Thank you to the 11 people who reviewed the last chapter. You guys are the greatest. This chapter is definitely going to cover the events of "The Box" and I hope that you like it even if some of the events might not change. Reviews, as always, are much appreciated.

Chapter 44

Obi-Wan watched as Bane guided the freighter they retrieved from Nal Hutta toward the landing pad outside Count Dooku's palace on the beautiful planet of Serenno. It was ironic that the beautiful planet was home to someone as diabolical as Dooku. Obi-Wan pushed those thoughts away before he began focusing on what was going to happen next.

The Box.

Obi-Wan grimaced inwardly; he was not looking forward to that. He only had to do what he could to avoid arousing Dooku's suspicions even though he wasn't exactly sure if Dooku was suspicious or not before the actual mission began. He was certain Dooku knew of what was going on when he found that comlink within his sniper rifle's case after the bounty hunters had been captured.

Obi-Wan resolved to make sure that didn't happen that time to avoid letting Dooku know about his deception.

The ship landed and Eval led the way out of the ship. Bane, adjusting his hat, followed Eval and Obi-Wan, slipping on the mask he bought on Nal Hutta, brought up the rear of the group. Count Dooku was walking toward them surrounded by magnaguards holding their rods with the balls of crackling energy on either end.

Eval hurried forward to join Dooku almost as soon as he stepped off the steps leading into the freighter. "Count Dooku, I apologize for my delay," Eval said before eyeing the magnaguards warily when they moved forward a little.

"Your careless delay could have ruined my plan, Eval," Dooku said coolly before he lifted his eyes as Obi-Wan and Bane joined Eval. "I see Cad Bane is with you. Who is the other one?"

Eval turned to look. "This is Rako Hardeen," he said turning to look back at Dooku. "When Bane's escape plan failed, we only succeeded thanks to Hardeen. I thought he might be useful for the tournament."

"Enough small talk, I want my money," Bane said sternly.

"That makes two of us," Obi-Wan said.

"You shall have it and perhaps much more," Dooku said. "Both of you if you would like to enter our friendly contest."

"I'm in if he's in," Obi-Wan said.

"You already owe me for one job, Dooku," Bane said sparing Obi-Wan only a single glance. "Anything else will cost you triple."

Eval looked a little surprised by that.

"I assure you if you survive the challenge then the reward will be worth it," Dooku said reassuringly stepping aside.

Bane brushed rudely past Eval and Obi-Wan copied his movement before the two of them made their way toward the palace with the magnaguards surrounding them.

Anakin walked down the twists and turns of the Jedi Temple heading toward Master Tachi's room with his Padawan and her temporary Padawan at his side carrying the food that Siri had requested earlier. Ahsoka, grimacing, glared at Anakin. "Why aren't you carrying anything?" she asked a little irritably.

Anakin grinned. "Hey, it doesn't take more than two hands," he said.

"Uh huh. You just didn't want to do any work."

"Me?"

Ahsoka snorted but a smile played on her lips. "Yes you," she said. "Come on, we should get this to Master Tachi. I don't want her to get angry with us again."

Anakin nodded in agreement and the three of them picked up their pace a little before Anakin led the way into the apartment. Siri, resting on her back on the form couch, looked at him. "It's about time," she growled pushing herself into a sitting position.

"Sorry, it took a lot longer to find what you wanted," Anakin admitted.

Jenica and Ahsoka placed the food and other items on the table in front of the form couch and Siri reached out before picking up one of the sweet pies before immediately biting into it. "Did you get me some Jawa juice too?" she demanded.

Anakin, Ahsoka and Jenica exchanged glances sharply. "Uh…"

Siri glared at them.

"We'll go get it now, Master," Jenica said quickly to avoid seeing Siri blow up again. In the past month since Obi-Wan went undercover, and since Anakin found out Siri was pregnant, he, Jenica and Ahsoka had seen Siri get angry for no apparent reason and then angrier when she had a reason. Padmé said it was because of the mood swings and, apparently, even Jedi training couldn't combat the mood swings of a pregnant lady.

The two Padawans and one Jedi Knight quickly left the room to find Siri some Jawa juice.

"I don't understand why Master Tachi is acting this way, Master Skywalker," Jenica said frowning. "It's been going on for a while now and I just don't understand."

Ahsoka's eyes were narrowed. "I asked Barriss," she said, "but Barriss says she didn't know but I find that unlikely since she is a healer."

Anakin shrugged. "I have no idea either but it would probably be best if we didn't get on Master Tachi's bad side," he said.

"Probably a good idea," Ahsoka agreed.

Obi-Wan and Bane made their way through the group of bounty hunters and they were halfway through the group before Obi-Wan decided to break the silence. "So, what kind of contest do you think the count has planned?" he asked.

"I'd be surprised if we all survived," Bane admitted before he frowned when he spotted the bounty hunter Onca's brother and the hat he was wearing. "Nice hat."

Obi-Wan decided against trying to stop Bane; it wouldn't work anyway. If Bane wanted something then he would get it no matter who he had to kill to get it.

"Where'd you get it?" Bane demanded.

Onca's brother didn't respond; he merely pulled out his blaster but was shot by Bane almost before the blaster cleared its holster.

Obi-Wan resisted the urge to shake his head at Bane's ruthlessness.

Bane caught the hat when it came flying to him before putting it on and glaring at Obi-Wan. "What are you looking at? It's a nice hat," he said walking away ignoring the glare Onca was giving him.

Dooku, Eval and his magnaguards approached the group at that moment. "Welcome to Serenno," Dooku said as he moved forward. "You have been invited here because you are the best bounty hunters in the galaxy."

"Kiera Swan, two time winner of the Obsidian Sphere. Derrown, known simply as the Exterminator, Sixtat, the outland's butcher, Embo, your bounty tallies was second only to one last season, Cad Bane who needs no introduction. Rako Hardeen, the marksman of a Concord Dawn, Jakoli known for never bringing anyone back alive. Onca, you and your brother have been a legendary team. This challenge may prove difficult for you alone. Twazzi, your acrobatics once earned you praise from Chancellor Valorum, Sinrich, inventor of the holographic disguise matrix and finally, Mantu, your people was once a peaceful race, how far have they fallen."

"In a few moments, all eleven of you will enter what we call the Box," Dooku said gesturing and the group of bounty hunters, and Obi-Wan, turned to look at the gigantic cubicle known as the Box.

"Some of you will not make it out alive," Dooku went on, "For those who do, we are looking for the five most skilled among you. Any additional survivors will be eliminated to preserve the integrity of the job that awaits."

The magnaguards guided a tray toward them. "Place your weapons here," one of the magnaguards said.

The bounty hunters, and Obi-Wan, immediately began removing their weapons and placing them on the tray.

"For those we choose, you will, of course, be paid most handsomely," Dooku went on. "But more than that, you will be a part of an operation that will be a turning point in the Clone Wars. And when we succeed, we will bring the Republic to its pitiful knees."

In your dreams, maybe not even then, Obi-Wan thought eyes narrowing behind his mask.

"Listen up," Eval began to speak, "the Box was designed by me, Moralo Eval, to stimulate certain situations you might encounter on the job. Go now, enter the box if you have the courage."

Obi-Wan walked alongside Cad Bane as the group headed toward the entrance into the Box.

The inside of the Box was just as Obi-Wan remembered; a white expansive space that Obi-Wan knew could change easily especially if the first obstacle was the one he thought it was going to be and it likely was. Suddenly, the walls that surrounded them transformed into the face of Moralo Eval.

"Before we begin our first challenge, let me say there is only one rule inside the Box; there are no rules," Eval said.

Embo asked something.

"The point, my friend, is to escape," Eval said, "and quickly because only the survivors will advance to the next challenge." His image disappeared and the inside of the Box was plunged into silence that Obi-Wan knew would not last long.

An opening opened up and the greenish gas known as dioxis erupted from the opening. "Dioxis, breathe that and you're dead," Obi-Wan called covering his mouth.

Sections of the floor began to rise and fall and Obi-Wan began analyzing it trying to find the pattern he found the first time around.

"Every man for themselves," Sixtat called leaping onto one of the sections only to be kicked off when Embo leapt onto that same section.

Everyone else leapt onto the sections as they rose upward before it came to a stop. Sixtat managed to pull himself to his feet on one of the rising columns. "That wasn't so hard," he said.

It's about to get a lot harder, Obi-Wan thought watching as the columns rose again.

Twazzi nearly got trapped between the column and the ceiling but was now hanging on between two columns. Embo leapt off the column he was one and kicked Mantu off his section causing him to hang on to the edge of the column.

Obi-Wan found the way out easily; he already knew of where to look even with the thick, poisonous gas that covered the bottom area of the room. "The way out is down not up," he said pointing downward. "I'll go scout a way out. The filters in my helmet will allow me to survive for a short time."

Without bothering on waiting for a reply, Obi-Wan leapt down into the gas-clouded and immediately headed toward the opening. He leapt into it without a second thought before turning towards the opening as it slide open. "There's a hole in the floor that will get you below the gas line," he called upward. "Jump down the hole and follow the tunnel." He began crawling down the tunnel without waiting to see what the others did.

"What if he's wrong?" Sixtat demanded pushing his hand against the ceiling as the column continued its upward movement.

Cad Bane glared at Sixtat. "You've got a better idea," he demanded and, without waiting for Sixtat to respond, leapt down into the gas covering his mouth. He leapt into the hole easily before beginning to crawl after Hardeen with the rest of the bounty hunters just behind him.

Obi-Wan pulled himself into the next room before turning to look toward the opening as Bane pulled himself upwards. "What took you so long?" he asked holding out a hand but Bane slapped it away and pulled himself upward onto the edge of the large column.

The wall changed as the rest of the bounty hunters arrived on the column. "Moralo Eval is impressed," Eval said, "no casualties on the first challenge."

The column they were on began to lower to the ground as Eval spoke again. "I guarantee you that will not be the case with the next," he said before his image disappeared and the room became dark.

Once the column was on the ground, everyone began to spread out. It was at that moment that horizontal columns, with laser-spiked tipped at their ends began jutting out of the wall at random intervals. At least, that was the way it appeared to the others but, to Obi-Wan, he knew of the pattern that would lead him to the escape route on the ceiling.

Onca was killed first and Kiera Swan soon followed. Obi-Wan was already examining the area trying to find the pattern he found the first time around.

Count Dooku narrowed his eyes as he observed Hardeen who was dodging the laser spike-tipped columns easily as if he somehow knew of where they were going to be as if he could sense where they would be. But that makes no sense, Dooku thought watching Hardeen some more before looking at Eval.

"Impressive," he said, "I sense something different about that one. Tell me what you know about this Rako Hardeen."

Eval pulled up the profile about Hardeen. "He killed the Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi but only with a sniper rifle," he said dismissively.

Dooku frowned. "Obi-Wan Kenobi," he murmured; one of the biggest pains in the Separatists' side since the beginning of the war. He wasn't entirely sure Kenobi could be killed as easily as by a sniper blast.

"I know how to get out," Obi-Wan said almost as soon as he spotted the pattern.

"Tell me," Bane demanded immediately.

"There's a pattern to the blades. Watch," Obi-Wan said before he pointed to one of the columns. "That's ones next." Sure enough, that column jutted out of the wall just as Obi-Wan had predicted.

"If I can time it right, I can climb up to that exit shaft," Obi-Wan added gesturing to the exit shaft. "Just follow me and time your jump."

"No," Bane growled.

Obi-Wan leapt onto the columns and began to make his way upwards. "Get moving," he called crouching on one of the columns.

Kiera went to follow Obi-Wan but was killed and Bane, most likely brought to his senses by that, immediately leapt up after Obi-Wan. Embo followed him as did a couple of others.

Obi-Wan leapt on another column that Cad Bane missed and he quickly pulled Bane onto the column. Bane glanced at him but Obi-Wan ignored the glance as he leapt onto another column.

Twazzi soon joined them as did Derrown. Obi-Wan leapt to another column before sliding along the column to avoid the column that jutted out above his head. He then leapt onto another column and another until he was on one that he knew would take him to the one he needed to go to. He dodged the laser spike-tipped horizontal columns that shot toward him before he leapt onto the column beneath the shaft.

He leapt into the shaft and began climbing upward; Cad Bane followed him.

Eval slammed his fist into the screen angrily.

"Hardeen has done it again," Dooku commented folding his arms across his chest. "I'm beginning to think he will be the best one to lead this operation."

"Hardeen is crafty I will grant you," Eval said folding his hands under his chin. "But let's see what happens when he's not the key to their survival."

Obi-Wan helped Jakoli into the next room, which was completely red, and he grimaced. The ray shield incident and one of the reasons why he couldn't stand ray shields. But he decided not to focus on that now.

Eval's image appeared on the wall again. "To make it to my final challenge, you will need to get past my ray shield," he said and the group of bounty hunters, and Obi-Wan, were suddenly surrounded by a ray shield that slowly began to close in on them. A small chamber was on the wall where the switch was located; it was protected by a ray shield.

"The switch to turn it off is on the other side. The syringe on the platform contains a highly electromagnetic serum that will allow you to pass through the shield. However, it is toxic to all but one of you." Eval laughed as Sixtat reached for the serum and his image disappeared.

Embo spoke again.

"So it would seem," Obi-Wan said understanding the bounty hunter eyeing the ray shield as it drew closer warily.

Columns began to rise in the air and Obi-Wan quickly leapt onto the platform with the rest of the group except Jakoli who was killed by the ray shield on the floor. Derrown turned his gaze to the syringe and reached out to take it.

Bane intervened and grabbed his arm as well as the syringe. "Hey, who put you in charge?" he demanded.

Derrown growled out a response in his own language; Obi-Wan understood him as he did the first time.

"Does anyone know what this gas bag is saying?" Bane asked holding the syringe away from Derrown.

"I do," Obi-Wan said taking the syringe from Bane, "He can get us out of this." He handed the syringe to Derrown before glancing at Bane and the others.

"He's a Parwan. His blood can handle the electromagnetic serum," said Obi-Wan.

"Are you certain?" Bane asked arms folded across his chest.

"Fifty/fifty, depends on the blood type of the Parwan," Obi-Wan said.

"Great," Bane muttered.

Obi-Wan watched as Derrown made his way toward the ray shield. As he moved toward the ray shield with the syringe in his hand, the ray shield drew closer to the group and Obi-Wan as well as the rest of the group, save for Mantu, leapt on to the much narrower platform. Derrown glanced back at them.

"Hurry, use the serum," Obi-Wan called.

Derrown injected the serum into his arm before stretching his arm through the ray shield. The platforms on which Obi-Wan and the others were standing began to fall and grow narrower. Mantu ended up fallen off the column and was killed in the ray shield before Obi-Wan could reach him. Everyone else was on the remaining platform. Embo ordered Derrown to hurry it up; Derrown reached closer to the switch and barely managed to turn the ray shields off before they reached the remaining bounty hunters and Obi-Wan.

More columns appeared as did a hallway in front of Derrown. Embo made his way up the steps and down the hallway behind the Parwan and Obi-Wan and the remaining survivors followed him.

"His blood, how'd you know about it?" Bane asked as he and Obi-Wan walked past Derrown.

"I used to kill Parwans for a living," Obi-Wan replied.

The Parwan protested.

Dooku watched the survivors make their way down the hallway before shaking his head. "Your box does not appear to be as much of a challenge as I thought," he said turning around, "perhaps I should put Hardeen in charge of the mission."

Eval bristled in anger. "But this was my plan," he protested turning around to face Dooku as he got out of his chair. "You promised me the lead role."

Dooku glanced at him over his shoulder. "You have one last test to change my mind," he said coolly.

"Do not fear Count Dooku," Eval said walking past Dooku, "I will show you who's weak."

The remaining five bounty hunters, and Obi-Wan, made their way into another room.

"The final challenge has arrived," Eval's voice sounded around them.

On the floor beneath their feet, jets of fire sprouted upward making the floor covered in asked if they were supposed to escape the room.

"Unfortunately no," Eval said appearing in the small chamber on the side of the wall. He pressed another button and part of the floor rose upward before the flames disappeared making the platform on which they stood larger than it was earlier. A column rose higher than the others and, on it, was a sniper rifle.

"You must test your sniper skills," Eval said pressing a button on his comlink and a bright target on the wall appeared. "Hit the target."

The group moved toward the rifle but Sixtat stepped in front of them. "Back boys, I show you how it's done," he said before he took the rifle and aimed it at the garget. He fired at the target and hit it the first couple of times but missed the third time. The part of the platform he was standing on fell away and, with a cry, Sixtat fell into the flames.

Obi-Wan winced inwardly.

Eval laughed.

"I get it," Obi-Wan said calmly. "If we miss the target then the platform gets smaller. Then there won't be a platform left."

Another sniper rifle appeared and Obi-Wan took it without a second thought. He aimed it and was able to hit the target all three times. However, just as he was expecting, Eval wasn't that happy.

The platform the others were on rose higher than the one Obi-Wan was on and Eval glared at him. "This is not the first time you've saved everyone's skin, Hardeen," Eval said. "Five more hits, let's see how good you really are." He pressed another button and the platform narrowed dangerously.

Obi-Wan grimaced and, hoping Dooku wouldn't sense his use of the Force, he fired at the targets but, just as he expected, he ran out of charge before he could hit the last target. He resisted the urge to glare at Eval since he knew that was Eval's plan.

"Oh what a shame," Eval said, "Out of charges. It's also important as a bounty hunter to be lucky and your luck just ran out." He pressed another button and Obi-Wan gritted his teeth knowing of what was going to happen. The platform disappeared but, as he fell, Bane sent a extensive cord flying at Obi-Wan and it circled around his wrist stopping his descent.

"How dare you defy Moralo Eval?" Eval demanded.

Bane looked at Eval. "If you're going to kill him, do it like a man," he retorted.

"You heard him Eval," Dooku's voice said and his face took up the image of the wall, "show us what you are made of." The flames were extinguished except for on the edges of the square beneath Obi-Wan's feet. Eval was pushed into the room and Dooku's face appeared on the wall again.

Bane let Obi-Wan drop onto one of the columns that jutted upward to catch him before he was lowered to the ground. He waited for the probe droids to arrive since he knew Eval fought dirty. The probe droids appeared and began fighting at Obi-Wan. He easily destroyed the first one with a sharp quick, grabbed the second one and tossed it into the third one. He then grabbed the third one and, walking along the wall before tossing it into Eval knocking him down. Eval tossed the probe droid into the wall before standing up.

"You're going to have to do better than that," Obi-Wan said.

"You haven't seen nothing yet," Eval said before he pressed another button and the floor rose up in a maze. He chased after Eval who rounded the corner and dashed out of the maze before pressing another button. A wall appeared in front of Obi-Wan but he merely jumped to the top of it and slammed a punch into Eval's face.

"Let's even the playing field," he said slamming Eval's comlink into the ground to disable it.

Eval snarled in fury before attacking Obi-Wan and sending him skidding dangerously close to the flames. Obi-Wan flipped to his feet and tackled Eval to the ground before slamming punches into his face. It wasn't long before the punches took its toll on Eval and one last punch knocked him unconscious.

"Finish him Hardeen," Dooku said but, when Obi-Wan refused, he added, "Very disappointing."

"With all due respect, I just want to do my job and get my money," Obi-Wan retorted.

"It is unfortunate that your leadership skills are so lacking," Dooku said as Obi-Wan joined the other bounty hunters. "Nevertheless, congratulations on surviving the box. Tomorrow, you will kidnap Chancellor Palpatine at the festival on Naboo. With the leader of the Republic as our hostage, we will demand the release of all Separatist prisoners. If our demands are not met then the Chancellor will be executed."

Obi-Wan had to wonder if that was really a bad thing but quickly pushed that thought away.

"Either way, you would help reshape the galaxy," said Dooku. "Once you are all onboard the transport, Eval will walk you through his plan. However, the operation Naboo will be run by Cad Bane."

Eval looked surprised and angry and Bane moved forward.

"All of you work for him now," Dooku added.

A/n what do you think?

Blaze: and that was "The Box"

Darth: pretty much went the same way as the episode

Blaze: yeah, the next episode will change big time though

Darth: so what's going to happen?

Blaze: "Crisis on Naboo" plus Obi getting chewed out by his extremely emotional, pregnant wife and Obi learning that he is going to be a father

Darth: oh I'm looking forward to that

Anakin: cool and what is going to happen after the next chapter

Blaze: the events of "Revenge" but different naturally

Obi-Wan: and then "Revival" after "Revenge" right?

Blaze: yup. Ugh, dealing with the stupid Internet to watch "Revival"

Anakin: the Internet can be stupid when you need it

Blaze: tell me about it. So please review and I will post the next chapter, which will cover "Crisis on Naboo" as soon as I possibly can but I doubt it will be anytime soon.