Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars. I just created my own little AU sandbox to play in.
AN: Here's chapter 17! Thanks for all the great reviews. Enjoy this next installment and let me know what you think!
Force Jumper
Chapter 17: Complications on Geonosis
Count Dooku's boots sounded thickly on the permacrete, as he entered the holding cell where the two Jedi prisoners were suspended in plasma rings.
"Traitor," Obi-Wan spat upon seeing the former Jedi Master.
"Oh no my friend, this is a mistake, a terrible mistake. They have gone too far this time," Dooku refuted.
"I thought you were the leader here, Dooku," Obi-Wan reproached.
"Yeah and if this is such a mistake, then get us down," Ahsoka chimed in. Dooku smirked, finding the young, sharp tongued padawan quite amusing.
"This has nothing to do with me, I assure you," he said, pausing for a moment.
"I will petition immediately to have you set free," he continued.
"Well, I hope it doesn't take too long. We have work to do," Obi-Wan snapped. Dooku's demeanor changed from remorse to what seemed like irritation.
"May I ask what a Jedi Knight and his young padawan are doing all the way out on Geonosis?" Dooku questioned. Obi-Wan's eyes narrowed. So it was an interrogation after all. Deciding that they had nothing else to lose, he told the truth.
"We've been tracking a bounty hunter by the name of Jango Fett. Do you know him?" Obi-Wan answered with a question. Dooku was silent for a moment.
"There are no bounty hunters here that I am aware of. The Geonosians don't trust them," Dooku replied.
"Well, who could blame them? But he is here, I assure you," Obi-Wan pressed. Dooku paused again, before nodding.
"It's a shame our paths have never crossed before, Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon always spoke so highly of you. I…I wish he was still alive. I could use his help right now," Dooku said solemnly.
"Qui-Gon Jinn would never join you," Obi-Wan spat in distaste.
"Don't be so sure, my young Jedi. You forget that he was once my apprentice as you are his," Dooku reminded.
"And you think his loyalty to you would overrule his loyalty to the Republic?" Obi-Wan asked, scoffing at the notion. Dooku ignored him.
"He knew all about the corruption in the Senate," Dooku said, pausing for another moment.
"They all do of course, Yoda and…Mace Windu," Dooku said and Obi-Wan caught the obvious dislike for the latter man in the tone of the traitor's voice.
"But he would have never gone along with the status quo, with that corruption, if he had known the truth as I do," Dooku said in an ominous tone. Another pause, this one demanding that Obi-Wan press on with his incessant questioning, while Ahsoka listened to the exchange with rapt attention.
"The truth?" the younger Jedi asked.
"The truth," Dooku stated.
"What if I told you that the Senate is under the control of the Dark Lords of the Sith?" the Count questioned.
"No…that's impossible!" Obi-Wan refuted, his mind whirling at even the possibility of such a notion. There was just no way such a thing could happen.
"The Jedi would be aware of it," Obi-Wan stated confidently.
"The Dark Side of the Force has clouded their vision, my friend," Dooku responded.
"Hundreds of Senators are now under the influence of a Dark Lord known as Darth Sidious," Dooku offered up.
"I don't believe you," Obi-Wan replied flatly, while his young padawan's mouth gaped open in disbelief.
"The Viceroy of the Trade Federation was once in league with him, but he was betrayed ten years ago. He came to me and told me everything. The Jedi Council would not believe him. I tried many times to warn them, but they wouldn't listen. Once they realize their error, it will be too late. You and your apprentice must join me, Obi-Wan, and together, we can destroy the Sith!" Dooku proposed.
"We will never join you, Dooku," Obi-Wan spat. The regal man gave a disappointed sigh and then turned to leave.
"It may be difficult to secure your release," he tossed at them, before exiting the room without another word.
Quinlan sipped at his caf, as Anakin came down the stairs, dressed with slightly damp hair. He smirked.
"Well, well, I didn't think you'd be up yet for hours," Quinlan teased. Anakin sighed.
"Funny Master, but I had a dream last night and I think Master Sifo is in trouble," Anakin said with a pained expression.
"Damn it…I knew it. He's gone and got himself in over his head," Quinlan cursed.
"You talked to him?" the younger man asked.
"Last night while you were out with Padme. He insisted that we not get involved, but he was going to confront Dooku on Geonosis," Quinlan replied.
"Then we have to go. My dream was a vision and Master Sifo didn't win that duel. Dooku has captured him…I'm sure of it," Anakin stated.
"Then we need to move," Quinlan replied, finishing his caf.
"I've never been to Geonosis. I don't have any jump sites there," Anakin mentioned.
"No, but Tatooine is only a half a parsec from there. You can jump us to that dust ball, we'll acquire a ship, and then get to the other dust ball," Quinlan suggested.
"Tatooine?" Anakin groaned.
"We won't be there long," Quinlan promised, as he eyed his young apprentice taking note of a few differences in him this morning. Anakin noticed his smirk.
"What?" he asked.
"Nothing, just can't wait to tell Master Sifo that our little Ani is a man now," Quinlan chuckled, watching Anakin shift uncomfortably.
"Master, this is seriously not the time," Anakin said in frustration. Quinlan laughed.
"Good thing for you, but I'll have something to tease you about on the way to Geonosis," Quinlan responded.
"Padme will be with us so you wouldn't dare," Anakin retorted.
"Why is Padme coming? She should be staying here for her own safety," Quinlan replied. Anakin looked away sheepishly and ran his hand through his hair.
"Um…well, she won't let me leave her behind so she's coming too," Anakin replied quickly. Quinlan chuckled.
"She won't let you?" he teased. Anakin sighed.
"I don't like it either Master, but it's pointless to argue with her. When she makes up her mind, then that's it. She'll just follow us if we don't bring her and in that case, I'd rather keep her close," Anakin said. Quinlan whistled playfully.
"She really must be some girl if she's got you whipped already," he teased. Anakin rolled his eyes.
"Go suit up Knightblade. We need to get our esteemed leader out of the hole he's dug himself before Dooku decides to do some weird experiments on him or something," Quinlan ordered. Anakin nodded, as he jumped to the other temple where he kept his disguise stored. A few minutes later, Padme quietly came down the stairs with a travel case and dressed in what looked like a white battle uniform with silver arm cuffs.
"Good morning Senator. Caf?" he asked. She nodded.
"Thank you, but you can just call me Padme," she replied, as he poured her a cup. She noticed the man's amused smirk.
"You're probably not too happy about me coming, are you?" she asked. His smirk widened.
"On the contrary actually," he responded.
"Really?" she asked. He shrugged.
"You keep Anakin in line. It's not something that's easily done," he replied.
"I love him…you can trust me with him," she promised.
"Good to know. And he's not going to let anything happen to you, because he's crazy about you too," Quinlan mentioned, watching her cheeks color slightly.
"Besides, something tells me that you know how to use one of these," Quinlan added, as he tossed a blaster to her. She caught it, checked the charge, cocked, and un-cocked it, before flipping the safety on and holstering it on her utility belt.
"Maybe," she replied nonchalantly, as Anakin came back in his armor and minus his mask for the time being.
"Are we ready?" he asked. They nodded and huddled together, as Anakin jumped them to Mos Espa space port…
Sabe turned off the holoscreen and sighed deeply. She couldn't believe that Jar-Jar Binks had just proposed to give the Chancellor Emergency powers. He was tricked into doing it of course. Padme would have never in a million years proposed such a motion. She was going to be furious, though Representative Binks had not meant any harm, he had gotten them into quite a situation. Now there would be no avoiding a war.
She also didn't buy the story that Padme had been kidnapped by Knightblade. She didn't know why, but she knew her best friend well enough to know that she had probably gone with him willingly for her own safety. The Jedi protection had left her less than confident, after all. She had a feeling that the woman that she considered her little sister and the mysterious masked vigilante would turn up in the middle of all this.
"Captain Typho, ready the ship. We need to go to Geonosis," Sabe said.
"Why?" he asked.
"Just a feeling I have. I don't know how I know, but I think Padme and her masked hero will turn up in the middle of all of this," Sabe mentioned, voicing her thoughts.
"That masked hero kidnapped her," Typho growled. Sabe snorted.
"Oh please, he may be wearing a mask, but I saw the way he was looking at her and the way she was looking at him. Padme is with him of her own free will, I'm sure of it," Sabe said, as she went to pack her things.
"Go on, get the ship ready," Sabe called back. He sighed and went to do as he was told.
"I hope you know what you've gotten yourself into, Padme," Sabe whispered, as she packed a travel case and included some of Padme's things, just in case.
Acquiring a ship on Tatooine had not been hard with Quinlan's persuasion and Padme's money. Now they were well on their way to Geonosis. Quinlan was in back meditating, while Anakin piloted and Padme sat next to him in the co-pilot chair.
"Are you okay?" he asked. She smiled and gave him a nod.
"I just worked for so long to keep the Republic from going to war, but I don't think any of it is going to matter. Some seem determined to drag us into exactly that," she replied. He reached over and squeezed her hand.
"I know, taking you here is the worst thing I could do, you know. It's possible that the people behind trying to have you killed could be here," he mentioned.
"I'll be fine, as long as I'm with you. I haven't meant your Master, but I can tell how much he means to you," she responded. He nodded.
"He's like a father to me. Quinlan kind of is too, but I think he thinks of me as a kid brother. He found me after my first jump, but it was Master Sifo that used to comfort me most of the time when I'd wake up from the nightmares during my first year with them. I kept reliving that night my mom was murdered, but he was there for me," Anakin replied. She smiled.
"I'm sure he'll be okay and I can't wait to meet him," she reassured him. He nodded.
"Just stay close once we get there. I can't lose you either," he told her. She nodded, as she squeezed his hand.
Dooku walked into the tiny cell where he kept his secret prisoner.
"Well, I see you're finally awake my friend," Dooku spoke, as he approached.
"No thanks to you…friend," Sifo replied, as he struggled with his plasma bonds. He watched, as several Geonosians, armed with plasma pikes, came into his cell.
"Have him moved to my ship discreetly," Dooku ordered to them.
"Your ship?" Sifo questioned.
"I have very specific plans for you and I can't have anything interfering," Dooku told him.
"Plans?" Sifo questioned. The Count chuckled.
"It's really not very pleasant, but if you must know, I need your…participation in a little cybernetics experiment I've been working on," Dooku replied.
"Cybernetics? Do you know how completely mad you sound?" Sifo asked, eliciting another chuckle from his former friend.
"Yes, I suppose it does sound that way, but you should be honored. You'll soon be helping make Galactic history by bringing down the broken Republic and replacing it with something far greater," Dooku said. Sifo-Dyas shook his head.
"Now I know you've completely lost it," Sifo spat, as the Geonosians began to carry out their orders. But something familiar tugged at Sifo-Dyas senses and he allowed himself a smirk, as they moved him to the hanger where Dooku's ship rested.
"Figures that since I told those boys to stay put that they would do the opposite," Sifo-Dyas mumbled, as he was put on this ship.
The ship they acquired on Tatooine cut through the thick, rusty colored clouds on Geonosis, as Anakin wove around the planets rocky outcroppings and circled flat topped mesas that peppered the landscape.
"See those steam columns?" Padme pointed. Anakin nodded.
"I think they might be exhaust vents of some kind," she added.
"That'll do," he answered, as he slowed and slowly landed the ship on a solid, flat platform between the vents. They stood up and she gazed up into his eyes.
"Stay close," he reminded. She nodded.
"Who knows, maybe I can find a diplomatic solution to all this," she replied in jest.
"I wish angel, but I think aggressive negotiations are going to be the only negotiating of any kind," he replied.
"Aggressive negotiations?" she asked, as he took her hand and led her back toward the ramp. Quinlan was already outside waiting on them.
"Negotiations with a light saber," he clarified, as he securely placed his mask over his eyes, his armor already in place. She smirked.
"I see, so there's no real plan?" she asked. He returned her smirk.
"Of sorts, though I tend to make up most of it as I go along," he replied.
"Somehow that doesn't surprise me," she quipped, as she put her arms around his neck. His slid around her waist and he leaned down, pressing his lips softly against hers.
"I love you…" she whispered.
"I love you too…" he responded, as they joined Quinlan outside the ship.
"I'm going to find our wayward Master, but there is definitely more going on here. You two try and find out more," Quinlan instructed, before holding up his hand.
"Discreetly," he added. Anakin shot him a look.
"I'm always discreet," he argued and Quinlan gave him an incredulous look.
"Well, I try to be. Stay out of trouble, Master," Anakin called.
"I will if you will," Quinlan called back, as he disappeared.
"I bet this is some kind of factory. Let's find out what the Geonosians are making so much of," Anakin said, as he led her toward the entrance.
"Artoo, you stay here," Padme called. The little droid, however, had other ideas and followed his Mistress and new Master anyway.
Quinlan Vos crept silently along rafters above the meeting room. Upon entrance to this place, he had been lucky enough to witness Count Dooku himself strode passed him through the corridor. Following him quietly and carefully suppressing his Force presence, he witnessed him enter a meeting room with several other beings. Careful not to alert them to his presence, he jumped to the rafters and listened quietly to the meeting.
Nute Gunray slammed his fist on the table.
"I signed your treaty and you have not held up your end of the bargain! Amidala still lives!" Gunray ranted.
"Patience Viceroy, another opportunity to deal with her will soon present itself. She is not one to disappear from the political scene for too long," Dooku assured.
"She had better die soon or you'll have no cooperation from us," Gunray hissed.
"She'll be dealt with, Neimodian scum, but I can just as easily deal with you too," Jango snapped, as he started toward the coward. Dooku held up his hand and Jango stopped.
"You would do well to remember who is in charge here, Viceroy. Now, I believe we have an execution to attend," Dooku said. Gunray, who was cowering away from Fett, managed to pull himself together.
"Yes of course," he said, as several of them, including Fett, slowly exited the room.
"You may come out of your hiding place anytime," Dooku called into the room. Quinlan bit back a curse and jumped, landing in front of the Count.
"Where is Sifo-Dyas," Quinlan demanded to know. Dooku smirked.
"Such loyalty to your Master is to be admired. I could use someone like you in my cause. Another Force Jumper would be a great addition. Together, along with your young protégé, we could even take down Windu and his entire operation," Dooku tempted. Quinlan snorted.
"You don't care about taking down the Xal'Kaar. As long as they're not after you, you could care less about the other Force Jumpers they kill. My Master won't join you and neither will Anakin and I," Quinlan spat.
"Then I'm sorry my friend, I'm afraid I cannot let you leave this place alive then," Dooku said, as he drew his light saber, but didn't ignite it. Quinlan drew his and his emerald blade lit, just as he felt the pain of electricity slam into his body. A cord constricted around him, as Cox took him by surprise from behind. Quinlan fell to the floor, writhing in pain.
"Coward!" he spat.
"You have him and our deal is done. The boy is obviously here somewhere too. Put him in the arena to be executed with the Jedi and you'll ensure the boy with show up to save him," Dooku said. Cox smirked at the Force Jumper.
"Two Force Jumpers in one day, including the most powerful one we've ever come across. Master Windu will have be running my own operation for this," Cox said smugly.
"You'll never get Anakin…" Quinlan seethed, as electricity coursed through his body, preventing him from using his powers. Cox kicked him in the stomach and then shoved him forward. Two Geonosian lackeys then dragged him away.
Once inside, Anakin looked around and jumped them to the other side, as they went through another doorway. Padme felt herself start to fall, but Anakin grabbed her and jumped them to another platform above where the bridge extending over the factory line wasn't missing.
"A droid factory," Anakin said.
"They're making an army," Padme added sadly, as it seemed that everything she had done to prevent a war the last year had truly been for nothing. Anakin heard something and quickly jumped them to a small crevice, hiding their presence, as a few Geonosians entered the factory to observe progress. Behind them entered none other than Jango Fett.
"What is he doing here?" Padme whispered. Anakin shook his head.
"I'm not sure, unless he's collecting for other jobs, which might mean that whoever is behind all this is also behind the attempts to kill you. Let's find Boba. He might be able to tell us more," Anakin whispered back, as he jumped them just outside the entrance where they bounty hunter had entered. Falling into the shadows, he led her along the unfamiliar corridors, searching for a possible hanger where Jango's ship may be resting. They soon found it and crept into the hanger. Geonosians milled about and Anakin waved his hand, suggesting that the few workers sleep. As Boba noticed the creatures suddenly just fall over, he came down the ramp and his eyes lit up when he saw Anakin.
"Anakin!" Boba called.
"Shh…not too loud, kid," Anakin said.
"I'm glad to see you, but my dad's going to be back any minute. We're going to an execution!" Boba said.
"What execution?" Anakin asked, suddenly fearing that it might Sifo-Dyas.
"Some Jedi named Kenobi and his padawan. They chased us here from Kamino and they were arrested for espionage," Boba informed them.
"The Republic won't stand for the execution of a Jedi," Padme told him.
"Leave it to Kenobi to get himself and his padawan mixed up in this. Do you know where they're holding them?" Anakin asked.
"The arena is down another level. That's where the executions take place. I heard there's going to be an Acklay!" Boba said with enthusiasm. Anakin gave him a look.
"What? I want to see if they're as powerful as I read," Boba said shrugging his shoulders.
"Sorry kid, but no one's getting eaten here today if I can help it and the fact that you think it's wizard to watch the Geonosians feed people to one is a little disturbing, don't you think?" Anakin asked. Boba rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, yeah, spoil my fun," Boba replied.
"Don't tell your dad I was here," Anakin called.
"I'm mad at him right now anyway, so I'm not even talking to him," Boba called back. Anakin smirked, as he took Padme's hand and they disappeared again.
Ahsoka stumbled, as she was prodded into carriage.
"Don't be frightened, young one," Obi-Wan tried to comfort her.
"No offense Master, but we're about to be executed and I know a Jedi isn't supposed to fear anything…but that's a lot to ask," Ahsoka replied. Obi-Wan sighed.
"I know, but this isn't over yet. The Republic will not stand for this. It is an act of war and help is on the way," Obi-Wan responded.
"Then they're late," Ahsoka griped, as the carriage slowly carried them into the arena, the sun's punishing rays now beaming down on them. The Geonosian arena was filled to capacity, its citizens eager for the execution to commence. They were each led to a pillar and chained to it. Then to Obi-Wan's shock, another man was dragged out to the third pillar. There was a sparking electric cord around him and a peculiar device attached to it that seemed to power the electrical current. The man was secured to the third post.
"Quinlan Vos?" Obi-Wan questioned.
"Kenobi…long time no see," Quinlan said, as he struggled to get his breath. Obi-Wan was about to ask more questions, but an animalistic shriek caught his attention. A large, aqua colored Acklay was prodded into the arena. Another roar was heard, as a Reek was released from the second holding pen. It sniffed the air and set its sights on Ahsoka. And finally, an eager, salivating Nexu growled, as its bloodstained teeth gleamed and its multiple eyes focused on Quinlan.
"Oh just bloody perfect! A Nexu of all creatures…you better get your ass down here, Mr. Hero With No Fear," Quinlan grumbled, wondering when his apprentice was going to make his grand entrance.
Poggle the Lesser addressed the crowd in his native Geonosian language, as Count Dooku, Jango Fett, and Nute Gunray joined him on the balcony overlooking the arena. He held his hand up and motioned.
"Let the executions begin!"