Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars. I just created my own little AU sandbox to play in.
AN: Here's chapter 18! Thanks for all the great reviews. Enjoy this next installment and let me know what you think!
Force Jumper
Chapter 18: The Arena and Confrontation with Dooku
"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!"
"Master…" Ahsoka called, as the Reek was prodded toward her.
"Relax young one and use the Force. It can overpower a weak minded beast," Obi-Wan reminded. The Reek roared and she took a deep breath, before reaching deeply into the Force in an attempt to influence the beast's thoughts.
The Acklay screeched and looked menacingly at the small creature that prodded him, before its powerful jaws snapped the Geonosian up and tore it apart, before tossing it to the ground. Apparently the creature did not prefer to eat the insect-like creatures and there was a sickening crunch, as its long spear-like leg pierced the creature. Obi-Wan picked up a prodding staff to defend himself, as the Acklay set its hungry sites on the Jedi.
Anakin and Padme landed in the dimly lit hanger bay just outside the Geonosian capital city.
"He's in that ship," Anakin said.
"How do you know?" Padme asked. He shrugged.
"It's kind of hard to explain, but it's sort of a master/padawan bond that we've established over the years. Master insists on a lot of meditation training, which I think I really boring most of the time, but it definitely has its benefits," Anakin explained, as he stopped suddenly, sensing more danger.
"What is it?" she asked.
"We need to hurry. Master Quin is in trouble too. Stay here," Anakin said, as he went up the ramp of the ship. Padme sighed and didn't notice the pair of sinister eyes watching her.
"Master!" Anakin called.
"Back here!" Sifo-Dyas called. Anakin found him at the rear of the ship trapped behind some ray shields.
"Getting into trouble as usual, are you Master?" Anakin mused, as he found the control panel and released the ray shields.
"I told Quinlan not to come here, but I suppose it's lucky for me that neither of you listen very well," Sifo-Dyas replied.
"I think Master Quin is in trouble now too though. We need to hurry," Anakin said, as another dark tremor swept them both.
"He's not the only one in trouble," Sifo mumbled.
"Padme!" Anakin cried, as he went darting out of the ship.
Padme waited impatiently for Anakin to return and she suddenly felt something press against the back of her head.
"Don't move…" a sinister voice growled. Her eyes widened, as she realized that there was the barrel of a blaster against her head. She was about to turn around, but he warned her again.
"I said don't move, Senator," he growled, as he unwound a cable from his belt so he could use it to bind her hands.
"Who are you?" she demanded. He chuckled.
"Just someone who stands to make a lot of money off you," he drawled.
"You're a bounty hunter…" she concluded.
"That's right sweet cheeks, let's go," he snarled, as he nudged her with the barrel of his blaster.
"Where are you taking me?" she demanded to know.
"Shut up and put your hands behind your back," he hissed. She reluctantly did as he asked and he holstered his weapon, as he began tying her hands. She whimpered, as he pulled the twine extra tight, purposely cutting off the circulation in her hands. She swallowed the lump in her throat, praying Anakin would hurry and felt the man's hot breath on her neck. He sniffed her hair and she turned her head away from his horrible breath.
"Too bad I don't have time to have a little…fun with you," he hissed in her ear. Padme thrust her head back, banging him in the nose and tore away from him. He held his face in pain and drew his blaster.
"You little bitch…" he growled, as he fired his weapon. Padme gasped, but Anakin, with his mask on, appeared between her and the assailant, his armor absorbing the blaster fire harmlessly. The man's eyes widened, as he kept firing, as Anakin strode toward him. He used the Force to pull the blaster from his hand and then kicked his legs out from under him. He landed flat on his back and Anakin's sapphire blade hummed at his throat.
"Tell me who hired you!" he demanded.
"I'm as good as dead if I say anything," the man growled. Anakin smirked.
"You're dead if you don't talk too," Anakin threatened.
"Easy Knightblade…we can easily extract the information we need. Besides, I have a pretty good hunch that Count Dooku is behind everything, including my captivity," Sifo-Dyas said, as he came down the ramp of the ship.
"You must tell us who you are working for," Sifo-Dyas suggested.
"Viceroy Gunray has promised a fortune to the person that kills Senator Amidala. However, there is a bonus in it if he gets her alive so he can carry out her execution personally. He wants her to suffer for the embarrassment she has caused him," the glassy eyed man parroted.
"It's as I thought. Count Dooku is leading this entire operation. He's behind the Separatist ruse," Sifo-Dyas stated.
"You will not ever approach the Senator again, lest you wish to forfeit your life," Anakin growled. The man parroted the line back and fell unconscious, thanks to a sleep suggestions from Sifo-Dyas.
"Then I was right! The Jedi assured me that it couldn't be him, because he was once a Jedi," Padme said. Anakin scoffed.
"I'm afraid the dark side has clouded their vision, milady," Sifo-Dyas told her.
"Gunray is a coward and he's going to pay for trying to kill you," Anakin growled.
"Easy young one, I believe we need to find Quinlan first," Sifo-Dyas reminded. Anakin smirked.
"He came here to save you. It's kind of funny that it's going to be other way around," Anakin said in amusement, as he took Padme's hand. Sifo smirked.
"We'll deal with his damaged ego later. Let's just get him and get off this dreadful sand ball," Sifo-Dyas said. Anakin nodded, as he grabbed his master's arm and all three disappeared.
"Dammit…" Quinlan cursed, as he struggled against the electric bonds. The Nexu yelped, as he kicked it in the head again. But the bloodthirsty creature was too persistent and got up again, pacing hungrily. Quinlan watched, as the Nexu sat back on his haunches, preparing to launch to make a bite for his neck. As it leapt, its head was promptly severed from its body, as Anakin, Sifo-Dyas, and Padme appeared.
"Took you long enough, kid. I was about to be dinner for that little bastard," Quinlan growled.
"You're welcome, Master," Anakin drawled sarcastically.
"Just cut me lose," Quinlan demanded. Sifo-Dyas smirked and sliced through the electrified cables.
"I thought you came here to rescue me," Sifo teased. Quinlan pointed his finger at him.
"Not a word, Master," Quinlan warned grumpily. Anakin sliced through Ahsoka's shackles and then Obi-Wan's, before taking Padme's hand and guarding her, as he took on the Acklay that screeched in pain, as one of its legs was severed.
"Senator…are you all right?" Obi-Wan asked. Padme looked at him strangely.
"Of course," she replied simply, further confusing Obi-Wan.
"But you were kidnapped by this vigilante and now he's dragged you here. I must put you back under the protection of the Jedi," Obi-Wan said.
"I was not kidnapped. I'm with Knightblade willingly and forgive me, Master Jedi, but I would be dead now if I stayed under the protection of the Jedi. I assure you that I'm exactly where I should be," Padme replied, as the head of the Acklay fell to the ground, separated from the body. A loud thud was heard, as the lifeless body slumped over. Quinlan had slain the Reek at the same time and the gates opened up and droids began to flood into the arena. Padme drew her blaster and stood back to back with Anakin, as they were slowly surrounded.
Nute Gunray chuckled with glee, as he saw Padme Amidala be surrounded by the droids. He would relish the look on her face as she drew her last breath.
"Shoot her!" he called.
"Patience Viceroy," Dooku chided. He fumed.
"No…she was supposed to be dead long ago! Jango, finish her off!" he ordered.
"Patience, she will die," Dooku repeated, resisting the urge to rid himself of the Neimodian nuisance. He stepped forward to the ledge to speak.
"A valiant effort, my friends, but you are sorely outnumbered," Dooku's voice sounded. They looked up and found him on the upper balcony with Nute Gunray and Jango Fett beside him. Suddenly, a violet colored light saber appeared before Dooku's throat.
"Well, Master Windu…I should have anticipated your interference," Dooku said.
"This party's over," Mace replied dangerously, as the stadium suddenly lit up with light sabers, revealing hundreds of Jedi.
"Do we stay and help?" Anakin asked.
"Yes, Dooku must be dealt with. We cannot allow a war to happen," Sifo-Dyas replied.
"I think you and I both know it's a little late for that, Master," Quinlan quipped.
"Still…we must do what we can and bring Dooku to justice if possible," Sifo-Dyas said, as he eyed his former friend atop the balcony that overlooked the arena.
"You are impossibly outnumbered, Master Jedi," Dooku told the Korun Master.
"We shall see," Mace retorted. Dooku smirked.
"We shall. I know all about your duties…outside your life as a Jedi. I wonder what Master Yoda would think of your little operation," Dooku said in a low voice. But Mace only smirked.
"You may be his old padawan, but he'll take my word over that of a Sith," Mace hissed. Dooku didn't hide his frown, knowing that Mace was probably right.
"Perhaps, but you will be dealt with," Dooku promised. Mace smirked.
"Not if I deal with you first," Mace retorted, as Jango Fett attacked with his flamethrower. Mace's cloak caught fire, as he went plummeting toward the sand. He landed easily on his feet, shedding his flaming cloak, with amethyst blade humming. Jango Fett followed and took on the seasoned Jedi.
The battle had already erupted in the arena, blaster bolts screaming and light sabers humming, so many that it started to sound like a whirring. Their light sabers deflected blaster bolts wildly and some native Geonosians scrambled about, some trying to attack the Jedi and some simply trying to flee.
Quinlan and Mace battled against the barrage of blaster bolts in a back to back position, while Anakin and Padme assumed a similar position near them.
"You call this diplomacy?" Anakin asked her in a teasing tone with his usual smirk. She smiled back.
"No, I call it aggressive negotiations," she responded. He grinned for a moment, as he continued to deflect blaster bolts and she expertly shot down droids.
As Mace Windu fought side by side with Obi-Wan, they were slowly driven apart by the hordes of droids. Mace slashed wildly through the Geonosians and droids, coming face to face with Jango Fett again. Jango fired his blaster and Mace deflected the attack, remembering how Fett's hesitation had been partly responsible for allowing Skywalker and the Senator to escape. Mace parried the blaster fire, charging at the bounty hunter and as he moved in for the killing blow that would end Fett, a sapphire light saber parried his own violet blade. Caught off guard, the young, masked Force Jumper pushed him back and disappeared with Fett and the Senator. Mace's dark eyes hardened and he watched Quinlan Vos smirk at him, before disappearing with another man that he could have sworn was the elusive Sifo-Dyas.
Anakin, Padme, and Jango Fett reappeared in the landing bay where Boba waited with their ship.
"Dad!" Boba called, as Jango stumbled.
"What's going on?" Boba asked.
"I just saved your dad from getting his head taken off by a Jedi," Anakin answered.
"I could have handled him," Jango grumbled.
"You could be dead right now," Anakin retorted. Jango sighed.
"Fine, I owe you one kid," Jango relented.
"You don't owe me anything. Just never…ever come after her again," Anakin bargained. Jango looked at him warily and Boba nudged him.
"Promise him dad," Boba urged, glaring at him. Jango rolled his eyes.
"All right fine, I won't be coming after her. But there are a lot of other bounty hunters out there," Jango warned. Anakin nodded.
"I know and they're all dead if they try it," Anakin replied, as he took Padme's hand. Suddenly, he sensed that Quinlan and Sifo-Dyas were in trouble. It was Dooku…he was sure of it.
"We need to go," Anakin said, as they abruptly disappeared.
"What now?" Boba asked.
"We're getting off this damned sand ball, that's what. Fire up the engines," Jango ordered. Boba smiled and hurried up the ramp of the ship.
Mace was absolutely seething, as he was unable to do anything to apprehend the Force Jumpers in the presence of hundreds of fellow Jedi. Skywalker had escaped with the Senator, who was obviously his willing partner while they were faced with thousands of battle droids. Slowly, the remaining Jedi, just over twenty in number, were all herded together, surrounded by battle droids. That's when all movement ceased.
"Master Windu!" Count Dooku called from the balcony, his expression showing that he was enjoying seeing the two faced Jedi in this predicament.
"You have fought gallantly. Worthy of recognition in the Archives of the Jedi Temple. Now it's finished," Dooku said, pausing, as he gazed down at the trapped Jedi.
"Surrender…and your lives will be spared," Dooku continued.
"We will not become hostages to be bartered, Dooku!" Mace called without hesitation.
"Then I'm sorry," Dooku replied, not sounding sorry in the slightest. He raised his hand and looked at his assembled army, prepared to give the signal.
But then Ahsoka, exhausted, dirty, and injured looked above to the sky.
"Look!" she cried, causing all eyes to turn up to see half a dozen gunships fast descending upon the arena. Sand and dust was whipped about by the roaring engines, as Clone troopers rushed out to their aid. A storm of blaster fire rang out from the new arrivals and with the shields up on the gunships; the droid fire was harmlessly absorbed. Amid the confusion, Master Yoda appeared from one of the gunships, motioning his fellow Jedi to the gunships. With the Jedi aboard the gunships and most of the droids in the arena destroyed now, the gunships took flight in pursuit of the Trade Federation leaders, whom Dooku had abandoned. He had mysteriously disappeared upon his arrival and that puzzled Yoda immensely. Mace, however, knew exactly how Dooku had so easily disappeared, but said nothing. Yoda seemed to still be able to sense his old padawan and gave orders to the Clone Troopers. They would deal with Dooku yet.
"Where is Count Dooku?" Nute Gunray demanded, as Archduke Poggle the Lesser escorted him and his colleagues into the Geonosian command center.
"He has abandoned us!" one cried.
"Perhaps he has gone to deal the Jedi personally," Poggle the Lesser suggested.
"I have not received what I have been promised! I was told if I join the Separatists that Senator Amidala would die and we would put an end to the defunct Republic! And now the Jedi have amassed a huge army!" Gunray ranted.
A Geonosian lackey said something to the Archduke in their native tongue, before the Geonosian leader pressed a button on the console.
"The Count has left us instructions," he said simply, as Dooku's hologram appeared before them.
"My friends, I must return to Coruscant and could not delay. My Master will not let the Republic get away with this treachery. You must transmit the designs to me and then destroy the originals. The Jedi must not discover what we are planning to create. They will be safe with my Master and me," Dooku instructed. The Archduke copied the designs for their ultimate weapon and transmitted it to the Count's personal ship, before frying the program. Nute Gunray, a sour look on his ugly gray face, swept from the room with his associates in search of his ship.
Dooku arrived at his ship and as he prepared to board, two men suddenly appeared in the landing bay.
"Stop where you stand, Count. You're not going anywhere," Quinlan stated. The aging Jedi turned Sith smiled with some amount of amusement.
"Well, I see that I am missing my prisoner. I should have anticipated interference from the brat," Dooku said, referring to Anakin. Quinlan ignited his light saber and approached.
"You're not getting away this time," Quinlan stated. Dooku smirked.
"You couldn't defeat me the first time. What makes you think a rematch will make any difference at all?" Dooku asked, as he ignited his curved blade. Quinlan Force jumped and Dooku followed, as they suddenly both reappeared in the center of the landing bay, their blades clashing, crimson against emerald. They exchanged several slashes, before disappearing again and appearing on the hull of Dooku's ship, before exchanging more strikes. Unfortunately, as they had the first time, Quinlan's flurry of attacks seemed less than effective against Dooku's older fighting style that he favored.
"You disappoint me, Master Vos. Though I truly admire you for abandoning the archaic ways of the Jedi, you still are wasting your skills. Think of what you would accomplish if you joined me? We know what one Force Jumper can accomplish. Think of what two can do…or better yet, three," Dooku tempted.
"I may be a maverick, but I'm not a murdering maniac. I'm not joining you…and neither is Anakin," Quinlan said, as he continued his onslaught of attacks, all of which Dooku parried.
"Then I'm sorry, my young friend," Dooku said, as he parried Quinlan's blade again and outstretched his hand, blue Force lightning erupting from his fingers. Quinlan was lifted off his feet and went sailing from the hull of the ship to the ground below, skidding painfully on his back, until he hit the wall hard. Sifo-Dyas stood in Dooku's way, as he Force jumped down and looked to board his ship.
"Stand aside old friend and I shall spare you today," Dooku stated. Sifo-Dyas ignited his own emerald blade and the Count sighed, almost sadly, as he prepared to deal a sad fate to his old friend.
Sifo-Dyas met each slash that Dooku delivered; more familiar with his old friend's fighting style. But the Sith's treachery would run deeply, as he used the Force to push the other former Jedi back. He left his old friend shadowboxing, as he used his Force jumping abilities to appear and disappear around him at will. Sifo-Dyas cried out in agony, as the Count viciously passed his blood red saber through his left leg at the knee, spilling him to the floor. The crimson blade hummed at his throat, as Sifo-Dyas looked up into the cold, yellow eyes of the Count of Serenno.
"You've forced me to do this…you could have been a part of something grand! You could have been a part of a cybernetic masterpiece and led the Separatist army to glory!" Dooku spat angrily.
"But I guess I will have to find another to receive the honor," Dooku said, so consumed by his hatred that he didn't notice the young man and woman that appeared in the corner of the landing bay. Leaving Padme there safe, Anakin Force jumped to his Master's side, parrying the Count's blade with his sapphire one.
"Master…" Anakin said in disbelief, as his azure eyes pierced through the Count, flashing dangerously.
"Do not let your anger consume you like it has my old friend," Sifo-Dyas warned in a pained voice.
"Anger makes you powerful, young one. I can feel your rage…it's almost tangible. Give into it and become more powerful than you've ever imagined," Dooku tempted.
"He's lying. The dark side is the path to easy power, but it will come at the price of your soul," Sifo-Dyas retorted. Anakin knew that his Master was right, but he couldn't help his anger. Dooku had viciously cut his Master down. He took his leg and had planned to take his life. If only he had gotten there a few seconds sooner…
"Do not blame yourself for this, young one. Let go of your rage and focus on your positive emotions. That is the only way to fight him," Sifo-Dyas told him through their Master/padawan bond. Anakin wasn't sure he could do that…until he saw Padme out of the corner of his eye. She was helping Quinlan to sit up, as he tried to get his bearings. Her hair was a mess, falling out of the bun it was pulled back in, there were dirt smudges on her face and white uniform, but she was still simply breathtaking to him. He felt his love her swelling in his heart, filling it so full that he felt it might burst. She looked on at her love, her chestnut gaze locked on him. He brought his blade up and it slammed against Dooku's, all his rage leaving and love filling him.
"I'm not like you or Mace Windu…you're both the same, albeit with different goals. You hurt innocent people for your so called ideals and your idea of the greater good. But your actions will only lead to ruin…yours and his," Anakin spoke.
"Do not compare me to the likes of the leader of the Xal'Kaar. He is a mutual enemy, young one. Think about it…we could take him down together," Dooku tempted. Anakin smirked.
"I'll deal with him myself eventually and when I do, I won't need your kind of help," Anakin retorted. Dooku frowned.
"Then so be it…you'll die today too then," Dooku said, as their blades clashed and they darted all over the landing bay, disappearing and reappearing like bolts of lightning.
In the entrance of the landing bay, Master Yoda hobbled forward, having just arrived to witness the spectacular battle against Knightblade and his old padawan. He was shocked to learn that his former student apparently possessed the same peculiar ability as the mysterious young warrior who eluded them. Yoda felt Dooku's treachery a few seconds before it happened.
He had not expected the young Force jumper to be so powerful, though he lacked much experience. While Dooku was confident he could defeat the young warrior, he knew he could waste nor more time in making his escape. Force lightning erupted from his fingertips, hurtling not toward the masked young man, but toward Padme and Quinlan.
"No…PADME!" Anakin cried, as he Force jumped between her and the attack. He raised his blade to catch the lightning, but was thrown back against the wall. Quinlan leapt to his feet and grabbed him, yanking both him and Padme away, as the lightning struck the wall, causing the whole landing bay to shudder. Dooku took the distraction and hurried onto his ship before anyone could stop him.
Mace Windu arrived a few moments later beside Yoda, glaring at Dooku's ship, as he made his escape. He then turned his attention to the others in the landing bay.
"Senator Amidala…we have your ship waiting for you. Your chief handmaiden and head of security await you," Mace stated.
"Thank you Master Windu, but please tell them that I need them to return to Coruscant. I will rejoin them soon," Padme responded.
"Senator please…we cannot allow you to stay in the company of these vigilantes," Mace said, glaring at Anakin and Quinlan.
"That's not your decision. I thank the Jedi for all they have done, but I am no longer in need of your services, Master Jedi," Padme replied as politely as possible, as Quinlan and Anakin helped Sifo-Dyas up. Before he could protest more, the four disappeared. Mace seethed inwardly, knowing he couldn't use his equipment to try and sustain the jump scar in the presence of Master Yoda.
"Return to Coruscant, we must. Much to discuss, we have," Yoda stated.
"Master…we must go after these vigilantes. They cannot be allowed to run amuck like this any longer. The fact that a Senator is now in league with them is no better," Mace protested.
"Hmmm…evil I do not sense from them. Their ways, different from ours, yes, but follow the Sith like Dooku, they do not," Yoda responded. Mace released his rage into the Force.
"Perhaps not Master…but I believe they are still dangerous," Mace argued.
"Time will tell. For now, the Republic, our main concern is. Begun…the Clone Wars has," Yoda stated sadly, as his green ears dipped low. Mace followed the tiny Master back to the gunship.
"If you think this is over, Skywalker, then you are sadly mistaken. I will rid the galaxy of your kind once and for all. This war might be exactly what the Xal'Kaar need to turn the tide against your kind," Mace said silently to himself, as he boarded the gunship with his Master and their new Clone soldiers.