending the stricken Padme. She was very pale and barely lucid, this did not bode well for what was ahead. He knew he should have just grabbed Obi-Wan and left before they could follow and slow them down. But then again, they had three force users now to face off against two sith, the odds were in their favor for the moment.
"Here," he called to Anakin and he tossed the boy his saber. "I managed to get this before we left. How good are you?"
"Good," was his only reply as he deftly caught the hilt and turned back to Padme. He rested his hand on her forehead and sent more of his energy to her. He wished he had paid more attention in healing tech, but there was little he could do about it now.
"Don't over do it!" called Dooku. "We're not clear of the planet's obstacles yet, lad." He returned to the still form of Obi-Wan on the floor.
"Why don't you come over here and help me out, then?" asked Anakin, as calmly as he could. The Count really did rub him the wrong way. He could sense Dooku was not entirely happy with the way things had turned out and for some reason Anakin felt he had to protect both Padme and Obi-Wan from him. He had wanted to go to Obi-Wan's side when he saw the man slide slowly to the floor, but a groan from Padme had brought his attention back to her.
"I have over reached myself already in aiding our escape. Trust me when I tell you we will all be needed in the fight ahead of us."
"You're talking about facing Maul, aren't you?" came Jango's voice, suddenly sounding desperate. "Oh no. Boba!"
"I'll not let them hurt him." Obi spoke quietly but with a determined air.
"How can you say that when you're here and he's there?" Jango replied.
Obi flipped on the com. link to Boba.
"Boba, can you hear me?" there was only static that met his request. Jango leapt from the shuttle controls, which Dooku grabbed to prevent a crash. Jango clung to Obi's arm and screamed his son's name into the device. "Boba! BOBA!" he shook at Obi's side and Obi reached up to calm him.
"He probably just left the ship to wait for us. He's a smart lad and has been warned about Maul now. He's going to be fine." Obi felt he sounded more like Qui-Gon than ever and his force enhanced intense sincerity had Jango soothed at least for the moment.
The vision, he was realizing, had not been a mere projection. These had been Qui-Gon's actual thoughts moments before their link had been severed and that severing had been so ferocious, a part of Qui-Gon had been pulled through it to rest deep inside Obi's mind. If he had returned to the Order, a mind healer would have recognized the damage and helped Obi seal and heal the broken bond, would have helped him release this last part of Qui-Gon to the force and allowed Obi to grieve appropriately for his fallen Master. Without such help, the memories were trapped inside the former padawan unable to find peace. With this new knowledge of his master's last moments he no longer felt robbed of the man's presence. He could feel the strength of the master coursing through his veins, giving him back some of the serenity he had lost all those years ago.
They were fast approaching the hangar, and although none of them spoke, there was a certain foreboding that hung in the air. The unmistakable presences of Maul and Ventress boiled over them, and they were both prepared.